US3771284A

US3771284A - Capping apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3771284A
Application number: US00181827A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Boeckmann; W Hammernik
Original assignee: Federal Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Federal Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1971-09-20
Filing date: 1971-09-20
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13

Abstract

A capping apparatus including a cap attachment assembly and a cap tightening turret to be used in conjunction with a container filling turret having a conveying apparatus for transferring the filled containers to the capping turret. The cap attachment assembly includes a housing for supporting a cap in the path of motion of the neck of the container and a pretightener assembly positioned to level the cap on the neck of the container as the cap is pulled from the housing and to impart an initial rotary motion to the cap prior to entering the cap tightening assembly. The cap tightening turret includes a number of spindles having continuously rotating heads and a corresponding number of pedestals for moving the necks of the containers into the rotating heads. Each of the heads includes a resilient ring to frictionally engage the outer periphery of the cap to rotate the cap into tight engagement with the neck of the container.

Description

United States Patent 91 Boeckmann et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 CAPPING APPARATUS [75] lnventors: Hugo Boeckmann, Wheeling, 111.;

William F. Hammernik, Greenfield, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Federal Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 181,827

[52] U.S. Cl 53/282, 53/314, 53/315, 53/317, 53/331.5 [51] Int. Cl B651) 7/28, B67b 3/08, B67b 3/20 [58] Field of Search 53/317, 331.5, 314, 53/315, 357, 360-362, 281, 351, 353, 367, 282

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,819,577 1/1958 Dimond 53/317 2,885,851 5/1959 Aldington 53/357 3,255,568 6/1966 Martin et al.... 53/331.5 X

3,477,202 11/1969 Zetterberg 53/315 3,073,090 1/1963 Roberts et al.. 53/317 X 3,440,798 4/1969 Rackley 53/317 X 2,656,084 10/1953 Filander 53/331.5 2,760,391 8/1956 Knutson 53/317 X 3,491,516 1/1970 Bergeron 53/317 3,290,863 12/1966 Geber 53/360 3,031,822 5/1962 Dimond 53/33l.5 X

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerHorace M. Culver Attorney-James E. Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A capping apparatus including a cap attachment assembly and a cap tightening turret to be used in conjunction with a container filling turret having a conveying apparatus for transferring the filled containers to the capping turret. The cap attachment assembly includes a housing for supporting a cap in the path of motion of the neck of the container and a pretightener assembly positioned to level the cap on the neck of the container as the cap is pulled from the housing and to impart an initial rotary motion to the cap prior to entering the cap tightening assembly. The cap tightening turret includes a number of spindles having continuously rotating heads and a corresponding number of pedestals for moving the necks of the containers into the rotating heads. Each of the heads includes a resilient ring to frictionally engage the outer periphery of the cap to rotate the cap into tight engagement with the neck of the container.

18 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAHNTEDHBYTL? 2975 3,771,284 SHEET 10F 4 l V T INVENTORS:

Huco BOECKMANN WILLIAM F. HAMMERNIK ATTORNEY PATENIEBNUV'ISISYS 3.771.284 summon INVENTORSQ HUGO BOECKMANN WILLIAM F. HAMMERNIK ATTORNEY CAPPING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Container filling turrets are well known and are used to automatically fill the containers by moving the containers into engagement with filling nozzles provided on the turret. After the container has been filled a screw cap is secured to the threaded neck of thecontainer. Various types of cap attaching and tightening devices are being used for placing and tightening caps onto the necks of the containers. The major difficulties with most of these devices has been the inability to assure adequate tightening of the cap, alignment of the cap on the neck of the container, and in some instances, the containers have been crushed as aresult of the application of too much turning force or vertical pressure on the neck of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The capping apparatus of the present invention includes a cap attachment assembly and a cap tightening turret. The cap attachment assembly includes a housing for supporting a cap in a vertical transverse relation to the direction of motion of the container in moving from the filling turret to the cap tightening turret. The bottle neck will engage the exposed skirt of the cap and pull the cap from the housing. The cap leveler and pretightener assembly is positioned next to the housing to level the cap on the neck of the container and to impart an initial rotary motion to the cap prior to moving the cap into the cap tightening turret. The cap tightening turret includes a number of spindles and corresponding pedestals arranged around the outer periphery of the turret. The containers are moved in sequence onto the pedestals and are moved upward by the pedestals into engagement with'the spindles. Each spindle includes a head which rotates continuously and contains a flexible ring to engage the cap, rotating the cap through a predetermined number of revolutions to tighten the cap on the bottle. Variations in the number of revolutions of the cap required to securely seat the cap on the neck of the container are compensated for by a lost motion connection provided between the flexible ring and the spindle head. The head also provides for vertical pressure relief to prevent crushing of the container. The containers are held in a stationary or fixed position on the pedestal by a fixed holding ring provided on the outer periphery of the head which engages the container and holds the container fixed as the cap is tightened onto the neck of the container.

