EP2582611B1 - A support structure for container handling plants - Google Patents
A support structure for container handling plants Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2582611B1 EP2582611B1 EP10747956.0A EP10747956A EP2582611B1 EP 2582611 B1 EP2582611 B1 EP 2582611B1 EP 10747956 A EP10747956 A EP 10747956A EP 2582611 B1 EP2582611 B1 EP 2582611B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- support
- support structure
- connection
- table portion
- connecting element
- 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.)
- Not-in-force
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
- B67C7/0006—Conveying; Synchronising
- B67C7/002—General lay-out of bottle-handling machines
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a support structure for plants designed to handle containers, in particular bottles or similar containers having a neck closed with a removable cap.
- liquid or powder products including not only liquid food products, such as milk, fruit juices or beverages in general, but also mineral lubricating oils, detergents, etc, are sold in a wide range of bottles or containers, which are sterilized, filled and closed in container handling plants typically including a plurality of processing stations or machines, such as rinsers, fillers, cappers and labelling machines.
- processing stations can be defined by linear machines or, more frequently, by carousel-type machines.
- the following description will refer to carousel-type machines only, although this is in no way intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.
- the containers to be handled are generally fed to and removed from these machines by means of a transport system including star wheels and linear conveyors.
- the containers are fed to the handling plant through a linear conveyor; the successive passages of the containers from that linear conveyor to the first handling machine, from each handling machine to the next one and from the last handling machine to the exit from the plant are carried out by a plurality of star wheels disposed in line.
- the various star wheels and/or conveyors of the transport system are traditionally supported on a support structure defined by a massive receiving table which is in turn mechanically connected to the chassis of the handling machines so as to ensure that the relative positions of the components of the plant are maintained during production.
- a massive receiving table which is in turn mechanically connected to the chassis of the handling machines so as to ensure that the relative positions of the components of the plant are maintained during production.
- the massive receiving table ensures a strong support to the star wheels, so enabling the latter to rotate at high speed.
- the massive receiving table on the one hand, represents a significant cost factor due to the complexity of its design and construction, and, on the other hand, has numerous individual surfaces, edges, corners and undercuts defining possible starting points for undesirable contamination.
- the configuration of the star wheels and conveyors on the massive receiving table is fixed and cannot be varied.
- such configuration is specifically designed and construed for a given layout of handling machines; any modification of the number, type or layout of such machines requires a complete redesign and reconstruction of the receiving table.
- star wheels are rotatably mounted on respective column-shaped support casings, which define the vertical elements of the tubular structure and are in turn connected to each other and to the chassis of the handling machines by respective horizontal tubular struts.
- each support casing bears on the ground by means of a single foot and rotatably houses a driving shaft of the relative star wheel.
- Each support casing has one or more angularly spaced connection interfaces, which are adapted to receive respective horizontal struts; in greater detail, each connection interface can be releasably coupled to one end of a relative horizontal strut, the other end of which can be releasably coupled to the connection interface of another support casing or to a machine chassis.
- the tubular configuration of the star wheel support casings and the horizontal struts permits the passage of signal and/or power electrical cables, e.g. for supplying electricity and/or control signals to the star wheel motors or to the handling machine motors.
- tubular structure instead of a massive receiving table allows to minimize the surface areas in which dirty can accumulate and to increase access to the various parts of the plant by personnel for cleaning; in this way, the risk of contamination is decreased.
- each support casing is manufactured with the exact number and angular location of the connection interfaces for receiving the pre-determined number of transversal struts on the basis of the plant layout to build.
- the transport system is manufactured so as to include some support casings with a single connection interface, other support casings with a pair of connection interfaces angularly spaced apart, others more with three connection interfaces, and so on.
- the above solution can further be improved as to the possibility to achieve a real standardization in the production of the components of the tubular structure and a higher flexibility of assembling the transport system.
- the whole support structure as defined in this latter solution has a relatively low stiffness, which necessarily limits the speed of the star wheels in order to avoid possible overloads.
