METHOD OF POSITIONING CONTAINERS IN A CONTAINER PROCESSING INSTALLATION, A CORRESPONDING POSITIONING DEVICE, AND AN INSTALLATION INCLUDING SUCH DEVICES

Abstract

A method of positioning containers in an installation for processing containers having mouth segments (103) of different cross-sections, the method comprising the step of moving the containers along a container movement line (1) in an installation while maintaining a reference point on each of the mouth segments on said movement line, the movement line being common to all mouth segment cross-sections, and the reference points on the mouth segments being the same regardless of the cross-sections of the mouth segments of the containers, wherein the reference point is situated on an outside side surface of the mouth segment in a manner such that the mouth segments are tangential to the movement line.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of positioning containers in a container processing installation such as an installation for packaging a substance in containers, or an installation for conveying, filling, or capping containers. The invention also relates to a positioning device, and to an installation including such devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consideration is given more particularly herein to containers of the type having a neck provided with a projecting collar below a mouth segment.

An installation for packaging liquids defines a container movement line along which various installations are disposed in succession, such as a filling installation, a capping installation, and optionally an installation for washing or rinsing the containers, a sterilization installation, etc.

For example, a container filling installation comprises a rotary platform having a periphery equipped with filler nozzles and with positioning devices for positioning the containers under the filler nozzles. A star wheel for feeding in the containers and a star wheel for removing the filled containers are juxtaposed with the platform, and they are also rotary and equipped at their peripheries with container positioning devices.

Similarly, a container capping installation comprises a rotary platform having a periphery equipped firstly with screw spindles for screwing on the caps, and secondly with positioning devices for positioning the containers under the screw spindles. A star wheel for feeding in the containers and a star wheel for removing the capped containers are juxtaposed with the platform, and they are also rotary and equipped at their peripheries with container positioning devices.

The container movement line intersects the axes of the filler nozzles and of the screw spindles.

The container positioning devices are generally arranged to maintain the central axes of the mouth segments of the containers on the container movement line, the central axes of the containers constituting the reference points for positioning the containers.

In a first example, such positioning devices comprise recesses provided around the peripheries of the platforms and of the star wheels, each recess being suitable for receiving that portion of the neck of the container that extends under the collar, said collar resting on an edge of the recess. The recesses are open laterally facing a guide for holding the containers in the recesses.

In a second example, such positioning devices are implemented in the form of tongs whose jaws come to clamp the neck.

When the installations are designed for processing containers having mouth segments of different cross-sections, it is necessary to use positioning devices that are adapted to each container cross-section so as to maintain the positioning of the central axis of the mouth segment on the movement line. The operations for adapting the installations to fit each mouth segment cross-section are lengthy and require the installations to be stopped, thereby giving rise to a drop in productivity, and the higher the number of positioning devices, the larger that drop in productivity.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to propose means enabling containers to be positioned in a processing installation simply, accurately, and reliably, while facilitating accommodation of any different container cross-sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention provides a method of positioning containers in an installation for processing containers having mouth segments of different cross-sections, the method comprising the step of moving the containers along a container movement line in an installation while maintaining a reference point on each of the mouth segments on said movement line, the movement line being common to all mouth segment cross-sections, and the reference points on the mouth segments being the same regardless of the cross-sections of the mouth segments of the containers. The reference point is situated on an outside side surface of the mouth segment in a manner such that the mouth segments are tangential to the movement line.

Thus, the reference point used for positioning each of the containers is a portion of the outside side surface of the container that is tangential to the movement line. The reference point is thus a tangible element (unlike the axis of the mouth segment that is intangible) so that it is possible to come into direct contact with the reference point so as to guarantee positioning that is extremely accurate. The differences in cross-section are also passed on mainly in a single direction relative to the reference point, and it is thus easier to compensate for them.

The invention also provides a positioning device for positioning containers, each of which comprises a body and a neck provided with a projecting collar and with a mouth segment above the collar, the device being provided with an abutment having a reference face for bearing against an outside side surface of the mouth segment and a jaw that has a support face for supporting a portion of the collar and a bearing face for bearing against a portion of the outside side surface of the neck, the jaw being mounted on a body of the device to be movable in a sliding direction that is normal to the reference face so as to receive mouth segments of different cross-sections.

