Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
--1
Im~oved aerosol container closure
BACKGROUND
This application is a division of application Serial
No. 411,683 filed September 17, 1982.
Aerosol dispensing cont~iners have found
widespread use in the packaging o fluid materials
including ~ variety of both liquid and powdered
particul~te products. Such container~ are provided
with a valve-controlled discharge orl~ice ~nd
operate by the action of a volatile propell~nt
which is con~ined within the container ~ogether
*ith the product to be dispensed. Because the
propellant has ~n appreciable vapor pressure ~t
room temperatuare, the product in the closed
container ~s maintained under ~uper-a~mospheric
. pressure.
A ty~ical aerosol unit comprises ~ hollow
cylindricaI container wh~ch ~ tightly closed at
: one end and is provided with an opening at ~ts
oppo~ite end for rece~ving a dispensing valve
assembly. A closure, commonly referred to fl5 a
mountin~ cup, serves as the closure or the
container and ~s a ~upport for the valve assem~ly.
Typically, the mounting cup comprises ~ panel
having ~n aper~ure or receiving the valve
assembly, ~ ~kirt depending from the periphery of
~he panel~ ~nd an annular channel extending
~,;
~.2~Z~
outwardly from the edge of the skirt. When the
mounting cup i6 placed ~n sealing position on the
cont~iner, the channel i6 positioned over the bead
surrounding the container opening and the lower
portion of the skirt ~djacent to ~he channel is
flared outwardly Against the container wall
adjacent the bead. To ensure ~dequate 6ealing
between the closure ~nd the cont~iner, ~he cup is
provided with a gasket which may reside in the
~nnular channel or predominan~ly ln the channel of
the cup.
Hereto~ore, mounting cup gasket 6eals have
been formed by disposing a previously cut ~asket in
the channel. ~his type of gasket has the
di6advantage of not being 6tationary relative to
the mounting cup during propellant filling or other
valve unit assembly operations with the undesirable
consequence that when the mountinq cup ~nd
container are clinched to effect the seal, the
gasket is often disposed at an angled position, and
thus, the clinching oper~tion is less effective.
Another commercial method for forming the
qasket onto the mounting cup consists in orming
the qaskets,in situ from liquid gasket-forming
compositions comprising ~n elsstomer dispersed or
dissolved in ~ volatile organic liquid vehicle~ In
the manufacture o such a gasket, the liquid
composition i6 deposited in the desired
~configuration in the channel of the cup while the
cup is rotated beneath a metering nozzle through
which the composition flows. ~he deposit is then
converted into a dry 601id sealing mass by
expelling the li~uid vehicle at elevated
temperatures. Though this technique of flowing
gaskets into place has received wide commercial
acceptance, it 6uffer6 from the disadvantages of
2~8
-3-
requiring an elaborcte drying operation, wherein
the mounting cup must be handled carefully ~o as to
~void undue upset from the horizontal; costly
recovery apparatus ~or the expelled organic liquid
al50 must be providedr In sum, the flowed gasket
is an expensive ~tep in the formation of the
mounting cup. See UOS. Pat. No. 3,342,381 ~s an
ex~mple of the ~1Owed" gasket.
~ Other techniques for di6posing a gasket onto
the mounting cup are described in Urs- Pat. No.
3,417,177,wherein the gasket 6eal is made Df heat
6hrink~ble material. After placing a band of
gasket mRterial on the 6kirt, the gasket having a
greater diameter than the outside diameter of the
skirt of the mountin~ cup, the cup is heated at a
temperature and for a time sufficient to ~hrink the
band into tight frictional engagement with the
~kirt.
Another ~imilar technique is that di~closed in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,006, wherein a band of gasket
material is swelled through the use of ~ ~uitable
swelling agent fiO ~S to increase ~ts di~meter to
fit over the ~kirt of the mounting cup.
Subsequently, the ~welling agent is removed ~rom
the gasket material so that the band will come into
tight frictional engagement with ~he 6kirt.
Both the heat shrink and 6welling techniques
for applying a gasket material to the mounting cup
have the disadvantage of be ng costly and
relatively time eonsuming proced~res. Note in U.S.
3,417,177, column 4, lines 27-31, that the
positioned ~and~ must be heated to 240F ~or about
2-3 minutes in order to obtain a tight ~riction
fit. In the procedure of 3,443,006, the bands must
6tand in the 6welling liquid for a period of 1/2 to
--` lZ~Z9Z8
--4--
I
1-1/2 minutes according to example 2 of the '006 patent
and then allowed to stand for the drying period. Also, in
any mass production utilizing the '006 system, an organic
liquid recovery system must be employed.
In Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 369,740
filed January 30, 1981 in the name of R. H. Abplanalp,
et al, is described a novel gasketed mounting cup system,
including novel method and apparatus, wherein the gasket
material is disposed on the mounting cup in the preferred
position for effecting a seal between the mounting cup and
the bead of the container; and further wherein the dis-
advantages associated with the aforementioned techniques
of applying the gasket material to the cup are obviated.
Also, an apparatus and method is provided wherein gaskets
are applied to aerosol mounting cups in an exceptionally
rapid and efficient manner to form gasketed-mounting cups
having excellent sealing characteristics.
In general, the method of the invention of the aEore-
said Canadian Application Serial No. 369,7~0 comprises
passing a tubular sleeve of gasket material onto a
compressible mandrel; initially positioning and aLignin~
the skirt of the mounting cup and the contiguous end of
the mandrel such that the sleeve of gasket material may
pass onto the skirt, said mandrel having fixed and
moveable portions with respect to each other and to their
movement toward and away from the mounting cup; urging the
moveable portion of the gasket material bearing mandrel
toward the mounting cup such that the gasket material
passes onto the skirt of the cup; causing the moveable
portion of the mandrel to retract to its initial position,
cutting the sleeve at a point between the moun~ing cup and
the mandrel to leave a band of gasket material; and
subsequently, advancing the mounting cup to a station
whereat the band of the gasket material is urged fur~her
onto the skirt of the mounting cup, whereby the band of
92~
gasket material does not extend beyond the skirt of the
mounting cup. At this stage, the gasketed-moun~ing cup
may be further processed.
For certain applications of the gasketed mounting cups
of aforesaid Canadian Application Serial No. 369,740,
namely, utilizing said mounting cups in so-called "under
the cup" pxopellant filling of the container, it was
observed that on limited occasions the gasket ban~ was
removed from the mounting cup during the filling operation.
Moreover, observation revealed a tendency in an unto~ard
number of gasketed mounting cups for the hand of gasket
material to recede ~rom its position in the channel or
curl portion of the mountng cup before crimping the
mounting cup to the container. Both of these disadvantages
reduce productivity on a mass production basis.
The subject invention is an improvement in the cup
disclosed in the aforesaid Canadian Application Serial No.
369,740.
More specifically, the invention consists o~ in a
gasketed mounting cup suitable for clinching onto the bead
of a container at a generally circumferentially extending
clinch line comprising a panel, a skirt integral with and
depending from said panel, said skirt being outwardly
flared to form an annular channel for mating with the bead
of a container opening, and wherein the gasket material i5
disposed on the skirt to extend from beyond the clinch
line towards and into the channel such that the gasket
material extends outside the inside diameter of the head
of the container that receives the gasketed mounting cup,
the improvement comprising a compressive deformation of
the gasket on the outer surface o~ said gasket.
The present invention will be more clearly understood
by referring to the drawings herein and the discussion
relating thereto.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows in section view a gasketed aerosol
mounting cup prepared according to the method and an
apparatus of the invention of Serial No. 369,740.
Figures 2 A-F is a schematic of one embodiment of the
invention of aforesaid Canadian Application Serial No.
369,740 showing the several steps utilized in positioning
the gasket material onto an aerosol mounting cup.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the
embodiment of Figure 2, together with the apparatus used
in a second operation novel to this invention, on the
product of the embodiment of Figure 2.
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z~z~
!
Figure 4 is a sectional view o~ the apparatus of the
embodiment of Figure 3, along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure S is a partial section of the apparatus used in
the second operation of the product of the embodiment of
Figure 2, along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a timing diagram through a single cycle
for producing the mounting cup according to the embodiment
of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment
0f the invention.
Figures 8 and 9 are views of the apparatus of the
embodiment of Figure 7, showing the positioning of the
apparatus in an initial and advanced position, respectively,
relative to the mounting cup.
Figure 10 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus
used in the operation to advance the band of gasket
material to its ultimate position on the mounting cup
according to the subject invention, said apparatus being
shown in non-advanced mode relative to the mounting cup.
Figure 11 is the apparatus of Figure 10 in the advanced
mode relative to the mounting cup.
Figure 12 is an enlargement of the circled portion of
Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the gasketed
mounting cup of this inventionO
Figure 14 is a schematic showing the several operations
or stations in the preferred mode for the manufacture of
the gasketed.mounting cup of this invention.
Figure lS is a partial sectional view of the preferred
apparatus used in the operation to advance the band of
gasket material onto the mounting cup such that the end of
the gasket material resides on the straight portion of the
skirt of the mounting cup.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of one of the flexible
fingers of the apparatus of Figure 15.
12~ 9~8
- 7a -
Figures 17 and 18 are a plan view along the lines
17-17 and 18-18 of Figure 15.
Figure 19 is a plan view along the line 19-19 o~
F.igure 15.
Figure 20 is a partial sectional view of the preferred
apparatus used in the operation to advance the gasket
material to its ultimate position on the mounting cup.
Figure 21 is an enlarged, partial sectional view of
the plunger sleeve of Figure 20 mounting cup and gasket
material in the fully advanced position of said plunger
sleeve.
Figure 22 is a plan view of the top surface of a
member of the centering mechanism.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a gasketed-mounting
cup shown in inverted position relative to its placement
in the assembled container and produced according to the
genèral method of aforesaid Canadian Application Serial
NQ. 369,740. The mounting cup, generally designated as
10, comprises a circular panel 12 having an integral skirt
14 depending from its periphery. The free edge of skirt
14 is
2~2~Z8
outwardly flanged at 16 to form an annul~r channel
18 for embracinq the bead ~urrounding the container
opening ~not shown), when the cup i6 positioned
thereon. The inner portion of panel 12 is
S countersunk to form a tubular rim, ~enerally
designated ~s 20, which has a dependent circular
wall 22 inte~r~lly joined with an ~pertured
horizont~l ~all 24. When the cup is placed in
6ealing position, the rim 20 acts as a pedestal for
the ~alve unit flnd the valve stem is ~dmitted into
the container through apertured wall 24. The
gasket 26 i~ disposed on the exterior sur~ace of
the 6kirt 14 and exte~ds beyond the juncture of the
~kirt and channel ~nd a distance ~nto said channel.
In Figure 2 ~-F, corresponding parts in each
~igure ~re as numbered and described in Figure 2 A,
said igures showing a ~chematic of the relative
positionin~ of the moving components of the
npparatus at each stage of the cycle in Mdvancing a
plastic g~sket material onto ~ mounting cup and
cutting the tube to ultimately provide a band of
gasket material disposed on the 6kiet of the
mounting cup.
In Figure 2 A, ~ sleeve o gasket material 30
is disposed over the length of the mandrel,
generally designated xs 32~ Mounting cup 34 is
~ecurely posit~oned within ~ ~ea~ 36, which is
mounted on a ~u~table base, in a manner known to
those skilled in the ~rt. Positioninq pin 38
extends throu~h the central aperture in the
pedestal of the mounting cup 3~ and provides ~
fixed spacin~ betYeen the bottom surface 40 of the
~andre~ 32 and the mounting cup 34. Mandrel 3~ has
an upper portion 42 and ~ lower portion 44 which
nre retractably collap-~ible relative to each other
(the ~tructure of which is more fully described ~n
--~~L2~Z92B
g
Figure 4). An upper and lower gripping member is
provided at 46 and 48, respectively.
Figure 2A, the initial stage of a single cycle,
shows the mandrel 32 disposed atop the positionlng
pin 38, with the mandrel 32 having the gasket
material disposed at the initial cycle stage, i e.,
terminating at the bottom surface 40 of the mandrel
32. Both gripping members, 46 and 48, are in an open
position.
10In Figure 2B, the uppe~ gripping member 42 closes
about the mandrel 32 and subsequently moves the upper
portion 42 of the mandrel 32, toward the mounting cup
34. By this motion, the gasket ma~erial 30 is moved
past the stationary bottom surface 40 of the mandrel
1532. Both gripping members, 46 and 48, are in an open
position.
In Figure 2C, the gasket material is first
disposed on the skirt of the mounting cup 34 the
desired distance, and subsequently, the lower
gripping member 48 engages the lower portion 44 of
the mandrel 32.
At the next stage of the cycle, Figure 2D, the
upper gripping member 46 releases allowing the upper
portion 42 of the mandrel 32 to return to its
original position. Concomitantly, the positioning
pin 38 is lowered beneath the mounting cup 34 and
thereafter a cutting edge S0 (shown only in Figure
2D) is passed through the gasket material 30.
Figure 2E, shows a mounting cup with a band of
the gasket material 30 on the skirt of the mounting
cup .
At the next stage, Figure 2F, the bottom gripper
48 is closed on the bottom portion 44 of the mandrel
32 and positioning pin 38 is moved to the position
shown in Figure 2A, after which the
~ ~z9ZI~
--10--
gripper 4~ i5 rele~sed and the system is at the
initial 6t~ge shown in Figure ~ A.
Figure 3 6hows ~ ~ix~station gasket-mounting
cup assembly. The gasket material 30 is ~ed from
individual rolls (not ~hown) of fiaid material.
Upper gripping member 46 has a ~eries of openings
52 which receive ~he mandrel 32. The bottom
gripping member i~ 48. Moun~ing cup 34 is fed
through ~ race~way 54 to a position beneath each of
the mandrels 32. Not ~hown for re~son that it is
known to those 6killed in the ~rt, is the structure
which transport6, here 6iX, ~ given number of
mounting cups along the raceway 54 to their
respective positions in vertical alignment with
each as ociated mandrel. In the timing chart of
Figure 6, these ~tructures are referred to as the
feed ~inger, feed arm ~nd looator device. Cutting
edge 50 is mounted onto a rot~ing wheel 56 in GUCt.
~ manner ~s to impart an elliptical motion as the
cutting edge advances ~nd re~reats during the
cutting cycle. After the mounting cup has reoeived
the gasket material 30, the ~up ~s moved to a
station whereat a hollowed bottom plunger 58, shown
in more detail in Figure 5, ~dvances over the skirt
of the mounting cup and ur~es the gasket material
30 ~long the 6kirt.
Figure ~ shows in more detail the ~tructure o
a ~ingle mandrel-mountlng cup Etation of the
embodiment shown in ~igure 3. ~he upper portion 42
of the mandrel 32 has a tapered upper ~urface 60
which is threaded onto the upper surface 42, the
~hape of the portion 60 facili~ating ~he passing of
the gasket material onto the mandrel 32. Further,
the upper portion 42 of the mandrel 32 has ~ cavity
62 ~n which ~s disposed a spring 64. Shown best in
9~
Figures 2 A-F are the plurality of fingers 66 which
form the bottom end of the upper portion 42 of the
mandrel 32~ and the plurality of recesses 68 in lower
portion 44 of the mandrel 32, and whlch are aligned to
receive the ingers 66 when the upper portion of the
mandrel 32 is moved toward the lower portion of the
mandrel.
The upper gripping member 46 is a conventional
chuck which is connected to a reciprocating ram such
that it may rapidly advance and retreat from the ..
mounting cup and when gripping the upper portion of
the mandrel move said portion toward the mounting cup.
The lower gripping member 48 is a conventional
chuck.
The cutting edge 50 is mounted in a conventional
manner and proscribes an elliptical path in its advance
and retreat from the mounting cup 34.
Figure 5 shows a reciprocating plunger, the lower
outer shoulder of which engages the upper edge of the
gasket material and urges it further onto the skirt of
the mounting cup. In Figure 5, the plunger, generally
designated as 104, has a lower hollow portion 106,
terminating in shoulder 108. Set within the lower
portion 106 is a spring~loaded centering pin 110
having ~he protuberance 112. The protuberance 112 has
the beveled terminating portion 114 which mates with
and centers the mounting cup 34 by contacting the
sloped panel 113 of the mounting cup.
The ~unction of the plunger action shown in
Figure 5 is to advance the band of gasket material
onto the mounting cup such that the band resides at
or below the sloped surface 113 of the mounting cup
34. The purpose of so disposing the gasket band is
z~
-12-
to provide ~ band edge ~upported ~gain6t the
str~ight portion 115 of the skirt of the mounting
cup 34, thereby to be properly positioned to mate
with the plunger ln the ~econd ~nd final plunger
S ~ction ~or ~dvancing ~he band of gaske~ ma~eri~l to
it~ ultlm~te position on the mounting cup.
Figure 6 describes a timing cycle that is
~uit~ble for the 6ix-~tation unit 6hown in Figure
3. In Figure 6, the clamp ~s the qripping member,
pins the poSieioning pins~ feed finger and feed arm
~re a conventional mechanism ~or advancing ~ix
mounting cups per cycle to be positioned to receive
the qasket material.
A ~econd embodiment o~ the mandrel-gripper
arran4ement i~ shown ~n ~igures 7-9. This
embodiment offers the improvement of simplified
construction avoiding the need for ~ positioning
pin passing through the central opening in the
mounting cup. In the perspective view of Figure 7,
the gasket material 30 is p~ssed over a mandrel,
generally designated as 80. ~he ~ndrel 80 ha-~ an
upper portion 82 Hnd a lower portion 84, the lat~er
having recessed portion 86 ~nd upper extension B~
which passes through upper portion 82, ~aid upper
extension 88 being resil;en~ly mounted against ~he
upper surface of portlon 82. Upper qripping ~ember 90
has upper ~nd lower sets of rollers 92 ~nd 9~,
respect~vely, 6aid rollers being adjus~ed ~qainst
upper mandrel portion ~2 60 ns to preclude movement
of mandrel portion 82. The lower gripping member
96 is of conventional shuck desi~n ~nd has means,
not 6hown, or reciprocDlly advancing t.he lower
gripping member toward the mount~ng cup. ~he
mounting cup 98 is affixed in ~ 6uitable holding
device on the base 100.
92~
-13-
Figure 9 ~hows the mandrel-gripper arrange~ent
of the embodiment of Figure 7 in initi&l position
for starting the gasket material onto the mounting
cup. The gasket material 30 extends beyond the
mandrel portion 84, a short distance, 1/4~ has been
found satisfactory. Figure 9 sho~s the lower
gripper 96 closed onto the mandrel por~ion 84,
Moving the lower gripper 96 toward the mounting cup
98, advances the gasket material 30 onto the ~kirt
of the mounting cup. ~he nature of the gasket
material is 6uch that as the mandrel portion B4 is
advanced toward the mounting cup, the gasket
material 30 passes through the rollers 92 and 94 of
the uppes gripping member 90. After the gaske~
material has been placed onto the 6kirt of the
mounting cup, the lower gripping member 96, is
released and the mandrel portion 84 returns to the
initial position shown in Figure ~; the cycle is
then ready to be repeated. After the re~urn of the
mandrel portion 84, the cutting edge 102 ~dvances
to ~ever the gasket material. After cutting, the
mounting cup is passed to a ~tation (~ee Figure 5);
whereat the gasket material 30 i~ advanced further
onto the ~kirt of the mounting cup. The single
~5 mandrel of Figures 7-9 may, as with the embodiment
of Figures 2-5, compri~e ~ ~ultiple
mandrel-gripping member arrangement.
