US1405738A - Method and apparatus for sealing containers - Google Patents

Description

G. RAMSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1918.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

I v 4 SHEETS-SHEET1 G. RAMSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1910.

1,405,738. Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. -%-Q I III" .IIII

v @wwwtoz 44 l 2 e. RAMSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, I918.

1,405,738. Patented Feb. 7, 192 2.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I IEIII: 5 I :ZIEII I II IIIIIIIIIIIIHII III! 1 IIIIIIIIIII gown/CM 4;. RAM V METHOD AND APPARATUS F0 NG CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED 0 T. 30.1918

1,405,738. Patented Feb. 7, 1922. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l/IIIIIIIIE 7 :of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of UNITED STATES GEORGE RAMSEY, or BRQOKLYI-N, New vonxynss eNoa'ronnenon on at CLOSURE CORPORATION, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A'CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

METHOD AND rimmin r03 SEALING COLlTAINERS..

T all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE RAMSEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident Kings; State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Sealing Con tainers, of which'the following is a specification. V. g i

This invention relates'broadly to a method and apparatus for sealing, and more' par- 7 ticula'rly to a method and apparatus for sealing glass Containers andthe like under a. vacuum. it I V A'prinoipal object of the present invention is to provide "a sealing machine for forming hermetic seals by means of ductile sealingniembers, or caps adapted for covering receptacles of glass'and the like, by spinning the ductile material over a resilient or plasti'cgasket, which is compressed by the spinning actionfbetween the ductile 7 member and the vessel wall.

said spinning rolls.

Another object of the present, invention is an apparatus as previously specified comprising an annularoanvil adapted to support a portion of a ductile cap'or gasket retaining member, and spinning rolls mounted for revolution about and movable inwardly in cooperation with the anvil whereby a, "portion of the gasket retaining member may be shaped betweenthe said anvil and the Another a ndequally important object of the present invent-ion is a device as previonsly set forth in the firstparagraph and which comprises a table for the package to be sealed and means for inovingthe package; and the spinningrolls relatively; one to the other, together with suitable clutch mechanism arranged to operate; the spinning rolls when said rolls are in position to be effective against thebead to bespun.

Another and equally important object of the present invention is an apparatus as specified, wherein the spinning rolls are adapted to have a portion of their surface shaped .to conic-rm to a portion of-the work; I

' the bead by spinmng'a portion ofthe. bead termined form relative to the excess meta-1' displaced duiing the,

ot the, bead which is compression actionof the gasket.

, container.

stillfurther object of the present in Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 7, Application filed October so, 1918; Serial No. 260,226.

and anvil on substantially parallel lines,

whereby a substantially straight-edged rim is spun between the anvil and the rolls.

An equally important object of the pres-' ent invention is the methodof forming a side seal between a suitable cap and a glass container or the like, which-consists in providing a closure memberwith a bead in the skirt thereof, inserting a resilient gasket member within the bead, placing the cap and gasket member over a suitable glass container orthe like, and then deforming the bead by spinning the bead r'adially'inward to compress the gasket between the spun edge of the closure and the .side wall of the a still further object of the present invention is a method, as above set out, of

forming a hermeticose al between a suitable ,met'al closure or the like and a suitable;

glass container or the like, which method comprises supporting a portion of a ductile sealing member independently of the container to which it is applied, andthen deforming the portion of the sealing member.

so supported by forces'applied progressively about its periphery.

A. still furtherand equally important object of the present invention is a sealing method by which a side seal between a metal cap and a glass container or the like may be'formed under vacuum by spinning a compressible gasket against the side wall of the said container.

A further object of the present invention radially inward to restrict the diameter of the bead thereby compressing the gasket; and providing a holding device resting against a portion of the bead during the spi'nningoperation and h'a-vingxan upwardly inclined work face "so'that the excess metal is the method of sealing a metal c'apor the i of the skirt will be displaced upwardly to leave the lower edge of the skirt free for removal of the gasket when it is desired to break the seal.

