Apparatus and method for cutting the closure of a container

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and / or method for cutting off a closure for a container, replacing a known one. [Solution] A method and apparatus for cutting a "tether" type closure is disclosed, in which a spindle carrying the closure is moved to a cutting machine having one or more horizontal blades and at least one vertical or inclined blade. During cutting, the spindle rotates and the closure rotates in the cutting machine. The spindle, which is fed into the cutting machine several times each time a different closure is carried, has a portion made of a softer material than the blade so that during cutting the blade penetrates the material of the closure and then bites into the softer portion of the spindle. The feeding of the spindle carrying the closure into the cutting machine is coordinated with the rotation of the spindle so that each time the spindle is fed into the cutting machine, the vertical or inclined blade always encounters the same zone of the softer portion of the spindle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cutting a closure or capsule, particularly a plastic closure or capsule, that can be used to close a container such as a bottle.

[0002] Specifically, but not limited thereto, the present invention relates to a cutting apparatus and method suitable for producing an easy-to-open device that provides a type of closure or capsule called a "tethered" closure or capsule, i.e., a closure or capsule that remains connected to the container after opening.

Background Art

[0003] The prior art includes methods for producing an easy-to-open device for a "tethered" capsule that forms one or more horizontal cuts and at least one vertical or inclined cut in the capsule. Here, "horizontal", "vertical", and "inclined" refer to a capsule with geometric axes arranged vertically. Generally, known methods move the capsule along a cutting path with a fixed blade by a rotating spindle that supports the capsule and functions as a contacting element so that the fixed blade can effectively cut.

[0004] Patent publication WO 2020 / 247319 A1 shows a method of making a through-cut in a capsule by a spindle that carries the capsule to a fixed blade configured to form one or more horizontal cuts and at least one vertical cut in the capsule, where the blade penetrates the material of the capsule and sinks into an annular portion of the spindle made of a soft material that allows the blade to last longer without damage.

[0005] Japanese Patent Publication WO 2021 / 063776 A1 describes a method for making through cuts in a capsule by a spindle that transports the capsule to a stationary blade configured to form one or more horizontal cuts and at least one vertical cut in the capsule, wherein the blade penetrates the material of the capsule and then enters a groove positioned on a spindle having a shape corresponding to the shape of the cut to be formed, and a synchronization device coordinates the advance of the capsule to the stationary blade with the rotation of the spindle that transports the capsule, so that the cut, in particular the vertical cut, is made in such a way that the shape of the blade corresponds to the shape of the groove. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Public Gazette WO 2020 / 247319 A1 [Patent Document 2] International Public Gazette WO 2021 / 063776 A1 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and / or method for cutting a closure for a container, which is an alternative to known ones.

[0008] One objective is to make available suitable devices and / or cutting methods for forming a type of closure known as a "tether." [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cutting method comprises the step of moving a spindle that transports a closure to a cutting machine having one or more horizontal blades and at least one vertical or inclined blade, wherein during cutting, the spindle rotates and the closure moves in the cutting machine, wherein the spindle is fed into the cutting machine several times periodically, each time carrying a different closure, wherein the spindle has a portion made of a softer material than the blade, so that during cutting, the blade penetrates the material of the closure with a through cut and then engages with the softer portion (flexible portion) of the spindle, wherein the feeding of the spindle that transports the closure to the cutting machine is coordinated with the rotation of the spindle so that each time the spindle is fed into the cutting machine, the vertical or inclined blade always encounters the same linear, vertical, or inclined linear zone in the softer portion of the spindle.

[0010] In some specific solutions for carrying out the present invention, the cutting apparatus may include a rotatable carousel that supports a plurality of spindles and supplies the feeding motion of each spindle to the cutting machine. In these cases, the above-mentioned coordination between the feeding motion of the spindles that carry the closure to the cutting machine and the rotational motion of the spindles that facilitates the rolling (rotation) of the closure in the cutting machine can be achieved in a variety of ways.

[0011] In one embodiment, it is possible to arrange a first drive motor for rotating the carousel around the carousel axis, and a second drive motor (different from the first drive motor) for rotating each spindle around the spindle axis.

[0012] In one particular embodiment, the second drive motor may comprise a single motor (e.g., a brushless motor) connected to various spindle axes by a mechanical transmission (e.g., having a flexible member). In this particular embodiment, the above-mentioned coordination (coordination) between the feeding and rotational movements in each spindle can be performed by an electronic controller which may be connected to sensors configured to detect the positioning (angle around each axis) of the spindles, and of each of the various spindles. These sensors may comprise, for example, an encoder located on the first motor and an encoder located on the second motor.

[0013] In another specific embodiment, the second motor may comprise multiple motors, one for each spindle, with each motor connected to its respective spindle axis. In this other specific embodiment, the adjustment between the feeding and rotational movements of the spindles may be performed by an electronic controller having sensors with encoders, which may be provided for both the first motor of the carousel and the drive motors of each individual spindle.