Other advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view in perspective of a portion of a container filling turret showing the cap attachment assembly and the cap tightening turret of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cap tightening turret with the cover removed to show the drive arrangement for the cap tightening spindle heads;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cap holder for the cap attachment assembly taken on line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cap holder showing the neck of the container in a position to engage the exposed skirt of the cap;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3

showing the cap partially pulled out of the cap holder;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the cap leveler and pretightener assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the spindles showing the container stop assembly;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of one of the cap tightening spindles;

FIG. 9 is a section view of the cap tightening spindle;

FIG. 10 is a revolved section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 13 showing the position of the cap prior to being pushed into the spindle head;

FIG. 11 is a view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 13 showing the cap about to be seated in the spindle head with the container stop assembly removed;

FIG. 12 is a view similar toFIG. 11 showing the cap seated in the flexible ring in the head in an over travel position; I

FIG. 13 is a cross section viewtaken on line 13-13 of FIG. 10 showing the drive disc adjustment nut and guide bushing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The capping apparatus of the present invention is used to automatically attach and tighten screw type caps 10 onto the neck 11 of containers 12 after they have been filled in a container filling turret 14. Generally, the container filling turret 14 is mounted for rotation on a base 16 and includes a number of fluid filling spindles 18 each having a filling nozzle 20 and a corresponding number of pedestals 22 for supporting the containers 12 for movement into engagement with the nozzles 20. The operation of the turret 14 is well known and involves the movement of the containers 12 into engagement with the nozzles'20 for filling the containers witha fluid as the turret 14 rotates. After the containers 14 have been filled, they are transferred by means of a transfer wheel 24, which is also mounted for rotation on the base 16, through a cap attachment as sembly 26 and into a cap tightening turret 28. Although plastic containers are shown in the drawing, it is within the contemplation of this application to attach and tighten caps 10 onto containers made of other materials.

The Capping Attachment In accordance with the invention, the caps 10 are attached to the containers 12 by means of the cap attachment assembly 26. This assembly, as seen in FIGS. 1 through 6, includes a housing or base 30 secured by screws 31 to the end of a support bar 32 which is adjustably supported on a fixed post 34 provided in the base 16. The caps 10 are fed by gravity to the housing 30 by means of a chute 35 which is secured to the bar 32 and has a groove 38. A groove or channel 36 having a back wall 40 is provided in the housing 30 to form a continuation of the groove 38 in the chute 35 and is closed on the front by a plate 37 secured to the housing 30 by bolts 39. The caps 10 are placed in sequence in the groove 38 of the chute 35 and are allowed to roll or slide down the chute 35 into the channel or groove 36 provided in the housing 30. The caps 10 are retained in the groove 36 by means of a pair of fingers or flanges 42 which are secured to the end of the housing 30 by bolts 44 and extend inwardly into the groove 36 in a position to engage the skirt 46 of the caps 10. The lower or minor portion of the cap 10 is allowed to project downwardly below the housing 30, a distance sufficient for engagement by the neck 11 of the containers 12 as described below.

The caps are held in a vertical relation in the groove 36 transverse to the direction of motion of the containers 12 by means of a retaining plow 50 which is secured to the plate 37 on the front of the housing 30 as described hereinafter. The plow 50 includes a lower arcuate portion 52 which is curved to guide the cap 10 onto the neck 11 of the bottle.

