EP0536460B1

EP0536460B1 - Device for screwing to containers caps or plugs provided with outer knurling by a predetermined, constant driving torque

Info

Publication number: EP0536460B1
Application number: EP19910830419
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Lenzi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-08
Filing date: 1991-10-08
Publication date: 1997-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-08
Also published as: EP0536460A1; DE69126782T2; DE69126782D1

Description

This invention regards a device for screwing to containers caps or plugs provided with outer knurling by a predetermined, constant driving torque. Such devices are shown in WO-A-8602917, GB-A-2111964, GB-A-948351 and FR-A-2166796.
A first subsidiary device intended to be used with particular caps or in case of hard screwing or very light driving torque provides for screwing but not tightening the cap without any limit to the screwing torque, while a set clutch seeks to provide for the final tightenings.
Another device to be interposed between the screwing head and the spindle of the screwer allows the revolutions of the screwing head to be increased with regard to the spindle so that also cappers can be used designed for aluminum caps and not adapted to screw pre-threaded caps.
The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the problem of screwing and tightening pre-threaded caps or plugs to containers by an extremely simple and reliable device according to claim 1 characterized by a very low, constant driving torque (figs. 4, 5).
As known, screwing cappers are generally comprised of a collar support on which the container, e.g. a bottle, is standing with the cap to be screwed resting on its mouth and a motor shaft in line with the cap, which shaft can carry out two motions: a rotary motion and a reciprocal traverse motion covering the distance from the container to which the cap has to be screwed. The device of the invention, also called in the art "screwing head", is placed at the end of the motor shaft of the cappers and provides for the screwing of the cap to the container and then for the tightening thereof. It is self evident that a right and constant torque wrench setting is very important both to assure the hermetic seal of the container and to allow the cap to be easily screwed out.
The device of the present invention provides by an extremely simple means a driving torque which is independent of the speed of rotation of the "screwing head" as the mass of the screwing members to be clamped to the cap when the latter is being tightened is reduced to a minimum so that the kinetic energy of such members would not be transmitted to the cap, in other word the "flywheel" effect is avoided as it will be described with reference to the drawings. The main section of the device in its easiest arrangement is shown in Fig. 1. Main body 1 of the device is connected to the motor shaft of spindle 2 through cover 3; spline shaft 4 is rotatably driven through tabs 5 and pins 6 by main body 1 and can be axially shifted with regard thereto according to the length of grooves 7. The operating portion of spline shaft 4 ends in a flange 4F and a central bell 4C. A socket-carrying central member 8 having an outer flange 8A is provided within said bell and supported by bearings 9 so as to freely rotate with regard to spline shaft 4. Bearings 9 are held by plastic ring 10, while central member 8 is held by screw and washer 11.
Flange 4F carries a set of magnetic elements 13 in a sunburst arrangement facing a similar set of magnetic elements 14, arranged on flange 8A thus forming a magnetic "clutch", the torque of which transmitted thereby can be varied by changing the height of the spacer 15 and the distance between magnetic sets 13 and 14.
Connected to socket-carrying axis 8 is a screwing socket 16 which is thus interchangeable. The interior of screwing socket 16 consists is bell shaped as indicated by 16C fo facilitate the introduction of the cap or plug 17 to be screwed, and a set of inner teeth is disposed in the almost cylindrical seat (16D - see also Fig. 6) which teeth engage outer knurling 17R of the cap when the latter is introduced therein. It is apparent that, if the cap type to be screwed changes it is necessary also to change the screwing socket to assure the compatibility between teeth 16D and knurling 17R.
Bell 18, which is made integral with flange 4F, besides having and aesthetic function, has the function of protecting the interior of the screwing head from the liquids abounding in such operations. Dust covers 19 and 20 have a similar protection function. Springs 21 and 22 placed between head 3 and cup 23, hold spline shaft 4 in its extended position. A grease nipple for the inner lubrication is designed by 24.
In operation, the "screwing head" rotates along with spindle 2 and approaches axially the container with cap 17 resting on the threaded mouth. The arrangement is such that cap 17 is snugly introduced into the "centering bell" 16C during the approaching motion of the screwing head to the container, and the cap is inserted into the toothed seat 16D up to the contact with the screwing socket, whereupon cap 17 pushed against screwing socket 16 causes spline shaft 4 to retract into main body 1 of the head and to press springs 21 and 22. The head remains for a while in such "advanced" position rotating about itself in the screwing direction of the cap. Thus cap 17 is screwed to the container and in such screwing motion it is shifted so that screwing socket 16 and spline shaft 4 under the action of springs 21 and 22 follow the shifting of cap 17.
At the end of the screwing of the cap the resisting moment increases quickly, and as soon as it exceeds the couple of the magnetic clutch, screwing socket 16 and axis 8 stop along with cap 17, while spline shaft 4 carries on rotating along with the "screwing head". After a certain time or a predetermined number of revolutions of spindle 2 the head is moved away from the screwing position to the container by an axial movement, spline shaft 4 carries on rotating until tabs 5 reach the end of grooves 7 and then spline shaft along with screwing socket 16 moves together with the head away from the cap which has been screwed to the container.
In Fig. 2 a very special screwing socket 16 which is a further development of the foregoing socket is shown. It contains internally an accomodation cone 16C but no teeth 16D. Instead of the latter a cylindrical seat is provided with the function of promoting the straightening of cap 17 during the insertion into screwing socket 16.
In such a solution screwing socket 16 serves as guide for cap 17 and as seat for the toothed toroidal member 16TD which is formed of a ring the interior of which is shaped as a truncated cone and formed with teeth for engaging the cap. Such engagement is provided when cap 17 is pressed against the toothing of ring 16TD.
In Figs. 3 and 4 a plan view and an elevation view of the cycloidal gearing-up system are shown, respectively. It is interconnected between motor shaft 2 and the body of the head 1. In practice cover 3 of the above screwing head is removed and a gearing-up system is screwed thereto. Thus bell 32 is rigidly connected to motor shaft 2 and made integral with gear 33. The latter drives gear 34 through two pairs of planetary gears 35 and 36 supported by spider plate 37 which is held against rotation by rod 38. Thus central gear 34 which is integral with the body of head 1 rotates faster than gear 32 and motor shaft 2 in the same direction. The other members, bearings, pins and elastic rings have the evident function of holding the components and avoiding pebbles.
In Fig. 2 a complementary device adapted for particular caps, very light driving torques, and non homagenously screwed caps is shown.
With reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the same components as the preceding Fig. 1 are indicated at the same numerals increased by 100 so that the main body of head 1 of Fig. 1 is indicated at 101 a.s.o., the additional components having progressive numerals.
Such device provides an additional system with several oscillating arms 40 radially extending from screwing socket 116 and hinged to flange 104F by rotation pins 41. The closure and opening of such oscillating arms is controlled by ring 42 connected in turn to body 101 of the head through bell 43.
The closure is caused by the pressure of ring 42 against ball 44 which is exerted when the screwing socket causes spline shaft 104 to retract into the head, while the opening of the oscillating arms is caused by the same ring 42 pushing "lever" 45 of each arm when spline shaft 104 returns to its resting extended position.
Provided on one or more oscillating arms is a tooth 46 "penetrating" room 47 formed in the screwing socket 116 when the arms are in the "closed" position. Such position is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein in the former also the inner teeth of the screwed cap are shown. When arms 40 are in the "opened" position teeth 46 are completely disengaged from rooms 47 as shown in Fig. 5.
Therefore, when the arms are in a closed position screwing socket 116 is rotated by teeth 46 which in turn are made integral with the head and then subjected to a non-limited screwing couple.
When teeth 46 pass through room 47 screwing socket is rotated only by the set clutch.
The arrangement of the system and the relative position of the head with respect to the container (e.g. a bottle) in the screwing position is such that before reaching the end of the screwing of the cap the oscillating arms 40 are being opened and teeth 46 are disengaged from rooms 47. It is now evident that the set clutch can brake by a very low friction amounts.
In Fig. 6 a tooth 48 is shown which can engage an oscillating arm 40 and protects the seal of the cap from injuries during the screwing. The screwing position is shown in Fig. 7. The funnel bell 49 socalled "centering member" has the function of conveying cap 117 into socket 116, is provided with as many rooms as the oscillating arms 40, and is rigidly connected to spline shaft 104 by screws 51. Central bell 104C in which journalling bearings of the central member 108 are housed is now separated from spline shaft 104 by construction reasons but bell flange 104 is rigidly connected thereto by screws 50.

