Crown cap applicator head, crown cap application systems and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a head for a crown cap applicator machine, comprising a hollow central cylinder (2), a closing bushing (3), an upper arm-holding bushing (4), a lower outer bushing (5) and fluted conical bushing (6) assembly, and elongated arms (7), radially attached by the upper end (70) thereof to the upper arm-holding bushing (4) and inserted through a central section (71) in the spaces (60) between flutes (61) of the fluted conical bushing (6), the lower end (72) of which emerges below the outer bushing (5), fluted conical bushing (6) and closing bushing (3), converging towards the central hollow thereof.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention, a crown cap applicator head and system for a crown cap applicator machine for applying crown caps to containers, or a closing machine, relates to a head of the type that, preferably incorporated in a crowning turret of a bottling machine, preferably in a plural and radial manner, applies the closure cap to the containers when they pass under the turret and later when they are filled. Said head comprises a set of arms that, as a result of a fluted bushing into which they are inserted, are closed as independent clamps to facilitate the application of crown caps of the type that have a manual opening tab integrated in the cap. The invention also relates to a system for cap applicator machine that incorporates the aforementioned head. Likewise, it relates to a system made up of the applicator head object of the invention and a crown cap, or bottle cap, which has a tab or extension of the side skirt of the cap, said tab or extension allowing the opening of the bottle cap or cap without the need to use an opener. Another object of the invention relates to a method of applying a crown plug.

[0002] The field of application of the present invention is framed within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of packaging and bottling machinery, focusing particularly on the field of container closure applicator machines.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Machines which, installed in the final section of lines for filling containers, normally beverage bottles, apply a crown cap with a side skirt, or bottle cap, as a means of closing the container once it has been filled with the liquid product, are known.

[0004] For example, patent document ES-0349161A1 describes a machine of this type, which comprises a rotating turret in which a plurality of heads are radially coupled which, actuated through a plunger, apply a crown cap, or bottle cap, to the containers running under it by means of a conveyor belt. Said actuation of the plunger causes the lower part of the head to be lowered, where the cap or bottle cap is incorporated, and it is fixed by pressure around the upper edge of the neck of the container. In addition, in said head, the lower part is detachable and removable in order to be able to use at least two different types of closure, a crown closure or a smooth closure, as appropriate, said lower part being fixed to the upper body of the head by means of various screws.

[0005] Likewise, crown caps, also known as "bottle caps", are made up of a metal disc that, through the applicator head, is fitted on the rim of the neck of the bottle, forming a crown-shaped crimped skirt which, once opened, cannot be closed again and, to open it, the use of an opener is normally required.

[0006] However, some types of crown cap, such as the one described in patent document WO2014198967A1, have a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, and allows the opening of the bottle cap without the need to use an opener. The existing problem is that applicator heads of the currently known closing or applicator machines for applying a crown cap with a side skirt are not designed for this type of crown cap with a side skirt and with an opening tab. Said heads are exclusively designed to apply smooth closure caps or crown-type caps, but not caps with a side tab, since this is an element that breaks the symmetry of the disc and the regularity of the crimps of the skirt of the cap and, therefore, does not fit in the head.

[0007] Specifically, in containers with crown caps with a manual opening side tab, such as the one described in document WO2014198967A1, when the container, preferably a bottle, is distributed, it is necessary for the tab to be located as close as possible to the wall of the container, which will usually be the neck of the bottle. By using the cap applicator heads of the state of the art, said tab would remain approximately perpendicular to the wall of the container, a situation that would make the storage of the container, the commercial distribution of the container, as well as the handling thereof difficult. For this reason, there is a need for a cap applicator that allows said tab to be positioned approximately parallel to the wall of the container or neck of the bottle, moving it from the original position on the cap, perpendicular to the wall of the container, to a position close to or in contact with said wall of the container or neck of the bottle, from which it is possible to act on the tab to remove the cap and open the container.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is, therefore, a closure applicator head that is suitable for both conventional crown caps and crown caps with an opening tab, allowing the product to be packaged with both types of closure, thus facilitating its application.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The object of the present invention, a crown cap applicator head for use in crown cap application machines for applying crown caps to containers, usually glass bottles, is a head according to claim 1.

[0010] This type of head is incorporated in a bottling machine, preferably in those having a crowning turret with several plungers arranged radially in the turret to apply the closure cap to the containers, preferably glass bottles, running under the plungers of the turret after filling said containers. Each plunger is incorporated in an actuating system or mechanism comprising, in a known manner: An outer hollow cylinder, like a jacket, which extends along an axial axis, being closed at its upper end by a base and open at its lower end. Inside, the hollow of the jacket has two inner diameters, a smaller diameter in the upper part and a larger diameter in the lower part, thus determining an upper hollow with a smaller diameter in the upper part and a lower hollow larger than the previous one in the lower part. A lug in contact with and perpendicular to the upper base, arranged coaxially inside the jacket. A hollow central cylinder, arranged inside and coaxial with the jacket, and internally having three sections with three different inner diameters, thus determining three sections of different diameters and two projections, a lower projection and an upper projection, on the hollow of the central cylinder. An upper section thus has a hollow with a larger diameter and is arranged in the upper part of the central cylinder, a lower section has a hollow with a smaller diameter in the lower part of the central cylinder, and an intermediate section has a hollow with an intermediate diameter with respect to the two previous ones and is arranged between same. This central cylinder has a radial projection on its outer surface, preferably at the height of the internal lower projection, which projection is housed in the larger lower hollow of the outer hollow cylinder or jacket, allowing the vertical movement of said central cylinder inside the jacket, along the lower hollow of said jacket. Supported on the upper projection of the central cylinder, there is an intermediate cylinder that shares the axial axis with the previous elements, and made up of a cylindrical body with two outer diameters determining two segments, a first segment with a first outer diameter coinciding with the diameter of the upper section of the central cylinder and a second segment with a second diameter coinciding with the diameter of the intermediate section of the central cylinder, so that the second segment extends inside the intermediate section of said central cylinder. A plunger, coaxial with the previous components, arranged inside the hollow central cylinder, and made up of a cylindrical body with a first upper section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the intermediate section of the hollow cylinder and a second lower section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the lower section of the hollow cylinder. The length of the lower section of the plunger is slightly greater than the length of the lower section of the central cylinder, so that the plunger protrudes from the lower part of said hollow central cylinder. The plunger preferably has a magnet at its lower end to pick up and hold the sheet that will form the cap prior to its coupling on the container. Two elastic elements, preferably springs, a first spring or upper spring, in which the lug is introduced and rests on the intermediate cylinder, and with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the first section of the hollow central cylinder, and a second spring or lower spring, arranged in the second section of the hollow central cylinder, with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the intermediate section of said central cylinder, and supported between the intermediate cylinder and the plunger. A closing bushing, arranged at the lower end of the hollow central cylinder, with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hollow concentric with said outer surface along the x-axis, said hollow having a conical lower opening, for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap on a container. The lower end of the central hollow cylinder also protrudes from the lower part of the closing bushing so that the magnet can pick up and hold the sheet that will form the cap until it is applied to the container.

[0011] Crown caps are applied to containers with the previous mechanism. In particular, the operation comprises the following steps: The magnet of the plunger picks up the sheet that will form the cap and is positioned above the container to be closed, The jacket begins its movement on the central cylinder, being lowered a first distance, corresponding to the distance between the upper end of the central cylinder and the base of the jacket, in which the second spring is compressed, so that the plunger with the sheet is placed in contact with the mouth of the container to be closed, and The jacket continues the movement on the central cylinder, being lowered a second distance equivalent to the length of the lower hollow of the jacket, in which the second spring is compressed, so that the closing bushing presses on the sheet when it is introduced in the closing bushing to form the crown cap on the opening of the container, preferably a bottle.

[0012] For purposes of the present invention, a bushing is a cylindrical piece with a tubular shape, machined inside and outside, with a tight tolerance to be inserted into another piece or surrounded by another part.

[0013] The applicator head object of the invention is arranged at the lower end of the hollow central cylinder and surrounding the closing bushing described above. Specifically, the head of the present invention, according to claim 1, comprises: an inner bushing with an inner hollow, concentric along an axial axis, the same axial axis described above, and with an external surface, an outer bushing with an inner hollow, concentric with the fluted bushing, and internally connected with the outside of the fluted bushing, determining a hollow between the inner surface of the outer bushing and the outer surface of the inner bushing, at least one arm, made up of an elongated piece, with a section of the arm located in at least one space determined in the hollow between the outside of the inner bushing and the inside of the outer bushing, and an upper bushing arranged above the previous bushings and sharing the same axial axis, having means to hold said at least one arm from above. This bushing has means to be connected with said jacket.

[0014] The space determined in the hollow between the inner bushing and the outer bushing is preferably determined by at least two parallel flutes or partitions defining said space between them, said flutes or partitions being arranged in said hollow between both bushings. Said flutes or partitions can be arranged either on the outer surface of the inner bushing or on the inner surface of the outer bushing. Alternatively, the space could be determined on any of said surfaces by a groove made therein. The goal of the space is to position at least one arm in said space to direct the movement of the arm vertically. Preferably it is the outer surface of the inner bushing that has the space determined by two partitions or flutes, the inner bushing thus being a fluted bushing. When this description refers to the fluted bushing, it refers to the inner bushing.

[0015] Also, preferably, there is more than one space determined in the hollow between both inner and outer bushings, so that more than one arm is provided on the head. The head preferably has more than one arm.

[0016] Alternatively, the outer bushing and the inner bushing can form a single bushing with an outer surface, an inner surface defining an inner hollow. Between the outer surface and the outer surface there is a hollow with at least one determined space for locating a part of the arm. Said determined space can be formed by flutes or partitions that at least in one part of the bushing join the outer surface and the inner surface thereof.

[0017] This head is designed to ensure the application of both conventional crown caps and crown caps equipped with a side extension of the skirt defining a tab that allows the cap to be manually removed and the container opened, that is, without using an opener.

[0018] The head that is the object of the invention allows, by continuing the lowering movement of the sleeve on the central cylinder and of the plunger, the arms of the head to continue their lowering onto the container, pushing the tab of the sheet that will form the cap until it is positioned as close as possible to the wall of the container, preferably parallel to said wall, and in particular preferably parallel to and in contact with the neck of a bottle. Each arm has an movement independent of the other arms with respect to the upper bushing, so that only the arm or arms that "fall" on the tab in the lowering movement of the jacket will act on same. Having several independent arms around the upper bushing is due to the fact that the sheet with the tab is not always arranged in the same position with respect to the plunger, so that sometimes one arm or arms will act and on other occasions other arms will act, depending on the location of said tab.

[0019] As mentioned, the head preferably has several arms, but alternatively it could have a single arm, with a single space, if a device is provided that places the crown cap with a side skirt and with its tab in a specific position, specifically to line the tab up under the arm of the head for the arm to act on said tab.

[0020] The plurality of arms are arranged between the upper bushing and the assembly formed by the outer bushing and the fluted bushing. Said arms are made up of a series of preferably identical, elongated pieces with a specific configuration, and they are radially attached by the upper end thereof to the outer bushing, each of them being inserted, through the central part thereof, between each of the flutes or partitions of the fluted bushing, so that, when the latter is in its highest position, they emerge slightly below the outer bushing and the fluted bushing, all converging towards the central hollow of the head and of the closing bushing. After the lowering movement of the closing bushing, the upper bushing continues to be lowered with respect to the conical bushing and outer bushing, and causes the lower end of the arms to compress against the lower part of said fluted bushing and laterally fit the cap by pressing as a plunger the tab against the wall of the container, preferably against the neck of a bottle.

[0021] Preferably, the fluted bushing of the head has an internal thread on the inner surface of the inner hollow through which it is connected with the lower end of the hollow central cylinder of the cap applicator mechanism by means of threading. Preferably, the partitions or flutes emerge radially and equidistantly from the upper area of the external surface of the fluted bushing.

[0022] Likewise, the outer bushing preferably has an internal thread on its inner surface for the connection thereof with the fluted bushing by means of threading. The flutes or partitions have an upper part with a threaded external face parallel to the axial axis for the connection thereof with the outer bushing, and a tapering lower part that ends in the lower part of the fluted bushing. Likewise, the inner hollow of the outer bushing can have sections that are in accordance with the structural design of the arms. Preferably, the outer bushing has a hollow cylindrical body the internal surface of which has a first threaded cylindrical section in the upper part intended, as mentioned, for the threaded coupling thereof with the fluted bushing, followed by an upper conical section, an intermediate cylindrical section and a lower conical section.

[0023] In turn, the upper bushing preferably has a hollow cylindrical body with a lower channel inside, where the upper ends of the arms fit, said arms being coupled to the upper bushing by means of rotating fixing points that allow the tilting movement of each of said arms with respect to the upper bushing.

[0024] Each arm, each one made up of an elongated piece, comprises an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate section, said intermediate section being located in the space between the inner bushing and the outer bushing. It also preferably has: an upper end defining an elbow facing the external side of the head, once the arm has been placed in its working position, where it comprises a hole that determines a rotating fixing point of the arm with respect to the upper bushing; a central section comprising a slightly inclined upper portion and ending in a widening defining a lower inclined support and a straight portion, and a lower end inclined towards the side opposite to that of the elbow of the upper end, that is, towards the internal side of the head.

[0025] In the present description, reference is made to a head with several arms, but the head must comprise at least one arm, since if a system for placing the sheet with respect to the machine and head that allows a specific orientation of said sheet is provided, it may alternatively include exclusively one arm in the head which, while being lowered, always lines up with the tab of the cap or sheet for moving same closer to the container. If the head has only one arm, the fluted bushing must only include two partitions or flutes with a space between them to accommodate the arm.

[0026] A second object of the invention is a crown cap applicator system with a side skirt and a tab according to claim 15. Said system comprises a head, as described above, and a crown cap with a side skirt and with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap. The system can also comprise: the hollow central cylinder through which the actuation plunger runs, the closing bushing, arranged at the lower end of the cylinder, with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hollow concentric with said outer surface along an x-axis, said hollow having a conical lower opening, for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap on a container, and a head having the features described above and connected to the central cylinder.

[0027] The connection between the head object of the invention and the central cylinder is made by means of a threaded coupling arranged between the hollow central cylinder comprising a thread and the internal thread of the fluted bushing.

[0028] Likewise, the system can incorporate the components of the actuation system or mechanism of the crown cap applicator head described above, in particular an outer jacket with a lug internally in contact with the base of the jacket, the hollow central cylinder being associated with the outer jacket by means of the springs and the intermediate cylinder. It should be mentioned that the upper bushing of the head is connected by means of threading means with the lower end of the external jacket, the upper bushing having an outer thread that is associated with an inner thread at the lower end of the external jacket.

[0029] A third object of the invention is a method of applying a crown cap on the opening of a container with a neck, preferably a bottle, according to claim 18. Specifically, the method comprises the following steps: Positioning, under the head described above, a crown cap with a side skirt and with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, Lowering the head and crimping the side skirt of the crown cap on the opening of the container, forming crimps on the cap to attach it on the opening of the container, Lowering at least one arm of the head to push the tab, protrusion or extension until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the container. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] To complete the description of the present invention and in order to facilitate the understanding of its features, the present specification includes, as an integral portion thereof, a set of figures of the invention of an illustrative and non-limiting nature. Figure 1 shows a lateral-upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the head associated with an outer jacket, showing part of the central cylinder and of the outer jacket. Figure 2 shows a lateral-bottom view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of the lower end of the head for a crown cap applicator machine. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of an actuation system or mechanism in accordance with the present invention, in which the different components of said system or mechanism are observed, in particular, an external jacket, a hollow central cylinder, elastic means, an intermediate cylinder, a lug, a plunger, a closing bushing and a crown cap applicator head with an upper bushing connected to the outer jacket, a fluted bushing connected to the central cylinder, an outer bushing connected to the fluted bushing and pivoting arms with respect to the upper bushing that are arranged in a space existing between the fluted bushing and the outer bushing. Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show respective sectional views of the lower part of the actuation mechanism or system of the head of the invention, including said head, in three operating positions. Figure 4A shows a first step in which the plunger picks up the cap or sheet at its lower end prior to its coupling on the mouth of the bottle; Figure 4B shows a second step in which the head has been lowered onto the bottle and the plunger has risen slightly so that the closing bushing acts on the cap, coupling it to the bottle while the tab is kept separated from the neck of the bottle; and Figure 4C shows the lowering of the upper bushing to move the arms downwards, so that at least one of these arms pushes the tab until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the bottle. Figure 5 shows a perspective sectional view of the lower part of the actuation mechanism or system of the head of the invention, including the head, in a position equivalent to that of Figure 4B. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the lower part of the hollow central cylinder in which the head of the invention is coupled. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the closing bushing. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the fluted bushing of the head of the invention. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the upper bushing of the head of the invention. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the external bushing that the head of the invention has in the lower assembly. Figure 11 shows a perspective view of one of the arms that the head of the invention has. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of an example of a crown cap with a tab for opening without an opener that is arranged on the mouth of the bottle by means of the head of the invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In view of the aforementioned figures, an exemplary embodiment of the crown cap applicator head, which is especially applicable in actuating systems or mechanisms with an applicator in bottling or capping machines, is described below.

