Assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads

Abstract

An assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads includes a containing body torque and/or load sensor housed within the body, and an interface that connects a capping head to the body. The interface is coupled to the torque/load sensor to transfer torque applied on the interface to the torque sensor and/or to transfer load applied on the interface to the load sensor. The interface has a first part fixedly constrained to the capping head such that the first part is brought into rotation and/or translation by the capping head, and a second part coupled to the torque sensor for transferring a torque thereto and/or to the load sensor for transferring a load thereto. The torque and/or load are applied by the first part to the second part and the first part transfers a torque to the second part in the absence of a reciprocal contact.

Claims

1. An assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads, comprising a containing body (11), at least one torque sensor (12) and/or at least one load sensor (13) housed within the containing body (11), and interface means (20) adapted to connect a capping head (50) with the containing body (11), such interface means (20) being coupled to the at least one torque sensor (12) and/or to the at least one load sensor (13) in a manner which is suitable to transfer a torque applied on the interface means (20) to the at least one torque sensor (12) and/or to transfer a load applied on the interface means (20) to the at least one load sensor (13), wherein the interface means (20) comprise at least a first part (21), which is fixedly constrained to the capping head (50) in such a way that the first part (21) is brought into rotation and/or translation by the capping head (50), and a second part (22), which is coupled to the at least one torque sensor (12) for transferring a torque thereto and/or to the at least one load sensor (13) for transferring a load thereto, which torque and/or load are applied by the first part (21) of the interface means (20) to the second part (22) of the interface means (20), wherein the first part (21) of the interface means (20) transfers a torque to the second part (22) of the interface means (20) in the absence of reciprocal contact, and wherein the first part (21) of the interface means (20) is magnetically coupled to the second part (22) of the interface means (20) for transferring a torque to the second part (22).

2. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 1, wherein the first part (21) of the interface means (20) is shaped as a cylindrical pin, the pin-shaped first part (21) being dimensioned so as to fit in the receiving seat (25) defined by the cup-shaped second part (22).

3. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 1, wherein the second part (22) of the interface means (20) is cup-shaped, thereby defining a receiving seat (25) for the first part (21) of the interface means (20).

4. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 3, wherein the first part (21) of the interface means (20) is shaped as a cylindrical pin, the pin-shaped first part (21) being dimensioned so as to fit in the receiving seat (25) defined by the cup-shaped second part (22).

5. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 1, wherein the second part (22) of the interface means (20) is cup-shaped, thereby defining a receiving seat (25) for the first part (21) of the interface means (20), wherein the first part (21) of the interface means (20) is shaped as a cylindrical pin, the pin-shaped first part (21) being dimensioned so as to fit in the receiving seat (25) defined by the cup-shaped second part (22), and wherein the first part (21) and/or the second part (22) of the interface means (20) comprise a plurality of permanent magnets, arranged with alternate polarities along the ring-shaped development of an outer covering surface of the pin-shaped first part (21), and/or, respectively, of a covering surface of the cup-shaped second part (22) facing the inside of the receiving seat (25).

6. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 5, wherein the first part (21) or the second part (22) of the interface means (20) comprise a permanent magnet, shaped as a hollow cylindrical ring projecting from the outer covering surface of the pin-shaped first part (21) or from the covering surface of the cup-shaped second part (22) facing the inside of the receiving seat (25), respectively.

7. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 5, wherein the first part (21) or the second part (22) of the interface means (20) are made of a ferromagnetic material, subject to hysteresis friction.

8. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 1, wherein the first (21) and the second part (22) of the interface means (20) comprise reciprocal aligning means (26, 27).

9. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 8, wherein the reciprocal aligning means (26, 27) comprise a centring protrusion (26) axially extending from the centre of a free head surface (21a) of the pin-shaped first part (21) and an entrance recess (27) formed in a bottom wall (25a) of the receiving seat (25), the entrance recess (27) being shaped in a complementary way with respect to the centring protrusion (26) for receiving such protrusion (26) therein.

