SMOOTHING DEVICE FOR WARRANTY SEALS OF BOTTLES

Abstract

 Smoothing device for seals used for any type of bottles and wherein all rotational speeds of the device head can be used since there is a dynamic balance of all the centrifugal forces, which are exerted on the smoothing fillings during the encapsulation process. The counterweight on which the spring system works to transmit the force to the smoothing fittings has the appropriate shape, size and configuration in order to compensate the centrifugal forces and to eliminate the problems arising from the combined stresses on the capsule. The pitch of the smoothing fittings can be reduced by the combined movements of the device head rotation and vertical displacement, thereby decreasing the needed capsule material due to a progressive lamination by extending the capsule applied to the bottle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Subject matter of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoothing device for seals covering the mouth of any type of bottles by capsule forming and thereby providing a warranty watertight seal.

[0002] Seal placing is performed by a device head actuated from an exterior motor through an arrangement of springs and counterweights acting on the bottle-neck by smoothing fittings.

[0003] Thanks to this arrangement, the placement and shape of counterweights allow for a suitable head performance at any feasible rotational speed, thus increasing instrument output and decreasing capsule material consumption thanks to a more effective fitting "capsule to bottle".

Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Nowadays there are different seal smoothing devices provided with a head, well known to the art, rotating at a certain speed and applying a constant pressure through a set of smoothing fittings, to the capsules of the bottles lifted toward said head inner part.

[0005] Actually, the rotational speed of such heads is about 1,400 r.p.m. for an output of 800 bottles per hour. Attempts to enlarge the rotational speed in order to increase the instrument output failed because the centrifugal forces, generated by the device head rotation, separate the smoothing members and lead to a faulty encapsulation. A study in detail of the different device head members has shown that the only feasible way for rotational speed enlargement could be find in the design and shape improvement of the counterweights, used for power transmission from the spring system to the smoothing fittings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This invention relates to a smoothing device for seals that comprises counterweight members specially designed for bearing and overcoming the centrifugal forces acting on the smoothing fittings.

[0007] The smoothing device for seals is provided with a steering motor placed at device top part, generating both a suitable head rotational speed and an impeller displacement, said impeller with this purpose is located on the same rotational device axle; another self-sufficient steering motor lifts up and down the bottles toward the inner part of the smoothing device. An elastic system, preferably a spring one, is positioned all over the device head perimeter, exerts a constant pressure on and displaces the counterweights, said counterweights transmitting via a rotational axle the impelling strength to the smoothing fittings. One spring member is anchored at the top part of the counterweight, while at the bottom part is anchored the smoothing fitting. This counterweight arrangement provides a mass dynamic balance in such a way that no matter at which rotational speed the device head is driven, the spring system strength is directly acting on the smoothing fittings, said smoothing fittings being axially displaced for bottle sealing.

[0008] Thanks to the feasibility for enlarging the head rotational speed, it becomes possible to achieve an instrument output increase and a continuous seal smoothing. Furthermore, this reduction of the smoothing fitting pitch allows for a non-restricted combination of device head movements, i.e., for a continuous increase or decrease of both head rotational and vertical displacement speed.

[0009] Therefore, thanks to that compensation by said counterweights of the centrifugal forces acting on the smoothing device, it becomes feasible to operate the device head at any potential speed.

[0010] All the above-mentioned features of the present invention will be better understood in reference to the attached to the present description drawings, which are disclosed with an explaining and non-limiting purpose. The following figures herein are shown, where:

Short description of the figures

[0011] 

Figure 1 is a cross elevation view of the smoothing device, showing the arrangement, size and shape of all members of the head device with the exception of the steering motor and the impeller rod. This figure cross section allows for a better identification of the hollow and mass head members.

Figure 2 is a cross plant view of the bottom part of the smoothing device according to the middle line of the head device and showing the counterweights, its spin axles and rider rings.

Figure 3 is an elevation view of the smoothing device as a whole showing a performance embodiment, which in distinction with Figure 1 includes the impeller rod, a bottle to be sealed and the bottle lifting platform.

