EP2387542B1 - Closure head for container closure machines and container closure machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a capping head for use in container sealing machines for closing bottles or similar containers with closures, for example with screw caps, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a container closing machine for closing bottles or similar containers with such closures according to the preamble of claim 11.

Container closing machines for closing bottles or other containers are known in different designs. In particular, container closure machines are also known for closing bottles or other containers with screw caps. The application of these closures on the container by screwing on an external thread, which is provided in the region of the respective container mouth, by screwing with a closing tool, which is equipped with a recording for the jewelligen closure forming capper head. In detail, the closure of the respective container takes place in such a way that the respective closure is first received in the receptacle of the closing head. Following this, the gripper head is at least frictionally locked, i. held by clamping closure placed on the container opening and then screwed with the order to a Verschließerkopfachse or about an axis of the recording driven capper head on the respective container. In this case, it is not precluded in the case of a non-positive connection that grooves and / or corrugations are provided, which thus make possible at least a partial positive locking by a toothing of the surface contours abutting one another.

With this screwing on, the container lies axially against the capping head or against the closure held in this capping head, i. in the direction of the axis of the recording with a certain compressive force, for example, with a compressive force of 20 kp or about 200N pressed on.

From the WO 2004/009484 A1 and US 2,076,631 B are in principle Verschließköpfe according to the preamble of claim 1, in which three or more segments to hold a Schraubverachluss to be applied clamped.

For a reliable and sufficiently tight closure of the container, it is necessary that the respective container closure sufficiently tight, i. is screwed with sufficient torque on the container to be closed, regardless of tolerances that have the container closures usually especially in relation to the effective outer diameter and can greatly affect the positive connection or the clamp fastening of the respective container closure in the capper. A disadvantage of the known Verschließköpfen is their complex construction, which is difficult to clean, whereby necessary movement of the individual segments affected and the clamping force decreases or can not always be reliably predicted.

The object of the invention is to show a capper head, which ensures reliable closure of bottles or similar containers even with larger tolerances of the container closures. To solve this problem, a capper head according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A container closure machine is the subject of claim 11. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Darstellung eine Behälterverschließmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum Verschließen von Flaschen oder dergleichen Behältern mit Behälterverschlüssen in Form von kappenartigen Schraubverschlüssen;

Fig. 2

in perspektivischer Einzeldarstellung den Verschließerkopf eines Verschließwerkzeugs bzw. Schraubverschließers der Behälterverschließmaschine der Figur 1;

Fig. 3

den Verschließerkopf der Figur 2 in perspektivischer Einzeldarstellung und im Schnitt, zusammen mit einem ebenfalls im Schnitt dargestellten Schraubverschluss;

Fig. 4

den Verschließerkopf im Vertikalschnitt, zusammen mit einer Teildarstellung eines Schraubverschlusses.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a simplified representation of a container sealing machine of a rotating design for closing bottles or similar containers with container closures in the form of cap-like screw caps;

Fig. 2

in a perspective individual view the capper head of a closing tool or Schraubverschließers the container closing the FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 3

the capper head of FIG. 2 in perspective detail view and in section, together with a likewise shown in section screw cap;

Fig. 4

the capper head in vertical section, together with a partial view of a screw cap.

The in the FIG. 1 generally designated 1 Behälterverschließmaschine circumferential design is used for closing bottles 2 with cap-like screw caps 3, each in one piece with a bottom 3.1, with a cap edge 3.2 and with a corrugation 3.2.1 on the cap edge 3.2, for example made of plastic are made. This outer corrugation 3.2.1 is usually suitable for the inner contour 21 of a single head piece sixteenth

