# US 12,179,954 B2 · Systems and methods for the high-speed application of paper-based end closures on composite containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,954 B2 - Document ID: US12179954B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/489,538 - Filed: 2023-10-18 - Published: 2024-02-08 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-28 - Assignees: Sonoco Development, Inc. - Applicants: Sonoco Development Inc. - Inventors: Trevor Price; James J. Peoples - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179954B2 ## CPC - B65B 7/2807: {Feeding closures} - B29C 65/3656: {being a layer of a multilayer part to be joined, e.g. for joining plastic-metal laminates} - B29C 65/3668: {characterised by the means for supplying heat to said heated elements which remain in the join, e.g. special induction coils} - B29C 65/368: {with a polymer coating} - B29C 65/7847: {using vacuum to hold at least one of the parts to be joined (vacuum work holders in general B25B11/005)} - B29C 65/7885: {Rotary turret joining machines, i.e. having several joining tools moving around an axis} - B29C 66/12441: {being a single wall} - B29C 66/348: {Avoiding melting or weakening of the zone directly next to the joint area, e.g. by cooling} - B29C 66/542: {joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies} - B29C 66/545: {one hollow-preform being placed inside the other} - B29C 66/72321: {consisting of metals or their alloys} - B29C 66/72328: {Paper} - B65B 7/28: by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers - B65B 7/285: {by deformation of the closure} - B65D 3/04: essentially cylindrical - B29C 66/53461: {joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies} - B29C 66/949: {characterised by specific time values or ranges} - B29K 2705/02: Aluminium - B29L 2031/717: {Cans, tins} - B65B 7/01: Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the closures before applying - B65B 7/2878: {by heat-sealing} - B65B 51/227: {by induction welding} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A system for assembling a container and closure comprising an expanding collet which has a plurality of pivoting collet segments, each configured to simultaneously pivot radially outward about a pivot point and comprising. The collet comprises a lip that is engagable with the rim of the open end of the container and an angled tip positioned radially inward from the lip and shaped to press a countersink portion of the closure against an interior wall of the container as the collet segments pivot radially outward. As the container and the chuck are brought together, the rim engages with the lips of the collet segments and causes the angled tips of the collet segments to pivot outward toward the interior wall of the container, thereby pushing the countersink portion of the closure against the interior wall of the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A module for separating a closure from a closure supply and transferring the closure to a container body, the module comprising: a transfer dial having at least one spindle, the transfer dial being rotatable about a first axis; at least one head connected to the at least one spindle of the transfer dial, the at least one head rotatable about a second axis, the at least one head comprising: a vacuum cup disposed on an end of the at least one head; and a port disposed within the vacuum cup, wherein the port is in fluid communication with a gas source such that the port can expel gas or create a vacuum via gas suction; a closure supply, wherein the vacuum cup is configured to engage a closure from the closure supply with application of gas suction from the port to create a vacuum between the vacuum cup and the closure, rotate the closure about the first axis and the second axis, and transfer the closure to a container body, and wherein the container body is rotatable about a third axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the port is configured to additionally expel gas during transfer of the closure to a container body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein the first direction is the same as the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spindle of the transfer dial rotates about the first axis in a first direction, and the at least one head rotates about the second axis in a second direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the transfer dial and the at least one head rotate independently. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the vacuum cup contacts a non-product-facing surface of the closure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the closure supply is a supply of stacked closures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein a servo-driven screw mechanism receives the closure from the vacuum cup and places the closure on a container body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the container body is disposed in a rotary turret. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The module of claim 12, wherein the rotary turret is a pocketed turret. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The module of claim 13, wherein the rotary turret and the transfer dial are continuously rotating. ### Claim 15 A method of separating a closure from a closure supply and transferring the closure to be applied to a container body, the method comprising: rotating a transfer dial about a first axis; positioning a head, connected to at least one spindle of the transfer dial, in contact with the closure, the head connected to the at least one spindle, rotatable about a second axis, wherein the head comprises: a vacuum cup disposed on an end of the at least one head; and a port disposed within the vacuum cup, wherein the port is in fluid communication with a gas source such that the port can or create a vacuum via gas suction; applying a suction force between the vacuum cup and the closure; moving the closure from the closure supply to a container body; releasing the closure onto the container body via cessation of the suction force, wherein the container body is rotatable about a third axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the third axis is perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the port is configured to additionally expel gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the releasing step comprises expelling gas from the port toward the closure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising rotating the at least one spindle about the first axis in a first direction, and rotating the at least one head about the second axis in a second direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel.