Abstract: An indexing system for rotary orienters for positioning articles so that a feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction so that further operations may be accurately performed on the articles. The rotary orienter may be used in conjunction with filling, capping, labeling and inspection of containers, or other similar operations. The apparatus comprises a support frame to which is mounted a central column that is rotatable about its axis by a rotating means. The rotary orienter has at least one station that comprises a rotatable spindle to which a turntable is attached to one end and an indexing assembly is attached proximal the other end. The indexing assembly comprises a slip clutch and a means for rotating the spindle that is mounted proximal the second of the spindle. An indexing wheel, that has at least two detents formed therein, is mounted on the spindle intermediate the turntable and the slip clutch.

Abstract: A dual indexing system for rotary orienters for positioning articles so that a feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction. The invention comprises a turret having at least one station that is connected to the turret column and rotates therewith as the column rotates about its axis. The station comprises a spindle with a driven turntable attached to support the bottom of an article and a shaft with a driven platen attached to hold the top of the article, the spindle and the shaft being rotatable about their longitudinal axes, which are coincident. A lower indexing assembly and an upper indexing assembly initiate simultaneous rotation of their respective turntable and platen. Each indexing assembly comprises a slip clutch, an indexing wheel that has at least two detents formed therein, an arm that is engageable with the detents and an actuator that is engageable with the arm. When the arms engage their respective indexing wheel, the spindle and the shaft are prevented from rotating.

Abstract: An improved pre-capping machine and method for pre-capping containers that are advanced along a predetermined path by standard conveyor systems. The present invention pretightens caps, plugs, overcaps and other fitments to ensure that they are squarely placed on the containers, without damage to the containers, in preparation for their final closure. The apparatus comprises a spindle assembly, having a longitudinal spindle axis, that is connected to a frame for movement of the spindle assembly along the spindle axis. The spindle assembly comprises a cap gripper that is configured to hold a cap centered over the open end of a container so that axes through the cap, the open end of the container and the spindle assembly generally coincide. To place a cap on the container, the spindle is released for free movement along the spindle axis.

Abstract: A collet to be used in conjunction with a container capping device used primarily in the packaging industry, more particularly for gripping threaded container caps in preparation for the rotation of the caps onto threaded containers. The structure comprises separately pivoting segments for engaging the container cap without significant flexture of the segments.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for orientating articles being moved along a conveyor for processing, so that a selected feature of each article is facing in the same predetermined direction, ie. handle leading. The apparatus comprises a support member having a pair of parallel longitudinally extending drive belts attached thereto, for gripping an article therebetween for advancement of the article along the predetermined path. The apparatus further comprises structure for selectively rotating the support member to orientate the feature of the article in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for capping containers, primarily used with capping machines, that increases the engagement time that a driven roller maintains with a cylindrical side of the container cap so that the roller subtends a predetermined arc about the cylindrical axis of the container. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for resiliently urging the rotatably driven roller into the path of the container and then into engagement with the cap as the container advances on a predetermined path.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for rotating cylindrical downwardly facing threaded caps onto upwardly facing, threaded open ends of containers primarily for use in container capping machines. The apparatus comprises at least one spindle assembly slideably carried by a support frame for movement generally parallel to the vertical axis of the spindle assembly, the weight of the spindle assembly causing the downward movement of the spindle assembly, structure carried by the support frame for controlling the vertical movement of the spindle assembly, and a selectively adjustable device for resiliently urging the spindle assembly upwardly so that the device at least partially supports the weight of the spindle assembly and the container is engaged by a cap with less than the full weight of the spindle assembly pressing downwardly on the container.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing container caps on the open ends of containers so that they may be securely threaded onto the containers by a capping machine. The device comprises a mounting means adapted for attachment to capping machines and a cap guide that comprises a base that is pivotally connected to the mounting means for rotation about one end of the base and has a biasing means interposed between the base and the mounting means that urges the cap guide into a downward position. The top of the cap engages the base rotating the cap guide to a generally horizontal position leveling the cap. Simultaneously the biasing means applies a downward force on the top of the cap to ensure that the threads on the cap will engage with those on the container when the cap is rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for non-destructively testing for a predetermined minimum release torque of container caps on containers at a torque testing station. The apparatus includes a device for clamping the containers at the torque testing station; a device for grasping the caps of the containers at the torque testing station; a device connected to the cap grasping device for applying a release torque to the container caps; and, a device including a strain gage coupled to the release torque applying device for sensing the level of release torque applied to the caps and providing a signal indicative of such level. The apparatus also includes selectively operable controls for destructively testing selected capped containers, on a sampling basis, to determine the actual release torque of the container caps on such containers.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for non-destructively testing for a predetermined minimum release torque of container caps on containers that are sequentially delivered to a torque testing station in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a device for delivering capped containers to the torque testing station; a device for clamping the containers at the torque testing station; a device for grasping the caps of the containers at the torque testing station; a device connected to the cap grasping device for applying a release torque to the container caps; and, a device including a strain gage coupled to the release torque applying device for sensing the level of release torque applied to the caps and providing a signal indicative of such level. Capped containers that pass the test are sequentially passed along for further processing (e.g., packaging and shipping) by the user, and those that fail the test are segregated in a reject area for reprocessing or destruction.

Abstract: A container capper is provided which includes a container clamping mechanism for clamping previously-filled containers at a capping station that is positioned at a point along a container conveying means. The capper also includes an adjustable speed rotary motor which drives a capper head having a plurality of radially movable, cap-grasper jaws supported therein for grasping caps and rotating them relative to the containers. Motor speed adjustability and torque sensing are provided to give precise control of the amount of torque with which caps are applied to containers. The capper head is vertically movable from an upper, cycle start, position to an intermediate position, at which the jaws thereof may be loaded with a cap, and to a lower position, at which the loaded cap is placed onto the top of a clamped container and is rotated thereon until a predetermined torque is reached. The capper head is moved between its upper, intermediate and lower positions by means of a camming mechanism.