Abstract: An improved chuck for a bottle capper having a torque trigger with vertically set trigger pins capable of withstanding high torques prior to shearing. Further an apparatus to precisely set the application torque of the capping chuck is provided. This apparatus uses a stem head about which a clamp collar and a scale collar are placed. The clamp collar rides below the scale collar and receives the spring. The scale collar is situated above the clamp collar and provides index markings by which to adjust the clamp collar rotationally around the stem head thereby increasing or decreasing the application torque.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying closures to containers, and capable of applying stake-on caps having generally rectangular cross-sectional exterior surfaces to container whose bodies are also of the same general cross-section, the parts being delivered in random orientation, and each cap being applied to a container in such a manner that it is in proper orientation with respect to the container when finally assembled. The apparatus includes a turret (54) provided with a non-rotatable cam (108), an interrupted drive gear (114), and an alternate continuous drive gear (124). Mounted on the turret (54) for rotation about the centerline of the turret are a plurality of spindle assemblies (90). When applying a rectangular closure (14) to a container (12) designed to receive the closure in only one position of orientation a novel chuck assembly (130) is employed which has an engagement portion which may be held in one of two detent positions spaced 180.degree. apart.

Abstract: A capping machine for applying plastic screw-on caps (10) having a tamper evident band 38 to flexible sided round containers (12) having a neck provided with a radially extending flange (24) adjacent the open top of the container. The capping machine includes a portion (114) rotatable about a stationary portion (58), the rotatable portion including a plurality of operating stations (116). Each operating station has a chuck (118) and a novel gripping structure (120) capable of firmly engaging the flange (24) on the container to prevent the container from rotating when a cap is being screwed onto the container. The chucks and gripping structures are each provided with cam followers (122, 124) which engage cams (126, 128) and, as the rotatable portion (116) rotates about the stationary portion (58), the chucks and gripping structures will be shifted vertically in time with each other.