The container closing machine 1 consists in the manner known to those skilled in a rotatable about a vertical machine axis MA rotatably rotor 4, on whose circumference a plurality of Verschließpositionen 5 u.a. are each formed with a closing tool 6 in the form of a screw capper and each with a container carrier 7 for hanging support of the respective bottle 2. The closing tools 6 of the closing positions 5 essentially consist of an electromotive drive 8, of a spindle 9 oriented with its axis parallel to the vertical machine axis, which is drivingly connected at its upper end to the drive 8 or to the motor shaft of this drive 8, With this, the respective screw cap 3 is removed at a non-illustrated closure transfer position with circulating rotor 4, then placed by lifting the respective bottle 2 against the capper head 10 on the bottle mouth and then on the from the drive 8 via the spindle rotating about its axis VA driven capper head 10 is screwed onto the bottle in question 2 or on a provided in the area of the bottle mouth external thread, as is also known in the art. Of course, those skilled in the art also central mechanical drives for capper and mechanically derived drives of the spindles 9 are known or devices in which the capper head is lowered onto a standing or suspended bottle.

How the particular Figures 2-4 show, each capper head 10, inter alia, of a bearing element or a Verschließerkopfbasis 11, which is provided at the lower end of the spindle 9 or a spindle portion, in the axial direction of the spindle 9 slidably displaceable, but drivingly connected to the spindle 9. The closure head 10 is fastened with its locking head axis VA coaxially with the spindle axis on the spindle 9.

The capper head base 11 is formed as a molded part of a suitable material, for example, a metallic material integral with an upper, plate-shaped base portion 12 having a substantially square shape in plan view in the illustrated embodiment, and four each at a corner portion of the portion 12 , prepared on a common bottom of the base portion 12 wegstehende corner post 13. The Corner posts 13 are each designed as an angle piece with two legs 13.1 arranged at least with their outer, ie facing away from each other surface planes in planes parallel to the axis VA and perpendicular to the top and bottom of the base portion 12 and also perpendicular to each peripheral side of this base portion 12 are.

The two legs 13.1 of each corner post 13 close at their mutually facing surface sides an angle of 90 ° with each other, which opens to the periphery of the capping head 10 and the Verschließerkopfbasis 11 out. In a variant, not shown, the posts are not designed as an elbow with two legs but as fingers or columns, so that each finger or column serves as a holder and / or storage for one or two joints. The capper head base 11 is further formed in the center of the base portion 12 with an opening 14 which serves to fasten the capping head 10 to the spindle 9 and is provided internally with suitable connecting means, for example with an internal thread. To reinforce the closure head base 11 in the region of the opening 14 of the base portion 12 is integrally formed on its upper side with an opening 14 enclosing annular projection 15.

Each capping head 10 further consists of a sleeve-like head piece 16, which serves for receiving the respective screw cap 3 and for screwing this closure 3 onto the respective bottle 2 to be closed. The sleeve-like head piece 16 is formed in the illustrated embodiment of a total of four segments 17, which complement each other to the sleeve-like head piece 16 and each adjacent surfaces 18 adjoin each other, (surfaces) lie in planes that are radial or substantially to the axis KA the sleeve-like head piece 16 are oriented.

The head piece 16 forms an opening on the inside, which is open at the lower side of the base portion 12, but slightly spaced from this bottom upper end 16.1 of the head piece 16 and also at the base portion 12 remote from the lower end 16.2 of the head piece 16. At least when there is no screw cap 3 in the capping head 10 or in the head piece 16, the segments 17 are in the region of the lower end 16.2 of the head piece 16 with their surfaces 18 against each other, so that the axis formed by the axis of the opening 19 KA of Head 16 is coaxially aligned with the axis VA and the inner surface of the opening 19 in both an upper

Opening portion 19.1, as well as in a lower portion 19.2 circular cylindrical or substantially circular cylindrical shape is formed.

The inner diameter of the opening portion 19.1 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the opening 14 in the illustrated embodiment. The inner diameter of the opening portion 19.2 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the opening portion 19.1. The opening portion 19.2 forms the receptacle 20 for receiving and holding a respective screw cap 3 by clamping. When the head piece 16 is empty, ie if the screw cap 3 in the receptacle 20 is missing, the inside diameter of the opening portion 19.2 is therefore somewhat smaller than the outside diameter of the cap-like screw caps 3.

