EP2610187B1 - Device for transferring fitting pieces for container labelling - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device specified in the preamble of claim 1. Art.

In one EP 0 341 400 A known device, the central hollow shaft of the hub is driven from below via a keyed on the central shaft pulley, which is in drive connection with a drive belt of a laterally arranged below the labeling drive. Due to transverse forces acting on the pulley, the central shaft requires axially widely spaced pivot bearings which are arranged below the control cam plate and impractically increase the overall height below the labeling station. On a support structure, a bearing structure with two bearing rings is mounted, which rotates about a tapered roller bearing, the hub separated from the central shaft on the outer circumference. In the bearing construction, the drive shafts of the transfer elements are also stored.

An attachable to a labeling, off DE 30 44 879 A and DE 32 16 138 A known, generic device of this type has a stationary gear housing, the bottom of which forms the cam control plate of the trolley and the upper side is sealed by a mechanical seal between a cover of the hub and the transmission housing, since at least arranged between the hub and the cam control plate stalk runs in an oil bath , On the cam control plate, a stationary axle is mounted centrally on which the hub is rotatably mounted centrally by means of two rolling bearings. The hub has an outer ring gear with which engages a drive gear of a gear forming the drive of the device. The drive shafts in the hub rotatably support at their lower ends in each case a drive pinion and rotatable a gear segment of the drive block, wherein the gear segment in each case meshes with the drive pinion of the next drive shaft, thereby engages with guide rollers in a circumferentially closed, groove-like cam, and in the orbital motion the hub reciprocating the drive shaft rotating with the hub oscillating back and forth. At the upper end of each drive shaft, a rotary coupling member is arranged, which must pass through the lid of the hub, must be sealed therein, and has an axial polygonal plug hole into which a polygon end of the transfer shaft is inserted. At the DE 32 16 138 A known device, for example, a single shutdown of each drive shaft is provided, to which in the hub a rotary locking pneumatic cylinder at the respective drive shaft and provided between a collar of the drive shaft and a spring-loaded sliding sleeve overload clutch include, depending on demand, the rotary coupling part of the drive shaft from the drive shaft separates. The structure of the device is complicated and results in a large height in the direction of the axis of rotation, so that in a labeling above a support structure considerable building space is required. Furthermore, the functional integration of the device in a gear drive system is required, which increases the structural complexity and inconveniently complicates a modular design of the device regardless of the labeling, as well as an individual speed control of the hub denied. The large height of the known device results among other things from the fact that due to the central and stable auszustegegenden rotary bearing of the hub and the height-consuming overload clutch of the individual shutdown above the hub in the direction of the axis of rotation much space is needed.

At one off DE 197 58 799 B4 known labeling, the central shaft of the hub is driven from below via an electric servomotor and arranged between the servo motor and the central shaft gear. The transmission takes up considerable space in the vertical direction and increases the overall weight of the system.

Out WO 2005/115848 A a bottle table with a plurality of circumferentially distributed bottle plates is known, which is rotationally driven from below by means of a large gear. Each bottle plate is coupled on the underside with a motor drive unit that drives it in a speed ratio of 1: 1.

EP2093168 A1 discloses a direct drive motor of a bottle transfer star. WO 00/39037 A1 discloses a carousel with glass molds and a direct drive. WO 2008/145363 A1 discloses a direct drive motor that drives and supports a bottle carousel.

The invention has for its object to simplify a device of the type mentioned structurally and functionally compact and form compact with low height, as well as modular easy to integrate into a labeling.

The stated object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

Thanks to the central coupling of the hub with the torque motor as a direct drive, the device can be structurally simplified and designed as a unit with low overall height, which can be modularly incorporated into different types of labeling. The direct drive of the hub from below makes the device independent of any drive systems of the labeling. It can be the speed or rotational speed of the hub sensitive to the respective requirements adapt and vary. The pivot bearing in the peripheral region of the hub saves considerable height, since it supports the hub very stable with minimal space requirements, so that the individual components of the drive block and the drive shafts are axially space-saving housed. Electric torque motors, for example permanent magnet-excited asynchronous motors, are sensitive adjustable, generate high torques and are very compact and stable. In this case, the pivot bearing and the hub are arranged in a passage opening of a plate-shaped support structure of the device, the drive block is arranged below the support structure, the torque motor is mounted on the control cam, and passes through a torque motor to the hub connecting drive train with a central shaft the lantern central. In this way, a significant part of the device remains below the support structure, so that the device claimed only minimal height when incorporated into a labeling above the support structure. The support structure may belong only to the device, or be a support structure of the Etikettieraggregats and / or, preferably, even carry additional equipment components of the Etikettieraggregats. The support structure may be a steel plate that is easy to manufacture, lighter and less expensive compared to a cast, elaborate transmission housing, and directly receives, for example, reaction forces of the pivot bearing of the hub. A flat-type torque motor has windings containing a stator mounted, for example, on the underside of the camber plate of the cradle or on the support structure, and an inner rotor equipped with magnets, which is mounted on the central shaft of the hub and via the hub in the pivot bearing and thus supported in the support structure. This eliminates structurally complex and space-consuming gear transmission systems with bearings for driving the hub. Furthermore, the torque motor can be easily and quickly replaced in the event of a fault or damage.

