EP3828127A1 - Closing device for closing containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a closer for closing containers, such as bottles, comprising at least one closing element for attaching a closure to a container, wherein the closing element comprises a gripping element for gripping a closure and an adjustment mechanism that moves the gripping element between a gripping position in which the The gripping element can grip and hold a closure and move it to an open position, wherein the adjustment mechanism can adjust the gripping element into the gripping position by applying pressure when picking up a closure and can adjust it to the open position when applying pressure again when transferring a held closure to a container, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a holding element which is designed to hold the gripping element in the gripping position.

Description

The present invention relates to a capper for closing containers such as bottles according to claim 1 and a method for closing a container such as a bottle according to claim 10.

State of the art

Closers are sufficiently known from the prior art, in particular in the field of the cosmetics industry and the food processing industry such as the beverage industry. These closer can be designed as rotary machines but also as linear machines. Sufficient devices are known for this from the prior art.

The closers each include one or more closure elements that apply a closure, such as a screw cap, to a container, such as a plastic container. For this purpose, the closure can either only be pressed open or also applied to the container using a rotary movement or a torque.

The closure elements have to be controlled for this purpose, since they usually first have to remove the closures from a supply in order to apply them to the container and then have to apply them to the container. In the prior art, this movement is usually controlled via control cams which mechanically control the movement of the closing elements (up and down movement and rotation).

From the DE 103 56 222 A1 Alternatively, a device for screwing closure caps onto containers is known, the gripping element of the closing element being assigned a control member which rotates with the closing element and is moved in order to open or close the gripping element.

While these methods principally provide a high level of accuracy due to the mechanical regulation of the movement of the gripping elements and can therefore seal containers reliably and reproducibly, it is certainly difficult to apply different closures to containers with these closers, in particular with regard to the length but also the diameter of the closures concerns. If a type change or format change is necessary, either the individual locking elements and / or the mechanical Control elements for controlling the movement of the closing elements are completely replaced, which results in considerable downtimes and usually involves a great deal of manual effort.

task

Based on the known prior art, the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a closer with which a reliable control of the gripping and releasing of the closure is achieved and at the same time the effort in designing the machine and / or operating the machine, especially in the case of a Variety change can be kept as low as possible.

solution

This object is achieved according to the invention by the closer for closing containers, such as bottles, according to claim 1 and the method for closing a container, such as a bottle, according to claim 10.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are covered in the subclaims.

The closure device according to the invention for closing containers, such as bottles, comprises at least one closure element for attaching a closure to a container, wherein the closure element comprises a gripping element for gripping a closure and an adjusting mechanism that moves the gripping element between a gripping position in which the gripping element has a Can grip and hold the closure and move it to an open position, wherein the adjustment mechanism can adjust the gripping element into the gripping position by applying pressure when picking up a closure and can adjust it to the open position when applying pressure again when transferring a held closure to a container, the Adjusting mechanism comprises a holding element which is designed to hold the gripping element in the gripping position.

Since the actuation of the gripping element and its adjustment by means of the adjusting mechanism into the gripping or the open position takes place solely through the action of pressure when picking up a closure and when transferring a held closure to a container, there are additional control cams that would mechanically control the movement of the gripping element , superfluous, so that the same gripping element and also the same locking element can be used even with different closures.

The holding element can develop a pretensioning effect, for example, which ensures that the gripping element is held in the gripping position and is only brought into the open position when pressure is applied (again).

In one embodiment, the gripping element comprises an engagement element for transmitting a torque to the closure during the application of a closure to a container.

A rotation of the closure element to screw the closure onto the container can thus be effectively translated into a torque acting on the closure.

It can be provided that the adjusting mechanism is designed to move the gripping element into the open position at the end of a locking process.

This embodiment ensures that the gripping element still remains in the gripping position during the closing process, that is to say while the closure is being applied to the container, so that the closure is securely positioned on the container. The fact that the gripping element is moved into the open position as soon as the closure element is removed from the closure ensures that the closure is not accidentally removed from the container again.

Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism can comprise a tensioning mechanism in order to adjust the gripping element into the gripping position by applying pressure when picking up a closure and to adjust it into the open position when pressure is applied again when transferring a held closure to a container, the tensioning mechanism being designed as the gripping element hold in the closed position.

