Apparatus and method for applying closure elements

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for applying closure elements (100) to containers (200) comprising: both a fixed feeding device (11) comprising a feeder (17) and a plurality (N) of feeding lines (18) in communication with said feeder (17) and arranged in a common advancement direction (X), and also a mobile receiving device (12) comprising a receiving element (25) provided with a plurality (M) of seats (26) for said closure elements (100) open towards said feeding lines (18).

Description

[0001] “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING CLOSURE ELEMENTS”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns an apparatus and method for applying closure elements to containers such as bottles, vials, syringe bodies, or other similar containers normally used in the pharmaceutical field and beyond.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In the pharmaceutical products packaging sector, the need to close containers, pre-filled with a liquid, solid or granular product, by applying a closure or capping element on them, is known.

[0006] A typical apparatus aimed at this need is described in document ITMI20040923AI and comprises a feeding device consisting of a vibrating cup, into which a plurality of closure elements is introduced in bulk, and a series of lines connected to the vibrating cup and along which the closure elements are advanced towards a fixed receiving device, arranged at the end of the lines.

[0007] The receiving device is provided with a higher number of seats than the number of lines, wherein each seat is able to accommodate one respective closure element at a time.

[0008] The feeding device is mounted on a base plate slidable on rails and is moved in translation by means of an actuator in order to align the lines alternately with a first group of seats and with a second group of seats of the receiving device, which is instead installed in a fixed position.

[0009] The apparatus further comprises a pick-up device, of the “pick and place” type, which cooperates with both the receiving device and also an application device, the latter being configured to apply the closure elements to the containers that advance on a dedicated line.

[0010] A disadvantage of this apparatus is that the overall dimensions and weight of the feeding device entails a proportionate sizing of the actuator for its movement, which therefore becomes bulky and complex. This disadvantage is particularly felt also because the apparatus is normally inserted inside an isolator that has a housing which is often not spacious enough to allow the translation movement of the entire feeding device. In addition, the movement of the feeding device can cause turbulence on the laminar flow inside the isolator; therefore, the sterile atmosphere during the packaging of the pharmaceutical products can be compromised.

[0011] Another disadvantage of this apparatus is that the actuator is subjected to the vibrational stresses generated by the vibrating cup, and is therefore affected by frequent malfunctions and prolonged maintenance operations that reduce the apparatus’ productivity.

[0012] U.S. patent document US 5,095,681 describes an apparatus for mounting caps on containers of fluid products according to the preamble of claim 1 , wherein the cap feeding device is fixed and the cap receiving device is movable. There is therefore the need to perfect an apparatus and method for applying closure elements in particular, but not only, to containers such as bottles, vials, syringe bodies, which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0013] To do this it is necessary to solve the technical problem of limiting the number and overall dimensions of the moving masses, and therefore that of limiting and reducing the cost of the actuator that makes the alignment between the lines and the seats of the receiving device possible.

[0014] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying closure elements with a simple, versatile and reliable construction. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying closure elements in which the movement of alignment between the lines and the seats of the receiving device does not involve a movement of the feeding device.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying closure elements which has limited overall dimensions, both of the fixed masses but above all of the mobile masses, and such that it can be housed inside an insulator without any problems.

[0016] Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method for applying closure elements which allows to put the lines in communication with the seats of the receiving device in a particularly simple, rapid and precise manner, and with reduced costs for managing the actuator that determines the movement of alignment.

[0017] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0018] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims.

[0020] The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0021] In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, an apparatus according to the present invention is provided for applying closure elements to containers, such as for example bottles, vials, syringe bodies or other similar containers used normally, but not only, in the pharmaceutical field.

[0022] The apparatus comprises both a feeding device comprising a feeder and a plurality of adjacent feeding lines in communication with the feeder and arranged in a common advancement direction, and also a receiving device comprising a receiving element provided with a plurality of seats for the closure elements, the seats being open towards the feeding lines.

[0023] The number of seats can be, for example, higher than the number of feeding lines.

[0024] According to a variant, the number of seats can be lower than the number of feeding lines.

[0025] According to another variant, the number of seats can be the same as the number of feeding lines.