[0032] A bottling or capping machine that has the applicator head (1) object of the invention arranged at the lower end of the machine can be seen in Figure 3. The bottling machine preferably has: An outer hollow cylinder (8), like a jacket, which extends along an axial axis (X), being closed at its upper end by a base (81) and open at its lower end. Inside, the hollow of the jacket (8) has two inner diameters, a smaller diameter in the upper part and a larger diameter in the lower part, thus determining an upper hollow with a smaller diameter in the upper part and a lower hollow (82) larger than the previous one in the lower part. A lug (110) in contact with and perpendicular to the upper base (81), arranged coaxially inside the jacket (8). A hollow central cylinder (2) (Figure 6), arranged inside and coaxial with the jacket (8), and internally having three sections (24, 25, 26) with three different inner diameters and two projections, a lower projection (28) and an upper projection (27), in the hollow of the central cylinder (2). An upper section (24) thus has a hollow with a larger diameter and is arranged in the upper part of the central cylinder (2), a lower section (26) has a hollow with a smaller diameter in the lower part of the central cylinder (2), and an intermediate section (25) has a hollow with an intermediate diameter with respect to the two previous ones and is arranged between same. This central cylinder (2) has a radial projection (29) on its outer surface, which can be approximately at the height of the internal lower projection (26) when the machine is in standby, which projection (29) is housed in the larger lower hollow (82) of the jacket (8), allowing the vertical movement of said central cylinder (2) inside the jacket (8), along said lower hollow (82). Externally, the central cylinder (2) has an external perimeter step (20) defining a lower section (21) with a smaller diameter with a threaded lower area (22) in which a bushing can fit and be threaded, which, among other functions, protects a closing bushing (3) that will rest on the lower end (23) of the central cylinder (2). Supported on the upper projection (27) of the central cylinder (2), there is an intermediate cylinder (120) that shares the axial axis (X) with the previous elements, and is made up of a cylindrical body with two outer diameters of different diameters determining two segments, a first segment with a first outer diameter coinciding with the diameter of the upper section (24) of the central cylinder (2) and a second segment with a second diameter coinciding with the diameter of the intermediate section (25) of the central cylinder (2), the second segment of the intermediate cylinder (120) extending inside the intermediate section (25) of the central cylinder (2). A plunger (122), coaxial with the previous components, arranged inside the hollow central cylinder (2), and made up of a cylindrical body with a first upper section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the intermediate section (25) of the hollow cylinder (2) and a second lower section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the lower section (26) of the hollow cylinder (2), resting on the lower projection (28) of the hollow cylinder (2). The length of the lower section of the plunger (122) is slightly greater than the length of the lower section (26) of the central cylinder (2), so that the plunger (122) protrudes, when the machine is in standby, from the lower part of said hollow central cylinder (2). The plunger (122) can have a magnet at its lower end to attract and hold the sheet that will form the cap (10) prior to its positioning on the container (200), preferably a bottle. It is possible to use other systems to position the sheet on the mouth of the container, although this will preferably be used with the magnet due to the material of the sheet that will form the crown cap (10). Two elastic elements (100, 100'), preferably springs, a first spring or upper spring (100), in which the lug (110) is introduced and rests on the intermediate cylinder (120), and with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the upper section (24) of the hollow central cylinder (2), and a second spring or lower spring (100'), arranged in the intermediate section (25) of the hollow central cylinder (2), with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of said section (25), and arranged between the intermediate cylinder (120) and the plunger (122). A closing bushing (3) (Figure 7), arranged at the lower end of the hollow central cylinder (2), with a cylindrical outer surface with a projection (30) on which the lower end of the central cylinder (2) rests, and a concentric cylindrical hollow with said outer surface along the axial axis (X), said hollow of the closing bushing (3) having a conical lower opening (31), for pressing on the perimeter of a sheet (10) that is to form the crown cap (10) on a container (200). The lower end of the central hollow cylinder (2) protrudes from the lower part of the closing bushing (3) in the standby state of the machine.

[0033] The applicator head (1) object of the present invention is positioned at the lower end of said closing or capping machine as an alternative to closing containers (200), preferably bottles, with a crown cap (10). This applicator head (1) allows the placement, on the mouth of a container (200), of a particular type of sheet (10) (Figure 12), which has a tab (12) that protrudes radially with respect to the body of the sheet (10). Said tab (12) will be used to remove the crown cap (10) from the container (200) and thus access its contents. The crown cap (10) will be removed by applying a pushing force on said tab (12), but for this it is necessary for the tab (12) to be positioned parallel to the container (200), which will preferably be a bottle with a neck that must be close to the tab (12). The machine and conventional applicator heads do not allow bringing said tab (12) closer to the container (200).

[0034] In particular, the head (1) of the invention (Figures 1 and 2) essentially comprises: a fluted bushing (6) (Figure 8) with a concentric inner hollow along an axial axis (X) and with an outer surface with parallel flutes or partitions (61) defining a space (60) between every two flutes (61), an outer bushing (5) (Figure 10) with an inner hollow, concentric with the fluted bushing (6), and internally connected with the outside of the fluted bushing (6), a plurality of arms (7) (Figure 11) made up of a series of elongated pieces with an upper end (70) and a lower end (72), an intermediate section (71) of each arm (7) being located in each of the spaces (60) of the fluted bushing (6), said arms (7) being arranged between the fluted bushing (6) and the outer bushing (5), and an upper bushing (4) (Figure 9) arranged above the previous bushings (5, 6) and sharing the same axial axis (X), having means to hold each of the arms (7) from above.

[0035] Thus, according to Figure 3, the central cylinder (2) has an external perimeter step (20) that externally defines a lower section (21) with a smaller diameter with a threaded lower area (22) in which the inner wall of the threaded conical bushing (6) fits and threads, which, in turn, has an internal thread (63), thus allowing the incorporation and removal of the lower assembly of the outer bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6) with respect to the head (1), for example, so it can be exchanged with a different one or for repair or replacement.

[0036] Likewise, the closing bushing (3) provided at the lower end of the central cylinder (2) externally has a perimeter wing (30) that fits between an internal ledge (64) of the fluted conical bushing (6) and the edge (23) of the lower end of the central cylinder (2), and internally has a conical central hollow (31) in at least its lower section, this conical hollow being responsible for forming the crimps (11) of the crown cap (10) and causing it to be attached to the mouth of the container (200).

[0037] Preferably the outer bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6) that make up the external lower assembly of the head (1) are elements that can be detached from one another by means of threading.

[0038] As can be seen in Figure 8, the conical fluted bushing (6) is preferably a hollow cylindrical body that has a plurality of partitions or flutes (61) that emerge radially and equidistantly from the upper area of the external surface thereof, being separated by respective spaces (60) that serve as housing for the arms (7) of the head. In addition, said flutes (61) have an upper part with an external threaded face (611) parallel to the axial axis of the head (1), intended for the threaded coupling thereof with the outer bushing (5), and with a tapering lower part (612) that ends in the conical lower part (62) of the bushing.

[0039] The upper bushing (4) that supports the arms (7) preferably has a hollow cylindrical body with, in the lower portion, a coupling channel (40) for coupling the arms (7) which is open on the inside and in the lower portion, that is, towards the inner wall and towards the lower base of said cylindrical body, in which the upper ends (70) of the arms (7) fit snugly, said channel (40) being sized to allow partial movement of the bending defined by said ends (70) of the arms on a rotating fixing point (701) provided for that purpose in same, allowing the tilting movement of the elongated piece defining each of said arms (7) rotating at said point (701).

[0040] The outer bushing (5) preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical body the internal wall of which has a first threaded cylindrical section (50) in the upper part intended for the threaded coupling thereof with the fluted conical bushing (6), an upper conical section (51), an intermediate cylindrical section (52) and a lower conical section (53), which sections are in accordance with the structural design that the elongated pieces defining the arms (7) have.

[0041] Each arm (7) preferably has an elongated piece with: an upper end (70) defining an elbow facing the external side of the head (1), once the arm (7) has been placed in its working position, and where it has a hole that determines the rotating fixing point (701) of the arm (7); a central section (71) comprising a slightly inclined upper portion and ending in a widening (711) defining a lower inclined support (712) and a straight portion (713), and a lower end (72) inclined towards the side opposite to that of the elbow of the upper end, that is, towards the internal side of the head (1).

[0042] As can be seen in Figure 3, while the upper end (70) of the arms (7) is fixed in the channel (4) of the upper bushing (40), the central section (71) and the lower end (72) of said arms (7) are arranged between the outer bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6), so that, on the internal side, the central section (71) of each arm (7) is in contact with the fluted conical bushing (6), housed in each of the spaces (60) defined between the flutes (61) of said fluted conical bushing (6) and, on the external side, the lower inclined support (712) is positioned in the upper conical section (51) of the outer bushing (5), the straight portion (713) is positioned in the intermediate cylindrical section (52) and the inclined lower end (72) of the arms (7) is positioned on the lower conical section (53) of the external bushing (5). The space between said external bushing (5) and said fluted conical bushing (6) allows the tilting movement of the arms (7) between a raised position of the upper bushing (4), where the lower end (72) of the arms (7) are positioned inside the space between the external bushing (5) and the fluted bushing (6) (Figures 4A and 4C), and a lowered position of the upper bushing (4) in which the lower end (72) of the arms (7) project below the head (1), specifically, below the space between the external bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6) and below the closing bushing (3) (Figure 4C).

