Device and method for closing a bottle with torque measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11208309-B2
Application number	US-201916704839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Dec 5, 2018
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a device for holding a bottle to be closed, comprising a holding element for holding, in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the holding element, a neck ring of the bottle to be closed, and a fastening element for fastening the holding element to a bottle closing device or to a bottle transport device, and having a torque sensor for detecting a torque acting between the holding element and the fastening element. Furthermore, the present disclosure discloses a device for closing a bottle and a method for closing a bottle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for holding a bottle to be closed, comprising:
a holding element for holding, in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the holding element, a neck ring of the bottle to be closed; and
a fastening element for fastening the holding element to a bottle closing device or to a bottle transport device; and
a torque sensor for detecting a torque acting between the holding element and the fastening element;
wherein the torque sensor comprises:
a pointer element that is rotationally fixed with respect to the holding element; and
a detection unit for detecting a deflection of the pointer element.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the holding element and the fastening element are interconnected by means of at least one connecting element and the torque acting between the holding element and the fastening element is transmitted via the at least one connecting element.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one connecting element provides a torsionally flexible connection between the holding element and the fastening element.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one connecting element comprises one or a plurality of webs between the holding element and the fastening element.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is provided on the fastening element.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the pointer element comprises a magnetic element, and the detection unit comprises a magnetic field sensor.

7. A device for closing a bottle, comprising:
a device for holding the bottle to be closed according to claim 1 ; and
a control unit for controlling a closing torque acting on a cap to be screwed onto the bottle based on a signal outputted by the torque sensor.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the closing torque when the signal reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein a sensor is provided which measures a force acting in a vertical direction on the bottle undergoing the screw-on process.

10. A method for closing a bottle, comprising the following steps:
holding, by means of a holding element, a neck ring of the bottle to be closed, the holding taking place in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the holding element, and the holding element being fastened to a bottle closing device by a fastening element; and
detecting a torque which acts between the holding element and the fastening element;
wherein detecting the torque comprises detecting a rotational displacement of the holding element with respect to the fastening element.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
controlling a closing torque acting on a cap to be screwed onto the bottle based on a signal outputted by a torque sensor which detects the torque.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the controlling comprises a reduction of the closing torque when the signal reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein detecting the rotational displacement comprises detecting the change of position of a pointer element arranged on the holding element.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein detecting the change of position of the pointer element comprises detecting a magnetic field of a magnetic element arranged on the pointer element by means of a magnetic field sensor arranged on the holding element.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a force applied during the closing process perpendicularly to the bottle to be closed is measured.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Ehrismann Tobias
• Schoenfelder Markus

Classifications

• G01L5/0061

  Force sensors associated with industrial machines or actuators (for the specific machine or actuator involved see relevant class, e.g. F01, F04, F16, B66, E21) · CPC title

• B67B3/206 Primary

  Means for preventing rotation of the container or cap · CPC title

• B67B3/2073

  comprising torque limiting means (torque limiters in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/14; couplings or clutches per se F16D) · CPC title

• B67B3/261

  Devices for controlling the tightening of threaded caps, e.g. testing the release torque (torque testers in general G01L5/00) · CPC title

• B67B3/208 Primary

  Electrical means responsive to the torque applied and acting on motor control means, e.g. strain gauges or power measurement means (B67B3/2093 takes precedence) · CPC title