Fci, Inc.

Michael H Peronek

Daniel L Goodell

Kevin M Sweeny

Robin C Jones

Kevin Sweeney

A plastic container for beverages to replace a container having a round flange with a round flange diameter and which is adapted to be conveyed by air along a track with inwardly extending track rails spaced from one another a set distance. The plastic container replacing the replaced container without significant modifications to the conveying system including the inwardly extending track rails of the track. The container including a central axis, an upper mouth portion, a neck portion coaxial to the axis with a diameter, a cylindrical sidewall, a lower base and an anti-rotation flange below the upper mouth portion having a polygonal peripheral edge with a shape including a plurality of flats and a plurality of apexes each located between adjacent flats. Each apex being diametrically opposite one of the flats. The peripheral edge having a diametrical distance between each of the apexes and the flat opposite the apex. The diametrical distance being at most only slightly less than the round flange diameter of the replaced container.

Plastic water bottle and apparatus and method to convey the bottle and prevent bottle rotation

A bottle support structure and wear plate for use in a rotary capping machine used to apply caps onto the upper threaded neck of a series of plastic containers. The plastic containers have a generally cylindrical body with an outer cylindrical periphery with a diameter and a pedaloid base with spaced pads separated by radial recesses extending from a center recess. The bottle support structure supports the weight of the bottle as the bottle is being capped be prevent the body and base of the bottle from being deformed or crushed during the capping process. The wear plate is a flat ring rotated in unison with a star wheel about a machine axis. The ring has an upwardly facing flat surface and a series of container receiving nests movable in the circular path as the ring is rotated. Each of the nests has at least one elongated bar-like abutment projecting upwardly from the flat surface a given vertical distance. The one or more abutments prevent the bottle from rotating during the capping process.

Anti-rotation wear plate for capping machine

A bottle support plate for use in a rotary capping machine used to apply caps onto the upper threaded neck of one or more containers having a non-fully circular flange. The containers are moved along a generally circular path by a star wheel. The bottle support plate is connected to the star wheel and includes a pocket that at least partially supports and at least partially mates with the flange of the container to at least partially inhibit rotation of the container during the threading of a cap on the upper threaded neck of the container.

Apparatus and method to prevent bottle rotation

Bottle flange

A wear plate for use in a rotary capping machine used to apply caps onto the upper threaded neck of a series of plastic containers, having a generally cylindrical body with an outer cylindrical periphery with a diameter and a pedaloid base with spaced pads separated by radial recesses extending from a center recess, as the containers are moved along a circular path by a star wheel with outwardly protruding pockets supporting the necks of the containers. The wear plate being a flat ring rotated in unison with the star wheel about a machine axis and adapted to support the containers, the ring having an upwardly facing flat surface and a series of container receiving nests movable in the circular path as the ring is rotated, each of the nests having an inner flat area and at least one elongated bar-like abutment projecting upwardly from the flat surface a given vertical distance and extending in a direction radial of the inner area.

An improved container guide for a bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross-section is provided. The container guide serves to retain the containers in the machine during conveyance through the bottling line. A rotatable star wheel is provided for moving the container through the machine and includes a pocket support for supporting the containers thereon. A rear guide is located radially outward from the star wheel and is used to retain the containers within the pocket support during rotation. The star wheel and rear guide each include a side wall or body guides to maintain the sidewall of the containers in position during rotation of the star wheel. An adjusting mechanism is provided on each guide to change the position of the guide to accommodate different size bottles.

Container guide for a filling and capping machine

A bottling machine for filling or capping containers having a generally circular cross section is provided. The bottling machine includes a rotatable star wheel having a plurality of peripheral individual removable neck support assemblies for receiving and moving the containers through the machine. Each of the individual neck support assemblies includes a pocket support for holding the containers and a snap locking mechanism including a piston on the neck support assembly cooperable with a clamp pin on the star wheel for releasably attaching each of the neck support assemblies to the star wheel.

Quick change method and apparatus for filling and capping machines

A quick connect clamp for a bottling machine is provided. The quick connect clamp includes a bayonnet clamp having a rod portion and a complementary rod grasping portion. The rod portion including a handle at one end for actuating the clamp and locking projections on the other end for inserting within the rod grasping portion, the rod portion including a spring mechanism for placing the clamp in tension in a locked position. The locking projections coact with a cam surface on the rod grasping portion to lock and unlock the clamp.

Quick change connection for filling and capping machines

Method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing rotation of bottles in a capping machine while caps are screwed onto bottle necks with capper heads which develop slight axial forces. An especially configured stationary guide member develops an off-center, mechanical force on the shoulder of the bottle which produces an anti-rotation frictional force at the bottle base while wedging the bottle into frictional engagement with an especially configured neck pocket in the capper star wheel. The guide and neck pocket are shaped to maintain the bottle in axial alignment with the capper head while the cap is started onto the bottle neck which support is removed when the cap is tightened so that the aforedescribed pocket frictional engagement can occur.

Anti-rotation method and apparatus for bottle capping machines

A reciprocating bottle filling assembly is provided with an improved centering guide comprised of two parts. The upper part is rigid and provides support for a pliable non-metallic lower part having a continuous downwardly and outwardly flaring lower surface. The lower surface flexes and deforms easily whereby a bottle can be centered without breakage and a seal provided at the bottle top. A gap is provided between the upper and lower parts around their outer portions improving flexibility of the outer portion of the lower part.

Growing community of inventors

Brunswick, OH, United States of America

Michael H Peronek