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Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine for treating containers.

In particular, the invention relates to a protection for a machine for treating containers able to guarantee high safety standards for the operators at least during an operating step of the machine itself.

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Prior art

It is known that the conveyor machines used in the sector of containers (wine bottles, containers for various liquids, etc....) comprise protective screens, preferably made of acrylic glass or glass, arranged around the conveying path of the containers to prevent operators coming into contact with the moving parts at least during a work condition. Such conveyor machines comprise, for example, rotary carousel systems in which there are different rotatable plates arranged on the periphery of the carousel for transporting the bottles. Other examples of conveyors comprise the most modern conveying systems with magnetic carriages based on the principle of linear motors in which such carriages are moved thanks to the control of the electrical current and the electromagnetic field that it generates along the conveying path (which may be open or in a closed loop).

Furthermore, conveying machines comprise one or more treatment stations, e.g. labelling or filling or the like, which can be installed along the conveying path in order to be able to perform a respective treatment on the conveyed containers.

Currently, for example in the labelling sector, the protective screens used have a side access window sufficiently large to be able to enable the labelling member of the treatment unit to be inserted through such window in order to enter into contact with the conveyed containers. Usually, such window must have dimensions such as to be able to enable any height or width adjustments of the labelling member itself in the event of having to replace the type of labels to apply or the type of container to be labelled or if a label is to be applied in a different position which may be higher or lower (e.g. on the neck or on the base). Therefore, given the extension of the access window, it is usual to provide a further protective screen (known in the jargon as a “shielding” screen) shaped so as to close the free space present between the labelling member of the treatment unit and the access window in order to guarantee the safety of the operators during the operation of the labelling machine according to the provisions of relevant legislation.

Such shielding screen has some drawbacks, in particular, connected with the fact that it must always be made as a function of the type of labelling member used, the type of labelling performed and the access window to be covered so as to guarantee total coverage of the latter. Therefore, a modification of the labelling member and/or a movement thereof in height, depth or inclination implies the further protective screen having to be reallocated with precision in order to cover any uncovered access parts which may have been formed.

Furthermore, there are treatment stations which have a treatment unit with a treatment member (e.g. label detacher) which is removable with respect to the conveyor. In other words, such treatment member is movable forwards/backwards with respect to the conveyor.

Also in this case, the use of the shielding screen (which is connected to the treatment unit) generates problems connected with the fact that when the treatment unit is completely removed from the conveyor the window remains open and accessible from the outside, therefore in this condition the machine cannot operate as there are potential risks of getting hurt.

An example of this type of shielding screen is disclosed in document EP3450817. However, such shielding screen has some drawbacks which the present invention aims to overcome.

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Summary

In this context, the technical task of the present invention is to propose a machine for treating containers, which obviates the drawbacks of the known art as mentioned above.

In particular, an object of the present invention is that of providing a machine for treating containers able to guarantee a high degree of safety for operators during the operation of the machine itself. Another object of the present invention is that of providing a machine for treating containers which, during an operating step thereof, prevents accidental damage to operators caused by a collision with the conveyed containers. Therefore, the aim of the invention is specifically to prevent operators coming into contact with the components of the machine and/or the containers conveyed at the possible access windows provided.

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a machine for treating containers, which comprises the technical features set forth in the independent claim. The dependent claims correspond to further advantageous aspects of the invention.

It should be highlighted that this summary introduces, in simplified form, a selection of concepts which will be further elaborated in the detailed description given below.

The invention relates to a machine for treating containers.

In particular, the machine comprises a conveyor configured to convey containers along a predetermined operating path and comprising a first protective screen configured to separate the operating path from an environment external to the conveyor itself. The first protective screen further has a communication window between the operating path and the external environment.

The machine also comprises a treatment unit for treating containers which can be associated with the conveyor at least at the first protective screen and additionally comprises at least one treatment member extending in a cantilever fashion towards the conveyor for interacting with the containers conveyed along the operating path through the communication window.

The machine comprises a second protective screen interposed between the conveyor and the container treatment unit at the communication window so as to occlude a surrounding space interposed between the treatment unit and an edge of the communication window. The second protective screen comprises a first and a second covering element mutually movable along a longitudinal direction, preferably vertical, between a completely open position, in which the first and second covering elements are distanced from one another, and a neared position, in which the covering elements are arranged closer to one another with respect to the completely open position.

