Abstract: Decapping system for opening or closing reagent containers or cartridge systems closed by a lid which is removed and secured by a rotational movement and method thereof are disclosed. The decapping system has a centering unit at its lower end that provides a snap-in element which engages the lid, and a plurality of simultaneously driven and vertically movable screwing heads which compensates for variable heights and/or sizes of cartridge systems to be processed.

Abstract: A capping machine (1) of carousel design comprises a centre shaft (2) turning on a fixed base frame (3) about a vertical axis of rotation (Y), a set of capping units (4) encircling and revolving as one with the shaft (2) about the axis of rotation (Y), and a cylindrical cam (5) interposed between the shaft (2) and the capping units (4), by which the single units (4) are caused to move toward and away from the fixed base frame (3). During operation, the cam (5) is held in at least one predetermined fixed position relative to the base frame (3) by a single supporting element (6) anchored to the base frame (3), concealed internally of the rotating shaft (2) and connected to the cam (5), which represents a departure from the conventional method of supporting the cam on two or more columns located externally of the carousel structure and exposed to view.

Abstract: Decapping system for opening or closing reagent containers or cartridge systems closed by a lid which is removed and secured by a rotational movement and method thereof are disclosed. The decapping system has a centering unit at its lower end that provides a snap-in element which engages the lid, and a plurality of simultaneously driven and vertically movable screwing heads which compensates for variable heights and/or sizes of cartridge systems to be processed.

Abstract: A process for efficiently conveying containers along a table-top conveying system includes the steps of temporarily securing a transfer stabilizing support (1a, 1b) to a bottom end of a formed container (14) so that the container can freely move along a production line using the table-top conveying system where the transfer stabilizing support has a bottom surface (2a, 2b) with an opening (4a, 4b), a sidewall (6a, 6b) extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and a ridge area (10b) surrounding the opening and inside the sidewall of the support; and after the container has gone through operations of the production line, the transfer stabilizing support is removed so that aesthetic qualities of the formed container shape are revealed.

Abstract: A rotary knife apparatus for depositing filled pouches in preselected count stacks along a travelling product conveyor. The rotary knife apparatus includes a rotating disc valve intermediate negative and positive pressure sources on one side and a rotary knife hub on the other side. The rotating disc valve includes a plurality of arcuate slots and apertures which communicate with the negative and positive pressure sources and axial ports in the knife hub such that the knife hub holds and expels the filled pouches along defined segments of rotation of the knife hub. The rotating disc valve has a dynamically variable rotational speed relative to a rotational speed of the knife hub for changing a predetermined number of different angular drop-off points during a period of rotation of the knife hub to correspondingly change the preselected count of pouches in a stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying closures to containers includes a plurality of cam followers, closure tightening mechanisms associated with the cam followers to tighten closures on the container, a cam assembly having an annular cam groove for receiving the cam followers, and a cam insert positioned along a portion of the length of the cam assembly The cam insert is moveable between a first position and a second position to change the path of the cam followers between a first path and a second path, where the first path causes the cam followers to move relative to the cam assembly at a first rate, thereby causing the closure tighteners to tighten closures on the containers at a first rate, and the second path causes the cam followers to move relative to the cam assembly at a second rate, thereby causing the closure tighteners to tighten closures on the containers at a second rate.

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: A sealing and delivery device particularly adapted for use in a double layered carton sealing machine which is made up of a delivery device, two carton lifting devices, a top folding device and a periphery sealing device. The delivery device can be slightly pivoted up and down and the two carton lifting devices Are responsible for lifting up the outer layer of a double layered carton for folding the top with the distance of the two lifting devices adjustable so as to permit cartons of different size to be fitted. The top folding device is used to fold the flaps of a carton into position and the height thereof can be varied so as to permit its use with cartons of different heights. The so structured double layered carton sealing machine can be applied to cartons of any size and be operated with safety without damage to the packed items inside a carton.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a positioning means and a press-sealing means. The positioning means includes a jig, a base and an elevating apparatus. The jig includes a plate-like element and a placement hole formed therethrough. It holds an upper portion of a container and adjusts the proper position of the container. The base holds a plurality of jigs and rotates by regular angular amounts, varying each jig's position with respect to a container. The elevating apparatus moves the base between a top position, where the jig holds a container and its top surface touches the undersurface of a pair of rails, and a lowest position, where its upper surface is positioned below the undersurface of the container. The base may include a polygonally-cylindrically shaped block, each surface thereof is flat and holds a jig, a framework that secures the block horizontally by a horizontal axis, and a rotating element that rotates the block by regular angular amounts.

Abstract: A crimper head for use in introducing a fluid product under pressure into the mouth of a container provided with a closure and thereafter crimping the closure to the container mouth. A container, such as for an aerosol package, with a closure resting freely in the mouth of the container is delivered to the crimper head. The head has a lower bell which forms a seal with the upper end of the container when the head is lowered. While the bell remains stationary, other parts of the head are actuated so that vacuum is applied to the bell and the container while the closure is lifted by vacuum from the mouth. Thereafter, the head is actuated to shut off the vacuum and admit a metered quantity of fluid under pressure, such as aerosol propellant, into the bell and container. When the pressurized fluid is admitted it lifts the closure from the container mouth and also acts to lift as a unit all parts of the head except the bell which remains stationary and engaged with the container.

Abstract: This relates to the mounting of a sealing head for sealing a plastic lid in a plastic container by way of induction heating. In order that a sealing head may be readily removed and replaced by a like sealing head for cleaning and repair, there is provided a quick detachable coupling between the sealing head and a support which is carried by a movable positioner for vertically positioning the sealing head. Further, there is associated with the support a supply unit which supplies to the sealing head electrical energy for an induction heating coil and for a gas detector. In addition, there is supplied to the sealing head from the supply unit two separate vacuum supplies and an inert gas supply with one of the vacuum supplies serving to hold a lid in place on the underside of the sealing head and the other vacuum supply serving to evacuate the container prior to the lid being applied thereto. The inert gas supply is provided to supply an inert gas to an evacuated container prior to sealing.

Abstract: A container lid positioned atop a filled container is sealed to the top of the container by a vertically reciprocable sealing device engageable with the container lid, the container and lid being positioned on yieldable structure so as to avoid damage to the sealing apparatus or to the container being sealed which might occur due to the thrust of the sealing device.

Abstract: A machine for threadably engaging a supply of screw caps onto the threaded neck of a supply of containers, comprising in combination: said intermediate turret plate including at least one pocket for receiving the container; means for sequentially infeeding the containers into said container pocket of said intermediate turret plate; at least one chuck spindle mounted relative to said upper turret plate in concentric alignment with said container pocket of said intermediate turret plate, said chuck spindle including a rotatable, non-reciprocable shaft journaled relative to said bracket and a cap chuck rigidly secured to a lower end of said shaft in concentric alignment with said container pocket and said chuck spindle; means for rotating said shaft of said chuck spindle; means for sequentially infeeding the screw caps into said chuck; at least one container platform positioned concentrically below said container pocket of said intermediate turret plate to provide seating for said container; means for vertically

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a closed main chamber enclosing a container transport conveyor in its entirety, a closed rear chamber disposed in communication with the main chamber and enclosing a container forming-feeding unit in its entirety, and a group of units including a filling unit, a capping unit, a sealing unit, a marking unit and a container discharge unit which are arranged in series on the top wall of the main chamber from a rear portion thereof toward the front. The group of units have portions operative on containers and extending into the main chamber. Cleaners for cleaning the conveyor, etc. are arranged at required locations within the main chamber.

