US1848695A

US1848695A - Albert m

Info

Publication number: US1848695A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1932-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 1949-03-08

Description

March W32. E. ilk-IURCH BOTTLE CAPPING Original Filed Feb. 2, 1929 Patented Mar. 8, 1.932 I PATENT OFFICE E UND s. CHURCH, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ALBERT M. CHURCH, ADMINISTRATOR OI SAID EDMUND CHURCH, DECEASED BOTTLE CAIPING jA pplication filed February 2, 1929, Serial No. 336,935. Renewed November 9, 1931,

The present invention pertains to the art of applying caps to bottles and has more particular reference to the application of that type of bottle cap which is formed of sheet metal and comprises a circular top, an integral continuous flange depending from the top and having formed therein an annular series of corrugations or indentations which are adapted to be pressed into a groove in the neck of the bottle, and a tongue which is connected to a portion ofthe flange and is adapted to be swung outwardly away from the bottle to flex the contiguous portion of the flange outwardly when the cap is to be removed from the bottle.

One object of the invention is to provide a device for applying caps of the aforementioned characteryin whichprovision is made forcompressing the corrugations at the sides ofthe tongue less than others to render them more readily expansible when the tongue is used to flex or spread outwardly the flange during removal of the cap from the bottle.

Another object'of the invention is to provide a device which is especially adapted for use in applying to bottles, caps of the character disclosed'in an application for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements in"bottle caps, filed by me March 5, 1927 '3 A. D., Serial No.172,956.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved bottle capping method.

7 Other objects and the various advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

7 The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

p In the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference de- -note corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1- is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved capping device, showing the same in the position it normally occupies at the beginning of the-cap applying operation;

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view, illustrating the device at the conclusion of the capping operation;

- Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, exhibiting indetail Co the notches or slots in the inner wall of the capper, which operates to compress or densify the corrugations above and adjacent the sidesof the tongue less than the other corrugations; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cap of the type for which the improved capping device is primarily adapted.

The invention involves a method and device for applying to a bottle 16 having an annular groove 16 in the neck thereof, a cap of-the type disclosed in the aforesaid patent application; This cap is fashioned from a one-piece sheet metal blank and comprises a circular top 10, a depending flared skirt or flange 11 and a tongue 12 at one side of the flange. An annular series of corrugations 13 is formed in the flange 11 and consists of alternating outer crowns 14 and inner crowns 15. The latter crowns are pressed as hereafter described into the groove 16 to lock the cap to the bottle. The majority of the

crowns

14 and 15 extend from the central portion ofthe flange to the outer edge. The tongue 12 which is positioned adjacent a portion 18 of the flange is stiflened by means of longitudinally extending ribs 17. These ribs are shaped to form continuations of the crowns 14 of said portion 18 and coact therewith to render the tongue and said portion rigid or non-flexible. Thus when the tongue is swungaway from the bottle, the portion 18 together with the corrugations thereof is also swung outwardly and the crowns 15 are disengaged with respect to the groove 16 to permit removal of the cap. The crowns 15 of said portion 18 extend to the marginal or edge part of the top 10 so that the portion itself will not bend or flex when it is swung outwardly by the tongue. The two crowns 14 at each side of said tongue 12 extend also to the top 10 so that they are capable of ready or facile expansion. A disc 19 of cork or similar sealing material is secured or pressed against the inner face of the top 10 to form an air tight seal'for the bottle 16 and to prevent thecontents of the bottle from contacting with the metal of the cap. The

FLU

portion 18 and the extended crowns 14 at the sides thereof are preferably of a combined breadth; or circumferential length equal'to approximately one quarter ofthe 'circumference of the flange. y The devicefor applying the cap to the bottle'16 comprises a die member" 20 "which has a substantially cylindricalbore-20 extend ing longitudinally therethrough; a retaining head 21 in which the die member is fixedly held; and aplunger 22', which is, slidably mounted in the lower end of the bore 20 and is adap'tedto-engsage the top 10 of the cap and forcetthe cork disc 19 intofirm contact with the mouth of the bottle during; the capping. operation: The plunger is provided with antupstanding stem 23. This stem carries at the distal end thereof a nut 24 which abuts againsttheupperendof the die memberl'20 and-v serves to limit the downward movement of the plunger. A spiral spring. 25 extends between the plunger 22 anda,

shoulder 20 on 'the'dieemember and operates tohold yieldingly and forcibly the plunger in its lowermost position. The extreme low er end-of the bore 20 is adapted to'receive and forceinwardly the corrugations of the flange 11. :Itis flared as at 20 and embodies a sufficient number of longitudinal open sidedvertically elongated. notches or slots20 V to accommodate and receive individually the crowns-14- of the flangeportion 18 and the extended crowns at the sides of saidportion so that during the capping operationthese, crowns are not compressed, or, densified as much'as'theothers. The slots 20 are preferably of rectangular cross section and extend from the'bottom face of the die member 20 to the juncture of the cylindrical and flared portions ofthe bore 20 The device operates to produce the desired.

