US2444506A - Method of making container closures - Google Patents

Description

Y 1948- c. HAMMER METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES I Filed March 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 6, 1948- c. HAMMER 2,444,5Q6 METHOD OFMAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed March 21, 1942 A 4 sheets sheet 2 y 1948- c. HAMMER 2,444,506

NUFJ'I'I'IOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed Marchv2l, 1942 4 Sheeis-Sheet 5 July 6, 1948. 1 HAMMER 2,444,506

METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed March 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 6, 1948 UNITED STATES T OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINER CLOSURES This invention relates to caps or closures for containers or receptacles such as bottles and jars and to the method of making the same, it more particularly relating to what are known as reseal or tamper-proof closures, by which is meant that style of closure which will readily disclose improper tampering with the container contents, the present invention having to do with that form of closure shown and described in my prior Patents 2,175,350 of October 10, 1939, and, 2,191,989 of February 2'7, 1940. The object of the present invention is the provision of an improved pre-formed, preferably rotatable reseal cap comprising the cap or closure proper which may be used to reseal the container and a sealing band of the same material effective to prevent improper tampering with the container contents, both made in a continuous operation and of the same material such as tin or black plate or some suitable springy material, whereby the cost of making and assembling these resealable caps is very materially reduced and whereby also the cap and its sealing band may be more readily separated without the'necessity of first removing the sealing band and when separated will clearly indicate any improper tampering with the contents and which cap may be quickly and inexpensively produced without the'use of objectionable scoring, scorelines or tear-off strips or the use of such thin material that the cap is practically not reuseable.

In the manufacture of this style of caps, efforts have been made to accomplish the desired result either by scoring the cap so as to enable one part of the cap to be torn from the other along the score lines or by providing tear-01f strips or a sealing band of a thinner fragile metal than that of which the cap is made.

The trade has recognized that score lines are objectionable for numerous reasons, among which is that the cap will not always tear, or will tear unequally and cannot be readily reused.

Tear-off strips are also objectionable since, frequently, it is difiicult to sever the strip along a predetermined line resulting in but a portion of the band being removed and requiring the application of tools to remove the cap. Also, it is not infrequent that manipulation of such strips results in injuries to the hands of the user which have sometimes proven serious. Consequently, customers have taken a strong dislike to such type of caps.

The use of sealing bands of different material than the cap itself, such as thin aluminum or tin foil, is not only more expensive since it is necessary that the band and cap be made or assembled by separate operations materially increasing the cost of manufacture of the cap but such thin sealing bands have the same objectionable features as tear-off strips.

In attempts to obviate these disadvantages, caps have been made of some thin pliable fragile metal which will permit the cap to be pressed or molded on to the container neck to conform to the shape thereof, that is, caps of pliable metal in which the locking elements such as threads are formed when the cap is applied to the container but these, obviously, are also objectionable since they are easily bent out of shape on the removal of the cap and, therefore, become inefiicient to reseal the container, as distinguished from a preformed metal cap, that is, one in which the metal is sufiiciently rigid, as when formed of tin or black plate, to permit the cap with its locking elements or threads to be formed on a machine and applied to the container without the necessity of shaping 0r molding it thereon which also requires time and is expensive, and in which its reuse to preserve the contents of the container,

due to its light and flimsy character, is materially interfered with,

Therefore, it is the object of the present improvement to provide a severable cap which is not dependent upon score lines, tear-ofi strips or thin bands of foil or independent assembly steps, or the application of tools to insure removal.

Therefore, the principal object of the invention is the provision of an improved preformed cap that is, one in which the cap may be eiii ciently and inexpensively made by machinery and shipped in quantities for quick and easy application to containers without the shaping or molding of the threads while on the container and which may be made in a continuous operation and all of the same material and which will permit the cap to be removed without first mutilating or removing the sealing band.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specificationi Fig. 1 illustrates in section this improved cap applied to the neck of a container such as a bottlo.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of a modification of the cap and sealing band flange.

