Machine for applying a closing element to a container

Technical Field

This invention relates to a machine for applying a closing element to a container. Background Art

Known in the prior art are machines for applying a closing element to a container, where the closing element is, more specifically, in the form of a dispensing pump with a tube, or siphon, inserted into the container, and where the closing element can be screwed onto the container through a respective ring nut or threaded ring.

These prior art machines basically comprise supporting means and means for associating the closing elements with the containers and have the disadvantage of being excessively complex and expensive and/or of requiring lengthy setup procedures during changeovers. In particular, when a changeover is required, all of the means for guiding the movement of the closing elements must be changed.

Moreover, these prior art machines are circular in configuration, which complicates and makes difficult the operation of screwing on the closing element.

In particular, the trade feels the need for an automatic machine for applying a closing element to a container which is simple in construction and structure, in particular low in cost, and/or which allows changeover, in particular, or application of the closing element, to be carried out quickly and easily.

Another need felt by the trade is that for a machine that is limited in size and/or can be adapted for use in production plants. Summary of the Invention

This invention therefore proposes a new solution as an alternative to the solutions known up to now and, more specifically, proposes to overcome one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks and/or problems and/or to meet one or more of the needs which may be inferred from the above.

The invention thus provides a machine for applying a closing element to a container, the closing element being, more specifically, in the form of a dispensing pump element with a tube, or siphon, inserted into the container, and being preferably in the form of a closing element designed to be screwed onto the container; the container being, more specifically, adapted to contain a liquid, especially, but not necessarily, a perfume, the machine comprising supporting means for means which associate the closing element with the container; and being characterized in that it comprises means for associating the closing elements with the containers and which comprise a rotatable carousel having means for guiding the closing elements along their path and comprising first and second connecting, or curved, end stretches and respective first and second longitudinal guide stretches.

Thus, for example, a long longitudinal stretch is provided for the application of the closing element, allowing this operation to be carried out easily and effectively. Further, the machine is transversely narrow and occupies a limited space, at least in the transversal direction, and can advantageously be installed in narrow and confined spaces on factory floors where other machinery operates.

According to a preferred embodiment of it, the invention provides a machine for applying a closing element to a container, the closing element being, more specifically, in the form of a dispensing pump with a tube, or siphon, inserted into the container, and being preferably designed to be screwed onto the container; the container being, more specifically, adapted to contain a liquid, especially, but not necessarily, a perfume, the machine comprising supporting means for means which associate the closing elements with the containers; characterized in that it comprises means for associating the closing elements with the containers and which comprise a rotatable carousel having means for guiding the closing elements along their path, these guide means comprising first and second connecting, or curved, ends and respective first and second longitudinal guide stretches, where the first and second longitudinal guide stretches are in the form of removable and replaceable means.

It is thus possible to obtain a machine that is simple in construction and limited in cost.

In effect, for changeover, it is sufficient to provide parts of a different size only for the longitudinal stretches of the guide means and it is not necessary to substitute the entire guide means.

To change the configuration of the machine adapted to a different product size, it is therefore sufficient to substitute only the longitudinal guide stretches, making changeover a quick and easy procedure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other innovative aspects of the invention are set out in the appended claims and its technical features and advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows of non-limiting example embodiments of it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is an exploded view of the container and of the closing element to be associated with the container through this preferred embodiment of the machine;

- Figure 2 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention for applying a closing element to a container;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention, viewed from the side or region where the tubes are uncurled;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention, viewed from the side or region where the closing elements are associated with the containers;

- Figure 5 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention, viewed from the closing element feed side or region;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the replaceable longitudinal guide means of the machine;

- Figure 7 illustrates a constructional detail showing the means for mounting the replaceable guides of this preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention;

- Figure 8 is a side view, partly in cross section, of the telescopic column zone of the preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention;

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a detail of the means for actuating the vertical movement of the rotatable carousel of the machine;

- Figure 10 is a vertical cross section of a detail showing the supporting column of the carousel, and illustrating in particular the means for moving the rotatable carousel in height;

- Figure 11 is a partly exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the gripper for picking up a closing element; - Figure 12 is a top plan view of the pickup gripper;

- Figure 13 is a vertical cross section of the closing element pickup gripper, through line XIII-XIII of Figure 12;

- Figures 14A and 14B are cross sections of the pickup gripper, illustrating different positions of the clamping j aw;

- Figure 15 is a perspective view from below of the means for screwing on the ring nut of the closing element;

- Figure 16 is a side view illustrating a step of screwing on the ring nut of the closing element;

- Figures 17A to 17D are top views illustrating the different steps of screwing on the ring nut of the closing element;

- Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of the capping or screwing unit of the threaded ring nut of the closing element;

- Figure 19 shows the device for screwing on the ring nut of the closing element, illustrating in particular the device for preventing the rotation of the cylindrical bottle;

- Figure 20 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the means for separating and spacing the closing elements;

- Figure 21 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the means for separating and spacing the closing elements.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Illustrated in the accompanying drawings is a preferred embodiment 10 of the machine for applying a closing element T to a container C.

