EP0058121A2 - Encapsulating machine for gas bottles or similar containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Capping machine for gas cylinders or similar container which have a valve provided with a square (3) and with an outlet (8) having an external screwthread, and which have first been so oriented in an apparatus disposed upstream that their outlets are always directed in a determined direction, which machine comprises a support and vertical guidance device (PA) on which is mounted a capping device (TC), characterised in that : - the capping device (TC) comprises means (PS) effecting its centering on the axis (y-y) of the outlet (8) of the valve by acting on the square (3) of the latter, and - the support and vertical guidance device (PA) comprises means (10, 11, 12, 15) for adapting the height of the line of action of this device to that of the axis (y-y) of the valve outlet, taking as reference a lower generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribing the external screwthread of said outlet (8).

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for capping gas cylinders, or similar containers, by crimping a capsule, generally formed of aluminum and a seal, on the nose of the cylinder valve.

To automate this operation, it is necessary to bring the bottle into the machine in a position which is always the same; consequently, reference parts must always be used to adjust the active elements of the machine, which are always found on all bottles.

A gas cylinder packaging installation must operate on cylinders from all sources which have significant differences between them. These differences are attributable to different causes, the main ones of which are linked to differences in shape and also in manufacturing conditions, as will be explained below. There are other secondary causes of deviations attributable to their severe conditions of use, due to the fact that they carry out a continuous rotation between the gas filling plant and the consumers through dealer distributors.

To clearly highlight the difficulties which had to be resolved in order to carry out the development of the capping machine according to the invention, we will first of all define the dimensional deviations affecting the gas cylinders and explain the causes thereof.

To better understand the problems posed, we must first examine the structure of a gas cylinder. Referring to FIG. 1, which schematically represents the upper part of a gas cylinder and also to the left part of FIG. 2, where a cylinder is indicated in perspective view, it can be seen that it has a body cylindrical of revolution terminated above by a dome 5 provided with an opening in which a flange 6 is welded; this flange 6 has two threaded parts, namely an internal thread intended to receive the threaded end piece 4, also called tail or carrot, of the tap R and an external thread 7 intended to receive the valve protection cap. This comprises a valve, which can be opened and closed using a handwheel 1 and placed in a body 2 from which protrude on the one hand a tube or nose 8, carrying an external thread 9 intended for connection with the regulator of the user, and on the other hand a square 3 which precedes the threaded end piece 4. It should also be noted that the end piece has a male conical thread of the Briggs type which has the function of establishing a good tightness with Briggs female thread on the bottle flange.

The dimensional differences affect the bottle body, the valve and the assembly formed by the assembly of these two elements, that is to say the bottle itself. An enumeration, moreover not limitative, of said deviations is now indicated.

• - le diamètre extérieur de cylindre a une valeur constante, à 1 mm près, mais qui est de 30 cm pour les bouteilles de butane et 31,5 cm pour les bouteilles de propane ;
• - le diamètre de collerette est de 66 mm pour les bouteilles de certaines Sociétés et de 68 mm pour les bouteilles d'autres Sociétés ;
• - la hauteur entre la collerette et la base du pied de bouteille est en moyenne de 50 cm, mais on peut enregistrer des différences de 7 cm ;
• - la hauteur de collerette varie de 15 à 22 mm
• - cette collerette, soudée par un rebord circulaire dans une ouverture ménagée dans le dôme du corps de bouteille, peut présenter un excentrement qui atteint jusqu'à ± 15 mm pour certaines bouteilles de fabrication ancienne.

Regarding the bottle body:

• - the outside diameter of the cylinder has a constant value, to within 1 mm, but which is 30 cm for butane cylinders and 31.5 cm for propane cylinders;
• - the flange diameter is 66 mm for the bottles of certain companies and 68 mm for the bottles of other companies;
• - the height between the collar and the base of the bottle base is on average 50 cm, but differences of 7 cm can be recorded;
• - the height of the collar varies from 15 to 22 mm
• - This collar, welded by a circular rim in an opening formed in the dome of the bottle body, may have an eccentricity which reaches up to ± 15 mm for certain bottles of old manufacture.

• - la seule cote constante, aux tolérances de fabrication près, est la distance entre l'axe vertical et le plan vertical tangent au filetage du nez ;
• - le côté du carré varie de 25 à 27 mm selon les fabricants ;
• - comme autres cotes non constantes, on peut également citer la hauteur du carré, la position du nez par rapport au carré, la distance entre l'axe du robinet et la face frontale du nez, les dimensions du corps de robinet...

Regarding the tap:

• - the only constant dimension, to within manufacturing tolerances, is the distance between the vertical axis and the vertical plane tangent to the thread of the nose;
• - the side of the square varies from 25 to 27 mm depending on the manufacturer;
• - like other non constant dimensions, we can also cite the height of the square, the position of the nose relative to the square, the distance between the axis of the valve and the front face of the nose, the dimensions of the valve body ...

• - le robinet peut être vissé plus ou moins profondément dans le filetage de collerette, ce qui a une influence sur la cote d'espacement entré la face supérieure de collerette et le plan horizontal tangent au nez de robinet, cette cote pouvant varier de 4 à 21 mm ;
• - l'orientation géométrique correcte du robinet par rapport au corps de bouteille peut être également modifiée sous l'effet de chocs en cours de manipulation ;
• - le pied de bouteille, constitué par une virole soudée sur le corps, peut subir de fortes déformations en cours de manipulation de la bouteille.

Regarding the bottle assembly

• - the tap can be screwed more or less deeply into the flange thread, which has an influence on the spacing dimension entered between the upper flange face and the horizontal plane tangent to the tap nose, this dimension can vary from 4 to 21 mm;
• - the correct geometric orientation of the valve with respect to the bottle body can also be modified under the effect of impacts during handling;
• - the bottle base, consisting of a ferrule welded to the body, can undergo strong deformations during handling of the bottle.