Fig. 3 illustrates the upper portion of a container with the cap removed and the sealing band on the bottle.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the completed cap and its band. i

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate, respectively, 1118807 tion the formation of the milled flange, the severed flange and the union of the flanges by bending one over the other.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one form of rolling elements that may be used to form the cap.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and illustrates the formation of the corrugated or knurled portion, the threads and the milled proiectingrflange.

Fig. wish-sectional view onsline IE-til of Fig. 8 and illustrates the severing of the flanges and the partial bending thereof.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view illustrating the flange severing elements.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line 42-42 of Fig. 8 and illustrates the lapping of theflanges,'. and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the compression of the flanges of the cap into uirtaposition. 1

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding partsin the several views.

Beforeiexplaining in detail the present improvement andiits mode of operation, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement-oi parts .illustrated in the accompanying drawings since the invention is capable of otherembodimerits, and thatthe iphraseology-employed is for {the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the :preferred form of cap herein hown, .it is -illustrated as a skirt-formed, threaded cap although, obviously, it could-be made with any suitablelocking elements as desired and the improvement-may be used with various styles and sizes of caps for different-kinds of containers. Inthe,-present1instance, the-cap is shown as a bottle cap 2 comprising a top -3 which maybe provided with a sealing medium such as a liner 4-orcork 5 :tor stoppering the container when in thef-formrof abottle and-a skirt or capsule 6 having -locking' elements such as threads 1 formed thereon.

:Below these docking --elements, the cap has termed there-with :a s'ealing band 8 which .may Jae-readily bentsor' spun around a shoulder 9 of the container neck to prevent "the cap'zasa whole being :removed therefrom, thereby permanently securing the. lower part of :the map to T the bottle, "this bending, -:of course, taking :place after the .capxihasiheen completely rotated ion to :the contamer.

:The juxtaposediportionsrofathe 'cap '2 and'iseallingi'hand ::8 :are shaped :to .iorm: an outwardly 'extendingshol'low or double-wall -:bead, projection orrflange 10 either :of continuous or interrupted. ,4

annular form extending :bey'ond' the: normal plane of the'c'ap and its cban'd, and thls annularflange *is,-durin'g:thefmanufacture of the cap, severed atlits apex .11! .and subsequently united by .any .suitable'means as by bending or iclamping one part aof the flange 'overathe other or/by a suitable adhesive such as solder, and this forms a weakene'd portion to permit the reap to be separated from its sealing band.

in the manufacture of this urn-proved cap, a cup shaped blank-is first :madecomprismg altop and its depending skirt or capsule of sufiicient length -to enclose the neck ofthe container-and also form the sealing hand. Then, by means oif sui-tabledies or r'olli-n'g elements the skirt may 70 t mer,

belprcvided on its iexteriorlat its upper end with knurls or corrugations 12 to provide :an 'eflicient grip dor rotating the cap on. the -"b'0tt1e' and :preferably at the same time the skirt is also Provided with threads :1 if desired or other-suitable locking means. During the formation of these threads, the outwardly extending flange IE1 is also formed, usually substantially V-shaped and, preferably, during the formation of this V-shaped flange, the metal thereof is weakened by milling it as at l3.

This milling operation, of course, may take place before the cap skirt is otherwise treated, if desired, but ispreferably "accomplished simultaneously'with the formation of the outwardly projecting flange by providing the flange forming elements with milled surfaces. This milling thins and, therefore, weakens the metal at the apex portions of the projecting flange so that when the cap is rotated or forced oii the container, it

is :readily separated from its sealing band and, consequently, the cap can be readily replaced to reseal th'e'container. Subsequent to the formation'of'this milled flange H], the flange is severed along or adjacent to its "apex l I.

In one form of the improvement, after the projecting flangaissevered'alt its apex, the adjacent flange portions are brought into engagement bysuitable pressure (see Fig. 2) and united by an adhesivemedium .suchas solder or other material, the milled portions of the flange providing a roughened surface facilitating this procedure. This maybe readily done in various ways as .by rotating the cap while'onvits roll through a bath 'of molten solder.

In another form of the improvement, the outer edge of one flange portion is bent, clamped or rolled over the other flange portion, thus obviating the use of a soldering material (seefiFig. 1) Both, however, form aread-ily separable .joint for the removal of the cap portion.