As may be inferred in particular from Figure 1, the closing element T is, more specifically, in the form of a pumping element for emitting a jet of liquid and which has a tube, or siphon, P inserted into the container C.

The closing element is in the form of an element which can be screwed to the container and has a ring nut G, or ring, with threading on the inside face to be screwed to threading on the outside profile C" of the neck CI of the container.

As illustrated, the closing element T comprises a main body T which is elongate in shape and has a top face Tl and opposite lateral faces T2 and T3 which can be engaged by the pickup gripper (as described in more detail below) and from which the tube or siphon P extends downwardly.

The closing element T also comprises a lever L for propelling the jet of liquid, which extends downwardly from the body T and which is located forwardly of the ring nut G and of the siphon P. The lever L actuates a suitable mechanism adapted to suck the liquid upwards from the inside of the container, the liquid passing through the siphon P and a conduit within the body T of the 5 cap T and being expelled through a suitable spray nozzle located on the front of the body T\

Generally speaking, the tube, o siphon, P is long enough to reach the bottom of the container C.

As illustrated, the container in turn has a main body C which may be l o cylindrical, quadrangular or any other suitable shape, and which narrows towards the top to a neck CI whose circular peripheral edge forms a mouth B into which the siphon P of the closing element T is inserted. As illustrated, the neck CI has on its external peripheral face a respective thread C2 designed to be screwed to the capping ring nut G.

15 As may be well inferred from Figure 2, the machine 10 comprises a supporting frame 1 1 for means 14 for feeding the closing elements T, means 16 for feeding the containers C and means 12 for associating the closing elements T with the containers C.

As illustrated, the machine 10 extends longitudinally between opposite ends

20 10' and 10" and defines opposite side, or regions, 10a and 10b, respectively for receiving the closing elements T and uncurling the tubes and for associating the closing elements T with the containers C and feeding the containers out of the machine after they have been suitably closed.

In practice, the machine comprises an infeed section IT for the closing

25 elements T, an infeed section IC for the containers C, situated at the longitudinal end opposite the infeed section IT for the closing elements T, and an outfeed section U for the containers C fitted with the closing elements T, situated longitudinally at the end opposite the container infeed section and at the same longitudinal end as the infeed section IT for the closing elements T, but on the

30 other side, or opposite region, of the machine 10.

As illustrated, the means 16 for feeding or advancing the containers are in the form of a conveyor belt extending between an end 10' and an end 10" respectively upstream and downstream of the zone where the closing element is applied to the container. The endless conveyor belt is denoted by the reference

35 16a, while the reference 16b denotes the frame that supports the belt 16a. Advantageously, the means 12 for associating the closing elements with the containers comprise a rotatable carousel 121 having means for guiding the closing elements along their path which comprise first and second connecting or curved end stretches 52, 53 and respective first and second longitudinal guide stretches 5 50, 51.

That way, it is possible to obtain a machine that occupies minimal transversal dimensions and which thus lends itself to flexible use on factory floors.

More specifically, and advantageously, the first and second longitudinal guide stretches 50, 51 are in the form of means which are removable and l o replaceable, in particular, with other means of a different shape.

It is thus possible to obtain a machine that is simple in construction and limited in cost.

In effect, for changeover, it is sufficient to provide parts of a different size only for the longitudinal stretches of the guide means and it is not necessary to 15 substitute the entire guide means.

To adapt the machine to a different product size, it is therefore sufficient to substitute only the longitudinal guide stretches, making changeover, or adaptation to a different size, a quick and easy procedure.

In practice, as illustrated, means 50, 51 are provided for guiding the closing 20 elements T along their path, these guide means being in the form of means which can be replaced to allow the machine to be easily set up in a configuration adapted to a closing element and container of a different size.

As shown in Figure 6, each of the guide members 50, 51 has a respective sliding guide groove 56 and a respective rear face 50" and 51", as shown also in 25 Figure 7.

The guide means 50, 51 comprise respective means 52', 53' for mounting to a respective support 52, 53, which will also be described in more detail below, and respective means 57a, 57b which connect to a respective slot 57' in the support 52, 53 of the respective means 54, 55 for fastening to the support 53.