The positioning device of the invention has a relatively simple structure enabling it to adapt to accommodate different mouth segment cross-sections.

Advantageously, the jaw is connected to the body via a resilient return element urging the jaw back into a position corresponding to the smallest cross-section of mouth segment.

This embodiment also offers the advantage of making it possible, in the event of jamming, to disengage the mouth segment(s) of the container(s) in question by retracting the jaw in opposition to the force exerted by the resilient return element.

Preferably, the jaw then comprises a bottom plate and a top plate that are parallel to each other, each of which plates is provided with a V-shaped cutout for receiving a portion of the neck in a manner such that the collar rests on the bottom plate.

This procures very good holding of the mouth segments in the device, in particular when the abutment is situated opposite from the V-shaped cutouts and at an intermediate height between the plates. The risk of the base of the container tilting under the effect of the centrifugal force is also limited.

In a first particular embodiment, the abutment is secured to a finger that is mounted to pivot between an active reference position and a retracted position for making it possible to put the mouth segment in place in the device and to extract the mouth segment from the device.

Thus, the abutment is secured to the body of the device, thereby limiting the friction of the mouth segment on the abutment. This makes it possible to avoid using a stationary rail serving as an abutment, such a rail being difficult to position accurately, giving rise to friction on the mouth segments, disturbing the laminar air flows in installations that are aseptic, and complicating cleaning.

In a second embodiment, with the body of the device being designed to be mounted on a moving platform, the abutment comprises a guide rail extending facing the platform.

Notwithstanding the above-mentioned drawbacks, the use of a guide rail offers the advantage of being relatively inexpensive while also being reliable. This embodiment is particularly suitable for small installations having relatively low throughput rates that therefore do not cause much friction of the mouth segments on the rail.

The invention also provides an installation for processing containers having mouth segments of different cross-sections, said installation including at least one platform equipped with devices presenting the above-mentioned characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear on reading the following description of particular non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view with a cutaway, showing a first embodiment of an installation including positioning devices, and being used with mouth segments of large cross-section;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below and with portions shown in transparency, showing such a positioning device;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary views of this installation, showing steps in transferring containers from one platform to the other;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, with portions shown in transparency, showing how a container having a mouth segment of small cross-section is transferred between two positioning devices;

FIG. 6 is a view analogous to FIG. 4, showing how a container having a mouth segment of small cross-section is transferred;

FIG. 7 is a view analogous to FIG. 1 showing how containers having mouth segments of small cross-section are transferred to a filling platform;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in perspective and with portions shown in transparency, showing the installation while containers are being transferred in this way to the filling platform;

FIG. 9 is a view analogous to FIG. 8 for containers having mouth segments of large cross section;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view from below and with portions shown in transparency, showing the installation while a container having a mouth segment of large cross-section is being transferred;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic fragmentary perspective view, with portions shown in transparency, showing a second embodiment of an installation including positioning devices;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view from above showing a third embodiment of an installation including positioning devices;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view from below, showing this installation;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views from below, showing the positioning device in the third embodiment, respectively for receiving a mouth segment of large cross-section and for receiving a mouth segment of small cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is described herein with reference to an installation for processing containers (visible in FIG. 1), each of which has a body 100 and a neck 101 provided with a collar 102 below a mouth segment 103. The installation is designed to process containers having mouth segments of different cross-sections.

The installation described herein defines a container movement line 1 and comprises an upstream platform 2 and a downstream platform 3 disposed in succession along the line 1. The processing installation described herein is an extremely simple installation for reasons of clarity of the description of the invention. However, the invention is applicable to much larger installations, such as industrial installations for packaging liquid, each of which includes an installation for washing or rinsing containers, a sterilization installation, a filling installation, and an installation for capping filled containers. Each of these installations comprises, for example, a rotary platform and rotary or linear devices for feeing the containers onto the platform and for removing them therefrom.

The upstream platform 2 and the downstream platform 3 have respective peripheries 4.2, 4.3, each of which is provided with a plurality of positioning devices 5 for positioning the containers (only a portion of each of the devices 5 is shown so as not to clutter the figures). The positioning devices 5 hold the containers by their necks 101, said containers being suspended from the devices by their collars 102.

