Container capping control device and method and associated machine

Abstract

A container capping control device for a machine may include at least one capping head adapted to place a closure member on a container. The capping head may include a driving motor. The device may include a calculation unit, a graphical man-machine interface and a plurality of capping programs adapted to be parameterized by means of the interface. A capping program may be adapted to control the capping head in accordance with at least one phase of rotation of the closure member when the capping program is executed by the calculation unit.

1 . A container capping control device for a machine, comprising at least one capping head adapted to place a closure member on a container, the capping head comprising a motor for driving the closure member, the device including a calculation unit, a graphical man-machine interface, and a plurality of capping programs adapted to be parameterized by means of the interface, a capping program being adapted to control the capping head in accordance with at least one phase of rotation of the closure member when it is executed by the calculation unit.  
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the graphical interface comprises a plurality of windows with at least one window per capping program.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a capping program step is defined by a starting angle, a stopping angle, a limit torque, a limit torque tolerance and a maintaining duration.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a capping program step is defined by a torque regulation factor, a turret ratio and a path angle.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a capping program with a high starting torque.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a capping program including orientation of the closure member for snap-fastening.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a capping program including monitoring of speed in the reverse direction for finding a thread entry.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a capping program with screwing checked by application of a low unscrewing torque.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a capping program commanding rotation of the capping head before contact between the closure member and the container.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a capping program including starting on an external electrical signal.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a cell for detecting the angular orientation of the closure member and a capping program including indexing of the closure member by the detection cell.  
     
     
         12 . A container capping machine, comprising a container capping control device and at least one capping head adapted to place a closure member on a container, the capping head comprising a motor for driving the cap, the container capping control device comprising a calculation unit, a graphical man-machine interface, and a plurality of capping programs adapted to be parameterized by means of the interface, a capping program being adapted to control the capping head in accordance with at least one phase of rotation of the closure member when it is executed by the calculation unit.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the graphical interface comprises a plurality of windows with at least one window per capping program.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein a capping program step is defined by a starting angle, a stopping angle, a limit torque, a limit torque tolerance and a maintaining duration.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein a capping program step is defined by a torque regulation factor, a turret ratio and a path angle.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a capping program with a high starting torque.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a capping program including orientation of the closure member for snap-fastening.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a capping program including monitoring of speed in the reverse direction for finding a thread entry.  
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling capping of containers by a machine comprising at least one capping head adapted to place a closure member on a container, the capping head including a motor for driving the cap, the machine including a calculation unit, in which method an operator parameterizes at least one capping program via a graphical man-machine interface, a capping program being adapted to control the capping head in accordance with at least one phase of rotation of the closure member, when it is executed by the calculation unit, and an operator starts the execution of a capping program from among a plurality of capping programs.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the operator parameterizes a single capping program and then starts the execution of the capping program.