DE102022130799A1 - Closing device for closing containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device (1) of a rotating design for closing containers (20). The closing device (1) comprises a plurality of closing stations (3) for closing the containers (20). Each closing station (3) has at least one closing element (4) that can be lowered and raised and at least one support device (5) provided below the respective closing element (4) for hanging a respective container (20) on its neck ring (21) or mouth. Each support device (5) comprises at least a first and a second support segment (6, 7), wherein the two support segments (6, 7) can be pivoted at least from an open position (P1) into a closed position (P2) for supporting the container (20). The first support segment (6) can be pivoted about a first vertical axis of rotation (DA1) and the second support segment (7) can be pivoted about a second vertical axis of rotation (DA2). Each support segment (6, 7) has a support section (8, 8') equipped with a respective anti-twist device (9) for supporting the neck ring (21) or the mouth of the respective container (20), wherein the support sections (8, 8') of the support segments (6, 7) together form a support surface supporting the container (20) in the closed position (P2).

Description

The invention relates to a closing device of a rotating design for closing containers, in particular bottles, such as beverage bottles.

Container treatment machines in the form of closing devices for closing containers are well known in the art in various designs and are also referred to as container closing machines or closers. Such closers are used in particular in beverage filling plants in order to close the beverage bottles filled with the respective filling product, e.g. a respective beverage, with a corresponding closure. For example, the closers are arranged in the immediate vicinity of a corresponding filling station or filling machine, in particular in its direct connection, so that the freshly filled containers can be closed immediately after filling.

In particular, rotating closure devices are known in which several container closure positions or closure positions are formed on the circumference of a rotor driven to rotate around a vertical machine axis or central axis. The closure positions are generally evenly distributed over the circumference of the rotor. Each closure position is assigned a closure element, which can also be understood as a closure tool or closure stamp.

Closing devices of the type mentioned can be designed to close bottles or other containers with crown caps or other caps or lids, but can also be designed as so-called screw cappers and configured to close the beverage bottles, for example, with a screw cap or screw lid.

When closing bottles or containers with screw caps or screw cap closures, the respective closure is applied, for example, using a closure tool or closure cone, which can be driven in rotation by a drive to apply the closure to the bottle or to screw it on. It is important that the bottle in question is secured against rotating with the closure cone during the screwing process, i.e. is held in a rotationally fixed manner.

In the case of bottles held in a suspended position, which are held, for example, on a bottle-side flange or neck ring provided below the bottle opening, on corresponding holding elements or bottle carriers, it is known, for example, to equip the holding elements or bottle carriers with fixing means, for example spikes or the like, to secure the bottles against rotation during the closing or screwing process, which are pressed against the underside of the flange of the respective bottle and thereby prevent rotation during closing.

Such fixing means, in particular tips, are also referred to as spikes in specialist circles. Such holding elements or bottle carriers equipped with such spikes are then often also understood as spike elements or spike carriers or spike plates. A rotating closing machine of the type mentioned, designed for closing bottles with screw caps, having corresponding, fork-shaped bottle carriers with spikes, is known, for example, from EN 10 2004 059 478 A1 known.

In the known rotary cappers that use such spikes to absorb the torques that occur during the capping process, the spike elements or spike supports or spike plates can, due to their design, only encompass a relatively small area of the circumference in the neck section of the bottles, i.e. a relatively small circumferential angle range of a bottle neck or neck area below the bottle opening. Typically, a maximum of half the neck circumference can be achieved here, so that the bottles cannot be held sufficiently securely by the spike elements or spike supports or spike plates against tipping and a damaging tilt of the bottles cannot be reliably prevented in order to effectively avoid capping errors or incorrect closures.

In conventional closing devices of the type mentioned, it is therefore necessary to additionally support the bottle neck area or the neck area with a fixed outer guide that is located radially outward in relation to the machine axis. This outer guide comes into supporting engagement with the bottle neck area or the neck area from the outside facing away from the machine axis.

In order to keep the resulting friction losses, harmful grinding effects and the like to a minimum, the support surface provided for supporting this external guide must be as small as possible, which in turn reduces the supporting and guiding effect and thus has further negative effects on the production operation and production safety. In addition, the height of the support surface of the outer guide must be precisely aligned with the height of the spikes in order to hold the bottle in the straight vertical orientation required for closing, which involves considerable effort and requires a high level of precision and a lot of time from the operating personnel, especially because this exact height adjustment must be ensured over the entire rotation angle range of the machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide a closing device for closing containers which allows a secure holding of the containers during the closing process in a simplified manner while at the same time improving centering.

