TW202517543A - Folding apparatus and method for capsules - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding apparatus and method for folding a finning of a tamper band of a closing capsule made of plastics, in which a folding unit comprises a capsule support (2) and a folding tool that are movable in relation to one another along a vertical movement axis (Z), in which the capsule support houses a capsule with the finning arranged above and the folding tool folds the finning towards the inside of the capsule, and in which the capsule support comprises an open annular support arm (7) that receives in support an annular portion of the capsule, and an empty space arranged below the support arm to house a portion of capsule (104) located below the annular portion.

Description

Folding device and method for capsule

The present invention relates to a folding device and method for folding capsules, in particular to a fin for folding a tamper-evident seal made of plastic and used to close a lid of a container.

In particular, but not exclusively, the invention in question can be effectively used to manufacture a special type of capsule, namely a so-called "sport cap", which comprises a capsule body and a dispensing spout, wherein the capsule body can be engaged with the neck of the container by the fins of the capsule's tamper-evident band, and wherein the dispensing spout is closed by a cap connected to the capsule body by a breakable safety device (an example of a "sport cap" is shown in patent publication US 2009/0152269 A1).

Capsules of the "sport cap" type typically have two frangible security devices, one of which is configured to connect a tamper-evident band to the capsule body to indicate a possible first separation of the capsule body from the container, and the other security device is used to indicate the first opening of the cap of the dispensing spout.

The security means provided for attaching the tamper-evident band to the capsule body typically comprise a convenient break line and fins intended to engage a ridge on the neck of the container.

It is known to manufacture closed capsules by molding plastic into a mold in which the fins are disposed toward the outside of the capsule so that the capsule can be removed from the mold. The fins must then be folded inside the capsule to achieve a use configuration in which they must engage with a ridge on the neck of the container.

It is known to perform this folding task in a device comprising a rotating turntable carrying a number of folding units, each of which comprises a lower support carrying the capsule and an upper folding tool which partially folds the fin into the interior of the capsule by reciprocating movement between the support and the tool along a vertical and horizontal axis of movement.

Patent publication EP 1 243 520 A1 shows a specific example of a device for folding the fins of a tamper-evident tape of a capsule.

One of the problems of the prior art is that, especially in the case of capsules with two breakable safety devices, the operation of folding the fins may give rise to the risk of rupture (even only partial rupture) or damage or weakening of at least one of the breakable safety devices of the capsule (especially the device arranged to indicate the opening of the cover of the dispensing nozzle in special so-called "sporting cover" type capsules).

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding device and/or method that can overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

One object is to improve the known devices and methods for folding fins in capsules having two breakable safety devices, for example capsules of the special so-called "sports lid" type.

An object is to provide a folding device and/or method, in particular for capsule fins, which is an alternative to those of the prior art.

One advantage is that the operation of the folding fins can prevent damage to the breakable safety device provided to indicate opening of the cap of the dispensing nozzle in a "sport cap" type capsule.

One advantage is the precise and reliable performance of the operation of the fins of the tamper-evident tape of the folded capsule.

One advantage is that the capsule can be quickly, easily and securely assembled inside the unit, in particular by supplying the capsule in a horizontal insertion orientation.

One advantage is that a folding device can be used to fold the capsule fin, which folding device is cheap and simple in construction.

These and other advantages are achieved by an apparatus and/or method according to one or more of the claims set forth below.

In a specific example, a folding device includes at least one folding unit, which has a capsule support and a folding tool that can move relative to each other along a movement axis (especially a vertical axis), wherein the capsule support can accommodate a capsule with a fin arranged on the top, and the folding tool can fold the fin toward the inside of the capsule, and wherein the capsule support includes a support arm that can accommodate the shoulder of the side wall of the capsule and provide support, and a blank space arranged below the support arm and can accommodate a part of the capsule located below the shoulder, wherein "shoulder" means a change in the diameter of the side wall.

