US3879921A

US3879921A - Overcap seater for aerosol containers

Info

Publication number: US3879921A
Application number: US412647A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Leonard
Original assignee: Kartridg Pak Co
Current assignee: Kartridg Pak Co
Priority date: 1973-11-05
Filing date: 1973-11-05
Publication date: 1975-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1992-04-29

Abstract

Apparatus seating overcaps on the tops of aerosol cans or the like which includes a stationary guide rail coacting with a movable belt arranged above a conveyer advancing a line of cans or containers with caps placed thereon for engaging and rotating the overcaps and distorting the overcaps cross-sectionally, and a seater belt applying a downward force on the cap as it is rotated and distorted to effect seating of the overcap.

Description

United States Patent [1 Leonard [451 Apr. 29, 1975 1 OVERCAP SEATER FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS [75] lnventor: George E. Leonard, Davenport,

Iowa

[73] Assignee: The Kartridge Pak Co., Davenport,

Iowa

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,647

2,991,608 7/1961 Runco 53/329 3,054,241 9/1962 Stover 53/315 3,073,090 1/1963 Rubens et al. 53/317 X 3.382.646 5/1968 Leudtke at al .1 53/314 X 3,623,292 11/1971 Barnes 53/317 X Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lockwood, Dewey, Zickert & Alex [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus seating overcaps on the tops of aerosol cans or the like which includes a stationary guide rail coacting with a movable belt arranged above a conveyer advancing a line of cans or containers with caps placed thereon for engaging and rotating the overcaps and distorting the overcaps cross-sectionally. and a seater belt applying a downward force on the cap as it is rotated and distorted to effect seating of the over cap.

18 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PHENTED 3,879.921

sum 3 0r 5 FIG. 3

PATENTEB APR 2 91975 saw u or 6 mm mm mm wk wk mk 1 OVERCAP SEATER FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS This invention relates in general to an apparatus for handling and seating overcaps on aerosol cans or the like, and more particularly to an apparatus for seating spray top overcaps on aerosol cans, although it should be appreciated the apparatus could be used to seat caps on other types of cans or containers.

The top of an aerosol can which receives an overcap includes a round chime that frictionally receives the open end of an overcap. The overcap, which may be sometimes referred to herein as a cap, functions to generally enclose or cover the spray nozzle of the can and protect it from being accidentally operated. It is known that overcaps molded of plastic, usually by injection molding processes which include interior nonsymmetrical structural formations, such as that required in a spray-type top, may become radially distorted during manufacture and therefore become difficult to seat on a can top. Specifically, the base or skirt of the overcap will not always seat properly around the can chime by conventional seating action which would involve the mere application of a downward force on the overcap. This results in faulty overcap assembly operations which limit production and cause added assembling costs.

The apparatus of the present invention accomplishes effective seating of out-of round or cross-sectionally distorted overcaps onto cans by rotating and radially distorting the skirt or base of the overcap, while at the same time applying a downward force to completely seat the overcap during movement of a line of cans along a conveyer. Accordingly, the speed of production on the can line is increased materially and assembly costs are minimized. It should also be appreciated that the present invention additionally can be used for seating caps other than those for aerosol containers, and it can be used to perform a seating operation even where initial placement of the caps on the can has not intended to accomplish any seating action.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved overcap seater for seating of overcaps on aerosol cans or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an overcap seater which is capable of seating crosssectionally distorted overcaps onto aerosol cans by rotating and radially distorting the skirts of the overcaps while at the same time applying a downward force for seating purposes, thereby materially increasing production along a can line and reducing assembly costs.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic view of an overcap machine, a part of which includes the overcap seater according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the, overcap seater according to the invention and illustrating the seater associated with a conveyer which carries the aerosol cans through the seater;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the overcap seater viewing the inlet end;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the overcap seater;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view illustrating the drive train for the seater;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view showing some parts in elevation and taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 and omitting the chain;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. I, the overcap seater according to the invention, generally designated by the numeral 15, is shown along a conveyer line 16 which would be suitably supported by framework from the floor of the building in which the overall machine is installed. The seater 15 is a part of an overall machine which feeds caps in a scrambled fashion in an unscrambler 17 which takes the caps and unscrambles them and places them into a particularly oriented position to deliver them to a placer 18 which coordinates the movement of the cans and caps together before the cans and caps are received by the seater 15. It should be understood that the relative cooperative arrangement of the unscrambler, the placer and the seater forms no part of the present invention and that the present application is concerned only with the seater I5. It is believed that showing the various elements of the overall overcapping machine together enables a more clear understanding of the seater.

