EP0899233A1 - Device for unscrewing threaded caps from beverage bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

The appliance has a tubular body (20) is vertically mounted in a raised and lowered frame (1) and is rotated by a motor. The lower part of the tubular body has several evenly and peripherally distributed carriers mounted so as to swivel radially against the action of tension springs. The bottom end part of the tubular body has at least three narrow, guide slits parallel with the body (17) of the tubular body and containing the carriers consisting flat, plate-shaped jaws. The edges of the carriers are formed by defining edges protruding into the hollow cavity in the tubular body and running axially parallel.

Description

The invention relates to a device for unscrewing the screw caps of beverage bottles and the like. Containers with at least one motorized rotation vertically in a frame that can be raised and lowered stored tubular body, in its lower section with several arranged evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, radial against the action of tension springs has pivotally mounted drivers.

It is already an automatic unscrewing device known from bottles (DE-195 08 379 C1), the a mechanically driven, height-adjustable unscrewing head has, which consists essentially of a Base body and gripper arms articulated thereon. Replaceable gripping jaws are on the gripper arms Gripping a screw cap attached.

The body is with a cylindrical axial bore provided, through which the unscrewed screw capsules can be suctioned off. The gripping jaws are each attached to double-armed swivel levers, which form the gripper arms and by means of bearing bolts can be swiveled in axial grooves on the outside Base body are stored. These gripper arms also stand under the influence of radial compression springs, which generate the contact pressure for the gripper jaws. The Gripping jaws themselves have the shape of ring sectors, which overall the scope of the unscrewed Enclose screw caps almost completely. These gripping jaws are included on the inside provide a knurl, which is formed from axially parallel grooves is, the sharp edges of the driver edges form.

This known device is complicated because of the Shape of both the base body and the gripper arms the separate gripping jaws are very complex to manufacture.

In another known device for removing Screw capsules for bottles or similar containers (DE-PS 22 12 659) are several clamping arms in one rotating tubular housing around one arranged axially around and in the radial direction pendulum-like pivoted.

In their axial height are the jaws, which the Capture screw capsules, wrapped in a ring spring, which generates the required contact pressure.

The clamping arms are on the inside and above the clamping jaws with sloping spreading surfaces and recesses provided with an expansion plate of the push rod cooperate under the influence of a compression spring stands, which pushes him down and which in the Is able to clamp the clamp arms in an outward-pivoted manner Keep spread position when the probe plunger on a bottle without a capsule.

This device is also in its structure and also in terms of very expensive to manufacture.

In another known by public use Device for unscrewing screw capsules The driver jaws are of the generic type from sector-shaped sections of a rotating driven Pipe formed by axial slots in the pipe wall are. These jaws are on the outside provided with conical sections, which can be attached from above by means of a compression spring with an inner cone Closing sleeve is pushed around the jaws in the clamping position bring and so a driving effect on To produce screw cap.

Both the bevels of the conical sections and the Inner cone of the sliding sleeve are designed so that the sliding sleeve on the jaws in the axial direction moves upwards against the action of the compression spring, if placed on one at the bottom of the jaws Cone when shutting down the device on one Bottle head exerted a correspondingly large spreading force becomes.

The construction of this device is also complicated and expensive and also relatively prone to failure because of the tuning the spring and spreading forces have relatively large tolerances subject to.

The invention has for its object a device of the kind mentioned at the beginning to create one simpler, less expensive to manufacture structure as well has a safe functioning and its functional parts, especially baking, on the one hand low wear subject to and on the other hand easily interchangeable and also are easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

This object is achieved in that the tubular body in its lower end section with at least three narrow, parallel to the tube body axis Guide slots are provided in which from flat plate-shaped jaws arranged existing drivers are, the driver edges of each in the cavity of the tubular body protruding and axially parallel Body boundary edges are formed.

This configuration makes the device according to the invention even easier and cheaper to manufacture, if instead of the minimum number of three guide slots in the guided jaws four or even five jaws in the Tubular body are stored. Another significant advantage is that the cheeks are not just light assemble, but can also be easily replaced if after long use by appropriate wear their driving edges no longer have the required grip exhibit.

The plate-shaped jaws themselves are also easy to manufacture, whereby it is expedient to harden them Steel for high wear resistance, especially at the driver edge.

For the grip of each plate-shaped cheek to increase the existing driving edge only once is the Embodiment according to claim 2, in particular from Advantage because it ensures that the axially parallel driver edges of the individual jaws not tangential to the circumference of the screw capsules to be unscrewed attack but in one plane and direction, which corresponds to the course of a circular chord.

While it is required in the embodiment according to claim 3 can be, which lie within the tubular body Process sections of the jaws so that the driver edges not in the plane of the direction of rotation the leading side of the cheek side lie, but opposite this side surface in the caster direction are offset by the design according to claim 4, the advantage achieved that the jaws each the same over their entire radial extent Can have thickness, so that additional processing the inwardly projecting sections can be omitted.

The configuration according to claim 5 ensures that the driver edges a safe take to the loosening screw capsules cause what else the configuration according to claim 6 also contributes.

The design according to claim 7 is also important because the rocker-like storage of the jaws on the outside of the tubular body for the individual jaws there, the position of their driver edges exactly the one to be detected Adjust peripheral surfaces of the screw capsules. This effect is also due to the design according to claim 8 in that the improved Overall, jaws have the option of being radial Dodge pressure altogether resiliently.

Storage in the manner of a seesaw means that the Swivel axis at least approximately in the middle of its axial Extent is arranged, which also makes the The advantage is that on both sides of this bearing axis according to claim 10 each have an annular spring can be, the required contact pressure the jaws for a safe take-along of their driver edges produce.

This effect is also supported by the design according to claim 11.

While the configuration according to claim 12 ensures that the screw cap to be unscrewed when lowering of the tube body on the bottle head functional in the grip of at the same time radially outwards pressed jaws is inserted through the Design according to claim 13 ensures that the upper ends of the jaws when in the area of the Screw thread of a bottle neck has been lowered are no damage with the subsequent upward movement on the bottle neck. On the other hand, this is but also ensured that the already above of the jaws unscrewed in the tubular body Can hold screw caps on the cheeks and do not fall down out of the tubular body. Also the removal of so-called crown caps is with the so designed Baking possible.

The embodiment according to claim 14 also serves the functionally appropriate and safe introduction of a bottle head in the grip of the cheeks.

Fig. 1

in Schnittdarstellung einen Teil einer mehrteiligen Vorrichtung zum Entschrauben der Schraubverschlußkapseln von Getränkeflaschen;

Fig. 2

einen Rohrkörper als Einzelteil, hälftig geschnitten;

Fig. 3

in vergrößerter, hälftig geschnittener Darstellung den unteren als Schraubkopf ausgebildeten Abschnitt des Rohrkörpers aus Fig. 2 mit eingesetzten Backen und Ringfedern;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht IV aus Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt V-V aus Fig. 3;

Fig. 5a

die gleiche Schnittdarstellung wie Fig. 5, jedoch ohne Backen und Ringfedern;

Fig. 6

in einer der Fig. 5 entsprechenden Schnittdarstellung eine andere Ausführungsform des unteren Rohrkörperabschnitts;

Fig. 6a

die gleiche Ansicht wie Fig. 6, jedoch ohne Backen;

Fig. 7

in der gleichen Darstellung wie Fig. 6 eine weitere Ausführungsform des unteren Rohrkörperabschnitts;

Fig. 7a

die gleiche Ansicht wie Fig. 7, jedoch ohne Backen;

Fig. 8

eine vierte Ausführungsform in gleicher Schnittdarstellung wie Fig. 6;

Fig. 8a

die gleiche Ansicht wie Fig. 8, jedoch ohne Backen;

Fig. 9

eine Backe in Seitenansicht;

Fig. 10

die Backe der Fig. 9 in Stirnansicht X aus Fig. 9;

Fig. 11

eine Backe gemäß Fig. 9 und 10 in perspektivischer Ansicht mit Lagerstift;

Fig. 12

eine der den Ausführungsformen der Fig. 7 und 8 entsprechende Backe in perspektivischer Ansicht mit Lagerstift.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

a sectional view of a part of a multi-part device for unscrewing the screw capsules of beverage bottles;

Fig. 2

a tubular body as a single part, cut in half;

Fig. 3

in an enlarged, half-sectioned representation, the lower section of the tubular body in the form of a screw head from FIG. 2 with inserted jaws and ring springs;

Fig. 4

a view IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

a section VV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5a

the same sectional view as Figure 5, but without jaws and ring springs.

Fig. 6

in a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the lower tubular body section;

Fig. 6a

the same view as Figure 6, but without jaws.

Fig. 7

6 shows a further embodiment of the lower tubular body section in the same representation as FIG. 6;

Fig. 7a

the same view as Figure 7, but without jaws.

Fig. 8

a fourth embodiment in the same sectional view as Fig. 6;

Fig. 8a

the same view as Figure 8, but without jaws.

Fig. 9

a cheek in side view;

Fig. 10

9 in front view X from FIG. 9;

Fig. 11

a jaw according to Figures 9 and 10 in a perspective view with bearing pin.

Fig. 12

one of the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 corresponding jaw in a perspective view with a bearing pin.

The part of a multi-part shown in section in Fig. 1 Device for unscrewing the screw capsules of beverage bottles or similar containers from a vertically lifting and lowering frame 1, which has two upper frame plates 2 and 3, which by Screws 4 connected to each other and by spacers 5 are kept at a distance from each other.

In these frame plates 2 and 3 is by means of suitable Bearing sleeves 6 and 7 a drive tube 8 rotatably mounted, the one between the two frame plates 2 and 3 Gear ring 9, which is mounted on an adjacent Pinion 10 and a further gear, not shown with a drive motor in gear connection stands and from this for unscrewing screw capsules 11 of a beverage bottle 12 in the counterclockwise direction is driven.

One with the drive tube 8 serves as the unscrewing tool by a screw thread 14 coaxially screwed tubular body 20 whose lower section as a screw head 21 trained and provided with several drivers. The tubular body 20 is enclosed by one on the Underside in the frame plate 3 supporting compression spring 15, which is coaxial to the axis 17 of the tubular body 20 or of the drive tube 8 coaxial centering sleeve 16 centering presses over the bottle neck 12 'of the bottle 12 to this center with respect to axis 17. Here is the Centering sleeve 16 on one relative to the frame plates 2 and 3 vertically movable worktop 18 attached, which in the radial direction by guide means, not shown is led.

The tubular body 20 is with almost over its entire length provided a smooth, cylindrical inner surface 22. she encloses a cavity 24 through which the respective scraped Screw caps 11 one after the other are conveyed up until they finally drive the tube 8 and a sleeve sitting on this happens have and fall out or be removed.

In order to save weight, the tubular body 20 in its middle section has only a thin wall 23. in the Area of his screw head 21 and also on its upper At the end it is provided with larger wall thicknesses, which essentially consists of an enlargement of each Outside diameter result in these areas.

For example, while the wall thickness d of the wall 23 is 1.5 mm to 2 mm, the screw head 21 has a wall thickness d1 of approximately 7 mm, which is used in this wall section to have at least three narrow guide slots 25, 26 running parallel to the tube body axis 17 , 27 and 28 to be provided. In these guide slots 25 to 28 drivers are mounted, which consist of flat, plate-shaped jaws 30 and whose driver edges are each formed by axially parallel body boundary edges 31 and protrude into the cavity 24 of the tubular body 20.

While in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 5 the Screw head 21 four each in the circumferential direction evenly distributed guide slots 25 to 28 are 6 to 8 embodiments of the Screw head 21 ', 21/1, 21/2 shown, the only three guide slots each offset by 120 ° 25 to 27 or 25/1 to 27/1 or 25/2 to 27/2 have. It is also easily possible to have five or even to provide more guide slots and jaws, if this should prove necessary.

The guide slots 25 to 28 of FIGS. 2 to 5 as well also the guide slots 25 to 27 or 25/1 to 27/1 or 25/2 to 27/2 of the screw heads 21 'or 21/1 or 21/2 are each formed identically among themselves. Everyone Guide slot 25 to 28 of the screw head 21 has two parallel to each other and parallel to each other a radial plane 45 or 46 extending guide surfaces 40 and 41, these radial planes 45 and 46 in the axis 17 of the tubular body 20 in the presence of four such guide slots 25 to 28 at right angles to cut.

6 to 8a are in each case only three guide slots 25 to 27 or 25/1 to 27/1 or 25/2 to 27/2 available. Are accordingly also three radial planes, each offset by 120 ° to each other 46, 47 and 48, to which the guide surfaces 40 and 41 run in pairs in parallel.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 5a and 6 and 6a, these guide slots 25 to 28 are arranged in such a way that the tubular planes 20 and 28 are opposite to the working direction of rotation of the tubular body 20 indicated by the arrow 29, so that the of the respective radial plane 45 to 48 closest guide surface 40 from this radial plane 45 to 48 each has a distance a of at least 0.2 mm, but preferably of 2 mm.

In this embodiment and arrangement of the guide slots 25 to 28, these can be made relatively narrow with a width b of approximately 4 mm, and the matching jaws 30, which are guided therein with as little lateral play as possible, can be provided with two congruent side surfaces 32 and 33 be provided. In the case of these jaws 30, the inner boundary surface 34, which runs at right angles to these side surfaces 32 and 33, with the side surface 33 leading in the working direction of rotation forms the body edge 31, which acts as a driving edge and runs parallel to the axis 17.

This also necessarily means that this body edge 31 is at a distance a from the radial plane 45 to 48 assigned to the guide slot 25 to 28 in question. This distance a ensures that the body edge 31 acting as a driving edge does not tangentially engage the screw cap to be unscrewed, but rather in an at least approximately axially parallel plane which intersects the peripheral surface of the screw cap 11 of the bottle 12. This ensures a safe carry-over, even if the body edge 31, as is customary in practice, is slightly rounded, for example by trovalizing. However, in order to ensure little wear at this point, it is necessary for the jaws 30 to be made of hardened steel.

The boundary surfaces each forming a driving edge 31 33 and 34 can also be obtuse or acute clash. The edge angle δ (Fig. 4) but should be between 80 ° and 100 ° if possible.

From Fig. 4 it can be seen that the driver edges 31st of the individual jaws 30 on a to the tubular body axis 17th concentric circle 44 lie.

With an inner diameter D of approximately 30 mm to 35 mm, this circle 44 has a diameter of 25 mm to 27 mm, which means that the driving edges 31 of the jaws 30 in the normal position by a dimension e (FIG. 5) of approximately 2 mm to 5 mm protrude into the cavity 24 of the screw head 21 or the tubular body 20.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide slots 25/1 to 27/1 or 25/2 to 27/2 are not offset to the radial planes 46 to 48 which run parallel to their guide surfaces 40 and 41, as in the case of FIG Embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 6 and 6a. In order to obtain in this arrangement and shape of the guide slots 25/1 to 27/2 a body edge 31 which acts as a driving edge and which is offset by the distance a from the respective radial plane 46 to 48, the guide slots 25/1 to 27, which are wider overall, are / 1 or 25/2 to 27/2 inserted jaws 30/1 or 30/2 provided in the region of their portion projecting into the cavity 24 of the tubular body 20 with a corresponding fillet-like recess 35 which extends over the entire height h .

