EP2736835B1 - Device for closing containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for closing containers according to the preamble of claim 1 and as disclosed in the patent DE 20 2006 003 975 U1 known, with a plurality of circumferentially formed around the vertical axis of the machine rotatable drivable rotor closing stations, each having a capper.

Such devices are according to the DE 10 2007 057 857 A1 as closing machines for closing bottles with screw caps, which are fastened by screwing or screwing on a bottle-side external thread in the area of the bottle mouth, in various embodiments.

Basically, the application of the respective closure with a capper or Verschließkonus in which the bottle closure is held until applied to a bottle, and which is rotatably driven for applying the closure to the bottle or for screwing by a drive.

Throughout the closing process, due to the geometric conditions on a capping machine, it is always necessary to vary the distance between the bottom edge of the capping cone and the top of the bottle mouth, e.g. To compensate for the resulting by the screwing change in the distance. In certain embodiments of known capper this is done by the lower edge of the capping cone remains on a height level, while the container to be closed performs all necessary movements in the height level.

As the DE 10 2007 057 857 A1 further disclosed, have known capping machines, ie screw capper and (Kron) corker on a rotating around a vertical machine axis drivable rotor several Verschließstationen each with a capper and a bottle or container carrier on the rotating rotor controlled by a lift curve up and is moved, for feeding the respective bottle to the closing tool before closing and for separating the sealed bottle from the closing tool.

Also known are closing machines in which containers are closed by means of crown corks. Even with such closing machines, there are changes in the distance, which should also be compensated. This can be done as previously described. Of course, this eliminates a screwing movement of the so-called Verschließstempels.

Accordingly, closing machines whose container carriers are controlled by means of mechanical lifting curves are known. The DE 10 2007 057 857 A1 suggests a practical way to replace such Hubkurvenabtriebe by a controlled and regulated drive.

This proposal of DE 10 2007 057 857 A1 has proven itself in practice that the required height movement was freely programmable designable. For controlled or controlled linear motion, for example, a linear motor can be used.

The invention has for its object to improve a device of the type mentioned using mechanical lift curves.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

Appropriately, for transmitting the vertical movement of the coupling element on the capper tool transmission means or the driver is provided, which has at least one connecting arm, which is arranged on a guide sleeve, wherein the guide sleeve comprises a portion of the capper, or a portion of the shaft or attached to this. This guide sleeve can also be a number of two or more guide rods or the like, and serves, with simultaneous relative change in distance between the drive motor and the closure head, for transmitting rotational power to the closure head. If the capper tool is designed as a rotary closure tool, it must of course be rotatable. It is therefore useful if the guide sleeve is connected via such bearings with the corresponding portion of the capper that both the required height movement and a required rotation of the capper tool is possible.

In the preferred embodiment, it is provided that the capper tool performs the required height movement, wherein the container is held on the container carrier viewed in the vertical direction unchangeable. A possibility not according to the invention would be if the capper tool has a shaft with a fixed shaft part and a movable shaft part, so that a length-variable, for example telescopic, shaft is formed. The motorized rotary drive of the capper tool is thus advantageously mounted invariably in the vertical direction.

In the preferred embodiment, all components rotate with the rotor together about the vertical machine axis. In this respect, the coupling element is purposefully connected to the rotor.

The container carrier can be designed as a support plate, or be arranged on a linear guide, so it is immovably mounted with respect to its altitude. Preferably, the container carrier may be arranged at a free, foot-side end of the linear guide. The linear guide can be provided for guiding the connecting arms of the driver parallel to the vertical machine axis. In this respect, the linear guide can have a dual function. On the one hand, this can lead the connecting arms of the driver in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the linear guide represent the container carrier, which is immovable in the vertical direction.

With the invention it is possible to move only the capper tool, in particular its cone on the movable shaft part in the required height tracking. So can be dispensed with a complicated container tracking. It is also leading that the rotary drive of the capper tool is fixed in the vertical direction, so that in fact only a small number of movable Components are present, so that a maintenance of these few moving components is significantly reduced. Of course, suitable materials may be used, wherein a use of plastics may be preferred, which is a particularly simple and easy to clean design, especially in the food industry.

