Patent Description:
These machines are also called capsuling machines, i.e., equipment for capping crown caps on the mouth of bottles.

In this particular case, it is of the manual type, thus hand-operated.

Several capping machines for closing bottles with crown caps are known in the art.

Said type of machine falls among those configured for small productions and is therefore generally of the manual type.

Said machines can be table-mounted, thus configured to be placed on a raised table top, or column-mounted, thus configured to be placed on the floor.

Generally the known machines comprise a base with a metal column on which the capping mechanism is installed.

The capping mechanism generally comprises a manoeuvring lever adapted to operate a head to which it imparts a vertical motion and a pressure force which is transferred to the crown cap placed on the mouth of the bottle to be capped.

Said capsuling machines are expensive both in terms of assembly and production, as they are made from several metal parts.

Furthermore, said capsuling machines have large dimensions which are not compatible with insertion, for example, inside fermenters in beer kits.

Document <CIT> is known which describes a capping machine for hermetically sealing bottles of various sizes with crown caps. Said machine comprises a base from which two uprights rise, joined together vertically by a semi-cylindrical surface inside of which are a series of grooves are obtained, arranged at different heights, adapted to receive a plate which can be inserted to position bottles of different heights at the correct height with respect to the capping mechanism; concentric circular seats of different diameters are obtained in said plate for positioning the base of bottles of different diameters.

However, said solution does not ensure good stability of the bottle, as the clearance between the plate and the groove which receives it can cause the plate, and therefore the bottle, to tilt.

In particular, this is exacerbated when the bottle is subjected to the pushing force of the capping mechanism. Therefore, the axis of the bottle may be inclined with respect to the pressure force of the capping head, which has a vertical direction.

The wear of the grooves and/or the plate over time means that the machine cannot ensure a stable support for the bottle.

Document <CIT> describes a capping machine in accordance with the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is that of providing a capping machine for closing bottles with crown caps which is structurally and functionally designed to overcome one or more of the limits set out above with reference to the prior art.

In the context of the aforesaid problem, a main aim of the invention is to develop a capping machine for closing bottles with crown caps, as part of a flexible solution which allows to reliably work with bottles of different heights and sizes.

A further aim of the invention is also that of providing the art with a manual capping machine for closing bottles with crown caps, within the scope of a simple and rational solution, with limited size and cost.

The technical problem is solved by a capping machine for closing bottles with crown caps according to claim <NUM>.

Said machine comprises a base, on which a bottom of the bottle rests.

Furthermore, it comprises a fixed frame comprising two uprights inside which the bottle to be capped is positioned, and a movable frame at the top of which a capping mechanism is integrated.

Such a capping mechanism comprises a manoeuvring lever adapted to operate a head by imparting a vertical motion and a pressure force to said head which is transferred to the crown cap arranged on the mouth of the bottle to be capped.

Said movable frame is configured to be manually translated in a vertical direction along the fixed frame so as to bring the capping mechanism to the correct working height according to the height of the bottle to be capped.

In particular, said capping machine comprises locking means of a removable type, configured to engage/disengage simultaneously with the movable frame and with the fixed frame to lock said movable frame in the working position.

Preferably said locking means are engaged by insertion into the movable and fixed frame in a direction orthogonal to the vertical capping direction.

In particular, the insertion of locking means in the movable and fixed frame occurs manually.

Preferably the two uprights are configured to slidably receive two columns of the movable frame.

Preferably the two columns of the movable frame externally embrace the two uprights of the fixed frame.

Preferably, the columns of the movable frame are internally hollow so as to contain therein the upright along which they can slide in a vertical direction.

Preferably the columns of the movable frame and the uprights of the fixed frame comprise a flat face, preferably facing the inside of the capping machine.

In particular, the locking means comprise at least one protrusion adapted to fit into a corresponding outer recess of the movable frame and into a corresponding inner recess of the fixed frame.

Preferably said outer recess is made on at least one column of the movable frame and said inner recess is made on at least one upright of the fixed frame.

Optionally the locking means comprise at least one pair of protrusions, adapted to fit into at least one pair of corresponding outer recesses, located on both uprights columns and into at least one pair of corresponding inner recesses, located on both uprights.

Optionally, each column comprises a number of outer recesses equal to the number of pairs of protrusions.

Optionally, each upright comprises a plurality of inner recesses distributed along the height of each upright.

Preferably the inner recesses are arranged in pitch on each upright and preferably said pitch is constant and equal to the vertical distance between the pairs of protrusions, of the locking means.

Preferably said inner recesses and said outer recesses are arranged towards the inside of the capping machine.

In particular, said inner recesses are holes preferably passing through the entire width of the uprights.

Preferably, said holes have a first opening extending along the entire depth of the hole and facing the inside of the capping machine, preferably up to the flat faces.

Optionally, said outer recesses are holes passing through the entire width of the columns.

Preferably, said holes have a second opening extending along the entire depth of the hole and facing the inside of the capping machine, preferably up to the flat faces.

Preferably the locking means comprise a connection element for connecting the protrusions of each pair with each other.

Preferably said connection element comprises an extension for connecting all the pairs of protrusions with each other.

In particular, the locking means are further configured for positioning the bottle in axis with the capping mechanism.

In particular, the connection element comprises a curved inner surface to contact the outer surface of the bottle placed in the capping position.

Preferably the locking means comprise adjustment means for adjusting the position thereof in a horizontal direction and to allow positioning the bottle in axis with the capping mechanism.

In particular, the adjustment means comprise a plurality of recessed seats preferably located on the connection element.

Said seats are preferably configured to cooperate with a relief located on the flat face of the columns facing the inside of the capping machine. The movable frame preferably comprises a crossbar, in which the capping mechanism is arranged.

In particular, the crossbar connects the columns of the movable frame above and is preferably curved.

Preferably the fixed frame and/or the movable frame and/or the locking means are made of plastic.

These and other objects are reached by the characteristics of the invention set forth in the independent claims. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

Said objects and advantages are all obtained by the manual capping machine for closing bottles with crown caps, according to the present invention, which is characterised according to the following claims.

These and other features will be more apparent from the following description of certain embodiments illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> depicts a capping machine <NUM> for closing bottles <NUM> with crown caps <NUM>.

Said machine in particular comprises a base <NUM>, on which a bottom <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> rests.

In particular, the machine generally comprises a fixed frame <NUM> and a movable frame <NUM>.

Preferably the fixed frame <NUM> comprises two uprights <NUM>, <NUM> inside which the bottle <NUM> to be capped is positioned.

Said machines generally comprise a capping mechanism <NUM> comprising a manoeuvring lever <NUM> adapted to operate a head <NUM>, imparting a vertical motion and a pressure force to said head <NUM> which is transferred to the crown cap <NUM> arranged on the mouth <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> to be capped.

Said capping mechanism <NUM> is placed on the top of the machine <NUM>.

According to an aspect of said invention, the capping mechanism <NUM> comprises an engagement element <NUM> between the manoeuvring lever <NUM> of the head <NUM>, preferably made of plastic, which transfers the pressure force exerted by the lever <NUM> to the crown cap <NUM>.

Furthermore, the capping mechanism <NUM> comprises a fulcrum <NUM>, around which the lever <NUM> rotates.

It may further comprise an elastic element <NUM>, preferably a spring, which facilitates the return of the lever <NUM> to the initial position.

<FIG> depicts a sectional view of the <NUM> capping mechanism, in particular in the two working steps:.

In particular, the object of the invention envisages that said capping mechanism <NUM> is integrated at the top of the movable frame <NUM>.

