Folding apparatus and method for container caps

Abstract

A folding apparatus for folding a tamper band (102) of a bottle cap (100) comprises a cap support (2) and a folding tool (3) movable vertically relative to one another, wherein the cap support (2) is arranged to house a cap (100) with the tamper band (102) located towards the top and wherein the folding tool (3) folds the tamper band (102) towards the inside of the cap (100). Preferably, the cap support (2) comprises an arcuate support arm (7) that receives a side wall (103), e.g. shoulder, of the cap (100), while an empty space (6) below the support arm (7) houses a lower portion, e.g. lid, of the cap. In this way, the folding force exerted by the folding tool (3) on the bottle cap (100) is partly borne by the support arm (7). The cap (100) may be a drinks bottle sports cap.

Description

Folding apparatus and method for capsulesBackground of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a folding apparatus and method for folding capsules, in particular for folding the finning of a tamper band of a cap made of plastics and usable for closing a container.

[0002] Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention in question can be usefully used to manufacture a special type of capsule, the so-called “sport cap”, comprising a capsule body and a dispensing spout, in which the capsule body is engageable with the neck of a container by the finning of a tamper band of the capsule and in which the dispensing spout is closed by a cover connected to the capsule body by a breakable security device (an example of a “sport cap” is shown in patent publication US 2009 / 0152269 Al).

[0003] A capsule of “sport cap” type is usually provided with two breakable security devices one of which is arranged to connect the tamper band to the capsule body to indicate the possible first detachment of the capsule body from the container and the other for indicating the first opening of the cover of the dispensing spout.

[0004] The security device provided for connecting the tamper band to the capsule body comprises, in general, a facilitated breaking line and a finning intended to engage a ridge on the neck of the container.

[0005] Making a closing capsule by moulding plastics into a mould in which the finning is arranged towards the outside of the capsule in order to enable the capsule to be extracted from the mould is known. Subsequently, finning has to be folded inside the capsule to reach the use configuration in which it has to engage with the ridge on the neck of the container.

[0006] It is known to perform this folding task in an apparatus that comprises a rotating carousel that carries several folding units, each of which comprises a lower support that carries a capsule and an upper folding tool that folds the finning partially entering inside the capsule by reciprocal movement between the support and tool along a vertical movement axis.

[0007] Patent publication EP 1 243 520 Al shows an embodiment of an apparatus for folding the finning of a tamper band of a capsule.

[0008] One of the problems of the prior art is that, especially in the case of a capsule with two breakable security devices, the operation of folding the finning can entail the risk of breakage, even only partial, or damage to or weakening of at least one breakable security device of the capsule, in particular of the device set up to indicate the opening of the coverof the dispensing spout in a capsule of the special so-called “sport cap” type.Summary of the invention

[0009] One object of the invention is to provide a folding apparatus and / or method that is able to overcome the aforesaid problem of the prior art.

[0010] One object is to improve known apparatuses and methods for folding a finning in a capsule with two breakable security devices like, for example, a capsule of the special so-called “sport cap” type.

[0011] One object is to provide a folding apparatus and / or method, in particular for capsule finnings, that are alternative to those of the prior art.

[0012] One advantage is preventing the operation of folding the finning being able to damage the breakable security device set up to indicate the opening of the cover of a dispensing spout in a capsule of the “sport cap” type.

[0013] One advantage is to ensure precise and reliable performance of the operation of folding the finning of a tamper band of a capsule.

[0014] One advantage is to enable a capsule to be fitted rapidly, easily and securely inside a unit, in particular by supplying the capsule with a horizontal insertion direction.

[0015] One advantage is to make available a folding apparatus, for folding capsule finnings, which is constructionally cheap and simple.

[0016] Such advantages, and still others, are achieved by an apparatus and / or a method according to one or more of the claims set out below.