The proposed solution makes it possible to fold the fins of the tamper-evident band of capsules, in particular of the so-called "sporting cap" type, without supporting the capsule from below (i.e. on the lower end wall which, in the use configuration of the capsule, will serve as the upper end wall of the capsule), in order to avoid stresses on the breakable element (ridge) connecting the cap of the dispensing spout to the body of the capsule during the folding operation.

Specifically, the support arm may have an open ring configuration or a C-shaped configuration, as it can receive the shoulder of the side wall of the capsule and provide support. This particular configuration of the support arm enables the capsule to be inserted into the support member in a horizontal direction or with at least one horizontal component of movement, thereby potentially eliminating any corresponding movement between the capsule and its support member in a vertical direction.

With reference to the above figures, a folding device is described which can be used in particular for folding a fin in a capsule which can be used to close a container. In particular, the fin can be part of a tamper-evident seal of a breakable safety device of the capsule. The capsule can be made in particular of plastic.

The folding device can be used in particular for folding capsules having two breakable security devices, such as capsules of the "sporting cap" type, which comprise a capsule body and a dispensing spout, wherein the capsule body can be engaged with a ridge on the neck of the container (which marks a possible first detachment of the capsule body from the container) via the fins of the tamper-evident seal of the first breakable security device of the capsule, and wherein the dispensing spout is closed by a cap connected to the capsule body by a second breakable security device (e.g. provided with a series of breakable ridges), which indicates the opening of the cap of the dispensing spout.

The folding device comprises at least one folding unit 1, which in turn comprises a capsule support 2 and a folding tool 3. Specifically, as in this specific example, the folding device may comprise a folding turntable 4, which rotatably carries (around a vertical rotation axis) a plurality of folding units 1, which are configured to be angularly spaced apart (equidistant) from each other.

For each folding unit 1, the folding tool 3 can be arranged in particular above the capsule support 2. For each folding unit 1, the capsule support 2 and the folding tool 3 can be moved relative to each other along a movement axis Z, in particular vertical.

Each capsule support 2 is configured to accommodate a capsule 100 such that an end wall 101 of the capsule is disposed below a fin 102 of the capsule.

Each folding tool 3 is configured to perform folding of the fin 102 of the capsule from top to bottom and toward the inside of the capsule.

Specifically, each capsule support 2 may include a support edge 5 and a blank space 6 disposed below the support edge 5. The support edge 5 is configured to receive a portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule and provide support. The blank space 6 below the support edge 5 is configured to receive a portion 104 of the capsule located below the portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule disposed in the support edge 5. Specifically, the portion 104 of the capsule may include the end wall 101.

The fin 102 of the capsule 100 is part of a tamper-evident seal of the capsule, which is connected to the body of the capsule 100 by a first breakable device. The capsule 100 comprises a second breakable device 105 inserted between the aforementioned portion of the side wall 103 and the end wall 101.

Each capsule support 2 may in particular comprise a support arm 7 and the support edge 5 may in particular comprise the (upper) edge of the support arm 7 .

Specifically, the supporting edge 5 may extend in an arc shape in length. Specifically, the arc shape of the supporting edge 5 may extend in length at a central angle of less than 230°, less than 220°, less than 210°, or comprised between 180° and 230°, or comprised between 180° and 220°, or comprised between 180° and 210°, or comprised between 190° and 220°, or comprised between 200° and 210°.

The central angle refers to the angle formed by two straight lines tangent to the arcuate shape of the supporting edge 5 at two opposite end points. In this particular embodiment, the supporting edge 5 extends in length at a central angle included in the range of 210°±5°.

In particular, the support edge 5 can be shaped as an open ring so as to define a side opening through which the capsule 100 can be at least partially inserted. In particular, the support edge 5 can have a cross-sectional shape (according to a vertical cross-sectional plane) defining a stationary surface that is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal and opens toward the inside.