Toaccomplish theloending orrol'ling of one portion of the flange 1-0 over another :portion thereof, as for instance, the toptportion Hover the bottom portion- I6 of the flange,- it is merely necessary duringthe'formation of-thecap andeas the flange is being severed along its apex, -to exert suflicient pressure upon the severed flange portions of the sealingbandrso :as to force the bottom flange i-por-tion l6 inwardly, thus shortening it, whereby the top flange portion 1-5 will project sufldciently to roverlap it. I l-Iereaiter, the flanges may, be pressed together and completely lapped. When "this overlapping connection of :the flanges is used, thecap is more-easily removed from the container because the cap can be rotated backward without rotating the seaIing'lba-nd and,=consequently, the :cap, in-riding upthe threads when it-is turned off the container, exerts most-"of. its pull on'the weakened flange Eportion rather than on the lower: spun-over edgc. Thus, the. sealing band, with its lower edge spun and, therefore,

clamped around thevshoulderQ-oi the'container, has a tendency to retain itSJPDSitiUn'DR'thB container andnot rotate withtheicapzso that the cap, on b eing turnedfoff the container, rotates relative to the sealing band and very much facilitates severance or the cap from the sealing band since the cap -ca -n-ride up 'on 'the'threads of the-com- 'tainer'w-ithoutipulling' the sealing bandiwith it so that the weakened flanges are "more quickly and readily -severed, and thisialso 'withoutzany rdis- 'tortion or mutilation of the sealing :band and making-it dangerous -subseduentlyrto'loandlerthe con- Instead t completely severing the flange, it may be severed at intervals therearound which wills'uifici'ently weaken lit to :permit tithe-separation *of the cap and this woul'dgo'f course, makexit nmnecessarytc reunite theicapimembers.

In practice, "while either flange portion may overlap or be bent over the other flange, I have shown the top flange portion I5 of the cap bent or rolled over the lower or flange portion 86 of the sealing band.

One form of elements that may be used for carrying out this method is shown in Figs. 8 to 12 comprising a, fixed circular element 20 anda roll or rolling element 2| which carries the cap around the fixed element and which is shaped to correspond with the fixed element. These elements are provided with meshing teeth properly to position them.

The fixed element 20 is made up of segments or sections of any desired number depending upon the number of forming steps required, four being shown. The segmental sections 22 and 23 are so shaped as to form the corrugations $2, the threads 1 or other locking means and during the formation of these threads form the flange it and mill it. Another segmental section, as it, severs the flange and partly bends the severed portions thereof in readiness to be completely lapped when this step is preferred to soldering. Subsequent to this, the so-bent flanges are, by the section 25, initially lapped to form a closed flange in readiness to be further treated as by suitable male and female dies 25 and 21 in the manner shown in Fig. 13 so that the walls of the flanges are compressed into substantial juxtaposition, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This step rather sharply bends the milled apex of the lapping flange and has a tendency consequently further to weaken it. Usually means is provided to give different radial pressures to the segmental sections whereby one may be shifted relative to another, as required, and for whichpurpose the ends of the segmental sections have a sliding fit and overlap one another.

When the flange is to be severed from the outside in, the segmental section 24 is provided with a cutting portion 26' (see Fig. 11) which may be formed separate therefrom and, therefore, removable to facilitate resharpening, cooperating with a groove or depression 28 at the apex of the roll 2| and into which the cutting edge will project.

The cutting member is so formed, as by providing suitable shoulders at and b that they will press the under flange It inwardly and then somewhat press the top flange l5 toward it in readiness for the next step of lapping the flanges, which takes place as the cap is carried by its roll to the segmental section 25 where the flanges are lapped and again closed. The cap may then be placed in the dies 26 and 27 (Fig. 13) and the flanges compressed into substantial juxtaposition (see Fig. '7).

Thus, when the cap is rolled over its proper segment, the flange will be severed adjacent to its apex and then these severed flanges will be brought into juxtaposition to be united as by solder or by suitable pressure so brought into position to have one flange rolled over the other.