At the radial surface 21 for the screw caps 3 forming inner surface of the opening portion 19.2 is provided with a corrugation corresponding to the corrugation on the circumference 3.2.1 or 3.2 At the cap edge of the screw 3 so that each recorded in the receptacle 20 screw 3 with his Corrugation 3.2.1 fits into the corrugation of the contact surface 21.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the respective screw cap 3 into the head piece 16 or the receptacle 20, the head piece 16 and the segment 17 forming this head piece are designed at the lower end 16.2 with a rounded end face. Furthermore, at the lower end 16.2, the opening section 19.2 merges into an opening section 19.3 which is somewhat larger in diameter and then forms the lower, open end of the opening 19 or receptacle 20.

Due to the step-shaped transition between the opening portions 19.1 and 19.2, an annular axial bearing surface 22 is formed in the opening 19, against which the respective recorded in the receptacle 20 screw 3 is supported when closing with its bottom 3.1, thereby u.a. a clear axial positioning of each screw 3 in the receptacle 20 is achieved.

The segments 17 are each provided with two over the outer surface of these segments or the head piece 16 wegstehende, ear or lug-like in the illustrated embodiment, holding arms 23, in such a way that the two support arms 23 in an axial direction tangential to the axis KA concentrically enclosing circle line are offset from each other and each support arm 23 is in the region of a surface 18, namely the top 16.1 of the head piece 16 substantially closer than the bottom 16.2 of this head piece. With the help of bearing pin 24, the bearing holes 25 pass through in the support arms 23 and are held at both ends to one of the corner posts 13, the segments 17 are pivotally connected to the Verschließerkopfbasis 11.

In detail, the bearing pins 24 each extend between two corner posts 13 and are aligned with their axis parallel to one side of the substantially square executed base portion 12 of the Verschließerkopfbasis 11 and thus tangent to a the axes VA and KA concentrically enclosing circle, so that the segments 17 are pivotable about the axis of the associated hinge pin 24 at least at the lower end 16.2 of the head piece 16 relative to the axis KA radially outwardly and inwardly. With their sides facing away from each other, the support arms 23 are supported in each case against a leg 13.1 of the relevant corner post 13, so that the segments 17 are held in the axial direction of the hinge pin 24 is not displaceable on the hinge pin 24.

In the region of the lower end 16.2, an axis KA concentrically enclosing annular spring element 26 is provided on the outer surface of the head piece 16, which engages for its axial securing in an annular groove of the outer surface of the head piece 16 and in the illustrated embodiment of an O-ring of a rubber-elastic material is formed. With the spring element 26, the segments 17 are biased radially inwardly relative to the axis KA for clamping the respective screw cap 3 in the receptacle 20.

The segments 17, including their holding arms 23, are ideally each made identically from a suitable material, for example made of metal or a suitable plastic, so that the closing head 10 is mirror-inverted in all planes enclosing the axes VA and KA and oriented perpendicular to the peripheral sides of the closing head base 11 is formed rotationally symmetrical. Of course, non-symmetrical embodiments are conceivable or embodiments in which at least one segment 17 is not stored suspended, but is rigidly connected to the Verschließerkopfbasis 11 in particular the base portion 12.

How the particular FIG. 4 shows, has formed by the respective hinge pin 24 pivot axis of each segment 17 of the axis VA or KA a radial distance X which is greater than the maximum radial distance x, the at Having this segment 17 formed axial contact surface 22 of the axis VA or KA. This means that from compressive forces F, which act on the contact surface 22 via a screw cap 3 received in the receptacle 20, moments M around the axes of the hinge pins 24 result which (moments) in the sense of closing the head piece 16, ie in the sense of Swivel the segments 17 act radially inward, so that the hold of the respective screw cap 3 in the receptacle 20 is further strengthened by clamping.

