EP1861331A1 - Sealing machine comprising a motor-driven jack - Google Patents
Sealing machine comprising a motor-driven jackInfo
- Publication number
- EP1861331A1 EP1861331A1 EP06709365A EP06709365A EP1861331A1 EP 1861331 A1 EP1861331 A1 EP 1861331A1 EP 06709365 A EP06709365 A EP 06709365A EP 06709365 A EP06709365 A EP 06709365A EP 1861331 A1 EP1861331 A1 EP 1861331A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- crimping
- head
- bottle
- rack
- bottles
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 title abstract description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 claims description 156
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 claims description 28
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052736 halogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 150000002367 halogens Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000021185 dessert Nutrition 0.000 claims 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
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- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009172 bursting Effects 0.000 description 2
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- VZSRBBMJRBPUNF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ylamino)-N-[3-oxo-3-(2,4,6,7-tetrahydrotriazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-5-yl)propyl]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide Chemical compound C1C(CC2=CC=CC=C12)NC1=NC=C(C=N1)C(=O)NCCC(N1CC2=C(CC1)NN=N2)=O VZSRBBMJRBPUNF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VVQNEPGJFQJSBK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methyl methacrylate Chemical compound COC(=O)C(C)=C VVQNEPGJFQJSBK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000287107 Passer Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920005372 Plexiglas® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 description 1
- AZDRQVAHHNSJOQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N alumane Chemical group [AlH3] AZDRQVAHHNSJOQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005538 encapsulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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
- B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
-
- 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
-
- 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
- B67B3/10—Capping heads for securing caps
- B67B3/14—Capping heads for securing caps characterised by having movable elements, e.g. hinged fingers, for applying radial pressure to the flange of the cap
-
- 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
- B67B3/28—Mechanisms for causing relative movement between bottle or jar and capping head
-
- 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
- B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
- B67B7/16—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for removing flanged caps, e.g. crown caps
- B67B7/164—Power-operated devices
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the field of vial crimping.
- the present invention relates more particularly to an electrical device for automatically crimping vials used for analytical purposes.
- each vial is extremely important for laboratories using gas chromatography or liquid chromatography techniques and may have a direct impact on the test results, if any.
- the risks of evaporation and therefore of modifying the initial concentration as well as contamination of the solution remain well-known phenomena.
- patents US 3964234 and US 4087952 disclose automatic electric seamers whose bottle support is electrically high so that the plug hits a fixed mounted crimping head.
- patent application EP 1 182 165 presents an industrial encapsulation system for bottles.
- a crimping head at the end of a piston is lowered vertically above a bottle to be encapsulated by a linear actuator.
- the crimping of the metal caps is achieved by the application of a vertical force down the crimping head while the capsule is deformed in a neck to close on the neck of the bottle and thus crimp the bottle.
- This solution has an incompatibility with the field of analytical laboratories for which the sampling flasks are significantly more fragile than industrial bottles.
- the application of a vertical stress on a vial held by the rack may break the sample vial.
- Foam may be provided and disposed under the bottle to compensate for this constraint.
- An object of the present invention is also to overcome this vertical stress to crimp applied between the bottle and the rack. It is preferred a crimp not compressing the bottle on its rack.
- Patent application EP 1 151 795 which has a device for filling vials, is also known.
- This document clearly does not concern the crimping of bottles but only the filling of these flasks involving safety mechanisms.
- the present invention intends to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an automatic crimping device provided with an electric jack controlled by an electronic card.
- the invention makes it possible to control the crimping parameters and ensures the reproducibility and reliability of this crimping over time.
- the object of the present invention is also to provide an automatic crimping system with a capacity of several bottles per minute, for example at least twelve.
- the invention is provided with a plate where are housed several bottles.
- the present invention also aims to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a crimping device whose rack geometry and the presence of sensors and the electronic card can crimp bottles of variable size without external action.
- the invention also proposes a device and a method for serving the vials and allowing the sorting of the different constituent elements of the vial and the sample in order to meet the needs of selective sorting.
- the present invention also provides means for securing the crimping zone by the use of a light curtain or microswitches acting on the device.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a linear guide of the crimping jack in order to maintain the rigidity of the system during the crimping phase.
- Another object of the invention is to minimize the stresses on the crimp vial by avoiding compressing it directly against a hard and fixed surface.