In this way, the machine is advantageously configured to arrange a further protective screen able to occlude the uncovered portion of the communication window of the first protective screen.

Even more advantageously, the second protective screen is comprised of at least one pair of mutually movable elements in order to guarantee the removal and/or adjustment of the positioning of the treatment unit as a function of the type of treatment to be performed, without having to produce personalised protective screens for each operating position of the aforesaid treatment unit.

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Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the general and thus non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a machine for treating containers, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 illustrates, in a schematic view, a machine for treating containers;

- figures 2-4 illustrate, in a perspective view, a first embodiment of the treatment unit of the machine illustrated in figure 1 in which the second protective screen is provided, configured in different operating positions;

- figure 5 illustrates, in a perspective view, a constructional detail of the second protective screen illustrated in the previous figures.

With reference to the drawings, they serve solely to illustrate embodiments of the invention with the aim of better clarifying, in combination with the description, the inventive principles on which the invention is based.

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Detailed description of at least one embodiment

The present invention relates to a machine for treating containers.

With reference to the figures, a machine for treating containers has been generically indicated with the number 1 .

Any modifications or variants which, in the light of the description, are evident to the person skilled in the art, must be considered to fall within the scope of protection established by the present invention, according to considerations of technical equivalence.

Figure 1 shows a machine 1 for treating containers which comprises a conveyor 2 configured to convey containers along a predetermined operating path D. In figure 1 the path D is represented by an arrow which extends from right to left. Therefore, only one container (the one furthest to the left) has received a treatment from the machine 1.

As already mentioned the machine 1 can be made as a rotary carousel or as a linear motor with magnetic carriages extending according to various shapes.

In particular, the conveyor 2 comprises a first protective screen 3 configured to separate the operating path D from an environment external to the conveyor. Furthermore, the first protective screen 3 has a communication window 4 between the aforesaid operating path D and the external environment. The machine 1 also comprises a treatment unit 5 for treating the containers which can be associated with the conveyor 2 at least at the first protective screen 3. In particular, the treatment unit 5 has at least one treatment member 6 which extends in a cantilever fashion towards the conveyor 2 for interacting with the containers along the operating path D through the communication window 4. Additionally, the machine 1 comprises a second protective screen 7 interposed between the conveyor 2 and the treatment unit 5 at the communication window 4 so as to occlude a surrounding space interposed between the treatment unit 5 itself and an edge of the communication window 4 itself.

In more detail, as can be seen more clearly in figure 5, the second protective screen 7 comprises a first and a second covering element 8, 9 mutually movable along a longitudinal direction L, preferably vertical. In particular, the second protective screen 7 is configurable between a completely open position (figure 3), in which the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are distanced from one another, and a neared position (figures 2 and 4), in which the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are arranged closer to one another with respect to the completely open position.

In this way, the machine 1 is advantageously configured to provide a shielding screen (defined precisely by the two covering elements 8, 9) able to occlude the uncovered portion of the communication window 4 of the first protective screen 3.

Even more advantageously, the second protective screen 7 is comprised of at least one pair of mutually movable covering elements 8, 9 in order to guarantee the removal and/or adjustment of the positioning of the treatment unit 5 as a function of the type of treatment to be performed, without having to produce personalised protective (shielding) screens for each operating position of the aforesaid treatment unit 5.

According to an aspect of the invention illustrated in figures 2 and 4, the neared position of the second protective screen 7 comprises two positions: a completely closed position (figure 2), in which the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are arranged so as to occlude the communication window 4, and a shielding position (figure 4), in which the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are half-closed and respectively neared with respect to the treatment member 6 and, at the same time, occlude the space surrounding the treatment member 6 itself.

In other words, in the completely closed position, the second protective screen 7 completely covers the communication window 4 to prevent both an operator and the treatment member 6 being able to access the components of the conveyor 2. Otherwise, in the shielding position, the second covering screen 7 is closed around the treatment member 6 so as to occlude the uncovered part of the communication window 4 which surrounds the treatment member 6 itself which is arranged projecting towards the conveyor 2 to perform the respective treatment on the containers conveyed along the operating path D.

According to one aspect of the invention the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are movable independently from one another.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are counter-shaped to a part of the treatment member 6 to surround it according to a vertical plane.

