Shibuya Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Hiroaki Kitamoto

Takashi Miyazaki

Katsuji Tsuruyama

Ryohei Nakamura

Takashi Higashizaki

Toshiharu Kanaiwa

Masaru Ishii

A metal capis fitted over a vessel (vial), into which a rubber plugis driven, and using a pressure block, a load is applied to the capthrough the top surfacethereof to maintain the rubber plugcompressed. Under this condition, a tightening rollerfolds a skirt (lower endof a cylindrical portion) of the capinwardly to perform a tightening operation. Subsequently, the load applied to the top surfaceof 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 plugcan be confirmed.

Seal load inspection apparatus

A capping apparatusincludes torque sensorwhich detects an output torque when a chuckis driven for rotation by a motor. Initially, a capis held by the chuck. The capis fitted over a mouth of a vessel, and then the chuckis rotated through one revolution in a clamping direction. A resulting output torque is detected by the torque sensor, and the output torque rapidly increases at the position where the threads on the capand the vesselabut against each other (an incipient position of meshing engagement P). The capis rotated through a given angle of rotation as referenced to the incipient position of meshing engagement P, thus threadably engaging the capwith the vessel. The invention allows a uniform clamping of capat the completion of the capping operation.

Method for detecting incipient position of meshing engagement between thread of vessel and thread of cap

Capping method and apparatus

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.

Screw capper

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Ishikawa-ken, Japan

Hiroaki Kitamoto