This enumeration of dimensional differences affecting gas cylinders highlights the difficulties of designing a capping machine, which can universally accept any bottle, while being sufficiently precise and rapid.

• - pour définir l'axe Z-Z du corps de bouteille, l'ensemble formé par la surface cylindrique extérieure du corps de bouteille et de la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur de la collerette, du fait que l'axe de cette dernière coïncide après vissage avec l'axe du robinet,
• - pour définir l'axe y-y du nez de robinet, la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur 9 du nez 8,
• - pour définir le plan médiateur du nez 8 du robinet, les deux faces du carré 3 qui sont parallèles à y-y, et
• - pour définir la position en hauteur du nez de robinet par rapport au corps de la bouteille, la face supérieure de la collerette 6 ; il est à noter que cette position relative de hauteur est définie, comme indiqué sur la figure 1, par la distance h séparant ladite face supérieure de collerette de la génératrice inférieure de ladite surface circonscrite au nez de robinet.

However, there are several reference surfaces on the bottles on which it is possible to operate to center the bottle before and during the capping operation. These reference surfaces are as follows:

• - to define the axis ZZ of the bottle body, the assembly formed by the external cylindrical surface of the bottle body and the surface circumscribed to the external thread of the flange, since the axis of the latter coincides after screwing with the tap axis,
• - to define the axis yy of the tap nose, the surface circumscribed by the external thread 9 of the nose 8,
• to define the mediator plane of the nose 8 of the tap, the two faces of the square 3 which are parallel to yy, and
• - To define the position in height of the tap nose relative to the body of the bottle, the upper face of the collar 6; it should be noted that this relative height position is defined, as indicated in FIG. 1, by the distance h separating said upper flange face of the lower generator from said surface circumscribed at the tap nose.

The first three reference surfaces must be found, on all bottles in service, in relatively uniform conditions: in fact the surface: of the bottle body must not be deformed otherwise the bottle is discarded; the two other surfaces must always fulfill their respective function, that is to say allow the screwing of the protective cap and the screwing of the regulator. As regards the two faces of the square 3 of the valve, they are always oriented parallel to the y-y axis, except for the die-casting tolerances. Finally, the upper face of the flange, which is lathe machined, also constitutes a correct reference surface.

• - orienter le nez de robinet toujours dans la même direction, à savoir parallèlement à la ligne d'action du dis-- positif de capsulage, qui est généralement orientée perpendiculairement à l'axe du transporteur,
• - régler la hauteur de ce dispositif de capsulage en correspondance à la hauteur du nez de robinet, laquelle varie d'une bouteille à une autre,
• - dans le poste de capsulage, centrer le dispositif de capsulage par rapport au nez, le maintenir et l'appliquer dans cette position sur le nez pendant le sertissage de la capsule.

The problems to be solved for automatically capping gas cylinders moved in a packaging line on a continuous conveyor are as follows:

• - orient the valve nose always in the same direction, namely parallel to the line of action of the capping device, which is generally oriented perpendicular to the axis of the conveyor,
• - adjust the height of this capping device in correspondence with the height of the tap nose, which varies from one bottle to another,
• - in the capping station, center the capping device in relation to the nose, maintain it and apply it in this position on the nose during crimping of the capsule.

The first phase, i.e. the radial orientation of the cylinder valve noses always in the same direction, is advantageously carried out using a device placed in a line for packaging gas bottles. , upstream of the capping machine. A preferred embodiment of such a device is the subject of the patent application filed that same day in the name of the Applicant under the title "Automatic device for radial orientation of cylindrical objects. such as gas cylinders, or the like. "

The prior orientation of the bottles being therefore already carried out, it remains to satisfy the two other conditions defined above, that is to say the height adjustment of the capping device and secondly the centering, maintaining and the application of this device in relation to the nose.

• . un dispositif de capsulage comportant desmoyens assurant son centrage sur l'axe du nez du robinet en agissant sur le carré de ce dernier, et
• . un dispositif de support et guidage vertical, sur lequel est monté ledit dispositif de capsulage et qui comporte des moyens pour adapter la hauteur de la ligne d'action de ce dispositif à celle de l'axe du nez de robinet, en prenant pour référence une génératrice inférieure de la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur dudit nez.

The subject of the invention is therefore a machine for capping gas cylinders, or similar containers, which have previously been oriented in an apparatus placed upstream so that the nose is always directed in a determined direction, said machine comprising:

• . a capping device comprising means ensuring its centering on the axis of the valve nose by acting on the square of the latter, and
• . a support and vertical guide device, on which said capping device is mounted and which comprises means for adapting the height of the line of action of this device to that of the axis of the tap nose, taking as reference a lower generatrix of the surface circumscribed to the external thread of said nose.

