The LC3000 is one of the most unique capping systems available. To begin with, the filled bottles first enter the built-in Bottle Spacing Mechanism.

It is important to note however, that the unit does not automatically cap or label 1-gallon bottles.

The bottle spacer allows for precise and constant bottle spacing while entering the cap applier. This correct spacing ensures that your caps are applied evenly and consistently with the most accurate alignment possible.

In preparation for cap application, caps are first poured, from the shipping carton, into the Cap Hopper. The Cap Hopper is located at approximately 48" above floor level for easy loading.

After the caps have been poured into the hopper, they are elevated to the upper level Cap Disbursement Chute. The Cap Elevator Belt is constructed of a soft rubber type material so as not to damage or scar the caps during elevation.

In addition, the elevator is designed in such a way as to deliver only a specified number of caps to be sorted. Other styles of elevating equipment can become quickly and easily overloaded and may require additional, expensive features to halt the supply of caps when their carriers become filled.

At the top of the elevator, caps fall into position and are fed to the Cap Sorter where the proper cap alignment process takes place.

Unlike other noisy and damaging vibratory bowl cappers, the SpectraPak 3000 system uses a series of soft grip rubber belts to hold the caps in place.

This allows for the gentlest of movement during the alignment phase of the capping process. Many other systems apply extreme amounts of pressure to the caps which often times results in damaged and unusable caps.

The fundamental design principal behind the Cap Sorter is based upon the natural tendency of the caps to fall and land on their heaviest side. By viewing the cap, one will notice that the heaviest side of the cap is the flat or fixture side.

The tendency then is for the cap to land on this heavier surface. As the caps fall from the Cap Disbursement Chute at the top of the elevator, they will naturally fall into the horizontally mounted, soft grip rubber belts.

The caps will then either fall between the gripper belts or they will rest on the belts and will be returned back to the cap hopper to be elevated again.

In the case where the caps have fallen correctly between the belts, the caps will be conveyed to the final Cap Application Chute where they will await placement onto the filled bottles.

The gripper belts orient the caps from the upside down position to the open faced position where they will be picked off by the bottle as it travels down the conveyor.

As the caps are placed onto the top of the bottle, they are slightly pressed onto the bottle but not completely tightened. Once the cap has been properly fitted to the cap it is moved on the conveyor and on to the Automatic Cap Tightening Device or Cap Tightener.

An especially unique feature of the LC3000 is that the system combines both capping and labeling functions in one movement. By using the rotating action of the capping process and capturing that motion for the labeling process, both systems can be mounted on same durable frame and share similar electrical connections, air supplies and mounting fixtures. This helps to reduce the overall system cost and lessens the need for additional spare parts.

The labeling process incorporates the Original Label Spool, a series of Roller Tension Pins and a Spool Take-Up Wheel for label dispensing.

As the bottle enters the labeling area a very small portion of the label extends out from the label web and awaits pick-off by the bottle. As the bottle enters the application area, the pre-glued label is stuck to the front edge of the bottle and as the bottle rotates through the application area it presses the remaining portion of the label onto the bottle. This completes the labeling process and from there, the labeled bottles are conveyed to the CC3000 Automatic Cap Tightener.