[0017] In one embodiment, a folding apparatus comprises at least one folding unit with a capsule support and a folding tool that are movable in relation to one another along a movement (in particular, vertical) axis, wherein the capsule support can house a capsule with a finning arranged above and the folding tool can fold the finning towards the inside of the capsule, and wherein the capsule support comprises a support arm that can receive in support a shoulder of a side wall of the capsule, and an empty space that is arranged below the support arm and that can house a portion of capsule situated below the shoulder, where “shoulder” means a variation in the diameter of the side wall.

[0018] The proposed solution enables a finning of a tamper band of a capsule to be folded, in particular a capsule of the so-called “sport cap” type, without supporting the capsule from below (i.e. supporting on a lower end wall that, in a use configuration of the capsule, will act as an upper end wall of the capsule), so as to avoid, during the operation of folding, stress on the breakable elements (ridges) that connect a cover of the dispensing spoutto a main body of the capsule.

[0019] The support arm may have, in particular, an open ring conformation, or C-shaped conformation, owing to which it can receive in support the shoulder of the side wall of the capsule. This special conformation of the support arm enables the capsule to be inserted into the support in a horizontal direction or with at least one horizontal motion component, with the possibility of eliminating any corresponding movement in a vertical direction between the capsule and the support thereof.Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the appended drawings that illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:Figure l is a top plan view of a folding apparatus according to the present invention with some parts removed to show others better;Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the apparatus of Figure 1 in which the capsule support is visible with the support arm;Figure 4 shows the detail of Figure 3 in a partially sectioned vertical raised view according to a vertical section plane;Figure 5 is a partially sectioned vertical raised view that shows, in a projection on the figure plane, some configurations adopted by a folding unit of the apparatus of figure 1 whilst the unit travels along its circular path conveyed by the folding carousel and some components of the unit are guided in a vertical direction by upper and lower cam means;Figure 6 shows some enlarged details of the configurations of Figure 5;Figure 7 shows a detail that is enlarged further of the configuration of Figure 6 in which folding of the finning occurs.Detailed description

[0021] With reference to the aforesaid figures, a folding apparatus is described that is usable, in particular, for folding a finning in a capsule that is usable for closing a container. The finning may be, in particular, a portion of a tamper band of a breakable security device of the capsule. The capsule may be made, in particular, of plastics.

[0022] The folding apparatus may be used, in particular, for folding a capsule with two breakable security devices, like, for example, a capsule of the “sport cap” type, comprisinga capsule body and a dispensing spout, in which the capsule body is engageable with a ridge on a neck of a container via the finning of a tamper band of a first breakable security device of the capsule (which marks the possible first detachment of the capsule body from the container) and in which the dispensing spout is closed by a cover connected to the capsule body by a second breakable security device (provided, for example, with a series of breakable ridges) that indicates the opening of the cover of the dispensing spout.

[0023] The folding apparatus comprises at least one folding unit 1 in turn comprising a capsule support 2 and a folding tool 3. The folding apparatus may comprise, in particular, as in this embodiment, a folding carousel 4 that carries in rotation (around a vertical rotation axis) a plurality of folding units 1 arranged angularly spaced apart (equidistant) from one another.

[0024] For each folding unit 1, the folding tool 3 may be, in particular, arranged above the capsule support 2. For each folding unit 1, the capsule support 2 and the folding tool 3 are movable in relation to one another along a movement axis Z (in particular, vertical).

[0025] Each capsule support 2 is configured to house a capsule 100 so that an end wall 101 of the capsule is arranged below a finning 102 of the capsule.

[0026] Each folding tool 3 is configured to perform folding of the finning 102 of the capsule from top to bottom and towards the inside of the capsule.

[0027] Each capsule support 2 may comprise, in particular, a support edge 5 and an empty space 6 arranged below the support edge 5. The support edge 5 is configured so as to receive in support a portion of a side wall 103 of the capsule. The empty space 6 below the support edge 5 is configured to receive a portion of capsule 104 situated below the portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule resting in the support edge 5. The portion of capsule 104 may include, in particular, the end wall 101.

[0028] The finning 102 of the capsule 100 is part of a tamper band of the capsule that is connected to a main body of the capsule 100 by a first breakable device. The capsule 100 comprises a second breakable device 105 that is interposed between the aforesaid portion of the side wall 103 and the end wall 101.

[0029] Each capsule support 2 may comprise, in particular, a support arm 7 and the support edge 5 may comprise, in particular, an (upper) edge of the support arm 7.

[0030] The support edge 5 may, in particular, extend in length with an arcuate shape. The arcuate shape of the support edge 5 may, in particular, extend in length at a central angle below 230°, or below 220°, or below 210°, or comprised between 180° and 230°, orcomprised between 180° and 220°, or comprised between 180° and 210°, or comprised between 190° and 220°, or comprised between 200° and 210°.

[0031] A central angle means an angle formed by two straight lines tangent to the arcuate shape of the support edge 5 at two opposite end points. In this specific embodiment, the support edge 5 extends in length at a central angle comprised in a range 210° ± 5°.

[0032] The support edge 5 may be, in particular, shaped as an open ring so as to define a side opening through which the capsule 100 can be inserted at least partially. The support edge 5 may have, in particular, a section shape (according to a vertical section plane) that defines a rest surface that is slightly tilted with respect to the horizontal with flaring towards the interior.

[0033] The folding apparatus may comprise, in particular, at least one feeder 8 configured to feed the capsules 100 one at a time to the folding carousel 4, in particular so that each capsule 100, during continuous rotation (for example, at a constant rotation speed) of the folding carousel 4, is inserted into a respective folding unit 1 with at least one part of the capsule 100 and with a direction of insertion into the folding unit 1 having at least one component of horizontal motion through the aforesaid side opening.

[0034] Each capsule support 2 may comprise, in particular, a support surface 9 that bounds the aforesaid empty space 6 below to enable the end wall 101 of the capsule to be supported.

[0035] It is possible for the support surface 9 and the support edge 5 of each capsule support 2 to be so shaped and arranged that, during performance of folding (as will be explained better further on in the description), a force exerted by the folding tool 3 on the capsule is partially discharged onto the support edge 5, on which the portion is rested (for example in the form of a shoulder) of the side wall 103 of the capsule, and partially on the support surface 9, on which the end wall 101 of the capsule is rested.

[0036] The folding tool 3 may comprise, in particular, an inner annular portion 10 and an outer annular portion 11 movable in relation to one another along the movement axis Z (in particular, vertical axis). The folding tool 3 may comprise, in particular, elastic means 12 (for example, a coil spring) configured to exert an elastic force that maintains the outer annular portion 11 abutting against the inner annular portion 10. The inner annular portion10 is arranged for performing folding of the finning 102, whereas the outer annular portion11 is arranged for interacting in contact with a portion of the capsule 100 connected to the finning 102 with a contact force that counteracts the aforesaid elastic force.

[0037] The folding tool 3 may comprise, in particular, a centering member 13 movable with respect to the inner annular portion 10 along the movement axis Z. The centering member 13 is configured to enter at least partially inside the capsule 100 to perform centering of the capsule 100 with respect to the folding tool 3 along the movement axis Z. The centering member 13 may comprise, in particular, a stem that has below a centering disc and that is slidable along the (vertical) movement axis Z inside an axial cavity obtained in the inner annular portion 10.

[0038] The folding apparatus may comprise, in particular, a first guide system configured to guide the reciprocal movement between each capsule support 2 and the respective folding tool 3 along the respective vertical movement axis Z. In this case, the first guide system is configured to guide the vertical movement of the capsule support 2, so that the aforesaid reciprocal movement consists, in this embodiment, of a vertical movement of the capsule support 2.

[0039] The first guide system may comprise, in particular, a cam system. The cam system may comprise, in particular, a cam profile 14 extending in length in a circumferential direction (Figure 5 shows the plan view extent of the cam profile 14 together with some positions of a capsule support 2 with respect to the folding tool 3) and a plurality of cam follower members 15, one for each capsule support 2, slidingly coupled with the cam profile 14. For each folding unit 1, the respective capsule support 2 is provided with a respective cam follower member 15 coupled with the cam profile 14 so that, during rotation of the folding carousel 4, a given vertical position of the capsule support will correspond to each angular position of the capsule support 2.

[0040] The folding apparatus may comprise, in particular, a second guide system configured to guide the reciprocal movement between each inner annular portion 10 and the respective centering member 13 along the vertical movement axis Z. In this specific case, the second guide system is configured to guide the vertical movement of each centering member 13, so that the aforesaid reciprocal movement consists, in this embodiment, of a vertical movement of the centering member 13.

[0041] The second guide system may comprise, in particular, a cam system. The cam system may comprise, in particular, a cam profile 16 extending in length in a circumferential direction and a plurality of cam follower members 17, one for each centering member 13, slidingly coupled with the cam profile 16.

[0042] For each folding unit 1, the respective centering member 13 is provided with arespective cam follower member 17 coupled with the cam profile 16 so that, during rotation of the folding carousel 4, a vertical position of the centering member will correspond to each vertical position of the centering member 13.

[0043] The operation of the folding apparatus enables a folding method to be implemented that comprises the step of housing a capsule 100 on the capsule support 2 so that the end wall 101 of the capsule is arranged below the finning 102, which is oriented towards the outside of the capsule 100.

[0044] The folding method comprises the step of performing a relative mutual movement between the capsule 100 and the folding tool 3 along the (vertical) movement axis Z so that the folding tool 3 can perform folding of the finning 102 inside the capsule 100.

[0045] During performance of the aforesaid folding, a portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule is received in support by a portion of the capsule support 2.

[0046] During performance of the aforesaid folding, the second breakable device 105 is interposed between the aforesaid portion of side wall 103 and the end wall 101, so that at least one part of a force exerted by the folding tool 3 during performance of folding is discharged onto the aforesaid portion of the capsule support 2 that receives in support the aforesaid portion of side wall 103.

[0047] The aforesaid portion of side wall 103 may comprise, in particular, a shoulder (a variation in the diameter of the side wall 103) that, during performance of the folding, is received in support by the aforesaid portion of the capsule support 2. The aforesaid portion of side wall 103 may be, in particular, annular in shape.

[0048] The aforesaid portion of the capsule support 2 may comprise, in particular, the support arm 7 with the support edge 5 of arcuate shape on which the aforesaid portion of side wall 103 rests.

[0049] The folding method may comprise, in particular, the step of feeding several capsule 100 one at a time so that each capsule 100 is inserted into a respective capsule support 2, with an insertion direction having at least one horizontal motion component, through the aforesaid side opening obtained on the aforesaid portion of the respective capsule support 2.

[0050] Figure 1 shows the capsules 100, arranged in a row one behind the other that advance in a horizontal feeding direction that will correspond to the insertion direction in a respective capsule support 2. The capsule supports 2 of the various folding units 1 are rotatedby the folding carousel 4. Figure 2 highlights the most advanced capsule 100 of the row that is received inside the capsule support 2 of the folding unit 1 that is in that moment in an insertion zone. When the capsule support 2, whilst being rotated by the folding carousel 4, reaches the insertion zone, then a capsule 100 can enter the capsule support 2 and the aforesaid portion (shoulder) of the side wall 103 of the capsule can be received by the support arm 7 of the capsule support 2.

[0051] Figure 5 shows some operating steps of the folding apparatus during a complete revolution of the folding carousel 4 (Figure 6 shows enlargements of the same steps as Figure 5).

[0052] With reference to Figure 5 (and to Figure 6), the folding method comprises a first step (first drawing from the left), in which the capsule 100 is received in the capsule support 2 (see also Figures 1 and 2). In this first step, the capsule support 2 has been guided by the first guide system to a lower position far from the folding tool 3 and the centering member 13 has been guided by the second guide system to an upper position far from the capsule support 2.

[0053] In a second step (second drawing from the left of Figure 5), the capsule support 2, carrying the capsule 100, has remained (with reference to the vertical movement) in the lower position, whereas the centering member 13 has been guided by the second guide system to a lower position in which it is at least partially inserted inside the capsule 100 carried by the capsule support 2.

[0054] In a third step (third drawing from the left, see also Figure 7), the capsule support 2 has been guided by the first guide system to perform an ascent movement as far as an upper position in which it interferes in contact with the inner and outer annular portions 10 and 11 of the folding tool 3 to perform folding of the finning 102, whereas the centering member 13 has been guided upwards by the second guide system to an upper position to perform the ascent movement of the capsule 100 in a coordinated manner.

[0055] In this third step the finning 102 is folded back inside the capsule 100 by the action of the inner annular portion 10 of the folding tool 3, whereas the outer annular portion 11 is lifted upwards (counteracting the action of the elastic means 12) through the effect of the ascent of the capsule 100 and of the contact of the portion of capsule connected to the finning 102, so as to promote correct performance of refolding of the finning 102. It is observed that, in this specific embodiment, the inner annular portion 10 (which interacts in contact with the finning 102 to refold the finning 102) does not perform any axial movementalong the vertical movement axis Z.

[0056] In a fourth step (fourth drawing from left of Figure 5), the capsule support 2 has been guided by the first guide system to perform a descent movement to return to the lower position and the centering member 13 has been guided by the second guide system downwards to the return to the lower position so as to continue to follow the descent movement of the capsule 100 in a coordinated manner.

[0057] In a fifth step (fifth drawing from left of Figure 5), the capsule support 100 has remained in the lower position and the centering member 13 has been guided by the second guide system upwards to return to the upper position so as to free the capsule that can then be evacuated to then restart a new folding cycle with the next capsule in another revolution of the folding carousel 4.

[0058] At least one part of the folding force exerted by the folding tool 3 on the capsule 100 is discharged onto the support arm 7 through the annular portion of the side wall 103 of the capsule resting in the support edge 5. In this embodiment, this annular portion of the side wall 103 comprises a shoulder, i.e. a variation in the diameter of the side wall 103.

[0059] The second breakable security device 105 of the capsule is interposed mechanically beyond the aforesaid annular portion of side wall 103. In particular, the second breakable security device 105 is interposed mechanically between the aforesaid annular portion of side wall 103 and the end wall 101 of the capsule.

[0060] Accordingly, this force part, which is discharged onto the support arm 7, is not discharged onto the second breakable security device 105 (i.e., in this embodiment, onto the ridges that connect a cover of a spout of the capsule 100 to the main body of the capsule 100), so as to reduce or eliminate the risk of damage to the second breakable security device 105.

[0061] It is noted that, during performance of the folding, it is possible for the force exerted by the folding tool 3 to be partially discharged onto the aforesaid portion of capsule support (i.e. onto the support arm 7) and partially onto the support surface 9 of the capsule support 2 on which the end wall 101 of the capsule rests. This is possible through appropriate sizing of the capsule support 2 (in particular of the vertical distance between the support surface 9 and the support edge 5 of the capsule support 2) in function of the shape of the capsule, also exploiting a certain deformability of the capsule during performance of the folding.

[0062] Discharging a part of the folding force onto the support surface 9 of the capsulesupport 2 permits greater stability of the capsule 100 during performance of folding and greater folding precision. The part of the folding force that is discharged onto the support surface 9 of the capsule support 2 will stress the second breakable security device 105. Nevertheless, as part of the folding force is discharged through the support arm 7, it is nevertheless possible to achieve the object of decreasing the stress on at least one breakable security device.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Folding method, in particular carried out by means of an apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 14, said method comprising the step of housing a capsule (100) on a capsule support (2) so that an end wall (11) of said capsule is arranged lower than a finning (102) of said capsule oriented towards the outside of said capsule, and the step of performing a relative mutual movement between said capsule (100) and a folding tool (3) along a vertical movement axis (Z) so that said folding tool (3) performs a folding of said finning (102) towards the inside of said capsule, wherein, during the performing of said folding, a portion of a side wall (103) of said capsule is received in support by a portion of said capsule support (2) and a frangible security device (105) is placed between said portion of said side wall (103) and said end wall (101), wherein at least part of a force exerted by said folding tool (3) during the performing of said folding is discharged onto said portion of said capsule support (2) which receives in support said portion of said side wall (103).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said portion of said side wall (103) comprises a shoulder which, during the performing of said folding, is received in support by said portion of said capsule support (2).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said portion of said capsule support (2) comprises a support arm (7) with a support edge (5) of arcuate shape on which said portion of said side wall (103) rests.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said portion of said side wall (103) is annular in shape.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of feeding several capsules one at a time such that each capsule (100) is inserted into a respective capsule support (2) with an insertion direction with at least one horizontal motion component through a side opening made on said portion of the respective capsule support (2).

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, during the performing of said folding, said force exerted by said folding tool (3) is discharged partly onto said portion of said capsule support (2) and partly onto a support surface (9) of said capsule support (2) on which said end wall (101) of said capsule (100) rests.

7. Folding apparatus, comprising at least one folding unit (1) in turn comprising a capsule support (2) and a folding tool (3) which is arranged above said capsule support (2),said capsule support (2) and folding tool (3) being moveable with respect to each other along a vertical movement axis (Z), said capsule support (2) being configured to house a capsule (100) so that an end wall (101) of the capsule is arranged below a finning (102) of the capsule, said folding tool (3) being configured to perform a folding of the finning (102) of the capsule from top to bottom and towards inside the capsule (100), said capsule support (2) comprising a support edge (5) and an empty space (6) arranged below said support edge (5), said support edge (5) being configured so as to receive in support a portion of a side wall (103) of the capsule (100), said empty space (6) being configured so as to receive a portion of the capsule located under the portion of the side wall (103) of the capsule resting on said support edge (5).

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said support edge (5) includes an upper edge of a support arm (7).

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said support edge (5) is of an arcuate shape, in particular with a central angle less than 230°, or less than 220°, or less than 210°, or included between 180° and 230°, or between 180° and 220°, or between 180° and 210°, or between 190° and 220°, or between 200° and 210°, in which central angle means an angle formed by two straight lines tangent to said support edge (5) at two opposite end points.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said support edge (5) is shaped like an open ring so as to define a side opening through which at least a part of the capsule (100) can be inserted.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising at least one feeder (8) configured to feed the capsules (100) one at a time to said at least one folding unit (1) so as to insert at least a part of the capsule (100) with an insertion direction into said at least one folding unit (1) with at least one horizontal motion component through said side opening.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein said capsule support (2) includes a support surface (9) which bounds said empty space (6) at the bottom and which is configured, in particular, to receive and support the end wall (101) of the capsule (100).

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said support surface (9) and said support edge (5) are shaped and arranged in such a way that, during the execution of said folding, a force exerted by said folding tool (3) on the capsule (100) is discharged partly on said support edge (5), on which the portion of the side wall (103) of thecapsule rests, and partly on said support surface (9), on which the end wall (101) of the capsule rests.

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein said folding tool (3) comprises an inner annular portion (10) and an outer annular portion (11) that are movable with respect to each other along said vertical movement axis (Z), said inner annular portion (10) being arranged to perform the folding of the finning (102) and said outer annular portion (11) being arranged to interact in contact with a portion of capsule attached to the finning (102).

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