US2670118A - Closing means for securing closures on containers - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1954 s. D. YOUN-G 2,670,118

CLOSING MEANS FOR SECURING CLOSURES ON CONTAINERS Fil'ed June so, 1948 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 QLQSINGMEANS FOR SECURING cL s nns N CONTAINERS Samuel. Davison; Young, Rugby, England.

Appli ation June. S ial N 85,99

Claims priority; application GreatBritain July 23, 1947 41Claims. 1

This invention relatesto closing heads for securing caps or closures furnished. with a periph eral flange having a continuous or uninterrupted false wire, beaded or otherwise thickened outs ward extending. edge on jars, bottles, tinboxes and like containers furnished With a welt, bead or otherwise formed to provide a. recess or re-. entrant portion below the mouth of v the opening thereof, adapted to encircle the flan eof the cap or closure and provided at. a; plurality of points with elements rojecting inward and formed to effect local displacement of the continuous or. uninterrupted edge orextremity 0f the flange of the cap or closure a downward and. radially inward direction leaving intervening. portions of the flange free.

osing heads; of thi construction are cla m d n sp fic t n f: y copending application Serial No. 10,896, filed February 25,. 1948, now Patent No. 2,615,608, as. also i he eneral method of effecting the securing or capsor. (3. 0.: sures as above definedv oniars. bottles, tin boxes and the like containers.

In a preferred construction. as describedinthe prior specification referred to the: elements adapted to effect displacement of the, thickened edge of the peri heral flan e are. relatively rigid fin s located at intervals. abo ta: crown; and alternating with further elements whichprojeot inwards to a less extent than the fingers andare so d n that ra ially n ard= deflection .of the fingers cannot take place,

Theobject of the present invention.is;tr;i.pro.-v vide proved construction of closing1 head adap d o operateon the con inuous thickened edges of such caps or closures and efiect.local displacement thereof in the manner abovedescribed.

According to the-invention. the fingers adapted to engage the thickened edge are. relatively springy or flexible and are located at intervals about acrown with spaces-between them-enabling h ers tov e; displacedina. direction. general y rad allyv inwards with respe t to theicap or closure and for effecting such displa ement of thefingers there is providedasecondcrown be.-

tween which and the firstementioned. crown axial motion maybe secured and furnished with. means adapted as the result of suohaxialmotion'. to dis. Place the e ds of, he: fl xible. springs fingers radial y nward...

For instance the. second c wn may: be urnished adjacent to. its periphery with aplurality of. more. rigid finger corresponding. in, number.

axial motion to. displace'the relatively springy or flexible fingers in a radially inward direction. 7

Preferably the relatively flexible fingers are. each. provided adjacent to its free end with a tooth; or claw which is adapted by the. inward displacement of such fingers to engage the thick.- ened edge ofthe caper closure toefiect displace m ntther of locally- Further, the outer face of each. finger adja. cent to its free end may extend outward beyond the general level of the outer face of the finger to provide an abutment surface with whichthe endsof the more rigid. fingers will co-operate in effecting the displacement of the relatively springy or flexible fingers in securing their radie ally inward displacement.

The outer face of each such abutment prefer.- ably Drovides an inclined plane with which an inclined planeon the adjacent more rigid fingers willcoact.

The springy or relatively flexible fingers. may be formedon a skirt. or flange extending froma crown b for instance, slitting the skirt in. a direetionparallel with its axis at intervals so as. to provide slots. or gene permitting the ends. of such fingers to be displaced radially inward.

The second-crown may also be provided with a flange or skirt. adapted to encircle the first.- mentioned crown andhaving in it a plurality of inclinedholes in which are engaged by mean oi screws or thelike the. m re rigid fingers, he in.- clination of thesefingers being. such that by an appropriate degree of axial motion betweenthe two crowns the ends ofthe more, rigid fingers will be brought into engagement with the springy or flexible fingers and displace them radially inward.

The co-operating surfaces of the more rigid finger and the flexible fingers may be skin hard ened'andpolished asalso may be'the surfaces of the claws or-teeth which are preferably formed to provide a bevelled'portion continuing intoa relatively narrowflat portion which-in turn continues into a surface bevelled in the reverse direction from the first-mentioned bevelled portion and thus towards the inner surface or the main portion ofthe finger.

The more rigid fingers are preferably somewhat.

spring-y. so asto be capable of displacementxto avoid unduezstresses :beinaset upinthe container n the p ration oiseouring. the can orclcsure on it.

The head maybe provided with apressure pad Whichis adapted in the; use. of thedevice to be with. the fiexibleffingers and adapted; by such brought-against.tnezunperand-.chterfaoeof the 3 cap or closure to hold it in position on the container prior to and during the operation of securing it to the container.

The invention will be described further in detail and by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation partly in section of a closing head;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in section showing the co-operation of certain parts thereof in securing a cap or closure furnished with a peripheral fiange having a continuous or uninterrupted false wire edge on to a' jar, this view being on a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in plan of a cap or closure secured to a jar by a closing head in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that a plurality of fingers I are formed on a skirt or flange 2 extending from a crown 3 by slitting the skirt in a direction parallel with its axis so as to provide slots or gaps 4 between the fingers, each of which is provided adjacent to its end with a tooth or claw 5 which is adapted, by the inward displacement of the fingers, to engage the thickened edge of the cap or closure to efiect displacement thereof locally as indicated in Figure 2.

The claws, as will be seen, comprise a downward inclined surface 6 and an upward inclined surface I with a short vertical portion 8 between them.

The outer face of each of the fingers is provided with an abutment 9 with the outer face it of which co-operates an inclined plane H provided on the adjacent more rigid fingers 12 each of which is secured by set screws it in an inclined hole I4 in a second crown l5 which is provided with a skirt is adapted to encircle the crown 3, the inclination of the fingers I21 being such that by an appropriate degree of axial motion between the two crowns which, as will be seen, are slidably engaged one with the other, the ends of the more rigid fingers will be brought into engagement as shown in Figure 2 with the springy or flexible fingers in order to displace them radially inwards.

With the crowns there is provided a pressure pad I? rigidly engaged by a stem l8 disposed in central apertures in the base of each crown and provided with a cap i9 between which and the crown I 6 there is provided a hardened washer 29.

This pad is positioned so that it will be brought against the upper surface of the cap on the neck or mouth of a jar when the two crowns are moved axially and in this position the upper surface of the teeth or claws will be immediately adjacent to the thickened rim.

Axial motion between the two crowns between which radial motion is prevented by means of the pin 2! secured to the base of the second crown slidably engaging in the hole 22 in the base of the first-mentioned crown causes the inclined face H of the more rigid fingers E2 to contact with the abutments H3 on the relatively springy fingers and cause their displacement from the position shown in dotted line in Figure 2 into the position shown in full line.

In this way the fingers will form relatively fiattened portions 23 at intervals about the cap, a fragmentary view of which in plan is shown in Figure 3, and force the portions of the bead 24 below the welt 25 formed on the neck 26 of the jar and between the upper surface of the welt and the adjacent surface of the cap a sealing ring 4 21 formed preferably of a jointing material of the flow-in type is located.

The inward displacement of certain portions of the thickened edge of the cap may cause, to somedegree, outward movement of the portions 24 intervening between those portions formed with fiattened surfaces, but this is a matter of no importance.

The use of a sealing head in accordance with the invention ensures that the stresses to which the jars or the like are subjected, are extremely low as may be seen from the fact that the head may be used in feeding metal caps upon thin walled vessels such as may be used as tumblers and having a very small bead about their open ends.

In connection with the present invention it is clear that I have provided a sealing or closing head for sealing a particular type cap to a closure having a bead or welt thereon in such manner that the cap which includes a depending peripheral flange having a continuous radially extending edge is deformed at circumferentially spaced portions. fit and at the same time permits ready prying off of the cap. As indicated in my co-pending application Serial No. 10,896, the structural relationship of the present invention including the inner and outer crown members for respective resilient fingers and more rigid fingers is such that due to the relationship of the fingers [2 corresponding in number to the fiexible fingers l with particular reference to the removability of the fingers I2 permits of variation of the number of surface deformations effected on the edge of the cap in a closing operation. Additionally as shown in the drawings the tongues include the lower inwardly and upwardly inclined planar face 1, the intermediate planar face portion 8 of less extent than the first mentioned portion and the uppermost planar portion 6 extending between the portion 8 and the inner surface of the fingers l which is disposed centrally of each finger and thus obviously has a width less than the width of each finger so that during the inward movement of the flexible fingers the planar portions of the tongues effect a local flattening as shown at 23 of the head or edge of the flange of the cap. The structural relationship of this sealing head as previously indicated is such that the stresses subjected to glass containers are extremely low and in the event that an oversized container is being closed,-

the resilient characteristics of the more rigid fingers [2 permits a yielding relationship so as to prevent undue stress and rupture of the containers.

