MX2007008090A - Container seals - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, and apparatus for performing the method, is provided for the purpose of forming and inserting seal pieces into a container cap of a type which comprises an integral cup-like member having a top panel, a skirt depending from the top panel, and a plurality of cap lugs formed in the rim and extending partially inward from the rim. A quantity of such caps is supplied onto a surface, preferably with the caps inverted resting on their top panels. The caps are gathered into a plurality of rows and forwarded to screw conveyor mechanisms for advancing the caps to seal inserting stations located substantially coplanar with said assembly surface. The screw conveyor mechanism includes a table with at least two slots therein and conveyor screws extending beneath and along the slots and carrying caps along the table to a discharge location where the caps are temporarily located. A supply strip of flexible seal material is directed into proximity to the inserting stations and precisely cut seal pieces from the strip are inserted into the caps.

Description

STAMPS FOR RECIPIENT Cross Reference to the Related Request This application is based on the US Provisional Patent Application S.N. 60/640785, filed on December 31, 2004, and claims the priority of the date of presentation of the same. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application relates to the reclosable container type, described in US Patent No. 6,082,944 and 6,015,062, and to the description of the Related Published International Application Serial No. PCT / US98 / 22074, entitled RESEALABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER & TOP THEREFOR, filed November 17, 1998. The invention described herein relates to seals within a container lid having the general shape of an inverted cup that closely fits around and interacts with a container body that has a neck. Such neck has a pour opening in its lid and a plurality of threaded ears formed externally in the neck material, at a predetermined spacing below the pouring opening. The threaded ears interact with a plurality of lid lugs extending inwardly from, and spaced above, the lower brow of the lid to discharge the inner surface (or underside) of the central panel of the lid towards the pouring opening to complete a seal between the neck and the lid. Background of the Invention Previously such seal constructions for this style of container, have included several types of seal materials applied to the underside of the lid, mainly a preformed part (or formed in situ) or ring, for example of polypropylene. The materials of such seals may vary with the type of content in the container, and there is a need to provide a different method for placing seals of different compositions within the lids of such containers, as may be required to adapt the needs of different containers. properly packaged contents of the container. Such needs may involve pressurization or vacuum packing of container contents, ability to withstand high temperature and high pressure response operations after filling and closing, or possible exposure to wide temperature ranges from other sources after to fill and seal. These are only some potential requirements encountered when adapting such a container to a wide variety of potential contents. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention provides a method for and apparatus for utilizing a conveniently flexible little seal strip or section of material, from which a seal is cut from exact way, preferably cut by a matrix. The preferred form of the seal is a piece. The diameter of such piece is greater than the inner diameter of the lid ears and approximately equal to the inside of the lid skirt, such that a friction fit may exist between the perimeter of the piece and the internal diameter of the skirt. The result is a unique combination of cap and seal that provides an effective seal for containers that can be filled with a variety of products, and simplifies the installation of a wide variety of seal materials. The finished covers are produced from a cap forming apparatus, such as that described in International Published Application Serial No. PCT / US01 / 49,392, entitled LUGGED CAP FORMING SYSTEM filed on December 19, 2001 [Reference DSG 2 0014PCT] , such a description is incorporated herein by reference. The lids pass through a seal forming apparatus that includes a station (or stations) in which seal pieces of the desired dimension are separated from the material, then pressed along the lug ears on the skirt Cover. Due to the adjustment of the seal inside the cap skirt, the seal remains inside the cap, slightly separated from the underside of the cap. When the lids are applied over the necks of the container, the laminated eyebrow defining the pouring opening of the container will press (and advance if necessary) the seal in a tight sealing fit between the underside of the lid panel and the pouring opening eyebrow, and (if desired) on a portion of the exterior of the eyebrow of the pouring opening. The material from which the seals are formed can be a convenient single-ply or multi-ply laminate, chosen according to the compatibility and seal strength requirements of the particular packaging operation. Essentially the same apparatus and method can form seals (usually parts) of a variety of materials, allowing simple changes to adapt a variety of seal requirements. A convenient source of such materials is Tri-Seal (Tekni-Plex Co.) located in Blauvelt, New York, E.E.U.U. Different forms of such seal forming and insertion apparatus are disclosed and described in greater detail later. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a cap with ears and the neck of the coupling container of the type to which the present invention pertains, showing a seal piece placed within the interior of the lid; Figure 2 (prior art) is a view of the mechanization of a lid cap forming system from which such caps are provided; Figure 3 is a partial plan view of a form of the seal piece forming and insertion apparatus using the novelty method of the invention for placing an inverted ear cap (common top side) within a cutting and insertion system stamp piece; Figure 4 is a side view of the other form of the apparatus as seen from the left side of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 in Figure 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through the central part of Figure 5, with the cutting die having a piece formed of the material and with the resulting stamp part being pressed into a lid; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a common drilling tool; Figure 8 is a perspective view, taken from the right front corner of a second form of the seal insertion and forming apparatus; Figure 9 is a perspective view, taken from the left rear corner, of the apparatus shown in Figure 2; Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a dual feederworm mechanism shown in the center of Fig. 8; Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the discharge end of the mechanism shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a planar top view of the dual feeder worm mechanism; Figure 13 is an enlarged end view of the feeder worm mechanism, as viewed from the left end of Figure 12 and includes the outline of a cover on the right lateral feeder worm; Figure 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the supply and transmission mechanisms supported on the front and rear sides of the central vertical structure member as seen in Figures 8 and 9; Figure 15 (looking ahead) and Figure 16 (looking back) are vertical cross-sectional views taken through the center of Figure 14, illustrating the cam and follower devices to control and drive the mechanisms that pierce the seal pieces and eject the pieces in caps supported below in the insertion stations near the ends of the feeder worm mechanisms; Figure 17 is an enlarged central portion of Figure 16, which illustrates the details of one of two essentially identical seal piece perforations and aligned insertion / extraction mechanisms on a related insertion station, and also shows a portion of the mechanism for feeding seal material; Figure 18 is a further enlarged and isolated cross-sectional view of one of the perforation mechanisms and extraction appearing on a smaller scale in Figures 15 and 16; and Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism for incrementally feeding the seal material through the perforation, removal, and insertion locations. Detailed Description of the First Mode Figs. 1-5 of the drawings illustrate a working mode of the present invention which includes providing a strip or section of suitable seal material M supplied in a roller from which a seal piece 20 is cut. in an exact manner, preferably cut by matrix. The seal material from which seal pieces are formed can be a convenient single layer or multiple layer laminate, chosen according to the compatibility and seal strength requirements of the particular packaging operation. For example, convenient materials are commercially available (see Brief Description of the Invention) in relatively large rolls. The lids 10 are available in various sizes, and are in a general inverted cup 12 form (figure 1) including a top panel 13, and a skirt 14 ending in a laminate bottom edge 15. The details of the lids are shown in the published International Application Serial No. PCT / US01 / 149,392 identified above. When placed in and attached to a container, the cap skirt 14 extends around the portion of neck 17 of a mouth of the container. The exterior of the lid applied in that way is referred to as the "common" side, and the inside of the lid is referred to as the "product" side. As seen in Fig. 1, the diameter of the seal piece 20 (generally disc-shaped) is greater than the inner diameter of the ears of the lid 16 projecting internally from the lower edge or brow 18 of the skirt 14 (watch up). The diameter of the piece 20 is approximately the same as the internal diameter of the skirt 14, such that a friction fit will exist between the perimeter of the seal piece 11 and the internal diameter of the skirt 14. When the caps are applied to the necks and to the pouring openings of the containers, the seal piece adapts to the inside of the upper part of the lid; see the dashed lines in figure 1. The formed lids 10 exit from a lid forming apparatus 25 via the outlet ducts 19A-1, 19A-2, 19A-3, 19A-4, as described in the Application International Published Serial No. PCT / US01 / 49,392, (Figure 2, prior art). The caps can be driven (for example) by one or more air injectors 26, and oriented in a vertical position (below the skirt eyebrow or on the common side), and supplied successively in the receivers 32 (figures 3, 4). , and 5). Figures 3-5 illustrate the first embodiment of the seal insertion and forming apparatus. In this mode, the device The lid-forming tool will include the tool of the type used in the lid-forming apparatus shown in Figure 2. Such a tool may comprise only one or two rails of the progressive lid-forming tools. This could be desired (for example) in the case of a lower outlet system, such as that used to form the larger lids for the larger containers. The formed lids 10 exit the lid forming apparatus via one or more outlet channels and are launched by one or more air injectors 26 directed in and along the channels. In this embodiment the caps are oriented in a vertical position (below the eyebrow of the or on the common side), towards the receivers 32. Of course the additional rails of such a progressive tool can be used in a system designed for a superior output . A plurality of these receivers 32 are mounted on the periphery of a piece or rotary step feed wheel 40 (Figure 3-5), and the caps are loaded into the receivers while the wheel is indexed., driven by an engine 45. The receivers 32 each have an outwardly oriented inlet 33 that generally includes a U-shaped lid carrier 35. The receivers are located in separate locations on the periphery of the wheel 40, and the incoming covers of the outlet channels of the lid system (not shown) enter the inlets 33, and each lid is supported by the underside of its eye 18, on a ring-like lower plate 36 through the which seal pieces 20 of the exact desired dimension are pushed down into the caps 10 (see figures 4-6). The sensor 27 is located along the path of the caps to the receiver of the carrier 32. If the presence of a cap is not indicated at the position of the sensor, the operation of forming and inserting the seal piece can be stopped according to be necessary. An optional feature (not shown) is to provide a temporary lid storage container on one side of the incoming stream of the lids, in which the lids can be deflected during the 'time reduction' of the liner formation and insertion station. piece. The seals 20 are then pushed past the lid ears 12 in the lid skirt 14 (see Figure 6). As previously explained, due to the adjustment of the seal 20 within the lid skirt 14, the seal remains inside the lid, near or against the bottom surface of the top panel 13, and captured in the lids by the inner lid lugs 16. that extend internally. When the lids fit over the necks of the container, after filling the containers, the externally laminated eyebrow, as generally shown and described in US Patent No. 6,082,944, of the neck, defining the pouring opening, will advance the seal in a tight seal fit between the bottom surface of the top cover panel and the eyebrow of the pouring aperture, and preferably about a portion of the exterior of the eyebrow of the spout opening Referring to Figures 3-5, a supply roll 40 of the seal material M is gripped between opposing splined pulleys 42 of a spool including a shaft of the shaft 43 located on one side of a forming and insertion station 35. This shaft in turn is connected to and driven step by step or a servo motor 45 which rotates the supply roll. The end of the strip of material M is directed on a track 47 extending through the station 35 to a strip feed station 48. This station includes a pair of clamping devices 50, 52 which are driven in a cycle to clamp and / or advance the material M along the track 47 beyond a vertically reciprocating driller 55 and its non-moving cutting eyebrow 56 cooperating . The clamping device 50 is supported at a fixed distance from the axis of the perforator, and the clamping device 52 is carried on a slide 58 which is reciprocal along the track 47 towards and away from the clamping device 50. During the drive of the perforator, the holding device 50 engages with the strip of seal material M. When the perforator 55 is pulled up, the holding device 52 engages and then the holding device 50 is released. A cylinder 60, attached to the slide 58, moves the slide towards the clamping device 50 to push the rest of the material M to through the clamping device 50 and to drag a fresh area of material into the position below the perforator 55. Then the clamping device 50 engages again and releases the clamping device 52. This cycle provides means for introducing the material M in the next seal insertion and piercing mechanism. As this cycle continues to repeat, the stepper motor 45 will be driven to supply a piece of material on track 47. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the details of the stamp forming and insertion station 35. A pair of cylinders Cooperators 60 and 62 (preferably tires) are supported vertically on track 47 at the location where a carrier receiver 32 has a cover (inverted as shown) for the insertion of a seal 20. Assuming that a fresh area of the material M is present on the track 47 on the lid, the piston 60P of the cylinder 60 will first be caused to move an upper tool holder plate 63 downwards, by lowering the piercing plate 64. A cylindrical perforator 65 (Figs 6 and 7) it is attached to the bottom of plate 64 by a pair of machine screws 67. Concentric with, and below, the perforator 65, a circular cutting eyebrow tool 70 is supported in an immobile lower tool holder 72 which is positioned as a track section 47, and which is dimensioned to define the outer perimeter of a seal 20. A spring-loaded separating ring 74 surrounds the perforator 65 and it works to couple the area of the seal material M radially outwardly of the perforator as a seal is separated (eg a disk), and to keep the length of material aligned in the track 47, as the perforator 65 passes through the material. The rod 62R of the cylinder 62 functions parallel to the piston 60P and includes a lower extension 75 which passes through the upper tool holding plate 63 in the center of the perforator 65. A removable bolt 77 is attached to the extension 75 of the bar and it remains inside the perforator until a seal separates. The cylinder 62 extends to cause the removable bolt 77 to push a separate seal into the cup below, beyond the lid ears 12, as shown in Figure 6. The operation sequence continues with the contracted cylinders 60 and 62 upwards, and the sequence of the clamping devices 50 and 52, and the cylinder 60, will operate to move a fresh area of the material in the location of 'piercing and insertion'.

