Capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles

Abstract

A capping head for applying caps on containers or bottles and a capping assembly are provided. The capping head comprises a gripping assembly having a hollow body longitudinally extending along a vertical axis and internally defining a seat for the cap, the seat being delimited at its lower end by an inlet mouth for the introduction of the cap. A moving assembly is connected to the gripping assembly for controlling the movements thereof and is hermetically separated therefrom, and an ejector member is housed inside the hollow body of the gripping assembly, in such a manner that it is free to axially slide. The ejector member carries first and second magnetic elements such that a relative axial approach of the second magnetic element towards the first magnetic element results in a translation of the ejector member towards the lower inlet mouth of the gripping assembly.

Claims

1. A capping head (30) for the application of caps on containers or bottles, wherein said capping head (30) comprises: a gripping assembly (10) for gripping a cap (50), wherein said gripping assembly (10) comprises a hollow body (11) longitudinally extending along a vertical axis (A) and internally defining a receiving and retaining seat (12) for the cap, the receiving and retaining seat (12) being delimited at its lower end by an inlet mouth (13) for the introduction of the cap (50); a moving assembly (31) located in an operating upper part of the capping head connected to the gripping assembly (10) for controlling the translation and/or rotation movements of the gripping assembly (10) and hermetically separated from the gripping assembly (10) by a partition wall (21) allowing an isolation of an aseptic lower part of the capping head including the gripping assembly (10) from the operating upper part of the capping head; and an ejector member (16) housed inside the hollow body (11) of the gripping assembly (10), in such a manner that it is free to axially slide; wherein the ejector member (16) carries at least one first magnetic element (20) suitable to magnetically interact with at least one second magnetic element (23) having the same polarity placed outside the gripping assembly (10) and at an axial height greater than the first magnetic element (20) such that a relative axial approach of the second magnetic element (23) towards the first magnetic element (20) results in a translation of the ejector member (16) towards the lower inlet mouth (13) of the gripping assembly (10); and wherein the partition wall (21) is arranged within the hollow body (11) orthogonally to the vertical axis (A) and above the ejector member (16) and is made of magnetic material or of a magnetizable material so as to define a corresponding suspension member suitable for the magnetic interaction with the first magnetic element (20) so as to determine a suspension condition of the ejector member (16), and wherein the partition wall (21), besides acting as a suspension member for the ejector member (16), also provides an upper end stop for the axial sliding of the ejector member (16).

2. The capping head (30) according to claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element (23) is comprised inside the moving assembly (31) and is brought in axial translation along the axis (A), by means of a moving member (26), between a position which is distal from the gripping assembly (10) and a position which is proximal to the gripping assembly (10).

3. The capping head (30) according to claim 2, wherein the moving member (26) is a rod vertically sliding along the axis (A) and carrying at its lower end the second magnetic element (23).

4. The capping head (30) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one first magnetic element (20) is a permanent magnet placed above the ejector member (16) and rigidly connected thereto.

5. The capping head (30) according to claim 4, wherein the ejector member (16) is rigidly connected to a pin (18) transversally engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots (19) extending parallel to the axis (A) and obtained in the side wall of the hollow body (11).

6. The capping head (30) according to claim 3, wherein the ejector member (16) is rigidly connected to a pin (18) transversally engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots (19) extending parallel to the axis (A) and obtained in the side wall of the hollow body (11).

7. The capping head (30) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one first magnetic element (20) is a permanent magnet placed above the ejector member (16) and rigidly connected thereto.

8. The capping head (30) according to claim 2, wherein the ejector member (16) is rigidly connected to a pin (18) transversally engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots (19) extending parallel to the axis (A) and obtained in the side wall of the hollow body (11).

9. The capping head (30) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first magnetic element (20) is a permanent magnet placed above the ejector member (16) and rigidly connected thereto.

10. The capping head (30) according to claim 1, wherein the suspension member (21) is at least one inner wall portion of the hollow body (11).

11. The capping head (30) according to claim 10, wherein the ejector member (16) is rigidly connected to a pin (18) transversally engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots (19) extending parallel to the axis (A) and obtained in the side wall of the hollow body (11).

12. The capping head (30) according to claim 1, wherein the ejector member (16) is rigidly connected to a pin (18) transversally engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots (19) extending parallel to the axis (A) and obtained in the side wall of the hollow body (11).