- WO 2010/013263 discloses a support structure for container handling plants as defined in the preamble of claim 1.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for container handling plants, which permits to reduce the manufacturing costs with respect to the known structures.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for container handling plants, whose component parts are adapted to contain wires and connections in a protected environment.
- Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole an example of a plant for handling containers 2, for instance bottles, in order to fill them with liquid or powder products and to close them with respective caps.
- handling plant 1 basically comprises at least two processing stations or handling machines 3, 4, known per se and schematically represented in Fig. 1 , in which respective operations are carried out on containers 2, and a transport system 10 for feeding containers 2 to the first machine (3), for transferring them from such machine to the next (4) and for removing them from the latter.
- machines 3, 4, acting in sequence on containers 2 are respectively defined by a rinsing machine (3), to direct rinse water through the open end of containers 2, and a filling machine (4), to introduce a predetermined volume of the liquid or powder product into each container 2; a capping machine (not shown) is normally provided downstream of filling machine 4 to provide containers 2 with relative closing caps.
- Handling plant 1 may also comprise other known machines, such as a labelling machine, an inspecting machine, etc.
- each machine 3, 4 is of carousel-type and basically comprises, in a known manner, a frame 6 adapted to support a container handling carrousel 7 and defining a relative axis A around which the carrousel 7 can rotate.
- Transport system 10 comprises a plurality of star wheels 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 used to transfer containers 2 to and from the various machines 3 and 4.
- star wheel 13 is used to feed containers 2 to the first processing station, in the example shown rinsing machine 3; the next set of three consecutive star wheels 14, 15, 16 is used to pick up containers 2 exiting from rinsing machine 3 and to carry them to the following processing station, in the example shown filling machine 4; and star wheel 17 is used to transfer containers 2 from filing machine 4 to the next processing station, for instance a capping machine.
- transport system 10 further comprises a support structure 20 for supporting star wheels 13-17.
- support structure 20 comprises at least two table portions 21, 22 extending transversally with respect to axis A and adapted to support star wheels 13, 14, 16 and 17, and at least one tubular connecting element 23 for connecting table portions 21 and 22 and adapted to support star wheel 15.
- each table portion 21, 22 has a reference plane P extending orthogonally to axis A and is delimited by a first surface 24 provided with first support housings 25, two in the example shown, and by a second surface 26 opposite to the surface 24 with respect to reference plane P and provided with second support housings 27, two in the example shown (please see in particular Figure 4 ).
- each table portion 21, 22 has a hollow structure comprising two walls 24', 26', opposite each other with respect to reference plane P and defining respective outer surfaces 24, 26, and a number of perimetrical walls 28 connecting the peripheral portions of the walls 24', 26'.
- Support housings 25, 27 are defined by respective cylindrical sleeves having axes B parallel to axis A and axially protruding from the respective surfaces 24, 26.
- the support housings 27 are arranged in a mirror-like manner to the support housings 25 with respect to reference plane P; the support housings 25, 27 can be alternatively associated to respective star wheels 13, 14, 16, 17 or to means for supporting the relative table portion 21, 22 on the plant floor, so that said table portion 21, 22 can be overturned for defining altered layouts.
- the surfaces 24 are top surface of the relative table portions 21, 22, whilst the surfaces 26 are bottom surfaces of the table portions 21, 22. Consequently, support housings 25 are coupled to the respective star wheels 13, 14, 16, 17, whilst support housings 27 are used to support the relative table portions 21, 22 on the plant floor.
- At least one of support housings 27 of each table portion 21, 22 defines a first connection interface 30, and connecting element 23 is provided with a pair of second connection interfaces 31 having respective axes B parallel to axis A and connected coaxially with the corresponding connection interfaces 30 of table portions 21, 22 in an orientable manner around the relative axes B.
- connecting element 23 is of self-supporting type and basically comprises a horizontal tubular strut 32 provided with the respective connection interfaces 31 at its opposite axial end portions 33.
