EP3693328A1

EP3693328A1 - Receptacle closure feeding device and capping apparatus having a receptacle closure feeding device

Info

Publication number: EP3693328A1
Application number: EP19305160.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabrizio FAVA
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2019-02-11
Filing date: 2019-02-11
Publication date: 2020-08-12
Also published as: CN111547662A

Abstract

There is described a receptacle closure feeding device (12) for feeding receptacle closures (3) and comprising at least comprising a coupling structure (25) adapted to be coupled to an isolation chamber (8) and defining and/or at least partially delimiting an inside space (26), an advancement channel (27) connected to the coupling structure (25), a first guide rail (28) arranged within the advancement channel (27) and adapted to direct and/or feed and/or introduce and/or guide the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space (26), a second guide rail (33) configured to be controlled into at least an active configuration at which the second guide rail (33) is adapted to direct and/or feed and/or introduce and/or guide, in use, the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space (26) and an access control assembly (34) controllable between at least an allowance configuration and a restraining configuration at which the access control assembly (34) is configured to respectively allow and impede feeding of the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space by means of the second guide rail.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a receptacle closure feeding device for a capping apparatus, in particular a capping apparatus being adapted to operate both under aseptic and non-aseptic conditions.
Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a capping apparatus for applying closures onto receptacles and having a receptacle closure feeding device, in particular the capping apparatus being adapted to operate both under aseptic and non-aseptic conditions.