A still further and important object of the present invention is the method of sealing a metal cap or the like against the straight side wall of a glass container or the like to provide a side seal, which method comprises providing a bead in the skirt of the cap; inserting an elastic gasket within said bead; then deforming said bead by aspinning action in such manner that the first effect of the spinning on the bead is to slightly compress the lower edge of the bead whereby the gasket is retained under the bead during the entire spinning operation.

Another and equally important object of the present invention is the method of forming aside seal between a suitable metal cap or the like and the straight side wall of a glass container or the like, which method comprises providing a bead in the skirt of the cap, interposing. a gasket ring between said bead and the straight side wall of the container, then deforming said bead by spinning to compress the bead inwardly and upwardly whereby the gasket is under radial compression forces and the excess metal of the bead is displaced in an upward direction. The present invention possesses many other advantageous features, some of which,

with the foregoing, will be set forth moreat length in the following description, wherein willbe outlined in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration inthe drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification.

In the drawings I have shown only one specific form of my generic invention, but it is to be understoodthat I do not limit myself to such form, because my invention may be embodied in a multiplicity of forms, each being a species of my invention. It is also to be understood that by the claims succeeding the description of my invention I desire to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied or practiced.

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like characters are used to represent like parts throughout theseveral figures thereof.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing one form of machine by which my inventionmay be carried out.

Figure 2 is a detail view of a part of the sealing chamber and illustrating portions of the driving gears 0f the machine embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating in section a portion of the driving gears.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the spinning 'headof a preferred form.

V Figure 5 is an elevational detail showing the connection between the ring anvil and Figure 9 illustrates the final stage of seal- I .80

ing, wherein the seal is completed.

Heretofore in the art of forming hermetic side seals between metal caps and glass packages by deforming a capbead over a gasket, the sealing operation has been performed by use of chucks and dies constructed to be operated under heavy pressure and to displace and deform the head by compres sion action operative simultaneously upon the entire bead. In this type of action there has been considerable difliculty experienced due to breakage of glass because the opera tion where carried out by chucks and dies does not admit of local independent treatment of the bead. which is necessary where the glass is out of round, or either under or over size. Because of these facts it was heretoforeneeessary that glass packages be definitely sized within very narrow limits in order to effect a proper seal without breakage. In themanufactureof glass containers such limits in size and shape in creased the number of condemned pieces and thus slowed down production and increased cost. Another and serious difficulty en countered with the die action is the liability of the die to bite. somewhat quicker on the one side of the cap than on the other and to displace the metal ofthe cap in such manner as to form an uneven seal which is bad in appearance and often is not hermetic. A still further difficulty with the chuck and 'die seal is the great force necessary to be exerted and the large amount of energy expended 1n forming such a seal. Under this prior type of sealing mechanism' the ordinary ar cap requires several thousands of pounds of pressure and if the parts are slightly out of adjustment this pressure may jected to considerable wear and since small variations ina seal may be disastrous, these parts must be renewed with considerable frequency. 7 a r In substantially all cases seals of the character specified are made in a vacuum Chan her where the air under the cap is exhausted a zone of the spinning wheels, the spinning, mechanism 1s rendered effective to -reform prior to the sealing operation, and a relatively high vacuum is maintained under the cap (provided the seal holds). after the seal is completed. Another difficulty which has been encountered is due to small hair lines, or crizzles on the sealing surface of the glass. The chuck or die type of seal is a squeezing action due to forcing the bead through dies or by clamping portions of the bead and closing the jaws of the chuck like a vise. By this squeezing action the material of the gasket in most cases is not forced into the hair lines on the glass but lies over these hair line grooves, so that a very small leakage occurs throughthese minute grooves and under the gasket. This leakage after a time breaks the vacuum and all of the advantages due to a vacuum packing are lost.