The caps 10 are pulled out of the groove 36 in the housing 30 by the movement of the neck 1 1 of the containers 12 as the containers are transferred from the filling turret 14 to the cap tightening turret 28. It should be noted (FIG. 4) that the housing 30 is located just above the path of motion of the neck 1 1 of the containers 12. The skirt 46 of the exposed portion of the cap 10 which extends below the housing 30 is engaged by the neck 11 of the container 12 as it passes beneath the housing 30 pulling the cap 10 angularly out of the groove 36 and away from the fingers 42. When the cap 10 clears the retaining plow 50, the next cap 10 enters the discharge section or groove 36 so that the cap 10 will rest on the fingers or flanges 42. Retaining plow 50 will supply sufficient pressure to the cap 10 to align the cap on the top of the neck 11 of the container 12 as the container moves past the housing 30.

Leveling and Pretightening Assembly Means are provided to seat the caps 10 on the top of the neck 1 1 of the containers 22 after the containers 12 clear the housing 30. Such means is in the form ofa leveling plate 64 which is suspended by a pair of bolts 66 over the path of motion of the neck 11 of the containers 12. In this regard, the leveling plate 64 includes a tab 68 having a slot 70. The leveling plate 64 is mounted on the front plate 37 by initially aligning the plow 50 and tab 68 and inserting bolts 66 through the tab 68 and plow 50 into the front plate 37. The height of the leveling plate can be adjusted by loosening screws 66 and sliding the tab 68 up or down as required.

The caps 10 are pretightened prior to entering the tightening turret 28 by means of an arcuate plate 80 which is secured to the leveling plate 64 in a position to bear against the skirt or flange 46 of the caps 10. In this regard, the arcuate plate 80 has one end pivotally secured by a pivot pin 82 to the plate 64 and the other end secured by a bolt 84 to a flange 65 which depends from the plate 64. The plate 80 is biased toward the cap 10 by means of a spring 86 provided on the bolt 84 between the plate 80 and the flange 65. It should be noted that the curve of the plate 80 generally follows the curve 85 of the path of motion of the centerline of the neck 11 of the container 12 as the container 12 passes under the plate 64. The plate 80 includes a compressible inner member 88 such as a strip of rubber which will frictionally engage the side of the skirt 46 of the cap 10. As the container 12 is moved past the plate 80, the cap will engage the inner member 88 pivoting the plate 80 about pin 82. The spring 86 will bias the member 88 against the cap 10 with sufficient force to cause the cap 10 to roll along the member 88 and thereby rotating on the neck 48 of the container 12. Although the amount of rotation is small, it will normally turn the cap 10 far enough for the threads of the cap to engage the thread on the neck 11 of the container 12. The container 12 then enters the cap tightening turret 28.

The Cap Tightening Turret The cap tightening turret 28 generally includes a housing or turret 90 which is secured to a shaft 92 for rotation on the base 16. The turret 90 is rotated in synchronism with the container filling turret 14 by a conventional drive assembly provided within the base 16. The caps 10 on the containers 12 are tightened by means of a number of cap tightening spindles 94 mounted on radially extending arms 98 provided around the outer periphery of the housing 90. The containers 12 are supported on the turret 90 by means of a number of pedestals 96 for movement of the neck 11 of the container 12 into the spindles 94.

In this regard, (FIG. 2) the pedestals 96 each include a plate and support rod or bar 97 having a cam roller 100 journalled for rotation on the lower end thereof. The support bars 97 are mounted for vertical movement in radially extending arms 101 provided on housing 90. The pedestals 96 are moved vertically upward toward the spindles 94 by means of a fixed cam track 102 provided below and around the periphery of the turret 90 in a position to engage the cam roller 100. The cam track 102 is contoured to raise the pedestals 96 upward to push the neck 11 of the containers 12 into the spindles 94 during a portion of the motion of the containers 12 around the shaft 92 and to drop the pedestals 96 after the caps 10 have been tightened on the necks 11 of the containers 12. The containers 12 are then transferred to a discharge conveyor 103 by means of a transfer wheel 24.