30 Advantageously, the connecting means 57a, 57b are inserted into the respective receiving slot 57' by a movement perpendicular to the direction of extension of the guide means 50, 51.

In practice, the connecting means 57a, 57b are inserted into the respective slot by a horizontal or substantially horizontal movement.

35 That means the guides 50, 51 can be snapped into working position quickly and easily by operators.

The fastening means in turn operate by a movement perpendicular to the connecting movement, or more specifically, by a vertical movement by which a pin 54 is inserted into the respective hole 55 made in the connecting element 57.

The connecting means also comprise a respective block 57 which is fastened to the rear end of the respective guide means, or guide member, 50, 51.

As illustrated, the connecting block 57 has respective longitudinal, horizontal surfaces 57a, 57b for insertion between and in contact with matching longitudinal, horizontal surfaces 58a, 58b defining the receiving slot 57'.

The connecting means further comprise a respective fastening pin 54, with a triangular handgrip 54', which fits into a matching through hole 55 that extends vertically and opens onto the connecting surfaces 57a, 57b of the block 57.

The fastening pin 54 is held by corresponding supporting portions of the guide means 50, 51 defining respective longitudinal surfaces 58a, 58b constituting the receiving slot 57', there being provided, within the portions 58a, 58b, respective vertical through holes for the insertion of the fastening pin 54.

The machine further comprises supporting means 11 which comprise fixed static means in the form of a bed, or base 11a, which is preferably in the form of a horizontal metal supporting plate from which extend corresponding first and second fixed columns l ib, 11c for supporting the rotatable carousel 12 that embodies the means for associating the closing element with the corresponding container.

The fixed columns l ib, 11c extend upwards and support respective portions l id, l ie which are telescopically movable relative to the fixed columns l ib, 11c to form means for vertically positioning the carousel, or associating means, according to the size of the closing element and container, as will become clearer as this description continues.

In practice, the means 12 for associating the closing elements with the containers are in the form of a rotatable carousel 121 which has driving and supporting means for corresponding means for guiding the vertical movement of the closing elements feeding forward, or corresponding means for supporting the closing elements.

More specifically, the rotatable carousel 121 moves continuously and comprises first and second chains 121a, 121b, which are vertically spaced from each other and are mounted on corresponding vertical columns l id, l ie and which are driven by corresponding toothed wheels 122, 123 that rotate freely on the vertical columns l id, l ie.

For each closing element, the first and second chains 121a, 121b support and drive first and second vertical slide rods 121c, 12 Id for a corresponding block 121 e that supports the closing element.

The vertical guide rods 121c and 121d are hooked to the respective supporting and drive chains 121a, 121b by a corresponding bracket 12 If.

The carousel 121, or means for associating the closing elements with the containers also comprises means 18, 20 for picking up the closing element.

The means for associating the closing elements with the containers also comprise means 18, 20 for picking up the closing elements and which are slidable on the guide means, or cams 50, 51, 52, 53, which are adapted to position, or control the movement of, the closing elements in height relative to the container.

More specifically, means 18 are provided for picking up the main body of the closing element and means 20 are provided for picking up the tube, or siphon, of the closing element.

The guide means 50, 51, 52, 53 comprise, for the respective closing element pickup means 18, 20, first and second connecting or curved end stretches 52a, 52b, 53a, 53b and respective first and second longitudinal guide stretches 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b.

The first and second longitudinal stretches 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b are supported by the first and second connecting end stretches 52a, 52b, 53a, 53b which are in turn integral with the vertical columns l id, 1 le of the rotatable carousel.

The first and second longitudinal guide stretches 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b are of size and shape suitable for guiding closing elements with siphons that differ in length, that is to say, to allow the machine to be easily changed over to different sizes of closing elements to be associated with the containers.

Advantageously, the first and second upper end parts 52a, 53a of the means for positioning the closing element in height relative to the container can be suitably positioned in height.

Means are provided for locking and unlocking the first and second end stretches 52a, 53a, of the means for guiding and positioning the closing elements in height relative to the vertical columns l id, 1 le of the rotatable carousel.

The means for guiding the pickup means 18, 20 are in the form of means for guiding the vertical movement of the pickup means and also comprise a lifting stretch 50 on the upstream side with reference to the feed path of the closing elements and a lowering stretch 51 on the lateral longitudinal downstream side with reference to the feed movement of the closing elements.

The guide stretches 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b, 53a, 53b are in the form of respective shaped blocks of plastic material, each having a groove 56 for insertion and sliding of a corresponding backwardly protruding portion of the respective pickup grippers 18, 20.

In practice, lifting serves to form a stretch for uncurling, or straightening, the tube or siphon P, and lowering serves to form a stretch for inserting the tube into the container and applying the closing element to the container.