The present invention solves the difficulties of the prior art by the method of forming the sealed bead in accordance with method steps which will hereinafter beset out in detail, and more particularl'yunder the action of radially applied yielding forces that are effective at any given instant on a very small portion of thebead and which forces are carried around the bead in such manner that during a givenperiod of time the entire head has been locally subjected to these forces. Under these conditions the bead is locally and progressively treated and the. gasket; receives a kneading action which forces itintimately into engement with the sidewall; of the. container thereby closing all surface irregularities such as crizzles or surface hair line grooves and at the same time subjecting the gasket to pressure, which pressure'is sustained by the metal bead lying over'the gasket. The action of these forces is such as to distort the originalcap head into :a sealing bead, whichis of less diameter than the original conformation and which is of'such' form as to sustain the gasketunder com press-ion. Y

' One form method may be carried ou't is a spinning head, preferably mounted within a vacuumchamber, and constructed insuch manner that when a suitable package with a suitable cap and gasket thereon is brought into the the gasket-containing bead toward the side wail of the package. This spinning action. does not begin until after the vacuum cham-.

her is closed, a vacuumformed therein, and

sufficient time has elapsed to permit the withdrawal of air from the package to be sealed. P'referablythe spinning-action be gins at the lower edge of the bead and progresses inwardly and upwardly thereby gradually compressing thegas'ket and displacing themetal in the skirt of the cap up wardly in' such'mannerthat the gasket and of mechanism which 'the the excess metal of the bead are accessible when it, is desired to'break the seal and remove the cap from thecontainer. More particularly, one form :of apparatus for carrying. out themethod comprises a'type of machine with gear mechanism adapted to be connected by a positive clutch wlth driving devices whichare effective when a pedal is operatedto close a door to the vacuum chamber.. The. driving devices lift the package to be sealed into the zone of the spinning mechanism for, forming the seal. Prior to the commencement of the formation of the seal the air has been exhausted from the vac uum chamber and from the package which is to be sealed. After the package has been.

raised into the zone of operations of the sealing devices the spinning head is rotated to deform the bead, as above specified. Under certain conditions it may be desirable to utilize two. clutch mechanisms, one being operated by the pedal which closes the door to the vacuum chamber and comprises a positive clutch mechanism, the other being a friction clutch mechanism and operative when the package has been liftedinto the sealing zone, or when a predetermined vacuum has been formed in the sealing chamber.

.In this way the inertia of the moving parts against rotationas will hereinafter be described. Thelhead 1 may ,carryan annular ring die' or anvil 1 which may be mounted on the head by means 0f retaining screws 5, which pass through slotted openings 6 in the die tand are screw-threaded into the head 1.

Preferably, a series-of adjustment rings'or washers 7, which may be cut from suitable sheet metal or other material capable of sustaining compression forces, are arranged between the upper edge ofthe diet and the shoulder 8 on the head 1. A pressure plate 9 may be mounted within-theannular die .4 as, for example, by means of the machine rob lio

screw lOseatedin the cupv 11 and screwthreaded into the head 1 with 'a coil spring 12 between -the c-up and the head. The cup. 11 permits a yielding of the pressure, plate without danger ofthe head of the machine screw 10; coming in contactwith the cap.

Under certain conditions it is entirely satisfactory to form theringdie or anvil integral with the head- 1, and thus eliminate the -adjustment feature. The, ring die or anvil 4 is constructed to'engage with the upper portionfo-f the bead-14 on the cap 15 when in position over the mouth of the container 16, and preferably a portion of the die 4 is shaped to comprise a work face against which a part of the bead 14 may be spun to compress the ring gasket 17 between the deformed bead and the side wall of the container 16. When the container 16 with the cap 15 and the gasket 17 thereon'i's raised into engagement with annular die or anvil 4 the spring 12 is slightly compressed whereby the pressure plate9 presses the cap lightly upon the container 16 so as to retain it in place, but at the same time permit exhaustion of air from the package. A spinner frame 18 rests upon the head 1 and preferably is separated therefrom by bearing ring 19, which may be of any well-known type of anti-friction bearing, and is adapted to rotate upon the said bearing ring 19 and around the nonrotating head shaft 2. This spinner frame is provided with radial openings, in which are mounted slidable plugs 20 1 that are bifurcated to carry spinning rollers 21, which are arranged o posite tothe position which will be occupied by the bead 14 when the cap and container are in position beneath the anvil or ring die 4. The slidable plugs 20 are slotted to permit the movement of the'vertical slide arms 22, each of which is provided with a diagonal opening 24, in which there slides a cross-pin 25 that is secured to the plug20. By this construction it is evident that when the slides 22 are driven through plugs 20 the cross-pins 25 traveling in the diagonal openingsj24 cause a radial movement of the plugs 20 which brings the spinning rollers 21 into or out of engagement with the bead 14, dependent on the movement of the slides 22. It is 'to be noted that each slide 22 is carried by the spinning head 26, which is secured to a hollow shaft'27, which is rotatable but has no longitudinal sliding movement. The slides 22, however, are vertically slidable in the spinning head and are provided on their upper ends with lock nuts 28 and are maintained in their lowermost positions with the struction it'is to be noted that the head 1 of the spinning frame 18 is yieldable toward the spininng head 26 and when so moved the "slides 22 drive theplugs 2O radically inwardly to perform the spinning action. It

