Adapter system for a capping machine for applying at least one predetermined axial load

A method for applying a cap having a tamper band to a container, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for placing a cap on a container, said apparatus comprising:
• a rotatable spindle reciprocable between a first position and a second position, said rotatable spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion constructed to be attached to a capping machine;
• a first adapter mounted on said distal end portion of said spindle, said first adapter defining an upper bore, an intermediate bore, and a lower bore, said upper and lower bores connected by said intermediate bore;
• a second adapter having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said second adapter reciprocably mounted on said first adapter to accommodate relative movement of said adaptors between a collapsed orientation and an extended orientation, wherein said adapters are moved towards said collapsed orientation as said rotatable spindle moves from said first position to said second position, said second adapter including a lower portion constructed to be received in said first adapter lower bore, said second adapter including an upper portion projecting from said lower portion, said upper portion constructed to project through said first adapter intermediate bore and into said first adapter upper bore;
• a compression spring acting between said first and second adapters;
• and
• a capping head having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion of said capping head mounted on said distal end portion of said second adapter, said capping head distal end portion constructed to retain a cap;
• providing a cap having threads thereon, said cap also having a tamper band thereon;
• placing said cap in said distal end portion of said capping head;
• providing a container constructed to receive said cap thereon, said container having mating threads thereon;
• aligning said container with said cap;
• moving said rotatable spindle from said first position to an intermediate position between said first and second positions, said tamper band contacting said mating threads on said container when said rotatable spindle is in said intermediate position, said adapters being in said collapsed orientation when said rotatable spindle is in said intermediate position;
• moving said rotatable spindle from said intermediate position to said second position, said threads on said cap engaging said mating threads on said container when said rotatable spindle is in said second position, said adapters remaining in said collapsed orientation as said rotatable spindle is moved from said intermediate position to said second position;
• threadingly securing said cap on said container, said threadingly securing step comprising rotating said rotatable spindle, said second adapter moving away from said first adapter as said cap is threadingly secured to said container;
• and
• releasing said cap from said distal end portion of said capping head.

A method for applying a cap having a threads thereon to a container having mating threads thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for placing a cap on a container, said apparatus comprising:
• a rotatable spindle reciprocable between a first position and a second position, said rotatable spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion constructed to be attached to a capping machine;
• a first adapter mounted on said distal end portion of said spindle, said first adapter defining on upper bore, an intermediate bore, and a lower bore, said upper and lower bores connected by said intermediate bore;
• a second adapter having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said second adapter reciprocably mounted on said first adapter to accommodate relative movement of said adapters between a collapsed orientation and an extended orientation, wherein said adapters are moved towards said collapsed orientation as said rotatable spindle moves from said first position to said second position, said second adapter including a lower portion constructed to be received in said first adapter lower bore, said second adapter including an upper portion projecting from said lower portion, said upper portion constructed to project through said first adapter intermediate bore and into said first adapter upper bore;
• a compression spring acting between said first and second adapters;
• and
• a capping head having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion of said capping head mounted on said distal end portion of said second adapter, said capping head distal end portion constructed to retain a cap;
• providing a cap having threads thereon;
• placing said cap in said distal end portion of said capping head;
• providing a container constructed to receive said cap thereon, said container having mating threads thereon;
• aligning said container with said cap;
• moving said rotatable spindle from said first position to said second position, said threads on said cap engaging said mating threads on said container when said rotatable spindle is in said second position, said adapters being in said collapsed orientation when said rotatable spindle is in said second position;
• threadingly securing said cap on said container, said threadingly securing step comprising rotating said rotatable spindle, said second adapter moving away from said first adapter as said cap is threadingly secured to said container;
• and
• releasing said cap from said distal end portion of said capping head.

An apparatus for placing a cap on a container, said apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable spindle reciprocable between a first position and a second position, said rotatable spindle having an intermediate position between said first and second positions, said rotatable spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion constructed to be attached to a capping machine;
• a first adapter mounted on said distal end portion of said spindle;
• a second adapter having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said second adapter reciprocably mounted on said first adapter to accommodate relative movement of said adapters between a collapsed orientation and an extended orientation, wherein said adapters are moved towards said collapsed orientation as said rotatable spindle moves from said first position to said second position, said first and second adapters constructed such that said first and second adapters are in said collapsed orientation when said rotatable spindle is in said intermediate position, said first and second adapters constructed such that said first and second adapters are in said collapsed orientation when said rotatable spindle moves from said intermediate position to said second position;
• and
• a capping head having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion of said capping head mounted on said distal end portion of said second adapter, said capping head distal end portion constructed to retain releasably a cap.