I claim:

1. A closing head for securing closures having a peripheral flange to a container provided with a continuous bead at the mouth thereof defining a reentrant portion below the bead and which closure further includes a continuous edge extending radially outward of the flange, comprising an inner crown member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced depending resilient fingers extending longitudinally thereof in cantilever fashion, said fingers including upper portions, said upper portions being rigid with respect to said crown, said spacing between the fingers providing for substantial inward movement of said fingers and the fingers being Operable on the closure to deform the continuous edge thereof at circumferentially spaced portions to provide an effective joint between the closure and the container while permitting ready removal This type sealing relation is a tight actor-re thereof by prying, said fingersincluding an inner face normally parallel with the axis of the crown and said fingers terminating in "a lower portion having an outer surface inclined outwardly and downwardly with're'spect to the axis-of the crown.

and an inner'surfaceincluding an outer terminal planar portion inclined mwar'dly'a'nd upwardly toward the crown axis, a planar portion of less extent than the first mentioned portion normally parallel with the axi of thecrown, and a third planar portion extending from said second portion and inclined inwardly toward and merging with said inner face ofv each finger, 'sai'd'three portions therefore defining tongues on each finger, said tongues being o erable upon said closure to effect local displacement or said edge thereof at circumferentially spaced areas, a second "crown member surrounding said first mentioned crown member, closely fitting thereabout and sl'id'able relative thereto, aplurality of fingers corresponding in number to the first mentioned fingers carried by said second crown member depending relationship and in radial alignment with the respective first mentioned fingers, said second men- .tioned fingers each including an upper portion second mentioned finger abuts and forces'inward each of the first mentioned fingers to force circumferentially spaced portions of the continuous edge of the closure radially inward to engage below the rim, the radial inward movement of said tongues further locally deforming said edge, and means detachably and rigidly securing the upper portions of said second mentioned fingers to said outer crown so that the second mentioned fingers are removably attached to the outer crown in cantilever fashion permitting variation of the number of local deformations effected by the fingers of said inner crown.

2. A closing head for securing closures having a peripheral flange to a container provided with a continuous bead at the mouth thereof defining a re-entrant portion below the bead and which closure further includes a continuous edge extending radially outward of the flange, comprising an inner crown member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced depending resilient fingers extending longitudinally thereof in cantilever fashion, said fingers including upper portions, said upper portions being rigid with respect to said crown, said spacing between the fingers providing for substantial inward movement of said fingers and the fingers being operable on the closure to deform the continuous edge thereof at circumferentially spaced portions to provide an effective joint between the closure and the container while permitting ready removal thereof by prying, said fingers including an inner face normally parallel with the axis of the crown and said fingers terminating in a lower portion having an outer surface inclined outwardly and downwardly with respect to the axis of the crown, and an inner surface including an outer terminal planar portion inclined inwardly and upwardly toward the crown axis, a planar portion of less extent than the first mentioned portion normally parallel with the as or theorown, and a third planar portion extending from said second portion and inclined inwardly toward and merging with said inner face of-eacli finger, said three portions therefore dofining tongues on eaohiinger, said tongues being operable upon said closure to effect local displacement of said edge thereof at circumferentially spaced areas, a second crown member surrounding said first-mentioned crown member, closely fitting'thereabout and slidablerelative thereto, a plurality of fingerscorresponding in number to the first mentioned fingers carried by said second crown -"member in dependingrelationship and in radial alignment with-the respective first men- 'tioned fingers, said second mentioned fingers each including an upper portion and being more rigid than the first mentioned fingers but having at least slight resilient characteristics, said second mentioned fingers being inclinedinwardly toward the first mentioned fingers and including a lower edge having an outwardly inclined inner face cooperable with the outer surface of the lower portion of said first mentioned fingers whereby upon axial movement of said crowns relative to one another each said second mentioned finger abuts and forces inward each of the first mentioned fingers to force circumferentially spaced portions of the i'io'ntinuous edge of the-closure radially inward to engage below the rimythe radial inward movement of said tongues'further locally deforming said edgef'means detachably' and rigidly securing the upper portions of said second mentioned fingers to said outer crown so that the second mentioned 'fingersare removably attached to the outer-crown in cantilever fashion permitting variation or the number of local deformations effected by the fingers of said inner crown, each crown including a base, each base having a central aperture therein, a stem disposed in said apertures, a pressure pad carried at the lower end of said stem in inward spaced relation with respect to the outer terminal ends of said first mentioned fingers and said pad having a diameter less than the diameter between opposite fingers of the first mentioned fingers, said pad bearing against the upper surface of the closure when the crowns are moved jointly axially thereby disposing the third mentioned surface of each tongue immediately adjacent the edge of said closure so that axial motion between the crowns effects cooperative engagement between the fingers of the sets of fingers to provide local inward displacement of the edge of the closure at circumferential spaced areas to form circumferentially spaced flattened portions on said edges.