[0026] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the feeding device is installed in a fixed position, and the receiving element is movable with respect to the feeding lines between a first position to align one or more first seats of the plurality of seats with one or more first feeding lines of the plurality of feeding lines, in order to receive in at least one, or in each, first seat a respective closure element, and a second position to align one or more second seats of the plurality of seats with one or more second feeding lines of the plurality of feeding lines, in order to receive in at least one, or in each, second seat a respective closure element.

[0027] Doing so achieves at least the advantage of moving a component with a lower weight and smaller overall dimensions than the components moved in the state of the art, that is, the feeder and feeding lines as a whole. In fact, the space to move lines and hopper is not always available because this apparatus is often inserted inside an isolator which has limited space.

[0028] Another advantage of the present invention is making available a versatile apparatus capable of feeding a first and a second group of closure elements, possibly even different from each other in terms of type, size and shape, into first and second seats, respectively, wherein each group is fed by respective first and second feeding lines.

[0029] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the receiving device comprises handling means associated with the receiving element to translate the receiving element in an alignment direction transversal to the advancement direction, at least between the first position and the second position.

[0030] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the handling means can comprise a linear guide extending parallel to the alignment direction, a carriage slidably associated with the guide and fixed to the receiving element in order to move it at least between the first and second position, and a driving member.

[0031] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the driving member is an electric motor or an electric actuator sizes to determine only the translation of the receiving element.

[0032] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the first and second seats are arranged on a same single line with a seat pitch equal to or a multiple of a feeding line pitch between the feeding lines.

[0033] According to a variant, the first seats can be arranged along a first line and the second seats can be arranged along a second line, adjacent and parallel to the first line, the first and second seats being staggered from each other. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the feeding device comprises a plurality of orienting elements arranged between the feeder and the feeding lines, wherein there is an accumulation zone for the oriented closure elements between the orienting elements and the feeding lines.

[0034] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises pushing members arranged below the receiving element and configured to be vertically moveable to lift the closure elements from the seats of the receiving element.

[0035] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a transfer device configured to pick up the closure elements from the receiving device, and an application device configured to push the closure elements that have been picked up by the transfer device to respective containers.

[0036] Some embodiments of the present invention also concern a method for applying closure elements to containers comprising:

[0037] - a feeding step, wherein a feeder supplies the closure elements in bulk to a certain number of feeding lines in communication with the feeder and arranged in an advancement direction;

[0038] - a receiving step, wherein a receiving element, provided with a certain number of seats for the closure elements, the seats being open in the direction of the feeding lines, receives the closure elements which arrive from the feeding lines.

[0039] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the method comprises an alignment step, wherein the receiving element is moved with respect to the feeding lines, which are fixed, between a first position to align one or more first seats of the plurality of seats with one or more first feeding lines of the plurality of feeding lines, in order to subsequently receive, in the receiving step, in at least one, or in each, first seat a respective closure element, and a second position to align one or more second seats of the plurality of seats with one or more second feeding lines of the plurality of feeding lines, in order to subsequently receive, in the receiving step, in at least one, or in each, second seat a respective closure element.

[0040] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises a lifting step wherein pushing members arranged below the receiving element are vertically moved to lift the closure elements from the seats of the receiving element. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises a transfer step wherein a transfer device picks up the closure elements from the receiving device, and an application step wherein an application device applies the closure elements that have been picked up by the transfer device to respective containers. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the alignment step the receiving element is translated in an alignment direction, transversal to the advancement direction, at least between the first position and the second position, and optionally into a pick-up position in which the seats and the feeding lines are temporarily misaligned.

[0041] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method can comprise a selective interruption step, wherein one or more of the feeding lines or of the seats are temporarily disabled. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0043] - fig. 1 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of an apparatus for applying closure elements, according to the present invention;

[0044] - fig. la is a schematic top view of a variant of the receiving element;

[0045] - fig. 2 is a lateral view of fig. 1 in which the transfer device is shown rotated to cooperate with the application device;

[0046] - fig. 3 is a schematic top view showing a receiving element having a number of seats smaller than the number of feeding lines.

