Threaded Metallic Closure Preforming for Low-Load Bottle Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming threaded metallic closures on metallic bottles require high forces, leading to potential deformation of the bottle, substandard sealing, and limitations in producing lightweight or deep-threaded closures, with prior art capping apparatuses applying excessive loads that result in failures and material wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that pre-form a metallic closure with a peripheral channel and threads before application, reducing the top-load required for sealing and allowing for deeper, overhung threads, which are formed using a capping apparatus that applies less cumulative load, enabling the use of thinner materials and improved sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high top-load is applied during sealing, then effective seal is achieved, but bottle deformation occurs and material wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is pre-formed with a peripheral channel and threaded structure before being placed on the bottle. This preliminary formation of the sealing geometry and threads allows the closure to engage properly with the bottle neck, distributing the sealing load more effectively and reducing the peak top-load required during the capping operation, thereby preventing bottle deformation while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the closure by forming a peripheral channel with specific depth and profile before sealing. This pre-formed geometry modifies how the closure interacts with the bottle during sealing, allowing for reduced sealing forces. The channel depth and shape are optimized to create effective sealing contact without requiring excessive top-load that would deform the bottle.
2Reliability
If deeper threads are formed on closure, then sealing performance is improved, but more side-load is required which increases cumulative load
Solution Approach 1:
The threads are pre-formed on the closure body before the capping operation using a separate thread formation process. This preliminary threading allows for optimized thread geometry including deeper and overhung threads that enhance sealing performance. During the actual capping operation, these pre-formed threads simply engage with the bottle threads, requiring minimal side-load to maintain engagement, thus reducing the cumulative load while maintaining improved sealing performance.
3Loss of substance
If thinner metallic materials are used for closure, then material cost is reduced, but sealing reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the closure structure by incorporating a pre-formed peripheral channel with optimized depth and profile. This geometric modification allows thinner metallic materials to achieve adequate sealing reliability because the channel geometry provides structural support and creates effective sealing contact surfaces. The pre-formed channel compensates for the reduced material thickness, maintaining sealing performance while enabling cost reduction through thinner materials.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional thread rolling is performed during capping, then threads are formed, but excessive side-load deforms bottle and increases process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The threads are formed on the closure body in a preliminary operation before the capping process using a dedicated thread formation tool. This separates the thread formation operation from the capping operation. During capping, the pre-formed threads simply engage with the bottle threads with minimal side-load required to maintain engagement. This eliminates the need for high side-load thread rolling during capping, reducing bottle deformation risk and simplifying the capping apparatus while maintaining thread formation capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the top-load needed for sealing by approximately 55%, allows for the use of thinner metallic materials, and enhances sealing efficiency by forming deeper threads, thereby reducing material costs and improving the sealing performance of metallic bottles.
Implementation Method 1
forming a channel in a metallic closure before the metallic closure is positioned on a metallic bottle
Implementation Method 2
a tool applies a side-load to the metallic closure to form a thread on the closure body
Implementation Method 3
reduces the top-load required for sealing
Data Source
AI summary
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.