[0014] In another embodiment, a drive motor for rotating the carousel can be positioned around the carousel axis by a mechanical transmission system that connects the carousel axis to the axes of various spindles. In this other embodiment, the coordination between the spindle feeding motion (i.e., the rotation of the carousel) and the rotational motion of a single spindle is substantially left to the appropriate design of the mechanical transmission system described above.

[0015] When the spindle is carried by a rotating carousel, the latter forms an arc-shaped circumferential path for the closure or capsule in the cutting machine. In this case, it is important to set conditions such that the spindle passes in front of the cutting machine again at the same angular position as each rotation of the carousel. This condition can be achieved by ensuring that there is a predetermined ratio (e.g., 1:N, where N = an integer, between the number of rotations per unit of time between the carousel axis and the spindle axis) between the rotational axis of the carousel and the rotational axis of the spindle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] Using a portion of the spindle made from a relatively soft material, combined with the decision to apply a perpendicular or inclined blade to the same (linear) zone of the softer (flexible) portion of the spindle at each pass of the spindle, can overcome some of the limitations and shortcomings of the prior art.

[0017] Firstly, a significant reduction in wear on the softer (flexible) portion of the spindle is obtained (for example, compared to the solution described in WO 2020 / 247319 A1). This is because the vertical or inclined blade always penetrates the softer portion of the spindle at the same location, and as a result, in the first pass over the spindle, the vertical or inclined blade cuts a kind of vertical or inclined slit or groove in the material of the softer portion of the spindle, and in subsequent passes, always interacts with the previously cut slit or groove, i.e., in the same (linear) zone, without further damaging the spindle.

[0018] In practice, since the vertical or angled blade is always positioned in the same vertical or angled zone on the flexible part of the spindle during each pass of the spindle, this flexible part of the spindle rubs in the aforementioned vertical or angled zone during the initial steps of the spindle's first pass, and no longer rubs thereafter. Furthermore, the aforementioned vertical or angled blade of the cutting machine generates very localized wear only in the aforementioned vertical or angled zone on the softer part of the spindle, without affecting other zones of the spindle, and this therefore leaves the entire spindle unworn for a long period of time and performs well with respect to closure during cutting operations.

[0019] Secondly, the cutting method becomes significantly easier. This is because the contact function exerted by the spindle is particularly effective, specifically because the vertical or inclined blade of the cutting machine interferes only in a very limited zone of the spindle, namely, only in the vertical or inclined linear zone of the flexible part of the spindle, in which the vertical or inclined blade penetrates above all zones immediately adjacent to the vertical or inclined linear zone where wear and cutting occur, while leaving the rest of the flexible part of the spindle completely intact. Thus, such zones do not wear down and, because they are in contact with the actual cutting zone, can function as cutting contact elements with as many functions as possible.

[0020] For example, consider another situation arising in the manner described in WO 2021 / 063776 A1, where the shape of the grooves on the spindle must necessarily be designed to be more generous than the shape of the blade. This is because, in order to avoid the risk of collisions that could cause serious damage to the blade, not only manufacturing tolerances of various parts but also unavoidable fitting uncertainties and system adaptability (clearance) must be taken into account. Thus, during cutting, the contact surface of the spindle that contacts the closure is necessarily at a certain distance from the blade, and as a result, the effectiveness of the contact ability is reduced.

[0021] On the one hand, the solution of the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks. This is because the shape of the zone of the flexible part of the spindle worn by the vertical or inclined blade is determined by the blade due to the periodic passage of the blade and the penetration of the blade into the flexible material in the same zone at each passage. As a result, the shape of the worn zone corresponds exactly or almost exactly to the shape of the blade with the smallest size, i.e., the vertical or inclined linear shape, and is optimized by the system. In fact, apart from the possible adaptability and clearance of the system, it is the same as the size of the cutting edge of the blade that penetrates into the material of the flexible part of the spindle. In each case, this size generated by the interaction between the blade and the flexible part of the spindle is the necessary minimum size that cannot actually be reduced due to the inevitable characteristics of the system.

[0022] For example, when the solution is considered in a form where the spindle is connected by a mechanical transmission (especially a belt), due to the inevitable adaptability of the system, the vertical or inclined cutting positions are not always exactly the same, but since it is generated by the system, the result is to generate a cutting zone with dimensions having the smallest possible range.

[0023] As a result, the unworn part, i.e., the intact and complete part of the flexible part of the spindle, is arranged directly adjacent to the blade, creating a minimum amount of play or free space, and thus, during cutting, the maximum efficiency of the abutting operation is obtained.

[0024] Another advantage of the present invention can be found especially in embodiments where the feeding of the spindle and the rotation of the spindle are connected by a transmission and driven by a common motor, and there is no longer a need to initiate the initial phase alignment of the cutting device to enable the rotation of the spindle at an exact angular position at the first passage of the spindle in front of the cutting device (such as the solution described in WO 2021 / 063776 A1).