- the invention relates in its most general sense to a crimping device or vial of bottles comprising a head support adapted to receive a crimping / filling head and a rack adapted to receive said bottles, an electric cylinder to the end of which is fixed said crimping head, said electric cylinder being controlled by an electronic control unit and said crimping head comprising crimping jaws actuated by said piston.
- said rack is fixed and comprises a single location for said bottles, said location being positioned below and vertically of said cylinder. As will be seen later, the location may be for bottle holders used depending on the size of the crimp vials.
- said rack is a circular plate comprising a plurality of locations able to receive said bottles and positioning the crimping neck of all the bottles substantially at the same height, said circular plate being rotated by motor means, type stepper motor.
- said device further comprises inductive type sensor means connected to said control unit and able to allow adjustment and positioning of said turntable.
- said device further comprises at least one sensor, of photoelectric type, connected to said control unit and able to detect the presence, the size of the bottles and the angular position of said plate.
- the device further comprises security means connected to said control unit.
- security means are an immaterial barrier and / or microswitches placed in said crimping head support.
- the device may further include a control panel comprising a crimp cycle start and stop button, an emergency stop button, and a rack rotation button.
- said crimping head is interchangeable and is equipped with an anti-projection shield.
- said rack is interchangeable, facilitating the use of the invention for a laboratory.
- the device further comprises glass side walls providing protection of the crimping chamber.
- said electronic control unit is programmable to define the crimping parameters applied to the electric jack.
- the invention also relates to a method for crimping vials by a crimping device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of disposing at least one bottle in said rack and a capsule on said bottle, characterized in that it further comprises a step of activation of the electric jack carrying the head, said activation step down said head to crimp or to cover the capsule on said bottle.
- the method further comprises a preliminary step of defining crimping parameters.
- said crimping device comprises safety means connected to said control unit, and the method further comprises a step of interrupting the crimping cycle when said security means are activated.
- said crimping device comprising at least one sensor, of photoelectric type, connected to said control unit able to detect the presence, the size of the flasks and the angular position of the plate, and said method comprises, in addition , a step of determination, by said unit thanks to the information produced by the sensor, the size of the bottle, the type of capsule by said photoelectric sensor, and a step of modification by said unit crimping parameters according to said determination.
- said device is provided with vial filling means comprising a metering pump
- the method further comprises a step of filling said vials with said filling means.
- the invention also applies to the decontamination and the decortication of vials containing samples.
- the device (1) is provided with a descreasing head.
- the method comprises, prior to the descent of said head, a step of pressurizing a vial with a double needle,
- a rinsing step of said bottle by the emission of a jet of cleaning liquid in the bottle by the double needle, and, following the cycle of unloading, said constituent elements of the bottle are sorted in separate containers.
- Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention with a turntable
- FIG. 4 illustrates an anti-projection shield used in the present invention
- FIG. 5 represents a flowchart of the method according to the present invention
- FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a double-sided rack used for the invention
- FIG. 7 represents examples of bottle holders; - Figure 8 illustrates the guide mechanism of the crimping head according to the present invention
- FIG. 9 is a detailed representation of an exemplary crimping head, (a) in the position of the compressed jaws, (b) in the position of the open jaws;
- FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary bottle holder of FIG. 7 provided with means for adjusting and compensating for the height of the inserted bottle
- FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a rack provided with a single location for a bottle or a bottle holder.
- the laboratory field uses a wide variety of sample vials.
- the present invention is not limited to the examples used below and can be applied to any type of vials, both of small capacity (1, 5 ml) and larger capacities, of variable diameter (1 1, 5 mm , 22.5 mm, 23 mm), made of glass or plastic or other material used, as well as any type of capsule as long as the crimping head is suitable (aluminum capsules for neck of 8, 1 1, 13, 20 or 32 mm, ).
- the invention is also applicable to the crimping of aerosols and diffusers of any type.
- the crimper (1) comprises a base (2) in the middle of which is placed a rack (3) adapted to accommodate a bottle (4).
- This rack (3) may be an aluminum piece, cylindrical or not, integral with the base (2) comprising a hole or bore (31) of the size of the bottle (4) to be crimped and adapted to the shape of the bottles (generally circular), the hole (31) being not through the rack ( Figure 3-a).
