WO2016026035A1 - Procede et systeme pour l'application d'un couvercle sur un recipient - Google Patents

Procede et systeme pour l'application d'un couvercle sur un recipient Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016026035A1
WO2016026035A1 PCT/CA2015/050658 CA2015050658W WO2016026035A1 WO 2016026035 A1 WO2016026035 A1 WO 2016026035A1 CA 2015050658 W CA2015050658 W CA 2015050658W WO 2016026035 A1 WO2016026035 A1 WO 2016026035A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
closure
container
orientation
feature
relative
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2015/050658
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Heikki Sakari HYVARINEN
Jean- Christophe WITZ
Original Assignee
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. filed Critical Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Publication of WO2016026035A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016026035A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
    • B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
    • B67B3/26—Applications of control, warning, or safety devices in capping machinery
    • B67B3/262—Devices for controlling the caps
    • B67B3/264—Devices for controlling the caps positioning of the caps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
    • B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
    • B67B3/20—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps
    • B67B3/2013—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps by carousel-type capping machines
    • B67B3/2033—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps by carousel-type capping machines comprising carousel co-rotating capping heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
    • B67B3/00—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps
    • B67B3/20—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps
    • B67B3/206—Means for preventing rotation of the container or cap
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper

Definitions

  • TECHNICAL FIELD This relates to a method and system for applying a closure to a container.
  • Containers including preform containers may be made from a variety of materials including glass, metals and polymers/plastics. Many containers are configured in the form of a bottle and many are made from polymers/plastics such as for example polyethylene terephthalate (“PET").
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the container is properly sealed with a closure.
  • One or more items or products may then be sealed within the container.
  • the sealing may prevent the items or products from seeping out of the interior of the container and/or may prevent moisture and/or air or other gas from seeping into or out of the interior of the container.
  • the application of the closures to the containers may be automated with the use of various types of devices that are sometimes referred to as capping machines, capping systems, or "cappers".
  • capping machines capping machines
  • capping systems capping systems
  • cappers it has been difficult to provide a capping machine or capping system that ensures that a substantially consistent and/or predetermined amount of angular rotation of the closure relative to the container is achieved.
  • the closure and the container are presented to each other for applying the closure to the container with the closure and container being randomly angularly oriented relative to each other.
  • the starting point of the thread for the closure and the starting point of the thread for the container can come into abutment or interference with each other as rotation of the closure relative to the container commences.
  • multi-start caps Some closures are known as "multi-start caps" and as these have more than one location where a thread start is located or commences, these closures are particularly vulnerable to coming into interference with the thread start of the container. If there is interference between the thread start of the closure and the thread start of the container, in some circumstances one or more thread starts of the closure may move onto the wrong side of the thread start of the container during the relative rotation of the closure and the container. This will typically result in a problem with the closure application process.
  • a method of applying a closure to a container comprising: (a) identifying a feature on the closure representative of an orientation of the closure; (b) identifying a feature on the container representative of an orientation of the container; (c) determining the orientations of the closure and the container from the identification of the feature on the closure and the feature on container; (d) determining what if any adjustment is required in the orientation of the closure relative to the container to bring the closure and the container into a suitable thread start orientation; (e) effecting the any adjustment in orientation to bring the closure and the container to the suitable thread start orientation.
  • a method of applying a closure to a container comprising: (a) determining an initial orientation of the closure; (b) determining an initial orientation of the container; (c) determining what, if any, adjustment in orientation of the closure relative to the container is required from the initial orientations of the closure and the container to bring the closure and the container into a suitable thread start orientation; (d) if it is determined that any adjustment in orientation is required, effecting the adjustment in orientation between the closure and the container to bring the closure and the container from the initial orientations to the suitable thread start orientation.
  • a system for applying a closure onto a container proximate an opening of the container to close the opening comprising: (i) a capping head having a rotatable shaft rotatable about an axis with a chuck device, the chuck device operable to releasably hold a closure and rotate with the rotatable shaft about the axis, the capping head operable to cause the closure held by the chuck device to engage with the container by rotating the closure relative to the container about the axis; (ii) a drive device for driving the rotatable shaft about the axis; (iii) a controller and a feature identification sub-system operable to: (a) control the rotation of the rotatable shaft to thereby control the rotation of the closure relative to the container to engage the closure with the container; (b) identify a feature representative of an angular orientation of the closure about the axis; (c) identify a feature representative of an angular orientation of the container about
  • a system for applying a closure to a container comprising: (i) an apparatus operable to hold a closure and a container and the apparatus also operable to effect a change in relative orientation between the closure and the container; (ii) a controller; (iii) a feature identification sub-system; the system operable to: identify a feature on the closure representative of an orientation of the closure; identify a feature on the container representative of an orientation of the container; determine the orientations of the closure and the container based on the identifications of the features on the closure and the container; determine what, if any, adjustment in orientation of the closure relative to the container required to bring the closure and the container into a suitable thread start engagement orientation; effect the any adjustment in orientation between the closure and the container to bring the closure and the container into the suitable thread start engagement orientation.
  • apparatus comprising a combination of a closure and a container, each of the closure and the container having threads that co-operate during the rotation to facilitate the application of the closure to the container and wherein the closure and the container each have a visual feature, the visual features being associated with a suitable thread start orientation of the closure relative to the container.
  • a method of applying a closure to a container comprising: (a) identifying a feature on the closure representative of an orientation of the closure; (b) identifying a feature on the container representative of an orientation of the container; (c) determining the relative orientation of the closure and the container from the identification of the feature on the closure and the feature on container; (d) determining what if any adjustment is required in the orientation of the closure relative to the container to bring the closure and the container into a suitable thread start orientation; (e) effecting the any adjustment in orientation to bring the closure and the container to the suitable thread start orientation.
  • FIG. 1 A is an elevation view of part of a closure and part of a container in an interference thread starting relative angular orientation
  • FIG. IB is an elevation view of a part of a closure and part of a container in non-interference thread starting relative angular orientation
  • FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the area marked 1C in FIG. 1 A;
  • FIG. ID is an enlarged view of the area marked ID in FIG. IB;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram in top view of a system for applying a closure to a container;
  • FIG. 2A is an enlarged top view of the part of the system depicted in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in side view illustrating one of a plurality of apparatuses forming part of the system of FIG. 2, with the one apparatus shown progressively applying a closure to a container;
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of part of a container, and part of an apparatus forming part of the system of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective close up view of the part of the system of FIG. 2 including the apparatus of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 6 is another perspective close up view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 7 is another perspective close up view of the apparatus of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6;
  • FIGS. 8A to 8H are schematic elevation views illustrating one of a plurality of apparatuses forming part of the system of FIG. 2, with the one apparatus shown progressively applying a closure to a container;
  • FIGS. 8B and 8C are schematic views that include an example imaging sub-system that may be part of the system of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a closure that may be used in the system of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 9B is a side elevation view of the closure of FIG. 9A;
  • FIG. 9C is a top elevation view of the closure of FIG. 9A;
  • FIG. 9D is a bottom elevation view of the closure of FIG. 9A;
  • FIG. 9E is a perspective view of the underside of the closure of FIG. 9A;
  • FIG. 1 OA is a perspective view of a neck region of a container that may be used in the system of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 10B is a top elevation view of the neck of FIG. 10A;
  • FIG. IOC is a perspective view of the neck region of another container;
  • FIG. 10D is a top elevation view of the neck region of FIG. IOC;
  • FIG. 10E is a side elevation view of the neck region of FIG. IOC;
  • FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic views of an example alternate imaging sub-system that may be part of the system of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example method of operation of the capping process of the system of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 13, 14 and 15 are cross sectional side elevation views of part of an alternate container and closure that may be employed with the system of FIG. 2; and
  • FIG. 16 is a chart illustrating characteristics an example process control for a capping system of the system of FIG. 2.