When the flanges are to be merely brought into juxtaposition, as in Fig. 2, without other bending, the segment 25 and its roll ii are shaped to accomplish this.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be seen that both the cap and its sealing band may be made in practically a continuous operation and of the same material and yet have a weakened separable joint which will readily permit the cap to be removed independently of its sealing band and, thereafter, to be used to reseal the container.

In practice, the severing of'the flange may either be from the inside out or the outside in by merely reversing the structure of the rolling elements. In the present instance, I have shown the cap severed from the-outside in.

Thus, the several sections of the fixed segmental element, together with the roll carrying the cap, moving around these segmental sections, performs each a part of the work and make the cap and its sealing band practically in one continuous operation and all of the same material in readiness to be applied to a container and have the sealing band 8 bent under the container shoulder with the juxtaposed portions of the cap and sealing band flange ill sufliciently weakened to permit the cap to be rotated free of the sealing band when the container is to be opened and yet permit the cap to be used to reseal the container.

In practice, the milled portion of the flange may also be scored to weaken it further which likewise can be done during the operation of forming the cap simply by providing the necessary scoring face on the forming elements. Also, in that form where one flange portion is seamed or rolled over the other, it may be desirable only to mill the overlapping portion l5 of the flange instead of the entire flange and this, of course, may be done merely by milling the corresponding coacting faces of the cap roll and segment.

If desired, the locking threads, when such are used, may be relatively shallow in the first instance and subsequently deepened in the manner shown and described in my patents hereinbefore referred to, thus giving a truerand better thread.

In the present improvement it will therefore be seen that the gradual rotation of the cap off the container will result, due to the inclination of the threads, in separating the cap portion from the sealing band portion at the apex of the flange, this being obtained without the tearingoff of a tear-off strip, the fracture thereof crosswise or the use of any instrument to sever the parts and since the cap and its sealing band cannot thereafter be reunited in any practical way, it follows that any improper tampering with the container can be readily detected both by the hand and the eye, however, withoutinterfering with the replacement of the cap to reseal the container. 1

Thus, I have provided a preformed severable cap and sealing band which can be made in practically one continuous operation out of the same material and which will efliciently-preventtampering withthe contents without detection and in which the cap portion can be readily removed without first removing or tearing off a sealing band. i

It is to be understood that, by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the in vention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using the same although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I claim:

1. The method of making a closure cap capable of repeated reuse and having locking elements for rotatably securing the cap on to a container and a sealing band severable therefrom and adapted to be bent around the shoulder of a container, which consists in providing the cap with a skirt of suflicient length to receive ithe locking elements and alsozform an --integral sealing :band ibelowwsaidlocking elements, 'forming -,;said docking elements v.in :the skirt, forming below said locking elements an :outwardly extending double walledintegral flange, then severing-the flange adjacent .to its apex, andthen .reunitingthe severed parts I of the vflange to form ,a severable joint svealrerthan the original :joint ,-of--.the-unsevered-rparts and permit the cap tobe separated .-from its ,sealing band on the rotation ,of thercap ofi thescontainer withoutifirst tracturing or removing .the sealing band.

Theimethodr-of making a closure-cap capaeble of repeated reuse ,and'having docking elements ,for rotatably securing the cap ton to ,a

container and a sealing band severable therefrom andadapted to be bent around theshoulder of ma container, which consists providing the cap with Ta skirt :of sufficient length \to receive the locking elements and also torm ,an integral 'sealingband spacedtbelowsaid locking elements, forming -=inclinedor threadlike locking elements in 1 the skirt, ,Iorming in the spaced part -.below said slacking elements an outwardly extending double-walled iintegralaflange, then severing the ilange (adjacent toyits-apex, and then :reuniting the severedparts -of :the flange to vform. a severable ,jointsth'at will-gpermitthezcap during its rotation off thee-container up the inclined .lockin elements to'rotateirelatively to its bandxand efieot. its release therefrom and he removed without,firstiracturingorsremoving the sealing hand.