BACKGROUND ART

There are known capping apparatuses for applying receptacle closures onto receptacles, such as bottles, under aseptic conditions.
A commonly known kind of capping apparatus comprises a capping device of the rotary-type configured to receive receptacles to be capped and to apply receptacle closures onto the receptacles to be capped, a receptacle closure feeding device configured to feed the closures to be applied to the capping device and an isolation chamber housing at least a portion of the capping device so as to apply the receptacle closures onto the receptacles within the isolation chamber.
The capping apparatus also comprises a sterilization device configured to sterilize the receptacle closures during the feeding of the receptacle closures by means of the receptacle closure feeding device.
The receptacle closure feeding device comprises an advancement channel connected to the isolation chamber and being in fluidic connection with the inner of the isolation chamber and a guide rail partially arranged within the advancement channel and partially arranged within the isolation chamber. The guide rail is configured to guide and/or direct the receptacle closures through the advancement channel and into the isolation chamber and to the capping device and an actuation unit configured to push the receptacle closures along the guide rail.
The sterilization device is coupled to the advancement channel and is configured to inject a sterilization agent into a sterilization zone of the advancement channel.
The sterilization device also comprises a heating unit configured to heat the receptacle closures while advancing through a heating zone of the advancement channel and prior to being exposed to the sterilization agent within the sterilization zone.
The sterilization device also comprises a venting unit for allowing the removal of the sterilization agent from the receptacle closures after having been exposed to the sterilization agent such that the sterilized receptacle closures when entering into the isolation chamber are void of any sterilization agent residues.
As the overall sterilization process is complex, involving different steps (such as heating, sterilizing, venting) all of which requiring defined times, the advancement channel needs to have a significant extension such that the sterilization process is efficient.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the receptacle closures are arranged in a row and advance along the guide rail in succession to one another. Thereby, the actuation unit directly pushes the receptacle closures being at the most upstream position and the pushing force is transmitted by means of nearest neighbor interactions. In order to avoid deformations of the receptacle closures during advancement along the guide rail (also considering that the receptacle closures are subject to increases in temperature), the overall advancement process must be carefully determined in dependence of the type and format of the receptacle closures.
It should be noted that there are processing conditions, in which the application of receptacle closures under aseptic conditions is not required. In such a case, the activation of the sterilization device (including the activation of the heating unit) is not required. However, in such a case, the advancement of the receptacle closures is less efficient, as typically the guide rails and the operation of the actuation unit are optimized for receptacle closures to be sterilized.
Therefore, it is the desire to further improve the known receptacle closure feeding devices and/or the known capping apparatuses.
In particular, it is a desire to improve the flexibility of the known receptacle closure feeding devices and/or the known capping apparatuses so that the feeding of receptacle closures to be sterilized or not to be sterilized can be controlled in a facilitated manner without losing any production efficiencies.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner a receptacle closure feeding device overcoming at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner a capping apparatus for overcoming at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
According to the present invention, there is provided a receptacle closure feeding device according to the independent claim.
Further advantageous embodiments of the receptacle closure feeding device are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 13.
According to the present invention, there is also provide a capping apparatus according to claims 14 and 15.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Three non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a capping apparatus having a receptacle closure feeding device, with parts removed for clarity;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the receptacle closure feeding device of Figure 1 being in a first configuration, with parts removed for clarity;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the detail of Figure 2 being controlled into a second configuration, with parts removed for clarity;
Figure 4 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the detail of Figure 2 being controlled into a third configuration, with parts removed for clarity;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of some details of the receptacle closure feeding device of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of further details of the receptacle closure feeding device of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With particular reference to Figure 1, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a capping apparatus for applying receptacle closures onto receptacles, in particular receptacles being filled with a pourable product, even more particular a pourable food product.
The receptacles can be of any type including bottles 2, jars, vessels, containers or the like, in particular being made of base components, like glass, paper or cardboard, plastics, aluminum, steel, and composites. In particular, the receptacles are adapted to be filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.
In the following, we limit the description to the specific example of bottles 2 adapted to be filled with any type of pourable food product such as carbonated liquids (e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer), non-carbonated liquids (including still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, wine, etc.) and beverages containing pulps. However, it should be clear that the invention also relates to other types of receptacles. It should also be clear that the invention also relates to receptacles, which are adapted to be filled with other kinds of pourable products such as detergents, mineral oil, edible oil, sugar, salt and others.
The receptacle closures may be of the type known as crown corks, screw caps 3, sports caps, stoppers etc., and they may be produced from a variety of materials such as plastics, cork, metal, composites and others. The receptacle closures may also vary in format.
In the following, we limit the description to the specific example of plastic screw caps 3. However, it must be clear that the present invention may be also used to particular advantage for any other type of receptacle closures such as crown corks, sports caps, stoppers and others made also from materials different from plastic, such as metal or cork.
With particular reference to Figure 1, each bottle 2 extends along a longitudinal axis A and comprises a pouring/inlet opening allowing for the introduction and the outpouring of the pourable product respectively into and out of bottle 2. In particular, each bottle 2 also comprises a hollow main body 5 having a bottom portion 6 and a top portion 7 opposite to bottom portion 6 and carrying the pouring/inlet opening.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiments, caps 3 are configured to reversibly close the pouring/inlet openings of bottles 2.
With particular reference to Figure 1, capping apparatus 1 comprises at least:

an isolation chamber 8 having an inner space 9 being separated from an outer environment 10; and
a capping device 11 at least partially arranged within isolation chamber 8, in particular within inner space 9, and configured to apply caps 3 onto bottles 2 within isolation chamber 8, in particular inner space 9; and
a receptacle closure feeding device 12 configured to feed and/or advance caps 3 to capping device 11.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, capping apparatus 1 also comprises a sterilization device (not specifically shown) adapted to sterilize caps 3, in particular prior to being fed to capping device 11.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, capping apparatus 1 also comprises a conditioning device (not shown) fluidically connected to isolation chamber 8, in particular inner space 9, and configured to control the gas atmosphere within isolation chamber 8, in particular of inner space 9.
Preferentially but not necessarily, the conditioning device is configured to at least locally control the pressure within isolation chamber 8 and/or the temperature and/or the humidity and/or the sterility and/or the cleanliness of the gas atmosphere.
Preferentially but not necessarily, the conditioning device is also configured to introduce treated gas into at least a portion of inner space 9 and along a defined flow direction. In particular, the gas flows from a top portion 13 of inner space 9 to a bottom portion 14 of inner space 9, in particular so that the flow of gas hits, in use, the respective pouring/inlet openings of bottles 2 or in other words, the gas flows such that contaminations possibly present on the outer surface of bottles 2 are hindered from entering the inner of bottles 2 through the respective pouring/inlet openings and/or are kept away from the pouring/inlet openings.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, capping apparatus 1 also comprises a control device 15 configured to control operation of capping apparatus 1. In particular, control device 15 is configured to control capping apparatus 1 into at least an aseptic configuration and a non-aseptic configuration during which, in use, caps 3 are applied respectively under aseptic and non-aseptic conditions.
According to the present description applying caps 3 onto bottles 2 under aseptic conditions means that caps 3 and/or bottles 2 are subjected to a sterilization treatment so as to eliminate, remove, kill, and/or deactivate microbiological organisms, such as microbes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, prions, unicellular eukaryotic organisms and others, possibly adhering and/or attaching to bottles 2 and/or caps 3. In particular, the sterilization treatment is executed prior to the bottles 2 being filled with the pourable product and/or prior to caps 3 being fed to capping device 11 (i.e. prior to being applied to bottles 2). In particular, the sterilization treatment can be based on physical and/or chemical sterilization techniques, e.g. electron beam sterilization, gamma-ray sterilization, alpha-ray sterilization, UV sterilization, heat sterilization, hydrogen peroxide sterilization, ozone sterilization and others.
According to the present description applying caps 3 onto bottles 2 under non-aseptic conditions means that caps 3 and/or bottles 2 are not subjected to a sterilization treatment; i.e. it is not foreseen to eliminate, remove, kill, and/or deactivate microbiological organisms possibly present on and/or adhering onto caps 3 and/or bottles 2.
Preferentially but not necessarily, when operating under non-aseptic conditions caps 3 and/or bottles 2 are cleaned from macroscopic contaminations such as e.g. dust. In particular, caps 3 and/or bottles 2 are subjected to a cleaning treatment for removing the macroscopic contaminations. Even more particular, during such a cleaning treatment caps 3 and/or bottles 2 are at least treated with a stream of air, in particular ionized air (i.e. a de-dusting treatment is executed).
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, control device 15 is operationally connected to capping device 11 and/or receptacle closure feeding device 12 and/or the sterilization device and/or the conditioning device.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, control device 15 is configured to respectively activate and deactivate the sterilization device when controlling capping apparatus 1 into the aseptic and non-aseptic configuration. In particular, control device 15 is configured to activate and to deactivate the sterilization device for respectively allowing and impeding the sterilization of caps 3.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, isolation chamber 8 is configured to be arranged on a (substantially horizontal) surface (e.g. a floor of a production site) and comprises at least an upper wall 20 distanced from the surface (when, in use, isolation chamber 8 is arranged on the surface) and a plurality of lateral walls 21 connected to upper wall 20 so as to at least partially enclose and/or delimit inner space 9. In particular, lateral walls 21 protrude from upper wall 20 towards the surface (when, in use, isolation chamber 8 is arranged on the surface).
According to a non-limiting embodiment, upper wall 20 comprises a plurality of portions, the single portions presenting differing or equal distances to the surface. According to some non-limiting embodiments not shown, lateral walls 21 may also be interposed between different single portions of upper wall 20.
According to a non-limiting embodiment, isolation chamber 8 may comprise a bottom wall spaced apart from upper wall 20 and delimiting and/or enclosing at least partially inner space 9 along a vertical axis. In particular, the bottom wall is interposed between upper wall 20 and the surface.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, top portion 13 is positioned adjacent and/or at upper wall 20 and/or bottom portion 14 is positioned adjacent and/or at the surface (when, in use, isolation chamber 8 is arranged on the surface) and/or the bottom wall.
With particular reference to Figure 1, capping device 11 comprises a conveyor unit 22 configured to advance bottles 2 along a capping path and a plurality of capping heads 23, each one configured to apply one cap 3 onto a respective bottle 2 during advancement of the respective bottle 2 along the capping path and being arranged within inner space 9.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, conveyor unit 22 is configured to advance bottles 2 along the conveying path and within inner space 9.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, conveyor unit 22 is also configured to advance capping heads 23 along an advancement path being at least partially parallel to the capping path.
Preferentially but not necessarily, conveyor unit 22 is of the rotary-type so that the capping path has an arc-shaped form. In particular, conveyor unit 22 comprises a rotary body 24 rotatable around a rotation axis B and carrying capping heads 23.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, capping heads 23 are also configured to retain the respective bottles 2 during advancement along the capping path.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, capping apparatus 1 also comprises an inlet conveyor (not shown) configured to advance the filled and non-capped bottles 2 to capping device 11, in particular conveyor unit 22 and/or capping heads 23, and an outlet conveyor (not shown) configured to receive and to advance the filled and capped bottles 2 from and away of capping device 11, in particular conveyor unit 22 and/or capping heads 23.
With particular reference to Figures 1 to 6, feeding device 12 comprises at least:

a coupling structure 25 adapted to (configured to) be coupled and/or being coupled to isolation chamber 8 and defining and/or at least partially delimiting and/or comprising an inside space 26;
an advancement channel 27 connected to coupling structure 25 and being adapted to (configured to) receive at least a portion of the sterilization device; and
a first guide rail 28 arranged within advancement channel 27 and adapted to (configured to) direct and/or feed and/or introduce and/or guide caps 3 into inside space 26 and/or into isolation chamber 8, in particular inner space 9.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, inside space 26 is in fluid connection with inner space 9 when coupling structure 25 is coupled to isolation chamber 8. In particular, coupling structure 25 separates inside space 26 from outer environment 10.
According to a non-limiting embodiment, coupling structure 25 acts as a passage for caps 3 such that caps 3 can be introduced in a controlled manner into isolation chamber 8.
In particular, advancement channel 27 delimits an advancement space 29 being in fluid connection with inside space 26 and within which, in use, caps 3 can advance for being fed into at least inside space 26. In particular, advancement channel 27 also separates advancement space 29 from outer environment 10.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, guide rail 28 is configured to define and/or determine a cap advancement path P within advancement channel 27. In particular, cap advancement path P extends from an inlet station to an outlet station at which caps 3 can be respectively introduced into and discharged from advancement space 29.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, feeding device 12 also comprises a first actuation unit (not shown) configured to advance caps 3 along guide rail 28 and, accordingly, cap advancement path P.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, feeding device 12 also comprises a guide rail 32 configured to receive at least caps 3 from guide rail 28 and to deliver and/or guide and/or advance and/or introduce caps 3 to capping device 11. In particular guide rail 32 is partially arranged within inside space 26 and is configured to be partially arranged and/or is partially arranged within isolation chamber 8, in particular inner space 9.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the sterilization device is adapted to sterilize caps 3 during, in use, their advancement along at least a sterilization portion of cap advancement path P.
Preferentially but not necessarily, the sterilization device comprises at least one injection nozzle configured to inject, in particular when the sterilization device is activated, a (chemical) sterilization agent into at least a sterilization zone of advancement channel 27 for sterilizing caps 3.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the sterilization device also comprises a heating unit configured to heat, in particular when the sterilization device is activated, caps 3 during, in use, advancement along a heating portion of cap advancement path P and through a heating zone of advancement channel, the heating portion and the heating zone being upstream from respectively the sterilization portion and the sterilization zone along cap advancement path P.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the sterilization device also comprises a venting unit configured to vent a venting zone of advancement channel 27 so as to allow for the removal of any sterilization agent residues from caps 3 prior to caps 3 being, in use, introduced into inside space 26 and/or into inner space 9. In particular, the venting zone is arranged downstream from the sterilization zone along cap advancement path P.
Advantageously, feeding device 12 further comprises:

a guide rail 33 distinct from guide rail 28 (, being arranged outside from advancement channel 27) and being configured to be controlled, in particular by control device 15, into at least an active configuration (see Figure 4) at which guide rail 33 is configured to direct and/or feed and/or introduce and/or guide caps 3 into inside space 26 and/or into isolation chamber 8, in particular inner space 9; and
an access control assembly 34 coupled to coupling structure 25 and being controllable, in particular by control device 15, between at least an allowance configuration (see Figures 3 and 4) and a restraining configuration (see Figures 2 and 5) at which access control assembly 34 is configured to respectively allow and impede feeding of caps 3 into inside space 27 and/or into isolation chamber 8, in particular inner space 9, by means of guide rail 33.

