EP3350107A1

EP3350107A1 - Container handling machine

Info

Publication number: EP3350107A1
Application number: EP16763224.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Fahldieck; Sebastian ECKES
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2016-08-29
Publication date: 2018-07-25
Also published as: US20190084776A1; DE102015115729A1; DE102015115729B4; WO2017045906A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container handling machine comprising a handling element (1), which can be driven in circulation about a vertical machine axis; multiple pocket-like container receivers, which are provided on the circumference of the transport element and each of which has at least two contact elements (3.1, 3.2) for the containers (2), said elements being offset relative to each other in the direction of rotation of the transport element (1); at least one first adjustment or support ring (5), on which first contact elements (3.1) of the container receivers (3) are formed or provided; at least one second adjustment or support ring (6), on which the second contact elements (3.2) of the container receiving areas are provided; and an adjustment mechanism (10) for rotating the support rings (5, 6) in opposite directions in order to adjust and adapt the container receivers (3) to different container diameters.

Description

container transporter

The invention relates to a container conveyor according to the preamble of claim 1.

Container transporters each having a transport element designed as a transport star and driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis, which at its periphery is provided with container receptacles, e.g. with bag-like

Container receptacles is provided, are known in different versions. The container receptacles form container systems in which the with the

Container transporter to be transported container at least bear against a part of its circumference of the container lateral surface and are supported in particular in the direction of rotation of the transport element and against this direction of rotation. Also known container transporters, in which the container receptacles are adjustable to adapt to containers with different container diameter, i. In particular, the effective distance between the container systems of each container receptacle is adjustable, in each case for all container receptacles together (DE 694 05 650 T2, EP 2 447 194 A1). This is realized in the known container transporters in that at one to the vertical

Machine axis driven base of the transport element in the direction of the machine axis one above the other at least two support rings are provided, which have at their periphery in each case a plurality of transport pocket-like recesses.

The at least two support rings are rotatable or pivotable relative to each other and relative to the base about the machine axis. In a state of this adjustment, the transport pocket-like recesses of the at least two support rings are each arranged congruently and thus form a receptacle for containers with the largest diameter to be transported. From this state, the two support rings can be rotated in opposite directions around the machine axis for adaptation to the container with smaller container diameter such that the transport pocket-like recesses only partially overlap and thereby each transport pocket-like recess of a support ring with a transport pocket-like recess of the other support ring a

Container receptacle forms, which has a reduced width in the direction of rotation of the transport element. The opposite rotation of the support rings via a

Adjusting mechanism which is constructively complex in the known container transporters as gear or threaded spindle gear and in particular difficult to access for cleaning or repair purposes.

Such container transporters, including those with adjustable or on

container receptacles which can be adapted to different container diameters, serve in particular for transporting containers through a system or are e.g.

Component of a container treatment machine or a

Container treatment unit for filling the container, a capper for closing the container or a machine for equipping the container, for example for labeling and / or printing on containers, wherein the containers are then reliably held in the container receptacle during the treatment.

The object of the invention is to show a container transporter, the container receptacles are adjustable to adapt to containers with different diameters together, with high reliability and simplified design, ease of use and accessibility in particular the

Adjustment mechanism. To solve this problem, a container conveyor according to the patent claim 1 is formed. "Container" are in the context of the invention in particular cans and bottles, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging, which are suitable for filling of liquid or viscous products.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function. Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. Not shown or described in detail, stand surfaces or plates on which containers stand up on the bottom side and / or arranged in the neck or mouth area gripper elements for holding or carrying the container. These are in principle already known and can, if necessary, in all mentioned

According to embodiments of the invention are provided in accordance with complementary.

In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. 1 shows a perspective partial representation of a star-like transport element with adjustable container receptacles, wherein for the sake of simplicity, only one of the container receptacles and only the functional elements required for adjusting the container receptacles are shown; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

3 and 4 different side views of the transport element of FIG .. 1

In the figures, 1 is a transport star-like transport element of a

Container transporters for transporting containers 2, which are shown as bottles only by way of example but not limitation. The transport element 1 of the container transporter, which for example serves to transport the container 2 within a container treatment plant between units or machines of this plant or is part of a container treatment machine, in the manner known to those skilled in a machine frame, not shown around a vertical machine axis MA driven in rotation ( Arrow or direction of rotation A). At the periphery, the transport element 1 has the same angle or

Division distances around the machine axis MA against each other offset a plurality of pocket-like container receptacles 3, of which only one is shown in the figures and which are each formed of two consecutive in the direction of rotation A and in the illustrated embodiment, strip-like container conditioning elements 3.1 and 3.2, against the the container 2 abut with its lateral surface. In order to keep the container 2 in the container receptacles, an outer with the transport element 1 non-rotating container guide is provided in a known manner, which is indicated in the figure 2 and 3 with the broken line 1 .1. Furthermore, a with the transport element 1 is not circulating and indicated in the figure 3 with broken lines guide 1 .2 provided, the machine axis MA at least on an angular range of rotation of the transport element 1 surrounds ring on which the transport of the container 2 takes place, and on the containers 2 stand up with their bottom.

To adapt the container receptacles 3 to container 2 with different container diameter, the container receptacles are adjustable, for which the two container conditioning elements 3.1 and 3.2 in opposite directions in the circumferential direction of the

Transporteurs 1 are moved. This adjustment is made for all

Container receptacles 3 in common. For this are in the illustrated

Embodiment above a coaxial with the machine axis MA

arranged base ring 4.1, the part of a machine axis MA circumferentially drivable rotor 4 of the transport element, two machine axis MA also concentrically enclosing adjusting or support rings 5 and 6 are provided, which are identical in the illustrated embodiment, each of two adjoining and interconnected Ring segments exist. Like the base ring 4.1 and the support rings 5 and 6 are oriented with their ring planes perpendicular to the machine axis MA. With ME is the one who

Machine axis MA enclosing vertical center plane of each

Container receptacle 3 denotes the contact elements 3.1 and 3.2 each

Container receptacle are arranged on both sides of this median plane and at the same distance from the median plane. The two Tragnnge 5 and 6 are arranged coaxially, but somewhat spaced apart, for example, in the direction of the machine axis MA. By holding and guiding elements 8, the two support rings 5 and 6 are guided on the rotor 4 and the base ring 4.1 by a necessary for the adjustment of the container receptacles 3 angle relative to each other about the machine axis MA

rotatable, as indicated in Figure 1 with the double arrows B and C. Furthermore, the 5 and 6 formed by the two support rings

Support ring assembly 7 relative to the base ring 4.1 by a necessary for the adjustment of the container receptacles 3 angular amount about the machine axis MA rotatable. For clarity, the other connecting and / or guide elements and other elements of the machine axis MA circumferentially drivable rotor 4 of the transport element 1 are not shown.

With one support 9, for example, made of flat material by punching and bending and is radially or substantially radially away on the support ring assembly 7, the contact elements 3.1 of the container receptacles 3 are attached to the support ring 5. In each case via a further support 9, which is also radially or substantially radially over the support ring assembly 7 away, are the

Attachment elements 3.2 attached to the support ring 6. By rotating the support rings 5 and 6 relative to each other, the contact elements 3.1 and 3.2 all

Container receptacles 3 moves toward or away from each other, depending on the direction of rotation. The opposite rotational movement of the support rings 5 and 6 takes place in each case by the same angular amount, so that the center plane ME each container receptacle 3 maintains its position despite adjustment.

The opposite adjustment or rotation of the support rings 5 and 6 takes place in the illustrated embodiment by an adjustment mechanism, which is generally designated 10 in the figures and a first coupling element in the form of a rod 1 1 on the upper support ring 5 and a second coupling element acts in the form of a rod 12 on the lower support ring 6 with a tangential tensile or compressive force. The rods 1 1 and 12 have in the illustrated

Embodiment same length. For this purpose, one end 1 1 .1 of the rod 1 1 is connected via a ball joint with an angle piece 13, which via a parallel to the machine axis MA, but radially spaced therefrom stud 14 with a formed on the inside of the support ring 5 projection 5.1 is connected. In the same way, the one end 12.1 of the rod 12 is connected via a ball joint with an angle piece 13, which in turn is connected via a stud bolt 14 with a projecting over the inside of the support ring 6 projection 6.1. The studs 14 each form the attack or Einwirkbereich the rod 1 1 and 12 on the support ring 5 and 6. The ends 1 1 .1 and 12.1 are located in the machine axis MA with distance above the plane of the

Supporting ring 5, in the illustrated embodiment at the same distance from this plane.

The adjusting mechanism 10 comprises a lifting element 15, which in the

illustrated embodiment is designed as a plate with their

Surface sides oriented parallel to the planes of the support rings 5 and 6 and perpendicular to these surface sides by means of an adjusting or lifting drive in the form of a threaded spindle 16 is adjustable, in an axial direction or adjustment axis, which is arranged in a common plane with the machine axis and in the illustrated embodiment, parallel or substantially parallel to the machine axis MA and thus perpendicular to the surface sides of the

Hubelement 15 forming plate is oriented.

As shown, the adjusting mechanism 10 is offset radially with respect to the machine axis MA. To guide the lifting element 15 are rod-like

Guide elements 17 and 18 are provided, which extend with its upper end into a arranged above the lifting element 15 support plate 19 and secured there. By the support plate 19 and the threaded spindle 16 is passed, so that these also with its axis also parallel or substantially parallel to

Machine axis MA arranged threaded spindle with its upper, a

Grip handle 16.1 having the end projecting over the top of the support plate 19. With the threaded spindle 16, which is for example rotatably, but axially non-displaceably mounted in the support plate 19 and engages with its external thread in an internal thread of the lifting element 15, thus the lifting element 15 in the vertical direction manually by a predetermined Verstellhub between a lower starting position and a movable upper end position. To the

Lifting element 15 are each about ball joints, the other ends 1 1 .2 and 12.2 of Rods 1 1 and 12 attached, so that these ends are moved during the Verstellhubes each in a lifting axis HA, which is parallel or substantially parallel to the machine axis MA oriented radially spaced therefrom. The arrangement is still made such that in each position of the

Lifting element 15, the longitudinal extents of the rods 1 1 and 12 with an axis perpendicular to the machine axis MA intersecting plane include an angle, namely an angle of less than 90 °, preferably less than 45 °. With another

Embodiment of the present invention, in which, for example, the support rings 5 and / or 6 have very large diameter, the angle can also be greater than 90 °, for example, the angle is then <= 180 °.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ends are 1 1 .2 and 12.2 of the rods 1 1 and 12 in each stroke position of the lifting element 15 on a common

Height level above the common height level of the ends 1 1 .1 and 12.1 arranged. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that in a plan view of the transport element 1, the rods 1 1 and 12 are arranged on different sides of the machine axis MA enclosing center or symmetry plane SE, and that mirror-symmetrical to this plane, the areas where the Rods 1 1 and 12 act on the respective support ring 5 and 6, a greater mutual distance from each other than the connected to the lifting element 15 ends 1 1 .2 and 12.2. The two rods 1 1 and 12 are thus arranged with their longitudinal extent in parallel to the machine axis MA and perpendicular to the ring planes of the support rings 5 and 6 oriented planes that intersect at an acute angle, which opens in the direction of the machine axis MA, or the projections of the rods 1 1 and 12 on the ring planes of the support rings 5 and 6 form such an angle.

Furthermore, the areas where the rods 1 1 and 12 and their ends 1 1 .1 and 12.1 act on the support rings 5 and 6 preferably but not necessarily, in an imaginary, oriented perpendicular to the ring planes of the support rings 5 and 6 Plane E arranged, whose distance from the Hubachsen HA, for example, is slightly smaller than the distance that has the machine axis MA of the Hubachsen. The implementation of the lifting movement (double arrow D of Figure 4) of the lifting element 15 in the rotational or pivotal movement of the support rings 5 and 6 is thus characterized in that during the lifting movement of the lifting element 15, the ends 1 1 .2 and 12.2 of the rods 1 1 and 12 move exclusively in the lifting axis HA, this leads to an increase or decrease in the inclination of the rods 1 1 and 12, with the result of a reduction or increase in the distance between the respective lifting axis HA and the respective end 1 1 .1 bzw. 12.1. As a result, a tensile or thrust force is exerted on the support rings 5 and 6 via the rods 1 and 12 whose tangential to the support rings 5 and 6 extending component, the opposing rotation of the support rings 5 and 6 about the machine axis MA in one or the other direction and thus the opposite movement of the

Plant elements 3.1 and 3.2 causes all container receptacles 3 to adapt to different container diameter. It is understood that the adjusting mechanism 10 and the rod-like

Support members 17 and 18 and thus also the support plate 19 also in a suitable manner with the base ring 4.1 and / or with another functional element of the star-like transport element 1, e.g. are connected to the rotor 4. By using the threaded spindle 16, a secure determination of the respective setting of the lifting element 15 and thus the container receptacles 3 is ensured. In addition, by the threaded spindle 16 an additional

Guidance for the lifting element 15 is reached. Further advantages of the conveyor 1 and in particular of the adjusting mechanism 10 are, inter alia .:

Very simple and compact design, therefore also applicable for smaller pitch circles or transport elements with reduced diameter;

Safe operation and easy operation;

Easy adjustment of the container receptacles 3 via a plurality of support rings;

Simplified cleaning;

High robustness, also against broken glass and / or broken glass.

It was assumed above that the adjustment of the container receptacles 3 takes place manually via a lifting element embodied as a threaded spindle. Of course, a motorized adjustment of the container receptacles 3 on the rods 1 1 and 12 is possible, for example, in that instead of the

Threaded spindle 16 is a motor-driven linear actuator, for example, motorized linear actuator spindle drive is provided.

The base ring 4.1 is part of an otherwise not shown and about the machine axis MA circumferentially drivable rotor 4, on which the support rings 5 and 6 by means of guide pieces in the manner described above to the

Machine axis MA are pivotally or rotatably held.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 star-like transport element

I .1, 1 .2 container guide

2 containers

3 container receptacle

3.1, 3.2 container attachment element or Behälterabstützelement

4 rotor

4.1 base ring

5, 6 supporting ring or supporting ring

7 supporting ring arrangement

8 holding and guiding element

9 holders

10 adjustment mechanism

1 1, 12 rod

I I .1, 12.1 rod end

1 1 .2, 12.2 rod end

13 elbow piece

14 studs

15 lifting element

16 threaded spindle

16.1 handle

17, 18 guide element or guide rod

19 support plate

A direction of rotation of the star-like transport element

B, C rotational adjustment of the support ring 5 and 6 respectively

D lifting movement of the lifting element 15th

E level

MA machine axis

HA lifting axis of the lifting element 15th

ME center plane of the container receptacles 3

SE symmetry plane

Claims

claims

Container conveyor with a transport element (1) which can be driven circumferentially around a vertical machine axis and with several on the circumference of the conveyor

Transport element provided pocket-like container receptacles, each at least two in the direction of rotation of the transport element (1)

staggered contact elements (3.1,

3.2) for the containers (2), with at least one first adjusting or supporting ring (5) on which first contact elements (3.1) of the container receptacles (3) are formed or provided with at least one second adjusting or supporting ring (6) on which the second contact elements (3.2) of the container receptacles (3) are provided, and with an adjusting mechanism (10) for oppositely rotating the support rings (5, 6) for adjustment and adaptation of the container receptacles (3) to different container diameters,

characterized,

in that the adjusting mechanism (10) has at least one lifting element (15), which is adjustable by a lifting drive in an adjusting axis, which is arranged in a common plane with the machine axis (MA), and in that the at least one lifting element (15) on each supporting ring (5, 6) for pivoting this support ring about the machine axis (MA) via a respective coupling element (1 1, 12) acts, on different sides of a

Machine axis (MA) enclosing and perpendicular to the planes of the support rings (5, 6) oriented plane (SE).

Container conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment axis is oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the machine axis (MA).

Container conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling elements (1 1, 12) for an implementation of the lifting movement (D) of the

Lifting element (15) arranged in a tangential to the support rings (5, 6) acting tensile or shear movement and / or are formed.

4. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling elements rods (1 1, 12), at a first end (1 1 .1, 12.1) each have a joint, preferably via a

Ball joint on a support ring (5, 6) act.

5. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the coupling elements (1 1, 12) are inclined with their longitudinal extension with respect to a plane perpendicular to the machine axis (MA), preferably in the form that first ends (1 1 .1, 1) acting on the support rings (5, 6) 12.1) of the coupling elements (1 1, 12) are closer to this level than the second with the lifting element (15) connected ends (1 1 .2, 12.2).

6. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the adjustment mechanism (10) and its lifting element (15) are provided at a radial distance from the machine axis (MA), preferably above the support ring arrangement formed by the support rings (5, 6) and, for example, within the movement path of the container receptacles (3). ,

7. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized by a lifting drive for the lifting element (15), wherein the lifting drive, for example, a threaded spindle (16) or a motor-driven linear actuator, for example in the form of a motor linear or

Spindle drive is.

8. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, that the

Container systems (3.1, 3.2) of investment elements, such as

strip-like contact elements are formed, which are oriented with their longitudinal extent parallel or substantially parallel to the machine axis (MA).

9. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that a projection of the coupling elements (1 1, 12) on the plane of the support rings (5, 6) parallel or substantially parallel to a tangent to the region of the respective support ring (5, 6) is oriented, at which the this support ring (5, 6) associated coupling element (1 1, 12) on the support ring (5, 6) acts.

10. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the support rings (5, 6) are held with guides or guide pieces (8) on a base (4) of the transport element (1) that can be driven circumferentially around the machine axis (MA).

1 1. Container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the coupling elements (1 1, 12) are arranged with their longitudinal extent in perpendicular to the plane of the support rings (5, 6) oriented planes which enclose an angle smaller than 45 ° with each other, which opens to the machine axis (MA). 12. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the coupling elements (1 1,

12) are arranged with their longitudinal extent in perpendicular to the plane of the support rings (5, 6) oriented planes which enclose an angle smaller than 180 ° with each other, which opens to the machine axis (MA).

13. container conveyor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the coupling elements (1 1, 12) and their ends (1 1 .1, 12.1; 1 1 .2, 12.2) mirror-symmetrical to a machine axis (MA)

enclosing Symmetrieebene (SE) are arranged.