Subsequent to the initial advancing of the
band of gasket material onto the ~kirt of the
mountinq cup, the mounting cups are passed on
conventional tracking t~rough a zone wherein the
band of gasket material is heated by convent$onal
heating ~eans. For example, the heating zone might
be the conventional mounting cup tracking in
indirect heat exchange with an insulated heated
water 6ystem, said water system being capable of
9;~3
. ! -14-
close control through conventional heated ~ater
control 6ystems. Heatlng the mounting cup
160-lBO~F has been found sati~factory.
; From the he~ting zone the g~sketed mounting
cups ~re passed to the secondary plunger 6tation.
The plunger and plunging ~ction at the 6ecundary
plunger station is described in ~igures lD-12.
In Figure lQ, the band 116 of ~he gasket
material i6 ~hown in it6 initially advanced
po~ition on the ~kirt of the mounting cup 1180 The
plunger of Figure 10, generally designated as 120,
compr~es an outside ~leeve portion 122, a head
por~ion 124, a chuck por~on 126, which chuck
portion is attached to the plunger advancing
mech~ni~m ~not shown), the head portion 124 and
sleeve port~on 122 defining a recess 12B. Wi~hin
the recess 128 i~ a mounting cup ~tripping member~
generally des~gn~ted ~s 130, which comprises
slidably ~ating portions 132 and 134, and ~
2~ mounting cup centering member 136, which cente~ing
member 136 i~ biased ~way from the head portion 124
by ~ spring 138~ Port~on 132 of the mounting cup
6tripping member 130 ~s biased away from the head
portion 124 by ~ spring 140. Portion 134 of the
mounting cup stripping member 130 is biased away
from portion 132 by spring 142.
~he sleeve 122 has ~ lower portion 144 having
an annular ~houlder 146 ~nd an edge portion 148.
~he shoulder portion 146 engages the band of gasket
material 116 while advancing the band to its
ultimate position on the ~unting cup 118~
~he edge portion 14S has a configuration, best
6hown ln Figure 12~ having a lug portion 150. The
edge 148 has a ~lightly radiused ontour~
~n operatlon, the mounting cups 118 are
suitably pl~ced at the secondary plunger station.
~ 2~2i~1
- 15 -
I
When in place, the plunger 120 is advanced toward the
mounting cup 118 by centering the cup relative to the
plunger 120, the mounting cup centering member 136
serving this unction. Also the mounting cup stripping
member 130 is brought into contact with the cup, as
shown in Figure 10~ Upon further advancement of the
plunger 120, the completion o wh.ich is shown in Figure
11, the sleeve 122 advances to engage the shoulder 146
ag~inst the band of gasket material 116 and urge the
band 116 further onto ~he skirt of the mounting cup 118,
ultimately advancing the band to the final position
shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11, the edge 148
of the sleeve 122 terminates its advance by bottoming
against the walls 152 of the channel of ~he mounting
cup, wh~le concomitantly producing an annular rib lS~ in
the band of gasket material 116 through the compressive
defoemation caused by the lug 150 acting aga;~nst tha
gasket material. Dur ing retraction of the plunger 120,
the portion 134 o the mounting cup stripping member is
biased a~ains~ the mounting cup 118 by the spring 142
until such time as the sleeve 122 moves c~ear of ~he
advanced gasket, thus precluding the re~racting sleeve
122 from lifting the mounting cup 118. Obviously~ the
springs 140 and 142 must be designed to permit portion
132 to advance toward portion 134 during the advance o~
the plunger 120.
The preerred plungers used a~ the secondary plunger
station in t~e two-step advancement o gasket ma~erial
to its ultimate position on the mounting cup are
described in Figures 15-19 and Figures 20-22,
respectively.
Figures 15-19 are the preferred means for advancin~
the gasket material from its initial position on the
mounting cup after cutting of the gasket tubing to the
3s position shown in Figure 15. From the plunger station
~ ~21~Z~28
-15a -
of Figure 15 the mounting cup is moved, after heating,
to the final plunger station. The advancement of the
plunger and mounting cup centering is through the simple
action of advancing the reciprocating ram, which action
S is a conventional means for advancing the plunger and
centering means. The action of the plunger of Figure lS
is simple advancement of the plunger through movement of
the reciprocating ram, since the centering means 208,
being independently spring loaded, is free to retract as
the ram advances the plunger portion.
