EP2576417B1 - Magnetic cap ejector in a capper - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for closing containers with closure or screw caps according to the preamble of claim 1, which has an ejector having an operative element, which returns an ejection element from an ejection position to an initial position.

The DE 202 18 523 U1 For example, discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1 for closing containers, namely bottles with closure or screw caps, for example with internal thread, so that the screw caps are screwed onto the bottle. To close the upright bottles are handed over by a conveyor via a bottle inlet of the device forming inlet star in each case successively to one of the closing positions. The sealed containers or bottles are removed via a discharge star the Verschließpositionen and discharged through a feed dog. Each container or each bottle and thus each bottle holder performs with rotating rotor from a controlled vertical lifting movement so that each screw head received at a transfer position in each case a screw cap, then the mouth of the bottle is moved against the screw cap, and there by turning a Spindle is screwed around the spindle axis and tightened with a predetermined torque. As the DE 202 18 523 U1 discloses the transfer position is provided in the direction of rotation of the rotor between the outlet star and the inlet star. The transfer position, the screw or caps are fed via a feed from a magazine in the required orientation and preferably in one-lane series close together. In practice, it has been found that not all recorded screw or closure caps are recycled or stuck, so that a arranged on a height-adjustable support rod ejector is provided for the unused or stuck screw or cap. The ejector itself is mounted vertically movable on a screw shaft, and can against the force of an active element, which in the DE 202 18 523 U1 is designed as a spring, by an ejector rod, which is appropriately height-adjustable together with the bottle holder, are driven down to remove the screw, so that a Auswerferfinger acts against the screw or cap and this removes the unused screw or cap removed , The ejector is against the force of the active element, that is, due to spring force from the ejection position is returned to the starting position.

Also the DE 102 55 196 A1 discloses a device for closing vessels, which also has an ejector with a designed as a spring active element.

The DE 10 2006 035 279 A1 and the DE 100 56 990 A1 each describe a capping machine, wherein the problem of unused or stuck closure or screw caps is not discussed in each case.

Basically, the sealing machines disclosed in the cited prior art have proven themselves in practice. However, the design of the ejector with its mechanical active element can be improved. For example, the acting as a spring active element is subject to considerable wear, so that with increasing operating time spring damage can occur. However, an exchange of the active element or the spring is extremely complicated and time-consuming not only from the confined space conditions, but also due to the complicated structure of the entire system, which must be executed with his individual components adapted to the other component and mounted. It is also disadvantageous that soiling can settle especially in interstices or in niches in the spring area. In particular, in beverage technology plants so germs can occur that significantly affect the quality of the filled in the bottles or containers in the goods, if not even completely inedible or unusable, so that a considerable committee could arise.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to improve a device for closing containers with closure or screw caps, in particular their ejector with simple means so that the ejection element from its Austossposition be returned to its original position while avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a device for closing containers with closure or screw caps having the features of claim 1, wherein the active element is designed as a magnetic element.

It is expedient in the context of the invention, when the active element has a permanent magnet, which is arranged in a housing relatively movable to this, wherein at least one disposed in the axial direction arranged wall portion of the housing is magnetizable. In this respect, it is advantageously provided that the active element is formed from the permanent magnet in cooperation with the magnetizable wall portion of the housing. It is essential that while avoiding a mechanically acting active element to retrieve the ejection element act in its initial position magnetic forces.

Conveniently, the permanent magnet is designed as a diametrically magnetized bar magnet, so designed as seen in cross-section round bar magnet whose magnetization passes through the diameter, with the north and south poles are opposite as half shells.

It is favorable if the active element or its permanent magnet is arranged in a sleeve which has at its two ends, that is to say on its head side and its opposite foot side, a closure element, for example in the embodiment as a cap. The closure elements can be connected to the connection to the sleeve to this cohesively. Conceivable is an adhesive bond or a welded joint. The sleeve and caps may be formed of a plastic, and completely enclose the permanent magnet so that the permanent magnet is completely hermetically sealed from the environment when completely enclosed.

The permanent magnet can be inserted with its head-side end or with its head-side cap in the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the housing is open at the foot. At its foot, the housing in a favorable embodiment has a threaded portion for connection to a capper head. At the threaded portion of the magnetizable wall portion of the housing connects, which merges into a head part. The housing has a through-hole, which has a guide portion, a guide portion and an actuating portion. The guide section extends from the foot-side opening in the direction of the head part and merges into the guide section, which has a reduced clear diameter with respect to the guide section. At the guide portion of the actuating portion connects, which initially with a running out tapered transition region merges into a cylindrically executed area. In the cylindrical portion engages a plunger, which is in communication with a force introduction element, which is guided in a slotted guide on the head side of the housing. For example, an ejector control rod acts in a known manner on the force introduction element. It is useful if the plunger is adapted with its outer diameter to the head side arranged cylindrical portion of the through hole, wherein the outer diameter may be dimensioned slightly smaller than the clear diameter of the cylindrical portion.