Advantageously, there is provided a carousel 12 supported by a pair of telescopic supporting columns which allow the carousel to be adjusted in height in order to adapt it to the different heights of the containers, or more specifically, of the bottles or containers to be filled.

In practice, means are provided for adjusting the position of the means, or carousel, 12 for associating the closing elements with the containers relative to the means 16 for feeding the containers themselves.

More specifically, the means for adjusting the position of the means 12 for applying the closing elements to the containers are adapted to modify the position of the associating means 12 in height.

More specifically, these adjustment means are defined in that the supporting means 11 comprise fixed means 11a, l ib, 1 1c and means l id, l ie for supporting the feed means and which can be positioned in height relative to the latter so that the closing elements T can be properly associated with containers C of a respective height. Changing the position of the associating means 12 in height is thus used during changeover to a different container size.

In practice, when a taller container or bottle is used, the carousel 12 is lifted and positioned at a suitable height, while shorter bottles or containers can be handled by lowering and positioning the application means or carousel 12 at the corresponding height.

As may be inferred from Figures 9 and 10, means are provided for actuating the vertical movement of the associating means 12 and which comprise means for controlling and means for transmitting the movement to the supporting means l id, l ie.

These control means are embodied by a corresponding rotatable handwheel 60 which is integral with the vertically movable associating means, the handwheel

60 actuating screw means 61, also integral with the associating means and acting in conjunction with a lead nut 62 which is integral with the fixed supporting means or, more specifically, integral with the fixed supporting columns 1 lb, 1 lc.

The actuating means comprise, more specifically, a first and a second actuating screw 61, 61, at the respective column l id, 1 le of the associating means

12 and acting in conjunction with a respective lead nut 62.

In practice, the control means 60 are operatively connected to the actuating screw means 61 through corresponding shafts and, more specifically, a first and a second transmission shaft 63, 63, at the ends of which there are provided corresponding bevel gears 64 acting in conjunction with bevel gears 65 at the ends of the respective actuating screws 61.

As illustrated, there are provided a first and a second transmission shaft 63,

63, which extend from a central zone, where the control handwheel 60 is located and with which they act in conjunction through respective bevel gears 66 which in turn act in conjunction with a large bevel gear 67 at the end of the shaft of the handwheel 60.

Also provided are means for uncurling, or straightening, the tube, or siphon, P of the closing element T.

These uncurling means straighten the tube or siphon P so it can be easily inserted into neck of the container C.

Advantageously, the means for uncurling the tube or siphon of the closing element are provided on the means, or carousel, 12 for associating the closing element with the container, and more specifically, on the upstream side of the rotatable carousel 121.

The means for uncurling the tube or siphon P of the closing element T comprise means 18 for picking up the main body of the closing element and means 20 for picking up the tube and which are movable relative to each other in such a way as to pull and straighten the tube or siphon P.

More specifically, the means 18, 20 for picking up the body T' of the closing element and the tube P are movable on respective guide means 50a, 50b, which extend along paths that progressively diverge starting from the point where the closing elements are picked up at the upstream end of the carousel, on the closing element feed side.

In practice, as illustrated, the guide members 50a, 50b, being respectively the upper sliding guide for the gripper 18 which holds the body of the closing element T and the lower sliding guide for the gripper 20 which holds the tube P of the closing element, extend along different paths from a respective upstream end to a respective downstream end where the respective ends are vertically spaced from each other, hence, the guide grooves 56, 56 of the guide members 50a, 50b follow a path starting from an upstream position where they are close together and reaches a downstream position, at the curved end elements 53a, 53b, where they are spaced apart.

As may be inferred in particular from Figures 11 to 14b, means 18 are advantageously provided for picking up the body of the closing element.

The means for picking up the body T of the closing element T are in the form of a gripper 18 and comprise a first and a second jaw 18a, 18b movable relative to each other along a direction perpendicular to the feed direction, that is to say, moving along a substantially horizontal direction.

More specifically, the means 18 for picking up the body T of the closing element T comprise a first, fixed jaw 18a and a second, movable jaw 18b.

The movable jaw 18b is situated, with reference to a direction radial to the rotatable carousel, on the outer side of the fixed jaw 18a.

More specifically, the first jaw 18a is mounted to the main block 18' of the gripper which is slidably connected to the vertical guides 121c, 121d of the carousel 121.

More specifically, the first jaw 18a is mounted directly on the main block 18' of the gripper.

The second jaw 18b is in turn mounted on a part 18" which is movable relative to the mounting block 18'.

