Cap head with axial load and / or torque sensor

Abstract

A capping head includes a shaft (101) performing a downward vertical translational movement and applying an axial load to a cap, and a cap retaining cone (102) integral with the shaft (101). A sensing assembly (103) is mounted on one of the shaft (101) and the cap holding cone (102) for detecting a value of at least one parameter characterizing the capping operation and transmitting the value to an acquisition system to identify an important stage of the capping cycle. The sensing assembly (103) comprises: at least one sensor for dynamically measuring a value of at least one parameter; telemetry circuitry (107, 108) associated with the at least one sensor for acquiring values measured by the sensor, processing them, and transmitting the processing results to an acquisition system by using low power radio frequency technology; a power supply device (104) for the sensing assembly (103), which can be operated by radio frequency technology; and a power management circuit (106) for managing the power supplied by the power supply device (104).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a capping device, and more particularly to a capping head equipped with a sensor for measuring at least an axial load applied to a cap during the capping process.

[0002] The invention also relates to a capping machine and a capping method using the head. Background Art

[0003] Capping heads are devices that allow applying a cap or closure to the mouth of a container such as a bottle, vial, etc. They are usually used in capping assemblies or capping machines, which usually include a mobile support that moves a plurality of said heads along the path along which the containers are conveyed. For example, the capping heads are mounted on the periphery of a support that can rotate so as to sequentially bring the container and the capping heads to the capping position. During this movement, the capping heads translate vertically downwards to reach the position of the mouth of the container to be capped and are raised again after the capping is completed. In addition, in the case of applying a pre-threaded cap (or screw cap, the two terms are used here without distinction), the said heads also rotate to tighten the cap on the mouth of the container, the translation movement also serving to apply a compensating axial load (top load) to keep the container fixed during the capping process.

[0004] During the capping process, it is common practice to measure the values ​​of a number of parameters that characterize the operation, in particular the vertical forces or axial loads exerted due to the translational movement or, in the case of pre-threaded caps, the torque and / or the axial load. Such measurements are intended to verify that the relevant parameters have reached preset limits, in order to detect, for example, the end of the capping operation and to stop the capping operation in order not to exceed the above limits, and to continuously monitor the parameter values ​​throughout the operation in order to also detect the occurrence of problems, for example an abnormal behavior of the monitored parameters due to irregularities of the cap or container. Monitoring is carried out by transmitting the detected values ​​to the control system of the equipment using suitable sensors.

[0005] An example of a capping head for applying screw caps in which torque is measured is disclosed in WO 2007 / 028509 A1. In this known head, the rotational movement is applied to the cap holding member by a drive member via a magnetic coupling device (magnetic clutch), which comprises a pair of coaxial rotors that rotate integrally with the drive member and the cap holding member, respectively. This coupling device is associated with a device for detecting the axial and / or angular relative position of the rotor, which device comprises a magnetic sensor and is configured to wirelessly transmit the detected data to a control unit to determine the axial load and / or torque applied to the cap. In addition, the power supply of the electronic components of the detection device can be carried out in a contactless manner. The technical solution disclosed in this document can only be applied to heads for applying screw caps that use magnetic coupling between the drive member and the cap holding member, and therefore its application flexibility is limited. In addition, the use of magnetic sensors means that the measurements performed are affected by non-quantifiable external factors such as errors caused by magnet aging and temperature.

[0006] WO 2018 / 142290 A1 discloses a capping head for applying screw caps, which is provided with sensors for measuring torque, compensating axial loads and many other parameters. The sensors are mounted on a head which is not affected by rotational and translational movements and also carries means for processing the signals provided by the sensors and is magnetically coupled to the movable part. This head also suffers from the above-mentioned problems of complexity and measurement errors.

[0007] EP 1 205 430 A1 discloses a capping machine with a plurality of capping heads for applying screw caps, wherein the capping heads are associated with torque sensors which transmit measured values ​​wirelessly to a control unit. The type of sensor used is not disclosed.

[0008] WO 91 / 15422 discloses a capping head for applying screw caps which uses a torque sensor consisting of a strain gauge.

[0009] US 6105343 A and WO 2011 / 029617 A2 disclose other examples of capping heads for applying screw caps, which are provided with sensors for detecting a plurality of parameter values, including the torque applied to the cap, wherein the sensors transmit the corresponding data to a control unit in a wireless manner. In US 6105343 A, the torque sensor consists of a strain gauge. Summary of the invention

[0010] In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a capping head, wherein a sensing assembly is mounted on one of the shaft and the cap holding cone of the capping head for detecting the value of at least one parameter characterizing the capping operation, in particular at least the axial load, and for transmitting said value to a remote acquisition system in a wireless manner, more particularly as a radio frequency signal. The sensing assembly is applied directly to the shaft or the cap holding cone and comprises: at least one sensor for dynamically measuring the value of at least one parameter during capping; telemetry circuitry associated with said at least one sensor for acquiring values ​​measured by said sensor using low power radio frequency communication techniques, processing these values ​​for transmission thereof to said acquisition system, and transmitting the results of the processing to the acquisition system for identifying at least one significant phase of said capping cycle; a power supply device for the sensing assembly, which includes a wired or battery-based local power supply device or system for locally obtaining power provided by an external source; and Circuitry for managing power provided by the power supply device.

[0011] In a first embodiment, the power supply device consists of an energy acquisition system operating in a wireless manner, in particular in a radio frequency manner, and includes at least one first power distribution antenna, which is arranged to transmit power provided by an external source to the power management circuit when the sensing assembly enters the emission cone of the second power distribution antenna during the movement of the axis, wherein the second power distribution antenna is arranged in such a position that at least one important stage of the capping cycle occurs when the sensing assembly is located in its emission cone.

[0012] In such an embodiment, the power management circuit advantageously also comprises means for storing received power, preferably a supercapacitor.

[0013] In a second embodiment, the power supply means comprise batteries, so that, when the sensing assembly is mounted on the cap holding cone, the latter can be used as a self-standing monitoring unit independent of a specific capping head.

[0014] Preferably, the sensor is a sensor arranged to obtain the value of at least one parameter from measuring a deformation of the cap caused by the parameter of interest during the capping process, more particularly the sensor is a strain gauge.

[0015] Advantageously, when the values ​​of a plurality of parameters are detected, the sensing assembly comprises a sensor for each parameter, the telemetry circuit comprising spatially separated telemetry units, each associated with one sensor and arranged to establish a separate communication channel for transmitting data about the respective parameter. Alternatively, a single telemetry unit may manage all sensors.

[0016] If the head is used to apply a screw cap, whereby the shaft also performs a rotational movement about its axis, the set of parameters comprises at least the axial load applied to the cap and the torque applied due to the downward vertical translational movement of the shaft and the rotational movement about its axis.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the sensing assembly is located in a prismatic area of ​​the shaft or cover holding cone, respectively, and this area carries on at least one side the sensor and the telemetry circuit associated therewith, and on at least another side the power management circuit. In the case where the sensing assembly is powered by a system for locally obtaining power from an external source, such a prismatic area carries on one or more further sides one or more first power distribution antennas.

[0018] Advantageously, each communication channel comprises a broadcast channel and a data channel as provided for by the Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) specification, and the telemetry unit automatically sends the current value of the parameter measured by the corresponding sensor using the broadcast channel during normal operation of the head, and uses the data channel to send all detected values ​​of said parameter during the analysis or commissioning phase and at the request of the control system.

[0019] If the capping head belongs to a capping machine having multiple capping heads, during normal operation the sensors on one capping head may transmit the current value of the measured parameter in turn with the sensors of the other capping heads.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present invention also relates to a capping machine comprising: at least one capping head as described above, mounted on a mobile support so as to move it along a path along which the containers to be capped are also conveyed; at least one data transmitting and receiving antenna arranged to receive signals transmitted by said sensing assembly from said at least one capping head when said head enters the receiving cone of the antenna and to forward these signals to said acquisition system; and In the case where the power supply device for the sensing assembly includes a system for locally obtaining power provided by an external source using radio frequency technology, at least one second power distribution antenna receiving power from the external source is arranged to transmit power provided by the power supply to the sensing assembly when the sensing assembly enters its emission cone during the movement of the axis, and is located in such a position that at least one important stage of the capping cycle occurs when the sensing assembly is located within its emission cone.

