US3878667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure cap applying apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-03
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-04-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for applying a closure cap or the like to the threaded neck portion of a container, wherein a toggle linkage arrangement is operative in response to movement of an actuating rod to effect movement of forming rollers against the annular skirt portion of the closure cap when disposed on the neck of a container, the toggle linkage arrangement being adapted to accommodate variations in container height and cap size without damage to the container and associated closure cap.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Holstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:38
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B3/00; B67B3/02; B67B3/10; B67B3/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
Closure applying apparatus of the roll-on type for applying a closure to the neck portion of a container having conformations thereon adjacent the neck portion, the closure having an upper end and a generally annular skirt portion adapted to be received over the neck portion of the container adjacent the conformations thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination, housing means defining a longitudinal axis for said apparatus and being adapted for rotation about said longitudinal axis, pressure head means supported by said housing means for engagement with the upper end of a closure when disposed on the neck portion of a container, actuating rod means supported by said housing means for longitudinal movement between normal first and second positions relative to said housing means, at least one rotatable forming roller, support means supporting said forming roller for movement between a first position spaced outwardly from the skirt portion of a closure when said closure is engaged by said pressure head means and a second position wherein the peripheral edge of the roller engages the skirt portion of the closure for forming the skirt portion against at least a portion of the conformations on the neck portion of the associated container during rotation of said housing means, and toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating rod means and said support means such that said forming roller is moved inwardly from its said first position to a predetermined second position upon movement of said actuating rod from its said first position to a predetermined second position as established by the normal height of a container being capped, said toggle linkage means being adapted to accommodate longitudinal over-travel of said actuating rod beyond its said predetermined second position without effecting an appreciable further movement of said forming roller inwardly toward said closure beyond said predetermined second position of said forming roller whereby to prevent damage to said closure and said container upon over-travel of said actuating rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
Closure applying apparatus of the roll-on type for applying a closure to the neck portion of a container having conformations thereon adjacent the neck portion, the closure having an upper end and a generally annular skirt portion adapted to be received over the neck portion of the container adjacent the conformations thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination, housing means defining a longitudinal axis for said apparatus and being adapted for rotation about said longitudinal axis, pressure head means supported by said housing means for engagement with the upper end of a closure when disposed on the neck portion of a container, actuating rod means supported by said housing means for longitudinal movement between normal first and second positions relative to said housing means, at least one rotatable forming roller, support means supporting said forming roller for movement between a first position spaced outwardly from the skirt portion of a closure when said closure is engaged by said pressure head means and a second position wherein the peripheral edge of the roller engages the skirt portion of the closure for forming the skirt portion against at least a portion of the conformations on the neck portion of the associated container during rotation of said housing means, and toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating rod means and said support means such that said forming roller is moved inwardly from its said first position to a predetermined second position upon movement of said actuating rod from its said first position to a predetermined second position as established by the normal height of a container being capped, said toggle linkage means being adapted to accommodate longitudinal over-travel of said actuating rod beyond its said predetermined second position without effecting an appreciable further movement of said forming roller inwardly toward said closure beyond said predetermined second position of said forming roller whereby to prevent damage to said closure and said container upon over-travel of said actuating rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
322 words
Closure applying apparatus of the roll-on type for applying a closure to the neck portion of a container having conformations thereon adjacent the neck portion, the closure having an upper end and a generally annular skirt portion adapted to be received over the neck portion of the container adjacent the conformations thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination, housing means defining a longitudinal axis for said apparatus and being adapted for rotation about said longitudinal axis, pressure head means supported by said housing means for engagement with the upper end of a closure when disposed on the neck portion of a container, actuating rod means supported by said housing means for longitudinal movement between normal first and second positions relative to said housing means, at least one rotatable forming roller, support means supporting said forming roller for movement between a first position spaced outwardly from the skirt portion of a closure when said closure is engaged by said pressure head means and a second position wherein the peripheral edge of the roller engages the skirt portion of the closure for forming the skirt portion against at least a portion of the conformations on the neck portion of the associated container during rotation of said housing means, and toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating rod means and said support means such that said forming roller is moved inwardly from its said first position to a predetermined second position upon movement of said actuating rod from its said first position to a predetermined second position as established by the normal height of a container being capped, said toggle linkage means being adapted to accommodate longitudinal over-travel of said actuating rod beyond its said predetermined second position without effecting an appreciable further movement of said forming roller inwardly toward said closure beyond said predetermined second position of said forming roller whereby to prevent damage to said closure and said container upon over-travel of said actuating rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
322 words
Closure applying apparatus of the roll-on type for applying a closure to the neck portion of a container having conformations thereon adjacent the neck portion, the closure having an upper end and a generally annular skirt portion adapted to be received over the neck portion of the container adjacent the conformations thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination, housing means defining a longitudinal axis for said apparatus and being adapted for rotation about said longitudinal axis, pressure head means supported by said housing means for engagement with the upper end of a closure when disposed on the neck portion of a container, actuating rod means supported by said housing means for longitudinal movement between normal first and second positions relative to said housing means, at least one rotatable forming roller, support means supporting said forming roller for movement between a first position spaced outwardly from the skirt portion of a closure when said closure is engaged by said pressure head means and a second position wherein the peripheral edge of the roller engages the skirt portion of the closure for forming the skirt portion against at least a portion of the conformations on the neck portion of the associated container during rotation of said housing means, and toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating rod means and said support means such that said forming roller is moved inwardly from its said first position to a predetermined second position upon movement of said actuating rod from its said first position to a predetermined second position as established by the normal height of a container being capped, said toggle linkage means being adapted to accommodate longitudinal over-travel of said actuating rod beyond its said predetermined second position without effecting an appreciable further movement of said forming roller inwardly toward said closure beyond said predetermined second position of said forming roller whereby to prevent damage to said closure and said container upon over-travel of said actuating rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means biasing said actuating rod means toward its said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the conformations on the neck portion of the container include an external thread and an annular shoulder disposed below the thread, and wherein said apparatus includes at least one thread forming roller adapted to form the depending skirt portion of the closure against said external thread, and at least one forming roller adapted to form the lower edge of the skirt inwardly beneath said annular shoulder, said support means including means for separately supporting each of said forming rollers, and said toggle linkage means being adapted to effect simultaneous movement of said forming rollers upon actuation of said actuating rod means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said thread forming roller is supported for movement in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housIng means, said thread forming roller being adapted for engagement with the annular skirt of said closure adjacent the upper end thereof when said actuating rod means is moved to its said second position, said thread forming roller being further adapted to move longitudinally downwardly and form said annular skirt against said thread conformation as said housing means is rotated about its longitudinal axis during a closure applying cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes at least one pivot shaft supported by said housing means for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing means, a support arm secured on said pivot shaft for rotatably supporting said forming roller, and actuating arm means secured to said pivot shaft, said toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating arm means to said actuating rod means such that said toggle linkage means effects rotational movement of said pivot shaft and movement of said forming roller toward its said second position upon actuation of said actuating rod means toward its said second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said pressure head means includes a generally circular pressure head supported by said housing means for rotation relative to said housing means about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said housing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said actuating arm means includes a first arm portion rotatable about the axis of said pivot shaft and secured to said toggle linkage means, a second arm portion secured to said pivot shaft, and means interconnecting said first and second arm portions such that movement of said first arm portion urges said second arm portion in a corresponding rotational direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means interconnecting said first and second arm portions includes resilient means adapted to allow limited movement of said first arm means without a corresponding movement of said second arm means when the associated forming roller is prevented from inward movement in response to movement of said actuating rod means toward its said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said toggle linkage means includes a toggle link pivotally connected to said actuating rod means for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane, said toggle linkage being inclined upwardly when said actuating rod means is disposed in its said first position, and being disposed substantially horizontally when said actuating rod means is moved to its said second predetermined position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes three forming rollers, and wherein said support means includes three pivot shafts supported by said housing means for rotational movement about axes parallel to the longitudinal axes of said housing means, a support arm secured to each of said pivot shafts for rotatably supporting one of said forming rollers, and an actuating arm secured to each of said pivot shafts, said toggle linkage means including a toggle linkage interconnecting each of said actuating arms to said actuating rod means such that simultaneous movement of said forming rollers is effected upon actuation of said actuating rod means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
Closure applying apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein each of said forming rollers is movable in a generally radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said housing means, and wherein each of said toggle linkages has its opposite ends pivotally connected to the associated actuating arm and said actuating rod means, each of said toggle linkages being pivotal in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of said housing means and forming an acute angle between said longitudinal axis of said housing means and the longitudinal axis of the toggle linkage, said toggle linkages providing a mechanical advantage such that the foRce necessary to move said actuating rod means to its said second position decreases as said actuating rod means approaches its said second position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
298 words
A closure applying apparatus comprising, in combination, housing means having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be supported for rotation about said longitudinal axis, pressure head means supported by said housing means for rotation relative to said housing means about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said housing means, actuating rod means supported by said housing means for longitudinal movement between first and second positions relative to said housing means, at least one pivot shaft supported by said housing means for rotational movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing means, a support arm secured to said pivot shaft for rotational movement therewith, a forming roller rotatably carried by said support arm, actuating arm means secured to said pivot shaft and movable to effect rotational movement of said support arm and said forming roller toward the longitudinal axis of said pressure head means, and toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating arm means to said actuating rod means such that said forming roller is disposed outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said pressure head means when said actuating rod means is in its said first position, said toggle linkage means being adapted to effect movement of said actuating arm means a predetermined distance to move said forming roller toward the longitudinal axis of said pressure head means when said actuating rod means is moved to its said second position, said toggle linkage means being further adapted to effect a progressively decreasing differential movement of said actuating arm means as said actuating rod means is moved toward its said second position so as to accommodate longitudinal over-travel of said actuating rod means beyond its said second position without effecting appreciable further movement of said forming roller toward said axis of said pressure head means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
298 words
A closure applying apparatus comprising, in combination, housing means having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be supported for rotation about said longitudinal axis, pressure head means supported by said housing means for rotation relative to said housing means about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said housing means, actuating rod means supported by said housing means for longitudinal movement between first and second positions relative to said housing means, at least one pivot shaft supported by said housing means for rotational movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing means, a support arm secured to said pivot shaft for rotational movement therewith, a forming roller rotatably carried by said support arm, actuating arm means secured to said pivot shaft and movable to effect rotational movement of said support arm and said forming roller toward the longitudinal axis of said pressure head means, and toggle linkage means interconnecting said actuating arm means to said actuating rod means such that said forming roller is disposed outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said pressure head means when said actuating rod means is in its said first position, said toggle linkage means being adapted to effect movement of said actuating arm means a predetermined distance to move said forming roller toward the longitudinal axis of said pressure head means when said actuating rod means is moved to its said second position, said toggle linkage means being further adapted to effect a progressively decreasing differential movement of said actuating arm means as said actuating rod means is moved toward its said second position so as to accommodate longitudinal over-travel of said actuating rod means beyond its said second position without effecting appreciable further movement of said forming roller toward said axis of said pressure head means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |