EP2200927B1

EP2200927B1 - Device for capping containers in a filling machine

Info

Publication number: EP2200927B1
Application number: EP08835505A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lorenzo Cocchi
Original assignee: Romaco SRL
Current assignee: Romaco SRL
Priority date: 2007-10-01
Filing date: 2008-09-30
Publication date: 2011-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-30
Also published as: EP2200927A2; ITBO20070668A1; ATE532744T1; WO2009044338A2; WO2009044338A3

Abstract

The capping device for containers comprise a capping head (10) borne swivelling according to a basically horizontal axis; a series of capping members (32) borne by the capping head (10) in positions angularly distributed and that can be oscillated through respective lever support members (37) according to axis parallel to the rotation axis of the capping head (10); handling means (11) suitable to put in rotation the capping head (10) bearing the capping means (32); control means (41) suitable to engage the lever support members (37) of the capping members (32), during the rotation of the capping head (10), to control the angular rotation of the capping members (32) between an upper position (32a) to collect the respective caps (6) from a feeding station of the caps and a lower position (32b), basically overturned as regards the previous one, of capping the containers (2) in correspondence with a capping station (C) arranged along a transport line (3) of the filling machine.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a capping device for containers such as bottles and similar, intended to be used in a machine for filling such containers, according to the preamble of claim 1 and as known from DE 27 57 002 .

Background Art

At present, some machines are known, which provide for automatically filling the containers with a rearranged liquid or powder product, for instance intended to be used in the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, in the pharmaceutical industry the treatment of sterile liquids is required. Such filling machines generally comprise a filling line along which the empty containers are intermittently or continuously fed, passing in correspondence with a filling station in which a measured amount of the product is poured into the same containers. Downstream of the filling station, the capping of the containers is usually performed.
The capping devices of known type usually carry out the collection of singles caps from a distribution line, the transfer of these to a capping station and eventually the capping, that is the positioning of the caps on each container. To carry out these operations, the known devices usually employ different operative units, respectively for the collection, the transfer and the capping, suitable to operate in sequence in the area above the feeding line of the containers. In particular the positioning of the caps onto the containers normally takes place by translating them from an upper position to a lower position above each container to be capped, therefore occupying with complex capping means the area above the containers in correspondence with the capping station. Furthermore, the known devices normally entrust some suction means with the task to hold the caps on the collection and positioning means of the caps. This further complicates the capping station, encumbering it with various pipes for the air suction.
The mechanical complexity of the devices of known type is even more disadvantageous, if it is considered that filling machines are usually intended to work in a sterile environment, and they provide, to this aim, that the containers are crossed by a laminar airflow, during both the filling and the capping phases. Therefore, the installation of means for producing the sterilizing airflow is also required at the capping station. This condition represents a further constructive constraint for the smooth positioning and operating of the large number of mechanical components usually required to perform the capping with the known devices.
Furthermore, the presence of the capping means unavoidably obstructs the airflow to the containers, impeding the sterilizing action during the time lag took by the operations of collecting and positioning the caps.
In order to overcome such drawbacks, many different capping devices have been proposed. For instance, European patent application EP 0 692 426 illustrates a device for capping containers moving forward along a transport line, suitable to perform a sterilizing treatment in correspondence with an area located between the opening of the container and the cap to be positioned. In particular, it is provided that the closing cap is fed to the opening of the container, so that during the movement of the container along the transport line, it is situated at a certain distance above the same opening, thus leaving a clear transit area. A sterilizing treatment is performed in correspondence with such transit area, over a determinate time, corresponding to the time required for the complete closing of the clearance during the descent of the cap upon the container.
Such devices have nevertheless a high degree of complexity, and require complicated air feeding circuits, which often do not provide an accurate and effective sterilizing action.

Disclosure of Invention

Disclosure

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the cited drawbacks, by devising a device which allows to effectively perform the capping of containers such as bottles in a filling machine.
Within this scope it is a further aim of the claimed invention to devise a device for capping containers which can be used in filling machines intended to work in a sterile environment.
A further aim of the present invention is to provide a device for capping containers of simple constructive and functional conception, equipped with a certainly reliable functioning, and relatively economical.
The cited aims are reached, according to the claimed invention, by the device for capping containers in a filling machine according to claim 1.

