Method and apparatus for capping bottles
A method and apparatus for capping blown containers is provided. The top surfaces of a snap-on cap are preferably engaged sequentially by pressure members that traverse different segments thereof. The pressure members urge the cap over the neck of a container as they traverse the cap. The pressure members are preferably mounted to a support that is positioned above an initially loosely capped container, and resiliently urge the cap in a downward direction. The pressure exerted by each pressure member on the cap may be adjustable. The surfaces of the pressure members for engaging the cap are preferably substantially spherical.
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This application is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 10/123,659, filed on Apr. 15, 2002.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/284,030 filed Apr. 16, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to methods for capping bottles and bottle capping devices.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Blown containers or bottles are in widespread use for many purposes. Such containers are often employed to store milk, juice, water and other liquids. Neck finishes of different types are formed on blown containers to accommodate various types of closures or caps. Some containers have threaded neck portions. Application of caps to such containers is accomplished in some cases by rotating a threaded cap relative to the container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,855 discloses a system of this type. Some threaded caps and associated neck finishes are designed such that the caps can be applied to the bottle neck portion by downward pressure on the caps. Such caps are sometimes referred to as snap-on, screw-off caps. In order to effect a satisfactory seal, some of these caps must be rotated slightly following application. U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,140 discloses a system which applies a final tightening rotation to a push on cap. Some snap-on, screw-off caps can be simply pushed on a threaded neck portion to form a leak-proof seal without having to be rotated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,528 discloses such a cap and neck portion. Another type of cap is often referred to as a snap-on, snap-off cap. Such a cap is not threaded, nor is the container neck portion to which it is secured. Such caps are simply pushed on the neck portions by known capping equipment. Caps as described above are often provided with annular valve members which are intended to engage the interior portion of the neck to provide a seal. The cap must be properly secured to the neck portion for the seal to be effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention concerns a method of applying a push-on cap to a neck portion of a container in order to provide sealing and closure. Such caps include threaded and unthreaded snap-on caps as described above. The invention also concerns an assembly for securing a cap to a neck portion of a container such as a blown container.
The assembly for mounting a cap to the neck finish of a container includes a support and one or more applicators for engaging the top surface of the cap. At least one applicator is provided which includes structure for resiliently exerting a pressure member against the top surface of a cap. The pressure member preferably includes a substantially spherical surface. A spring or other appropriate mechanism urges the pressure member towards the cap, and resists displacement of the pressure member away from the cap. The spring pressure may be adjustable by appropriate means. In operation, the support member is positioned over a cap, and the applicator(s) engage(s) different portions of the top surface of the cap. The cap is thereby pushed onto the neck portion of the container to reliably effect closure and sealing. The applicator(s) help ensure that the cap will be applied to the neck portion without misalignment. Sequential engagement of a plurality of applicators is preferred. An effective seal is accordingly formed using a procedure and assembly that are easily employed in automated bottling plants.
The method according to the invention involves the resilient and preferably sequential application of pressure to various parts of the top surface of a cap, thereby urging it downwardly over the neck finish of a blown container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
There is shown in the drawings and described below in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
Referring to
Each of the three applicators employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention is identical in construction. The number of applicators and their construction may vary for various types of equipment and caps. The three applicators are in a triangular configuration for applying pressure to three different portions of the top wall of the cap. As shown in
The support may include as few as one applicator. Brackets 27 may be used to mount each applicator to the support 12. There is no known maximum number of applicators, but more than three would be unlikely to be necessary for most bottling operations. Where more than one applicator is used, the spherical end surfaces thereof are preferably arranged such that they will engage the top surface of a cap sequentially. When three applicators are used, one is positioned to traverse the central portion of the top surface. In other words, it substantially bisects the top surface of the cap. The other two applicators are positioned over the outer edge of the path 29 of the annular valve member of the cap, as shown in
In use, filled containers 126 and caps 26 are provided to a capping station. The caps are positioned upon the neck portions of the containers in a known manner. The filled containers are moved with respect to the applicators such that the caps are engaged sequentially by the applicators, causing the caps to be locked in place by complementary locking features and/or threads 133,114 on the containers and caps. If the cap is of the type including a lower skirt 106 connected to the cap body 115 by a tear line 107, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,528, the lugs 120 of the lower skirt are moved into position between ratchet teeth (not shown) on the collar portion 134 of the container. The annular valve members 113 of the caps will also be in sealing engagement with the neck portions. The applicator(s) interact with each cap as it is seated to promote reliability in closure and sealing. The force exerted by the spring(s) is preferably such that, in normal operation, the pressure member(s) maintain contact with the top surface of the cap as it is moved with respect to the neck finish.
In the embodiment shown in
The method and apparatus described above are usable with various types of caps and complementary neck portions, including threaded and unthreaded caps. It is particularly applicable to the application of plastic caps to blown plastic bottles. A system for filling and capping blown bottles is shown in
It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the apparatus and method described above without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of applying a push-on cap to a neck portion of a container comprising:
- positioning a cap on the neck portion of the container,
- sequentially engaging said cap with a plurality of pressure members; and
- moving said container relative to said pressure members such that said pressure members traverse different portions of said cap while applying pressure to said cap, thereby pushing said cap over said neck portion.
2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the cap and neck portion include complementary locking elements, including the step of pushing the cap downwardly such that said complementary locking elements are engaged.
3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein said cap includes an annular valve member and said neck portion includes a rim for engaging the valve member, including the step of pushing the cap downwardly such that the annular valve member sealingly engages the rim.
4. A method as described in claim 3, including causing said pressure members to resiliently urge said cap over said neck portion.
5. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the step of sequentially engaging the cap with pressure members includes contacting said cap with spherical surfaces on said pressure members.
6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said cap and said neck portion are threaded, the threads of said cap moving over the threads of said neck portion as said cap is pushed over said neck portion.
7. A method as described in claim 3, including causing said pressure members to traverse a central portion and at least one side portion of the top surface of said cap, said pressure members being caused to traverse a path over at least a portion of said annular valve member.
8-26. (canceled)
27. A method for applying a cap to a container having a neck portion including a rim, the cap having a top surface, a skirt extending downwardly from said top surface, and an annular valve member extending downwardly from said top surface and within said skirt, comprising:
- applying said cap to said neck portion of said container such that said skirt extends over said rim;
- moving said container along a selected path;
- applying pressure to a first portion of said top surface of said cap during a first time period as said container moves along said path;
- applying pressure to a second portion of said top surface of said cap during a second time period as said container moves along said path, said second time period being at least partially later than said first time period, and
- applying pressure to a third portion of said top surface of said cap during a third time period as said container moves along said path, said third time period being at least partially later than said second time period,
- whereby said skirt is urged over said rim and said annular valve member is urged within said rim.
28. A method as described in claim 27 wherein pressure is applied to at least two of said first, second and third portions of said top surface at the same time.
29. A method as described in claim 28 wherein, in applying pressure to said first, second and third portions of said top surface, first, second and third pressure members are urged into resilient engagement with said top surface.
30. A method as described in claim 29 wherein said pressure members include spherical surfaces, including engaging said top surface of said case with said spherical surfaces.
31. A method as described in claim 27 wherein said first portion of said top surface of said cap includes a first path including a center portion of said top surface, and said second and third portions of said top surface of said cap include second and third paths extending over the outer edges of a path of travel of said annular valve member.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 19, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Emanuel Wohlgemuth (Condado, PR), William Rebstock (Glenburnie, MD)
Application Number: 11/207,257
International Classification: B65B 7/28 (20060101);