- the unbored bottom (32) of the rack serves to support the bottle during crimping.
- the diameter of the hole can be reduced depending on the outside diameter of the crimp bottle by the addition of a reduction ring.
- Figure 3-b a conical trunk hole flared from bottom to top so that the rack can accommodate vials (4) of variable size;
- Figure 3-c a flared hole from bottom to top by stair, the steps (33) serving to support the bottles of different diameters, for example 1 1, 5 mm, 22.5 mm and 23 mm.
- the rack is engaged with a receiving base, for example with means of lugs type or complementary forms interlocking one into the other.
- the rack is provided on one side with 12 locations for the reception of 10 ml bottles and on the other side with 12 locations for the reception of 20 ml bottles having the same diameter but a different height.
- Other configurations may be provided, including the mixture of various dimensions.
- Figure 6b shows that the bores provided on one side are staggered with those provided on the other side. This effectively integrates several bore depths into a rack thickness (36) barely larger than the maximum bore depth (34 in Fig. 6a).
- a position indicator (37) is provided for each of the directions of the rack and is used as described later to determine a so-called "zero" initial position of the rack.
- This double-sided rack is to reduce the number of accessories and reduce the cost of the product, while allowing crimp different sizes or types of vials with the same accessory.
- Figure 7 illustrates such vial-holders (40).
- These vial-holders have an identical base (41) whatever the vials concerned, this base corresponding to the dimensions of the locations provided in the rack (3).
- a centered bore (42) is provided to accommodate a bottle.
- the bore (42) is of diameter X substantially equal to the outside diameter of the 2 ml bottle.
- the height Z of the bottle holder corresponding to the emergent portion of the rack when the bottle holder is placed therein is determined with respect to a fixed height at which it is desired to perform the crimping (positioning of the crimping head in operation) .
- This height Z can be variable depending on the bottle holders (depending on the size of the vials intended for them) or be identical regardless of the bottle holder model, in which case the bores must be even deeper than the vials they are intended for are high.
- FIG. 11 shows such an example of rack (3) having the same dimensions as a rack with multiple locations, thus making it possible to use it on the same model of crimping device 1.
- the latter is fixed or secured to the base 2, the single location 31 being positioned vertically to the cylinder 6, below it.
- guiding means for example lugs, are provided on the rack, the base having notches in which the lugs enter ensuring effective positioning and holding the rack.
- Solidary stem of the base (2) a bracket (5) supports an electric jack (6) positioned and oriented vertically above the rack (3).
- the bracket (5) is fixed and the jack (6) is integral with the bracket (5).
- the bracket (5) can be adjustable in height, either manually by the use of screws or clipping pins, or automatically by the use, for example, of jacks. This allows in particular to increase the range of bottle heights that can be crimped by the device (1).
- the electric jack (6) is of the type having a piston sliding relative to a body attached to the stem.
- the state of the art knows a large number of electric jack usable in the context of the present invention.
- a head support in which is screwed a crimping or descreasing head (7).
- the head (7) is screwed into the head support fixed on the jack (6).
- Conical guidance also makes it easier to center the head (7) during the head pattern change operation.
- a tightening of the head is provided by a tool that is just introduced into a bore on the upper flange of the head (7) to ensure the proper maintenance thereof.
- the jack (6) and the extension of the bracket (5) are chosen so that the stroke of the cylinder (6) allows the head (7) to reach the neck of the bottle (4) crimp.
- the adaptation of the device to bottles (4) of different height can be done by adjusting the lengthening of the bracket (5) or reducing the height of the trays (3) or by acting on the setting of a stop against the cylinder stops, a more detailed description of which is provided below.
- the head support is mounted with four screws on a movable element for linear guidance.
- This element is composed of a carriage and a guide rail.
- the controlled movement of the piston of the cylinder (6) drives the carriage and the head support to the stop ensuring locking at a defined height.
- the piston continues its stroke to compress a second piston which actuates the jaws of the crimping head (7).
- the cylinder piston (6) returns to its initial position.
- a guide rail (50) is provided on a structure of the bracket 5 located vertically behind the cylinder (6).
- the stem structure may be reinforced by dedicated elements (51) to minimize deformations due to the forces experienced by the rail.
- the head support (52) is secured to a bearing shoe (53) via a bracket (54).
- the pad can slide vertically along the rail (50).