Cap Tightening Spindles Each of the spindles 94 as seen in FIGS. 7 through 13 includes a generally cylindrical housing 104 having a pair of mounting flanges 108 at each end. The housing 104 is secured to the radially extending arms 98 on the housing 90 by pins 112 which pass through the mounting flanges 108. A shaft 114 having a disc 116 at one end is mounted for rotary motion in the housing 104 on bearings provided at each end of the central opening 107 of the housing 104. The disc 116 includes a centralrecess 126 and a pair of drive pins 128. The shafts 114 are rotated by means of pinion gears 120 which are secured to the top of the shafts 114 and are positioned to mesh with a fixed gear 122 journalled on the end of the shaft 92. The gear 122 is held in a fixed position on the shaft 92 (FIG. 2) by means of a pair of pins 123 provided on the gear 122 in a position to engage a pair of openings 125 provided in a plate 127 secured to a cover 129 for the apparatus 28. The plate 127 is held in a fixed position by a torque arm 124 which is secured to the fixed shaft 34. As the shaft 92 and turret 90 rotate, the pinion gears 120 will roll around the periphery of the fixed gear 122.

Means are provided on the end of the shaft 114 for engaging and tightening the caps 10 onto the necks 11 of the containers 12. Such means is in the form of a spindle head 130 which is secured to rotate with the disc 116 by means of a number of bolts 132. A flexible ring 142 is positioned within the head 1 30 and has an internal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the caps 10. The necks 11 of the containers 12 with the caps 10 attached are pushed into the flexible ring 142. The ring 142 will frictionally engage the skirt 46 of the cap 10 and since the head 130 rotates continuously, the

ring 142 will screw the cap onto the neck 11 of the container 12.

Spindle Head (FIGS. 8-13) More particularly, the spindle heads 130 each include a cylindrical housing 134 having a central opening 136 which terminates at one end in a reduced diameter flange 138. Means are provided within the cylindrical housing 134 for transferring the motion of the shaft 114 to the flexible ring 142. Such means is in the form of a torque disc 144 and a drive disc 146 which are positioned within the housing 134 and are retained therein by the flange 138. The drive disc 146 has a central threaded opening 145 and is connected-to the shaft 114 by a pair of openings 150 which are positioned to matingly engage the drive pins 128 provided on the disc 116. The torque disc 144 is provided with a tapered opening 178 which has an inclined surface 180 that extends downwardly and outwardly from a central recess 182 and terminates in an inwardly directed flange 184. A small diameter opening 186 is provided through the disc 144 in the center of the recess 182. The flexible ring 142 is housed within the tapered opening 178 and rotates with the torque disc 144 to screw the caps 10 onto the neck 11 of the containers.

The torque disc 144 and drive disc 146 are maintained in a coaxial relation within the housing 134 by means of a guide bushing 174 which is positioned within a central recess 160 provided in the torque disc 144. A bearing washer 177 is provided between the torque disc 144 and drive disc 146 to allow freedom of movement between the discs as described below.

Maximum application of torque by the ring 142 to the caps 10 is provided by means of the engagement of the ring 142 with the inclined surfaces 180 in the opening 178 in the torque disc 144. In this regard, the ring 142 is formed with a central tapered recess 188 which terminates at an inwardly projecting flange 190 and has a number of outwardly extending, equally spaced ribs 182 around the outer periphery. The ribs or flanges 192 are positioned to engage-the inclined surface 180 of the opening 178 provided in the torque disc 144. The ring 142 is retained in the opening 178 by the engagement of the reduced diameter flange 184 with the ribs 192. A clearance 191 is provided between the top of the ring 142 and the central recess 182 in the torque disc 144 to allow the upper portion of the ring 142 to be pushed upward with respect to the torque disc 144 so that the inclined surface 180 bears against the outer periphery of the ribs 192. It should be apparent that the force applied by the inclined surface 180 to the ribs 192 will tend to push the walls of the recess 188 of the ring 142 inwardly against the skirt 46 of the caps 10. The turning force or torque applied by the ring 142 will then be exerted on the outer periphery of the flange or skirt 46 of the cap 10.

The caps 10 should not be rotated more than the number of revolutions required to seat the cap 10 on the neck 11 of the container 12 in order to eliminate any damage to the neck 11 of the container 12. Means are provided to allow the torque disc 144 to stop while drive disc 146 continues to rotate. Such means is in the form of the bearing washer 177 provided between the torque disc 144 and drive disc 146. When the cap tightens on the neck 11, the torque disc 144 will stop and the drive disc 146 will continue to rotate until the container 12 is dropped clear of the spindle head 130. The

weight of the liquid filled container will pull the cap 10 out of the resilient ring 142.