is evident that as spinning head 26 is rotated by the hollow shaft 27, the spinning frame, through the connections with the slides 22,

is likewise rotated, whereas the head 1 and connected parts are stationary, thereby preventing rotation of the package being sealed.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 as well as Figure 1 it will be noted that the hollow shaft 27 extends upwardly through the top plate 32 of the vacuum chamber and passesthrough a packing gland 34. The gear frame 35, which is likewise mounted on the top plate 32 and connected to the pedestal 36, carries'gearing mechanism which includes the driven gear 37 mounted on the hollow shaft 27, so that when the gear 37 is rotated the hollow shaft is thereby driven. The yoke 38 of the gear frame 35 is provided with a stub screw 39 which engages a groove 40 in the shaft 2, thereby preventing this shaft from rotating and at the same time permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft through the hollow shaft 27. The shaft 2 may also be provided with a collar 41 which limits the downward movement of this shaft. The driven gear 37 is in constant mesh with a clutch gear 42 alsocarried by the gear frame 35 and mounted loosely to rotate around the vertical driving shaft 44. This clutchgear 42 is provided with a flange 45 theinterior surface of which is substantially conical. A cone clutch member 46 is slidably mounted, on the shaft 44 but keyed to the shaft in such manner that the cone clutch member 7 tacts with the end ofthe head shaft 2. By

this construction it will be noted that when a package with the cap thereon contacts with the head 1 and is moved upwardly to lift the head shaft 2, the end of the head shaft contacting with the adjusting screw 51 rocks the lever '49, thereby, through the connected parts, causing the cone'46 to engage-the clutch gear 42; and since the cone is normally rotating, the 'clutch gear is rotated thereby and drives the spinning head to spin the sealing bead against the side wall of the container. By referringto Figure 1 it will be noted that the vertical shaft 44 extends downwardly through the pedestal 36 and carries on its lower end a bevel pinion 52 which is in engagement with the bevel gear 54 on the main shaft 55.

The remaining features of the machine are substantially identical with the similar functioning features disclosed in the machine illustrated in the patent toHull, No. 1,134,065, March 30, 1915, and comprise a 'machine frame 56 on the base 57 of the pedestal 36 with a main shaft 55 mounted in the machine frame and a power shaft 58 table lifter cam 66, adjacent which .is

valve control cam 67. An operating pedal 68 is secured'to a positive control clutch dog 69 and a link 70. ThepedaLGS is nor-i mally retained in lifted position byth'e ertensible spring 71. The link 70 is connected to the pedal 68 by means ofa pin-and-slot connection 72 and leads to a lever 74 for lifting the door 75 for the vacuum chamber 76. The door preferably is equipped with a guide link 77. whereby the door is maintained substantial-1y vertical during the closing operation. The table-lifter cam 66 operates a lifter block 78 that is adjustably mounted on the lower end of a lifter shaft 79, which shaft extends through. a suitable packing gland 80 on the bottom of the vacuum chamber 76 and the lifter shaft carries onits upper end a package-receivingtable 81 which may be mounted in the end of the lifter shaft as is explained in the said Hull patent, The vacuum chamber is adapted to be connected to suitable vacuum apparatus through a valve 82. This valve is connected by means of the lini; 84 and the bell crank 85 with the valve control cam 67. more detailed and complete description of the last-mentioned parts may obtained from the said Hull Patent No; 1.134.065.

