WO2009068633A1 - Device and method for opening or closing containers using screw closures - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for opening and closing containers using screw closures, wherein said device has at least one closing head for grasping and twisting the screw closure in relation to said container, and a support apparatus (10) for supporting said container during the twisting of said screw closure and an anti-turn apparatus (12) for said container to prevent said container from also turning while the screw closure is twisted, and wherein said support apparatus (10) implements a support area (14) for coming into contact with said container during the support of said container. According to the invention, the anti-turn apparatus (12) has at least one pointy projection (18) and said at least one pointy projection is disposed so it is movable relative to a surface section (16) of the support area (14).

Description

 Device and method for opening or closing containers by means of screw caps

description

The invention relates to a device and a method for opening or closing containers by means of screw caps.

A device of this type is already known from WO 2005/054113 Al. The device proposed there comprises a plurality of sealing heads revolving on a closed path, each of which has a controlled gripping tongs which can be moved up and down. Each of these gripper tongs is assigned in each case a control member. Under each capping head, a vessel holder is attached, which is arranged on a rotor and in which the container is clamped in a rotationally fixed manner. How this rotationally fixed clamping is made more accurate, the WO 2005/054113 Al is not apparent.

EP 0989089 B1 discloses a tool for gripping a collar projecting from the neck of a plastic bottle. This tool includes a main body having an inner edge that is substantially in the shape of a circular arc. The diameter of this inner edge lies between the diameter of the neck of the bottle and the diameter of the collar. Inserts are fixedly secured to the main body and carry one or more tapered projections integrally formed on the inserts. The tapered projections are intended to stab into the collar of the bottle and thus in the Interaction to form the anti-twist device for the bottle when unscrewing or unscrewing the closure.

Such anti-rotation with tapered projections, which are intended for insertion into the collar of the bottle to secure the bottles during screwing of the closure against rotation is well suited to prevent screwing the closure co-rotation of the bottle. A disadvantage of the above-mentioned design according to EP 0989089 Bl, however, is that the further transport of the bottles after screwing through the tapered projections of the known from EP 0989089 Bl, is often hindered. Thus, it may happen, for example, that the bottles, if they are to be removed from the holder with the tapered projections, remain hanging on these, because the projections have accordingly stuck firmly into the collar.

The invention is based on the object to provide a way for screwing screw caps on containers by the one hand when screwing the container is well secured against rotation, on the other hand, the limitations of

Further transport of the containers are at least reduced.

According to the invention, a device according to claim 1 is proposed. An inventive method is the subject of claim 10. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. It is therefore proposed in particular a device for opening and / or closing of containers by means of screw caps. Such containers may for example be bottles, in particular plastic or PET bottles. Incidentally, these containers - and the type of containers also refers to advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention - can be, for example, bottles which have a collar in the region of their neck which protrudes from this neck. Such a collar may be formed, for example, in the manner of a ring plate, which is formed radially inwardly of the bottle neck.

The device according to the invention has at least one closing head for gripping and twisting the screw cap relative to the container. Such a closing head can for example be rotatably mounted in a horizontal bearing bridge. It may be provided that the device has a plurality of such Verschließköpfe, which may be arranged distributed circumferentially, for example, along a circular path. It can be provided that each of these Verschließköpfe is rotatably mounted in a horizontal bearing bridge.

Further, it can be provided that the capping head or each of the capping heads one of several, z. B. double-lever gripping arms constructed grasping forceps. Such gripping arms can be arranged, for example, pivotable about a horizontal axis. It can further be provided that such gripping arms, for example, below, are provided with one or more gripping jaws. Moreover, it can be provided that the closing head is driven, and in particular is driven by a motor. For example For example, the closing head or each closing head can be driven by means of a servomotor.

Alternatively, it can also be provided, for example, that the closure head or heads are mechanically driven by hysteresis clutches. Thus, in particular optionally a hysteresis drive or a servo drive can be provided, it being understood that other types of drive can also be provided in preferred embodiments.