In these embodiments, too, there is one Guide surface 41 of each guide slot 25/1 to incl. 27/2 on the in the direction of rotation -arrow 29- Pipe body 20 trailing side parallel to it extending radial plane 46 to 48 arranged.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7, 8 and 12, the thickness d2 of the jaw 30/1 is matched to the width b1 of the guide slots 25/1 up to and including 27/1 so that these jaws 30/1 with little lateral play can be guided in these guide slots.

The driver edges are also in these versions 31 each on the circle 44, but for reasons of Clarity not shown in FIGS. 7a and 8a is.

The jaws 30 and 30/1 each have a transverse bore 37 in the middle of their height h in the vicinity of their outer boundary surface 36 for the fixed reception of a bearing pin 38. With the aid of this bearing pin 38, the jaws 30 and 30/1 are each on the outside of the tubular body 20 pivotally mounted in the manner of a seesaw. For this purpose, the head part 21 of the tubular body in the longitudinal center of the guide slots 25 to 28 or 25/1 to 27/2 is provided with a groove-like annular groove 50 which is open on the circumference and in which the bearing pins 38 are loosely mounted.

They are held in the guide slots 25 to 28 or 25/1 to 27/1 or 25/2 to 27/2 mounted jaws 30 or 30/1 by two on both sides of the ring groove 50 arranged ring springs 55 and 56, which are made of helical coiled tension springs exist, the ends of which are endless Ring are firmly joined together.

These two ring springs 55 and 56 are guided on the one hand in groove-like ring grooves 51 and 52, which to both Sides of the annular groove 51 arranged symmetrically to this are, however, a larger width and also a larger Depth than the annular groove 51 so that they Ring springs 55 and 56 each with sufficient axial Can take backup. Also the jaws 30 and 30/1 are provided with U-shaped recesses 53 and 54, the the groove-like ring grooves 51 and 52 accordingly are arranged and trained.

In order to enable the jaws 30, 30/1 in their guide slots 25 to 28 or 25/1 to 27/2 rocker-like pivoting movements, these guide slots each have a somewhat greater height h2 than the jaws 30, 30/1 with the height h .

This rocker-like mounting of the jaws 30 to 30/1 by means of the loose lying in the annular groove 50 on the outside Bearing pins 38 not only have the jaws 30 and 30/1 the possibility of moving around the axis of these bearing pins 38 rocking like a seesaw, but they have also the possibility of moving radially outwards the radial counterforce of the ring springs 55 and 56 radial to perform outward movements to each optimally with their driver edges 31 to the screw capsule 11 to be screwed off to be machined Create bottles 12 or similar containers.

In order to be able to securely insert the screw head 21 of the tubular body 20 into the seat of the jaws 30 and 30/1, the inner sides of the jaws 30 and 30/1 are on the underside in each case with one from the bottom upwards to the driving edge 31 at a wedge angle β of about 20 ° to 25 ° radially inwardly extending wedge surface 57 which is rounded at its ends. With a total height h of the jaws 30 or 30/1 of approximately 16 mm to 20 mm, this wedge surface 57 extends over a wedge height h3 of approximately 5 mm to 7 mm.

On the upper side, the jaws 30 and 30/1 are each provided with an inclined surface 58 which extends approximately at 45 ° to the driving edge 31 and which also merge into the adjacent boundary surfaces, these inclined surfaces 45 extending over a partial height h4 of approximately 1 mm to 3 mm extend. This inclined surface 58 ensures that a bottle neck 12 'already freed from the screw cap 11 is not damaged when the jaws 30, 30/1 are pulled upward. As a result, the upper sides of the jaws 30, 30/1 cannot get caught on radially projecting surfaces or edges of the bottle neck 12 ', because the inclined surfaces 58 ensure that the jaws 30 and 30/1 also escape radially during these operations.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the tubular body 20th at its lower end one at least approximately Wedge angle β of the jaws 30, 30/1 corresponding inner cone 60, which for centering insertion of a Bottle neck 12 'in the screw head 21 is used.

