Package making – Closing packages and filled receptacles – Separate closure applying
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-22
2004-01-20
Rada, Rinaldi I. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Closing packages and filled receptacles
Separate closure applying
C053S331500, C053S053000, C053S490000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679026
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to automatic cap-fitting apparatus.
More particularly, the invention relates to a device for checking the fitting of a threaded cap onto a container, the device being associated with automatic cap-fitting apparatus, particularly of the carousel type, including rotatable support means which can move at least one container about a principal axis of the apparatus and at least one screwing head for screwing a cap onto a respective container so as to close the container as a result of its movement about the principal axis, in which each screwing head is arranged to screw a cap onto a container with a predetermined tightening torque.
Automatic cap-fitting apparatus consists of machines which can tighten cape or stoppers onto the mouths of packaging containers, for example, of the type for containing consumable substances such as drinks. Some known types of cap-fitting apparatus for fitting threaded caps perform the operation to fit each cap onto a respective container whilst the container is travelling along a circular path, and these types are therefore generally known as carousel-type cap-fitting apparatus.
A known carousel-type cap-fitting apparatus is shown in appended
FIGS. 1
to
3
which are a general front elevational view of the apparatus, a plan view of the apparatus viewed from the line II—II of
FIG. 1
, and a sectioned side elevational view of a screwing head of the apparatus, respectively.
The cap-fitting apparatus of
FIG. 1
, which is generally indicated
1
, comprises a base
2
on top of which there is a unit
3
, including a rotatable platform
3
a
, for supporting a plurality of containers
5
, for example, bottles. The containers
5
are supplied to the platform
3
a
by means of a conveyor belt
7
of a packaging line (which is not shown since it is of generally known type).
The apparatus
1
further comprises a central pillar
8
which has a principal axis X and is rotated by a drive unit M housed in the base
2
. A plurality of screwing heads
9
(only two of which are visible in
FIG. 1
) are associated with the pillar
8
so as to be movable in the same direction as the platform
3
a
along a circular path concentric with the axis X.
In particular, the heads
9
are movable relative to an upper framework
10
of the apparatus
1
which is connected to the base
2
so as also to be stationary. Associated with the framework
10
is a device
11
for supplying caps
11
a
withdrawn from a store (not shown) to the position in which each cap is to be coupled with a respective container
5
by being screwed thereon.
During the supply of a container
5
to the apparatus
1
, the container is initially disposed on the conveyor belt
7
by which it is brought to the vicinity of a feed screw
13
in order to be engaged by a recess of a star-shaped toothed wheel
15
. The wheel
15
is rotated by a respective shaft
15
a
which is also driven by the drive unit M. The container
5
is then brought to a position in which is engaged by a recess of another star-shaped toothed wheel
17
fixed for rotation with the central pillar
8
and thus rotatable about the axis X, the container
5
being supported on the rotatable platform
3
a
in a manner such that, whilst it follows an arcuate path about the axis X, a screwing head
9
can tighten a cap
11
a
onto the container. U-shaped support brackets
8
a
fixed to the pillar
8
may also be provided for engaging a region close to the mouth of each container
5
and thus holding it firmly in the erect position during the screwing operation. Upon completion of the operation to screw on the cap
11
a
, the container
5
is engaged by another star-shaped toothed wheel
19
, the rotation of which is controlled by a shaft
19
a
driven by the drive unit M, in order to be returned to the conveyor belt
7
, on which the container will continue towards a subsequent station of the line.
With particular reference to
FIG. 3
of the drawings, each screwing head
9
comprises an upper portion
25
and a lower portion
27
. The upper portion
25
has a roller
21
mounted for rotating about a radial axis, relative to the axis X, and slidably engaging a cam track
23
which has a descending portion and an ascending portion, with reference to the axis X, and has a pair of opposed working surfaces. A bush
25
a
fixed for rotation-with the lower portion
27
of the head
9
is suspended on the portion
25
for rotation about an axis perpendicular to that of the roller
21
, by means of a rolling-contact bearing. The portion
27
is substantially sleeve-shaped and has, on an outer surface, a set of axial teeth
29
for engagement by a corresponding set of teeth of a gear
31
. The gear
31
in turn is connected rigidly to another gear
33
, the teeth of which mesh with the corresponding teeth of a ring gear
35
having internal teeth and supported by stationary pillars
10
a
of the upper framework
10
of the apparatus
1
.
As a result of the rotation of the central pillar a of the apparatus
1
, each screwing head
9
thus performs, in addition, to its revolving movement about the axis X, a rotary movement about its own axis with a multiplication factor, relative to the rotation of the pillar
8
, determined by the transmission ratio between the ring gear
35
and the gear
33
, and between the gear
31
and the set of teeth
29
.
A cup-shaped element
37
bearing a ring
37
a
, for example such as an O-ring, for gripping a cap
11
a
to be screwed on is connected to the lower portion
27
of the screwing head
9
. The element
37
is normally connected for rotation with the portion
27
but, by virtue of the presence of a release device of known type, generally indicated
39
, can be released therefrom when a predetermined value of the torque with which a cap
11
a
is tightened onto the respective container
5
is reached. In particular, the device
39
may comprise two mutually facing disk-shaped elements
41
which perform the function of a mechanical, magnetic, or electromagnetic clutch, in known manner. Alternatively, each head
9
may itself comprise a dedicated electric motor (not shown in the drawings) so that the speed of rotation of the head can be varied by control of the intensity of the current supplied to the motor and, in this case, the current can be regulated in a manner such that it becomes zero at a predetermined value of the torque with which a cap
11
a
is tightened onto the respective container
5
.
A thrust rod
43
, arranged coaxially along each head
9
with the ability to slide axially, is mounted by means of a respective revolving-contact bearing so as to be rotatable relative to a supporting portion
43
a
slidable relative to the upper portion
25
of the head
9
. The supporting portion
43
a
has a roller
45
which is rotatable about a radial axis, with reference to the axis X, so as to engage for sliding on a cam surface
47
integral with the cam track
23
. Moreover, a helical spring
49
interposed between the cup-shaped element
37
and an abutment ring fixed to the rod
43
urges the rod towards the cam surface
47
so as to keep the roller
45
in engagement with this surface.
When a cap
11
a
has been screwed onto the respective container
5
by the head
9
, the shape of the cam
23
causes the screwing head
9
to be raised by means of the roller
21
whilst the surface of the cam
47
brings about a downward movement of the thrust rod
43
, by means of the roller
45
, so that, during the downward movement of the thrust rod
43
, its end remote from the portion
43
a
releases the lower cavity of the element
37
from any cap
11
a
remaining associated therewith.
In
FIG. 2
, the operative steps of a head
9
of the apparatus
1
are indicated schematically, purely by way of example, with particular reference to the case of a cap
11
a
having a thread with a single start.
starting from the position bearing the reference
0
, the head
9
, which moves clockwise with, reference to the drawing, moves to the position S (start)
Rada Rinaldi I.
Tran Louis
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