According to an aspect of the invention, said movable frame <NUM> is configured to be manually translated in a vertical direction along the fixed frame <NUM> so as to bring the capping mechanism <NUM> to the correct working height according to the height of the bottle <NUM> to be capped.

Therefore, thanks to the sliding of the movable frame <NUM> the capping machine <NUM> adapts to the height of the bottle <NUM> to be capped.

In fact, the bottles <NUM> can have different heights, e.g., the machine <NUM> can tap bottles <NUM> of beer from <NUM> to <NUM> cc. with a crown cap diameter of <NUM>.

Furthermore, the machine can also process wine bottle sizes up to a height of <NUM>.

Said measurements are only indicative, as any other bottle size can be processed using the same principle, e.g., <NUM>, <NUM> etc..

By sliding the movable frame <NUM> upwards on the fixed frame <NUM>, the capping mechanism <NUM> at the top of the movable frame <NUM> moves away from the base <NUM>, allowing the insertion of a tall bottle <NUM>.

Conversely, by sliding the movable frame <NUM> downwards on the fixed frame <NUM>, the capping mechanism <NUM> at the top of the movable frame <NUM> moves closer to the base <NUM>, allowing the insertion and capping of a short bottle <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the capping machine <NUM> in the positioning and capping step with two bottles <NUM> of different heights.

Therefore, the movable frame <NUM> in <FIG> is in a lowered position close to the base <NUM>, to work with a short bottle, while the movable frame <NUM> in <FIG> is in a raised position away from the base <NUM>, to work with a tall bottle.

When the movable frame <NUM> is in the entirely lowered position, it can come to rest on the base <NUM>.

This ensures a very compact solution of the capping machine <NUM>.

Once said movable frame <NUM> has been manually translated vertically until reaching the correct working position, said movable frame <NUM> can be locked in said working position by means of the insertion of locking means <NUM>.

In fact, the capping machine <NUM> preferably comprises said locking means <NUM>, of a removable type.

In particular, said locking means <NUM> are configured to engage/disengage simultaneously with the movable frame <NUM> and with the fixed frame <NUM>.

Preferably, the locking means <NUM> are engaged by insertion or mating in the movable <NUM> and fixed <NUM> frame in a direction orthogonal to the vertical capping direction.

In particular, said insertion of the locking means <NUM> in the movable frame <NUM> and fixed frame <NUM> occurs manually.

According to a preferred embodiment, the two uprights <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to slidably receive two columns <NUM>, <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM>.

In particular, said uprights <NUM>, <NUM> are integral with the base <NUM> and preferably made in one piece.

This reduces the assembly time and costs of the capping machine <NUM>.

Furthermore, preferably the uprights <NUM>, <NUM>, and base <NUM> are made of plastic material, preferably obtained by moulding.

This allows to obtain a machine <NUM> which is light and easily transportable.

To allow to improve these advantages of lightness and transportability, the uprights <NUM>, <NUM> as depicted in the figure are made with lattice ribs along their entire length. This reduces the amount of material used and therefore the weight, while ensuring good mechanical strength.

Preferably the two columns <NUM>, <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM> externally embrace the two uprights <NUM>, <NUM> of the fixed frame <NUM>.

Therefore, the movable frame <NUM> is outside the fixed frame <NUM>.

Preferably, the columns <NUM>, <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM> are internally hollow so as to contain therein the upright <NUM>, <NUM> along which they can slide in a vertical direction.

This allows a greater guiding surface of the movable frame <NUM> on the fixed frame <NUM> and thus improves the positioning stability of the movable frame <NUM> on the fixed frame <NUM>, especially when the movable frame <NUM> is in the maximum position away from the base <NUM>.

This also benefits the weight reduction of the machine <NUM> for better transportability.

According to a constructive embodiment depicted in the figure, the columns <NUM>, <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM> and the uprights <NUM>, <NUM> of the fixed frame <NUM> comprise a flat face <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably said flat face <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> faces the inside of the capping machine <NUM>.

