Distribution unit for feeding lids to necks of containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11186392-B2
Application number	US-201715776271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2017
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

A distribution unit for feeding lids (1) to necks (9) of containers (10) comprises a chute element (102) arranged for receiving a row of lids (1), an outlet opening (103) arranged for releasing said lids (1) one at a time, said outlet opening (103) being intended to be positioned above a conveying device (100) suitable for conveying said containers (10) along an advancement direction (F) so that each of said containers (10) interacts with said chute element (102) to remove a corresponding lid (1) from said outlet opening (103), said distribution unit (101) further comprising a guide element (105) having an active surface (106) extending on an opposite side of said chute element (102) with respect to said outlet opening (103) and arranged for interacting with said lids (1), said active surface (106) having a stepped profile.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A distribution unit for feeding lids to necks of containers, comprising:
a chute element arranged for receiving a row of lids;
a conveyor configured to convey the containers along an advancement direction;
an outlet opening configured to release the lids one at a time, the outlet opening positioned above the conveyor and configured to interact with each container, as each respective container is conveyed by the conveyor, to thereby remove a corresponding lid from the outlet opening; and
a guide element having a fastening portion connected to the chute element and an active surface, extending on an opposite side of the chute element with respect to the outlet opening, configured to interact with the lids, the active surface having a stepped profile,
wherein the active surface of the guide element includes:
a first active portion that extends from the outlet opening, the first active portion located downstream of the outlet opening with respect to the advancement direction;
a second active portion located on an opposite side of the first active portion with respect to the outlet opening, the second active portion located downstream of the first active portion with respect to the advancement direction; and
a third active portion located on an opposite side of the second active portion with respect to the first active portion, the third active portion located downstream of the second active portion with respect to the advancement direction,
wherein the first active portion is placed at a first distance from the conveyor, the second active portion is placed at a second distance from the conveyor, and the third active portion is placed at a third distance from the conveyor, the first distance being greater than the second distance and the third distance being greater than the second distance.

2. The distribution unit according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element comprises a fastening portion connected to the chute element.

3. The distribution unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first active portion includes a first planar face.

4. The distribution unit according to claim 3 , wherein the second active portion includes a second planar face.

5. The distribution unit according to claim 4 , wherein the third active portion includes a third planar face.

6. The distribution unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second active portion is interposed between the first active portion and the third active portion.

7. The distribution unit according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element further comprises:
a first connecting portion connecting the first active portion and the second active portion; and
a second connecting portion connecting the second active portion and the third active portion.

8. The distribution unit according to claim 7 , wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion have a curved configuration.

9. An applying unit for applying lids to necks of containers, the applying unit comprising:
distribution unit according to claim 1 ; and
a group of applying heads configured to screw the lids onto the necks of the containers.

10. The applying unit according to claim 9 , wherein the chute element is inclined with respect to the conveyor, such that a distance between the chute element and the conveyor decreases along the advancement direction.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Pedrazzi Alessandro
• Sighinolfi Romano
• Viola Massimo
• Cavazzuti Mauro

Classifications

• B65B65/00

  Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details · CPC title

• B65B7/2835

  applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (for bottles or jars B67B3/20) · CPC title

• B65B7/2807 Primary

  Feeding closures · CPC title

• B67B3/20

  by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (forming threads in situ by resilient deforming means B67B3/16, by rotary capping heads B67B3/18) · CPC title

• B67B2201/06

  Details of cap feeding devices · CPC title