[0047] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0048] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0049] With reference to figs. 1 and 2, these show an apparatus 10 according to the present invention for applying closure or capping elements, hereafter caps 100, to containers 200 such as bottles, vials, syringe bodies or other similar containers used normally, but not only, in the pharmaceutical field. The apparatus 10 comprises a feeding device 11 configured to feed the caps 100 to a receiving device 12 arranged downstream in an advancement direction X of the caps 100.

[0050] The receiving device 12 is a distinct and separate component from the feeding device 11.

[0051] The apparatus 10 further comprises a transfer device 13 configured to cooperate with the receiving device 12, from which it picks up the caps 100 and makes them available to an application device 14 which has the function of associating, by means of pressure, the caps 100 with the respective containers 200 according to modes essentially known to a person of skill in the art.

[0052] The containers 200 are preferably advanced in groups, continuously or with a constant pitch, by means of a transport device 15 arranged, with respect to the application device 14, in such a way that the caps 100 can be applied to the containers 200.

[0053] The feeding device 11 is installed in a fixed position, for example on a support plane 16 of the apparatus 10, and comprises a feeder 17 inside which the caps 100 are introduced in bulk, and a certain number, that is, a plurality, N of feeding lines 18 in communication with the feeder 17. The feeder 17, shown by way of example with a rectangle in fig. 1, can be a circular vibratory feeder, or vibrating base, such as a vibrating cup with a cylindrical, conical, or stepped tank, or a linear vibratory feeder, or vibrating base, equipped with linear feeding channels. A person of skill in the art will understand that many types of feeders can be used, all of which are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0054] The feeder 17 can comprise, or in turn be fed by, a hopper or by means of other similar systems.

[0055] According to possible embodiments, the number N of feeding lines 18 can for example be comprised between 1 and 10. However, solutions in which the number of feeding lines 18 can also be greater than 10 are not excluded. In the example of fig. 1 , six feeding lines 18 are shown.

[0056] The feeding lines 18 extend on a substantially horizontal or slightly inclined advancement plane to promote the advancement of the caps 100 in the advancement direction X towards the receiving device 12. The feeding lines 18 are created on a flat plate 20, which forms part of the feeding device 11 , and are defined by walls 19 arranged essentially side by side in the advancement direction X, transversely spaced apart from each other. The flat plate 20 can define the advancement plane as above. Advantageously, all the feeding lines 18 have the same width or transversal size, understood as the distance between two adjacent walls 19. This width or transversal size is chosen based on the format of the caps 100 to be processed.

[0057] The feeding lines 18 can have a different length from each other. By way of example, an outermost first feeding line 18 can have a greater length and the subsequent feeding lines 18 can have a gradually decreasing length. According to other solutions, all the feeding lines 18 have the same length.

[0058] The walls 19 that define the feeding lines 18 can have a slightly increasing thickness starting from an inlet end 22A of the feeding lines 18, which faces in the direction of the feeder 17, towards an outlet end 22B of the feeding lines 18, which faces the receiving device 12.

[0059] According to possible embodiments, the feeding lines 18 can advantageously be arranged parallel to each other so as to reduce the transversal overall dimensions. In that case, the walls 19 can have the same thickness. The feeding lines 18 are distanced transversely with respect to each other with a feeding line pitch Pl (figs. 1, 3), defined by the distance between the center distances of the same feeding lines 18 measured, for example, at the outlet end 22B.

[0060] The feeding line pitch Pl between the feeding lines 18 is preferably constant and uniform.

[0061] There can be a plurality of orienting elements 21 between the feeding lines 18 and the feeder 17. The orienting elements 21 have the function of orienting the caps 100 with a coupling portion thereof facing upwards. The coupling portion is the part that, during use, comes into contact with the neck of the container 200 on which the cap 100 is applied.

[0062] The orienting elements 21 can comprise, by way of example, flat advancement portions 21 A, smooth walls 2 IB and / or grooved walls 21C with helical profile or other curvilinear geometry. The smooth walls 2 IB and the grooved walls 21C define respective grooves in the advancement direction X, along which the caps 100 can advance due to the effect of the vibration, and possibly due to gravity.