Specifically, the folding device may include at least one feeder 8, which is configured to feed the capsules 100 one at a time to the folding turntable 4, in particular, so that during the continuous rotation of the folding turntable 4 (for example, at a constant rotation speed), each capsule 100 is inserted into the respective folding unit 1 having at least a portion of the capsule 100, and each capsule is inserted into the folding unit 1 through the aforementioned side opening in a direction having at least one horizontal motion component.

Specifically, each capsule support member 2 may include a support surface 9 defining the aforementioned empty space 6 below so as to be able to support the end wall 101 of the capsule.

The supporting surface 9 and the supporting edge 5 of each capsule support 2 may be shaped and configured so that during folding (as will be better explained further in this specification), the force applied to the capsule by the folding tool 3 is partially released to the supporting edge 5 and partially released to the supporting surface 9, and a part of the side wall 103 of the capsule (for example in the form of a shoulder) rests on the supporting edge and the end wall 101 of the capsule rests on the supporting surface.

Specifically, the folding tool 3 may include an inner annular portion 10 and an outer annular portion 11, which can move relative to each other along a movement axis Z (especially a vertical axis). Specifically, the folding tool 3 may include an elastic device 12 (for example, a helical spring) configured to apply an elastic force that keeps the outer annular portion 11 adjacent to the inner annular portion 10. The inner annular portion 10 is configured to perform folding of the fin 102, and the outer annular portion 11 is configured to interact in contact with a portion of the capsule 100 connected to the fin 102 by a contact force that offsets the aforementioned elastic force.

In particular, the folding tool 3 may comprise a center adjustment member 13 which is movable along a displacement axis Z relative to the inner annular portion 10. The center adjustment member 13 is configured to at least partially enter the interior of the capsule 100 to perform a center adjustment of the capsule 100 relative to the folding tool 3 along the displacement axis Z. In particular, the center adjustment member 13 may comprise a rod having a centering disk underneath and which is slidable along the (vertical) displacement axis Z in an axial cavity obtained in the inner annular portion 10.

Specifically, the folding device may include a first guide system configured to guide the reciprocating movement between each capsule support 2 and each folding tool 3 along the respective vertical and horizontal movement axis Z. In this case, the first guide system is configured to guide the vertical and horizontal movement of the capsule support 2, so that in this specific example, the reciprocating movement consists of the vertical and horizontal movement of the capsule support 2.

In particular, the first guide system may include a cam system. In particular, the cam system may include a cam profile 14 extending in length in the circumferential direction (FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the cam profile 14 together with some positions of the capsule support 2 relative to the folding tool 3) and a plurality of cam follower members 15, one for each capsule support 2, which are coupled to the cam profile 14 in a sliding manner. For each folding unit 1, a respective capsule support 2 has a respective cam follower member 15 coupled to the cam profile 14, so that during the rotation of the folding turntable 4, a given vertical position of the capsule support will correspond to each angular position of the capsule support 2.

In particular, the folding device may include a second guide system configured to guide the reciprocating movement between each inner annular portion 10 and each center adjustment member 13 along the vertical movement axis Z. In this particular case, the second guide system is configured to guide the vertical movement of each center adjustment member 13, so that in this specific example, the reciprocating movement consists of the vertical movement of the center adjustment member 13.

Specifically, the second guide system may include a cam system. Specifically, the cam system may include a cam profile 16 extending in length along the circumferential direction and a plurality of cam follower members 17, one cam follower member for each center adjustment member 13, which is coupled to the cam profile 16 in a sliding manner.

For each folding unit 1 , a respective centering member 13 has a respective cam follower member 17 coupled to the cam profile 16 so that during rotation of the folding carousel 4 , the vertical position of the centering member will correspond to the respective vertical position of the centering member 13 .

The operation of the folding device enables a folding method to be implemented, which comprises the step of housing the capsule 100 on the capsule support 2 so that the end wall 101 of the capsule is arranged under the fin 102 oriented towards the outside of the capsule 100 .

