Methods of capping metallic bottles
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsJohn R. Ross, David J. Bonfoey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of sealing a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods that reduce the amount of force applied to a metallic bottle to seal the metallic bottle with a ROPP closure. The methods include use of a capping apparatus that may include more thread rollers than known capping apparatus. Optionally, the thread rollers may use more forming passes to form threads on the ROPP closure. The capping apparatus may also rotate one or more of the ROPP closure and the metallic container in a closing direction before the metallic container is discharged. In one embodiment, the thread rollers form the closure threads before or after a pilfer roller applies a sideload to the ROPP closure.
Claims19
A method of sealing an open end of a threaded metallic bottle with a closure, comprising:
- providing a capping apparatus having a pressure block, a pressure block ejector, and a thread roller;
- positioning the closure on a threaded neck of the threaded metallic bottle;
- applying a first topload by the pressure block ejector to an exterior surface of a top portion of the closure to seal the threaded metallic bottle;
- while the first topload is applied to the closure, forming threads on the closure with the thread roller;
- before forming the threads on the closure, applying a second topload to a portion of the closure to form a channel in an outer radial edge of the closure, wherein the second topload is greater than the first topload and is applied by the pressure block of the capping apparatus, and wherein the pressure block is configured to apply and release the second topload to the top portion of the closure before the thread roller applies a first sideload to form the threads;
- and
- after forming the threads on the closure, rotating at least one of the closure and the threaded metallic bottle around a longitudinal axis of the threaded metallic bottle such that an uppermost portion of the open end of the threaded metallic bottle is moved closer to the exterior surface of the top portion of the closure.
A method of sealing an open end of a threaded metallic bottle with a closure, comprising:
- providing a capping apparatus having a pressure block ejector and a thread roller;
- positioning the closure on a threaded neck of the threaded metallic bottle;
- applying a first topload by the pressure block ejector to an exterior surface of a top portion of the closure to seal the threaded metallic bottle;
- while the first topload is applied to the closure, forming threads on the closure with the thread roller by at least a first pass and a second pass of the thread roller;
- and
- after at least partially forming the threads on the closure, rotating at least one of the closure and the threaded metallic bottle around a longitudinal axis of the threaded metallic bottle such that an uppermost portion of the open end of the threaded metallic bottle is moved closer to the exterior surface of the top portion of the closure, wherein the rotating occurs after the first pass of the thread roller and before the second pass of the thread roller when the threads are partially formed.
A method of sealing an open end of a threaded metallic bottle with a closure, comprising:
- providing a capping apparatus having a pressure block, a pressure block ejector, and a thread roller;
- positioning the closure on a threaded neck of the threaded metallic bottle;
- applying a first topload by the pressure block ejector to an exterior surface of a top portion of the closure to seal the threaded metallic bottle;
- applying a second topload by the pressure block to a portion of the closure to form a channel in an outer radial edge of the closure, wherein the second topload is greater than the first topload, and wherein the channel has a depth of less than approximately 0.1 inches;
- while the first topload is applied to the closure, forming threads on the closure with the thread roller that applies a first sideload, wherein the channel is formed before the threads are formed on the closure, and wherein the pressure block is configured to apply and release the second topload to the top portion of the closure before the thread roller applies the first sideload to form the threads on the closure;
- and
- after forming the threads on the closure, rotating at least one of the closure and the threaded metallic bottle around a longitudinal axis of the threaded metallic bottle such that a distance between an uppermost portion of the open end of the threaded metallic bottle and the exterior surface of the top portion of the closure is decreased.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.