According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, guide rail 33 is also controllable, in particular by control device 15, into a rest configuration at which guide rail 33 is impeded from feeding and/or directing and/or introducing and/or guiding caps 3 into inside space 26 and/or into inner space 9.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, guide rail 33 is controlled into the active configuration and the rest configuration when access control assembly 34 is controlled into respectively the allowance configuration and the restraining configuration.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, guide rail 33 is configured to define and/or determine a cap advancement path Q, in particular with guide rail 33 being controlled in the active configuration.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, feeding device 12 also comprises a second actuation unit (not shown) configured to advance caps 3 along guide rail 33 and, accordingly, cap advancement path Q.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, control device 15 is configured to control access control assembly 34 into the allowance the restraining configuration and to control guide rail 33 into the active and the rest configuration when controlling capping apparatus 1 in respectively the non-aseptic and aseptic configuration (see Figures 2 and 4). In this manner, it is possible to allow or impede the feeding of caps 3 into inside space 26 and/or inner space 9 by means of guide rail 33 when applying caps 3 under respectively non-aseptic conditions and aseptic conditions. In the latter case, caps 3 need to advance along guide rail 28 and within advancement space 29 such that the sterilization device can sterilize caps 3. In other words, in the case that capping apparatus 1 one is controlled into the aseptic configuration caps 3 advance along guide rail 28 and within advancement channel 27 and in the case that capping apparatus 1 is controlled in the non-aseptic configuration, caps 3 advance along guide rail 33.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, guide rail 33 is coupled to and is detached from guide rail 32 with guide rail 33 being controlled in respectively the active configuration (see Figure 4) and the rest configuration (see Figures 2 and 3) so as to respectively allow and impede the transfer of caps 3 from guide rail 33 to guide rail 32.
With particular reference to Figures 2 to 4, guide rail 33 comprises at least a moveable end portion 38 being moveable into an extracted position (see Figure 4) at which at least end portion 38 engages into inside space 26 and/or into inner space 9 and a retracted position (see Figures 2 and 3) at which end position 38 is positioned outside from and/or is retracted from inside space 26 and/or inner space 9. In particular, guide rail 33 is controlled in the active and rest configuration with end portion 39 being respectively controlled in the extracted and retracted position.
Preferentially but not necessarily, guide rail 33 also comprises a fixed main portion 39 moveably carrying end portion 38 and being arranged outside from inside space 26 and/or inner space 9. In particular, in use, caps 3 advance at first along main portion 39 before advancing along end portion 38 and finally being transferred onto guide rail 32.
Preferentially but not necessarily, end portion 38 moves into a forward direction D1 and a backward direction D2 being opposed to forward direction D1 when moving from respectively the retracted position to the extracted position and the extracted position to the retracted position.
Preferentially but not necessarily, feeding device 12 comprises an actuator (not shown) configured to move end portion 38 between the extracted and the retracted position.
With particular reference to Figures 2 to 6, coupling structure 25 comprises at least an inlet opening 41 configured to allow to removably introduce at least partially end portion 38 within inside space 26 and/or inner space 9 at least with guide rail 33 being controlled into the active configuration and/or end portion 38 being positioned in the extracted position.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, coupling structure 25 comprises at least an inlet passage 42 configured to allow the introduction of at least a portion of guide rail 28 into inside space 26 and/or inner space 9.
With particular reference to Figures 1 to 6, coupling structure 25 has a chamber-like structure and is delimited by a plurality of walls 43.
According to the non-limiting embodiment shown, one wall 43 carries and/or comprises inlet opening 41. In particular, inlet passage 42 is delimited by a plurality of walls 43.
With particular reference to Figures 2 to 6, access control assembly 34 comprises a closing element, in particular a closing plate 44, configured to move between a sealing position and a release position at which the closing element, in particular closing plate 44, is configured to respectively close and open and/or respectively closes and opens inlet opening 41.
In particular, closing plate 44 is controlled into the sealing position and the release position when access control assembly 34 is controlled, in use, into respectively the restraining and allowance configuration.
In particular, closing plate 44 is configured to move into a first direction D3 and a second direction D4 being opposed to direction D3 when moving respectively from the sealing position to the release position and the release position to the sealing position.
According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, directions D3 and D4 are transversal, in particular perpendicular to, directions D1 and D2.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, closing plate 44 moves substantially parallel to the wall 43 carrying inlet opening 41.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, coupling structure 25 comprises a housing seat surrounding and/or delimiting inlet opening 41 and a sealing member 46 arranged within the housing seat and, in particular surrounding inlet opening 41. In particular, closing element 44 and sealing member 46 are configured to seal in collaboration with one another inlet opening 41 with closing element 44 being in the sealing position (i.e., in use, closing plate 44 and sealing member 46 seal inlet opening 41 with closing plate 44 being arranged at the sealing position).
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, access control assembly 34 comprises at least an actuator group 47 configured to selectively move closing plate 44 between the sealing position and the release position, in particular respectively into and out of the housing seat.
Preferentially but not necessarily, actuator group 47 is also configured to exert a pressing force on closing plate 44 so as to press closing plate 44 onto sealing member 46, with access control assembly 34 being controlled in the restraining configuration and/or closing plate 44 being arranged in the sealing position.
With particular reference to Figures 2 to 6, actuator group 47 comprises at least:

