US2010228A

US2010228A - Method and device for making closure caps

Info

Publication number: US2010228A
Application number: US647737A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Gibbs
Original assignee: Anchor Cap and Closure Corp
Current assignee: Anchor Cap and Closure Corp
Priority date: 1932-12-17
Filing date: 1932-12-17
Publication date: 1935-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1952-08-06

Description

Aug. 6, 1935. J. c. GIBBS 2,010,228

I METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAKING CLOSURE CAPS Filed Dec. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M ATTORNEY- Aug. 6, 1935. J. c. GIBBS I 2 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAKING CLOSURE CAPS Filed Dec. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- Patented Aug. 6, 1935 BIETHOD DEVICE FOR MAKING CLOSURE CAPS John c. Gibbs, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Anchor Cap & Closure Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York I Application December 17, 1932, Serial No. 647,737

25 Claims. (01. 153-72 The present invention relates to a method and device for forming closure caps and similar articles, and particularly to the forming of screw, closure caps for application to glass or other types of containers.

Screw closure caps, by reason of their simplicity of operation, are very popular and are sold in large quantities. When made from lacquered sheet metal, which is the customary material, a .number of difliculties arise. The caps have to fit on glass containers which vary in size from a true standard within prescribed limits, designated as tolerances. Therefore; the same cap may be required to fit and form a seal on either a maximum or minimum size container. Unless the threads are deep in the cap, the caps will not perform this function. Furthermore, unless the upper and lower ends of the thread maintain their addition, the rolled edge at the bottom of the cap limits the lower extremity oi the thread.

The present invention aims to overcome or 3 minimize the above difliculties by providing a de- --will increase the depth of the thread without mining the lacquer or the cap in any way and, in addition, increases the proximity of the lower end of the thread to the bottom of the cap with- 35 out decreasing its depth at its lower end. The invention aims, further, to achieve these objects without increasing the manufacturing cost of the articles.

An object of the present invention is to provide 40 an improved method and device for manufacturing closure caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ,method and device for manufacturing closure ca'ps adapted to increase the depth of the thread in the skirt of the cap without marring the appearance of the cap.

Another object of the invention is to extend the lower endof' the thread of the cap nearer the bottom thereof without decreasing the depth of the thread at thispoint.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about tobe. described, or will beindicated in the appended-claims, the various advantagesnot referred to herein will occur to one pletelyformed;

even rupturing the tin surface of the metal. In'

vice and method for making closure caps which I skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of-illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying draw- 5 ings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view of the blank used for forming the cap;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank with the beaded edge about half formed and at the com- 10 mencement of the threading operation;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank with the wire edge at the bottom of the cap formed entirely around the cap, the corrugations and thread being formed about half way around the cap;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cap with the wire edge, corrugations and thread partially formed completely about the cap;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cap com- 20' Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view showing the change in the shape of the cap flange in passing 'from the stage shown in' Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5; and

Figs. '1, 8 and 9 are'illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the device for forming the closure and practicing the method, Fig. 7 being aplan view of the mechanism adapted to engage the exterior of the cap, Fig. 8 a plan view of the chuck which receives the cap and moves it along the surfaces shown in Fig. '7, and Fig. 9 a-partial sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7. J

Referring again to the drawings, a finished closure cap I, adapted to be made by the present method and device, is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and. may comprise a cover portion 2, andia depending skirt 3 having corrugations 4 at the upper portion thereof, screw threads 5 in the central portion thereof, and a wire edge 6 on the 40 bottom of the skirt. The cover portion of the cap may have an annular groove or panel 1 adapted to improve the appearance of the cap and to increase the sealing efficiency thereof by concentrating the pressure on the rim of the container over a small area.

In. manufacturing caps of this general type, it is customary first to form a blank, as shown in Fig. 1, which may comprise a cover portion 2 with the annular-groove I, the depending skirt 3, and 0 the right angle flange 8 at the bottom of the skirt. This blank may be formed in a single stamping operation. i