In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the device, one, preferably pneumatically activatable, single shutdown with an overload clutch is provided for each drive shaft in the hub. With the overload clutch can be uncoupled from the drive shaft via the hub projecting above the hub upwardly projecting rotary coupling of the drive shaft provided with activated individual shutdown, which then continues to perform the transmitted from a gear segment oscillating motion, but without rotating the coupled transfer shaft. The overload clutch has, preferably, spring-biased detent balls and detent ball recesses between each of the rotatably mounted on the drive shaft drive pinion and the drive shaft, anyway in the area of the truss intended storage space is used for housing the overload clutch, which is the height of the device to good.

As a rotary coupling is a backlash-free self-centering spur gear coupling, which is oriented by a transversely to the axis of the rotary coupling oriented relative tilting movement of the transfer shaft the rotary coupling is releasable and engageable. Because transfer shafts are usually so-called change sets, which must be changed, for example, when changing the equipment of the equipment. Since each transfer shaft with the transfer element has considerable weight, and relatively high when changing so far staff must be lowered, creates only by a transverse to the axis of the rotary coupling oriented relative tilting movement of the transfer shaft detachable and engageable Stirnzahnkranzkupplung a significant improvement in terms of ergonomics and ease of operation. The Selbstzentrierungseffekt makes almost effortless the required centering between the drive shaft and the transfer shaft ago. Since it is important to install each transfer element in a certain rotational position in the device, the spur gear coupling is formed with herring gear teeth which are engageable only in a single relative rotational position. An important advantage of a Stirnzahnkranzkupplung is also that it requires only low height in the direction of the axis.

In a further expedient embodiment, a cover penetrated by the drive shafts is provided on the hub on the upper side, which covers the edge of the passage opening of the support structure and is sealed by a peripheral labyrinth seal against the support structure, so that no contaminants can penetrate into the interior of the device. The labyrinth seal also offers the advantage of almost friction-free sealing effect, so that no or only a negligible drag torque in the labyrinth seal must be overcome. Furthermore, the labyrinth seal is characterized by a long service life with consistently high sealing quality.

In a further expedient embodiment, each drive shaft projecting beyond the upper side of the hub or a cover arranged on the hub is provided by a drive shaft

Labyrinth seal against the hub or the lid sealed. Preferably, this labyrinth seal between the rotary coupling part on the drive shaft and a cover ring mounted in the lid, eg bearing ring, is arranged. Since the labyrinth seal provides its sealing effect largely frictionless, it generates no unwanted drag torque.

The structural design of the device is simple if the curve control plate of the drive block is mounted on the bottom of the support structure via a spacer ring which seals the drive block outwards.

A particularly important idea is that the pivot bearing of the hub has at least one, preferably only a single, bearing ring-free four-point torque bearing element with balls, which is mounted directly between the bearing seats of the hub and in the through hole of the support structure. This modern rotary bearing type results in a centerless rotary bearing of the hub in the supporting structure. The bearing seats take on the function of the bearing rings, so that space and height can be saved. Since the pivot bearing works on an optimally large diameter, not only the hub is perfectly supported, but also the rotor of the direct drive via the hub.

In order to optimally adjust the rotary bearing working on a large diameter, in a further embodiment adjacent to the bearing seats in a seat of the through hole of the support structure mounted a stationary and the four-point torque bearing element spring loaded clamping ring, preferably distributed in the circumferential direction of the support structure Clamping screws and spring packs. The clamping ring can be adjusted with exactly metered spring preload, the four-point torque-bearing element so that the balls run clean and free of play. The clamping ring is also favorable for assembly.

In a further expedient embodiment, the clamping ring of the pivot bearing even assumes a further function, if it is formed with a seat for the peripheral labyrinth seal between the cover of the hub and the support structure.

As mentioned, it is particularly expedient if at least one fastening region for a gripper cylinder is attached to the support structure of the device in geometric association with the hub and / or a gluing unit and / or a piece of equipment magazine are provided, so that the labeling unit can be modularly constructed or modified with individual modules or can be modified. Finally, it is expedient to profitably use in the hub between two axially spaced, the pivot bearing of the drive shaft rolling bearings existing height to accommodate each of each drive shaft associated Drehverriegelungs pneumatic cylinder of individual shutdown to save overall height.

Reference to the drawing, the subject invention is explained, with the only Fig. 1 shows a perspective view, partially in section, of a device incorporated, for example, in a labeling unit for the transfer of equipment parts in the container labeling.

An in Fig. 1 on a plate-shaped support structure 1 (steel plate or light metal alloy plate), built-up device V for transferring equipment parts eg in the container labeling is incorporated into a labeling A, although the device V with its plate-shaped support structure 1 an independently vorfertigbare, optionally einliederbare into different labeling A unit assembly could be. The device V is used to transfer individual pieces of equipment, such as labels or Stanniolzuschnitte, or the like., In a rotational movement about an at least substantially vertical axis of rotation.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG Fig. 1 For example, a magazine B for equipment parts, a gluing unit L for providing and applying, for example, cold glue to each transferred equipment part, and a gripper cylinder G for Apply the glued equipment parts and transfer and application to containers, not shown. Alternatively, the transfer of the equipment parts in the device V could be carried out with negative pressure (not shown). In the support structure 1 prefabricated attachment areas 3, 4 provided for the other equipment components of the labeling unit A, as well as for the gluing unit L (whose attachment area is not visible in the figure).

The plate-shaped support structure 1 has a circular passage opening 2, in which a rotor-shaped hub 5 is rotatably mounted, the top side carries a cover 6 which engages outwardly beyond the edge of the through hole 2, but does not touch the top of the support structure 1. The hub 5 is rotatably connected to a central shaft 7 of a central drive train to a mounted on the bottom of the device direct drive M1. The direct drive M1 is, as shown, an electric torque motor.

The other equipment components, such as the gripper cylinder G or the glue unit L, can also direct drives, e.g. having electric servomotors M2, M3.

In the case of the illustrated torque motor as a direct drive M1, this has a stator 8, in which windings 9 are included, and equipped with a magnet 10, here approximately cup-shaped rotor 11, which is connected to the central shaft 7 of the hub 5, for. is screwed. The lower side of the direct drive M1 is closed by a closure 12 in which media connections or the like can be provided. The stator 8 is fixed here with clamping screws 13 on the underside of a cam control plate 14 of a arranged between the direct drive M1 and the hub 5 mechanical drive block T. The cam control plate 14 is in turn sealed by a spacer ring 47 with clamping screws 43 at the bottom of the support structure 1. The direct drive M1 could alternatively be mounted directly on the support structure 1.

In the cam control plate 14 is a circumferentially continuous control cam 15 is formed with a non-circular course as a U-shaped groove open at the top, which serves for the oscillatory motion control of each of several rotatably mounted in the hub 5 on the same pitch circle drive shafts 16. Each drive shaft 16 is rotatably mounted in the hub 5 with two axially spaced roller bearings 17 and rotatably carries at the lower end a drive pinion 18 and pivotally a gear segment 19, each on a drive shaft 16 pivotally mounted gear segment 19 with its peripheral teeth with the drive pinion 18 of the next drive shaft 16 is in drive connection. Each gear segment 19 has on its underside a shaft 20 on which guide rollers 21 are rotatably mounted, which engage in the control cam 15 and during rotation of the hub 5 with the drive shafts 16 reciprocating movements on the gear segments 19 transmitted, in turn, the drive pinion 18 and over these drive the drive shafts 16.

In the embodiment shown, the device V is optionally equipped with a single shutdown for each drive shaft 16. This means that, depending on demand, the respective drive shaft 16 can be stopped in a certain rotational position in the hub 5, although the driving gear segment 19 transmits the pivoting movement. For individual shutdown includes a spring-biased overload clutch 22 which is equipped with biased by a spring assembly balls and ball recesses 46 in the drive pinion 18 and the drive shaft 16, and when engaged transmits the rotational movement of the drive pinion 18 to the drive shaft 16, however, when disengaged, the drive shaft 16 can be in a predetermined rotational position. For individual shutdown include pneumatic locking cylinder 23 in the Hub 5, each of which can engage with a locking pin, not shown in a recess of the drive shaft 16 to block it against rotation in the hub 5, so that then the overload clutch 22 is disengaged against the spring load until the pneumatic cylinder 23, the rotational lock of Drive shaft 16 picks up again. This is on the DE 32 16 138 A directed.