If the caps 10 are loose, the amount of lost motion or torque can be adjusted by means of a threaded sleeve 148 having a central aperture 149 provided in the threaded opening 145 and a compression spring 212 provided in the recess 126 in shaft 114. The threaded sleeve 148 can be turned up or down to adjust the force of the spring 212 acting on the disc 146. The threaded sleeve is locked in position by means of a set screw 166 I provided in a threaded opening 168 provided in the side of the drive disc. Where only minor variations in tightness are required, the turret can be raised or lowered to vary the tightness of the bottle top on the neck of the bottle.

Means are provided for leveling the cap 10 on the neck 48 of the container 12 prior to rotation of the cap 10 on the container. Such means is in the form of a plunger or leveler 200 having a threaded stem 202 which extends upward through the flange 190 in the ring 142, the opening 186 in the torque disc 144, the opening 149 in the sleeve 148 and into the recess 126 in the shaft 114. A disc or plate 204 is provided at the end of the stem 202 to engage the top of the cap 10 as the cap 10 is pushed into the ring 142. The plunger 200 is retained within the spindle by means of a nut 206 provided on the threaded portion 208 of the stem 202. The plunger 200 is biased downward toward the cap 10 on the container by means of a spring 210 provided on the upper portion of the stem 202 and seated within the opening 126 in the shaft 114.

Means are provided to allow for overtravel of the neck 11 of the container 12 as the cap 10 is pushed into the spindle head 130 to prevent damage to the containers 12. Such means is in the form of the recesses in the drive disc 146 for the drive pins 128. The recesses 150 are extended to allow for movement of the drive disc 146 on the pins. The spring 212 provided between the sleeve 148 and the disc 116 biases the drive disc 146 and the torque disc downwardly against the flange 138. If the container is pushed upward too far, the torque disc 144 and drive disc 146 will be pushed upward against the force of spring 212.

Container Stop Assembly Means are provided on the spindle heads 130 to hold the containers 12 in a fixed position while the caps 10 are being tightened onto the necks 11 of the container 12. Such means as seen in FIGS. 8 and 10 is in the form of a stop assembly 215 which includes a number of fingers 214 secured to a ring 216 provided on the outer periphery of housing 134. The ring 216 is mounted to rotate in a split bearing ring 218 secured to the-housing 134 by screws 219. The ring 216 is held in a stationary or fixed position when the head 130 rotates by a bracket 220 secured to the housing 104 by screws 222 and to the ring 216 by screw 224. When the containers 12 are moved upward toward the spindles, the fingers 214 will engage the sides of the container 12. If thecontainer starts to turn, the handle 15 on the container 12 will abut one of the fingers 214 preventing any further rotation of the container.

OPERATION The containers 12 are initially filled with a fluid in the filling turret 14 as is generally understood. The filled containers 12 are transferred in sequence from the filling turret 14 to the cap tightening apparatus 28 by the transferwheel 24. The motion of the containers 12 through the pretightening attachment 26 is used to place a cap 10 on the top of the neck 11 of the container 12.

In this connection and referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the neck 11 of the container is shown moving into engagement with the exposed portion of the cap 10. The motion of the container 12 will push the cap 10 against the retaining plow 50 and away from the supporting flanges 42. Once the cap 10 clears the flange 42, it will be pulled out of the groove 36. The following cap 10 will drop onto the flange 42 and will be retained in an almost vertical position in the housing 30 by the front way 37.

The cap 10 is leveled on the neck of the bottle after the cap is pulled from the housing by the plate 64. R- tary motion is imparted to the cap by the engagement of the cap with the arcuate plate 80. The compressible rubber material 88 will frictionally engage the cap causing the cap to roll along the surface of the material 88.

The containers 12 are then fed in sequence to the pedestals 96 on the cap tightening apparatus 28. The containers 12 are moved upward to seat the cap 10 against the flange 190 in the ring 142. The upward movement of the ring 142 with the cap 10 will force the ribs 192 against the inclined surface 180 forcing the inner surface 188 against the skirt 46 of the cap 10. The containers 12 are held in a fixed or non-rotary position by the fingers 214 on ring 216 while the cap 10 is rorated with the spindle head 130. The pinion gear 120 and track 102 are coordinated to provide a rotary motion to the cap 10 before the pedestal is dropped to disengage the cap 10 from the flexible ring 142. The capped containers 12 are then transferred to a conveyor 230 by transferwheel 24.