13. A capping assembly (100) comprising a movable support structure for moving at least one capping head (30) for the application of caps (50) on containers or bottles along a conveying path of containers to be capped, the capping assembly comprising at least one capping head (30) for the application of caps on containers or bottles according to claim 1.

Description

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a first embodiment of a capping head according to the present invention in a first operating condition of the members contributing to the cap ejection;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the members contributing to the cap ejection in the capping head shown in FIG. 1, in a second operating condition;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the members contributing to the cap ejection in the capping head shown in FIG. 1, in a third operating condition;

(5) FIG. 4 is a first side elevational view, partly in section, of a gripping assembly of a second embodiment of a capping head according to the present invention, during the step of cap introduction into the receiving seat of the gripping assembly;

(6) FIG. 5 is a second side elevational view, partly in section, of the gripping assembly shown in FIG. 4, at the beginning of the ejection step;

(7) FIG. 6 is a partial second side elevational view, partly in section, of the gripping assembly shown in FIG. 4, at the end of the ejection step;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gripping assembly shown in FIG. 4 in a step of approaching a pair of abutment walls with which the gripping assembly cooperates for performing cap ejection;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a capping assembly including a plurality of capping heads equipped with the gripping assembly shown in FIG. 4 and the abutment walls shown in FIG. 7.

(10) In the following description, for describing 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.

(11) Referring to the Figures, there is shown a capping head 30 carrying at its bottom end a gripping assembly 10 for a cap 50, in which an ejector member 16, a first embodiment of which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, operates.

(12) Gripping assembly 10 is moved (translated and/or rotated) by means of a moving assembly 31 included in capping head 30 and located above gripping assembly 10. Moving assembly 31 is not shown in detail since it can be made in any manner known in the art. Similarly, also the structure of capping assembly 100 on which capping head 30 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted is not shown in detail, since also such a structure can be made in any manner known in the art.

(13) In general terms, capping assemblies 100 typically have a carousel structure with a plurality of capping heads circumferentially moving along the carousel synchronously with respective supports for the containers, also mounted on a carrousel 101. Such a capping assembly 100 is schematically shown by way of example in FIG. 8.

(14) At each turn of the carousel, each capping head 30 is axially displaced and is possibly made to rotate to perform the coupling (by insertion or by screwing) of a cap 50 on the mouth of a container (not shown).

(15) During each operation cycle, each capping head 30 takes a respective cap 50 (in known manner) from a cap charger 102, it is lowered in order to apply cap 50 on the container mouth and then it is lifted again to an upper dead-point position where it is again ready to take a new cap 50.

(16) Gripping assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a tubular hollow body 11 internally defining a receiving and retaining seat 12 for cap 50. To this end, body 11 has a mouth 13 provided with means suitable to retain cap 50 through a positive or non-positive coupling (e.g. resiliently). In the example shown in the Figures, such retaining means include a plurality of balls 14 and a resilient ring 15 surrounding them and extending around tubular body 11. Balls 14 project through openings of the internal surface of seat 12 so that they are pressed against the side wall of cap 50 by resilient ring 15.

(17) When capping head 30 is lowered on cap 50 carried by charger 102 in order to take the cap, cap 50 enters seat 12 by overcoming the action of resilient ring 15, and it is retained in such a seat due to the effect of the elastic reaction of ring 14 pushing balls 14 against the side wall of cap 50,

(18) An ejector member 16 is slidably mounted inside tubular body 11 of gripping assembly 10 and is housed within receiving seat for cap 50 so as to be free to axially translate along axis A of tubular body 11.

(19) Ejector member 16 is rigidly connected to a diametrical pin 18 engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots 19 formed in the side wall of tubular body 11 and guiding the axial translatory movement of ejector member 16.

(20) According to the present invention, a first magnetic element 20 is rigidly connected above ejector member 16. Moreover, a second magnetic element 23 is provided, which has the same axial polarity as the first magnetic element 20 and is made to approach the first element 20 from above so as to cause a downward translation thereof.

(21) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the second magnetic element 23 having the same axial polarity is carried by a rod 26 housed inside moving assembly 31 of gripping assembly 10 and vertically slidable along axis A.