The first operation on the blank shown in Fig. 1-is preferably to roll the flange 8 into a wire edge 6. This is shown more particularly in Fig. 2, where the wire edge is shown in theprocess of formation. When the flange 8 has been rolled substantially half way around the blank, the corrugating operation begins to form the corrugations 4 in the upper part of the skirt of the cap. Directly after the commencement of the corrugating operation, the threading operation begins to form the thread 5 in the skirt of the cap. It will be noted that the commencement of the thread 5, that is, the lower end of the thread 5, is preferably formed just ahead or circumferentially in advance of the rolling operation for forming the wire edge 6 from the flange 8. By starting the threading operation just after the commencement of the corrugating operation, the corrugations may be utilized to prevent slippage between the parts of the device and to form the thread accurately. By forming the lower end of the thread prior to the rolling up of the flange 8 of the blank, it is possible to locate the lower end of the thread 5 much nearer the bottom of the cap than it is possible to do if the lower end of the thread 5 is made after the wire edge has been formed, or if made at a point where the wire edge has been formed on the blank. It will be noted, in Fig. 2, that the lower end of the thread 5 may extend down below the upper part of the wire edge 6 because the flange 8 is rolled upwardly over the lower end of the thread. A greater depth can be had in this portion of the thread when formed in this manner, since its formation does not in any way change or interfere with the subsequent formation of the wire edge.

The formation of the corrugations 4, the thread 5, and the wire edge 6 continues, the thread 5 being formed just ahead or circumferentially in advance of the formation of the wire edge until the wire edge is formed completely about the cap. The blank at this stage is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. At this point; the corrugations 4 are formed about half way, around the cap, and the thread 5 is likewise formed about half way around the cap, but the flange-8 has been turned up into the wire edge 6 completely about the cap. It is to be noted, however, that the wire edge 6, while extending completely about the cap, is not in its finished state because it has only been partially rolled at this point, although the partial rolling extends completely about the cap. Likewise, the corrugations 4 and thread 5 are not in their finished state, as will be noted hereinafter. The formation of the corrugations 4 and screw threads 5 are continued until theyextend entirely about the cap, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the blank has been formed with a screw thread as deep as it is feasible to form without damaging the metal or the lacquer thereon in a single operation, but this thread is not sufficiently deep to give the best operating results when used with containers, because containers vary in size from a predetermined standard. In order to in crease the depth of the thread 5 and to completely finish the cap, the cap, as shown in Fig. 4, is passed through another stage substantially similar to the stages illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, in which the thread 5 is made deeper. Preferably, the second rolling operation is commenced just before the upper or tail end of the thread is formed by the first operation, whereby the cap is definitely held in relation with the tools so that the second rolling operation is effective upon the thread partially formed by the first operation. In addition, the rolling of the wire edge 6 is completed by turning the edge completely in, and the r corrugations t are increased in depth. Thisis shown more particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawings, where the solid lines indicate the blank shown in Fig. 4 and the dotted lines indicate the shape of the finished cap and the depth of the parts as shown in Fig. 5.

While any suitable mechanism may be utilized for performing the steps of the method described above, a preferred embodiment of the device, illustrating one form of mechanism for practicing the method, is shown in Figs. 7 to 9. Preferably, the mechanism comprises a chuck I0 adapted to receive and fit into the blank shown in Fig. 1 for moving the blank over the surfaces shown in Fig. 7 to form the cap. It will be understood that the drawings herein are more or less diagrammatic and that the surface shown in Fig. 7 may be either a flat surface or a part or section of a circular member about which the chuck I0 revolves. The mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 9 is preferably formed by three plates the wire edge on the cap. Preferably, the mechanism is divided into two sections, as indicated by the line l8 at the middle thereof. The section on the right side of the line l8 forms the blank through the several stages illustrated in' Figs. 2,3 and 4, and the section on the left side. of the line l8 completes the cap, as shown in Fig. 5. The threads IS in the first section are substantially less in height than those of the secondsection. Likewise, the corrugations 15 are greater in depth in the second section than in the first section, The groove I1 is slightly less in depth and somewhat wider in the first stage than in the finishing stage. Preferably, the mechanism in Fig. 7 is stationary and the chuck I0 is utilized for moving the cap over the surfaces described, and it is also preferred to have the chuck geared so that it will rotate in a definite relation to the surfaces in Fig. 7 at all times. Otherwise, the thread IS on the chuck would not be at all times in proper relation to the threads M3 on the forming surfaces. The upper end of the chuck likewise has corrugations 20 adapted to cooperate with'the corrugations I 5:

