Capping machine in a beverage bottling plant configured to cap beverage bottles with beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps and a capping machine configured to cap containers with container caps

Abstract

A capping machine in a beverage bottling plant configured to cap beverage bottles with beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps and a capping machine configured to cap containers with container caps. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . A capping machine in a beverage bottling plant configured to cap beverage bottles with beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps, said capping machine comprising:
 a sorting unit being configured and disposed to orient the open sides of beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps with a predetermined orientation for the capping of beverage bottles;   a conveyor channel comprising a conveyor channel output;   said conveyor channel being configured and disposed to permit movement of beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps from said sorting unit to said conveyor channel output;   said conveyor channel being configured to move beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps on their rounded exterior side surfaces;   a sensor being disposed adjacent to at least a portion of said conveyor channel and being configured and disposed to detect the orientation of beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps, upon beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps moving down said conveyor channel and passing said sensor;   an ejector station being disposed on said conveyor channel downstream of said sensor and being configured and disposed to eject beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps not in the predetermined orientation, upon said sensor detecting an beverage bottle crown cap or beverage bottle screw cap not in the predetermined orientation passing by said sensor; and   a control unit being configured and disposed to receive signals from said sensor relating to the orientation of beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps and being further configured and disposed to send signals to said ejector station to eject beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps not in the predetermined orientation, upon said sensor detecting an beverage bottle crown cap or beverage bottle screw cap not in the predetermined orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The capping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said capping machine comprises a first blocking device:
 disposed downstream of said sensor in a direction of transport;   disposed upstream of said ejector station in a direction of transport; and   configured to block said conveyor channel.   
     
     
         3 . The capping machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said first blocking device is configured to be controlled by said control unit; and   said first blocking device is further configured to open and close said conveyor channel.   
     
     
         4 . The capping machine according to  claim 3 , wherein said first blocking device is further configured to block said conveyor channel upon a beverage bottle crown cap or beverage bottle screw cap not in the predetermined orientation being ejected. 
     
     
         5 . The capping machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said capping machine further comprises a second blocking device:
 disposed on said conveyor channel;   disposed downstream of said ejector station in a direction of transport;   being configured to permit beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps in the predetermined orientation to pass through said conveyor channel; and   being configured to restrict beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps not in the predetermined orientation from passing through said conveyor channel.   
     
     
         6 . The capping machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said capping machine further comprises at least one additional sensor:
 disposed downstream of said second blocking device in a direction of transport; and   configured to detect an interruption of the movement of beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps.   
     
     
         7 . The capping machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said ejector station comprises at least one discharge or ejector element; and   said at least one discharge or ejector element is configured to be actuated by said control unit.   
     
     
         8 . The capping machine according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said capping machine further comprises an electrically controllable drive element configured to be actuated by said control unit;   said ejector arrangement further comprises an ejector or diverter configured to be actuated by said electrically controllable drive element; and   said electrically controllable drive element further comprises an electromechanical drive element configured to be actuated by said control unit.   
     
     
         9 . The capping machine according to  claim 8 , wherein said ejector station further comprises at least one nozzle configured to permit a discharge of a vapor and/or gas medium under pressure to blow out beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps not in the predetermined orientation;
 said ejector station is further configured to permit a controlled discharge of compressed air;   said second blocking device comprises a star wheel configured to project into said conveyor channel;   said sorting unit comprises an outlet;   said conveyor channel comprises an inlet configured to connect to said outlet of said sorting unit; and   said sorting unit is configured to accept beverage bottle crown caps or beverage bottle screw caps from an unorganized supply.   
     
     
         10 . A capping machine being configured to cap containers with container caps, said capping machine comprising:
 a sorting unit being configured and disposed to orient the open sides of container caps with a predetermined orientation for the capping of containers;   a conveyor channel comprising a conveyor channel output;   said conveyor channel being configured and disposed to permit movement of container caps from said sorting unit to said conveyor channel output;   said conveyor channel being configured to move container caps on their rounded exterior side surfaces;   a sensing arrangement being configured and disposed to detect the orientation of container caps upon container caps moving down said conveyor channel and passing said sensing arrangement; and   an ejector arrangement being configured and disposed to eject container caps not in the predetermined orientation, upon said sensing arrangement detecting a container cap not in the predetermined orientation passing by said sensing arrangement.   
     
     
         11 . The capping machine according to  claim 10 , wherein said capping machine comprises a first blocking device:
 disposed downstream of said sensing arrangement in a direction of transport;   disposed upstream of said ejector arrangement in a direction of transport; and   configured to block said conveyor channel.   
     
     
         12 . The capping machine according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said capping machine comprises a control unit configured and disposed:
 to receive signals from said sensor relating to the orientation of container caps; and 
 to send signals to said ejector arrangement to eject container caps not in the predetermined orientation, upon said sensing arrangement detecting a container cap not in the predetermined orientation; 
   said first blocking device is configured to be controlled by said control unit; and   said first blocking device is further configured to open and close said conveyor channel.   
     
     
         13 . The capping machine according to  claim 12 , wherein said first blocking device is further configured to block said conveyor channel upon a container cap not in the predetermined orientation being ejected. 
     
     
         14 . The capping machine according to  claim 13 , wherein said capping machine further comprises a second blocking device:
 disposed on said conveyor channel;   disposed downstream of said ejector arrangement in a direction of transport;   being configured to permit caps in the predetermined orientation to pass through said conveyor channel; and   being configured to restrict caps not in the predetermined orientation from passing through said conveyor channel.   
     
     
         15 . The capping machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said capping machine further comprises at least one additional sensing arrangement:
 disposed downstream of said second blocking device in a direction of transport; and   configured to detect an interruption of the movement of container caps.   
     
     
         16 . The capping machine according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said ejector arrangement comprises at least one discharge or ejector element;   said at least one discharge or ejector element is configured to be actuated by said control unit.   
     
     
         17 . The capping machine according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said capping machine further comprises an electrically controllable drive element configured to be actuated by said control unit;   said ejector arrangement further comprises an ejector or diverter configured to be actuated by said electrically controllable drive element; and   said electrically controllable drive element further comprises an electro-mechanical drive element configured to be actuated by said control unit.   
     
     
         18 . The capping machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said ejector arrangement further comprises at least one nozzle configured to permit a discharge of a vapor and/or gas medium under pressure to blow out container caps not in the predetermined orientation; and
 said ejector arrangement is further configured to permit a controlled discharge of compressed air.   
     
     
         19 . The capping machine according to  claim 18 , wherein said second blocking device comprises a star wheel configured to project into said conveyor channel. 
     
     
         20 . The capping machine according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said sorting unit comprises an outlet;   said conveyor channel comprises an inlet configured to connect to said outlet of said sorting unit; and   said sorting unit is configured to accept container caps from an unorganized supply.