EP3515846A1

EP3515846A1 - Conveying device having a container gripper with a spindle drive

Info

Publication number: EP3515846A1
Application number: EP17748481.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Igor Singur
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2016-09-26
Filing date: 2017-08-03
Publication date: 2019-07-31
Also published as: DE102016118082A1; WO2018054592A1; JP2019529287A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for conveying containers, having a container clamp for holding a container. According to the invention, to provide a conveying device which is simply designed and cost-effective to produce, has a container clamp for securely holding the containers, and is suitable for use in the aseptic field, the container clamp comprises at least two clamp arms, which can be pivoted about one rotation shaft in each case, and a drive unit, which is connected to a spindle unit, which extends in the direction of a centre axis of the container clamp and is coupled to the rotation shafts, wherein the clamp arms can be pivoted between an open position and a gripping position by means of a rotary movement of the spindle unit about the longitudinal axis of same.

Description

Transport device with a container gripper with spindle drive

The invention relates to a device for transporting containers with a container clamp for holding the container.

Devices for transporting containers are used in container treatment plants, such as beverage filling plants. In these, the transport devices transport the containers through the respective container stations and from one container station to the next. In particular, the transport devices for transporting the containers through the container treatment stations have container clips for securely holding and transporting the containers.

For example, DE 197 40 891 A1 and DE 195 42 518 A1 show container clamps with clamp arms which are spring-loaded in order to ensure automatic clamping of containers. From the documents DE10 2012 108 087 A1 and DE 10 2014 1 16 259 A1, on the other hand, container clamps are known whose clamp arms are mounted in guide curves, whereby a self-locking locking of the clamp arms is ensured. By contrast, a container clamp is known from EP 2 881 345 A1, in which the two clamp arms are coupled by means of a tooth system. All of the aforementioned container clamps have, for example, a control cam with a control cam or a similar drive for carrying out the pivoting movement of the clamp arms. From JP 2005 162 457 A, however, a container clamp is known, which also has pivot axes about pivotable clamping arms, in which the movement of the staple arms is ultimately generated by a pneumatic drive.

In the food industry, various operations are performed at the container treatment stations under aseptic conditions to prevent contamination of the food to be filled into the containers. The container clamps used in these areas are either designed open, so that their components are particularly easy to clean and disinfect, or Container clamps are encapsulated, so that in addition to the Klannnnerarnnen only one surrounding the mechanics, easily cleanable and disinfectable housing is present. While in the case of the openly designed container clamps, the necessary stability for permanent operation at high operating speeds and reliability in holding the filled and unfilled containers are usually lacking, the known encapsulated solutions are extremely expensive to produce and operate. The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a simply constructed and inexpensive to produce transport device with a container clamp for securely holding the container, which is suitable for use in the aseptic area. The invention achieves the object by a device for transporting containers with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. In this case, all of the features described per se or in any combination are fundamentally the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their combination in the claims or their dependency.

According to the invention, the device for transporting containers has at least one container clamp for holding the containers with two clamp arms pivotable about an axis of rotation and a drive unit which is connected to a spindle unit extending in the direction of a center axis of the container clamp and coupled to the axes of rotation, wherein the Clamping arms are pivotable about its longitudinal axis between an open position and a gripping position by means of a rotary movement of the spindle unit. A central idea of the invention is to transmit the force of a drive device via a particularly simple mechanism, which ensures a secure hold of the container, on the axes of rotation of the clamp arms and in particular to avoid complex spring and pivot mechanisms. For this purpose, in particular the spindle unit is arranged and aligned with its longitudinal axis in the plane of the clamp arms or parallel to the plane of the clamp arms. As a result, the pivoting movement of the clamping arms can be generated exclusively by a short movement about the longitudinal axis, if necessary in addition to a short movement along the longitudinal axis. This also allows, for example, a particularly slim design of the container clamp and a simple, easy-to-clean encapsulation or a structurally particularly simple structure with easily accessible and thus easy-to-clean components. In addition, a high closing force of the clamp arms in the range of 300 N and more can be achieved through the simple and very stable mechanism, whereby the container clamp can be used even in the area of capper stations. The angle of rotation of the spindle unit is particularly small and limited to about 90 °. As a result of the small angle of rotation of the spindle unit, particularly short switching times can thus be realized, as a result of which high operating speeds of the device are made possible, as is customary, for example, in the field of filling systems in the food industry. The spindle unit also allows a particularly low-wear and low-maintenance operation of the container clamp. Under a spindle unit can be understood either a threaded spindle, ie a spindle body with external thread, or a threaded spindle with spindle nut. Accordingly, the rotational movement of the spindle unit can be either a rotational movement of the threaded spindle or a rotational movement of the spindle nut about the longitudinal axis of the spindle unit. The longitudinal axis of the spindle unit accordingly corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle.

The container clamp is designed as an active container clamp, in which both the closing movement and the opening movement of the clamp arms by means of the drive device is generated. The container clamp is designed in particular for gripping and holding beverage containers, in particular bottles, for example with a neck ring. The containers may include, for example, glass or plastic such as PET. Each clamp arm is assigned a rotation axis. The axes of rotation of a container clamp are arranged in particular transversely to the longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle, ie the axes of rotation of the container clamps may, for example, extend in the vertical direction. The axes of rotation can be designed as a multi-part rotary axis unit. A rotary axis unit comprises, for example, a base body, for example a housing, rotatably mounted, for example a cylindrical, rotary axis body which is fixedly connected to the clamp arms and through which, for example, a screw extends. That is to say that in the following an axis of rotation also, for example, a rotary axis unit is to be understood.

The clamp arms can be designed and arranged in mirror image symmetry about an axis of symmetry. As the axis of symmetry, in particular the longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle can be formed. In this case, the clamping arms are preferably formed in one piece and have a gripping portion for at least partially encompassing the container. At one of the gripping portion opposite end of the staple arms, the axis of rotation is preferably arranged.

The arrangement of the threaded spindle is advantageously such that the longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle (corresponding to the axis of rotation of the threaded spindle) extends centrally between the clamp arms and thus the axis of rotation of the threaded spindle may be the axis of symmetry of the clamp arms. In a transport star, the longitudinal axis may extend, for example, in the radial direction to the axis of rotation of the transport star. Thus, the axis of rotation of the threaded spindle in a rotary device, such as. The transport star radially aligned to the machine rotation axis, ie, be aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotary device. Accordingly, the axis of rotation of the spindle arms driving spindle unit, for example, be aligned horizontally, while the respective axis of rotation of the staple arms is vertically aligned. The arrangement of the longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle as the axis of symmetry of the staple arms and the axis of rotation ensures a basically symmetrical movement of the staple arms between the open position and the gripping position. The threaded spindle also has a self-locking effect, so that an unobtrusive Intentional movement of the staple arms is reliably prevented.

The gripping position is understood to be a closed position of the clamping arms, in which the clamping arms engage around a container, or in which the gripping portions of the clamping arms have the least possible distance from one another.

Accordingly, an opening position means a position of the staple arms to each other, in which a container between the gripping portions of the staple arms can be inserted, or in which the gripping portions have a maximum possible distance from each other.

The device can be designed, in particular, as a rotating transport star, on which numerous container clamps are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction.

According to a development of the invention, the threaded spindle is movably mounted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spindle unit. The storage takes place, for example. At a fixedly mounted spindle nut. That is, the threaded spindle can be moved back and forth in the direction of its longitudinal axis, while the spindle nut can perform a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the spindle unit. In this case, the threaded spindle is preferably arranged such that it can be moved only in the longitudinal axis direction, while the spindle nut is preferably rotatable exclusively about the longitudinal axis. That is, to generate the pivoting movement of the clamping arms, the spindle nut is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the spindle unit, whereby the threaded spindle moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis. In this case, the threaded spindle can be coupled directly to the axes of rotation or connected to the threaded spindle and moving with the threaded member is connected to the axes of rotation.