- the set bracket + pad is the sliding carriage along the rail.
- the assembly formed of the end of the jack, the head support and the crimping head is held in place regardless of the forces and forces experienced by the system.
- the guiding system thus prevents any deformation of the frame during crimping.
- the device As discussed with reference to Figure 7, it may be desired to crimp the vials at the same height to minimize device presets. It is thus expected to have the device with a stop (55) which stops the downward sliding of the carriage.
- This stop is adjustable in height, manually or electronically.
- the head support always stops at the same height, crimping is always performed at the same height.
- This solution also eliminates the sensor to detect the height of the bottles and adjust the positioning of the crimping head.
- the adjustment of the stop (55) also makes it possible to adapt the device to bottles of different heights; when the vial-holders do not make it possible to keep the same crimping height, for example for batches of vials outside manufacturing tolerance.
- the crimping head has four jaws (60) held open by a spring system (61) for example a circular elastic placed in a notch of the jaws.
- a spring system for example a circular elastic placed in a notch of the jaws.
- the head support (52) is fixed, the piston which continues to descend presses a pusher (62) which is integrally connected to a head (63).
- the movement of this head closes the jaws (60) under the neck and capsule of the bottle while lifting the bottle through the curved shape of the outer end of the jaws.
- the head is circular and comprises a circular recess 64 substantially halfway up.
- the inner end of the jaws (60) tilts in the recess 64 under the effect of the spring (61).
- the recess is degressive towards the rear of the head 63, so that when it advances, under the effect of the jack and the pusher, the inner end of the jaws is gradually raised to tilt the jaws in a closed position.
- the head 63 continues its sliding by means of the pusher and then presses the capsule of the bottle to crimp it.
- the bottom of the bore 42 provided in the bottle holder is formed by a circular support (70) of diameter greater than X maintained at the distance Y from the edge by a spring (71).
- the support (70) compresses the spring 71 and descends under the force applied by the jack to the bottle which is positioned substantially too high.
- this system it is achieved compensation and automatic adjustment of the height of the bottle by the use of the integrated spring in the bottle holder. It can be provided to directly provide the rack locations (3) of this system (both the locations intended to receive the vials directly that the locations receiving vial-holders, in which case the bases 41 must be slightly larger than the depth of the location to allow play with the spring, which avoids to provide each bottle holder with such a system).
- the crimping device (1) also comprises a digital control unit (8) located for example inside the base
- This unit (8) is of the dedicated digital electronic control card type and is connected to the various modules of the device requiring or providing commands / information: jacks, motors, buttons, sensors, power supply, connection interface with a device dedicated to the parameterization device (for example, a computer), etc.
- the unit (8) processes all the information flowing in the device (1). It may, however, be considered to separate the unit (8) into specific interconnected subunits, each of which processes the messages separately. alarm, power supply, control panel (9), sensors, cylinder (6), rack (3), ...
- the base (2) also comprises a desk (9) on which are arranged one or more control buttons, for example an emergency stop button (91), a start button of the crimping cycle (92), a cycle stop button (93).
- a multi-position switch or push button (96) makes it possible to act manually on the setting of the crimping force, via the electrical intensity applied to the jack (6).
- buttons are of the mechanical type, backlit or not, of the touch-sensitive keyboard type or of the infrared touch-sensitive type. It is also planned to incorporate waterproof buttons, for example according to IP 67, to ensure a sufficient seal to allow disinfection of the device.
- the operator chooses the crimping head (7) with respect to the crimp neck diameter and the rack model (3) adapted to the outside diameter of the flask (4) and to its total height.
- the crimping head is screwed onto the head support located at the end of the electric jack (6).
- the operator also positions the rack adapted to the bottles he wishes to crimp (101).
- the operator manually disposes the bottle (4) in the rack (3) and a capsule on the bottle (102).
- the unit (8) controls the electric cylinder (6) which moves the piston including the crimping head (7) to the stop at the end of the stroke and then to compress in the head (7) another piston actuating the crimping jaws of the head (7). These jaws strike the capsule and ensure, therefore, crimping (1 1 1) the vial (4) effectively and tightly, thanks to the applied force.
- the unit (8) controls the rise of the piston; the jack (6) returns to its folded position.