[0025] In fact, in the method described in WO 2021 / 063776 A1, a very precise and breakable initial phase alignment procedure is required to phase-align the capsule feeding device so that the shape of the groove in the spindle is exactly superimposed on the shape of the blade from the first pass of the spindle. It should be noted that this initial phase alignment procedure actually has to be repeated every time there is a morphological change, i.e., every time there is a change in the shape of the cut.

[0026] Thanks to the solution of the present invention, especially in embodiments where the feeding of the spindle and the rotation of the spindle are connected by a transmission (e.g., mechanical) and driven by a common motor, this initial phase alignment procedure can be omitted even in the case of morphological changes, and the work of preparing the cutting device is greatly simplified. This is because it is no longer important what exactly the zone of the flexible part of the spindle that is worn under the influence of the vertical or inclined blade is. In other words, the first pass of the spindle in front of the cutting device can be effectively carried out regardless of the shape of the blade and regardless of what the angular position of the spindle with a vertical or inclined blade is.

[0027] In fact, the important thing is that in the pass of the spindle after the first pass, the spindle passes at the same angular position in front of the cutting device, but this is a condition that depends on the general operating accuracy of the cutting device and is not an initial preparation operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in a vertical elevation view of a part of an embodiment of a cutting device manufactured according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed enlarged view of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of a cutting device manufactured according to the present invention. [Figure 5]Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a rotation prevention device placed on a spindle to prevent the rotation of the flexible portion of the spindle. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a rotation prevention device placed on a spindle to prevent the rotation of the flexible portion of the spindle. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a rotation prevention device placed on a spindle to prevent the rotation of the flexible portion of the spindle. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an embodiment of an anti-rotation device placed on a spindle to prevent the rotation of the flexible portion of the spindle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] The present invention can be better understood and implemented by referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating non-limiting embodiments thereof.

[0030] Referring to the figures above, the cutting device labeled 1 is generally shown to cut closures or capsules, particularly plastic closures or capsules, that can be used to close containers such as bottles. Cutting device 1 can be particularly suitable for creating easy-opening devices that are equipped with a type of closure or capsule called a "tethered" closure or capsule, i.e., a closure or capsule that remains attached to the container after opening.

[0031] The cutting device 1 may include a cutting device configured in particular to produce an easy-opening device for a tether-type closure 2. The cutting device may include a cutting device 3 having one or more horizontal blades 4 and at least one vertical or inclined blade 5. In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting device 3 includes two horizontal blades 4 and one vertical blade 5.

[0032] The cutting device may, in particular, include a number of horizontal blades of different kinds, for example, three or four or more, and a number of vertical or inclined blades of different kinds, for example, two or three or more.

[0033] The cutting device 3 can be configured to selectively engage a working position, i.e., a position suitable for making a desired through cut in the closure supplied to the cutting device 3, and a resting or retracted position, in which case the cutting device 3 retracts relative to the working position so as not to interfere with the closure supplied to the cutting device 3 and / or the supply device for feeding the closure.

[0034] The movement of the cutting device 3 between the working position and the retracted resting position (e.g., linear movement, particularly sliding on a linear guide) can be driven manually and / or by a motor.

[0035] The cutting device 1 may include a feeding device configured to feed the closure 2 into the cutting machine. The feeding device may include at least one spindle 6 having a flexible portion 7 made of a material softer than the blade.

[0036] The feeding device can be configured such that the spindle 6 passes in front of the cutting device several times, carrying a different closure 2 each time. The feeding device can also include a feeding carousel 8 that carries the aforementioned spindle 6. The carousel 8 can be rotatable around a carousel axis X (e.g., a brushless motor, depending on electric commands). The carousel 8 can include two or more spindles 6, each spindle can have a flexible portion 7.

[0037] The carousel 8 may, in particular, comprise three or more spindles 6 arranged at angular intervals around the carousel. In a particular embodiment shown in Figure 3, the carousel comprises twelve equidistant spindles 6. In a particular embodiment shown in Figure 4, the carousel comprises six equally spaced spindles 6.

[0038] Each spindle 6 is rotatable, in particular, about its respective spindle axis Y, and the closure 2 is movable in the cutting machine (for example, at least in a partially rotatable portion) such that the blades 4 and 5 penetrate the closure 2 by through-cuts and then engage with the flexible portion 7 of the spindle. The flexible portion 7 functions as a suitable and effective embodiment of the side wall of the closure 2 during the cutting operation.

[0039] Each spindle 6 may be rotatable around the spindle axis Y, in particular, by a command for a separate motor drive (and independently controllable, e.g., another brushless motor) for the motor drive that drives the rotation of the carousel 8, or by a command for the motor drive that drives the rotation of the carousel 8.