Claims

A device for screwing onto containers threaded caps or plugs provided with outer knurling by a predetermined, constant driving torque comprising in combination: a main body (1) connected to a driving motor shaft (2), a spline shaft (4) sliding lenghtwise within said main body (1) and rotatably driven thereby by means of a pin (6) and tab (5) system that also limits the axial sliding stroke therebetween, at the lower end of which a central bell (4C) is formed having an outer flange (4F), inside which bell a freely rotating member (8) is received having at its lower end an outer flange (8A) facing the outer flange (4F) of said central bell (4C) and a downwardly facing socket (16) provided with a set of internal teeth (16D) firmly engaging the cap to be screwed onto the container, wherein a magnetic clutch member (13,14) acts between said facing flanges (4F and 8A) in order to frictionally transmit the rotational movement of said spline shaft (4) to said central member (8) for screwing said cap onto the container.
The device of claim 1, wherein said magnetic clutch comprises a first set of permanent magnets(13) and a second set of permanent magnets (14) arranged on said facing flanges (4F and 8A), respectively.
The device of Claim 1, wherein the construction of the assembly of freely rotating member (8) with a projecting outer flange (8A) and said set of permanent magnets (14) allows the mass of the assembly to be so reduced that any "flywheel" effect on the cap to be screwed is avoided.
The device of claim 1, wherein a spacer of variable thickness (15) is interposed between said facing flanges (4F and 8A) to allow the distance therebetween to be varied and accordingly, to vary the magnetic friction effect.