The operation of the machine briefly described is as follows: r

Assume a suitable power belt to be rotating the drive pulley 59, and that the gear 62 and its attendant clutch mechanism is being" rotated. Assume now that the pedal Gfrlcis depressed after a suitable container, with a cap thereon and a proper gasket under the head of the cap, hasbeen placed on the lifter table 81 in the vacuum chamber 76. The depression of thepedal first renders the positive clutch effective to enable the gear 62 to rotate themain shaft at the same time closing the door 7 5 against the front of the vacuum chamber. -This having been ac compl shed the vacuum line valve 82 has bevel gear 54, and, through connected parts,

- the cone clutch member 46. In the meantime the tableliftingcam 68 has operated to raise the lifter shaft 7 9 and the table 8l, thereby bringing the cap head into engagement with the anvil die 4 and the continued lifting of the package raises the headshaft 2 and consequently rocks, the'lever 49 which brings the cone'cf tch member 46 into engagement withthe utchgear whereby the clutch gear takes up e rotative movement'of the cone 46, consequently driving the drivengear'37 mounted on the hollow shaft 27 j which in turn rotates the spinning head 26 and the spinning frame 18. The lifting of the shaft 2 and the head 1 has brought the spinning rollers 21 into engagement with the lower edge of the bead 14, as shown in Figure 7.

compressed so that the spinning rollers 21 During this spinning action it is to be noted that the bead is being carried radially in wardlyand at the same time upwardly in order'that the excessmetal, asat 86 (Figure 8) may be formed into a flange on the sealed bead. As thespinning continues; thefiange 86 becomes more pronounced since the metal is gradually being spun between the spinning rollers 21 and the face of the anvil die 4, until the condition illustrated in Figure 9 is attained, at which time the seal is completed Various types of seals may be made by this construction, but the preferred type is substantially the same in cross-section as the seal disclosedin-t-he TownsendPatent No. 1,242,742. This type, of seal, which has a substantially straightskirt 87, enables the riphery of asuitable bead of a suitable closure and against a substantially incompressible sidewall of the container through a yielding gasket under the bead; the said forces being applied locally during the sealing operation progressively about the entire; periphery of the said bead. whereby the bead or skirt of the closure is deformed inwardly .so The springs 29 on the slides 22 are slightlyto compress the said gasket radially andin such manner that the excess metal due .to the compression actions forms a symmetric-annular flange, or in some cases a groove, on

the said cap. In a somewhat amplified aspect. the method also includes the removal lao is, obtained within the container; and during the period while the vacuum is maintained the yieldable gasket between the centerof the closure and the incompressible side wall of the container is subjected to radial compression forces applied loe' y around the entire skirt of the container t gradually restrict the diameter of the skirtof the cap and thereby retain the gasket under radial compression. to effect a hermetic seal between the sidewall of the container and the skirt of the closure to retain the contents of the package sealed in vacuo.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

- 1. In a machine for sealing glass containers and the like the combination of a table for supporting a suitable container, an anvil tainer on said table intoengagement with said anvil, and means for operating said spinning rollers to deform the head on the cap against said anvil, whereby a hermetic seal is established between the cap and the container, said anvil being effective intermediate the rollers and the container wall to sustain the spinningpressure. V

'2. A machine for sealing suitable glass containers and the like comprising in combination a table adapted to support the container to be sealed, a sealing anvil above said table,:means to secure said anvil against rotation, va spinning frame, spinning rollers mounted on said spinning frame, devices for liftlng said table to raise a beaded cap on a suitable container against and into contact with said anvil, andmeans for operating said spinning rolls against said bead to deform the same whereby the hermetic seal is established between said cap and said container, said anvil being effective intermediate the rollers and the container wall.