The folding method comprises performing a relative mutual movement between the capsule 100 and the folding tool 3 along a (vertical) movement axis Z, so that the folding tool 3 can perform a step of folding the fin 102 inside the capsule 100 .

During the folding process, a portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule is received and supported by a portion of the capsule support member 2.

During the aforementioned folding, the second breakable device 105 is inserted between the aforementioned portion of the side wall 103 and the end wall 101, so that at least a portion of the force applied by the folding tool 3 during the folding is released to the aforementioned portion of the capsule support 2, which accommodates the aforementioned portion of the side wall 103 and provides support.

Specifically, the aforementioned portion of the side wall 103 may include a shoulder (a change in the diameter of the side wall 103) that is received and supported by the aforementioned portion of the capsule support 2 during folding. Specifically, the aforementioned portion of the side wall 103 may be annular in shape.

Specifically, the aforementioned portion of the capsule support 2 may include a support arm 7 having an arc-shaped support edge 5, on which the aforementioned portion of the side wall 103 is placed.

Specifically, the folding method may include the step of feeding a plurality of capsules 100 one at a time so that each capsule 100 is inserted into each capsule support 2 through the aforementioned side opening obtained on the aforementioned portion of the respective capsule support 2 in an insertion direction having at least one horizontal motion component.

FIG. 1 shows capsules 100 arranged in a row one behind the other, which are advanced in a horizontal feeding direction which will correspond to the insertion direction in the respective capsule support 2. The capsule support 2 of the various folding units 1 is rotated by the folding turntable 4. FIG. 2 highlights the frontmost capsule 100 of the row received in the capsule support 2 of the folding unit 1, which is then in the insertion zone. When the capsule support 2 reaches the insertion area while being rotated by the folding turntable 4, the capsule 100 can enter the capsule support 2, and the aforementioned portion (shoulder) of the side wall 103 of the capsule can be received by the support arm 7 of the capsule support 2.

FIG. 5 shows some operating steps of the folding device during a complete rotation of the folding carousel 4 ( FIG. 6 shows an enlargement of the same steps as FIG. 5 ).

Referring to FIG. 5 (and FIG. 6 ), the folding method includes a first step (first figure from the left), in which the capsule 100 is received in the capsule support 2 (see also FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ). In this first step, the capsule support 2 has been guided by the first guide system to a position away from the lower part of the folding tool 3, and the center adjustment member 13 has been guided by the second guide system to a position away from the upper part of the capsule support 2.

In the second step (the second figure from the left side of Figure 5), the capsule support 2 carrying the capsule 100 is maintained (refer to vertical movement) in the lower position, and the center adjustment member 13 has been guided to the lower position by the second guide system, in which the center adjustment member is at least partially inserted into the interior of the capsule 100 carried by the capsule support 2.

In the third step (the third figure from the left, also see Figure 7), the capsule support 2 has been guided by the first guide system to perform an ascending movement to an upper position, in which the capsule support contacts and interferes with the inner annular portion 10 and the outer annular portion 11 of the folding tool 3 to perform the folding of the fin 102, and the center adjustment member 13 has been guided upward to the upper position by the second guide system to perform the ascending movement of the capsule 100 in a coordinated manner.

In this third step, the fin 102 is folded back inside the capsule 100 by the action of the inner annular portion 10 of the folding tool 3, while the outer annular portion 11 is lifted upwards (counteracting the action of the elastic means 12) by the action of the capsule 100 rising and the contact of the portion of the capsule connected to the fin 102, so as to promote the correct efficiency of the refolding of the fin 102. It can be observed that in this particular embodiment, the inner annular portion 10 (which interacts in contact with the fin 102 to refold the fin 102) does not perform any axial movement along the vertical movement axis Z.