Claims (14)

Device for unscrewing the screw caps of beverage bottles (12) and the like. Containers with at least one tubular body (20) which can be rotated by motor and is mounted vertically in a frame (1) which can be raised and lowered and which is evenly distributed in the lower section with several in the circumferential direction arranged, radially pivotally mounted driver against the action of tension springs,
characterized,
that the tubular body (20) is provided in its lower end section with at least three narrow, parallel to the tubular body axis 17 guide slots (25 to 28, 25/1 to 27/3, 25/2 to 27/2, in which flat, plate-shaped Jaws (30, 30/1) existing drivers are arranged, the driver edges of which are formed in the cavity (24) of the tubular body (20) and axially parallel body boundary edges (31). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each guide slot (25 to 28, 25/1 to 27/1, 25/2 to 27/2) two parallel to one assigned to it Radial plane (35, 36, 37, 38) running guide surfaces for the plane-parallel side surfaces (32, 33) of the jaws (30, 30/1) and that the Driving edge (31) against each jaw (30, 30/1 the working direction of rotation (arrow 29) of the tubular body (20) compared to this radial plane (45 to 48) is offset that it is from the radial plane (45 to 48) a distance (a) of at least 0.2 mm, preferably of 2 mm. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the two guide surfaces (40, 41) of the guide slot (25 to 28) on the in the working direction (Arrow 29) trailing side of the radial plane parallel to the guide surfaces (40, 41) (45 to 48). Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that that both guide surfaces (40, 41) of the guide slot (25 to 28) on the in the working direction (Arrow 29) of the tubular body (20) trailing Side of the radial plane parallel to them (45 to 48) lie that the distance (a) in the working direction (Arrow 29) leading guide surface (40) at least 0.2 mm from this radial plane (45 to 48), preferably of 2 mm. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized characterized in that the driver edges (31) of two at an edge angle (δ) of 80 ° to 100 ° to one another abutting boundary surfaces (33, 34) of the jaws (30) are formed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized in that the jaws (30, 30/1) between the guide surfaces (40, 41) of the guide slots (25 to 28 or 25/1 to 27/2) with little play are. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized characterized in that the jaws (30, 30/1) each on the outside of the tube body by means of tangential or at right angles to the guide surfaces of the guide slots running bearing pins like a Rocker are pivoted. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the bearing pins (38) each in an approximately in the arranged axially center of a jaw (30, 30/1) Cross bore (37) attached and in a circumferential side open annular groove (50) of the tubular body (20) loosely mounted are. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized characterized in that the jaws (30, 30/1) on the outside approximately on both sides of the bearing pins (38) semicircular recesses (53, 54) for receiving have two ring springs (55, 56). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the tubular body on either side of the bearing pins (38) receiving annular groove (50) each further wider and deeper, about half-round profiled Has annular groove (51, 52), in each of which an annular spring (55, 56) is axially fixed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized characterized in that the jaws (30, 30/1) at an inner diameter (D) of the tubular body (20) of about 30 mm to 35 mm about 2 mm to 5 mm in the cavity (24) of the tubular body (20) protrude and that their Driving edges (31) on one to the tube body axis (17) concentric circle (44) with a diameter (D) are from about 25 mm to 27 mm. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized characterized that the inside of the jaws (30, 30/1) each on the underside with one from below upwards to the driver edge (31) at a wedge angle (β) from about 20 ° to 25 ° radially inwards extending wedge surface (57) are provided with a total height (h1) of the jaws from 16 mm to 20 mm over a height (h) of about 5 mm to 7 mm. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the inside of the jaws (30, 30/1) each on the top one at about 45 ° to the driving edge (31) extending inclined surface (58) from about 1 mm to 3 mm high (h1). Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the tubular body at its lower end with a at least approximately the wedge angle (β) of the jaws (30, 30/1) corresponding inner cone is provided.

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