AU749899B2

AU749899B2 - Container support

Info

Publication number: AU749899B2
Application number: AU35801/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Imre Lely
Original assignee: BOTTLE MAGIC AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BOTTLE MAGIC (AUSTRALIA) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-23
Filing date: 1999-06-22
Publication date: 2002-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-22
Also published as: AU3580199A

Description

W I 49037 DP/REC P/00/01i1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

*5 0 0 *0 0 00 0 05..

4* *0 t *0 0 0* 0* 0 *0 Name of Applicant: SE CREATIVE EXAMri E 4GGCORATORPYQDF 1 L~ ADDRESS FOR SERVICEU Address for Service: ALTERED L. pcr S-LQ r So Invention Title: CONTAINER SUPPORT Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PP4287 DATED 23rd JUNE 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 The present invention relates to a hanger system for use in the conveying of bottles jars and other open neck containers. The term bottle will be used throughout this document but it should be appreciated that the invention is of wide applicability and that the term is used as a matter of convenience and that the invention should not be limited to use with bottles.

In industrial situations bottles can be conveyed in a number of ways. Firstly, they can. be supported on a moving conveyor and be stabilised by walls or bars on opposing sides of the bottles guiding the movement of bottles.

Alternatively, if the empty bottles have to be lifted they, can be clamped from 1 0 the outside and raised.

9*9999 present invention concerns the situation in which a stream of bottles is required to be moved through a process operation where the whole of the visible outer surface of the bottle needs to be exposed to the process conditions. For example, in the spray coating of bottles it is important that the 1 5 outer surface of the bottles is evenly coated. This can be difficult to achieve with a moving floor conveyor as the side structure which maintains the relative positions of the bottles clearly interferes. Similarly with a hanging system the outermost clamp for the bottle hinders access to the uppermost portion of the surface of the bottle.

With this in mind the present invention has been developed to allow bottles to .be carried by a conveyor system such that there is substantially unrestricted access to the outer surface of the bottle. This is achieved in a system in which the bottle is effectively gripped from within.

Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hanger for a conveyor, the hanger being adapted for holding an open necked container, the hanger including: a shaft having at a first end means for connection to an overhead conveyor system; a gripping mechanism being formed at a second end of the shaft, the gripping mechanism being movable between a retracted gripping condition and an extended non-gripping condition; and A resiliently biased control mechanism for controlling the movement of the gripping mechanism between the extended and retracted conditions, whereby the gripping means operates so as to hold the container from an interior thereof leaving a substantially clear external surface.

Thus by ensuring that the hanger of the present invention grips a container from within, the outer surface of the container is able to be subjected to any surface treatment or other processes without hindrance. It will also be noted that the use of a hanger system effectively ensures that the conveying apparatus andany associated machinery can be clearly separated from the bottle or other container. This is advantageous in the case of processes involving spraying of liquids onto container surfaces. Generally, it would be undesirable to have equipment continually exposed to a spray; for example, if repeated exposure to the spray is corrosive to metals there would be an obvious need to separate the spray and the conveying apparatus. Similarly, in the case of coating sprays, continual exposure to the spray would result in a coating build up on the equipment which might interfere with the smooth operation thereof. By using a hanger system, the machinery of the conveyor itself can be maintained at a distance from the articles being conveyed, and, therefore from any processes to which the articles might be subjected.

Preferably, the gripping mechanism forms a sealed connection to the container. Where containers are likely to be used for food products it is desirable that none of the spray liquids or gases to which the outer surface of the container is exposed penetrates the interior of the container, with the attendant possibility of later contaminating the contents of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the gripping mechanism comprises an inner deflecting element and an outer deformable sealing element, the inner deflecting element being adapted to deflect the sealing element outwardly when moved to the retracted from the extended position to thereby grip a container in the hanger. The inner deflecting element may take the form of a tapered tip which, when moved through the sealing element causes an outward deflection thereof. The sealing element preferably being a flexible seal made of rubber or other like material forming a skirt around the _ecting element.

The skirt may additionally contain a number of slits cut thereinto to facilitate the outward deflection of the skirt.

