Abstract: A center star assembly for use with a capping machine where the center star assembly can be quickly removed from the capping machine and replaced with another center star assembly for handling different size bottles or containers without having to remove and reinstall any fasteners or other mounting components.

Abstract: A capping head including a housing assembly including a magnetic clutch interconnecting a drive spindle and a quill for applying a closure to a container. The magnetic clutch consists of opposed rings of magnets and one of the rings is disposed in a piston ring assembly that is quickly and easily adjustable relative to the other to vary the torque limit of the clutch. A simple yet efficient clamping assembly is employed to facilitate ready adjustment and retention of the movable piston ring.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for distributing pressurized fluid, such as air, from a single supply source to a plurality of rotatable screwcapping heads. The valve includes a stationary member axially aligned with a rotatable shaft which has a first surface with first and second arcs formed therein, both of the arcs having an equal radius. The stationary member also has an inlet passage connecting the supply source to the first arc and an outlet passage connecting the second arc to the atmosphere. The valve further includes a support member which is securely fixed to the rotatable shaft and a rotational member which is axially aligned with the rotatable shaft and rotatably fixed to the support member. The rotational member has a first surface which is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the stationary member and has at least two slots formed therein which are arranged on a predetermined radius equal to the radius of the first and second arcs.

Abstract: A screwcapping head for applying prethreaded closures onto prethreaded containers is disclosed having a hysteresis clutch. The screwcapping head includes a housing adapted to be secured to a rotatable drive spindle and a quill mounted in the housing for free rotation thereto. The screwcapping head also includes a hysteresis clutch having a pair of permanent magnetic rings secured to the housing and a disc of hysteresis material secured to the quill and sandwiched between the pair of permanent magnetic rings. The clutch is capable of slipping after the application of a prethreaded closure onto a prethreaded container at a desired torque value while eliminating the torque reversal feature inherent in synchronous clutches.

Abstract: A capping head for screwing a prethreaded closure onto a container provided with a screw thread. The capping head includes a housing adapted to be secured to a rotatable drive spindle and having a bore formed therein which is open at one end. A quill is mounted in the housing for free rotation therewith. The quill contains two radial bores which house a pair of poppet valves. The capping head also includes a torque-dependent clutch having a drive plate secured to the housing and a driven plate secured to the quill. The clutch is constructed such that it will stop screwing a prethreaded closure onto a container once a desired, predetermined torque value is reached. A chuck is attached to the driven plate and is fluidly activated between an open and closed position by the poppet valves.

Abstract: A container capping method and system for applying mechanical lock type tamper-evident closures to containers wherein the closures are heated prior to closure application to temporarily increase the flexibility thereof in a manner that tamper-indicating portions of the closures more readily withstand the closure application process without incurring visible damage or otherwise degrading the tamper-indicating function.

Abstract: A capping head for the rotary application of a cap on a container wherein a housing adapted to be secured to a rotary spindle rotatably carries a chuck of minimal inertial mass in coaxial alignment with the spindle and an improved nonfrictional magnetic clutch transmits torque from the rotating housing to the chuck to drive the chuck in rotation and thereby carry out a capping operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blanking, folding and inserting induction heat sealable membranes, having a disc and integral tab portion, in container covercaps in one continuous punch stroke. The tab portion is blanked from foil stock and folding of the tab is initiated during tab blanking along a fold line located at the periphery of the disc portion. The disc portion of the membrane is then blanked while continuing to fold the tab portion to an intermediate reverse folded position. The blanked membrane is then inserted into an overcap to press the tab between the membrane disc portion and the covercap to further fold the tab along the fold line.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleaning container closures during downward travel in an elongated vertical pathway from a hopper to a capping machine. The apparatus includes liquid and gas spray means for directing generally horizontal fluid streams against vertically oriented inner surface portions of the closures, an enclosure, and a drain for removing liquid from the enclosure. A belt means engages closures traveling through the apparatus, thereby forcing the closures past the liquid and gas spray means and controlling their rate of travel. In a preferred embodiment, the belt means comprises several laterally spaced flexible endless belts each having a principal section frictionally engaging outer surface portions of the closures. An additional feature of the preferred embodiment is a perforated plate adjacent an interior surface portion of the principal section.