Capping machine

A capping machine for screwing a threaded cap on a threaded container having a threaded finish, the capping machine receiving the threaded cap from a cap distributor, the capping machine comprising:

• a conveyor for moving forwardly the threaded container in a longitudinal path along the capping machine;
• a cap receiving element provided in register with and spaced apart from the conveyor for receiving the threaded cap from the cap distributor and presenting the threaded cap to the threaded container, the cap receiving element being configured and positioned so that the threaded container engages and entrains the threaded cap when the threaded container advances past the threaded cap;
• a pair of laterally opposed cap screwing belts provided forwardly relative to the cap receiving element, the cap screwing belts being closed loop belts rotatable at different speeds and defining a cap receiving gap therebetween, the cap receiving gap being configured and sized to allow the cap screwing belts to rotate the threaded cap when the threaded cap is in the cap receiving gap;
• a cap guiding element defining an upper cap guide, the cap screwing belts being provided between the upper cap guide and the conveyor, the cap guiding element being movable between an upper position and a lower position corresponding respectively to an unscrewed threaded cap and to an at least partially screwed threaded cap, the cap guiding element being configured for abutting against the threaded cap towards the conveyor when the threaded cap is in register therewith;
• a cap guiding element actuator operatively coupled to the cap guiding element for actively moving the cap guiding element between the upper and lower positions;
• a sensor positioned and operative for indicating when the threaded cap has advanced in register with the cap guiding element and issuing a corresponding sensor signal;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the cap guiding element actuator to selectively activate the cap guiding element actuator to actively move the cap guiding element between the upper and lower positions, the controller being operatively coupled to the sensor for receiving the sensor signal with the cap guiding element in the upper position and consequently causing the cap guiding element to actively move towards the lower position at controlled rate as the cap screwing belts screw the threaded cap on the threaded container;
• wherein the cap guiding element is configured and sized to constrain the threaded cap in a fixed attitude relative to the capping machine when the threaded cap is advanced along at least part of the cap guiding element, wherein said fixed attitude is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the threaded container so as to prevent cross-threading.

A capping machine for screwing a threaded cap on a threaded container having a threaded finish, the capping machine receiving the threaded cap from a cap distributor, the capping machine comprising:

• a conveyor for moving the threaded container in a longitudinal path in a forward direction;
• a cap receiving element for receiving the threaded cap from the cap distributor and presenting the threaded cap onto the threaded container as the threaded container advances along the conveyor;
• a pair of laterally opposed cap screwing belts provided, the cap screwing belts being closed loop belts rotatable at different speeds and defining a cap receiving gap therebetween such that the cap screwing belts will engage and rotate the threaded cap when the threaded cap is in the cap receiving gap, wherein each cap screwing belt includes a deforming element belt that is positioned within a loop defined by the cap screwing belt, the deforming element belt being a closed loop belt that abuts an internal side of the cap screwing belt;
• a cap guiding element defining an upper cap guide provided at least in part above the cap screwing belts for abutting downwardly on the threaded cap as the threaded cap is moved, the cap guiding element being movable between an upper position and a lower position;
• and
• a cap guiding element actuator operatively coupled to the cap guiding element for moving the cap guiding element between the upper position and the lower position.