EP0240117A2 - Improvements relating to de- and re-crating machines - Google Patents
Improvements relating to de- and re-crating machines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0240117A2 EP0240117A2 EP87301265A EP87301265A EP0240117A2 EP 0240117 A2 EP0240117 A2 EP 0240117A2 EP 87301265 A EP87301265 A EP 87301265A EP 87301265 A EP87301265 A EP 87301265A EP 0240117 A2 EP0240117 A2 EP 0240117A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- arm
- crank
- coupler
- pivotally connected
- translating bar
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000003739 neck Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
- B65B21/02—Packaging or unpacking of bottles in or from preformed containers, e.g. crates
- B65B21/14—Introducing or removing groups of bottles, for filling or emptying containers in one operation
- B65B21/18—Introducing or removing groups of bottles, for filling or emptying containers in one operation using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks
Definitions
- This invention relates to de- and re-crating machines and, more particularly, is concerned with a drive mechanism in such a machine for actuating a translating bar whose function is to translate a plurality of containers, e.g. bottles, into or out of a crate.
- a drive arrangement for a de- and re-crating machine which comprises a crank plate including a crank arm and which in use is mounted in the frame of said machine for rotation about a fixed axis; a coupler arm pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said crank arm; a rocker arm one end of which is pivotally connected to one end of said coupler arm and the other end of which in use is mounted for pivotal movement to a fixed point on the frame of said machine; a link arm one end of which is pivotally mounted at the end of said crank arm; and a translating bar the outboard end of which is adapted to carry means for supporting a plurality of containers and the inboard end of which is pivotally connected to that end of said coupler arm remote from the pivotal connection between the coupler arm and the rocker arm, and the translating bar also being pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to one end of said link arm, whereby rotation of said crank plate causes the crank arm, rocker arm, coupler arm and link
- the linkage between the crank plate and the translating bar is a four bar mechanism which is able to articulate freely.
- the fixed pivot points are represented by the centre of the crank plate and by one end of the rocker arm.
- the crank plate is preferably arranged to be driven through a maximum rotation of 220°. With such an arrangement, arcuate reciprocation of the crank plate results in a movement of the translating bar which has three components, the first component being a relatively long vertical upward movement; the second component being an arcuate movement in a vertical plane; and the third component being a relatively short vertical downward movement.
- the translating bar remains in a fixed, substantially horizontal orientation. Continued movement of the connecting rod reverses this sequence of movements of the translating bar.
- the drive arrangement is mounted in a machine frame which also includes a source of motive power and a mechanism for coupling the power source to the crank plate.
- a mechanism includes a quadrant gear coupled to said crank plate by, for example, a spur gear; and a connecting rod driven by a crank on the output shaft of the motor and connected so as to cause arcuate reciprocation of the quadrant gear.
- a de- and re-crating machine which comprises a machine frame; a motor mounted in said machine frame and having an output shaft on which there is mounted a crank; a quadrant gear mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in said machine frame and connected to said crank by a connecting rod; a crank plate mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in said machine frame and including a crank arm, driven by said quadrant gear; a coupler arm pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said crank arm; a rocker arm one end of which is pivotally connected to one end of said coupler arm and the other end of which is mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed point on said machine frame; a link arm one end of which is pivotally mounted at the end of said crank arm; and a translating bar the outboard end of which is adapted to carry means for supporting a plurality of contairers and the inboard end of which is pivotally connected to that end of said coupler arm remote from the pivotal connection between the coupler arm
- Figure l shows the drive mechanism holding the translating bar in a first position at which it is about to deliver a plurality of bottles to a crate
- Figure 2 shows the drive mechanism in a second position in which the translating bar is about to collect a plurality of bottles from a marshalling table.
- the apparatus comprises a frame l which supports a marshalling table 2 over which is positioned an endless conveyor 3,4 the upper belt run 3 of which is shown carrying a plurality of bottles 5. Also mounted on frame l is an electric motor and gear box 6 the output shaft of which includes an eccentric drive pin 7 which forms part of a crank arrangement 8.
- a connecting rod 9 is pivotally mounted at one end of crank 8. The remote end of connecting rod 9 is pivotally mounted at l0 to a quadrant gear ll which rotates about a fixed pivot l2 in the frame l. In the illustrated embodiment, quadrant wheel ll moves through an arc of 8l° 44 minutes.