10. The assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load (10) for capping heads according to claim 8, wherein the reciprocal aligning means (26, 27) comprise a centring protrusion (26) axially extending from the centre of a bottom wall (25a) of the receiving seat (25), and an entrance recess (27) formed in a free head surface (21a) of the pin-shaped first part (21), the entrance recess (27) being shaped in a complementary way with respect to the centring protrusion (26) for receiving such protrusion (26) therein.

Description

(1) The different features in the individual configurations can be combined together at will according the preceding description, should the advantages specifically resulting from a particular combination have to be exploited.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a schematic representation of a first preferred embodiment of an assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads, according to the present invention;

(4) FIGS. 2a to 2c are perspective sectional views of the measuring assembly shown in FIG. 1, in three successive coupling configurations during a measurement phase;

(5) FIG. 3 is a partial view, in side elevation and partly in cross-section, of a second preferred embodiment of an assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads, according to the present invention

(6) In the following description, for explaining the Figures, the same reference numerals are used to denote constructive elements having the same functions. Moreover, for the sake of clarity of the illustration, it is possible that some reference numerals are not shown in all Figures.

(7) Indications such as “vertical” and “horizontal”, “upper” and “lower” (in the absence of further indications) are to be intended with reference to the mounting (or operating) conditions and with reference to the normal terminology in use in the current language, where “vertical” denotes a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the vector force of gravity “g” and “horizontal” denotes a direction perpendicular thereto.

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of an assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads according to the present invention, generally denoted 10.

(9) Measuring assembly 10 includes a containing body 11, preferably having the external shape of a bottle or container in order it can be inserted onto a conveyor arranged to convey containers to be capped in correspondence of a capping head 50 for cap application.

(10) Containing body 11 has a plate-shaped upper end portion 14 and defines, below plate-shaped portion 14, a neck 15 arranged to cooperate with a holding system (not shown), holding measuring assembly 10 in position, thereby making it suitable to perform the measurements.

(11) At least one torque sensor 12 and at least one load sensor 13, of the three-axis type, as well as electronic processing means 16 to which sensors 12, 13 are connected, are provided inside containing body 11 shown in FIG. 1. Electronic processing means 16 are arranged to manage the control of the sensors and they store the measures collected by the sensors.

(12) Interface means 20 arranged to connect a capping head 50 to containing body 11 in a manner suitable to transfer to torque sensor 12 the torque applied by capping head 50 on said interface means 20 upon rotation about an axis A are provided above containing body 11.

(13) Similarly, interface means 20 are arranged to connect capping head 50 to containing body 11 in a manner suitable to transfer to load sensor 13 the axial thrust exerted by capping head 50 on said interface means 20 upon a downward translation along axis A.

(14) To this end, interface means 20 are not fastened to containing body 11, but are directly connected to sensors 12, 13 through a spindle 17. Interface means 20 do no rest on plate-shaped upper end portion 14 of containing body 11, but on said spindle 17.

(15) According to the present invention, interface means 20 comprise a first part 21, which can be fastened to capping head 50 in such a way that said first part is brought into rotation and/or translation by capping head 50, and a second part 22, which is coupled to the at least one torque sensor 12 for transferring a torque thereto and/or to the at least one load sensor 13 for transferring a load thereto, which torque and/or load are applied to the second part 22.

(16) The first part 21 is arranged to transfer a torque to the second part 22 in contactless manner.

(17) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first part 21 of interface means 20 is shaped as a cylindrical pin, which, once it has been mounted onto capping head 50, symmetrically extends along axis of rotation A of the same cap 50. The outer surface of pin 21 has magnetic characteristics.

(18) In corresponding manner, the second part 22 of interface means 20 is fixedly mounted onto spindle 17 and is generally cup-shaped, thereby defining a seat 25 for receiving pin 21, which seat has a size substantially complementary to the size of cylindrical pin 21 in order to be able to internally accommodate it, yet in contactless manner.

