DE102017120744A1 - Positioning device for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment device in a container treatment plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a positioning device (1) for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment device in a container treatment system, comprising a positioning cylinder (2) and a piston (3) received in the positioning cylinder (2) and connected to a piston rod (4). wherein between the piston (3) and positioning cylinder (2) a pressure chamber (20) is formed, which is acted upon by a working medium, and a locking mechanism (5) for locking the position of the positioning cylinder (2) relative to the piston rod (4), wherein the Locking mechanism (5) is received in the piston rod (4).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a positioning device for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment device in a container treatment plant.

Technical background

In container treatment plants in which a treatment organ acts on a container to be treated, for example in beverage filling plants for filling drinks into containers, it is known to position the respective treatment organs and the containers to be treated with the respective treatment organ relative to one another. In particular, it is known in beverage filling plants to introduce a container to be filled to a filling member or to press against the filling member. For this purpose, positioning devices are provided, by means of which a corresponding relative positioning between the treatment member and the container to be treated can be achieved.

For relative positioning, for example, pneumatic cylinders are used, in which a piston and a piston rod are accommodated and which form a pressure chamber between the piston and the pneumatic cylinder, into which compressed air can be introduced to provide a force for relative positioning.

In order to provide a corresponding contact force over a relatively long period of time and accordingly to maintain the position between the container to be treated and the treatment member, it is also known to provide a locking device. Such a locking device is for example from the DE 10 2014 117 278 A1 known.

It is also known to provide hydraulic lifting devices in container treatment plants, in which a hydraulic medium is introduced into a pressure chamber provided between a piston and a cylinder. Such a lifting device is for example from the GB 622,729 known.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a positioning device for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment member in a container treatment plant, which provides a further improved structure.

This object is achieved by a positioning device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the present description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, a positioning device for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment device in a container treatment plant is proposed, comprising a positioning cylinder and a piston recorded in the positioning, which is connected to a piston rod, wherein between piston and positioning a pressure chamber is formed, which can be acted upon by a working medium is, and a locking mechanism for locking the position of the positioning cylinder relative to the piston rod. According to the invention, the locking mechanism is received in the piston rod.

The fact that the locking mechanism is accommodated in the piston rod, the positioning device can be made more compact overall, which is beneficial to the necessary space, so that the overall structure of a container treatment device and, for example, a treatment carousel in a container treatment device can be made more compact.

Furthermore, the structure required for the locking function is reduced in its outer surface by the inclusion of the locking mechanism in the piston rod, so that overall a simpler to clean and hygienic training of the positioning can be achieved.

The positioning device particularly preferably comprises a hydraulic fluid, for example a hydraulic oil, as the working medium. By using a hydraulic fluid as a working medium, an incompressible working medium is used, whereby a once assumed relative position between the container to be treated and the treatment member can be maintained substantially independent of the pressure built up between the treatment member and the container or the contact force. In particular, there is no springback when applying a contact force applied externally to the positioning device, so that correspondingly precise positioning is made possible substantially independently of the applied contact pressure.

Furthermore, by the use of a hydraulic fluid, ie thus an incompressible working medium, for example, when lifting a previously pressed treatment member of the container, a spring back avoided, so that the positioning cylinder remains in its predetermined position.

Even with a defect of the container to be treated, for example, in a bursting or bursting of the container during the treatment process, there is no acceleration of the shards or fragments of the container by the positioning instead, since this remains in its position. When using a compressible pneumatic working medium, it may happen under certain circumstances that the container fragments are undesirably accelerated by a rebound of the positioning device when the container to be treated bursts.

Preferably, a working medium channel for supplying a working medium in the pressure chamber in the piston rod is arranged. The working medium channel can be provided in particular in the form of a bore within the piston rod, through which the working medium can then be introduced into the pressure chamber.

Due to the arrangement of the working medium channel for supplying the working medium into the pressure chamber in the piston rod, a particularly compact and hygienic design of the positioning device can accordingly be achieved, since no separate supply line for the working medium into the pressure chamber is necessary. With a fixed arrangement of the piston rod on a container treatment device, for example on a treatment carousel, a particularly hygienic and at the same time pressure-safe transfer of the working medium to the pressure chamber can then be achieved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the piston rod is fixedly mounted in the container treatment device in the installed in a container treatment device in the direction of positioning movement and the positioning cylinder takes over the positioning work and moves accordingly relative to the piston rod in the positioning direction. According to, for example, a holder for the container to be treated is attached to the positioning cylinder in order to move the treating container into the positioning direction by the action of the pressure chamber with the working medium or to hold it in the assumed position by means of the locking mechanism.