- An arcuate portion l3 of quadrant gear ll is provided with gear teeth and contacts a spur gear l4 which is pivotally mounted about an axis l5 which is fixed with respect to frame l.
- a crank plate l6 In front of spur wheel l4, and mounted about the same axis, is a crank plate l6 which is arranged to rotate with spur gear l4.
- Crank plate l6 includes a crank arm l7 which is pivotally connected at l8 to a link arm l9 and is also pivotally connected at 20 to a coupler arm 2l. That end of link arm l9 opposite to pivotal connection l8 is pivotally connected at 22 to a translating bar 23. The inboard end of translating bar 23 is pivotally connected at 24 to one end of coupler arm 2l.
- Coupler arm 2l is pivotally connected at 25 to a rocker arm 26; that end of rocker arm 26 opposite pivot 25 is pivotally mounted at 27 on a pivot axis which is fixed with respect to frame l.
- Translating bar 23 is thus held by a four bar linkage made up of crank arm l7, link arm l9, coupler arm 2l and rocker arm 26. These four arms are linked to articulate freely with one another through pivotal connections l8, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 27. Pivot points l2, l5 and 27 are fixed with respect to frame l.
- the outboard end 28 of translating bar 23 carries a beam (not shown) which in turn supports the grab heads (not shown) which serve either to take bottles out of, or place bottles into, crates such as that shown at 29. These crates are supported on a crate conveyor 30.
- the gear ratio between rim portion l3 of quadrant gear ll and spur gear l4 (which is fixed with respect to crank plate l6) is approximately l3:35, so that the maximum arcuate movement of quadrant gear ll is able to effect a maximum arcuate movement in crank plate l6 of 220°.
- the vertical spacing between crate conveyor 30 and translating bar 23 is arranged so that, in the configuration shown in Figure l, bottles held in the grab heads are substantially within the confines of crate 29. Thus release of the bottles from the grab heads serves to position the bottles within crate 29.
- crank arrangement 8 rotates to push connecting rod 9 upwardly, quadrant gear ll is caused to rotate counter-clockwise which in turn drives crank plate l6 in a clockwise direction.
- This causes translating bar 23 to move vertically upwardly from the position shown in Figure l and then to follow an arcuate movement as crank arm l7 moves towards a vertical orientation and continues its clockwise movement.
- further rotation of crank plate l6 results in translating bar 23 moving downwardly and vertically by a small distance until connecting rod 9 reaches its maximum upward position which is illustrated in Figure 2.
- translating bar 23 is positioned so that its grab heads (not shown) are able to cooperate with bottles 5 positioned on the marshalling table 2.
- the motor 6 will be driven so that eccentric drive pin 7 rotates at a speed of about l2 revolutions per minute. This allows sufficient time for actuation of the grab heads supported by translating bar 23 thus enabling proper transport and transfer of bottles such as 5 to occur.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
- Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
- Transmission Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to de- and re-crating machines and, more particularly, is concerned with a drive mechanism in such a machine for actuating a translating bar whose function is to translate a plurality of containers, e.g. bottles, into or out of a crate.
- Conventional de- and re-crating machines employ drive mechanisms which generally use chains and which require the use of a pantagraph in order to maintain the translating bars in a horizontal condition at all points of its arc of movement. This fixed horizontal orientation is required in order to ensure that bottles being transported by the translating bars are themselves maintained in a vertical orientation regardless of their location at any given instant.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drive arrangement for a de- and re-crating machine, which comprises a crank plate including a crank arm and which in use is mounted in the frame of said machine for rotation about a fixed axis; a coupler arm pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said crank arm; a rocker arm one end of which is pivotally connected to one end of said coupler arm and the other end of which in use is mounted for pivotal movement to a fixed point on the frame of said machine; a link arm one end of which is pivotally mounted at the end of said crank arm; and a translating bar the outboard end of which is adapted to carry means for supporting a plurality of containers and the inboard end of which is pivotally connected to that end of said coupler arm remote from the pivotal connection between the coupler arm and the rocker arm, and the translating bar also being pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to one end of said link arm, whereby rotation of said crank plate causes the crank arm, rocker arm, coupler arm and link arm to co-operate to cause the translating bar to move in a predetermined path while maintaining the translating bar in a fixed orientation.