an actuator 47 moveable between a drawn-in position and an advanced position;
a coupling assembly 49 coupled to and/or connected to actuator 47 and closing plate 44 and configured to transfer movement of actuator 47 between the drawn-in and the advanced position to closing plate 44; and
a cam mechanism 50 configured to guide movement of the closing plate 44 between the sealing position and the release position.

In particular, in use, closing plate 44 moves between the sealing and the release position with actuator 48 moving between the drawn-in position and the advanced position or between the advanced position and the drawn-in position.
Preferentially but not necessarily, cam mechanism 50 is mounted on coupling structure 25.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, cam mechanism 50 comprises at least one guiding bar 53, in particular two guiding bars 53 being spaced apparat and parallel to one another, each having a respective guiding channel 54. In particular, the two guiding channels 54 face one another.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, closing plate 44 comprises at least one coupling element 55, preferentially two, each one penetrating into one respective guiding channel 55 and configured to move within the respective guiding channel 54 with closing plate 44 moving between the sealing position and the retracted position.
Preferentially but not necessarily, each guiding channel 54 comprises a main portion 56 and a pressuring portion 57 being inclined with respect to main portion 56.
Preferentially but not necessarily, each main portion 56 extends from a first end of the respective guiding channel 54 to the respective pressuring portion 57 and the respective pressuring portion 57 extends to a second end of the respective guiding channel 54, the second end being opposed to the first end.
Preferentially but not necessarily, each pressuring portion 57 extends between a first end section being adjacent to the respective main portion 56 and a second end section (defining the second end of the respective guiding channel 54) being opposed to the first end section. The first end section being arranged on a first elevation level and the second end section being arranged on a second elevation level. The first elevation level being higher than the second elevation level with respect to inlet opening 41.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, pressuring portions 57 are configured to direct and/or press closing plate 44 onto sealing member 46. In other words, pressuring portions 57 are configured to exert a force on closing plate 44 when being positioned in the sealing position.
With particular reference to Figures 2 to 5, coupling assembly 49 comprises at least:

an intermediate group 58 pivoted onto closing plate 44; and
two connecting bars 59, each one being pivoted onto one respective guiding bar 53 and intermediate assembly 58.