In an alternative embodiment, the treatment member may be arranged on the positioning cylinder and moved by the action of the pressure chamber in the positioning direction relative to the container to be treated, for example, be pressed onto the container to be treated or held by the locking mechanism in the assumed position.

Preferably, the locking mechanism comprises a shut-off valve received in the piston rod for locking the exchange of the working fluid between the pressure chamber and a working fluid supply. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shut-off valve acts on the working fluid channel arranged in the piston rod, so that both the working fluid supply via the piston rod to the pressure chamber and the shut-off of the working fluid supply to the pressure chamber in the piston rod is achieved.

Preferably, the shut-off valve can be actuated by a plunger held in the piston rod, wherein the plunger is particularly preferably introduced into the piston rod in a direction opposite to the feed direction of the working medium channel. This can be achieved that the piston rod can be held firmly in the container treatment device and, accordingly, the supply of working fluid is achieved without intermediate moving parts, for example, without flexible supply hoses would be.

At the same time can be actuated mechanically or by a pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical or magnetic actuator in an arrangement of the plunger from the working media channel opposite side in the piston rod of the plunger, without the operation of the plunger and thus the locking mechanism in conflict with the high Compressed working fluid supply would come. In this case, it is particularly preferred to actuate the plunger via a roller guide and to bias the plunger in the closing direction or in the opening direction of the locking mechanism-depending on the design of the actuation of the plunger.

In order to reduce or prevent damage to the entire container treatment device in the event of malfunctions of the activation of the locking mechanism or the shut-off valve, the shut-off valve preferably has an annular surface which is effective in the opening direction. Accordingly, the pressure absorbed by the pressure chamber, for example, by pressing a treatment member on the container to be treated, be limited to a certain maximum pressure, from which then the in Opening direction of the shut-off valve acting annular surface opens the shut-off valve to provide in this way a pressure equalization. In this way damage can be avoided.

Particularly preferably, the shut-off valve is biased in the closing direction, preferably by means of a biasing spring. In this way, the control of the shut-off valve can be simplified and only the opening of the shut-off valve must be performed actively. In the phases in which the shut-off valve should be closed, can be dispensed with an active control accordingly.

The object described above is further achieved by a container treatment device having the features of claim 9. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, a container treatment device for treating a container to be treated is proposed, comprising a treatment carousel, on the circumference of a plurality of treatment organs is provided with associated container holders, each pair of treatment member and container holder one of the above-described positioning for relative positioning held in the container holder , to be treated container and the treatment organ is assigned.

Preferably, a ring line is provided at the treatment carousel, via which at least two and preferably a larger number, particularly preferably all positioning devices, are supplied with the respective working medium. For this purpose, an assembly for providing a pressurized hydraulic fluid is particularly preferably arranged on the treatment carousel.

list of figures

• 1 eine schematische, teilgeschnittene Darstellung einer Positioniervorrichtung zum Positionieren eines Hubtellers in einer Behälterbehandlungsvorrichtung;
• 2 eine Detaildarstellung des Verriegelungsmechanismus der Positioniervorrichtung aus 1, wobei der Verriegelungsmechanismus geöffnet ist; und
• 3 eine Detaildarstellung des Verriegelungsmechanismus aus den 1 und 2, wobei der Verriegelungsmechanismus geschlossen ist.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

• 1 a schematic, partially sectioned view of a positioning device for positioning a lifting plate in a container treatment device;
• 2 a detailed view of the locking mechanism of the positioning of 1 wherein the locking mechanism is opened; and
• 3 a detailed view of the locking mechanism of the 1 and 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is closed.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In 1 is a schematic, partially cutaway perspective view of a positioning device 1 for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment member, not shown here, shown in a container treatment plant. For positioning of the container here is a lifting plate 10 provided, on which the container to be treated can be placed, and which by means of the positioning device 1 in the direction of the arrow X can be raised and lowered.

The positioning device 1 includes a positioning cylinder 2 and one in the positioning cylinder 2 guided piston 3 , which with a piston rod 4 connected is. In the embodiment shown, the piston 3 and the piston rod 4 made in one piece.