[0021] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a capping method, comprising the following steps: applying a sensing assembly directly to the shaft or the cap holding cone of the capping head, the sensing assembly comprising at least one sensor for detecting the value of at least one parameter characterizing the capping operation and selected from a group of parameters including at least the axial load applied to the cap due to the downward vertical translation movement of the shaft; providing the sensing component with power provided by a wired or battery-based local power supply device or a system for locally obtaining power supplied by an external source, the latter of which powers the sensing component wirelessly, in particular by using radio frequency technology; processing the detected values ​​for transmission to a remote acquisition system for identifying at least one significant phase of the capping cycle; establishing at least one communication channel between the sensing component and the acquisition system and transmitting the processing results to such system in a wireless manner, in particular in the form of radio frequency signals, by using low-power communication techniques; and During normal operation of the head, information relating to the current value of the at least one parameter is automatically sent to the acquisition system on the at least one communication channel, and during an analysis or debugging phase, all detected values ​​of the parameter are sent to the acquisition system upon request. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 According to a first embodiment of the invention, a partial isometric view of a capping turret equipped with capping heads is shown, wherein sensors are applied on the shaft of each capping head; Figure 2 Shown at an enlarged scale Figure 1 part of a repeater; Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a shaft equipped with a sensing assembly; Figure 4 is a view taken from a first direction, showing the arrangement of the sensing assembly on the shaft; Figure 5 is from Figure 4 A view taken in the opposite direction of FIG. 1 , showing the arrangement of the sensing assembly on the shaft; Figure 6 is similar to Figure 4 and Figure 5 A view of a telemetry board with one removed to show a sensor; Figure 7 shows an example graph of the signal provided by the sensor at important stages of the capping cycle in the case of application of a crown cap; Figure 8shows an example graph of the signal provided by the sensor at important stages of the capping cycle in the case of applying a screw cap; Fig. 9 is similar to Figure 2 , showing a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the sensor is applied to the lid retaining cone; Fig.10 is similar to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The view shows Fig. 9 The first lid retaining cone used in the turntable; Fig.11 is similar to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The view shows Fig. 9 The first lid retaining cone used in the turntable; Fig.12 is similar to Figures 9 to 11 , showing a second embodiment of the present invention applied to a second lid retaining cone; Fig.13 is similar to Figures 9 to 11 , showing a second embodiment of the present invention applied to a second lid retaining cone; and Fig.14 is similar to Figures 9 to 11 , showing a second embodiment of the present invention applied to a second type of lid retaining cone. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Reference Figures 1 to 3 , which schematically shows a part of a rotary capping machine or turret 1 equipped with a plurality of heads 100 according to the invention for applying caps or closures on containers 4 such as bottles, vials etc. In the following, reference is mainly made to the heads for applying screw caps.

[0024] The head 100 is carried by a support structure 2 which is rotated by a shaft 3 with a vertical axis so as to take the container 4 to be capped from the input carousel 5, bring the container 4 and the head 100 to the capping position, and then bring the capped container to the position for removal from the capping machine 1. The heads 100 are mounted on the support structure 2 with their axes parallel to the axis of the shaft 3 and in a conventional manner they can slide axially between a raised idle position and a lowered capping position and rotate about their axes to tighten the caps. As far as the structure of the heads 100 is concerned, the characteristic of the invention which deserves attention is that they comprise a rotating and translatory shaft 101 which supports at its lower end a cap-retaining cone 102 and thus the means for clamping / releasing the caps. This structure is therefore completely conventional and will not be described in detail. Of course, if the cap to be applied is not a screw cap, the head 100, as well as the shaft 101 and the cone 102, can perform only a translational movement.

[0025] In the present invention, a sensor for dynamically detecting the torque and / or compressive load applied to the shaft 101 and applied by the shaft 101 to the cone 102 and thus to the cover is applied to the shaft 101 of each head. The entire sensor, the electronic components for processing the values ​​detected by the sensor and transmitting the relevant information to a remote data acquisition system (not shown) connected to or as part of the control system, and the circuits for powering these components are generally indicated by the reference numeral 103 and are hereinafter referred to as the "sensing assembly".

[0026] The sensing assembly 103 is located in the lower portion 101A of the shaft 101 , for example in a prismatic, in particular parallelepiped-shaped area.

[0027] Advantageously, the torque sensor and the axial load sensor are sensors capable of detecting deformation of the cap caused by torque and / or axial load during the capping process, such as strain gauges. Strain gauges, which are well known in the art, have good measurement accuracy and are cost-effective components. In addition, it is well known that they can measure a variety of different quantities that cause deformation of the cap.

