EP2958848B1 - Unit and machine for closing of containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a closing element according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a closing machine according to the preamble of claim 7.

Closing elements for closing bottles or similar containers, in particular with container closures in the form of screw caps are known. Basically, such closure elements each consist of a closing head or Verschließkonus for receiving the respective container closure, which placed with the capping on the respective container in a feed movement or in a delivery stroke in the region of its container mouth (joining) and then under pressure against the container on this by An - Is screwed or screwed. The capping head is for this purpose in a vertical Verschließelementachse with a lifting movement in a joining or Zustubhub (Spindelhub) axially movable between a raised and a lowered position and about the Verschließelementachse (VA) for fixing or tightening the container closure rotatable on the container (rotary or screwing). The closing thus comprises the feeding or joining and the subsequent fixing of the container closure, e.g. by screwing on or on the container.

In known closing or closing machines, a motor drive (electric spindle drive) is provided for the rotating and screwing movement, while the feed stroke is usually generated by lifting curves. The disadvantage here is that the stroke curves must be replaced to adapt the delivery and Anpresshubes or the lifting movement to different container closures or height of container closures. A further disadvantage is that often for the feed stroke and the locking head bearing shaft or spindle must be moved with and that known closing a variety of moving parts, guides, bearings, possibly also gears, etc., which include hard to reach areas such as corners , Columns, etc., with the risk of microbial contamination and functionally located in a room in which the Verschließpositionen and thus the initially still open containers are arranged. As a result, there is a high microbiological risk for the just filled and still open container.

A closing element according to the preamble of claim 1 is characterized by DE 10 2007 057 857 A1 disclosed.

A further disadvantage of the known closing elements or closing machines is that they are still very limited for use in sterile, clean or ultra-clean rooms. This limited usability results from the fact that these known elements always have a combination of a rotational movement with an axial movement, which can be entered by the axial movement always contaminants and / or germs from the environment in the room with special purity requirements, thereby ultimately a contamination The bottled products can not be completely excluded.

The object of the invention is to show a closure element, which has a simplified and compact design and in which the contamination risk described above is at least significantly reduced.

To solve this problem, a closing element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A capping machine is the subject of patent claim 7.

The closing element according to the invention is characterized i.a. in that not only for fixing or screwing the respective closure onto the container, i. for generating the rotational and screwing movement required for this purpose, but also for the vertical lifting movement (spindle stroke) a drive arranged for each closing element of a closing machine is provided. These drives are further designed such that at least the drive member of a drive and thereby preferably at least the drive for the rotational and screwing movement with respect to the Verschließelementachse when closing, i. performs no axial movement when joining and fixing the container closure, but is formed as rotatably driven by its drive spindle or shaft. This makes it possible to arrange the drives outside or above the space in which the Verschließköpfe and containers move, while providing a simplified effective seal for the axially non-moving drive member at the passage in this space.

In a preferred embodiment, the drive member of the drive for the lifting movement and the drive member of the drive for the rotating and screwing each rotatably mounted, but not axially moving spindle or shaft, said waves then preferably arranged coaxially with each other and for this purpose at least one shaft is designed as a hollow shaft. The rotational movement a shaft is thereby converted via a lifting or spindle gear in the axial stroke movement, which is then generated as well as the rotation and screwing by a corresponding control of the two drives relative to each other. The lifting or spindle gear, which can be made very compact or small volume and structurally simple, is for example arranged directly above the capping head or in the space in which the containers also move at least with their container opening.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

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

The invention will be described below with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 6 , each showing in simplified representation and partly in section closing elements in different versions together with a container in the form of a bottle, explained in more detail. In the FIGS. 7 and 8th a variant of the closing element is shown, in which the axis of the drive for the controlled lifting movement is not arranged concentrically to the axis of the drive for the controlled rotational movement of the closing head, but offset parallel thereto.

That in the Figures 1-6 each in general with 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e or 1f designated closing elements is each part of a capping machine 2 (capper) of rotating design and is together with a plurality of similar closure elements 1a - 1f on the circumference of a vertical Machine axis MA circumferentially driven rotor 3 is provided. Each closing element 1a-1f forms on the circumference of the rotor 3 a closing position 4 for closing containers 5 in the form of bottles, each with a cap-like container closure 6, which acts as a screw cap on the container Turning is fixed on a provided in the container opening container thread. The containers 5 are in this case held on a container carrier 7 with a container or mouth flange hanging under the respective closing element 1a - 1f co-axially with a vertical Verschließelementachse VA, in principle, the container can also stand on the ground.

Each closing element 1a-1f is formed with a closing cone or head 8. When the rotor 3 rotates, the closing cone or head 8 receives the respective container closure 6 at a closure loading position of the closing machine 2, so that it is then held in the downwardly open recess of the closing head 8 in a suitable manner, for example by a press fit.

With further rotation of the rotor 3, the capping head 8 executes a lifting movement A, with which the respective container closure 6 is lowered onto the container opening of the container 5 to be closed and then attached to the container 5 by rotation about the closing element axis VA by rotation on the container 5 , Preferably, the lifting movement A is such that it represents a, relative to the Verschließelementachse VA axial joining or Zustellhub.

Subsequently, the closing head 8 releases the container closure 6 by an axial, upward return stroke.

For this purpose, at least two movements of Verschließkopf 8 are required, namely the lifting movement A for the delivery down and return stroke and the rotational movement B to the Verschließelementachse VA for screwing the respective container closure 6 on a container 5. Furthermore, it is also necessary, possibly in Closing head 8 remaining container closures 6, ie such container closures 6, which were not applied to a container 5, eject prior to receiving a further container closure 6 from the capping 8. These basic features are common to all closing elements 1a-1f. Furthermore, it is necessary to axially press the respective container closure 6 against the container 5 during screwing onto the container thread (closure contact pressure). In detail, the closing elements 1a-1f are designed for this purpose in the manner described below. For the sake of simplified Representation, is in the FIGS. 4 and 5 no pressure spring for the contact pressure of the capper head shown.

Closing element 1 a

That in the FIG. 1 shown and not inventive closing element 1 a has, inter alia, two concentric or coaxially arranged drives 10 and 11, of which the drive 10, the controlled lifting movement A in Verschließelementachse VA and the drive 11, the controlled rotational movement B of the closing head 8 about the Verschließelementachse VA , Both drives 10 and 11 are located above the top of the rotor 3 and thus outside the space of Verschließposition 4, the (space), for example, in filling and sealing systems for aseptic or sterile filling and sealing the container 5 with a sterile gas and / or vapor medium, for example, is subjected to sterile air and in which move the container 5 at least with their upper container openings having container sections. The drives 10 and 11 are fixedly connected to the rotor 3.

The drive 10, which is provided in the illustrated embodiment above the drive 11 and is designed as a lifting drive or lifting element, acts on the upper end of a guide device 12 which consists of two parallel to Verschließelementachse VA and radially offset from this guide rods 13, the are guided in the rotor 3 in local guides 14 axially displaceable. At its upper, over the rotor 3 and the drive 11 protruding ends, the two guide rods 13 are interconnected by a cross member 15, to which the drive 10 acts. At the bottom, over the underside of the rotor 3 protruding ends, the two guide rods 13 are interconnected by a cross member 16, in which a shaft 17 is rotatably mounted about the Verschließelementachse VA. At the bottom, over the underside of the traverse 16 projecting end of the shaft 17 of the same axis with this shaft and arranged with the Verschließelementachse VA Verschließkopf 8 is provided. By acting between the cross member 16 and the top of the capping 8, the shaft 17 enclosing pressure or pressure spring 9 of the capping head 8 is biased to generate the closing contact pressure in a lower position.