The installation, and more particularly the positioning devices 5, are arranged to implement the positioning method of the invention, which method includes the step of moving the containers in the installation along the movement line 1 while maintaining a reference point on each of the mouth segments 103 on the movement line 1. In accordance with the invention, the movement line 1 is common to all of the mouth segments, the reference points on the mouth segments are the same on each container regardless of the cross-section of the mouth segment 103 of the container, and each reference point is situated on the outside side surface of the corresponding mouth segment 103, preferably such that the mouth segments 102 are tangential to the movement line 1.

Three embodiments of the positioning devices are described below. Elements that are identical or analogous from one embodiment to another bear like reference numerals.

In the first embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the positioning device 5 comprises a body 6 mounted under the corresponding platform 2, 3, a jaw 7 mounted to slide on the body 6, and a finger 8 mounted to pivot on the body 6.

The jaw 7 comprises a top plate 9.1 and a bottom plate 9.2 that extend parallel to and facing each other while being spaced apart from each other. The spacing between the plates 9.1 and 9.2 is such that:

• • the collar can be inserted in part between the plates 9.1, 9.2 and can rest on the bottom plate 9.2;
  • the bottom plate 9.2 can bear laterally against the portion of the neck that is situated immediately under the collar 102;
  • the top plate 9.1 can bear laterally against a portion of the mouth segment 103 that is situated above the collar 102.

Each plate 9.1, 9.2 has an edge in which a cutout 10 is provided for receiving the neck 101 of a container (the faces of the cutouts 10 form bearing faces via which the jaw bears against the neck). In this example, the cutout 10 is V-shaped, the angle of the V being about 108° and the V being centered on a radial direction of the corresponding platform. The cutout 10 in each plate offers two bearing points for bearing against the neck 101 of the container, on either side of the radial direction.

Opposite from the cutout 10, each plate 9.1, 9.2 has an edge that is secured to a slide 11 slidably received in the body 6 in a radial direction of the corresponding platform. The slide 11 allows the jaw 7 to move between two extreme positions, namely a maximum deployed position corresponding to a small mouth segment cross-section and a minimum deployed position corresponding to a large mouth segment cross-section. A spring 12 is interposed between a shoulder of the body 6 and a shoulder of the slide 11 so as to urge the jaw 7 resiliently towards the maximum deployed position. A stud 13 (visible in FIG. 2) extends perpendicularly from the slide 11 through an oblong opening 14 provided in the body 6 so that the stud 13 has a free end that projects outside the body 6 so as to make it possible to drive the jaw 7 between its two extreme positions.

The finger 8 is L-shaped and extends in part between the plates 9.1, 9.2 that form walls that guide a portion of the finger while said finger is pivoting. The finger 8 has a free end portion and a hinged end portion that is hinged to the body 6 to pivot between a retaining position (or active reference position) in which the free end portion has a face 15 (or reference face) extending perpendicularly to the sliding direction of the slide 11 facing the cutouts 10, and a release position (or retracted position) in which the free end portion is out of the front space of the cutouts 10. A lever 16 (more clearly visible in FIG. 2) is secured to the hinge pin via which the finger 8 is hinged to the body 6 so as to extend projecting outside the body 6 and so as to make it possible to drive the finger 8 between its two positions. The positioning device 5 is mounted on the platform in a manner such that the face 15 is tangential to the movement line 1.

Transfer (the final steps of which are visible in FIG. 1) of a container from one platform to the other is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In this example, the downstream platform 3 is a screwing platform provided, in a manner known per se, with screw spindles extending vertically above the positioning devices 5. Only the axes of rotation 17 of the screw spindles are shown. In this example, the screw spindles are connected to the downstream platform 3 via a device making it possible for each screw spindle to move radially so as to adjust their positions relative to the axis of rotation of the downstream platform 3 as a function of the cross-section of the mouth segments received in the positioning devices 5.

In this example, operation is identical regardless of whether the mouth segment has a small cross-section or a large cross-section.