- the use of an electric cylinder (6) makes it possible to ensure a controlled and perfectly reproducible stroke with each movement of the piston, the objective being to have all the bottles of the laboratory crimped identically.
- the forces or forces applied (750 N for example) by the crimping head (7) on the capsules are directly related to the voltage and the intensity applied to the piston (6) by the dedicated electronic card (8) to the system .
- These parameters of tension and intensity, as well as other parameters (crimping time, speed, electrical intensity applied to the jack, which corresponds to the crimping force, etc.), all called crimping parameters, are stored in the unit (8) to ensure incomparable reproducibility and linearity compared to manual or pneumatic crimping technologies.
- the device (1) comprises means for interfacing the electronic card (8) with an external device, computer type, to correct, adapt or modify these parameters.
- the crimping force (force applied by the head 63).
- the front panel of the device is then provided with a set of light-emitting diodes whose ignition informs the chosen level, for example the number of lit diodes corresponds to the chosen crimping level.
- This crimping force can also be selected by the user by means of a button (96) provided for this purpose on the desk.
- the device (1) also comprises side walls (10) protection and anti-projection, for example transparent glass or plexiglass.
- Light curtains Access to the crimping area is via the front of the device (1).
- a light curtain (1 1) is activated at this front face of the device (1).
- This barrier can be implemented by an infrared beam or any equivalent technology, generated and analyzed by adapted modules (12) integrated for example in the base (2). These are connected to the unit (8) which processes the received signals.
- the unit (8) receives an alert from the modules (12) and the current is immediately cut in order to deactivate the device (1).
- the crimping head support includes microswitches connected to the unit (8).
- the micro-switch (s) changes (s) state and this information is transmitted to the unit (8) which causes the power supply to be cut off from the apparatus (1).
- the console (9) has an emergency stop button (91) which, during its activation, to cut off any power supply of the device (1), for example in case of breakage of the bottle. Screen of protection
- the crimping head (7) is provided with an anti-projection screen (13).
- This screen (13) may be a metal plate or curved plastic secured to the head (7) by two rods (16) screwed or crimped.
- the screen (13) is placed between the operator and the head (7) so as to hide the bottle (4).
- the protective screen (13) is a bottomless hollow cylinder integral with the head (7). During the descent of the cylinder (6), the cylinder covers and encompass the bottle (4).
- the protective screen (13) is adapted not to abut against the rack (3) or the base (2) and thus to prevent the cylinder (6) and the head (7) from bottle (4). It can be plastic, glass or metal.
- the device (1) now comprises a rack (3) in the form of a tray at several vial locations.
- the plate (3) is rotated circularly through a shaft connected to an engine block (14) and is guided by a needle bearing.
- the engine block (14) consists of a stepper motor and possibly a gearbox to adapt its speed and torque.
- the engine block (14) is also connected to the control unit (8).
- the plate (3) is engaged with a second plate by a fastening system, for example by simple screwing. This second plate is driven by the shaft of the engine block (14).
- the trays (3) can thus be easily exchanged according to the dimensions of the crimp vials.
- the plate (3) in case of blockage of a bottle following permanent maintenance in the jaws during crimping operations, the plate (3) must not rotate while the second plate can be driven by the engine that is not aware blocking mentioned. It is therefore expected to allow the tray (3) to remain static without causing damage or broken glass.
- the rack (3) is magnetized to the second plate driven by the motor. Without any contrary force, the rack is driven. If there is blockage of a bottle, the magnetization force is not sufficient to drive the rack.
- the plate (3) is of tubular shape, for example circular, provided if necessary with a bottom wall adapted to be engaged with the shaft of the engine block (14).
- the plate (3) has holes or bores in the thickness, these being evenly distributed and equidistant all around the axis of rotation of the plate so that the trajectories of the centers of these locations are combined and that these centers occur once per cycle of rotation of the plate under the axis of the electric jack (6).
- the tray rack (3) comprises at least four vial locations, for example 8 or 12.
- aluminum trays with eight or twelve locations are envisaged for bottles of 2 ml, 10 and / or 20 ml of capacity. Only the diameter of the holes changes.
- the axis of rotation of the plate (3) is offset from that of the jack (6).
- the cylinder axis (6) intersects perpendicularly the trajectory of the centers of the tray locations of the tray.
- the plate (3) comprises bore-type markings on its outer part so as to identify a position called "zero" and possibly all the positions associated with the locations of the bottles.