Description of Drawings

Description details of the invention will be further evident in the illustrations of preferred embodiments of the device for capping containers according to the invention, illustrated in the guidelines drawings attached, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of a filling machine in which the claimed device is suitable to be used;
Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the capping device according to the invention;
Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional side view of the claimed capping device.

Best Mode

With reference to such figures, 1 refers to the device for capping containers 2 such as bottles and similar, in a machine for filling such containers 2 with a prearranged liquid or powder product.
The containers 2, filled with the rearranged product, are fed along a transport line 3 equipped with dragging means 4 of the containers 2, arranged regularly spaced in an ordered series: such dragging means 4 are suitable to lead the said containers 2 in correspondence with at least one capping station C. For instance, the dragging means 4 of the containers 2 consist of revolving means forming at least one carousel suitable to be operated rotating around a rotation axis which is substantially vertical. The carousel 4 is peripherally equipped with a series of notches angularly distributed around the rotation axis, suitable to house respective containers 2. The carousel 4 is suitable to be operated preferably in a continuous rotational motion by a motor unit arranged on the filling machine. Clearly, it is possible to provide that, alternatively, the carousel 4 is operated in step.
Beside the transport line 3. a dispenser means 5 of caps 6 is arranged, suitable to perform the feeding of individual caps 6 to the capping station C. The dispenser 5 shapes a receptacle for the caps 6, for instance with a circular base, associated with an output channel 7. The dispenser 5 is suitable to be operated by a vibrator means, so that the caps 6 gather from the receptacle into the output channel 7 to reach in an ordered series the capping station C. The output channel is in fact suitable to drive the caps along a path, for instance with a circular shape, at the end of the receptacle, until a final discharge position, where every cap is suited to be collected by the capping device 1, in order to perform the capping of a respective container 2, as explained below.
The capping device 1 comprises a capping head 10, borne at the top of a handling means 11 suitable to transmit to the capping head 10 both a rotational motion around a basically horizontal axis, to cap the containers 2, and an adjustment motion of the vertical height of the capping head 10, according to the size of the containers 2 to be capped (see Fig. 3).
In order to transmit the above-mentioned rotational motion, the handling means 11 comprise a tubular shaft 12 swivelling according to a basically horizontal axis, which protrudes in front of a vertical face of the filling machine. Such shaft 12 is suitable to be operated in rotation, preferably in a continuous motion, by the driving shaft of a mover housed inside the machine, through a coupling with conical gears 13. Preferably, the shaft 12 is suitable to be operated by the same mover which operates the said dragging means 4.
The shaft 12 is suitable to transmit the rotational motion to a second tubular shaft 14, orthogonal to it, through a second coupling with conical gears 15. The second shaft 14 is coupled, through a third coupling with conical gears 16, to a third tubular shaft 17, orthogonal to it, which therefore stretches parallel to the shaft 12. The third shaft 17 bears, on the opposite side with regards to the third coupling with conical gears 16, the capping head 10.
In order to realize the cited adjustment motion of the vertical height of the capping head 10 with respect to the containers 2, instead, the handling means 11 comprise a first shaft 18 inserted coaxial inside the tubular shaft 12 through the interposition of revolving members 19. The shaft 18, in the same way as the tubular shaft 12, is thus rotating around a basically horizontal axis preferably upon control of a suitable mover (which is not illustrated in figure 3) housed on the filling machine, through a coupling with bevel gear wheel 20. Alternatively, it is clearly possible that the shaft 18 is activated manually to adjust the vertical height of the capping head 10.
The shaft 18 is coupled with a second adjustment shaft 21 through a suitable conical gear 22. The second shaft 21 is inserted coaxial inside said second tubular shaft 14 through interposition of respective revolving members, which are not illustrated in figure 3.
At the opposite end with respect to the conical gear 22, the second shaft 21 is coupled with a forked body 23 having a stem 24 aligned with the second shaft 21 and, at the opposite end, a fork with two tines 25. More precisely, the stem 24, which has axially a cylindrical threaded opening, is connected to the terminal portion of the second shaft 21, itself threaded, through a suitable screw coupling 26. Each tine 25 of the fork is fixed through screw fixing means 27 to a telescopic box body 28, suitable to contain the described operation members. Furthermore, between the tines 25 an opening is defined, inside which the cited third tubular shaft 17 is inserted, according to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the second shaft 21 and of the stem 24.