- The linkage between the crank plate and the translating bar is a four bar mechanism which is able to articulate freely. The fixed pivot points are represented by the centre of the crank plate and by one end of the rocker arm. The crank plate is preferably arranged to be driven through a maximum rotation of 220°. With such an arrangement, arcuate reciprocation of the crank plate results in a movement of the translating bar which has three components, the first component being a relatively long vertical upward movement; the second component being an arcuate movement in a vertical plane; and the third component being a relatively short vertical downward movement. Throughout this sequence of movements, the translating bar remains in a fixed, substantially horizontal orientation. Continued movement of the connecting rod reverses this sequence of movements of the translating bar.
- Preferably, the drive arrangement is mounted in a machine frame which also includes a source of motive power and a mechanism for coupling the power source to the crank plate. Advantageously, such a mechanism includes a quadrant gear coupled to said crank plate by, for example, a spur gear; and a connecting rod driven by a crank on the output shaft of the motor and connected so as to cause arcuate reciprocation of the quadrant gear.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a de- and re-crating machine, which comprises a machine frame; a motor mounted in said machine frame and having an output shaft on which there is mounted a crank; a quadrant gear mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in said machine frame and connected to said crank by a connecting rod; a crank plate mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in said machine frame and including a crank arm, driven by said quadrant gear; a coupler arm pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said crank arm; a rocker arm one end of which is pivotally connected to one end of said coupler arm and the other end of which is mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed point on said machine frame; a link arm one end of which is pivotally mounted at the end of said crank arm; and a translating bar the outboard end of which is adapted to carry means for supporting a plurality of contairers and the inboard end of which is pivotally connected to that end of said coupler arm remote from the pivotal connection between the coupler arm and the rocker arm, and the translating bar also being pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to one end of said link arm, whereby rotation of said motor causes reciprocation of said connecting rod which in turn causes arcuate movement of said quadrant gear, thereby driving said crank plate so that the crank arm, rocker arm, coupler arm and link arm co-operate to cause the translating bar to move in a predetermined path while maintaining the translating bar in a fixed orientation.
- For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, which show schematic sectional views of a machine in accordance with this invention in the plane of movement of the translating bar.
- Referring now to the drawings, Figure l shows the drive mechanism holding the translating bar in a first position at which it is about to deliver a plurality of bottles to a crate, and Figure 2 shows the drive mechanism in a second position in which the translating bar is about to collect a plurality of bottles from a marshalling table.
- As shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a frame l which supports a marshalling table 2 over which is positioned an
endless conveyor crank arrangement 8. A connectingrod 9 is pivotally mounted at one end ofcrank 8. The remote end of connectingrod 9 is pivotally mounted at l0 to a quadrant gear ll which rotates about a fixed pivot l2 in the frame l. In the illustrated embodiment, quadrant wheel ll moves through an arc of 8l° 44 minutes. An arcuate portion l3 of quadrant gear ll is provided with gear teeth and contacts a spur gear l4 which is pivotally mounted about an axis l5 which is fixed with respect to frame l. In front of spur wheel l4, and mounted about the same axis, is a crank plate l6 which is arranged to rotate with spur gear l4. Crank plate l6 includes a crank arm l7 which is pivotally connected at l8 to a link arm l9 and is also pivotally connected at 20 to a coupler arm 2l. That end of link arm l9 opposite to pivotal connection l8 is pivotally connected at 22 to a translatingbar 23. The inboard end of translatingbar 23 is pivotally connected at 24 to one end of coupler arm 2l. The other end of coupler arm 2l is pivotally connected at 25 to arocker arm 26; that end ofrocker arm 26opposite pivot 25 is pivotally mounted at 27 on a pivot axis which is fixed with respect to frame l. Translatingbar 23 is thus held by a four bar linkage made up of crank arm l7, link arm l9, coupler arm 2l androcker arm 26. These four arms are linked to articulate freely with one another through pivotal connections l8, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 27. Pivot points l2, l5 and 27 are fixed with respect to frame l. Theoutboard end 28 of translatingbar 23 carries a beam (not shown) which in turn supports the grab heads (not shown) which serve either to take bottles out of, or place bottles into, crates such as that shown at 29. These crates are supported on acrate conveyor 30. - The gear ratio between rim portion l3 of quadrant gear ll and spur gear l4 (which is fixed with respect to crank plate l6) is approximately l3:35, so that the maximum arcuate movement of quadrant gear ll is able to effect a maximum arcuate movement in crank plate l6 of 220°. When the drive system is at one extreme of its motion (as shown in Figure l, with connecting
