Cutting apparatus and method for cutting a cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12337495-B2
Application number	US-202117524032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2021
Priority date	Dec 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting capsules includes an engaging portion rotatable together with a spindle, the engaging portion including an axially protruding projection for abutting on an inner protrusion of the cap in a circumferential direction, and a contact surface for abutting an inner central region of the cap. The contact surface and the abutting surface are movable to achieve a phased angular orientation configuration with respect to a cutting device for cutting caps and an axial holding configuration. The inner protrusion of the cap has a preset angular position with respect to a circumferential score on a side wall of the cap. Cutting of the cap includes leading the axially protruding projection to a circumferential abutment on the protrusion, leading the contact surface to an axial abutment against the inner central region, and scoring the cap by the cutting device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cutting apparatus for cutting a cap, the apparatus comprising:
a path along which the cap is movable:
a cutting zone arranged on said path;
a spindle which is movable along said path and rotatable around a vertical rotation axis, said spindle being configured to rotate the cap around said vertical rotation axis;
a support which is movable along said path together with said spindle and which is configured so that the cap is held between said support and said spindle; and
a cutting device for making a score in the cap when said spindle is in said cutting zone;
wherein said spindle includes an engaging portion facing said support to interact in contact with the cap arranged on said support, said engaging portion being rotatable together with said spindle;
said engaging portion including a projection protruding axially with respect to said rotation axis from a peripheral region and vertically downwardly from a head surface of said engaging portion towards said support;
said projection including at least one abutting surface configured to abut on a protrusion extending from a base wall of the cap in an axial direction and in a circumference abutting direction relative to said rotation axis to stop a relative rotation between the cap and said spindle in a preset position to orient the cap with respect to said cutting device;
said engaging portion including a contact surface arranged in a central region of said engaging portion so as to be able to contact the cap and axially hold the cap on said support, said central region being traversed by said rotation axis, said peripheral region being further from said rotation axis than said central region;
said contact surface and said at least one abutting surface being movable in the axial direction relative to each other to achieve a phased angular orientation configuration, in which said contact surface does not hold the cap on said support and in which said at least one abutting surface abuts on the protrusion of the cap in said circumferential abutting direction, and an axial holding configuration, in which said contact surface axially holds the cap on said support and in which said at least one abutting surface abuts on the protrusion of the cap in said circumferential abutting direction.

2. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said support is movable axially to approach, and move away from, said spindle, with the possibility to take a spaced apart position, in which said support is far from said path, and a gripping position, in which said support is close to said path so as to be able to hold the cap in said preset position.

3. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said engaging portion is movable along a direction that is parallel to said rotation axis between a first position, in which said engaging portion is close to said path, and a second position, in which said engaging portion is far from said path.

4. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said projection has an elongated shape in which a greater dimension of said projection extends radially with respect to said rotation axis.

5. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spindle includes an adjustment device for setting a distance of said projection from said support, where said distance is taken along said rotation axis.

6. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said contact surface is placed on an end of a pusher element equipped with an elastic member arranged for pushing axially said contact surface against the cap on said support, said contact surface being curved and defining a convexity on said end of said pusher element.

7. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spindle includes a base body which is rotatable around said rotation axis together with said spindle, said engaging portion being arranged on a gripping body which is slidable with respect to said base body along said rotation axis, said apparatus including a further elastic member configured to exert on said projection an axial force which is capable to allow said projection to make axial displacements with respect to said gripping body towards said support.

8. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spindle includes an annular wall which is outside said engaging portion and which extends around said rotation axis, said annular wall being arranged for providing an abutment on said cutting device.

9. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spindle includes a base body which extends around said rotation axis and which is rotatable around said rotation axis together with said spindle, said engaging portion being arranged on a gripping body which is slidable with respect to said base body along said rotation axis, said gripping body being rotatable together with said base body to allow said engaging portion to contact the cap and rotate the cap.

Assignees

• Sacmi
• Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Soc

Inventors

• VENTURINI Matteo
• Penazzi Davide

Classifications

• B26D7/06 Primary

  Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form (feeding or discharging sheets, webs, or filaments B65H) · CPC title

• B26F2210/04

  Making plastic pilferproof screw caps by cutting a tamper ring · CPC title

• B26F1/18

  Perforating by slitting, i.e. forming cuts closed at their ends without removal of material · CPC title

• B26D1/02

  having a stationary cutting member (B26D1/547 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B26D7/02

  with clamping means {(B26D7/018 takes precedence)} · CPC title