It will be appreciated that the preceding embodiment of the seal forming and inserting apparatus, or the more sophisticated mode described below, if desired, can be used to form and insert the seals independently of a lid forming apparatus. Second form of seal formation and insertion The complete arrangement of a second form of seal forming and insertion apparatus is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. A manufactured support 100 supports the apparatus and its central horizontal base plate 102. On the front of the base plate is a support structure comprising the vertical bars 103A and 103B, the cross bars 103C (bottom), 103D (through the center) and 103E (secured on top of the vertical bars). A vertical central frame member 104 rests on, and extends upwardly of, the base plate 102. A pair of tie rods 106 extends from the upper edge of the member 104 and the upper transverse bar 103E. An inlet or intake table 105 extends in front of the base plate 102 and supports a conveyor 108 which directs a supply of lids initially in the apparatus. A plate 110 is fitted on top of this initial conveyor 108 and the lids, which slide on the outside of their upper panels 13, are collected in rows that move inward on the plate 110. The lids 10 of a convenient supply, such as shown in figure 2, they are delivered on the table 105, the covers are oriented with the public side down, for example, with the skirts 14 inverted and the lid opening upwards. The lids are generally aligned by convenient panels or dividers (not shown) in freely defined rows with a multiple forward movement on the table 105. These rows of lids are advanced in a lid positive feeding mechanism 112, using conventional means such as tables of air, panels that define trajectory, or (in the case of lids formed of a material containing ferrous) groups of magnets that move along a defined path on a non-ferrous table surface. The positive-drive lid feeding mechanism includes a feed table 115 provided with parallel grooves 116 and 117 extending from the table leg 115 (see Figures 10 and 11). The slots 115 and 116 cover the multiple feedworms 120, 121 that extend below the table 115 below the slots 116, 117. The helical slots 120S and 121S are formed on the outer surface of each feedworm, and forward moving rows of inverted covers move or descend in the helical grooves and are carried forward in the feed mechanism 112. A significant portion of the inverted covers will project downward through the grooves, exiting the extending edges ( generally screwed) of the lid skirts 14 (and the lid lugs 16 therein) to slide along small grooves 124 formed along the guide rails 122, opening onto the surface of the table 115 ( see Figures 10, 11 and 13). The thread-like grooves 120S and 121S formed in the feedworms 120, 121 are deep enough to accept a substantial portion of the caps of the inverted covers (see FIG. 13). In addition, the guide rails 122 (on opposite sides of the slot 120) and 123 (on opposite sides of the slot 121) fit the table 115 on the side edges of these slots and maintain the proper interface between the cap skirts and the feeding worms. When the feedworms 120, 121 are rotated appropriately (preferably against rotation), they bring the covers forward (from the front of the apparatus towards the center of the apparatus) along the feed entry paths defined by the slots 116, 117 and towards the front ends of the feeding worms. The thread "threads" of the feeding worms 120 and 121 are increased (for example elongated) progressively along at least the front portions of their length, thus accelerating the forward movement of the caps while the worms of feed are rotated at a constant constant rotating speed during operation. Thus, the feedworm 120 is preferably rotated to the left by its longer drive shaft 130, and the feedworm 121 rotated to the right by its shorter drive shaft 131 (as seen from the front of the feedworm mechanism ). That is, in the illustrated mode, the feeding worms are rotated at the same speed but in opposite directions. Figures 10-12 illustrate the structures forming seal insertion stations near the discharge ends of the feedworms, extending through the forward ends of the feedworms 120, 121. The mechanism of the feeding worm includes insertion stations 151, 152, located close to the discharge ends of each feeding worm (see Figures 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16). The insertion stations define the end (terminus) of the feed inlet operations of the lid and are located apart in the front-back direction of the apparatus to locate the lids under different portions of the seal material material passing over them ( see below). The stations are defined by