RESUME The capping apparatus of this invention provides for the automatic attachment of a screw type cap 10 to the neck of a container 1 l and automatic tightening of the cap on the container. Cap attachment is achieved by the cap attachment assembly which attaches, levels and pretightens the cap on the containers. The caps 10 are tightened by the capping turret 28 which includes a novel flexible ring 142 that can be squeezed against the outer periphery of the cap 10. This provides for the application of a maximum turning force on the skirt 46 and reduces the possibility of any slippage occurring between ring 142 and the cap 10. A lost motion connection and an overtravel connection are provided between the ring 142 and the spindle to prevent any damage from occurring between the cap and container. The

, containers are held in a fixed position on the pedestals while the caps are being turned on the neck of the containers by the stop assembly 215. The time of travel for a filled open container from the point of filling to the point of closing has been reduced to a minimum by the apparatus of this invention. This improves the sanitary conditions enormously for a container with a contaminable fluid being filled and capped.

We claim:

1. The combination with a container filling turret mounted for rotary motion on a base, of a cap leveling and pretightening assembly and a cap tightening turret, the container being moved in sequence from the container filling turret past the cap leveling and pretightening assembly to the cap tightening turret, said cap leveling and pretightening assembly comprising,

a housing supported in a fixed position on the base in the path of motion of the containers,

said housing having a groove positioned in a transverse relation to the direction of motion of the containers, said groove terminating in a reduced cross section width to retain the major portion in the groove and allow a minor portion of the cap to be exposed below the housing,

a chute attached to said housing for feeding caps in sequence to said groove,

means mounted on the front of said housing for bolding the caps in a substantially vertical relation on the reduced width cross section, whereby the cap will be pulled from the housing by the movement of the neck of the container into engagement with the exposed section of the cap,

said cap tightening turret including a housing having a number of cap-tightening spindles, each spindle including a head and a resilient ring having a tapered recess for engaging and tightening said cap on the container,

and means for supporting the container for movement into the recess in said resilient rings.

2. The combination according to claim 1 including means on said assembly for pretightening said cap on the neck of the container prior to transfer to the cap tightening turret.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said pretightening means includes an arcuate plate having a resilient cushion positioned to frictionally engage the skirt of said cap.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a leveling plate supported in a position to engage and level said cap.

5. The combination according to claim 1 including means for providing a lost motion connection between said ring and said head.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said lost motion means includes a drive disc mounted to rotate with said head, a torque disc in said head and a spring operably biasing said drive disc into engagement with said torque disc, said resilient ring being seated in said torque disc.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said resilient ring includes a plurality of ribs on its outer periphery in a position to engage said head when a cap is seated in the recess in said ring.

8. The combination according to claim 1 including means mounted in said head for leveling the caps prior to being seated in the tapered recess of said resilient ring.

9. The combination according to claim 1 including means for providing an overtravel movement for said ring.

10. A capping apparatus for securing a screw type cap to the neck of a continuously moving container, said apparatus comprising a cap attachment assembly for placing a cap on the neck of the container, said assembly including means for supporting said caps in a vertical transverse relation to the direction of motion of said container and means for leveling the caps on the container,

and a cap tightening turret for tightening the cap on the container,

said turret including a number of cap tightening spindles and a corresponding number of container supporting pedestals for moving the containers upwardly to a cap tightening position with respect to said spindles,

each of said spindles including a continuously rotating head,

a resilient ring having a tapered recess and being mounted for movement in said head in response to movement of said cap into said tapered recess,

and means for applying pressure to the outer periphery of said ring as said cap is seated in said tapered recess.

11. The apparatus according to cliarn 10 including means within said head for providing lost motion between said resilient ring and said head.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 including means in said spindle head for leveling the caps prior to being seated in the tapered recess of said resilient ring.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 including means for providing an overtravel motion between said resilient ring and said head.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said leveling means includes means for pretightening the cap on the neck of the container.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said pretightening means includes a resilient cushion positioned to engage the cap and impart a rotary movement thereto.