The drive 11 is designed as a rotary drive or as an electric rotary or servo drive, with a spindle or shaft 18 a, which is arranged coaxially with the Verschließelementachse VA and through a bore of the rotor. 3 passed and, for example, is rotatably mounted in the housing of the drive 11, so that the shaft 18a when closing, ie when joining and fixing the container closure 5 relative to the Verschließelementachse VA is not moved axially.

At its lower, the drive 11 remote end of the shaft 18 is designed as a hollow shaft, in the recess 19, the shaft 17 extends with its upper portion, in such a way that the shaft 17 within the recess 19 relative to the shaft 18 a axially the feed and return stroke of the lifting movement A is movable. By means of at least one driver 21, which engages in a slot 20 of the shaft 18a, the shaft 17 for the rotational movement B is drivingly connected to the closing element axis VA with the shaft 18a. The passage of the guide rods 13 through the rotor 3 is sealed with a respective only schematically indicated bellows seal 22 or a suitable other seal.

Since the shaft 18a is closed when closing, i. when joining and fixing the container closure 5 performs no axial movement, the sealing of the passage of this wave through the rotor 3 with relatively simple seals reliably possible, so that a total close a tight closure of the sterile space of Verschließpositionen 4 over the outer environment above the rotor 3 achieved can be, namely arranged outside the sterile room drives 10 and 11th

Closing elements 1b

The FIG. 2 shows a non-inventive closing element 1b, which in turn has designed as a lifting drive drive 10 and formed as a rotary drive or electric servo drive 11 The drive 10 acts in this embodiment on the upper end of a coaxially arranged with the Verschließelementachse VA lifting rod 23rd a, which is provided at its on the underside of the rotor 3 projecting area with a collar 23.1, on which a guide piece 24 is supported. The latter is part of a coaxial with the Verschließelementachse VA arranged hollow shaft 25, at the lower end of the closing head 8 is fixed. The guide piece 24 is axially displaceably guided with respect to the Verschließelementachse VA guide rods 26 which are arranged parallel to Verschließelementachse VA and radially offset from this. The guide rods 26 are frontally mounted with its upper end to the shaft 18b of the drive 11, which is designed as a hollow shaft. With her lower ends, the guide rods 26 are connected to each other via a ring 27. The closing element 1 b in turn has a pressure spring designed as a compression spring and surrounding the lifting rod 23 for the closing contact pressure, which acts between the guide piece 24 and an upper on the lifting rod 23 above the guide piece 24 formed collar 23.2.

As the FIG. 2 Also shows, the shaft 18b forms the rotor of the drive 11 and is not only rotatably mounted in the housing of this drive, but also has the cooperating with an outer stator or with an outer stator winding 28 rotor elements 29, for example, from a rotor winding or are preferably formed by a plurality of permanent magnets. With the drive 10, the controlled lifting movement A of the capping head 8 is possible via the lifting rod 23. About the guide rods 26 and guided on these guide rods guide piece 24 and the hollow shaft 25, the rotational movement B of the closing head with the drive 11 is possible. As the FIG. 2 Furthermore, shows the lifting rod 23 via the lower collar 23.1 with a partial length. This partial length is chosen so that the lower end of the lifting rod 23 is formed as a plunger 23.3, which extends with the capping head 8 raised through an opening 8.1 in this capping 8 and thereby ejects a possibly remaining in the capping container closure 6. Even with the closing element 1 b, the shaft 18 b of the drive 11 during closing, that is not moved axially during joining and fixing.

