Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
  • B67B3/20—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps

Definitions

• the present disclosure is directed to apparatus for capping plastic bottles, and particularly to apparatus for capping hot-filled plastic bottles having a threaded finish suitable for receiving an internally threaded cap.
• the present disclosure is additionally directed to such apparatus that would be used to apply an internally threaded cap to a plastic bottle having a molded finish that included a support ring situated below the threaded portion of the finish.
• a hot beverage product is introduced into a plastic bottle, typically filling most of the bottle.
• the fluid is heated during a pasteurization or sterilization process to remove bacteria or other contamination, either immediately prior to or after the product is introduced into the plastic bottle.
• the plastic bottle is then hermetically sealed with a cap while the product is still hot. Subsequent to capping, the temperature of the liquid is allowed to cool from a high of about 185° Fahrenheit, the typical hot-fill temperature, to about 40° Fahrenheit, the typical refrigeration temperature.
• the change in temperature decreases the internal pressure of the sealed bottle and can creates a sub-atmospheric pressure or partial vacuum within the bottle primarily as a result of the thermal contraction of the liquid in the bottle. If the bottle cannot structurally support the pressure difference between the external ambient pressure and the lower internal pressure within the bottle, the decrease in internal pressure can cause the geometry of the bottle to distort and/or deform.
• Bottles that avoid the use of any vacuum-reactive surface features can be employed in a hot-fill process by suitably pressurizing the headspace of the filled bottle prior to applying and sealing any closure or cap.
• the pressure within the bottle will remain sufficient to avoid any distortion or deformation of the bottle during and subsequent to the cooling of the bottle and its contents from the usual hot-fill temperature down to the usual refrigerated temperature.
• suitable equipment for pressurizing the headspace of the filled bottle prior to applying any closure that requires only the minimum of change to the fill line currently employed in hot-fill operations.
• Such equipment that can be used on a variety of styles of plastic bottles, and can run at or close to the current speed of the fill line currently employed in hot-fill operations.
• An apparatus meeting these needs can include a sealing ring having a first surface for engaging a surface of known dimension immediately below the cap-engaging portion of a plastic bottle.
• One particularly suitable surface is presented by the support ring that is typically present at the bottom of the finish and above the blow-molded portions of the bottle.
• the apparatus can also include a clamping mechanism for moving the sealing ring from a position spaced from the surface of known dimension to a position engaging the surface of known dimension.
• a chuck can also be provided for holding a cap in a position to engage a finish on the plastic bottle.
• a pressure chamber can surround the chuck and can have a sealing surface for contacting a second surface of the sealing ring. The sealing surface of the chuck can be in sliding contact with the second surface of the sealing ring.
• a source of pressure can be coupled to the pressure chamber for introducing a volume of gas or vapor at super-atmospheric pressure into the chamber, preferably only when the sealing surface of the pressure chamber is in contact with the sealing ring and the sealing ring is engaging the surface of known dimension.
• the engagement between the sealing ring first surface and the surface of known dimension needs only to be sufficient to permit the build-up of pressure within the chamber and head space of the plastic bottle to a desired level.
• Apparatus can also be provided to rotate the chuck within the pressure chamber while the chamber is subjected to the gas or vapor at super-atmospheric pressure to seal the gas or vapor within the headspace of the hot-filled plastic bottle with the cap at the elevated charging pressure.
• One feature of this apparatus is the ability to select the super- atmospheric pressure to which a given bottle is charged.
• the charging pressure may be selected such that upon cooling to the refrigeration temperature, the pressure within the bottle is approximately the same as normal atmospheric pressure so that removal of the cap from the bottle will not result in a large release of gas.
• a typical post-cooling interior pressure for such hot-filled beverages is between about 2 and 5 psi, but higher or lower pressures can be employed as desired.
• This ability to select the charging pressure has the advantage of permitting the use of a given filling and capping line on bottles having a wide variety of sizes, shapes and volumes.
• Another feature of this apparatus is the ability to use the same capping equipment on a wide variety of plastic bottles.
• the apparatus may need to be modified by a substitution of a suitably sized cap- holding chuck to accommodate different sized finishes.
• plastic bottles are molded with one of only a few selected standard finish sizes.
• the support ring associated with each of the various standard finish sizes is also quite uniform as is the outer surface of the finish above the support ring and below the cap-engaging features of the bottle.
• a small portion of the bottle immediately below the support ring, which is not altered in dimension by the blow-molding process, may also constitute a surface of known dimension.