[0040] The spindle axis Y may, in particular, be parallel to the geometric axis Z of the closure 2. The spindle axis Y may, in particular, be offset from the geometric axis Z of the closure, as in this particular embodiment.

[0041] The cutting device 1 may include a controller for coordinating (linking) the rotation of the spindle 6 (around its spindle axis Y) with the feeding of the spindle 6 (i.e., the forward movement toward the cutting device, which in these embodiments comprises the rotational movement of the carousel 8 that carries the spindle 6) such that the vertical blade 5 (and / or possible inclined blade) always encounters the same vertical or inclined (linear) zone of the flexible portion 7 each time the spindle 6 passes in front of the cutting device.

[0042] In particular, the above-mentioned adjustments to the motion (spindle rotation and spindle forward motion) can be achieved by ensuring that the ratio of the rotation speed of the carousel's axis of rotation (X-axis) per unit of time to the rotation speed of each spindle's axis of rotation (Y-axis) per unit of time is equal to 1:N, where N is an integer (for example, a number between 8 and 18, especially 1:12, or 1:13, or 1:14).

[0043] The cutting device 1 may, in particular, include a mechanical transmission that connects the axis (X-axis) of the carousel to the axis (Y-axis) of each of the spindles described above. This mechanical transmission may be configured, in particular, to achieve the above-mentioned transmission ratio of 1:N (where N is an integer) in order to achieve the above-mentioned adjustment of the operation.

[0044] This mechanical transmission may, in particular, include a transmission comprising at least one flexible transmission member 9 (coupled to a pulley connected to the spindle 6). However, it is also possible to provide other types of mechanical transmissions, such as gear-type transmissions.

[0045] Furthermore, it is possible to provide a cutting device equipped with an electronic controller, such as one or more electronic cams for adjusting the drive motors for the carousel axes and the drive motors for the spindle axes, in order to control the synchronously coordinated operation of the carousel axes and each of the spindle axes described above. In particular, it is possible to provide a drive motor for the spindle axes comprising multiple motors, in particular a motor for each spindle axis, or a single motor connected to multiple spindle axes (for example, to all spindle axes arranged in the carousel) by a mechanical transmission, such as the transmission disclosed above.

[0046] Each spindle 6 may, in particular, comprise a support 10 having an open annular seat on one side. The flexible portion 7 of the spindle may, in particular, comprise an annular insert that can be inserted (particularly axially) into the annular seat via the open side (axially, with respect to the axis of the spindle).

[0047] Each spindle 6 may include an annular locking element 11 that can be fixed to the support 10 in a removable manner (for example, by a screw fixing member) to close one side of the annular seat as described above, thereby maintaining the annular insert locked in a predetermined position.

[0048] The operation of the cutting device 1 may, in particular, include the step of feeding a spindle 6 that carries a closure 2 to the cutting machine 3. Here, the cutting machine 3 may comprise one or more horizontal blades 4 and at least one vertical (or inclined) blade 5, as understood.

[0049] The spindle 6 (for example, rotated by the carousel 8 along a circular forward path) can be transported to the cutting machine 3 several times, each time carrying a different closure 2 (for example, using the carousel 8 which has an inlet zone for the closure to be cut and an outlet zone for the cut closure in a known way).

[0050] As described above, each spindle 6 may be equipped with a flexible portion 7 (annular in shape and coaxial with the spindle axis Y) made of a material softer than the blade. The flexible portion 7 can be made of a variety of materials, such as PEEK, Delrin®, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, aluminum, copper, tin, or bronze.

[0051] The cutting method may include, in particular, the step of rotating the spindle 6 around its spindle axis Y and moving the closure 2 in the cutting device 3 so that the blades 4 and 5 penetrate the closure and become embedded in the flexible portion 7 of the spindle 7 (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0052] The rotational motion of the spindle 6 is coordinated with the feeding motion of the spindle 6, in particular, so that each time the spindle is transported to the cutting machine, the vertical or inclined blade always encounters the same vertical or inclined (linear) zone in the flexible portion 7 of the spindle.

[0053] For this purpose, for example, the spindle can be rotated by a carousel 8 that is rotatable around a carousel axis X, and the ratio between the number of rotations per unit time of the carousel axis X and the number of rotations per unit time of the spindle axis Y is equal to 1:N, where N is an integer.

[0054] By doing so, the vertical (or inclined) blade 5 always penetrates the flexible portion 7 of the spindle 6 at the same position or zone (in particular, the linear zone whose shape substantially corresponds to the shape of the vertical or inclined blade 5) as it did during the initial pass of the spindle, significantly reducing wear on the flexible portion 7, and the vertical (or inclined) blade 5 cuts a kind of (linear, vertical, or inclined) slit or groove into the material of the softer portion of the spindle at the position or zone where the blade is positioned each time.

[0055] In subsequent passes, the vertical (or inclined) blade 5 constantly interacts with the previously cut (linear, vertical, or inclined) slit or groove formed locations or zones on the flexible portion of the spindle without further damaging other zones. Thus, the flexible portion of the spindle 7 can be worn in the aforementioned vertical or inclined zones during the initial pass of the spindle in the early steps of the device's operation, i.e., with wear limited to a relatively limited zone around the entire perimeter of the flexible portion 7, after which the flexible portion is no longer worn in other vertical or inclined zones.

[0056] It has been observed that the shape of the worn zone (wear zone) in the flexible portion can substantially correspond to the shape of the vertical or inclined blade, leaving the rest of the flexible portion material intact, apart from the minimum dimensional changes due to the adaptability and clearance possibilities in the system. Therefore, this allows the contact function to be performed with maximum effectiveness in the proper execution of the cutting operation, resulting in an easy-opening device in a "tether" closure that is a very accurate and high-quality structure. The possible difference between the dimensions of the worn zone in the flexible portion and the dimensions of the vertical or inclined blade is the minimum possible difference, as the shape and dimensions of the worn zone arise from the interaction between the blade and the flexible portion of the spindle, as described above.

[0057] The softer portion of the spindle also wears down in the horizontal (circumferential) zone due to the horizontal blade 4 of the cutting machine. The horizontal blade 4 constantly affects and interacts with the same horizontal wear zone of the flexible portion with each pass of the spindle (i.e., with each rotation of the spindle-holding carousel's rotational movement).

[0058] In embodiments having a single motor drive with a mechanical transmission to drive both the feeding and rotational movements of the spindle, it should be noted that it is not necessary to perform initial phase alignment in preparation of the cutting device to synchronize the axis of the carousel with the axis of the spindle before starting the device in order to cut the closure. In fact, it is sufficient for the spindle to pass in front of the cutting device at the same initial angular position as the first pass, from the second pass onward, regardless of what the initial angular position is, so it is not important which exact zone of the softer part of the spindle is affected and worn down by the vertical or inclined blades. Therefore, the rotating spindle 6 does not need to be at a very precise angular position when it passes in front of the cutting device 3 (especially in front of the vertical or inclined blades 5) during the first pass, i.e., the initial start of the cutting device 1.

[0059] In embodiments having separate motor drives (one for driving the spindle feeding motion, i.e., the rotation of the carousel, and the other for driving the rotational motion of each spindle around its axis), whenever the cutting device 1 is switched on and restarted, it is possible to perform initial phase matching by, for example very easily, retracting the cutting device 3 (to avoid damage to the blades) and starting the motor drive to a kind of "empty" initial calibration, so that a sensor (e.g., equipped with an encoder) can recognize the various spindle angular positions relative to the carousel and perform adjustments suitable for re-establishing synchronization.

[0060] After this short initial phase alignment step, the cutting device 3 can be advanced again to the working position to begin normal operation of the cutting device. Retracting the cutting device 3 is not strictly necessary, but it helps to avoid wear or damage to the material of the flexible part 7.

[0061] However, even with a lack of or inaccurate phase alignment, the blade only comes into contact with the softer, previously uncut zone of the spindle, and does not damage the blade (and cause further wear on the flexible portion). This is in contrast to what occurs, for example, in solution WO2021 / 063776A1, where the blade comes into contact with the hard zone of the spindle, causing irreparable damage to the blade.

[0062] The cutting device 1 may include, in particular (see Figures 5 to 8), an anti-rotation device 12 configured to prevent rotation, especially around the spindle axis Y, so as to prevent rotation of the flexible portion 7 of the spindle relative to the rest of the spindle. The solution of this particular embodiment, provided with the anti-rotation device 12, can be applied in particular to any previously disclosed embodiment.

[0063] The anti-rotation device 12 operates to ensure good operation of the adjustments to the aforementioned movements (the rotational movement of the spindle and the forward movement of the spindle) so that each time the spindle 6 is fed into the cutting device 3, the vertical or inclined blade 5 always encounters the same vertical or inclined zone of the flexible portion 7. In practice, this adjustment would be inaccurate in the case of (unpredictable amounts of) rotation of the flexible portion 7 of the spindle relative to the rest of the spindle.

[0064] The anti-rotation device 12 may include a shape coupling between the flexible portion 7 and the remaining portion of the spindle 6, as in the embodiment shown herein. In particular, a shape coupling may be provided between the central opening of the flexible portion 7 (which is annular in shape) and at least one central portion of the spindle 6 that is inserted into the central opening. The aforementioned central portion may include at least one portion that is coaxial with the spindle axis Y.

[0065] The anti-rotation device 12 may comprise at least one tooth that protrudes radially outward from the central portion of the spindle 6 (with respect to the spindle axis Y) and is inserted together with a shape coupling into a corresponding cavity on the inner surface of the flexible portion 7 that indicates the boundary of the central opening.

[0066] In a particular embodiment of Figure 5, the anti-rotation device 12 comprises multiple teeth that project radially (in particular, even if it is possible to use four, two, three, five, or more teeth) and are arranged at angular distances (e.g., equal) from one another, with each tooth coupled to its respective cavity. In practice, in this embodiment, the anti-rotation device 12 comprises a grooved coupling between a portion of the spindle 6 and a flexible portion 7.

[0067] The anti-rotation device 12 may include a screw coupling between a portion of the spindle 6 and the flexible portion 7, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 6. This screw coupling may include a limit switch (not shown) in particular. This screw coupling may include a screw oriented in one direction (right or left) determined in relation to the rotation of the spindle 6 during the cutting operation, so that the interaction between the flexible portion 7 and the cutting device causes a force opposite to the loosening of the screw coupling described above, preventing loose rotation of the flexible portion 7.

[0068] The anti-rotation device 12 may comprise a central portion of the spindle 6 coupled to a shape coupling having a central opening of an annular flexible portion 7, where the shape coupling is fabricated in this embodiment from a crown arrangement of lobes (round projections) geometrically arranged around the spindle axis Y, forming a particularly continuous, winding circumferential path without sharp corners.

[0069] The anti-rotation device 12 may include a portion of the spindle 6 coupled to a shape coupling having a central opening in an annular flexible portion 7, as in the embodiment of Figure 8, where the shape coupling is fabricated around the contour of the portion of the spindle 6 in a non-circular shape (e.g., a polygon, particularly an octagon as in Figure 8) (or circular but eccentric or not coaxial with the spindle axis Y) geometrically arranged around the spindle axis Y.

[0070] This periphery contour is coupled to a shape coupling having a corresponding inner edge of the central opening of the annular flexible portion 7. The non-circular periphery contour may be, in particular, elliptical, regular polygonal or non-regular polygonal, star-shaped, or any other shape suitable for preventing the flexible portion 7 from rotating relative to the rest of the spindle 6 (especially around the spindle axis Y).

[0071] The anti-rotation device 12 prevents the rotation of the flexible portion 7 relative to the rest of the spindle 6, thereby ensuring that the softer zone of the spindle, which is affected by and thus worn by the vertical or inclined blades, is always the aforementioned zone with each rotation of the carousel.

[0072] The cutting device can be controlled by a control method suitable for reducing the risk of damage to the device, particularly to the blades 4 and 5 of the cutting device 3. This control method may include, in particular, a preparatory or initial start-up step in which the spindle operates in an "empty state" for a period of time, i.e., with the rotation of the carousel and the rotation of the spindle, but without the feeding of the closure 2.

[0073] This preliminary step involves moving each spindle 6 into the cutting machine 3 several times without taking the closure 2 ("empty"), during this "empty" feeding, each blade (i.e., the horizontal blade 4, and / or the vertical or inclined blade 5) is moved (forward) in particular, starting from an initial (storage) position away from the nominal working position, until it reaches a nominal working position where the blade is embedded in the flexible section 7 to the desired depth, so as to gradually increase the depth to which the blade penetrates the flexible section 7.

[0074] In practice, during this preliminary or initial start-up step, the cutting device 3 is initially controlled to adopt a retracted configuration, i.e., a configuration in which a set of blades (one or more horizontal blades 4 and at least one vertical or inclined blade 5) are arranged in a retracted configuration. Here, “retracted” should be understood to refer to the appropriate nominal position for performing the cutting of the closure 2. Thereafter, all blades are gradually moved forward in a particularly controlled manner until they reach the nominal cutting position in particular.

[0075] During this gradual advance, while the carousel and spindle continue to rotate (without moving the closure 2), the blade of the cutting device 3 increasingly penetrates the softer portion 7 of the spindle 6, gradually increasing the penetration depth of the spindle 6 into the flexible material with each rotation of the carousel relating to each spindle. The advance may be continuous, discontinuous, or mixed (partially continuous or discontinuous).

[0076] This control method (a progressive cutting cycle of the flexible portion 7 of the spindle 6) can be controlled by an operator, in particular, by specific commands in the user interface.

[0077] At the start of a progressive cutting cycle, the controller can automatically retract the blade unit (in its nominal working position) to a certain distance (for example, as a purely non-limiting example, to about 0.60 mm relative to the blade's normal working position) (while the carousel is stationary). The controller then automatically starts the rotation of the carousel and the spindles carried by the carousel, initiating the first step of slight cutting of the flexible portion 7 on the various spindles 6. This first cutting step can have a preset and programmed duration (for example, about 2 minutes).

[0078] Subsequently, by advancing the blade by a preset amount, for example about 0.05 mm, a second step of cutting the flexible portion 7, which is slightly deeper than the previous step, can be provided. As a result, the initial advance of the blade may be a passage from position -0.60 mm to position -0.55 mm, taking the actual or nominal working position that the blade must adopt in the normal cutting conditions of the closure 2 as the reference zero.