More specifically, the movable part is in the form of a portion that is pivoted, at 18c, to the mounting block 18' and extends downwardly to a position in front of the fixed jaw 18a, or radially in front of the portion of the latter that mounts the fixed jaw 18a itself.

The first and second jaws 18a, 18b are adapted to grip the main body T' of the closing element and, more specifically, are adapted to engage its lateral faces T2 and T3. More specifically, the first and second jaws 18a, 18b are movable between a position where they are close together to engage and hold the closing element, when the closing element enters the carousel 121 - where the gripper 18 is in the lowered position and on the straight upstream stretch of the carousel - and a position where they are spaced apart to release the closing element when the container leaves the carousel and is on the straight downstream stretch of the carousel - and where the gripper itself is once again in the lowered position, as may be inferred from Figures 14a, 14b.

As illustrated, the body of the gripper also has a main part 18' which mounts, at the back of it, a roller 185 which runs in the respective guide grooves 56 of the cams 50a, 51a, 52a, 53a, from which there extends radially a protrusion or projection 180, which at the free end pivotally supports a plate 18" constituting the supporting member of the jaw 18b, at a position in front of a zone 18e under the protrusion 180 and where the fixed jaw 18a of the gripper 18 is positioned.

The reference 185' denotes a further vertical axis roller mounted on the gripper body 18' and which touches the front face of the cam 50a, 51a, 52a, 53a.

As illustrated, the plate 18" has a respective arm 18f which is pivoted to a pin 18c and is rotationally driven by a respective perpendicular shaft which is in turn driven by an electromagnetic actuator, which is housed in the protrusion 180 of the gripper, and the end of which, labelled 18d, is shown in Figure 11.

As illustrated the mounting plate or element 18" of the second jaw 18b extends below the protrusion or projection 180.

As illustrated, the pin 18c for pivotally mounting the movable jaw 18b extends horizontally and parallel to the feed direction.

Advantageously, each jaw comprises a respective shoe 18a, 18b for engaging the closing element, the shoe being designed to be removably associated with the respective mounting element.

More specifically, the respective engagement shoe 18a, 18b of each jaw has fastening means which can be engaged with and disengaged from the respective gripper 18 mounting means.

The means for fastening the shoes 18a, 18b to the gripper body 18 comprise insertion hole means 18o, 18o for respective pin means 18p, 18p which define means for snap fastening to and unfastening from the hole means 18o, 18o.

As illustrated, the fastening means comprise a first and a second hole 18o,

18o opening onto the rear face 18'a, 18'b of the respective jaw shoe 18a, 18b.

Advantageously, as illustrated, the pin means comprise a first and a second pin 18p, 18p designed for insertion into a matching hole 18o, 18o and extend perpendicularly from a respective face 181" and 18e of the gripper body which abuts against the rear face 18 'a, 18'b of the respective shoe. As illustrated, each pin 18p has a large free end 18'p of generally spherical shape larger in diameter than a portion 18"p connecting to the other part of the pin body 18p. The connecting portion 18"p is thus smaller in diameter than the base portion 18"'p for fastening the pin 18p to the respective face of the element the pin is connected to and smaller in diameter than the large engagement head portion 18 'p.

A peripheral surface of the large free engagement end 18'p acts in conjunction with an intermediate, narrow diameter annular portion of the receiving element, labelled 18Ό in Figure 1 1.

Advantageously, the pin 18p is made of elastic material. The large portion

18'p of the pin thus interferes with the narrow annular portion 18Ό of the hole 18o, narrowing and then widening after passing through the narrow portion as a result of a pushing or pulling action on the respective shoe in a direction along the axis of the pin 18p or of the hole 18o.

The reference numeral 181 denotes a roller for engaging the ring nut of the respective closing element and which is mounted on a vertical shaft 182 extending below the base of the main body 181 of the gripper.

Advantageously, means 18s are provided for adjusting the pushing action applied by the closing element T on the container C during the step of screwing the corresponding fastening ring nut G.

Advantageously, the pickup means 18 also comprise means 18s for adjusting the pushing action applied by the closing element T on the container C, these means being, more specifically in the form of means for adjusting the vertical pushing action of the closing element T on the container C

More specifically, the means for adjusting the pushing action are in the form of means 18s for damping the engagement impact of the closing element on the container.

Advantageously, the adjustment or damping means are in the form of elastic means, that is to say, in the form of a helical spring 18s.