  • Closure 220 is shown in two different angular orientations relative to a neck region 229 of an example container 230.
  • Closure 220 may be made from any suitable material such as by way of example only a hard plastic/polymer, such as by way of example only high density polyethylene (HDPE) or poly propylene (PP).
  • container 230 may be made from any suitable material such as by way of example only polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • Container 230 may be a container that may be filled with one or more items or products such as for example a liquid.
  • container 230 may be a preform container that is required to have a closure applied thereto.
  • Closure 220 may be configured in a generally right cylindrical shape with a top wall 220a with downward facing surface 220d, and a cylindrical side wall 220c having an inner cylindrical shaped inward facing surface area 220b provided with a plurality of angled, spiral spaced threads 203. Threads 203 on the inward facing surface 220b of closure 220 may complement corresponding angled, spiral spaced threads 235 on an exterior cylindrical surface proximate an upwardly oriented opening 239 of container 230, such as on the outer surface 228 of neck region 229 at the top of the container 230. By providing a series of complementary spaced threads 203, 235, it is possible to have more than one thread start engagement position.
  • Closure 220 can be secured to container 230 to close opening 239 by engaging threads 203 of closure 220 with threads 235 of container 230. To effect such an engagement, respective threads 203, 235 should be initially positioned in a suitable thread start engagement position of closure 220 relative to container 230 such as the position that is shown in FIGS. IB and ID.
  • a suitable thread start engagement position of closure 220 relative to container 230 includes both a suitable thread start angular orientation and a suitable thread start axial (e.g. vertical) position of closure 220 relative to container 230.
  • closure 220 and container 230 are positioned relative to each other at both a suitable thread start angular orientation and a suitable thread start axial / vertical position, the rotation of closure 220 in one rotational direction relative to container 230 will cause threads 203 to engage with threads 235.
  • threads 203 of closure 220 are axially aligned about a common axial axis X-X, and are also angularly and axially positioned, with respect to threads 235 of container 230 so that threads 203 of closure 220 are capable of properly engaging with threads 235 of the container 230 when closure 220 is rotated relative to container 230 about common axial axis X-X (FIG. IB).
  • closure 220 and container 230 are axially aligned
  • clockwise rotation of closure 220 relative to neck region 229 can cause threads 235 of container 230 to engage and mate with threads 203 of the closure 220.
  • Threads 203 on the closure 220 will pass relative to threads 235 on container 230, and due to the angled path of the corresponding threads 203, cause closure 220 to be drawn axially towards (e.g. vertically downwards onto) neck region 229 of container 230.
  • Rotation of closure 220 about axis X-X relative to container 230 can continue until a suitable final application angle has been reached, opening 239 is closed and closure 220 is adequately secured to container 230w with a suitable seal being formed between closure 220 and container 230.
  • a suitable final application angle has been reached
  • opening 239 is closed and closure 220 is adequately secured to container 230w with a suitable seal being formed between closure 220 and container 230.
  • At some point during the rotation of closure 220 relative to container 230 possibly due to progressively enhanced friction resulting from the ever increasing engagement between threads 203 of closure 220 and threads 235 of the container 230, further rotation with a given amount of torque may not be possible.
  • closure 220 will stop when the inside surface of the closure top panel 220a (sometimes referred to as the Closure Top Sealing Surface - Closure TSS) comes into contact with the top edge surface 228a of the container 230 (the container Top Sealing Surface - TSS), and when resistance induced by tension in the structure of closure 220 in the region between the threads and closure top sealing surface exceeds the set or a predetermined torque level.
  • the inside surface of the closure top panel 220a sometimes referred to as the Closure Top Sealing Surface - Closure TSS
  • the container Top Sealing Surface - TSS the container Top Sealing Surface - TSS
  • the final application / completion rotation angle of closure 220 relative to container 230 may be predetermined and/or selected in advance of commencing the rotation from the thread start engagement position to achieve a desired amount of frictional resistance between the closure and the container that will inhibit the removal of the closure from the container and/or appropriately secure and seal the closure to the container over opening 239.
  • a suitable initial thread start engagement position of closure 220 relative to container 230 as shown in FIG. IB may not be achieved, at least not consistently.
  • threads 203 of a particular closure 220 may at an initial engagement position be in an undesirable relative angular orientation relative to the threads 235 of the respective container 230 such that interference results between threads 203 and threads 235 when the closure is rotated relative to the container, as for example is depicted in FIGS . 1A and 1C.
  • a first thread 203a of closure upon rotation of closure 220 relative to container 230, a first thread 203a of closure may upon rotation be directed on the upper side of thread 235a of container 230; while a second thread 203b may during that rotation be directed on the lower side of thread 235b of container 230.
  • closure 220 can not be properly secured to container 230 and possibly a buckled or "cocked" closure/container combination may result. It is therefore desirable to be able to ensure that at an initial thread start engagement position that the thread start angular orientation of closure 220 relative to container 230 is at a suitable orientation that will permit proper engagement of their respective threads 203, 235 during rotation of the closure relative to the container to apply the closure to the container, such as in shown in FIGS. IB and ID, as is possible using capping system 100 as depicted schematically in FIG. 2.
  • Capping system 100 may have several components as hereinafter described that may be controlled by any suitable controller such as a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) 250.
  • Capping system 100 may incorporate components that enable a suitable thread start engagement position of closure 220 relative to container 230 to be achieved consistently, thus enabling a proper and consistent application of closures 220 to respective containers 230 to be achieved and reducing or eliminating the degree to which improper threading of closures 220 with containers 230 occurs.
  • System 100 may include one or more capping heads 210.
  • Each capping head 210 may be operable to pick up/engage a closure 220 from a supply of closures 220 and apply a closure 220 to one of a plurality of containers 230 delivered in series to the capping head 210 and then release the closure 220/container 230 combinations.
  • system 100 does not simply rotate a closure 220 delivered to a capping head 210 at an unknown, random starting angular orientation, the same angular rotation relative to the container 230 for every closure/container combination in order to obtain a final application angle of the closure relative to the container.
  • System 100 may instead be operable to identify the relative angular orientations of each closure 220 and container 230 combination as they are presented to each other in system 100; then if, and to the extent required, system 100 can make an initial angular rotational adjustment to ensure closure 220 and container 230 are placed in a suitable thread start angular orientation (such as shown in FIG. IB), prior to or while moving closure 220 axially relative to container 230 so that the closure may be put into a desired initial, thread start engagement position.
  • a suitable thread start angular orientation such as shown in FIG. IB
  • a plurality of closures 220 may be delivered serially from a supply of closures generally designated 218 that may be controlled by PLC 250, to a rotating closure supply table/wheel 221 that may be mounted for anti-clockwise rotation about axis X2 in a circular path in a known manner.
  • a rotating closure supply table/wheel 221 may be mounted for anti-clockwise rotation about axis X2 in a circular path in a known manner.
  • other devices for delivery of closures 220 to a capping head 210 may be employed.
  • the rotation of closure supply table/wheel 221 may be driven by any suitable drive mechanism and may be controlled by PLC 250.
