Capping device and method to apply overcaps to aerosol cans

A capping device for installing overcaps onto a plurality of aerosol cans moving on manufacturing line, the capping device comprising:

• a pressure plate having a cap contact surface on one side and a bearing surface on an opposite side, the contact surface being orientated to face overcaps resting on a plurality of aerosol cans moving past the pressure plate manufacturing line, the contact surface being rotatable about an axis so that an installation segment of the contact surface moves in concert with the plurality of aerosol cans;
• a pressure wheel having a rotatable circumferential surface arranged to bear against a part of the pressure plate to bear the installation segment into contact with the overcaps of the plurality of aerosol cans;
• the pressure plate being a circular disc having a radially extending flange that defines a circular contact surface and a circular bearing surface;
• and
• a resilient support supporting the disc, the support including a plurality of vertically oriented pins extending from a rotary shaft hub, each pin having an upper pin shoulder that limits vertical travel of the disc and a spring that bears against a portion of the disc and biases the disc upward into contact with the shoulder and permits the installation segment to be moved downward toward the plurality of aerosol cans.

A capping station for installing an overcap on each of the plurality aerosol cans moving along a manufacturing line, the capping station comprising:

• an aerosol can infeed conveyer moving a plurality of aerosol cans to the station;
• an overcap infeed adapted to initially rest an overcap on each of the aerosol cans entering the station to produce a plurality of can preassemblies;
• a pressure plate having a cap contact surface on one side and a bearing surface on a opposite side, the contact surface being oriented to face the overcaps of the can preassemblies moving past the pressure plate through the station, the contact surface being rotatable about an axis so that an installation segment of the contact surface moves in concert with the can preassembly;
• a pressure wheel having a rotatable circumferential surface arranged to bear against a part of the pressure plate to bear the installation segment against the overcaps of the can preassembly;
• a resilient support that supports and orients the pressure plate in an unbiased rotation plane generally perpendicular to the axis, and that permits the pressure plate to be reoriented to an offset rotation plane at an angle relative to the unbiased plane to bring the installation segment into abutment with the overcaps of the can pre-assemblies.

A capping device for installing an overcap on each of the plurality aerosol cans moving along a manufacturing line, the capping station comprising:

• an aerosol can infeed conveyer moving a-plurality of aerosol cans to the station;
• an overcap infeed adapted to initially rest an overcap on each of the aerosol cans entering the station to produce a plurality of can preassemblies;
• a pressure plate having a cap contact surface on one side and a bearing surface on a opposite side, the contact surface being oriented to face the overcaps of the can preassemblies moving past the pressure plate through the station, the contact surface being rotatable about an axis so that an installation segment of the contact surface moves in concert with the can preassembly;
• a pressure wheel having a rotatable circumferential surface arranged to bear against a part of the pressure plate to bear the installation segment against the overcaps of the can preassembly;
• the pressure wheel being arranged to bear against a part of the plate bearing a surface;
• and
• a resilient support that supports and orients the disc, the support including a plurality of vertically oriented pins extending from a rotary shaft hub, each pin having an upper pin shoulder that limits vertical travel of the disc and a spring that bears against a portion of the disc and biases the disc upward into contact with the shoulder and permits the installation segment to be moved downward toward the plurality of aerosol cans.

A capping station for installing an overcap on each of a plurality of aerosol cans moving along a manufacturing line, the capping station comprising:

• an aerosol can infeed conveyor moving a plurality of aerosol cans to the station;
• an overcap infeed adapted to initially rest an overcap upon each of the aerosol cans entering the station to produce a plurality of can preassemblies;
• a pressure plate having a cap contact surface on one side and a barring surface on an opposite side, the contact surface being oriented to face the overcaps of the can preassemblies moving past the pressure plate through the station, the contact surface being rotatable about an axis so that an installation segment of the contact surface moves in concert with the can preassemblies;
• a pressure wheel having a rotatable circumferential surface arranged to bear against a part of the pressure plate to bear the installation segment against the overcaps of the can preassemblies;
• a transverse wheel assembly arranged concentrically and a fixed for co-rotation with the pressure plate, the transverse wheel assembly having at least one transverse star wheel with a plurality of can receiving recesses in a circumferential surface adapted for guiding the aerosol cans along the path;
• an infeed wheel assembly arranged to rotate about a second axis parallel to the surface rotation axis, the infeed wheel assembly having at least one infeed star wheel with a plurality of can receiving recesses in a circumferential surface adapted for receiving aerosol cans from the infeed conveyor and delivering the aerosol cans from the infeed conveyor and delivering the aerosol cans to the transverse wheel assembly prior to reaching the installation segment of the pressure plate;
• a cap outlet of the overcap infeed being positioned between the infeed wheel assembly and the transfer wheel assembly.