[0043] In accordance with the foregoing, after having fitted the sheet on the mouth of the container (200), preferably a bottle, by means of creating crimps (11) for closing on said mouth, at least one of said arms (7) allows the tab (12) to be pushed until it is parallel to the container (200), preferably parallel to the neck of a bottle.

[0044] The crown cap (10) is shown in Figure 10 after being applied to a container (not shown in this figure) by the head (1) object of the invention. Said crown cap (10) has, intercalated in the crimped side skirt (11), the tab (12) that facilitates the opening thereof without the need to use an opener.

[0045] Next, and in accordance with the previous components, the operation of the capping machine that incorporates the applicator head of the present invention is explained according to Figures 4A, 4B and 4C. These figures do not show the upper part of the machine or all its components, which can be seen in Figure 3, but mainly show the head (1) object of the invention and its interaction with the lower components of the machine.

[0046] Thus, the method comprises the following steps: Positioning, under the head described above, a crown cap with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, Lowering the head and crimping the side skirt of the crown cap on the opening of the container, forming crimps on the cap to attach it on the opening of the container, Lowering at least one arm of the head to push the tab, protrusion or extension until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the container.

[0047] Figure 4A shows a first position of the head (1) object of the invention, in which the lower end of the plunger (122) that has a magnet (9) has attracted a sheet (10) with a tab (12) and is positioned on the mouth of a bottle (200) prior to closing said bottle (200). In particular, it can be seen, with respect to Figure 3 in which the machine is in standby, how the plunger (122) protrudes below the central cylinder (2) in this first position, in order to hold the sheet (10), by a smaller distance than in Figure 3 with the machine in standby. This is because the jacket (8) has been slightly lowered, compressing the first spring (100) which has less resistance to compression than the second spring (100'). This first compression of the first spring (100) causes the central cylinder (2) to move downwards but causes the plunger (122) to stay in the same position as in Figure 3. It can be seen in this Figure 4A how the first upper section of the plunger (122) has been separated from the internal lower projection (28) of the hollow central cylinder (2). The position of the rest of the components of the head (1) remains unchanged with respect to the standby position of the machine shown in Figure 3.

[0048] Figure 4B shows a position subsequent to the position of Figure 4A in which the jacket (8) has continued to be progressively lowering and in which the first spring (100) has continued to be compressed without the second spring (100') being compressed. In particular, the hollow central cylinder (2) has continued to be lowered, at the same time as the jacket (8) until the closing bushing (3) has surrounded the sheet (10), that is, the sheet (10) is introduced in the closing bushing (3), causing the pressure applied by it on the sheet (10) to generate the crimps (11) for closing on the mouth of the bottle (200). It can be seen in this Figure 4B with respect to Figure 4A how the first upper section of the plunger (122) has separated even more (than in said Figure 4A) from the internal lower projection (28) thus being further introduced into the intermediate section (25) of the hollow central cylinder (2). After closing the sheet (10) on the mouth of the bottle (200), it can be seen how the tab (12) of said sheet (10) is separated from the neck of the bottle (200).

[0049] Continuing with the lowering movement of the jacket (8), the position of Figure 4C is reached, where the first spring (100) has been completely compressed (not shown), thus beginning the compression of the second spring (100') with a greater resistance to compression than the first spring (100). This causes the jacket (8) to move with respect to the central cylinder (2) and the radial projection (29) of said central cylinder (2) to move with respect to the lower hole (82) of the jacket (8), causing the upper bushing (4) of the head (1) to also move downwards on the container (200). Said movement of the upper bushing (4) causes the movement of the arms (7) which, due to the already described configuration thereof and in combination with the hollow between the fluted bushing (6) and the outer bushing (5), tends to move the arms (7) below the central cylinder (3) and the closing bushing (3) towards the axial axis X common to the components of the machine and the head (1).

[0050] The lowering of the arms (7) of the head (1) on the bottle (200), causes the pushing on the tab (12) of the sheet (10) which forms the cap (10), until said tab (12) is positioned as close as possible to the wall of the bottle (200), preferably parallel to said wall, and in particular, preferably parallel and in contact with the neck of the bottle (200). Each arm (7) has a movement independent of the other arms (7) with respect to the upper bushing (4), so that only the arm (7) or arms (7) that "fall" on the tab (12) in the lowering movement of the jacket (8) will act on same. Having several independent arms (7) around the upper bushing (4) is due to the fact that the sheet (10) with the tab (12) is not always arranged in the same position with respect to the plunger (12) and the bottle (200), so that sometimes one arm (7) or two arms (7) will act and on other occasions another arm (7) or two other arms (7) will act, depending on the location of said tab (12) with respect to the plunger or bottle (200).

[0051] Alternatively (not shown), if in the process of closing the container (200) an orientation device for orienting the sheet (10) with the tab (12) with respect to the machine and the head (1) is incorporated, it is possible to reduce the number of arms (7) of the head (1) to just one since the lowering of said arm (7) would always coincide with the position of the tab (12) on the mouth of the container or bottle (200), thus bringing the tab closer to the container when the arm (7) is lowered. In this alternative construction, if the head (1) has only one arm (7), the fluted bushing (6) must only include two partitions or flutes (61) with a space (60) between them to accommodate the arm.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a crown cap applicator system that has a head as described above, and a crown cap with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap. The system can also comprise: the hollow central cylinder (2) through which the actuation plunger (122) runs, the closing bushing (3), arranged at the lower end of the cylinder (2), with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hole concentric with said outer surface along an x-axis, said hole having a conical lower opening (31), for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap (10) on a container, and the head (1) having the features described above and connected to the central cylinder (2).

[0053] The connection between the head (1) and the central cylinder (2) is made by means of a threaded coupling arranged between the hollow central cylinder (2) comprising a thread and the internal thread of the fluted bushing (6).

[0054] Likewise, the system can incorporate the components of the actuation mechanism of the crown cap applicator head described above, in particular an outer jacket with a lug internally in contact with the base of the jacket, the hollow central cylinder being associated with the outer jacket by means of the springs and the intermediate cylinder. It should be mentioned that the upper bushing of the head is connected by means of threading means with the lower end of the external jacket, the upper bushing having an outer thread that is associated with an inner thread at the lower end of the external jacket.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0031]In view of the aforementioned figures, an exemplary embodiment of the crown cap applicator head, which is especially applicable in actuating systems or mechanisms with an applicator in bottling or capping machines, is described below.

[0032]A bottling or capping machine that has the applicator head (1) object of the invention arranged at the lower end of the machine can be seen in Figure 3. The bottling machine preferably has:

An outer hollow cylinder (8), like a jacket, which extends along an axial axis (X), being closed at its upper end by a base (81) and open at its lower end. Inside, the hollow of the jacket (8) has two inner diameters, a smaller diameter in the upper part and a larger diameter in the lower part, thus determining an upper hollow with a smaller diameter in the upper part and a lower hollow (82) larger than the previous one in the lower part. A lug (110) in contact with and perpendicular to the upper base (81), arranged coaxially inside the jacket (8). A hol...

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention, a crown cap applicator head and system for a crown cap applicator machine for applying crown caps to containers, or a closing machine, relates to a head of the type that, preferably incorporated in a crowning turret of a bottling machine, preferably in a plural and radial manner, applies the closure cap to the containers when they pass under the turret and later when they are filled. Said head comprises a set of arms that, as a result of a fluted bushing into which they are inserted, are closed as independent clamps to facilitate the application of crown caps of the type that have a manual opening tab integrated in the cap. The invention also relates to a system for cap applicator machine that incorporates the aforementioned head. Likewise, it relates to a system made up of the applicator head object of the invention and a crown cap, or bottle cap, which has a tab or extension of the side skirt of the cap, said tab or extension allowing the opening of the bottle cap or cap without the need to use an opener. Another object of the invention relates to a method of applying a crown plug.

[0002] The field of application of the present invention is framed within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of packaging and bottling machinery, focusing particularly on the field of container closure applicator machines.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Machines which, installed in the final section of lines for filling containers, normally beverage bottles, apply a crown cap with a side skirt, or bottle cap, as a means of closing the container once it has been filled with the liquid product, are known.

[0004] For example, patent document ES-0349161A1 describes a machine of this type, which comprises a rotating turret in which a plurality of heads are radially coupled which, actuated through a plunger, apply a crown cap, or bottle cap, to the containers running under it by means of a conveyor belt. Said actuation of the plunger causes the lower part of the head to be lowered, where the cap or bottle cap is incorporated, and it is fixed by pressure around the upper edge of the neck of the container. In addition, in said head, the lower part is detachable and removable in order to be able to use at least two different types of closure, a crown closure or a smooth closure, as appropriate, said lower part being fixed to the upper body of the head by means of various screws.

