TWO-PIECE INTERLOCKING SYSTEM WITH CONTROL SYSTEM
The interlocking system with a knurled wheel, lever arms, and force sensors addresses the issue of improper fitting by monitoring deformation to ensure precise and secure attachment of caps onto bodies.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024000406
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-01-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing interlocking systems for molding caps do not verify the correct fitting of lids onto bodies, leading to potential misalignment and improper sealing.
An interlocking system with a knurled wheel, lever arms, and force sensors that monitor the deformation during the fitting process, emitting electrical values proportional to the force applied, allowing a control unit to ensure the fitting is within a predefined range for a perfect fit.
Ensures automatic verification of correct fitting, enabling real-time adjustment and ensuring consistent, secure attachment of lids onto bodies.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: TWO-PIECE INTERLOCKING SYSTEM WITH CONTROL SYSTEM technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a two-part interlocking system comprising a system for checking the correct interlocking of said two parts, as well as a molding machine comprising such an interlocking system. PRIOR TECHNOLOGY
[0002] A cap of the bottle type for a liquid product such as shampoo, conditioner, dishwashing liquid, or others, generally comprises a body and a lid. The body is designed to fit onto the bottle, and the lid is designed to be moved from a closed position to an open position and vice versa to allow the product to be retained in the bottle or to flow out of the bottle.
[0003] Such caps can also be used in other sectors such as, for example, the automotive industry or the medical field.
[0004] The body and the lid are molded together and are connected to each other by a hinge which allows the lid to be moved relative to the body.
[0005] Fig. 1 shows two caps 50, where each comprises a body 50a and a lid 50b hinged on the body 50a.
[0006] Conventionally, the body 50a and the lid 50b are molded in a molding machine between two jaws which have recesses and reliefs and which come against each other to form cavities, where the body 50a and the lid 50b will be molded.
[0007] Fig. 1 shows one of the jaws 60 on which the bodies 50a are held.
[0008] Fig. 1 also shows a prior art interlocking system 100 which ensures the tilting of each cap 50b and its interlocking onto the associated body 50a.
[0009] The interlocking system 100 comprises two parallel guide rails 102 and for each guide rail 102, a carriage 104 that moves in translation on the guide rail 102.
[0010] For each carriage 104, the interlocking system 100 includes a first drive means 106, typically a motor with a ball screw, which ensures the translational movement of the carriage 104 along the guide rail 102. The two carriages 104 are opposite each other and move in a synchronized manner.
[0011] Each carriage 104 carries a lever arm 108, here in the form of a wheel, which is mounted mobile in rotation on the carriage 104 around a rotation axis 112. The axes of the lever arms 108 of the two carriages 104 are coaxial and, for each carriage 104, the interlocking system 100 includes a second drive means 114, typically a motor, which ensures the rotational movement of the lever arm 108 of the carriage 104.
[0012] The interlocking system 100 also includes an interlocking bar 110 which is mounted between the two wheels 108 and offset from the axis of rotation 112.
[0013] The operation of the interlocking system 100 is then as follows. After molding, the caps 50 are positioned between the rails 102 and are still fixed here on the jaw 60. The carriages 104 are moved in translation along the rails 102 so as to bring the interlocking bar 110 under the caps 50b. The lever arms 108 are moved in rotation so as to pivot the caps 50b under the action of the interlocking bar 110 and at the same time, the carriages 104 are moved in translation along the rails 102 so that the interlocking bar 110 presses on each cap 50b to interlock it onto the associated body 50a.
[0014] Although such a fitting system gives good results, it does not allow verification of the correct fitting of the operculum onto the body. Description of the invention
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a fitting system which ensures that the fitting of the lid onto the body has been perfectly achieved.
[0016] To this end, an interlocking system is proposed for fitting a first part onto a second part, said interlocking system comprising:
[0017] - a wheel having an axis of revolution and intended to bear against the second piece to fit onto the first piece,
[0018] - two lever arms mounted to rotate freely around a parallel axis of rotation said axis of revolution and offset with respect to said axis of revolution, where said knob is mounted to rotate freely between the two lever arms around said axis of revolution,
[0019] - at least one force sensor fixed to an element of the interlocking system and arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation undergone when a knob presses on the second part, and
[0020] - a control unit connected to at least one force sensor and arranged to compare the electrical value to a predefined range of values.