Description of the preferred embodiment

[0012] The smoothing device without the steering section as can be seen from the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, is a hollow cylinder where are assembled several details actually forming the rotative head (1). The rotative head is fixed to the motor by the thread (16). On the head top there is the toroid fastening ring (2) provided with passing screws (3), which affix said fastening ring with the upper rider ring (4), being one end of the spring system (15) anchored on said upper rider ring. The other end of said spring system is provided with an anchor pin (5) located on a rib arranged at the extremity of the counterweight (6).

[0013] The counterweight (6) is the main member of the whole head device (1), said counterweight being able to compensate and equilibrate all the centrifugal forces acting on the smoothing device of the present invention. The counterweight (6) is L-shaped provided with rounded edges, wherein said counterweight lengthy side accommodates the anchor pin (5) of the spring system (15) within a small hole made at an external rib placed at the end of said lengthy side; the short counterweight side is provided with a lateral recess allowing rotation through the spin axle (7) without any contact with the inner part of the head; finally, the smoothing fitting (9) is anchored at the end (8) of said short side. Said smoothing fittings (9) are alternately arranged all along the perimeter of the head, being provided said fittings with a spin axle (10), said spin axle being locked through a nut and washer and allowing for the fitting self-rotation which performs the progressive smoothing of the capsule.

[0014] On figure 2 can be seen the quantity and position of the counterweights (6) placed around the rider ring (11), and the corresponding locations of the counterweights spin axles (7).

[0015] The performance embodiment shown in Figure 3 adds to the above-described features the usage of the impeller rod (14) and the lift platform (13) designed for bottle (12) sealing. The head (1) rotational speed and the platform (13) rising speed are the factors ruling the capsuling step. Thanks to the compensation of the centrifugal forces by the counterweight (6) action, the spring system (15) exerts a constant strength on the smoothing fitting, said smoothing fitting in its turn being acting on the capsule. Since it is not necessary to compensate the strength variation originated by the modification of the rotational speed, it becomes possible at the same time to actuate on the vertical displacement of the head device. Said non-restricted combination of both movements of the head device allows for the reduction of the pitch of the smoothing fittings, being consequently reduced labor cost and increased instrument output.

[0016] Once the nature of the present invention as well as an embodiment to perform it have been described thoroughly, it is only to be added that it would be possible to introduce changes with respect to shape, materials and arrangement, as long as said changes do not substantially affect the characteristics of the invention which are claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. Smoothing device for warranty seals of bottles comprised by a steering motor providing the head device with the suitable rotational speed; one more steering motor for lifting up and down the bottles towards the inner part of the smoothing device, said steering motor being helped by a displacement impeller (14) for this purpose located at the same spin axle of the instrument, characterized in that is provided with the counterweights (6) located all along the head device perimeter, said counterweights being L-shaped with rounded edges, wherein said counterweight lengthy side accommodates the anchorage of the spring system (15) as a locking lug (5) introduced into an external rib placed at the end of said lengthy side; and wherein the short counterweight side is provided with a lateral recess allowing rotation through the spin axle (7) without any contact with the inner part of the head; and finally, wherein the smoothing fitting (9) being locked at the end of said short counterweight side by the anchorage (8).

2. Smoothing device for warranty seals of bottles according to claim 1 characterized in that the counterweights (6) transmit directly to the smoothing fittings (9) the constant strength provided by the spring system (15), said smoothing fitting in its turn acting on the capsule, wherein being not necessary to compensate the centrifugal forces and any other factors acting on the seals.

3. Smoothing device for warranty seals of bottles according to claim 1 characterized in that the counterweights (6) will equilibrate dynamically the device head at any selected rotational speed for the smoothing seals operation.

4. Smoothing device for warranty seals of bottles according to claim 1 to 3 characterized in that the rider ring (2) is provided with passing screws (3), which affix said rider ring with the upper rider ring (4), the transmitted strength to said springs (15) being regulated in accordance with the selected material for capsule manufacture.

Drawing