Apparatus and method for attaching spouts to containers

An apparatus for removing moils from necks of a plurality of containers and attaching spouts to each of said necks, said apparatus comprising:

• a cutting station positioned along an arcuate path and having a plurality of blades, each engageable with one of said necks for cutting said moils, said blades being movable relatively to said containers to effect said cutting;
• a facing station positioned along said arcuate path and having a plurality of finishing tools, each engageable with a respective one of said necks for finishing a surface on each said neck created upon cutting of said moil therefrom, each of said finishing tools being rotatable relatively to said necks to effect said smoothing;
• an assembly station positioned along said arcuate path and having a plurality of movable arms, each said arm being engageable with one of said spouts, said arms being movable to insert said spouts into said necks;
• a pick and place device for holding said plurality of said containers, said pick and place device comprising a rotatable armature moving said containers along said arcuate path to position said containers in sequence at said cutting station, said facing station and said assembly station;
• and
• an oven positioned above said assembly station and having an oven entrance for receiving said spouts and an oven exit positioned to discharge said spouts to said assembly station, said oven heating said spouts before they are attached to said container necks.

A method of removing a moil from a neck of a container and attaching a spout thereto, said spout having hot melt adhesive thereon, said method comprising:

• moving said container to a cutting station;
• cutting said moil from said neck of said container at said cutting station;
• moving said container to an assembly station;
• heating said spout until said hot melt adhesive is molten by moving said spout through an oven using gravity;
• aligning said spout with said neck;
• and
• inserting said spout into said neck.