Patent GB-783349-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the closure of bottles, jars and like containers
Inventor: CLIFT PAUL EMORY
IPC: B67B3/18
Filed: 1955-02-07
Abstract: 783,349. Closuring jars &c. HUNTER, Ltd., T. Jan. 30, 1956 [Feb. 7, 1955], No. 3570/55. Class 125(2). Relates to the closuring of containers, especially glass jars, having a continuous thread or a short multi-start thread 49, Fig. 9 and a neck ring 50 by placing a skirted cap thereon and then indenting spaced portions of the skirt under the thread elements by means of movable fingers in a head. According to the invention the fingers are aligned with the thread elements by rotating the head until guide means thereon either enter slots 51 in the neck ring 50 or co-operate with the screw thread to stop the rotation. The head, Fig. 1, consists of an outer crown 1 having depending fingers 2 and an inner crown 3 vertically slidable within crown 1 and having fingers 4 for indenting the cap skirt and a sleeve 5. Rotatably mounted in the sleeve 5 is a plate 10 which bears on the cap and clamps the cap and bottle in position. Fingers 14 are pivoted to the sleeve 5 and are urged clockwise by springs 15, the levers normally being held outwards by rollers 18 engaging cams 20 on the lower ends of fingers 2. In operation, the head is lowered on to a jar having a loose cap or the jar is raised towards the head until plate 10 bears on the cap and prevents rotation of the jar. Further movement telescopes crowns 1 and 3 and the head is rotated as described below, rollers 18 riding off cams 20 so that the levers 14 are swung inwards by springs 15. As the levers rotate they will fall into slots 51 in the neck ring 50 and this stops the rotation of the head. During further telescoping movement the lower ends of fingers 2 press in fingers 4 so that they indent the cap skirt under the thread elements. The motion is then reversed so that the head is restored to its original position and the closured jar is freed. The orientation of the head may be effected by a first reciprocation at the end of which the cap is lifted either by suction applied through bore 22 or by spring catches, high temperature vapour being injected into the headspace of the jar to produce a vacuum closure or to soften the cap gasket ; during the second reciprocation, indenting of the skirt is effected. Alternatively the cap may be lifted in the first reciprocation, the vapour is then injected, and both orientation and closuring performed in the second reciprocation. As shown in Fig. 3, a continuously driven shaft 30 has two cams 26, 31. The former reciprocates the head through a roller 25 and the latter rotates the head by means of a lever and rack mechanism 38. The rotary drive to the head is interrupted by the throwing-out of a resilient coupling when the head is stopped by interengagement with the neck ring 50. Alternatively, the head is rotated by a continuously driven sprocket drive provided with a spring- loaded ratchet which interrupts the drive when orientation is effected. The head may be rotated by a hand wheel. Specifications 746,675 and 746,676 are referred to. Specifications 641,968 and 661,433 are referred to in the Provisional Specification.