For the purpose, the gripper 18 comprises a supporting element having a connecting part 18m, in particular for connection to the vertical guides 121c, 121d of the carousel, and a supporting part 18n for the closing element clamping jaws 18a, 18b, the supporting part 18n being movable vertically relative to the first part 18m with interposed adjustment means in the form of elastic means comprising a spring 18s. As may be well inferred from Figure 13, the connection between the second gripper part 18n which supports the clamping jaws and the first part 18m which connects the gripper to the carousel is defined by a pair of vertical pins 18q inserted in matching vertical holes 18r made in the second part 18n.

As illustrated, the vertically movable part 18m of the gripper 18 has a housing 18u, which is vertically aligned with the pin 18t that supports the damping spring 18s, whose lower end 18's is accommodated in the housing 18u.

As illustrated, the connecting part 18m of the gripper 18 has an upper arm 18v which supports the pin 18t for centring the helical spring 18s that adjusts the pushing action.

As may be noted in the cross section of Figure 13, the pin or shaft 18d for actuating the opening of the movable jaw 18b is driven by a corresponding electric coil 18z located in front of the housing 18u for the damping spring 18s, or longitudinally alongside the latter.

As illustrated, the adjustment means, or spring, 18s is vertically aligned with the shoe of the jaw 18a, the shoe being advantageously L-shaped with an upper horizontal wing 181a from which there extends substantially at 90° a vertical lateral engagement wing 181b for the gripper. The upper wing 181a of the jaw 18a has an underside face 181 'a which is adapted to engage the top face Tl of the closing element T.

In practice, the means 18s for adjusting the pushing action are vertically aligned with means 181 'a for engaging the top face Tl of the closing element T.

In practice, the shoe 18a has the shape of an L, with a vertical portion 181b for laterally engaging the main body of the closing element T, opposing the other shoe 18b, and a horizontal portion 181a constituting means for engaging the top face of the closing element T.

As may be inferred from Figures 2 to 5, there are also provided means 20 for picking up the tube, these means being adapted to form means for positioning the tube at the mouth of the container so that the tube is ready for insertion into the respective container. The tube pickup means 20 are adapted to form, together with the means 18 for picking up the body T' of the closing element, means for uncurling the tube.

The tube pickup means comprise a gripper 20 having a first jaw 20a and a second jaw 20b mounted on a respective supporting element 20' which has means, and more specifically, a backwardly extending wheel for insertion into the groove 56 in the lower guide means or cam 50b, 51b, 52b, 53b. The first and second jaws 20a, 20b are movable relative to each other, being rotatable about a respective vertical axis and, more specifically, movable between a close together position where they engage the tube P when the closing element enters the carousel or associating means, more specifically on the straight upstream stretch of the carousel, and a spaced-apart position where they release the tube P when the tube starts being inserted into the container, on the straight downstream stretch of the carousel or associating means 12.

More specifically, the gripper 20 is thus adapted to engage the tube P at an upstream position of the longitudinal tube uncurling stretch.

In practice, the tube pickup means 20 are adapted to engage the tube P when the closing element enters the associating means 12.

Further, the tube pickup means are adapted to release the tube P when the tube P starts being inserted into the container C.

More specifically, the tube P pickup means 20 are adapted to release the tube as soon as the upper gripper 18 starts moving downwards to insert the tube into the container C under the action of the insertion cam 51a, and more specifically, immediately upon leaving the curved end stretch 53a, 53b of the means that guide the carousel or associating means 12.

In practice, the tube pickup means 20 are adapted to release the tube just downstream of the curved stretch 53b of their path.

In practice, the tube pickup means 20 are adapted to release the tube P on a straight stretch just downstream of a curved end stretch of their path, releasing the tube in a zone upstream of the capping stretch where the closing element is applied to the container.

In practice, the grippers 18, 20 are driven, according to the feed movement of the carousel 12, by respective cams 50a, 51a, 52a, 53a, 50b, 51b, 52b, 53b along a path that has up-going stretches and down-going stretches.

As may be further inferred with reference to Figures 15 to 19, means 30 are also provided for connecting the closing element T to the body of the container C.

The means for connecting the closing element T to the body of the container C comprise means for rotating the closing element, or part of it, and more specifically, a part defined by the fastening ring nut G. The fastening ring nut G is located under the main body T' of the closing element T it is fixed to.

The means, or ring nut G, for connecting the closing element T to the body of the container C are located on the downstream longitudinal stretch 10b of the associating means, or rotatable carousel 12.

Advantageously, the means 30 for connecting the closing element T to the body of the container C are in the form of wheel means 30a, 30b for rotationally driving the respective part G of the closing element.

Means are thus provided for connecting the closing element T to the body of the container C and which comprise wheel means 30a, 30b for rotationally driving the respective part G of the closing element, applying a pushing action for radially engaging the respective part G of the closing element, and means 185 for opposing the radial pushing action applied by the wheel means 30a, 30b on the same part G of the closing element

More specifically, the opposing means 185 are in the form of wheel means mounted on the means 18 for picking up the closing element and, more specifically, in the form of an engagement wheel protruding below the gripper 18 for picking up the body of the closing element.

