Automated alignment method for mutual orientation between a sealing capsule and a bottle in a bottling line
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ROBINO & GALANDRINO
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing alignment methods for sealing capsules and bottles in bottling lines are inefficient due to long duration, high energy consumption, large footprint, and reduced accuracy, particularly with aluminum foil capsules that can collide with wire cages.
Simultaneous scanning and orientation of the bottle and capsule during a single rotation cycle using phase-shifted cameras and lighting, reducing the need for multiple stations and rotations, and stabilizing the capsule on the bottle during scanning.
Reduces energy consumption, apparatus footprint, and alignment duration while enhancing scanning accuracy, especially for aluminum foil capsules, by integrating phase-shifted cameras and stabilizing the capsule on the bottle.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] AUTOMATED ALIGNMENT METHOD FOR MUTUAL ORIENTATION BETWEEN A SEALING CAPSULE AND A BOTTLE IN A BOTTLING LINE
[0002] The present invention relates to an automated alignment method for mutual orientation between a sealing capsule and a bottle in a bottling line.
[0003] As known, a generic bottling line for wine, sparkling wine, champagne, and the like may comprise a series of machines adapted to perform one or more specific treatments on bottles received in succession.
[0004] With reference to the steps to which the present invention relates, after the bottle has been filled and the cork has been applied, and after a wire retaining cage has been possibly applied around the neck of the bottle, a sealing capsule made of deformable material, e.g., aluminum foil or heatshrinking synthetic material, is fitted over the neck of the bottle and then deformed so as to adhere to the bottle wall.
[0005] Before being deformed, the capsule may generally have a cylindrical or slightly frustum-like shape.
[0006] In some applications, before the capsule is made to adhere to the bottle wall, it is necessary to mutually orient the two bodies so as to align with each other any markings such as logos, lettering, screen printing, and the like, that are present on them.
[0007] Alignment is performed in an automated way by using a dedicated alignment apparatus.
[0008] An alignment apparatus can generally comprise a carousel equipped with a multiplicity of peripheral stations, each of which supports a bottle and a capsule so that they can rotate about their respective axes. In particular, the bottle is supported on a motorized rotating plate, while the capsule is supported by a motorized rotating head which is coaxial to the motorized rotating plate. The motorized rotating plate and the motorized rotating head are individually position controlled by a control unit.
[0009] In newer systems, a stationary vision system, placed alongside the carousel and typically equipped with digital video cameras, acquires images of the bottles and capsules during their complete rotations about their respective axes, so as to identify the position of respective markers that will be used for alignment.
[0010] In greater detail, to date, an alignment cycle comprises the following steps.
[0011] In a first step, or bottle scanning step, the bottle with the capsule fitted loosely on its neck is rotated approximately 360° about its axis while a first digital video camera of the vision system, placed at a first image acquisition location, performs the bottle scanning. In this first step, the motorized rotating head presses the capsule axially against the upper end of the bottle and rotates synchronously with the motorized rotating plate, thus acting as a headstock for the purpose of keeping the bottle stable during rotation.
[0012] In a second step, or bottle orientation step, the bottle is rotated to a predetermined position on the basis of the bottle marker identified during the bottle scanning step. In this second step, the motorized rotating head continues to axially press the capsule against the top end of the bottle and rotate synchronously with the motorized rotating plate.
[0013] In a third step, or capsule scanning step, the capsule is partially lifted off the bottle and rotated 360° about its axis by the motorized rotating head while a second digital video camera of the vision system, placed in a second image acquisition station, performs the capsule scan. The second image acquisition station is located in a position that is angularly spaced from the first acquisition station about the axis of the carousel.
[0014] In a fourth step, or capsule orientation step, the capsule is rotated to a predetermined position on the basis of the capsule marker identified during the capsule scanning step, after which it is repositioned on the bottle neck.
[0015] All the above-cited steps are performed while the carousel is in continuous rotation. During the scanning steps, the capsule and bottle are generally lit by respective light sources associated with the digital video cameras.
[0016] The video cameras and light sources are operated by the control unit.
[0017] The alignment system described above has some drawbacks.
[0018] A first drawback is that the alignment procedure has a relatively long duration, which forces to increase the diameter of the carousel and the number of stations, with consequent increase in manufacturing costs, space requirements and energy consumption.
[0019] Another drawback is that the two image acquisition stations considerably increase the overall footprint of the alignment apparatus.