In the operation of the device, the blank, as shown in Fig. 1, is placed over the chuck l0 and the chuck is moved from the right to the left across the surfaces shown in Fig. 7. When the blank and chuck have moved to the point-indicated by the letter a, the formation 61 the blank has reached the stage'illustrated in Fig. 2. When the chuck and blank have reached the point indicated at b, the blank has reached the stage illustrated in Fig. 3. When the chuck has reached the center or the end of the first section at l8, the cap is in the form illustrated in Fig. 4. Thereafter, the cap is moved across the surfaces of the second section, which completes the upper or tail end of the thread, increases the depth of the corrugations, increases the depth of the screw thread, and rolls the wire edge completely. Any suitable means, such as a flat surface 2|, may be utilized to hold the cover portion of the cap against the end of the chuck l0.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a closure cap in which the screw thread is substantially deeper than the screw threads in closure caps madeby other methods and devices. The lower end of the screw thread is extended nearer to the bottom of the skirt than was possible heretofore and may extend below the upper edge of the wire of the finished cap. This portion of the thread has substantially the same depth as the other portions of the thread, so that a good grip is obtained at the bottom of the cap'and the cap is able to engage the thread of the container about its entire circumference, with a minimum of length of skirt. By utilizing two stages, one of which has thread forming surfaces of greater prominence than the other, it is possible to roll the thread a certain depth in the first stage and to increase this depth substantially in the secand stage without marring the lacquer on the metal or the metal itself. In this way, a depth can be obtained which is not possible in a single rolling or drawing operation. Since the two operations occur directly after each other, they do not slow up the machine making the cap or increase the cost thereof.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its'advantages, it is to be understood that all ilar articles, which method comprises forming a blank, rolling a wire edge about a portion of the blank, corrugating a portion of the blank, rotating said blank through the intermediation of said corrugations to prevent slippage, and thereafter commencing the formation of threads in said blank.

3. The method of making closure caps and similar articles, which method comprises forming a blank, rolling a wire edge about a portion of said blank, corrugating said blank and commencing the corrugating operationbefore the wire edge has been formed entirely about/the blank.

4. The method of making closure capsand sim ilar articles, which method comprises forming a blank, rolling a wire edge on said blank, corrugating said blank, commencing the corrugat-' ing operation after a portion of the wire edge has been formed and before the wire edge has been formed entirely about the blank, forming threads in said blank, and commencing the thread forming operation substantially directly after the commencement of the corru'gating operation.

5. The method of making closure caps and similar articles having screw threads and a beaded edge, which method comprises beading the edge of the cap and forming the portion of the thread adjacent to the bead after commencement of the beading operation and prior to the completion of the heading operation.

6. The method of making'closure caps and similar articles having screw threads therein and a bead at the lower edge thereof, which method; comprises forming the portion of the thread adjacent the bottom of the cap prior to the beading of the portion of the edge adjacent the com-- jacent the lower edge of the thread and forming other portions of the thread.

'7. The method of making closure caps and similar articles having a beaded edge and screw threads, which method comprises forming a hat 5 shaped blank, forming the lower end of the screw thread adjacent the flange on the bottom of the cap prior to the beading of the portion of the flange adjacent the bottom of the thread to position the commencement of thethread as near to l" the flange of the blank as possible, turning up.- wardly the flange adjacent the lower end of the thread to form a beaded edge and thereafter completing the formation of the thread and beaded edge. a 15 8. The method of making closure caps and similar articles having a threaded portion, a corrugated portion and a beaded portion, which method comprises forming a hat-shaped blank, turning upwardly the flange on the bottom of the blank to provide a beaded edge and forming the lower portion of the thread directly ahead of the turning of the flange to form the bead so that the lower part of the thread may be positioned close to the bottom of the cap, corrugat- 25 ing the upper portion of the cap and utilizing said corrugations and said corrugating operation to prevent slippage in' the formation of thethread. r J

. 9. The method of making closure caps and Q similar articles, which method comprises rolling a bead on the lower edge of the cap, rolling a thread in the cap and thereafter increasing the depth of the thread by a subsequent rolling operation. 10. The method of making closure caps and similar articles, which method comprises rolling a thread in the cap, forming corrugations in the cap and thereafter increasing the depth of said corrugations and said thread by a subsequent 40 rolling operation.