• Fig. 1 eine nicht erfindungsgemäße einzelne Verschließstation in Seitenansicht als Prinzipskizze,
• Fig. 2 beispielhaft mehrere Kopplungselemente entlang einer beispielhaften Hubkurve in perspektivischer Teilansicht,
• Fig. 3 eine Vergrößerte Darstellung eines Verschließerwerkzeugs gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung mit Antrieb als Schnittzeichnung, und
• Fig. 4 das erfindungsgemäße Verschließerwerkzeug mit Antrieb aus Figur 4 in Seitenansicht.

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

• Fig. 1 a single closing station not according to the invention in side view as a schematic diagram,
• Fig. 2 by way of example several coupling elements along an exemplary lifting curve in a perspective partial view,
• Fig. 3 An enlarged view of a capper tool according to the present invention with drive as a sectional drawing, and
• Fig. 4 the capper tool according to the invention with drive FIG. 4 in side view.

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

FIG. 1 shows a single capper station 1 of a device for closing containers 2. The device may also be referred to as a capping machine. The device has a plurality of closing stations 1 formed on the circumference of a rotor 3 that can be driven in rotation around the vertical machine axis X, each of which has a closing tool 4.

In the illustrated example, the capper tool 4 is displaceable by means of a rotary drive 5 in rotational movements. In this respect shows FIG. 1 an example of a device for closing containers 2 with screw caps.

The container 2 stands on a seen in the height direction, so seen along the vertical machine axis X immovable container carrier 6 in the embodiment as a riot dish. Of course, other container carriers can be used, such as those in which the container is transported hanging. Targeting in the invention, however, is that the container carrier whichever type this is, despite its circulating around the machine axis X motion in its altitude is invariable.

The capper tool 4 has a shaft 7, to which an active section 8 or cone 8 is connected. The cone 8 can hold the screw cap. The shaft 7 is variable in length, for example telescopically with a fixed shaft part 9 and a relative to this movable shaft part 10 executable. The fixed upper shaft part 9 is connected to the rotary drive 5. The movable lower shaft part 10 is connected to the cone 8.

The respective Verschließerstation 1 has a mechanically acting coupling element 11, which is positively driven cam-controlled about the machine axis X and the Verschließerwerkzeug 4 also positively driven entrains via a driver 13 in a required height movement. In this respect, in the invention, a distance compensation of the container 2 to the capper 4 only by a vertical movement of the lower part of the capper 4 and the lower shaft portion 10 with its connected elements.

With the rotor 3 is the rotary drive 5 in conjunction and runs with this. At a connecting device 14 of the rotary drive 5 to the rotor 3, a linear guide 15 is arranged. The linear guide 15 extends from the connecting device 14 oriented in a direction parallel to the vertical machine axis X extending with its free end 16 oriented downward.

At the movable shaft part 10 of the shaft 7 of the driver 13 is provided. The driver 13 has connecting arms 17 and a guide sleeve 18. By way of example, two connecting arms 17 are shown, which should not be limiting. Also conceivable would be a single link 17 or more than two. The connecting arms 17 are attached to one of the coupling element 11, or to the guide rod 22 and the other to the guide sleeve 18, wherein the connecting arms 17 in FIG. 1 are shown interrupted, but of course are continuous. The guide sleeve 18 includes the movable shaft portion 10 of the shaft 7, for example, fully. The guide sleeve 18 can fully closed or partially open. The guide sleeve 18 further has a bearing device 19, which carries out only a translatory movement in addition to the common circulation around the machine axis X and the rotation of the sleeve 18 connected to the guide sleeve 18 and driven thereby enables. Thus, the vertically displaceable shaft part 10 of the shaft 7 can be moved along or parallel to the vertical machine axis X. The movable shaft part 10 of the shaft 7 can also rotate, and accordingly in the direction predetermined by the rotary drive 5 rotation.

Now rotates the coupling element 11 around the machine axis X along the lifting cam 20 (FIG. FIG. 2 ), is necessarily taken over the driver 13, or via its connecting arms 17 and the guide sleeve 18 and the cone 8 by forced driving.

The coupling element 11 has an end-side roller 21 and a guide rod 22 which is mounted in an unrecognizable guide. The coupling element runs along the lifting cam 20 about the machine axis X.