[0020] A further drawback is that the alignment procedure has a relatively high overall energy consumption by virtue of the many rotation cycles that must be performed to scan the bottles and capsules, as well as to align them with each other.
[0021] Still another drawback arises from the fact that while the capsule rotates during the scanning step, it is held only at its upper end, since its lateral surface must be free to be acquired by the video camera. Since this capsule grip system is relatively unstable, the capsule may rotate at an angle rather than concentrically about its own axis. This circumstance compromises the accuracy of the scan, with consequent adverse repercussions on correct alignment.
[0022] A further drawback is observed in particular in the case of so-called aluminum foil sparkling wine capsules. As known, in fact, these capsules may have a longitudinal joining flap that protrudes inward and that, as the capsule rotates during the scanning step, can easily collide with the wire cage (if any), so as to compromise the accuracy of the scan.
[0023] The aim of the present invention is to provide an automated alignment method for mutual orientation between a sealing capsule and a bottle in a bottling line, which allows to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of known systems, and more particularly to reduce the overall footprint of the alignment apparatus, to limit the energy consumption of the alignment procedure, to reduce the duration of the alignment procedure and consequently the diameter of the carousel and the number of stations, and to increase the accuracy of capsule scanning.
[0024] This aim and other objects that will become better apparent from the description that follows are achieved by a method having the characteristics described in claim 1, while the dependent claims define other advantageous, albeit secondary, characteristics of the invention.
[0025] The invention is now described in greater detail, with reference to some preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an alignment apparatus for performing the automated alignment method according to the invention;
[0027] Figures 2-9 are schematic lateral elevation views showing in succession respective steps of the automated alignment method according to the invention.
[0028] With reference to the above figures, an alignment apparatus 10 generally comprises a carousel 12 provided with a plurality of peripheral stations 14 adapted to receive in succession bottles B having respective sealing capsules C fitted loosely on their neck. In a per se conventional manner, the carousel 12 receives the bottles B from a rotating loading star conveyor 16, which in turn receives them from a belt conveyor 17.
[0029] At each of the peripheral stations 14, the bottle B is supported on a motorized rotating plate 18, while the sealing capsule C is supported coaxially to the bottle B by a motorized rotating head 20 that descends onto the neck of the bottle B immediately after the rotating loading star conveyor 16 has transferred the bottle B to the carousel 12. The motorized rotating plate 18 and the motorized rotating head 20 are position controlled individually by a control unit (not shown), in a per se known manner.
[0030] The alignment apparatus 10 moreover comprises a scanning system 22 arranged to the side of the carousel 12.
[0031] In the present description and in the claims, the expression “scanning system” means any system capable of detecting, more or less accurately depending on the technology used, the surface of the bottle B and of the sealing capsule C in order to identify respective markers to be used for mutual orientation between one and the other.
[0032] In particular, in a bottle scanning step, the scanning system 22 scans the bottle B as it is rotated at least 360° about its respective axis in order to locate the position of a bottle marker BM.
[0033] In a capsule scanning step, the scanning system 22 scans the sealing capsule C while it is rotated at least 360° about its respective axis in order to locate the position of a capsule marker CM.
[0034] According to the invention, the bottle scanning step and the capsule scanning step are simultaneously performed during a same rotation cycle of at least 360° while the sealing capsule C is loosely fitted on the neck of the bottle B.
[0035] Figures 2-8, in combination with Figure 1, show schematically, by means of lateral elevation views, some of the steps of the alignment method according to the invention following the reception of the bottle B by the carousel 12.
[0036] In Figure 1, each of the steps is identified by a respective angular sector of the rotation of the carousel 12.
[0037] In a head descent step HD (Figure 2), as mentioned earlier, the motorized rotating head 20 descends onto the neck of the bottle B so as to surround the sealing capsule C. Advantageously, in this step the motorized rotating head 20 also exerts an axial pressure on the bottle B so as to lock it vertically.
[0038] In a plate-head acceleration step PHA (Figure 3), the motorized rotating plate 18 and the motorized rotating head 20 are turned in synchronous rotation at a desired speed suitable for scanning by the scanning system 22.
[0039] In a bottle-capsule scanning step BCS (Figure 4), as mentioned earlier, the scanning system 22 simultaneously scans the bottle B and the sealing capsule C fitted loosely on the neck of the bottle B while they perform a rotation cycle of at least 360°, preferably approximately 400°.