[0005] Likewise, crown caps, also known as "bottle caps", are made up of a metal disc that, through the applicator head, is fitted on the rim of the neck of the bottle, forming a crown-shaped crimped skirt which, once opened, cannot be closed again and, to open it, the use of an opener is normally required.

[0006] However, some types of crown cap, such as the one described in patent document WO2014198967A1, have a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, and allows the opening of the bottle cap without the need to use an opener. The existing problem is that applicator heads of the currently known closing or applicator machines for applying a crown cap with a side skirt are not designed for this type of crown cap with a side skirt and with an opening tab. Said heads are exclusively designed to apply smooth closure caps or crown-type caps, but not caps with a side tab, since this is an element that breaks the symmetry of the disc and the regularity of the crimps of the skirt of the cap and, therefore, does not fit in the head.

[0007] Specifically, in containers with crown caps with a manual opening side tab, such as the one described in document WO2014198967A1, when the container, preferably a bottle, is distributed, it is necessary for the tab to be located as close as possible to the wall of the container, which will usually be the neck of the bottle. By using the cap applicator heads of the state of the art, said tab would remain approximately perpendicular to the wall of the container, a situation that would make the storage of the container, the commercial distribution of the container, as well as the handling thereof difficult. For this reason, there is a need for a cap applicator that allows said tab to be positioned approximately parallel to the wall of the container or neck of the bottle, moving it from the original position on the cap, perpendicular to the wall of the container, to a position close to or in contact with said wall of the container or neck of the bottle, from which it is possible to act on the tab to remove the cap and open the container.

[0008] The objective of the present invention is, therefore, a closure applicator head that is suitable for both conventional crown caps and crown caps with an opening tab, allowing the product to be packaged with both types of closure, thus facilitating its application.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The object of the present invention, a crown cap applicator head for use in crown cap application machines for applying crown caps to containers, usually glass bottles, is a head according to claim 1.

[0010] This type of head is incorporated in a bottling machine, preferably in those having a crowning turret with several plungers arranged radially in the turret to apply the closure cap to the containers, preferably glass bottles, running under the plungers of the turret after filling said containers. Each plunger is incorporated in an actuating system or mechanism comprising, in a known manner: An outer hollow cylinder, like a jacket, which extends along an axial axis, being closed at its upper end by a base and open at its lower end. Inside, the hollow of the jacket has two inner diameters, a smaller diameter in the upper part and a larger diameter in the lower part, thus determining an upper hollow with a smaller diameter in the upper part and a lower hollow larger than the previous one in the lower part. A lug in contact with and perpendicular to the upper base, arranged coaxially inside the jacket. A hollow central cylinder, arranged inside and coaxial with the jacket, and internally having three sections with three different inner diameters, thus determining three sections of different diameters and two projections, a lower projection and an upper projection, on the hollow of the central cylinder. An upper section thus has a hollow with a larger diameter and is arranged in the upper part of the central cylinder, a lower section has a hollow with a smaller diameter in the lower part of the central cylinder, and an intermediate section has a hollow with an intermediate diameter with respect to the two previous ones and is arranged between same. This central cylinder has a radial projection on its outer surface, preferably at the height of the internal lower projection, which projection is housed in the larger lower hollow of the outer hollow cylinder or jacket, allowing the vertical movement of said central cylinder inside the jacket, along the lower hollow of said jacket. Supported on the upper projection of the central cylinder, there is an intermediate cylinder that shares the axial axis with the previous elements, and made up of a cylindrical body with two outer diameters determining two segments, a first segment with a first outer diameter coinciding with the diameter of the upper section of the central cylinder and a second segment with a second diameter coinciding with the diameter of the intermediate section of the central cylinder, so that the second segment extends inside the intermediate section of said central cylinder. A plunger, coaxial with the previous components, arranged inside the hollow central cylinder, and made up of a cylindrical body with a first upper section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the intermediate section of the hollow cylinder and a second lower section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the lower section of the hollow cylinder. The length of the lower section of the plunger is slightly greater than the length of the lower section of the central cylinder, so that the plunger protrudes from the lower part of said hollow central cylinder. The plunger preferably has a magnet at its lower end to pick up and hold the sheet that will form the cap prior to its coupling on the container. Two elastic elements, preferably springs, a first spring or upper spring, in which the lug is introduced and rests on the intermediate cylinder, and with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the first section of the hollow central cylinder, and a second spring or lower spring, arranged in the second section of the hollow central cylinder, with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the intermediate section of said central cylinder, and supported between the intermediate cylinder and the plunger. A closing bushing, arranged at the lower end of the hollow central cylinder, with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hollow concentric with said outer surface along the x-axis, said hollow having a conical lower opening, for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap on a container. The lower end of the central hollow cylinder also protrudes from the lower part of the closing bushing so that the magnet can pick up and hold the sheet that will form the cap until it is applied to the container.

[0011] Crown caps are applied to containers with the previous mechanism. In particular, the operation comprises the following steps: The magnet of the plunger picks up the sheet that will form the cap and is positioned above the container to be closed, The jacket begins its movement on the central cylinder, being lowered a first distance, corresponding to the distance between the upper end of the central cylinder and the base of the jacket, in which the second spring is compressed, so that the plunger with the sheet is placed in contact with the mouth of the container to be closed, and The jacket continues the movement on the central cylinder, being lowered a second distance equivalent to the length of the lower hollow of the jacket, in which the second spring is compressed, so that the closing bushing presses on the sheet when it is introduced in the closing bushing to form the crown cap on the opening of the container, preferably a bottle.

[0012] For purposes of the present invention, a bushing is a cylindrical piece with a tubular shape, machined inside and outside, with a tight tolerance to be inserted into another piece or surrounded by another part.

[0013] The applicator head object of the invention is arranged at the lower end of the hollow central cylinder and surrounding the closing bushing described above. Specifically, the head of the present invention, according to claim 1, comprises: an inner bushing with an inner hollow, concentric along an axial axis, the same axial axis described above, and with an external surface, an outer bushing with an inner hollow, concentric with the fluted bushing, and internally connected with the outside of the fluted bushing, determining a hollow between the inner surface of the outer bushing and the outer surface of the inner bushing, at least one arm, made up of an elongated piece, with a section of the arm located in at least one space determined in the hollow between the outside of the inner bushing and the inside of the outer bushing, and an upper bushing arranged above the previous bushings and sharing the same axial axis, having means to hold said at least one arm from above. This bushing has means to be connected with said jacket.

[0014] The space determined in the hollow between the inner bushing and the outer bushing is preferably determined by at least two parallel flutes or partitions defining said space between them, said flutes or partitions being arranged in said hollow between both bushings. Said flutes or partitions can be arranged either on the outer surface of the inner bushing or on the inner surface of the outer bushing. Alternatively, the space could be determined on any of said surfaces by a groove made therein. The goal of the space is to position at least one arm in said space to direct the movement of the arm vertically. Preferably it is the outer surface of the inner bushing that has the space determined by two partitions or flutes, the inner bushing thus being a fluted bushing. When this description refers to the fluted bushing, it refers to the inner bushing.

[0015] Also, preferably, there is more than one space determined in the hollow between both inner and outer bushings, so that more than one arm is provided on the head. The head preferably has more than one arm.

[0016] Alternatively, the outer bushing and the inner bushing can form a single bushing with an outer surface, an inner surface defining an inner hollow. Between the outer surface and the outer surface there is a hollow with at least one determined space for locating a part of the arm. Said determined space can be formed by flutes or partitions that at least in one part of the bushing join the outer surface and the inner surface thereof.

[0017] This head is designed to ensure the application of both conventional crown caps and crown caps equipped with a side extension of the skirt defining a tab that allows the cap to be manually removed and the container opened, that is, without using an opener.

[0018] The head that is the object of the invention allows, by continuing the lowering movement of the sleeve on the central cylinder and of the plunger, the arms of the head to continue their lowering onto the container, pushing the tab of the sheet that will form the cap until it is positioned as close as possible to the wall of the container, preferably parallel to said wall, and in particular preferably parallel to and in contact with the neck of a bottle. Each arm has an movement independent of the other arms with respect to the upper bushing, so that only the arm or arms that "fall" on the tab in the lowering movement of the jacket will act on same. Having several independent arms around the upper bushing is due to the fact that the sheet with the tab is not always arranged in the same position with respect to the plunger, so that sometimes one arm or arms will act and on other occasions other arms will act, depending on the location of said tab.

[0019] As mentioned, the head preferably has several arms, but alternatively it could have a single arm, with a single space, if a device is provided that places the crown cap with a side skirt and with its tab in a specific position, specifically to line the tab up under the arm of the head for the arm to act on said tab.

[0020] The plurality of arms are arranged between the upper bushing and the assembly formed by the outer bushing and the fluted bushing. Said arms are made up of a series of preferably identical, elongated pieces with a specific configuration, and they are radially attached by the upper end thereof to the outer bushing, each of them being inserted, through the central part thereof, between each of the flutes or partitions of the fluted bushing, so that, when the latter is in its highest position, they emerge slightly below the outer bushing and the fluted bushing, all converging towards the central hollow of the head and of the closing bushing. After the lowering movement of the closing bushing, the upper bushing continues to be lowered with respect to the conical bushing and outer bushing, and causes the lower end of the arms to compress against the lower part of said fluted bushing and laterally fit the cap by pressing as a plunger the tab against the wall of the container, preferably against the neck of a bottle.