The device according to the invention also has a supporting device for supporting the container during the twisting of the screw cap. This support device forms a support area. This support region is in particular such that it is designed for direct contact with the container when supporting the container, or that the container in this support directly comes into contact with this support region. This may for example be such that the container is provided with a collar, such as an annular disc-shaped collar which is arranged in the region of the neck of the container, and the support means for supporting the corresponding bottle or the container of this collar is formed. Thus, the support means may for example comprise a second plate or be formed by such.

It can be provided that the support area is formed on this second plate. Such a second plate may for example be formed as a ring section or ring segment, wherein such a ring segment may have varying inner and outer diameter. Such a ring segment may be formed, for example, the Grabbing collar of a bottle from below. Such a ring segment may for example be provided with tabs which protrude radially inward and are intended for the engagement of a collar of the type mentioned.

It can be provided that the support device is provided with one or more spring elements. For example, the support means may comprise a second plate of the type mentioned, wherein on this second plate a resilient support, such as a support made of foam rubber or the like, is provided. It can be provided that the addressed collar of a bottle can be supported on this foam rubber pad or spring-elastic pad, so that this springs.

The device also has a

Anti-rotation device for the container on. By means of this rotation locking device is to be prevented in particular that the container rotates during the rotation of the screw cap. This anti-rotation device has at least one tapered projection. This at least one tapered projection is arranged according to the invention relatively movable relative to a surface portion of the support region. The or ^'the tapered projections are provided in particular for insertion into the collar of a container, wherein the container is preferably a bottle and the collar protrudes from the bottle neck.

In advantageous embodiments, the anti-rotation device has a plurality of pointed projections, which are firmly connected to each other. This can be, for example, that the pointed to current Projections are fixedly arranged on a first plate. However, it can also be provided that the tapered projections are fixedly arranged on a support means, such as on the already mentioned second plate. In such a design, it is provided in particular that the surface portion of the support region, which is intended to come into contact with the container or the collar for supporting, is arranged relative movable relative to the portion of the support device to which the tapered projections fixed are arranged. This may for example be such that the tapered projections on a second plate, such as a second plate of the type mentioned, are fixed, or the first plate and the second plate are identical.

It can be provided that one or more spring elements are arranged on this plate, such as a resilient pad. Such a resilient pad may for example be made of foam rubber or plastic or metal or other suitable material. In this case, it is provided in particular that when receiving the bottle or the container, this or this is stored on the resilient elements or the resilient support, in particular in the region of its collar. In this case, this pad then springs so far that the tapered projections pierce into the collar. Then, when the bottle is to be removed from the receiving device, the spring elements support the separation of tapered projections and collar. A spring-elastic or resilient support can also be provided differently-type spring elements. As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment described above, however, it may also be provided that the relative mobility of the surface section of the receiving region with respect to the pointed projections is not achieved by spring elements but by a relative adjustment of the substantially rigid elements. This may, for example, be such that, as already mentioned, the pointed projections are fixedly arranged on a first plate and this first plate is movable relative to a second plate on which the support region or the surface section of the support region which is responsible for Contact-stepping with the container or the collar of the container is formed, is arranged.

It can be provided in particular that the second plate has openings or recesses through which the tapered projections can pass to stab into the collar. In the exemplary embodiment with a resilient support this can be formed with recesses or openings for the passage of the tapered projections.

In an advantageous embodiment it is provided in the inventive ^'device, that the second plate is arranged vertically above the first plate. It is preferably provided that the closing head and / or a gripping arm of the closing head and / or a gripping jaw and / or a pair of pliers is relatively movable with respect to the second plate or the support region or said surface portions of the support region, in particular relatively movable in vertical Direction, and the Relative adjustment of the or tapered projections relative to the second plate or with respect to the sales area on the relative adjustment of the Verschließkopfes or the gripping pliers or a gripping arm of the Verschließkopfes or a jaw against the second plate or against the said surface portion of the support area is controlled ,

This can be, for example, such that a control device is provided for the control of the closing head or the gripping tongs or gripping jaws, which can bring about a vertical height adjustment and that depending on the height position set therewith, the tapered projections change their height position in the vertical direction. It should be noted that this particular for

Embodiments applies, in which a relative displacement of the tapered projections relative to the surface portion of the support portion for in-contact pedaling with the container or with the collar of the container is not effected via spring elements or a resilient support, but by adjusting each rigid Elements relative to each other.