  • the closures 220 may each be delivered serially to capping heads 210 that are part of a capping subsystem 215 (FIG. 2) such that each capping head 210 receives a closure at position A in FIG. 2A.
  • Capping sub-system 215 may comprise a plurality of capping heads 210, each of the plurality of capping heads 210 being similarly mounted at spaced angular positions on an upper section of a carousel 223 of capping sub-system 215 which may be mounted and configured for rotation in a clockwise circular path about an axis XI in a known manner such that the circular path of the capping heads 210 overlaps with the circular path of the closure supply table/wheel 221.
  • the rotation of carousel 223 may be driven by any suitable drive mechanism and may be controlled by PLC 250.
  • Capping heads 210 and carousel 223 may be configured to rotate about a central turret 224 that may be generally cylindrical and may be also centered on vertical axis XI .
  • Turret 224 may be remain stationary during operation of system 100 and may have a generally cylindrical outer surface with a cam track 329 (FIG. 3) traversing a path on the outer cylindrical surface of turret 224.
  • a lifter rod and cam follower assembly 339 (shown schematically in FIG. 2) may be carried by each capping head 210 and may thus guide each capping head 210 in vertical upward and downward (i.e. axial relative to axes X6) movement as the carousel 223 rotates about turret 224.
  • each capping head 210 is operable and positioned to be able to pick up/ engage a closure 220 with a chuck device 315 (FIGS. 3 and 6) from rotating closure supply table/wheel 221 as the path of each capping head 210 and the path of each of the closures 220 overlap at position A.
  • Containers 230 may be supplied serially by a container supply wheel or table 232 that may rotate in a circular path about axis X3 in an anti-clockwise direction. The rotation of supply wheel 232 may be driven by any suitable drive mechanism and may be controlled by PLC 250. Containers 230 delivered from container supply wheel 232 may have already been filled with one or more products or items. Containers 230 may have been filled by a filling sub-system 205 (FIG. 2) having an upstream container filler wheel 247.
  • Filler wheel 247 of filling sub-system 205 may rotate about axis X4 in a clockwise direction and have a path for containers 230 that overlaps with carrousel 224 so that filled containers 230 can be transferred to container receptors 225.
  • Filler including filler wheel 247 may be controlled by PLC 250 and filler wheel 247 may be driven by any suitable drive means.
  • Containers 230 may be thus be delivered holding one or more products or items by supply wheel 232 to container receptors 225.
  • the container receptors 225 may fixed to and carried by a lower plate 223b (see FIG 4) of carousel 223 of capping sub-system 215.
  • container receptors 225 may rotate together with corresponding capping heads 210 on carousel 223.
  • Each container 230 (which may be filled) may be supported in an appropriate position beneath a respective capping head 210 by such container receptors 225 connected with lower plate 223(b) of carousel 223 such that the containers 230 will each rotate in axial alignment with a respective closure 220 about turret 224.
  • each capping head 210 while carrying a closure 220, may be vertically and axially aligned above a container 230 and then both the capping head 210 with its closure 220, along with its respective container receptor holding a container 230 may be rotated by carousel 223 together in synchronized rotational movement counterclockwise to position C.
  • capping head 210 only a single capping head 210 may be utilized and it may not be necessary to transversely move the capping head 210 in space in order to apply a closure 220 to a container 230 using a capping head 210.
  • a separate drive and control system for the vertical/axial position of capping head 210 relative to axis X3 may be provided for each capping head 210.
  • each container 230 is positioned beneath a closure 220
  • Container 230 may then rotate with carousel 223 about axis XI in synchronized movement with capping head 210 positioned axially aligned and spaced away (vertically above) it, from position C to position E in FIG. 2A.
  • capping head 210 will apply closure 220 to container 230, thus transferring a closure 220 to a container 230, such that by the time a container 230 reaches position E, a closure 220 is fully applied to the container 230 and thus may properly seal the container with the closure.
  • container 230 with closure 220 applied thereto is started to be released from capping head 210, and the combination of container 230 and closure 220 applied thereto, may then be discharged from carousel 223 to a discharge device 252 such as a discharge wheel 253.
  • Discharge device 252 may also be controlled by PLC 250 and discharge wheel 253 may be driven by any suitable drive mechanism.
  • capping system 100 employs multiple capping heads 210, a relatively higher production rate of containers with closures applied thereto may be achieved than with a single capping head 210.
  • each container 230 may be unknown and random prior to the commencement of the application of the closure to the container. Nevertheless, as described hereinafter, system 100 can be provided with the capability such that by the time the combination of closure 220 and container 230 are unloaded at or just after position E in FIG. 2A, each closure 220 will have been applied at a substantially predetermined/known and/or consistent angular rotation relative to its respective container 230.
  • an individual container 230 is shown being held by a container receptor 225 of lower rotating plate 223(b) of carousel 223.
  • Neck region 229 of container 230 may provide, at an upper end thereof, an opening 239 into an interior cavity 231 of the container.
  • Threads 235 formed on the outer surface of neck region 229 may configured to co-operate with threads 203 on an inner surface of a closure 220 to provide for rotational threaded engagement of the closure 220 with the neck region 229 of container 230 as generally described above in relation to FIG. IB.
  • Lower carousel plate 223(b) may have a plurality of container receptors 225 that are angularly spaced about plate 223(b).
  • Container receptors 225 may be used to hold containers 230 in a vertically axially aligned position relative to a respective capping head 210 so that when lowered, capping head 210 can apply a closure 220 to a container 230.
  • Forming part of container receptors 225 may be collar members 227 mounted on an upper surface of carousel plate 223(b) of carousel 223. Collar members 227 may have an opening (not shown in FIG. 4) that is sufficiently large to allow neck region 229 of a container 230 to be received into a holding slot formed by collar members 227.
  • Upper facing surfaces of collar members 227 may be provided with spikes or protrusions 226 that are sufficiently sharp or provide enough frictional engagement to engage the underside surface of integrally formed neck collar 237 of the neck region 229 of container 230.
  • spikes/protrusions 226 may engage the neck collar 237 of container 230 and prevent the container 230 from rotating relative to collar members 227 when the capping head 210 is rotating the closure 220 during engagement of threads such as threads 235 of neck region 229 with inner surface threads 203 of the closure 220.
  • container 230 may be able to rotate with closure 220 or instead of closure 220 during the application of the closure to the container.
  • Capping head 210 may be a known type of servo drive/motor driven capping head 210.
  • Examples of commercially available capping heads that may be suitable to be employed and which have features / capabilities required for system 100 are capping heads made by manufacturers Krones, Arol, or Zalkin.
  • Capping head 210 may include a main body 317, a support block 316, a spur gear 321, a rotatable shaft 313, a vertical support shaft 325, and a chuck device 315.
  • Support block 316 may be generally horizontally oriented and may be fixedly secured to main body 317 of capping head 210.
  • each capping head 210 may be configured to rotatably support rotatable shaft 313 for rotation about axis X6.
  • a vertical support shaft 325 may be mounted to an upper, generally horizontally oriented support block 331.
  • Main body 317 and rotatable shaft 313 may be mounted for vertical (axial) upwards and downwards sliding movement relative to and on vertical support shaft 325.
  • Support block 316 may itself be mounted for sliding up and down vertical movement on a support shaft 337 that may, like shaft 325, be oriented generally parallel to axis X6.
  • main body 317 and rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210 may move vertically (axially) upwards and downwards with support block 316, as the cam follower of lifter rod and cam follower assembly 329 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) moves up and down in cam track 329 (FIG.