Of course, a Verschließerstation with closure seal as (Kron) corker can be carried out analogously. Of course, the rotary drive would be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows the capper 4 according to the invention with associated rotary drive. 5
The rotary drive 5 is in the embodiment after FIG. 3 fastened with its foot housing 23 to a cover 24, wherein the cover 24 may be referred to as interior ceiling 24. Through the base housing 23, the shaft 7, or its fixed shaft part 9, which is rotatable extends. At the shaft part 9 closes in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the guide sleeve 18, which for example has four linear guides or linear rods 25, of which only two can be seen due to the selected representation. The guide sleeve 18 is connected on the head side to the foot end of the shaft part 9 or the shaft 7. On the foot side, the guide sleeve 18 has a suitable bearing 26. On the head side, the linear rods 25 can be displaced in the axial direction relative to the shaft 7 in the direction of the rotary drive 5. Thus, the guide sleeve 18 is movable relative to the shaft 7 in the axial direction but also in the rotational direction or driven and serves, with simultaneous relative change in distance between the rotary drive 5 and the closure head 8, also for rotational power transmission to the closure head or cone 8. Insofar, the guide sleeve 18 with the storage 26 respectively storage device 19 also has the function of the FIG. 1 taken described movable shaft part 10. The one or more connecting arms 17 may act on the outer periphery of the bearing device 19. The capper tool 4 still has an ejector 12, will not be discussed in detail.

When viewing and running after FIG. 4 was at the previous position of the interior ceiling only a support member 27 is provided, on which the rotary drive 5 is fixed. The interior protrudes up to the cover and transition plate 28, in which the outer sleeves 5.1 of the rotary drive 5 is inserted and sealed by means of an O-ring seal 29. The cover and transition plate 28 represents the bottom plate of an electrical space 30, in which the upwardly open, outer sleeve 5.1 of the rotary drive 5 protrudes. Otherwise, the embodiment corresponds to FIG. 4 according to the embodiment FIG. 3 ,

Although in the above embodiments and figures only a capper in Rundläuferbauart has been shown and described, the mode of action and the basic principle is analogous to linear capper or linear filling and closing machines transferable. Here, the closing tools are arranged in a row next to each other.

For linear filling and closing machines that work stepwise or sequentially, comparable to DE 10 2005 032 322 A1 , the closing tools of the closing stations are arranged as a group transversely and above the main conveying path of the containers and are vertically movable together.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Verschließerstation

2

container

3

rotor

4

Verschließerwerkzeug

5

rotary drive

5.1

Sleeve (outer) of 5

6

container carrier

7

wave

8th

Cone at 4

9

Fixed shaft part of 7

10

Movable shaft part of 7

11

coupling element

12

ejector

13

takeaway

14

connecting device

15

linear guide

16

Free end v. 15

17

link arms

18

guide sleeve

19

Storage facility

20

stroke curve

21

role

22

guide rod

23

base housing

24

cover

25

linear rods

26

storage

27

supporting member

28

Cover and transition plate

29

O-ring seal

30

electrical room

Claims (4)

1. Device for closing containers (2), with a plurality of closure stations (1) which, in each case, comprise a closure tool (4) which can be displaced in rotational movement by means of a rotary drive (4), wherein the respective closure station (1) comprises a coupling element (11), which is positively driven such as to circulate about the machine axis, with vertical control, wherein the closure tool (4) comprises a shaft (7) with a fixed part (9) and, by means of a driver catch (13), drives the closure tool (4) in a guided manner in accordance with a required vertical movement,
   characterised in that the driver catch (13) comprises at least one connection arm (17) and a guide sleeve (18) wherein the driver catch (13) comprises at its guide sleeve (18) at least one linear rod (25); wherein the at least one linear rod is connected on the head side to the foot end of the fixed shaft part (9) of the shaft (7), and can be displaced on the head side, in the axial direction relative to the fixed shaft part (9) of the shaft (7), in the direction of the rotary drive (5); and on the foot side comprises a bearing (26); and wherein the at least one linear rod can also be driven in a rotary direction, and, with simultaneous relative change of spacing interval between the rotary drive (5) and the closure head, serves to transfer the rotational force onto the closure head.
2. Device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the guide sleeve (18) comprises a section of the closure tool (4), or, respectively, is secured to this.
3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (2) is mounted on a container carrier (6), which, seen in the vertical direction, is mounted such as to be immovable.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (2) is mounted on a container carrier, which is mounted on a linear guide (15) of the driver catch (13) or its connection arm (17) respectively so as to be immovable in the vertical direction.

Images