16. The combination with a container filling turret mounted for rotary motion on a base of a cap leveling and pretightening assembly and a cap tightening turret,

the container being moved in sequence from the container filling turret to the cap tightening turret, said cap tightening turret comprising,

a housing mounted for rotary motion on the base,

a number of spindles mounted on the outer periphery of said housing, each spindle including a shaft mounted for rotary motion in said spindle and having a drive plate at one end,

a hollow cylindrical member having a reduced diameter opening at one end secured to said plate,

a drive disc mounted in said housing, means for connecting said drive disc to said plate,

a torque disc having a tapered recess retained in said housing by said reduced diameter opening,

a spring biasing said torque disc into engagement with said drive disc,

a flexible ring having a cap tightening recess therein mounted in said tapered recess in said torque disc,

a pedestal corresponding to each of said spindles for supporting the containers,

means for moving said pedestal upward to seat the cap on the container in the recess in the compressible ring,

and a container stop assembly mounted on each of said spindles and including a number of flexible fingers positioned to engage said container.

17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein said drive disc connecting means comprises a pair of pins on said plate and a corresponding pair of openings in said drive disc, said openings being extended to provide for overtravel movement between said drive disc and said plate.

18. The combination according to claim 16 including means for adjusting the force of said spring.

Claims

1. The combination with a container filling turret mounted for rotary motion on a base, of a cap leveling and pretightening assembly and a cap tightening turret, the container being moved in sequence from the container filling turret past the cap leveling and pretightening assembly to the cap tightening turret, said cap leveling and pretightening assembly comprising, a housing supported in a fixed position on the base in the path of motion of the containers, said housing having a groove positioned in a transverse relation to the direction of motion of the containers, said groove terminating in a reduced cross section width to retain the major portion in the groove and allow a minor portion of the cap to be exposed below the housing, a chute attached to said housing for feeding caps in sequence to said groove, means mounted on the front of said housing for holding the caps in a substantially vertical relation on the reduced width cross section, whereby the cap will be pulled from the housing by the movement of the neck of the container into engagement with the exposed section of the cap, said cap tightening turret including a housing having a number of cap-tightening spindles, each spindle including a head and a resilient ring having a tapered recess for engaging and tightening said cap on the container, and means for supporting the container for movement into the recess in said resilient rings.

9. The combination according to claim 1 including means for providing an overtravel movement for said ring. 10. A capping apparatus for securing a screw type cap to the neck of a continuously moving container, said apparatus comprising a cap attachment assembly for placing a cap on the neck of the container, said assembly including means for supporting said caps in a vertical transverse relation to the direction of motion of said container and means for leveling the caps on the container, and a cap tightening turret for tightening the cap on the container, said turret including a number of cap tightening spindles and a corresponding number of container supporting pedestals for moving the containers upwardly to a cap tightening position with respect to said spindles, each of said spindles including a continuously rotating head, a resilient ring having a tapered recess and being mounted for movement in said head in response to movement of said cap into said tapered recess, and means for applying pressure to the outer periphery of said ring as said cap is seated in said tapered recess.

11. The apparatus according to cliam 10 including means within said head for providing lost motion between said resilient ring and said head.

16. The combination with a container filling turret mounted for rotary motion on a base of a cap leveling and pretightening assembly and a cap tightening turret, the container being moved in sequence from the container filling turret to the cap tightening turret, said cap tightening turret comprising, a housing mounted for rotary motion on the base, a number of spindles mounted on the outer periphery of said housing, each spindle including a shaft mounted for rotary motion in said spindle and having a drive plate at one end, a hollow cylindrical member having a reduced diameter opening at one end secured to said plate, a drive disc mounted in said housing, means for connecting said drive disc to said plate, a torque disc having a tapered recess retained in said housing by said reduced diameter opening, a spring biasing said torque disc into engagement with said drive disc, a flexible ring having a cap tightening recess therein mounted in said tapered recess in said torque disc, a pedestal corresponding to each of said spindles for supporting the containers, means for moving said pedestal upward to seat the cap on the container in the recess in the compressible ring, and a container stop assembly mounted on each of said spindles and including a number of flexible fingers positioned to engage said container.