It may also be provided that a design for driving the pointed projections is designed differently than described above, such as, for example, as a mechanical control or as an electrical control or as a pneumatic control or as a magnetic control or as a combination of the aforementioned types of control. For example, it can also be provided that the pointed projections or dere.n height position is driven electromechanically or are.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, a servomotor is provided as a drive for the screwing movement of the closing head or the gripping tongs. However, it can also be provided that the said drive is effected by means of hysteresis clutches.

When closing the screw cap on the container, a constant torque is preferably generated, which acts on the cap.

A method for opening or closing containers by means of screw caps according to claim 10 is also proposed. It is provided in particular that the container is moved to a support device and is supported there by means of this support means. The support device may be, for example, as already described above. The container may in particular have an already mentioned collar and be designed as already mentioned bottle, in particular PET bottle or glass bottle. It can therefore be provided in particular that the container is spent so that the collar of the container on the second plate, which may for example be described as elsewhere in this disclosure, supported. Parallel or temporally thereafter, pointed projections of an anti-rotation device pierce a section of the container, in particular from below. This section may in particular be an already mentioned collar. Possibly. is during the insertion movement of the support area or the Supporting surface relative to the or the tapered projections moves.

The screw is gripped, which can be done subsequently or before, and is bolted to the threaded neck of the container.

Subsequently, the pointed projections of the anti-rotation are removed from the portion of the container, wherein during the movement for removing the tapered projections or the support region, in particular the support surface, relative to the or the tapered projections is moved, in particular in the vertical direction.

It should be noted that the pointed projections may be, for example, spikes. For example, they may be rotationally symmetric or angular in cross-section or other suitable shapes.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures, without thereby limiting the embodiments. Showing:

FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c show various views of a first, exemplary embodiment according to the invention; and

2a, 2b, 2c different views of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows a first, exemplary embodiment of an exemplary device according to the invention _. 1 for opening or closing of containers by means of screw caps in a partial schematic view. In this case, Fig. Ia shows a view along the line A - A of Fig. Ic. Likewise, Fig. 2a also shows a view along the line A - A of Fig. 2c.

This device has a closing head, not shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c, for gripping and twisting the screw cap relative to the container. Furthermore, the device 1 has a supporting device 10 for supporting the container during the twisting of the screw cap. In addition, the device 1 on a rotation 12 for preventing co-rotation of the container during the rotation of the screw on. The supporting device 10 forms a supporting region 14 for the contact with the container for supporting the container. Since the container is in an advantageous embodiment, a bottle, is spoken of a bottle below. This bottle has an annular flange in the region of its neck, via which the bottle is supported on the support region 10.

The support region 14 forms at least one surface section 16 which comes into direct contact with the annular flange or the collar of the bottle when the bottle is supported on the support region 14.

The anti-rotation device 12 has a plurality of pointed projections 18. These pointed projections are in particular spikes. The tapered Protrusions 18 are here formed to be shaped like a pyramid formed by four triangular sides. For example, four or three or even more than four such pointed projections 18 may be provided, which are in particular positioned in a horizontal plane.

The tapered projections 18 are relatively movably disposed opposite the surface portion 16 of the support portion 14. The above description of the figures for the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c also applies in an advantageous manner to the design in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b and 1 c, the support device 10 has a second plate 20 on which the surface section 16 is formed. This second plate 20 is fixed and in particular not height adjustable. The second plate 20 serves as a support for the bottle or its collar. It can be designed, for example, in the manner of a holding star. Furthermore, a first plate 22 is provided in the design according to the figures Ia, Ib and Ic. This first plate 22 is arranged vertically below the ^' second plate 20 and relative to the second plate 20 adjustable, ^' and in particular in the vertical direction. At the first plate 22, the already mentioned tapered projections or spikes 18 are formed. These protrude vertically upward from the first plate 22. The first plate 22 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 28.