rod 9 andcrank 8 at their lowermost position), translatingbar 23 is positioned so that the grab heads (not shown) supported byoutboard end 28 are located directly above the longitudinal axis ofcrate conveyor 30. The vertical spacing betweencrate conveyor 30 and translatingbar 23 is arranged so that, in the configuration shown in Figure l, bottles held in the grab heads are substantially within the confines ofcrate 29. Thus release of the bottles from the grab heads serves to position the bottles withincrate 29. - As
crank arrangement 8 rotates to push connectingrod 9 upwardly, quadrant gear ll is caused to rotate counter-clockwise which in turn drives crank plate l6 in a clockwise direction. This in turn causes translatingbar 23 to move vertically upwardly from the position shown in Figure l and then to follow an arcuate movement as crank arm l7 moves towards a vertical orientation and continues its clockwise movement. After performing an arc of l80°, further rotation of crank plate l6 results in translatingbar 23 moving downwardly and vertically by a small distance until connectingrod 9 reaches its maximum upward position which is illustrated in Figure 2. In this configuration, translatingbar 23 is positioned so that its grab heads (not shown) are able to cooperate with bottles 5 positioned on the marshalling table 2. In this position, the grab heads are able to clamp about the necks of bottles 5, whereupon further rotation ofcrank arrangement 8 causes connectingrod 9 to move downwardly, thus lifting translatingbar 23 upwardly for a short distance and then in an arc of l80° and thereafter vertically downwardly, until it again reaches the configuration shown in Figure l. - In practice, the motor 6 will be driven so that eccentric drive pin 7 rotates at a speed of about l2 revolutions per minute. This allows sufficient time for actuation of the grab heads supported by translating
bar 23 thus enabling proper transport and transfer of bottles such as 5 to occur.
Claims (7)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8608350 | 1986-04-04 | ||
GB8608350A GB2193283B (en) | 1986-04-04 | 1986-04-04 | Improvements relating to de-and re-crating machines |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0240117A2 true EP0240117A2 (en) | 1987-10-07 |
EP0240117A3 EP0240117A3 (en) | 1988-09-14 |
EP0240117B1 EP0240117B1 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
Family
ID=10595739
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19870301265 Expired EP0240117B1 (en) | 1986-04-04 | 1987-02-13 | Improvements relating to de- and re-crating machines |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0240117B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3770969D1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2193283B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0490084A2 (en) * | 1990-11-13 | 1992-06-17 | Hermann Kronseder | Device for packaging or unpacking containers |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1236999B (en) * | 1964-04-11 | 1967-03-16 | Enzinger Union Werke Ag | Machine for the automatic loading and unloading of bottle crates etc. like |
DE2723180A1 (en) * | 1976-05-24 | 1977-12-08 | Hitachi Ltd | INDUSTRIAL APPLICABLE ROBOTS |
DE3328112A1 (en) * | 1983-08-04 | 1985-02-21 | Holstein Und Kappert Gmbh, 4600 Dortmund | Device for packing and unpacking bottles or the like |
-
1986
- 1986-04-04 GB GB8608350A patent/GB2193283B/en not_active Expired
-
1987
- 1987-02-13 EP EP19870301265 patent/EP0240117B1/en not_active Expired
- 1987-02-13 DE DE8787301265T patent/DE3770969D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1236999B (en) * | 1964-04-11 | 1967-03-16 | Enzinger Union Werke Ag | Machine for the automatic loading and unloading of bottle crates etc. like |
DE2723180A1 (en) * | 1976-05-24 | 1977-12-08 | Hitachi Ltd | INDUSTRIAL APPLICABLE ROBOTS |
DE3328112A1 (en) * | 1983-08-04 | 1985-02-21 | Holstein Und Kappert Gmbh, 4600 Dortmund | Device for packing and unpacking bottles or the like |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0490084A2 (en) * | 1990-11-13 | 1992-06-17 | Hermann Kronseder | Device for packaging or unpacking containers |
EP0490084B1 (en) * | 1990-11-13 | 1995-06-07 | Hermann Kronseder | Device for packaging or unpacking containers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3770969D1 (en) | 1991-08-01 |
GB8608350D0 (en) | 1986-05-08 |
GB2193283A (en) | 1988-02-03 |
EP0240117B1 (en) | 1991-06-26 |
EP0240117A3 (en) | 1988-09-14 |
GB2193283B (en) | 1989-11-29 |
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