[0063] According to one variant, the orienting elements 21 can be integrated in the feeder 17. In this case, the caps 100 reach the feeding lines 18 already correctly oriented. There can be an accumulation zone 24 upstream of the feeding lines 18, from where the caps 100, previously oriented due to the effect of the vibrations and possibly also due to gravity, proceed in the feeding lines 18.

[0064] The accumulation zone 24 can be a zone of the flat plate 20 upstream of the inlet ends 22A of the feeding lines 18. The accumulation zone 24 can be located between the feeding lines 18 and the orienting elements 21.

[0065] The feeder 17, the feeding lines 18 and, if present, the orienting elements 21 are advantageously distinct and separate components arranged in abutment, according to the order described above, in order to form a continuous path for the caps 100. These components can be associated with the support plane 16 or with intermediate bases fixed to the support plane 16.

[0066] A plurality of vibration elements 23 is associated at the lower part with the feeder 17, with the orienting elements 21, if present, and with the feeding lines 18 to determine the vibrations necessary to allow the advancement of the caps 100 in the advancement direction X, fig. 2.

[0067] The vibration elements 23 can be commanded to determine different vibrations (frequency and amplitude) both according to the components to which they are applied and also as a function of the specific phase of the process.

[0068] The vibration elements 23 could be integrated with, that is, be part of the components to which they impart the vibration.

[0069] According to one aspect of the present invention, the receiving device 12 comprises a receiving element 25 provided with a certain number, that is, a plurality, M of seats 26 for the caps 100, the seats 26 being open in the direction of the feeding lines 18, wherein the receiving element 25 is movable with respect to the feeding lines 18 at least between a first position and a distinct second position.

[0070] The receiving element 25 is moved into the first position to align one or more first seats 26A of the plurality M of seats 26 with one or more first feeding lines 18 A of the plurality N of feeding lines 18, in order to receive in at least one, or in each, first seat 26A a respective closure element 100.

[0071] The receiving element 25 is moved into the second position to align one or more second seats 26B of the plurality M of seats 26 with one or more second feeding lines 18B of the plurality N of feeding lines 18, in order to receive in at least one, or in each, second seat 26B a respective closure element 100.

[0072] Hereafter in the description we will refer to the seat(s) 26 to generically mean both the first and second seats 26 A, 26B.

[0073] In particular, the receiving element 25 comprises at least a first and a second group of seats which comprise at least one seat 26, wherein the first group of seats comprises the first seats 26A and the second group of seats comprises the second seats 26B.

[0074] The first and second group of seats can be filled with a corresponding first and second group of caps 100 which, in turn, comprise at least one cap 100. According to some embodiments, the number M of seats 26 is greater than the number N of feeding lines 18, fig. 1.

[0075] According to a variant, the number M of seats 26 can be smaller than the number N of feeding lines 18, see fig. 3. In this case, the seats 26 can for example be arranged at a seat pitch P2 different from the feeding line pitch Pl of the feeding lines 18. In the example of fig. 3, the seat pitch P2 is, by way of example, double the feeding line pitch Pl of the feeding lines 18.

[0076] According to another variant, the number M of seats 26 can be the same as the number N of feeding lines 18.

[0077] The caps 100, as they gradually advance along the feeding lines 18, accumulate against the receiving element 25 until they are housed in a free seat 26.

[0078] Referring, by way of example, to fig. 3 (the following however also applies to configurations in which the number of seats 26 is equal to or greater than the number of feeding lines 18), in the at least one first position the receiving element

[0079] 25 is configured to receive a first group of caps 100 in the respective first seats 26 A of the plurality M of seats 26, which are aligned with the corresponding first feeding lines 18 A of the plurality N of feeding lines 18, for example the three seats

[0080] 26 on the left in fig. 3 shown already filled. After the receiving element 25 is translated into the at least one second position, the receiving element 25 is configured to receive a distinct second group of caps 100 in the respective second seats 26B of the plurality M of seats 26, which are aligned with the further corresponding second feeding lines 18B of the plurality N of feeding lines 18, for example the two seats 26 on the right in fig. 3 shown still empty. The different pitch between seats 26 and feeding lines 18 causes the solid wall of the receiving element 25 and the already filled seats 26 to prevent a further advancement of any caps 100 while the still empty seats 26 are filled as just described.