In contrast thereto, the apparatus for the ultimate
positioning of the gasket of Figures 20-22 is a multiple
action, namely, positioning and retraction of the
centering device and then advancement of the plunger.
lS In Figure 15, the plunger generally designated as
200 has an arbor 202 which is connected through con-
ventional means to a reciprocating ram (not shown).
Within the bore 204 is telescoped member 206 which is
independently spring loaded within the bore 204. The
telescoped section 206 terminates in
(
-16-
n filotted coll~c portion 220. Po~itioned ~ithin
member 206 i6 mounting cup centering means 20~,
~hich i~ independently ~pring loaded. Slotted
collar 210 is di6posed outboard of telescoped
S 6ection 206, the ~ots of said collar 210 receiving
fingers 212. The fingers 212 (shown in more detail
in Figure 16) are offixed to the arbor 202 th~ough
dowel pins 214. The 610ts 216 (Figure 16~ receive
O rings 21B, the purpose of the O rings being to
provide a constant inwardly directed pressure on
the ingers 212. The fingers 212 are al~o
positioned wi~hin the 610ts 222 ~Figure 1~) of the
slotted coll~F portion 220. Affixed to the bo~tom
of telescoped member 206 is a plate 224, said plate.
224 providing a 6houlder 226 ~gainst which the
bottom fihoulder 228 of the fingers 212 ~but during
the advancement of the plun~er 200. The distance
that the fingers 212 travel before meeting the
shoulder 226 determines the distance that the
gaske~ 230 will be advanced onto the skict 232 of
the moun~ing cup 23q. Threadedly mounted onto the
slotted collar 210 is an outer adjustable sleeve
member 236 which ~leeve member 236 functions to
prevent outward splaying of the fingers 212 and
thereby to direc~ the bottom surface 238 of the
finger6 212 against the top 6urface of the gasket
material 230.
After initially advancing the gasket onto the
mounting cup, the cup and gasket are heated to 160-
180F. and then passed to the final plunger station.
In Figure 20 is shown the pl~nger mechanism
generally designated as 2400 which initially
centers the m~unting cup 242 and advances ~he
gasket 244 to its ultimate position on the mounting
cup 242. The plunger mechanism 2dO is attached to
9Z~
( -17-
an arbor ~not ~hown) which in turn is attached by
conventional ~eans to n reciprocating press ~not
shown). The plunger mechanism has A plug member
250 which h~s a central bore defining a chamber
2S2. Affixed to the plug member 250 i6 ~nner
~leeve 254, 6aid 61eeve having a flan~e 256 for
connecting to the plug member 250.
Outer sleeve 25R i6 connected to inner sleeve
254 through 1ange 260.
1~ Centering mechanism, generally designated as
262, ~s disposed within ~he inner sleeve 254 ~nd
the chamber 252 and comprises a spring retainer and
6top 264, rod 266, piston member ~68, 0 rings 270
~nd centering plug 272.
Mounting cup stripper 274 is independently
~pring loaded and is ~ssembled within the lnner
sleeve 254 and rests on shoulder 276 of inner
sleeve 254. The opening 27B of the stripper 274
has a slot configura~ion which is 6hown in greater
detail in Figure 22. The ~lot confi~uration
prevents the centering mechanism from being remo~ed
from the plunger assembly, the edge 2~0 of the
spring retainer and Etop 264 abutting against the
uppex surface 28~ of the stripper 274. The leading
surface 284 defined by the inner 254 ~nd outer 2.58
sleeves is best shown in Figure 21, Note the
reces~ portion 286 in ~he ~urface 2B4 of the outer
~leeve 258. Also note the ~houlder 290 of the
inner sleeve 25~ (Fig. 21~.
