Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.c.m.a. S.p.a.

Azionaria Construzioni Macchine Automatiche A.c.m.a. S.p.a.

Gianpietro Zanini

Marco Baroni

Carlo Corniani

Renzo Vesentini

Marco Carrara

Athos Rippa

Dino Pedercini

The components of a rotary conveyor () for a carousel type capping machine () include a center shaft aligned on a main axis (X) coinciding with the main axis of the machine (), a carrier element () coupled to the shaft so that the two rotate as one about the main axis (X), and a set of gripper mechanisms () associated operationally with the carrier element (), distributed circumferentially about the supporting shaft. Each gripper mechanism () is switchable between a first configuration, establishing a recess () in which to accommodate a respective container (), a second configuration in which the container () is retained within the recess () by a predetermined gripping force, and a third configuration in which the container () is restrained by a gripping force greater than the force exerted in the second configuration, so as to counteract any unwanted rotation of the container () about its longitudinal axis (Y) that might be induced during the course of capping operations.

Rotary conveyor comprising a gripper mechanism

Containers are closed with screw caps by a carousel machine of which a central drum () is rotatable about a vertical axis (A) and carries a set of capping units () equipped with respective capping heads (), each presenting a gripper () by which the cap () is held, and a mechanism () by which the hinged jaws () of the gripper () are opened and closed; each capping head () is capable of axial motion induced by components incorporated into the relative unit (), which are guided axially in their movements and supported by auxiliary components () associated rigidly with the central drum ().

Capping machine

Capping assemblies () of the type fitted to capping units () in a machine for packaging containers filled with fluid or powdered products are equipped with a gripping apparatus () comprising a gripper () with three arms (), each carrying an adapter () furnished with a pad () offered in direct contact to the cap, through which the gripping action is applied. Each adapter () is secured to a fitting () insertable into a socket () afforded by the bottom of a structural member () that forms the main part of each arm () and is hinged to the movable head of a relative capping assembly (); when inserted into the structural member (), the fitting () is retained automatically by a snap lock mechanism () incorporated into the arm (), which can be released subsequently by introducing the tip of a screwdriver into a slot () created in the side of the fitting () and levering the components apart.

Gripping apparatus for capping assemblies in container packaging machines

A capping machine () of carousel design comprises a centre shaft () turning on a fixed base frame () about a vertical axis of rotation (Y), a set of capping units () encircling and revolving as one with the shaft () about the axis of rotation (Y), and a cylindrical cam () interposed between the shaft () and the capping units (), by which the single units () are caused to move toward and away from the fixed base frame (). During operation, the cam () is held in at least one predetermined fixed position relative to the base frame () by a single supporting element () anchored to the base frame (), concealed internally of the rotating shaft () and connected to the cam (), which represents a departure from the conventional method of supporting the cam on two or more columns located externally of the carousel structure and exposed to view.

A carousel () for supporting and weighing containers (), comprising: a carrier element () supporting at least one container (), rotatable about a respective axis (X) and presenting at least one opening () affording access to an enclosure () within the selfsame element (); a plate () associated with the underside of the carrier element (), serving to close the opening (), and a system () for weighing the container (), installed at least partially within the enclosure (). The weighing system () comprises a load cell () associated with the plate () and housed in the enclosure ().

Carousel for supporting and weighing containers

A container supplied to a carousel type filling unit is directed onto a supporting and weighing device () that presents a hollow body () attached to the carousel and housing a load cell. The hollow body () is equipped with a pedestal () presenting a platform () on which to stand the container, and a connecting element () of which a first end () is coupled with the load cell internally of the hollow body () and a second end (), opposite to the first end (), is secured to the platform (). To advantage, the first end () of the connecting element () is seated in a through opening () afforded by the underside of the hollow body ().

Supporting and weighing device for containers

Containers for packaging liquid or powder products are directed onto a carousel () presenting a support element () equipped with a number of peripheral stations (), each accommodating a relative container (), and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by a drive system () housed internally of floor-standing frame () on which the carousel () is mounted. The support element () presents substantially disc-like appearance and is hollow, composed of a top panel () and a bottom panel () distanced one from another in such a way as to create an annular chamber () between the two panels.

Carousel for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products

Containers () to be filled with liquid or powder products are processed by equipment () comprising at least one carousel () mounted on a floor-standing base frame () and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by drive components () housed internally of the frame (); the carousel () is equipped with a number of peripheral stations (), each accommodating a single container (), and is positioned directly above a tank () with an open top () proportioned and contoured in such a way that washing liquids sprayed onto the carousel () in the course of during cleaning operations can be collected and carried away from the equipment.

Equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products

Screw caps () are fitted to the necks of respective containers () by a unit comprising a carousel equipped with a platform on which the containers are placed, a frame positioned above the platform, and a drive system by which the platform and the frame are set in rotation about a main vertical axis. The unit comprises at least one screw capping device () associated with the rotating frame of the carousel, located above a respective container () and equipped with a gripping mechanism () lockable onto the cap () of the container, also a first motion-inducing linkage () by which the gripping mechanism () is caused to rotate about an axis (Y) parallel to the main vertical axis, and a second motion-inducing linkage () by which the gripping mechanism () is moved toward or away from the respective cap (). The screw capping device () is packaged internally of a box-like body () associated removably with the rotating frame and housing the gripping mechanism ().

Unit for fitting screw caps to the necks of respective containers

A rotary conveyor () utilized in equipment () for filling containers () with liquid or powder products includes a supporting shaft () aligned on a longitudinal axis (X) and coupled to relative drive components () associated with the shaft (), by which the shaft is set in rotation about the axis (X). A support element () is keyed to the shaft (), presenting a peripheral rim () with a plurality of slots () each designed to accommodate a container () transferred from a transport and/or processing device () forming part of the equipment (). The slots () incorporate restraining components () having grippers () movable between a position of engagement, in which the containers () are locked to the support element (), and a position of disengagement in which no restraining force is applied to the containers ().

Rotary conveyor

A gravity dispensing unit for filling containers with powdered material, wherein a vessel for powdered material presents, underneath, at least one dispenser with a central supply conduit in turn presenting a shutter and made of porous material; the supply conduit extending in fluidtight manner through an annular chamber for receiving pressurized fluid, and through an annular intake manifold surrounding the annular chamber and presenting an annular, downward-facing inlet.

Powdered material dispensing unit

A capping unit for capping containers with respective caps, each presenting a spray head with a ring nut for fitting it to the threaded neck of the container; the capping unit presenting at least one capping head wherein a first gripping device grips a respective spray head, and a second gripping device presents two jaws for gripping the ring nut and rotating it in relation to the first gripping device; each jaw presenting a gripping roller integral with a respective planetary gear of an epicyclic drive wherein each planetary gear is barrel-shaped and presents teeth in turn presenting a convex longitudinal profile and meshing permanently with a straight-toothed outer ring gear regardless of the position of the relative jaw.

Capping unit for automatically assembling pump-operated spray cap bottles

A capping unit wherein a number of capping heads, movable with a supporting carrousel conveyor about a first axis, are each rotated about a respective second axis by a respective first shaft movable axially on the carrousel conveyor, for moving the respective head to and from a respective container movable with the carrousel conveyor and coaxial with the second axis. Each head provides for closing the respective container with a cap presenting an internally threaded ring nut mounted for rotation on a pump-operated nozzle, and presents a first and second gripping device for respectively gripping the nozzle and the ring nut and controlled by a second shaft movable axially in relation to the first shaft. The first gripping device is angularly fixed in relation to the carrousel conveyor, whereas the second gripping device rotates with the capping head about the second axis.

Capping unit for automatically assembling pump-operated spray cap

The dosage dispensing device associable with filling machines is provided with at least one lower nozzle which includes a main body, which has a vertical axis, which is hollow and which has an internal diameter which reduces gradually at least proximate to its lower end down to a discharge outlet, and by a stem, which is arranged so as to be coaxially movable inside the main body. The stem defines, at its lower end, a shutter for the discharge outlet, and is provided with longitudinal fins for guiding the stem inside the main body; the shutter is constituted by a solid of revolution which is coaxial to the stem and which has a cross-section which decreases from a median region thereof down to a lower pointed end thereof, and the inner surface of the main body which is proximate to the discharge outlet has a shape which can be sealingly coupled to a lower portion of the shutter.

Dosage dispensing device for filling machines

The apparatus for applying closures to containers having a neck which is inclined with respect to a vertical axis of the containers comprises: a first conveyer and a second conveyer for transferring the containers in succession. A closure application conveyor receives containers from the first conveyor and transfers them to the second conveyer. The closure application conveyor is provided with a plurality of clamps for gripping the containers arriving from the first conveyer, and is provided with a plurality of closure application heads whose respective lines of action are inclined with respect to a vertical axis. Actuation devices are provided which rotate the clamps in both directions about the vertical axes of the related containers in order to align the axes of the necks with the lines of action of the respective closure application heads.

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Montanara di Curtatone, Italy

Gianpietro Zanini