In particular, one of the two connecting bars 59 is connected to actuator 48.
In use, capping apparatus 1 applies caps 3 onto filled bottles 2.
In particular, feeding device 12 advances caps 3 to capping device 11, which applies caps 3 on bottles 2.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, control device 15 controls capping apparatus 1 into the aseptic or non-aseptic configuration for applying caps 3 onto bottles 2 under respectively aseptic or non-aseptic conditions.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, when capping apparatus 1 is controlled in the aseptic configuration caps 3 are advanced along advancement path P, i.e. within advancement channel 27 and along guiding channel 28 so as to enter inside space 26 and/or inner space 9. In particular, the sterilization device is activated so as to sterilize caps 3 during advancement along advancement path P.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, when capping apparatus 1 is controlled in the non-aseptic configuration, caps 3 are advanced along advancement path Q; i.e. along guide rail 33, into inside space 26.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, caps 3 introduced into inside space 26 are transferred to guide channel 32 and advance along guide channel 32 to capping device 11.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, with capping apparatus 1 being controlled in the aseptic configuration and the non-aseptic configuration, access control assembly 34 is controlled in respectively in the restraining configuration and the allowance configuration and guide channel 33 is controlled in respectively the rest and active configuration. In particular, at first access control assembly 34 is controlled into the allowance configuration (see Figure 3) followed by the control of guiding rail 33 into the active configuration.
Preferentially but not necessarily, with access control assembly 34 being controlled in the restraining configuration, closing plate 44 is positioned in the sealing position so as to impede the possible entrance of any gas and/or particles into inside space 26 and/or inner space 9 through inlet opening 41.
Preferentially but not necessarily, with access control assembly 34 being controlled in the allowance configuration, closing plate 44 is positioned in the release position so as to allow the entrance of end portion 38 into inside space 26 and so that caps 3 can be transferred from guide rail 33 to guide rail 32.
Preferentially but not necessarily, actuator group 47 controls closing plate 44 between the sealing and release position. In particular, actuator 48 is moved between the drawn-in position and the advanced position so as to move closing plate 44 along direction D3 or direction D4.
The advantages of receptacle closure feeding device 12 and/or capping apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
In particular, feeding device 12 allows for an increased flexibility as having distinct guide rails 28 and 33 for advancing caps 3 when requiring a sterilization or when not requiring a sterilization of caps 3. This allows to optimize the design of guide rails 28 and 33 for the respective conditions. E.g. when advancing along guide rail 28 caps 3 are heated, which they are not when advancing along guide rail 33.
A further advantage is that access control assembly 34 guarantees for closing the inlet opening 41 such that no contaminations can enter into inside space 26 and inner space 9, when operating under aseptic conditions.
Clearly, changes may be made to receptacle closure feeding device 12 and/or capping apparatus 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.
According to an alternative embodiment not-shown, coupling structure 25 could be defined by a structure being a prolongation of advancement channel 27.
According to another alternative embodiment not shown, coupling structure 25 is integral to isolation chamber 8, in particular coupling structure 25 is a portion of upper wall 20 and/or lateral walls 21. In other words, according to such an alternative embodiment not shown, isolation chamber 8, in particular upper wall 20 and/or lateral walls 21, could comprise inlet opening 41 and inlet passage 42 and/or inside space 26 could be a portion of inner space 9.
According to an alternative embodiment not shown, coupling structure 25 could have a plate-like configuration.

Claims

Receptacle closure feeding device (12) for a capping apparatus (1) having an isolation chamber (8);
the receptacle closure feeding device (12) being configured to feed receptacle closures (3) and at least comprising:
- a coupling structure (25) adapted to be coupled to the isolation chamber (8) and defining and/or at least partially delimiting and/or comprising an inside space (26);

- an advancement channel (27) connected to the coupling structure (25) and adapted to receive at least a portion of a sterilization device;

- a first guide rail (28) arranged within the advancement channel (27) and adapted to direct and/or feed and/or introduce and/or guide the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space (26);

- a second guide rail (33) distinct from the first guide rail (28) and configured to be controlled into at least an active configuration at which the second guide rail (33) is adapted to direct and/or feed and/or introduce and/or guide the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space (26);

- an access control assembly (34) controllable between at least an allowance configuration and a restraining configuration at which the access control assembly (34) is configured to respectively allow and impede feeding of the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space (26) by means of the second guide rail (33).
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the second guide rail (33) extends at least partially into the inside space (26) when being controlled into the active configuration.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second guide rail (33) is controlled, in use, into the active configuration when the access control assembly (34) is, in use, controlled into the allowance configuration.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the second guide rail (33) is also controllable into a rest configuration at which the second guide rail (33) is impeded from feeding and/or directing and/or introducing and/or guiding the receptacle closures (3) into the inside space (26);
wherein the second guide rail (33) is controlled, in use, in the rest configuration when the access control assembly (34) is controlled, in use, in the restraining configuration.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the second guide rail (33) is positioned outside from the inside space (26) when being controlled into the rest configuration.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling structure (25) comprises an inlet opening (41) configured to allow the introduction of at least a portion (38) of the second guide rail (33) into the inside space (26) at least with the second guide rail (33) being controlled into the active configuration;
wherein the access control assembly (34) comprises a closing element (44) configured to move between a sealing position and a release position at which the closing element (44) respectively closes and opens the inlet opening (41).
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 6, wherein the access control assembly (34) comprises at least an actuator group (47) configured to selectively move the closing element (44) between the sealing position and the release position.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 7, wherein the coupling structure (25) comprises a housing seat surrounding the inlet opening (41) and a sealing member (46) being arranged within the housing seat;
wherein the closing element (44) is configured to seal in collaboration with the sealing member (46) the inlet opening (41);
wherein the actuator group (47) is also configured to exert a pressing force on the closing element (44) so as to press the closing element (44) onto the sealing member (46) when, in use, the closing element (44) is in the sealing position.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the actuator group (47) comprises at least:
- an actuator (48) moveable between a drawn-in position and an advanced position;

- a coupling assembly (49) coupled to the actuator (48) and the closing element (44) and configured to transfer movement of the actuator (48) to the closing element (44); and

- a cam mechanism (50) configured to guide movement of the closing element (44) between the sealing position and the release position;
wherein the closing element (44) is moved, in use, between the sealing position and the release position with the actuator (48) moving, in use, between the drawn-in position and the advanced position or between the advanced position and the drawn-in position.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the cam mechanism (50) comprises at least a guiding bar (53) having a guiding channel (54);
wherein the closing element (44) comprises at least one coupling element (55) penetrating into the guiding channel (54) and configured to move within the guiding channel (54) with closing element (44) moving between the sealing position and the release position.
Receptacle closure feeding device according to claim 10, wherein the guiding channel (54) comprises a main portion (56) and a pressuring portion (57), the pressuring portion (57) being inclined with respect to the main portion (56) .
Receptacle closure feeding device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide rail (33) comprises a moveable end portion (38) being moveable into an extracted position at which the end portion (38) respectively engages into the inside space (26) and a retracted position at which the end position (38) is positioned outside from the inside space (26).
Receptacle closure feeding device according to any one of claims 6 to 11 and claim 12, wherein the end portion (38) is moveable into a first direction (D1) from the retracted position to the extracted position;
wherein the closing element (44) is moveable into a second direction (D3) from the sealing position to the release position;
wherein the second direction (D3) is transversal to the first direction (D1).
Capping apparatus (1) for applying receptacle closures (3) onto receptacles (3) comprising at least a receptacle closure feeding device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims.
Capping apparatus according to claim 14 comprising a control device (15) configured to control the capping apparatus (1) between at least an aseptic configuration for applying receptacle closures (3) under aseptic conditions and a non-aseptic configuration for applying receptacle closures (3) under non-aseptic conditions;
wherein the second guide rail (33) is controlled, in use, into the active configuration and the access control assembly (34) is controlled, in use, into the allowance configuration with the capping apparatus (1) being controlled in the non-aseptic configuration.