The permanent magnet is accommodated in the housing in such a way that, in its starting position, it protrudes from the housing on the foot side, and slightly engages in the guide section on the head side. When viewed in the circumferential direction, the permanent magnet covered by the sleeve is designed with a smaller outside diameter than the respective clear diameter of both the guide section and the guide section.

The Austosselement is connected to the foot-side cap of the permanent magnet in conjunction, in which a favorable manner a receiving bore for receiving a corresponding receiving portion of the ejection element is arranged.

Now, if the force introduction element along the Auswerfersteuerstange along the housing moves towards the foot, the plunger causes a longitudinal movement of the permanent magnet received in the sleeve relative to the housing preferably relative to the guide portion, and at the same time relative to the magnetizable wall portion of the housing and is thereby partially from moved out of the housing. In this case, the permanent magnet is moved out with its head end from the guide section. An axial displacement, ie the transfer from the initial position in the direction of or to the ejection position of the ejection element is preferably adapted to a screw or cap height.

The magnetizable wall portion extends favorably from the head part in the direction of the threaded portion or to the threaded portion and includes the guide portion, and a portion of the guide portion of the through hole.

If the Austosselement removed the unused or stuck screw or cap, the Austosselement is returned by the magnetic force which is caused by the magnetic element (permanent magnet / magnetizable wall portion), in the starting position.

It is expediently provided that the magnetizable wall section consists of a magnet, preferably of a magnetizable material, more preferably of a magnetizable stainless steel, e.g. formed with the material number 1.4112.

Fig. 1

einen Ausstosser in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 1a

den Ausstosser aus Figur 1 in einem Längsschnitt,

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der Kopfseite des Ausstossers aus Figur 1,

Fig. 3

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt des X-Bereiches aus Figur 1a, und

Fig.4

einen Querschnitt durch den Ausstoßer entlang der Linie Y aus Figur 1 a.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims and the following description of the figures. Show it

Fig. 1

a blower in a side view,

Fig. 1a

the ejector FIG. 1 in a longitudinal section,

Fig. 2

an enlarged section of the head of the ejector FIG. 1 .

Fig. 3

an enlarged section of the X-range FIG. 1a , and

Figure 4

a cross section through the ejector along the line Y from FIG. 1 a.

In the different figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals, which is why these are usually described only once.

FIG. 1 shows an ejector 1 of a device, not shown, for closing containers with closure or screw caps. Such devices are for example from the DE 202 18 523 U1 known, which will not be discussed further here and on supplies of closure or screw caps. By means of the ejector 1 unused or stuck closure or screw caps can be removed from a capping head, also not shown.

The ejector 1 has an active element 2, which returns an ejection element 3 from an ejection position to an initial position, not shown. The active element 2 is advantageously designed as a magnetic (active) element 2, and has a permanent magnet 5 and a magnetizable wall portion 6 of a housing 7.

The housing 7 has a foot side 8 and a head side 9 opposite thereto. From the foot 8, a threaded portion 10 extends in the direction of the head side 9. At the threaded portion 10, the magnetizable wall portion 6 connects, to which a head portion 11 connects.

Between the threaded portion 10 and the magnetizable wall portion 6 by way of example a groove 12 is arranged. Both sections 10 and 6 have, for example, approximately the same axial extension or length. Between the magnetizable wall portion 6 and the head part 11, a step 13 is arranged by way of example.

In the housing 7, a through-side open through hole 14 is arranged, which hineinerstreckt from the foot 8 in the head part 11.

The through hole 14 is staged with a guide portion 15, a guide portion 16 and an actuating portion 17 executed as FIG. 1 a is to be taken.

The guide section 15 extends from the foot 8 through the threaded portion 10 in the magnetizable wall portion 6 into and ends viewed in the longitudinal direction slightly in front of the head part 11. At the guide portion 15, the guide portion 16 connects, which with respect to the guide portion 15 a reduced clear Diameter, so that in the transition from the guide portion 15 to the guide portion 16, a step is formed ( FIG. 2 ).

The guide section 16 has, relative to the guide section 15, a smaller axial length, which of course should only be by way of example. The guide section 16 extends by way of example only through the magnetizable wall section 6 ends at the transition to the head part 11 (FIG. FIG. 2 ).

The actuating portion 17 extends through the head part 11 and has two areas 18 and 19. A transition region 18 adjoins the guide section 16 and is conically tapered. At the transition region 18, a cylindrical region 19 connects.

The permanent magnet 5 is exemplified as a diametrically magnetized bar magnet. The two poles are in the FIGS. 1 a and 4 marked with N and S. In this case, the permanent magnet 5 is comprised by a sleeve 20, on which closure elements 21 and 22 in the exemplary embodiment as the foot cap 21 and as the head cap 22 are arranged on both the head side and the foot side.

