CLOSING MACHINE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a closing machine according to the preamble of claim 1. Closing machines for closing containers, for example bottles, are known in the most diverse versions, in particular also as machines of the rotating type, in which they have been formed in the circumference of a rotor propelled in circulating form around a vertical axis of machine several closing positions, and in each case comprising a closing tool with which the respective lid is fixed, previously placed in the mouth of the container to be closed, in this container by using a drive. It is known in this context in particular also closing machines to close containers with threaded caps that are screwed, after placing them in a container mouth by means of the closing tool propelled in a rotary manner by the drive (eg a spindle drive) of the respective position of closing and shaped as closing cones, in a thread formed in the mouth of the container. When closing, the relative closing tool and the container move relative to each other and, for example, by means of a drive, v. gr. , also in the form of a drive
elevator It is necessary in the closing machines that the closing tools are adapted in each case to the type and / or the size of the covers, so that in a change of the closing machine of one type and / or a closing size to another type and / or closing size (change of format) it is also required that the closing tools be changed, which means until now a change of tool with a great investment of time and work. The object of the invention is to overcome this disadvantage. To achieve the objective, a closing machine is configured according to claim 1. In the inventive closing machine, at each closing position at least two locking tools are assigned that can be moved with a tool holder between a working position, in which the respective one Closing tool causes closure of the container, and a resting position. Thanks to this, there is the possibility of assigning at each closing position at least two closing tools that are appropriate for two different types and / or sizes of lid, so that a fast format change is allowed without problem. Preferably, the closing tools of all closing positions or of at least one group of
Closing positions are in a shared tool holder, so that a change of format is possible by moving this toolholder or the toolholders shared by several closing positions. In a preferred embodiment, the closing tools are provided in an annular carrier that concentrically encloses the vertical axis of the machine and that is rotated, respectively, pivoted for the tool change in such a way by this machine axis that all the tools of closure of a first type found before the change of format in the work position are replaced after the change of format by a closing tool of a second type that was, before the change of format, in a rest position. The closing tools are formed, for example, as closing cones for the processing of rotary covers and are rotatably fastened thereto around a tool axis in the tool holder respectively. At the latest at the start of each closing process or also from the moment a closing tool is moved to the working position, this is connected to the drive of a screwing unit and to the closing of the closing position in question with which it is actuated in a closed manner. rotary then the closing tool (unit of
screw and close) during closing. To ensure that the locking tools are reliably coupled with the respective screw and close unit, means are preferably provided which lock the closing tools in the rest position in at least one predetermined rotary position, so that each closing tool moving from the rest position to the working position has a necessary rotational position for a coupling to the coiling and closing unit. Embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 in an exemplary embodiment. Shown: Fig. 1 a closed bottle with a screw cap; Fig. 2 in simplified representation and seen from above a closing machine of the rotating type; Fig. 3 one of the screwing and closing units of the closing machine of figure 2; Fig. 4 In partial representation a side view of the rotor propelled rotatably about a vertical machine axis and two closing units provided there, together with closing tools, respectively, closing cones, provided in a tool holder, for the closing units, It should be taken into account that the components are represented in
as an exploded drawing to achieve greater clarity; Fig. 5 a top view in an annular tool holder comprising the closing cones; Fig. 6 an element of centering and locking ring of the closing machine. In figures 1 is a container in the form of a bottle that is closed by a lid 2 screwed in the form of a plug, shown in figure 1 in sectioned form. The closing of the bottles 1 is carried out in a way, with which the expert is familiar in principle, in a closing machine 3 of which shown in figure 2 only schematically a rotor 4 propelled in a rotating manner by a vertical axis of machine, in whose circumference there are several 5 closing positions. The bottles 1 to be closed are brought together in an entrance 3.1 of bottles of the closing machine in each case to a closing position 5. The closed bottles 1 are removed in a bottle outlet 3.2 from the respective closing position 5 and taken to later use. In the angular area of the rotary movement (arrow A) of the rotor 4 between the entrance 3.1 of bottles and the exit 3.2 of bottles is placed in each bottle 1
first a cover 2 and this is then screwed into the thread 1.1 formed in the respective bottle mouth to close the bottle 1. For the placement of the caps 2 in the bottles 1, each closing position 5 has a closing unit 6 that consists, among other elements, of a drive 7 and a spindle 8 which projects freely downwards from this drive and which is oriented with its axis parallel to the vertical axis MA of the machine. Each spindle 8 forms at its lower free end a coupling section 8.1 that is embodied in the embodiment shown as a rib or key. The lower end of each spindle 8 is guided in a centering and locking ring 9 fixed in the rotor 4 and arranged with its axis on a same axis with the machine axis MA. Below the ring 9 is an annular tool holder 10 which also concentrically encloses the vertical machine axis MA, respectively, is arranged on a same axis with this machine axis. In the tool holder 10, several cones 11 and 12 closers are housed in a freely rotatable manner, and in each case by a vertical axis parallel to the machine axis MA. The cones 11 and 12 closers are adjusted to different sizes of covers 2 and, namely, in such a way that the cones 11 closers are made in such a way that
