WO1989010305A1

WO1989010305A1 - Device for picking up objects and for conveying them to treatment or processing stations arranged sequentially along a transport path

Info

Publication number: WO1989010305A1
Application number: PCT/EP1989/000351
Authority: WO
Inventors: Siegfried Ammann
Original assignee: Siegfried Ammann
Priority date: 1988-04-29
Filing date: 1989-04-01
Publication date: 1989-11-02
Also published as: DE3814650C1; DK255490A; EP0339297B1; DK255490D0; EP0339297A1; EP0412972A1

Abstract

Said device, in particular suitable as a filling installation to receive containers (1, 2) from a pile unloading station (3) and to convey said containers to stations where they are filled, covered with a lid, sealed, labelled and removed (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) or the like, has a main frame (9), a transport installation (11) provided thereon with receptacles (12, 13) for the containers (1, 2), said receptacles being arranged sequentially in the direction of transport (A) and adapted to the shape of the containers (1, 2), and a phased drive (14) which makes the transport installation (11) move forward in steps, each step (S) being of equal length. For adaptation with a predetermined sequence of at least two containers of different shapes (1, 2) which are to be filled and sealed by means of said installation, the transport installation (11) has receiving sequences corresponding to the container sequence and arranged serially one after the other, each receiving sequence extending regularly over a step length (S) which is also predetermined, in such a way that each distance between two containers (1, 2) corresponds to the fraction of a step length (S) which is obtained by dividing said length by the number of containers (1, 2) of a sequence. Said invention is suitable for treating or processing objects of varying shapes and/or sizes with a single installation that does not need to be converted.

Description

Device for picking up objects and for feeding them to successive processing or processing stations arranged along a transport path

The invention relates to a device for picking up objects and for feeding them to successive processing or processing stations arranged along a transport path, in particular as a filling system for picking up containers from a de-stacking station and for feeding them to filling stations. , Lid laying, closing, inscription and removal stations or the like, with a base frame, a transport device mounted thereon with receptacles for the objects, which are arranged successively in the transport direction and are adapted in shape to the objects, and a clock drive which ensures a gradual advance of the transport device by the same stride length.

In known devices of this type, the transport device has receptacles for only one and the same shape and size of containers, for example as a chain or endless chains parallel to one another, which run parallel to one another and fastened in the transverse direction between them to a chain link in each case Have plates with cup receptacles, the cup receptacles being holes whose diameter is adapted to the diameter of the cups to be filled in each case and having upper edges with which they are supported on the edges of the holes. These cups have to are not necessarily round, but can also have, for example, a rectangular shape. It is understood that the receptacles in the receiving plates are each adapted to the shape of the container used.

Common to all the devices is that all of the receiving plates are intended for the same cup size and cup shape, so that only this special cup shape and size can be unstacked, filled, sealed, possibly labeled and removed.

If one previously wanted to change to a different cup shape or cup size, then the existing mounting plates had to be exchanged by hand in a lengthy and complex, time-consuming and cost-intensive process for other mounting plates that had recordings that had were adapted to the changed container shape and container size. The device could then start up again and gradually transport the containers to be filled from station to station in accordance with the clock drive.

The object on which the invention is based is seen in creating a device of the type described, in which a changeover to a different cup shape or cup size can be carried out without considerable expenditure on changeover time and changeover work.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that, in order to adapt to a predetermined sequence of at least two differently shaped objects which are to be machinable and / or processable by means of the device, the transport device in the transport direction as a row of consecutive ones Sequence of objects has corresponding recording sequences, each recording sequence being evenly distributed over a likewise predetermined step length, such that each distance between two objects corresponds to the fraction of a step length that results when the same is divided by the number of objects in a sequence.

The device is expediently provided with endless chains as a transport device, on which carrier plates are arranged one behind the other, each of which has a number of adjacent, uniform receptacles, the inventive arrangement of different carrier plates, each associated with a specific object shape, corresponding to the predetermined sequence of objects.

For example, if it should be possible to fill and close two different container shapes and sizes by means of the device according to the invention, then a receiving plate for one container shape and size of another container plate for another container shape and size follow on the endless chains. be it larger or smaller than the former container shape or container size. In this way, receiving plates for the first containers alternate with receiving plates for the second containers in an alternating manner. Since this sequential arrangement of different carrier plates, each assigned to a specific container shape and size, corresponds to the predetermined container sequence, with each container sequence and the recording sequence being evenly distributed over the predetermined step length, the described distance between the first and second containers corresponds to half a step length, namely Stride length divided by two, namely the number of containers. Conversely, the stride length corresponds to two container distances.

If the transport device is set such that, for example, the first containers are used, then the predetermined step or feed length ensures that only receiving plates with these first containers are fed to the respective workstations of the device, which are arranged in between , on the other hand, the receiving plate associated with the second containers run along empty.

If the device according to the invention is now to be converted to the second container, then it is only necessary to adjust the drive by a container spacing or half a step or feed length such that the receiving plates assigned to the second containers are now each attached to the Workstations, namely the unstacking station, the filling station, the lid placement station, the sealing or sealing station, the labeling station and the removal station are in line. If the machine then starts up again, it is ensured that only containers of the second type in terms of shape and size are used in the step-by-step operation.

Preferably, the clock drive for adapting the position of the transport device or endless chains with the receiving plates relative to the stations has a latching coupling which, when the device is at rest, allows the above-mentioned setting of the transport device or endless chains, such that during operation of the device the respective feed steps of the transport device, only the receptacles of one and the same container shape to the stations for Bring in use, when changing the locking coupling when the operation of the device is interrupted, however, the receptacles of the other container shape or size.

