This invention relates to a processing device for caps and/or cap components of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

In particular, this invention relates to a processing device, be it a bending or drilling or cutting machine, for caps and/or cap components mainly used in the food industry.

As is well known, caps for food products are characterised by two main components: the closure casing and the warranty seal of the product designed to certify the correct closure of the food container or to indicate that it has been opened.

An example of a warranty seal is given by the rings made of polymer material that the metal screw caps comprise on common bottles of liquid, such as soft drinks or water or the like, and that are inserted by interlocking them with the closure casing. The processing of caps, as previously described, is usually carried out by means of largely automated machinery capable of processing a plurality of parts, in particular caps, in series.

In particular, these machines may comprise straight or rotating mechanisms comprising spindles, arranged in a row or radially in relation to a central shaft, designed to remove caps or parts of caps from a continuous line and designed to process the caps themselves, or at least part of their components, along the processing line.

Once the processing is complete, the completed caps are conveyed back on a line away from the processing machinery.

Generally, within the cap production cycle, there is at least one cutting step and one coupling step. During the cutting step, a gripping member takes a portion of the cap, usually the warranty seal, in order to cut the latter and prepare it for coupling with the containment casing.

Usually, cutting is carried out by means of a rotating blade centred in relation to the gripping member and, therefore, both the gripping member and the cutting member are equipped with rotating or static spindles that are synchronised and mutually centred to enable precision processing.

Likewise, the coupling step is carried out by means of two gripping members that respectively take the cap’s containment casing and the warranty seal and couple them under pressure by means of the above-mentioned devices.

In this case too, both members include spindles that must work in a synchronised manner and must be mutually centred to enable precision cap processing.

The described prior art comprises some significant drawbacks.

In particular, in order to ensure correct synchronisation and centring between the elements, either the gripping or processing member is static. Therefore, it is often necessary to use additional devices when the processing is complicated.

For example, if it is necessary to keep the cap containment casing locked in position, in order to ensure correct coupling, it is necessary to add a locking mechanism to the machine, such as a jaw, which increases the overall dimensions of the machine and which, in any case, must also be synchronised to ensure the correct execution of the whole process.

Alternatively, mechanically independent gripping or processing members can be provided so that they can be independently moved and perform even the most complicated processing in a single pass.

However, although the processing cycle is faster, the main drawback is that the risk of producing defective caps, due to misalignment of the processing components, increases.

In this context, the technical task underlying this invention is to devise a cap component processing device that is capable of substantially overcoming at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In the context of said technical task, it is an important purpose of the invention to obtain a cap component processing device that makes it possible to ensure the centring of the various gripping or processing members without using additional mechanical devices.

Another important purpose of the invention is to provide a processing device that makes it possible to maintain the centring between the different members even at high processing speeds.

The technical task and specified purposes are achieved with a processing device as claimed in the appended Claim 1 .

Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and benefits of the invention will be clarified in the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a side section view of a processing device for caps and/or cap components according to the invention in a preferred configuration; and

Fig. 2 illustrates a simplified diagram of a part of a cap processing plant including a processing device for caps and/or cap components according to the invention.

In this document, when measurements, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism) are associated with words like “approximately” or other similar terms, such as“almost” or“basically”, they shall be understood as without errors of measurement or imprecisions due to errors of production and/or manufacturing and, above all, without a slight divergence from the value, measurement, shape, or geometric reference with which it is associated. For example, if associated with a value, such terms preferably indicate a divergence of no more than 10% of the value itself.

Furthermore, when terms such as“first”, “second”, “upper”, “lower”, “main”, and “secondary” are used, they do not necessarily identify an order, relationship priority, or relative position, but they can simply be used to distinguish different components more clearly from one another.

Unless otherwise stated, the measurements and data reported in this text shall be considered as performed in International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533: 1975).

With reference to the figures, the processing device for caps and/or cap components according to the invention is indicated as a whole by the reference number 1.

The device 1 can be designed to perform a plurality of different processing operations depending on its components. In general, the device 1 is preferably part of a cap processing plant 10.

The plant 10 is preferably a plant designed to process various types of caps, for example screw caps for glass bottles or the like, for example, for the closure of paper and/or plastic packages, such as those produced by the company Tetra-Pak ^® for containing fruit juice or milk or the like.

