A device for positioning nebulizer pumps destined to be screwed to liquid containers

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of filling plants for liquid containers, which containers can be closed with nebulizer pumps. The device which is object of the invention positions the pumps (6) with their collecting tubes (6a) directed upwards by means of a conveyor belt (1) at which unloading point is provided a motorised roller (8) positioned in such a way as to create a slit (9) which allows the pumps (6) to pass through if positioned correctly, while the motorised roller (8) acts only on the collecting tube (6a) of the pumps (6) which are not correctly positioned.

Description: The invention relates to a device for positioning nebulizer pumps destined to be screwed to liquid containers. The prior art includes spray pumps or nebulizers equipped with a collection tube about as long as the container into which it is inserted. The pump also is equipped with a ring collar to screw and block the said pump to the container. The prior art also includes feeding machines to send the pumps to capping machines which insert the tube into the filled container and screw the collar up until the bottle is closed. The said feeding machines are equipped, among other things, with a rotating conical surface bearing at its extremity a plurality of radial channels into which the pumps are inserted, all positioned with the collection tube turned upwards. The device which is the object of the present invention aims to solve the problem of positioning of the pumps in such a way that they can reach the radial channels of the conical rotating surface with their collection tubes turned upwards. The feeding of the pumps to the conical surface, according to prior art teaching, is made by means of a collecting elevator in a large box in which the pumps are loosely deposited. The elevator unloads the pumps on to a slide and during the journey on the said slide towards the conical surface, the pumps are positioned, tending to turn tube-upwards by themselves due to the greater weight of the pump with respect to the weight of the collecting tube. Obviously this system is very hit-and-miss, with a considerable number of pumps reaching the channelling zone in wrong positions, creating an obstacle to their correct feeding. US-A-3277997 show a tripper type orienter particularly suited for orienting spray pumps prior to charging them to a capping machine. The orienter comprises a fixed wire disposed at the discharge end of a first conveyor and designed to interfere with the pumps which move on said conveyor. This document corresponds to the preamble of claim 1. As the wire is fixed, it can not help the pumps to be lifted up, especially when the pumps match the wire in particular positions and when the pumps have bent or curved collecting tubes. A principal aim of the present invention is to provide a device which is positioned in the unloading zone of the elevator, aimed at positioning the pumps before they fall on to the conical surface or in any case aimed at making sure that on falling they are correctly positioned. This aim is fully attained by the device, object of the present invention, which is characterised in the claims which follow. The device for positioning pumps will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the device is schematically represented in a preferred embodiment, where more specifically: figure 1 shows the device in perspective view; figure 2 shows the device in lateral view; figure 3 partially shows the device with some pumps in a positioning phase. With reference to the drawings, 1 denotes a conveyor belt, substantially formed by a belt in rubber or PVC material which is wound around two drums 2 and 3, one of which is motorised by a motor variator (not illustrated), which moves the belt according to the direction shown by the arrow 4. Above the conveyor belt 1 a terminal part of an elevator (not illustrated) is positioned, which elevator collects the pumps 6 from a box and deposits them loosely on to the said conveyor belt 1, which conveyor belt 1 is equipped with sides 7. In front of the conveyor belt 1, in the unloading zone of the said conveyor belt 1, a motorised roller 8 is positioned, between a chain or belt 5 which receives the movement of the drum 2. The roller 8 axis is parallel to the axis of the drum 2 and at a height which is such as to leave a slit 9 through which the pump will pass; furthermore, the height of the slit 9 must be such that the collecting tube 6a of the pump is at a height from the conveyor belt 1 which coincides with or is higher than the rotating profile of the roller 8. The tangential velocities of the roller 8 and the conveyor belt 1 are the same. The roller 8 performs the positioning task of the device. There are three possibilities of positioning for the pump on the conveyor belt 1: the pump is positioned with its collecting tube 6a disposed parallel to the conveyor belt 1 and behind the pump, with respect to the advancement direction of the pump, which is the correct position; the pump is positioned with its collecting tube 6a disposed transversally to the conveyor belt 1, an incorrect but acceptable position; the pump is in a position where its collecting tube 6a is disposed parallel to the conveyor belt 1 but in front of the pump with respect to the advancement direction of the pump, which is an incorrect position; in the first two cases the pump will pass through the slit 9 without any intervention on the part of the positioning device with regard to the pump 6 positioning. Also in the second case, the positioning is acceptable since it can be corrected, thanks to the fact that the greater weight of the pump 6 with respect to the collecting tube 6a favours a correct positioning during the pump's sliding along the conical underlying surface, denoted by 10 and of known type. In the third case the tip of the collecting tube 6a will strike against the upper roller and will be lifted up until it tips completely over, performing a 180 degree rotation in the process, and then will be disposed practically as in the above-described first or second cases. Obviously there might occur positions which are intermediate to the limit position which have been described above, that is a position with the collecting tube 6a disposed obliquely with respect to the conveyor belt 1, but also in this case the upper roller 8 will bring the pump into one of the three positions described above, and subsequently the pump will be brought into one of the two acceptable positions. Obviously, the upper roller 8 also has the function of avoiding the pumps' falling on top of each other during the falling phase, and thus has the role of controlling the flow of the pumps towards the overlying rotating conical surface.

Claims: A device for positioning nebulizer pumps (6), provided with a collecting tube (6a) having a free tip and destined to be screwed to liquid containers, comprising: a conveyor belt (1) wound around two drums (2 and 3), of which drums (2 and 3) one is motorised, on which conveyor belt (1) pumps (6) are loosely deposited; orienting means having an axis parallel to the drum (2 or 3) of the conveyor belt (1) in a position overlying and forward of the drum (2) located in an unloading position of the pumps (6), positioned so as to leave a slit (9) through which the pumps (6) can pass, characterized in that the pumps can pass side-by-side through said slit and in that said orienting means comprises a motorised roller (8) whose lower profile rotates in opposition with respect to the upper surface of the conveyor belt (1), said roller (8) being arranged according to the drum (2) such that the tip of a collecting tube (6a) that is in front of the pump with respect to the advancement direction of the pump (incorrect position) strikes against the roller (8) and is lifted up until it tips completely over, even if the collecting tube (6a) is bent or curved. A device as in claim 1, wherein the roller (8) is kinematically connected to the conveyor belt (1) in such a way as the tangential velocities of the roller (8) and of the conveyor belt (1) are the same. A device as in claim 1, wherein the roller (8) is kinematically connected to the conveyor belt (1) through a chain or belt (5) which connects the roller (8) and the drum (2).

Inventors: PIAZZA GASTONE, PIAZZA, GASTONE
Applicants: SASIB LABELLING SPA, SASIB LABELLING S.P.A.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65G47
IPC codes: B65G47