The rotation and opposing wheels 30a, 30b, 185 acting on the corresponding part G of the closing element are located at angular intervals from each other, and more specifically, at angular intervals of approximately 120° from each other.

That way, the ring nut G of the closing element T to be rotated is held securely.

As may be well inferred from Figures 17A to 17D, the means 30a, 30b for connecting the closing element to the container are mounted on movable supporting means 130.

The supporting means 130 are movable transversally, or perpendicularly, to the feed direction of the container and closing element T.

As may be well inferred from Figures 17a and 17b, the movable means for supporting the connecting means, or wheel means, are also movable longitudinally, or parallel, to the feed direction of the containers and closing elements.

More specifically, the means 130 for supporting the connecting means are movable parallel to the feed direction between an upstream position where they engage the corresponding part G of the closing element and a downstream position where they are disengaged from it.

The supporting means 130 are movable between a disengaged position where the container C and the cap T are free to feed forward, and an engaged position where the corresponding part G of the closing element is rotated, and more specifically, between a backward position where the closing element is disengaged (illustrated in Figure 17A) and an advanced position where the ring nut G is engaged (illustrated in Figure 17B).

In practice, starting from the transversally backward position of Figure 17A, the supporting means 130 are moved towards the container C until the wheels 30a, 30b are in the position of Figure 17B where they engage the outer periphery of the ring nut G. During the forward feed movement of the means 130 towards the container C and ring nut G, the supporting means 130 are advanced longitudinally to follow the continuous forward feed movement of container and ring nut.

Next, as may be inferred from Figure 17B, the means 130 for supporting the wheels 30a, 30b are fed forward longitudinally together with the container C and the cap T until reaching the screwing completed end position, illustrated in Figure 17C, where they start moving transversally away, and thus disengaged, from the ring nut G of the closing element.

At this point, the supporting element 130 of the wheels 30a, 30b moves transversally backwards until reaching the position illustrated in Figure 17D and, more specifically, returns to the position illustrated in Figure 17A to start another step of transversally feeding and engaging the ring nut G in order to screw it onto the neck of the respective container C.

As may be inferred from the drawings, the supporting means 130 of the means for rotating the ring nut are carried on a rail 130' which runs parallel to the corresponding longitudinal stretch of the carousel 12 and are driven by a corresponding motor which drives the movable slide 130" along the rail 130'. The supporting means 130 of the wheels 30a, 30b are mounted directly on the slide or slider 130". The drive motor for longitudinally moving the slide 130" backwards and forwards is labelled 130"' in Figure 2.

Further, the reference numeral 131 denotes a linear actuator, more specifically, a pneumatic cylinder, which controls the transversal movement of the supporting means 130 of the drive wheels 30a, 30b. The cylinder 131 moves a corresponding rod 132 which directly supports the connecting means 30a, 30b and is in turn mounted on the longitudinal slider 130".

Means 135 are provided for positioning the slider 130", or the connecting means 30a, 30b in height, in order to position them at specified heights so that they can operate on containers of different heights. These changeover means are actuated through a respective handwheel 135, shown in Figure 2.

Advantageously, the connecting means, or wheel means 30a, 30b are removably connected to the supporting means 130.

For the purpose, as may be inferred from Figures 15 and 18, the supporting means 130 have a main frame 130b which mounts the motor 133 for rotationally driving the wheel means 30a, 30b, the shaft of the motor 133 driving a respective gear 133a which is connected, through corresponding means, or transmission gears, labelled 134 in their entirety, to the rotation wheels 30a, 30b.

The rotation wheels 30a, 30b are connected, together with at least some of the transmission gears 134, in freely rotatable manner, on an element or plate 130a which can be engaged to, and disengaged from, the supporting means 130, that is to say, the latter' s main portion 130b, thanks to corresponding screws 130c having a specially shaped head 130'c forming a handgrip or knob for easy screwing and unscrewing, the screws 130c being accessible from under the device 130.

In practice, the screws 130c protrude downwards from an underside face of the cantilevered supporting means of the screwing wheels 30a, 30b.

That way, it is possible to quickly remove one unit with wheels 30a, 30b of a certain size and substitute it with another unit having different screwing wheels so that the machine can be quickly changed over to closing elements T of a different size, or more specifically, to closing element ring nuts G of a different size.

As may be inferred from Figures 2 and 4, the reference numeral 40 denotes means for feeding the containers C along the stretch where each closing element is connected to the respective container.