Such tensioning mechanisms are known, for example, from ballpoint pens or the like, devices to be brought into different positions by successive application of pressure. They usually include a guide along which an element revolves. The guide usually has two reversal points offset from one another in the pressure direction for the movement, with the guided element alternately changing from one position to the other when pressure is applied, so that the tensioning mechanism adjusts the gripping element from the open position to the gripping position and vice versa can perform.

Furthermore, in one embodiment it is provided that the closer comprises an ejection element which interacts with the adjusting mechanism of a closing element can to adjust the gripping element from the gripping position to the open position. This ensures that the gripping element can also be moved into the open position if the closure is unsuccessful, for example if no container is positioned under the corresponding closure element and the closure is therefore not applied.

In a further development of this embodiment it is provided that the gripping element can be adjusted from the gripping position to the open position by interaction of the ejector element with the adjusting mechanism, without the effect of pressure when transferring a held closure to a container.

For example, the ejection element can move the adjustment mechanism into a position (such as a "release position" in which a closure can be released) in which the movement of the gripping element is released so that it automatically (e.g. in conjunction with a spring element into which adjusted open position.

Furthermore, the adjusting mechanism can comprise a tensioning mechanism and the ejection element can be designed to adjust part of the tensioning mechanism from a position in which the gripping element is held in a gripping position to a position in which the gripping element is transferred into the open position.

When realizing the adjustment mechanism by means of a tensioning mechanism, the part of the tensioning mechanism containing the guidance of the tensioning mechanism can be moved in order to release the guided element in its movement so that the gripping element can be moved into the open position.

In a further embodiment, a spring element biases the gripping element into the gripping position.

In this way it can be ensured that in the absence of a lock or corresponding pressure action, the gripping element usually remains in the open position.

Furthermore, the closing element can be arranged rotatably on the closer in order to apply a closure to a container by the action of a torque, the adjustment mechanism being arranged to rotate or not rotate with the closing element.

In the case of a co-rotatable arrangement of the adjusting mechanism, a rotationally symmetrical configuration of the same is not necessary, which can simplify the construction, for example in connection with tensioning mechanisms. If the adjustment mechanism is not arranged to rotate, this can bring advantages with regard to the correct positioning of the adjustment mechanism in the vertical direction.

The method according to the invention for closing a container, such as a bottle, is carried out by means of a closer, a closure for closing the container being picked up from a supply by a gripping element of a closing element and then the closure being applied to the container, the closing element having an adjusting mechanism which moves the gripping element between a gripping position, in which the gripping element grips the closure from the supply and holds it in the gripping position, and an open position, the adjustment mechanism adjusting the gripping element into the gripping position by the action of pressure when picking up the closure and adjusted into the open position upon renewed application of pressure when transferring the held closure to the container, the adjusting mechanism comprising a holding element which holds the gripping element in the gripping position. This method allows a flexible application of closures of different sizes to containers.

In one embodiment, the gripping element remains in the closed position during the application of the container while pressure is being exerted on the closure and is adjusted to the open position when the closure element is removed from the closed container.

This ensures that as long as pressure is still exerted on the closure (and container) by the closure element, the gripping element remains in the gripping position and thus ensures correct application of the closure. Since the gripping element is then moved into the open position (when the pressure is removed), a reliable release of the gripping element from the closed container is guaranteed.

It can also be provided that the gripping element is moved from the gripping position into the open position for ejecting a closure by means of an ejection element which cooperates with the adjusting mechanism of the closure element.

This embodiment is particularly preferred in order to ensure that, even after a container has been incorrectly closed, the closure is ejected before a new closure is picked up.

In a further development of this embodiment it is provided that the ejection element is actuated after the optional transfer of the closure to a container.

With the ejector elements arranged in the process direction after the area in which the closures are applied to the containers, a standard actuation of the ejector element can take place with each pass in order to ensure that in the event that no container has been closed, the closure that has been picked up will still be used is ejected.

In a further embodiment, the gripping element is biased into the open position by a spring element. If the gripping element is biased into the open position, it is ensured that a correct gripping of a closure and a reliable release from a closed container is effected.

