METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING RECEPTACLES

Abstract

A method for closing receptacles (2), comprising steps of: in a controlled-contamination environment (6) having a volume that extends into a restricted zone about the neck (2b) of the receptacles, resting and pressing a closure (10) onto a mouth (2a) of each receptacle (2); screwing the capsule (10) onto the neck (2b) of the corresponding receptacle (2) externally of the controlled contamination environment (6).

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. Apparatus (1) for closing receptacles (2), comprising: an application unit (3) of closures configured to place and press a concave closure (10) onto the mouth (2a) of each receptacle (2), said application unit (3) for applying the closures comprising an isolator (5) adapted to define a controlled contamination environment (6) containing at least the neck (2b) of the receptacles (2); a non-aseptic capper (4) for tightening the closures configured to screw each concave closure (10) to the neck (2b) of the corresponding receptacle (2) in a non-sterile environment which is external to the controlled contamination environment (6), characterised in that said controlled contamination environment (6) has a volume that extends into a narrow zone around the neck (2b) of the receptacles (2).

11. Closing apparatus (1) according to claim 10, wherein said controlled contamination environment (6) extends so as to contain at least the bague (2c) of the receptacles (2), the body (2d) of the receptacles (2) being external to said controlled contamination environment (6).

12. Closing apparatus (1) according to claim 10, wherein said application unit (3) for applying the closures comprises a plurality of guides arranged in such a way as to place said closures (10) from on high on the mouth (2a) of the receptacles (2) and at least an inclined plane (P) able to exert pressure onto the closures (10) placed on the mouth (2a) of the receptacles (2).

13. Closing apparatus (1) according to claim 10, comprising at least a transferring star-wheel interposed between said application unit (3) and said non-aseptic capper (4), said transferring star-wheel bearing a plurality of pliers that are operatively active on the mouth (2b) of the receptacles (2) in order to avoid crushing of said receptacles (2).

14. Method for closing receptacles (2) using the closing apparatus (1) according to claim 10, comprising the steps of: placing a concave closure (10) on the mouth (2a) of each receptacle (2); pressing each concave closure (10) on the mouth (2a) of the corresponding receptacle (2); screwing each concave closure (10) to the neck (2b) of the corresponding receptacle (2), characterised in that said step of placing and said step of pressing each concave closure (10) on the mouth (2a) of the corresponding receptacle (2) occur in the controlled contamination environment (6) of said closing apparatus (1), while said step of screwing each concave closure (10) to the neck (2b) of the corresponding receptacle (2) occurs externally to said controlled contamination environment (6).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein said step of placing each concave closure (10) on the mouth (2a) of the corresponding receptacle (2) is performed “a la volèe”.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein said step of pressing each concave closure (10) on the mouth (2a) of the corresponding receptacle (2) is obtained by means of an inclined plane (P) met by the receptacle (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a method and an apparatus for closing receptacles, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a production apparatus of receptacles, according to the present invention, in a schematic plan view;

[0040] FIGS. 2a-2b respectively illustrate a rest and pressure step and a blocking step of a closure on a receptacle in the closing apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates a concave closure to be applied to a receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] With reference to the figures, number 1 denotes a device for closing receptacles 2. In particular the receptacles 2 are made of a thermoplastic material, preferably PET.

[0043] In this context, by concave closure 10 is meant a capsule or a cap comprising a base 10a and a lateral surface 10b which extends from the base 10a and defines therewith a cavity (see FIG. 3). On the opposite side of the base 10a, the closure 10 has an opening destined to accommodate the mouth 2a of a receptacle 2.

[0044] In particular, the concave closure 10 has an annular ribbing projecting from the base 10a internally of the cavity and able to engage with the inside of the neck of the receptacle 2 in such a way as to guarantee the hermetic seal.

[0045] For example, document WO2009/027227 describes and illustrates a concave closure 10 applicable to the receptacle by means of the method described herein.

[0046] The closing apparatus 1 is preferably of the rotating carousel type. Alternatively, the closing apparatus 1 is of a linear type.

[0047] The closing apparatus 1 comprises at least two distinct units: an application unit 3 of the concave closures 10 to the receptacles 2 and a tightening unit 4 of the closures 10 already applied on the receptacles 2. In particular, the application unit 3 of the closures 10 is configured for resting and pressing the closures 10 onto the mouth 2a of the receptacles 2.