[0040] In a data processing step DP (not shown in the lateral elevation views), the data collected during the bottle-capsule scanning step BCS are processed by the control unit in order to determine the rotations to be imparted to the bottle B and to the sealing capsule C, on the basis of the detected positions of the bottle marker BM and of the capsule marker CM, for alignment purposes.
[0041] In a bottle orientation step BP (Figure 5), the bottle B, with the sealing capsule C still loosely fitted on its neck, is rotated through a bottle orientation angle a established during the data processing step DP.
[0042] In a capsule lifting step CL (Figure 6), the motorized rotating head 20 partially lifts the sealing capsule C off the neck of the bottle B.
[0043] In a capsule orientation step CP (Figure 7), the sealing capsule C is rotated through a capsule orientation angle 0 established during the data processing step DP.
[0044] Preferably, in the embodiment described herein, the bottle B and the sealing capsule C, for the purpose of their mutual orientation, are aligned to a common position marker during their respective orientation steps. Although this approach is preferable, since it ensures a more precise alignment, in an alternative embodiment the sealing capsule C could be aligned directly to the bottle marker BM by rotating it through an angle corresponding to the angular misalignment detected during the bottlecapsule scanning step BCS. In this case, of course, the bottle orientation step BP would no longer be necessary.
[0045] In a capsule deposition step CD (Figure 8), the sealing capsule C is deposited again onto the neck of the bottle B by the motorized rotating head 20. Also in this step, advantageously, the motorized rotating head 20 exerts an axial pressure on the bottle B so that it is locked vertically.
[0046] In a capsule prefixing step CPF (not shown in the lateral elevation views), a preliminary fixing of the sealing capsule C on the neck of the bottle B is performed in a per se conventional manner.
[0047] In a head lifting step HL (Figure 9), the motorized rotating head 20 lifts so as to release the sealing capsule C and the bottle B.
[0048] Finally, the bottle B, with the sealing capsule C preliminarily fixed to its neck, is picked up by an output star conveyor 24 for its transfer to subsequent treatments, typically to a capsule fixing carousel 26, again in a per se conventional manner.
[0049] Preferably, the scanning system 22 is equipped with a first sensing device pointed at the bottle B at the height of the bottle marker BM, and with a second sensing device pointed at the sealing capsule C at the height of the capsule marker CM.
[0050] In the embodiment described herein, the first sensing device and the second sensing device are advantageously arranged substantially aligned one above the other so as to minimize the overall footprint of the scanning system 22 around the carousel 12.
[0051] Preferably, the scanning system 22 makes use of high-resolution digital video cameras in order to maximize detection accuracy.
[0052] Advantageously, in particular, the first sensing device comprises a first digital video camera 22' and the second sensing device comprises a second digital video camera 22".
[0053] Preferably, during the bottle-capsule scanning step BCS, the bottle B and the sealing capsule C are lit by lighting means 26.
[0054] Preferably, the lighting means 26 comprise a first lighting device which is configured to illuminate the bottle B and is synchronized with the first digital video camera 22', preferably a first LED strobe light source 26L' associated with a first light diffuser 26D', and a second lighting device configured to illuminate the sealing capsule C and synchronized with the second digital video camera 22", preferably a second LED strobe light source 26L" associated with a second light diffuser 26D".
[0055] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first digital video camera 22' and the second digital video camera 22" are phase shifted with respect to each other (e.g., 3 to 5 milliseconds of phase shift), the same phase shift being therefore present between the first LED strobe light source 26L' and the second LED strobe light source 26L", which as mentioned are synchronized with the respective digital video cameras. In this way, therefore, the bottle B and the sealing capsule C are lit alternately while the digital video cameras dedicated to them acquire their respective frame sequences. This allows to prevent the light emitted by the first LED strobe light source 26L' from disturbing the scan performed by the second digital video camera 22" and, vice versa, prevent the light emitted by the second LED strobe light source 26L" from disturbing the scan performed by the first digital video camera 22'.
[0056] It has been found, in practice as well, that the alignment method according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
[0057] In particular, the alignment method according to the invention has a reduced overall energy consumption compared with conventional alignment procedures. In fact, since the sealing capsule C and the bottle B are simultaneously scanned, a full rotation cycle of the motorized rotating head 20, which in known systems is required to scan the sealing capsule, is eliminated.
[0058] Moreover, the possibility of providing the scanning system 22 in a single station located to the side of the carousel 12 makes it possible to considerably reduce the overall footprint of the alignment apparatus 10.
[0059] Furthermore, the alignment cycle has a reduced overall duration, which allows to reduce the diameter of the carousel 12 and the number of stations 14, consequently reducing manufacturing costs, footprint and energy consumption.