• - ladite génératrice inférieure de la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur dudit nez est la génératrice située dans le plan horizontal tangent intérieurement audit nez
• - ledit dispositif de support et guidage vertical est du type à pantographe ;
• - il est prévu un mécanisme de transfert, mobile parallèlement à la direction de déplacement des bouteilles et assurant la saisie de la bouteille pour la transférer jusque dans le poste de capsulage et pour la maintenir jusqu'au début de l'opération de sertissage de capsule sur le nez ;
• - la bouteille étant maintenue en attente dans un dispositif de blocage, le mécanisme de transfert comporte un plan médiateur vertical de serrage de bouteille, orienté perpendiculairement au sens de déplacement des bouteilles et qui est déplacé d'une position de coïncidence avec le plan médiateur vertical dudit dispositif de blocage jusque dans une position de coïncidence avec le plan médiateur vertical du poste de capsulage ;
• - le mécanisme de transfert comporte deux mâchoires, dont les axes verticaux sont placés dans ledit plan médiateur et dont le serrage sur le corps de la bouteille est assuré par un vérin, ces mâchoires pouvant coulisser sur des barres formant pivots et orientés parallèlement à la direction de transport des bouteilles en vue d'assurer le transfert de la bouteille jusqu'au poste de capsulage ;
• - le dispositif de capsulage comprend une tête de sertissage de capsulage, dont le centrage final sur l'axe du nez de robinet est assuré à l'aide d'une pince de serrage, dont la ligne d'action est en coïncidence avec l'axe de la tête de sertissage et qui comporte des mors venant s'appliquer contre deux faces parallèles de référence dudit carré du robinet ;
• - ledit dispositif de capsulage est monté sur ledit dispositif de support et guidage vertical par l'intermédiaire d'un châssis pouvant coulisser horizontalement, dans une direction transversale au sens de déplacement des bouteilles, par l'intermédiaire de paliers, notamment du type à billes, sur des barres solidaires dudit dispositif de support et guidage vertical afin de permettre au dispositif de capsulage d'absorber les écarts transversaux de positionnement des robinets de bouteilles ;
• - ledit dispositif de capsulage est monté sur ledit dispositif de support et guidage vertical par l'intermédiaire d'un pivot supérieur, orienté horizontalement et parallèlement au sens de déplacement des bouteilles, placé dans le plan . médiateur du poste de capsulage et en outre placé à une hauteur appropriée pour que l'ensemble formé par le dispositif de capsulage et ledit pivot opère à la façon d'un pendule pour absorber les écarts transversaux de positionnement dss robinets de bouteilles ;
• - lesdits moyens prévus sur ledit dispositif de support et guidage vertical pour adapter la hauteur de l'axe du dispositif de capsulage à celle de l'axe du nez de robinet comprennent :
• . deux flasques orientés verticalement, reliés rigidement au pantographe et comportant des bords avant biseautés qui entrent en contact avec le corps de la bouteille au cours de son mouvement de transfert afin de faire monter le dispositif de support et guidage vertical, et !
• . une plaquette fixée perpendiculairement sur un desdits flasques et comportant deux faces horizontales, à savoir une face horizontale inférieure par laquelle ledit dispositif de support et guidage vertical s'appuie d'abord sur la face horizontale supérieure de la collerette de bouteille quand lesdits bords biseautés perdent le contact avec le dôme de la bouteille, et une face horizontale supérieure qui est ensuite appliquée, sous l'action d'un système de relevage et de blocage dudit dispositif de support, tangentiellement contre ladite génératrice inférieure de la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur du nez de robinet.
• - ladite plaquette a, en vue en plan, sensiblement la forme d'un rectangle de profil allongé, elle est fixée par un de ses côtés longs sur ledit flasque, son bord d'attaque, dirigé vers les bouteilles entrantes, est pourvu d'un profil effilé et en outre l'épaisseur de ladite plaquette est choisie inférieure à la valeur minimale de la cote d'espacement entre le plan horizontal tangent inférieurement au nez de robinet et la surface supérieure de la collerette ;
• - ledit dispositif de relevage et de blocage dudit dispositif de support et guidage vertical comprend un vérin, ou autre organe similaire, relié audit dispositif de support et guidage vertical de façon à le faire.monter pour appliquer ladite plaquette contre ladite surface du nez de robinet et un frein assurant le blocage dudit dispositif de support et guidage vertical dans cette position haute pendant l'opération de capsulage ;
• - ledit dispositif de capsulage éoopère avec une goulotte d'amenée de capsules, qui est reliée par sa partie supérieure à un réservoir de capsules installé dans une position fixé, ladite goulotte étant flexible sur sa bngueur et étant terminée à sa partie inférieure par un distributeur qui est fixé sur ledit dispositif de support et guidage vertical et dont l'embouchure est placée sur le trajet suivi par les nez de robinets ;
• - ledit distributeur de la goulotte d'amenée est orienté par rapport à la direction de déplacement du mécanisme de transfert d'un angle (α) permettant au nez de robinet d'accrocher automatiquement au passage une capsule qui est ensuite retenue en place sur le nez jusque dans le poste de sertissage.

According to other particularities of the machine of the invention:

• - said lower generator of the surface circumscribed to the external thread of said nose is the generator located in the horizontal plane tangent internally to said nose
• - Said support and vertical guide device is of the pantograph type;
• - a transfer mechanism is provided, movable parallel to the direction of movement of the bottles and ensuring the gripping of the bottle to transfer it to the capping station and to maintain it until the start of the capsule crimping operation on the nose ;
• - the bottle being kept waiting in a locking device, the transfer mechanism comprises a vertical mediator plane for clamping the bottle, oriented perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bottles and which is moved from a position of coincidence with the mediator plane vertical of said blocking device up to a position of coincidence with the vertical mediating plane of the capping station;
• - The transfer mechanism comprises two jaws, the vertical axes of which are placed in said mediator plane and the clamping of which on the body of the bottle is ensured by a jack, these jaws being able to slide on bars forming pivots and oriented parallel to the direction transport of the bottles in order to ensure the transfer of the bottle to the capping station;
• - the capping device comprises a capping crimping head, the final centering of which on the axis of the tap nose is ensured using a clamp, the line of action of which is in coincidence with the axis of the crimping head and which comprises jaws coming to bear against two parallel reference faces of said valve square;
• - Said capping device is mounted on said support device and vertical guide by means of a frame which can slide horizontally, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bottles, by means of bearings, in particular of the ball type , on bars integral with said support device and vertical guide in order to allow the capping device to absorb the transverse deviations in positioning of the bottle taps;
• - Said capping device is mounted on said support device and vertical guide by means of an upper pivot, oriented horizontally and parallel to the direction of movement of the bottles, placed in the plane. mediator of the capping station and also placed at an appropriate height so that the assembly formed by the capping device and said pivot operates in the manner of a pendulum to absorb transverse deviations in positioning of bottle taps;
• - Said means provided on said support device and vertical guide to adapt the height of the axis of the capping device to that of the axis of the tap nose include:
• . two vertically oriented flanges rigidly connected to the pantograph and having bevelled front edges which come into contact with the body of the bottle during its transfer movement in order to raise the support device and vertical guide, and!
• . a plate fixed perpendicularly to one of said flanges and comprising two horizontal faces, namely a lower horizontal face by which said support device and vertical guide rests first on the upper horizontal face of the bottle flange when said bevelled edges lose contact with the dome of the bottle, and an upper horizontal face which is then applied, under the action of a lifting and blocking system of said support device, tangentially against said lower generatrix of the surface circumscribed to the external thread of the tap nose.
• - Said plate has, in plan view, substantially the shape of a rectangle of elongated profile, it is fixed by one of its long sides on said flange, its leading edge, directed towards the incoming bottles, is provided with a tapered profile and in addition the thickness of said plate is chosen to be less than the minimum value of the spacing dimension between the horizontal plane tangent below the tap nose and the upper surface of the flange;
• - Said lifting and blocking device of said support device and vertical guide comprises a jack, or other similar member, connected to said support device and vertical guide so as to make it. mount to apply said plate against said surface of the tap nose and a brake ensuring the locking of said support device and vertical guide in this high position during the capping operation;
• - said protective capping device with a capsule supply chute, which is connected by its upper part to a capsule reservoir installed in a fixed position, said chute being flexible on its bngueur and being terminated at its lower part by a distributor which is fixed on said support device and vertical guide and whose mouth is placed on the path followed by the tap noses;
• - Said distributor of the feed chute is oriented relative to the direction of movement of the transfer mechanism at an angle (α) allowing the valve nose to automatically hook a capsule which is then retained in place on the nose to the crimping station.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en élévation et en coupe partielle de la partie supérieure d'une bouteille de gaz, montrant le robinet vissé dans la collerette de bouteille,
• - la figure 2 est une vue schématique montrant le processus de réglage de hauteur du support à pantographe portant le dispositif de capsulage,
• - la figure 3 est une vue en élévation de l'ensemble de la machine de capsulage selon l'invention,
• - la figure 3A est une coupe faite suivant la ligne A-A de la figure 3 pour montrer le mécanisme d'adaptation transversale de la tête de capsulage,
• - la figure 4 est une vue en plan du poste de capsulage,
• - la figure 5 est une vue de détail montrant comment la capsule est automatiquement placée sur le nez de robinet, et
• -la figure 6 est une vue en perspective montrant le mécanisme de transfert de bouteilles.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be highlighted in the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is an elevational view in partial section of the upper part of a gas bottle, showing the valve screwed into the bottle flange,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the process for adjusting the height of the pantograph support carrying the capping device,
• FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the entire capping machine according to the invention,
• FIG. 3A is a section taken along line AA of FIG. 3 to show the transverse adaptation mechanism of the capping head,
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of the capping station,
• FIG. 5 is a detailed view showing how the capsule is automatically placed on the tap nose, and
• FIG 6 is a perspective view showing the bottle transfer mechanism.

As indicated above, the machine of the invention makes it possible to fix by crimping, on the nose 8 of the gas cylinder valve, a capsule, generally formed of aluminum and of a seal, and intended to fill with a firstly a sealing function and secondly an anti-violation function.

To automate this operation, it is necessary, in a continuous line for packaging gas cylinders or similar containers, to place the punch of the crimping head, which constitutes a known element, always exactly in the axis of the tap nose, also automating the positioning of 'a capsule on said nose before the crimping operation.

• - l'ensemble du dispositif de capsulage est mobile, aussi bien verticalement qu'horizontalement, parallèlement à son axe de travail en vue d'adapter sa hauteur à celle du nez de robinet,
• - l'axe de la tête de sertissage peut être amené en coïncidence correcte avec l'axe du nez de robinet,
• - la capsule est automatiquemnt engagée et maintenue sur le nez avant l'opération de sertissage.

Because we are dealing with very disparate bottles with regard to origin, manufacture and condition, the invention relates to a machine making it possible to meet the following requirements:

• the entire capping device is movable, both vertically and horizontally, parallel to its working axis in order to adapt its height to that of the tap nose,
• - the axis of the crimping head can be brought into correct coincidence with the axis of the tap nose,
• - the capsule is automatically engaged and held on the nose before the crimping operation.

As stated above, the machine according to the invention operates on gas cylinders the nose of which has already been oriented in a constant direction advantageously using an apparatus which is the subject of the application for aforementioned patent, filed that same day by the Applicant. This device comprises at its outlet a blocking vice (EC ₂ , Figure 3) which has the function of keeping a gas bottle on standby, the nose of which is correctly oriented in an obvious direction, that is to say perpendicular to the axis of the bottle conveyor line.

• on saisit la bouteille maintenue dans l'étau de blocage de l'appareil d'orientation et on assure son transfert jusque dans le poste de capsulage et, au cours de ce mouvement de transfert, on fait intervenir des moyens appropriés pour assurer l'adaptation de la hauteur de la tête de sertissage à celle du nez de robinet, le centrage de l'axe de la tête de sertissage sur le nez de robinet et l'amenée automatique de la capsule sur le nez correspondant, ces différents moyens opérant sur le_ssurfaces de référence précitées qui existent sur la bouteille, à savoir dans le cas de la machine de capsulage :
  • - la face plane supérieure de la collerette 6 de bouteille,
  • - la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur 9 du nez 8 du robinet de bouteille, et
  • - les deux faces du carré 3 du robinet qui sont parallèles à l'axe y-y du nez 8.