The neck 101 of the container is held in a holding device 5 of the upstream platform 2 (this positioning device bears the reference 5.2 for more convenience in the description):

• • the collar is received between the plates 9.1, 9.2 and rests on the top surface of the bottom plate 9.2 (this surface forms a support face);
  • the bottom plate 9.2 laterally bears against the neck portion that is situated immediately under the collar 101;
  • the top plate 9.1 laterally bears against a portion of the mouth segment 103 that is situated above the collar 101; and
  • the jaw 7 pushes the mouth segment 103 against the face 15 of the finger 8 in the retaining position.

The portion of the outside surface of the mouth segment that bears against the face 15 constitutes a reference point such that the mouth segment is tangential to the movement line 1.

By moving in rotation, the upstream platform 2 brings the container to the point where the upstream platform 2 is tangential to the downstream platform 3. A positioning device 5 on the downstream platform 3 (this positioning device bears the reference 5.3 for more convenience in the description) comes into register with the positioning device 5.2 carrying the container. The positioning device 5.3 has its finger 8 in the release position so that, upstream from the point where the upstream platform 2 is tangential to the downstream platform 3, the jaw 7 of the positioning device 5.3 can bear against the neck of the container held by the positioning device 5.2.

As the container moves closer to the point where the upstream and downstream platforms 2 and 3 are tangential to each other, a cam secured to or integral with the structure of the installation acts on the stud 13 to move the jaw 7 of the positioning device 5.3 until said jaw 7 moves the mouth segment off the face 15 of the finger 8 of the positioning device 5.2. Cams fastened to the structure of the installation respectively slightly upstream from and slightly downstream from the point where the upstream and downstream platforms 2 and 3 are tangential to each other act on the levers 16 to bring the finger 8 of the positioning device 5.2 into the release position (FIG. 3, shown with a large mouth segment cross-section) and to bring the finger 8 of the positioning device 5.3 into the retaining position (FIG. 5, shown with a small mouth segment cross-section).

As the container moves away from the point where the upstream and downstream platforms 2 and 3 are tangential to each other, the pressure exerted on the neck by the jaw 7 of the positioning device 5.2 decreases so that the return spring 12 of the jaw 7 of the positioning device 5.3 comes to press a portion of the outside surface of the mouth segment of the container against the face 15 of the finger 8 of the positioning device 5.3, so that said portion constitutes a reference point that comes tangential to the movement line 1 (stage represented with a large mouth segment cross-section in FIG. 4 and with a small mouth segment cross-section in FIG. 6). The portion of the outside surface that constitutes the reference point for the downstream platform 3 is diametrically opposite from the portion of outside surface that constitutes the reference point for the upstream platform 2.

It can be observed in FIG. 1 that the movement line 1 is made up of circular segments, each of which is centered on a respective axis of rotation of the platforms 2, 3 and the reference point for each platform is on the side of the mouth segment that is opposite from the axis of rotation of said platform. During the transfer, the method thus includes the step of having the containers go from one platform to the other while having the mouth segments of the container go from one side of the movement line to the other, and, simultaneously, having the reference points go from one side of the mouth segments to the other.

Transfer of a container is described below in the situation when the downstream platform 3 is a filling platform, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

The downstream platform 3 is then equipped with filler nozzles, each of which extends above a respective holding device 5 (only the axis 18 of one of the filler nozzles is shown in FIG. 7).

In the implementation described, the method of the invention makes provision such that, in the filling zone of the installation, and more particularly on the downstream platform 3, the movement line 1 is defined in a manner such that the mouth segments of smallest cross section are centered under the nozzles, each of the filler nozzles delivering a jet of cross-section smaller than the smallest mouth segment cross-section. It can be understood that, since the reference point is situated on the outside side surface of the mouth segment, the mouth segment of largest cross section is not centered under the filler nozzle. However, this is not a problem so long as the jet does not touch the inside surface of said mouth segment (which would occur, for example, if the mouth segment of largest cross-section had a thickness that was too large).

Transfer to the downstream platform 3 in the filling zone is described on the assumption that, on the upstream platform 2, the movement line 1 has been defined by taking account of the largest mouth segment cross-section so that it is necessary to re-center the mouth segments on having them go over to the downstream platform 3.

The fingers 8 of the positioning devices 5.3 are shorter than the fingers 8 of the positioning devices 5.2.