3. A machine for forming a side seal on a glass container or the like with a suitable cap having a ductile skirt provided with a bead carrying a moldable gasket, said machine comprising a stationary anvil encompassing aportion of the skirt of the cap and,

being adapted to cooperate with the upper [side of the head during sealing in order to sustain a portion of the sealing forces and to shape the upper portion of the finished lcfformed head, in combination with a spinning roll movableprogressively around said head and adapted to deform said bead by squeezingthe same between the spinningroll and thesa'id means whereby the gasket material in said bead 1s caused to flow against the side wall of said container and be sustained by the de-formedbead when the sealing operation is'completed. V

4;. In a machine for sealing packing vesl h? m nation of a support for sustaining a vessel, a spinning roller operably arranged above the support, means for re volving the roller in an orbit and moving it radially of such orbit, and an anvil arranged for cooperation'with a vessel and its closure within the orbit of the roller, said anvil having a portion arranged to'encompass a portion of the peripheral wall of the vessel to limit inward displacement of portions of its closure by said roller.

5. I In a machine for sealing ductile caps on frangible containers, the combination with a support for the vessel to be sealedof an anvil arranged for cooperation with the vessel closure and having a rigid portion arranged to encircle the peripheral wall of the vessel, said rigid portion including a work supporting face directed outwardly from the axis of the anvil, a spinning roller arranged for planetary movement about the anvil, and means for operating the roller and anvilto engage a portion of the vessel closure between the roller and said work supporting face.

6. A machine for spinning a hermetic seal between a suitable metallic cap and a glass container or the like, comprising in combination a head adapted to encircle the container walland having a work-face extending outwardly from the container adapted to engage with said cap, means for preventing rotation of said head, a spinner frame adapted to lo tate around said cap, a plurality of radially movable plugs mounted in said spinner frame, spinner ro-lls carried by the inner ends of said plugs, and means for forcing said plugs inwardly under a yielding pressure to urge said rollers into cooperation with said work face on the head to move a portion of the skirt of the cap toward the side wall of the container.

7 A machine for spinning a hermetic seal between a suitable metal .cap and a glass con tainer or the like comprising in combination a support for the container with the cap thereon, a spinner mechanism adapted to rotate around the axis of the cap, said spinning mechanism comprising a spinner frame, plugs slidable radially in said spinner frame, a spinner head movable toward and from said spinner frame, and yielding means car, ried by said spinner head and operative to move said plugs inwardly under yielding pressure when sa1d spinner head approaches said spinner frame, and spmner rolls mounted, on the inner ends of said plugs whereby the inward movement of said plugs causes 7 said spinner rolls to spin the skirt of the cap against the side wall of the container torform a hermetic seal,

8. Infa machine for spinning hermetic movable in said spinner frame, spinning rollas on the inne ends of sa p ugs, a sp head, a spring normally tending to separate said spinner head and said spinner frame, cross-pins carried by said spinner head and extending through said plugs, a wedge member connect-ion between each cross pin and the corresponding plug, whereby when said spinner headapproaches the spinner frame the movement of the crosspins causes said connection to force the plugs radially inward to spin a portion of the skirt of the cap against the side wall of the container.

' 9. In a machine for spinning vhermetic seals between suitable metal caps and thesi'de wall of a suitable glass container the combi nation of a head'normallyadapted to engage the said cap beyond the periphery ofthe-container wall, an anvil on said head, the work face of said anvil being formed to limitthe movement of portions of the cap toward the container to determine the shape of aportion of the skirt of the, cap when the vhermetic seal is formed, spinner rolls adapted to be moved inwardly to spin a portion of the skirt of the cap against the work face ofthe anvil, and means for causing the spinner rolls to be effective to form the seal.

10. In a machine for spinning hermetic sealsbetweena suitable capand the side wall of a suitable glass container or'the like the combination of a head adapted to retainthe cap in position on the container, an annular anvil adjustably mounted on said 'head',the work face of said anvil'being constructed to determine the shape of a portion of the head when the bead is completely spun, spinning rollers mounted adjacent said anvil, means for'moving said spinning rollers toward said anvil under yielding pressure, a portion of the faces of said spinning rollers being constructed to coact with the work face of said anvil whereby to shape'portions of the sealing bead, and means for rendering said rollers-e'lfective to re-form the side of the cap against the anvil to form a hermetic seal against the side wall of the said container.