  • capping heads 210 may be moved up and down by another drive mechanism controlled by PLC 250 such as a non-mechanical cam (e.g. a servo motor drive system) that may also be controlled by PLC 250.
  • PLC 250 a non-mechanical cam (e.g. a servo motor drive system) that may also be controlled by PLC 250.
  • each closure 220 held in a capping head 210 of capping sub-system 215 to a container 230 axially aligned with it may commence at or about position C in FIG. 2A with the application of any adjustment angle that may be required (as described below) and then the commencement of the application of a completion angle to complete the application of the closure to the container, may commence at or about position D in FIG. 2A.
  • the vertical position of the groove/cam track 329 around the perimeter of turret 224 reflects the desired axial/vertical position of each capping head 210 at each angular position of the carousel 223 about axis XI (FIG. 2).
  • each of the capping heads 210 and their associated lifter rod and cam follower assemblies 339 may turn with the carousel 223.
  • each lifter rod and cam follower assembly 329 reaches a downwards or upwards slope in the cam track 329, the cam follower will start moving downwards or upwards respectively as well and result in a downwards/upwards movement of the lifter rod and cam follower assembly 329 and the respective other components of each capping head 210, including chuck device 315.
  • Chuck device 315 may be fixedly secured at a lower end portion of rotatable shaft 313 and rotate with shaft 313 about vertical axis X6.
  • Chuck device 315 may be a known type of device that is capable of picking up and holding a closure 220, and preventing rotation of the closure 220 held therein relative to rotatable shaft 313, as described hereinafter.
  • chuck device 315 may be a conventional type of spring loaded chuck with spring loaded spheres/ball bearings that interface with the outward facing side surface of a closure and exert a radial force onto the closure to hold the closure in position.
  • chuck device 315 may be provided with a series of interior vertical surfaces (not shown) which are complimentary in configuration to outward facing surfaces (not shown) of the closure 220.
  • the series of faces on closure 220 can interface with the complimentary outer surfaces on the chuck device 315 to transmit torque from the chuck to the closure 220.
  • the closure 220 may be released from the chuck device 315 by a downward force being applied to the closure (or in particular to the container 230, once the closure 220 is attached thereto).
  • a servo drive/motor 335 may be provided and mounted to carousel 223.
  • Servo drive/motor 335 may be at least partly supported by support block 331 (see FIG. 5).
  • Servo drive/motor 335 may be controlled by PLC 250 and may have a drive shaft 333 aligned generally parallel to axis X6 of capping head 210.
  • Secured to drive shaft 333 for rotation therewith may be a drive gear 323.
  • Spur gear 321 affixed to rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210, may mesh and engage with drive gear 323 of servo drive/motor 335.
  • Drive gear 323 may extend longitudinally, to allow the spur gear 321 to be able to move vertically upwards and downwards while still remaining in driving engagement with drive gear 323.
  • servo drive/motor 335 may, under control of PLC 250, by rotating drive shaft 333 and thus drive gear 323, cause spur gear 321 to rotate about axis X6 operable for driving the rotatable shaft 313 in rotational movement about axis X6.
  • the vertical movement may allow each capping head 210 to move vertically downwards so that chuck device 315 may engage a closure 220 on closure supply table 221 and then move upwards clear of the closure supply table 221 and thereafter move downwards to apply the closure 220 to the container 230 and then release the closure 230 to release the container with closure applied thereto.
  • PLC 250 may be operable to control the servo drive/motor 335 to rotate the rotatable shaft 313 about a vertical axis X6 (FIG. 2).
  • servo/drive motor 335 may be operable to provide signals and/or data back to PLC 250 indicative of the magnitude of the torque being applied to the rotatable shaft 313 and/or the chuck device 315 being held by the rotatable shaft 313.
  • signals may be provided that are indicative of the relative angular position of the chuck device 315 (and the closure 220 while held therein) about axis XI to PLC 250, so that PLC 250 would be able to monitor the angular rotational position of the chuck device 315 about axis XI.
  • PLC 250 may also be configured to receive signals directly representative of the axial position of chuck device 315 and closure 220. For example, by use of a suitable encoder, signals representative of the rotational position of each capping head 210 in system 100 as each capping head 210 rotates about axis XI (FIG.
  • PLC 250 may be operable to monitor both the relative angular position of the chuck device 315 and a closure 220 held therein about axis X6 and its axial / vertical position.
  • chuck device 315 may have a downward facing cavity that may be adapted to receive and securely grip a closure 220 such that when the chuck device 315 is rotated by rotatable shaft 313, the chuck portion 315 with the closure 220 being held in its cavity, may rotate therewith, even when there is a resistive force being applied to the closure (i.e. frictional resistance as the closure threads mates with the threads of the container).
  • a resistive force i.e. frictional resistance as the closure threads mates with the threads of the container.
  • the capping head 210 moves axially/vertically downwards so that the chuck device 315 may pick up and grip a closure 220 (corresponding to the angular position A in FIG. 2A). Thereafter, the capping head 210 moves up and down while maintaining vertical alignment with the container 230 to apply the closure 220 to the neck region 229 of the container 230 by rotational engagement of the threads 235 of neck region 229 with threads 203 of closure 220.
  • the carousel lower plate 223(b) and collar members 227 are omitted for simplicity.
  • a downward axial force may also be provided by capping head 210 acting through the closure 220 held in chuck device 315.
  • the downward imparted axial force acting on the closure 220 and container 230 may result in the container 230 being prevented from rotating within the container receptor 225 by spikes 226 acting on neck collar 237 as the spikes engage the neck collar 237.
  • the rotational forces imparted on container 230 may at least in part result from the resistance to the rotational movement of the closure 220 relative to the neck region 229 of the container 230 as the closure 220 is rotated by rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210 and thus drawn onto threads 235 of the neck region 229.
  • This combined vertical downward and rotational movement about axis X6 allows the capping head 210, with the closure in the chuck device 315, to move downwards so that the closure 220 may be screwed onto the neck region 229 of the container 230 as the threads 203, 235 of the closure and the neck region 229 of container 230 co-operatively engage with each other.
  • PLC 250 may in some embodiments in real time also be calculating or monitoring the torque being applied through the servo drive/motor 335 that drives the rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210.
  • PLC 250 may in some embodiments in real time also be calculating or monitoring the torque being applied through the servo drive/motor 335 that drives the rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210.
  • the relative angular rotation of the rotatable shaft 313 and the closure 220 held in the chuck device 315 about axis X6 can be calculated and monitored continuously at specific time intervals in real time.
  • the angular orientation of the closure 220 held in chuck device 315 may not be known, at least until that angular orientation is ascertained as described herein. That is because, when the chuck device 315 picks up a closure 220, the angular orientation of that specific closure 220 relative to the chuck device 315 may be random and not known.
  • each container 230 may also not be known, at least until that angular orientation is ascertained. That is because when container 230 is delivered to container receptor 225 (FIG. 4) (corresponding to position B in FIG. 2A) its angular orientation may also be random and not known.
  • PLC 250 may be also configured and/or coupled with another device or sub-system, such as a feature identification sub-system that may for example be an imaging subsystem 400 comprising for example imaging sensors 402A, 402B (FIGS. 2, 2A 8B and 8C), that enables system 100 to determine and adjust the relative angular orientations of each closure 220 and its respective container 230 prior to applying the closure to the container.
  • Imaging sub-system 400 may be deployed for each capping head 210 when each capping head 210 moves between the positions (c) and (d) in FIG. 3 (angular positions A and C in FIG. 2A) and the path of cam track 329 may be appropriately oriented and chosen to facilitate the same.
