GB2165816A - Inflatable gripper - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable gripper for handling necked vessels, eg bottles, comprises a plurality of parallel supports 16 fixed on a handling frame and each mounting an inflatable tube 18 the interior of which is connected by a conduit 23 to a source of high pressure or low pressure, each tube being sealed at its ends by members of a general circular or elliptical shape to ensure that the vessels at the end of a rod being handled by the gripper are securely retained. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for the holding and conveying of items comprising a neck, such as bottles or flasks The present invention is a device for the holding and conveying of items comprising a neck, such as bottles or flasks.

This device is of the type comprising, as shown on Figures 1 to 4 of the attached drawings, a certain number of components 2 mounted parallel to each other on the structure of a supporting frame.

Each component comprises an interdependent metal strip 3 with rods 4 threaded through it ensuring that it is fixed to the supporting frame. On each strip 3 is mounted a deformable tube 5 which exceeds it in length, the ends of which are closed by gluing or by mechanical fastening along two lines 6 parallel to the strip 3. From inside each tube 5 emerges a pipe 7 linked to a central source of high pressure or low pressure.

When low pressure is produced inside the tube it is flattened as is shown in continuous lines on Figure 4, which is a cross-sectional view of it.

When a pressure of around 0.2 to 0.8 bar is produced inside the tube it inflates and takes on a cylindrical shape, as is shown on Figure 4, except at its ends which, as is shown on Figure 3, display a spindle shape, in view of their method of closure along a vertical line.

Since the device is intended to carry out the holding of several rows of items in contact with each other and arranged to staggered rows, if it is a matter of cylindrical items, the mounting of components 2 on the supporting frame is as in the deflated position, the gap between two neighbouring tubes is greater than the diameter of the neck of the items and in the inflated position the gap between them is less than the diameter of the neck of the items.

In practice, when the tubes are in a deflated position, the support has come down, so that the tubes come in between the necks 9 of the items 10 as shown on Figure 2.

When the tubes are in the lower position they proceed to be put under pressure in such a way that two neighbouring tubes come to hold tightly the necks 9 of the items 10 on both of the sides on which they are arranged.

The fixing of the items being achieved in an inflatable way, it is possible to proceed with their conveyance, for instance from a stockpiling tables towards a pallet or a hooping machine.

A preliminary drawback lies in the fact that at the ends of the tubes there exists, as a result of their spindle shape, a "dead area" at the level of which the items are not grasped, or are grasped without any security with the danger of falling when being conveyed.

Besides, this "dead area" constitutes a nuisance in the event of conveyance towards a box or towards a hooping machine, since it does not able items situated at the ends to be brought up against a side of the box or up against the side of reference of the hooping machine which, in the latter case, leads to faulty hooping in view of the fact that the items are put in sideways.

It is necessary to note that the dead area is of considerable length since, if reference is made to Figure 3, the necks of items bearing the reference x are not grasped securely and should, in theory, be left on the stockpiling table.

In order to avoid the grasping of articles the neck of which is marked x, it is suitable to fit the tubes with pliers or retractors the shape or which is specific to each type of article to be grasped and conveyed.

In view of the structure of the ends of the tubes, the central strips 3 do not extend right up to the ends of the tubes, which is expressed in a poor hold of the tubes.

Moreover in view of the fact that the pipe 7 emerges at a definite point on each tube, it is not possible to control the evenness of inflation of these tubes, which could for instance stick on to the lower edge of the strips 3.

Finally note should be taken of the great differences in the height, y and z respectively, of each tube in the deflated position and in the inflated position. The size of the value y limits the extent to which the tubes can be inserted between the necks of the items and necessitates the use of tubes of a special shape comprising in particular lateral ribs for the grasping of items with short necks, because without these devices the maximum diameter of the tubes would be over the collar of the necks of the items and would not allow the grasping of the necks.

The present invention aims to obviate or mitigate these drawbacks.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for the holding and the conveying of items having a neck including, fixed on a frame, a plurality of substantially parallel supports, on each of which is mounted an inflatable tube the interior of which is connected to means for applying high pressure or low pressure to its interior, each tube being sealed at its ends by two pieces of a substantially circular or elliptical shape.

In view of this structure, when the tubes are under pressure they have a cylindrical shape of constant bore along all their length enabling the grasping of the necks of items right up to the immediate proximity of their ends. Therefore the ends of the tubes do not jut out in relation to the body of the items from the last of items grasped.

Moreover given that these tubes do not have, as is generally the case spindle shaped ends, there is no risk of seeing items situated close to the aforesaid ends "driven out" under the influence of the pressure. This grasping of the items near the ends of the tubes is achieved without requiring additional devices such as pliers, retractors or similar, as is usually the case. This structure allows the passage from the layer of items and from the whole group for holding across a frame linked to a hooping or centring machine, as well as the depositing or taking of articles into or from a container such as a cardboard box or a rack of some unspecified depth.

Preferably, accommodated inside each tube, is a support made up of an elongated member, the cross-sectional width of which is significant in relation to its height and includes, on its side opposite its area of fastening to the frame, a strip. This strip can be a section of a circular, elliptical, triangular, square, T-shape, etc.