The hub 5 is rotatably mounted far outside with a circumferential rotary bearing 24 in the through hole 2 of the support structure 1. The rotary bearing 24 is expediently at least one bearing ring-free four-point torque bearing element with balls, which is located between e.g. four each diametrically opposed regions are supported abradable. More specifically, a first outer bearing seat 25 is formed in the through hole 2 of the support structure 1, and another bearing seat 26 is formed in the hub 5 from the outer periphery, so that the support structure 1 and the hub 5 assume the function of bearing rings of the pivot bearing 24. The clearance and the proper bias of the pivot bearing 24 can be accomplished by a clamping ring 27, the top of a seat 48 in the through hole 2 of the support structure 1 (with axial play) distributed over the circumference clamping screws 28 and spring assemblies 29, the pivot bearing 24 and ., the four-point torque-bearing element above the bearing seat 25 loaded with exactly preselectable bias.

Between the lid 6 and the support structure 1, a peripheral labyrinth seal 30 is provided on the underside in the cover 6, which is supported on the clamping ring 27 and thus can use the elasticity of the spring assemblies 29.

At the upper end of each drive shaft 16, a rotary coupling part 31 of a rotary coupling D is arranged, which is above the top of the lid 6 and coupled via the rotary joint D with a matching rotary coupling part 40 of a coaxial transfer shaft 33 of the device V. On at least one of the transfer shafts 33, there is provided an equipment part transfer member 34 which has a curved transfer surface 35 for holding an acquired equipment. If you are working with cold glue, receives the transfer surface 35 in the glue unit L each have a glue order by means of a piece of equipment from the magazine B is removed and then transferred to the gripper cylinder G, deduct the glued equipment on the gripper, not shown, and further transfer and finally to a Apply container. In the case of a negative pressure transfer surface 35, the transfer element 34 is connected to a vacuum supply (not shown).

Each rotary coupling D is designed as a spur gear wrench with spur gear rims 40, 41 on rotary coupling parts 31, 32, especially with Hirt gears, so that the rotary joint D is play-free and self-centering, and the transfer shaft 33 by a relative and only horizontal tilting movement (arrows 36 ) can be changed by engaging and disengaging the rotary joint D. The spur gears 40, 41 are suitably designed so that the rotary joint D can be engaged in only a single relative rotational position.

On the cover 6, a column 38 is mounted, on which a peripheral recesses having support plate 37 is slidably guided, in which the upper ends of the transfer shafts 33 are additionally supported. For a change of the transfer shafts 33, the support plate 37 is pulled up and e.g. rotated by a pitch of its circumferential recesses, so that the upper ends of the transfer shafts 33 are exposed and can be removed and installed with horizontal tilting movements (arrows 36) relative to the respective lower rotary coupling member 31.

The gluing unit L is an expedient over the direct drive M2 (electric servomotor) driven glue roller 39 can be seen, which applies at a rolling movement of each transfer surface 35 glue. The rolling movement of each transfer surface 35 is generated during the rotation of the hub 5 through the drive block T, especially the gear segments 19 and the drive pinions 18 so that no relative movements between the surface of the rotating glue roller 19 and the transfer surface 35 occur. For this purpose, the direct drive M2 of the glue roller 19 can be controlled so that a synchronization with the irregular Abwälzbewegungsgeschwindigkeit the transfer surface 35 takes place.

Each drive shaft 16 is further sealed by a labyrinth seal 42 opposite the top of the lid 6. The labyrinth seal 42 is mounted in a seat in the bottom of the rotary coupling part 31 of the transfer shaft 33 and in a seat of a lock ring 43 inserted in an opening of the cover 6.

The rotary joint D can also have an axial securing in the engagement position, for example a magnetic axial securing device with a magnetic ring mounted in the rotary coupling part 31 and a countermagnet or magnetic counterpart 46 in the other rotary coupling part 32. This axial locking device can be easily adjusted by the horizontal tilting movement (arrows 36). and disengage, but provides sufficient holding power available, thus, for example the transfer shaft 33 does not automatically tilt away after pushing up the support disk 37.

In operation of the device V, the cooperating gear segments 19 and the drive pinion 18 generate via the control cam 15 relative to the rotating hub 5 for gluing the Transfer surfaces 35, for taking over the equipment parts from the magazine B and for transferring to the gripper cylinder G required relative reciprocating movements of the transfer shafts 33. If the individual shutdown is activated for a transfer shaft 33, the transfer surface 35 remains motionless in a predetermined rotational position in the hub 5, so that it passes the magazine B and / or the gluing unit L and / or the gripper cylinder G, so as not to be glued and / or to take over no equipment item from the magazine B.