  • imaging sub-system 400 enables system 100 to ascertain the relative angular rotation of closure 220 and container 230, and then make an appropriate adjustment in the relative angular orientation of closure 220 and container 230 to place each combination of closure 220 and container 230 in a suitable thread start angular orientation prior to applying the closure to the container.
  • System 100 may be operable to apply a closure 220 to a container 230 by:
  • the method may provide that the identifying of the feature on the closure 220 comprises identifying a feature on the closure representative of an angular orientation of the closure; and the identifying of the feature on the container 230 may comprises identifying a feature on the container 220 representative of an angular orientation of the container 230; and the effecting the adjustment in orientation may comprise applying an adjustment angle between the closure 220 and the container 230 to bring the closure 220 and the container 230 to a suitable thread start angular orientation.
  • the method may also provide that the determining the orientations comprises determining the initial relative angular orientation of the closure 220 relative to the container 230; and the determining what if any adjustment in orientation comprises determining what if any adjustment angle for angular rotation of the closure 220 relative to the container 230 from the initial relative angular orientation is required to bring the closure 220 and the container 230 into a suitable thread start angular orientation; and the effecting the adjustment in orientation may comprise applying the adjustment angle between the closure 220 and the container 230 to bring the closure 220 and the container 230 from the initial relative angular orientation to the suitable thread start angular orientation.
  • imaging sub-system 400 may be operable to image/identify: (i) a visual feature on closure 220 that is indicative of an angular orientation of closure 220 about axis X6; and (ii) a visual feature on container 230 that is indicative of an angular orientation of container 230 about axis X6.
  • the identification of the features on closure 220 and container 230 by imaging subsystem 400 may occur while the capping head 210 remains at a constant axial/vertical position (see the relatively horizontal section of cam track path 329 between positions (c) and (d) in FIG.
  • the imaging sub-system may identify the features on each closure 220 at another time after closure has been secured by a capping head 210 and may identify the features on a respective container 230 once the container has been acquired, so long as both identifications and any angular adjustment that is required, occur prior to the closure engaging with and being applied to the container.
  • Imaging sub-system 400 having identified these visual features, PLC 250 and/or imaging sub-system 400 may be operable to: (i) determine the angular orientation of the closure and determine the angular orientation of the container about axis X6 and/or determine the relative angular orientation of closure 220 and container 230 about axis X6 (e.g.
  • the visual feature on closure 220 that is indicative of an angular orientation of closure 220 about axis X6 may be positioned at or aligned with the same angular orientation about axis X6 of a suitable thread start location on closure 220.
  • the visual feature(s) on closure 220 that is/are indicative of an angular orientation of closure 220 about axis X6 may be not be the same, but may be related to, or be a known function of, the angular orientation about axis X6 of a suitable thread start location of closure 220.
  • the visual feature on the container 230 that is indicative of an angular orientation of container 230 about axis X6 may be positioned at the same angular orientation of a suitable thread start location on the container 230.
  • the visual feature(s) on the container that is/are indicative of an angular orientation of container 230 about axis X6 may be not be the same, but may be related to, or be a known function of, the angular orientation of a suitable thread start location of the container 230.
  • the visual features on both closure 220 and container 230 that may be identified by imaging sub-system 400 may be angularly aligned with the respective suitable thread start locations on both closure 220 and container 230. This may make it computationally easier to determine the adjustment angle required to be applied to the closure 220 by the capping head 210 to angularly align the visual features on the closure and the container and reach a suitable thread start angular orientation.
  • the axial/vertical positioning of capping head 210, chuck device 315 and closure 220 may be adapted by providing a suitable cam track path 329 (FIG. 3) to provide for suitable axial/vertical positioning of the capping head 210, chuck device 315 and closure 220 to allow for operation of the imaging sub-system 400 as described in further detail hereinafter.
  • PLC 250 may also be operable to control an axial position adjustment mechanism such that the axial/vertical position of closure 220 can also be monitored and directly controlled.
  • closure and/or the container in apply ing/effecting a relative adjustment angle between closure 220 and container 230, may be rotated/moved in space relative to each other by suitable apparatuses to effect an adjustment in relative angular rotation to reach a suitable thread start angular orientation.
  • capping head 210, chuck device 315, and closure 220 may be lowered into the suitable vertical/axial thread start position so that the suitable thread start engagement position is acquired.
  • closure 220 may be rotated from the suitable thread start engagement position a specific predetermined additional desired amount of angular rotation (which may be referred to as a "completion angle") relative to container 230 about axis X6 while at the same time the closure may move axially further onto the neck region 229 of container 230 as required by the orientation of threads 203, 235.
  • the application of a completion angle from the thread start angular orientation can then place closure 220 in a desired final angular orientation and an associated final vertical/axial position relative to the container 230 determined by the orientation of the mating threads 203, 235.
  • PLC 250 may be programmed with a predetermined desirable completion angle that is appropriate for the particular combination of closure 220 and container 230 that is being processed.
  • the completion angle will have been applied and the desired relative orientations of the closure 220 and container 230 achieved by the time the capping head 210 reaches the position (e) in FIG. 3 (angular location E in FIG. 2A).
  • chuck device 315 may release closure 220 and the container 230 to which it is now secured, so the combination of container and closure is released from capping head 210 as depicted by position (f) in FIG. 3.
  • system 100 may include an imaging sub-system 400 operable to identify both: (i) one or more visual features on the closure that is/are indicative of an angular orientation of closure 220 about axis X6; and (ii) one or more visual features on the container 230 that is/are indicative of an angular orientation of container 230 about axis X6.
  • an imaging sub-system 400 may be employed as depicted schematically in FIGS. 2, 2A, 8B and 8C (omitted for simplicity in FIG. 8A and FIGS.
  • a suitable imaging sub-system 400 may include a pair of imaging sensors 402A, 402B angularly spaced about axis XI of carousel 223, and turret 224 (FIG. 2) and suitably positioned and oriented in relation to the capping heads 210, closures 220 and the containers 230 such that as each capping head/closure and each container is rotated about axis XI from angular positions A/B through to C (FIG. 2A) , an image of the closure can be taken and an image of the container can be taken as described further below.
  • Each imaging sensor 402A, 402B may have associated with it a respective mounting frame 406A, 406B to which may be secured one of imaging sensors 402A, 402B.
  • Each imaging sensor 402A, 402B may be by way of example only an appropriate digital camera.
  • each frame 406A, 406B may be a mirror 404A.
  • 404B that may have a reflecting surface 405 A, 405B that may be oriented at an appropriate angle such as 45 degrees or some other angle that will provide a line of sight from the imaging sensors to the desired parts of closure and container.
  • Light waves emanating from closure 220 may be reflected by surface 405A of mirror 404A to imaging sensor 402A.
  • light waves emanating from container 230 may be reflected by surface 405B of mirror 404B to imaging sensor 402B.
  • imaging sensors 402A, 402B being generally oriented in a direction parallel to a transverse axis Yl, can be configured to be operable to capture/acquire images in one of an upward direction parallel to axis X6 (as shown in FIG. 8B) and a downward direction parallel to axis X6 (as shown in FIG. 8C).
  • one imaging sensor e.g. imaging sensor 402A
  • the other imaging sensor e.g. imaging sensor 402B
  • imaging sensor 402A may be located between angular positions A and B such that the image of the closure may be acquired.