Abstract: A capping machine for applying removable closures to bottles, jars or other containers has a capping head cantilevered (without other support) from a post rising from the machine base, the capping head height being infinitely variable by simple adjustment. The side belts which engage the containers are also infinitely variable for height, being carried by a parallelogram structure pivoted on the capping head body and adjustable by means of a single nut. The cap chute has a pair of retractable rollers to locate the closures at the pick-up point, these rollers being mounted on tension-spring biased cranked levers so pivoted that their lever arm, for movement of the roller axes, makes only a small acute angle with the path of the closures. The sealing shoe is suspended in the capping head by a pair of levers which permit the shoe to rock in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A keg capping machine primarily for use with beer kegs having protruding neck portions upon which flexible plastic caps are to be fitted. The machine has a capping head attached to the lower end of an inclined cap chute which is attached on its upper end to a cap storing hopper. The capping head has horizontal flanges on its bottom edge which serve as stops and guideways for caps sliding down the chute. The neck of a keg which is carried along a conveyor moves between the guideways and engages the lower portion of a cap forcing it through the capping head. A cap driving rocker within the capping head is employed to force the cap down tightly onto the neck of the keg.

Abstract: A container capping apparatus having a generally vertical tubular spindle carrying a cap holding chuck assembly is rotatable about its axis to apply a screw cap to a container with predetermined force. A control rod is vertically movable within the spindle against an actuator spring to release the applied cap from the chuck. An axle carried by the control rod projects through vertically elongated slots in opposite sides of the spindle, and is received in a control collar slidable on the spindle. A cam follower is carried by a yoke vertically slidable on the spindle and an external adjusting nut is carried by the yoke for movement therewith in operative engagement with the collar. The vertical position of the nut relative to the yoke is selectively adjustable, thereby to adjust the position of the control rod relative to the cam follower.

Abstract: For sealing the open end of a flanged container, a heated reciprocable sealing block having a heat emitting surface is arranged with its path of reciprocatory movement in general alignment with a container to be sealed and a sealing head is mounted on the sealing block by mounting means which is arranged to maintain a part of the sealing head in close heat transferring contact with the heat emitting surface of the sealing block and is also adapted to accommodate moderate misalignment of the sealing block and the container to be sealed. Containers to be sealed are mounted on individual carrier plates which are movable intermittently through an enclosure which may serve to isolate the sealing operation from atmosphere, the containers being sealed by a strip of lid stock which is secured by the sealing block to the flanges of the open ended containers. Following a sealing operation, the lid stock is gripped and severed so that each container is provided with an individual cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting conventional bottle crowning machines for the proper application of lighweight metal tear off closures. The standard crowner mechanism is detached from the free end of a work imparting shaft mounted for vertical reciprocation along its longitudinal axis. A tear off closure applying head is installed in place of the crowner mechanism with a self-contained compensating spring unit interposed axially between the shaft end and the applying head. The converted machine is capable of uniformly applying tear off closures with adequate compensation for normal dimensional variations in the bottles being capped.

Abstract: A crimping mechanism for an electric capping machine has a rapidly adjustable threaded ferrule and a crimping head base with a calibrated bracket, enabling the operator to simplify adjustments for changes in container size. The crimping roller is mounted to exert a substantially constant pressure against the container cap, and thereby increase its crimping efficiency.

Abstract: In a sealing head for vacuum sealing a cap-shaped cover of relatively soft inelastic permanently deformable material with a sealing insert to a container of at least substantially rigid material provided with a beading on its outer face in the vicinity of its aperture, which sealing head has a flange plate, a head plate carrying a ring of pressure fingers projecting downwards and elastically yielding in a radial direction, which pressure fingers are surrounded by a rubber sleeve and also a steel sleeve placed over the latter, and a pressure plate carried by an axial shaft, held by the pressure fingers and displaceable inside these together with the shaft against the action of a spring, the improvement comprising the head plate together with the pressure fingers carried by it being displaceable relative to the flange plate by a limited amount on the shaft against the action of resilient means and enclosed by a rigid external shell connected to the flange plate and forming underneath the free end of the pressur