[0028] In the embodiment shown, the communication between the sensing assembly 103 and the acquisition system uses wireless technology, in particular low-power radio frequency technology, such as based on Bluetooth® low energy technology. The sensing assembly 103 transmits radio frequency signals to the data transmitting and receiving antenna 6, which is carried by the anti-rotation column 7, for example, and receives signals from each head 100 and forwards these signals to the acquisition system.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the power supply for the circuits of the sensing assembly 103 is obtained by a power acquisition system operating by means of wireless technology, such as radio frequency. To this end, the turntable 1 is associated with power distribution antennas 8 distributed along its periphery, for receiving this power from a remote power source and transmitting it to the sensing assembly 103 when the head passes opposite the antenna. The antenna 8 is carried, for example, by a column 9 supporting a neck guide device carried by a fixed platform 10.

[0030] Considering that the relevant equipment is mounted on a mobile structure, data transmission or power supply cables may hinder the movement of the structure or be damaged by such movement, so the use of wireless technology for data transmission and power supply via the sensing assembly 103 is a preferred solution. Since the antennas 6, 8 are fixed, the use of wireless technology may even only involve the path between said antennas and the sensing assembly.

[0031] Reference now Figures 4 to 6 The sensing component 103 advantageously comprises a pair of power receiving antennas 104, an actual sensor 105 (one of which may be Figure 6 ), a board 106 for power management and power storage, and a pair of telemetry boards 107, 108 for managing channels related to the torque sensor and channels related to the axial load sensor, respectively. The antenna 104 is mounted on two opposite faces of the shaft portion 101A, respectively. The board 106 for power management and power storage is mounted on one of the other two faces, the sensor 105 is mounted on the opposite face, and the telemetry boards 107, 108 are placed on the sensor 105.

[0032] Antennas 104 transmit the power they receive via antenna 8 to board 106 for power management and storage, which stores it and distributes it according to the respective needs to the various circuits in telemetry boards 107, 108. For power storage, board 106 advantageously comprises supercapacitors not explicitly indicated.

[0033] As for the telemetry boards 107, 108, they contain circuitry that receives the signals from the torque and load sensors, samples them at a known rate, digitizes them, and transmits them as radio frequency signals according to an appropriate protocol through corresponding antennas that are not explicitly labeled. The boards 107, 108 are spatially separated, such as one above the other, to prevent the same communication channels associated with both sensors from overlapping in the area where the sensors are operating.

[0034] The sensor 105 of the head 100 receives power when it enters the transmission cone of the corresponding antenna 6 during a translational or rotational translational movement of the axis 101. This occurs when, in terms of the vertical position, the cap reaches near or at the mouth of the container 4. If an accumulator is provided in the board 106, the sensor 105 will be powered throughout the operation of the capper, once a short time has passed since the start of the operation of the capper.

[0035] The observation window defined by the persistence of the sensor in the transport cone corresponds to the time period of at least one significant phase of the capping cycle performed by the head 100, the occurrence of which is recognized by the acquisition system. For example, such a phase may be the end of the capping, or another phase that may require intervention by the control system, for example because of a malfunction, or from which information may be obtained about possible wear of components, etc. During such a phase, it may be meaningful to detect a peak in the signal provided by the sensor. Failure to detect a significant phase may provide information about a faulty capping.

[0036] Figure 7 An exemplary representation of the axial load in the observation window with a crowned cap applied is shown. In the example shown in the figure, the peak (marked by a circle) within the first portion of the window is more interesting than the absolute maximum occurring during the second portion of the window (the end of the cycle) because the peak indicates that the cap may have deformed to cause it to close.

[0037] Figure 8 The following shows an exemplary behavior of the axial load (solid line) and torque (dashed line) in the viewing window in the case of a pre-threaded cap. In this case, the maximum values ​​of the torque and the corresponding axial load values ​​(marked with circles) may be of interest. In this example, the torque reaches its maximum value when the capping phase is over and the cap is fully tightened.

[0038] As far as the data transmission to the antenna 6 is concerned, a protocol based on the Bluetooth® Low Energy specifications is used, but in a particular way. More specifically, according to the invention, the so-called "broadcast channel" - used, according to these specifications, only by a central (master) unit to identify peripheral (slave) units that can be connected to the master unit and to associate the identified units with the master unit, operating in broadcast mode - is also used to automatically send, during normal operation of the head 100, the current data of torque and vertical force obtained by extrapolating the values ​​detected by the sensor 105. These data will be associated with the identifier of the sensor that generated them. The data channel operating in point-to-point mode is instead used to send, upon request, all the data relating to a given sensor 105 for analysis or debugging purposes.

[0039] This choice also takes into account that broadcast channels are energy efficient but have low capacity, so they are suitable for frequently sending limited amounts of information, such as the information represented by the current data. In contrast, data channels allow higher data flows at the cost of higher energy consumption, so they are convenient for occasionally transmitting relatively large amounts of data, such as the data to be transmitted during the analysis or debugging phase.

[0040] Reference now Figures 9 to 14 , which shows a second embodiment of the invention, in which the sensor is mounted on the cap holding cone instead of the rotation and translation axis. In these figures, the head and its components to which the invention relates are indicated by reference numerals corresponding to those used in the previous figures, but beginning with the number 2. For the sake of simplicity, only the differences with the first embodiment will be described below. The invention can be used both in the case of a quick release cone 202' with an external ejector and an electronic capping axis ( Figures 9 to 11 ), also available for threaded cones 202" with internal ejector and mechanical capping spindle ( Figures 12 to 14 ). The structural differences between the two cones 202', 202" (and the two heads 200', 200") visible in the figures are not essential for the present invention and will therefore not be described in detail. If the elements are identical in both cases, the above mentioned primes will be omitted.

[0041] Similar to the shaft 101 in the first embodiment, the cones 202', 202" have a prismatic, in particular parallelepiped-shaped area 202'A, 202"A, which is located directly below the portion 209', 209" for coupling with the rotation and translation axis (not shown), and the components of the sensing assembly 203, which are the same for both cones, are applied to the face of this area. As in the first embodiment, the sensing assembly 203 includes a power receiving antenna 204, a board 206 for power management and storage and telemetry boards 207, 208 with corresponding antennas, as well as strain gauges under the boards 207, 206. The arrangement of the components is basically the same as in the first embodiment, except that the telemetry boards 207, 208 are arranged side by side, rather than one above the other, to keep the vertical extension of the cones 202', 202" limited. In addition, the data transmission method of the sensing assembly 203 is the same as that shown in the first embodiment.

[0042] The present invention actually solves the problems of the prior art. In fact, the sensing component is mounted directly on the shaft or the cover holding cone instead of on the coupling device, making the present invention applicable to any type of capping head, not just a capping head for applying pre-threaded caps, and independent of the type of coupling. Therefore, the present invention has a high flexibility of use. In addition, the sensing component used in the present invention is an electronic component, which does not use magnetic elements and is therefore insensitive (or at least almost insensitive) to the above-mentioned non-quantifiable external factors (i.e. magnet aging and temperature), which makes the measurement accuracy higher.

[0043] It is obvious that the above description is given by way of non-limiting example only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0044] More specifically, for both embodiments, an RF power supply for the sensing assembly is assumed. However, a local power supply, either wired or based on batteries, may also be adopted. In this case, batteries are mounted on the shaft 101 or on the cone 202', 202", respectively, instead of the antenna 104, 204. In principle, the use of batteries, even rechargeable batteries, is less desirable than other solutions, since this may result in the need to stop the installation operation for replacement or charging. However, in the case where the sensor is mounted on the cover holding the cone, the power supply by batteries leads to the cone also being able to be used as an independent diagnostic tool, rather than being permanently bound to a specific head or turntable, considering that the cone is an interchangeable element depending on the type of cover. Of course, in the case of a battery-based power supply, the turntable 1 would lack the antenna 8 and the plates 106, 206 would not require a power storage function.

[0045] Furthermore, even though the accompanying drawings show a single antenna 6 for receiving the signal transmitted by the sensing assembly and forwarding it to the acquisition system, a plurality of antennas 6 distributed along the path of the head may be provided so that the acquisition system receives information from each head multiple times during each rotation cycle of the turntable, rather than just when the data transmission antenna of the sensing assembly is substantially aligned with the single antenna 6.

[0046] Furthermore, for the data transmission from the sensing assembly to the antenna 6, other low-power radio frequency technologies suitable for the distances involved in the installation of the cover, known to those skilled in the art, may be used instead of the protocol based on Bluetooth® low energy technology. Examples of alternative technologies are DECT-ULE (Digital Enhanced Wireless Communications - Ultra Low Energy), UWB (Ultra Wideband), Wi-Fi, Zigbee, ANT. It is also possible to use a protocol according to which the current value of the measured parameter is transmitted in turn by the sensors of each head via a point-to-point connection.