Having a mouth segment of smallest cross-section go over to the downstream platform 3 raises no problems (see FIG. 8) and takes place as above.

Conversely, having a mouth segment of largest cross-section go over to the downstream platform 3 assumes that interference between said mouth segment and the finger 8 of the positioning device 5.3 is prevented (see FIG. 9).

To this end, above each positioning device 5.3, there is provided a cam 19 that is secured to the downstream platform 3. The cam 19 is positioned so that, when the mouth segment is held captive between the jaws 7 of the positioning devices 5.2, 5.3 and when the fingers 8 of said devices are in the release position, said cam pushes the mouth segment back towards the positioning device 5.3 in opposition to the return spring of the jaw 7 of said device so as to enable the finger 8 of said device to be brought into the retaining position (see FIG. 10).

In the second embodiment, shown in FIG. 11 (the upstream platform 2 is situated on the right), the device comprises, as above, a body 6 slidably receiving a jaw 7 so that said jaw can slide between a maximum deployed position, back into which it is resiliently urged, and a minimum deployed position. The structure of the jaw 7 merely comprises a single bottom plate, but it can be identical to the above-described jaw.

The abutment corresponding to each platform is formed by a guide rail 25.2, 25.3 that is fastened to the structure of the installation on the movement line slightly above the jaw 7. The guide rail 25.2, 25.3 surrounds the platform 2, 3 in question between the feed zone for feeding in containers and the removal zone for removing the containers, so that the jaws 7 push the mouth segments against a face of the guide rail 25.2, 25.3 (forming a reference face) under the action of the return springs that urge the jaws back to their maximum deployed positions.

The reference point is constituted by the portion of the outside side surface of the mouth segment that is in contact with the corresponding guide rail. It can be understood that the reference point and the center of the mouth segment lie on a radial direction of the platform.

At the point where the platforms are tangential to each other, the mouth segment comes out of abutment with the guide rail 25.1 and is then held only by the facing jaws 7 before it comes back into abutment against the guide rail 25.2.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, and as in the second embodiment, the installation includes guide rails 25.2, 25.3 partially surrounding respective ones of the upstream and downstream platforms 2, 3, and forming abutments for reference points on the mouth segments that are situated on the side of the outside side surfaces of said mouth segments that is opposite from the platform in question.

The holding device 5 comprises a body 6 fastened to the platform in question and a jaw 7 mounted to slide on the body 6. The jaw 7 has a structure identical to the structure of the first embodiment, the cutout 10 however being in the shape of a circular segment of radius equal to the radius of the mouth segment of largest cross-section.

Each positioning device 5 further comprises adjustment means for adjusting the position of the jaw 7 along the sliding direction, which is a radial direction of the platform. The adjustment means comprise a rod 21 having one end connected to the jaw 7 and an opposite end provided with a lug 22 received in slots 23 provided in a ring 24 mounted on the platform so that its angular position is adjustable relative to said platform. The slots 23 are inclined relative to the sliding direction so that a change in the angular position of the ring 24 causes the rod 21 to slide, the edges of the slot 23 acting as cams. This makes it possible to adjust the positions of all of the jaws 7 of a platform simultaneously.

The positioning device 5 further comprises two side arms 27 having ends hinged to the body 6 and free ends for supporting the collar, the spacing between said free ends being adjustable in a manner synchronized with the jaw 7 between two extreme positions corresponding to extreme mouth segment cross-sections (these positions are visible in FIGS. 14 and 15).

The side arms 27 are connected to the jaw 7 by cam elements so that they cause the arms 27 to be move in a manner synchronized with the jaw 7. The cam elements include a groove 28 provided in each side arm 27 with an inclination relative to the sliding direction so as to receive a stud 29 secured to or integral with the jaw 7.

The jaw 7 is mounted on the rod 21 to slide over a safety stroke in the event that the mouth segment is not inserted properly. A spring interposed between the rod and the slide maintains this safety stroke at its minimum value corresponding to a maximum length of the rod-and-jaw assembly.

The guide rails 25.2, 25.3 are fastened at an intermediate height between the plates of the jaws.