[0021] According to a particular embodiment, the interlocking system comprises:
[0022] - a support shaft mounted between the two lever arms, and
[0023] - a pair of bearings arranged on either side of the wheel, where each bearing presents a proximal cylinder and a distal cylinder coaxial with the axis of revolution and linked to each other by at least one beam, where the distal cylinder is fixedly fitted onto the support shaft, where the proximal cylinder is freely fitted onto the support shaft, and where the knurled wheel is freely rotationally fitted onto the proximal cylinder about said axis of revolution, and
[0024] where said at least one force sensor is fixed on at least one of the beams and arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation of said at least one beam when the knob presses on the second piece.
[0025] Advantageously, each force sensor is fixed on a beam at the level of an area of said beam which has a reduced thickness.
[0026] According to a particular embodiment, said at least one force sensor is fixed on at least one of the two lever arms and arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation of said at least one of the two lever arms when the wheel presses on the second part.
[0027] Advantageously, each force sensor is fixed on a lever arm at an area of said lever arm which has a reduced thickness.
[0028] The invention also proposes a molding machine comprising molding means for molding a first part and a second part and a nesting system according to one of the preceding variants. Brief description of the drawings
[0029] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:
[0030] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a prior art interlocking system,
[0031] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of an interlocking system according to a first embodiment of the invention,
[0032] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of an interlocking system according to a second embodiment of the invention,
[0033] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of an interlocking system according to a third embodiment of the invention,
[0034] [Fig.5A] is a perspective and exploded view of part of the interlocking system of [Fig.2],
[0035] [Fig.5B] shows a perspective view of a bearing implemented in the interlocking system of [Fig.2],
[0036] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of part of the interlocking system of the [Fig. 3], and
[0037] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of part of the interlocking system of [Fig.4].
[0038] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS
[0039] Figure 2 shows a 200 interlocking system according to a first method of In illustration of the invention, [Fig.3] shows a 300 interlocking system according to a second embodiment of the invention and [Fig.4] shows a 400 interlocking system according to a third embodiment of the invention.
[0040] Each interlocking system 200, 300, 400 can be implemented in a molding machine 150 which includes molding means of which at least one jaw 60.
[0041] Molding means conventionally comprise jaws 60 which are shaped to mold a first part 50a and a second part 50b joined to each other by a hinge molded at the same time as parts 50a and 50b. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the first part 50a is a body 50a of a cap 50 and the second part 50b is a lid 50b of the same cap 50 hinged to the body 50a.
[0042] Each interlocking system 200, 300, 400 can take a form similar to that of the interlocking system 100 of the prior art described from [Fig.1].
[0043] The interlocking system 200, 300, 400 thus comprises two carriages 104 between which is mounted an interlocking module 250, 350, 450. As with the prior art, the carriages 104 are mounted movably so that the interlocking module 250, 350, 450 moves and interlocks the first part 50a onto the second part 50b.
[0044] For example, the interlocking system 200, 300, 400 comprises two parallel guide rails, along each of which a carriage 104 is mounted to move in translation by action of a first drive means, such as a motor with a ball screw. The two carriages 104 are opposite each other and move in a synchronized manner.
[0045] The interlocking module 250, 350, 450 comprises at least one knurled wheel 202, 302, 402 having an axis of revolution 202a, 302a, 402a and intended to move the second part 50b and to bear against the second part 50b in order to interlock it with the first part 50a. In the remainder of the description, only one knurled wheel 202, 302, 402 is referred to, but it can apply to several knurled wheels 202, 302, 402 which are aligned along the axis of revolution 202a, 302a, 402a.
[0046] The interlocking module 250, 350, 450 comprises at least two lever arms 204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b which are mounted to rotate freely about an axis of rotation 206, 306, 406 which is parallel to the axis of revolution 202a, 302a, 402a and offset from the latter. For the same interlocking module 250, 350, 450, the axes of rotation 206, 306, 406 of all the lever arms 204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b are coaxial.