[0081] According to some embodiments, the first feeding lines 18A can be different from the second feeding lines 18b, as in the example of fig. 3. This however depends essentially on the travel of the receiving element 25. Therefore, the first feeding lines 18A could coincide with some or all of the second feeding lines 18b, and vice versa.

[0082] The receiving element 25 is substantially conformed as a rectangular plate in which the seats 26 are made at a longer side thereof and, in addition to being open in the direction of the feeding lines 18 and facing their outlet ends 22b, the seats 26 are made through in its thickness.

[0083] The seats 26 are advantageously arranged on a same single line.

[0084] According to one possible embodiment, shown in fig. la, the seats 26 can possibly be arranged on two parallel lines, wherein the seats 26 of a first line are staggered with respect to the seats 26 of an adjacent second line. In other words, the first seats 26A can be arranged along a first line and the second seats 26B can be arranged along a second line which is adjacent and parallel to the first line, wherein the first and second seats 26A, 26B are staggered from each other.

[0085] All the seats 26 advantageously are of the same size. This sizing is chosen based on the format of the caps 100 to be processed.

[0086] The seats 26 are distanced transversely with respect to each other with seat pitch P2, defined by the distance between the center distances of two adjacent seats 26.

[0087] The seat pitch P2 between the seats 26 is preferably constant and uniform. The seat pitch P2 between the seats 26 is advantageously equal to or a multiple of the feeding line pitch Pl between the feeding lines 18.

[0088] In other words, the seat pitch P2 between the seats 26 can be different from the feeding line pitch Pl between the feeding lines 18, see for example fig. 3.

[0089] According to some embodiments, the number M of seats 26 can be comprised between 2 and 20, for example. However, solutions in which the number of seats 26 can also be greater than 20 are not excluded. In the example of fig. 1 , ten seats

[0090] 26 are shown arranged on a same single line.

[0091] The number M of seats 26 can preferably, but not necessarily, be double the number N of feeding lines 18. The receiving element 25 is arranged on the same lying plane as the feeding lines 18, or at least of their outlet end 22B. In this way, the seats 26 can constitute a continuity of the feeding lines 18 and receive the caps 100.

[0092] The lying plane of the receiving element 25 is also the plane on which the receiving element 25 is moved. This lying plane is an essentially horizontal plane.

[0093] Below the receiving element 25 there can be pushing members 27 vertically aligned with the seats 26 and configured to be vertically movable to lift the caps 100 from the seats 26 of the receiving element 25, figs. 1 and 2.

[0094] Advantageously, a pushing member 27 is provided for each seat 26, fig. 1. Therefore, the number of pushing members 27 corresponds to the number of seats 26 of the receiving element 25.

[0095] Once the filling of the receiving element 25 is finished, which can also be a partial filling, that is, of only some seats 26, for example the first or second seats 26A, 26B, the receiving element 25 can be brought into a pick-up position so that the seats 26 are aligned above the pushing members 27 and ready to cooperate with the transfer device 13.

[0096] The partial filling of the seats 26 can be required under particular conditions of use of the apparatus 10.

[0097] The partial filling can be obtained by operating with selective interruption, achieved by positioning, in a reciprocally suitable manner, elements / components which are already present in the apparatus 10, that is, the feeding lines 18, the receiving element 25, the pushing members 27 and / or the transfer element 36.

[0098] According to further embodiments, the apparatus 10 can comprise static or dynamic selective blocking elements for selectively obstructing one or more feeding lines 18, one or more seats 26 and / or one or more recesses 37 described below.

[0099] The pick-up position can correspond to the first or second position, or it can be distinct from these two positions. The pick-up position can be a position in which the feeding lines 18 and the seats 26 are temporarily not in communication, that is, a position in which the seats 26 are not aligned with the feeding lines 18.