~ 30 In operntion the centering mechanism 262 i~
advanced toward the mountiny cup by passing ~ir
under pressure into the chamber 252 ~aid
advancement ~ccurring at the initial phase of the
downward 6troke of the reciprocating press. The
~ir passes through the 610t of the stripper 27~ and
gener~tes a pressure against ~he piston 268 which
overcomes the retracting pressure of the ~pring 288
and advances the centering mechanism against the
~2~Z~
-18-
~ounting cup. Before the advancing ~leeves contact
the gasket, the centering mechanism i~ retracted by
clo6ing off the nir supply ~nd allowing the spring
to return the mechanism to $ts retracted position.
The plunger sleeves continue their ~dvance and
shoulder 290 engages the gasket 292 and urges the
gasket further onto the mounting cup as shown in
Figure 21. The inner and outer ~leeves ultimately
bottom in the channel 294 of the moun~ing cup.
During this bottoming action the ~leeves effect a
compressive force against the plastic gasket
material and the g~sket ~s folded into the recess
286, thereby deforming the surface of ~he gasket as
shown in Figure 21. After ~dvancing and bot~oming
the plunger, ~he sleeves are retracted while
retaining the 6tripper in contact with the moun~ing
cup through ~ts independent pring means for a
portion of the retraction cycl~, namely until the
inner sleeve clear6 the mounting cup. Subsequent
to the plunger action, the mounting cups are
prsmptly cooled to about 40F.
It has been found that with ~ mounting cup
having a thickness of .011" n gasket material of
.014~ that 6etting o~ the advancement of the
~leeves ~o that it ter~inates ~t .016~ of the
6urface on which ~he mounting cup rests provides a
satîsfactory compression and deformatlon of the
g~sket m~terial.
Preferably, following the advancement of the
gasket material ~o lt~ ultimate position on the
mounting cup, the gasketed mounting cup i6 cooled
to room temperature.
To form ~ friction ~it between gasket ~ateri~l
and the skirt of the mounting cup, the ~nside
diameter of the sleeve of the gasket material is
~L2~Z9;~8
-19-
81 ightly less than the o~t~ide di~meter of the
skirt portion of the mounting cup. Conventionally,
the 60-called one inch aerosol mounting CUp6 have a
skirt diameter of ~.9B0-.99On~ It has been found
S that gasket material having a thickness of .017 is
~atisfactory. To ~ccomodate this thickness of
gssket, mounting cups having ~ 6kirt diamete. of
.9S0 inches have been used. Gasket bands having a
width of 9/32~ have been sati6fac~0rily employed.
While ~ny plastic g~sket material having
6ufficient resilien~y may be used, provided
however, that there is compatability between the
cont3iner contents and the plastic material, it has
been ~ound that ~ plAstic comprising low density
polyethylene (density range of .916-.922) hav~ng
S-lS~ polyisobutylene in the molecular weight range
of ~0,000-200,000, plus ~tabilizer~ usually used
with polyethylene in the environment in which the
gasket material will reside, provides a
~ati~factory gasket materi~l over a broad product
range.
While the ~nvention has been specifically
descri~ed in terms of providing an annul~r rib in
the gasket~ it should be understood tha~ a ~eries
of ribs disposed r~dially ~long the width of the
gasket may likewise be utilized. Also a plurality
o~ annular ribs may be employed t lt generally being
found that a di~continuity to the planarity or
~moothness of the gasket~ ~uch a~ by the described
ribbing, imparts to the gasket a resistance to
being dislodged during fil~ing or ~ ~ep~sitioning
on the mounting cup by t~e gasket returning to ~he
initial advanced position. ~igure 13 shows in
perspective the novel g~sketed mounting cup of this
~nventiOn-
. " ~212~
I -20-
In contr~st to mounting cups having gasket
ma~erial only clong the skirt portion of the cup,
the cup of this invention, by having gasket
material from the point of clinch between the cup
and the container bead ~s well as extending the
gasket material onto the channel, provides a
mounting cup having 6uperior sealing
characteristics. Also, the qasket of the ~ubject
mou~ting cup 1~ substantially uniform in thickness
throughout prior to clinching to the container,
whereas the ~flowed-in" type gasket of the prior
~rt i~ non-uniform, thinning toward the outer edge
of the channel and where the ~kirt ~nd channel
inter~ect. Uniform thickness provides a better
~eal.