- each connection interface 31 is formed by a sleeve body 34 of axis B, orthogonally crossed by the relative axial end portion 33 of strut 32 and bearing on the floor by means of a foot 35, which is secured to the bottom end 36 of the sleeve body 34 in an adjustable way so as to allow, in a conventional manner, a modification of its height.
- sleeve bodies 34 axially protrude on both sides from strut 32.
- Sleeve bodies 34 and strut 32 are preferably delimited by respective cylindrical outer surfaces.
- Each sleeve body 34 can be connected to the relative support housing 27 in a removable way and at the desired angular position around the relative axis B so as to allow modification of the transport system configuration.
- the sleeve bodies 34 and the relative support housings 27 may be secured by means of screws (not shown) in the desired angular position around the relative connection axis B.
- Connecting element 23 further comprises a column-shaped support body 37, which is secured orthogonally on an intermediate portion 38 of strut 32, and on which star wheel 15 is singularly mounted.
- support body 37 has an axis C parallel to axes A and B and bears on the floor by means of a single or multiple feet 40, which are secured to a bottom end 41 of the support body 37 in an adjustable way so as to allow, in a conventional manner, a modification of their heights.
- support body 37 has a tubular configuration with a cylindrical outer surface and is crossed by the intermediate portion 38 of strut 32 so as to protrude therefrom axially on both sides.
- any other shape of the outer surfaces of strut 32, sleeve bodies 34 and support body 37 is possible, such as polygonal configurations.
- the other support housing 27 of table portion 22 is coupled to a relative floor-standing bearing 42, whilst the other support housing 27 of table portion 21 is not used since the table portion 21 is secured, at that zone, to the frame of further components of plant 1 not shown.
- Floor-standing bearing 42 is formed by a sleeve body 43 of the same type as sleeve bodies 34 of connecting element 23 and by a height-adjustable foot 44 identical to feet 35, 40 and bearing on the floor.
- the new solution of support structure permits to obtain the plant layout by using a reduced number of table portions and component parts.
- each table portion 21, 22 and the connecting element 23 can be varied around the relative connection axis B permits to use the same connecting element 23 for connecting different and/or differently oriented table portions.
- the same connecting element 23 is adapted to be used in any angular position of connection with relative table portions around the relative axes B.
- the connecting element/s 23, which is/are self-supporting may be placed as reference member/s for the next connection of the table portions, so easing this kind of operations.
- table portions 21, 22 having mirror-like opposite surfaces 24, 26 permits to further enlarge the number of attainable layouts of container handling plants, as such table portions can be used in overturned configurations.
- the tubular configuration of connecting element 23 and the hollow structure of table portions 21, 22 permits the passage of signal and/or power electrical cables and/or fluid pipes and/or mechanical transmission means, etc.
- connecting element 23 may also have at least in part a profile section or hollow configuration with an open cross section, such as a U-shaped section.
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- Handcart (AREA)
- Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a support structure for plants designed to handle containers, in particular bottles or similar containers having a neck closed with a removable cap.
- As it is known, many liquid or powder products, including not only liquid food products, such as milk, fruit juices or beverages in general, but also mineral lubricating oils, detergents, etc, are sold in a wide range of bottles or containers, which are sterilized, filled and closed in container handling plants typically including a plurality of processing stations or machines, such as rinsers, fillers, cappers and labelling machines.
- These processing stations can be defined by linear machines or, more frequently, by carousel-type machines. The following description will refer to carousel-type machines only, although this is in no way intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.
- The containers to be handled are generally fed to and removed from these machines by means of a transport system including star wheels and linear conveyors.