As will be better explained below, this allows to obtain an optimal and simple configuration of the locking means <NUM>.

A preferred embodiment envisages that the movable frame <NUM> comprises a crossbar <NUM> in which the capping mechanism <NUM> is arranged.

Said crossbar <NUM> preferably connects the columns <NUM>, <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM> above and is preferably curved.

Preferably as depicted in the figure, the crossbar <NUM> and columns <NUM>, <NUM> are made in one piece.

Furthermore, preferably the columns <NUM>, <NUM> and the crossbar <NUM> are made of plastic material, preferably obtained by moulding.

This allows to obtain lightweight and easily transportable components.

According to a preferred embodiment, the locking means <NUM> comprise at least one protrusion <NUM> adapted to fit into a corresponding outer recess <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM> and into a corresponding inner recess <NUM> of the fixed frame <NUM>.

Preferably said outer recess <NUM> is made on at least one column <NUM>, <NUM> of the movable frame <NUM>.

Preferably said inner recess <NUM> is made on at least one upright <NUM>, <NUM> of the fixed frame <NUM>.

An embodiment depicted in the figure envisages that the locking means <NUM> comprise at least one pair of protrusions <NUM>, adapted to fit into at least one pair of corresponding outer recesses <NUM>, located on both columns <NUM>, <NUM> and into at least one pair of corresponding inner recesses <NUM>, located on both uprights <NUM>, <NUM>.

Therefore, the pair <NUM> comprises two protrusions <NUM>, each engaging with a respective upright <NUM>, <NUM> and a respective column <NUM>, <NUM>.

In the case depicted in <FIG>, there are two pairs of protrusions <NUM>, and therefore positioned one above the other.

The solution with two pairs of protrusions <NUM> ensures greater stability of the locking means <NUM>, reducing possible rotations due to the construction and assembly tolerances of the protrusions <NUM>, and of the inner recesses <NUM>, and outer recesses <NUM>.

The protrusions <NUM> of the pairs <NUM> are preferably all the same.

Likewise, the outer recesses <NUM> and inner recesses <NUM> of the pairs of recesses <NUM> and <NUM> are preferably all the same.

This simplifies the mechanical construction of the columns <NUM>, <NUM>, uprights <NUM>, <NUM> and locking means <NUM>.

In particular, a preferred embodiment envisages that each column <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a number of outer recesses <NUM> equal to the number of pairs of protrusions <NUM>, of the locking means <NUM>.

Therefore if the locking means <NUM> envisage two pairs of protrusions <NUM>, each column <NUM>, <NUM> will comprise two outer recesses <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, each upright <NUM>, <NUM> can comprise a plurality of inner recesses <NUM> distributed along the height of each upright <NUM>, <NUM>.

Said inner recesses <NUM> are preferably arranged in pitch with each other.

In particular, the pitch between the inner recesses <NUM> on each upright <NUM>, <NUM> is constant and equal to the vertical distance between the pairs of protrusions <NUM> of the locking means <NUM>.

Said constant pitch allows a greater number of possible positionings of the locking means <NUM>.

As depicted in the figure, preferably said inner recesses <NUM> and said outer recesses <NUM> are arranged towards the inside of the capping machine <NUM>.

In particular, they can be positioned at the flat faces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

One possible embodiment envisages that said inner recesses <NUM> are inner holes <NUM>.

Preferably said internal holes <NUM> are passing through the entire width of the uprights <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably said inner holes <NUM> bear a first opening 14a extending along the entire depth of the inner hole <NUM>.

Preferably said first opening 14a faces towards the inside of the capping machine <NUM>, preferably up to the flat faces <NUM>, <NUM>, of the uprights <NUM>, <NUM>.

A possible embodiment envisages that the outer recesses <NUM> are outer holes <NUM>.

Preferably said outer holes <NUM> are passing through the entire width of the columns <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably said outer holes <NUM> bear a second opening 24a extending along the entire depth of the outer hole <NUM>.