Preferably, the control mechanism includes a rod element attached to the deflecting element at one end thereof, the rod element being locatedwithin a shaft the control mechanism further including a control spring tensioned so as to maintain the deflection element in a retracted gripping condition unless operated on. The control mechanism can further include a disc located around the shaft of the hanger, the disc being connected to the rod and being slidably movable along the shaft so as move the deflection element from the extended 1 0 condition to the refracted gripping condition. The hanger is preferably biased into the gripping position.

o The hanger may additionally include a circumferentially located pulley to allow oocontrol of swinging movement of articles suspended on the hanger during the :conveyor process.

1 5 The hanger support of the present invention finds particular application in the coating of the outer surface of the containers supported. To ensure an even S' coating over the surface of the bottle it is advantageous if the hanger has the ability to rotate at a constant rate of 100-150rpm. A bearing located at an upper end of the hanger enables the hanger to spin, and the use of the pulley system enables the position of the containers, relative to any spraying units to be maintained.

.i The present invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view a hanger system in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2a illustrates in cross-sectional view the hanger system of Figure 1 in an extended condition; Figure 2b illustrates the hanger system of Figure 1 in cross-sectional view in a retracted gripping position; Figures 3a 3b illustrate alternative sealing elements.

Shown in the drawings is a hanger 10 for a conveyor, the hanger being adapted for holding an open necked container. The hanger comprises a shaft 12 having at an upper, first end thereof means for connection to an overhead conveyor system, a gripping mechanism 14 being formed at a second end of the shaft 12, the gripping mechanism 14 being moveable between an extended condition (illustrated in Figure 2a) and a retracted, gripping condition (illustrated in Figure 2b). The hanger 12 further comprises a control mechanism generally indicated at 16, the control mechanism 16 being resiliently biased and serving to control the movement of the gripping and sealing mechanism 14 between the extended and retracted conditions.

The gripping mechanism 14 is illustrated in some detail in Figures 2 and 3.

Included in the mechanism 14 are an outer deformable sealing element 18 S. and an inner deflecting element 20. The sealing element 18 takes the form of a circular of a seal attached to the shaft 12 including an inner depending skirt 15 22. The skirt 22 includes a pair of opposed slits 24 formed therein, as illustrated in Figure 1. The skirt 22 rests closely around the deflecting element The sealing element 18 further includes a recess 26 formed on a lower most surface thereof adapted to receive an upper neck of a bottle 28 or other container therein. Figures 3a and 3b illustrate alternative embodiments of the sealing element, in which the recess 26 takes a different shape to accommodate differing bottle shapes. The seal may also be of differing lengths to ensure that, in the case of screw top bottles, the screw portion of the neck can be covered during a coating process. In use, as illustrated in Figure 2b only a very small upper portion of a bottle neck is in fact covered by the 25 seal. Preferably, only a very minimum of the bottle is in fact covered by the seal 18. The seal 18 is attached to the shaft 12 by a number of ribs 30 formed on an outer surface of the shaft 12.

The deflecting element 20 is a rigid element formed of appropriate material, for example stainless steel or poly carbonate and includes a body tapering to a point at a lower end thereof. As shown in Figures 2a 2b in the extended condition the deflecting element 20 extends forwardly of the sealing element 18. In the retracted condition the deflecting element 20 is withdrawn into the sealing element 18 and thereby forces the skirt 22 outwardly so as to form a seal on an inner surface of the bottle 28. The bottle 28 is therefore effectively gripped by the combination of the sealing element 18 and deflecting element The shaft 12 is, as can be seen from drawings, in fact formed in two pieces including a lower most piece 12a and an upper most section 12b. The sections 12a and 12b have a threaded connection.

The lower most section 12a includes a through going bore and a pulley 32 formed at an upper edge thereof. The pulley 32 is coaxial with an elongate axis of the shaft 12.

The upper section of the shaft 12b has a widened bore compared with the shaft 12a and a rod 34 extends through the entire length of the shaft 12. The rod 34 is attached at an upper end thereof to a compression spring 36, the 1 0 spring 36 being connected at a lower end thereof to a block 38. In turn the block 38 is secured to the shaft 12b by securing screws 40. The rod 34 passes through the block 38 and is attached at a lower end to the deflecting element A control disc 42 extends around the shaft 12a and is attached to the rod 34 by 1 5 means of screws 43 passing through slots 44 formed in the shaft 12a, the screws 43 having a threaded connection to the rod 34.