According to the invention, the following process has been adopted:

• the bottle held in the locking vise of the orientation device is grasped and transferred to the capping station and, during this transfer movement, appropriate means are used to adapt it from the height of the crimping head to that of the tap nose, the centering of the axis of the crimping head on the tap nose and the automatic feeding of the capsule to the corresponding nose, these different means _s operating in the aforementioned reference surfaces that exist on the bottle, namely in the case of the capping machine:
  • - the upper flat face of the bottle flange 6,
  • the surface circumscribed by the external thread 9 of the nose 8 of the bottle tap, and
  • - the two faces of the square 3 of the tap which are parallel to the axis yy of the nose 8.

• - un portique,
• - un dispositif de support et guidage vertical, par exemple du type à pantographe, relié au portique, sur lequel est monté le dispositif de capsulage et qui est pourvu de moyens pour adapter la hauteur dudit dispositif de capsulage à celle du nez de robinet et pour centrer ce dispositif sur ledit nez.

The capping machine according to the invention comprises the following assemblies:

• - a gantry,
• a support and vertical guide device, for example of the pantograph type, connected to the gantry, on which the capping device is mounted and which is provided with means for adapting the height of said capping device to that of the tap nose and for center this device on said nose.

A bottle transfer mechanism is also provided between the orientation device and the capping station. However, this transfer mechanism can be dispensed with by causing the bottles to arrive in the capping machine on the conveyor proper, which pushes the bottles against each other.

To clearly highlight the characteristics of the capping machine according to the invention, we will now describe in detail its structure and its functions.

The gantry has only been indicated schematically at 14 in the figures. It is arranged so as to overlap the bottle conveyor designated by T. The bottles have already been oriented in the aforementioned device so that their nose 8 is always directed in a determined direction; in the example considered, for an observer examining FIG. 3, the nose is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the figure in a direction directed towards the observer. After their orientation, they are immobilized in the locking vise EC ₂ which keeps them waiting.

The machine comprises a transfer mechanism, an embodiment of which is indicated diagrammatically by TF in FIG. 3 and has been shown in detailed perspective view in FIG. 6. It comprises two branches 17, 17 ′, on each of which is fixed a horizontal arm 17a, 17'a carrying a plate 29, 30. Each plate is provided, 'in the example considered, with four shoes 31 intended to be applied against the peripheral surface of the bottle. Each branch 17, 17 'is mounted on a corresponding bar 36, 38 forming both a pivot and a slide. At their lower parts, the branches 17, 17 'are interconnected by means of an actuating cylinder 40 which is articulated on two axes 37, 39.

Thus, the two branches 17, 17 ′ of the transfer mechanism TF form two jaws capable of coming to clamp by means of the plates 29, 30 the bottle B held in the locking vise EC ₂ . Once the tightening of the bottle is finished, the assembly formed by the branches 17, 17 ′ and the bottle is moved along the conveyor T using a jack, not shown in the figures, as far as the mediator plane of the capping station, defined schematically in Figure 6 by the YY axis and in Figure 3 by the ZOZ axis. The control of this transfer process has also been shown schematically in Figure 6: in the plate 30 of the jaw carried by the arm 17 ′ a, a witness 32 is provided which has the function of detecting, during the movement of the two branches 17, 17 ′, the presence of a bottle B in the locking vise EC ₂ of the orientation device. If there is indeed a bottle, the presence indicator 32 initiates the transfer cycle. On the other hand, tell-tales 33, 34 are provided on the path followed by the transfer mechanism TF so as to define a front limit switch in which the two plates 29, 30 are centered in the mediating plane of the vice of EC ₂ blocking and a rear limit switch in which the two plates 29, 30 are centered in the mediator plane YY of the capping station. In this last position, the bottle, as indicated in B ', is kept clamped by the jaws during the capping operation.

We will now describe what happens during this movement of transfer of the bottle from position B to position B '. For the convenience of the presentation, the operations have been broken down into the succession of process steps. Note, however, that the machine of the invention operates at a rapid rate. For example, the transfer phase lasts less than a second.

The capping machine includes a capping device, generally designated by TC in FIG. 3 and the structure of which will be specified in the following. This capping device is fixed to a support and vertical guide device of the pantograph type, designated as a whole by PA, consisting of bars in parallelogram and whose function is to allow a displacement in height of the capping device TC while retaining its axial orientation. This support device PA is itself articulated on the gantry 14 so as to be able to pivot relative to the latter, it is provided with a counterweight P intended to ensure its balancing and it also carries on the one hand means adapting the height of the line of action of the capping device to the height of the nose 8 of the bottle tap and on the other hand means of transverse adaptation of the position of the capping head to the spatial position of the valve nose, in order to compensate for an excessive eccentricity of the collar relative to the dome of the bottle, possible twisting of the valve and faults of the bottle base.

We will first describe the means of adapting the height of the line of action of the capping device to the height of the nose 8 of the bottle valve. These means comprise two vertical flanges 10, 10 ′, which are fixed on the support PA in positions symmetrical with respect to the axis XX of the conveyor line and which are provided with bevelled edges 10a, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 In addition, there is provided on the flange 10, located on the side of the tap nose, a plate 11 fixed perpendicular to the flange in an orientation parallel to the horizontal plane of the conveyor T. In FIG. 2, the adjustment process is shown diagrammatically. of height of the capping device TC using the support PA which intervenes by means of the flanges 10, 10 ′. The transfer distance between the blocking vise EC ₂ and the mediator plane TC of the capping device has been intentionally increased in order to better show the different phases. In position B ₁ of the gas bottle, which corresponds to the locking vise EC ₂ , the transfer mechanism TF begins to move to the left, looking at FIG. 2, and it brings the bottle B into contact with the flange 10 at the point designated by a. The transfer mechanism continuing its movement, the bottle raises the flange 10, and consequently all of the support PA and of the capping device TC in correspondence with the curve drawn in ab on the bottle dome. When the point of contact between the bevelled edge 10a and the bottle dome arrives in the vicinity of point b, the support function of the support PA is provided by the plate 11 which bears by its lower face against the aforementioned reference surface formed by the upper face of the collar 6 of bcuteille. This process corresponds to an approach guide but it is however necessary to place the plate 11 in the appropriate zone and allow it to engage between the flange and the tap nose. In this regard, to take into account the dimensional differences between bottles which result in a variation between four and twenty-one millimeters of the distance separating the base of the tap nose from the upper face of the flange, the leading edge is given. of the collar, considering the line XX of advancement of the bottles, a tapered profile, highlighted in FIG. 2 and the thickness of the wafer is kept below 4 mm.