[0100] According to some embodiments, in the pick-up position the receiving element 25 can be positioned in such a way that all, or some, of the seats 26 face respective walls 19 of the feeding lines 18. These walls 19 act, in this case, as an abutment, preventing the entry of further caps 100, favoring the picking up action by the transfer device 13.

[0101] The pushing members 27 are preferably all mounted on a same support 28 which is movable at least in a vertical direction, towards / away from the seats 26, by means of a handling mechanism 29 driven by an actuator 30.

[0102] According to one variant, the pushing members 27 can be configured to emit jets of gas, for example air, to lift the caps 100 and make them available to the transfer device 13.

[0103] According to the present invention, the receiving device 12 comprises handling means 31 associated with the receiving element 25 to translate the receiving element 25 in an alignment direction Y transversal to the advancement direction X of the caps 100.

[0104] The alignment direction Y is substantially orthogonal to the advancement direction X, both lying on substantially parallel horizontal planes. The translation of the receiving element 25 can correspond to the distance of one pitch Pl, P2, or a multiple of one pitch Pl, P2, so that in each position of the receiving element 26 some of the seats 26 are aligned with some of the feeding lines 18.

[0105] According to possible embodiments, the translation of the receiving element 25 can be carried out with a different stroke with respect to the pitch Pl, P2 or a multiple thereof. This condition can be useful to define the pick-up position as above.

[0106] The handling means 31 can advantageously be installed on the same support plane 16 on which the feeding device 11 is installed, in a fixed manner. According to some embodiments, the handling means 31 comprise a linear guide 32 extending parallel to the alignment direction Y, a carriage 33 slidably associated with the guide 32 and fixed to the receiving element 25, and a driving member 34 configured to determine a movement of the carriage 33 along the guide 32. The driving member 34 can be of any known type whatsoever, for example an electric motor or an electric actuator.

[0107] According to further embodiments, the handling means 31 can comprise a linear guide and an electric actuator. The linear guide can be slidably housed in a compartment that guarantees sealing and protection. This compartment can, for example, comprise a scraper element or a bellows seal.

[0108] A person of skill in the art will understand that the handling means 31 can also comprise different components such as belts, pulleys, toothed wheels, planar motors and others.

[0109] It is quite evident that the receiving device 25 has much smaller overall dimensions, and above all a much lower weight than those of the feeding device 11 as a whole. Therefore, the movement of the receiving element 25 is easier to carry out, it involves the use of a less expensive driving member 34 with a lower power and easier to maintain, and results in limited overall dimensions of the moving masses.

[0110] The receiving element 25 cooperates with the transfer device 13.

[0111] The transfer device 13 can be, or comprise, a “pick and place” robot capable of picking up the caps 100 present in the seats 26 of the receiving element 25 and transferring them, possibly overturning them by 180°, towards the application device 14 located downstream.

[0112] The transfer device 13 can comprise a transfer element 36 provided with recesses or cells 37 for supporting the caps 100 picked up from the receiving element 25. The recesses 37 are arranged in a similar manner to the seats 26. The recesses 37 are advantageously all of the same or shape. Their size or shape is chosen based on the format of the caps 100 to be transferred.

[0113] The transfer device 13 picks up, advantageously simultaneously, both the first and second group of caps 100, and also further groups of caps 100 housed in the seats 26 of the receiving device 25. The number of recesses 37 can essentially correspond to the number M of seats

[0114] 26 of the receiving element 25.

[0115] The recesses 37 are arranged with constant and uniform recess pitch P3. The recess pitch P3 between the recesses 37 corresponds to the seat pitch P2 between the seats 26. The transfer element 36 is conformed as a rectangular plate in which the recesses

[0116] 37 are made at a longer side thereof, made through in its thickness.

[0117] The recesses 37 can be configured to temporarily support the caps 100, essentially by friction or snap-fit. According to some embodiments, the transfer device 13 can comprise an articulated arm 38 configured to support, at one end thereof, the transfer element 36.

[0118] The articulated arm 38 can be able to rotate around an essentially horizontal axis Z1 to overturn the caps 100, bringing them with a lower side thereof facing downwards, to be subsequently applied.