Inside the third tubular shaft 17, a fixed axis 29 is inserted coaxial, fastened at one end to the box body 28 through suitable fixing means. More precisely, the fixed axis 29 has external diameter smaller then the inner diameter of the third tubular shaft 17, and is connected to it through the interposition of rotating means 30, so that the two members are not cinematically connected. The third tubular shaft 17 is in its turn supported by the box body 28 through the interposition of respective revolving members 31.
The third tubular shaft 17 has on the end facing the capping station C, the capping head 10 bearing in its turn the capping members 32 for the closing of the containers 2 (Fig 2 and 3).
The capping head 10 comprises a ring 33, which bears integral, in front, a plate 34. The ring 33 is fixed coaxial to the head of the third tubular shaft 17, through screw fixing means 35. The ring 33 is therefore rotating according to a basically horizontal axis upon operating of the mover that controls the rotation of the tubular shaft 12, through the second tubular shaft 14 and the third tubular shaft 17.
The capping head 10 bears a plurality of capping members 32 angularly distributed with respect to the rotation axis. In the case illustrated, in particular eight capping members 32 are provided, suitable to be operated in sequence, four in capping phase and four in the phase of collection of the caps 6.
The capping members 32 basically shape some blocks having, in correspondence with an operative face, a concave seat 36 having a central portion preferably plane for housing a respective cap 6. Each seat 36 is suitable to receive and support a respective cap 6 so that the closing portion of the cap 6, suitable to be inserted in the opening of the container 2, is facing the opposite direction with respect to the block 32.
The blocks 32 are borne by respective lever support members 37 that can oscillate according to axis parallel to the rotation axis of the capping head 10 (Fig. 2). Each lever support member 37 shapes an arm 38 that bears fixed on one end a block 32, and a lever member 39, integral with the arm 38. The lever member 39 bears freely rotating at one end a roll 40 with axis parallel to the rotation axis of the capping head 10. The roll 40 engages a fixed annular cam 41, adequately obtained on a front closing plate of the box body 28. The arm 38 is instead hinged through rotating support members 42 peripherally to the ring 33, according to an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the capping head 10, in correspondence with a respective pivot 43. The pivot 43 thus is suitable to run along a circular trajectory around the rotation axis of the capping head 10, while the roll 40 is suitable to run along a trajectory defined by the annular cam 41, in order to cause a rotation of the arm 38 around the axis of the pivot 43. Practically, the combination of the two rotation motions is suitable to cause the angular rotation of the blocks 32 between an upper position 32a of collection of respective caps 6 from the discharge station of the output channel 7 and a lower position 32b, basically overturned with respect to the previous one, the capping of said containers 2, in correspondence with the capping station C. It is important to underline that when the block 32 is in capping position 32b, its relative speed with respect to the container 2 moving along the underlying transport line is null. Practically, despite both the cap 6 and the container 2 are suitable to be preferably operated continuously, in the capping position 32b, it is realized a cinematic relative condition, which is equivalent to an instantaneous stop of the two objects, optimal for the stable positioning of one on top of the other.
Inside the blocks 32 and the lever support members 37 at least one groove 44 is obtained, suitable to be connected to a suction circuit, for the gripping of the cap 6 to be provided to the container 2. The groove 44 comes out on the seat 36 through a hole 45. The plate 34 has in its turn a series of canalizations 46, basically radial, which form continuation of each groove 44 and are suitable to be connected with a series of holes 48 made on a front head 49 of the fixed axis 29. The holes 38 come out in further grooves 47 obtained along the fixed axis 29 and are suitable to be connected to a suction system of a known type.
The plate 34 moves in contact with the front head 49 of the fixed axis 29. With this aim the plate 34 is adequately made of a material with a low friction coefficient.
The functioning of the claimed capping device is easily understandable from the description below.
In a first setting up phase the vertical height of the capping head 10 is adjusted relatively to the containers 2 to be closed. Practically, by adequately operating the rotation of the shaft 18, thanks to the screw coupling 26, it is possible to vary the vertical positioning of the head 10 so that the capping members 32 in closing configuration can suitably approach the containers 2.
