System and method of forming a metallic closure for a threaded container

Abstract

An apparatus and methods of forming a metallic closure for a metallic bottle are provided. The present disclosure provides a pre-formed metallic closure and apparatus and methods of forming the metallic closure. The metallic closure can be reformed with a peripheral channel before the metallic closure is positioned on a metallic bottle. An inner tool and an outer tool can form the channel in one operation. Optionally, a thread can be formed on a metallic closure prior to use of the metallic closure to seal a metallic bottle. A capping apparatus of the present disclosure uses less force to seal a metallic bottle with a metallic closure of the present disclosure compared to the force required with a prior art ROPP closure. Accordingly, a metallic closure of the present disclosure can seal a metallic bottle formed of less material (such as by being thinner) than prior art metallic bottles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to form a metallic closure having a closed end-wall and a cylindrical body, comprising:
 a tool operable to apply a force to the cylindrical body;   a mandrel having a body portion sized to fit at least partially into a hollow interior of the cylindrical body; and   at least one depression formed in the mandrel body portion, the depression having a geometry configured to form a thread on the cylindrical body of the metallic closure as the tool applies a side-load to the mandrel body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising tools to form a channel around an upper perimeter edge of the closed end-wall of the metallic closure, the tools including:
 an inner tool comprising:
 a body portion with a sidewall that is generally cylindrical; 
 a projection with a reduced diameter extending from an end of the body portion; and 
 an end-wall of the projection configured to apply a force to an interior surface of the closed end-wall of the metallic closure; and 
   an outer tool with a body and a cavity formed in the body, the cavity having an interior diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the closed end-wall of the metallic closure as the inner tool applies the force to the interior surface of the closed end-wall.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic closure is a pre-formed pilfer proof closure. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel can rotate around a longitudinal axis of the metallic closure in an opening direction to withdraw from the hollow interior of the metallic closure after the thread has been formed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a chuck configured to rotate the metallic closure in an opening direction to separate the metallic closure from the mandrel after the thread has been formed.