[0021] Preferably, the fluted bushing of the head has an internal thread on the inner surface of the inner hollow through which it is connected with the lower end of the hollow central cylinder of the cap applicator mechanism by means of threading. Preferably, the partitions or flutes emerge radially and equidistantly from the upper area of the external surface of the fluted bushing.

[0022] Likewise, the outer bushing preferably has an internal thread on its inner surface for the connection thereof with the fluted bushing by means of threading. The flutes or partitions have an upper part with a threaded external face parallel to the axial axis for the connection thereof with the outer bushing, and a tapering lower part that ends in the lower part of the fluted bushing. Likewise, the inner hollow of the outer bushing can have sections that are in accordance with the structural design of the arms. Preferably, the outer bushing has a hollow cylindrical body the internal surface of which has a first threaded cylindrical section in the upper part intended, as mentioned, for the threaded coupling thereof with the fluted bushing, followed by an upper conical section, an intermediate cylindrical section and a lower conical section.

[0023] In turn, the upper bushing preferably has a hollow cylindrical body with a lower channel inside, where the upper ends of the arms fit, said arms being coupled to the upper bushing by means of rotating fixing points that allow the tilting movement of each of said arms with respect to the upper bushing.

[0024] Each arm, each one made up of an elongated piece, comprises an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate section, said intermediate section being located in the space between the inner bushing and the outer bushing. It also preferably has: an upper end defining an elbow facing the external side of the head, once the arm has been placed in its working position, where it comprises a hole that determines a rotating fixing point of the arm with respect to the upper bushing; a central section comprising a slightly inclined upper portion and ending in a widening defining a lower inclined support and a straight portion, and a lower end inclined towards the side opposite to that of the elbow of the upper end, that is, towards the internal side of the head.

[0025] In the present description, reference is made to a head with several arms, but the head must comprise at least one arm, since if a system for placing the sheet with respect to the machine and head that allows a specific orientation of said sheet is provided, it may alternatively include exclusively one arm in the head which, while being lowered, always lines up with the tab of the cap or sheet for moving same closer to the container. If the head has only one arm, the fluted bushing must only include two partitions or flutes with a space between them to accommodate the arm.

[0026] A second object of the invention is a crown cap applicator system with a side skirt and a tab according to claim 15. Said system comprises a head, as described above, and a crown cap with a side skirt and with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap. The system can also comprise: the hollow central cylinder through which the actuation plunger runs, the closing bushing, arranged at the lower end of the cylinder, with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hollow concentric with said outer surface along an x-axis, said hollow having a conical lower opening, for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap on a container, and a head having the features described above and connected to the central cylinder.

[0027] The connection between the head object of the invention and the central cylinder is made by means of a threaded coupling arranged between the hollow central cylinder comprising a thread and the internal thread of the fluted bushing.

[0028] Likewise, the system can incorporate the components of the actuation system or mechanism of the crown cap applicator head described above, in particular an outer jacket with a lug internally in contact with the base of the jacket, the hollow central cylinder being associated with the outer jacket by means of the springs and the intermediate cylinder. It should be mentioned that the upper bushing of the head is connected by means of threading means with the lower end of the external jacket, the upper bushing having an outer thread that is associated with an inner thread at the lower end of the external jacket.

[0029] A third object of the invention is a method of applying a crown cap on the opening of a container with a neck, preferably a bottle, according to claim 18. Specifically, the method comprises the following steps: Positioning, under the head described above, a crown cap with a side skirt and with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, Lowering the head and crimping the side skirt of the crown cap on the opening of the container, forming crimps on the cap to attach it on the opening of the container, Lowering at least one arm of the head to push the tab, protrusion or extension until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the container. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] To complete the description of the present invention and in order to facilitate the understanding of its features, the present specification includes, as an integral portion thereof, a set of figures of the invention of an illustrative and non-limiting nature. Figure 1 shows a lateral-upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the head associated with an outer jacket, showing part of the central cylinder and of the outer jacket. Figure 2 shows a lateral-bottom view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of the lower end of the head for a crown cap applicator machine. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of an actuation system or mechanism in accordance with the present invention, in which the different components of said system or mechanism are observed, in particular, an external jacket, a hollow central cylinder, elastic means, an intermediate cylinder, a lug, a plunger, a closing bushing and a crown cap applicator head with an upper bushing connected to the outer jacket, a fluted bushing connected to the central cylinder, an outer bushing connected to the fluted bushing and pivoting arms with respect to the upper bushing that are arranged in a space existing between the fluted bushing and the outer bushing. Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show respective sectional views of the lower part of the actuation mechanism or system of the head of the invention, including said head, in three operating positions. Figure 4A shows a first step in which the plunger picks up the cap or sheet at its lower end prior to its coupling on the mouth of the bottle; Figure 4B shows a second step in which the head has been lowered onto the bottle and the plunger has risen slightly so that the closing bushing acts on the cap, coupling it to the bottle while the tab is kept separated from the neck of the bottle; and Figure 4C shows the lowering of the upper bushing to move the arms downwards, so that at least one of these arms pushes the tab until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the bottle. Figure 5 shows a perspective sectional view of the lower part of the actuation mechanism or system of the head of the invention, including the head, in a position equivalent to that of Figure 4B. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the lower part of the hollow central cylinder in which the head of the invention is coupled. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the closing bushing. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the fluted bushing of the head of the invention. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the upper bushing of the head of the invention. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the external bushing that the head of the invention has in the lower assembly. Figure 11 shows a perspective view of one of the arms that the head of the invention has. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of an example of a crown cap with a tab for opening without an opener that is arranged on the mouth of the bottle by means of the head of the invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In view of the aforementioned figures, an exemplary embodiment of the crown cap applicator head, which is especially applicable in actuating systems or mechanisms with an applicator in bottling or capping machines, is described below.

[0032] A bottling or capping machine that has the applicator head (1) object of the invention arranged at the lower end of the machine can be seen in Figure 3. The bottling machine preferably has: An outer hollow cylinder (8), like a jacket, which extends along an axial axis (X), being closed at its upper end by a base (81) and open at its lower end. Inside, the hollow of the jacket (8) has two inner diameters, a smaller diameter in the upper part and a larger diameter in the lower part, thus determining an upper hollow with a smaller diameter in the upper part and a lower hollow (82) larger than the previous one in the lower part. A lug (110) in contact with and perpendicular to the upper base (81), arranged coaxially inside the jacket (8). A hollow central cylinder (2) (Figure 6), arranged inside and coaxial with the jacket (8), and internally having three sections (24, 25, 26) with three different inner diameters and two projections, a lower projection (28) and an upper projection (27), in the hollow of the central cylinder (2). An upper section (24) thus has a hollow with a larger diameter and is arranged in the upper part of the central cylinder (2), a lower section (26) has a hollow with a smaller diameter in the lower part of the central cylinder (2), and an intermediate section (25) has a hollow with an intermediate diameter with respect to the two previous ones and is arranged between same. This central cylinder (2) has a radial projection (29) on its outer surface, which can be approximately at the height of the internal lower projection (26) when the machine is in standby, which projection (29) is housed in the larger lower hollow (82) of the jacket (8), allowing the vertical movement of said central cylinder (2) inside the jacket (8), along said lower hollow (82). Externally, the central cylinder (2) has an external perimeter step (20) defining a lower section (21) with a smaller diameter with a threaded lower area (22) in which a bushing can fit and be threaded, which, among other functions, protects a closing bushing (3) that will rest on the lower end (23) of the central cylinder (2). Supported on the upper projection (27) of the central cylinder (2), there is an intermediate cylinder (120) that shares the axial axis (X) with the previous elements, and is made up of a cylindrical body with two outer diameters of different diameters determining two segments, a first segment with a first outer diameter coinciding with the diameter of the upper section (24) of the central cylinder (2) and a second segment with a second diameter coinciding with the diameter of the intermediate section (25) of the central cylinder (2), the second segment of the intermediate cylinder (120) extending inside the intermediate section (25) of the central cylinder (2). A plunger (122), coaxial with the previous components, arranged inside the hollow central cylinder (2), and made up of a cylindrical body with a first upper section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the intermediate section (25) of the hollow cylinder (2) and a second lower section with an outer diameter similar to the diameter of the lower section (26) of the hollow cylinder (2), resting on the lower projection (28) of the hollow cylinder (2). The length of the lower section of the plunger (122) is slightly greater than the length of the lower section (26) of the central cylinder (2), so that the plunger (122) protrudes, when the machine is in standby, from the lower part of said hollow central cylinder (2). The plunger (122) can have a magnet at its lower end to attract and hold the sheet that will form the cap (10) prior to its positioning on the container (200), preferably a bottle. It is possible to use other systems to position the sheet on the mouth of the container, although this will preferably be used with the magnet due to the material of the sheet that will form the crown cap (10). Two elastic elements (100, 100'), preferably springs, a first spring or upper spring (100), in which the lug (110) is introduced and rests on the intermediate cylinder (120), and with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the upper section (24) of the hollow central cylinder (2), and a second spring or lower spring (100'), arranged in the intermediate section (25) of the hollow central cylinder (2), with a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of said section (25), and arranged between the intermediate cylinder (120) and the plunger (122). A closing bushing (3) (Figure 7), arranged at the lower end of the hollow central cylinder (2), with a cylindrical outer surface with a projection (30) on which the lower end of the central cylinder (2) rests, and a concentric cylindrical hollow with said outer surface along the axial axis (X), said hollow of the closing bushing (3) having a conical lower opening (31), for pressing on the perimeter of a sheet (10) that is to form the crown cap (10) on a container (200). The lower end of the central hollow cylinder (2) protrudes from the lower part of the closing bushing (3) in the standby state of the machine.