[0047] In each embodiment, the wheel or each wheel 202, 302, 402 is mounted to rotate freely between the two lever arms 204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b around the axis of revolution 202a, 302a, 402a.
[0048] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.2], there are two lever arms 204a-b and between them, there are several wheels 202.
[0049] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.3], there are two pairs of lever arms 304a-b and there is a wheel 302 between two lever arms 304a-b of the same pair.
[0050] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.4], there are two lever arms 404a-b and between them, there are several wheels 402.
[0051] The lever arms 204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b are mounted to rotate freely between the carriages 104 where, for this purpose, at least one is equipped with a second drive means, such as a motor, which ensures the rotational movement of the lever arms 204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b around the axis of rotation 206, 306, 406 to bring the wheel 202, 302, 402 under the second part 50b, rotate the latter and fit it onto the first part 50a.
[0052] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 2], each lever arm 204a-b takes the form of a wheel coaxial with the axis of rotation 206, and the wheels 202 are freely rotationally mounted on a support shaft 210. The support shaft 210 is fixedly mounted on the two lever arms 204a-b coaxially with the axis of revolution 202a. Each wheel is then driven in rotation by a second drive means.
[0053] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 3], each lever arm 304a-b takes the form of a beam, one proximal end of which is fixedly mounted on a rotating shaft 310 mounted between the two carriages 104 coaxially with the rotating axis 306, and one distal end of which carries the knurled wheel 302. Each knurled wheel 302 is thus mounted between two distal ends of two lever arms 304a-b. The rotating shaft 310 is then driven in rotation by a second drive means.
[0054] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.4], there are two lever arms 404a-b and each takes the form of a beam whose proximal end is mounted movably in rotation on a carriage 104 coaxially with the axis of rotation 406 and whose distal end carries a support shaft 410 coaxial with the axis of revolution 202a and which carries the wheel or each wheel 402. Each proximal end is then driven in rotation by a second drive means.
[0055] The interlocking module 250, 350, 450 also includes at least one force sensor 208, 308, 408, typically a strain gauge operated by a Wheatstone bridge, fixed to an element of the interlocking system 200, 300, 400, and more specifically of the interlocking module 250, 350, 450, and arranged to measure the deformation of the element when a knob 202, 302, 402 presses on the second part 50b. Thus, when a wheel 202, 302, 402 presses on the second part 50b, the force thus generated is transferred to the carriage 104 and by positioning at least one force sensor 208, 308, 408 along this transfer path, this force sensor 208, 308, 408 deforms and its deformation is proportional to the force exerted on the second part 50b.
[0056] Each sensor 208, 308, 408 emits an electrical value proportional to the deformation experienced when a knob 202, 302, 402 presses on the second part 50b, and by collecting each electrical value over several interlocking cycles, a control unit 80 can determine whether the interlocking is still occurring correctly or not. In the latter case, an adjustment of the interlocking system 200, 300, 400 may be necessary.
[0057] The collection of electrical values is carried out by the control unit 80 connected to each force sensor 208, 308, 408.
[0058] The control unit 80 is thus arranged to record the electrical values received from each force sensor 208, 308, 408 and to compare these electrical values to a predefined range of values corresponding to a correct fit of the two parts 50a-b.
[0059] The control unit 80 can also be arranged to send an alert signal in the event of detection of an anomaly, i.e. when an electrical value is outside the predefined range of values.
[0060] With such an arrangement, it is easy to automatically monitor that the fittings are carried out correctly.
[0061] As described above, in the embodiment of [Fig.2], the interlocking system 200 comprises the support shaft 210 mounted between the two lever arms 204a-b and is fixed to each of them.
[0062] The interlocking system 200 also includes, for each wheel 202, a pair of bearings 212a-b, where the bearings 212a-b are arranged on either side of the wheel 202. Each wheel 202 and each bearing 212a-b are threaded onto the support shaft 210.
