CN210708281U

CN210708281U - Treatment machine for containers

Info

Publication number: CN210708281U
Application number: CN201790001536.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗兰兹·魏格尔; 奥古斯特·珀于特
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2016-12-23
Filing date: 2017-10-24
Publication date: 2020-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-24
Also published as: EP3558832B1; EP3558832A1; WO2018114096A1; DE102016226164A1

Abstract

A processing machine for containers is described. Thus, the processing machine comprises: a container table (3) which can be rotated about a vertical machine axis (1 a); a clamping station (4, 24, 34) which is arranged around the container table and has a centering element (12) that can be lowered onto the container; and the lifting lug (8) is used for controlling the fixed rotating position of the centering element. Since the lifting lug is mounted on the upper machine part (5) which can be adjusted in height centrally with respect to the rotary table, the height position of the lifting lug and thus the vertical working area of all the clamping stations are changed simultaneously and with a common adjusting mechanism for the purpose of format adaptation to different container types. Furthermore, for play-free operation of the centering element, a control roller (14) running along the lifting lug for lifting/lowering the centering element is elastically prestressed by means of elastic elements (21, 25, 35) against the upper and/or lower side of the lifting lug.

Description

Treatment machine for containers

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a treatment machine for containers.

Background

A rotary-type processing machine with a rotatable container table and a machine upper part which rotates together with the container table and has a clamping station for the centered clamping of the containers on the rotating table is suitable, for example, for labeling and/or printing containers.

In this respect, a processing machine is known from DE 102013217657 a1, in which each clamping station comprises a separate motor for raising and lowering a centering element for the containers. This enables a flexible use of the clamping stations for containers of different heights. However, it is disadvantageous here that a large number of separate motors are required and must be actuated.

Alternatively to this, DE 102009005180 a1 and EP 2387534B 1 disclose treatment machines with stationary lifting cams (Hubkurve) along which control rollers run in order to raise and lower centering elements connected to these control rollers. The lower expenditure on the apparatus is, however, at the expense of flexibility, since the lifting lugs determine the vertical working area of the clamping station and therefore only the handling of containers having a specific height is possible.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

There is therefore a need for a processing machine whose clamping stations cause as little expenditure as possible on the apparatus and which nevertheless enables flexible use of these clamping stations for different container heights.

This task is solved with a processing machine for labeling and/or printing containers, comprising: a container table rotatable about a vertical machine axis; a clamping station surrounding the container table and having a centering element and a control roller for lowering the centering element onto the container; and a lifting lug which is fixed in terms of rotation, wherein the lifting lug is mounted on an upper machine part which can be adjusted in height centrally with respect to the container table, and the control rollers are elastically prestressed against the upper and/or lower side of the lifting lug by means of elastic elements.

The height-adjustable machine upper part can simultaneously and by means of a common adjusting mechanism realize the height adjustment of the lifting lug and the adjustment of the vertical working areas of all the clamping stations. This makes it possible to achieve specification matching in a simple and yet flexible manner and to dispense with a dedicated and/or electrically controlled lifting drive for the centering element.

The upper machine part and the container table rotate together about a vertical machine axis. The upper machine part then accommodates, for example, an electrical control unit for the rotary disk and/or a pneumatic supply unit for the centering element.

Preferably, the lifting lug is connected to the machine upper part in terms of its height position and disconnected from the machine upper part in terms of its rotational position about the machine axis, in particular by means of a thrust roller bearing or the like arranged therebetween. For this purpose, the lifting lug is supported, for example, on the upper machine part. For this purpose, the machine upper part is supported, for example, on a central and telescopically embodied support column. This makes it possible to implement a compact central lifting mechanism adapted to the specifications of the clamping stations.

Preferably, the processing machine comprises an electrically and/or pneumatically and/or hydraulically driven central lifting device for mechanically adjusting the height of the machine upper part, wherein the lifting device is integrated in particular into a central support column for the machine upper part. For example, the machine upper part can be raised or lowered by means of a spindle drive in the form of an electric motor integrated into the carrying column. This makes it possible to achieve an ergonomic and precise height adaptation of the clamping stations.

A pneumatic lifting device is particularly advantageous, since it is capable of generating a constant pressing pressure by means of a pneumatic spring, independently of container tolerances. Furthermore, the pressing pressure can be changed very quickly by means of the pressure gauge and/or the valve and the associated control unit, without the need for component replacement.

Preferably, the lifting lug is designed in-line with the clamping station. This makes it possible to arrange the clamping stations at a relatively small radial distance from the lifting lugs. This makes it possible to construct the processing machine particularly compact. Furthermore, dimensional tolerances and the control forces occurring in the region of the lifting lugs and the control rollers interacting with the lifting lugs can be reduced.

Preferably, the treatment machine further comprises a torque support for the lifting lug, wherein the torque support is anchored in a vertically movable manner or is articulated and/or guided on the lifting lug in a vertically movable manner. The torque support is then adapted to different height positions of the lifting lug. For example, the torque support comprises a vertical linear guide toward the stationary outer anchor.

Preferably, the clamping station comprises a vertical linear guide for the centering element and a control roller running along the lifting lug for lifting/lowering the centering element. This makes it possible to implement the working stroke of the centering element with a mechanical control with relatively little effort on the device.

Preferably, control rollers are arranged on the upper and lower sides thereof on both sides of the lifting lug. Therefore, the lifting unit is configured with a control roller for the upper side of the lifting lug and a control roller for the lower side of the lifting lug. This makes it possible to generate a control force by means of the lifting lugs during the lowering and lifting of the centering element. Any upwardly or downwardly oriented tracks of the lifting lugs are understood as upper and lower sides of the lifting lugs with respect to the control rollers. These rails can be integral parts of grooves, flanges or the like.

Preferably, the control roller is elastically pretensioned by means of elastic elements, for example by means of a mechanical tension or compression spring, by means of a pneumatic compression spring, a magnetic spring, a lifting drive or the like, against the upper and lower sides of the lifting lug. Therefore, the control rollers can be reliably kept in contact with both sides of the lifting lug when the centering member is lifted and lowered.

The lower and upper control rollers are then preferably pretensioned against one another by means of a tension spring, for example in pairs with a common tension spring in each case. This makes it possible to achieve a structurally simple guidance of the control roller on the lifting lug.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the control roller is only opposite the upper side of the lifting lug and is prestressed downward against the lifting lug by means of a pneumatic lifting drive or a mechanical compression spring. This makes it possible to achieve play-free lowering and lifting of the centering head with only one-sided lifting lug.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the control roller is only opposite the underside of the lifting lug and is prestressed upward against the lifting lug by means of a compression spring. This also enables play-free lowering and lifting of the centering element with only one-sided lifting lug.

The handling machine then also comprises a follower disk associated with the container table in terms of rotational position and with the lifting lug in terms of height position for supporting the compression spring from below. Each centering element is then connected to the bearing for controlling the roller, for example by means of a lifting rod which projects through the follower disk. Thereby, the restoring force of the compression spring is kept from being affected by the upward or downward adjustment of the lifting lug.

Preferably, the treatment machine further comprises a rolling bearing for supporting the follower disk on the upper part of the machine. This makes it possible to achieve play-free lifting and lowering of the follower disk and decoupling of the follower disk from the rotation of the lifting lug during adjustment of the lifting lug.

Preferably, the clamping station comprises a self-supporting frame for modular assembly on the processing machine, in particular on the container table. The clamping station can therefore be used flexibly and economically in the sense of a standard constructional unit on processing machines with container tables of different sizes. For example, the bracket is also used to fasten the linear guide.

Preferably, the centering element is configured for loading the interior of the clamped container with compressed air. For example, compressed air from a pneumatic supply unit fastened to the upper part of the machine can be guided through channels formed in the centering element into the thin-walled plastic containers in order to stabilize them against externally acting mechanical forces when they are being printed or labeled.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a processing machine with a clamping station according to a preferred first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the clamping station of the first embodiment;

fig. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a clamping station according to a preferred second embodiment; and is

Fig. 4 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a clamping station according to a preferred third embodiment.

Detailed Description

As can be seen in fig. 1, the processing machine 1 for containers 2 comprises a container table 3 with clamping stations 4 for containers 2 fastened thereon in a circumferentially evenly distributed manner, and a machine upper part 5. The container table 3 and the machine top 5 rotate jointly about a vertical machine axis 1a during operation.

The rotatable machine upper part 5 is mounted on a central support column 6, into which a lifting device 7 is integrated. The central lifting device 7 preferably comprises an electrically controllable drive unit 7a in the form of an electric spindle drive, a hydraulic lifting drive or the like.

On the machine upper part 5, a lifting lug 8 is arranged, which is stationary during operation. The lifting lug 8 is connected in terms of its height position to the rotatable machine upper part 5 and in terms of its rotational position is decoupled from the machine upper part by means of a bearing 9, for example a thrust roller bearing. In order to stabilize the lifting lug 8 in a fixed rotational position, a torque support 10 is provided which can be moved vertically with the lifting lug 8. The torque support comprises, for example, a vertical linear guide 10a in the region of the outer anchor 10 b.

