DE2146438A1 - Machine for handling the protective caps of pressure and liquefied gas bottles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to tap or valved bottles intended for repeated use for taking up compressed gas and / or liquid gas. Such bottles are usually capped to remove the To protect valve assembly, and if necessary, these caps can be used to transport the bottles.

These caps are usually attached to the gas cylinders by placing them over the valves, after which they are rotated to anchor them firmly. If a gas cylinder is to be refilled, it is necessary to remove the cap before filling and reattach it to the bottle after filling in such a way that that the bottle can be safely transported to the point of use.

Devices for attaching and removing caps are already known. With such devices use is made of a rotatable device which carries several heads, each of which carries the necessary ones

209813/0180

Carries out work steps for attaching or removing the caps; in doing so, the bottles move along a path along part of the perimeter of the device and in the vicinity thereof such that each bottle is brought into alignment with one of the heads. The caps are fed to a point on the circular path along which the heads must move »These devices are also known as" carousels ". A device of this type is described in French patent specification 1 586 259 «

In these known devices, the bottles must be moved along complicated paths, and the devices take up a lot of space. In addition, these devices each include multiple heads that do the same job fulfill; this complicates the operation of the devices and compromises their operational safety.

Since the bottles are usually filled automatically, an automatic machine for removing the To use caps and a second automatic machine to apply the caps. These two machines can work from be of similar construction, their constructional differences being due to the diversity of their tasks are. Such machines can form part of a contiguous bottle transport chain, along which the various work steps for filling the bottles are carried out. The vog. the bottles at the beginning of the transport chain Removed caps, which are put back on bottles at the end of the transport chain, move here along another path, also being automatically brought from the cap removal zone to the cap application zone will.

The invention now proposes an automatic machine in which the bottles move along a straight line ^

209813/0180

or substantially straight while moving, and said machine in comparison with the hitherto known machines, a smaller A nz ahl of heads includes, but at least as fast as the known working machines. At the same time, the operational safety of the entire system is improved, and the machine according to the invention takes up less space than the known machines.

An automatic machine designed according to the invention for handling the caps of bottles for pressure or Liquid gas comprises a stationary frame, a device that brings each tab into the correct starting position, and also one Device for transporting the caps to a stationary station, a support that is opposite the Frame can be rotated between at least two positions, which depend on the position of the bottles in question or the fixed arrangement of the caps direct at least two heads sliding against the movable support are movable, this sliding movement being effected in a controlled manner and being parallel to the axis of rotation of the support plays, and where at least two of the heads opposite the correct position occupying bottles or the Take fixed caps when the movable support in one of its predetermined positions for Has been brought to a standstill, at least two cap grippers ^. one of which is located within one of the heads with the cap gripping devices opposite each head are rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the movable support, as well as at least two Motors for operating the cap grippers, these motors being an integral part of each Cap gripping device form associated head «,

According to a particular feature of the invention, the Machine a device that guides the head in question,

209813/0180

" ⁴ " 2U6A38

while being lowered towards the valve of a bottle will. In this machine, the caps are also moved by a linger that is level with the Is arranged level in which the caps are located to ensure that the caps are gripped by the head.

According to a further feature of the invention, the Machine a bumper as part of the head, which ensures the reliable release of the cap, as well as a

/the
Fingers accompanying the cap as it descends towards the fixed station.

The invention and advantageous details of the invention are shown below with reference to schematic drawings an exemplary embodiment explained in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows a machine according to the invention in a side view.

Fig. 2 shows, in an enlarged vertical section, a head of the machine used for attaching caps according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 2 but shows a detachable one of caps serving head of the machine.

Fig. 4 shows the front of the feeding device from caps to the machine.

The bottle transport chain includes one not shown Conveyor device, and for the sake of clarity, the bottles are not shown in the drawings.

In the machine according to FIG. 1, the bottles are fed at the same height with a centering device which comprises two arms 1, which are rotatable symmetrically to one another about a vertical axis and connected by connecting means 2 are. Each of the arms 1 carries at its upper end

20981 3/0180

-5- 2H6438

a circular arc-shaped component on which rollers 3 are rotatably mounted. This device ensures that each bottle is centered with respect to the machine or on the in Fig. 1 indicated vertical axis X1 is aligned.