In the same phase, the caps 6 suitable for the closing of the containers 2 are arranged inside the distribution member 5 to be singularly fed on the output channel 7. The respective vibrating member is started to facilitate the inlet of the caps 6 from the container to the channel 7.
Once the filling machine is started, the individual containers 2 are fed in ordered sequence along the transport line 3, filled and brought by the carousel 4 to the capping station C.
The capping head 10 rotates according to a basically horizontal axis, operated by the respective mover means. More precisely the head 10 is operated through the tubular shaft 18, which derives its motion from the mover inside the filling machine. The block 32 that arrives in collecting configuration 32a receives from the output channel 7 a cap 6 with the closing portion facing towards the outside.
The block 32 is fed in rotation, rotating according to the rotation axis of the capping head 10 and, at the same time, according to the axis of the pivot 43. It has to be underlined that during this rotation, until the capping position 32b, the cap 6 is usefully collided with the laminar airflow, until it is overturned to close a respective container 2. At the same time, the container 2 is fed in suitable phase relation along the transport line 3 with its opening set towards the upper side, receiving the same sterilizing airflow. When the cap 6 is in the capping position to be positioned on the container 2, the two objects have no relative speed, in order to allow the correct reciprocal positioning.
In the return motion of the block 32 towards the collection position 32a, the block 32 is overturned again, thanks to the control of the cam 41 that engages the roll 40, to go back to the initial position and start a new closing cycle of the containers 2.
The capping device according to the claimed invention thus allow to carry out in an optimal way the capping of containers such as bottles and similar in a filling machine. This result is reached in particular thanks to the operating simplicity of the capping members 32, equipped with an overturning movement with respect to an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the capping head 10. The capping members 32 can effectively operate the gripping of the cap 6 in the collection position close to the discharge position of the distribution channel 7, with the cap 6 having the closing portion facing towards the upper side, and the overturning of the cap 6 in a capping position, with the above-mentioned portion of the cap 6 overturned towards the lower side, so that it correctly couples with the opening of the underlying container 2. The cited overturning movement is carried out through lever supports 37 and, in particular, through the oscillation motion that the annular cam 41 induces on the lever 39 around the pivot 43.
A prerogative of the claimed capping device consists in that it can profitably be installed in machines intended to work in a sterile environment. In fact, the described capping device is built in order to reduce the dimensions of the area around the container 2 to be capped. So it does not hinder the laminar airflow that carries out the sterilization. Furthermore the overturning movement of the cap 6 activated by the lever supports 37 bears also the cap 6 to be effectively involved in the sterilizing action of the airflow. In fact, for the entire path section comprised between the collection position 32a and the capping position 32b, each capping member 32 holds the respective cap 6 with the closing portion facing outward, allowing it to receive the laminar flow right on the portion destined to close towards the inside of the container 2, which thus requires sterility. Practically, thanks to the particular configuration of the claimed capping device, both the cap 6, which is overturned, and the container 2, which is fed with its mouth opened upward, are collided in optimal way by the sterilizing action of the airflow in the capping station C.
A specific advantage of the claimed capping station is given by the fact that, thanks to the effective suction system integrated inside the device, the capping head 10 does not have external pipes for the passage of the air. This allows to keep the operative area above the containers 2 clear.
Materials adopted for the actual realisation of the invention, as well as their shapes and sizes, can be various, depending on the requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claims are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Device for capping containers in a filling machine, equipped with a transport line (3) along which the containers (2) to be capped are led in ordered sequenceand comprising
A capping head (10) borne swivelling according to a basically horizontal rotation axis;
A series of capping members (32) borne by said capping head (10) in positions angularly distributed, characterized in that said capping (32) can be oscillated through respective lever support members (37) according to axis parallel to said rotation axis of the same capping head (10); and in that said device comprises