By means of the lifting device 7, the machine top 5 and the lifting cams 8 can be adjusted jointly to a vertical adjustment stroke 11 relative to the container table 3 in order to adjust the vertical working range of all the clamping stations to the height of the containers to be processed.

The clamping stations 4 each comprise a centering element 12 for vertically clamping the container 2 at its mouth region 2a, a vertical linear guide for the centering element 12, and a control roller 14 which is rotatable about a horizontal axis 14a and runs along the lifting lug 8. The centering elements 12 allow the clamped container 2 to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

During the travel along the lifting nose 8, the control roller 14 causes a vertical working stroke 15 of the centering element 12. When the centering element 12 is thus lowered, the container 2 is clamped in a known manner, standing centrally on the rotary disk 16, for printing or labeling. When the centering elements 12 are raised, the containers 2 can be transferred to the clamping stations 4 and can be removed from these clamping stations. The turning discs 16 are each driven, for example, by a separate servomotor (in a manner not shown and known per se).

The amplitude of the working stroke 15 is fixedly preset by the lifting lug 8. Nevertheless, the working stroke 15 of the centering element 12 and thus the vertical working area can also be moved upwards or downwards as a result of the lifting lug 8 being lifted or lowered by the matching stroke 11. The central lifting device 7 can therefore be flexibly and quickly adapted to the height of the container type to be printed in the vertical working area, and thus can be adapted to all the clamping stations 4 in a simple and identical manner.

The linear guide 13 comprises a guide rail 13a and a carriage 13b on which the centering element 12 and the control rollers 14 are fastened, for example, by means of carrying

arms

13c, 13d or the like.

The machine upper part 5 accommodates, for example, at least one control and/or supply unit 17 for the turning disc 16 and/or the centering element 12. The centering elements are supplied pneumatically, for example, in order to deliberately load the container 2 with internal overpressure during the treatment and in order to support the mechanically unstable container wall in this way.

By means of compressed air loading, the container wall can be prevented from bending when the clamping force acts. Furthermore, the previously recessed container wall can be pressed outward again, for example during transport in a cardboard box, so that the container 2 returns substantially to its original shape after its production in a blow mold or the like. This enables the inkjet printing head to be positioned more precisely and at a smaller distance from the container wall. Thereby improving print quality and reducing waste. Furthermore, process-related by-products, such as printing ink mists, vapors or aerosols, which can penetrate into the container due to leaks and subsequently contaminate the filling, can be prevented.

In fig. 1, for example, a stationary processing unit 18 is shown in the periphery of the container table 3, for example for directly printing or labeling the containers 2.

The clamping station 4 is preferably designed as a module with a self-supporting carrier 19, on which, for example, the guide rails 13a of the linear guide 13 are fastened. The bracket 19 can preferably be fastened on the container table 3.

Fig. 2 shows the control mechanism of the clamping station 4 of the first embodiment on a scale. The carriage 13b of the linear guide 13 is provided with an outer carrier arm 13c for holding the centering element 12 and an inner carrier arm 13d which is prestressed against each other by means of a tension spring 21. A bearing 22 is formed on the inner bearing arm 13d for each control roller 14. The control roller 14 is therefore pressed on both sides by the tension spring 21 against the upper side 8a and the lower side 8b of the control cam 8 located therebetween. This makes it possible to achieve a play-free lifting of the centering element 12 following the course of the control cam 8.

It is also conceivable: the control roller 14 running on the upper side 8a of the control lug 8 is pressed only by its weight, i.e. by gravity.

A pressure connection 12a for the supply of compressed air and a compressed air outlet 12b, for example on a clamping cone 12c, which opens into the interior of the clamped container 2 are formed on the centering element 12 in order to mechanically stabilize the thin-walled container during processing. However, the pneumatic supply to the centering element 12 is only optional. However, the clamping cone 12c of the centering element 12 can nevertheless be pressed against the container 2 by means of a pneumatic spring. This enables adjustment/adaptation of the clamping force. Furthermore, in the case of a pneumatic spring, the dimensional tolerances of the container 2 do not affect the clamping force.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the lifting lug 8 is located between the machine axis 1a and the clamping station 4. This enables a particularly compact coaxial arrangement of the machine upper part 5, the lifting lug 8 and the clamping station 4. However, this is not mandatory. For example, the lifting lug 8 can extend substantially over the pitch circle of the clamping station 4, i.e. in the vertical extension of the clamping station, viewed in longitudinal section. In this case, the centering element 12 can also be controlled to be raised and lowered on both sides of the control projection 8 using the operating control rollers 14.