The machine comprises a frame 4 against which all positioning work is carried out. On the frame 4 is a movable, rotatable about a vertical axis X2 U _n SUPPORTING 5 stored. The movable U _n support 5 comprises a drive element 6, by means of which the support can be made to perform half a revolution. According to Pig. 1, the movable support carries at least two heads 7 and 8 for gripping bottle caps.

The caps are supplied by a conveying device 9 which is driven by an electric motor via power transmission means 10. The ultimate point, up to that the caps are taken along by the conveyor 9 lies on a vertical axis XJ. Each of the heads 7 "and 8 can assume two different positions, in which the vertical axes of the two heads with the vertical Axes X1 and X3 coincide · Thus, each head takes turns a position over a bottle or over a cap on the conveyor 9. A machine like this general construction thus makes it possible to put caps on bottles or to remove caps from bottles.

A head for attaching caps to bottles is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. The movable one Support 5 carries two plates 11 and 12 which are assigned to head 7 and head 8, respectively. On these plates are several plungers 13 attached, which are used to a second plate, e.g. plate 14 according to Fig. 2, in a vertical direction. With this movement the Plate guided by a vertically arranged guide device 15, which is connected to plate 14, for example

209813/0180

" ⁶ " 2H6438

Guide rod and a guide bush attached to the plate 12 includes.

A component 16 is attached to the plate 14, in which a spindle 17 is rotatably mounted, which e.g. Electric motor 18 can be driven. The lower part of the spindle 17 is hollow and widens into a bell-like shape Section. In the bell-like section, a piston 19 is slidably guided, which makes it possible to remove a Hing 20 To deform rubber, which is held in place by a receiving part 21 attached to the lower end of the spindle 17 is · A chamber 22 delimited by the bell-like section of the spindle and the piston 19 can pressurized air through it a bore 23 are fed which opens into a universal joint 23A and through a connection 24 with an outer Compressed air source can be connected.

If compressed air is supplied to the chamber 22, the piston 19 moves against the force of a return spring 25 pressed down, the rubber ring 20 is deformed so that it firmly encloses a bottle cap 26 and grasps it.

The components described so far are provided both in the cap application head according to FIG. 2 and in the cap removal head according to FIG. The K _o pf of FIG. Caps for attaching further comprises a plurality of retractable fingers 271 which are connected to actuating means 28, and also a protective sleeve 27A is provided. This assembly forms a guide he strokes for the head, which comes into effect when the head is lowered opposite the valve of a bottle and thereby carries a cap. After the cap is placed on the valve, the cap is secured by being rotated by the actuating means 28 to ensure that the cap is anchored to the bottle. The fingers 27 are then withdrawn, the cap is released through the head, and finally is

209813/0180

- ^? - 2U6438

the head raised again.

Pig. Figure 3 shows a head for removing caps from gas cylinders which includes numerous components, which already described components of the head according to FIG. 2 are similar and for this reason each with the same reference numerals are designated so that a more detailed explanation is not necessary.

However, the head shown in Fig. 3 does not include the retractable ones Finger 27, the actuating devices 28 and the protective sleeve 27A, which these parts according to FIG the plate 14 connects. Instead, Fig. 3 shows that the piston 19 delimits a chamber 19A in which a low voltage standing pressure piece 29 is arranged to ensure that the head in a reliable manner the cap removed from a gas bottle when releasing the same to the Dispensing device 9, by means of which the cap is removed.

4 shows the conveying device 9 in a side view. This device comprises a conveyor belt 30, depending on whether it is a serving for applying caps or for removing caps part in the relevant part of the machine, caps on or remove _e The caps finally arrive at two conveyor belts 31 · If With the conveyor associated with the capping part of the machine, two fingers 32 and 33 stop the row of caps and cause the caps to be dispensed.

When a cap is to be released, finger 33 is extended to hold the second cap in place, whereupon the finger 32 is retracted, so that the relevant Cap for resting on a component 34 with a V-shaped Cutout comes to ensure that the cap is on the

209813/0180

Axis X3 is aligned · Then a slide 35 moves upwards to grasp the aligned cap and insert it into the head which is located above the slide 35 and extends along axis X3.

When removing the .Kappen, serving part of the Machine moves the device 35 d. the relevant cap below. It is not necessary here to provide the component 34 used for centering the caps, and also the Pingers 32 and 33 can be omitted.

