Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Glen John Peterson

Ronald F Tuckner

Bengt Bengtsson

Ron Tuckner

Ken Nortman

An orientationally sensitive closure for mounting to a container in a specific orientation includes a closure body and a flange. A spout portion extends from one side of the flange and an orienting projection extends from a side of the flange opposite of the spout. The flange and spout may be coaxial with on another, with the spout centrally disposed thereon. The projection extends from the flange in a non-coaxial relation to the spout and flange. An apparatus for orienting the closure prior to mounting to a container includes a body defming inlet and outlet regions extending along a longitudinal axis of the body. Flange and projection receiving channels extend between the inlet and outlet regions. The flange channel defines a substantially straight-through path through the apparatus, along the longitudinal axis. The projection channel defines a path having at least two bends therein defming a portion generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. The closure rotates as it traverses through the apparatus to orient the closure so that a trailing edge of the closure adjacent the projection is last discharged from the apparatus.

Orientationally sensitive closure and orienting apparatus therefor

The orienting device of the present invention will properly orient a closure which is transferred from a hopper to be applied to a container in connection with a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The present invention will also maintain the orientation on an anvil as the anvil moves the closure from the orienting device to a container through exertion of a vacuum on the closure. The present invention also discloses a specific closure for use with an overall orienting closure system. The orienting device will have at least two channels which maintain the closure as the closure is oriented into a desired position.

Orienting apparatus for an orientationally sensitive closure

An orientationally sensitive closure for mounting to a container in a specific orientation includes a closure body and a flange. A spout portion extends from one side of the flange and an orienting projection extends from a side of the flange opposite of the spout. The flange and spout can be coaxial with one another, with the spout centrally disposed thereon. The projection extends from the flange in a non-coaxial relation to the spout and flange. An apparatus for orienting the closure prior to mounting to a container includes a body defining inlet and outlet regions extending along a longitudinal axis of the body. Flange and projection receiving channels extend between the inlet and outlet regions. The flange channel defines a substantially straight-through path through the apparatus, along the longitudinal axis. The projection channel defines a path having at least two bends therein defining a portion generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. The closure rotates as it traverses through the apparatus to orient the closure so that a trailing edge of the closure adjacent the projection is last discharged from the apparatus.

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Eagan, MN, United States of America

Glen John Peterson