Fig. 3 shows the structure of a clamping station 24 of a preferred second embodiment in a schematic representation. The clamping station 24 therefore also comprises a linear guide 13 having a guide rail 13a and a carriage 13b that can be moved thereon, as well as an outer carrying arm 13c for the centering element 12.

However, only the control roller 14 running along the control lug 8 on the upper side 8a is supported on the carriage 13 b. The control roller 14 is then pressed downward by a mechanical compression spring 25 or a pneumatic drive 26 against the upper side 8a of the control cam 8.

Fig. 4 shows the structure of a clamping station 34 of a preferred third embodiment in a schematic representation. The clamping station 34 therefore also comprises a linear guide 13 having a guide rail 13a and a carriage 13b that can be moved thereon, as well as an outer carrying arm 13c for the centering element 12.

However, only control rollers 14 running along the control cam 8 on the lower side 8b are connected to the centering element 12. The control roller 14 is then pressed upwards by the mechanical compression spring 35 towards the underside 8b of the control lug 8.

In order to support the mechanical compression spring 35, a follower disk 36 is constructed as an integral part of the machine upper part 5. The control roller 14 is then connected to the centering element 12 by means of a lifting rod 37 guided by a follower disk 36. For assembly purposes, the lifter preferably has an attachment/detachment portion 37 a.

The lifting lug 8 is in turn connected in its height position to the rotatable machine upper part 5 with the follower disk 36 by means of a bearing 9, for example a thrust roller bearing, and is decoupled in its rotational position from the machine upper part. This maintains the pretension of the compression spring 35 when the lifting lug 8 is lifted/lowered.

For the sake of simplicity, the machine upper part 5 and the bearing 9 are omitted in fig. 3.

The containers 2 are transported to the processing machine 1, the processing of the containers 2 and the output of the containers being carried out in a manner known per se and preferably with continuous rotation of the container table.

Claims

1. Processing machine (1) for labelling and/or printing containers (2), comprising: a container table (3) which can be rotated about a vertical machine axis (1 a); a clamping station (4, 24, 34) which is arranged around the container table and has a centering element (12) and a control roller (14) for lowering the centering element (12) onto the container (2); and a lifting lug (8) which is fixed in terms of rotation, characterized in that the lifting lug (8) is mounted on a machine top (5) which can be adjusted in height centrally with respect to the container table (3), and in that the control rollers (14) are elastically prestressed against the upper side (8a) and/or the lower side (8b) of the lifting lug (8) by means of elastic elements.

2. The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifting lug (8) is associated with the machine upper part (5) in terms of its height position and decoupled from the machine upper part (5) in terms of its rotational position.

3. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing machine further has an electrically and/or pneumatically and/or hydraulically driven central lifting device (7) for height adjustment of the machine upper part (5).

4. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lifting lug (8) is configured in-line with respect to the clamping station (4, 24, 34).

5. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing machine further has a torque support (10) for the lifting lug (8), wherein the torque support (10) is anchored in a vertically movable manner or is vertically movable relative to the lifting lug (8).

6. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping station (4, 24, 34) comprises a vertical linear guide (13) for the centering element (12).

7. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control rollers (14) are arranged on the upper side (8a) and the lower side (8b) of the lifting lug (8) on both sides of the lifting lug.

8. The processing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control roller (14) is resiliently pretensioned against the upper side (8a) and the lower side (8b) of the lifting lug (8) by means of a spring element.

9. The processing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upper and lower control rollers (14) are pretensioned against one another by means of a tension spring (21).

10. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control roller (14) faces the upper side (8a) of the lifting lug and is prestressed downwards against the lifting lug (8) by means of a pneumatic lifting drive or a mechanical compression spring (25).

11. The processing machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control roller (14) faces the underside (8b) of the lifting lug (8) and is prestressed upwards towards the lifting lug (8) by means of a compression spring (35).

12. The processing machine according to claim 11, further comprising a follower disk (36) associated with the container table (3) in terms of rotational position and with the lifting lug (8) in terms of height position for supporting the compression spring (35) from below.

13. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping station (4, 24, 34) comprises a self-carrying support (19) for modularly fitting on the processing machine (1).

14. The processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the centering element (12) is configured for loading the inside of the clamped container (2) with compressed air.

15. The processing machine according to claim 2, wherein the lifting lug (8) is associated with the machine upper part (5) in terms of its height position and decoupled from the machine upper part (5) in terms of its rotational position by means of a thrust rolling bearing (9) arranged therebetween.

16. A processing machine according to claim 3, wherein the lifting device (7) is configured as a carrying column (6) for the machine upper part (5).

17. The processing machine according to claim 13, wherein the clamping station (4, 24, 34) comprises a self-carrying support (19) for modularly fitting on the container table (3).