The operation of a part of the machine according to the invention for attaching caps is briefly explained below. While one of the heads, for example the head 7 ', is aligned with the vertical axis X1 and is therefore in alignment with a gas cylinder, the other head 8 is aligned with the vertical axis X3, with respect to which a cap has been centered. Here the head 7 contains a cap. The head 8, which is empty, moves downwards and is retractable through the fingers 27 _n in the correct position relative to the U brought window construction; the motor 18 is activated so that the head 7 rotates the cap which it engages in order to anchor it in a reliable manner to the bottle in question. The compressed air is then released from the head 7, the fingers 27 are pivoted outwards, and the head is raised.

At the same time, the other head 8 moves downwards in the direction of the associated cap, and / or at the same time the cap is moved upwards by the slide 35. On that Pressurized air is supplied to keep the head in place on the cap. Now the mobile support 5 is initiated, make half a turn, the next bottle is aligned on the axis X1, the next cap is opposite centered on the X3 axis, and then another working cycle of the type described above begins.

209813/0180

In the case of a machine that is used to remove the caps from gas cylinders, the work steps described are carried out in a similar manner, but in each case so that the parts concerned moved in the opposite direction will.

Patent claims :

209813/0180

Claims (8)

PAiDENT SEARCH 1. Automatic machine for removing caps from pressurized or liquefied gas cylinders and / or for attaching Caps on such bottles, characterized that the machine comprises a stationary frame (4), furthermore a device (1, 2, 3), by means of which each Hasche is brought into a predetermined position, a device (9) for moving the caps (26) relative to a fixed point, a support (5) which is rotatable relative to the frame between at least two positions, which by the predetermined position of the bottle in question or the fixed point at which a cap is placed, are determined, at least two heads (7, 8) which are slidably displaceable with respect to the movable support, wherein this sliding movement is effected in a controlled manner parallel to the axis of rotation (X2) of the support, with each at least two of the heads are arranged so that one of the Heads on a bottle taking up the predetermined position and the other head on one arranged at the fixed point Cap is aligned when the movable support is brought to a standstill in one of its predetermined positions has been, at least two cap gripping devices, one of which is arranged in each of the heads, the Gripping devices each around one to the axis of rotation (X2) of the movable support parallel axis (X1, X3) .are rotatable, as well as by at least two motors (18) for actuation of the gripping devices, these motors each fixed to the head assigned to the respective gripping device are connected. 209813/0180 2U6438 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle positioning means are two Include arms (1) which are symmetrical to each other about at right angles to the axis of rotation (X2) of the rotatable U support Axes are pivotable. 3. Machine according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that each head (7 »8) through at least two plungers (15) can be moved, and that each head during its movement by one connected to the head Rod and a cooperating guide bush (15) attached to the movable support (5) is guided, 4-, machine according to one of claims 1 to 3 »thereby characterized in that each cap gripping device comprises a cylindrical recess (22) in that recess a piston (19) is slidably guided, that an arrangement (24, 2JA, 23) for supplying pressurized gas to the cylinder is present so that the K lben can be moved against the action of elastic biasing means (25), and that on An elastic king (20) is provided at the free end of each gripping device, which is deformed during the movement of the piston is that it grips a cap (26) and connects it firmly to the gripping device. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4-, characterized characterized in that the device (9) for feeding the caps (26) is an endless one running over rollers Conveyor belt (30) for supplying the caps, furthermore several circumferential endless belts (31) which the caps in the direction transport to the aforementioned fixed point, as well as a device (35) »which is at right angles to the direction of travel of the Conveyor belts or belts is movable and makes it possible to grasp a cap arranged at the fixed point and to use them to be introduced into the head which has been brought to a standstill in a position above the fixed point. 20981 3/0180 6. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized in that each head (7, 8) is provided at its lower end with a plurality of fingers (27) which on can be moved out in a controlled manner and ensure that the cap (26) to be attached is exactly in the correct position Position opposite the bottle to be provided with the cap is brought. ■ 7, machinery according to one of claims 1 to 5 »thereby marked that each piston (19) of each head (7, 8) is provided with an inner recess (19A), and that in this recess a pressure piece (29) is arranged to ensure that one received by the head Cap (26) is released from the head as soon as the elastic ring (20) deformed by the piston is released » 8. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cap feed device (9) comprises a V-shaped component (54) for centering a cap (26) with respect to said fixed point, furthermore a retractable pinger (55) to interrupt the movement of the caps and a retractable finger (32) which enables one cap at a time to be transported to the fixed point while preventing any movement of the remaining ψ caps, 209813/0180 AS . " Blank page