Abstract:
A torque head assembly and method of capping effective to cap a variety of trigger spray cap bases or common caps to a spray bottle or container includes a drive roller mounted on a drive gear. The drive gear is in meshed gear communication with a plurality of train gears enclosed within a generally C-shaped driver housing wherein the a distal train gear engages a driven gear upon which a driven roller is mounted. An actuator allows the driver housing of torque head assembly to approach a variety of trigger spray cap bases or common caps within a plane generally horizontal thereto and at least partially co-planar therewith so as to capture the same between the dive roller and the driven roller and to thread mount the same onto the spray bottle or container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/911,661 filed Apr. 13, 2007 and is a national phase entry of PCT/US08/60052. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to capping machines, and more particularly, is directed to a capping torque head assembly and a method for assembling a threaded closure or cap on a threaded neck of a container or a bottle neck, especially spray valves or trigger sprayers having a fixed upper shroud and spout integral with a rotatable threaded cap base, such that the capping torque head is oriented in a predetermined generally horizontal plane relative to the cap base without interfering contact with the shroud or spout of the cap. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    In conventional capping machines, a vertically operative chuck or capping head assembly having gripping jaws is provided for gripping a cylindrical cap and threading the cap onto the bottle neck. Specifically, the chuck is positioned in generally vertical alignment with the cap and is lowered along a downward path so as to grip with gripping jaws a threaded cap which is generally vertically aligned over a threaded bottle neck, whereupon the chuck is further lowered so as to position the cap on the bottle neck. The chuck is then rotated, thereby also rotating the cap and threading the cap onto the bottle neck. Thereafter, the chuck is vertically raised, and thereby removed from the cap, whereupon the assembled bottle and cap move to a next assembly station. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,598 to Van Zijp. 
         [0004]    Yet, in several instances caps are formed with a shroud and spout that extends radially outward beyond the outer diameter of the cylindrical cap. Conventionally, the spout has been fixed with the cap. With this arrangement, when the cap rotates, the spout rotates with the cap. 
         [0005]    An early practice was to mount such caps on bottles manually by an operator placing the bottles on a turntable and then screwing on the closure by hand. This requires considerable time and labor is not readily available for this type of work. In addition, the tightness of the closure is left to the feeling of the operator so that the bottles often are not tightly closed. 
         [0006]    One effort to mechanize this operation have included an apparatus wherein pairs of cooperating friction wheels are mounted in the conveyor path of the bottles. The bottles with the closures are moved between the friction wheels which are spring-biased against each other to grip the closures. The friction wheels must run at a high rotary speed since the closures are held only briefly between the wheels. Even at high rotary speeds, it is not always possible to screw on the closures tightly during the brief period of time they are clamped between the friction wheels and, furthermore, the high rotary speed causes damage to the closures. It is impossible to exert a uniform, constant torque since each friction wheel has its own friction coupling. In addition, the structure is relatively complex and correspondingly expensive. 
         [0007]    Other efforts include relatively complex machinery providing a vertically operative chuck or capping head assembly having gripping jaws adapted for gripping a cylindrical cap base and threading the cap base onto the bottle neck without interference from the shroud and spout. Such vertically operative chucks or capping head assemblies must subsequently be likewise able to disengage from the cap base without interference from the shroud and spout. To accomplish the foregoing the shroud and spout remain in the same relative position and the vertically operative chuck or capping head assembly requires relatively complex structure to allow movement of the gripping jaws. Exemplary of such vertically orientated approaches and attendant complex arrangements are U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,929 to Schindel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,048 to Wywocki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,527 to Zanini et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,161 to Zanini et al. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the invention provides a torque head assembly and method of capping which encounters a cap base from a generally horizontal plane with respect thereto thus avoiding many of the problems encountered in the above-outlined capping apparatus and the relatively complex machine structure previously associated with vertically operative chucks or capping head assemblies. Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention. 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments of the invention advantageously provide for a torque head assembly for capping of a cap base to a container which includes a drive mount and a driver housing, the drive mount having a pivot point serving as a fulcrum for the driver housing and a drive shaft responsive to a drive mechanism. The drive shaft is operative to rotate a drive roller and a drive gear, the drive gear being adapted to power a plurality of train gears within the driver housing, the train gears being operative to rotate a driven roller and a driven gear. An actuator is operable to cause an approach of the driver housing to the cap base in a generally horizontal plane at least partially co-planar with the cap base and to allow the drive roller and driven roller to contact an outer periphery of the cap base and rotate the cap base into threaded engagement with the container. 