Closing element 1 c

That in the FIG. 3 shown closing element 1c in turn has the two concentric or coaxially arranged drives 10 and 11 above the top of the rotor 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the drive 10 above the drive 11. In this embodiment, the drive 10 is also designed as a rotary drive, namely with a spindle or shaft 30 c, which is enclosed by the shaft 18 c formed as a hollow shaft of the drive 11. Both shafts 18c and 30c are arranged coaxially with each other. The shaft 30c is formed at its lower end as a threaded spindle with a thread 31 which engages in a threaded sleeve 32 arranged coaxially with the VA. On the threaded sleeve 32, a ring 33 is provided, on the underside of the closing head 8 is attached. The co-operating with the internal thread of the threaded sleeve 32 thread 31 forms a lifting or spindle gear 34, which converts the rotational movement of the shaft 30c in the stroke A movement. about Guide rods 35, which are arranged parallel to Verschließelementachse VA and radially offset relative to this and projecting beyond the top 8 of the closure ring 8, this ring 33 is guided relative to the Verschließelementachse VA axially displaceable at the lower end of the shaft 18c. Furthermore, the ring 33 is also movable relative to the threaded sleeve 32 by a smaller stroke in the direction of the closing element axis VA, but this threaded sleeve is secured against rotation relative to the ring 33 by means of guide pins 35.1. This relative movement between the threaded sleeve 32 and the ring 33 makes it possible for the contact pressure spring 9 to produce the closing contact pressure necessary when closing the container 5. The threaded sleeve 32 surrounding and designed as a compression spring pressure spring 9 acts for this purpose between a collar at the upper end of the threaded sleeve 32 and the top of the ring 33rd

The peculiarity of the closing element 1 c is that both drives 10 and 11 are designed as rotary actuators, for example, as electric servo drives that on the shafts 18c and 30c, which are respectively mounted in the housing of the drives 10 and 11, the rotor of the Actuators forming and cooperating with the respective stator winding 28 rotor elements 29 (rotor winding or permanent magnets) are provided. Both shafts 18c and 30c are closed at closure, i. during the joining and fixing of the container closure 5 is not moved axially, whereby the sealing of a closing position 4 forming sterile space relative to the environment simplified.

The lifting movement A and the rotational movement B is achieved by controlling the relative movement of the two drives 10 and 11 to each other or the waves 18c and 30. In order to achieve the desired movement of the capping head 8 is provided, the drives 10 and 11 simultaneously to control so that their rotational movements and behavior to each other set .. It should be noted that different rotational behavior of the drives 10 and 11 at their shafts 30c and 18c inevitably lead to a rotation angle offset each other. This offset is converted via the pitch of the thread 31 in the stroke movement A.

In this case, it is also possible, in particular, to raise the ring 33 by controlling the relative movements of the drives 10 and 11 so far that the lower end of the shaft 30c passes through the opening 8. 1 into the closing head 8 occurs, and indeed for ejecting any remaining there container closure 6. The shaft 30c is mounted at 36 in the shaft 18c.

Closing element 1 d

The FIG. 4 shows as a further embodiment, a closing element 1 d, which differs from the closing element 1 c essentially only in that the provided on the shaft 30 d of the drive 10 thread 31 engages in an internal thread which on an axially guided on the guide rods 35 ring 37th is provided so that this ring and the thread 31 form the lifting or spindle gear 34. The guide rods 35 are connected at their upper ends fixed to the lower end of the turn executed as a hollow shaft 18 d of the drive 11. The shaft 18d encloses the shaft 30d. Both shafts 18d and 30d are arranged coaxially with the closing element axis VA and are not moved axially when closing, ie during the joining and fixing of the container closure 5. The lower ends of the guide rods 35 are connected to each other via a ring 38. The ring 37 is part of a hollow shaft 39 which is arranged coaxially with the Verschließelementachse VA arranged at its lower end the capping 8. This performs by controlled rotation of the shafts 18d and 30d relative to each other via the lifting or spindle gear 34, the lifting movement A and on the guide rods 35, the rotational movement B from. Also in this embodiment, the closing head 8 with the lifting movement A can be raised so far that the lower end of the shaft 30 d for the ejection of any remaining container closures 6 enters through the opening 8.1 in the capping 8.