In the fourth step (the fourth figure from the left side of FIG. 5 ), the capsule support member 2 has been guided by the first guide system to perform a descending movement to return to the lower position, and the center adjustment member 13 has been guided downward by the second guide system to return to the lower position so as to continue to follow the descending movement of the capsule 100 in a coordinated manner.

In the fifth step (the fifth figure from the left side of FIG. 5 ), the capsule support 100 has been maintained in the lower position and the center adjustment member 13 has been guided upward by the second guide system to return to the upper position in order to release the capsule, which can then be evacuated to restart a new folding cycle with the next capsule in another rotation of the folding carousel 4.

At least part of the folding force applied to the capsule 100 by the folding tool 3 is released onto the support arm 7 via the annular portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule resting in the support edge 5. In this embodiment, this annular portion of the side wall 103 comprises a shoulder, i.e. a variation in the diameter of the side wall 103.

The second breakable safety device 105 of the capsule is mechanically inserted outside the aforementioned annular portion of the side wall 103. Specifically, the second breakable safety device 105 is mechanically inserted between the aforementioned annular portion of the side wall 103 and the end wall 101 of the capsule.

Therefore, this force component released on the support arm 7 is not released on the second breakable safety device 105 (that is, in this specific example, released on the ridges that connect the cover of the spray nozzle of the capsule 100 to the body of the capsule 100) so as to reduce or eliminate the risk of damage to the second breakable safety device 105.

It should be noted that during the folding operation, it is possible to release the force applied by the folding tool 3 partly onto the aforementioned part of the capsule support (i.e. onto the support arm 7) and partly onto the support surface 9 of the capsule support 2, on which the end wall 101 of the capsule rests. This can be achieved by appropriately sizing the capsule support 2 according to the shape of the capsule (in particular, the vertical distance between the support surface 9 and the support edge 5 of the capsule support 2), also taking advantage of a certain deformability of the capsule during the folding operation.

Releasing a portion of the folding force onto the support surface 9 of the capsule support 2 during folding allows greater stability and greater folding accuracy of the capsule 100. The portion of the folding force released onto the support surface 9 of the capsule support 2 will apply stress to the second breakable safety device 105. Nevertheless, since a portion of the folding force is released through the support arm 7, it is still possible to achieve the goal of reducing the stress on at least one breakable safety device.

1: folding unit 2: capsule support 3: folding tool 4: folding turntable 5: support edge 6: empty space 7: support arm 8: feeder 9: support surface 10: inner annular portion 11: outer annular portion 12: elastic device 13: center adjustment member 14: cam profile 15: cam follower member 16: cam profile 17: cam follower member 100: capsule 101: end wall 102: fin 103: side wall 104: capsule part 105: second most fragile device Z: vertical and horizontal movement axis

The present invention may be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention as non-limiting examples, wherein: [FIG. 1] is a top plan view of a folding device according to the present invention, in which some parts are removed to better show other parts; [FIG. 2] shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 1; [FIG. 3] is a perspective view of a detail of the device of FIG. 1, in which the capsule support is visible together with the support arm; [FIG. 4] shows the details of FIG. 3 in a vertical vertical view partially cut according to a vertical straight section plane; [Figure 5] is a partially cutaway vertical elevation showing some of the configurations adopted by the folding unit of the device of Figure 1 as a projection on the diagrammatic plane, while the unit moves along its circular path conveyed by the folding turntable and some of the components of the unit are guided in the vertical direction by the upper cam device and the lower cam device; [Figure 6] shows some enlarged details of the configuration of Figure 5; [Figure 7] shows a further enlarged detail of the configuration of Figure 6, in which the folding of the fins occurs.