When low pressure is produced inside a tube, the tube follows the shape of the support and its strip so that, contrary to the usual situation, the difference in the height of the tubes in the inflated and deflated position is of little significance. This enables satisfactory insertion of the deflated tubes between the items with short necks, so that the large diameter of the tubes is situated beneath the collar of the items and permits the grasping of these necks after inflation, without having recourse to the use of additional devices, such as ribs as is generally the case.

Preferably also the edge of the strip opposite the circular cross-section member is bevelled which avoids the risks of sticking by pinching of the tube and makes inflation of the tube easier.

Favourably, and considering the circular shape of the ends of the tubes, each tube support extends for all of its length. This characteristic, linked to the fact that the support is of a circular shape, ensures excellent rigidity of the holding devices, without any risk of buckling or of deformation of the tubes.

Preferably each support member is made up of a pipe into which emerges a conduit linked to means for putting it under high pressure or low pressure and in which calibrated apertures are arranged ensuring a constant pressure value along the whole length of each tube.

The apertures arranged in each tube may have a bore which differs according to their location, the apertures situated near the ends of the tube having a larger diameter than that of apertures situated in the centre part of the tubes in order to take pressure losses into account.

Preferably a pliable member is arranged between the exterior of each tube and fastening points of the supports for the tubes on the frames. This ar rangement avoids premature wear and tear of the tubes at the time of the movements of inflation and deflation as a result of the absence of direct contact between the tubes and the rigid fastening systems of their supports.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tube of a holding and conveying device; Figure 6 is a cross-section view of the tube on an enlarged scale; Figures 7 and 8 are two views from underneath the device before and after holding the items re spectively; and Figure 9 is a side view of the device inserting the items inside a box.

The device according to the invention presents, mounted on a support frame 12 of a known type, a certain number of components 13 arranged parallel to each other. Each component 13 comprises a tubular component 14 fixed by several threaded rods 15 on the frame. On the opposite end of each threaded rod 15 is fixed a tube 14 carrying a strip 16 the end of which, opposite the end which is fixed to the tube, forms a bevel 17.

Around the tube 14 and the strip 16 is mounted a tube 18 made from a waterproof and flexible material, the mounting of this tube being achieved with the interposing of a flexible piece 19 between it and each nut 20 set on the threaded rods 15.

It should be noted that each tube 18 is sealed, at its ends, by circular end pieces 22 the circumference of which is equal to that of the tube 18.

Within the tube 14 accommodated in each flexible tube 18 emerges a conduit 23 linked to a central source of putting the tube interior under high pressure and low pressure in succession. As far as this is concerned, in the tube 14, which extends along the whole length of the flexible tube 18, are arranged calibrated apertures 24, the diameter of the apertures arranged near the ends of the tube being greater than that of the apertures arranged in the central part of the tube.

As stands out in Figure 6, and unlike the usual situation, the difference in the heights a and b, in the deflated position and inflated position of the flexible tubes respectively is very slight, which is explained by the fact that, in the deflated position the tube is in contact with the tube 14, which limits its flattening on one part of its height.

As shown on Figures 7 and 8, there is no dead area on the ends of the tubes, as is generally the case. Indeed in the inflated position these tubes have a constant bore along their whole length, enabling the grasping of articles right up to the immediate proximity of their ends.

There is therefore no risk of holding items which should normally remain on the stockpiling table and this is without the necessity of using pliers or any other retractor components.

It should be noted that as the end pieces 22 are pliable, the material re-enters the interior of the tube when low pressure is produced in the interior of the flexible tube, decreasing the blocking of the cross-heads 22, which is favourable for the grasping of small items.

Moreover, in view of the slight differences in height when in the inflated position and in the deflated position, it is possible to grasp items which have short necks without necessitating the use of tubes of a special shape.

Finally, from a practical point of view, this device is extremely interesting because, in view of the ab sence of edges in relation to the last row of items, it enables the items to be taken or inserted into a box 25 or to bring them against the edge of refer ence of a hooping machine.

As is obvious, the invention is not limited to the single type of operation of this device, described above by way of example; on the contrary it en compasses all the variations in production. It is thus in particular that the nozzles can be of an el liptical shape, or that the support components can have an elliptical, triangular or T-shaped section without departing out of the framework of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A device for the holding and the conveying of items having a neck including, fixed on a frame a plurality of substantially parallel supports, on each of which is mounted an inflatable tube the interior of which is connected to means for applying high pressure or low pressure to its interior, each tube being sealed at its ends by two end pieces of a substantially circular or elliptical shape.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, in which the support accommodated within each tube is made up of an elongate member the cross-sectional width of which is significant in relation to its height and includes on its side opposite its area of fastening to the frame a strip.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, in which the support includes a component of circular cross-section.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, in which the edge of the strip remote from the edge attached to the circular part is bevelled.

5. A device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, in which each support extends along the whole length of the tube in which it is mounted.

6. A device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, in which each support is formed by a pipe into which emerges a conduit linked to means for putting it under high pressure or low pressure and in which calibrated apertures are arranged, ensuring a constant pressure value along the whole length of each tube.

7. A device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, in which a pliable member is interposed between the exterior of each tube and fastening points of the supports for the tubes on the frames.