[0119] The transfer element 36 cooperates with the application device 14 at the end of the 180° rotation.

[0120] According to possible embodiments, which can be combined with the embodiments described above, the articulated arm 38 can be associated with a base 39 of the transfer device 13 that can rotate around an essentially vertical axis Z2 in order to move the articulated arm 38, with the transfer element 36, at the application device 14.

[0121] Purely by way of example, with reference to fig. 2, the application device 14 is of the type functional to the application of caps 100 on containers 200 which are fed in a so-called “nest” of containers.

[0122] The application device 14 can comprise a centering plate 40 provided with holes 41, which the transfer element 36 temporarily nears, and a plurality of inserting members 42 vertically movable, up and down, through the holes 41 to pressure insert the caps 100 into the containers 200 moved at the lower part by the transport device 15 and aligned vertically under the holes 41 on each occasion.

[0123] The transport device 15 can comprise, for example, a guide 43 to which at least one tray, or nest, 44 is associated. The containers 200 to be capped can be supported on the tray 44 in an orderly manner, arranged according to a pattern with rows, possibly staggered, wherein the containers 200 are aligned below the holes 41 on each occasion.

[0124] When a row of containers 200 is aligned below the holes 41, the tray 44 is temporarily stopped, the caps 100 are inserted, and then the tray 44 is moved forward, or backwards, to make a new row of containers 200 available. The process is repeated until all the containers 200 present on the tray 44 have been closed.

[0125] When the containers 200 on the nest 44 have been capped, the nest 44 with the capped containers 200 is picked up with a manipulator and a new nest 44 of containers 200 to be capped is made available. A person of skill in the art will understand that the transport device 15 is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above, but can comprise linear or carousel conveyor belts, anthropomorphic robots, or other similar transport devices. According to other possible embodiments, the application device 14 can be functional to the application of caps 100 to containers 200 to be capped which are arranged in single rows. In this case, the transfer device 13 brings the caps onto the single row of containers 200 to be capped.

[0126] When the single row of containers 200 has been capped, the single row of capped containers 200 is picked up with a manipulator and a new row of containers

[0127] 200 to be capped is made available.

[0128] The operation of the apparatus 10 described heretofore, which corresponds to the method according to possible embodiments, comprises the following steps.

[0129] A feeding step, preferably continuous, in which the feeder 17 supplies the caps 100 in bulk to the feeding lines 18 which are in communication with the feeder 17 and arranged in the advancement direction X.

[0130] Before the feeding lines 18 receive the caps 100, the method can optionally comprise an orientation step wherein, by means of suitable orienting elements 21, arranged before the feeding lines 18, the caps 100 are oriented with a coupling portion thereof facing upwards.

[0131] Subsequently, the method provides a receiving step, wherein the receiving element 25 receives, in the seats 26, the caps arriving from the feeding lines 18.

[0132] This receiving step occurs immediately after an alignment step. In this alignment step, the receiving element 25 is moved in translation, in the alignment direction Y, with respect to the feeding lines 18, which are fixed, to align one or more of the seats 26 with one or more of the feeding lines 18, in order to receive in at least one, or each, seat 26 a respective cap 100.

[0133] In this alignment step, the receiving element 25 is moved into the first position to align the one or more first seats 26A of the plurality M of seats 26 with the one or more first feeding lines 18A of the plurality N of feeding lines 18, in order to receive in at least one, or in each, first seat 26A a respective closure element 100 during the receiving step.

[0134] During a subsequent alignment step, the receiving element 25 is moved into the second position to align the one or more second seats 26B of the plurality M of seats 26 with the one or more second feeding lines 18B of the plurality N of feeding lines 18, in order to receive in at least one, or in each, second seat 26B a respective closure element 100 during the receiving step. The method can also comprise a selective interruption step, wherein one or more of the feeding lines 18, of the seats 26 or of the recesses 37 are temporarily disabled, that is, not able to receive the caps 100.

[0135] Once the receiving element 25 has been completely or partly filled with the caps 100, a transfer step is provided in which the caps 100 are picked up by means of the transfer device 13 and brought, overturned by 180°, at the application device

[0136] 14 by means of which, in a substantially known manner and therefore not described in detail, the caps 100 are applied to the containers 200 that are advanced by the transport device 15.