2: Capsule support

7: Open ring support arm

10: Inner ring part

11: External annular part

13: Center adjustment component

101:End wall

103: Side wall

104: Part of the capsule

Z: vertical and horizontal movement axis

Claims (14)

A folding method, in particular performed by means of a device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14, comprising the steps of accommodating a capsule (100) on a capsule support (2) so that an end wall (11) of the capsule is arranged to be lower than a fin (102) of the capsule oriented toward the outside of the capsule, and performing a relative mutual movement between the capsule (100) and a folding tool (3) along a vertical movement axis (Z) so that the folding tool (3) performs the movement of the fin (102) toward the capsule. A step of folding the interior of the capsule, wherein during the folding, a portion of the side wall (103) of the capsule is received and supported by a portion of the capsule support (2), and a breakable safety device (105) is placed between the portion of the side wall (103) and the end wall (101), wherein at least a portion of the force applied by the folding tool (3) during the folding is released to the portion of the capsule support (2) that receives and supports the portion of the side wall (103). A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the side wall (103) includes a shoulder, which is received and supported by the portion of the capsule support (2) during the folding. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the capsule support (2) includes a support arm (7), the support arm having an arc-shaped support edge (5), and the portion of the side wall (103) is placed on the support edge. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the side wall (103) is annular in shape. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step of feeding a plurality of capsules one at a time so that each capsule (100) is inserted into the respective capsule support (2) through a side opening formed on the portion of the respective capsule support (2) in an insertion direction having at least one horizontal movement component. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the folding, the force applied by the folding tool (3) is partially released to the portion of the capsule support (2) and partially released to the supporting surface (9) of the capsule support (2), and the end wall (101) of the capsule (100) is placed on the supporting surface. A folding device comprises at least one folding unit (1), the folding unit further comprising a capsule support (2) and a folding tool (3) arranged above the capsule support (2), the capsule support (2) and the folding tool (3) being movable relative to each other along a vertical and horizontal axis (Z), the capsule support (2) being configured to accommodate a capsule (100) such that an end wall (101) of the capsule is arranged below a fin (102) of the capsule, and the folding tool (3) being configured to perform the The fin (102) of the capsule is folded from top to bottom and toward the inside of the capsule (100). The capsule support member (2) includes a support edge (5) and a blank space (6) arranged below the support edge (5). The support edge (5) is configured to receive a portion of the side wall (103) of the capsule (100) and provide support. The blank space (6) is configured to receive a portion of the capsule located below the portion of the side wall (103) of the capsule placed on the support edge (5). A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supporting edge (5) comprises an upper edge of the supporting arm (7). A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supporting edge (5) has an arc shape, in particular having a central angle of less than 230° or less than 220° or less than 210° or included between 180° and 230°, or included between 180° and 220°, or included between 180° and 210°, or included between 190° and 220°, or included between 200° and 210°, wherein the central angle refers to the angle formed by two straight lines tangent to the supporting edge (5) at two opposite end points. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support edge (5) is formed as an open ring so as to define a side opening, and at least a portion of the capsule (100) can be inserted through the side opening. A device as claimed in claim 10, comprising at least one feeder (8), which is configured to feed the capsules (100) one at a time to the at least one folding unit (1) so that at least a portion of the capsules (100) are inserted into the at least one folding unit (1) through the side opening in an insertion direction having at least one horizontal movement component. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the capsule support (2) includes a support surface (9), which defines the empty space (6) at the bottom and is particularly configured to accommodate and support the end wall (101) of the capsule (100). A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the supporting surface (9) and the supporting edge (5) are formed and configured so that during the folding operation, the force applied to the capsule (100) by the folding tool (3) is partially released to the supporting edge (5) and partially released to the supporting surface (9), the portion of the side wall (103) of the capsule rests on the supporting edge, and the end wall (101) of the capsule rests on the supporting surface. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the folding tool (3) includes an inner annular portion (10) and an outer annular portion (11), the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion being movable relative to each other along the vertical movement axis (Z), the inner annular portion (10) being configured to perform the folding of the fin (102), and the outer annular portion (11) being configured to interact in contact with a portion of a capsule attached to the fin (102).