In other words, the first and second covering elements 8, 9 are shaped so that each profile is counter-shaped to a respective portion of the treatment member 6 (e.g. the arm that supports the detacher in the case of a labelling member). In this way, in the shielding position, the second covering screen 7 closes around the treatment member

6 interposed between the operating path D and the environment external to the conveyor 2.

According to a further aspect of the invention, which can be seen more clearly in figure 5, at least one from among the first and second covering elements 8, 9 is made of various parts 10a, 10b, 10c slidably movable between one another. In particular, the aforesaid parts 10a, 10b, 10c are arranged consecutively when the protective screen

7 is in the neared position. Instead, the aforesaid parts 10a, 10b, 10c are at least partially overlapped when the second protective screen 7 is in the completely open position.

In this way, in the completely open position of the second protective screen 7, the covering element 8, 9 made of various parts has a reduced dimension as the parts are overlapped with one another at least in part. If the covering element 8, 9 is made as a single body, the overall dimension of the frame along which it can be moved should be at least equal to twice the length of the element 8, 9 itself to enable the correct sliding thereof along the longitudinal direction L between a neared position and the completely open position. However, it should be specified that this aspect of the invention (just described) is preferable but not necessary.

Preferably, the first covering element 8 is arranged above the second covering element 9 with respect to a vertical direction. Even more preferably, therefore, the first covering element 7 (arranged at the top) is made of various parts 10a, 10b, 10c slidable between one another.

Preferably, the part 10a is constrained through a support frame in a fixed position, whereas the remaining parts 10b and 10c are movable, preferably by sliding, with respect to the first part 10a.

Therefore, the parts 10a, 10b, 10c of the first covering element 8 are able to slide along the vertical direction so as to be overlapped in the completely open position and, therefore, reduce the total vertical dimension of the second covering screen 7.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second covering element 9 (preferably arranged below the first covering element 8) is made of various parts 10d, 10e.

Therefore, the parts 10d, 10e of the second covering element 9 are able to slide along the vertical direction so as to be overlapped in the completely open position and, therefore, reduce the total vertical dimension of the second covering screen 7.

According to an aspect of the invention, the machine 1 comprises a motorisation means connected to the first and second covering elements 8, 9 and configured for the movement thereof between the completely open position and the neared position.

Preferably, the motorisation means comprises a worm screw 12 extending along the longitudinal direction L and a bush 13 counter-threaded with respect to the aforesaid worm screw 12. Preferably, the motorisation means comprises two motors operatively associated with the two covering elements 8, 9 and controlled independently in order to implement an independent movement of the two covering elements 8, 9. Therefore, the motorisation means also comprises two worm screws 12 extending along the longitudinal direction L and respective bushes 13 counter-threaded with respect to the worm screw for the two covering elements 8, 9.

In particular, each bush 13 is connected to a respective covering element 8, 9 of the second protective screen 7.

Alternatively, the movement of the covering elements 8, 9 could be performed manually.

According to another aspect of the invention, the machine 1 comprises an elastic recall element 14 connected to one from among the first and the second covering elements 8, 9.

Preferably, the elastic recall element 14 is connected to a part of the first covering element 8 when arranged above the second covering element 9 with respect to a substantially vertical direction.

In other words, the elastic recall element 14, for example a spring or a rewindable elastic cable, is positioned above the frame along which the covering elements 8, 9 can slide. Furthermore, the elastic recall element 14 is connected to the first covering element 8 so as to assist the movement thereof, preferably vertical, between the neared position and the open position. On the contrary, when the motorisation means is configured to move the first covering element 8 (or at least the part 10c thereof to which it is directly connected) from the open position to the neared one, the normal force of the elastic recall element 14 is overcome, precisely to enable the closure of the communication window 4.

According to an aspect of the invention, the treatment member 6 is movable towards and/or away from the operating path D of the conveyor 2.

In this way, the treatment member 6 can be inserted projecting towards the conveyor 2 through the communication window 4 during the treatment of the containers conveyed along the operating path D or, alternatively, be extractable for operating on the extracted treatment member 6, e.g. on the detacher 20 (element described in more detail below), for performing maintenance/format change operations without stopping the machine and without running any risks of entering into contact with moving parts of the machine.