• the most popular finish sizes in use today include 28 mm and 38 mm, but other standard finish sizes that can be used with this apparatus extend from 18 mm up to 132 mm. These standard finish sizes are used on a wide variety of bottles having different heights and volumes. Thus, capping equipment of a given finish size can be used on a wide variety of bottles, thus giving the bottler significant flexibility to adapt a specific filing and capping line to handle a wide range of bottles having a common finish size. Changing from one bottle size to another bottle size can be advantageously accomplished without any modification of a given apparatus of this type so long as the finish size remains unchanged, and the finish includes a corresponding standard sized support ring at a lower edge of the finish.
• Another feature of the present apparatus is the ability to charge the head space of the bottle with a gas or vapor selected to be compatible with the liquid within the bottle.
• the gas or vapor can also be selected to resist any substantial transmission of the head space gas across the barrier presented by the plastic bottle itself. Both compressed air and nitrogen are desirable for minimizing this bottle barrier transmission of the head space gas subsequent to the application of the cap. Nitrogen has the additional desirable feature of low reactivity with most beverages that are likely to be bottled in this manner. For carbonated beverages, CO 2 may be the gas of choice.
• Fig 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for pressurizing the headspace of a filled bottle prior to or during the application of a cap.
• Fig 2 is a partial sectional detail of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig 1 .
• Fig 3a - 3d is a schematic illustration of the method employed by the present apparatus.
• the apparatus 10 can include a first support 16 for the bottle 12.
• the first support 16 is illustrated to be a platform 18 contacting a base 20 of the bottle.
• the first support 16 need not have the physical appearance shown in Fig 1 , and can be formed by any element of a filling line that supports the bottle 12 relative to a cap applying apparatus 22.
• the first support 16 can, for example, take the form of a driven belt or other bottle transport mechanism that supplies a continuous series of such bottles 12 to a filling and capping machine that incorporates an apparatus 10.
• the apparatus 10 can also include a ring 24 that can be divided into at least two parts 24a and 24 b, the parts being movable toward and away from a surface of known dimension on the bottle 12.
• Each of the parts of ring 24 can include a first surface 26 on an inner portion of the ring 24, shown in Fig 2, that confronts the surface of known dimension, for example, a support ring 28, which is an injection molded feature at the lower edge of the finish portion 1 1 of the bottle 12 that is not dimensionally altered during the blow-molding of lower portions of the bottle 12.
• the movement of the parts of ring 24 away from the support ring 28 can be sufficient to permit the removal and insertion of the bottle 12 by the first support 16.
• the movement of the parts of the ring 24 toward the support ring 28 can be sufficient to engage the first surface 26 onto the support ring 28 of the bottle 12.
• the first surface 26 of the parts of the ring 24 can include a more or less conformable element 30 that can include a groove 3 that can seal against the support ring 28 of the bottle 12 to assist in the
• the parts of the ring 24 can be coupled to a clamping apparatus 32 that causes the movement of the parts of the ring 24 to move away and toward the support ring 28.
• the clamping apparatus 32 can take the form of a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanism, an electrically powered solenoid, a pair of followers engaged on a power driven two- way threaded screw, or other suitable mechanism. As indicated previously, another surface of known dimension that is not altered during the blow-molding of the bottle 12 can be substituted for the support ring 28.
• Movement of the bottle 12 by a bottle transport mechanism can include a supply of a continuous series of such bottles 12, can include a mechanism 34 for transporting each bottle 12 vertically in relation to the ring 24.
• the vertical transport mechanism 34 can take the form of a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanism, an electrically powered solenoid, one or more followers engaged on a track including a ramp or incline, or other suitable mechanism.
• the vertical transport mechanism 34 can be calibrated or controlled such that the position of the support ring 28, or other surface of known dimension on the bottle 12, is suitably positioned for the correct engagement by the various parts of ring 24 prior to a capping operation. Following the
• the vertical transport mechanism 34 can return the bottle to a lowered pre-capped vertical position. It is to be understood that the vertical transport mechanism 34 can move the bottle 12 in relation to the ring 24, or can move the ring 24 and associated devices in relation to the bottle 12.
• the apparatus 10 can also include a pressure chamber 36 shown in section in Figs 1 and 2 to be defined by a generally cylindrical wall 38 have a closed upper end 40 and having a surface 42 at a lower margin of the cylindrical wall 38 for contacting a surface 44 of the sealing ring 24.
• the pressure chamber 36 can have other conformations including, for example, a
• the surface 42 can include a more or less conformable element 46 that can seal against the surface 42 of the sealing ring 24 to assist in the development of the pressure desired to pressurize the headspace of a previously filled bottle 12 as herein described.
• the surface 42 is shown to be a planar upper surface of the sealing ring 24 against which the conformable element 46 can abut and, if necessary, slide as the parts of the sealing ring move relative to the support ring 28 or other surface of known dimension.
• the surface 42 can have other conformations that would enhance the capability of the pressure chamber 36 to achieve the desired pressure needed to sufficiently pressurize the headspace of a previously filled bottle 12.