11; In a machine for spinning hermetic seals between a suitable cap and-the side wall of a gla s container or the'like the combination of a head normally adapted to rest on the cap, means for permitting said head to slide in the directionof the axis of the cap andto prevent rotation of said head an anvil adjustably mounted on said head in such manner that said anvil isin contact with a bead on the cap when the head is in engagement with'the cover portion of the cap, and spinning rolls movable with said'head and rotatable around said headrto spin the head on the cap between the spinning rollsand said anvil, and means for rendering said spinning rolls effectivetordeform the-said head to make a hermetic seal between the cap and the side wall; of the container.

:12. In a machine for sealing caps on 'suitable glass containers and thellkefth comder the sealing mechanism effective, said bination of a pedestal, drivingmechanism carried by said pedestal, a seal ng chamber also carried by. said pedestal, spinning de- 'ofa sealing chamber, sealing mechanism therein, means for moving'a container in the chamber into operable association with the sealing mechanism, means for driving the sealing mechanism, means operable by movement of a container in the" sealing chamber. to render said driving means, effective upon the sealing mechanism, actuating means for operating the driving meansand for moving a container in the chamber, and manipulative means for closing thechamber and rendering the actuating means effective 14. Ina sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chamber, sealing mechanism.

therein, clutch mechanism operable to renclutch mechanism being operable by movement of a container in the chamber,.and means effective to close the chamber and move a container therein to operate the clutch.

15. In a sealing machine, the combination of a sealing chambensealing mechanism therein, means for actuating the sealing mechanism, means operable by a container in the zone'of operation of the sealing mechanism for controlling the operation of the sealing mechanism, and means effective to close the chamber and movracontainer into the. zone of operation of the sealingmechanism. 16. In a mac'hineof' the class described, the I combination of a sealing chamber, sealing mechanism therein, a clutch operable by a container in the chamber to control the operation of the sealing mechanism, means for exhausting thechamber, and means operable to-render the exhausting means effective upon .a container-within the chamber and to render such container effective upon the clutch.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a :sealing chamber, sealing mechanism. therein, a connection device 0pelfable by a container in thechamber to control theoperation ofthe sealing, mechanism, means for exhausting the chamber, and

means operable to render the exhausting means, effective upon a container Within the chamber-and to render such containereffective upon theconnection device. f

l8. 4 In a sealing machine, thecombination of means for supporting a vessel to be sealed, an anvil arranged for cooperation with the closure of a vessel in sealing position, said anvil having a rigid portion arranged to encompass the peripheral wall of a container in sealing position, said rigid portionincluding a work supporting face extending angularly relative to theaxis of the anvil, a spin tainer wall, and an anvil arranged for association with the supported container and having a work supporting surface disposed for cooperation with said roller and effective to limit displacement of portions of the closure toward the container by operation of the roller.

20. A machine for forming a hermetic side seal on a substantially cylindrical side sealing walled glass container or the like with a suitable cap having a bead carrying a moldable gasket in the skirt thereof, said machine comprising a spinning wheel for providing a sealing force to de-form said bead and compress the gasket between the de-formed portion of the skirt of the cap and the substantiallycylindrical side wall of the container to form a side seal on the container, and means comprising an abutment to sustain a part of the sealing forces and to directly support a portion of the bead during the spinning operation to cause the gasket to be compressed between said means'and said spinning wheel and to be forced tightly against the substantially cylindrical side wall of the glass to form a hermetic side seal.

21. In a sealing machine, the combination of a container support, an anvil disposed to encompass a container on said support, said anvil having a conical outer peripheral work face inclined toward the container wall, and a spinning roller movable about the anvil in cooperation with thework face thereof.