11. The method of making closure caps and similar articles having a beaded edge, a threaded skirt, and corrugations in the upper part of the skirt, which method comprises forming a hat- 45 shaped blank, turning said flange upwardly to form a'wire edge and forming the lower part of said thread directly ahead of the flange turning so that said portions of the thread maybe as close to the flange as possible, corrugating the upper 50 part of the skirt, utilizing said corrugations to prevent slippage, and increasing the depth of said corrugations and said screw threads by a subsequent operation.

12. The method of making screw closure caps or similar articles, which method comprises corrugating the cap, forming the threads in the cap, partially forming a bead on the lower edge of the cap, thereafter increasing the depth of the corrugations, increasing the depth of the screw threads and completing the turning of the lower edge of the bead in a subsequent operation. 7

13. The method of making screw caps, which? .l. method comprises partially forming a wire edge onthe bottom'of theblank; partially forming the lower end of the thread directly ahead of the wire forming operation, and thereafter completing the formation of the wire and increasing the depthof the'th'read. h

14. In a device of the class described'fthe combination of a cap forming device having a rotatable chuck adapted to fit into a cap, a cap forming mechanism adapted to cooperate with said chuck,

said mechanism comprising a. surface for corr u- Eating a portion of the cap, a surface for threagfi ing the cap, and a second surface for threading the cap, said second threading surface being adapted to form deeper threads therein than said first threading surface.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a .cap forming device comprising a rotatable chuck adapted to fit into a cap, a cap forming mechanism adapted to cooperate with said chuck, said mechanism comprising a surface for threading said cap, and a second surface for threading the cap, said second surface being adapted to form deeper threads than said first threading surface.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotatable chuck adapted to fit into a cap,.a cap forming mechanism adapted to'cooperate with said chuck, said mechanism comprising a surface for corrugating a portion of a cap, a surface for forming a wire edge at the bottom of the cap, a surface for threading said cap, a second surface for threading the cap, a second surface for corrugating said cap, and a second surface for beading said cap, said second surfaces being adapted to increase the depth of the thread, increase the depth of the corrugations and complete the formation of the bead, respectively.

17. In-a device of the class described, the combination of means for rolling a wire edge on the bottom of a blank, and means for rolling the lower end of a screw thread on said blank circumferentially in advance of the rolling of the wire edge.

L 18. In a device of the class described, the combination of means for rolling a wire edge on the bottom of a blank, means for corrugating the upper part of the blank, and means for rolling a thread in the blank, said thread rolling means being adapted to form the lower end of the thread after the commencement of the corrugating and wire forming operations and circumferentially in advance of the wire forming operation.

' 19. The method of making closure caps and similar articles having a beaded edge'and screw threads, which method comprises forming a hatshaped blank, turning upwardly a portion of the flange on the bottom of the blank to provide a beaded edge, forming the lower end of the screw thread adjacent to the flange and directly ahead of the turning of the flange to form the bead so that the lower part of the thread may. be positioned close:to the bottom of the cap, and

thereafter turning upwardly the flange adjacent to the lower end of the thread to complete thewire edge. 4

20. The method of making closure caps and similar articles having threads therein and a bead at the lower edge thereof, which method comprises beading a portion of the lower edge of the cap and forming. a portion of the thread circumferentially ahead of the beaded portion so that the thread may be positioned close to the bottom of the cap. I

21. The method of making closure caps and similar articles, which method comprises rolling a thread in the cap, commencing a subsequent rolling operation prior to the completion of the first rolling operation, tuincrease the depth of the thread, and rolling a beaded edge on the bottom of the cap. 1

22. The method of making closure caps and the like, which method comprises rolling a beaded edge on the bottom of arblank, starting the rolling of the lower end of a screw thread on said blank circumferentially in advance of therolling of the beaded edge, and continuing the rolling thereof about the circumference of the cap and thereafter increasing the depth of the thread by a subsequent rolling operation.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination in a cap forming. device of a rotatable chuck adapted to fit into a cap, a cap forming mechanism adapted to cooperate with said chuck, said mechanism comprising a rib for forming a substantially spiral thread in said cap and a sec and rib for threading the cap to form a deeper thread than said first rib. I

24. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a cap forming device comprising" rotatable chuck adapted to fit into a cap, a cap forming mechanism adapted to cooperate with said chuck, said mechanism comprising a surface for threading. said cap, and a second surface for threading the cap, said second surface 'being adapted to form deeper threads than said first threading surface, means for forming a beaded edge on the bottom of said cap, and means for forming corrugations in the cap.

JOHN C. GIBBS.