[0033] The applicator head (1) object of the present invention is positioned at the lower end of said closing or capping machine as an alternative to closing containers (200), preferably bottles, with a crown cap (10). This applicator head (1) allows the placement, on the mouth of a container (200), of a particular type of sheet (10) (Figure 12), which has a tab (12) that protrudes radially with respect to the body of the sheet (10). Said tab (12) will be used to remove the crown cap (10) from the container (200) and thus access its contents. The crown cap (10) will be removed by applying a pushing force on said tab (12), but for this it is necessary for the tab (12) to be positioned parallel to the container (200), which will preferably be a bottle with a neck that must be close to the tab (12). The machine and conventional applicator heads do not allow bringing said tab (12) closer to the container (200).

[0034] In particular, the head (1) of the invention (Figures 1 and 2) essentially comprises: a fluted bushing (6) (Figure 8) with a concentric inner hollow along an axial axis (X) and with an outer surface with parallel flutes or partitions (61) defining a space (60) between every two flutes (61), an outer bushing (5) (Figure 10) with an inner hollow, concentric with the fluted bushing (6), and internally connected with the outside of the fluted bushing (6), a plurality of arms (7) (Figure 11) made up of a series of elongated pieces with an upper end (70) and a lower end (72), an intermediate section (71) of each arm (7) being located in each of the spaces (60) of the fluted bushing (6), said arms (7) being arranged between the fluted bushing (6) and the outer bushing (5), and an upper bushing (4) (Figure 9) arranged above the previous bushings (5, 6) and sharing the same axial axis (X), having means to hold each of the arms (7) from above.

[0035] Thus, according to Figure 3, the central cylinder (2) has an external perimeter step (20) that externally defines a lower section (21) with a smaller diameter with a threaded lower area (22) in which the inner wall of the threaded conical bushing (6) fits and threads, which, in turn, has an internal thread (63), thus allowing the incorporation and removal of the lower assembly of the outer bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6) with respect to the head (1), for example, so it can be exchanged with a different one or for repair or replacement.

[0036] Likewise, the closing bushing (3) provided at the lower end of the central cylinder (2) externally has a perimeter wing (30) that fits between an internal ledge (64) of the fluted conical bushing (6) and the edge (23) of the lower end of the central cylinder (2), and internally has a conical central hollow (31) in at least its lower section, this conical hollow being responsible for forming the crimps (11) of the crown cap (10) and causing it to be attached to the mouth of the container (200).

[0037] Preferably the outer bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6) that make up the external lower assembly of the head (1) are elements that can be detached from one another by means of threading.

[0038] As can be seen in Figure 8, the conical fluted bushing (6) is preferably a hollow cylindrical body that has a plurality of partitions or flutes (61) that emerge radially and equidistantly from the upper area of the external surface thereof, being separated by respective spaces (60) that serve as housing for the arms (7) of the head. In addition, said flutes (61) have an upper part with an external threaded face (611) parallel to the axial axis of the head (1), intended for the threaded coupling thereof with the outer bushing (5), and with a tapering lower part (612) that ends in the conical lower part (62) of the bushing.

[0039] The upper bushing (4) that supports the arms (7) preferably has a hollow cylindrical body with, in the lower portion, a coupling channel (40) for coupling the arms (7) which is open on the inside and in the lower portion, that is, towards the inner wall and towards the lower base of said cylindrical body, in which the upper ends (70) of the arms (7) fit snugly, said channel (40) being sized to allow partial movement of the bending defined by said ends (70) of the arms on a rotating fixing point (701) provided for that purpose in same, allowing the tilting movement of the elongated piece defining each of said arms (7) rotating at said point (701).

[0040] The outer bushing (5) preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical body the internal wall of which has a first threaded cylindrical section (50) in the upper part intended for the threaded coupling thereof with the fluted conical bushing (6), an upper conical section (51), an intermediate cylindrical section (52) and a lower conical section (53), which sections are in accordance with the structural design that the elongated pieces defining the arms (7) have.

[0041] Each arm (7) preferably has an elongated piece with: an upper end (70) defining an elbow facing the external side of the head (1), once the arm (7) has been placed in its working position, and where it has a hole that determines the rotating fixing point (701) of the arm (7); a central section (71) comprising a slightly inclined upper portion and ending in a widening (711) defining a lower inclined support (712) and a straight portion (713), and a lower end (72) inclined towards the side opposite to that of the elbow of the upper end, that is, towards the internal side of the head (1).

[0042] As can be seen in Figure 3, while the upper end (70) of the arms (7) is fixed in the channel (4) of the upper bushing (40), the central section (71) and the lower end (72) of said arms (7) are arranged between the outer bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6), so that, on the internal side, the central section (71) of each arm (7) is in contact with the fluted conical bushing (6), housed in each of the spaces (60) defined between the flutes (61) of said fluted conical bushing (6) and, on the external side, the lower inclined support (712) is positioned in the upper conical section (51) of the outer bushing (5), the straight portion (713) is positioned in the intermediate cylindrical section (52) and the inclined lower end (72) of the arms (7) is positioned on the lower conical section (53) of the external bushing (5). The space between said external bushing (5) and said fluted conical bushing (6) allows the tilting movement of the arms (7) between a raised position of the upper bushing (4), where the lower end (72) of the arms (7) are positioned inside the space between the external bushing (5) and the fluted bushing (6) (Figures 4A and 4C), and a lowered position of the upper bushing (4) in which the lower end (72) of the arms (7) project below the head (1), specifically, below the space between the external bushing (5) and the fluted conical bushing (6) and below the closing bushing (3) (Figure 4C).

[0043] In accordance with the foregoing, after having fitted the sheet on the mouth of the container (200), preferably a bottle, by means of creating crimps (11) for closing on said mouth, at least one of said arms (7) allows the tab (12) to be pushed until it is parallel to the container (200), preferably parallel to the neck of a bottle.

[0044] The crown cap (10) is shown in Figure 10 after being applied to a container (not shown in this figure) by the head (1) object of the invention. Said crown cap (10) has, intercalated in the crimped side skirt (11), the tab (12) that facilitates the opening thereof without the need to use an opener.

[0045] Next, and in accordance with the previous components, the operation of the capping machine that incorporates the applicator head of the present invention is explained according to Figures 4A, 4B and 4C. These figures do not show the upper part of the machine or all its components, which can be seen in Figure 3, but mainly show the head (1) object of the invention and its interaction with the lower components of the machine.

[0046] Thus, the method comprises the following steps: Positioning, under the head described above, a crown cap with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, Lowering the head and crimping the side skirt of the crown cap on the opening of the container, forming crimps on the cap to attach it on the opening of the container, Lowering at least one arm of the head to push the tab, protrusion or extension until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the container.

[0047] Figure 4A shows a first position of the head (1) object of the invention, in which the lower end of the plunger (122) that has a magnet (9) has attracted a sheet (10) with a tab (12) and is positioned on the mouth of a bottle (200) prior to closing said bottle (200). In particular, it can be seen, with respect to Figure 3 in which the machine is in standby, how the plunger (122) protrudes below the central cylinder (2) in this first position, in order to hold the sheet (10), by a smaller distance than in Figure 3 with the machine in standby. This is because the jacket (8) has been slightly lowered, compressing the first spring (100) which has less resistance to compression than the second spring (100'). This first compression of the first spring (100) causes the central cylinder (2) to move downwards but causes the plunger (122) to stay in the same position as in Figure 3. It can be seen in this Figure 4A how the first upper section of the plunger (122) has been separated from the internal lower projection (28) of the hollow central cylinder (2). The position of the rest of the components of the head (1) remains unchanged with respect to the standby position of the machine shown in Figure 3.