,3. ,The method -,of making a closure cap capa- ,ble' of repeated reuse and :having looking elements for rotatably securing the cap -.on to a container and azsealing band severable therefrom.- and :adaptedeto the abent around -:the shoulder .of-a-eontainer, .-.which eonsistsdn providing .the cap ,with a skirt :of -:-suficient length Eto receive the docking (elements and also form ran integral sealing iband '1b810W said locking elements, :forming gsaidllocking :elements in .the -.skirt, forming helowsaid locking elements :an outwardly extending doubleewalled integral flange having :a \weakened portion, then tsevering ithe flange adjacent .to. its apex, :andthen :reuniting the severed parts of therfiangetto for-m a'severable joint weakerst-han the original joint:- of 1 the unsevered ,parts ,and :.permit the cap to :he separated from its sealing band on the rotation -;of the ecapzoff the-container without first-fracturing or removing-theisealing band.

A. The method of imakingaclosure capicapable .of repeated -reuse ,:and having locking elements for rotatably securing thecap -.on -;to ,a container and Pa xsealing ,band severable therefrom -and adaptedto be bent aroundthe, shouldertofiatcontainer, which consists in providing the napzwith a skirtgof -.-suflicient length to receive" the locking elements and also. form an iintegral sealing band ibelowsaid lockingselements-forming:said-locking elements in; the skirt, forming below-saidlocking elements anoutwardly :extending :double-walled :integral flange, ethen severing "the flange adiacentlto its apex,=and then reuniting the severed ,parts of the iflange --by rbendiljlg one over the other to 'forma :severablejoint weaker than the original joint of the unsevered- ;parts and permit the cap t0-:be separatedtromitssealingband on the notation 1 of the =cap off the container without first fracturing or removing the sealing band.

:5. The method of makingaelosure-cap capable "of repeated reuse; and having Blocking-elements for :rotatably securing :the .cap on "toa container and :a sealing =band severable therefrom andadapted tobe bent .around ,the shoulder of a container, which consistsin providing :the cap with a skirt of sufiicient length tojreceiveithelocking elements and also form an integral sealing band-belowtsaid locking elements, forming said locking elements in -.thetskirt, forming belowsaid locking elements an outwardly extending :double-wal-led integral flange, then severing the flange adjacent to its apexgand then reunitingthe severedparts of the .flange by bending that ofthe cap over that of :the sealing band-to dormaseverablejoint weaker than the original joint of the iunsevered parts and; permit the cap to heseparated :from; its seal- .in band -On the rotation I of the cap off :the container without "first fracturing 0r removing the sealing-band.

-.6.- The method of making a closurecap capable :of repeatedreuse and having locking-elements for rotatably securing the cap on to a container and a sealing 'band severable therefrom and adapted ,to be ,bent around the shoulder Ofra container, which consists-inproviding-the cap with a-skirt of sufiicient lengthto receive the locking: elements and: also ,form-an integralrsealing-bandbelow:said locking elements, forming said "locking elements .in ,the skirt, forming below said locking elements an ;outwardly extending -.double walled integral flange, then-severing (the-flange adjacent to its apex, and ithen reuniting tthe. severed parts of :the flange by bending one to a greater extent-than the other and-.over'the-other to form aseverable ,jointweaker than the original ,joint of theaunsevered parts :and permit the cap=to be separated from .its sealing band-entire rotation of the cap off thecontainer without first fracturing .or:re .moving the sealing band.

--.CHARLES HAMMER.

REFERENCES CITED .The :following references are'of recorcl in the .file :of 2131115 :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name :Date

161,634 Patterson ,Ap r."6, 1875 5382;070 .Joh'nson -Jan. 17,1911

1 043359 Revel, lJr Nov. 5, 11912 1,272,859 fRussell July l6,.19l8 1,319,395 Huddleston ,(Dct. 21, 1919 12,002,456 -Sebell :May.2-1,;,1935 2,191,989 Hammer -Feb. i27,;1940 2,028,202 aGauthier 1,Jan;21, 19.36 2,039,972 Lyon :Aug. 517, 1937 2,153,344 Selliken Apr. 4,1939 21-? 5,350 Hammer -iOc t. ,10, 1939 2,280,724 Sharp Apr.:2 1, 19 12

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