3. A closing head as defined in and by claim 2, in which a pin is secured to said first mentioned crown and depends therefrom, said second mentioned crown having an aperture therein slidably receiving said pin thereby preventing relative radial movement of said crowns during their relative axial movement.

4. A closing head for securing closures having a peripheral flange to a container provided with a continuous bead at the mouth thereof defining a reentrant portion below the bead and which closure further includes a continuous edge extending radially outward of the flange, comprising an inner crown member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced depending resilient fingers extending longitudinally thereof in cantilever fashion, said flngers including upper portions, said upper portions being rigid with respect to said crown, said spacing between the fingers providing for substantial inward movement of said fingers .7 and the fingers being operable on the closure to deform the continuous edge thereof at circumferentially spaced portions to provide an effective joint between the closure and the container while permitting ready removal thereof by prying, said fingers including an inner face normally parallel with the axis of the crown and said fingers terminating in a lower portion having an outer surface inclined outwardly and downwardly with respect to the axis of the crown, and an inner surface including an outer terminal planar portion inclined inwardly and upwardly toward the crown axis, a planar portion of less extent than the first mentioned portion normally parallel with the axis of the crown, and a third planar portion extending from said second portion and inclined inwardly'toward and merging with said inner face of each finger, said three portions therefore defining tongues on each finger, said tongues being operable upon said closure to efiect local displacement of said edge thereof at circumferentially spaced areas, a second crown member surrounding said first mentioned crown member, closely fitting thereabout and slidable relative thereto, a plurality of fingers corresponding in number to the first mentioned fingers carried by said second crown member in depending relationship and in radial alignment with the repactive first mentioned fingers, said second mentioned fingers each including an upper portion and being more rigid than the first-mentioned fingers but having at least slight resilient characteristics, said second mentioned fingers being inclined inwardly toward the first mentioned fingers and including a lower edge having an outwardly inclined inner face cooperable with the outer surface of the lower portion of said first mentioned fingers, each crown including a base, each base having a central aperture therein, a stem disposed in said apertures, a pressure pad carried at the lower end of said stem in inward spaced relation with respect to the outer terminal ends of said first mentioned fingers and said pad having a diameter less than the diameter between opposite fingers of the first mentioned fingers, said pad bearing against the upper surface of the closure when the crowns are moved jointly axially thereby disposing the third mentioned surface or each tongue immediately adjacent the edge of said closure so that axial motion between the crowns effects cooperative engagement between the fingers of the sets of fingers to provide local inward displacement of the edge of the closure at circumferential spaced areas to form circumferentially spaced flattened portions on said edge, and means detachably and rigidly securing the upper portions of said second mentioned fingers to said outer crown so that the second mentioned fingers are removably attached to the outer crown in cantilever fashion thus permitting variation of the number of local deformations effected by the fingers of said inner crown.

' SAMUEL DAVISON YOUNG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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