Handling means (11) suitable to put in rotation said capping head (10) bearing said capping members (32);
Control means (41) suitable to engage said lever support means (37) of said capping members (32), during the rotation of said capping head (10), to control the angular rotation of said capping members (32) between an upper position (32a) of collection of respective caps (6) from a feeding station of said caps and a lower position (32b), basically overturned with respect to the previous one, of capping of said containers (2) in correspondence with a capping station (C) arranged along said transport line (3).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said capping members (32) have, in correspondence with an operative face, a concave seat (36) having a portion for the housing of a respective cap (6), being each seat (36) suitable to receive a said respective cap (6) in rest so that the closing portion of said cap (6), suitable to be inserted into the opening of a said container (2), faces the opposite direction with respect to the said capping member (32).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each lever support member (37) shapes an arm (38) hinged to said capping head (10), according to an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the said capping head (10), through a pivot (43), bearing fixed at one end at least one said capping member (32), and a lever member (39), integral with said arm (38), bearing freely swivelling at one end a roll (40) with axis parallel to the rotation axis of said capping head (10), being said roll (40) suitable to be operated by said control means (41) to operate such overturning of said capping members (32).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (41) comprise a fixed annular cam, adequately obtained on a plate of front closing of a box body (28) suitable to contain said handling means (11).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said handling means (11) comprise a shaft (12) swivelling according to a basically horizontal axis, suitable to be operated in rotation by a mover through a coupling with conical gears (13), a second shaft (14) suitable to be activated in rotation by said shaft (12) through a second coupling with conical gears (15), and a third shaft (17) suitable to receive the motion from said second shaft (14) through a third coupling with conical gears (16), stretching parallel to said shaft (12) and bearing on the opposite side with regards to said third coupling with conical gears (16) said capping head (10), to transmit said rotational motion to said capping head (10) around said basically horizontal axis.
Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said handling means (11) are suitable to transmit to said capping head (10) both said rotational motion around said basically horizontal axis, to cap said containers (2), and an adjustment motion of the vertical height of said capping head (10), according to the size of said containers (2) to be capped.
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said handling means (11) comprise a first shaft (18) coaxially inserted through the interposition of revolving members (19) inside said shaft (12), being said shaft (12) tubular, rotating around an axis basically horizontal through suitable operation means, a second adjustment shaft (21) coupled to said first shaft (18), coaxially inserted inside said second shaft (14), being said second shaft (14) tubular, through the interposition of respective revolving means, a forked body (23), coupled to the said second adjustment shaft (21) through a suitable screw coupling (26), being each tine (25) of the said forked body (23) fixed to a telescopic box body (28) suitable to contain said handling means (11), to operate said adjustment of said vertical height of said capping head (10).
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that inside said capping members (32) and said lever support member (37) at least one groove (44) is obtained, coming out on said seat (36) and inside on a series of canalizations (46) basically radial, which form continuation of each said groove (44) and are suitable to be connected, in suitable phase relation with said collection of each said cap (6) and said capping of a said container (2), with a series of holes (48) made on a front head (49) inside said device, to realize the connection through respective further grooves (47) inside said device to a suction circuit for the gripping of each said cap (6).
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said shaft (12) is operated continuously in rotation.
Device according to claim 9, characterized in that in said lower capping position (32b) said capping members (32) have no relative speed with respect to said container (2) to be capped, in feeding onto said transport line (3), in order to allow the insertion of a respective cap (6) onto the same container (2).
Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said shaft (12) is operated by the same mover suitable to operate the motion of said containers (2) along said transport line (3).
Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said first shaft (18) is suitable to be activated by a mover housed onto said filling machine.