SEGMENTED TELESCOPICALLY ADJUSTABLE CAP PASSAGE

Abstract

A telescopic cap-supply that supplies caps for closing containers includes a cap passage having a length-adjustable section. Adjustment of a length of the length-adjustable section causes the length-adjustable section to transition between an extended state and a collapsed state. First, second, and third segments form the cap passage. Each of these segments is secured to an adjoining segment in such a manner that two adjoining segments are movable relative to each other.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus comprising a telescopic cap-supply that supplies caps for closing containers, said telescopic cap-supply comprising a cap passage having a length-adjustable section, wherein adjustment of a length of said length-adjustable section causes said length-adjustable section to transition between an extended state and a collapsed state, wherein first, second, and third segments form said cap passage, and wherein each of said segments is secured to an adjoining segment in such a way that two adjoining segments are movable relative to each other.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, in said extended state, said first segment suspends said second segment and said second segment suspends said third segment, wherein, in said collapsed state, said first segment rests on said second segment and said second segment rests on said third segment.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said second segment comprises an upper connection-element that enables said second segment to engage said first segment and wherein said second segment comprises a lower connection-element for enabling said second segment to engage said third segment.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second segment's upper connection-element comprises an upper contact-surface that faces said third segment and second segment's lower connection-element comprises a lower contact-surface that faces said first segment.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said upper connection-element comprises an upper face surface that faces said first segment and wherein said lower connection element comprises a lower face surface that faces said third segment.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of said segments comprises a guide section that guides plural sides of a cap and wherein said guide sections of said segments collectively form said cap passage.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said guide section is a guide section of said second segment, wherein said guide section comprises an upper face surface that faces said first segment and a lower face surface that faces said first segment.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said segments comprise first and second adjoining segments, each of which has a contact surface, wherein, in said extended state, said contact surfaces face each other and wherein face surfaces of said adjoining segments do not contact each other.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said segments comprise first and second adjoining segments, each of which has a contact surface, wherein, in said collapsed state, said contact surfaces face lie on one another while said adjoining segments do not contact each other.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first segment and said second segment have an identical shape and wherein said second segment and said third segment have an identical shape.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first segment is formed as one piece, wherein said second segment is formed as one piece, and wherein said third segment is formed as one piece.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, in said extended state, said cap passage has an opening that faces a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which said caps move when traversing said cap passage.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said cap passage, in said collapsed state, encloses four sides of said caps therein.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, in each state of said cap passage, said segments are arranged to guide each cap through said cap passage continuously through at least two adjoining segments.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a carrying structure that extends at least along said length-adjustable section, wherein each segment comprises a guide region shaped for cooperating with said carrying structure to guide caps.

31. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a cap-cleaning machine, wherein at least a portion of said length-adjustable section is a constituent of said cap-cleaning machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIGS. 1a and 1b show the collapsed and extended states of a telescopic cap-supply at a closing device with a cap passage;

[0068] FIGS. 2a and 2b are sectional views of the cap passage if FIGS. 1a and 1b in its extended and collapsed states respectively;

[0069] FIG. 2c is a perspective view of one of the segments from the cap passage of FIGS. 2a and 2b;

[0070] FIG. 2d is a perspective view of the collapsed cap passage shown in FIG. 2b;

[0071] FIG. 2e is a perspective view of the extended cap passage shown in FIG. 2a;

[0072] FIG. 3a is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a cap passage;

[0073] FIG. 3b shows view of the cap passage of FIG. 3a looking down in the running direct

[0074] FIG. 3cshows a segment used in the cap passage of FIGS. 3a and 3b;

[0075] FIG. 3d is a perspective view of the cap passage of FIG. 3a in the collapsed state;

[0076] FIG. 3e is a perspective view of the cap passage of FIG. 3a in the extended state;

[0077] FIG. 4a is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a cap passage, which is in its collapsed state;

[0078] FIG. 4b shows the cap passage of FIG. 4a in its extended state;