  • Imaging sensor 402B may be located between angular positions B and C such that the image of the container may be acquired.
  • various alternate positions/locations are possible in other embodiments.
  • Imaging sub-system 400 may be operable to image a visual feature (such as a thread start location 298, 299) of both closure 220 and container 230 and function in co-operation with PLC 250 and a computing device 251 to determine the angles 1 and 2 (FIGS. 8B and 8C) associated with the visual feature on the closure and container and then determine the appropriate adjustment angle that is to be applied to adjust the relative angular orientation of the closure and container about axis X6 such that a suitable thread start angular orientation is achieved, as described further below.
  • a visual feature such as a thread start location 298, 299
  • imaging sub-system 1400 does not use a mirror. Instead the mounting frame 1406A to which the imaging sensor 1402A (which may be like imaging sensor 402A) is mounted, puts the imaging sensor 1402A in such a position (shown in FIG. 11A) where it directly senses the image of the underside of the closure 220. Similarly, mounting frame 1406B to which the imaging sensor 1402B (which may be like imaging sensor 402B) can be configured such that it puts the imaging sensor 1402B in such a position where it directly senses the image of a side portion of the neck region 229 of the container 230 (shown in FIG. 11B) from a side elevation view.
  • Imaging sensor 1402A may be located between angular positions A and B of FIG. 2A such that the image of the closure may be acquired.
  • Imaging sensor 1402B may be located between angular positions B and C of FIG. 2A such that the image of the container may be acquired.
  • various alternate positions/locations are possible in other embodiments.
  • Imaging sub-system 1400 will be able to image a visual feature (such as a thread start location 298, 299) of both closure 220 and container 230 and function in co-operation with PLC 250 and computing device 251 in the same or a similar manner as imaging sub-system 400 as described herein to determine the angles Alpha and Beta associated with the visual feature on the closure and container and then determine the appropriate adjustment angle that is to be applied to adjust the relative angular orientation of the closure and container about axis X6 such that a suitable thread start angular orientation is achieved.
  • a visual feature such as a thread start location 298, 299
  • closure 220 that may be utilized with system 100 is illustrated in detail.
  • Closure 220 with top wall 220a and cylindrical side wall 220c may have one or more different visual features that may be imaged by imaging sub-system 400.
  • closure 220 may include a thread start 520 which may be sensed by imaging sensor 402 (see FIGS. 9D and 9E).
  • Visual features that may be utilized may also include an external thread start mark or protrusion 522 that may be closely angularly aligned with the thread start 520.
  • Neck region 229 of a container 230 may also be utilized with system 100.
  • Neck region 229 may have one or more different visual features that may be imaged by imaging sub-system 400.
  • neck region 229 may include a thread start 620 which may be sensed by imaging sensor 402 (see FIGS. 10A and 10B).
  • Visual features that may be utilized also include an extemal thread start mark or protrusion 622 on a neck support ledge 621.
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B Visual features that may be utilized also include an extemal thread start mark or protrusion 622 on a neck support ledge 621.
  • engravings or other marks such as engraved letters 624 may also provide visual features that can be identified by imaging sub-system 400. Protrusion 622 and/or engraved letters 624 may be closely angularly aligned with thread start 620. Other visual features such as vent slots 625 (FIG. 10E) whose orientation can be visually ascertained may also be utilized.
  • imaging sensors 402A, 402B may include In-Sight 5000 series industrial cameras by Cognex of Massachussets or the A20 series smart cameras by Datalogic of Italy.
  • Imaging sub-systems 400 and 1400 may also include a computing device 251 such as a personal computer running an imaging system software application.
  • a computing device 251 such as a personal computer running an imaging system software application.
  • a personal computer running VisionPro software by Cognex might be employed.
  • Computing device 251 may be operable to receive image data from imaging sensors 402A, 402B (or 1402A, 1402b) and store the image data in an image buffer or other memory.
  • Computing device 251 may for example create a two-dimensional pixel array representing the captured image and store the array.
  • the pixel array may be a two dimensional of values providing information about color and/or intensity for each pixel.
  • Computing device 251 may also be operable to analyze and possibly also conduct some processing of the image data (e.g. the two-dimensional pixel array).
  • Computing device 251 may be configured and operable to analyze the matrix of values to identify one or more visual features on closure 220 and one or more visual features on container 230 in the two separate sets of image data, by for example looking for a particular pattern in the matrix of values representative of the captured images of the visual features. Additionally, computing device 251 may be able to analyze the matrix to calculate an angle of orientation of the visual features about fixed axis X6 whose position is known, in relation to a fixed angular datum (e.g. datum N in FIGS. 8B and 8C) and thus determine the angular orientation of these visual features on closure 220 and container 230 relative to the datum about axis X6.
  • a fixed angular datum e.g. datum N in FIGS. 8B and 8C
  • imaging sensor 402A may produce image data associated with an image 410 of the downward facing surface of the closure 220 as shown in FIG. 8B.
  • Computing device 251 may then receive the image data from imaging sensor 402A, produce the matrix of values representative of the image 410, identify a visual feature such as thread start mark 522 in the matrix of values, and determine an angle of orientation of the thread start mark 522 (Angle 1) about axis X6 from datum N that is associated with the desired thread start location for the closure 220.
  • imaging sensor 402B may produce image data associated with the image 411 of the upward facing container 230 as shown in FIG. 8C.
  • Computing device 251 may similarly receive the image data from imaging sensor 402B, produce the matrix of values representative of the image 411, identify a feature such as protrusion 622 in the matrix of values, and determine an angle of orientation of the protrusion (Angle 2) about axis X6 from datum N that is associated with the desired thread start location for with the desired thread start location for container 230.
  • the visual features on the container and the closure may be angularly aligned with suitable thread start angular locations, (i.e. when the visual features of the closure and container are angularly aligned, then suitable thread start locations on the closure and container would also be angularly aligned).
  • Computing device 251 may then further: (i) calculate the relative angular orientation of the closure 220 and the container 230 (e.g. calculate the angular difference between the angular orientation of the desired thread start on the closure (e.g. Angle 1) and the angular orientation of the desired thread start on the container (e.g.
  • Angle 2 determines if that relative angular orientation/angular difference is within a desired range that provides for the closure and container being relatively positioned in a suitable thread start angular orientation (iii) if not, calculate the adjustment in relative angular orientation (the "adjustment angle") that is required to position the closure 220 and container 230 in the predetermined suitable thread start angular orientation; and (iv) provide data relating to the required adjustment angle to PLC 250.
  • PLC 250 may then cause the rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210 to be rotated by the adjustment angle so that the threads 203 of closure 220 and the threads 235 of container 230 are brought into the desired thread start angular orientation.
  • Imaging sub-system 1400 may be operable to function and can be employed in a similar manner as imaging sub-system 400 to determine an appropriate adjustment angle for container and closure combinations.
  • FIGS 8A - 8H the process of applying a closure 220 to a container 230 with system 100 is explained in further detail.
  • the capping head 201 may be positioned in an axial/vertical position shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B.
  • a capping head 210 and closure 220 held therein are in a suitable imaging positions such that an image of closure 220 can be captured with imaging sub-system 400/1400, and processed as described above.
  • imaging sub-system 400/1400 can capture an image of container 230, also as described above and with reference to FIG. 8C.