Furthermore, the closure element can be rotated while the closure is being applied to the container, with the adjustment mechanism being rotated as well or the adjustment mechanism not being rotated with it. Various advantages with regard to the construction and carrying along of the closing elements can be realized in this way.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1

shows a closing element of a closer according to an embodiment

Figures 2a and b

show the closure element and components thereof according to one of the embodiments

Figures 3a to d

show schematically the sequence of movements on the closure element when a closure is taken over and transferred to a container

Figures 4a to c

show the process of ejection of a closure

Figure 5

shows schematically an embodiment of a closer

Detailed description

In Figure 1 a closing element 100, as it can be part of a closer according to the invention, is shown. The closer itself is in Figure 5 shown schematically.

The closing element 100 can, for example, be arranged in a rotating manner on a closer and move to different positions. The closing element 100 basically comprises an unspecified base body 150 (also called a housing) which, for example, can establish the connection to the closer. A gripping element 101 is provided on this base body. In the embodiment shown here, the gripping element 101 comprises a plurality of gripping jaws (also called jaws) or clamp elements 111 to 113. These are arranged such that a closure can be received between them and the jaws 111 to 113 can grip and hold it. For this purpose it can be provided, for example, that one or more engagement elements 190 are arranged in the inner area of the jaws 111 to 113, in which a closure 170 can be received, which can be at least partially brought into engagement with the surface of the closure when the gripping element , in particular the jaws 111 to 113, grip the closure. These engagement elements 190 can be designed to produce a form-fitting and / or force-fitting contact between the closure and the gripping jaws 111 to 113. As a result of this contact, when the closure element 100 is rotated to apply the closure to a container, the torque can be transmitted to the closure by the gripping element (or the jaws 111 to 113) and a relative rotation of the closure to the closure element is avoided. This allows the closure to be securely attached to the container.

In the embodiment shown here, the jaws 111 to 113 of the gripping element are shown encompassing the closure 170 (in touching contact). This is to be understood as the gripping position of the gripping element 101. The gripping element 101 and in particular the jaws 111 to 113, however, are movably mounted so that they are, for example, mounted rotatably about the axes of rotation 142 and 143 assigned to them for the jaws 112 and 113. For this purpose, as will be explained below, guide rollers 122 and 123 can be provided, for example, which run along an adjustment mechanism arranged, for example, in the body 150 of the closing element 100, the adjustment mechanism allowing the rollers 122 and 123 to move in such a way that the Jaws 112 and 113 around the axis of rotation 142 and 143 is realized. If the jaws are open so that they usually cannot perform a gripping function, this is referred to as the "open position".

In addition, a spring element, for example the ring 130, can be provided which is designed to pretension the gripping element either in the open or in the gripping position. Pre-tensioning in the open position is preferred, since this can avoid that a closure to be gripped cannot be properly gripped due to inadvertent adjustment into the gripping position or the closure element cannot be released from the closed containers after the closure has been applied.

While in the embodiment shown here, the spring element 130 is shown as an O-ring which engages around the individual jaws 111 to 113 from the outside, this embodiment is not mandatory. Other spring elements, for example separate tensioning fenders for each or at least one of the jaws 111 to 113, can also be provided.

In the embodiment shown here, at least the jaws 112 and 113 can be moved about the corresponding axes 142 and 143. In this embodiment, this can also apply to the jaw 111, which is then mounted on the adjusting mechanism to be described so as to be movable about an axis (not shown here) with a roller (also not shown here). Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that only one of the jaws is mounted movably about a corresponding axis.

The embodiment of the gripping element with three jaws shown here is not mandatory. It is also possible for only two jaws or more than three jaws to be provided. Instead of the jaws, other elements, such as clamp elements, which only touch the container at certain points, can also be provided. In this regard, too, the invention is not restricted, so that the following description generally speaks of a “gripping element” 101 that can be moved between a gripping and an open position in order to effect a gripping or releasing of a closure. Embodiments that are described by way of example using jaws can also be implemented in all other ways, for example using clamp elements.

The Figures 2a and 2b show an embodiment of the closure element 100 as shown in FIG Figure 1 is shown in a side view (running through an imaginary longitudinal axis or central axis of the closing element) and in greater detail.

In the embodiment shown here, the surrounding O-ring is again provided as a rubber ring 130 as a spring element. This can also be made of polyurethane or other materials and / or comprise further elements that can realize an exciting or resilient effect. In contrast to the embodiment of the Figure 1 For the sake of simplicity, here only one of the jaws, the jaw 112, is shown as being rotatably mounted about an axis 142. It goes without saying that all previously described and conceivable here are also possible Other embodiments can be provided for the gripping element, as long as the functions described below can be implemented (in whole or in part).