they fit to lids 2 with a smaller diameter and cones 12 closers to lids with a larger diameter. As shown in particular in FIG. 5, the closing cones 11 and 12 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the tool holder 10 in such a way that all the closing cones 11 and 12 each have the same radial distance from the central axis of the tool holder. 10 and thus also of the machine axis MA, this radial distance being the same as the distance of the axis spindle 8 of the machine axis MA. As also shown in FIG. 5, the closing cones 11 and 12 are provided in an alternating manner in the circumferential direction of the tool holder 10, and in a manner such that in each case a closing cone 11 and a closing cone 12 form a pair of closing cones, respectively, a group of closing cones, occupying an angular area in relation to the vertical axis MA of the machine that is less than the acial distance of two closing units 6 that follow one another in the circumferential direction of the rotor 4. In addition, the number of groups of closing cones is equal to the number of closing units 6, so that each closing unit is assigned -in the embodiment represented- one cone 11 closing and one cone 12 closing. By rotation, respectively, pivot the
tool carrier 11 by the machine axis MA can selectively selectively position a closing cone 11 or a closing cone 12 at the lower end of the spindle 8 associated on the same axis with this, ie, in a working position, and, namely, in particular also in such a way that the coupling section 8.1 of each spindle 8 engages a respectively 11.1 coupling section 12.1 of the respective cone 11, respectively, closer which is find in working position. In the embodiment of the coupling sections 8.1 as a key or rib, the coupling sections 11.1 and 12.1 are made on the upper side of the cones 11 and 12 closers in each case as a complementary groove. The drives 7, formed by electrical adjustment rotors, of the closing units 6 are controlled, respectively, are configured in such a way that the spindles 8 adopt after each closing or screwing process, or also to initiate a change of format, an initial or change position, in which each coupling section 8.1 is oriented with its larger surface sides 8.1.1, aligned in a vertical plane, tangentially relative to the circumference, respectively, to the rotor rotation direction A 4. The centering and locking ring 9 has on its underside a projection 9.1 in the form of a lath or key
which is interrupted at 14, where the respective spindle 8 is guided with its lower end in a bore 13 of the ring 9 or in a bearing provided therein, so that in each interruption 14 the coupling section 8.1 of a spindle 8 is housed. and the upper sides 8.1.1 of each coupling section 8.1 find their continuation in the initial position or change of the respective closing unit 6, respectively, of the spindle 8 on a lateral surface 9.1.1 of the projection 9.1. Unlike the exploded state represented in figure 4 for greater clarity, the projection 9.1 arrives in a state mounted in each case up to the inside of the section 11.1, respectively, 12.1 of coupling of those cones 11 and 12 closers that are not engaged with a spindle 8, respectively, they are in a rest position, so that also these closing cones 11, respectively 12, not being in use at this moment, have an orientation or position as regards their coupling sections 11.1 and 12.1. rotational precisely predetermined by the highlight 9.1. In this way it is then possible for a format change to be uncoupled by means of manual or motorized rotation of the tool holder 10, the cones 11, respectively, 12 closers that are in working position,
spindles 8 and coupling the other cones 12, respectively, 11 closers that were hitherto in the resting position to the spindles with precision in terms of position and axis alignment. The closing of the bottles 1 with the lids 2 is carried out in the known manner of the closing machines. For example, a lid 2 is inserted into each cone 11 firstly. The bottle 1 in question is then lifted by means of a container carrier 15, which can be raised and lowered in a controlled manner by a lifting device, oriented with its bottle axis in vertical direction and on a same axis with the axis of the spindle 8 of the respective closing position 5, from below against the cone 11, respectively, closer, which is connected for its operation with the spindle 8, so that the cover 2 it can then be screwed into the thread 1.1 by the cone 11, respectively, closer propelled through the spindle 8 by the drive 7. After closing, the bottles 1 are lowered and removed at the outlet 3.2 of packages. In the embodiment shown, the container 15 assigned to each closing position 5 is configured in such a way that the bottles 1 are fastened, during closure, suspended from their bottle neck, respectively, from the flange 1.2 formed therein.
portaenvases 15. Of course there is also the possibility of other packaging of the container carriers. The invention has been described in the foregoing by means of an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that multiple changes and modifications are possible without abandoning the fundamental inventive idea of the invention. Thus, it was assumed in the foregoing that the bottles 1 are lifted for closure with the respective container 15 respectively of bottles from below against the cone 11, respectively the closer used in each case, while the cones 11 and 12 closers do not perform an axial movement in the direction of their axes, respectively, in the direction of the axis of the respective spindle 8. In principle, however, there is also the option of providing cones 11 and 12 closers, v. gr., in each case, for example, elastically in such a way in the tool holder 10, that an elastic axial movement of the cones 11, respectively, 12 is allowed for the closure. It has further been assumed that the closing cones 11 and 12 for all the closing positions 5 are rotatably housed in a shared tool holder. In principle, however, there is also the option to provide for each closing position 5, or also
for a group of such sealing positions, in each case a separate toolholder, in which the respective closing cones are then arranged in a rotary manner, but preferably, however, all the tool holders are connected together by means of a drive for changing the format. The present invention also encompasses those embodiments in which the coupling sections 8.1-unlike the representation example shown in Figure 6-are not formed as a solid, full-area element. For example, the scope of the present invention also extends to those arrangements in which instead of a solid element, only two pivots project into the groove of the closing cones and then make the necessary connection between the drive 7 and the cone 11, 12 closer. These pivots may be supported, for example, at their upper end inside the screw spindle 8. List of reference symbols 1 Bottle 1.1 Thread in the bottle mouth 1.2 Bottle flange 2 Cover 3 Closing machine 4 Rotor
Closing position Closing unit Drive Screw spindle Coupling section Surface side Centering and locking ring Nerve or key Surface side of the rib 9.1 Tool holder ring Closing cone Coupling section at the top of the closing cones Guide perforation Interruption Carrier carrier Direction rotor rotation 4 Controlled vertical lifting motion of the carriers 15 Ex e of the machine