• the surface can take the form of a tapered ring surface adjacent to an outer edge of the sealing ring 24, which under the mating contact between the pressure chamber 36 could enhance the radial inward contact pressure applied by the first surface 26 and the conformable element 30 of the ring 24 against the support ring 28, or other surface of known dimension, thereby enhancing the ability to achieve the desired pressure level within the pressure chamber.
• the apparatus 10 can also include a chuck 48, shown in Fig 1 , forming a cap applying apparatus 22 for holding the cap 4 in a position to engage the top of the finish of the plastic bottle 12.
• the chuck 48 can be coupled to a stem 50 that extends through a sealed opening 52 in the closed upper end 40 of the pressure chamber 36.
• a motor 54 can be coupled to the stem 50 for rotating the chuck 48 and cap 14 to engage the interior threads of the cap 4 onto the finish of the bottle 12.
• a mechanism 56 can be coupled between the motor 54 and/or stem 50 and the pressure chamber 36 to cause sufficient vertical movement of the stem 50 and chuck 48 during application of the cap 14 to ensure an adequate seal is achieved between the cap 14 and the finish of the bottle 12.
• the motor 54 and/or the stem 50 can be coupled to a torque sensor [not shown] that can sense the completion of the application of the cap to the finish portion 1 1 of the bottle 12.
• a further mechanism 58 can be coupled between the pressure chamber 36 and the ring 24 and/or the clamping
• the range of movement by the mechanism 58 can include a the vertical movement necessary to clamp the more or less conformable element 46 of the pressure chamber 36 against the surface 42 of the sealing ring 24 during a pressurization and capping operation.
• the range of movement by the mechanism 58 can include a the vertical movement necessary to clamp the more or less conformable element 46 of the pressure chamber 36 against the surface 42 of the sealing ring 24 during a pressurization and capping operation.
• mechanism 58 and/or mechanism 56 can also include that movement necessary to allow for the introduction of a cap 14 from a cap supply (not illustrated) into the chuck 48.
• the development of the pressure desired to pressurize the headspace of a previously filled bottle 12 can be achieved by coupling the pressure chamber 36 to an external source (not shown) of a gas or vapor selected to be compatible with the liquid within the bottle 12.
• the external source which is expected to be typically maintained at about 10 to 40 psi, can be coupled to the pressure chamber 36 by a suitable conduit 60, which can include a valve 62 permitting the supply of the gas or vapor to the pressure chamber 36 only when the pressure chamber 36 is engaged against the surface 42 of the sealing ring 24.
• the valve 62 can be controlled, for example, by a proximity switch 64 sensing the relative position between the pressure chamber 36 and sealing ring 24, or by other machine timing mechanisms.
• a pressure sensor 66 can also be coupled to the pressure chamber 36 and/or conduit 60, to sense any inadequate pressure development within the pressure chamber during a capping operation.
• the pressure sensor 66 can be coupled, for example, to suitable alarm or report generating apparatus to ensure that any systemic problems can be identified and quickly addressed.
• FIG. 1a - 3d The operation of the apparatus 10 can best be seen in connection with Figs 3a - 3d, in which merely the finish portion 1 1 of a bottle 12, including support ring 28 is illustrated, the remainder of the bottle being omitted for clarity.
• the operation is initiated by situating a cap 14 within the capping chuck 48, and positioning the capping chuck 48 at an uppermost position within the pressure chamber 36 as shown in Fig 3a.
• a bottle 12, which has previously been hot filled, is situated so that an upper portion of the finish 1 1 of the bottle 12 extends into the pressure chamber 36 and the support ring 28 is vertically aligned with the clamping ring 24.
• the clamping ring 24 is closed against the support ring 28 while the conformable element 46 of the pressure chamber 36 is maintained in sliding contact with the surface 42 of the sealing ring 24.
• the clamping ring 24 is closed against the support ring 28 and the pressure chamber 36 is lowered in relation to the clamping ring 24 until a sealing engagement is established between the conformable element 46 of the pressure chamber 36 and the surface 42 of the sealing ring 24.
• a volume of a selected gas or vapor at super-atmospheric pressure is then introduced into the
• the pressure within the pressure chamber 36 is maintained at the desired pressure level, and the capping chuck 48 is lowered and rotated within the chamber 36 by stem 50 until the cap 14 is secured onto the finish portion 1 1 of the bottle 12.
• the pressure supplied through the conduit 60 is terminated and the capping chuck 44 is retracted to disengage from the cap 12, which is now secured onto the finish portion 11 of the bottle 12.
• the clamping ring 24 is disengaged from the support ring 28, and the capped, pressurized bottle 12 is moved to a cooling location to be brought down at least to room ambient temperature.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Sealing Of Jars (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
• Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
• Closing Of Containers (AREA)
• Vacuum Packaging (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=43417023

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (6)

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Citations (5)

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• 2010
  • 2010-11-16 BR BR112012011655A patent/BR112012011655A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-11-16 MX MX2011012615A patent/MX2011012615A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-11-16 US US12/947,124 patent/US20110131933A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-11-16 WO PCT/US2010/056806 patent/WO2011062891A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-11-16 CA CA2779016A patent/CA2779016A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (5)

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