Abstract: The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.

Abstract: The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.

Abstract: The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.

Abstract: There is disclosed a filling valve for incorporation in a bottle filling machine such as the Crown bottle filling machine or other functionally similar bottle filling machine, which the filling valve has a housing adapted so that the liquid beverage will flow through the valve orifice from a reservoir and further through a bottle sealing rubber into the bottle or other container. A valve stem centrally located in the valve has a passageway extending through it which permits gas displaced from the container as it is filled to pass upward through the stem into the reservoir. A distinctive valve stem guide is provided in the housing which has a non-circular opening, preferably a generally triangular opening, which serves to restrain rotational movement of the stem by virtue of a hexagonal shape, or other polygonal shape, of the cross-section of a portion of the stem.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the above-perceived problems associated with the known art. The present invention provides an efficient capping machine with an improved turret that may be retrofitted to existing capping machines or included as an integral component of a new capping machine. The improved capping machine includes a rotatable turret that is significantly smaller than conventional bottling turrets. The improved turret utilizes fewer moving parts and it has a smaller mass that enables the turret to rotate more efficiently while requiring less power. The improved capping machine includes a rotating turret section coupled to a mounting plate and support. A cap delivery chute assembly is associated therewith. The improved turret includes a rotatable frame secured to an elevation shaft of the central hub via a torsion bearing assembly. The rotatable frame is driven by a bull gear associated with the capping machine.

Abstract: There is disclosed a filling valve for incorporation in a bottle filling machine such as the Crown bottle filling machine or other functionally similar bottle filling machine, which The filling valve has a housing adapted so that the liquid beverage will flow through the valve orifice from a reservoir and further through a bottle sealing rubber into the bottle or other container. A valve stem centrally located in the valve has a passageway extending through it which permits gas displaced from the container as it is filled to pass upward through the stem into the reservoir. A distinctive valve stem guide is provided in the housing which has a non-circular opening, preferably a generally triangular opening, which serves to restrain rotational movement ofthe stem by virtue of a hexagonal shape, or other polygonal shape, of the cross-section of a portion of the stem.

Abstract: There is disclosed a filling valve for incorporation in a bottle filling machine such as the Crown bottle filling machine or other functionally similar bottle filling machine, which The filling valve has a housing adapted so that the liquid beverage will flow through the valve orifice from a reservoir and further through a bottle sealing rubber into the bottle or other container. A valve stem centrally located in the valve has a passageway extending through it which permits gas displaced from the container as it is filled to pass upward through the stem into the reservoir. A distinctive valve stem guide is provided in the housing which has a non-circular opening, preferably a generally triangular opening, which serves to restrain rotational movement of the stem by virtue of a hexagonal shape, or other polygonal shape, of the cross-section of a portion of the stem.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for incorporation in conventional bottle capping or bottle filling and capping machines to improve the handling of plastic bottles with pre-threaded screw caps and with a three dimensional bottom surface commonly employed and referred to as a petaloid shape. The normal flat table surface on which bottles rest while the cap is being screwed on is replaced with a surface having upstanding, radially-arranged fingers positioned to extend into all or most of the spaces between the lobes in the bottom of the petaloid bottle at each bottle capping station and form a nest for such bottles. Generally conventional bottle receiver and guide elements cause the bottles to assume a position substantially upright and coaxial with the center of the array of fingers for the particular bottle capping station. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a depression in the table surface to receive the bottom of a petaloid bottle and the fingers are located in that depression.

Abstract: There is disclosed a capping machine head for affixing screw caps on containers, which in one embodiment has a cylindrical magnet ring in the body of the head surrounding a cap chuck driving element in a low friction bearing in the head, each having an array of permanent magnets, preferably about fifty or more in number, distributed around their periphery. For certain angular relative positions of the ring and the chuck driving element, the north poles of one are face-to-face with the south poles of the other; displacement from such position causes torque on the order of tell to twenty inch pounds to be imparted to the chuck driving element. The chuck driving element rotates with the magnet ring until the resistance of a cap being threaded on the container exceeds a predetermined torque limit, after which the magnet ring rotates relative to the essentially stationary chuck driving element. The ring magnets may be in an axially misaligned position to reduce and control maximum torque value.

Abstract: There is disclosed a capping machine head for affixing screw caps on containers, which in one embodiment has a cylindrical magnet ring in the body of the head surrounding a cap chuck driving element in a low friction bearing in the head, each having an array of permanent magnets distributed around their periphery. For certain angular relative positions of the ring and the chuck driving element, the North poles of one are face-to-face with the South poles of the other; displacement from such position causes torque on the order of ten to twenty inch pounds to be imparted to the chuck driving element. The chuck driving element rotates with the magnet ring until the resistance of a cap being threaded on the container exceeds a predetermined torque limit, after which the magnet ring rotates relative to the essentially stationary chuck driving element. The ring magnets may be in an axially misaligned position to reduce and control maximum torque value.