As already with reference to Figure 1 described, the closing element comprises an adjusting mechanism. This adjustment mechanism is formed by the individual elements 261, 262, 263 and 264 and takes on the task of bringing about the movement of the gripping element between the gripping position and the open position.

In the embodiment shown here, a “plunger” 261 can be provided. This plunger can be fitted with a lock (see, for example, the description of Figures 3a to 3d ) are brought into touching contact and are moved in the illustrated double arrow direction by the action of pressure of the closure or are at least moved in the direction of the element 262.

In this case, the plunger 261 can be mounted movably relative to the body 150 of the closing element, for example with the aid of the connecting element 264. This connecting element can be designed as a rod that is movably supported (for example through the element 262). Furthermore, the element 263 can be assigned to the plunger 261 or any other suitable means, so that it can interact with the element 262 in such a way that when the plunger 261 is brought into contact with a closure and the closure is enclosed by the gripping element 101, a movement of the gripping element from the open position to the gripping position. At the same time, it is provided according to the invention that the elements 262 and 263 work together in such a way that they together realize a holding element that holds the gripping element in this position, i.e. in the gripping position, as long as a lock is arranged in the gripping element 101 (in particular without any other or sustaining one Pressure effect).

Furthermore, it is provided that the elements 262 and 263 interact in such a way that when pressure is again exerted on the adjusting mechanism, for example when the closure is applied to a container, the gripping element 101 can be moved back into the open position. It can be provided in particular that the holding element is first released and the holding of the gripping element is released by the holding element in the gripping position, so that the gripping element can move back into the open position. However, an immediate transfer to the open position does not have to take place, as will be described below.

While elements 262 and 263 were described here in a very abstract way only with regard to their function, in Figure 2b a detailed implementation is described. In the embodiment shown here, the element 263 and the element 262 together form a "tensioning mechanism", as is known, for example, from ballpoint pens. This tensioning mechanism usually has the property that it alternates between two positions when pressure is exerted.

In the embodiment shown here, the element 262 comprises a guide 266 for this purpose, in which the element 263, which can be connected to the element 264 as a guidable rod, for example, can be moved in accordance with the arrow directions shown. For this purpose, a delimitation 265 can be arranged within the guide 266, so that the element 263 can only follow the path shown in accordance with the arrows.

If no closure is arranged in the gripping element 101, the plunger 261 is located closer to the lower in FIG Figure 2a shown edge of the gripping element 101 and correspondingly the element 263 in the position 268 shown here at the lower end of the guide 266. If a closure is introduced into the gripping element 101, the element 263 moves by the upward movement of the element 264 along the guide 266 and moves ultimately in position 263 '. The element 263 is fixed in this position and the plunger 261 is correspondingly also fixed in this position, in which the gripping element 101 is in the position shown in FIG Figure 2a shown closed position is forced. If, for example, pressure is exerted again by the closing element coming into contact with a container, the element 263 first moves from the position 263 'into one of the upper areas 267 (by moving the plunger upward), from which it then moves into the original position in the lower Area 268 can slide when the closure element is removed from the closure.

That the element 264 and thus the element 263 does not remain in one of the areas 267 is ultimately caused by the roller 122 and the sliding along the conically shaped tappet 261, since the roller causes the spring element 130 to move the tappet 261 downwards by rotation the jaw 112 causes about the axis of rotation 142 and thus a movement 122 directed into the base body 150. This in turn presses the plunger 261 downwards and thus clamps the gripping element 101 in the open position. However, this movement can only be carried out when the element 263 is not mounted in the position 263 ', since a further downward movement of the element 264 in this position is prevented. In the position 263 ', the element 262 and the element 263 of the tensioning mechanism together form the holding element, so that the gripping element 101 is held in the gripping position by this holding element.

The provision of the tensioning mechanism and the actuation of the tensioning mechanism by the plunger coming into contact with the closure ensure that the closure is gripped correctly on the one hand and is released again after the container has been closed on the other. Any mechanical control with the aid of control cams is not necessary here, since the gripping element is actuated by interacting with the closure itself.

The general in the Figures 2a and 2b as well as in relation to the Figure 1 given description of the functioning of the closing element should now be in the Figures 3a to 3d further explained.