         [0010]    Moreover, the torque head assembly for capping of a cap base to a container advantageously provides for a method of cap application to a container. The method includes the steps of providing a container and a cap base unconnected to the container in proximity to the foregoing torque head assembly, actuating the actuator to cause an approach of said driver housing to said cap base in a generally horizontal plane at least partially co-planar with said cap base, contacting an outer periphery of said cap base with said drive roller and driven roller, and rotating said cap base into threaded engagement with said container. The method preferably further includes the step of providing a sensor feedback of the mechanical grip torque during the rotating of the cap base into threaded engagement with the container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a torque head assembly of an embodiment of the invention having a pneumatic actuator for capping a trigger sprayer cap base to its container bottle neck. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  capping a trigger sprayer cap base to its container bottle neck. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a torque head assembly of another embodiment of the invention similar to that of  FIG. 1  but now having a cam actuator for capping a trigger sprayer cap base to its container bottle neck and now showing sectional lines A-A through D-D subject of  FIGS. 4 through 7 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a horizontal sectional view of part of the torque head assembly and trigger sprayer cap base/container taken along section A-A of  FIG. 3 , namely through the center of the drive and driven rollers of a driver housing. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a horizontal sectional view of part the torque head assembly and trigger sprayer cap base/container bottle neck taken along section B-B of  FIG. 3 , namely through the center of the train gears of the driver housing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the torque head assembly and trigger sprayer cap base/container bottle neck taken along section C-C of  FIG. 3 , namely through the vertical center-line of the trigger sprayer cap base/container. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a horizontal sectional view of the torque head assembly, trigger sprayer cap base/container bottle neck, and drive mount taken along section D-D of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is top horizontal sectional view of part of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-cut layout view of the portion of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 8  taken along section E-E of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a trigger sprayer bottle when its cap base first contacts the drive roller of the drive gear to thereby initiate a pivoting of the driver housing (shown in sectional view) of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a top view of a trigger sprayer bottle when the pivoting of the driver housing (shown in sectional view) of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  is at an intermediate position relative to the cap base. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a top view a trigger sprayer bottle when the pivoting of the driver housing (shown in sectional view) of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  is complete to capture the cap base for capping to its bottle neck. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the driver housing of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  at a position of first contact with a trigger sprayer cap base. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of the driver housing of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  being actuated to an intermediate position after first contact with a trigger sprayer cap base. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of the driver housing of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  being actuated to a capping position to cap a trigger sprayer cap base to its bottle neck. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is an upper front view of a torque head assembly of  FIG. 3  wherein the trigger sprayer has been deflected to a face forward position relative to its bottle after contact with a stop block extension surface of the drive mount. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is an upper front perspective view of a torque head assembly of  FIG. 16  again showing the deflection of the trigger sprayer to a face forward position relative to its bottle after contact with a stop block extension surface of the drive mount. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is an upper front view of a torque head assembly of another embodiment of the invention similar to  FIG. 16  except now illustrating, as an alternative to a stop block, the drive mount itself being effective to contact deflect a different, more complex and bulky, type of trigger sprayer to a face forward orientation relative to its bottle. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is an upper front perspective view of a torque head assembly similar to that of  FIG. 18  but now showing the deflection of the trigger sprayer to a face forward position relative to its bottle after contact with the an alternative flat stop block connected to an exterior surface of the drive mount. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a top perspective view of the driver housing of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  thread capping a trigger sprayer cap base to its bottle neck. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a is a top perspective view of the driver housing of the torque head assembly of  FIG. 1  thread capping a common cap to its bottle neck. 
