EP2746176B1 - Bearing plate with compression elements - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a support plate for positioning of containers.

State of the art

The provision of support plates for positioning containers is already known from the prior art. Furthermore, the oversight of these support plates with spring elements is known.

So is out of the WO 2008/067907 A1 a support plate for positioning of containers with at least one pressure element known, wherein a positioning body is arranged on the base body, through the opening of which the pressure element can protrude and which is used for positioning of the container.

Furthermore, the shows DE 40 05 606 C1 a movably mounted stand plate. The stand plate is connected via a coaxially extending to this compression spring and by means of a displaceably mounted axle journal with the Axiallaqer. The base plate is closed by a centering ring.

The DE 3308489 A1 shows a support plate according to the preamble of claim 1.

task

The invention has for its object to improve existing support plate in terms of their capacity and ability to position containers with varying dimensions.

solution

This object is achieved by the support plate for positioning of containers according to claim 1 and the positioning method according to claim 8. The subclaims include expedient embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention, the support plate for positioning a container is characterized in that the positioning body is designed as a second pressure element. By using two pressure elements can be ensured that a container to be positioned can be properly positioned even with fluctuating diameters. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that a container to be positioned can always be positioned at the same height by the formation of the positioning body as the second pressure element, even if its diameter is greater than the opening in the positioning device.

In one embodiment, the support plate is characterized in that the first pressure element is formed in a cross shape. As a result, a stable positioning of the container is achieved.

In a further embodiment, the positioning body has a chamfer in an area adjoining the first pressure element, wherein the chamfer includes at least an angle of 30 °, preferably an angle between 30 ° and 60 °, particularly preferably an angle of 45 ° with the horizontal , This chamfer allows on the one hand a lowering of the positioning body, depending on the diameter of the container and on the other hand the most secure possible stabilization of a container positioned on the support plate.

According to the invention, the first pressure element made of polyurethane and / or rubber or has an outer layer consisting thereof wherein the positioning body may consist of polyurethane or may comprise an outer layer consisting thereof. The provision of the support plate or of the first pressure element and of the positioning body with polyurethane or rubber increases the static friction between these elements and containers positioned thereon, whereby a safer position and a secure positioning can be ensured.

According to the invention, the support plate is characterized in that at least four spring elements are provided which connect the first pressure element to the base body, wherein at least four spring elements can be provided which connect the positioning body to the base body. The corresponding spring elements can enable a reaction of the first pressure element and the positioning body in a structurally simple manner, for example, by the weight of the container forces.

According to the invention, the spring elements which connect the first pressure element to the base body are uniformly distributed on the unit circle, wherein the spring elements which connect the positioning body to the base body can be distributed uniformly on the unit circle. A corresponding distribution of the spring elements also allows a uniform distribution of forces, whereby further acting forces can be distributed evenly.

In a further non-inventive embodiment of the support plate is characterized in that the first pressure element is designed as an elastic element.

According to the invention, the positioning element can be designed as an elastic element.

By virtue of this embodiment of the positioning body, it is possible, for example, to provide further spring elements which are placed on e.g. the weight of a container positioned on the support plate would react, can be omitted, whereby the structure of the support plate is less complex and thus less susceptible to interference.

Using, for example, this apparatus, a positioning method for containers according to claim 8 can be carried out by means of a support plate comprising at least one main body, wherein the Base body, a first pressure element on which a container is positioned and which is arranged at least partially parallel to the base body, and further comprising a positioning body, which is arranged on the base body and at least one opening through which the first pressure element at least partially protrudes and as second printing element is formed, wherein the positioning method is characterized in that a container positioned on the first pressure element and / or the positioning body, the position of the first pressure element and / or the positioning body in response to forces transmitted to the first pressure element and / or the positioning body in Reference to the basic body changed. As a result, for example, a positioning of containers take place even if they have different dimensions, such as diameter. This can be compensated during the manufacture of the container resulting dimensional variations.

According to the invention the positioning method is characterized in that by the provided at least four spring elements which connect the first pressure element to the base body and / or that by the provided at least four elements which connect the positioning body with the base body, a distribution of the forces acting on these elements he follows. As a result, one-sided loads on the first pressure element and / or the positioning body can be avoided.

According to the invention, a uniform distribution of forces is ensured by the uniform distribution of the spring elements on the unit circle. This can be done even with non-symmetrical loading of the first pressure element or positioning body uniform distribution of forces, whereby a more stable positioning of the container is possible.

In a further embodiment, the positioning method is characterized in that the container is centered by chamfering the positioning body, which is provided on the edge facing the first pressure element. This bevel causes on the one hand a centering of the container to be positioned and on the other hand it allows for fluctuating dimensions of the container to be positioned a corresponding reaction of the positioning body.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1

Shows a support plate according to the prior art.

Fig. 2a and b

Shows a support plate according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 3a and b

Shows a support plate according to the invention with different sized containers.

Fig. 4a and b

Showed another embodiment of the support plate with elastic elements.

Detailed description

Fig. 1 shows a support plate, as it is known from the prior art and is used for example in labeling machines. The support plate 1 comprises a base body 3, to which a positioning body 5 is fastened by means of fixed connections, such as, for example, screws 22. This positioning body 5 has an opening into which a pressure element 4 is embedded. The pressure element may coincide in non-weighted state with the upwardly facing surface of the positioning body or slightly lowered. The pressure element is spring-mounted and can, depending on the forces acting on the pressure element 4, move relative to the base body 3 up and down. Thus, for example, a container applied to this support plate, insofar as it rests at least partially or completely on the pressure element 4, exerts a force on this pressure element 4, as a result of which it is lowered. How far the pressure element 4 decreases relative to its starting position, is related to the strength of the springs (spring constant) and with the forces acting together. This is on the one hand the weight of the container 50 itself, provided that the support plate 1 is not arranged vertically (which means that the normal of the pressure element 4 is perpendicular to the vector of the weight) and on the other other acting forces, for example, transmitted through the container can be. Here are in particular forces such as holders that hold the container 50 and exert pressure on the shutter, transmitted forces meant.

However, it proves to be a disadvantage here that the positioning device 5 may possibly have a guide in the form of chamfers on the inside (the edge facing the pressure element) to allow the container 50 to slide in, even at initial skewing, however Changes in the dimensions of the containers 50, especially in production-related variations in diameter, may affect the functioning of the support plate in this form, as long as the diameter D of the container is greater than the diameter B of the opening in the positioning device, the container 50 in position remains in the diameter D equal to or greater than the diameter the opening B is. In extreme cases, this results in no sinking of the container 50 at all, as a result of which it can be positioned at a wrong height and, for example, attaching a label is difficult or the result of a labeling process is impaired. On the other hand, however, a rigid positioning device 5 and a pressure member 4 independently movable therefrom is necessary to ensure the desired lowering and associated positioning of the container 50 for the labeling operation. Therefore, when using another container 50, it is necessary to replace at least the positioning device 5 or the entire support plate. However, this is undesirable, especially during an ongoing production process in which the dimensions of different containers 50 differ only within the scope of the production accuracy, since so long downtimes occur. One solution would be to enlarge the opening of the positioning device 5 so that all the containers 50 having a diameter D in a certain range of values will fit through this opening. However, very small containers 50 (whose diameter is then smaller than B) would have the disadvantage over containers 50 whose diameter D is equal to the diameter B of the opening that then a secure positioning can not be guaranteed.

However, this problem can with the aid of a support plate according to the invention Fig. 2a be solved. This support plate differs from that known from the prior art and in Fig. 1 represented, characterized in that the rigid connections, such as fittings 22 from Fig. 1 for connecting the positioning device to the main body, have been omitted and replaced by elements 210. These elements may be springs, for example. As a result, the positioning device 205 is no longer rigidly mounted, but rather can react to forces exerted on this positioning device 205 by compression of the spring elements 210 on them. In spite of this modification of the prior art, however, guide screws 220 may still be provided, which are connected to the base body 203 and the positioning device 205, but such that the positioning device 205 guided along the arrow 280 are lowered by the guide links 220 according to the forces acting can.

Fig. 2b shows a side view of this support plate Fig. 2a , Here also the spring elements 210 are shown for suspension of the positioning device 205 and beyond spring elements 211 for suspension of the pressure element 204. The main body 203 is preferably rigidly connected to the corresponding machine or another part, so that forces acting on the positioning device 205 or the pressure element 204 act directly on a compression of the spring elements 210 and 211 and thus allow a lowering of the positioning device 205 and / or the pressure element 204.

Fig. 3 shows the operation of the support plate according to the invention. Fig. 3a shows the operation of the support plate in positioning a container with diameter D smaller than the diameter B of the opening of the positioning device 305. In this case, the support plate works similar to the already known from the prior art support plate. Via the chamfer 317 on the edge of the positioning device facing the pressure element 304, a possibly obliquely arriving container 350 can first be aligned. This ensures that it is at least on or directly above the pressure element 304. This is then lowered independently of the positioning device 305 due to the forces acting by the value Δ relative to its original position. For this purpose, the chamfer 317 has an angle of 30 °, preferably an angle between 30 ° and 60 °, particularly preferably an angle of 45 °, which is enclosed by the horizontal on.

Fig. 3b explains the operation of the support plate Fig. 2 when a container 350 of diameter D greater than the diameter B of the opening of the positioning device 305 is positioned on the support plate. In this case too, the chamfers 317 of the positioning device 305 initially provide for an alignment of the container 350. In contrast to the prior art support plate, however, in this case the force acting on the container 305 leads to a lowering of the positioning device 305 by one distance d, so that further contact with the pressure element 305 is produced, which in turn is then shifted by the distance Δ due to the applied forces. Depending on whether the surface of the positioning device 305 facing away from the main body 303 is farther away from the surface of the pressing element 304 facing away from the main body 303, either the pressing element 304 or the positioning device 305 is moved a further distance from the starting position. In the event that in the starting position the distance of the surface of the positioning device 305 facing away from the main body 303 is greater than the distance of the surface of the pressure element 304 facing away from the main body 303, d will be greater than Δ. In the opposite case, d is smaller than Δ.

In this way it is ensured that in any case a lowering of the container due to the forces acting on it by the distance Δ is achieved with respect to the starting position. In addition, it is ensured that at any time a maximum contact surface of the underside of the container 350 rests on the pressure element 304. It is also ensured that a centering due to the chamfer 317 regardless of the diameter can be achieved, as long as it is not significantly smaller than the diameter B of the opening of the positioning device 305 or larger than the outer edge of the chamfer 317th

In order to achieve the most ideal distribution of forces, the spring elements 310 and 311 are distributed at the same distance from an imaginary central axis S and uniformly on the unit circle. Thus, the points at which the force is transmitted to the spring elements or the base body 303, distributed rotationally symmetrical, which allows a particularly stable alignment and positioning of the container. Depending on the weight distribution or the distribution of the acting forces, however, an asymmetric, the directions of the acting forces adapted positioning of the spring elements may be preferred. To increase the adhesion of the container to the positioning device 305 or the pressure element 304, these consist either of polyurethane or rubber or a corresponding coating, in particular on the side facing the container bottom. Other, the adhesive properties for the used container material improving materials are conceivable here.

Furthermore, but not according to the invention, an embodiment of the positioning device and the pressure element by means of elastic materials is possible.

Fig. 4 shows such an embodiment in which the positioning device 405 and the pressure element 404 are directly connected to the base body 403 and are pronounced as elastic elements. Fig. 4a shows the initial situation in which no container and therefore no further forces acting on the positioning device 405 and the pressure element 404. In this case, these components have their original shape. Although this initial shape is shown here angular, this is not a limitation for possible embodiments of the positioning device 405 and the pressure element 404. Other designs, such as rounded shapes, are conceivable here. However, it is essential to provide the chamfer 417 on the edge of the opening of the positioning device 405 facing the pressure element.

Fig. 4b FIG. 12 shows the operation of the support plate according to this embodiment when a container 450 having a diameter D larger than the diameter B of the opening of the positioning device 405 and smaller than the diameter of the opening of the upper end of the chamfer 417 of the positioning device 405 is used. Due to the applied forces transmitted through the container, the elastic positioning device 405 deforms to assume the shape 405 'and to elastically deform the pressure element 404 to assume the shape 404'. In this case, a deformation in accordance with the form shown here, that means that the material is deflected towards the sides, is not necessary. For example, appropriate elastic Foams used, so here can also be a reduction without significant expansion in a different direction. The operations of this elastic positioning device 405 and the pressure element 404 correspond to those of Fig. 3 described embodiment. Therefore, these are not repeated here in detail.

It is particularly advantageous that both embodiments can be combined, that is, while one of the positioning device or the pressure element is configured by means of spring elements, the other can be formed as an elastic element.

It should also be mentioned here that a design of the opening of the positioning device, as shown in the previous embodiment, is not mandatory. Thus, the opening may advantageously correspond to the shape of the surface of the container, which is positioned on the support plate, and here for example have an angular, in particular triangular or quadrangular shape or an oval shape. The formation of the first pressure element can be varied. Advantageous for the weight distribution on the spring elements may be a cross-shaped configuration. But also continuous shapes, which are adapted to the size of the opening, are conceivable. In particular, when using elastic materials as the first pressure element and / or as a positioning device, the use of the simplest possible geometric structures, such as circles, circles, squares, triangles, etc. is advantageous due to the simplified production and the reliable function.

Claims (11)

1. Bearing plate for positioning containers with a main body (203), comprising at least one first pressure element (204) being arranged on said main body (203) and can move up and down depending on forces acting on the first pressure element (204) relative to the main body (203), where said first pressure element (204) is arranged at least in part parallel to said main body (203), and furthermore a positioning body (205) is provided being arranged on said main body (203) and comprising at least one opening through which said first pressure element (204) protrudes at least in part, and said positioning body (205) is formed as a second pressure element;
   wherein at least four spring elements (211) are provided connecting said first pressure element (204) with said main body (203), wherein the spring elements connecting the first pressure element with the main body are evenly distributed around the unit circle; characterized in that the first pressure element (204) is made of polyurethane and/or rubber or has an outer coating made thereof.
2. Bearing plate according to claim 1, characterized in that said first pressure element (204) is designed in the shape of a cross.
3. Bearing plate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said positioning body (205) comprises a bevel (217) in a region adjacent to said first pressure element (204), where said bevel (217) includes at least an angle of 30°, preferably an angle between 30° and 60°, particularly preferably an angle of 45 ° with the horizontal.
4. Bearing plate according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
   said positioning body (205) is made of polyurethane or comprises an outer coating made thereof.
5. Bearing plate according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least four spring elements (210) are provided connecting said positioning body (205) with said main body (203).
6. Bearing plate according to claim 5, characterized in that said spring elements (210) connecting said positioning body (205) with said main body (203) are evenly distributed around the unit circle.
7. Bearing plate according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said positioning body (205) is embodied as an elastic element.
8. Positioning method for containers using a bearing plate comprising at least a main body (203), where said main body (203) comprises a first pressure element (204) onto which a container is positioned and which is arranged at least in part parallel to said main body (203) and moves up and down depending on forces acting upon the first pressure element (204) relative to the main body (203), a positioning body (205) being arranged on said main body (203) and comprising at least one opening through which said first pressure element (204) protrudes at least in part and is formed as a second pressure element, wherein a container positioned on said first pressure element and/or said positioning body (205) changes the position relative to said main body (203) of said first pressure element (204) and/or of said positioning body (205) in dependency of forces transmitted onto said first pressure element (204) and/or said positioning body (203);
   wherein distribution of the forces acting upon the first pressure element is provided by the at least four spring elements (211) provided for connecting said first pressure element (204) with said main body (203), wherein, by the evenly distribution of the spring elements around the unit circle, a uniform distribution of forces is provided;
   characterized in that said first pressure element (204) is made of polyurethane and/or rubber or has an outer coating made thereof.
9. Positioning method according to claim 8, characterized in that distribution of the forces acting upon said positioning body (205) is effected by said at least four spring elements (210) which are provided connecting said positioning body (205) with said main body (203).
10. Positioning method according to claim 9, characterized in that a uniform distribution of forces is provided by the evenly distribution of the spring elements around the unit circle.
11. Positioning method according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said container is centered by a bevel of said positioning body provided on the edge facing said first pressure element.

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