After this approach guidance, it is now necessary to carry out a precise adjustment of the height of the support PA and consequently of the capping device TC. This problem is solved by using the reference surface of the nose, that is to say the surface 9 circumscribed by its external thread. To this end, the plate 11 is lifted to apply it against the lower generator of said reference surface. 9. This lifting movement is generated using the jack 12, visible in FIG. 3 and which is articulated at 12a on a bar of the pantograph support PA and at 12b on a bar 13 secured to the gantry 14. This actuation by cylinder is however not limitative of the invention and one could consider any other suitable mechanism, for example a spring pedal. The plate 11 is now applied by its upper face against the lower generatrix of the surface 9 of the tap nose, it must be immobilized to maintain the capping device TC at the height thus adjusted. This blocking is ensured by means of a brake shown diagrammatically at 15 and acting on one of the bars of the PA support. It should be noted that the position of the capping device on the pantograph is obviously adjusted in height in correspondence with the height position of the plate 11 of the flange 10 so that the application of this plate against the tap nose necessarily places the axis of the capping device at the level of the axis of the tap nose, defined by the line AA in FIG. 2. The height 0 h, the capping device of which is raised in the last phase, has also been highlighted in this figure. height adjustment, corresponding to position B ₃ of the bottle.

It should be noted that this lifting system with plate and jack could be replaced by a system with slides inclined upwards and acting so as to bring the capping device gradually to the level of the tap nose.

We will now describe the means of transverse adaptation of the capping head position to the spatial position of the tap nose in order to compensate, as indicated above, the eccentricity of the flange relative to the bottle dome, a possible twisting of the valve and bottle foot faults. In the embodiment shown in the figures, and in particular in Figures 3 and 3A, these means consist of a chassis 43 essentially in the form of a frame, which is articulated on the four bars PAl, PA2, PA3, P _A 4 of the support device _P A, of the pantograph type, in the following manner. Two trees 46, 47 are provided, oriented horizontally and constituting the axes of articulation of the respective bars PA1, PA3 and PA2, PA4 of the parallelogram, the connection between said shafts 46, 47 and the bars of the parallelogram being ensured by means of ball bearings indicated diagrammatically at 54. On the two vertical branches of the chassis 43, sliding bearings 48, 49, 50, 51 are fixed externally, in particular ball bearings, by means of which the chassis 43 can slide on the shafts 46, 47, the interval of cculissement being designated by j in Figure 3A. This interval is chosen at the design so as to take into account the maximum deviations that can be created by bottle defects, these deviations can reach + 15 mm, that is to say that the interval j is given a value 30 mm. The capping head TC is fixed lower on a plate 52 placed at the bottom of the chassis 43. In addition, this plate 52 carries above the control apparatus, indicated schematically at 28, of the capping head.

It should be noted that this transverse adaptation system of the capping head is not limiting of the invention and that any other system can be adopted which makes it possible to obtain said transverse deflection interval of the capping head. Thus, the entire capping head can be mounted like a pendulum by suspending it from a horizontal pivot axis, placed in the vertical mediating plane of the bottle conveyor line and located above the capping at a sufficient height for the movement of the latter to be substantially horizontal. It is also possible to suspend the entire capping head from a vertical upper pivot centered in the mediating plane of the conveyor line.

Before carrying out the actual capping operation, the capping device must be centered in the mediating plane of the capping station, defined by the vertical axis ZZ in FIG. 3 and the axis YY in the figures. 4 and 6. This capping device is shown in detailed plan view in FIG. 4. It comprises a crimping head comprising a punch 20 provided with a front recess 21 which engages, under the action of the drive device shown diagrammatically at 22, on the capsule C placed on the nose 8 of the tap. To ensure the straightening and centering of the valve, the alignment of the crimping head in the mediating plane YY of the capping station, and also to play the role of the anvil during the crimping operation of the capsule, it is provided a clamp, designated as a whole by PS in Figure 4 and whose line of action is centered on the axis of the crimping head TS.

This PS clamp comprises two branches 23, 23 a which can pivot around axes designated respectively by 44 and 44a. The branches end with jaws 24, 24a and they are actuated by a double-acting jack 25 which is articulated on the branches by means of axes designated by 26 and 26a. In addition, a cylinder 27 is provided, the axis of which is placed in the extension of the axis of the cylinder 22 of the crimping head, and which serves to bring the PS clamp closer or further away from the path followed by the bottle taps . This mode of actuation, however, has no limiting effect on the invention, the only condition being that the clamp fulfills its function.

The jack 22 of the TS crimping head is installed in a fixed position on the frame 43 so as to make the punch 20 go out or come in while the structure, constituted by the clamp PS, its clamping jack 25 and its transfer jack 27, is mounted on slides integral with the chassis 43, and not shown, in order to be able to execute an alternating movement of translation in the direction YY.

When a bottle transported by the transfer mechanism TF arrives in the capping station defined by the axis YY in Figure 4, it is released by the jaws and the whole capping device TC, whose axis is now placed at the height of the axis yy of the nose of the valve 8, must now be brought into coincidence with this axis, the radial orientation of which may differ from the orientation of the YY axis of the capping station. The clamp PS is then brought closer to the valve by the jack 27, its jaws 24, 24a coming into contact with parallel faces of the square 3 of the valve so as to start the straightening in position of the latter. The jack 25 is then actuated so as to bring the two jaws 24, 24 · to corresponding parallel faces of the square 3, as shown diagrammatically at 24 ', 24'a in FIG. 4. It should be noted that thus the chassis transverse movement 43 has been moved according to the spatial position of the valve, to bring the capping head TC in the correct position relative to the existing bottle.

The capping device being thus correctly centered on the tap nose carrying the capsule C, the jack 22 of the crimping head TS is actuated so as to release the punch 20 which comes to crimp the capsule on the external thread 9 of the nose of the tap.

It is precisely that this capsule C is on the corresponding nose and the capping machine has a system for automatically performing this positioning. This system comprises a capsule supply chute, which has been designated by 16 in FIGS. 3 and 4 and which is connected at its upper end to a capsule reservoir, provided with a vibrator of known type used to engage the capsules. always in the same orientation in the chute 16. This chute is connected at its lower end to a distributor, designated by 18 and shown in more detail in FIG. 5. The distributor 18 comprises at its mouth a small valve designated by 45 and allowing the capsules C to pass one by one, which are provided with a tearing tab L, in order to keep them in the trajectory, materialized by the line SS parallel to the axis XX of the conveyor line. The first capsule is immobilized by said valve 45, with its opening directed towards the nose 8, so that the latter, during the transfer movement of the gas bottle, penetrates by its front edge into said opening of the capsule which rocks, supported by its rear surface on the axis of the valve, while being retained by the latter, so that it finally engages as indicated in C ', on the tap nose by which it is held in place until in the crimping station. In order for this operation to be carried out successfully, the longitudinal axis of the dispenser is oriented relative to the mediating plane YY of the capping station at a well determined angle, designated by a in FIGS. 4 and 5 and forming the subject of an initial setting.

It should be noted that this distributor is fixed to the support and vertical guide device PA so that it follows its movements. As a result, the chute 16 must have a certain flexibility to absorb the relative movement between the dispenser and the capsule reservoir. This problem is solved by using an appropriate plastic material and by giving an appropriate curvature to its longitudinal axis.

• La bouteille dont le nez 5 a été orienté préalablement et qui est tenue en attente dans l'étau de blocage EC₂, est saisie par lest mâchoires du mécanisme de transfert TF et le témoin de présence 32 déclenche le cycle de transfert. Le mécanisme de transfert TF est alors déplacé le long des barres 36, 38 de façon à amener la bouteille dans le plan médiateur Y-Y du poste de capsulage, qui est défini par la fin de course 34. Au cours de ce mouvement de transfert, la bouteille entre en contact par son dôme avec les bords biseautés 10a, 10'a des flasques 10, 10' de sorte que le pantographe PA, et par conséquent le dispositif de capsulage TC, sont relevés en correspondance au trajet défini par a-b sur la figure 2. Au point b la plaquette 11 reprend la fonction d'appui du support PA sur la face supérieure de la collerette 6 et, sous l'action d'un autre témoin de présence, non représenté, le vérin 12 est enclenché de façon à faire pivoter le support PA autour de ses points d'articulation sur le portique 14 afin d'appliquer ainsi la plaquette 11 contre la génératrice inférieure de la surface de référence 9 du nez de collerette.

To facilitate understanding of the capping machine according to the invention, we will now give a detailed description of its operation:

• The bottle, the nose 5 of which has been oriented beforehand and which is kept waiting in the locking vise EC ₂ , is gripped by ballast jaws of the transfer mechanism TF and the presence indicator 32 triggers the transfer cycle. The transfer mechanism TF is then moved along the bars 36, 38 so as to bring the bottle into the mediating plane YY of the capping station, which is defined by the end of travel 34. During this transfer movement, the bottle comes into contact by its dome with the bevelled edges 10a, 10'a of the flanges 10, 10 'so that the pantograph PA, and consequently the capping device TC, are raised in correspondence to the path defined by ab in the figure 2. At point b, the plate 11 takes up the support function of the support PA on the upper face of the flange 6 and, under the action of another presence indicator, not shown, the jack 12 is engaged so as to rotate the PA support around its points of articulation on the gantry 14 so as to apply the plate 11 against the lower generatrix of the surface reference 9 of the collar nose.

The TC capping device is thus placed level with the y-y axis of the valve nose. The transfer mechanism TF continues its movement towards the mediator plane Z-O-Y of the capping station, where it is stopped under the action of the presence indicator 34, then releasing the bottle. Beforehand, the frame 43 with slides 48, 49, 50, 51 brought the capping head in correspondence with the spatial position of the bottle valve. The centering of the capping device on the axis yy of the tap nose is then carried out by means of the PS clamp, the jaws 24, 24 a of which are applied against the corresponding faces of the square 3 of the tap, which establishes a coincidence between the axis of the crimping punch 20, 21 and the axis yy of the tap nose. It should be noted that this entrained, during its transfer, a capsule C made available at the end of the distributor 18.

The capping device is now ready to carry out the crimping operation, which is triggered by another indicator 19 for checking the correct orientation of the tap nose. The punch engages by its recess 21 on the capsule C and it actuates an inner crimping ring, formed of an elastic material which comes to clamp the capsule and compress its peripheral surface to engage it between the threads of the thread of the nose 8.

During the crimping operation, it should be noted that on the one hand the valve of the bottle is held by the pliers PS which thus plays the role of anvil for the crimping head and that on the other hand the body of the bottle is retained by peripheral stops, shown diagrammatically at 41, 41a, these stops being actuated by jacks 42, 42a.