Preferably said second opening 24a faces towards the inside of the capping machine <NUM>, preferably up to the flat faces <NUM>, <NUM> of the columns <NUM>, <NUM>.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the locking means <NUM> comprise a connection element <NUM> for connecting the protrusions of each pair <NUM> with each other.

This allows to achieve the insertion of the two protrusions of the pair <NUM> with a single manoeuvre.

Preferably if there is more than one pair of protrusions <NUM>, said connection element <NUM> comprises an extension 32a connecting the two pairs <NUM> located one above the other.

This further allows to achieve the insertion of all the protrusions of the pair <NUM> with a single manoeuvre.

Furthermore, said locking means <NUM> can comprise at each protrusion <NUM>, a rib <NUM> connecting the connection element <NUM> to the protrusion <NUM>.

Said rib <NUM> preferably extends along the entire length of the protrusion <NUM>.

Thanks to said rib <NUM> the protrusion is not cantilevered, but supported along its entire length by the connection element <NUM> and is therefore more robust and less prone to deformation and breakage.

This conformation is possible thanks to the presence of the first and second opening 14a and 24a respectively of the uprights <NUM>, <NUM> and the columns <NUM>, <NUM> which receive and act as guides for the ribs <NUM>.

Furthermore, preferably the locking means <NUM> are configured to facilitate the positioning of the bottle <NUM> in axis with the capping mechanism <NUM>.

In particular, a preferred embodiment envisages that the connection element <NUM> comprises an inner surface 32b which is curved so as to engage in contact with the outer surface <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> located in the capping position.

This makes the locking means <NUM> carry out the dual function of adjusting the capping to the diameter of the bottle <NUM> and to its height.

To better define the position of bottle <NUM>, the locking means <NUM> comprise adjustment means <NUM>.

Said adjustment means <NUM> allow to adjustment the position thereof in the horizontal direction for the positioning of the bottle <NUM> in axis with the capping mechanism <NUM>.

Preferably such adjustment means <NUM> comprise a plurality of seats <NUM>, preferably recessed.

Preferably said seats <NUM> are on the connection element <NUM>.

In particular, as depicted in the figure, the seats <NUM> are made on the extension 32a comprised between the ribs <NUM>.

Said seats <NUM> are configured to cooperate with a relief <NUM> located on the flat face <NUM>, <NUM> of the columns <NUM>, <NUM> facing the inside of the capping machine <NUM>.

Said seats <NUM> are preferably at a constant pitch from each other to allow a step positioning of the locking means <NUM>.

An alternative solution is also contemplated in which the seats are on columns <NUM>, <NUM> while the relief is on the locking means <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Capping machine (<NUM>) for closing bottles (<NUM>) with crown caps (<NUM>), comprising a base (<NUM>), on which a bottom (<NUM>) of the bottle (<NUM>) rests, a fixed frame (<NUM>) comprising two uprights (<NUM>, <NUM>) inside which the bottle (<NUM>) to be capped is positioned, and a movable frame (<NUM>) at the top of which a capping mechanism (<NUM>) is integrated comprising a control lever (<NUM>) adapted to operate a head (<NUM>) by imparting to said head (<NUM>) a vertical motion and a pressure force which is transferred to the crown cap (<NUM>) arranged on the mouth (<NUM>) of the bottle (<NUM>) to be capped, wherein
said movable frame (<NUM>) is configured to be manually translated in a vertical direction along the fixed frame (<NUM>), so as to bring the capping mechanism (<NUM>) to the correct working height according to the height of the bottle (<NUM>) to be capped,
characterized in that
said capping machine (<NUM>) comprises locking means (<NUM>) of a removable type, configured to engage/disengage simultaneously with the movable frame (<NUM>) and with the fixed frame (<NUM>) to lock said movable frame (<NUM>) in the working position.