  • PLC 250 can cause rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210 to be rotated by an adjustment angle (which could be zero in some particular cases) such that the threads 203 of closure 220 and the threads 235 of container 230 are brought into the desired thread start angular orientation where threads 203 of closure 220 and threads 235 of container 230 are appropriately aligned. This may occur during angular rotation on carousel 223 of capping head 210, closure 220 and container 230 between angular positions C and D in FIG. 2A.
  • the next step may be that capping head 210 is then lowered as shown in FIGS. 8E to 8F so that closure 220 and container 230 are positioned relative to each other at both a suitable thread start angular orientation and a suitable thread start vertical/axial position as depicted in FIG. 8F (i.e. the closure 220 and container 230 are have acquired a suitable thread start engagement position).
  • This may occur when capping head 210, closure 220 and container 230 at are at or shortly after they pass angular position D in FIG. 2A.
  • the closure can be axially positioned relative to the container so that the closure and the container are in a thread start engagement position.
  • threads 203 of the closure 220 are axially aligned, and angularly and axially positioned, with respect to the threads 235 of the container 230 so that threads 203 are capable of properly engaging with the threads 235 of the container 230 when the closure 220 is rotated relative to the container 230 about a common axis.
  • closure 220 will cause threads 203 on closure 220 to pass relative to threads 235 on container 230, and due to the angled path of the corresponding threads 203, cause closure 220 to be rotate and be drawn axially towards (e.g. vertically/axially downwards) onto neck region 229 of container 230.
  • Rotation of closure 220 relative to container 230 can continue until a suitable final application angle has been reached, with opening 239 closed and closure 220 adequately secured to container 230. This may occur during angular rotation on carousel 223 of capping head 210, closure 220 and container 230 between angular positions D and E in FIG. 2A.
  • the final application angle may be predetermined and/or selected in advance of commencing the rotation from the initial thread start engagement position and stored in a memory of PLC 250 to achieve a desired amount of frictional resistance (i.e. where the sealing surface of the closure bottoms out on/engages with the sealing surface of container 230) that will inhibit the removal of closure 220 from container 230 and/or secure the closure to the container.
  • chuck device 315 (omitted for simplicity in FIGS. 8A-8H) can be removed from engagement with capping head 210 and capping head 210 can move axially away from container 230. Thereafter as carousel 223 rotates, the process will be repeated by another capping head 210, closure 220 and container 230 combination.
  • Closures 220 are fed serially from a supply of closures 218 to the closure supply table 221. From the closure supply table 221 the closures are transferred to capping heads 210 of capping sub-system 215. Capping heads 210, carried by carousel 223, rotate from angular position A to angular position B where a containers are fed to corresponding container receptors 225 carried by lower plate 223(b) of carousel 2223.
  • the capping process of system 100 as described above can be employed to apply each closure held by a capping head 210 to a container held by a container receptor 225 as they rotate from angular position A through to angular position E in FIG. 2A.
  • step 1000 the angular orientation of the closure (Angle 1) can be determined by computing device 251.
  • step 1010 the angular orientation of the container 230 (Angle 2) can be determined by computing device 251.
  • computing device 251 and/or PLC 250 may determine the adjustment angle that must be applied to closure 220 to achieve a suitable thread start angular orientation of the closure relative to container (1020) which may be a function of the difference in Angle 1 and 2.
  • the required adjustment angle may then result in a signal being sent by PLC 250 to the servo motor/drive 335 to cause rotatable shaft 313 of capping head 210 to rotate (1030) by the adjustment angle. While or after the adjustment angle is applied to closure 220, the capping head 210 can be moved vertically/axially downward to also acquire a suitable thread start axial/vertical position as well by movement of the capping head 210 axially (1050).
  • PLC 250 can cause servo drive/motor 335 to rotate shaft 313, chuck device 315 and closure 220 held therein (1060) by a predetermined completion angle, and capping head can be moved axially, to reach a desired final application angle and/or a desired torque determined by PLC 250 (1070).
  • the rotation of the closure 220 ceases and servo drive/motor 335 may cease to apply torque to shaft 313 (1080).
  • the chuck device 315 of capping head 210 may then release closure 220 and the capping head may move axially away from the container and closure combination.
  • System 100 may in some embodiments be used with a container 230 and closure 220 that include tamper evident band located proximate the neck region of a container 230.
  • a tamper evident band 200 of closure 220 having circumferentially spaced protrusions 202 may be configured to engage with a pilfer-proof ring 211 that is on the neck region 229 of a container 230, below threads 235.
  • the tamper evident band 200 may be integrally connected to the rest of the closure 220 and may have one or more generally circumferential protrusions 202 that protrude inward, towards the neck region 229 of the container when the closure is applied to the container.
  • the pilfer ring 211 may be integrally formed with the neck region 229 of the container 230 and have one or more corresponding protrusions 212 that protrude outward, towards the inner surface of the closure, when the closure is applied to the container.
  • FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show progressive positions of tamper evident band 200 of a closure 220 in relation to a pilfer-ring 211 of a container 230 during the application of the closure 220 to the container using capping head 210. In the position of FIG. 13, tamper band 200 is shown just before the protrusion 212 starts to engage with protrusion 212 of the pilfer-proof ring 211.
  • protrusions 202 and 212 engage, the continued rotation of the closure 220 will necessitate an elastic deformation in one or both of protrusions 202 and 212 and/or the tamper band 200 and/or the pilfer ring 211.
  • it will be mostly the tamper band 200 and its protrusion 202 that will be elastically deformed outwards.
  • the engagement between protrusions 202 and 212 will create an increased resistance to rotation and increase in the torque required to rotate the closure 220 relative to the container 230.
  • tamper band 200 is shown during the maximum outward deformation when due to the specific angular position of the closure 220 relative to container 230.
  • Tamper band 220 and its protrusion 202 are pushed outwards relative to pilfer ring 211 and its protrusion 212, to substantially its maximum relative radial position. It may be at this relative angular position of closure 220 and container 230 which also causes the maximum resistance to rotation and maximum/peak torque required to be applied by the servo drive/motor 335.
  • FIG. 15 shows the tamper band 200 after it has engaged on the pilfer-proof ring 211 and returned to a more inwardly radial position.
  • the resistance to further rotation torque required by servo drive/motor 335 to provide further rotation will have decreased.
  • the torque required to rotate the closure decreases rapidly from its peak.
  • This rapid decrease in the torque required by servo drive/motor 235 to rotate the closure 220 signals that the capping process is nearing completion and will be completed upon rotating the closure 220 by a predetermined fixed angle.
  • the value of the fixed angle can be determined from the geometry of the container 230 and the desired relative end position of the closure 220 relative to the container 230.
  • FIG. 16 a process control schematic is provided which shows how system 100 may be operated and controlled by PLC 250.
  • the vertical axis corresponds for each line to one of: (a) the "Rotation Angle" of the capping head 210; (b) the axial/vertical position of the capping head 210 and (c) the torque applied by the capping head 210 to the closure, as indicated in FIG. 16.
  • the horizontal axis may be the carousel's rotational angle i.e. the carousel's angular position in degrees thorough one cycle of its rotation). However, in some cases the horizontal axis may be a measurement of time which can be derived from the carousel's angular position and the carousel's rotational speed.
  • the initial adjustment angle that is applied will vary from situation to situation - and is determined by imaging sub-system 400 and/or PLC 250 as described above; however since in all cases the closure/container combination are placed into the initial suitable thread angular orientation (the "thread oriented" orientation), the application angle that is applied to reach the final desired relative rotational angle is constant ("cste").
