Components of an Automatic Spindle Capper

Automatic spindle capping machines work across industries to provide an efficient solution for tightening threaded caps, from simple flat caps found on beverage bottles to more unique styles including trigger sprayers, sports caps, and pumps. At Liquid Packaging Solutions, the automatic capping machine is manufactured with three distinct components, described below, to provide continuous and efficient sealing solution for packagers.

CAP SORTING DEVICES

Spindle cappers perform automatically by presenting caps to each bottle as the bottle moves down a conveyor and into the tightening area of the machine. Cap sorting devices ensure the cap is presented to the bottle in the correct orientation to avoid issues such as cross-threading or missing closures. Cap sorting devices may include a cap elevator or pre-feeder, a vibratory bowl or sorting bowl or a combination of devices. Each device, however, delivers the closures to a cap chute, with those closures not correctly positioned falling back into a hopper for re-delivery to the chute.

Cap elevators use a cleated conveyor belt to carry closures to the chute. Using a tilt adjustment, the elevator rejects caps traveling backwards or on their side, allowing them to drop back into the elevator hopper. At the chute level, air jets push correctly oriented caps off the belt and into the chute. Bowls also take advantage of air jets while delivering caps to the bottles, but the air jets are used to blow improperly oriented closures back to the center of the bowl, where they will either climb the outside of a vibratory bowl or slot into the pocketed star wheel for another attempt at proper orientation. The type of sorting device used will depend on the type and range of caps being tightened.

CAP CHUTE

Once correctly oriented caps reach the chute, they will travel down toward the cap tightening area for delivery to the bottles. The cap chute typically presents caps using side rails, fingers and springs to hold the cap in place and allow for the release of a single closure for each bottle passing by on the conveyor. Chute rails are easily adjustable for different cap sizes and will work in combination with a stabilizer bar to ensure the closure maintains proper orientation throughout the capping process.

CAP TIGHTENER

Once the cap is properly presented to the bottle, the combination of the two travel through the machine to be securely tightened. The stabilizer bar will normally continue throughout the cap tightener, and gripper belts will also be used to ensure the bottle stays stable during the process. Spindle cappers then use matched sets of spinning disks to rotate and thread the closure onto the bottle. The last set of matched disks include clutches to allow for targeted torque for the bottle and cap combination. Both disks and belts are easily adjustable, and with the addition of a power height adjustment for the cap tightener assembly, the machine can prepare a variety of both cap and bottle types and sizes.

View the Automatic Spindle Capper page for photos, videos, and more, or call Liquid Packaging Solutions to speak with a capping expert today.