[0079] FIG. 4c is a perspective view of a segment used in the cap passage of FIGS. 4a and 4b;

[0080] FIG. 4d is a perspective view of the third embodiment the cap passage when it is in its collapsed state;

[0081] FIG. 4d is a perspective view of the third embodiment the cap passage when it is in its extended state;

[0082] FIG. 4e a perspective view of the embodiment of the cap passage shown in FIG. 4a, in the extended state,

[0083] FIG. 5a is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a cap passage when it is in its collapsed state;

[0084] FIG. 5b shows the cap passage of FIG. 5a in its extended state;

[0085] FIG. 6a is a perspective view of another embodiment of a can passage in its extended state;

[0086] FIG. 6b shows the cap passage of FIG. 6a in its collapsed state;

[0087] FIG. 6c is a perspective view of the other side of the cap passage shown in FIG. 6a; and

[0088] FIG. 6d is a perspective view of the other side of the cap passage shown in FIG. 6b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089] In FIG. 1a, a sorting device S brings crown corks K to a closure device V that has been positioned for closing bottles G. The closure device V then closes bottles F with these crown corks K.

[0090] A telescopic cap-supply 1 connects the sorting device S to the closure device V. The cap supply 1 forms a cap passage 2 that extends along a running direction to a closure device V. The cap supply 1 includes a length-adjustable section 3. When at its shortest length, the length-adjustable section 3 defines the cap supply's collapsed state. At any other length, the length-adjustable section 3 defines the cap supply's extended state.

[0091] A typical embodiment includes a housing, and in particular, a hygienic housing. In such embodiments, the housing encloses the closure device V. However, the sorting device S remains outside the housing at some fixed height.

[0092] The cap passage 2 passes through or over this housing. In some embodiments, there exists a lock arrangement at an inlet that goes into the hygienic housing of the closure device V. In other arrangements, there exists a lock arrangement at an inlet that goes into a cap-treatment device that cleans and sterilizes caps.

[0093] In FIG. 1a, the bottles F are large. Thus, the closure device V is relatively close to the sorting device S. In FIG. 1b, the bottles F are smaller. Thus, the closure device V is lower and therefore further from the sorting device S. The length-adjustable section 3 permits the cap passage 2 to transition between different lengths, as shown in FIG. 1a and in FIG. 1b.

[0094] The cap passage 2, and in particular, the length-adjustable section 3 thereof, is made of individual segments 4. FIG. 2c shows one of these segments 4. Each segment 4 adjoins other segments 4 at a metal carrying structure 12 as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The segments 4 are movable relative to each other. This ability to move relative to each other permits the length of the length-adjustable section 3 to be adjusted, as seen in FIG. 2a, and the collapsed state, as seen in FIG. 2b.

[0095] Each segment 4 includes a guide section 11. As is apparent from FIGS. 2d and 2e, the guide sections 11 cooperate to form the cap passage 2. In the particular embodiment shown, the cap passage 2 is partially opened on one side along its entire length in both its fully-extended state, shown in FIG. 2e, and in its collapsed state, shown in FIG. 2d. The guide section 11 surrounds a crown cork K on three sides and includes projections that project over the crown cork K on a fourth side.

[0096] Referring now to FIG. 2c, each segment 4 includes an upper connection-element 5 and a lower connection-element 6. As can be seen in FIG. 2b, the upper connection-element 5 has an upper contact-surface 7 and the lower connection-element 6 has a lower contact-surface 8.

[0097] In the extended state, which is shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2e, adjoining segments 4 contact each other only at the upper and lower contact-surfaces 7, 8. More specifically, the lower contact-surface 8 of one segment contacts the upper contact-surface 7 of an adjoining segment. As a result, the upper connection-element 5 and the lower connection-element 6 cooperate to form a chain of suspended segments 4.