[0048] In the application unit 3 each closure 10 is preferably rested on the mouth 2a of the corresponding receptacle 2 and is then pressed on the mouth 2a. In the present embodiment described and illustrated herein the closure 10 is dropped from above on the mouth 2a of the receptacle 2 by means of guides. In the bottling sector, this is referred-to as “a la volèe”, or “on the fly”. The pressing of the closure 10 on the mouth 2a is done by means of an inclined plane P encountered by the receptacle 2 during movement thereof.

[0049] The “on the fly” gripping concept is well known, for example in non-aseptic capping machines and will therefore not be further detailed herein.

[0050] For example, the inclined plane P is the lower plane of a circular sector located above the mouths 2a of the receptacles 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The application unit 3 for applying the closures 10 comprises an isolator 5 adapted to define a controlled contamination environment 6 containing at least the neck 2b of the receptacles 2.

[0051] The controlled-contamination environment 6 preferably has a volume that extends into a restricted zone about the neck 2b of the receptacles 2.

[0052] In particular, the controlled contamination environment 6 extends up to containing at least the “bague” or “finish” 2c of the receptacles 2 while the body 2d of the receptacles is external of the environment 6, as illustrated in FIG. 2a.

[0053] In an embodiment, the controlled-contamination environment 6 extends up to containing also a zone just below the finish 2c, so that the majority of the body 2d of the receptacles 2 is external of the environment 6.

[0054] In this context, the technical term “bague” or “finish” relates to a circumferential protuberance of the neck 2b of the receptacle 2, located below the threaded zone of the neck 2b.

[0055] In the tightening unit 4, each closure 10 is screwed to the neck 2b of the corresponding receptacle 2 in such a way as to seal it and make the seal definitive. For this purpose, the lateral surface 10b of the closure 10 is internally threaded so as to be screwed to the external thread of the neck 2b of the receptacle 2.

[0056] The tightening unit 4 preferably consists of a known-type non-aseptic capper.

[0057] A receptacle movement system is preferably included between the application unit 3 and the tightening unit 4 of the capsules, so that reciprocal contact between the system and the receptacles is avoided. For example, this movement system comprises at least a star conveyor bearing a plurality of pliers operatively active on the neck 2b of the receptacles 2.

[0058] The movement without reciprocal contact has the aim of preventing the crushing of the receptacles 2 which might cause the raising of the closures 10.

[0059] The closing method of the receptacles according to the present invention, is described below.

[0060] In a first step, illustrated in FIG. 2a, the concave closure 10 is rested on the mouth 2a of the corresponding receptacle 2 gripped “a la volèe” or “on the fly”. The first step takes place in the controlled contamination environment 6.

[0061] In a second step, illustrated in FIG. 2a, the concave closure 10 is pressed on the mouth 2a of the corresponding receptacle 2 in such a way as to create a temporary physical barrier to the entry of contaminants into the receptacle 2. For example, such a pressure is exerted by the inclined plane P. This second step also takes place in the controlled contamination environment 6.

[0062] In a third step, illustrated in FIG. 2b, the concave closure 10 is screwed on the neck 2b of the corresponding receptacle 2 so as to seal it. The third step takes place after the second step, but externally of the controlled contamination environment 6. In particular, such third step is done using a traditional capper 4, i.e. not aseptic (thus in a non-sterile environment).

[0063] The characteristics of the method and closing apparatus of receptacles according to the present invention emerge clearly from the above description, as do the advantages.

[0064] In particular, the separation of the rest-closure steps of the closures from the screwing-on step of the capsules enables predisposing a controlled-contamination environment having smaller dimensions with respect to the known solutions. In particular, in the preferred embodiment the isolator only surrounds a restricted zone about the neck of the receptacles located in the application unit of the closures.

[0065] The resting and the subsequent pressure of the closures on the mouth of the receptacles in the controlled contamination zone enables preserving the internal sterility, so that the receptacles can be blocked by screwing the closures externally of the zone (i.e. in a non-sterile zone), in the example in a traditional capper (not aseptic)

[0066] The pressure therefore has the aim of maintaining the asepsis without having recourse to steam, as occurs in the solution shown in EP0447759. This leads to a reduction in sterile volumes and, consequently, sterilisation times, as well as a reduction in the number of critical components (capping heads, roto-translating members, heat barriers or chemical barriers, bellows, etc.) and a general reduction in costs.