Claims (11)

1. Device (V) for transferring fitting parts for container labelling, in particular with the use of glue, comprising a hub (5) that is coupled to a drive and that can be rotationally driven by the same around a rotational axis of a stationary bearing arrangement (24), a plurality of drive shafts (16) that are mounted rotatably near to the hub outside circumference each parallel to the rotational axis and that can be coupled to transfer shafts (33) carrying transfer elements (34), preferably in such a manner that the transfer shafts (33) can be coupled and separated by means of rotating couplings (D), and a lantern wheel (T), arranged underneath the hub (5) and having drive pinions (18) and toothed wheel segments (19) on the drive shafts (16) and a stationary control cam plate (14), for pivotally rotating the drive shafts (16) orbiting with the hub (5), characterised in that the hub (5) is coupled centrally to an electric torque motor as a direct drive (M1) arranged underneath the control cam plate (14), that the bearing arrangement (24) is arranged in an outer circumferential region of the hub (5), and the bearing arrangement (24) and the hub (5) are arranged in a through hole (2) of a platelike support structure (1) of the device (V), that the lantern wheel (T) is arranged underneath the support structure (1), that the torque motor is mounted at the control cam plate (14), and that a drive train that directly connects the direct drive (M1) to the hub (5) penetrates centrally the lantern wheel (T) with a central shaft (7), and that the torque motor comprises a stator (8) that contains coils (9) and that is mounted on the bottom side of the control cam plate (14) or of the support structure (1), and an interior rotor (11) that is equipped with magnets (10) and that is mounted on the central shaft (7) of the hub (5) and that is supported relative to the support structure (1) via the hub (5) in the bearing arrangement (24) at the outside circumference region of the hub (5).
2. Device according to Claim 1 characterised in that for each drive shaft (16) in the hub (5), said drive shaft (16) having a rotating joint part (31) of the rotating joint (D) that is provided for the coupling with the respective transfer shaft (33), said rotating joint part (31) lying freely on the upper side of the hub (5), an individual switch-off assembly, that preferably can be activated pneumatically, including an overload clutch (22) is provided, and that the overload clutch (22) has spring-preloaded detent balls and detent ball recesses (46) between the drive pinion (18) and the drive shaft (16).
3. Device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the rotating joint (D) is a self-centring front sprocket coupling without play that can be detached and engaged by a relative tipping movement (36) of the transfer shaft (33) crosswise to the axis of the rotating joint (D), preferably a front sprocket coupling with a Hirth-toothing in the front sprockets (40, 41) that can be engaged in only a single relative mutual rotational position between the front sprockets (40, 41).
4. Device according to Claim 1 characterised in that on the upper side of the hub (5) a cover lid (6) is provided that is penetrated by the drive shafts (16) and that covers the edge of the through hole (2) and that is sealed with respect to the support structure (1) by means of a labyrinth seal (30) on the circumferential side.
5. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims characterised in that each drive shaft (16) projecting beyond the upper side of the hub (5) or of a cover lid (6) arranged on the hub (5) is sealed with respect to the cover lid (6) by means of a labyrinth seal (30), preferably by means of a labyrinth seal arranged between the rotating joint part (31) of the drive shaft (16) and a closure ring (43) mounted in the cover lid (6).
6. Device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the control cam plate (14) is mounted on the bottom side of the support structure (1) via a spacer ring (47) sealing the lantern wheel (T) with respect to the outside.
7. Device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the bearing arrangement (24) comprises at least one, preferably a single, bearing-ring-free four-point torque mounting element with roller bodies (48) that is mounted directly between bearing seats (25, 26) of the hub (5) and in the through hole (2) of the support structure (1).
8. Device according to Claim 7 characterised in that adjacent to the bearing seats (25, 26), a stationary clamping ring (27) is mounted in a seat (48) in the through hole (2) of the support structure (1) for biassing the four-point torque mounting element with a spring pre-load, preferably with clamping screws (28) and spring sets (29) distributed in the circumferential direction of the support structure (1).
9. Device according to Claims 4 and 8 characterised in that the clamping ring (27) has a seat for the circumferential labyrinth seal (30).
10. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims characterised in that in a predetermined geometric relationship to the hub (5) at least one attachment area (4, 3) for a gripper cylinder (G) and / or for a glue unit (L) and / or for a fitting part magazine (B) of a labelling assembly (A) that can be set up modularly on the support structure (1) is provided on the support structure (1) of the device (V).
11. Device according to Claim 2 characterised in that a pneumatic twist-lock cylinder (23) of the individual switch-off assembly is arranged in the hub (5) at every drive shaft (16) and between two axially spaced roller bearings (17) that form a rotatably bearing of the drive shaft (16).

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