The feed means 40 are positioned parallel to the respective longitudinal branch 10b of the application means or carousel 12 and rotate in such a way as to feed the containers longitudinally in coordination with the closing elements T on the carousel 12 in such a way as to keep the containers C in step with the closing elements T.

The means for feeding the containers C are in the form of an auger 40. The rotating feed auger 40 is driven by a respective motor 40' through a corresponding oblique transmission shaft 40" which rotates the auger feed means about its longitudinal axis at a predetermined container feed speed.

As shown in Figure 19, means are also provided for stopping the rotation of the container C while the closing element T is being connected to it.

In effect, to prevent the cylindrical containers from turning as they are fed forward by the feed auger 40, additional means, denoted by the reference numeral 137, are provided on the means 30 for connecting on the closing element or on the mounting slider 130" thereof.

As stated above, the longitudinal slider element 130" moves longitudinally along the container feed direction to follow the container C and then back to the starting position to engage the next container C.

More specifically, as illustrated, the means for preventing the rotation of the container C comprise a shaped engagement element 137a which is supported by corresponding rods 137c which are in turn driven and supported by an actuator 137b fixed to the slider 130".

The means for stopping the rotation of the container C extend under the means 30 for connecting the closing element to the container C.

More specifically, the means 137, that is, the shaped element 137a for engaging the container C in order to prevent the container C from rotating, are movable transversally to the longitudinal rotational feed of the container C between an advanced position where they engage the peripheral surface of the container C and a backward position where they are disengaged from it.

As illustrated, the circular front face 137' a of the shaped element 137a has a surface that mates with the outside profile of the container C.

As illustrated in particular in Figure 20, the means 14 for feeding the closing element T in turn comprise a revolving element or starwheel 14a having a plurality of radial recesses 14b, each of which engages a respective closing element T and drives it towards a position where it is released to the associating means 12, and more specifically, to the respective gripper 18, 20 of the rotatable carousel.

The means for feeding the closing elements T are completed by a channel 14d for feeding the closing elements T alongside each other. The channel 14d has a respective closing element T at its respective outfeed end where it is picked up by a corresponding radial recess 14b of the revolving starwheel 14a The revolving starwheel may be conveniently removed from the mounting frame and substituted with another starwheel of different shape suitable for feeding and positioning different closing elements and synchronized with the carousel of the closing elements. Obviously, the rotational motion of the starwheel, for synchronizing the closing elements, is an intermittent circular motion that follows a law of motion suitable for picking up a corresponding closing element T and positioning it at the position where the respective gripper 18 can pick it up at the right moment, when the same gripper 18 reaches the position for receiving it from the starwheel 14a.

The revolving starwheel 14a is rotationally driven by a suitably controlled motor and, as illustrated, guide means 14e are provided to act in conjunction with the outside surface of the starwheel 14a for conveying each closing element to the pickup position where it is received by the gripper 18.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in Figure 21, the means used for feeding the closing elements T comprise guide means 214 composed of a first and a second guide rail 241a, 241b between which the siphon P extends downwardly. The guide rails 241a, 241b are transversally spaced in such a way as to support the main body T' of the closing element T.

At these longitudinal means, there are means for stopping closing element T feed and comprising first stop means 214a which are adapted to stop the row of closing elements T alongside each other and which are openable to allow the closing elements T to pass through towards second stop means 214b where the closing elements are stopped at the position where they are picked up by the associating carousel, or rather by the pickup grippers 18 of the carousel.

As illustrated, the guide channel 214 extends and is positioned vertically between the upper gripper 18 for holding the main body T' of the closing element T and the gripper 20 for holding the tube or siphon P.

In practice, means are provided for spacing and synchronizing the closing elements T, these means consisting, in the first preferred embodiment, of a revolving starwheel 14a, and in the second preferred embodiment, of propelling means, being, more specifically, in the form of a jet of compressed air, for moving the closing elements from a stop position upstream to a release position downstream, and means 214a for releasably retaining the closing element at the position upstream and means 214b for releasably retaining the closing element at the position downstream at the point where it is transferred to the carousel 12.

The releasable retaining means are in the form of corresponding openable pins or gates which extend at the rails 241a, 241b for conveying the closing elements T.

Advantageously, the machine of this invention has associating means 12, or a rotatable carousel 121, which feed the closing elements T forward with continuous motion, while the containers C are also fed forward with continuous feed motion, in particular along the stretch where the closing elements are associated with the respective containers.

The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that several changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, described in depth above. In particular, one skilled in the art could easily imagine further embodiments of the invention comprising one or more of the features described herein. It will also be understood that all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.