Method to prevent container rotation associated with a capping machine

Abstract

An anti-rotation method ( 50, 52, 53, 55 ), used to hold containers ( 10 ) such as beverage bottles, usually after they are filled and while being capped, involves providing a container with a neck portion having an optional lip, where there is a series of interior or exterior notches ( 22, 30, 40 ) around the lip ( 20 ) or neck portion ( 16 ) of the container; contacting the neck portion of the container with a locking plate ( 24 ) that has protrusions ( 26, 40 ) or indentations ( 32 ) that are insertable into or fit around corresponding notches in the container neck or lip, and the plate ( 24 ) fits around the container and is connected to a capping machine; and locking the plate such that a releasable anti-rotation clamping action is applied to the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method to prevent container rotation associated with a container capping machine adapted to apply a cap to container neck where the method comprises: 
 (a) providing a container with a neck portion having an optional lip, where there are a series of interior or exterior notches around or in the lip or neck portion of the container;    (b) contacting the neck portion of the container with at least one radial plate having locking elements which are insertable into or fit around the series of notches, which radial plate is disposed horizontally about the neck portion of the container;    (c) locking the at least one radial plate to the neck portion of the container such that a releasable anti-rotation clamping action is applied to the neck portion of the container, such that the container is immobilized.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the container is filled before step ( 2 ).  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where after step ( 3 ) the container is capped.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the radial plate is a corrosion resistant hardened metal, and there is complete mating of the container notches with the at least one radial plate.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , where after capping the at least one radial plate is released.  
     
     
         6 . A method to prevent container rotation associated with a container capping machine adapted to apply a cap to a container neck where the method comprises: 
 (a) providing a container with a neck portion having a lip, where there are a series of interior notches within the bottom side of the lip of the neck portion of the beverage container;    (b) contacting the lip portion of the container with at least one radial plate having locking elements which are insertable into the lip notches, which plate is disposed horizontally about the lip and neck portion of the container;    (c) locking the at least one radial plate to the lip and neck portion of the container such that a releasable anti-rotation clamping action is applied to the lip and neck portion of the container during capping, such that the container is immobilized during capping.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , where after step ( 3 ) the container is capped and the at least one radial plate is released.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , where the radial plate is a corrosion resistant hardened metal, and there is complete mating of the container notches with the at least one radial plate.  
     
     
         9 . A method to prevent container rotation associated with a container capping machine adapted to apply a cap to a container neck where the method comprises: 
 (a) providing a container with a neck portion where there are a series of exterior notches around the circumference of the neck portion of the beverage container;    (b) contacting the neck portion of the container with at least one radial plate having locking elements which fit around the notches, which plate is disposed horizontally about the neck portion of the container;    (c) locking the at least one radial plate to the neck portion of the container such that a releasable anti-rotation clamping action is applied to the neck portion of the container during capping, such that the container is immobilized during capping.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , where after step ( 3 ) the container is capped and the at least one radial plate is released.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , where the radial plate is a corrosion resistant hardened metal, and there is complete mating of the container notches with the at least one radial plate.  
     
     
         12 . A method to prevent container rotation associated with a container capping machine adapted to apply a cap to a container neck where the method comprises: 
 (a) providing a container with a neck portion having a lip, where there are a series of interior notches within the exterior circumference of the lip of the neck portion of the container;    (b) contacting the lip portion of the container with at least one radial plate having locking elements which are insertable into the lip notches, which plate is disposed horizontally about the lip and neck portion of the container;    (c) locking the at least one radial plate to the lip portion of the container such that a releasable anti-rotation clamping action is applied to the lip portion of the container during capping, such that the container is immobilized during capping.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , where after step ( 3 ) the container is capped and the at least one radial plate is released.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , where the radial plate is a corrosion resistant hardened metal, and there is complete mating of the container notches with the at least one radial plate.  
     
     
         15 . An anti-rotation plate, associated with a container capping machine adapted to apply caps to container necks, having an optional lip associated with the necks of the container, where the anti-rotation plate comprises: at least one radial plate having a locking means which are insertable into or fit around a series of interior or exterior notches around or in the lip or neck portion of a container, which plate is disposed horizontally, substantially about the neck portion of the container and is lockable to the neck portion of the container capping machine such that a releasable anti-rotation clamp can be applied to the neck portion of the container during capping, such that the container is immobilized during capping.