Cyclically operating machine for filling containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cyclically operating machine for filling containers and closing them with caps. A closure station thereof includes a cap feeder for feeding the caps to the containers, and a sorting device for aligning and separating the caps and transferring them to the cap feeder. The cap feeder positions the caps individually on a respective container and closes the container with the cap. The cap feeder is arranged such that it can be moved back and forth, and is provided with a drive which is designed for moving the cap feeder.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A cyclically operating machine for filling containers and then closing containers with caps, including
 a closure station having a cap feeder means which delivers the caps to the containers, the closure station having a sorting means which orients, separates, and transfers the caps to the cap feeder, the cap feeder means placing the caps individually each on a respective container and closing the container with the cap, wherein the cap feeder is disposed movably back and forth and includes a drive mechanism, which is designed for moving the cap feeder.   
   
   
       14 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the cap feeder means is disposed on a movable slide. 
   
   
       15 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the sorting means is disposed in stationary fashion, and between the cap feeder means and the sorting means a gap is embodied, by way of which a transfer of the caps from the sorting means to the cap feeder means is effected. 
   
   
       16 . The machine as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the sorting means is disposed in stationary fashion, and between the cap feeder means and the sorting means a gap is embodied, by way of which a transfer of the caps from the sorting means to the cap feeder means is effected. 
   
   
       17 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the sorting means is disposed on the cap feeder means and is disposed movably back and forth jointly with the cap feeder means. 
   
   
       18 . The machine as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the sorting means is disposed on the cap feeder means and is disposed movably back and forth jointly with the cap feeder means. 
   
   
       19 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially horizontal rail region and an essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       20 . The machine as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially horizontal rail region and an essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       21 . The machine as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially horizontal rail region and an essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       22 . The machine as defined by  claim 17 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially horizontal rail region and an essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       23 . The machine as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the cap feeder means is disposed pivotably about a pivot point. 
   
   
       24 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially vertical rail region, and the essentially vertical rail region is disposed directly on the sorting means, in order to transfer the caps from the sorting means directly into the essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       25 . The machine as defined by  claim 14 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially vertical rail region, and the essentially vertical rail region is disposed directly on the sorting means, in order to transfer the caps from the sorting means directly into the essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       26 . The machine as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially vertical rail region, and the essentially vertical rail region is disposed directly on the sorting means, in order to transfer the caps from the sorting means directly into the essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       27 . The machine as defined by  claim 16 , wherein the cap feeder means includes an essentially vertical rail region, and the essentially vertical rail region is disposed directly on the sorting means, in order to transfer the caps from the sorting means directly into the essentially vertical rail region. 
   
   
       28 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein a differential speed between the cap feeder means and the containers is constant. 
   
   
       29 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein a differential speed between the cap feeder means and the containers varies continuously during the motion of the cap feeder means. 
   
   
       30 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , further including a lever which converts a rotary motion of the drive mechanism into a reciprocating motion of the cap feeder means. 
   
   
       31 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , further including a control device for varying a drive direction of the drive mechanism, in order to furnish the reciprocating motion of the cap feeder means. 
   
   
       32 . The machine as defined by  claim 13 , wherein upon a feeding motion of the containers, the cap feeder means is movable in the same direction as the feeding motion, and a speed of motion of the cap feeder means is less than a speed of motion of the containers.