(22) Advantageously, rod 26 is wholly housed inside moving assembly 31 of capping head 30 and its translatory movement is confined inside said assembly. In this manner, moving assembly 31 is hermetically separated from gripping assembly 10 by a wall 21 allowing isolating the aseptic lower part from the operating upper part.

(23) When rod 26 is translated so as to approach partition 21, thereby making the second magnetic element 23 approach the first magnetic element 20 from above, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, magnetic repulsion between the first magnetic element 20 and the second magnetic element 23 having the same axial polarity causes ejector member 16 to be translated downwards, thereby determining a downward thrust action against cap 50 and consequently ejection thereof.

(24) Referring to FIG. 3, when receiving and retaining seat 12 for cap 50 is empty, ejector member 16 is maintained by gravity in its lower end-stop position, closer to end mouth 13 of gripping assembly 10. When on the contrary a cap 50 is introduced into receiving and retaining seat 12, as shown in FIG. 1, ejector member 16 moves back to the position shown in that Figure. In such a position, the first magnetic element 20 is in contact with partition wall 21.

(25) Advantageously, partition wall 21 is made of magnetisable material, so as to magnetically interact with the first magnetic element 20 carried by ejector member 16 and, when in contact therewith, to generate a sufficient attraction force to maintain a suspension configuration, whereby ejector member 16 does not discharge its weight on cap 50.

(26) FIGS. 4 to 7 show a second embodiment of a gripping assembly 10 of a capping head according to the present invention.

(27) Also gripping assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 includes a tubular hollow body 11 internally defining a receiving and retaining seat 12 for cap 50. A cylindrical ejector member 16 is slidably mounted inside tubular body 11 of gripping assembly 10. Ejector member 16 is confined inside receiving and retaining seat 12 for cap 50 so as to be free to axially translate along axis A of tubular body 11.

(28) Ejector member 16 is rigidly connected to a circumferential flange 17 mounted in an axially slidable manner outside tubular body 11. Flange 17 is rigidly connected to internal ejector member 16 through a diametrical pin 18 engaging with a pair of longitudinal slots 19 formed in the side wall of tubular body 11.

(29) According to the present invention, a plurality of first magnetic elements 20 are embedded in the rim of flange 17 and project from the upper surface of flange 17.

(30) The plurality of first magnetic elements 20 cooperate with second magnetic elements 23 having the same axial polarity, which are mounted on a pair of horizontal walls 24 circumferentially located along the path of carousel capping assembly 100 immediately upstream, with reference to the movement direction of the carousel, the zone where a new cap 50 is taken at cap charger 102.

(31) The second magnets 23 project from the lower surface of horizontal walls 24. When the first magnetic elements 20 are made to approach the second magnetic elements 23 from below, magnetic repulsion prevents circumferential flange 17 from approaching beyond a given limit distance, and hence from contacting the pair of horizontal walls 24.

(32) Thus, a lifting of capping head 30 relative to horizontal walls 24 makes ejector member 16 remain at the same height, since flange 17 remains at a distance from said walls 24. This results in a downward movement of ejector member 16 relative to tubular body 11 carried by capping head 30, which movement in turn determines a downward thrust against cap 50 and thus ejection thereof.

(33) Moreover, ejector member 16 carries on its upper side a third magnetic element 22, and a partition wall 21 arranged orthogonally to axis A and above ejector member 16 is provided in tubular body 11. Partition wall 21, besides allowing isolating the aseptic lower part from the operating upper part, acts as an upper end stop for the sliding movement of ejector member 16.

(34) Advantageously, partition wall 21 is made of magnetisable material. In this manner, when a cap 50 is introduced into receiving and retaining seat 12, ejector member 16 moves back to the position shown in FIG. 4. In such a position, the third magnetic element 22 is in contact with partition wall 21, so as to magnetically interact with the same wall and to generate a sufficient attraction force to maintain a suspension configuration, whereby ejector member 16 does not discharge its weight on cap 50.

(35) The features of the capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles as well as of the corresponding capping assembly according to the present invention are clearly apparent from the above description, as are clearly apparent the relevant advantages.

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

(37) Lastly, it is clear that a capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles as conceived is susceptible of several changes and modifications, all lying within the scope of the invention. Moreover all details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In the practice, any material as well any size can be employed depending on the technical requirements.