       
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown, respectively, front and rear perspective views of a torque head assembly  10  of an embodiment of the invention capping a cap base  12  of a trigger sprayer  14  to the bottle neck  16  of a container  18 . A power supply  20 , such as the servo-motor  22  depicted, is cooperative with a motor coupling assembly  24  connected to one of the two bearing retainer collars ( 26   a ) to operate a drive shaft  28  within drive mount  30  and hence directly drive both a drive roller  32  and drive gear  34  to operate the drive gear train mechanisms within a driver housing  36 . The power supply  20  may be one of several known drive means in the arts such as a regular motor, a magnetic brake clutch, a gear and friction clutch, or other suitable drive mechanism. The servo-motor  22  depicted is preferably used so as to drive the gears (hereinafter described) and provide a sensor feedback reading of the measured grip torque achieved by the gear train mechanisms of the driver housing  36  and drive and driven rollers (also hereinafter described) upon the outside periphery of a cap base of a trigger sprayer or a bottle cap for a container. Indeed, the torque head assembly  10  with its generally horizontal approach  38  of the driver housing  36  at least partially co-planar to cap base  12 , entails far less mass as compared to the traditional complex structures associated with vertical capping operations, a factor conducive to more sensitive torque measurements and adjustments. 
         [0035]    As best illustrated at  FIG. 2 , an actuator  40 , such as pneumatic actuator  42  depicted, is operable to move a linearly extendable piston rod  44  interconnected with the driver housing  36  at connection  46  between retracted and extended positions to cause the generally horizontal approach  38  of the driver housing  36  at least partially co-planar to cap base  12  in a manner hereinafter more specifically described. The actuator  40  need not be pneumatic: it may also be cam or spring actuated such as the cam follower  48  cooperative with a follower arm  50 .  FIG. 3  (and its associated sectional views of  FIGS. 4 to 7 ),  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and  FIGS. 16 to 19  show the actuator  40  as cam follower  48  cooperative with a follower arm  50  to open and close or actuate the driver housing of the torque head assembly. The pneumatic actuator  42  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  (also illustrated at  FIGS. 10 to 15  and  FIGS. 20 and 21 ) includes an actuator assembly drive end  52  connected to an actuator cylinder  54  housing the piston rod  44  by hex bolt  56 . Thus pneumatic actuator  42  and actuator cylinder  54 /piston rod  44  may be part of an overall pneumatic actuator assembly  58  to open and close the driver housing of the torque head assembly in a swing clamping action relative a trigger sprayer cap base as discussed hereafter. Although not illustrated for sake of clarity of presentation, the pneumatic actuator assembly  58  in turn can be affixed to a portion of the drive mount  30  or a suitable brace such as a rotary turret or a stationary platform. 
         [0036]    The  FIG. 3  front view of the torque head assembly  10   a  having an actuator  40  that is a cam actuator consisting of cam follower  48  cooperative with a follower arm  50  rather than a pneumatic actuator.  FIG. 3  illustrates various sectional lines A-A through D-D which now will be described in relation to  FIGS. 4 through 7 . 
         [0037]    Section A-A of  FIG. 4  is a horizontal sectional view of part of the torque head assembly  10   a  and trigger sprayer cap base  12 /container  18  of  FIG. 1  through the center of drive roller  32  and a driven roller  60  that is at an end portion  62  of the driver housing  36 . Section B-B of  FIG. 5  is a horizontal sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 4 , but now taken through the center of a plurality of train gears  62  within the driver housing  36  of the illustrated portion of the torque head assembly  10  and illustrating bottle neck  16  of container  18 . Operative rotation of drive shaft  28  within drive mount  30  rotationally drive powers drive gear  34  to operate the plurality train gears  62  within a train gear portion  64  of the driver housing  36  via their cooperative meshed teeth engagement. The plurality of train gears  62  of  FIG. 5  includes a first proximal train gear  66 , a second intermediary train gear  68 , and a third distal train gear  70  each aligned in a common horizontal plane to rotationally operate a driven gear  72  located beneath its associated driven roller  60  of  FIG. 4 . The first train gear  66  is stationary and centered about a pivot point  74  which serves as a fulcrum for the entire driver housing  36  (inclusive of the driver housing train gear portion  64  and the driver housing end portion  62  that houses the driven gear  72  and most of its associated driven roller  60 ) for opening and closing about a cap base as will be hereinafter discussed. As seen in the horizontal sectional view of  FIG. 5  the respective meshing teeth  76  of the drive gear, all first, second, and third train gears, and the driven gear are in the same general horizontal plane. The number of teeth per gear can vary depending upon the desired torque effect to be achieved. 
         [0038]    Section C-C of  FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the torque head assembly and trigger sprayer cap base/container bottle neck taken along section C-C of  FIG. 3 , namely through the center of the trigger sprayer cap base/container. Section D-D of  FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the torque head assembly, trigger sprayer cap base/container bottle neck, and drive mount taken along section D-D of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is top horizontal sectional view of a torque head assembly  10   a  of  FIG. 3 . which is cam actuated as opposed to having a pneumatic actuator. The cross-cut layout view of  FIG. 9  is taken along section E-E of  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 8 . the drive roller  32  and driven roller  60  are each mounted atop their respective drive gear  34  and the driven gear  72 . When the torque head assembly  10   a  is in operative “capping” contact with the outer periphery of a cap base in the manner soon to be discussed, the drive roller  32  and driven roller  60  are oppositely aligned from each other so as to expose toward each other their respective serrations  78  of their outer annular periphery  80 . These serrations  78  may be selectively numbered to be adapted for cooperative fitting and desirable torque effect with the outer annular periphery of the particular variable cap base to be capped to its associated container. Also in  FIG. 8  the first proximal train gear  68  is stationary and centered about a pivot point  74  comprised of a vertical pivot shaft  82  secured in drive mount  30  by bearing retainer collar  26   b  (see  FIG. 2 ). The driver housing  36  is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the pivot shaft  82 . It is noted that the pivot point of driver housing  36  is arbitrary and can be located, for example, at the drive gear  34 . 
         [0040]    The cross-cut layout view of  FIG. 9  reflect various items of components and their respective quantities that may comprise the torque head assembly  10   a , namely: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 ITEM 
                 QTY 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 84a 
                 8 
                 BALL BEARING 
               
               
                   
                 84b 
                 4 
                 BALL BEARING 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 1 
                 CAM FOLLOWER 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 1 
                 DRIVER HOUSING (BOTTOM) 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 1 
                 DRIVER HOUSING (TOP) 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 1 
                 FOLLOWER ARM 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 3 
                 PLURALITY OF TRAIN GEARS 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 1 
                 DRIVE SHAFT 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 1 
                 DRIVE MOUNT 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 1 
                 PIVOT SHAFT 
               
               
                   
                 86a, 86b 
                 2 
                 CLAMP SPACER TUBE 
               
               
                   
                 26a, 26b 
                 2 
                 BEARING RETAINER COLLAR 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 1 
                 DRIVE GEAR 
               
               
                   
                 88 
                 1 
                 DRIVE GEAR COVER 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 1 
                 DRIVEN GEAR 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 1 
                 DRIVEN ROLLER 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 1 
                 DRIVE ROLLER 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0041]    In  FIG. 9 , drive mount  30  is a block housing connected to a suitable brace (not shown) such as a rotary turret or a stationary platform having at its upper surface a pair of bearing retainer collars  26   a ,  26   b  atop ball bearings  84   b  which hold a drive shaft  28  and pivot shaft  82  respectively. The drive shaft  28  turns within one of two clamp spacer tubes  86   a  to provide direct rotation to both drive roller  32  and its associated drive gear  34  located below and disposed upon a drive gear cover  88 . The rotation of driver gear  34  in turn drive powers the plurality of train gears  62 , such as the first proximal train gear  66 , the second intermediary train gear  68 , and the third distal train gear  70  that rotationally operates the driven gear  72  located beneath its associated driven roller  60 . As previously noted, the first train gear  66  is stationary and centered about a pivot point  74  in the form of pivot shaft  82  which serves as a fulcrum for the entire driver housing  36 . As the first proximal train gear  66  turns, the associated pivot shaft  82  rotates within the other clamp spacer tube  86   b.    
         [0042]      FIGS. 10 through 12  shows the operation of the torque head assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  to encounter a cap base  12  of a supplied trigger sprayer  14  and spray bottle container  18  from a generally horizontal plane with respect to the cap base so as to thread mount the same on the container. In this regard, at  FIG. 10  the torque head assembly  10  is in an initial open position relative to the spray bottle and trigger sprayer cap base. When a portion of the outer annular periphery  80  of drive roller  32  first contacts the outer annular periphery  90  of the cap base  12 , the actuator  40  is activated to commence an outward linear advancement of piston rod  44  from its fully retracted position telescoped within the actuator cylinder  54  to an intermediary position as illustrated in  FIG. 11  and then subsequently to a fully opened position of the actuator cylinder piston rod  44  defining a “capping” position of the driver housing  36  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The extension of the actuator cylinder piston rod  44  by virtue of its interconnection with the driver housing  36  via connection  46  provides a corresponding extension swing of the driver housing to enclose and capture the trigger sprayer cap base  12  in a clamping or wrap-around fashion in a generally horizontal plane  38  at least partially co-planar with the trigger sprayer cap base. The greater the length of the actuator cylinder  54  and its associated linear stroke of the actuator cylinder piston rod  44 , the larger the percentage of swing opening the driver housing  36  of the torque head assembly  10  can accommodate. In  FIGS. 10 through 12  the pneumatic actuator assembly  58  illustrated accommodates an opening of approximately 40° as might be suited for rotary turret applications of an embodiment of the invention, yet with an actuator cylinder  54  of greater length accommodating a greater length of an actuator cylinder piston rod  44  stroke, the driver housing  36  can accommodate a range of swing opening to 90°. 
         [0043]    Regardless of the type of actuator  40 , whether pneumatic or cam actuated, the degree of swing actuation of driver housing  36  may be designed for a rotary turret interaction with work pieces/containers or may be designed for a greater sufficient degree of swing sufficient for a linear conveyance line supply flow of such work pieces or containers. In either situation, the swing can be designed to accommodate between a position of withdrawal from interaction with a work piece or container to be capped so as to permit the supply of a further work piece or container in proximity to the driver housing  36  and its drive mount  30  and a position of interaction with respect to a particular supplied work piece or container for capping. 
         [0044]    As the actuator cylinder piston rod  44  linearly extends from its fully retracted position within the actuator cylinder  54  in  FIG. 10  to the inter mediate position of  FIG. 11 , the driven roller  60  moves within a plane generally horizontal to the cap base correspondingly closer toward the portion of the outer annular periphery  90  of the cap base  12  opposite its outer annular periphery that is engaged with the drive roller  32 . Once the actuator cylinder piston rod  44  is fully extended to its final fully opened position of driver housing  36  of the torque head assembly  10  shown at  FIG. 12  is in its “capping” position wherein the driven roller  60  contacts the foregoing opposite outer annular periphery  90  of the cap base  12  such that continued drive rotation of the drive gear  34 , all train gears, and the driven gear rotates the cap base  12  (or another selectively chosen suitable threaded cap) into threaded engagement with its associated sprayer bottle or container. The drive roller  32  and driven roller  60  engages their respective opposite portions of the outer annular periphery  90  of the cap base  12  to screw the cap base in the same direction (clockwise for a left handed thread on the spray bottle and counter clockwise for a right handed thread on the spray bottle) to thereby thread mount the trigger sprayer  14  upon the spray bottle/container  18 . The drive roller  32  thus stays in contact with its associated outer annular periphery  90  of the cap base  12  of the trigger sprayer  14  while the driven roller  60  swings around in a generally horizontal plane  38  at least partially co-planer fashion to the cap base  12  to ultimately achieve contact with the opposite outer annular periphery  90  of the cap base, thus avoiding contact with the upper body portion  92  or shroud housing  94  of the trigger sprayer  14  and thereby obviating the need for complex structure designed to avoid such work piece contact as found in traditional “vertical approaches” to capping a work piece. The number of serrations  78  to the outer side periphery  80  of the drive roller and driven roller is arbitrary and can be selected for its cooperative fitting and torque effect with the number of serrations on the outer side periphery of the work piece cap base or cap to be thread screwed to its associated spray bottle or container. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 13 to 15  are front perspective views of the foregoing described horizontal plane capture of the cap base  12  of trigger sprayer  14  by the torque head assembly  10 .  FIG. 13  shows the driver housing  36  of the torque head assembly in its initial open position relative to the spray bottle  18  and the trigger sprayer cap base  12 .  FIG. 14  shows the intermediate position of the driver housing  36 .  