In the Figure 3a the state is shown in which the closure element 100 is positioned over a closure 370 in order to remove it from a supply of closures, not shown here. This is usually necessary because the closures cannot be kept in the closure element 100 itself, but must somehow be fed to the closure element 100 in order to be subsequently transferred from the latter to a container. For this purpose, "self-filling" supplies, in which a large number of closures are stored, which automatically move into the suitable takeover position through the closure element, can be advantageous. However, the design of the supply of closures 370 is not restricted and is not described in more detail here, since it is already sufficiently known from the prior art.

In the in Fig. 3a In the illustrated position, the gripping element 101 and here in particular the jaw 112, which is exemplarily shown as the actually movable element of the gripping element 101, is biased into the open position. In this embodiment, this is achieved in that the plunger 264 is in its position closest to the closure 370 or the lower receiving end of the gripping element 101 and, due to the conical structure, the roller 122 by means of the spring element 130 against the surface of the plunger located further inside 264 is pressed and thus a rotation of the jaw 112 about the axis 142 takes place, so that the gripping element is pretensioned into the open position.

Furthermore, the element 263 is shown here in a position in which it (compared to the Figure 2b ) is positioned in the guide at the lowest point 268.

As shown, the closure element is moved in the direction of the closure 270, which it is shown in FIG Figure 3b reached.

Since the gripping element 101 is biased in the open position, the closure 370 can penetrate the gripping element. The continued downward movement of the closure element exerts pressure through the closure 370 on the plunger 264 or, more generally, on the adjusting mechanism, which then ensures that the gripping element is transferred from the open position to the gripping position.

In the embodiment shown here, this takes place in that the plunger 264 is pressed upwards, which, due to its conical structure, results in the roller 122 being pressed outward on its surface, so that the jaw 112 of the gripping element rotates about the axis 142 takes place in the direction of the arrow shown and the jaw 112 is thus moved in the direction of the center of the gripping element and comes into physical contact with the closure 370. This rotation about the axis 142 takes place, if such a rotation is provided, against the action of the spring element 130 which is prestressing into the open position.

Due to the movement of the plunger 264, the element 263 is simultaneously also moved upwards when the adjustment mechanism is designed as a tensioning mechanism, so that it is ultimately in the position 263 '(see FIG Figure 2b ) comes to rest. In this position, the gripping element is in the gripping position, such as in Figure 3b is reached. Since a movement of the element 263 out of the position 263 'is not possible automatically without further pressure being exerted on the plunger, the closing element can now be lifted and the closure, which is reliably gripped in the gripping position of the gripping element 101, can now be lifted take from stock.

The closure thus gripped is next placed on a container 380 (see Figure 3c ) applied. This is usually done by exerting considerable pressure and possibly a rotary movement, which can be carried out, for example, through the entire closing element 100. When the closure is pressed onto the container 380, the plunger 364 is initially lifted slightly, which means that the element 263 moves from its position 263 'into one of the positions 267 (see FIG Figure 2b ) arrives. Since permanently constant pressure (or essentially constant pressure, at least one pressure in the direction of the container) is exerted on the closure during application to the container 380, the gripping element remains in the gripping position despite the non-fixed positioning of the element 263. Only when, as in the Figure 3c shown, an upward movement of the closing element 100 takes place (that is usually only at the end or after completion the locking process), the plunger moves downwards and the element 263 is guided back into its starting position at the lower end of the guide 266. Meanwhile, the roller 130 runs again along the conical surface of the plunger 264, so that due to the tapering of this area when the plunger 264 is moved downward, the spring force of the spring element 130 can cause a rotation of the gripping element or the gripping jaw 112 about the axis 142 and a movement of the Gripping elements is effected in the open position. As a result, the lifting of the closing element from the now closed container can begin immediately.

This process is in the Figure 3d completely completed, in which the in Figure 3a described situation set in which the gripping element is biased in the open position. This completes the closure and the gripping element is now able to pick up a closure again.

However, complications can also arise in the process described. It is quite possible that a container fails, so that the closing element "reaches into the void" and the closure it grips is not transferred to a container and therefore the closing element would in principle remain in the gripping position.

In such a case, during the subsequent movement to the supply for picking up a new closure, a closure would already be gripped in the closure element, so that a new closure cannot be picked up, which can lead to malfunctions.