The position of the jaw 7 can be adjusted to leave a small amount of clearance between the mouth segment, the guide rail, and the jaw so as to limit friction on the mouth segment.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but rather it encompasses any variant lying within the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims.

The cutout 10 can have a shape that is different from the shape described, such as a rounded shape or a V-shape of angle different from 108°, such as, for example, an angle of 120°. The jaw can either be formed integrally in one-piece or else formed of an assembly of parts.

Moving parts can be inverted relative to their configurations in the embodiments described, e.g. the position of the rail can be adjustable.

The reference face can also be formed by the bearing surface of the jaw, in particular in the third embodiment.

The reference line can be fully or partially rectilinear or fully or partially circular.

Claims

1. A method of positioning containers in an installation for processing containers having mouth segments (103) of different cross-sections, the method comprising the step of moving the containers along a container movement line (1) in an installation while maintaining a reference point on each of the mouth segments on said movement line, the movement line being common to all mouth segment cross-sections, and the reference points on the mouth segments being the same regardless of the cross-sections of the mouth segments of the containers, wherein the reference point is situated on an outside side surface of the mouth segment in a manner such that the mouth segments are tangential to the movement line.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the movement line (1) comprises at least one circular segment centered on an axis of rotation and the reference point is on a side of the mouth segment that is opposite from the axis of rotation.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein, firstly with the installation comprising two rotary conveyor platforms (2, 3) that are tangential to each other, and secondly with the movement line (1) winding at least partially around said platforms, the method includes the step of having the containers go from one platform to the other by having the mouth segments (103) of the containers go from one side of the movement line to the other, and simultaneously having the reference points go from one side of the mouth segments to the other.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein, with the processing installation further comprising at least one filler nozzle in a filling zone, the movement line (1) that is common to all of the cross-sections of mouth segments (103) is defined in the filling zone to extend under the filler nozzle while being offset laterally relative to said filler nozzle, in a manner such the mouth segment of smallest cross-section is centered under the filler nozzle.

5. A positioning device for positioning containers, each of which comprises a body (100) and a neck (101) provided with a projecting collar (102) and with a mouth segment (103) above the collar, wherein the device is provided with an abutment having a reference face (15, 25) for bearing against an outside side surface of the mouth segment and a jaw (7) that has a support face for supporting a portion of the collar and a bearing face for bearing against a portion of the outside side surface of the neck, the jaw being mounted on a body (6) of the device to be movable in a sliding direction that is normal to the reference face so as to receive mouth segments of different cross-sections.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the jaw (7) is connected to the body (6) via a resilient return element (12) urging the jaw back into a position corresponding to the smallest cross-section of mouth segment (103).

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the jaw (7) comprises a bottom plate (9.2) and a top plate (9.1) that are parallel to each other, each of which plates is provided with a V-shaped cutout (10) for receiving a portion of the neck (101, 103) in a manner such that the collar (102) rests on the bottom plate (92).

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the V-shape presents an angle of about 108°.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein the abutment (15) is secured to a finger (8) that is mounted to pivot between an active reference position and a retracted position for making it possible to put the mouth segment (103) in place in the device and to extract the mouth segment from the device.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein a portion of the finger (8) is received between two walls (9.1, 9.2) of the jaw (7) guiding the finger as it pivots.

11. A device according to claim 5, wherein, with the body (6) of the device being designed to be mounted on a moving platform (2, 3), the abutment comprises a guide rail (25.1, 25.2) extending facing the platform.

12. A device according to claim 5, provided with position adjustment means (21, 22, 23, 24) for adjusting the position of the jaw (7) along the sliding direction, and with two side arms (27) hinged to the body to have free ends for supporting the collar, the spacing between said free ends being adjustable in a manner synchronized with the jaw between two extreme positions corresponding to two extreme mouth segment cross-sections.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the side arms (27) are connected to the jaw (7) via cam elements (28, 29) that are such that they cause the arms to move in a manner synchronized with the jaw.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the jaw (7) is connected to an end of a rod (21) having an opposite end co-operating with the position adjustment means.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the jaw (7) is mounted on the rod (21) to slide over a safety stroke maintained at its minimum value by a resilient return member.

16. An installation for processing containers having mouth segments of different cross-sections, said installation including at least one platform equipped with devices according to claim 5.