Preferably, the caps being processed generally consist of at least two portions: a closure casing, e.g. made of metal, and a warranty seal, e.g. made of polymer material. The closure casing is the portion of the cap designed to close the bottle. It can be made of various materials, for example polymer material or metal, more specifically aluminium, and may or may not include internal threads. Generally, but not necessarily, the cap may also include a knurling or porous portion to increase the effectiveness of the grip and to enable the user to easily unscrew the cap.

The warranty seal is, however, preferably an annular portion, e.g. made of polymer, that can be interlocked with the inside of the closure casing at the edge of the casing. The plant 10 shall preferably comprise at least one device 1 and at least part of an assembly line 6.

The assembly line 6 is preferably a conveyor machine that is capable of moving caps or cap components along a predetermined trajectory.

In particular, the assembly line 6 can be composed of a plurality of elements designed to define an assembly path 6a.

The assembly path 6a can be defined by a conveyor roller, or by other gripping elements that are moved and designed to transport objects on it.

In the current state of the art, there are many examples of different assembly lines 6, defining different assembly paths 6a, on the market.

The assembly line 6 also defines an assembly plane 6b.

The assembly plane 6b includes the assembly path 6a and is, preferably, the plane along which the caps or cap components are placed.

If the assembly line 6 includes a conventional conveyor roller, for example, the assembly plane 6b is defined by the surface of the belts moved by the rollers, while the assembly path 6a is defined by the movement direction the belt imposes on the rollers.

The assembly path 6a can, therefore, be straight, on the assembly plane 6b, or it can also follow a trajectory that lies on an arc of a circle, e.g. for assembly lines 6 working with devices 1 moving circularly on its own axis.

In any case, along at least part of the assembly path 6a, the plant 10 preferably includes one or more devices 1 .

Therefore, the device 1 preferably defines a way station included within the plant 10 itself.

If the caps are of the type described above, the plant 10 may comprise a device 1 dedicated to cutting the warranty seal and a corresponding assembly line 6 and a device 1 dedicated to coupling the closure casing and the warranty seal. The latter is therefore preferably operationally connected to two assembly lines 6 of which, in detail, one transports the warranty seals coming from the cutting device 1 , and one transports the closure casings.

The device 1 preferably comprises at least one first processing portion 2 and one second processing portion 3.

The processing portions 2, 3 may be two active, i.e. control operated, portions of the device 1 , or only one of them may be such.

In any case, the processing portions 2, 3 preferably comprise at least some moving parts.

In particular, the first processing portion 2 defines a first processing direction 2a. The first processing direction 2a is the direction along which at least part of the first processing portion 2 is moved. The first processing direction 2a is preferably perpendicular to the ground; however, it could take on different directions, e.g. parallel to the ground or incident to it.

In addition, the first processing direction 2a is preferably perpendicular to the assembly plane 6b when the device 1 is included within a plant 10. In even more detail, the first processing portion 2 comprises a first processing member 20.

The first processing member 20 can be, for example, a gripping element, such as a jaw, or a cutting blade or a plate designed to exert pressure in a predetermined direction, or a support element, such as a plate.

The first processing portion 2 also comprises a first motor mechanism 21.

The first motor mechanism 21 is preferably a half locomotive configured to move the processing member 20 at least along the first processing direction 2a.

The first motor mechanism 21 preferably comprises at least one mobile piston along the first processing direction 2a and a cam motor designed to cyclically drive the mobile piston.

In addition, the first motor mechanism 21 could also move the processing member 20 in rotation about the first processing direction 2a.

In this case, the processing member 20 could comprise a rotating portion.

Similarly, in particular, the second processing portion 3 defines a second processing direction 3a.

The second processing direction 3a is the direction along which at least part of the second processing portion 3 is moved. The second processing direction 3a is preferably perpendicular to the ground; however, it could take on different directions, e.g. parallel to the ground or incident to it.

In addition, the second processing direction 3a is preferably perpendicular to the assembly plane 6b when the device 1 is included within a plant 10.

In even more detail, the second processing portion 3 also comprises a second processing member 30.

The second processing member 30 can be, for example, a gripping element, such as a jaw, or a cutting blade or a plate designed to exert pressure in a predetermined direction, or, again, a support element, such as a plate.