When receiving the respective screw cap 3, this is opened with easy opening of the head piece 20, i. with slight pivoting of the segments 17 at the lower end 16.2 introduced against the action of the spring element 26 in the receptacle 20 and held in this recording by the action of the spring element 26 by a press fit. By the abutting against the contact surface 22 bottom 3.1 of the screw 3 has in the receptacle 20 a predetermined position, in which this screw with its lower, open edge area protrudes above the bottom 16.2. After placing the screw cap 3 on the mouth region of a bottle 2, the bottle 2 is pressed with the pressure force of, for example, 20 kp or about 200N against the screw cap 3, so that by this pressure force over each segment 17 an additional radial clamping force on the in the receptacle 20th absorbed closure 3 is exercised. The size of the clamping force results from the pressure force and the transmission ratio of the lever arms a and A.

Here, the lever arm a is the mean effective distance of the axial bearing surface 22 from the axis of the associated hinge pin 24 and the lever arm A, the average effective distance of the radial bearing surface 21 from the axis of this bearing pin 24th

It is therefore possible, depending on the individual Verschließaufgabe and required Verschließkraft to adjust the clamping force by changing the lever arms or the Hebelarmverhältnisses a to A and / or y to Y in the desired manner or to vary.

After screwing the screw cap 3 on the relevant bottle 2 can be eliminated by eliminating the pressure force and the additional clamping force due to the lowering of the bottle 2 of the capper head 10 and / or by raising the capper head 10 of the bottle 2 of the capper head 10 easily be separated from the screwed onto the bottle 2 screw 3.

As the FIG. 4 Also, the distance Y of each hinge pin 24 from a reference plane BE enclosing the open side of the receptacle 2 and oriented perpendicular to the axis KA is greater than the distance y of the axial abutment surface 22 from this reference plane BE.

In particular, by the arrangement of the pivot pins formed by the bearing pin 24 of the segments 17 with respect to the axial bearing surface 22, the Verschlleßerkopf 10 thus, inter alia, the advantage that a reliable clamping of the respective screw 3 by the additional radial clamping force even with larger tolerances of the Diameter of the screw caps 3 is reached. Such tolerances are caused, for example, by a shrinkage of plastics screw closures 3 and / or by a thickness which is difficult or impossible to control in terms of thickness or which is difficult to control on the screw caps 3.

In a variant, not shown, it is provided that the hinge pin 24 lie in a plane that intersects the segments 17 in the middle or below the middle and this plane is perpendicular to the axis KA. In such a case, it may be advantageous that, instead of the spring element 26 attached to the segments 17 from the outside at the lower end, one or more expanding spring elements are arranged at the upper end. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in some such embodiments, some of the lever arm ratios described above reverse according to the desired force action or must be adjusted accordingly.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea underlying the invention.

It has heretofore been assumed that the head piece 16 has a total of four movable segments 17, which are pivotally provided on the capper head base 11. The number of movable segments 17 may also deviate from this. Thus, for example, two or three or more than four segments 17 may be provided, which then in each case, for example, in a common plane arranged axes are tangential to the Verschließerkopfachse VA concentrically surrounding imaginary circular line are pivotable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Behälterverschließmaschine

2

bottle

3

cap-like screw cap

3.1

Bottom of the screw cap

3.2

Cap edge of the screw cap

3.2.1

knurl

4

rotor

5

closing position

6

A closure

7

container carrier

8th

drive

9

spindle

10

capper

11

Verschließerkopfbasis

12

base section

13

corner posts

13.1

leg

14

fastening opening

15

ring-like projection

16

headpiece

16.1

Top of the head piece 16

16.2

Bottom of the head pieces

17

Segment of the head piece 16

18

area

19

Headpiece opening

19.1 - 19.3

opening section

20

admission

21

Radial contact surface with corrugation

22

axial contact surface

23

holding arm

24

hinge pins

25

bearing bore

26

spring element

a, A

lever arm

x, X

radial distance

y, y

axial distance

M

moment

BE

reference plane

KA

Axis of the head piece 16

VA

Axle of the capper head 10

Claims (12)

1. Closure head for container closure machines (1) for closing bottles or similar containers (2) with closures (3), having a head part (16), having a receptacle (20) formed on the head part and open on the underside of the closure head (10) and of the head part (16) for one closure (3) in each case, wherein the receptacle (20) forms at least one radial and at least one axial abutment surface (21, 22) relative to an axis (KA) of the receptacle (20) for the respective closure (3) held in the receptacle (20), and wherein the radial abutment surface (21) for at least force-fit retention of the closure (3) in the receptacle (20) is formed at least partially by at least one displaceable segment (17) which is displaceable at least radially to the axis (KA) of the receptacle at least in the region of the radial abutment surface (21), wherein the axial abutment surface (22) is provided at least partially on the at least one displaceable segment (17), and the at least one displaceable segment (17) is guided or mounted on a closure head base (11) such that a pressure force exerted on the axial abutment surface (22) causes a clamping force of the displaceable segment (17) acting radially inwards in relation to the axis (KA) of the receptacle (20),
   characterised in that
   the closure head has at least two segments (17) which supplement each other into a sleeve-like head part (16) with a sleeve opening (19) which is open on a head part underside (18.2) and on a head part top side (18.1), that the receptacle (20) for the at least one closure (3) is formed by an opening portion (19.2) of the sleeve opening (19) which has an enlarged cross-section and is adjacent to an opening portion (19.1) with reduced cross-section towards the upper end (16.1) of the head part (16), and that the radial abutment surface (21) is formed by the inner face of the opening portion (19.2) with larger cross-section and the axial abutment surface (22) is formed by a stepped transition between the first and the second opening portions (19.2; 19.1), wherein the at least one displaceable segment (17) is held on the closure head base (11) about at least one pivot axis (24) vertical to the axis (KA) of the receptacle (20), and wherein the pivot axis (24) of the at least one displaceable segment (17) has a radial spacing (X) from the axis (KA) of the receptacle (20) which is greater than the radial spacing (x) of the axial abutment surface (22) from this axis (KA).
2. Closure head according to claim 1, characterized in that the head part (16) consists of at least two, preferably at least three displaceable segments (17) forming the receptacle (20).
3. Closure head according to claim 1, characterized in that the head part (16) consists of at least four displaceable segments (17).
4. Closure head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one displaceable segment (17) has at least one, preferably at least two holder arms (23) which are spaced apart from each other and stand away from the outer face of the segment (17), and by means of which the segment (17) is held pivotably on the closure head base (11).
5. Closure head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure head base (11) has a base portion (12) which can be fixed to the closure tool (6), and at least two bearing elements (13) which protrude over an underside of the base portion (12) facing the head part and between which the at least one displaceable segment (17) is held pivotably.
6. Closure head according to claim 5, characterized in that the base segment (12) is formed with several bearing elements (13) which are each provided distributed in the same radial spacing from the axis (KA) of the receptacle (20) at even angular distances about this axis, and that at least one displaceable segment (17) is held pivotably between two adjacent bearing portions of bearing elements (13) in each case.
7. Closure head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of several displaceable segments (17), these are formed identically and/or that the closure head (10) including its base element (11) and head part (16) is formed mirror-symmetrical to at least one plane enclosing the axis (KA) of the receptacle (20).
8. Closure head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one displaceable segment (17) is pretensioned by spring means (26) in the radially inner position.
9. Closure head according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring means (26) is mounted or acts in a forcing fashion on the at least one displaceable segment (17) in the vicinity of the underside (16.2) of the head part (16), and in particular the spring means (26) is an O-ring.
10. Closure head according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring means (26) is arranged in the vicinity of the top side (16.1) of the head part (16) and is applied or acts in a spreading fashion on the at least one displaceable segment (17).
11. Container closure machine for closing bottles or similar containers (2) with closures, for example with screw closures (3), having one or more closure positions (5), each of which has at least one closing tool (6) with a closure head (10) forming a receptacle (20) for one closure (3) in each case, characterized in that the closure head is formed according to any one of the preceding claims.
12. Container closure machine according to claim 11, characterized in that several closing positions (5) are provided formed on a rotor (4) which can be driven in circulation about a vertical machine axis (MA), each of which positions has at least one closing tool (6) with a closure head (10) forming a receptacle (20) for one closure (3) in each case, which closure head is formed according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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