[0063] In the case of [Fig. 2], there are two knurled wheels 202, a double bearing 212a, and two single bearings 212b. The double bearing 212a is positioned between the two knurled wheels 202 and cooperates with each of them, and each single bearing 212b cooperates with only one knurled wheel 202. Of course, depending on the number of knurled wheels 202, the number of bearings 212a-b varies. Similarly, the double bearing 212a can be replaced by two single bearings.
[0064] Fig. 5A shows the double bearing 212a and Fig. 5B shows a single bearing 212b.
[0065] Each bearing 212a-b has a proximal cylinder 214a and a distal cylinder 214b, in the case of the double bearing 212a, there are two proximal cylinders 214a on either side of the distal cylinder 214b which is here in the middle.
[0066] The cylinders 214a-b are coaxial with the axis of revolution 202a and are connected to each other by at least one beam 214c, here two. Each beam 214c is globally parallel to the axis of revolution 202a.
[0067] The distal cylinder 214b is fixedly fitted onto the support shaft 210, that is to say, the fit is sufficiently tight so that the forces which the distal cylinder 214b undergoes are transmitted to the support shaft 210. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the connection between the distal cylinder 214b and the support shaft 210 is completed by keys slid into grooves 220 of the distal cylinder 214b and of the support shaft 210 to prevent rotation of one relative to the other.
[0068] The proximal cylinder 214a is loosely fitted onto the support shaft 210, that is to say that the fit is sufficiently loose so that the forces which the proximal cylinder 214a undergoes during a fitting are not transmitted to the support shaft 210, there is thus always a space between them.
[0069] The wheel 202 is freely rotationally mounted on the proximal cylinder 214a around the axis of revolution 202a. As with the proximal cylinder 214a, the wheel 202 is always at a distance from the support shaft 210.
[0070] Here, the proximal cylinder 214a has a barrel 215 whose outer diameter is less than the inner diameter of the wheel 202 and the latter is threaded onto this barrel 215. The wheel 202 is thus threaded at each end onto a barrel 215. The inner diameter of the barrel 215 is large enough to avoid contact with the support shaft 210 during insertion.
[0071] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the force sensors 208, here two in number, are fixed on at least one of the beams 214c.
[0072] In the embodiment presented here, there are two load cells 208 on a beam 214c, but there can be at least one, and each beam 214c can be equipped with one. The greater the number of load cells 208, the greater the number of electrical values provided, allowing for good knowledge of the interlocking, but the more complex the management of the electrical values becomes.
[0073] Each force sensor 208 is thus arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation of the beam 214c where it is fixed, when the knob 202 presses on the second piece 50b.
[0074] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig.2], the beam 214c equipped with force sensors 208 constitutes the element of the interlocking system 200 whose deformation is monitored.
[0075] Thus, when the wheel 202 presses on the second part 50b, the wheel 202 moves radially relative to the support shaft 210, which causes a similar displacement of each proximal cylinder 214a on either side of the wheel 202 and therefore a deformation of the corresponding beams 214c, which deforms the associated force sensors 208.
[0076] To increase the deformation of the force sensor 208, each one is fixed to a beam 214c at a zone 214d of the beam 214c which has a reduced thickness. For this purpose, the beam 214c is hollowed out at the location of each force sensor 208.
[0077] In the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, the force sensors 308, 408 are fixed on the two lever arms 304a-b, 404a-b and Figs. 6 and 7 show examples of these lever arms 304a, 404a.
[0078] Each force sensor 308, 408 is thus arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation of the lever arm 304a-b, 404a-b when the knob 302, 402 presses on the second part 50b. As before, the number of force sensors 308, 408 can be adapted.
[0079] In these embodiments, the lever arms 304a-b, 404a-b equipped with force sensors 208 constitute the elements of the interlocking system 300, 400 whose deformation is monitored.
[0080] Thus, when the wheel 302, 402 presses on the second part 50b, the wheel 302, 402 forces the lever arm 304a-b, 404a-b, which deforms it and causes deformation of the associated force sensors 208.