[0098] FIG. 2b and FIG. 2d show the cap passage 2 in its collapsed state. In this collapsed state, adjoining segments 4 abut each other. Contact between adjoining segments 4 only occurs in the region of an upper and lower face 9, 10 arranged at upper and lower edges of the guide section 11. This closes the side of the cap passage 2. As a result, the cap passage 2 is laterally enclosed in its collapsed state. This differs from the expanded state in FIGS. 2a and 2e, in which a space that separates each pair of segments 4 from each other forms gaps in the cap passage 2.

[0099] FIG. 3a shows a second embodiment of a cap passage 2 having identical segments 4, an exemplary one of which can be seen in FIG. 3c. In this second embodiment, a hook 16 implements the upper connection-element 5 and a guide slot 17 implements the lower connection-element 6. The guide slot 17 receives the hook 16 of an adjoining segment 4 in such a way that the hook 16 has enough play to move freely up and down in the guide slot 17 in which it finds itself received, at least as far as the extent of the guide slot 17.

[0100] The hook 16 has a surface that faces an adjoining segment 4 that lies below the segment 4. This surface forms the upper contact-surface 7. The guide slot 17 has a surface that faces an adjoining segment that lies above the segment 4. This surface forms the lower contact-surface 8. The upper and lower edges of the guide section 11 thus form the upper and lower contact-surfaces 8, 7 to define a region that is enclosed on three sides.

[0101] In the particular embodiment shown, the carrying structure 13 has a T-shaped cross-section, as shown in FIG. 3b. Also visible in FIG. 3b is a groove 14 that extends along the length of the carrying section 12 in the running direction. This groove 14 forms a guide region 13. As shown in FIG. 3b, the segment 4 forms a back side and two lateral sides or the cap passage 2 while the carrying section 12 forms the front side of the cap passage 2.

[0102] In the collapsed state, the carrying structure 12 cooperates with the segments 4 to surround the cap passage 2 on all sides over its entire length. The guide section 11 encloses the two lateral sides and the back side of the cap passage 2 and the carrying structure 12 completes the enclosure by closing off the front side of the cap passage 2. This fully-surrounded portion of the guide section 11 can be seen in FIG. 3d

[0103] In contrast, in the extended state, as shown in FIG. 3e, each segment 4 uses its hook 16 to hang off the segment 4 above it by having the hook 16 engage the guide slot 17 of that segment. This forms a gap between segments 4.

[0104] FIGS. 4a-4e show a cap passage 2 formed from an alternative segment 4. In the alternative segment 4, best seen in. FIG. 4c, the upper connection-element 5 has cuffs 15 on either side thereof and the lower connection-element 6 also has cuffs 15 on either side thereof. These cuffs 15 align to engage a carrying structure 12 formed by two parallel rods, each having a circular cross-section, as shown in FIGS. 4d and 4e. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4d and 4e, the cuffs 15 surround each rod by 270 degrees.

[0105] In this embodiment, the upper and lower faces 9, 10 of the guide section 11 are on the upper and lower connection-elements 5, 6 respectively. The upper contact-surface 7 and the upper face 9 are on opposite parallel sides of the upper connection-element 5. The lower face 10 and the lower contact-surface 8 are on opposite parallel sides of the lower connection-element 6, as can be seen in FIG. 4c.

[0106] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, adjacent segments 4 once again form the cap passage 2. However, adjacent segments 4 lie on opposite sides of the carrying structure 12. Between the upper connection-element 5 and the lower connection-element 6 of a particular segment 4 there lie an upper connection-element 5 of an adjacent segment on the opposite side of the carrying structure 12 and a lower connection-element 5 of an adjacent segment on the opposite side of the carrying structure 12.

[0107] In the extended state, a segment 4 contacts only upper and lower contact surfaces 7, 8 of segments on the opposite side of the carrying structure 12. In the collapsed state, each segment 4 lies with its lower face 10 on the upper face 9 of a segment that lies on the same side of the carrying structure 12. In addition, each segment 4 also contacts the upper and lower contact surfaces 7, 8 of adjacent segments on the opposite side of the carrying structure 12.

