Apparatus and methods of forming and applying roll-on pilfer proof closures on the threaded neck of metal containers

A method of retaining a roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) closure on a threaded metallic bottle, comprising:

• providing the threaded metallic bottle, comprising:
• a neck;
• container threads formed on at least a portion of the neck;
• an annular ring formed in the neck and positioned below a lowermost portion of the container threads, the annular ring configured to receive and retain a portion of the ROPP closure;
• and
• an opening positioned on an uppermost portion of the neck;
• positioning the ROPP closure on the neck of the threaded metallic bottle, the ROPP closure including:
• a closed end-wall;
• a body portion extending downwardly from the closed end-wall;
• a pilfer band releasably interconnected to the body portion, the pilfer band including:
• an upper portion proximate to the body portion of the ROPP closure;
• a medial portion;
• and
• a lower portion located proximate to a lowermost portion of the ROPP closure, the lower portion extending below a lowermost portion of the annular ring;
• applying a downwardly oriented force to the closed end-wall of the ROPP closure;
• forming closure threads in a portion of the body portion of the ROPP closure;
• and
• pressing the medial portion of the pilfer band of the ROPP closure inwardly at least partially into the annular ring of the threaded metallic bottle to form at least one inwardly oriented protrusion in the medial portion that extends into the annular ring of the threaded metallic container, wherein the upper portion of the pilfer band is located above the at least one inwardly oriented protrusion, and wherein the ROPP closure is retained to prevent travel in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the threaded metallic bottle.

A threaded metallic bottle adapted to be sealed by a roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) closure, comprising:

• a closed end-wall;
• a sidewall extending upwardly from the closed end-wall;
• a neck extending upwardly from the sidewall;
• threads formed on at least a portion of the neck;
• an opening positioned on an uppermost portion of the neck;
• and
• an annular ring formed in the neck below the threads, the annular ring configured to receive a portion of a pilfer band of the ROPP closure, wherein the annular ring has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, and wherein an upper neck portion above the annular ring is generally cylindrical and a lower neck portion below the annular ring is generally cylindrical.