Closure chuck

Abstract

The invention provides a closure chuck usable with a capping machine for mounting an insertion closure on a possibly misaligned flange around an opening in a container. In the preferred embodiment, the closure chuck has an upper chuck portion attachable to the capping machine, a lower chuck portion for holding the insertion closure, a connecting assembly connecting the lower chuck portion to the upper chuck portion in a spaced apart relationship, and resilient means. The connecting assembly transmits axially directed force from the upper chuck portion to the lower chuck portion, and allows rocking movement of the lower chuck portion relative to the upper chuck portion to properly align the insertion closure with the flange. The resilient means biases the lower chuck portion to a neutral position in which the lower chuck portion is aligned with the upper chuck portion.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A closure chuck usable with a capping machine for mounting an insertion closure on a possibly misaligned flange around an opening in a container, the closure chuck having: 
 (a) an upper chuck portion attachable to the capping machine;    (b) a lower chuck portion for holding the insertion closure, and operable to release the insertion closure after the insertion closure has been mounted on the flange;    (c) a connecting assembly connecting the lower chuck portion to the upper chuck portion in a spaced apart relationship for transmitting axially directed force from the upper chuck portion to the lower chuck portion, the connecting assembly allowing rocking movement of the lower chuck portion relative to the upper chuck portion to properly align the insertion closure with the flange; and    (d) resilient means to bias the lower chuck portion to a neutral position in which the lower chuck portion is aligned with the upper chuck portion.    
     
     
         2 . A closure chuck according to  claim 1  wherein the lower chuck portion is rotatable about a lower chuck portion axis relative to the upper chuck portion.  
     
     
         3 . A closure chuck according to  claim 1  in which the resilient means includes a plurality of springs circumferentially disposed in the lower chuck portion and extending from the lower chuck portion towards the upper chuck portion, and contacting a lower surface of the upper chuck portion.  
     
     
         4 . A closure chuck according to  claim 3  in which the upper chuck portion includes a smooth annulus forming the lower surface of the upper chuck portion, for allowing the lower chuck portion to rotate relative to the upper chuck portion.  
     
     
         5 . A closure chuck according to  claim 4  wherein the connecting assembly includes a shoulder bolt having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being retained in the upper chuck portion and the lower end being retained in a central bearing assembly positioned in the lower chuck portion.  
     
     
         6 . A closure chuck according to  claim 5  in which the resilient means further includes a resilient annulus assembly positioned in the upper chuck portion around the shoulder bolt to bias the shoulder bolt to a rest position in which the shoulder bolt is coaxial with the lower chuck portion.  
     
     
         7 . A closure chuck according to  claim 1  in which the lower chuck portion includes a closure insert attached to the lower chuck portion at a bottom end of the lower chuck portion, the closure insert being operable to receive and hold the insertion closure, and operable to release the insertion closure after the insertion closure has been mounted on the flange.  
     
     
         8 . A closure chuck usable with a capping machine for mounting an insertion closure on a possibly misaligned flange disposed around an opening in a container, the insertion closure having a groove for receiving the flange in a friction fit, the closure chuck having: 
 (a) an upper chuck portion attachable to the capping machine;    (b) a lower chuck portion for holding the insertion closure, and operable to release the insertion closure after the insertion closure has been mounted on the flange;    (c) a connecting assembly connecting the lower chuck portion to the upper chuck portion in a spaced apart relationship for transmitting axially directed force from the upper chuck portion to the lower chuck portion, the connecting assembly allowing rocking movement of the lower chuck portion relative to the upper chuck portion to align a lower chuck portion axis of the lower chuck portion with an opening axis of the opening such that the flange is received in the groove in the insertion closure in a friction fit and the insertion closure is mounted on the flange; and    (d) resilient means to bias the lower chuck portion to a neutral position in which the lower chuck portion axis is aligned with an upper chuck portion axis of the upper chuck portion.