The conveyer I6 is continuously driven to bring a supply of aerosol cans 20 to the entry end of the placer 18. These cans will have been tested for leakage and otherwise filled so that once the overcap is mounted on the cans in seated position, the cansare in complete assemblage that can be packaged in boxes or the like for shipment.

Caps 21 are brought into aligned relation with the cans 20 by the placer 18 and are mounted on top of the cans. As seen particularly in FIG. 9, the upper ends of the cans 20 include a circular chime 22 defining a seat area for a cap. The caps 21 include a top wall 23, as seen in FIG. 8, and a side wall or skirt 24. While the cap side wall or skirt is slightly tapered, it is essentially cylindrical in shape and is molded so that when it is in seated position, it will frictionally be received within the chime 22 of a can. Since the caps do include internal structure, such as means for supporting and coacting with the spray nozzle 25, following curing of the plastic cap, it may become distorted radially so that an attempt to seat such a cap within the chime of the can finds the base or skirt of the cap overlapping the chime and not able to be pressed directly down within the chime and into seated position. It is this problem that is overcome by the seater of the present invention which radially distorts the cap during the seating action in order to assure the skirt of being receivable within the chime of the can. Radial distortion of the caps by the seater of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein pressure is applied to opposite sides of the caps as they move through the seater in aligned relation with the top of a can.

The details of the unscrambler are not necessary to understand the present invention. However, the unscrambler includes a supply hopper 28 into which caps in scrambled relation are initially dumped. Caps are metered from the supply hopper 28 into the unscrambling hopper 29, which then delivers the caps in upside down oriented relation onto a conveyer belt 30 that feeds to a second conveyer belt 31 extending at right angles to the conveyer belt 30. In the event a cap is not properly oriented along the conveyer 30, a reject station 32 causes displacement of the cap from the conveyer so that only properly oriented caps move onto the conveyer 31. An inverter at the discharge end of the conveyer 31 inverts the caps l80 and feeds them to the placer 18. The placer then functions to line a cap and can through coordinated movement of worms 34 and 35. Normally, the placer 18 seats the overcap into place onto the aerosol can by application of a downward force to the overcap, but in the event this does not take place, the seater 1S completes the job.

Mechanical sensors

36 and 37 ahead of the placer and respectively associated with the overcap line and the can line function to stop the placer in the event that an insufficient supply of either overcaps or cans is available to the placer. A mechanical sensor 38 at the discharge end of the placer senses a buildup of cans downstream from the placer. If such a buildup occurs to trip the senser 38, the placer will be stopped. While not shown, a mechanical sensor is provided in the cap line along the conveyer 31 for sensing a buildup of caps in which event the unscrambler is disabled. Accord ingly, the various mechanical sensors protect the placer against jamming and ultimate malfunction.

It should be recognized that the subject matter of the unscrambler 17 and the placer 18 constitute inventions apart from the seater l and therefore will be more fully treated in separate applications.

Suitable guide rails will be provided to guide movement of the overcaps and cans along the conveyer between the various stations. As will be more clearly understood hereafter, the seater is adjustable to handle overcaps and cans of various sizes within a range of sizes presently known in the aerosol container industry.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the overcap seater is mounted in association with the conveyer 16 which includes a conveyer belt 40 movable along guide rails 41 formed at the upper ends of vertical frame members 42 that are suitably supported above the floor of a building. The conveyer belt is preferably made of rigid plastic and formed sectionally, wherein the bottoms of the cans can easily slide laterally of the belt when necessary during movement of the cans through the seater. As also seen especially in FIG. 3, opposed

guide rails

43 and 44 mounted above the frame members 42 serve to guide the cans during their movement along the conveyer belt and prevent them from moving laterally off the belt. Additionally, the guide rails serve to move the cans into alignment when they enter the head end of the seater as they must be properly aligned so that the overcaps on the cans are properly engaged by the seater. The guide rails 43 are preferably stationary. while the guide rails 44 are adjustable so as to accommodate cans of various widths for guiding into the seater. An upstanding bracket 45 supports the guide rails 43, while an upstanding bracket 46 supports the guide rails 44. The lower end of the bracket 46 includes a flange 47 that is suitably slotted and associated with a flange member 48 and a fastener 49 so that adjust ment of the bracket 46 can be made relative to the frame member 42 and thereby the guide rails 44 may be adjusted toward and away from the guide rails 43. Accordingly, the guide rails 43 and 44, at the inlet end of the seater, serve to properly align the cans with the caps placed thereon with the seater as they enter the seater. As especially seen in FIG. 4, the guide rails continue to guide the cans as they move through the seater and out the discharge end thereof.

The seater 15 includes generally a head 53 defined by a pair of upstanding inverted J-shaped

rails

54 and 55. As seen in FIG. 2, a crossbar 56 interconnects the upper ends of the vertically arranged inverted J-shaped

rails

54 and 55. The entire head 53 is movable vertically by operation of a vertical shaft 57 rotatable in the crossbar S6 and suitably retained against movement relative the conveyer. The shaft 57 includes a threaded portion at its lower end threadedly engaging a nut 58, FIG. 2, which is suitably secured to the conveyer frame member by means of a bracket 59. Suitable means, not shown, guides vertical movement of the head rails 54 and 55 during rotation of the shaft 57. A handle 60 is provided at the top of the shaft for manually applying a rotating force thereto. Accordingly, the head 53 may be adjusted vertically relative the plane of conveyer belt 40 to handle cans of various heights, wherein the head moves relative to the conveyer 16.

The seater head 53 includes a movable belt 63 and a stationary guide rail 64 arranged generally in a horizontal plane above the conveyer coacting to engage and apply a rotating motion and a cross-section distortion action to the caps as they move through the seater. A seater belt 65 positioned above the conveyer belt 40 and above the operating plane of belt 63 and guide 64 applies a downward force to the caps to effect seating action of the caps onto the chimes of the cans.

In order to maintain a zero speed on the cap relative to the movement of the can by the conveyer belt 40 and prevent tipping, the linear speed of the belt 63 is set at twice the speed of the conveyer belt 40. The linear speed of the seater belt 65 is set at the same speed as the conveyer belt in order to provide a synchronizing action during movement of the cans and overcaps through the seater.

The cap rotating belt 63 is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the path of movement of the caps and cans and is trained about spaced

pulleys

66 and 67. A mounting plate 68 suitably secured to the

upstanding rails

54 and 55 includes a stub shaft 69 onto which is mounted the idler pulley 66. A ratio-angle gear drive 70 is supported on the mounting plate 68 and includes an output shaft 71 onto which is secured the driving pulley 67. The drive 70 includes an input shaft 72 having mounted thereon a sprocket 73.

Drive power is transmitted to the input shaft 72 of the gear drive 71 through a belt pulley 76 that is suitably connected to the sprocket 73 and also mounted on the shaft 72. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 5, a drive belt 77 is trained over the belt pulley 76 and also over

idler pulleys

78, 79 and 80 mounted on the

vertical rails

54 and 55 of the head 53, together with idler pulley 81 and drive pulley 82 which are mounted on the conveyer bracket 59, and accordingly, not movable relative the conveyer when the head 53 is adjusted upwardly and downwardly. The drive belt arrangement relative the pulleys is unique in that it permits adjustment of the head 53 upwardly or downwardly to readily adjust the seater for handling cans of various heights wherein the belt length remains the same and is automatically maintained suitably tensioned for proper driving action. Downward movement of the head 53 causes downward movement of the driven pulley 76, together with the idler pulleys 78, 79 and 80 relative the idler pulley 81 and the drive pulley 82, thereby shortening the belt reach 77a while equally lengthening the belt reach 77b, thereby automatically maintaining tension on the belt over all pulleys. Similarly. upward movement of the head 53 would cause shortening of the belt reach 77b and lengthening of the belt reach 77a.

The drive pulley 82 is suitably mounted and rotatable with a shaft 84 that is suitably bearingly mounted in the bracket 59 and which also extends and is bearingly mounted to the vertical conveyer frame members 42, as seen particularly in FIG. 3. Drive power operating the conveyer belt 40 is transmitted to the shaft 84 through a chain 85 trained over a sprocket 86 on the shaft. Inasmuch as the conveyer 40 is continously driven, the seater will likewise be continuously driven.

Between the

pulleys

66 and 67, which carry the cap rotating belt 63, the belt reach 63a that engages the skirt or side wall 24 of a cap is supported against movement by a plurality of backing rollers 89 suitably carried on the plate 68 which also supports the pulleys relative to the head

vertical rails

54 and 55. Accordingly, the reach 63a moves along a relatively rectilinear path to assure good frictional contact with the skirts of the caps.

The stationary guide rail 64 arranged opposite the cap rotating belt 63 includes a length 91 of resilient material such as a portion of a belt suitably secured to a plurality of supporting blocks 92 arranged in juxtaposed positions and carried on guide rods 93 slidably received in a base plate 94 carried by the

vertical rails

54 and 55. Each guide rod 93 is resiliently biased toward the path of the cap by means of a coil spring 95, surrounding each corresponding guide rod and bottomed at one end against the base plate 94 and at the other end against the corresponding support block 92. A retaining ring 96 is suitably carried on the free end of each guide rod 93 to limit the movement of the guide rods 93 away from the base plate 94, wherein the rings engage the rear face of the base support, as seen most particularly in FIGS. 8 and 9. Depressed movement of the guide rods 93 is limited by the stop bar 97 suitably supported from the base plate 94 and in alignment with the guide rods 93, wherein the free ends of the guide rods will engage the stop bar 97 if the guide rods are sufficiently biased away from the path of movement of the caps 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the various portions of the resilient guide rail 91 may individually move in response to the caps 21 moving through the seater, thereby maintaining the necessary frictional engagement of the caps between the guide rail and the cap rotating belt, and also thereby maintaining a sufficient force on the skirts of the caps to cross-sectionally distort the skirts whereby they may be properly seated by the seater belt 65 as the cans and caps move through the seater.

Inasmuch as the diameter of the cap skirts for various cans will vary, the guide rail 64 is adjustably mounted on the head 53, as seen most particularly in FIGS. 4 and 9. The base plate 94 includes a pair of cap screws 98 coacting with slots 99 formed in bracket plates 100 which are secured to the head rails 54 and 55. Accordingly, the width between the cap rotating belt 63 and the guide rail 64 may be easily adjusted to handle caps of various diameters.

While it can be appreciated that the cap rotating belt and the stationary guide coacting with the belt function to radially distort the caps as they are advanced through the seater, downward pressure is applied on the top walls of the caps at the same time in order to seat the lower ends of the skirts within the chimes of the cans. Once the caps are seated, they are maintained in frictional engagement with the chimes and a force must be applied to thereafter remove them.