At the end of the crimping operation, a pressure switch intervening in the apparatus indicated diagrammatically at 28 and reacting to the final crimping pressure causes the cylinders to be withdrawn from the capping head TC so that the bottle, finished crimping, can be freely driven by the conveyor T, by actuating in passing an element of control, indicated schematically at 35, which ensures the return to the initial state of the machine components.

In the example considered, a pneumatic logic system was adopted to control the sequence of the different operations and pneumatic components were also used to produce the different movements. However, it goes without saying that this design has no limiting effect on the invention and it is possible to envisage the intervention of different systems, in particular electromechanical, hydraulic and electronic or others. Regarding the working rate of the machine, it is possible to cap around 1,200 to 1,300 bottles per hour.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown, from which other modes and other embodiments can be provided, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention .

Claims (14)

1. Machine for capping gas cylinders, or similar containers, which have been previously oriented in an apparatus placed upstream so that their noses are always directed in a determined direction, characterized in that it comprises: - a capping device (TC) comprising means (PS) ensuring its centering on the axis (yy) of the nose (8) of the valve by acting on the square (3) of the latter, and - a support and vertical guiding device (PA), on which said capping device (TC) is mounted and which comprises means (10, 11, 12, 15) for adjusting the height of the line of action of this device to that of the axis (yy) of the tap nose, taking as a reference a lower generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribed to the external thread of said nose (8). 2. Capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribed to the external thread of said nose (8) is the generatrix situated in the horizontal plane tangent below said nose (8). 3. Capping machine according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said support and vertical guide device is of the pantograph type (PA) 4. Capping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is provided a transfer mechanism (TF), movable parallel to the direction of movement (XX) of the bottles and ensuring the entry of the bottle (B) to transfer it to the capping station (ZOY) and to maintain it until the start of the capsule crimping operation on the nose (8). 5. Capping machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, the bottle being kept waiting in a locking device (EC ₂ ), the transfer mechanism (TF) comprises a vertical mediator plane for clamping the bottle, oriented perpendicularly in the direction of movement (XX) of the bottles and which is moved by position of coincidence with the vertical mediator plane of said locking device (EC ₂ ) until in a position of coincidence with the vertical mediator plane (ZO _Y ) of the capping station. 6. Machine according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the transfer mechanism (TF) comprises two jaws (29, 30), whose vertical axes are placed in said mediator plane and whose clamping on the body of the bottle is ensured by a jack, these jaws being able to slide on bars (36, 38) forming pivots and oriented parallel to the direction (XX) of transport of the bottles in order to ensure the transfer of the bottle to the station capping (YOZ). 7. Capping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the capping device (TC) comprises a crimping head (TS) for capping, the final centering of which on the axis (yy) of the tap nose (8) is secured using a clamp (PS), the line of action of which coincides with the axis of the crimping head and which comprises jaws (24, 24a) coming to apply against two parallel reference faces of said square (3) of the valve. 8. Capping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said capping device (TC) is mounted on said support and vertical guide device (PA) by 1`intermediate-of a frame that can slide horizontally, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement (XX) of the bottles, by means of bearings, in particular of the ball type, on bars integral with said support device and vertical guide in order to allow the capping device to absorb transverse deviations in positioning of cylinder valves. 9. Capping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said capping device (TC) is mounted on said support and vertical guide device (PA) by means of an upper pivot, oriented horizontally and parallel to the direction of displacement (XX) of the bottles, placed in the mediating plane (Z _OY ) of the capping station and also placed at an appropriate height so that the assembly formed by the capping device and said pivot operates in the manner of a pendulum to absorb transverse deviations in positioning of cylinder valves. 10. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said means provided on said support device and vertical guide (PA) for adapting the height of the axis of the capping device (TC) to that of the axis (yy) of the tap nose include: - two flanges (10, 10 '). oriented vertically, rigidly connected to the pantograph and having bevelled front edges (10a, 10'a) which come into contact with the body of the bottle during its transfer movement in order to raise the support device and vertical guide, and - A plate (11) fixed perpendicularly to one of said flanges (10) and comprising two horizontal faces, namely a lower horizontal face by which said support and vertical guide device is first supported on the upper horizontal face of the flange (6) of a bottle when said bevelled edges (10a; 10'a) lose contact with the dome of the bottle, and an upper horizontal face which is then applied, under the action of a lifting and blocking system of said support device, tangentially against said lower generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribed to the external thread of the valve nose (8). 11. Capping machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said plate (11) has, in plan view, substantially the shape of a rectangle of elongated profile, it is fixed by one of its long sides on said flange ( 10), its leading edge, directed towards the incoming bottles, is provided with a tapered profile and in addition the thickness of said plate is chosen to be less than the minimum value of the spacing dimension (h) between the plane horizontal tangent below the valve nose (8) and the upper surface of the flange (6). 12. Capping machine according to one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that said lifting and blocking system of said support device and vertical guide comprises a jack (12), or other similar member, connected to said support device and vertical guide (PA) so as to raise it to apply said plate (11) against said surface (9) of the valve nose (8) and a brake (15) ensuring the locking of said support device and vertical guide in this high position during the capping operation. 13. Capping machine according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said capping device (TC) cooperates with a chute (16) for supplying capsules (C), which is connected by its upper part to a capsule reservoir installed in a fixed position, said chute being flexible along its length and being terminated at its lower part by a dispenser (18) which is fixed to said support and vertical guide device (PA) and whose mouth is placed on the path followed by the tap noses (8). 14. Capping machine according to claim 13 _: characterized in that said distributor (18) of the feed chute (16) is oriented relative to the direction (XX) of movement of the transfer mechanism (TF) of a angle (a) allowing the valve nose (8) to automatically hook a capsule (C) which is then retained in place on the nose as far as the crimping station.

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