Spindle Cappers - Product & Industry Use

The versatility of the automatic spindle capper makes the packaging machine a popular choice in a number of different industries. While the capping machine is used for screw on type caps, the variety of screw on closures alone helps boost the popularity of the machine. While many people may imagine a simple flat cap found on bottled water and other popular beverages, this is only one of the many different screw on type closures.

First, to understand why the spindle capper is popular across so many industries, consider these other types of screw on closures:

• Flip-top containers used for shampoos, lotions, body washes and similar products;
• Pump type closures used on liquid soaps; 
• Pump sprayers found on hair sprays, perfumes and even some lawn care products;
• Trigger sprayers popular on cleaning products for the home;
• Pouring spouts used on laundry detergents; and
• Tall flat caps that seal engine oil and other automotive products.

Even in industries that traditionally use other closure types, there will be a handful of items using screw on type caps. For example, some medical flasks and medicines in general use screw on type caps and child resistant caps. Wines, olive oils and distilled spirits are normally sealed using corks or ROPP caps, but some in the industry will opt for the simpler screw on closure. Even as pouches become more popular in the packaging industry for foods, beverages and numerous other items, some choose to use a fitment and a screw on type cap for convenience and a reliable seal.

So even as packaging processes change, the spindle capping machine remains a useful tool for many different products and industries in that it can continuously seal containers on a packaging line. But how exactly does it work? Obviously, the machine must consistently and reliably tighten the screw on caps to the thread of the bottle or other container being sealed. The machine achieves this by using sets of spinning disks that contact the cap as it moves down a conveyor. The disks are the tightening component of the capper, but the consistency and reliability require more than just the disks. In order to continuously cap, the machine will also use a cap delivery system and several stabilizing components as well. Caps will be delivered to a chute, where they are then presented one at a time to bottles moving into the tightening area. This removes the necessity of an operator to place caps on each bottle before the seal is completed. Instead, bulk closures are placed in a hopper and usually make their way to the chute via an elevator or vibratory bowl. The stabilizing features will include both metal fingers and a tongue to hold the cap properly for presentation to the bottle. Once the cap is in place, a stabilizing bar will help fight tipping and cross-threading, while gripper belts will ensure that the bottle or container remains in the proper place for a reliable seal.

In addition to completely automatic spindle capping machines, simple tabletop equipment is also available for unique bottles - such as trigger sprayers - when projects have a lower production demand. For more information, browse the Liquid Packaging Solutions page on spindle cappers or give LPS a call to speak with a Packaging Specialist.