EP0919516B1 - Sealing cap installing machine - Google Patents
Sealing cap installing machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0919516B1 EP0919516B1 EP98500244A EP98500244A EP0919516B1 EP 0919516 B1 EP0919516 B1 EP 0919516B1 EP 98500244 A EP98500244 A EP 98500244A EP 98500244 A EP98500244 A EP 98500244A EP 0919516 B1 EP0919516 B1 EP 0919516B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cap
- cylinder
- sealing
- container
- caps
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
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
- B67B3/02—Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps by applying flanged caps, e.g. crown caps, and securing by deformation of flanges
- B67B3/06—Feeding caps to capping heads
- B67B3/062—Feeding caps to capping heads from a magazine
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
- F17C2209/23—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
- F17C2209/234—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations of closing end pieces, e.g. caps
- F17C2209/236—Apparatus therefore
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sealing cap installing machine which provides essentially novel features and substantial advantages in respect to known means used for this same purpose in the current state of the art.
- the invention advocates the development of a machine for installing caps on certain types of containers - particularly sealing caps of the type applicable to containers for gas under pressure - by exerting a suitable pressure on the cap, the extremely simple design of the machine allowing for automated feeding of the sealing caps onto the containers which are transported by a conveyor belt or similar device.
- the field of application of the inventive machine lies in the product filling industry, and, more in particular, in the gas filling of containers designed for that specific purpose.
- the container valve usually incorporates a fast fitting enveloping protective cap adapted for automatic installation by means of a machine of a special design.
- a cap installing machine of the above type comprises a cap storage bin from which the caps are guided along an appropriate channel and in the required direction toward the channel's lower end, to be individually collected by one of the consecutively passing containers; when the container reaches a pre-defined position, a bell-shaped part descends and applies a pushing action on the cap, resulting in the cap becoming secured under pressure over the container valve.
- EP-0780191 discloses a machine, conform to the preamble of claim 1, used for fixing caps to be used preferably with petroleum derivatives pressurised gas containers. This is the most complex idea disclosed in the current application.
- the caps are collected inside the headers to which they are pushed towards by means of push rods, said headers being associated with those cylinders which offer a tilting and vertical movement so that each cap can be inserted over the respective container's release valve, while the containers are kept in the insertion position by means of retention mechanisms.
- the present invention characterized by the technical features of claim 1 is noticeably simpler both from a structural and functional point of view.
- the machine incorporates, in a conventional manner, a sealing cap storage bin from where the caps are driven toward the collecting area through a slanting feed channel along which the caps descend by gravity down to the channel's lower end, where pushing means act on the inferior cap to lodge it inside a collecting means associated to a cylinder, preferably pneumatic, where it is retained, the collecting means being subject thereafter to a 180° rotation in the horizontal plane in order to place the collected cap over the container valve, to which it becomes coupled by virtue of the downward pushing effect of the means associated to the collecting device, normally consisting of a pneumatic cylinder. Said rotation causes a second collecting means to become positioned over the new inferior cap to thereby receive a cap and start a new cycle.
- the container on which the sealing cap is about to be installed stops while the coupling operation is in course, using a break means activated laterally by a preferably pneumatic cylinder which, upon biasing the container, not only retains the container but also ensures that it is correctly positioned for receiving the sealing cap.
- FIG. 1 showing a schematic elevation view of a machine fabricated according to the invention.
- the machine comprises a general metal structure (1) on which are coupled the means required for the correct operation of the assembly, including a vertical cylinder (2) the shank of which is located under the lower end of a channel (3) for feeding the sealing caps about to be installed.
- the sealing cap collecting means is composed of an assembly (4) which rotates on a horizontal plane and which is fitted with at least two pneumatically operated vertical cylinders incorporating a lodging (6, 6') at the lower end thereof for receiving the cap to be installed.
- Figures 1 and 2 also show a product container (7) located in the cap receiving position to where it has been carried by a conveyor belt (not shown), being retained in said position by means of a brake driven by a pneumatic cylinder (9).
- the assembly also includes a cabinet for housing the various adjustment and control elements, including starting means and emergency buttons, not shown in view that these are conventional means.
- the assembly furthermore incorporates container, cylinder and sealing cap position detectors (sensors, end-of-run devices, etc.), not shown, for driving the various functions (braking, sealing cap installation, etc.) based on the presence or absence of a container in the corresponding position.
- the braking element (8) Upon detecting the arrival of a container (7) at the work position foreseen, the braking element (8) is activated by the cylinder (9), pushing the container sideways and holding it against the opposite wall of the channel along which it is being drawn.
- the shape and arrangement of the braking element (8) side arms further ensures that the vertical position of the container (7) is maintained while the cap is being installed on the outlet valve.
- the cylinder (2) pushes the cap located on the upper end of its associated shank, so that the cap is inserted in the lodging (6) associated to the cylinder (5) located over the cylinder (2), the cap being retained by friction inside said receiving lodging, after which the assembly (4) rotates the lodging means until the cylinder (5) and its lower receiving zone (6) are positioned over the container (7), and thus the cylinder (5') proceeds to occupy the position in which the cylinder (5) was previously located, positioning the lodging (6') over the cylinder (2), which is now ready to receive a new cap when it is again activated.
- cylinder (5) is activated and extends its shank and causes the cap to be installed inside its lodging (6) and over the container (7) valve, becoming secured under pressure.
- brake (8) withdraws by retraction of cylinder (9) and the container is then carried by the conveyor belt toward the zone provided for its storage and/or subsequent handling.
- this would be detected by conventional sensor means (not shown) fitted on the machine, as a result of which the container would be deviated along another route for subsequent rehandling.
- Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the machine which helps to provide a better understanding of the distribution and relative position of the various elements in the machine, also providing an idea of its simplicity and relatively small size.
- the embodiment illustrated shows the collecting means as formed by two cylinders (5, 5'). This is merely an illustrative arrangement, however, since such means could incorporate a larger number of cylinders, in which case the extent of the rotation angle would be relative to the number of cylinders used.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Sealing Of Jars (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
- Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
- Piezo-Electric Or Mechanical Vibrators, Or Delay Or Filter Circuits (AREA)
- Soil Working Implements (AREA)
- Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a sealing cap installing machine which provides essentially novel features and substantial advantages in respect to known means used for this same purpose in the current state of the art.
- More specifically, the invention advocates the development of a machine for installing caps on certain types of containers - particularly sealing caps of the type applicable to containers for gas under pressure - by exerting a suitable pressure on the cap, the extremely simple design of the machine allowing for automated feeding of the sealing caps onto the containers which are transported by a conveyor belt or similar device.
- The field of application of the inventive machine lies in the product filling industry, and, more in particular, in the gas filling of containers designed for that specific purpose.
- It is a well known fact that certain gases, particularly liquefied petroleum gas, are distributed for domestic use in containers with pre-specified characteristics fitted with an upper end outlet valve suitably protected to guarantee the safety of the contents and avoid damage to the valve from impact or adverse circumstance deriving from transport and/or handling. In this respect, the container valve usually incorporates a fast fitting enveloping protective cap adapted for automatic installation by means of a machine of a special design.
- A cap installing machine of the above type comprises a cap storage bin from which the caps are guided along an appropriate channel and in the required direction toward the channel's lower end, to be individually collected by one of the consecutively passing containers; when the container reaches a pre-defined position, a bell-shaped part descends and applies a pushing action on the cap, resulting in the cap becoming secured under pressure over the container valve.
- However, present regulations for this type of container require the use of sealing caps in lieu of the above caps, whereby the user is guaranteed the integrity and absence of tampering of the contents; a machine is therefore needed for the automatic installation of said sealing caps.
- European Patent number EP-0780191, which the same applicant is the owner of, discloses a machine, conform to the preamble of claim 1, used for fixing caps to be used preferably with petroleum derivatives pressurised gas containers. This is the most complex idea disclosed in the current application. In the aforementioned Patent of the Prior Art, the caps are collected inside the headers to which they are pushed towards by means of push rods, said headers being associated with those cylinders which offer a tilting and vertical movement so that each cap can be inserted over the respective container's release valve, while the containers are kept in the insertion position by means of retention mechanisms. There is also an additional header that automatically checks the presence of the cap on different containers, for which this latest header incorporates sensor elements capable of checking this.
- Compared to the previous patent, the present invention characterized by the technical features of claim 1 is noticeably simpler both from a structural and functional point of view.
- Thus, the machine incorporates, in a conventional manner, a sealing cap storage bin from where the caps are driven toward the collecting area through a slanting feed channel along which the caps descend by gravity down to the channel's lower end, where pushing means act on the inferior cap to lodge it inside a collecting means associated to a cylinder, preferably pneumatic, where it is retained, the collecting means being subject thereafter to a 180° rotation in the horizontal plane in order to place the collected cap over the container valve, to which it becomes coupled by virtue of the downward pushing effect of the means associated to the collecting device, normally consisting of a pneumatic cylinder. Said rotation causes a second collecting means to become positioned over the new inferior cap to thereby receive a cap and start a new cycle. At the work position, the container on which the sealing cap is about to be installed stops while the coupling operation is in course, using a break means activated laterally by a preferably pneumatic cylinder which, upon biasing the container, not only retains the container but also ensures that it is correctly positioned for receiving the sealing cap.
- Other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent based on the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided merely in the form of an illustrative an non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
- Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of a sealing cap installation machine according to the invention;
- Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the machine according to the invention; and
- Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation view of the machine shown in the preceding figures.
