EP0058121B1 - Encapsulating machine for gas bottles or similar containers - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

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

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

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

FR-A-2049426 describes a machine for orienting the filling valve of a gas cylinder using an air jet system.

FR-A-2 147 351 describes a machine for screwing and unscrewing safety caps from gas cylinders, which includes a valve orientation device. More particularly, on a support movable vertically and in rotation there is provided a feeler which acts by its beak on a pneumatic contact which stops the downward movement of the support, a feeler constituted by the rod of a jack coming into punctual contact with the tap tubing and a screwing device. This machine corresponds to the preamble of claim 1.

FR-A-1 458 363 describes a device for presenting bottles to a mobile filling assembly comprising a valve nose orientation mechanism.

BE-A-687 264 describes a method and an installation for filling cylinders with liquid gas in the form of pressure in which there is a device for orienting the tubing or spout always in the same direction. The axial centering of the cylinder is carried out using arms fitted with wheels and a roller which presses against the cylinder body and makes it rotate using a motor. The orientation of the faucet tubing is carried out using three feelers distributed at 90 ° and being able to pivot autor of horizontal axes under the action of jacks so that their spouts bear either against the faucet barrel or against the tubing; depending on their positions, these probes control, using valves and cams a motor to bring the tubing to the required position.

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

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

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

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

Regarding the bottle body:

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

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

Regarding the tap:

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

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

Regarding the bottle assembly:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The invention therefore relates to a machine for capping gas cylinders, or similar containers, according to claim 1.

According to preferred embodiments of the machine of the invention:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• - la face plane supérieure de la collerette 6 de bouteille,
• - la surface circonscrite au filetage extérieur 9 du nez 8 du robinet de bouteille, et
• - les deux faces du carré 3 du robinet qui sont parallélles à l'axe y-y du nez 8.

According to the invention, the following process has been adopted: the bottle held in the locking vise of the orientation device is grasped and its transfer is carried out as far as the capping station and, during this transfer movement , appropriate means are used to ensure the adaptation of the height of the crimping head to that of the tap nose, the centering of the axis of the crimping head on the tap nose and the automatic feeding of the capsule on the corresponding nose, these different means operating on the aforementioned reference surfaces which exist on the bottle, namely in the case of the capping machine:

• - the upper flat face of the bottle flange 6,
• the surface circumscribed by the external thread 9 of the nose 8 of the bottle tap, and
• - the two faces of the square 3 of the tap which are parallel to the axis yy of the nose 8.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We will first describe the means of adapting the height of the line of action of the capping device to the height of the nose 8 of the bottle valve. These means comprise two vertical flanges 10, 10 ′, which are fixed on the support PA in positions symmetrical with respect to the axis XX of the conveyor line and which are provided with bevelled edges 10a, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 In addition, there is provided on the flange 10, located on the side of the tap nose, a plate 11 fixed perpendicular to the flange in an orientation parallel to the horizontal plane of the conveyor T. In FIG. 2, the adjustment process is shown diagrammatically. of height of the capping device TC using the support PA which intervenes by means of the flanges 10, 10 ′. The transfer distance between the blocking vise EC ₂ and the mediator plane TC of the capping device has been intentionally increased in order to better show the different phases. In the 8-position ₁ of the gas cylinder, which corresponds to the grip of locking EC _2, the TF transfer mechanism begins its movement to the left, looking at Figure 2, and it does come into contact the cylinder 6 ₁ with the flange 10 at the point designated by a. The transfer mechanism continuing its movement, the bottle raises the flange 10, and consequently all of the support PA and of the capping device TC in correspondence with the curve drawn in ab on the bottle dome. When the point of contact between the bevelled edge 10a and the bottle dome arrives in the vicinity of point b, the support function of the support PA is ensured by the plate 11 which bears by its underside against the surface preferably formed by the upper face of the bottle flange 6. This process corresponds to an approach guide but it is however necessary to place the plate 11 in the appropriate zone and allow it to engage between the flange and the tap nose. In this regard, to take into account the dimensional differences between bottles which result in a variation between four and twenty-one millimeters of the distance separating the base of the tap nose from the upper face of the flange, the leading edge is given. of the collar, considering the line XX of attack of the bottles, a tapered profile, highlighted in Figure 2 and the thickness of the wafer is kept below 4 mm.