As already mentioned, the downward seating force is applied by the overhead seater belt 65. The seater belt 65 is trained around longitudinally spaced pulleys or drums and 106. These pulleys are respectively carried on

shafts

107 and 108, both of which are bearingly mounted in horizontally spaced supporting

rails

109 and 110. The supporting

rails

109 and 110 extend horizontally and parallel to the path of movement of the cans and caps and are threadedly mounted on the lower ends of four screw shafts 111. Two of these screw shafts are bearingly mounted in the upper horizontally extending portion of vertical rail 54, while the other two screw shafts are bearingly mounted in the horizontal portion of vertical rail 55. Each of the screw shafts terminates above the rails in knobs 112 and each includes a sprocket 113 about which a continuous chain 114 is trained so that each screw shaft is rotated in synchronism with the other upon the application of a rotating force to any one of the knobs 112. Accordingly, the overhead seater belt 65 is movable upwardly and downwardly relative the head rails 54 and 55 and therefore upwardly and downwardly relative the cap rotating belt 63 and guide rails 64 so as to compensate for the handling of overcaps of varying heights. It can be appreciated that the drive chain 114 is maintained with sufficient tension by means of a tension sprocket 115 carried on a bracket 116 that is adjustably mounted on the vertical rail 54.

The reach of the seater belt 65 extending between the

pulleys

105 and 106 is supported against upward movement by a plurality of spring mounted plates or shoes 120, as seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 9. Each plate 120 is rectangular in cross-section and provided with a guide hole 121 at each corner for slidable movement on a guide rod 122 carried on support plate 123. A spring 124 carried on each guide rod 122 is bottomed at one end on the support plate 123 and at the other end on the movable plate 120. As seen in FIG. 2, four juxtaposed spring mounted plates 120 are provided between the inlet and outlet ends of the seater belt 65. The first plate is spaced a slight distance from the inlet pulley 105 as seen in FIG. 2, and the level of the plates is such that a short belt reach 650, as seen in FIG. 2, between the inlet pulley 105 and the first plate 120, is inclined at an angle 125, FIG. 2, to facilitate the smooth movement of the caps into the seater and to prevent tipping of the cans. Thereafter, the downward resilient pressure applied by the backing plates 120 against the seater belt and ultimately against the top walls of the caps defines the seating force of the caps which is continuously maintained during movement of the caps through the seater so that when a cross-sectionally distorted cap is distorted radially by the belt 63 and guide rail 64 such that the cap can move to seated position, the downward force of the seater belt will effect seating of the cap. It can be appreciated that the level of the seater belt will be adjusted so that sufficient force will be applied to the caps to assure seating action, but that force will not be such as to cause any damage to a cap that is in seated position. However, it will be such as to cause some biasing of the backing plates 120 even when the cap is in seated position. As noted particularly in FIG. 6, each guide rod 122 includes a head which limits the downwardly biased position of the plates 120.

The seater belt is also driven from the conveyer drive. Power is taken from sprocket 73 and transmitted to a sprocket 128 mounted on an extension portion of shaft 108 through a chain 129. Inasmuch as the seater belt, and accordingly the shaft 108, will move relative the shaft 72 during adjustment of the position of the seater belt on the head 53, a takeup sprocket 130 car ried on an arm 13! swingably mounted on the shaft 108 and tensioned by a spring 132 will maintain tension in the chain 129 as the reach of chain on the side of the tension sprocket changes during adjustment of the seater belt position. Accordingly, it is not necessary to change the length of the chain 129 or belt 77 during adjusting of the seater to handle various can and cap sizesv Adjustment can thereby be quickly and easily made.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the overcap seater of the invention is unique in that it is capable of effectively seating readily distorted overcaps onto aerosol cans and it is capable of being readily set up to handle cans and overcaps of various sizes. Ac cordingly, the overcap seater will increase production while at the same time decrease production costs.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed, as follows:

1. Apparatus for seating a generally cylindrical overcap on the top of an aerosol can where the can includes an upper circular chime defining a seat area for an overcap within which the overcap is frictionally received and seated and the overcap includes a top wall and a generally cylindrical and cross-sectionally radially distortable side wall depending therefrom the lower edge of which is receivable in the seat of the can, said apparatus comprising conveyer means for supporting the can in upright position and the overcap loosely positioned thereon with at least a portion of the lower edge of the overcap side wall being positioned within said chime of the can and moving same along a generally rectilinear path, means above the conveyer means for applying a downward force onto said overcap, and means above the conveyer means coacting with the downward force applying means for gripping and rotating said overcap simultaneously with the force applying means, said gripping and rotating means including a guide rail and an endless power driven overcap rotation belt coacting with the guide rail to engage the side wall of the overcap to apply a force sufficient to crosssectionally radially distort same and thereby assure entry and seating of the lower edge of the overcap side wall within said chime of the can in the seat area.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said downward force applying means includes an endless belt driven at the same speed as the conveyer means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said overcap rotation belt is driven at twice the speed of the conveyer means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided for adjusting the position of the force applying means and the overcap rotation means relative to the conveyer means for handling cans of various heights.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein means is provided for adjusting the position of the force applying means relative to the overcap rotation means for handling overcaps of various heights.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide rail includes a plurality of juxtaposed support members resiliently mounted for movement toward and away from the overcaps, and a length of flexible material mounted on said members presenting a relatively flat friction face to the overcaps.

7. In combination with a conveyer having a continuously driven conveyer belt for moving aerosol cans hav ing overcaps positioned thereon along a generally rectilinear path, wherein each can includes an upper circular chime defining a seat area for an overcap within which the overcap is frictionally received and seated and each overcap includes a top wall and a generally cylindrical and cross-sectionally radially distortable skirt depending from the top wall the lower edge of which is receivable in the seat of the can, an overcap seater for seating overcaps onto the can in the seat within the chime comprising a head, means mounting the head relative to the conveyer belt, means mounted on the head overlying the conveyer belt for engaging the overcap skirts and rotating the overcaps to radially distort the overcap skirts including a guide rail and an endless power driven overcap rotation belt coacting with the guide rail to engage the skirt of the overcap to apply a force sufficient to cross-sectionally radially distort same and thereby assure entry and seating of the lower edge of the overcap skirt within said chime of the can in the seat area, and means mounted on the head overlying the conveyer belt coacting with overcap rotating and overcap skirt distorting means for applying a downward force on the overcap to seat same in the seat within the chime.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said head mounting means is adjustable for moving same toward and away from the conveyer belt to handle cans of various heights.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said downward force applying means is mounted adjustably relative to the overcap rotating means for handling caps of various heights.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein said overcap rotating means includes a power driven belt engaging the overcap skirts at one side and a resiliently mounted friction strip engaging the overcap skirts at the other side.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the power driven belt has a speed twice that of the conveyer belt.

12. The combination of claim 11, and a roller assembly backing up the run of the power driven belt engaging the overcaps.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said friction strip is adjustably mounted relative to the power driven belt for handling overcaps of various diameters.

M. The combination of claim 7, wherein the downward force applying means includes an endless power driven seater belt.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the seater belt has a speed equal to that of the conveyer.

16. The combination of claim 15, and resiliently mounted shoe means backing up said seater conveyer.

17. The combination of claim 13, wherein the downward force applying means includes an endless power driven seater belt having a speed equal to that of the conveyer belt.