cappingv of the bottle," in response to shift movement imparted: either to the bottle or the retainingv head 21. This relative shift movement maybe effected by any suitable-mechanism or in any manner well understood in the art. Atthe beginning of the capping operation the cap is positioned so that the top 10 is directly over the mouth of the'bottle and the extended crowns 14 of the flang'e' 11 are aligned respectively with the slots 20 'in the die-member. The bottle'and device are then vshifted together, during which movement the plunger is arrested by the top 10-and operates to force the cork disc 19" into firm engagement with the mouth of the bottle as'a result'of the action of the spring25 (see Figure 1'). Upon further relative movement of the bottle'and capping devioe'the lbwer'en d ofthe diemember 20 tele- V s'c'opes aroundthe' e'dgeiof' the-flange 11 and due to-the frusto conicalior' flared conformation of the bore 20 presses the inner crowns into the groove 16 so that the cap is secured in place by substantially all of the corrugations. Since the crowns 14 of the por tion 18 and the extended crowns at the sides of the tongue 12 fit within the slots. 20. during the capping movement. (F ig1ire-3) the corrugations adjacent said tongue are not crushed together-similarly: to the other corrugations. result of-thisarrangementremovalbf thecap by use of the tongue 12 is facilitated, for the reason that the metal adacent the tongue is readilyexpansible and spreadsfreely during. dislodgement of the crowns 15 of the flange-portion 18 from the groove 16 Anadditionalacharacteristic or resultingof: utilizingthe: slots 209*is that :the: crowns: 14-on the portion 18 are not distorted. or deflected,- and consequently. the connection: portion and the tongue. 12 isnot:

The tongue-during the capping. is forced inwardly; alongside; the

between said weakened. operation,

bottleneck Upon shift from each completed and the bottle stands properly capped; By providing. only enough:slots 2O by the flared partvofi thebore-:-2'0-*. ofthe bottle and device away other the cappingv operation is:

for the extended: ()I'OWDSllE; three quarters of the corrugationsol i? are under. maximum compression. Since tlllS'QIHOllIlUlSfIIIEHGDlfiL ly greater thanxonehalf of? the. total circumference, the-oap'is securelyheld in. place.

The invention, is not to:be: understood as:

restricted to the details set forth since: these may beinodified within the seopeoffthe ap pended claims, without; departing; from the:

spiritand scope of'the invention. 7

Having'thus described the'-invent-ion-,,what= I claim as new and desire, to secure. Icy-L tters Patent; is: V r

1. A. device for to a: grooved bot-:-

tle a cap-embodying a dependiiig flange pro-- vided: with an. annular ser iesaof' corruga tioiis, said device comprisingaj-diemember having a substantially annular inner wall adaptedto fit around the-cap and operable,

upon relative: movement of the bottle and' de-' vice, to press the corrugations into thegnoovef for locking purposes, saidi Walh having: portions thereof shaped to receive-some of the:

outer crowns of the corrugations so asto'p're vent them from being compressed as; much as the others during'the pressing" operation.

' 2. A device'forapplyingtoa girooVed-b0t tle a cap embodying a'd'ependingflange'prm vided with an annular series of corruga tions, said device. comprising, die ineniber having. a subst'ai tially annularinner wall adapted to fit around the; cap and operable,

upon relative movement oftlie hottle and device, to press the corrugations into the-groove for locking purposes, said; wall'having, slots formed therein toreceive some of v the outer crowns of the corrugations so as to prevent device to press them from being compressed as much as the others during the pressing operation.

3. A device for applying to a grooved bottie a cap embodying a depending flange provided with an annular series of corrugations, said device comprising a die member having a substantially annular inner wall adapted to fit around the cap and operable, upon relative movement of the bottle and device, to press the corrugations into the groove for locking purposes, said wall having a flared mouth and embodying longitudinal slots to receive some of the outer crowns of the corrugations so as to prevent them from being compressed as much as the others during the pressing operation.

4. A device for applying to a grooved bottle a cap embodying a depending flange provided with an annular series of corrugations, said device comprising a die member having a substantially annular inner wall adapted to fit around the cap and operable, upon relative movement of the bottle and the corrugations into the groove for locking purposes, said wall having portions thereof shaped to receive less than half of the outer crowns of the corrugations so as to prevent said crowns from being compressed as much as the others during the pressing operation.

5. A device for applying to a grooved bottle a cap embodying a depending flange provided with an annular series of corrugations, said device comprising a die member having a substantially annular inner wall adapted to fit around the cap and operable, upon relative movement of the bottle and device, to press the corrugations into the groove for locking purposes, said wall having slotted portions formed therein to receive approximately one quarter of the outer crowns of the corrugations so as to prevent said crowns from being compressed as much as the others during the pressing operation.

6. A device for applying to a grooved bottle a cap embodying a top and a corrugated flange, comprising a die member having spring means for engaging the top and a substantially annular inner wall around said means and adapted to fit around the cap and operable, upon relative movement of the bottle and device, to press the corrugations into the groove for locking purposes, said wall having portions thereof shaped to receive some of the outer crowns of the corrugations so as to prevent them from being compressed as much as the others during the pressing operation.

7. A device for applying to a bottle having a groove in the neck thereof, a cap comprising a continuous corrugated flange and a depending tongue, said device comprising a die member having an annular inner wall adapted to fit around the cap and operable, upon relative movement of the bottle and device, to press the corrugations into the groove, said wall having portions thereof shaped to receive the outer crowns of the corrugations adjacent the sides of the tongue so as to prevent them from being compressed as much as others during the pressing operation.

8. A device for applying to a bottle having a groove in the neck thereof, a cap comprising a continuous corrugated flange and a tongue depending from one side of the flange and provided with ribs aligned with the outer crowns of the corrugations in the contiguous part of the flange, said device comprising a die member having an annular inner Wall adapted to fit around the cap and operable, upon relative movement of the bottle and device, to press the corrugations into the groove, said wall having slotted portions therein to receive the aforesaid aligned ribs and outer crowns so as to prevent them from being bent relatively to each other.

9. That improvement in applying a cap having an annular series of corrugations in a depending flange to a bottle having a groove in the neck thereof, which consists in first positioning the cap upon the mouth of the bottle and then pressing all of the corrugations into the groove in such a manner that some are under less compression than others.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 29th day of January, 1929.

EDMUND S. CHURCH.