FIG. 15  shows the “capping” position of the driver housing  36  of the torque head assembly engaged with the cap base  12  of trigger sprayer  14  wherein the actuator cylinder piston rod  44  is fully opened/extended and continued rotation of the drive roller  32  and driven roller  60  screws the cap base upon the spray bottle. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 16 and 17  shows two frontal views of the cam actuated torque head assembly  10   a . In both the upper front view of  FIG. 16  and the upper front perspective view of  FIG. 17 , the trigger sprayer  14  is depicted as having been deflected and aligned to a face forward position relative to its sprayer bottle  18  after its conveyance contact with a stop block extension surface  96  of an orientation surface block  98  of the drive mount  30 .  FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrates similar frontal views to that of  FIGS. 16 and 17  except that the orientation surface block  98  and stop block extension surface  96  of the drive mount  30  depicted in  FIGS. 16 and 17  are now replaced by alternative deflection structure, namely in the upper front view of  FIG. 18  by an outer surface  100  of the drive mount  30  itself and in the upper perspective view of  FIG. 19  by a flat orientation surface block  102  joined to the drive mount  30 . The alternative deflection structure of drive mount outer surface  100  or drive mount flat orientation surface block  102  are each effectively suited to orientate a large shroud, more complex and bulkier trigger sprayer  104  in an aligned face forward orientated position relative to its spray bottle after its conveyance deflection contact. Thus a trigger sprayer not yet screwed to its associated spray bottle may during its conveyance in proximity to the torque head assembly  10   a  or  10   b  approach the drive mount outer surface  100  or the drive mount flat orientation surface block  102  or the stop block extension surface  96  of an orientation surface block  98  in various orientations relative the bottle to ultimately be deflected by such alternative deflection structure to a position parallel the drive mount  30  in an aligned face forward position. 
         [0047]    Finally, in  FIGS. 20 and 21  there is shown front perspective views of the driver housing  36  of the torque head assembly capping a trigger sprayer  14  onto a spray bottle  18  in  FIG. 20  and a common flat head bottle cap  106  to a same bottle  18  in  FIG. 21 , each by virtue of the torque head assembly capture of the respective cap base  12  or cap  106  in a plane generally horizontal thereto. 
         [0048]    From the foregoing, it is apparent that a method of capping may be achieved by the torque head assembly embodiments of the invention. For example a method of capping a cap base to a container may comprise the steps of: (1) providing a container  18  and a cap base  12  of a trigger sprayer  14  unconnected to the container in proximity to a torque head assembly  10  having a drive mount  30  and a driver housing  36 , the drive mount having a pivot point  74  serving as a fulcrum for the driver housing  36  and a drive shaft  28  responsive to a drive mechanism  20 , the drive shaft being operative to rotate a drive roller  32  and a drive gear  34 , the drive gear being adapted to power a plurality of train gears  62  within the driver housing  36 , and the train gears being operative to rotate a driven roller  60  and a driven gear  72 , and an actuator  40  operable to move a linearly extendable piston rod  44  interconnected with the driver housing  36  by a connection  46  between retracted and extended positions, (2) engaging an outer periphery  90  of the cap base  12  with the drive roller  32 , (3) activating the actuator  40  upon the engagement of the cap base  12  with the drive roller  32  to extended the piston rod  44  and cause the driver housing  36  to approach the cap base  12  in a generally horizontal plane  38  at least partially co-planar with the cap base, (4) contacting an outer periphery  90  of the cap base  12  with the driven roller  60  during the engagement of the cap base with the drive roller  32 , and (5) rotating the cap base  12  into threaded engagement with the container  18 . The method preferably further includes the step of providing a sensor feedback of the mechanical grip torque during the rotating of the cap base into threaded engagement with the container via servo-motor sensor  108  or other feedback means (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0049]    From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0050]    The torque head assembly and method of capping embodiments of the invention advantageously allows a drive roller to contact an outer periphery of the cap base of the trigger sprayer to activate an actuator to swing a driver housing having a driven roller around in a generally horizontal plane to the cap base, at least partially co-planer to the cap base, to ultimately achieve a clamping contact of the driven roller with the opposite side periphery of the cap base, thus avoiding contact with the upper body portion or shroud housing of the trigger sprayer and obviating the need for complex structure designed to avoid such work piece contact in traditional vertical approaches to capping a work piece or container. Additionally, the torque head assembly with its generally horizontal approach of the driver housing at least partially co-planar to the cap base entails far less mass as compared to the traditional complex structures associated with vertical capping operations, a factor conducive to more sensitive torque measurements and adjustments.