A screw capper includes a capping head which comprises a chuck for holding a cap, a motor for driving the chuck for rotation, a cam mechanism for elevating the chuck, and an air cylinder for imparting a load to the chuck. A load imparted by the air cylinder is controlled by a controller to be zero from the beginning of a screwing and tightening operation until an angle of rotation of the chuck exceeds a specific angle where the load is changed, and is controlled to a higher value upon detection of an angle of rotation of the chuck which exceeds the specific angle in the course of the screwing and tightening operation. The arrangement allows a reliable screwing and tightening to be achieved as compared with the prior art while preventing a damage to threads or the occurrence of a cocked cap.
A gripper includes grip members which are mounted on a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft, respectively, so as to be opened and closed. An engaging pawl is formed on an upper surface of the grip member. Both shafts are elevatable in an integral manner. A receptacle member is disposed below an exit star-wheel, and is arranged to rotate integrally with the star-wheel. The gripper is located below the flange of the vessel when receiving the vessel. Accordingly, the engaging pawl cannot contact the flange. When the vessel is depressed by the capping head during a capping operation, the engaging pawl engages the vessel. When the vessel is discharged, the vessel remains suspended above the receptacle member, and the gripper then descends to place the vessel on the receptacle member and to disengage the engaging pawl of the gripper. Accordingly, there is no scarring of the vessel when the vessel is introduced into and discharged from the screw capper, and a stable conveyance of vessels is enabled.
A metal cap 12 is fitted over a vessel (vial 2), into which a rubber plug 4 is driven, and using a pressure block 10, a load is applied to the cap 12 through the top surface 12b thereof to maintain the rubber plug 4 compressed. Under this condition, a tightening roller 14 folds a skirt (lower end 12c of a cylindrical portion 12a) of the cap 12 inwardly to perform a tightening operation. Subsequently, the load applied to the top surface 12b of the cap is once released, and then a load is applied again starting from a value FB which is less than the load FA applied during the tightening operation, gradually increasing to a higher value. In the course of increasing the load, a load FC at the instant when a displacement in the elevation of the top surface of the cap is detected, and this load FC is determined to be a seal load upon completion of the tightening operation. By detecting the load FC upon completion of the tightening operation, a seal capacity of the rubber plug 14 can be confirmed.
The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.
The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.
A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.