22. In the package closing art, the process of forming hermetic seals on frangible containers which comprises supporting agasket of elastic material about the peripheral wall of a container by means of a ductile cap forming a closure for the latter, supporting portions of the cap beyond the peripheral extent of the container wall, then applying convergent forces to portions of the cap locally at circumferentially separated points and moving said forces around the cap in such manner that its entire circumference is subjected thereto progressively, reducing the gasket holding portion of the cap in circumferential extent by said forces to compress the gasket against the side wall of the container, and gathering the excess meltlal of the cap apart from the container wa 23. In the package closing art, the process of forming seals on frangible containers, which comprises disposing a closure of duetile material upon the container to be sealed, interposing a gasket of compressible material between portions of the closure and the side wall of the container, supporting portions of the closure independently of the container, then applying forces to portions of the closure progressively about the entire circumference thereof, deforming portions of the closure by said forces so as to compress the gasket against the side wall of the container and gathering the displaced material of the cap in the independently supported portions.

24;. The method of sealing frangible containers which comprises providing a cap closure having a peripheral protrudingduetile portion, disposing a charge of plastic gasket material in said portion, supporting said charge upon the container to be sealed by means of said closure cap, applying in: wardly directed forces progressively to points about the perimeter of the ductile portion while supporting parts of the ductile portion against said forces, and displacingparts of the ductile portion inwardly by said forces to compress the charge of gasket material against the container wall.

25. The method of sealing glass containers and the like by a side seal cap, said method comprising providing a cap having a cover portion and a skirt portion with a head in the skirt portion; disposing a charge of gasket material in the bead; placing the cap in position on the container; supporting direction substantially parallel to the side wall of the container; then spinning the a portion of the bead against movement in a bead inwardl to reduce the diameter of the bead and compress the gasket material between the side wall of the container and the bead to provide a side seal. 7

26. In the package closing art, the process of forming hermetic seals on frangible containers,-which comprises supporting a gasket of. compressible material about the peripheral wall of a container by means of a ductile constraining member, supporting portions of. the constraining member about the peripheral wall of the container and apart therefrom, then applying forces to portions of the constraining member progressively about the entire circumference thereof, deforming portions thereof by said forces, compressing the gasket against the side wall of the container, and gathering displaced portions of the constraining member apart from the container wall.

27. A machine for forming a side seal on a glass container or the like with a suitable cap having a ductile skirt provided with a bead carrying a plastic gasket, said machine comprising an anvil encompassing a portion of the skirt and having a work-face adapted to support a part of the sealing forces during the sealing operation and to re-shape a portion of the head during sealing operations, in combination with a spinning wheel adapted to be movable progressively around said bead to de-form and re-shape the bead between the spinning wheel and the anvil and compress the gasket from within the bead against the side wall of the glass to form a side seal.

28. A machine for forming a side seal on a glass container or the like with a suitable cap havin a bead carrying a plastic gasket in the s irt thereof, comprising an anvil to support a part of the bead against movement, and means to apply radialforces to contract said bead toward the side wall of the container and to permit the gasket to yield in one direction parallel to the side wall of the container.

29. A machine for forming a side seal on a glass container or the like with a suitable cap having .a bead carrying a plastic gasket in the skirt thereof, comprising a spinning wheel for providing a sealing force to compress the bead radially inward to form a side seal on the container, and means between the spinning wheel and I the container to sustain a part of the sealing forces.

30. A machine for forming side seals on glass containers or the like with a suitable cap having a bead carrying aplastic gasket in the side wall thereof, comprising a spinning wheel for providing sealing forces. to diminish the diameter of the bead on the cap to compress the gasket against the side wall of the container to form a side seal, and means to support a portion of the bead wall and to cause the gasket to tend to flow away from said means in a direction substantially parallel to the side wall of the container..

31. A machine for forming a side seal on a glass container or the like with a suitable cap having a bead carrying a plastic gasket in the skirt thereof, comprising means to support the container, an anvil of larger diameter than the said container and having a portion arranged to rest on the said bead, and a spinning wheel adapted to diminish the diameter of the bead and compress a portion of the beadagainst the anvil to cause the gasket to flow along the side wall of the container.

GEORGE RAMSEY. V

Images