This object is achieved by a closing device of a rotating design according to the features of independent patent claim 1. The dependent patent claims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

The present invention provides a rotating closure device for closing containers, in particular drinks bottles. The closure device has a motor-driven rotor that rotates around a vertical center axis of the closure device and has several closure stations arranged on the circumference of the rotor for closing the containers. Each closure station has at least one closing element that can be lowered and raised and at least one support device provided in the vertical direction below the respective closure element for hanging a respective container on its neck ring or mouth. Each support device comprises at least a first support segment and a second support segment, wherein the two support segments are arranged to be movable relative to one another and can be moved at least from an open position to a closed position to support the container. The first support segment can be pivoted about a first vertical axis of rotation and the second support segment can be pivoted about a second vertical axis of rotation. The support segments can be moved between the open position and the closed position by pivoting about their respective axes of rotation, and each support segment has a support section equipped with a respective anti-twist device for supporting the neck ring or the mouth of the respective container. In the closed position, the support sections of the support segments together form a support surface that supports the container.

In the present case, a container is understood to mean bottles in particular, for example drinks bottles, whereby the containers, in particular the drinks bottles, in the present scope are preferably made of plastic, in particular PET. Such bottles have, for example, a mouth or bottle mouth provided with a mouth opening, which is arranged in a bottle neck area or in a neck or mouth section of the bottles. In this bottle neck area or neck or mouth section, which in the present case can also be referred to as a neck or neck area or neck section or neck section, a flange, preferably a neck ring or support ring, which can also be referred to as a neck ring, is often provided. In the present sense, however, the bottles can also be designed without a neck ring or support ring, i.e. as neck ring-less or support ring-less bottles. Bottles without a support ring can, for example, be held hanging via rib-like, shoulder-like or other projecting projections that are usually present in the neck area of such bottles, for example as so-called locking rings.

Preferably, the bottles in the present understanding are bottles which are to be closed with a screw cap closure and for this purpose have an external thread on their neck or mouth section which is provided on the bottle side and adjoins the mouth opening downwards on the outside, onto which a screw cap closure with its internal internal thread can be screwed on by screwing or tightening.

The support segments of the support device can also be referred to as cooperating holding elements or holding segments or support elements or support segments. The support segments can also be understood as cooperating support arms, gripping arms or clamp arms, or as respective legs or segments of a gripper or a clamp. Each support segment provides a support section which comes into contact from below against a section of the support ring or neck ring of a bottle, or in the case of bottles without a neck ring against a corresponding projection in the neck area of the bottle, for supporting support or holding. The support sections of both support segments together form the support surface, which is preferably an overall flat surface that is horizontally aligned straight in the horizontal direction. Each support section of a support segment therefore forms part of the support surface, namely a partial support surface.

With the closure device according to the invention, the containers, in particular bottles, such as drinks bottles, can be held or supported, in particular grasped, over a significantly larger area of their circumference in the neck or mouth section of the bottles compared to the prior art. This means that the closure device enables the bottle to be held or supported or grasped or wrapped over a wide circumferential angle range of its bottle neck or neck circumference. Each of the support segments, which can be pivoted relative to one another, grasps a partial area or section of the circumference in the neck or neck area of the bottle, with the two partial areas grasped by each support segment combining or adding up to form the entire “grasping area”. The entire “grasping area” or the total grasped angle range extends significantly beyond half the neck circumference of the bottles. Preferably, the bottles can be encompassed over at least 180°, preferably over at least 210° and particularly preferably over approximately 240° of their bottle neck or neck circumference, with the partial areas encompassed by the respective support segments being essentially opposite one another in relation to the bottle. This leads to increased support stability and security as well as to improved correct alignment and centering of the container.

As a result, each container is held securely during the closing process, particularly when screwing on screw caps, in such a way that the container is centered in relation to the support device and the closing element during the entire closing process, in such a way that a precise position of the container in a coaxial alignment with the closing element is established and maintained for the duration of the closing process. With the present closing device, the container, in particular the bottle, can therefore be held in a precise vertical orientation and at the same time centered in relation to the closing element in order to ensure error-free closing of the container, in particular a jam-free screwing on of the screw cap.

The present closing device according to the invention thus has the advantage that a radially external, external guide, as has been mandatory in conventional closing devices to date, can be completely dispensed with and, as a result, the laborious and labor-intensive height adjustment of such an external guide required in this case can also be completely eliminated.

During the closing process, the present closing device advantageously means that there is no longer any relative movement of the neck ring against a fixed guide, which effectively prevents disruptive friction and grinding phenomena. In conventional closing machines known from the prior art, such friction and grinding phenomena often lead to deformations in the bottle neck area, particularly in the neck ring, due to material heating, which in turn causes the bottle held in the bottle neck area, particularly on the neck ring, to tip or become skewed and the screw cap closure can no longer be screwed on correctly, which leads to closing errors. The closing device according to the invention therefore makes a particularly advantageous contribution to significantly improving process reliability during closing.

The two interacting support segments ensure that the containers are held securely, with the two interacting support segments being precisely and highly accurately aligned in their relative position to one another, such that the support surface formed by the support sections is a flat surface that is aligned horizontally. As a result, the neck ring of the container rests straight, even and symmetrically on the support surface formed by the support sections without any further action. This means that the present closing device does not require any complex height adjustment of guides or other components.