laterally extending the shelves or plates 154, 155 that receive and temporarily support each lid while the lid leaves the adjacent feedworm. Currently, a seal piece 20 is formed from the material strip that passes up, and the seal piece is then pushed down into the cap. The upper surfaces of the plates 154, 155 are located at a level generally aligned with the lower inner end of the helical groove in the adjacent feedworm. Thus, as a lid reaches the end of each conductor worm, the lid is pushed over the surface of the plate. The ends of the adjacent guide grooves 122 are cut back (see Figure 10) to allow the top eyebrow of the lid to uncouple and not interfere with this movement. The guide rods 156, 157 are fixed to the first edge of the plates 154, 156 and provide the lateral guide surfaces 160, 161 which will be coupled on the outside of a cap skirt Semi-cylindrical insertion pieces 165 fit into the cavities similarly at the inner ends of the bars 156, 157 and these parts have a curved stirrup 158 that matches guide surfaces 160, 161 of the guide bars to send a lid outwardly. on plates 154, 155. Insert pieces 165 include small ports 167 directed against a skirt of a through cap, whereby explosions of compressed air through such ports can be prevented to assist such deviated movement of the caps , it will be convenient if you find help. On the inserts 165, near the upper surfaces of the inserts, are the thin rotating arms 170, fixed to the small drive shafts 172 which incorporate the worm feeding mechanism from below. The arms 170 are sized to sweep through the upper surfaces of the inserts and the curved stirrup 158, and are driven together with the drive of the feeding worm, as explained below. The main edges of the arms 170 are preferably curved to push the covers out and away as the arm passes through a lid skirt (see Figures 10-12). Referring to Figures 9 and 8, which illustrate the back and front (respectively) of the apparatus, a suitable electric motor 200 is supported in the working frame, in the upper right side of the apparatus (see also figure 8) and provides a single continuous rotating power source for a major portion of the apparatus. A toothed pulley 201 is attached to the motor shaft. At the lower end of the vertical frame member 204, secured to the lower surface of the base plate 102, is a 90 ° transfer gearbox 203. A toothed pulley 205 is attached to the input shaft of the gearbox, and on the surface of the gearbox 203 there is a serrated output pulley 206 which is connected to supply rotational energy to the axes 172 which drive the arms 170 in the insertion stations. The input pulley of the gearbox 205 is in a common plane with the motor shaft pulley 202, and is driven by the motor through the toothed belt 210. Near the lower edge of the vertical frame member 104 there is another toothed pulley 212 that joins the longest drive shaft 130 of the feeding worm. In the upper center of the frame member 104 another toothed pulley 214 is fixed to the end of a first (lower) transfer shaft 215 which is supported by a bearing 216 at its rear end (Figures 9 and 14), and a bearing 218 at its front end (Figures 8 and 14). A second (upper) transfer shaft 225 is supported on the bearings 226 (on top of the plate 104) and 228 (on top of the upper cross beam 103E). The transfer shafts 215 and 225 have toothed pulleys 219A and 219B secured thereto and a Toothed belt connects those pulleys such that the transfer shafts rotate in unison. Thus, energy is provided to the demountable cam 220 and its cam follower / roller 222. The follower 220 is screwed to a crossbar 224 which is carried by the bearing sleeves 225 to exchange (vertically) on the stationary poles of the bearing suspended from the connecting rods 106 (see figures 8, 15 and 16). The bars 227 are suspended from the crossbar 224 and carry the detachable heads 228 (described below) of the demountable mechanisms (Figures 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16). The drill control cam 230 is fixed to and driven by a lower transfer shaft 225, and its roller / follower 232 is mounted on such a cam, and is clamped to the surface of a lower crossarm 234 that is supported for limited vertical reciprocation by short vertical posts 235 that are mounted clearly from the common plate 240 that supports and directs the strip of seal material M (see below). Two groups of perforators are fastened to the lower surface of the crossarm 234, as seen in Figures 15, 17 and 18. Each comprises an inner drilling ring 241 (circular to produce a disk seal if desired), a spacer ring 242 surrounding the piercing ring, an outer surrounding fastener 243 including a ledge 244 that limits movement of the spacer away from the piercer, and a wave spring within the fastener, pressing against a ledge extending outside the lid of the separator ring. The fastener is secured to the bottom surface of the crossarm 234 in a position where the piercing rings 240 are concentric with a cutting edge ring 245 supported on the common plate 240. When the cam 230 moves the roller / follower 232 downwardly ( this travel is relatively short) the piercing ring 241 pierces the material M and moves the separate piece in the cutting edge ring 245, while the spacer holds the material from which the seal piece is withdrawn against the outer edge side of the cutting edge 245. cut. The removable head moves the seal piece farther downward, in a cup that is waiting immediately below the common plate 240 at an insertion station. The removable head is quickly pulled upward by its cam drive, and the associated arm 170 sweeps through the insertion station and moves the cover (now fitted with a seal) to the entrance of a convenient discharge conveyor 248 (shown schematically). Such discharge conveyors are separated for each of the insertion stations. A) Yes, the motor 200 and the toothed belt 210 provide synchronous jump energy to all the mechanisms already mentioned, with the exception of the common supply. The seal material M is provided in a continuous strip, such as a roll of the same, similarly as the supply of seal material in the first embodiment (see Figures 3-5 and related description). The strip material enters below the motor 200 and passes over the common plate 240 extending from right to left through the apparatus onto the feedworm mechanism, specifically just above the seal insertion stations 151, 152. As far as is concerned. shown in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17, the common plate has appropriate openings that receive the cutting edge rings 245 that are aligned over the insertion stations, and therefore separated longitudinally and transversely to be able to cut a pair of seal pieces of the material strip M while minimizing the amount of waste material in the resulting 'skeletal' strip (see Figures 8 and 9). For this purpose, a servomotor 250 is also mounted on the frame member 104, and coupled to its output shaft 251 (by pulleys and small toothed belts, to the drive shafts of three separate seal material feed rolls 254). , 255, and 256 (see Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17) which are used to advance the stamp material M in sufficient increments to provide the fresh material in the perforation and disassembly mechanisms for each cycle thereof. Figure 19 illustrates an enlarged roller 255, which is located between the perforator two and the inserted seal locations, together with the small toothed pulleys and the toothed belts which allow all of these rollers feeding move the material strip forward in unison, thereby maintaining the desired tension in the strip during and between incremental movements. The output shaft of the servo motor 221 is connected via a coupler 257 to the center roller 255 of the three separate spaced apart common feed rollers. An extension shaft 258 is connected between the coupler 257 and a second coupler 259, which is attached to the end of the hollow feed roller 255. There are two enlargements 260 on the shaft, spaced apart at a distance substantially equal to the opposite edges of the shaft. sealing material strip M. On the opposite side of the material strip, there is a pair of idle free-rotating rollers 262 which are pressed against the strip edges. The extensions 260 and idler rolls 262 are provided with gripping surfaces, such as by flute or engraving, to ensure a firm grip on the strip. The collars are preferably fixed to the roller body immediately outside the idler rolls 262, to improve the alignment of the edge while the strip moves through the feed rollers. Outside the collars are the toothed pulleys 264 which mesh with the toothed belts 265. The other roller assemblies are almost the same, unless the roller 254 has only one serrated roller aligned to interact with a belt connected to the roller side. center 255, and roller 256 will have a toothed pulley for Use a strap connected to the other side of the center roller. As a result, the three common feed rollers will rotate in unison with the servo motor input. The displacement movement of the servomotor will be less than a full revolution, in order of 240 ° to 250 °, and can be triggered to start at a certain interval in the cycle of the device, for example by a sensor that is activated in response to an action such as the exit of a lid from the insertion stations. Such a sensor will then trigger a program in the servomotor controller to initiate