Capping machine for applying capsules on respective containers in aseptic or ultraclean conditions

A capping machine (1) for applying capsules (2) on respective containers (3), said machine (1) comprising:

• a protected area (30) from impurities in which the containers (3) pass;
• an unprotected area (31) divided from said protected area (30) by a parting wall (32) in such a way that said protected area (30) extends below the parting wall (22) itself;
• sealing means (22) for separating the protected (30) and unprotected areas (31) from one another;
• and
• at least one operating unit (4) configured to perform a capping operation on the containers (3), arranged coaxially to a vertical axis (B) orthogonal to said parting wall (22) and extending in part above said parting wall (22) in the unprotected area (31), in part through an opening (25) of said parting wall (22) and in part below said parting wall in the protected area (30);
• wherein said operating unit comprises:
• at least one container support element (6) arranged in the protected area (30) and configured to support one container (3) coaxially to the vertical axis (B);
• at least one operating head (7) arranged in the protected area (30) and configured to apply at least one capsule (2) on the container (3) held by the container support element (6);
• a motor assembly (10) arranged in said unprotected area (31) and configured to drive motion of the operating head (7) along and/or around said vertical axis (B);
• a torque control head (11) interposed between said motor assembly (10) and said operating head (7) and configured to limit the maximum torque transmitted from the motor assembly (10) to an output shaft (18) coupled to the operating head (7);
• and
• an annular bellows element (57, 70) arranged coaxially with said vertical axis (B) and within said protected area (30) and having a first axial end (58, 70a) adjacent to said parting wall (22) and an opposite second axial end (59, 70b) crossed in a sealed manner by said output shaft (18);
• said bellows element (57, 70) being configured to retract and expand axially following the corresponding movements of said output shaft (18);
• wherein said torque control head (11) is arranged above said parting wall (22) in the unprotected area (31), and in that said output shaft (18) axially crosses both said opening (25) of said parting wall (22) and the entire bellows element (57, 70);
• and
• wherein said output shaft (18) is supported in a free rotary manner within said opening (25) of said parting wall (22) by at least one bearing (56, 65);
• wherein said operating unit (4) further comprises a sleeve element (64) coaxially extending through the opening (25) of the parting wall (22), radially supported within said opening (25) by said at least one bearing (65) in a fixed axial position and in a free rotary manner, axially crossed by said output shaft (18) and angularly coupled to the output shaft (18) itself;
• wherein said output shaft (18) is coupled to said sleeve element (64) in a sliding manner along said vertical axis (B);
• and wherein said first axial end (70a) of said bellows element (70) is secured in a sealed manner to an edge of the sleeve element (64) arranged within the protected area (30), and said second axial end (70b) of said bellows element (70) is secured in a sealed manner to an outer surface of said output shaft (18).