Closing element 1 e

The FIG. 5 shows as a further embodiment, a closing element 1 e, which differs from the closing element 1 d essentially only in that the closing head 8 is provided at the lower end of a hollow shaft 40 having an upper portion relative to the Verschließelementachse VA axially or telescopically in the formed as a hollow shaft shaft 18 e of the drive 11 is slidably disposed. The shaft 18e encloses the shaft 30e. Both shafts 18e and 30e are arranged coaxially with the closing element axis VA and are not moved axially when closing, ie during the joining and fixing of the container closure 5. The thread 31 of the shaft 30 engages in an internal thread, which is formed at the upper end of the hollow shaft 40 accommodated in the shaft 18e, so that this internal thread together with the thread 31 form the lifting or spindle gear 34. The shaft 18e is in the direction of Verschließelementachse VA extending slots 41 provided in the driver 42 of the hollow shaft 40 engage, so that while this relative to the shaft 18e is axially displaceable, but with the shaft 18e is rotated. The lifting movement A and the rotational movement B of the closing head 8 are again achieved by controlled relative movement of the drives 10 and 11 or their shafts 18e and 30e.

Closing element 1f

The FIG. 6 Finally shows a closing element, which initially differs from the closing elements 1c - 1e in that in the closing element 1f the drive 11 is provided above the drive 10 and that designed as a hollow shaft shaft 30f of the drive 10, the shaft 18f of the drive 11 encloses. Both drives 10 and 11 and their shafts 18f and 30f are again arranged concentrically or coaxially with the closing element axis VA and the shafts 18f and 30f and are not moved axially when closing, ie during the joining and fixing of the container closure 5.

The shaft 30f is provided in the region of its lower end with an internal thread 43 into which the external thread of a threaded piece 44 engages, which forms the lifting or spindle gear 34 together with the thread 43. About arranged parallel to Verschließelementachse VA and with respect to this axis radially offset guide pins 45 which engage in guide holes 46 of the shaft 18f, the threaded piece 44 relative to the Verschließelementachse VA axially displaceable, but drivingly connected (rotationally) with the shaft 18f.

The guide pins 45 are connected with their lower, over the threaded portion 44 downwardly projecting ends with the closing head 8, so that this is also rotated for the rotation and screwing B with the shaft 18f. On each guide pin 45 a pin surrounding this and is provided on the closing head 8 and the threaded portion 44 supporting pressure spring 9 is provided for the closing contact pressure. As FIG. 6 shows, both shafts 18f and 30f turn are part of the rotor of the drives 10 and 11, ie these waves carry the rotor-side rotor elements 29 cooperating with the stator winding 28.

47 designates a plunger which is axially non-displaceably arranged coaxially with the closing element axis VA and is enclosed by the shaft 18f designed as a hollow shaft. In the raised position of the capping head 8 is used this plunger 47 in turn for ejecting any remaining in the closing head 8 container closures. 6

All the above-described embodiments have in common, inter alia, that at least the shaft 18a-18f for the rotational movement B, but in the closing elements 11c - 1f and the shafts 30c - 30f for the lifting movement A of the respective capping head 8 are rotatably provided, but axially non-movable an effective but simplified sealing of the passage of the respective wave by the rotor 3 or another partition or in the space having the Verschließposition 4 can be achieved, in particular the closing elements 1c - 1f are thus without lifting movement and are particularly suitable as aseptic closing elements;
that the two drives 10 and 11 are arranged coaxially with each other and also coaxially with the Verschließelementachse VA and are firmly connected to the rotor 3 and thus during closing, ie not moved when joining and fixing the container closures in Verschließelementachse VA;
that the drives 10 and 11 are located outside the space having the Verschließpositionen 4;
in that for the lifting movement A a separate drive is provided for each closing element of the closing machine;
that formed as waves drive members of the respective rotary drive, ie the shafts 18a - 18c and the shafts 30c - 30f directly, so without an intermediate gear, at the same time also part of the respective rotor of the electric motor drive. Thus, the shafts 18a to 18f and 30c to 30f are fixedly connected directly to the rotors of the respective drives 10 or 11 without intermediate adapters.