The sleeve 20 and the caps 21 and 22 may be made of a plastic, and are connected together. For example, a cohesive connection in the embodiment can be selected as an adhesive or welded connection. The plastic coating of the permanent magnet 5 may e.g. have a corrosion-protective function.

Like that Figures 1 and 1a can be removed, the permanent magnet 5 is received with this comprehensive sleeve 20 relatively movable to the housing 7 in this.

The permanent magnet 5 has, together with the comprehensive sleeve 20 has an outer diameter which is smaller than the clear diameter of both the guide portion 15 and the guide portion 16. Exemplary is in FIG. 4 an annular gap 23 between the outer circumference of the shell 20 with the permanent magnet 5 disposed therein and the magnetizable wall portion 6 along the line Y, that is shown in the region of the guide portion 15.

With the head-side cap 22 is an unillustrated plunger in conjunction. The plunger is connected to a force introduction element, not shown, on which an ejector control rod, not shown, acts. The plunger extends through the actuating portion 17 in the direction of the head-side cap 22. In this respect, the head-side cap 22 can be regarded as a kind of buffer element, which avoids direct contact of plunger and permanent magnet 5. The head-side cap 22 can also be considered as a guide element within the guide portion 16.

In the head part 11, an axial guide slot 24 is arranged, which guides the force introduction element in the longitudinal direction of the housing 7. Due to the selected view, only a lower portion of the guide slot 24 can be seen, wherein an upper portion is not shown. Opposite to the recognizable in the plane of the drawing guide slot 24 and the recognizable guide slot 24, a further guide slot is provided, which is also fully closed. The force introduction element and the plunger arranged thereon are thus positively guided on the housing 7 on diametrically opposite guide slots.

At the permanent magnet 5, the Austosselement 3 is arranged, which can be referred to as Austossfinger. The Austosselement 3 is held by way of example in an arranged in the foot-side cap 21 receiving bore 25 with a receiving portion 26 adapted thereto positionally secure. It is conceivable to arrange a thread on the receiving region 26 in order to produce a screw connection, it being possible for an abutment flange to be arranged on the receiving region, which can abut against an end face of the cap 21. The Austosselement 3 acts on the unused or stuck closure or screw cap so that it pushed out of the capper head, i. Will get removed.

The permanent magnet 5 is received in the housing 7 and movable relative to this or movable.

The housing 7 is connected with its threaded portion 10 with the capper head, through which the Austosselement 3 and the Austossfinger same axis passes. Now, if the force introduction element is actuated via the ejector control rod, the plunger acts on the head-side cap 22, that the permanent magnet 5 is displaced along its longitudinal axis in the direction of the foot 8 relative to the magnetizable wall portion 6 of the housing 7, which also connected to the permanent magnet 5 Austosselement 3 is moved to the Austossposition shown in the figures.

Due to the magnetic force, which is generated by the magnetic element 2, that is, by cooperation of the permanent magnet 5 with the magnetic wall portion 6, the permanent magnet 5 and thus the Austosselement 3 is retrieved to an initial position, not shown.

It is apparent that the invention can be dispensed with mechanical active elements, such as springs, which are subject to great wear and are prone to failure. In addition, no feather fins are formed in which dirt can accumulate. It is possible that on the foot side of the housing 7 sealing elements are arranged, which seal the annular gap 23.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

ejector

2

magnetic (active) element

3

Austosselement

5

permanent magnet

6

magnetizable wall section

7

casing

8th

foot side

9

head

10

threaded portion

11

headboard

12

groove

13

step

14

Through Hole

15

guide section

16

guide section

17

actuating section

18

Transition area

19

cylindrical area

20

shell

21

foot cap

22

head cap

23

annular gap

24

guide slot

25

location hole

26

reception area

Claims (8)

1. Device for sealing containers using sealing caps or screw caps, comprising an ejector (1) which has a functional element (2) that returns an ejecting element (3) from an ejection position (4) to an initial position, characterised in that the functional element (2) is designed as a magnetic element.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the functional element (2) has a permanent magnet (5) which is received in a magnetizable wall section (6) of a housing (7) so as to be capable of moving relative thereto.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the functional element (2) has a permanent magnet (5) and a magnetizable wall section (6) of a housing (7).
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the functional element (2) has a permanent magnet (5) designed as a diametrically magnetized bar magnet.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the functional element (2) has a permanent magnet (5) received in a sleeve (20) that has sealing elements (21, 22).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims and claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the housing (7) is open at the foot end and has a through-hole (14).
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims and claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the housing (7) in the foot region thereof has a threaded portion (10) adjoined by a magnetizable wall section (6) on which a head section (11) is arranged.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the threaded portion (10) is formed from a magnetisable material.

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