To prevent this from happening, the Figures 4a to 4c a further embodiment in which, in addition to the components described so far, an ejection element 495 is optionally provided, which is designed such that it can interact with the adjusting mechanism in such a way that the gripping element can be brought into the open position without interacting with a container and so that a possibly still gripped closure can be ejected. In contrast to the previously described method, in which the movement of the gripping element from the open to the gripping and from the gripping again to the open position was ultimately controlled by exerting pressure on the plunger or generally the adjusting mechanism, this targeted ejection of the Closure now by a targeted control or actuation of the adjustment mechanism without (for example mediated by the closure) a corresponding pressure is exerted on the adjustment mechanism.

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed here that the adjusting mechanism is again embodied as comprising a tensioning mechanism, as has already been done in FIG Figure 2 but also, for example, in the Figures 3a to 3d has been described. Other embodiments are also conceivable here and the ejection element 495 can then be adapted accordingly.

In the in the Figure 4a The illustrated embodiment is now provided that the element 262 or the guide part 262 of the tensioning mechanism, which realizes the adjustment mechanism in this embodiment, comprises an area 496 which tapers in the direction of the plunger 264 or in the direction of the gripping element 101. Tapering can mean here, for example, that a part of the material facing downward part of the element 262 extends further in the direction of the center of the base body 150 of the closing element 100 than in an upper region of the element 262.

The ejection element 495 is preferably movable in the direction of the gripping area 101 and is arranged above the element 262 so that it can be introduced into the element 262. The element 262 is movably mounted in this embodiment, so that it can be moved along the illustrated arrow direction (horizontally or at least preferably perpendicular to the plane of movement of the element 263).

If the ejection element 495 is now guided along the conical area 496 in the direction of the gripping element 101, the element 262 must move along due to the fixed position of the ejection element 495 in the horizontal plane (it can only be moved in the vertical direction towards and away from the gripping area) move outward and away from element 263 in the direction of the arrow shown.

As a result, the element 263 is free in its vertical movement and slips compared to FIG Figure 2b the element 263 completely out of the guide, which is ultimately designed as a recess, so that the element under the influence of gravity together with the plunger 264 according to the in Figure 4b situation shown down (i.e. in the direction of the gripping element) slides. Alternatively, the element 263 together with the plunger 264 can also be actively moved downwards by means of spring force or a similar force. The element is then at the level of the lower point 268 (see Figure 2b ). During this movement, the closure 370 is now released from the gripping element 101 moving into the open position, since it is no longer gripped by, for example, the jaws of the gripping element. This is in the Figure 4b shown with the shutter 370 falling out.

In the Figure 4c the ejection element 495 is now brought back into its original position. By providing a spring element which optionally additionally biases the element 262 (the bias takes place here in the direction of the element 263, so that the element 263 is held in the guide 266), the element 262 can now move into its original position Figure 4a intended initial situation moves. The element 263 is then in the lower position 268. At the same time, the plunger is in the position shown in FIG Figure 4c position shown as it is in relation to Figure 3a was positioned before it picks up a closure and the gripping element 101 is biased in the open position. A new closure can now be added and the procedure that is carried out in Figure 3 start all over again.

In principle, it can be provided that the process according to Figure 4 is carried out after each closing process that is carried out with the closing element. In this way it can be ensured that in no case a closure remains in the gripping element and that the gripping element is always able to pick up a new closure.

For this purpose, for example, the ejection element can be actuated mechanically by a control cam and a control roller (not shown here) assigned to the ejection element and rotating along the control cam, which is always in the same position (for example in the same angular position of the closing element along a rotary machine trained closer) after completion of the closing process, the ejection element is actuated before the closing element is used again for picking up.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that after a closing process or already during it, it is determined whether there is an error, for example whether a container has also been assigned to the corresponding closing element, onto which a closure can be applied. This can be done, for example, with the aid of sensors that determine, for example with the aid of a light barrier, whether a container is positioned in a corresponding container receptacle assigned to the closing element. Alternatively, for example, a sensor can also be used to detect the release of the lock from the locking element during the locking process.

If a malfunction is determined in such a way that a closure is still arranged in the closure element after the actually planned closing process, an actuator optionally assigned to the ejection element 495 or another element actuating the ejection element 495 can be operated, for example by suitable control by a computer in order to actuate the ejection element of the closure element in a targeted manner and to ensure an ejection of the unintentionally remaining closure.

Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a closer 500 according to an embodiment of the invention. The closer 500 is designed here as a rotary machine which comprises a carousel, along the periphery of which a row of closing elements 100 are arranged. Container receptacles, such as standing plates or rotary plates 520, are assigned to the closure elements, so that a container 530 can be clamped between the closure element and the container receptacle 520 for closing the container with a closure by means of the closure element in accordance with one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

In the embodiment shown here, the rotary machine is designed to be rotatable about an axis of rotation R. In the transport direction of the containers (that is, along the direction of rotation), upstream feed devices for feeding the containers to the closer and downstream discharge devices for removing the containers from the closer can be provided. These can be implemented, for example, as turntables or other devices.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown here as a rotary machine, a linear machine can also be provided. In this linearly operating machine, a number of closing elements can be arranged one after the other, with these containers then being fed, for example, in cycles according to the number of closing elements, in order to close them at the same time.

Other common embodiments of closers are also conceivable here.

Since the described closure elements do not require any additional or alternative external control means (control cams or actuators or the like), common and already in use closers can be equipped with the closure elements according to the invention in order to utilize the advantages of the invention.

In addition, for example, an ejection container can be provided in which closures to be ejected, which arise if the closure is incorrect, can be sorted out with the help of the ejection element and to prevent them from being randomly distributed in the machine and thus leading to malfunctions.

Claims (15)

Closer for closing containers, such as bottles, comprising at least one closing element for attaching a closure to a container, wherein the closing element comprises a gripping element for gripping a closure and an adjusting mechanism that moves the gripping element between a gripping position in which the gripping element grips a closure and can hold, and can move an open position, wherein the adjusting mechanism can adjust the gripping element by the action of pressure when picking up a closure into the gripping position and can adjust it to the open position when pressure is applied again when transferring a held closure to a container, the adjusting mechanism a A holding element which is designed to hold the gripping element in the gripping position. A closer according to claim 1, wherein the gripping element comprises an engagement element for transmitting a torque to the closure during the application of a closure to a container. Closer according to Claim 1 or 2, the adjusting mechanism being designed to move the gripping element into the open position at the end of a closing process. Closer according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a tensioning mechanism in order to adjust the gripping element into the gripping position by applying pressure when picking up a closure and to adjust it to the open position when applying pressure again when transferring a held closure to a container, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to hold the gripping element in the closed position. Closer according to one of Claims 1 to 4, the closer comprises an ejection element which can cooperate with the adjusting mechanism of a closing element in order to adjust the gripping element from the gripping position to the open position. Closer according to claim 5, wherein the gripping element can be adjusted from the gripping position to the open position by the interaction of the ejector element with the adjusting mechanism, without the application of pressure A held closure is transferred to a container. Closer according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a tensioning mechanism and the ejection element is designed to adjust a part of the tensioning mechanism from a position in which the gripping element is held in a gripping position to a position in which the gripping element is in the open position is convicted. Closer according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the closing element comprises a spring element for biasing the gripping element into the gripping position. Closer according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the closing element is rotatably arranged on the closer in order to apply a closure by the action of a torque on a container, the adjusting mechanism being arranged to rotate or not rotate with the closing element. A method for closing a container, such as a bottle, by means of a closure, wherein a closure for closing the container is picked up from a supply by a gripping element of a closure element and the closure is then applied to the container, the closure element comprising an adjusting mechanism which The gripping element moves between a gripping position, in which the gripping element grips the closure from the supply and holds it in the gripping position, and an open position, the adjusting mechanism adjusting the gripping element into the gripping position by applying pressure when picking up the closure and when applying pressure again adjusted when transferring the held closure to the container in the open position, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a holding element which holds the gripping element in the gripping position. A method according to claim 10, wherein the gripping element remains in the closed position during application of the container while pressure is applied to the closure and is adjusted to the open position when the closure element is removed from the closed container. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the gripping element is moved from the gripping position to the open position for ejecting a closure by means of an ejection element which cooperates with the adjusting mechanism of the closure element. The method of claim 12, wherein the ejector element is actuated after the optional transfer of the closure to a container. Method according to one of Claims 10 to 13, the gripping element being pretensioned into the gripping position by a spring element of the closing element. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the closing element is rotated while the closure is being applied to the container, the adjusting mechanism being rotated with it or the adjusting mechanism not being rotated with it.

Images