  • the axial position of the capping head 210 can be adjusted as shown by the capping head height position profile. It will be appreciated that this curve may match or correspond with the path of the cam track 339 (FIG. 3). There may be a first large peak torque when the pilfer/tamper band engages with the container.
  • the second peak torque may occur when the rotational angle reaches the desired application/completion angle.
  • the torque applied by the capping head to the closure can be terminated substantially once the application/completion angle has been applied and final desired rotation angle reached.
  • the capping head 210 can move downwards substantially linearly and may stop moving downwards once the completion angle is complete and/or the closure "bottoms out” on the container upper surface, as it may be the closures relative position on the container that governs its vertical position. It should be noted that any mismatch in the position of the capping head 210 based on the cam path profile and the head position based on the closure's axial position may be compensated for by a compression spring mechanism associated with the chuck device 215 that allows for some limited axial relative movement of the closure held in the chuck device and the capping head 210 itself.
  • a torque peak monitored by PLC 250 could be used in addition to or instead of the application angle to determine when the closure is considered to be applied to the container in a satisfactory manner and no further rotation of the closure relative to the container is required.
  • FIG. 15 shows the tamper band 200 after it has engaged on the pilfer-proof ring 211 and returned to a more inwardly radial position. At this relative angular position of the closure 220 and container 230, the resistance to further rotation torque required by servo drive/motor 335 to provide further rotation will have decreased. Upon the completion of the engagement, the torque required to rotate the closure decreases rapidly from its peak.
  • This rapid decrease in the torque required by servo drive/motor 235 to rotate the closure 220 signals that the capping process is nearing completion and will be completed upon rotating the closure 220 by a predetermined fixed angle.
  • the value of the fixed angle can be determined from the geometry of the container 230 and the desired relative end position of the closure 220 relative to the container 230.
  • FIG. 16 the inter-relationship between torque applied by rotatable shaft 313 to closure 220, the angle of rotation applied to the closure and the axial/vertical position of the capping head 210 over time are shown over carousel rotational angle/time.
  • a closure 220 with a tamper/pilfer band 211 can be applied to a container 230 with a pilfer ring 621.
  • PLC 250 may in other embodiments then apply a further predetermined completion angle to the closure that is independent of the torque being applied to rotate the closure relative to the container.
  • the identification of the peak torque may be an indicator that the final desired angular position of has been reached. This could also then take the closure to a final fully applied orientation relative to the container.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé pour l'application d'un couvercle sur un récipient. Le procédé peut comprendre les étapes suivantes: l'identification d'une caractéristique sur le couvercle représentant une orientation du couvercle et l'identification d'une caractéristique sur le récipient représentant une orientation du récipient. Le procédé peut également comprendre la détermination des orientations du couvercle et du récipient à partir de l'identification de la caractéristique sur le couvercle et la caractéristique sur le récipient. Le procédé peut également comprendre la détermination, le cas échéant, de la nécessité d'un ajustement dans l'orientation du couvercle par rapport au récipient pour amener le couvercle et le récipient dans une orientation de début de filetage appropriée et la réalisation ultérieure de tout ajustement d'orientation qui est nécessaire pour amener le couvercle et le récipient vers l'orientation de début de filetage appropriée.
PCT/CA2015/050658 2014-08-19 2015-07-14 Procede et systeme pour l'application d'un couvercle sur un recipient WO2016026035A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201462039155P 2014-08-19 2014-08-19
US62/039,155 2014-08-19

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Cited By (10)

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WO2017117648A1 (fr) * 2016-01-04 2017-07-13 Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Récipients et fermetures
CN109678096A (zh) * 2019-01-10 2019-04-26 苏州摩睿科工业自动化有限公司 一种全反馈拧盖机构及其拧盖方法
JP2019191014A (ja) * 2018-04-25 2019-10-31 澁谷工業株式会社 物品方向判定装置および物品搬送装置
EP3647221A1 (fr) * 2018-10-29 2020-05-06 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Orientation angulaire de capuchon
DE102018130940A1 (de) * 2018-12-05 2020-06-10 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Drehlageerkennung
WO2022096237A1 (fr) * 2020-11-04 2022-05-12 Antares Vision S.P.A. Appareil et procédé de capsulage de contenants
CN114715448A (zh) * 2022-06-09 2022-07-08 北京先通国际医药科技股份有限公司 放射性药物的分装系统及分装方法、及其用途
EP4169872A1 (fr) * 2021-10-20 2023-04-26 Krones Ag Fermeture de récipients avec de bouchons
CN117466231A (zh) * 2023-12-27 2024-01-30 四川化工职业技术学院 一种酒瓶自动化封口装置
EP4345054A1 (fr) * 2022-09-29 2024-04-03 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Configuration d'une machine pour mettre en prise un capuchon avec un récipient

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US7836669B1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2010-11-23 The Sherwin Williams Company Lid applying apparatus and method with lid orienting device
WO2013127719A1 (fr) * 2012-02-27 2013-09-06 Heuft Systemtechnik Gmbh Procédé et dispositif d'évaluation sans contact d'un couple de fermeture à visser
US20150033667A1 (en) * 2013-07-30 2015-02-05 Arol S.P.A. Machine for applying threaded caps to containers

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JP2000327086A (ja) * 1999-05-17 2000-11-28 Shibuya Kogyo Co Ltd キャッパ
US7836669B1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2010-11-23 The Sherwin Williams Company Lid applying apparatus and method with lid orienting device
WO2013127719A1 (fr) * 2012-02-27 2013-09-06 Heuft Systemtechnik Gmbh Procédé et dispositif d'évaluation sans contact d'un couple de fermeture à visser
US20150033667A1 (en) * 2013-07-30 2015-02-05 Arol S.P.A. Machine for applying threaded caps to containers

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017117648A1 (fr) * 2016-01-04 2017-07-13 Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Récipients et fermetures
JP7208462B2 (ja) 2018-04-25 2023-01-19 澁谷工業株式会社 容器方向判定装置および容器搬送装置
JP2019191014A (ja) * 2018-04-25 2019-10-31 澁谷工業株式会社 物品方向判定装置および物品搬送装置
EP3647221A1 (fr) * 2018-10-29 2020-05-06 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Orientation angulaire de capuchon
DE102018130940A1 (de) * 2018-12-05 2020-06-10 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Drehlageerkennung
CN109678096A (zh) * 2019-01-10 2019-04-26 苏州摩睿科工业自动化有限公司 一种全反馈拧盖机构及其拧盖方法
US20240017978A1 (en) * 2020-11-04 2024-01-18 Antares Vision S.P.A. Apparatus and method for capping containers
WO2022096237A1 (fr) * 2020-11-04 2022-05-12 Antares Vision S.P.A. Appareil et procédé de capsulage de contenants
EP4169872A1 (fr) * 2021-10-20 2023-04-26 Krones Ag Fermeture de récipients avec de bouchons
CN114715448A (zh) * 2022-06-09 2022-07-08 北京先通国际医药科技股份有限公司 放射性药物的分装系统及分装方法、及其用途
EP4345054A1 (fr) * 2022-09-29 2024-04-03 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Configuration d'une machine pour mettre en prise un capuchon avec un récipient
WO2024068425A1 (fr) * 2022-09-29 2024-04-04 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Configuration d'une machine pour mettre en prise un bouchon avec un récipient
CN117466231A (zh) * 2023-12-27 2024-01-30 四川化工职业技术学院 一种酒瓶自动化封口装置
CN117466231B (zh) * 2023-12-27 2024-02-27 四川化工职业技术学院 一种酒瓶自动化封口装置

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