The second plate 20 is provided with recesses 24 through which the tapered projections or spikes 18 protrude can stab into the collar of a bottle. This design allows the collar of the bottle to be supported on the second plate 20, at the same time piercing the tapered projections 18 in this collar and thus securing the bottle against rotation. In order to remove the tapered projections 18 from the collar again, the first plate 22 can be moved away with the tapered projections 18 down relative to the second plate 20. The collar and thus the bottle is thereby prevented by the second plate 20 from being moved with the spikes 18, so that these latter detach from or from the collar.

To control the height adjustment of the tapered projections 18, a device 26 may be provided, which causes the lifting elements for the movement of the closing element or the screw cap is coupled to the lifting movement of the spikes 18. But it can also be provided that a foreign control via separate mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, magnetic elements or the like for the spikes 18 takes place.

The plate 22 with the spikes 18 is movable.

The design according to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c differs from the design according to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b and 1 c in particular in that there the pointed projections or splines 18 are not activated or moved or not driven or moved must be in order to pierce them in the collar of a positioning on the support 10 or positioned bottle. Namely, there is provided a substantially rigid holding member 30 for supporting the bottle to which are the sharp-to-run projections 18 are fixed. On this holding part 20, which is designed here as a plate, is a (spring) elastic support 32, such as foam rubber pad on which the surface portion 16 of the support portion 14 is formed. When the bottle is positioned with its collar on the surface portion 16 of the support portion 14, the resilient support springs in and the pointed recesses 18 positioned in their openings or recesses 34 emerge and pierce the collar of the bottle. When the bottle is withdrawn, the force of the relaxing spring (support) aids in loosening the tapered projections 18 from the collar.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 a to 1 c, the pointed projections may also be referred to as controlled splines, and in the design according to FIGS. 2 a to 2 c, the tapered projections may also be referred to as hidden splines.

All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, provided they are new individually or in combination over the prior art.

Claims

claims 1. Device for opening or closing containers by means of screw caps, this device having at least one closing head for gripping and twisting the screw cap relative to the container, and a support device (10) for supporting the container during twisting of the screw cap and an anti-rotation device (12) for the container for preventing this container from spinning during the twisting of the screw cap, and wherein the supporting device (10) forms a supporting region (14) for the contact with the container when supporting the container, characterized in that the anti-rotation device (12) has at least one tapered projection (18) and this at least one tapered projection (18) relative to a movable surface portion (16) of the support region (14) is arranged. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the anti-rotation device (12) has a plurality of pointed projections (18) which are fixedly connected to each other. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or the tapered projections (18) fixed to a first plate (22) are arranged. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tapered projections (18) are arranged along a circular arc. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support region (14) is formed on or from a second plate (20). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support region (14) is formed on or from an elastic part (32) or via at least one spring element (32) is mounted. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first plate (22) or the one or more tapered projections (18) are arranged movable relative to the second plate (20) and to the support region (14). 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing head of the same wraps at least one gripping tongs for gripping the screw cap of the container for screwing. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing head and / or the at least one grasping forceps relative to the second plate (20) or the support region or said surface portion (16) of the support region (14) and the Relative adjustment of the or the tapered projections (18) relative to the second plate (20) or relative to the support region (14) relative to the said surface portion (16) of the support region (14) relative to the second plate (20) is controlled by the relative adjustment of the closing head or the gripping tongs. 10. Method for opening or closing containers by means of screw caps with the steps: - Spend the container to a Supporting device (10) and supporting the container by means of this support means (10), wherein when supporting a support area (14), in particular support surface (16), this support means (10) contacting the container supportive; - Insertion of tapered projections (18) of an anti-rotation device (12) in a portion of the container, wherein optionally during the plunge movement of the support region (14), in particular support surface (16) relative to the or the tapered projections (18) is moved; - Grasping the screw cap and twisting the screw cap on the threaded neck of the container; Removing the pointed projections (18) of the anti-rotation device (12) from the section of the container, wherein during the movement for removing the tapered projections (18) the supporting region (14), in particular the Supporting surface (16), relative to the or the tapered projections (18) is moved.