Crimping apparatus for sealing caps to containers

Claim 1

A CRIMPER HEAD FOR SEALING A CLOSURE CAP AROUND THE OPEN MOUTH OF A CONTAINER AND COMPRISING A SHELL PROVIDING A MOUNTING POCKET AT ONE END THEREOF, A CAGE SLIDEABLY RETAINED IN SAID MOUNTING POCKET EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE OUTERMOST END THEREOF AND CARRYING A CAP-ENGAGING LOCATOR CENTRALLY THEREIN WITHOUT LOST MOTION THEREBETWEEN, A SPRING IN SAID SHELL BIASING SAID LOCATOR AND CAGE TOWARDS SAID ONE END OF THE SHELL, CRIMPING MECHANISM FLOATINGLY MOUNTED IN SAID CAGE FOR LIMITED LATERAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE PRINCIPAL AXIS THEREOF AND INCLUDING A SET OF RADIALLY MOVABLE COLLET JAWS ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT AROUND A CLOSURE CAP AND A JAW ACTUATOR SLIDEABLE IN SAID CAGE TO ENGAGE SAID JAWS FOR MOVING THE SAME INTO CRIMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH A CAP, MEANS FOR PROVIDING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SHELL AND A CONTAINER TO APPLY FORCE THROUGH SAID SPRING FOR PRELOADING SAID LOCATOR AGAINST A CLOSURE CAP DISPOSED ON A CONTAINER, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER THROUGH SAID SHELL TO MOVE SAID JAWS INTO CRIMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CAP.