- a positioning sensor (15) of the inductive sensor type is connected to the unit (8) to identify the position of the plate (3) by means of the bores.
- the control unit (8) feeds the motor block (14) so as to place the plate (3) in its "zero" position, this is the “initialization” cycle.
- the positioning sensor (15) informs the unit (8) as soon as the plate has indeed reached this "zero” position. Then throughout the cycle, the sensor (15) informs the unit
- a major difficulty lies in the risk of shifting the tray / rack (3) relative to the "zero" position and the centering of the vial locations in the axis of the crimping head (7). Such a risk can occur when the user holds the tray during rotation or tries to remove a bottle during the cycle. Any anomaly of positioning, displacement of the plate or power failure causes a reset and a readjustment of the plate (3) at each new cycle start.
- the senor (15) is a presence and positioning sensor of the photoelectric type.
- the unit (8) receives the information captured by this sensor (15) and performs a detection analysis of the presence of vial in the tray (3) as well as a recognition analysis of the dimensions (diameter of the bottle, diameter of the neck vial) and angular positions of the vials. These analyzes are known from the prior art. The determination of the angular positions allows the unit (8) to ensure the proper alignment of the crimping head (7) with the crimp vial and to know at any time, the position of the plate (3).
- control card (8) automatically adjusts the intensity of the electric current of the cylinder (6) to ensure the appropriate crimping.
- the parameters of crimping are controlled by micro processor (card 8) and thus guarantee an identical and reproducible crimping in time.
- the data provided by the sensor (15) makes it possible to analyze the brightness and / or the color of the capsules deposited by the operator on the bottles (4). This analysis makes it possible to deduce the nature of the materials and to adapt the parameters and therefore the crimping force (that is to say the intensity of the electric jack) especially when it comes to aluminum caps or sheet metal requiring very different crimping forces.
- the device (1) comprises a first inductive type sensor (15-1) for determining the positioning of the tray and a second photoelectric type sensor (15-2) for checking the presence of the bottles and, for analyze the size of these and possibly capsules.
- the console (9) also has a tray rotation button (94). For example, pressing the button (94) rotates the tray a quarter or a half turn. It is also envisaged that the tray (3) rotates as long as the button (94) is pressed. By this system, the operator does not need to access the locations at the bottom of the crimping area.
- the control board (8) positions (104) the platen (3) in its "zero" position (105) using the stepping motor block (14). ) and the positioning sensor (15).
- the unit (8) selects, for each of the crimp vials of the plate, the crimping parameters (electric intensity of the cylinder, duration) according to information analyzed by the sensor (15).
- the unit (8) controls the motor unit (14) which drives and rotates (106) the tray (3) until a first location is centered under the axis of the electric ram (107).
- the motorization allows to move accurately the plateau.
- the motor (14) stops and the unit (8) increments (108) a counter dedicated to counting the number of locations traveled during the cycle.
- the sensor (15) can make it possible to determine the presence of a bottle in this location (1 10).
- the crimping head (7) descends and exerts a force F for a duration T, both corresponding to the crimping parameters present in the card (8). Then the unit (8) controls the rotation of the tray (3) at the next location.
- the unit (8) still increments the counter dedicated to the count and controls the rotation of the plate (3). ) at the following location (106).
- the present invention crimps all capsule diameters (8, 11, 13, 20 or 32 mm) by changing the platen (3) and crimping head (7) models or by using platens and crimping heads. adapted to several dimensions.
- the racks are adapted to the different sizes of vials in order to position the neck to crimp vials of different height and outside diameter, always at the same height. .
- the device (1) in one of the embodiments described above can be associated with an automatic feeder or a robot for automatically feeding and / or emptying the rack (3) containing one or more bottles (4).
- This passer or robot also makes it possible to fill the vials with the analysis sample and to place the capsule on the neck of the vial.
- the crimping device (1) comprises a lighting system of the crimping zone and the console (9), for example by placing bulbs on the bracket (5).
- the system is equipped with a desiccation head and allows the bottles to be decontaminated before recycling or to selectively sort the constituents (glass, aluminum, rubber, halogenated or non-halogenated solvents).