18. Apparatus for seating a generally cylindrical plastic molded overcap on the top of an aerosol can where the can includes an upper circular chime defining a seat area for an overcap and the overcap includes a top wall and a generally cylindrical and cross-sectionally radially distortable side wall depending from the top wall the lower edge of which is receivable in the seat of the can, said apparatus comprising a conveyer for supporting the can in upright position and having the overcap loosely positioned thereon with at least a portion of the lower edge of the overcap side wall being positioned within said chime of the can, an overcap rotation belt above the conveyer presenting a vertical movable face for engagement with the overcap side wall adjacent the lower edge thereof, a stationary rail coacting with the overcap rotation belt having a vertical stationary face extending substantially parallel to said belt face for engaging the overcap side wall adjacent the lower edge thereof at a point along the vertical side of the overcap substantially opposite the belt face. said overcap rotation belt and said rail being mounted to engage the overcap side wall and apply a force sufficient to crosssectionally radially distort same, a seating belt engaging the top wall of the overcap to apply a downward force thereto during radial distortion of the overcap side wall to assure entry and seating of the lower edge thereof within said chime of the can in the seat area, and means for driving said seating belt at the same linear speed as said conveyer and said overcap rotation belt at twice the linear speed of the conveyer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for seating a generally cylindrical overcap on the top of an aerosol can where the can includes an upper circular chime defining a seat area for an overcap within which the overcap is frictionally received and seated and the overcap includes a top wall and a generally cylindrical and cross-sectionally radially distortable side wall depending therefrom the lower edge of which is receivable in the seat of the can, said apparatus comprising conveyer means for supporting the can in upright position and the overcap loosely positioned thereon with at least a portion of the lower edge of the overcap side wall being positioned within said chime of the can and moving same along a generally rectilinear path, means above the conveyer means for applying a downward force onto said overcap, and means above the conveyer means coacting with the downward force applying means for gripping and rotating said overcap simultaneously with the force applying means, said gripping and rotating means including a guide rail and an endless power driven overcap rotation belt coacting with the guide rail to engage the side wall of the overcap to apply a force sufficient to cross-sectionally radially distort same and thereby assure entry and seating of the lower edge of the overcap side wall within said chime of the can in the seat area.

7. In combination with a conveyer having a continuously driven conveyer belt for moving aerosol cans having overcaps positioned thereon along a generally rectilinear path, wherein each can includes an upper circular chime defining a seat area for an overcap within which the overcap is frictionally received and seated and each overcap includes a top wall and a generally cylindrical and cross-sectionally radially distortable skirt depending from the top wall the lower edge of which is receivable in the seat of the can, an overcap seater for seating overcaps onto the can in the seat within the chime comprising a head, means mounting the head relative to the conveyer belt, means mounted on the head overlying the conveyer belt for engaging the overcap skirts and rotating the overcaps to radially distort the overcap skirts including a guide rail and an endless power driven overcap rotation belt coacting with the guide rail to engage the skirt of the overcap to apply a force sufficient to crosssectionally radially distort same and thereby assure entry and seating of the lower edge of the overcap skirt within said chime of the can in the seat area, and means mounted on the head overlying the conveyer belt coacting with overcap rotating and overcap skirt distorting means for applying a downward force on the overcap to seat same in the seat within the chime.

14. The combination of claim 7, wherein the downward force applying means includes an endless power driven seater belt.

18. Apparatus for seating a generally cylindrical plastic molded overcap on the top of an aerosol can where the can includes an upper circular chime defining a seat area for an overcap and the overcap includes a top wall and a generally cylindrical and cross-sectionally radially distortable side wall depending from the top wall the lower edge of which is receivable in the seat of the can, said apparatus comprising a conveyer for supporting the can in upright position and having the overcap loosely positioned thereon with at least a portion of the lower edge of the overcap side wall being positioned within said chime of the can, an overcap rotation belt above the conveyer presenting a vertical movable face for engagement with the overcap side wall adjacent the lower edge thereof, a stationary rail coacting with the overcap rotation belt having a vertical stationary face extending substantially parallel to said belt face for engaging the overcap side wall adjacent the lower edge thereof at a point along the vertical side of the overcap substantially opposite the belt face, said overcap rotation belt and said rail being mounted to engage the overcap side wall and apply a force sufficient to cross-sectionally radially distort same, a seating belt engaging the top wall of the overcap to apply a downward force thereto during radial distortion of the overcap side wall to assure entry and seating of the lower edge thereof within said chime of the can in the seat area, and means for driving said seating belt at the same linear speed as said conveyer and said overcap rotation belt at twice the linear speed of the conveyer.