The second processing portion 3 also comprises a second motor mechanism 31. The second motor mechanism 31 is preferably a half locomotive configured to move the second processing member 30 at least along the second processing direction 3a.

The second motor mechanism 31 preferably comprises at least one mobile piston along the second processing direction 3a and a cam motor designed to cyclically drive the mobile piston.

In addition, the second motor mechanism 31 could also move the second processing member 30 also in rotation about the second processing direction 3a.

In this case, the second processing member 30 could comprise a rotating portion. Therefore, the processing portions 2, 3 are, preferably, basically facing each other. In a preferred configuration, for example, the first processing portion 2 is arranged below the second processing portion 3.

In any case, the second processing portion 3 is preferably spaced apart from the first processing portion 2. In particular, the two processing portions 2, 3 are spaced apart from each other along the first processing direction 2a and/or the second processing direction 3a.

In addition, in the preferred configuration of the device 1 , only one of the processing members 20, 30 comprises a portion rotating about, respectively, either the first processing direction 2a or the second processing direction 3a.

More specifically, the first processing member 20 preferably defines a support element for the cap or the cap component and the second processing member 30 is one of a choice between a cutting device, designed to cut at least part of the cap or cap component, or a coupling device, designed to exert pressure on the cap or cap component for a predetermined time.

An example of this type is shown in Fig. 1 , in which the first motor mechanism 21 moves a ring arranged in the processing member and designed, in particular, to surround the closure casing of a cap.

In any case, the first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 are preferably configured to collaborate.

In particular, they are mutually mobile in such a way as to achieve at least one spaced-apart position and one close-together position.

In the spaced-apart position, the first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 are at a first predefined distance.

In the close-together position, wherein the first 20 and the second 30 processing member are at a second predefined distance that is less than the first predefined distance. In the latter position, the first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 cooperate with each other so as to process the cap.

The device 1 advantageously comprises coupling means 4.

The coupling means 4 are configured to mechanically connect at least part of the first processing portion 2 and part of the second processing portion 3.

The coupling means 4 are preferably stiff and configured to mechanically, firmly connect the first processing portion 2 and the second processing portion 3 in such a way that the first processing direction 2a and the second processing direction 3a are always aligned with each other.

In particular, they preferably define a C-shape constituting a single piece, or otherwise called a swan neck.

Therefore, the coupling means 4 connect the processing portions 2, 3 in such a way that the first processing direction 2a and the second processing direction 3a are always aligned with each other.

In particular, when the device 1 is included in a plant 10, the processing directions 2a, 3a are both perpendicular to the assembly plane 6b and, therefore, the coupling means 4 preferably define the C-shape along a plane perpendicular to the assembly path 6a.

In addition, the coupling means 4 preferably comprise at least two positioning holes

40.

The positioning holes 40 are suitably arranged at the ends of the C-shape.

The positioning holes are preferably designed to respectively house at least part of the first processing portion 2 and part of the second processing portion 3. In this way, the processing portions 2, 3 can remain locked facing each other.

In detail, the positioning holes 40 are preferably centred along the processing directions 2a, 3a.

Therefore, the positioning holes 40 define the ends of a guide 41.

The guide 41 is basically a preferred trajectory defined by the positioning holes 40 within which the caps being processed pass through by means of the processing portions 2, 3. The guide 41 therefore basically defines the alignment part of the processing portions 2, 3.

The processing guide 41 is preferably and suitably also centred in relation to the processing directions 2a, 3a.

The cap or cap component is then processed when arranged inside the guide 41.

In addition to what has already been described, the device 1 comprises a positioning member 5.

The positioning member 5 is preferably basically a processing element that is additional to the processing portions 2, 3 and can process together with or alternatively to them.

The positioning member 5 is preferably configured to move a cap so that it is placed on and/or removed from the first processing member 20.

The positioning member 5 also preferably defines a movement direction 5a.

The movement direction 5a is basically the direction along which the positioning member 5 can be moved in order to process the caps or the cap components that pass through the device 1.

The movement direction 5a is preferably incident to the processing directions 2a, 3a. More appropriately, the movement direction 5a is perpendicular to the processing directions 2a, 3a.