- a double coaxial needle connected to a pumping system we first pressurize the bottle and extract the total contents of the bottle. Then, a specific sensor can determine the presence of halogenated substances in which case the contents of the bottle is stored in a dedicated container. A container dedicated to non-halogenated substances receives the other contents of the bottle.
- the double needle also makes it possible to flush the bottle by emitting a jet of liquid, for example water and then extracting it and depositing it in the appropriate container.
- the decapping head then removes the capsule from the bottle and dissociates the seal (usually rubber) from the aluminum part.
- the bottle (glass), the seal (rubber) and the capsule (aluminum) are then deposited in separate sorting containers.
- the crimping device (1) has filling means, for example via the aforementioned double needle and a peristaltic pump system. This pump system allows the accurate transfer of an exact amount of one or more liquids into each vial. Then, in a second step, the closure controlled by crimping each container is performed.
- the crimping device has means for filling the bottle to add a fixed or variable volume of an internal standard to the bottle, for example an internal standard of known concentration for dosing the sample content in the bottle or to mark certain chemicals.
- the system includes a metering valve (diaphragm, volumetric or loop dosing), a valve controller, a refrigerated tank and a vial filling needle (either before crimping or after crimping by piercing the seal. sealing of the capsule with a cannula, the seal ensuring sealing again after this step by redeforming).
- the hardware device base, stem, cylinder, head, ...) can be separated from the control part (desk, electronic card, ...) and connected via a suitable connection (computer cable).
- a suitable connection computer cable
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR0501778A FR2882340B1 (en) | 2005-02-22 | 2005-02-22 | ELECTRIC CURRENT CRUSHER |
PCT/FR2006/000404 WO2006090065A1 (en) | 2005-02-22 | 2006-02-22 | Sealing machine comprising a motor-driven jack |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1861331A1 true EP1861331A1 (en) | 2007-12-05 |
EP1861331B1 EP1861331B1 (en) | 2012-01-04 |
Family
ID=35107041
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP06709365A Active EP1861331B1 (en) | 2005-02-22 | 2006-02-22 | Sealing machine comprising a motor-driven jack |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1861331B1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2882340B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2006090065A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITMI20121933A1 (en) * | 2012-11-15 | 2014-05-16 | Franco Comoli | "DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PLACING OR UNPACKING BOTTLES, BOTTLES, TANKS AND OTHER CONTAINERS" |
CN111908396A (en) * | 2020-08-25 | 2020-11-10 | 乌兰察布市荣泰化工有限责任公司 | Automatic capping equipment for barrel body |
FR3139806A1 (en) | 2022-09-16 | 2024-03-22 | Action Europe | Apparatus for closing containers under a controlled atmosphere and closing installation comprising said apparatus |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2732741A (en) * | 1956-01-31 | Moller-strobel | ||
FR2269489A1 (en) * | 1974-05-03 | 1975-11-28 | Alca Sa | Bottle cap crimping machine - has spring cap limiting downward movement of plunger towards bottle |
US3964234A (en) * | 1975-01-07 | 1976-06-22 | Sidney Rosen | Capping machine |
US4087952A (en) * | 1976-08-13 | 1978-05-09 | National Instrument Company, Inc. | Crimping mechanism for an electric capping machine |
US4562685A (en) * | 1984-02-02 | 1986-01-07 | Yoshiaki Tomita | Bottle capping apparatus |
US4771588A (en) * | 1987-07-17 | 1988-09-20 | Steridose Systems Ab | Machine for automatic sealing of sterile bottles in a bottle filling plant |
ITBO20000257A1 (en) * | 2000-05-05 | 2001-11-05 | Steroglass S R L | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILLING CONTAINERS. |
ES2345532T5 (en) * | 2000-08-08 | 2013-04-09 | Sidel S.P.A. | Plugging head with linear motor actuator |
US6604903B2 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2003-08-12 | Forhealth Technologies, Inc. | Automated drug vial safety cap removal |
-
2005
- 2005-02-22 FR FR0501778A patent/FR2882340B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-02-22 WO PCT/FR2006/000404 patent/WO2006090065A1/en active Application Filing
- 2006-02-22 EP EP06709365A patent/EP1861331B1/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2006090065A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2006090065A1 (en) | 2006-08-31 |
FR2882340B1 (en) | 2010-02-26 |
EP1861331B1 (en) | 2012-01-04 |
FR2882340A1 (en) | 2006-08-25 |
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