Capping machine and method for closing receptacles

Abstract

A capping machine for closing a receptacle with a cap having a preformed internal thread, the capping machine including a capping head, a drive shaft, a drive, a shifting device, at least one sensor and at least one control device. The at least one sensor senses the position of the cap relative to the receptacle once the cap has been placed on the receptacle. The shifting device includes a comparing unit in which the sensed position and the reference position are compared. A direction of rotation of the drive is defined by the control device via the shifting device in accordance with the comparison.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A capping machine for closing a receptacle with a cap having a preformed internal thread, the capping machine comprising:
 a capping head;   a drive shaft;   a drive;   a shifting device including a comparing unit in which a sensed position, an actual position and a reference position are compared;   at least one sensor for sensing the position of the cap relative to the receptacle once the cap has been placed on the receptacle,   and a control device defining a direction of rotation of the drive via the shifting device in accordance with the comparison.   
     
     
         17 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the drive is a servomotor. 
     
     
         18 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a torque sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a sensor sensing a rotation angle. 
     
     
         20 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the control device is operative for analyzing a time change of torques and/or rotation angles. 
     
     
         21 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a gear in the drive, the capping head and/or between both the drive and the capping head. 
     
     
         22 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the shifting device impacts the gear. 
     
     
         23 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein a rotational speed, a direction of rotation and/or a torque impacting the cap is changed by the gear. 
     
     
         24 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein a rotational speed, a direction of rotation and/or a torque impacting the cap is changed by the gear. 
     
     
         25 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein a rotational speed, a torque and a direction of rotation of the drive are constant during the capping process. 
     
     
         26 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 21 , further comprising a sensor for determining a reference position via the control device. 
     
     
         27 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a device for sorting caps and/or receptacles. 
     
     
         28 . The capping machine in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the capping head is displaceable along a capping curve relative to the receptacle. 
     
     
         29 . A method for capping a receptacle with a cap having a preformed internal thread with a capping machine in accordance with claim  1 , the method comprising:
 sensing a position of the cap relative to the receptacle once the cap has been placed on the receptacle;   comparing a sensed position of the cap with a reference position;   turning the cap against a closing direction until the reference position is reached if the sensed position and the reference position are different; and   turning the cap in the closing position when the sensed position and the reference position are common.   
     
     
         30 . The method in accordance with  claim 29 , further comprising separating the cap and/or the receptacle if the sensed position no longer matches the reference position after a rotation of no more than 360° against the closing direction. 
     
     
         31 . The method in accordance with  claim 29 , comprising displacing the capping head relative to the receptacle independent of the geometry of the internal thread of the cap along a capping curve.