In the FIGS. 7 and 8th two variants of the closing element are shown, in which each of the axis of the drive for the controlled lifting movement is not arranged concentrically to the axis of the drive for controlled rotational movement of the capping, but this has been offset in parallel, namely offset radially inward, the arrangement of course, a this different analog arrangement is possible, esp. A reverse drive arrangement. In the case of a very small, narrow design, the drives could be arranged radially and offset in the circumferential direction.

Closing element 1g

The FIG. 7 shows a non-inventive closure element 1 g, which comparable to the closing element 1 a has a lifting rod 48, at the lower end a facing in the direction of the capper axis VA arm 49 is arranged. The bearing 50 at the free end of the arm 49 is used for rotatably supporting and receiving the guide rods 26, analogous to the aforementioned embodiments, in particular the closing elements 1 a and 1 b, so that the bearing 50 takes over the traverse 16 and the ring 27 analogous function , The lifting rod 48 is arranged coaxially with the Hubantriebsachse HA of the drive 10 for the controlled lifting and lowering of the capping head 8 and offset parallel to Verschließelementachse VA.

In the embodiment shown, u.a. the lifting rod 48, the arm 49 and the bearing 50 and the shaft 18 with the guide rods 26 in an insulator 51, which is formed by a fixed non-rotating wall 51.1 and rotating boundaries. As a lower, also rotating boundary is a diffuser plate 52. The upper insulator space 51 has one or more inlets 54, which via a common channel 53 or a plurality of supply lines (not shown), with a gas, i.d.R. sterile air, can be supplied. The closing head 8 or the supporting shaft is guided through the diffuser plate 52 into the lower insulator space 51.2, so that a calmed gas flow can be formed in the region of the container closure 6 or the container mouth (insulator space 51.2).

The lifting rod 48 is further sealed with a bellows 55 and the coupling of the lifting rod 48 with the lifting rod 56 of the drive 10 via a coupling element 57, which ensures a defined contact force of Verschließkopfes 8 by means of a spring element 9, analogous to the function of the pressure spring 9 of the closing element 1 b, for example. Spring element 9 and coupling element 57 are arranged in a space 58 on the rotor of the closing machine 2, on or above which the drive 10 is placed. The space 58 may also be supplied with a sterile gas or sterilant (not shown).

The isolator chamber 51 with the corresponding inlets and outlets is shown by way of example only for the closing element 1 g, but can advantageously be provided in an analogous manner for the other embodiments of the closing elements described.

Closing element 1 h

The FIG. 8 shows a closing element 1 h, which differs from the embodiment of the closing element 1g essentially in that the drive 10 has a shaft 59 which comprises a Gewindeabschitt 59.1 at the lower end. The arm 49 has a mating thread 60, in which the threaded portion 59.1 is received and guided. Depending on the direction of rotation, rotation of the shaft 59 causes a raising or lowering of the bearing 50 and thereby of the closing head 8.

A comparable to one of the preceding embodiments coupling and / or pressure spring for determining and limiting the contact force of the closing head 8, is not shown, but can be provided analogously. By means of a dashed bellows shown 55 (optional), the entire shaft 59 and a portion of the arm 49 is enclosed in the illustrated embodiment. As stated above, an isolation space can additionally be provided.

An advantage of these embodiments according to the FIGS. 7 or 8th confess that the control technology is simplified because the external lifting drive is independent of the rotational movement of the closing spindle in terms of its rotational movement, so that there is a control technical simplification for an electrically simulated Hubkurvenablauf. In addition, motors can be used with a simpler technology, compared to hollow shaft motor, which in the case of the versions of the FIGS. 1 to 6 be provided as a closing motor.

The invention has been mentioned and described above for rotary machines, but in principle this can also be used in linear machines or series closers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1a-1f

closing

2

sealing

3

Rotor of the capping machine

4

closing position

5

container

6

container closure

7

container carrier

8th

seaming

8.1

opening

9

pressure spring

10, 11

drive

12

guide element

13

guide rod

14

guide

15, 16

traverse

17, 18

wave

19

recess

20

slot

21

takeaway

22

poetry

23

lifting rod

23.1, 23.2

Collar of the lifting rod 23

23.3

Plunger of the lifting rod 23

24

guide piece

25

hollow shaft

26

guide rod

27

ring

28

stator

29

motor element

30c - 30f

wave

31

thread

32

threaded sleeve

33

ring

34

Lifting or spindle gear

35

guide rod

35.1

guide pin

36

camp

37, 38

ring

39, 40

hollow shaft

41

slot

42

takeaway

43

inner thread

44

threaded piece

45

guide pin

46

guide bore

47

tappet

48

lifting rod

49

poor

50

storage

51

Isolator room (upper)

51.1

Wall of isolator room, fixed

51.2

Isolator room (lower)

52

diffuser plate

53

channel

54

inlet

55

bellow

56

lifting rod

57

coupling element

58

room

59

wave

59.1

threaded portion

60

mating thread

A

axial lifting movement of the capping head

B

Turning and screwing the capping 8

VA

Verschließelementachse

MA

machine axis

HA

Drive axle for lifting movement

Claims (8)

1. Closing element for closing bottles or similar containers (5) by placing container closures (6) onto the respective container (5) in a closing-element axis (VA) and by fastening the container closures (6) to the respective container (5), preferably by screwing the container closures onto a container thread, by means of a closing head (8) for holding the container closure (6) during the placing and fastening, with a first drive (10) with a first drive element (30c-30f) for producing an axial lift movement (A) of the closing head (8) for the joining of the container closures (18c - 18f), which is connected on the drive side to the closing head (8) for the fastening of the container closures (6) to the containers (5), wherein the first drive element of the first drive (10) and the second drive element of the second drive (11) are in each case a shaft (30c-30f; 18c-18f), driven by their drive (10, 11) about an axis parallel to the closing-element axis (VA), preferably about the closing-element axis (VA), wherein the shaft (30c-30f) of the first drive (10) is connected to the closing head, for the purposes of drive, by a raising gear unit (34), converting a rotational movement into the raising movement, preferably by means of a spindle gear, characterised in that, during the closing, the shafts (30c-30f; 18c-18f) are not moved axially together with the axial raising movement (A) of the closing head (8).
2. Closing element according to claim 1, characterised in that the shafts (30c-30f; 18c-18f) forming the first and second drive elements are arranged with their axes coaxial to one another and preferably also coaxial to the closing element axis (VA).
3. Closing element according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one shaft (18c-18d; 30f) is configured as a hollow shaft surrounding the other shaft (30c-30d, 18f).
4. Closing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one plunger (23.3, 47), which, in a raised position of the closing head (8), extends into the said head in order to eject any container closure (6) which may still be remaining.
5. Closing element according to claim 4, characterised in that the plunger (23.3) is formed from the lower end of the shaft (30c-30d) forming the drive element of the first or second drive (10, 11) or from a plunger (47) arranged coaxially with the closing element axis (VA).
6. Closing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is a constituent part of a system for the aseptic filling and closing of containers.
7. Closing machine for closing bottles or similar containers (5) with container closures (6), preferably in the form of screw closures, with a plurality of closing elements (1a-1f) provided at a circulating transport element, such as, for example, a rotor (3) driven about a vertical machine axis (MA), characterised in that the closing elements (1a-1f) are configured in accordance with one of the preceding claims.
8. Closing machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the drives (10, 11) of the closing elements (1a-1f) are arranged outside a space in which the closing heads (8) and containers (5) are located, for example on the upper side of the rotor (3), and that only the drive elements (30c-30f; 18c-18f) extend into this space, preferably in a sealed manner.

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