- In particular, according to a typical solution shown for instance in
EP-A-1316520 , the containers are fed to the handling plant through a linear conveyor; the successive passages of the containers from that linear conveyor to the first handling machine, from each handling machine to the next one and from the last handling machine to the exit from the plant are carried out by a plurality of star wheels disposed in line. - The various star wheels and/or conveyors of the transport system are traditionally supported on a support structure defined by a massive receiving table which is in turn mechanically connected to the chassis of the handling machines so as to ensure that the relative positions of the components of the plant are maintained during production. An example of this kind of solution is shown in
DE-U-202007017932 . - In particular, thanks to its great structural rigidity, the massive receiving table ensures a strong support to the star wheels, so enabling the latter to rotate at high speed.
- However, the massive receiving table, on the one hand, represents a significant cost factor due to the complexity of its design and construction, and, on the other hand, has numerous individual surfaces, edges, corners and undercuts defining possible starting points for undesirable contamination.
- Moreover, the configuration of the star wheels and conveyors on the massive receiving table is fixed and cannot be varied. In other words, such configuration is specifically designed and construed for a given layout of handling machines; any modification of the number, type or layout of such machines requires a complete redesign and reconstruction of the receiving table.
- In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in
WO 2006/087088 andWO 2006/087109 , it has been proposed to replace the massive receiving table with a tubular support structure formed by horizontal and vertical elements connected to each other in a removable way so as to allow modification of the transport system configuration. - In particular, the star wheels are rotatably mounted on respective column-shaped support casings, which define the vertical elements of the tubular structure and are in turn connected to each other and to the chassis of the handling machines by respective horizontal tubular struts.
- More specifically, each support casing bears on the ground by means of a single foot and rotatably houses a driving shaft of the relative star wheel. Each support casing has one or more angularly spaced connection interfaces, which are adapted to receive respective horizontal struts; in greater detail, each connection interface can be releasably coupled to one end of a relative horizontal strut, the other end of which can be releasably coupled to the connection interface of another support casing or to a machine chassis.
- The tubular configuration of the star wheel support casings and the horizontal struts permits the passage of signal and/or power electrical cables, e.g. for supplying electricity and/or control signals to the star wheel motors or to the handling machine motors.
- The use of a tubular structure instead of a massive receiving table allows to minimize the surface areas in which dirty can accumulate and to increase access to the various parts of the plant by personnel for cleaning; in this way, the risk of contamination is decreased.
- Besides, the adoption of removable connections among the horizontal and vertical elements of the tubular structure permits to obtain a star wheel configuration that can be easily transported, dismantled and reassembled; moreover, it seems theoretically possible to use the same elements to assemble the transport system in different configurations.
- However, this latter possibility appears to be not feasible in concrete terms; as a matter of fact, the applicant has observed that the angular positions of the connection interfaces on the star wheel support casings shown in
WO 2006/087088 andWO 2006/087109 have to be determined on account of the specific layout of the handling plant to manufacture, so making impossible to use the same elements for obtaining more than one layout. - In practice, each support casing is manufactured with the exact number and angular location of the connection interfaces for receiving the pre-determined number of transversal struts on the basis of the plant layout to build. In other words, the transport system is manufactured so as to include some support casings with a single connection interface, other support casings with a pair of connection interfaces angularly spaced apart, others more with three connection interfaces, and so on.
- Therefore, the real possibilities to modify such layout or to use the same components to build another plant having a different layout are perforce limited by the already fixed angular positions of the connection interfaces on the star wheel support casings.
- In the light of the above, it is clear that, though advantageous in many aspects, the above solution can further be improved as to the possibility to achieve a real standardization in the production of the components of the tubular structure and a higher flexibility of assembling the transport system.
- Furthermore, the whole support structure as defined in this latter solution has a relatively low stiffness, which necessarily limits the speed of the star wheels in order to avoid possible overloads.
-
WO 2010/013263 discloses a support structure for container handling plants as defined in the preamble of claim 1. - It is an object of the present invention to provide a support structure for container handling plants, having high stiffness and whose component parts may be produced in a standardized way so as to achieve a real modularity of assembly.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for container handling plants, which permits to reduce the manufacturing costs with respect to the known structures.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for container handling plants, whose component parts are adapted to contain wires and connections in a protected environment.