If the device 1 is part of a plant 10, the movement direction 5a is preferably parallel to or aligned with the assembly plane 6b. In addition, it is preferably incident to the assembly path 6a, suitably perpendicular.

The positioning member 5 is, therefore, designed to move along the movement direction 5a to interact with a cap or cap component. In particular, the positioning member 5 preferably interacts with the cap or cap component for a predetermined time interval.

Specifically, the positioning member 5 interacts with the cap preferably inside the guide 41.

For example, in this respect, the positioning member 5 may comprise a clamp designed to lock, using friction, the cap or cap component, in a predefined position on the first processing member 20. In this case, the positioning member 5 is basically a device for positioning the caps inside the guide 41 in order to enable correct processing by means of the processing portions 2, 3. For example, the positioning member 5 places the cap, or a component of it, in a centred position in relation to the processing directions 2a, 3a.

The positioning member 5 may then be arranged at a free end of the device 1 or partially housed in the coupling means 4.

The coupling means 4 preferably including a through cavity 42.

The through cavity 42 preferably extends along the movement direction 5a inside the coupling means 4 and is designed to house at least part of the positioning member 5.

Therefore, the through cavity 42 behaves like a slot from which the positioning member 5 can move forward or backward.

Advantageously, the device 1 can be moved along the assembly path 6a at least from a first point A to a second point B spaced apart from the first point A. Of course, when the device 1 works in a plant 10 with a mobile assembly line 6, the device 1 could be fixed and the objects, which are moved from the assembly line 6 along the assembly path 6a, would move in relation to the device 1.

Since the concept of movement is relative to the reference system adopted, the device 1 can move, in relation to another component of a plant 10, from a point A to a point B, whether mobile or fixed.

In any case, when the device 1 is in the first point A, the positioning member 5 preferably places the cap on the first processing member 20.

When the device 1 is in the second point B, the positioning member preferably removes the cap from the first processing member 20.

In addition, appropriately, the first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 assume the close-together position during movement between the first point A and the second point B. The first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 are, instead, preferably in a spaced-apart position when the device 1 is in the first point A and when it is in the second point B.

In this way, the operation of device 1 is basically such that, when the processing members 20, 30 are close together for processing, the positioning member 5 holds the cap firmly in place, while when the processing members 20, 30 are spaced apart, or moved apart, the positioning member 5 can be moved along the movement direction 5a so as to grip or not and, if required, move or position a cap. The invention also comprises, therefore, a new method for processing caps and/or cap components.

The method according to the invention is preferably implemented using a device 1 and/or a plant 10 as described above.

In particular, the method comprises at least the preparation, placement,

processing, and removal steps.

In the preparation step, the first processing portion 2 and the second processing portion 3 are preferably prepared.

The processing portions 2, 3 are defined as described above.

During the placement step, a cap is placed on the first processing portion 2, in particular on the first processing member 20, by means of a positioning member 5. In the processing step, the cap is processed by means of cooperation between the first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 as they are brought close together.

In the removal step, then, the cap is removed from the first processing member 20 by means of the positioning member 5.

The steps for placing, processing, and removing the cap are advantageously carried out by moving the first processing portion 2, the second processing portion 3, and the positioning member 5 from the first point A to the second point B along the assembly path 6a.

Thus, as already described, in the first point A the cap is placed on the first processing member 20, in the second point B the cap is removed from the processing member 20, and in the movement between the first point A and the second point B, the first processing member 20 and the second processing member 30 cooperate in a close-together position by processing the cap.

The processing device for caps and/or components of said caps 1 according to the invention entails significant advantages.

In fact, the processing device 1 makes it possible to ensure the processing members 20, 30 are centred without using additional active mechanical devices or adopting solutions in which the two members are not operated independently.

Ensuring the centring by means of a static member, and using a positioning member 5 coordinated with the processing portions 2,3 as described above, makes it possible to increase the processing speed of the caps that pass inside the guide and, therefore, the device 1 makes it possible to increase the production efficiency of any plant including the device 1 without requiring greater energy expenditure. The C coupling means 4 also make it possible to couple different processing portions that can constitute both linear and circular assembly paths.

Variations falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined in the claims may be made to the invention.

In this context, all details can be replaced by equivalent elements, and the materials, shapes, and dimensions may be any materials, shapes, and dimensions.