[0048] Figure 4B shows a position subsequent to the position of Figure 4A in which the jacket (8) has continued to be progressively lowering and in which the first spring (100) has continued to be compressed without the second spring (100') being compressed. In particular, the hollow central cylinder (2) has continued to be lowered, at the same time as the jacket (8) until the closing bushing (3) has surrounded the sheet (10), that is, the sheet (10) is introduced in the closing bushing (3), causing the pressure applied by it on the sheet (10) to generate the crimps (11) for closing on the mouth of the bottle (200). It can be seen in this Figure 4B with respect to Figure 4A how the first upper section of the plunger (122) has separated even more (than in said Figure 4A) from the internal lower projection (28) thus being further introduced into the intermediate section (25) of the hollow central cylinder (2). After closing the sheet (10) on the mouth of the bottle (200), it can be seen how the tab (12) of said sheet (10) is separated from the neck of the bottle (200).

[0049] Continuing with the lowering movement of the jacket (8), the position of Figure 4C is reached, where the first spring (100) has been completely compressed (not shown), thus beginning the compression of the second spring (100') with a greater resistance to compression than the first spring (100). This causes the jacket (8) to move with respect to the central cylinder (2) and the radial projection (29) of said central cylinder (2) to move with respect to the lower hole (82) of the jacket (8), causing the upper bushing (4) of the head (1) to also move downwards on the container (200). Said movement of the upper bushing (4) causes the movement of the arms (7) which, due to the already described configuration thereof and in combination with the hollow between the fluted bushing (6) and the outer bushing (5), tends to move the arms (7) below the central cylinder (3) and the closing bushing (3) towards the axial axis X common to the components of the machine and the head (1).

[0050] The lowering of the arms (7) of the head (1) on the bottle (200), causes the pushing on the tab (12) of the sheet (10) which forms the cap (10), until said tab (12) is positioned as close as possible to the wall of the bottle (200), preferably parallel to said wall, and in particular, preferably parallel and in contact with the neck of the bottle (200). Each arm (7) has a movement independent of the other arms (7) with respect to the upper bushing (4), so that only the arm (7) or arms (7) that "fall" on the tab (12) in the lowering movement of the jacket (8) will act on same. Having several independent arms (7) around the upper bushing (4) is due to the fact that the sheet (10) with the tab (12) is not always arranged in the same position with respect to the plunger (12) and the bottle (200), so that sometimes one arm (7) or two arms (7) will act and on other occasions another arm (7) or two other arms (7) will act, depending on the location of said tab (12) with respect to the plunger or bottle (200).

[0051] Alternatively (not shown), if in the process of closing the container (200) an orientation device for orienting the sheet (10) with the tab (12) with respect to the machine and the head (1) is incorporated, it is possible to reduce the number of arms (7) of the head (1) to just one since the lowering of said arm (7) would always coincide with the position of the tab (12) on the mouth of the container or bottle (200), thus bringing the tab closer to the container when the arm (7) is lowered. In this alternative construction, if the head (1) has only one arm (7), the fluted bushing (6) must only include two partitions or flutes (61) with a space (60) between them to accommodate the arm.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a crown cap applicator system that has a head as described above, and a crown cap with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap. The system can also comprise: the hollow central cylinder (2) through which the actuation plunger (122) runs, the closing bushing (3), arranged at the lower end of the cylinder (2), with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hole concentric with said outer surface along an x-axis, said hole having a conical lower opening (31), for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap (10) on a container, and the head (1) having the features described above and connected to the central cylinder (2).

[0053] The connection between the head (1) and the central cylinder (2) is made by means of a threaded coupling arranged between the hollow central cylinder (2) comprising a thread and the internal thread of the fluted bushing (6).

[0054] Likewise, the system can incorporate the components of the actuation mechanism of the crown cap applicator head described above, in particular an outer jacket with a lug internally in contact with the base of the jacket, the hollow central cylinder being associated with the outer jacket by means of the springs and the intermediate cylinder. It should be mentioned that the upper bushing of the head is connected by means of threading means with the lower end of the external jacket, the upper bushing having an outer thread that is associated with an inner thread at the lower end of the external jacket.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0031]In view of the aforementioned figures, an exemplary embodiment of the crown cap applicator head, which is especially applicable in actuating systems or mechanisms with an applicator in bottling or capping machines, is described below.

[0032]A bottling or capping machine that has the applicator head (1) object of the invention arranged at the lower end of the machine can be seen in Figure 3. The bottling machine preferably has:

An outer hollow cylinder (8), like a jacket, which extends along an axial axis (X), being closed at its upper end by a base (81) and open at its lower end. Inside, the hollow of the jacket (8) has two inner diameters, a smaller diameter in the upper part and a larger diameter in the lower part, thus determining an upper hollow with a smaller diameter in the upper part and a lower hollow (82) larger than the previous one in the lower part. A lug (110) in contact with and perpendicular to the upper base (81), arranged coaxially inside the jacket (8). A hol...

Claims

1. A crown cap applicator head, characterized in that it comprises: - an inner bushing (6) with a concentric inner hollow along an axial axis (x) and with an outer surface, - an outer bushing (5) with an inner hollow, concentric with the inner bushing (6), and internally connected with the outside of the inner bushing (6), determining a hollow between the outer surface of the inner bushing and the inner surface of the outer bushing, - at least one arm (7), made up of an elongated piece, with a section (71) of the arm (7) located in at least one space (60) arranged in the hollow between the inner bushing (6) and the outer bushing (5), and - an upper bushing (4) arranged above the previous bushings (5, 6) and sharing the same axial axis (x), having means to hold the arm (7) from above.

2. The head according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one space (60) is defined by two partitions or flutes.

3. The head according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises several arms (7) that are arranged in spaces (60).

4. The head according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner bushing (6) is a fluted bushing (6) comprising on its outer surface at least two parallel partitions or flutes (61) defining the at least one space (60) between the flutes (61).

5. The head according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer bushing (5) comprises on its inner surface at least two parallel flutes or partitions defining the at least one space between the flutes.

6. The head according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner bushing (6) has an internal thread (63) on the inner surface of the inner hollow.

7. The head according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer bushing (5) has an internal thread (50) on its inner surface for the connection thereof to the fluted bushing (6).

8. The head according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (7) comprises an upper end (70), a lower end (72) and an intermediate section (71), the intermediate section (71) being located in the space (60).

9. The head according to claim 4, characterized in that the inner hollow of the outer bushing (5) has sections that are in accordance with the structural design that has at least one arm (7).

10. The head according to claim 4, characterized in that the flutes (61) have an upper part with a threaded external face (611) parallel to the axial axis (x), for the connection thereof with the outer bushing (5), and with a tapering lower part (612) that ends in the lower part (62) of the fluted bushing (6).

11. The head according to claim 9, characterized in that the outer bushing (5) has a hollow cylindrical body the internal surface of which has a first threaded cylindrical section (50) in the upper part intended for the threaded coupling thereof with the fluted bushing (6), an upper conical section (51), an intermediate cylindrical section (52) and a lower conical section (53).

12. The head according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper bushing (4) has a hollow cylindrical body with a lower channel (40) inside, where the upper end (70) of at least one arm (7) fits and is coupled to the upper bushing (4) by means of a rotating fixing point that allows the tilting movement of the arm (7) with respect to the upper bushing (4).

13. The head according to claim 8, characterized in that the arm (7) comprises an elongated piece with: - the upper end (70) defining an elbow facing the external side of the head (1), once the arm (7) has been placed in its working position, where it comprises a hole that determines a rotating fixing point (701) of the arm (7); - a central section (71) comprising a slightly inclined upper portion and ending in a widening (711) defining a lower inclined support (712) and a straight portion (713), and - a lower end (72) inclined towards the side opposite to that of the elbow of the upper end, that is, towards the internal side of the head (1).

14. The head according to claim 4, characterized in that the partitions or flutes (6) emerge radially and equidistantly from the upper area of the external surface of the fluted bushing (6).

15. A crown cap applicator system, characterized in that it comprises a head according to any of claims 1 to 14, and a crown cap with a side skirt and with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap.

16. The system according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises: - a hollow central cylinder (2) through which an actuation plunger (122) runs, - a closing bushing (3), arranged at the lower end of the cylinder (2), with a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hollow concentric with said outer surface along an x-axis, said hollow having a conical lower opening, for pressing on the perimeter a sheet that is to form the crown cap (10) on a container, and - the head connected to the central cylinder (2).

17. The system according to claim 16, characterized in that the cylinder (2) comprises a thread to be connected with the internal thread (63) of the fluted bushing (6).

18. A method of applying a crown cap on the opening of a container with a neck, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - Positioning, under the head of any of claims 1 to 14, a crown cap with a side skirt and with a tab, protrusion or extension of the side skirt, which breaks the circular trajectory of the crown cap, - Lowering the head and crimping the side skirt of the crown cap on the opening of the container, forming crimps on the cap to attach it on the opening of the container, - Lowering at least one arm of the head to push the tab, protrusion or extension until it is positioned parallel to the neck of the container.

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