According to another aspect of the invention, the treatment member 6 is movable three- dimensionally and can be inclined with respect to the operating path D as a function of the treatment to be performed on the conveyed containers. In particular, the first and the second covering elements 8, 9 are configured to modify the distance of the neared position as a function of the three-dimensional movement and/or inclination performed by the treatment member 6.

Preferably, the treatment member 6 is movable along a horizontal plane and/or a vertical plane and, furthermore can be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane itself, so as to enable the performance of different treatments on the containers or on different portions of the containers themselves. For example, it is possible that the treatment member 6 is initially configured to perform a process at the support base of the containers and, subsequently, to perform the same process on an upper portion of the same container in proximity to the opening thereof, e.g. on the neck of a bottle below the cap.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention illustrated in figures 2-5, the second protective screen 7 is connected solidly to the treatment unit 5.

In other words, the second protective screen 7 is installed on a frame solidly fixed to the treatment unit 5. In still other words, the lanes along which the first and the second covering element 8, 9 can slide are installed on a portion of the container treatment unit 5.

Alternatively, according to an embodiment not illustrated, the second protective screen 7 is connected solidly to the conveyor 2 and/or to the first protective screen 3.

According to an aspect of the invention, the container treatment unit 5 is installed on a carriage 15 which is movable with respect to the conveyor 2 or a fixed external structure. Alternatively, the treatment unit could be mounted on a frame fixed to the base (table) of the conveyor 2.

According to another aspect of the invention, the second protective screen 7 comprises lateral dividers 16 which are respectively positioned next to the communication window 4. In particular, the lateral dividers 16 are solidly constrained to the treatment unit 5. During use, such lateral dividers 16 are arranged resting on the first protective screen 3.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, also portrayed in figure 1 , the treatment member 6 is a labelling member comprising a system for conveying a strip of labels and a detaching element 20 operatively associated with the aforesaid conveying system, more precisely at the operating path D.

In other words, such conveying system comprises a plurality of compensation and return rollers along which a strip of labels is wound, which are removed by means of a predefined detaching element 20 (plate or blade that performs an inversion) arranged on the projecting portion of the same treatment member 6 which, during use, is arranged at the operating path D of the conveyor 2.

The labelling member is advantageously movable three-dimensionally and/or can be inclined so as to enable the correct conveying of the labels onto the conveyed containers, e.g. to arrange the labels on the lower portion of the bottle or on the upper portion at the neck of the bottle itself or to handle a bottle format change or a label type change.

Therefore, the second protective screen 7 is advantageously configured to be able to adapt to the movements of the labelling member so that in the neared position (total closure or shielding) the covering elements 8, 9 can occlude the uncovered portion of the communication window 4 and guarantee the safety of the machine 1 itself.

For example, the covering elements 8, 9 may be arranged at a higher or lower level, with the same distance between the two, as a function of the position of the labelling member.

In particular, the machine 1 comprises a control unit (not visible in the appended figures) configured to control the motorisation means for managing the position of the covering elements. In detail, the control unit is configured to control and modify the mutual distance between the lower and upper edges of said first and second covering elements 8, 9, in the neared shielding position, as a function of the position or orientation of said treatment member 6 with respect to said conveyor 2.

According to an aspect of the invention, at least one from among the first and the second covering element 8, 9 has a pair of grooves 21 , preferably parallel to each other, and configured to enable the passage of the strip of labels between the environment external to the machine and the operating path D. In this way, when the protective screen 7 is in the shielding position (in which it surrounds the labelling member), the grooves 21 are advantageously able to allow the incoming and outgoing passage of the strip of labels between the operating path D and the environment external to the conveyor 2 through the communication window 4 and, at the same time, prevent any objects and/or the hands of the operator from coming into contact with potentially dangerous components of the conveyor 2 present at the operating path D.

Preferably, the grooves 21 have a width which is maximum 7 millimetres. Even more preferably less than 5 millimetres.

In this way, the grooves 21 enable the passage of the strip of labels only and no other object or body part (hands and/or fingers) of the operator in order to guarantee a high degree of safety during the operating step of the machine 1 .

According to another aspect of the invention, the grooves 21 have a length equal to about one value of the length of a blade of the detaching element 20.

Preferably, the length of the grooves 21 is equal to at least the length of the detaching element 20 i.e. of its blade with which the labels can be detached. In fact, the labels have a maximum height equal to the blade of the detaching element in order to be able to be removed correctly from the strip on which they are provided.