After this approach guidance, it is now necessary to carry out a precise adjustment of the height of the support PA and consequently of the capping device TC. This problem is solved by using the reference surface of the nose, i.e. the surface 9 circumscribed by its external thread. To this end, the plate 11 is lifted to apply it against the lower generator of said reference surface 9. This rewashing movement is generated using the jack 12, visible in FIG. 3 and which is articulated at 12a on a bar of the PA pantograph support and at 12b on a bar 13 integral with the gantry 14. This actuation by jack is not however limiting of the invention and any other suitable mechanism could be envisaged, for example a pedal with spring. The plate 11 is now applied by its upper face against the lower generatrix of the surface 9 of the tap nose, it must be immobilized to maintain the capping device TC at the height thus adjusted. This blocking is ensured by means of a brake shown diagrammatically at 15 and acting on one of the bars of the PA support. It should be noted that the position of the capping device on the pantograph is obviously adjusted in height in correspondence with the height position of the plate 11 of the flange 10 so that the application of this plate against the tap nose necessarily places the axis of the capping device at the level of the axis of the tap nose, defined by the line AA in FIG. 2. The height 4h, the capping device of which is raised in the last phase, has also been highlighted in this figure. height adjustment, corresponding to position B ₃ of the bottle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• La bouteille dont le nez 8 a été orienté préalablement et qui est tenue en attente dans l'étau de blocage EC₂, est saisie par les mâchoires du mécanisme de transfert TF et le témoin de présence 32 déclenche le cycle de transfert. Le mécanisme de transfert TF est alors déplacé le long des barres 36, 38 de façon à amener la bouteille dans le plan médiateur Y-Y du poste de capsulage, qui est défini par la fin de course 34. Au cours de ce mouvement de transfert, la bouteille entre en contact par son dôme avec les bord biseautés 10a, 10'a des flasques 10, 10' de sorte que le pantographe PA, et par conséquent le dispositif de capsulage TC, sont relevés en correspondance au trajet défini par a-b sur la figure 2. Au point b la plaquette 11 reprend la fonction d'appui du support PA sur la face supérieur de la collerette 6 et, sous l'action d'un autre témoin de présence, non représenté, le vérin 12 est enclenché de façon à faire pivoter le support PA autor de ses points d'articulation sur le portique 14 afin d'appliquer ainsi la plaquette 11 contre la génératrice inférieure de la surface de référence 9 du nez de collerette.

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

• The bottle whose nose 8 has been oriented beforehand and which is kept on standby in the locking vise EC ₂ , is gripped by the jaws of the transfer mechanism TF and the presence indicator 32 triggers the transfer cycle. The transfer mechanism TF is then moved along the bars 36, 38 so as to bring the bottle into the mediating plane YY of the capping station, which is defined by the end of travel 34. During this transfer movement, the bottle comes into contact by its dome with the bevelled edges 10a, 10'a of the flanges 10, 10 'so that the pantograph PA, and consequently the capping device TC, are raised in correspondence to the path defined by ab in the figure 2. At point b, the plate 11 takes up the support function of the support PA on the upper face of the flange 6 and, under the action of another presence indicator, not shown, the jack 12 is engaged so as to rotate the support PA autor from its articulation points on the gantry 14 so as to apply the plate 11 against the lower generatrix of the reference surface 9 of the flange nose.

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

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

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

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

In the example considered, a pneumatic logic system was adopted to control the sequence of the different operations and pneumatic components were also used to produce the different movements. However, it goes without saying that this design has no limiting effect on the invention and it is possible to envisage the intervention of different systems, in particular electromechanical, hydraulic and electronic or others. Regarding the working rate of the machine, it is possible to cap around 1200 to 1300 bottles per hour.

Claims (14)

1. Capping machine for gas cylinders or similar container which have a valve provided with a square (3) and with an outlet (8) having an external screwthread, and which have first been so oriented in an apparatus disposed upstream that their outlets are always directed in a determined direction, which machine comprises a support and vertical guidance device (PA) on which is mounted a capping device (TC), characterised in that:

- the capping device (TC) comprises means (PS) effecting its centering on the axis (y-y) of the outlet (8) of the valve by acting on the square (3) of the latter, and

- the support and vertical guidance device (PA) comprises means (10, 11, 12, 15) for adapting the height of the line of action of this device to that of the axis (y-y) of the valve outlet, taking as reference a lower generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribing the external screwthread of said outlet (8).

2. Capping machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that said lower generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribing the external screwthread of said outlet (8) is the generatrix situated in the horizontal plane tangent to the bottom of said outlet (8).

3. Capping machine according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said support and vertical guidance device is of the pantograph type (PA).

4. Capping machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a transfer mechanism (TF) is provided which is movable parallel to the direction of displacement (X-X) of the cylinders and which grips the cylinder (B) in order to transfer it to the capping station (ZOY) and to hold it until the commencement of the operation of crimping the cap on the outlet (8).

5. Capping machine according to Claim 4, characterised in that, the cylinder being held waiting in a locking device (EC₂), the transfer mechanism (TF) has a vertical bottle gripping mid-perpendicular plane directed perpendicularly to the direction of displacement (X-X) of the cylinders and displaced from a position of coincidence with the vertical mid-perpendicular plane od said locking device (EC₂) to a position of coincidence with the vertical mid-perpendicular plane (ZOY) of the capping station.

6. Machine according to either of Claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the transfer mechanism (TF) comprises two jaws (29, 30) whose vertical axes are situated in said mid-perpendicular plane and whose gripping action on the body of the cylinder is effected by a jack, these jaws being adapted to slide on bars (36, 38) forming pivots and being directed parallel to the direction (X-X) of displacement of the cylinders for the purpose of effecting the transfer of the cylin- derto the capping station (YOZ).

7. Capping machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, caracterised in that the capping device (TC) comprises a crimping capping head (TS) the final centering of which on the axis (y-y) of the valve outlet (8) is effected with the aid of gripping means (PS) whose line of action coincides with the axis of the crimping head and which consists of clamp jaws (24, 24a) which are applied against two parallel reference faces of said square (3) on the valve.

8. Capping machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said capping device (TC) is mounted on said support and vertical guidance device (PA) with the aid of a frame adapted to slide horizontally in a transverse direction relative to the direction of displacement (X-X) of the cylinders, with the interposition of bearings, particularly of the ball bearing type, on bars fastened to said support and vertical guidance device in order to enable the capping device to absorb transverse positioning differences of the cylinder valves.

9. Capping machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said capping device (TC) is mounted on said support and vertical guidance device (PA) with the aid of an upper pivot directed horizontally and parallel to the direction of displacement (X-X) of the cylinders, this pivot being situated in the mid-perpendicular plane (ZOY) of the capping station and in addition situated at a suitable height for the assembly comprising the capping device and said pivot to operate after the style of a pendulum for the absorption of transverse positioning differences of the cylindervalves.

10. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said means provided on said support and vertical guidance device (PA) for adapting the height of the axis of the capping device (TC) to that of the axis (y-y) of the valve outlet comprise:

- two vertically directed plates (10, 10') connected rigidly to the pantograph and provided with bevelled front edges (10, 10'a) which come into contact with the body of the cylinder in the course of its transfer movement in order to raise the support and vertical guidance device, and

- a small plate (11) fixed perpendicularly on one of said plates (10) and having two horizontal faces, namely lower horizontal face by which said support and vertical guidance device is supported first on the upper horizontal face of the cylinder collar (6) when said bevelled edges (10a, 10'a) come out of contact with the dome of the cylinder, and an upper horizontal face which is then applied, through the action of a system raising and locking said support device, tangentially against said bottom generatrix of the surface (9) circumscribing the external screwthread of the valve outlet (8).

11. Capping machine according to Claim 10, characterised in that said small plate (11) has, viewed in plan, substantially the shape of a rectangle of elongate profile, it is fixed by one of its longer sides on said plate (10), its leading edge, directed towards the incoming cylinders, is provided with a tapered profile, and in addition the thickness of said small plate is slected to be smaller than the minium value of the distance (h) between the horizontal plane tangent to the bottom of the valve outlet (8) and the upper surface of the collar (6).

12. Capping machine according to one of Claims 10 and 11, characterised in that said system for raising and locking said support and vertical guidance device comprises a jack (12) or other similar means connected to said support and vertical guidance device (PA) in such a manner as to raise it in order to apply said small plate (11) against said surface (9) of the valve outlet (9), and a brake (15) effecting the locking of said support and vertical guidance device in this raised position during the capping operation.

13. Capping machine according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that said capping device (TC) cooperates with a spout (16) supplying caps (C), which is connected by its top part to a cap magazine installed in a fixed position, said spout being flexible over its length and ending at the bottom in a dispenser (18) which is fixed on said support and vertical guidance device (PA) and whose outlet is situated on the path followed by the valve outlets (8).

14. Capping machine according to Claim 13, characterised in that said dispenser (18) of the supply spout (16) is directed, relative to the direction (X-X) of displacement of the transfer mechanism by an angle (a) enabling the valve outlet to pick up automatically, as it passes, a cap (C) which is then held in position on the outlet until the crimping station is reached.

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