[0081] To increase the deformation of the force sensor 308, 408, each is fixed to a lever arm 304a-b, 404a-b at a zone 304c, 404c of the lever arm 304a-b, 404a-b which has a reduced thickness. Here, the reduced thickness is obtained by making a recess 305, 405 through the lever arm 304a-b, 404a-b parallel to the axis of revolution 302a, 402 between the latter and the axis of rotation 206, 306. The force sensor 308, 408 is fixed to an edge of this recess 305, 405.
[0082] Generally, the force sensors 208, 308, 408 are fixed on surfaces (beams 214c, lever arms 304a-b, 404a-b) which are orthogonal to the force exerted so that they are bent over their thicknesses.
[0083] According to a particular embodiment, the control unit 80 comprises, connected by a communication bus: a processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit); a RAM (Read Access Memory); a ROM (Read Only Memory) or EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM) or Flash type; a storage unit, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), or a storage media reader, such as an SD card reader (Secure Digital); and an I / F interface manager.
[0084] The I / f interface manager allows the control unit 80 to communicate with, among others, the force sensors 208, 308, 408.
[0085] The processor is capable of executing instructions loaded into RAM from read-only memory, external memory, a storage medium (such as an SD card), or a communication network. When the hardware platform is powered on, the processor is capable of reading instructions from RAM and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the processor to implement all or part of the steps and operations described herein.
[0086] All or part of the steps and operations described herein can thus be implemented in software form by the execution of a set of instructions by a programmable machine, for example a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller, or be implemented in hardware form by a dedicated machine or electronic component (chip) or a dedicated set of electronic components (chipset), for example an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). Generally, the control unit 80 comprises electronic circuitry adapted and configured to implement the operations and steps described herein.
Claims
1.
2.
3. Demands Interlocking system (200, 300, 400) intended to interlock a first part (50a) onto a second part (50b), said interlocking system (200, 300, 400) comprising: - a knob (202, 302, 402) having an axis of revolution (202a, 302a, 402a) and intended to bear against the second part (50b) in order to fit it onto the first part (50a), - two lever arms (204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b) mounted movable in rotation about an axis of rotation (206, 306, 406) parallel to said axis of revolution (202a, 302a, 402a) and offset with respect to said axis of revolution (202a, 302a, 402a), where said wheel (202, 302, 402) is mounted movable in rotation between the two lever arms (204a-b, 304a-b, 404a-b) about said axis of revolution (202a, 302a, 402a), - at least one force sensor (208, 308, 408) fixed to an element of the interlocking system (200, 300, 400) and arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation undergone when said knob (202, 302, 402) presses against the second part (50b), and - a control unit (80) connected to at least one force sensor (208, 308, 408) and arranged to compare the electrical value to a predefined range of values. Interlocking system (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: - a support shaft (210) mounted between the two lever arms (204a-b), and - a pair of bearings (212a-b) arranged on either side of the wheel (202), where each bearing (212a-b) has a proximal cylinder (214a) and a distal cylinder (214b) coaxial with the axis of revolution (202a) and connected to each other by at least one beam (214c), where the distal cylinder (214b) is fixedly fitted onto the support shaft (210), where the proximal cylinder (214a) is freely fitted onto the support shaft (210), and where the wheel (202) is freely rotationally fitted onto the proximal cylinder (214a) about said axis of revolution (202a), and where said at least one force sensor (208) is fixed on at least one of the beams (214c) and arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation of said at least one beam (214c) when the knob (202) presses on the second piece (50b). Interlocking system (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that each force sensor (208) is fixed on a beam (214c) at level of an area (214d) of said beam (214c) which has a reduced thickness.
4. Interlocking system (300, 400) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one force sensor (308, 408) is fixed on at least one of the two lever arms (304a-b, 404a-b) and arranged to emit an electrical value proportional to the deformation of said at least one of the two lever arms (304a-b, 404a-b) when the knob (302, 402) presses on the second part (50b).
5. Interlocking system (300, 400) according to claim 4, characterized in that each force sensor (308, 408) is fixed on a lever arm (304a-b, 404a-b) at the level of an area (304c, 404c) of said lever arm (304a-b, 404a-b) which has a reduced thickness.
6. Molding machine (150) comprising molding means (60) for molding a first part (50a) and a second part (50b) and a nesting system (200, 300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.