[0047] Furthermore, even though heads have been shown in which sensors are applied on a single face of a parallelepiped-shaped area of ​​an axis or a cone, the area to which the sensors are applied may also have more than four faces, for example a prism-shaped six faces, and the sensors may be arranged on several faces. This may be useful or necessary when other parameters are also measured in order to ensure a positioning of the sensors that enables the detection to be optimized. In this regard, even though in the examples described a telemetry board is provided for each sensor, it is also conceivable that a single board manages several sensors or even all the sensors. Of course, the protocol for communicating with the acquisition system should ensure that no interference occurs between communications related to the different sensors.

[0048] Finally, even though a rotary capping machine with multiple heads has been shown, the invention is of course also applicable to capping machines in which the heads move along a linear path, or to capping machines with a single head.

Claims

1. A capping head (100, 200', 200") comprising a shaft (101) performing a downward vertical translation movement and applying an axial load to the cap, and a cap retaining cone (102, 202', 202") integral with the shaft (101), wherein: A sensing assembly (103, 203) is mounted on one of the shaft (101) and the cap holding cone (102, 202', 202") for detecting a value of at least one parameter characterizing a capping operation and transmitting the value to a collection system, wherein the parameter is selected from the group including at least the axial load, and characterized in that the sensing assembly (103, 203) comprises: at least one sensor (105) for dynamically measuring the value of the at least one parameter during capping; a radio frequency telemetry circuit (107, 108, 207, 208) associated with said at least one sensor (105) for acquiring the values ​​measured by said sensor, processing them for transmission to said acquisition system, and transmitting the processing results to the acquisition system through at least one communication channel using low power radio frequency technology to identify at least one significant phase of the capping cycle; A power supply device (104, 204) for a sensing assembly (103, 203), comprising a wired or battery-based local power supply device or system for locally obtaining power provided by an external power source; and A power management circuit (106, 206) is provided for managing power provided by a power supply device (104, 204).

2. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to claim 1, wherein: The sensing assembly (103, 203) is applied directly to the shaft (101) or the cover holding cone (102, 202', 202'').

3. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The power supply device (104, 204) for the sensing component (103, 203) is a system for local power acquisition using radio frequency operation, which includes: at least one first power distribution antenna (104, 204), the first power distribution antenna being arranged to transmit power provided by the external source to the power management circuit (106, 206) when the sensing component (103, 203) enters the emission cone or the second power distribution antenna (8) during the movement of the axis (101); wherein the position of the second power distribution antenna (8) is such that when the sensing component (103, 203) is located within its emission cone, at least one important stage of the capping cycle occurs, and the power management circuit (106, 206) includes a device for storing the received power.

4. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to claim 3, wherein: The power storage device includes a supercapacitor.

5. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The power supply device (204) comprises a battery, so that when the sensing assembly (203) is mounted on the cap holding cone (202', 202"), the cap holding cone can form a self-supporting monitoring unit independent of a specific capping head (200', 200").

6. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one sensor (105) is arranged to obtain the value or at least one parameter from the deformation of the cap caused by such parameter during the measurement or capping process.

7. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The capping head (100, 200', 200") is used for applying a threaded cap, the shaft (101) also performs a rotational movement around its axis, and the set of parameters includes at least a torque and an axial load applied to the cap.

8. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The invention relates to a method for detecting the values ​​of a plurality of parameters, wherein the sensing assembly (103, 203) comprises a sensor (105) for each parameter, and the telemetry circuit comprises spatially separated telemetry units (107, 108, 207, 208), each telemetry unit being associated with a sensor and arranged to establish a separate communication channel for transmitting data about the corresponding parameter, or the telemetry circuit comprises a single telemetry unit managing all sensors.

9. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The sensing assembly (103, 203) is located in a prismatic region of the shaft (101) or the cover retaining cone (102, 202', 202"), respectively, and the region carries a sensor (105) and telemetry circuits (107, 108, 207, 208) associated therewith on one or more sides, and a power management circuit (106, 206) on one or more other sides, and in the case where the sensing assembly (103, 203) is powered by a system for locally obtaining power provided by an external source, the region carries one or more first power distribution antennas (104, 204) on one or more other sides.

10. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The communication channel or each communication channel comprises a broadcast channel and a data channel as specified in the Bluetooth® Low Energy specification, and during normal operation of the head (100), the telemetry unit (107, 108, 207, 208) automatically sends the current value of the parameter measured by the corresponding sensor using the broadcast channel, and during the analysis or commissioning phase, the telemetry unit (107, 108, 207, 208) sends all detected values ​​of the parameter using the data channel upon request of the control system.

11. The capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any one of claims 1 to 10, belonging to a capping machine (1) having a plurality of capping heads (100, 200', 200"), wherein: During normal operation of the capping machine (1), the sensor of each capping head (100, 200', 200") transmits the current value of the measured parameter in turn with the sensors of the other capping heads.

12. A capping machine (1), characterized in that: The capping machine comprises: at least one capping head (100, 200', 200") according to any of the preceding claims, mounted on a movable support (2) so as to be movable along a path along which the containers (4) to be capped are also conveyed; at least one data transmitting and receiving antenna (6) arranged to receive radio frequency signals emitted by the sensing assembly (103, 203) from at least one capping head (100, 200', 200") when the head (100, 200', 200") enters the receiving cone of the antenna (6) and forward these signals to the acquisition system; and In the case where the power supply device (104, 204) for the sensing component (103, 203) is a system that locally obtains power provided by an external source through radio frequency technology, at least one distribution antenna (8) that receives power from the external source is arranged to transmit power supplied by the external source to the sensing component (103, 203) when the sensing component enters its emission cone during movement of the shaft (101), and the distribution antenna (8) is arranged in such a position that at least one important stage of the capping cycle occurs when the sensing component is located within the emission cone.

13. The capping machine (1) according to claim 12, wherein: The at least one data transmitting and receiving antenna (6) and the at least one other power distribution antenna (8) are associated with fixed parts of the machine (1), and data transmission and power distribution by radio frequency technology occur only on the path between the sensing component (103, 203) and the antenna (6, 8).

14. A capping method, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: Applying a sensing assembly (103, 203) to the shaft (101) or the cap holding cone (102, 202', 202") of the capping head (100, 200', 200"), the sensing assembly comprising at least one sensor (105) for dynamically detecting the value of at least one parameter characterizing the capping operation, the parameter being selected from a group of parameters including at least an axial load applied to the cap due to the vertical downward translation of the shaft (101); Providing power to the sensing assembly (103, 203) from a wired or battery-based local power supply device or a system for locally obtaining power from an external source, the system powering the sensing assembly (103, 103) by using wireless technology, preferably radio frequency technology; processing the detected values ​​for transmission to a remote acquisition system for identifying at least one significant phase of the capping cycle; Establishing at least one communication channel between the sensing component (103, 203) and a remote acquisition system so as to transmit the processing results to the system by using low-power radio frequency technology; and During normal operation of the head (100, 200', 200"), information relating to the current values ​​of the relevant parameters is automatically transmitted to the acquisition system over the or each communication channel and, during the analysis or commissioning phase, all detected parameter values ​​are transmitted upon request of the control system.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: Transmitting the processing results to a remote acquisition system by means of low-power radio frequency communication technology involves only a portion of at least one communication channel extending within the capping machine (1) to which the capping head (100, 200', 200") belongs.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein: In order to cap a container with a pre-threaded cap, the step of applying a sensing assembly (103, 203) to a shaft (101) or a cap retaining cone (102, 202', 202") includes applying a sensing assembly (103, 203), the sensing assembly comprising at least: a sensor for dynamically measuring the value of an axial load applied to the cap due to a vertical downward translational movement of the shaft (101); and a sensor for dynamically measuring the value of a torque applied to the cap due to a rotational movement of the shaft (101) around its axis.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein: The step of establishing at least one communication channel with the acquisition system includes communicating using a broadcast channel and a data channel specified by the Bluetooth® Low Energy specification to automatically transmit the current value of the at least one parameter and transmit all detected values ​​of the parameter upon request.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein: The step of establishing at least one communication channel with the acquisition system includes communicating using a technology selected from DECT-ULE, UWB, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and ANT.

19. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the method is implemented in a capping machine (1) having a plurality of heads (100, 200', 200") and, during normal operation of the heads (100, 200', 200"), in the step of automatically transmitting information related to the current value of a parameter to a collection system, the sensors of each head (100, 200', 200") transmit this information in turn with the sensors of the other heads via a point-to-point communication channel.

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