-
- The figures in the attached drawings are used in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, Figure 1 showing a schematic elevation view of a machine fabricated according to the invention. As can be seen, the machine comprises a general metal structure (1) on which are coupled the means required for the correct operation of the assembly, including a vertical cylinder (2) the shank of which is located under the lower end of a channel (3) for feeding the sealing caps about to be installed. The sealing cap collecting means is composed of an assembly (4) which rotates on a horizontal plane and which is fitted with at least two pneumatically operated vertical cylinders incorporating a lodging (6, 6') at the lower end thereof for receiving the cap to be installed.
- Figures 1 and 2 also show a product container (7) located in the cap receiving position to where it has been carried by a conveyor belt (not shown), being retained in said position by means of a brake driven by a pneumatic cylinder (9).
- The assembly also includes a cabinet for housing the various adjustment and control elements, including starting means and emergency buttons, not shown in view that these are conventional means. The assembly furthermore incorporates container, cylinder and sealing cap position detectors (sensors, end-of-run devices, etc.), not shown, for driving the various functions (braking, sealing cap installation, etc.) based on the presence or absence of a container in the corresponding position.
- Said figures clearly show the operation of the assembly, as described hereunder.
- Upon detecting the arrival of a container (7) at the work position foreseen, the braking element (8) is activated by the cylinder (9), pushing the container sideways and holding it against the opposite wall of the channel along which it is being drawn. The shape and arrangement of the braking element (8) side arms further ensures that the vertical position of the container (7) is maintained while the cap is being installed on the outlet valve. Once in said position, the cylinder (2) pushes the cap located on the upper end of its associated shank, so that the cap is inserted in the lodging (6) associated to the cylinder (5) located over the cylinder (2), the cap being retained by friction inside said receiving lodging, after which the assembly (4) rotates the lodging means until the cylinder (5) and its lower receiving zone (6) are positioned over the container (7), and thus the cylinder (5') proceeds to occupy the position in which the cylinder (5) was previously located, positioning the lodging (6') over the cylinder (2), which is now ready to receive a new cap when it is again activated. Thus, with the cap-carrying lodging (6) located over the container, cylinder (5) is activated and extends its shank and causes the cap to be installed inside its lodging (6) and over the container (7) valve, becoming secured under pressure. Subsequently, brake (8) withdraws by retraction of cylinder (9) and the container is then carried by the conveyor belt toward the zone provided for its storage and/or subsequent handling. In the event that installation of the cap over the container (7) valve is not accomplished, this would be detected by conventional sensor means (not shown) fitted on the machine, as a result of which the container would be deviated along another route for subsequent rehandling.
- Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the machine which helps to provide a better understanding of the distribution and relative position of the various elements in the machine, also providing an idea of its simplicity and relatively small size.
- The embodiment illustrated shows the collecting means as formed by two cylinders (5, 5'). This is merely an illustrative arrangement, however, since such means could incorporate a larger number of cylinders, in which case the extent of the rotation angle would be relative to the number of cylinders used.
- The contents of this description need not be more extensive for an expert on the subject to grasp the advantages of the invention, in addition to developing the object thereof and putting it into practice.
- However, it should be understood that the invention has been described in the form of a preferred embodiment and is thus liable to modifications without in the least altering its basic condition, said modifications particularly allowing for changes in shape, size and/or fabrication materials, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.