As shown in Figure 2b the hanger 10 is in the resting or retracted condition in which the deflecting element 20 is withdrawn into the sealing element 18. In this position the control disc 42 and associated screws 43 are located at an upper end of the slots 44. By bearing down on the control disc 42 the spring 36 is extended and the deflecting element 20 is moved forwardly through the .i sealing element 18 to the position shown in Figure 2a. In this position any bottle attached to the hanger can be released.

Typically, in use operation of the control disc 42 occurs as the hanger is moved on a conveyor the disc 42 bearing against an inclined arm in conveying equipment. Located at an upper end of the shaft 12 are conventional swivel means for attaching the hanger 10 to an overhead conveyor system.

In use the pulley 32 can be used to secure the hanger 10 against any unwanted swinging motion occurring.

Thus, the hanger of the present invention provides a means whereby a bottle can be transport by gripping the bottle from an interior surface of the bottle, and without covering the exterior surface of the bottle to allow treatment of the bottle surface to occur without this interfering with conveying equipment.

Modifications and variations of the present invention such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the invention, the example is used for purposes of illustration only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

.:oooi

Claims

1. A hanger for a conveyor, the hanger being adapted for holding an open necked container, the hanger including: a shaft having at a first end means for connection to an overhead conveyor system; a gripping mechanism being formed at a second end of the shaft, the gripping mechanism being movable between a retracted gripping condition and an extended non-gripping condition; and a resiliently biased control mechanism for controlling the movement of the gripping mechanism between the extended and retracted conditions, whereby the gripping means operates so as o hold the container from an interior thereof leaving a substantially clear external surface.

2. A hanger for a conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the gripping mechanism grips the container from within, such that the outer surface of the container is able to be subjected to any surface treatment or other processes without hindrance.

3. A hanger for a conveyor according to claim 1 or claim 2, the hanger of the conveying apparatus and any associated machinery is located so as to allow access to the surface of the container and so that each container is separated from adjacent any containers attached to the conveyor system.

4. A hanger for a conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping mechanism forms a sealed connection to the container such that none of the spray liquids or gases to which the outer surface of the container is exposed penetrates the interior of the container.

A hanger for a conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping mechanism comprises an inner deflecting element and 3 r deformable sealing element.

6. A hanger for a conveyor according to claim 5, in which the inner deflecting element is adapted to deflect the sealing element outwardly when moved to the retracted from the extended position to thereby grip a container in the hanger.

7. A hanger for a conveyor according to any one claims 5 or 6, in which the inner deflecting element may take the form of a tapered tip which, when moved through the sealing element causes an outward deflection thereof.

8. A hanger for a conveyor according to any one of claims 5-7, in which the sealing element comprises a flexible seal made of rubber or other like 1 0 material forming a skirt around the deflecting element.

9. A hanger for a conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the skirt additionally includes a number of slits cut thereinto to facilitate the outward deflection of the skirt.

A hanger for a conveyor according to claim, 9, in which the control 15 mechanism includes a rod element attached to the gripping mechanism at one end thereof, the rod element being located within a shaft the control mechanism further including a control spring tensioned so as to maintain the •".gripping mechanism in the retracted gripping condition unless tensioned.

11. A hanger for a conveyor according to claim 10, wherein the control 20 mechanism further includes a disc located around the shaft of the hanger, the *disc being connected to the rod and being slidably movable along the shaft so as to move the deflection element from the extended condition to the retracted gripping condition.

12. A hanger for a conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hanger additionally includes a circumferentially located pulley to allow control of swinging movement of containers suspended on the hanger.

13. A hanger for a conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger has the ability to rotate at a constant rate of 100- 150 rpm.

14. A hanger for a conveyor according to claim 13, in which a bearing located at an upper end of the hanger enables the hanger to spin, and the use of a pulley system enables the relative position of the containers to be maintained throughout the rotation.

15. A hanger for a conveyor substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. -U 1 Dated this 22nd day of June 1999 10 )oW'e CAc.. (j o &o Vi-, 10 By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO. e