[0137] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the apparatus 10 and to the method for applying closure elements as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0138] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of an apparatus and method for applying closure elements, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0139] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus (10) for applying closure elements (100) to containers (200), said apparatus comprising:- a feeding device (11) comprising a feeder (17) and a plurality (N) of adjacent feeding lines (18) in communication with said feeder (17) and arranged in a common advancement direction (X),- a receiving device (12) comprising a receiving element (25) provided with a plurality (M) of seats (26) open towards said feeding lines (18), each seat (26) being configured to house one of said closure elements (100), whereby said feeding device (11) is installed in a fixed position, and said receiving element (25) is movable, characterized in that the receiving element (25) is movable with respect to said feeding lines (18) between a first position to align one or more first seats (26A) of said plurality (M) of seats (26) with one or more of first feeding lines (18A) of said plurality (N) of feeding lines (18), to receive in at least one, or in each, first seat (26A) a respective closure element (100), and a second position to align one or more second seats (26B) of said plurality (M) of seats (26) with one or more second feeding lines (18B) of said plurality (N) of feeding lines (18), to receive in at least one, or in each, second seat (26B) a respective closure element (100).

2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said receiving device (12) comprises handling means (31) associated with said receiving element (25) to translate said receiving element (25) in an alignment direction (Y) transversal to said advancement direction (X), at least between said first position and said second position.

3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said handling means (31) comprise a linear guide (32) extending parallel to the alignment direction (Y), a carriage (33) slidably associated with said guide (32) and fixed to said receiving element (25), and a driving member (34) configured to move said carriage (33) along the guide (32).

4. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second seats (26A, 26B) are arranged on a same single line with a seat pitch (P2) equal or multiple with respect to a feeding line pitch (Pl) between said feeding lines (18), or said first seats (26A) are arranged along a first line andsaid second seats (26B) are arranged along a second line adjacent and parallel to the first line, so that said first and second seats (26A, 26B) are staggered from each other.

5. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said feeding device (11) comprises a plurality of orienting elements (21) arranged between said feeder (17) and said feeding lines (18).

6. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by further comprising pushing members (27) arranged below said receiving element (25), and configured to be vertically moveable to lift the closure elements (100) from the seats (26) of said receiving element (25).

7. Apparatus (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by further comprising a transfer device (13) configured to pick up the closure elements (100) from the receiving device (12), and an application device (14) configured to apply the closure elements (100) that have been picked up by the transfer device (13) to respective containers (200).

8. Method for applying closure elements (100) to containers (200), said method comprising:- a feeding step wherein a feeder (17) supplies said closure elements (100) in bulk to a plurality (N) of feeding lines (18) in communication with said feeder (17) and arranged in a common advancement direction (X),- a receiving step, wherein a receiving element (25), provided with a plurality (M) of seats (26) open towards said feeding lines (18), receives said closure elements (100) which arrive from said feeding lines (18) into said seats (26), characterized in that it comprises an alignment step, wherein said receiving element (25) is moved with respect to said feeding lines (18), which are kept fixed, between a first position to align one or more first seats (26A) of said plurality (M) of seats (26) with one or more first feeding lines (18A) of said plurality (N) of feeding lines (18), to receive in at least one, or in each, first seat (26 A) a respective closure element (100), and a second position to align one or more second seats (26B) of said plurality (M) of seats (26) with one or more second feeding lines(18B) of said plurality (N) of feeding lines (18), to receive in at least one, or in each, second seat (26B) a respective closure element (100).

9. Method as in claim 8, characterized by further comprising a lifting stepwherein pushing members (27) arranged below said receiving element (25) are vertically moved to lift the closure elements (100) from the seats (26) of said receiving element (25).

10. Method as in claim 8 or 9, characterized by further comprising a transfer step wherein a transfer device (13) picks up the closure elements (100) from the receiving device (12), and an application step wherein an application device (14) applies the closure elements (100) that have been picked up by the transfer device (13) to respective containers (200).

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