(19) Also the surface facing the inside of receiving seat 25 defined by cup-shaped part 22 has magnetic characteristics, in order to cooperate with the outer surface of pin 21 when the latter is in a configuration partially or wholly inserted in said seat 25.

(20) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface of cylindrical pin 21 is covered with a ring 23 formed of a plurality of permanent magnets, arranged with alternate polarities along the ring extension, whereas the inner surface of receiving seat 25 is covered with a ring 24 made of a ferromagnetic material subject to hysteresis friction. In order to build the permanent magnets of ring 23 of cylindrical pin 21, use of a material such as a neodymium-iron-boron alloy is particularly suitable, whereas ring 24 covering receiving seat 25 is preferably made of an aluminium-nickel-cobalt ferromagnetic alloy.

(21) Cylindrical pin 21 has a centring protrusion 26 that, when pin 21 is mounted on capping head 50, axially extends from the centre of free head surface 21a of pin 21 towards receiving seat 25.

(22) In mirror-like manner, an entrance recess 27, shaped in complementary way with respect to centring protrusion 26 and shaped so as to internally receive such a protrusion 26, is provided at the centre of bottom wall 25a of receiving seat 25.

(23) Advantageously, centring protrusion 26 and entrance recess 27 have conical shape, in order to make introduction of protrusion 26 into recess 27 easier.

(24) Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of an assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads, which differs from the first embodiment substantially for the reversed positioning of centring protrusion 26 and the corresponding entrance recess 27. Actually, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, entrance recess 27 is formed at the centre of free head surface 21a of pin 21, whereas centring protrusion 26 axially extends from the centre of bottom wall 25a of receiving seat 25.

(25) Moreover, in the measuring assembly shown in FIG. 3, spindle 17 connecting interface means 20 and sensors 12, 13 extends from containing body 11 in such a manner as to leave a clearance between plate-shaped upper end portion 14 of containing body 11 and interface means 20.

(26) The operation of measuring assembly 10 according to the invention is as follows.

(27) In order to carry out a measurement of the torque and the axial load imparted by a capping head, the first part 21 of interface means 20 is fastened to said capping head 50 in place of the gripping means (not shown) with which such a head 50 is usually provided.

(28) Thereafter, capping head 50 is actuated, thereby causing a roto-translational movement of pin 21. The movement imparted by capping head 50 on pin 21 makes the pin progressively penetrate into receiving seat 25 defined by the second part 22 of interface means 20.

(29) As shown in the sequence of FIGS. 2a to 2c, the first part 21 progressively penetrates in contactless manner into receiving seat 25, thereby magnetically engaging the second part 22 of interface means 20.

(30) When the resistant torque generated by the magnetic coupling between the first and the second part 21, 22 exceeds the tightening torque set for capping head 50 under measurement, the first part 21 stops rotating and transmits in contactless manner the torque to the second part 22, which in turn transmits such a torque to torque sensor 12 it is connected to.

(31) Also centring protrusion 26 progressively engages entrance recess 27, thereby ensuring centring between the first part 21 and the second part 22 of interface means 20.

(32) Moreover, in centred configuration, free head surface 21a of the first part 21 and bottom wall 25a of receiving seat 25 formed in the second part 22 are in contact at least through the coupling between protrusion 26 and recess 27.

(33) In such a contacting configuration, transfer of the load imparted by capping head 50 from the first part 21 to the second part 22 of interface means 20 takes place, whereby the load can be detected by load sensor 13.

(34) The features of the assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads according to the present invention are clearly apparent from the above description, as are clearly apparent the relevant advantages.

(35) Further variants of the embodiments described above are possible without departing from the teaching of the invention.

(36) Lastly, it is clear that an assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads as conceived can undergo several changes and modifications, all included in the invention. Moreover, all details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, any material as well as any size can be used, depending on the technical requirements.