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US 9,340,368 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for orienting a beverage container end closure and applying indicia in a predetermined location
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsDean C. Ellefson, Gregg Coningsby, Edward D. Archer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method of orienting and decorating container end closures is provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to position container end closures in a predetermined orientation and then decorate a predetermined portion of the end closures.
Claims20
A method of orienting and decorating an end closure, comprising:
- providing a plurality of end closures which are adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container;
- feeding at least one end closure into a first end of a guide assembly of an orientor;
- engaging an orientation head of the orientor with an exterior surface of the end closure;
- rotating the at least one end closure to align the at least one end closure in a predetermined orientation;
- placing the end closure on a holder proximate to a second end of the guide assembly;
- disengaging the orientation head from the end closure;
- and
- decorating a predetermined portion of the exterior surface of the end closure with at least one of an image, a laser marking, a code, and a text message while the end closure is held by the holder.
5 more elements
An apparatus for receiving and orienting an end closure which is adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- an arcuate guide assembly comprising a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to receive an end closure and the second end adapted to release the end closure;
- a hub operable to rotate proximate to the arcuate guide assembly at a predetermined rate;
- a plurality of spokes radially interconnected to the hub;
- and
- an orientation head interconnected to a distal end of each spoke, the orientation head adapted to engage an exterior surface portion of the end closure at the first end of the arcuate guide assembly and align the end closure to a predetermined orientation as the orientation head and the end closure move from the first end to the second end of the arcuate guide assembly.
2 more elements
A method of orienting a metallic end closure, comprising:
- providing an orientor comprising:
- an arcuate guide assembly including a first end, a second end, and a means for engaging and supporting an end closure;
- a hub operable to rotate at a predetermined rate;
- a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub;
- and
- an orientation head interconnected to the distal end of each spoke, the orientation head having a face portion adapted to engage an exterior surface portion of an end closure, wherein each of the plurality of spokes are adapted to move the face portion of the orientation head interconnected thereto from the first end to the second end of the arcuate guide assembly;
- receiving an end closure at the first end of the arcuate guide assembly, wherein a pull tab interconnected to the exterior surface portion of the end closure is positioned proximate to a face portion of one of the orientation heads;
- rotating the hub, wherein the face portion of the orientation head engages the end closure and moves the end closure from the first end to the second end of the arcuate guide assembly;
- and
- rotating the end closure around a longitudinal axis of the spoke associated with the orientation head, wherein the end closure and the pull tab are aligned in a predetermined orientation when the end closure exits the second end of the arcuate guide assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.