[0108] FIGS. 5a and 5b show a fourth embodiment in which the segments 4 that form the cap passage 2 are identical to each other but mounted such that each segment is rotated around the axis of the adjustable-length section 3 by 180 degrees relative to its adjacent segments.

[0109] Each upper connection-element 5 includes a bolt 18 with a ring 21 arranged at an end thereof. Each lower connection-element 6 has a channel 19 that receives a bolt 18. The bolt 18 and the channel 19 are arranged at different radial distances from the axis. As a result of the rotation, the bolt 18 of a particular upper connection-element 5 will align with the channel 19 of an adjacent segment's channel 19, thus making it possible to for the channel 19 to receive the bolt 18.

[0110] The bolt's diameter is less than that of the channel 19. As a result, it is possible to displace the bolt 18 while it is inside the channel 19. The ring 21 at the bolt's end, however, has a diameter larger than that of the channel 19 As a result, the surface of the bolt 18 faces the segment 4 below and forms the upper contact-surface 7. Meanwhile, a circumferential edge of the channel 19 forms the lower contact-surface 8.

[0111] As is apparent from FIGS. 5a and. 5b, the fourth embodiment's guide sections 11 form a funnel in which segments 4 that adjoin each other push into one another as they engage each other. The lower face 10 of each segment 4 covers up an upper face 9 of an adjacent segment 4 in the course of forming the funnel. This results in a cap passage 2 whose sides remain fully enclosed in both the extended state and in the collapsed state.

[0112] FIGS. 6a-6d show a sixth embodiment in which the segments 4 are multi-part segments.

[0113] In the sixth embodiment, a pair of parallel guide plates 22 on one side of the cap passage 2 form the guide section 11. Each guide plate 22 has a slot 23 that extends along the crown corks' movement direction through the cap passage 2. Each slot 23 accommodates a pair of holding bolts 23 one above the other. The holding bolts 23 are free to move along the length of the slot 23.

[0114] FIGS. 6c and 6d show a view from the side opposite that shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. From this point-of-view, it is possible to see a guide bar 25 that connects to a holding bolt 24 at each end thereof. Each guide bar 25 thus couples the two guide plates 22 to each other via the two holding bolts 24 that pass through the slots 23 of the two guide plates 22. The guide plates 22 and the guide bars 25 thus form front and rear sides of the cap passage 2. The holding bolts 23 form the lateral sides of the cap passage 2.

[0115] To couple adjoining segments 4 to each other, each holding bolt 24 has a holding eye 20 that extends along the movement direction of the crown corks K. A holding eye 20 engages a holding bolt 24 of an adjacent segment 4 and thus couples two adjacent segments 4 together while providing enough play so that adjacent segments 4 can be displaced relative to each other.

[0116] In the sixth embodiment, upper edges of the guide plates 22, an upper edge of the holding eye 20, and an upper edge of the guide bar 25 cooperate to form the upper face 9 of the guide section 11. Meanwhile, lower edges of the guide plates 22, an underside of the lower of two holding bolts 24 at a segment 5, and an underside of the guide bar 25 cooperate to form the lower face 10 of the guide section 11.

[0117] In the collapsed state, the structures that form the upper face 9 contact the structures that form the lower face 10 of an adjacent segment 4. In the extended state, the individual segments 4 connect only via the holding eyes 20 of adjacent segments 4. In some embodiments, a holding eye 20 is an upper connection-element 5 and the holding bolt 24 that it engages is a lower connection-element 6. The upper contact surface 7 is therefore at the holding eye 20 and the lower contact surface 8 is at the holding bolt 24. In other embodiments, a holding eye 20 is a lower connection-element 6 and the holding bolt 24 that it engages is an upper connection-element 5. In these embodiments, the upper contact surface 7 is at the holding bolt 24 and the lower contact surface 8 is at the holding eye 20.

[0118] Having described the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by letters patent is: