Abstract: A closing tool for a closing machine for placing a closure on a container, where a holding force is applied to the closure by means of a gripping device. In order to obtain a universal embodiment for the closing tool the gripping device is provided with a magnetic actuator, such as with permanent magnets, for applying the holding force.

Abstract: A capping chuck for a bottle capping machine is capable of applying a pre-defined torque to a cap and reducing top load during application. The capping chuck includes a drive gear mechanically connected to a clutch. The clutch controls the torque transmitted to a gripper head through a driveshaft. The gripper head secures the cap to the bottle, and includes a substantially continuous perimeter wall surrounding a plunger that moves under load in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the driveshaft. The extent of movement can be controlled by a resistance element such as, for example, a spring. An engagement device affects the contact the drive gear has with the bull gear of the capping mechanism. The engagement device can rotate the capping chuck relative to the bull gear to ensure positive engagement of the drive gear with the bull gear. The engagement device can include a slotted opening and an adjustment screw.

Abstract: Capping head assemblies that are useful for applying pre-threaded closures onto containers with improved sensitivity. The novel features of the devices are a simple and novel means of adjusting the torque in a magnetic clutch assembly. In addition, the advantage of preventing contamination by water and other liquids during the filling and capping of liquid containers, and further, have the capability of being greased without having to disassemble the device. In addition, these can be accomplished without changing the capability of being able to read the adjustment scales on the outside surface of the magnetic clutch assembly and the adjustment scales on the outside surface of the upper spring assembly for adjusting the tension in the spring.

Abstract: A device for screwing caps onto receptacles, the device comprising a rotary spindle having a first end provided with a cap gripper head and a second end connected to a two-portion clutch member, one of which portions is constrained to rotate with the second end of the rotary spindle, and the other of which portions is constrained to rotate with a drive shaft on the same axis as the spindle and associated with a drive member, wherein the portions of the clutch member comprise a magnetic bell and a magnetic core having dimensions suitable for enabling it to be engaged in the bell, the device further comprising a displacement member for displacing the bell and the core relative to each other between a position in which the core is engaged in the bell and a position in which the core is disengaged from the bell.

Abstract: A screw capping head for use in a rotary capping machine includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, a spindle rotatably carried by the housing, a first ring of magnets fixed within the housing, and a second ring of magnets coupled to the spindle for rotation with the spindle. The second ring of magnets is movable, without the use of tools, in the longitudinal direction with respect to both the spindle and the first ring of magnets to achieve a plurality of nested positions with respect to the first ring of magnets. The first and second rings of magnets define a magnetic torque coupling between the housing and the spindle, the strength of the torque coupling varying in a substantially linear relationship to the nested positions of the first and second rings of magnets.

Abstract: A screw capping head for use in a rotary capping machine includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, a spindle rotatably carried by the housing, a first ring of magnets fixed within the housing, and a second ring of magnets coupled to the spindle for rotation with the spindle. The second ring of magnets is movable, without the use of tools, in the longitudinal direction with respect to both the spindle and the first ring of magnets to achieve a plurality of nested positions with respect to the first ring of magnets. The first and second rings of magnets define a magnetic torque coupling between the housing and the spindle, the strength of the torque coupling varying in a substantially linear relationship to the nested positions of the first and second rings of magnets.

Abstract: The invention falls within the sector of bottling plants. In a method for capping containers (2) with crown caps, the step of centering the cap is performed without the container (2), the cap being completely free to arrange itself in position on a movable magnetic element (4). The capping machine has capping means (7, 11) which are eccentric with respect to the capping axis (20) and positioned at a higher level than the zone for capping the container (2).

Abstract: Method for sealing a bottle by deforming a crown cap put on a bottle mouth, in which a holding elmement positions the crown cap on the bottle mouth during a positioning phase. In a sealing phase the crown cap is inserted in a sealing end of the sealer through a conical inlet region, is deformed thereby and fixed on the bottle. After deformation of the crown cap, a rejecting element rejects the crown cap from the sealing end during a rejection phase. To seal the bottle during the sealing phase almost without any head-pressure and in a simple way without breaking the bottle, the holding element holds the crown cap during the positioning and sealing phase basically without any pressure on the bottle mouth and during the following sealing phase the rejecting element is biased for rejecting the crown cap during the rejection phase.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and making available crown corks or similar closure elements. The apparatus has a wheel that rotates about a vertical axis. The wheel is provided with carrier members that project radially beyond a periphery of the wheel and are disposed over a support surface. The carrier members successively move closure elements that rest on the support surface from a transfer position formed at the end of a closure channel to a receiving position, where a respectively available closure element is picked up and carried along by a closing mechanism of a closing machine. The support surface is a surface of the wheel, which rotates about the vertical axis. At least one magnet arrangement is effective at each carrier surface. This magnet arrangement locates the carried-along closure element during movement between the transfer position and the receiving position.

Abstract: A vessel closure apparatus with a stripping magnet for unprocessed crown caps disposed before a cap feeding device relative to the revolving direction of a closure head. The stripping magnet is located below the revolving path of the closure heads and has a greater magnetic attraction for the crown cap than the magnet used to hold the crown cap in the closure head.

Abstract: A closing mechanism for a capping machine for closing bottles via crown caps or similar closures. The closing mechanism is disposed over a bottle support and, in a vertical axis, can be lowered out of a starting position and returned thereto. A deformation member is provided for placing a closure upon the mouth of the bottle and for subsequently fixing the closure thereon via deformation of the closure while simultaneously pressing the closure against the mouth. A hold-down mechanism extends centrally through the deformation member and is spring-loaded via at least one spring. The hold-down mechanism is displaceable by a prescribed stroke in the vertical direction relative to a closure part that cooperates with the spring. For a CIP cleaning, openings are provided in the region of the hold-down surface for supplying and withdrawing a cleaning or rinsing fluid.

Abstract: At the upper side of the star wheel bottle feeder of a bottle capping machine, a chamber which encompasses the bottle neck is attached at each pocket in the periphery of the star wheel in which the bottle neck is registered as it is transported in a circular orbit. At the top side, the chamber has an opening for a reciprocating sealing element which revolves with the star wheel. The chamber has a circular internal bore and an opening on its radially outermost side that allows bottles to be passed through it and into a pocket on the star wheel. There is a nozzle slot at the radial inside of the chamber diametrically opposite from the outside gas exit opening. The gas input slot has an elbow connected to it and the elbow is connected to a gas distributor valve which is, in turn, connected to a source of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A rotary closing machine for closing bottles with mouth lips by closures such as closure caps, corks and the like, which includes a supply container for receiving and supplying closures of the just mentioned type, and also includes a conveying device for feeding the content of the supply container to closing units having closing elements which are adapted to be lifted and lowered in the process of closing the bottles by the closure caps or the like closures. For pressing the closures, e.g. closure caps, against the respective bottle mouths and permanently deforming the closures on the bottle mouth, each closing unit has a deforming member and a holding down member extending through the deforming member; these two members are movable relative to each other. The device furthermore comprises a rotatable element associated with the conveying device for transferring the closures from the conveying device to a holding device at the lower end of the holding down member.