- At least one these objects is achieved by a support structure for container handling plants, as claimed in claim 1.
- A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a part of a container handling plant having a support structure in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; -
Figure 2 shows a plan view of theFigure 1 support structure; -
Figure 3 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of theFigure 2 support structure; -
Figure 4 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a portion of theFigure 3 support structure; -
Figure 5 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a connecting element of the support structure illustrated inFigures 1 to 4 ; and -
Figure 6 shows a partially sectioned view in perspective of theFigure 5 connecting element. - Number 1 in
Figure 1 indicates as a whole an example of a plant for handling containers 2, for instance bottles, in order to fill them with liquid or powder products and to close them with respective caps. - More specifically, handling plant 1 basically comprises at least two processing stations or
handling machines 3, 4, known per se and schematically represented inFig. 1 , in which respective operations are carried out on containers 2, and atransport system 10 for feeding containers 2 to the first machine (3), for transferring them from such machine to the next (4) and for removing them from the latter. - In the example shown in
Figure 1 ,machines 3, 4, acting in sequence on containers 2, are respectively defined by a rinsing machine (3), to direct rinse water through the open end of containers 2, and a filling machine (4), to introduce a predetermined volume of the liquid or powder product into each container 2; a capping machine (not shown) is normally provided downstream of filling machine 4 to provide containers 2 with relative closing caps. Handling plant 1 may also comprise other known machines, such as a labelling machine, an inspecting machine, etc. - Preferably, each
machine 3, 4 is of carousel-type and basically comprises, in a known manner, a frame 6 adapted to support a container handling carrousel 7 and defining a relative axis A around which the carrousel 7 can rotate. -
Transport system 10 comprises a plurality ofstar wheels various machines 3 and 4. In particular,star wheel 13 is used to feed containers 2 to the first processing station, in the example shownrinsing machine 3; the next set of threeconsecutive star wheels rinsing machine 3 and to carry them to the following processing station, in the example shown filling machine 4; andstar wheel 17 is used to transfer containers 2 from filing machine 4 to the next processing station, for instance a capping machine. - With reference to
Figures 1 to 4 ,transport system 10 further comprises asupport structure 20 for supporting star wheels 13-17. - Advantageously,
support structure 20 comprises at least twotable portions star wheels element 23 for connectingtable portions star wheel 15. - In particular, each
table portion first surface 24 provided withfirst support housings 25, two in the example shown, and by asecond surface 26 opposite to thesurface 24 with respect to reference plane P and provided withsecond support housings 27, two in the example shown (please see in particularFigure 4 ). - More specifically, each
table portion outer surfaces perimetrical walls 28 connecting the peripheral portions of the walls 24', 26'. -
Support housings respective surfaces - Preferably, for each
table portion support housings 27 are arranged in a mirror-like manner to thesupport housings 25 with respect to reference plane P; thesupport housings respective star wheels relative table portion table portion - In the example shown, the
surfaces 24 are top surface of therelative table portions surfaces 26 are bottom surfaces of thetable portions support housings 25 are coupled to therespective star wheels housings 27 are used to support therelative table portions - Advantageously (
Figure 4 ), at least one ofsupport housings 27 of eachtable portion first connection interface 30, and connectingelement 23 is provided with a pair ofsecond connection interfaces 31 having respective axes B parallel to axis A and connected coaxially with thecorresponding connection interfaces 30 oftable portions - More specifically, with particular reference to
Figures 4 to 6 , connectingelement 23 is of self-supporting type and basically comprises a horizontaltubular strut 32 provided with therespective connection interfaces 31 at its oppositeaxial end portions 33. - In the example shown, each
connection interface 31 is formed by asleeve body 34 of axis B, orthogonally crossed by the relativeaxial end portion 33 ofstrut 32 and bearing on the floor by means of afoot 35, which is secured to thebottom end 36 of thesleeve body 34 in an adjustable way so as to allow, in a conventional manner, a modification of its height. - As visible in
Figures 3 to 6 ,sleeve bodies 34 axially protrude on both sides fromstrut 32. -
Sleeve bodies 34 andstrut 32 are preferably delimited by respective cylindrical outer surfaces. - Each
sleeve body 34 can be connected to therelative support housing 27 in a removable way and at the desired angular position around the relative axis B so as to allow modification of the transport system configuration. For instance, thesleeve bodies 34 and therelative support housings 27 may be secured by means of screws (not shown) in the desired angular position around the relative connection axis B. - Connecting
element 23 further comprises a column-shaped support body 37, which is secured orthogonally on anintermediate portion 38 ofstrut 32, and on whichstar wheel 15 is singularly mounted. - In particular,
support body 37 has an axis C parallel to axes A and B and bears on the floor by means of a single ormultiple feet 40, which are secured to abottom end 41 of thesupport body 37 in an adjustable way so as to allow, in a conventional manner, a modification of their heights. - As visible in
Figures 4 to 6 ,support body 37 has a tubular configuration with a cylindrical outer surface and is crossed by theintermediate portion 38 ofstrut 32 so as to protrude therefrom axially on both sides. - It is pointed out that any other shape of the outer surfaces of
strut 32,sleeve bodies 34 andsupport body 37 is possible, such as polygonal configurations. - In the case of the solution depicted in the enclosed Figures (please see in particular
Figure 3 ), theother support housing 27 oftable portion 22 is coupled to a relative floor-standingbearing 42, whilst theother support housing 27 oftable portion 21 is not used since thetable portion 21 is secured, at that zone, to the frame of further components of plant 1 not shown. - Floor-standing
bearing 42 is formed by asleeve body 43 of the same type assleeve bodies 34 of connectingelement 23 and by a height-adjustable foot 44 identical tofeet - The advantages of
support structure 20 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. - In particular, the new solution of support structure permits to obtain the plant layout by using a reduced number of table portions and component parts.
- Besides, the fact that the angular position of connection between each
table portion element 23 can be varied around the relative connection axis B permits to use the same connectingelement 23 for connecting different and/or differently oriented table portions. In other words, the same connectingelement 23 is adapted to be used in any angular position of connection with relative table portions around the relative axes B. - In this way, it is possible to produce the new connecting
elements 23 in a standardized way and to obtain a real modularity of assembly. - It should also be noted that, during assembly of the container handling plant, the connecting element/
s 23, which is/are self-supporting, may be placed as reference member/s for the next connection of the table portions, so easing this kind of operations. - Moreover, the adoption of
table portions - It is therefore clear that the real possibilities to modify an existing layout or to use the same components to build another container handling plant having a different layout are very high.
- Furthermore, the above-mentioned advantages in terms of modularity and standardization are achieved together with a great stiffness of the resulting support structure deriving from the adoption of table portions; in this way, handling
machines 3, 4 and star wheels 13-17 can work or rotate at high speed, assupport structure 20 is able to absorb the high loads induced by such rotations and by the consequent vibrations. - Last but not least, the tubular configuration of connecting
element 23 and the hollow structure oftable portions - Clearly, changes may be made to support
structure 20 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims. - In particular, connecting
element 23 may also have at least in part a profile section or hollow configuration with an open cross section, such as a U-shaped section.
Claims (8)
- A support structure (20) for a container handling plant (1) and at least one machine frame (6) adapted to support a container handling carrousel (7) and defining a main axis (A) around which said carrousel (7) can rotate; said support structure (20) comprising:- at least two table portions (21, 22) extending transversally with respect to said main axis (A) and adapted to support one or more star wheels (13, 14, 16, 17) of said plant (1); each table portion (21, 22) comprising at least a first connection interface (30) having a connection axis (B) parallel to said main axis (A); and- at least one tubular and/or profile section connecting element (23) provided with a pair of second connection interfaces (31) having respective connection axes (B) parallel to said main axis (A) and connected coaxially with the corresponding first connection interfaces (30) in an orientable manner around the relative connection axes (B);wherein each first connection interface (30) comprises a support housing (27) ; and wherein each second connection interface (31) comprises a sleeve body (34) adapted to be coupled with the corresponding support housing (27) along the relative connection axis (B); wherein each table portion (21, 22) has a reference plane (P) extending transversally to said main axis (A) and is delimited by a first and a second surface (24, 26) opposite each other with respect to said reference plane (P), characterized in that each table portion (21, 22) is provided with a plurality of said support housings (25, 27) on both said first and second surfaces (24, 26), and said support housings (25) of said first surface (24) of each table portion (21, 22) are arranged in a mirror-like manner to the support housings (27) of the corresponding second surface (26) with respect to said reference plane (P); and in that said support housings (25, 27) of each table portion (21, 22) are alternatively associable to respective star wheels (13, 14, 16, 17) or to a relative one of said second interfaces (31) of said connecting element (23) or to means for supporting said table portion (21, 22) on the floor.
- A support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second connection interfaces (31) are provided on, and protrude from, a strut (32) of said connecting element (23) extending transversally with respect to said connection axes (B).
- A support structure as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said connecting element (23) further comprises a support body (37) having an axis (C) parallel to said connection axes (B), interposed between said second connection interfaces (31) and adapted to support at least one star wheel (15).
- A support structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein said support body (37) is mounted on said strut (32) and protrudes therefrom.
- A support structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve bodies (34) are positioned on respective axial end portions (33) of said strut (32) and said support body (37) is positioned on an intermediate portion (38) of said strut (32).
- A support structure as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said connecting element (23) comprises a number of floor-standing feet (35, 40).
- A support structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sleeve bodies (34) and said support body (37) are crossed by said strut (32) and bear on the floor by means of said feet (35, 40).
- A support structure as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein each table portion (21, 22) has a hollow structure.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IT2010/000274 WO2011161704A1 (en) | 2010-06-21 | 2010-06-21 | A support structure for container handling plants |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2582611A1 EP2582611A1 (en) | 2013-04-24 |
EP2582611B1 true EP2582611B1 (en) | 2015-12-16 |
Family
ID=43706451
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP10747956.0A Not-in-force EP2582611B1 (en) | 2010-06-21 | 2010-06-21 | A support structure for container handling plants |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2582611B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011161704A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE102015121530A1 (en) * | 2015-12-10 | 2017-06-14 | Khs Gmbh | container transporter |
FR3053963A1 (en) * | 2016-10-12 | 2018-01-19 | Sidel Participations | HOLLOW BODY CONVEYING TABLE HAVING ADJUSTABLE TRANSFER WHEEL IN POSITION |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1316520A1 (en) | 2001-11-30 | 2003-06-04 | Sig Simonazzi S.P.A. | Support structure of an apparatus for the handling of containers |
DE202005002470U1 (en) * | 2005-02-16 | 2005-11-10 | Krones Ag | Transport system for container handling machines |
DE202005002469U1 (en) | 2005-02-16 | 2005-05-25 | Krones Ag | Preparatory table assembly for a bottle filling machine, to deliver empty bottles and take off filled bottles, has turrets on carrier housings on a support structure which can be adapted selectively to give a defined turret configuration |
DE202007017932U1 (en) | 2007-12-22 | 2008-10-02 | Krones Ag | Arrangement for processing beverage units |
EP2307305A1 (en) * | 2008-07-29 | 2011-04-13 | Sidel S.p.A. | Modular support structure and module thereof for container handling machines |
-
2010
- 2010-06-21 WO PCT/IT2010/000274 patent/WO2011161704A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-06-21 EP EP10747956.0A patent/EP2582611B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2011161704A1 (en) | 2011-12-29 |
EP2582611A1 (en) | 2013-04-24 |
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