[0060] Moreover, in the automated alignment method according to the invention, during the bottle-capsule scanning step BCS the sealing capsule C is held at its upper end by the motorized rotating head 20 and rests on the base of the neck of the bottle B. This circumstance makes the sealing capsule C much more stable during rotation, such as to make scanning much more accurate.
[0061] The latter advantage is even more appreciable in the case of aluminum foil sealing capsules fitted over bottles equipped with wire cages. In fact, since the sealing capsule is scanned as it rotates integrally with the bottle, with the alignment method according to the invention there is no risk that, in this step, the longitudinal joint of the sealing capsule will collide against the cage, compromising the accuracy of the scan.
[0062] A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, but of course the person skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations within the scope of the claims.
[0063] For example, although in the embodiment described here the scanning system advantageously makes use of digital video cameras, in principle it would be possible to use different scanning systems such as photocells, fiber-optic detectors, laser detectors, and the like.
[0064] Moreover, although it is preferable to arrange the first sensing device and the second sensing device one above the other to reduce space occupation, this arrangement is not to be understood as necessary. In fact, while simultaneously scanning the bottle and scanning the capsule during a same rotation cycle, the sensing devices and their respective lighting devices could be spaced angularly apart, e.g., by 90° or 180°, if space permits.
[0065] Again, the first light diffuser and the second light diffuser might be constituted by two portions of a single light diffuser body.
[0066] Of course, the motorized rotating plate and the motorized rotating head might be replaced by differently configured rotating supporting means, such as clamp-like supports and the like.
[0067] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000001458 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
[0068] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
Claims
CLAIMS1. An automated alignment method for mutual orientation between a sealing capsule and a bottle, wherein a carousel (12) equipped with a plurality of peripheral stations (14) receives in succession bottles (B) having respective sealing capsules (C) fitted loosely on their necks, each of said peripheral stations (14) being adapted to coaxially support one of said bottles (B) and one of said sealing capsules (C) in a rotatable manner about their respective axes by means of respective rotating supporting means (18, 20) which are individually controlled in position, said method comprising a bottle scanning step, in which said bottle (B) is rotated at least 360° about its axis while a scanning system (22) scans the bottle (B) in order to locate the position of a bottle marker (BM) to be used for said mutual orientation, and a capsule scanning step, in which said sealing capsule (C) is rotated at least 360° about its axis while said scanning system (22) scans the sealing capsule (C) in order to locate the position of a capsule marker (CM) to be used for said mutual orientation, characterized in that said bottle scanning step and said capsule scanning step are simultaneously carried out during a same rotation cycle of at least 360° while said sealing capsule (C) is loosely fitted on the bottle neck (B), in a bottle-capsule scanning step (BCS).
2. The automated alignment method according to claim 1, characterized in that said bottle (B) and said sealing capsule (C), for the purpose of their mutual alignment, are aligned with a common position marker during respective orientation steps.
3. The automated alignment method according to claim 1, characterized in that said scanning system (22) is provided with a first sensing device (22') aimed at said bottle (B) at the height of said bottle reference (BM), and with a second sensing device (22") aimed at said sealing capsule (C) at the height of said capsule marker (CM).
4. The automated alignment method according to claim 3, characterized in that said first sensing device (22') and said second sensingdevice (22") are arranged so as to be substantially aligned one above the other.
5. The automated alignment method according to claim 3, characterized in that said first sensing device comprises a first digital video camera (22') and said second sensing device comprises a second digital video camera (22").
6. The automated alignment method according to claim 5, characterized in that during said bottle-capsule scanning step (BCS), said bottle (B) and said sealing capsule (C) are respectively illuminated by a first lighting device (26L', 26D'), which is configured to illuminate said bottle (B) and is synchronized with said first digital video camera (22'), and by a second lighting device (26L", 26D"), which is configured to illuminate said sealing capsule (C) and is synchronized with said second digital video camera (22").
7. The automated alignment method according to claim 6, characterized in that said first digital video camera (22') and said second digital video camera (22") are mutually offset, so that said bottle (B) and said sealing capsule (C) are alternately illuminated while said respective digital video cameras acquire respective frame sequences.
8. The automated alignment method according to claim 6, characterized in that said first lighting device comprises a first LED strobe light source (26L') associated with a first light diffuser (26D'), and said second lighting device comprises a second LED strobe light source (26L") associated with a second light diffuser (26D").