Claims (2)
- Machine for installing sealing caps on containers, particularly over the outlet valve of containers (7) holding gas under pressure, comprising:a storage bin for the sealing caps,a slanting channel (3) along which the sealing caps fed from the bin move by gravity down to the channel's lower end,a group of collecting cylinders (5, 5') designed to collect the sealing heads about to be installed, each of said collecting cylinders (5, 5') being fitted with a respective lower lodging (6, 6') liable to receive and friction-hold the sealing cap being transferred to an installation position,a transferring cylinder (2), the shank of which is located under said lower end of said slanting channel (3) in order to push a sealing cap inside the respective lower lodging (6, 6') of a collecting cylinder (5, 5') when both cylinders are aligned,
the collecting cylinders (5, 5') and the transferring cylinder (2) are vertical and the group of collecting cylinders (5,5') is liable to rotate along an horizontal plane so that each respective lower lodging (6, 6') is alternatively positioned facing the cap to be pushed by the transferring cylinder (2) and facing the container (7) to which the cap collected from the previous position is to be transferred. - Machine according claim 1, characterized, in that it comprises a braking element (8) driven by a horizontally positioned cylinder (9) which pushes the container (7) sideways and holds it in the exact position necessary for installing the cap, which is conveniently aligned in a vertical direction.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ES009702474A ES2148054B1 (en) | 1997-11-27 | 1997-11-27 | PLUG-PLACING MACHINE-SEAL. |
ES9702474 | 1997-11-27 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0919516A2 EP0919516A2 (en) | 1999-06-02 |
EP0919516A3 EP0919516A3 (en) | 2002-07-24 |
EP0919516B1 true EP0919516B1 (en) | 2004-04-14 |
Family
ID=8301322
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98500244A Expired - Lifetime EP0919516B1 (en) | 1997-11-27 | 1998-11-11 | Sealing cap installing machine |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0919516B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE264265T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69823140T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0919516T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2148054B1 (en) |
PT (1) | PT919516E (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GR1005223B (en) * | 2004-12-27 | 2006-05-18 | Soukos Robots Αβεε | Robotic system for mounting valves on barrels that are used for bottling beer, refreshments and other liquids |
TR200809549A2 (en) * | 2008-12-17 | 2010-07-21 | Aygaz Anoni̇m Şi̇rketi̇ | A throat tire automation system |
CN106082059B (en) * | 2016-08-16 | 2018-11-23 | 嵊州市高新技术发展有限公司 | A kind of automatic box cover device of minaudiere |
CN106081198B (en) * | 2016-08-16 | 2018-09-18 | 浙江瑞昶实业有限公司 | A kind of automatic box cover device of minaudiere with automatic charging device |
CN106430042B (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2019-08-27 | 湖南三德科技股份有限公司 | Sample bottle capping machine for gathering and processing of sample |
CN106430043B (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2019-11-15 | 湖南三德科技股份有限公司 | A kind of intelligent sample bottle capping machine for gathering and processing of sample |
CN106564841B (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2019-07-19 | 湖南三德科技股份有限公司 | Intelligent sample bottle capping machine for gathering and processing of sample |
CN106430044B (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2019-08-27 | 湖南三德科技股份有限公司 | A kind of sample bottle capping machine for gathering and processing of sample |
CN107879300A (en) * | 2017-11-09 | 2018-04-06 | 安徽普生源生物科技有限公司 | Medical bottled liquid medicine capping device |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2914894A (en) * | 1956-03-26 | 1959-12-01 | Hansen Oscar Anton | Process and apparatus for separating the foremost one of a stack of nested cup-shaped caps from the remainder of the stack and conveying it to a position at a distance from the stack |
US3092941A (en) * | 1960-04-12 | 1963-06-11 | Ball Brothers Co Inc | Capping apparatus and procedure |
FR2106646A5 (en) * | 1970-09-18 | 1972-05-05 | Utilisation Ration Gaz | |
US3967436A (en) * | 1975-04-16 | 1976-07-06 | Heineken Technisch Beheer B.V. | Capsulating machine |
DE2757002A1 (en) * | 1977-12-21 | 1979-07-05 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Flanged stopper insertion machine in bottles - has rotary support with transport units containing ejector punches above conveyor |
FR2563808A1 (en) * | 1984-05-03 | 1985-11-08 | Utilisation Ration Gaz | Automatic machine for placing labels on bottles containing liquefied petroleum gas, particularly a combined machine for placing labels and crimping caps |
US4885894A (en) * | 1988-01-19 | 1989-12-12 | Herzog Kenneth J | Cap alternator |
FR2658587B1 (en) * | 1990-02-19 | 1994-02-04 | Siraga Industries Fse | INSTALLATION FOR HANDLING CAPS OF GAS BOTTLES, BEFORE AND AFTER FILLING THESE BOTTLES. |
FR2678598B1 (en) * | 1991-07-04 | 1993-11-05 | Butagaz | AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR LAYING AND PRE-SCREWING HATS ONTO GAS BOTTLES, ESPECIALLY LIQUEFIED OIL GAS BOTTLES. |
ES2130896B1 (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 2000-02-16 | Repsol Butano Sa | SEALING MACHINE, PREFERABLY IN PRESSURE GAS CONTAINER CONTAINERS. |
-
1997
- 1997-11-27 ES ES009702474A patent/ES2148054B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-11-11 DE DE69823140T patent/DE69823140T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-11-11 DK DK98500244T patent/DK0919516T3/en active
- 1998-11-11 EP EP98500244A patent/EP0919516B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-11-11 PT PT98500244T patent/PT919516E/en unknown
- 1998-11-11 AT AT98500244T patent/ATE264265T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE264265T1 (en) | 2004-04-15 |
DE69823140T2 (en) | 2005-03-17 |
ES2148054A1 (en) | 2000-10-01 |
ES2148054B1 (en) | 2001-04-16 |
EP0919516A3 (en) | 2002-07-24 |
EP0919516A2 (en) | 1999-06-02 |
PT919516E (en) | 2004-08-31 |
DE69823140D1 (en) | 2004-05-19 |
DK0919516T3 (en) | 2004-08-09 |
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