the advance of the strip of material such that the fresh material is in place before the perforator and starts poorly. Although the method (s) herein described, and the form (s) of the apparatus for carrying this (these) method (s) in effect, constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this (these) exact method (s) and form (s) of the apparatus, and that the changes can be made to any one without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A method that includes an inner seal piece in a container lid, wherein the lid comprises an integral cup-like member having an upper panel, a skirt that depends on the upper panel, and a plurality of lid lugs formed in the eyebrow and which extends partially inwardly from the eyebrow, the skirt is biased to surround a neck in the container, the neck has ears that extend outwardly to engage the lid ears, and the neck also has a threaded upper end defining a Pouring opening, the threaded upper end is aligned with the cap and radially spaced from the skirt to advance towards the top cap panel while the cap is applied to the neck, comprising the steps of collecting a quantity of the caps and arranging the caps on a surface with eyebrows that orient a predetermined plane; moving the covers in a lane including at least one row; advancing the lids successively in the row to an insertion station spaced near the predetermined plane; providing a supply strip of the flexible seal material; direct the strip in proximity to the insertion station and Exactly cutting a piece of stamp from the strip, the perimeter of such piece of stamp is greater than the inner diameter of the lid ears and approximately equal to the inside of the lid skirt, such that a tight friction can exist between the perimeter of the seal piece and the internal diameter of the skirt; and insert the seal piece in the lid beyond the lid ears and in the vicinity of the top lid panel. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two rows of lids and at least two insertion stations next to the rows; and simultaneously cut at least two pieces of seal from the strip and insert the two pieces of seal into one lid of each row. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein advancing the caps includes providing an acceleration movement while the caps move toward the insertion stations. The method according to claim 3, wherein the caps are carried in a worm mechanism and the acceleration is provided by an increase in the driving inclination of the worm mechanism. 5. The method according to claim 4, includes providing the worm mechanism with insertion stations incorporated in the output end thereof, and directing the caps of the transporter worm mechanism directly at the respective insertion stations. The method according to claim 5, which includes piercing a seal part of the supply strip and immediately advancing the seal piece in a cover at the insertion station. 7. Apparatus for forming and inserting seal pieces in a lid of the container, wherein the lid includes an integral cup-like member having an upper panel, a skirt that depends on the upper panel, and a plurality of lid lugs formed in the lid. eyebrow and extending partially inward of the eyebrow, the eyebrow also has a threaded upper end defining a pouring opening, the threaded upper end is aligned with the lid and radially spaced from the skirt to advance towards the top cap panel while the lid is applied to the neck, which comprises the means for collecting a number of lids and arranging the lids on a surface with the eyebrows that orient a predetermined plane; means for moving the covers in a lane that includes at least one row; the medium that provides a lid that forms and inserts the station to temporarily locate each row lid; the means for advancing the caps in at least one row to an insertion station established substantially in the predetermined plane; the medium that provides a supply strip of flexible seal material; the means for directing the strip in proximity to the insertion station; the means for exact cutting of a seal piece of the strip, the perimeter of such seal piece is greater than the inner diameter of the lid ears and approximately equal to the inside of the lid skirt such that a tight friction can exist between the perimeter of the seal piece and the internal diameter of the skirt; and means for inserting the seal piece in the lid beyond the lid ears and in the vicinity of the lid top panel. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lids are formed in at least two rows and the insertion stations provided close to the insertion stations simultaneously cut at least two seal pieces from the strip and insert the stamp pieces in a cover of each row.