With the present closing device, the containers are not only held securely and at the same time aligned exactly straight with respect to a vertical orientation, but are also particularly secured against rotation, namely secured against rotation about a container vertical axis and thus against rotation with a closing tool of the closing element, due to the anti-twisting device provided on each support section of the support segments.

Due to the ability of the support segments to pivot relative to one another, the containers can also be centered better and more precisely in a simple manner with the present closing device, since the support segments, along with their pivoting movement into the closed position, almost automatically force the respective container into its centered position. The container can essentially be held between the support segments by clamping it, since the ability of the support segments to pivot makes it possible to optimally adapt the support sections in shape and size to the neck diameter of the container. The latter is possible in particular because, in the open position of the support segments, the containers can be easily and unhindered inserted between the support sections or support segments, even when the support sections are precisely adapted to the neck diameter.

In particular, the adaptation of the size and shape relates to a recess preferably formed in the support segments for partially receiving the neck or mouth section of the respective container. The receiving recesses of the interacting support segments form the receptacle for the neck or mouth section, which can be adapted exactly to the neck diameter of the container.

In this case, an anti-twist device is understood to mean means that are provided in the area of the support sections of the respective support segments and can prevent the container from rotating with the rotational movement of a closing tool. In particular, this means that the anti-twist device counteracts the torque exerted on the container by the screwing process or that the torque is "absorbed" or "intercepted". For example, the anti-twist device comes into effective engagement with the neck ring or support ring of the bottle from below or, in the case of bottles without a neck ring, with a corresponding projection in the neck area. The anti-twist device can, for example, be designed in the form of prongs, tips, pins, claws, spikes, etc. provided on the surface of the support sections of the respective support segments and projecting upwards. The anti-twist device can also be referred to synonymously as an anti-twist device or an anti-twist device.

In the present case, the closing device is preferably designed as a screw cap. Alternatively, however, the closing device can be configured differently and, for example, be designed as an insert cap cap or a slip cap cap.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support segments in the closed position together form a multi-part spike plate that supports the respective container in a torsion-proof manner. Each support segment essentially provides a part of the spike plate. Due to the arrangement of the support segments in relation to one another as described above and their interaction, the multi-part spike plate in this embodiment is a particularly flat, horizontally straight oriented multi-part spike plate, the individual parts or plate parts of which are particularly precisely and evenly aligned with one another.

Furthermore, the anti-twisting device of the support sections is preferably formed by projections arranged on the top of the respective support section, wherein the projections are arranged at predetermined, in particular equidistant distances from one another and/or in a predetermined, in particular uniform, distribution pattern on each of the support sections. As long as it is ensured that the projections forming individual support points for the neck ring or locking ring of a bottle are distributed, in particular evenly distributed, in such a way that the neck ring (or locking ring) and thus the bottle are supported in a straight line, different arrangements for the projections can be selected. For example, the projections can be arranged in a row one behind the other, in particular along a curve, preferably in the shape of a circular arc. However, it is also conceivable that the projections are arranged in a grid or matrix-like manner or in a disordered/random manner. In any case, there is preferably a minimum number of projections so that sufficient anti-twisting protection is always guaranteed. The projections are also preferably provided in a “minimum distribution density”.

Particularly preferably, the support section of each support segment is provided with at least three projections. Depending on the type and geometric configuration of the projections, four, five, six or more projections can be provided per support segment.

Preferably, the first and second axes of rotation of the support segments extend parallel to a vertical main axis of the support device, wherein according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the axes of rotation of the support segments run together with the vertical main axis of the support device in a common vertical plane. In particular, each of the two non-coincident axes of rotation also runs parallel to the central axis of the closing device, wherein the central axis of the closing device runs at a distance and in particular parallel to the said vertical plane in which the axes of rotation and the main axis of the support device are accommodated.

The appropriate arrangement and orientation of the two axes of rotation ensures in particular that a respective container in the open position of the support segments can be easily and unhindered or without chicaneries, i.e. without spatial or mechanical obstructions or obstacles, inserted between the support segments. brought, in particular pushed or introduced. Along with the pivoting movement of the support segments into the closed position, the respective introduced container is then automatically correctly aligned and centered and in particular held closed or clamped.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the respective support section of each support segment is designed to partially encompass a neck or mouth section of the respective container and the support segments thereby form cooperating gripping elements with their support sections.

Furthermore, the support section of each support segment preferably has a circular arc-shaped inner contour for partially receiving a neck or mouth section of the respective container. In particular, each support section extends with its inner contour over an angle of at least 90°, preferably over an angle of at least 110° and preferably over an angle of 120° or approximately 120° or at least 120°.

The inner contour thus essentially forms a boundary of the recess formed in the support segments for partially receiving the neck or mouth section, namely a receiving recess. In the closed position of the support segments, the neck or mouth section of a held container is partially received in the receiving recesses of the two support segments. The receiving recesses of the interacting support segments therefore form the receptacle for the neck or mouth section, so that it is encompassed over an overall angular circumference range that results from the sum of the angles of the inner contour of the support sections of both support segments. In the preferred embodiments mentioned above, the support sections of the support segments thus encompass the neck or mouth section of the respective container over at least half, preferably over at least 60% and particularly preferably over two thirds or at least two thirds of their neck circumference.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present closing device, the respective support section of each support segment extends from a first free end of the support segment to an opposite second free end of the support segment. This further improves the particularly secure, stable support and holding of the bottles.

The support segments are particularly preferably configured and designed such that the respective axis of rotation of a support segment is arranged relative to the first and second free ends of the respective support segment such that the axis of rotation and the respective free ends of each support segment describe corner points of a triangle, in particular an isosceles triangle. In this particularly preferred embodiment, the support segments can also be formed by flat, essentially triangularly rounded surface elements, which essentially have a concavely inwardly curved side, which forms a base opposite the triangle legs of the triangle and provides the receiving recess for partially receiving the neck or mouth section. Of course, the support segments can also be formed by flat, essentially partially ring-shaped surface elements, which are pivotably mounted, for example, by means of corresponding extensions, in particular bearing sections.

In the closed position of the support segments, for example, the first free end of each support segment faces the vertical center axis of the closing device and forms an inner end. In particular, the respective first free ends of the support segments face each other in the open position. In particular, the respective first free ends of the support segments are aligned with each other in such a way that the first free ends of the support segments in the open position come to lie on a straight line defined by the axes of rotation. This makes it even easier to insert the containers between the support segments in a simple, obstacle-free or barrier-free manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the support segments are spring-loaded and in particular are forced into the open position by spring loading. As a result, the support segments of the support device are available in a ready-to-receive state, which also makes it easier to insert the containers between the support segments and in particular is possible without time delays, so that the process flow is improved overall.

Preferably, the support segments can be pivoted passively from their open position into the closed position, in particular passively pivoted by inserting or pushing a container between the support segments. In this variant, the support segments can be pivoted, for example, by a pressure exerted by the container moved between the support segments. As a result, For example, it is advantageous to dispense with a separate, active drive for pivoting the support segments from the open to the closed position.

Furthermore, a locking device is preferably provided for each support device, via which the support segments of the respective support device can be locked in their closed position. This can effectively prevent unwanted, accidental or premature opening of the support segments, namely pivoting from the closed to the open position, thus avoiding disruptions in the process flow.

The locking device is particularly preferably formed by at least one movable locking bolt. This can be moved from at least one rest position to a blocking position and blocks the pivoting movement of the support segments in the blocking position. In particular, the locking bolt can be raised and lowered and can be moved between the rest position and the blocking position by vertical lifting and lowering movements. The movement of the locking bolt from its rest position to its blocking position can, for example, be carried out via a mechanism provided for this purpose. The movement from the rest position to the blocking position can also be understood as a feed movement or delivery of the locking bolt, so that in the present case the mechanism provided for this movement can also be referred to as a feed mechanism. It is conceivable to provide a special and separately set up and designed, preferably automatically operated or operated mechanism or feed mechanism for each locking bolt, which brings about the movement or feed movement. However, it is also conceivable to carry out the movement or feed movement of the locking bolt indirectly via other components, parts or machine elements that are movably arranged on the closing station.

Furthermore, the locking bolt preferably engages in the locking position between the first free ends of the support segments arranged in their closed position.

Particular advantages arise from the fact that the locking device is coupled to the closing element arranged vertically above the respective support device. In this way, it is advantageous to dispense with a separate movement mechanism or feed mechanism for the locking device, since, for example, the locking can be effected, ensured or activated at the same time as the lowering movement of the closing element required to close the container.

Particularly preferably, the closing device has no supporting external guide or supporting external guide for the containers, so that in the closing device the respective container is supported or held at its neck or mouth section only by the two support segments of the support device. The term "supporting external guide" or "supporting external guide" refers here to a guide device that supports a container from the outside during the closing process, namely from a side that is radially outside in relation to the central axis of the closing device, that is, from the outside in relation to the radial direction of the closing device.

It is understood that the containers in the present closing device can preferably be additionally supported or supported on the bottom side, for example by height-adjustable container supports, in particular by truncated cone-shaped bottle pockets.

The expression “substantially” or “approximately” means, in the sense of the invention, deviations from the respective exact value of up to +/- 10%, preferably up to +/- 5%, and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and from the figures.

• 1 grob schematisch und stark vereinfacht ausschnittsweise dargestellt eine Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Verschließvorrichtung mit einem an einer Verschließstation gehaltenen Behälter;
• 2a und 2b in stark vereinfachter und grob schematischer Darstellung, in einer jeweiligen Draufsicht eine Ausführungsform einer bei der vorliegenden Verschließvorrichtung vorgesehenen Tragvorrichtung in zwei Stellungen, und zwar in geöffneter Position (2a) und in geschlossener Position (2b) ihrer Tragsegmente;
• 3 grob skizziert in seitlicher Ansicht einen Hals- bzw. Mündungsabschnitt eines von Tragsegmenten der Tragvorrichtung hängend gehaltenen Behälters;
• 4 grob skizziert einen von Tragsegmenten der Tragvorrichtung hängend gehaltenen Behälter in einer Ansicht von der radial außen liegenden Seite der Verschließvorrichtung her;
• 5 in stark vereinfachter und grob schematischer Darstellung, in einer Draufsicht eine alternative Ausführungsform einer bei der vorliegenden Verschließvorrichtung vorgesehenen Tragvorrichtung und
• 6 in stark vereinfachter und grob schematischer Darstellung, in einer Draufsicht eine noch weitere Ausführungsform einer bei der vorliegenden Verschließvorrichtung vorgesehenen Tragvorrichtung mit Verriegelungseinrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show:

• 1 A roughly schematic and highly simplified detail of an embodiment of the present closing device with a container held at a closing station;
• 2a and 2 B in a highly simplified and roughly schematic representation, in a respective top view, an embodiment of a carrying device provided in the present locking device in two positions, namely in the open position ( 2a) and in closed position ( 2 B) their supporting segments;
• 3 roughly sketched in side view a neck or mouth section of a container held suspended from support segments of the support device;
• 4 roughly sketched a container suspended from support segments of the support device in a view from the radially outer side of the closing device;
• 5 in a highly simplified and roughly schematic representation, in a plan view, an alternative embodiment of a support device provided in the present closing device and
• 6 in a highly simplified and roughly schematic representation, in a plan view, a still further embodiment of a carrying device with locking device provided in the present closing device.

Identical reference symbols are used in the figures for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. The invention is shown in the figures only as a schematic view to explain the mode of operation. In particular, the representations in the figures only serve to explain the basic principle of the invention. For reasons of clarity, all components of the device have not been shown.

The 1 The closing device designated with the reference number 1 serves to close containers 20 filled with filling material, in particular to close beverage bottles 20 filled with a beverage, and thus finds its use in the beverage industry, for example in a beverage filling plant. The 1 The closing device 1, which is shown only in part and in a highly simplified manner, is designed in particular for closing the beverage bottles 20 with a screw closure or with a screw lid, namely as a screw capper.

In the examples shown in the figures, the containers 20 to be closed are each beverage bottles 20 with screw cap closures, wherein the beverage bottles 20 have in their neck or mouth section 22 an external thread provided on the bottle side, in the area of their mouth, which can also be referred to as the bottle mouth, adjoining the mouth opening on the outside, onto which a screw cap closure with its internal internal thread can be screwed by screwing or tightening.

The drinks bottles 20 in the exemplary representations of the figures are designed as plastic bottles, in particular PET bottles. In particular, the drinks bottles 20 shown as examples have a neck ring 21 in their neck or mouth section 22, which can preferably be designed as a so-called support ring or neck ring. Of course, the drinks bottles 20 can also be so-called neck ring-less or support ring-less drinks bottles 20. Such neck ring-less drinks bottles 20 can also be treated, in particular closed, in the present closing device 1 and held hanging at their mouth, in particular in the area of their mouth or in their neck or mouth section 22.

The present closing device 1 can, for example, be integrated into a beverage filling plant and can be arranged downstream of a filling machine not described in detail within the scope of the present invention and not shown in the figures, so that the freshly filled beverage bottles 20 can also be closed immediately after they have been filled.

At the 1 The closing device 1 shown as an example and only partially shown is a closing device 1 of a rotating design which, in a known manner, has a motor-driven rotor 2 which rotates around a vertical central axis MA of the closing device 1. On the circumference of the rotor 2, several closing stations 3 are provided for closing the containers 20 and are evenly distributed over the circumference of the rotor 2. The closing stations 3 can also be understood as closing positions and referred to synonymously as such.

Each closing station 3 has at least one closing element 4 that can be lowered and raised. The closing element 4 of each closing station 3 can be a closing tool attached to a shaft or a closing cone attached to the shaft, wherein, for example, a drive can also be provided for each closing station 3, via which the respective shaft can be driven, so that the closing tool or the closing cone can also be driven in rotation for screwing the screw cap onto the container 20.

In the vertical direction below the respective closing element 4 of each closing station 3, a support device 5 is provided for hanging a respective container 20 on its neck ring 21 or mouth. The support device 5 has a vertical main axis HA, which extends parallel or essentially parallel to the vertical center axis MA of the closing device 1. Each support device 5 comprises at least a first support segment 6 and a second support segment 7 (in 1 not visible, see 2a , 2 B , 5 and 6 ), whereby the two supporting elements 6, 7 for holding a respective container 20 in a suspended manner, at least partially engaging the neck or mouth section 22 thereof. The two support segments 6, 7 of the support device 5 are arranged to be movable relative to one another and can be moved at least from an open position P1 (see e.g. 2a) movable into a closed position P2 for hanging and supporting the container 20.

In the presentation of the 1 the two support segments 6, 7 are in the closed position P2, in which the container 20 is suspended from the support segments 6, 7, supported by them, in particular supporting, secure and in particular rotationally secure.

In the 1 In the position shown of a container 20, in which it is held by the support segments 6, 7 of the support device 5, a vertical axis of the container 20 runs coaxially with the vertical main axis HA of the support device 5, i.e. the container 20 is centered in relation to the support device 5. Furthermore, the closing element 4 arranged vertically above the support device 5 is coaxial with the support device 5. In other words, the support device 5 and the closing element 4 of each closing station 3 are arranged coaxially and centered relative to one another, wherein a container 20 held hanging by the support segments 6, 7 located in the closed position P2 is also centered and coaxial with the main axis HA of the support device 5.

With reference to the 2a and 2 B The support device 5 and the support segments 6, 7 are now described in more detail. The first support segment 6 can be pivoted about a first vertical axis of rotation DA1, wherein the first vertical axis of rotation DA1 runs parallel or substantially parallel to the main axis HA of the support device 5. The second support segment 7 can be pivoted about a second vertical axis of rotation DA2, wherein the second vertical axis of rotation DA2 runs parallel or substantially parallel to the main axis HA of the support device 5. Thus, the first and second axes of rotation DA1, DA2 also run parallel or substantially parallel to one another. The two axes of rotation DA1, DA2 are in particular spaced apart from one another and run together with the vertical main axis HA of the support device 8 in a common vertical plane Ev (cf. 4 , where the vertical plane Ev is the plane of the 4 corresponds).

The two support segments 6, 7 are pivoted about their respective axes of rotation DA1, DA2 between the open position P1 (according to 2a) and the closed position P2 (according to 2 B) movable. Although not shown in detail in the figures, the support segments 6, 7 are preferably spring-loaded and are forced into the open position P1 in particular by the spring load or due to the spring load.

The pivoting of the support segments 6, 7 from their open position P1 into the closed position P2 can, for example, be done passively, namely by inserting a respective container 20 between the support segments 6, 7. The container 20 is pushed between the support segments 6, 7 against the spring load or in a way that counteracts the spring load. The container 20 is pushed between the support segments 6, 7 from a side of the support device 5 facing away from the vertical center axis MA of the closing device 1. On this side of the support device 5 facing away from the vertical center axis MA of the closing device 1, in the case of each support segment 6, 7, a respective second free end 13, 13` is arranged, which is opposite a respective first free end 12, 12`. The container 20 is thus pushed between the support segments 6, 7 from the second free ends 13, 13`.

Each support segment 6, 7 has a support section 8, 8' equipped with a respective anti-twist device 9 for supporting the neck ring 21 or an area of the mouth of the respective container 20. In the example shown, the respective support section 8, 8' of each support segment 6, 7 extends from the first free end 12, 12' to the opposite second free end 13, 13' of the support segment 6, 7. In the closed position P2, the support sections 8, 8' of the two support segments 6, 7 together form a support surface supporting the container 20.

In the embodiment shown as an example, the support sections 8, 8' of the support segments 6, 7 in the closed position P2 together form a multi-part spike plate that supports the respective container 20 in a torsion-proof manner. The torsion-proof device 9 is formed by projections 10 arranged on the upper side of the respective support section 8, 8' of each support segment 6, 7, wherein the projections 10, which in the example of the 2a , 2 B are provided in a number of three each, arranged at predetermined, in particular equidistant, distances from one another.

The anti-twisting device 9 in the form of projections 10, which can also be referred to as spikes in the present case, is with reference to the 3 described in more detail below. The projections 10 forming the anti-twist device 9 are protruding upwards on the surface of the support sections 8, 8' of the support segments 6, 7. The projections 10 are essentially designed as projections 10 tapering upwards from the surface and provide tips which engage from below into corresponding bottle-side elements in the area of the neck or mouth section 22, for example in the support ring 21, or "pierce" there or are pressed into it over a predetermined amount. Due to this engagement of the projections 10 in the support ring 21, namely due to this interaction of the projections 10 with the material of the support ring 21, the bottle is prevented from rotating with the rotatingly driven closing tool of the closing element 4.

The support sections 8, 8' of the support segments 6, 7 are each designed to partially encompass an area in the neck or mouth section 22 of the respective container 20, preferably in such a way that the support segments 6, 7 form gripping elements that interact with their support sections 8, 8'. The support section 8, 8' of each support segment 6, 7 has a circular arc-shaped inner contour 11 for partially receiving the neck or mouth section 22 of the respective container 20. If the support segments 6, 7 are in the closed position P2 and carry or hold a container 20, the inner contour 11 rests against corresponding outer surface or peripheral surface sections of the neck or mouth section 22 of the container 20, as can be seen, for example, from the 2a in which the neck or mouth portion 22 of a received container is indicated by dashed lines.

In the example shown, the 2a , 2 B each support section 8, 8` extends with its inner contour 11 over an angle α of approximately 120°. As can be seen from 2 B As can be seen, the angle α can also be understood in the present case as the central angle in relation to the main axis HA of the support device 5 when the support segments 6, 7 are arranged in the closed position P2. By means of the interacting support sections 8, 8` of the two support segments 6, 7, the container 20 or its neck or mouth section 22 is therefore encompassed over a total of approximately two thirds of its circumference. This means in particular that approximately two thirds of the circumference are in contact with the support sections 8, 8' or that approximately two thirds of the circumference of the support ring 21 rests on the support sections 8, 8`.

As from 3 , especially in conjunction with 4 , which once again shows the container 20 suspended from the support device 5 in a view from the radially outer side of the closing device 1, the support sections 8, 8' of the support segments 6, 7 - as well as the projections 10 due to their arrangement and distribution - extend from the respective first free end 12, 12' of the support segments 6, 7 to the respective second free end 13, 13', which faces away from the central axis MA of the closing device 1. Only a small portion of the outward-facing circumference of the neck or mouth section 22 of the container is not encompassed or supported by the support sections 8, 8' of the support segments 6, 7 and remains free. In the example shown, this free area is limited to an area with a circumferential angle of only approximately 60°.

As can be seen from the 2a , 2 B , 5 and 6 As can be seen, the support segments 6, 7 are configured and designed such that the first and second free ends 12, 12', 13, 13` of a respective support segment 6, 7 are arranged relative to the respective associated axis of rotation DA1, DA2 of the support segment 6, 7 such that the respective axis of rotation DA1, DA2 and the respective free ends 12, 12', 13, 13` of each support segment 6, 7 describe corner points of an imaginary triangle, in particular an isosceles triangle.

In the case of the first support segment 6, a triangle can be defined by imaginary connecting lines between the axis of rotation DA1 and the free ends 12, 13 and in the case of the second support segment 7, a triangle can be defined by imaginary connecting lines between the axis of rotation DA2 and the free ends 12', 13`. In the examples according to the 2a , 2 B and 6 the support segments 6, 7 are formed by flat, essentially partially ring-shaped surface elements, which are equipped with corresponding extensions 16, 16` for pivotable mounting, which can also be understood as bearing elements or bearing sections. In the case of the alternative embodiment according to 5 the support segments 6, 7 are formed by flat, essentially triangularly rounded surface elements with a rounded inner contour 11, the basic shape of which is reminiscent of the shape of a boomerang in the broadest sense. The rounding of the surface element is designed as an essentially concave curvature on the triangle base opposite the leg of the imaginary triangle.

In all examples shown of the 2a , 2 B , 5 and 6 In the closed position P2 of the support segments 6, 7, the first free end 12, 12' of each support segment 6, 7 faces the vertical center axis MA of the closing device 1 and forms an inner end. In the open position P1, the respective first free ends 12, 12' of the support segments 6, 7 face each other and are in particular aligned with each other in such a way that is arranged so that the first free ends 12, 12` of the support segments 6, 7 lie approximately on a straight line defined by the rotation axes DA1, DA2.

In all embodiments shown, it applies equally that no supports or supporting external guides for the containers 20 are provided on the outer side or outside opposite the machine axis MA of the closing device 1.

6 shows a preferred embodiment in which a locking device 14 is provided for each support device 5, which is formed by a movable locking bolt 15 and by means of which the support segments 6, 7 of the support device 5 can be locked in their closed position P2. The locking device 14, which in the example shown is the 6 formed by the locking bolt 15, can be moved from at least one rest position, in which the locking bolt 15 is disengaged from the support segments 6, 7, into a blocking position, in which the locking bolt 15 is in engagement with the support segments 6, 7 and blocks the pivoting movement of the support segments 6, 7. In the example of the 6 the locking bolt 15 engages in the locking position between the first free ends 12, 12` of the support segments 6, 7 arranged in their closed position P2.

The locking bolt 15 is designed to be movable in lifting and lowering and can be moved between its rest position and the locking position by vertical lifting and lowering movements. The locking bolt 15 is coupled to the locking element 4 arranged vertically above the respective support device 5, as is also shown by way of example and roughly schematically in 1 for the locking device 14 shown there. For example, the locking bolt 15 is coupled to the locking element 4 via an arm, in particular a holding arm or feed arm, so that the locking bolt 15 is raised and lowered with or via the locking element 4 and as a result, for example, a separate drive for the lifting and lowering movement of the locking device 14 or the locking bolt 15 can be dispensed with.

List of reference symbols

1

Closing device

2

rotor

3

Closing station

4

Closing element

5

Carrying device

6

first supporting segment

7

second supporting segment

8, 8`

Support section

9

Anti-twist device

10

Projections

11

Inner contour

12, 12`

first free end of the support segments

13, 13`

second free end of the support segments

14

Locking device

15

Locking bolt

16, 16`

Extensions

20

Container, beverage bottle

21

Collar

22

Neck or mouth section

DA1

first vertical axis of rotation

DA2

second vertical axis of rotation

Ev

vertical plane

HA

Main axis of the support device

MA

vertical center axis

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102004059478 A1 [0007]

Claims (18)

Closing device (1) of a rotating design for closing containers (20), in particular drinks bottles, comprising a motor-driven rotor (2) rotating around a vertical central axis (MA) of the closing device (1) with a plurality of closing stations (3) arranged on the circumference of the rotor (2) for closing the containers (20), each closing station (3) having at least one closing element (4) that can be lowered and raised and at least one support device (5) provided in the vertical direction below the respective closing element (4) for hanging a respective container (20) on its neck ring (21) or mouth, each support device (5) comprising at least a first support segment (6) and a second support segment (7), the two support segments (6, 7) being arranged to be movable relative to one another and being movable at least from an open position (P1) into a closed position (P2) for supporting the container (20), characterized in that the first support segment (6) can be pivoted about a first vertical axis of rotation (DA1) and the second support segment (7) can be pivoted about a second vertical axis of rotation (DA2), and the support segments (6, 7) can be moved between the open position (P1) and the closed position (P2) by pivoting about their respective axes of rotation (DA1, DA2), and that each support segment (6, 7) has a support section (8, 8') equipped with a respective anti-twist device (9) for supporting the neck ring (21) or the mouth of the respective container (20), wherein the support sections (8, 8') of the support segments (6, 7) together form a support surface supporting the container (20) in the closed position (P2). Closing device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support sections (8, 8') of the support segments (6, 7) in the closed position (P2) together form a multi-part spike plate which supports the respective container (20) in a torsion-proof manner. Closing device according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the anti-twisting device (9) of the support sections (8, 8') is formed by projections (10) arranged on the upper side of the respective support section (8, 8'), wherein the projections (10) are arranged at predetermined, in particular equidistant distances from one another and/or in a predetermined distribution pattern on each of the support sections (8, 8'). Closing device according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the support section (8, 8') of each support segment (6, 7) is equipped with at least three projections (10). Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second axes of rotation (DA1, DA2) of the support segments (6, 7) extend parallel to a vertical main axis (HA) of the support device (5). Closing device according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the axes of rotation (DA1, DA2) of the support segments (6, 7) together with the vertical main axis (HA) of the support device (8) run in a common vertical plane (Ev). Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective support section (8, 8') of each support segment (6, 7) is designed to partially encompass a neck or mouth section of the respective container (20) and the support segments (6, 7) with their support sections (8, 8') thereby form cooperating gripping elements. Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support section (8, 8') of each support segment (6, 7) has a circular arc-shaped inner contour (11) for partially receiving a neck or mouth section of the respective container (20), each support section (8, 8') extending with its inner contour (11) over an angle (α) of at least 90°, preferably over an angle (α) of at least 110° and preferably over an angle (α) of 120° or approximately 120°. Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective support section (8, 8') of each support segment (6, 7) extends from a first free end (12, 12') of the support segment (6, 7) to an opposite second free end (13, 13') of the support segment (6, 7). Closing device according to Claim 9 , characterized in that in the closed position (P2) of the support segments (6, 7) the first free end (12, 12') of each support segment (6, 7) faces the vertical central axis (MA) of the closing device (1) and forms an inner end. Closing device according to Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that the respective first free ends (12, 12') of the support segments (6, 7) face each other in the open position (P1), in particular are aligned with each other in such a way are arranged such that the first free ends (12, 12') of the support segments (6, 7) lie on a straight line defined by the axes of rotation (DA1, DA2). Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support segments (6, 7) are spring-loaded and are forced into the open position (P1) in particular by spring loading. Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support segments (6, 7) can be pivoted passively from their open position (P1) into the closed position (P2) by inserting a container (20). Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking device (14) is provided for each support device (5), via which the support segments (6, 7) of the respective support device (5) can be locked in their closed position (P2). Closing device according to Claim 14 , characterized in that the locking device (14) is formed by at least one movable locking bolt (15) which is movable from at least one rest position into a locking position and blocks the pivoting movement of the support segments (6, 7) in the locking position, wherein the locking bolt (15) is in particular movable in a lifting and lowering manner and is movable between the rest position and the locking position by vertical lifting and lowering movement. Closing device according to Claim 8 and 15 , characterized in that the locking bolt (15) engages in the locking position between the first free ends (12, 12') of the support segments (6, 7) arranged in their closed position (P2). Closing device according to one of the Claims 14 until 16 , characterized in that the locking device (14) is coupled to the closing element (4) arranged in the vertical direction above the respective support device (5). Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing device has no supporting external guide for the containers (20), so that in the closing device the respective container (20) is supported or held at its neck or mouth section only by the two support segments (6, 7) of the support device (5).

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