Between the piston 3 and the positioning cylinder 2 is a pressure room 20 formed, which can be acted upon in accordance with a working medium to a force between the positioning cylinder 2 and the piston 3 exercise, which for relative positioning of the positioning cylinder 2 and the piston 3 can lead.

In the embodiment shown, the positioning cylinder 2 with the container holder in the form of the lifting plate 10 connected and the piston rod 4 is firmly held in the corresponding, not shown here, parent container treatment device. The piston rod 4 For example, it may be firmly connected to a treatment carousel of the container treatment device. The lifting plate moves accordingly 10 by a movement of the positioning cylinder 2 relative to the piston rod defined in the container treatment apparatus 4 ,

For acting on the pressure chamber 20 with the working fluid is in the piston rod 4 a working media channel 40 provided, which here as a longitudinal bore in the piston rod 4 is executed. The working media channel 40 branches through one in the piston rod 4 arranged radial bore 42 from the longitudinal bore into the pressure chamber 20 from.

Accordingly, working fluid through the piston rod 4 and in particular through the working media channel 40 and the radial branch 42 in the pressure room 20 be directed. The working media channel 40 stands with a working media supply, which provides, for example, a hydraulic fluid under a working pressure of 20 bar to 30 bar, in conjunction.

To the positioning device 1 being able to firmly hold in a once taken position is a locking mechanism 5 provided, which in the piston rod 4 is included.

The locking mechanism 5 comprises in the embodiment shown a plunger 50 , which also in a longitudinal bore in the piston rod 4 is guided, wherein the plunger 50 from that for supplying the working media channel 40 opposite side into the piston rod 4 is introduced.

The pestle 50 forms at its in the piston rod 4 lying end of a valve cone 52 out, which in a complementary valve seat 44 which is in the piston rod 4 worked out can be included. The valve cone 52 and the valve seat 44 form a shut-off valve accordingly 54 indicating the communication between the pressure chamber 20 and the working media channel 40 allow or interrupt.

Accordingly, by pulling out the plunger 50 from the valve seat 44 a communication between the working media channel 40 , by means of which the working medium is supplied under pressure, and the pressure chamber 20 over the radial bore 42 provided, allowing communication between the working media channel 40 and the pressure chamber 20 consists.

Is accordingly the shut-off valve 54 opened by that the plunger 50 or the valve cone 52 from the valve seat 44 is pulled out, so can either by the action of the pressure chamber 20 with the working medium of the positioning cylinder 2 be moved, or the positioning cylinder 2 can through an external actuator 6 in the embodiment shown in the form of a roller guide with a roller 60 is shown, are moved to the predetermined position.

Finds a shift of the positioning cylinder 2 via the external actuator 6 instead of, for example, a lifting, the working fluid flows according either into the pressure chamber 20 into or out of the pressure chamber 20 out, in order to create a pressure balance with the over the working medium channel 40 to reach the supplied working medium. Is the desired position of the positioning cylinder 2 by means of the actuator 6 reached, so can the shut-off valve 54 be closed.

The shut-off valve 54 is closed by the plunger 50 is advanced so that the valve plug 52 in the valve seat 44 is introduced and according to the communication between the pressure chamber 20 and the working media channel 40 is interrupted.

In the pressure chamber 20 is now the pressure medium shut off against the working media channel 40 under the original in the working media channel 40 present pressure. This in the pressure chamber 20 present pressure of the working medium ensures that one possibly over the lifting plate 10 on the positioning cylinder 2 applied force is counteracted and the lifting plate 10 remains in the predetermined position accordingly. This is the case in particular if a hydraulic fluid which is incompressible is used as the working medium. By doing that in the pressure chamber 20 absorbed hydraulic fluid can not be compressed, at least within a certain range of force of the positioning cylinder 2 firmly held in the locked position.

This is particularly important when the on the Hubteller 10 Received container is subjected to a specific treatment by one or more treatment institutions. For example, first of all a filling process of the container can be carried out, in which the container is filled with a filling product. For this purpose, the container to be treated can be pressed against a filling member or the filling member can on the on the Hubteller 10 be positioned pressed container. The applied contact pressure is controlled by the closed locking mechanism 5 Accordingly, not in an evasive movement of the position of the positioning cylinder 2 results.

After filling the container, the filling member can then be lifted again, thereby correspondingly eliminates the force exerted by the contact pressure of the Füllorgans on the container force, wherein the lifting plate 10 then due to the locking mechanism 5 still remains in the intended position and not nachfedert, so that a movement which is necessary for lifting the filling member of the container mouth can be kept small.

The following can still on the Hubteller 10 held container may be closed by means of a closure member. The contact forces occurring during closing are usually higher than the contact forces applied by a filling member. These pressing forces, the positioning device 1 due to the locking by means of the locking mechanism 5 oppose a corresponding counterforce, without causing a movement of the positioning cylinder 2 would come.

The pestle 50 is preferably by means of a schematically indicated spring 56 in the closing direction of the shut-off valve 54 biased. By means of a roller guide 58 can the plunger 50 be operated. Accordingly, in the areas in which a raising or lowering of the positioning device 1 and in particular of the positioning cylinder 2 relative to the piston rod 4 is desired about the role 58 the roller guide of the ram 50 be moved from the locking position, so that the shut-off valve 54 be opened and made the positioning accordingly. In the areas in which such positioning of the positioning device 1 should no longer be made, but in which a locking of the position is desired, the role 58 then remain without roller guide, and the biasing spring 56 pushes the pestle 50 in the closing direction and thus closes the locking mechanism 5 ,

In case of machine malfunction or in case of malfunction of the control of the plunger 5 To avoid damage is in the shut-off valve 54 an effective in the opening direction annular surface provided. For this purpose is on the valve cone 52 a first ring seal 520 provided, which lies in the closing direction and a second ring seal 522 , which is opposite to the closing direction, here for example above and below the radial bore 42 , The ring seal in the closing direction 520 has a smaller diameter than the ring seal lying opposite to the closing direction 522 , Due to the difference in diameter, an active ring surface is thus provided, which is the plunger 5 when a predetermined pressure in the pressure chamber is exceeded 20 against the bias of the biasing spring 56 moved to the open position.

It can thereby be achieved that, when machine malfunctions occur, lowering or changing of the relative position between the positioning cylinder nevertheless takes place 2 and the piston rod 4 can be achieved.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

positioning

10

lifting plate

2

positioning cylinder

20

pressure chamber

3

piston

4

piston rod

40

Working media channel

42

radial bore

44

valve seat

5

locking mechanism

50

tappet

52

shuttle

54

shut-off valve

56

biasing spring

58

role

520

ring seal

522

ring seal

6

actuator

60

role

X

positioning direction

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102014117278 A1 [0004]
• GB 622729 [0005]

Claims (10)

Positioning device (1) for relative positioning of a container to be treated and a treatment device in a container treatment plant, comprising a positioning cylinder (2) and a piston (3) accommodated in the positioning cylinder (2), which piston is connected to a piston rod (4). 3) and positioning cylinder (2) a pressure chamber (20) is formed, which is acted upon by a working medium, and a locking mechanism (5) for locking the position of the positioning cylinder (2) relative to the piston rod (4), characterized in that the locking mechanism (5) is received in the piston rod (4). Positioning device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that in the piston rod (4) a working media channel (40) for supplying the working medium in the pressure chamber (20) is arranged. Positioning device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the locking device (5) in the piston rod (4) arranged shut-off valve (54). Positioning device (1) according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the shut-off valve (54) can be actuated by a plunger (5) accommodated in the piston rod (4), the plunger (5) preferably in a direction opposite to the feed direction of the working medium channel (40) into the piston rod (4). is introduced. Positioning device (1) according to Claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the shut-off valve (54) has an effective in the opening direction annular surface for limiting the pressure of the working fluid in the pressure chamber (20). Positioning device (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 5 , characterized in that the shut-off valve (54) is biased in the closing direction, preferably by means of a biasing spring (56). Positioning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston rod (4) is formed integrally with the piston (3). Positioning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism (5) is actuated by means of an actuator, preferably by means of a roller (58) of a roller guide. A container treatment device for treating a container to be treated, comprising a treatment carousel, on the circumference of which a plurality of treatment members are provided with respective container holders, each pair of treatment member and container holder having a positioning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for relative positioning of a held in the container holder , to be treated container and the treatment organ is assigned. Container treatment device according to Claim 9 , characterized in that a ring line is provided on the treatment carousel, by means of which working medium to at least two, preferably to several, more preferably all pressure chambers (20) of the positioning devices (1) can be fed.

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