[0079] This second cutting step may include, in particular, an initial interruption step in which the rotation of the carousel is interrupted, thereby providing an intermediate step of controlled advancement of the blade, and a subsequent restart step in which the controller automatically restarts the rotation of the carousel and the spindle carried by the carousel, thereby actually initiating the step of appropriate cutting of the flexible portion 7. This appropriate cutting step may also have a preset and programmed duration (e.g., about 2 minutes).

[0080] The aforementioned interruptions, forward cycles (for example, by approximately 0.05 mm in each cycle), and restarts can be automatically repeated until the actual nominal working position of the blade is achieved, i.e., the blade position value equal to 0.00 mm where the blade cuts through closure 2.

[0081] The above values ​​for the 0.05 mm progressive advance step for each cycle and the above values ​​for the 2 minute incision time for each cycle are merely illustrative values, and other values ​​can be programmed (for example, 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.09 mm, or 0.10 mm for the progressive advance for each cycle, 1 minute, 1.5 minutes, 2.5 minutes, or 3 minutes for the incision time for each cycle, in any combination of progressive advance and incision time, and also by programming progressive advance and / or different incision times between one cycle (pause, advance, restart) and another). The following matters are within the scope of disclosure of this application. (Item 1) A method for cutting a closure, comprising the following steps: The steps include feeding the spindle (6) to bring the closure (2) to a cutting means (3) having at least one vertical or inclined blade (5), Here the spindle (6) is fed to the cutting means (3) several times, each time carrying a different closure, and includes a flexible section (7) made of a softer material than the vertical or inclined blade (5), The cutting means (3) moves the closure (2) by rotating the spindle (6) around the spindle axis (Y) so that the vertical or inclined blade (5) penetrates the closure (2) and becomes embedded in the flexible part (7) of the spindle, Here, the rotation of the spindle is adjusted to feed the spindle so that each time the spindle (6) is supplied to the cutting means (3), the vertical or inclined blade (5) always meets the same vertical or inclined region of the flexible portion (7). A method for cutting a closure, equipped with [a specific feature]. (Item 2) The cutting method according to item 1, wherein the vertical or inclined region of the flexible portion (7) of the spindle is a linear region having a shape corresponding to the shape of the vertical or inclined blade. (Item 3) The cutting method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the spindle (6) is carried by a carousel (8) that is rotatable around a carousel axis (X), where the ratio of the number of rotations per unit time between the carousel axis (X) and the spindle axis (Y) is equal to 1:N, where N is an integer. (Item 4) The cutting method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the carousel (8) carries two or more spindles (6), each having a flexible portion (7), the carousel (8) is rotationally driven by motor means, and the two or more spindles (6) are rotationally driven around their respective spindle axes (Y) by a single motor connected to the spindle axis (Y) by a mechanical transmission, separate from the motor means of the carousel. (Item 5) The cutting method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the carousel (8) carries two or more spindles (6), each having a flexible portion (7), and a mechanical transmission connects the spindle axes (Y) of the two or more spindles (6) to the carousel axis (X). (Item 6) The cutting method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the carousel (8) carries two or more spindles (6), each having a flexible portion (7), the rotation and feeding of each spindle being coordinated by coordinated movement of the carousel axis (X) and the spindle axes (Y) of the two or more spindles (6), which are controlled in sync by electronic control means, the carousel (8) is rotated by motor means, and each spindle axis (Y) is rotated by its own drive motor, which is different from the drive motors of the other spindle axes (Y) and different from the motor means of the carousel (8). (Item 7) A cutting method according to item 1 or 2, comprising the step of arranging means for preventing the flexible portion (7) from rotating relative to the rest of the spindle (6). (Item 8) The cutting method according to item 1 or 2, comprising a preliminary step in which the spindle (6) is fed into the cutting means (3) several times without carrying the closure (2), wherein during the feeding in the preliminary step, at least one vertical or inclined blade (5) is moved starting from an initial position away from the nominal working position and until it reaches a nominal working position in which it is embedded in the flexible portion (7) to a desired depth, in such a manner that the depth into which it is embedded in the flexible portion (7) is gradually increasing. (Item 9) A cutting device for closures, A cutting means for manufacturing an opening device for a closure, comprising a cutting means having at least one vertical or inclined blade (5), A feeding means for feeding a closure (2) to a cutting means, the feeding means comprising at least one spindle (6) having a flexible portion (7) made of a material softer than the vertical or inclined blade, and configured such that the spindle (6) passes in front of the cutting means several times, carrying a different closure each time, wherein the spindle (6) is rotatable around a spindle axis (Y) such that the vertical or inclined blade (5) penetrates the closure (2) with a through cut and engages with the flexible portion (7) of the spindle, and the feeding means moves the closure (2) in the cutting means, Control means configured to adjust the rotation and feed of the spindle so that whenever the spindle passes in front of the cutting means, the vertical or inclined blade (5) always meets the same vertical or inclined region of the flexible portion (7), A cutting device equipped with a cutting device. (Item 10) The cutting apparatus according to item 9, comprising a carousel (8) that carries at least one spindle (6) and is rotatable about a carousel axis (X), wherein the ratio of the rotational speeds per unit time between the carousel axis (X) and the spindle axis (Y) is equal to 1:N, where N is an integer. (Item 11) The cutting apparatus according to item 9 or 10, comprising a carousel (8) carrying two or more spindles (6), each having a flexible portion (7), wherein the cutting apparatus comprises motor means for rotating the carousel (8), and further comprises a single motor, separate from the motor means of the carousel, connected by a mechanical transmission to the spindle shafts (Y) of the two or more spindles (6). (Item 12) The cutting apparatus according to item 9 or 10, comprising a carousel (8) carrying two or more spindles (6), each having a flexible portion (7), wherein the cutting apparatus comprises a mechanical transmission of the type having a flexible transmission member (9) that connects the carousel axis (X) to the spindle axes (Y) of the two or more spindles (6). (Item 13) A cutting apparatus according to item 9 or 10, comprising a carousel (8) carrying two or more spindles (6), each having a flexible portion (7), wherein the cutting apparatus comprises electronic control means for controlling the coordinated movement of a carousel axis (X) and the spindle axes (Y) of the two or more spindles (6) in a synchronous manner, and motor means for rotating the carousel (8), wherein each spindle axis (Y) has its own drive motor, which is different from the drive motors of the other spindle axes (Y) and different from the motor means of the carousel (8). (Item 14) The cutting device according to item 9 or 10, wherein the cutting means (3) is configured to selectively take between a working position in which the blade can cut the closure (2) fed into the cutting means and a retracted position in which the blade is retracted relative to the working position so as not to interfere with the closure fed into the cutting means. (Item 15) A cutting device according to item 9 or 10, wherein at least one spindle (6) comprises a support (10) having an annular seat open on one side, the flexible portion (7) of the spindle comprises an annular insert that can be inserted axially into the annular seat through the one side, and at least one spindle (6) comprises an annular locking element (11) that can be removably secured to the support (10) to close one side of the annular seat and hold the annular insert locked in a predetermined position. (Item 16) A cutting device for closures, A cutting means (3) configured to produce an opening device for the closure (2), A feeding means for feeding a closure (2) to a cutting means (3), comprising at least one spindle (6) having a flexible portion (7) configured such that at least one blade (5) of the cutting means (3) penetrates the closure (2) in a through cut and becomes embedded in the flexible portion (7) of the spindle, A rotation prevention means (12) configured to prevent the rotation of the flexible portion (7) relative to the rest of the spindle (6), A cutting device equipped with a cutting device. (Item 17) The cutting apparatus according to item 16, wherein the anti-rotation means (12) is configured to prevent the flexible portion (7) from rotating around the axis (Y) of the spindle relative to the rest of the spindle (6). (Item 18) The cutting apparatus according to item 16 or 17, wherein the anti-rotation means (12) comprises a shape coupling into which a portion of the spindle (6) is inserted in an opening obtained in the flexible portion (7), the shape coupling having a non-circular shape or a shape that is not coaxial with the spindle axis (Y). (Item 19) The cutting apparatus according to item 16 or 17, wherein the anti-rotation means (12) comprises a screw coupling between the flexible portion (7) and a part of the spindle (6). [Industrial applicability]

[0082] The present invention can be applied to an apparatus and method for cutting closures or capsules, particularly plastic closures or capsules, that can be used to close containers such as bottles. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 1...Cutting device, 2...Closure, 3...Cutting equipment, 5...Vertical or inclined blade, 6... Spindle, 7... Flexible part, 8... Carousel.

Claims

1. A cutting device for closures, A cutting means (3) configured to produce an opening device for the closure (2), A feeding means for feeding a closure (2) to a cutting means (3), comprising at least one spindle (6) having a flexible portion (7) configured such that at least one blade (5) of the cutting means (3) penetrates the closure (2) in a through cut and becomes embedded in the flexible portion (7) of the spindle, A rotation prevention means (12) configured to prevent the rotation of the flexible portion (7) relative to the rest of the spindle (6), A cutting device equipped with a cutting device.

2. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation means (12) is configured to prevent the flexible portion (7) from rotating around the spindle axis (Y) relative to the rest of the spindle (6).

3. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-rotation means (12) comprises a shape coupling into which a part of the spindle (6) is inserted in an opening obtained in the flexible portion (7), and the shape coupling is non-circular or has a non-coaxial shape with respect to the spindle axis (Y).

4. The cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation prevention means (12) is provided with a screw coupling between the flexible portion (7) and a part of the spindle (6).

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