Problem & answerK-14
Caps Blocked at the Bottom of the Chute
Also covers: Cap release spring too tight · bottles leaving without caps
Likely causes
- Spring on the cap release (escapement) at the bottom of the chute too tight
- Release screws set so there is no space between the cap and the parts
- Cap size changed without resetting the release
How to fix it
- 1Stop the capper; segregate any bottles that left without caps.
- 2Inspect the cap release at the bottom of the chute: there must be a small space between the cap and the guide parts.
- 3Back off the spring tension screw until the cap can drop freely but is still held until a bottle takes it.
- 4Adjust the release screws to restore the space for this cap size.
- 5Jog bottles through: each bottle must take one cap.
- 6Recheck the cap chute sensor test (K-10).
Technical note
If the spring is too tight or there is no space, the cap stays blocked at the bottom of the chute, does not fit onto the bottle and the bottle goes out without a cap.Photos
It is fixed when
One cap released onto every bottle; none blocked.
Stop it coming back
- Check the release spring and space at every cap change.
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