Particularly preferably, the threaded spindle can be mounted stationary, so that they can perform only a rotational movement about its longitudinal axis. To the Generating the pivoting movement, the threaded spindle can be particularly preferably coupled with its external thread directly to the axes of rotation. Alternatively, it may be engaged with a spindle nut which is movable in the longitudinal axis direction and, for example, coupled to the rotation axis. In this case, the threaded spindle is preferably rotatable exclusively about the longitudinal axis, while the spindle nut is preferably movable exclusively in the longitudinal axis direction.

For transmitting the driving force from the spindle unit to the clamping arms are arranged according to a development of the invention for engaging in a driver receiving driver. That is, by means of the driver and the driver receiving the rotational movement of the spindle unit is converted into a rotational movement of the axes of rotation. A driver is thus understood to mean a component that causes a movement in the longitudinal axis direction of the spindle unit in engagement with the driver receiver and due to the rotational movement of the spindle unit.

The drivers can be arranged on the spindle unit and the Mitnehmeraufnahmen on the axes of rotation. Particularly preferred, however, the drivers are arranged on the axes of rotation and the Mitnehmeraufnahmen on the spindle unit. In this context, the spindle unit also means any component that is movable with the spindle unit and that encompasses the driver or the driver holder. Thus, it is particularly preferable for a coupling body comprising the driver receptacles to be connected to the threaded spindle, which participates in a movement of the threaded spindle in the longitudinal axis direction.

The drivers may be formed, for example, as surveys, which engage in trained as recesses driver mounts. Preferably, the drivers are designed as, for example, rods extending in the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation, which engage in grooves which likewise extend in the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation.

The length of the movement section of the spindle nut or the threaded spindle in the longitudinal axis direction is independent of the embodiment by the slope tion of the thread of the spindle unit and the angle of rotation by which the threaded spindle or the spindle nut are moved determined.

According to a development of the invention, the threaded spindle has a male thread formed as a driver receptacle. In this case, the external thread engages, for example. At the mounted on the axes of rotation driver and moves the driver in the longitudinal axis direction of the spindle unit, whereby a rotational movement of the axes of rotation is generated. With such a direct coupling of the external thread with the axis of rotation, the angle of rotation of the axes of rotation can be controlled via the pitch of the thread. As a result, extremely short switching times can be realized.

According to a development of the invention, the drive unit comprises an actuator which generates the rotary motion of the threaded spindle, in particular a drive lever or a drive motor which, for example, can be designed as an electric or magnetic drive motor. In this case, the drive lever, for example, can be controlled and moved via a control cam. The drive motors are preferably arranged with a drive axis in extension with the longitudinal axis of the spindle unit. Alternatively, the actuators may also be designed as pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

For transmitting the driving force from the drive unit to the spindle unit, different couplings may be formed. For example, the actuators can be connected directly to the rotatable threaded spindle or to the rotatable spindle nut. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the spindle nut and a coupling element of the drive unit are formed as ring sections which overlap at least partially. The overlapping sections transmit the force coming from the actuator directly, safely and without slippage to the spindle unit.

The axes of rotation and the axis of rotation reception can, for example, be of cylindrical design, the axes of rotation preferably being rod-shaped and having a cylindrical outer surface for engagement with a cylinder inner surface of the axis of rotation. senaufnahme are formed. For a structurally particularly stable and low-maintenance configuration is provided according to a development of the invention that the axes of rotation and the rotational axis recording in the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation abut each other with a step-like offset. Both the rotation axis and the rotation axis recording thus have a paragraph in the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation. In this case, the respective paragraphs comprise a surface which extends, for example, transversely to the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation. The arrangement of the rotation axis and the rotation axis recording takes place such that the surfaces extending transversely to the longitudinal axis direction lie on one another.

For a particularly low-friction pivoting movement of the clamping arms and for significantly facilitating the mounting of the axes of rotation in the Drehachsenaufnahmen is also provided according to a development of the invention that the axes of rotation transversely to the longitudinal axis of the axes of rotation extending surveys gene to rest against the rotation axis recording and / or the rotation axis recording have transversely to the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation extending elevations to rest on the axis of rotation.

In devices with a plurality of container clamps is provided for significant simplification of the construction according to a development of the invention that the plurality of Drehachsenaufnahmen integrally with a component of the device, for example. A transport star plane is formed. For this purpose, the rotation axis recording, for example, be worked out of the component, so that the geometric shape of the rotary axis recording is present in the component.

All embodiments are formed particularly compact, inter alia, due to the spindle unit and have no swiveling or otherwise protruding components except for the clamp arms. The preferably encapsulated container clamps are so far particularly easily encapsulated. In an encapsulated container clamp, for example, the entire mechanism for pivoting the clamp arms, in particular the axes of rotation, the spindle unit and the drive unit, except for the recesses for the clamp arms and access to the actuator of the drive unit enclosed by a housing. alternative is also a partial enclosure possible in which the housing in the direction of the staple arms, ie, for example, in the aseptic area is completely closed except for the recesses for the clamp arms, while it is at least partially open in the direction of the drive unit, for example.

In an encapsulated embodiment, as a result of the fact that the spindle unit primarily performs a rotary movement, a thermal pumping effect is at least largely prevented. An optionally mechanical pumping effect can be prevented, for example, by the embodiment as a partial encapsulation.

Furthermore, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to several embodiments. Show it:

Fig.l a schematically in a horizontal section a first embodiment of the device clampable on a container bracket in an open position;

Fig.l b schematically in a horizontal section, the embodiment of the attachable to the device container clamp of Figure 1 a in a gripping position.

FIG. 2a is a schematic view in a view of a second embodiment of a container clamp which can be arranged on the device in an open position; FIG.

FIG. 2b schematically shows in a view the embodiment of the container clamp of FIG. 1a which can be arranged on the device in a gripping position; FIG.

FIG. 3a is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the second embodiment of the container clamp of FIG. 2a in an open position; FIG.

FIG. 3b is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the second embodiment of the container clamp of FIG. 2b in a gripping position; FIG.

4 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of a device designed as a star transporter with a plurality of container clamps according to FIGS. 2a-3b;

5 is a schematic perspective view of a section of a device designed as a star transporter with a plurality of container clamps according to FIGS. 2a-3b with an alternative drive device;

6 is a perspective view of a detail of a device designed as a star transporter with a plurality of container clamp with a full encapsulation of a spindle unit and a drive unit;

Fig. 7a shows schematically in a horizontal sectional view a section of a third embodiment of the container clamp;

FIG. 7b is a schematic perspective view of the detail of the container clamp of FIG. 7a; FIG.

Fig. 8 shows schematically in a perspective view a fourth alternative embodiment of the container clamp;

9 is a perspective view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the container clamp;

FIG. 1 a shows schematically in a horizontal section a first embodiment of the container clamp 1 according to the invention. The container clamp is designed as an encapsulated container clamp, in which only the axis of rotation connection to the clamp arms 2 and the drive unit 1 1 protrude from the housings 7, 10. The container clamp 1 has two clamp arms 2, which are pivoted into an open position for receiving a container (not shown here). The clamp arms 2 are in an open position. Each clamp arm 2 is connected to a rotation axis 40.

The axis of rotation is formed as a multi-part rotary axis unit 3 and has a hollow cylindrical axis of rotation body 4 and a pivot pin 5, here a screw on. The rotary axis pin 5 and the rotary axis body 4 are each firmly connected to a clamp arm 2. The rotary axle body 4 is rotatably mounted in a rotary axle receiver 6 in a front rotary axle housing 7. The rotary axis body 4 has in cross-section at least one, here two flats 8. In the area of the flats 8, a driver 9 is arranged.

A drive housing 10 connects to the rotary axis housing 7 and to the end opposite the clamp arms 2. In the drive housing 10 parts of the drive unit 1 1 are arranged.

In the drive housing 10 is in the direction of the central axis of the Behälterklam- mer 1 extending spindle unit 12 with a threaded spindle 18 is arranged. A longitudinal axis A of the spindle unit 12 is here shown congruent with the central axis of the container clamp 1. The threaded spindle 12 has a punch 13 arranged in the direction of the clamping arms 2. To the punch 13, a coupling body 16 is arranged by means of a screw 14 and compression spring 15. The coupling body 16 protrudes into the rotary axle housing 7 and has on the outside two driver receptacles 17, in each of which a driver 9 is arranged. The drivers 9 are designed as pins extending in the direction of rotation of the longitudinal axis, while the driver receivers 17 are designed as recesses extending in the longitudinal axis of the rotary axis.

In addition to a threaded spindle 18 with external thread 19, the spindle unit 12 also comprises a spindle nut 20 with internal thread 21. The spindle nut 20 bears against a stop 22 arranged in the drive housing 10. The spindle nut 20 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis A and immovably supported in the longitudinal axis direction A. The threaded spindle 18, however, is movable in the longitudinal axis direction A and not rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis A.

The spindle nut 20 is at least partially formed as a ring portion. The spindle nut 20 is in engagement with a coupling element 23. The coupling element 23 is also at least partially formed as a ring portion. The areas of the ring sections of the coupling element 23 and the spindle nut 20 overlap, so that upon a rotational movement of the coupling element 23, the spindle nut 20 participates in the rotational movement.

The coupling element 23 is here connected via a screw 24 and with a drive lever 25 designed to engage a control cam (not shown here). The drive lever 25 has a sleeve-like base body 26, on which the drive arm 27 designed to engage with the control cam is arranged. 1 b shows the embodiment of the container clamp 1 from FIG. 1 a with clamp arms 2 pivoted into a gripping position and a drive arm 27 located in the gripping position. For the pivoting movement of the clamp arms 2, the drive arm 27 has been pivoted in a clockwise direction by 90 °. Due to the connection between the sleeve-like base body 26 with the coupling element 23 and the overlapping arrangement of the coupling element 23 with the spindle nut 20, the spindle nut 20 of the rotational movement of the drive arm 27 is followed. The threaded spindle 18 was moved along the longitudinal axis A in the direction of the drive arm 27.

About the associated with the threaded spindle 18 coupling body 16 and arranged in the Mitnehmeraufnahmen 17 drivers 9, the rotary axis units 3 were rotated so that the associated clamping arms 2 have made a pivoting movement into the gripping position shown.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 a and 1 b of the inventive container clamp 1 thus has an indirect drive, since between the spindle unit 12 and the rotary axis units 3, an additional coupling body 16 is arranged.

Figures 2a to 2b show a further embodiment of the container clamp 1 in horizontal section with an immediate drive, in which the threaded spindle 18 is coupled with its external thread 19 directly to the rotary axis units 3. The illustrated container clamp 1 has two clamp arms 2, which are each connected to a rotary axis unit 3. The rotary axis units 3 are arranged in a rotary axle receiving 6, which are arranged in a support body 28. The support members 28 may, as shown here, be formed as an independent structure, in each of which a container clamp 1 has a support body 28. However, for example, star, wheel or ring elements 29 (see FIG. 4) can serve as support body 28, in which numerous container clamps 1 are arranged next to one another.

In the case of the container clamps 1 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the drivers 9 protrude directly into the external thread 19 of the threaded spindle 18. The threaded spindle 18 is accordingly rotatably arranged in the support body 28 about its longitudinal axis A, which corresponds to the central axis of the container clamp 1. In the longitudinal axis direction A, the threaded spindle is stationary (immovable) stored. To generate the rotational movement, a drive arm 27, which is designed to engage a control cam (not shown here), is arranged on an end of the threaded spindle 18 opposite the external thread 19.

The rotary axle receptacle 6 in the support body 28 and the rotation axis formed here also as Drehach- seneinheit 3 have in the longitudinal axis direction of the axis of rotation in each case a step-like offset with transverse to the rotation axis longitudinally extending shoulder surfaces, wherein the axis of rotation rests with its shoulder surface on the shoulder surface of the rotary axis recording 6. For lateral guidance of the rotary axle body 4 in the rotary axle receptacle 6, both have two guide sections 36, 37, 38, 39 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis direction of the rotational axis. From each one of the guide portions 36, 37, 38, 39 extending transversely to the axis of rotation guide projections 35. The guide projections 35 are arranged on the first guide portion 38 (here upper portion) of the axis of rotation and abut the first guide portion 36 of the rotary axis recording 6, while the guide elevations 35 abut the second (here lower) guide section 36 of the rotary axle receptacles 6 at a second (here lower) guide section 39 of the rotation axis. The respective guide elevations 35 form the respective step-like offset.

While the embodiment of FIGS. 2a and 2b is shown schematically in a plan view, FIGS. 3a and 3b show the embodiment of FIGS. 2a and 2b in a horizontal section through the respective second guide section 37, 39 of the rotary axis receiver 6 and the rotary axis unit designed as an axis of rotation third

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the container clamp 1 from FIGS. 2a to 3b. Here, the support body 28 as a ring of a transport star (not shown here) educated. Inn support body 28 a plurality of container brackets 1 in the circumferential direction are arranged side by side. The container clamps 1 enable a particularly simple construction in the case of the transport star, since the rotary axis receivers 6 can be produced simply from the carrier body 28, for example by means of a laser cutting method, and only one respective recess for the threaded spindle 18 has to be introduced for mounting the container clamps 1.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 with an alternative drive unit 11. Each container clamp 1 has, instead of a drive arm 27 for engaging a control cam, a magnetic drive 30 for generating the pivoting movement of the clamp arms 2.

FIG. 6, however, shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a fully enclosed embodiment, which can therefore be used in particular in the aseptic area, for example a beverage bottling plant.

Figures 7a and 7b show partial sections of another embodiment in a plan view and in a perspective view. The embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiment from FIGS. 2 a to 4 b, wherein the container clamp 1 is designed as an encapsulated container clamp. In addition, the rotary axis unit 3 according to Figures 1 a and 1 b without a shoulder formed with a continuous outer surface and is located on a likewise offset, continuously formed inner surface of a rotary axis recording 6 at. Furthermore, FIG. 7b shows that, as shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the recess in the rotary axle bodies 4 may alternatively be formed as a groove-like shape and the driver 9 may be formed as a bolt insertable into the rotary axle body 4. Figure 8 shows an encapsulated in a perspective sectional view embodiment of the container gripper 1 with two clip arms 2 in a gripping position. The staple arms 2 are each connected to a rotary axis unit 3 according to the embodiment in FIGS. 1a to 2b. The rotary axis unit 3 is in a rotary axle receptacle 6 a rotary axle housing 7 stored. At each rotary axis unit 3, a driver 9 is arranged, which is mounted in each case in a driver receptacle 17. The Mitnehmeraufnahmen 17 are arranged in a coupling pin 31, which protrudes from a spindle unit 18 coming into the rotary axis housing 7. The coupling pin 31 is connected in the direction of the drive unit 1 1 with a punch 13. The punch 13 is coupled via a screw 24 with the spindle nut 20. The screw connection comprises in each case a damper 32 for preventing vibrations. The spindle nut 20 is in engagement with a threaded spindle 18. The threaded spindle 18 is connected to an electric motor 33. The threaded spindle 18 is stationary, while the spindle nut 20 is movably mounted in the longitudinal axis direction A.

To open and close the clamp arms 2, the threaded spindle 18 is rotated by the electric motor 33 back and forth. In this case, the spindle nut 20 moves in the direction of the bracket arms 2 and in the direction of the electric motor 33. About the coupling of the spindle nut 20 with the punch 13 and the coupling pin 31 is a force transmission to the driver 9 and thus to the rotary axis units 3, whereby the movement the staple arms 2 is generated. FIG. 9 shows, in a perspective view shown schematically, a further encapsulated embodiment of the container clamp 1. The clamp arms 2 are pivotally mounted on the rotary axis units 3 in a rotary axis housing 7. In this embodiment, the driver 9 is formed as a recess in the rotary axis body 4 and a driver receptacle 17 is provided as engaging in the recess survey. The driver seat 17 is located according to the embodiment of Figure 8 in a coupling pin 31 which is connected to a spindle nut 20. The spindle nut 20 is moved back and forth in the direction of the central axis of the container clamp 1 (in this case the longitudinal axis A of the spindle unit 12) by a threaded spindle 18 which is connected to an electric motor 33.

The container clamp 1 shown in Figure 9 is designed as an encapsulated container clamp 1, so that the rotary axis housing 7 and the drive housing 10 except on the recesses for the clamp arms and the electric motor 33 are closed. In the area of the electric motor 33 is also a drive apron 34, via which a particularly secure encapsulation of an aseptic from a septic area, for example. In a bottling plant can be produced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 container clamp

2 clamps

3 rotary axis unit

4 pivot axis body

5 pivot pins

6 Rotary axis holder

7 rotary axis housing

8 flattening

9 drivers

10 drive housing

1 1 drive unit

12 threaded spindle

13 stamps

14 screw

15 compression spring

16 coupling housing

17 driver intake

18 spindle body

19 external thread

20 spindle nut

21 internal thread

22 stop

23 coupling element

24 screw

25 drive lever

26 sleeve-like basic body

27 drive arm

28 supporting body

29 ring body

30 magnetic drive

31 coupling pins damper

electric motor

drive apron

leadership survey

First guide section Rotary-axis receiver Second guide section Rotary-axis receiver First guide section Rotary axis

second guide section rotation axis

Claims

claims

1 . Device for transporting containers with a container clamp for holding a container at least

two clamping arms (2) which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation, in particular a vertical axis of rotation,

a drive unit (11) which is connected to a spindle unit (12) extending in the direction of a central axis of the container clamp and coupled to the axes of rotation in order to initiate a pivoting or gripping movement,

- Wherein the staple arms (2) by means of a rotational movement of the spindle unit (12) about its longitudinal axis between an open position and a gripping position are pivotable.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a threaded spindle (18) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spindle unit (12) is movably mounted.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the threaded spindle (12) is mounted in a stationary manner.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for engagement in a driver receiving (17) formed driver (9) are arranged.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driver (9) on the axes of rotation (40) and the Mitnehmeraufnahmen (17) on the spindle unit (12) are arranged.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a the Mitnehmeraufnahmen (17) comprehensive coupling body (16) with the threaded spindle (18) is connected.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the threaded spindle (18) as a driver receiving (17) formed external thread (19).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (1 1) comprises a rotational movement of the threaded spindle (12) generating actuator, in particular a drive lever (25) or a drive motor (33).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle nut (20) and a coupling element (23) of the drive unit (1 1) are formed as a ring portion and overlap at least partially.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axes of rotation (5) and the rotation axis recording (6) in the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation abut each other with a step-like offset.

1 1 .Vorrichtung according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that transversely to the longitudinal axis direction of the axes of rotation (5) the axes of rotation (5) elevations to rest on the rotary axis recording (6) and / or the rotation axis recording (6) elevations to rest on the axis of rotation (5).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of rotational axis receptacles (6) is formed integrally with a component, in particular a transport star plane.