It goes without saying that theoretically three and more different container shapes and sizes can also be used with one and the same device according to the invention, a step or feed length having to be dimensioned such that there are four distances between the four different ones Containers bridged in the direction of transport. By means of the detent coupling or the like can ensure that only the desired container shape ge u ^'nd -large is processed in each case. It is understood that in three different containers the distance between the successive containers of a sequence is one third of a step or feed length, while in four containers the container distance is a quarter of the length mentioned.

It should be emphasized that the principle according to the invention is not limited to transport devices with chains, rather rotary indexing tables can also be used, as can push rod transport systems. Moreover, the principle of the present invention can be used by any person skilled in the art without difficulty for such Customize use cases.

The invention is explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

It shows:

Figure 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention in a schematic representation.

Fig. 2 shows a section along the line 11-11 in Figure 1 as Top view of part of the transport device;

3 shows a detail from the side view according to FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3rd

The exemplary embodiment shown is a filling system for receiving containers 1, 2 from an unstacking station 3 and for feeding them to a filling station 4, a lid placement station 5, a closing station 6, in which the lids placed in the placement station 5 are sealed, a labeling station 7 and a removal station 8. These stations are arranged on a base frame 9 which rests on the floor 10 and on which a transport device 11 with receptacles 12, 13 (FIG. 2) for the containers 1, 2 is provided, which are arranged one after the other in the transport direction A and are adapted in shape to the containers 1, 2. Furthermore, a clock drive 14 is provided, which ensures a gradual advance of the transport device 11 by the same step lengths S.

In the embodiment shown, the transport device consists of two chains 15, of which only one can be seen in FIG. 1, since the second lies congruently behind it. Receiving plates 16, 17 are arranged on this chain, as the detail shown in FIG. 2 shows. These two mounting plates 16 and 17 are each adapted to two different containers 1 and 2 in terms of their shape and size, such that the mounting 12, 13 already mentioned above, as mentioned, have a corresponding shape. The containers 1 are round (FIG. 2) and longer (FIG. 1) than the containers 2, which are square and are shorter.

As one can easily see, the function of the

1 just such that only the container 1 are used; the containers 2 would pass through in the direction of transport A and might fall downward on the way back of the transport device in the direction of the arrow B; they have only been drawn in for clarification in FIG. 1. Under actual conditions, however, the receiving plates 16 remain empty, only the receiving plates 17 are loaded with containers 1 at the unstacking station 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a container sequence consists of the two containers 1 and 2, which is distributed uniformly over the predetermined step length S, such that each distance s between two containers 1 and 2 corresponds to the fraction of the step length S, which is the result of division this step length S results from the number of containers in a sequence, this number being two in the present case. The container distance s is therefore S / 2 (Fig. 1).

It should be pointed out that in FIG. 2 the containers 1 and 2 have been omitted in order to show the receptacles 12, 13 themselves.

The clock drive 14 can be seen more clearly from FIG. In this case, a shaft 18 is driven by a motor (not shown) and drives a stepping gear 21 via a gear pair 19, 20, which has a driven gear 22, a pinion 23 and a gear 25 seated on a merely indicated shaft 24 of the transport device 11 the Chains 15 drives gradually.

The clock drive 14 has a latching clutch 26 for adapting the position of the transport device 11 or the endless chains 15 relative to the stations 3 to 8, which are not shown in FIG. 3. This latching coupling allows it to be disengaged and engaged in the direction of the double arrow D in a different pivoting position (FIG. 3) via a lever 27, such that when the machine is at a standstill, the lever 27 moves the transport device further by a container distance s = S / 2 can, so that the other type of container is brought to the stations. This container path s corresponds to the angular path w in FIG. 3. The step length S or the feed during operation of the device corresponds to the angular path W.

In addition to the fact that a container or receiving sequence can also have more than two containers or receptacles per stride length S or feed, it should be pointed out that the device can be used advantageously wherever objects, workpieces or the like are picked up and along a transport route, whether linear or circular, should be fed to successive processing or processing stations, specifically different objects or workpieces.

1) The claims submitted with the application and in the course of the procedure are attempts at formulation without prejudice for the achievement of further patent protection.

2) Back-references used in sub-claims indicate the further development of the subject matter of the main claim through the features of the respective sub-claim; they are not to be understood as a waiver of the achievement of independent, objective protection for the characteristics of the subordinate claims.

3) The applicant reserves the right to claim further features of significance of the invention that have previously only been disclosed in the description.

Claims

P atent claims

1. Device for picking up objects and for feeding them to successive processing or processing stations arranged along a transport path, in particular as a filling system for picking up containers (1, 2) from a denesting station (3) and for feeding them to filling, Cover placement, sealing, labeling and removal stations (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) or the like, with a base frame (9), a transport device (11) mounted thereon with receptacles (12, 13) for the objects (1 , 2), which are arranged one after the other in the transport direction (A) and are adapted in shape to the objects (1, 2), and a clock drive (14) which is used for a gradual advance of the transport device (11) by the same step lengths ( S), characterized in that, in order to adapt to a predetermined sequence, at least two differently shaped objects (1, 2) which process and / or process by means of the device should be bar, the transport device (11) in the transport direction (A) has a series of successive recording sequences corresponding to the sequence of the objects, each recording sequence being evenly distributed over a likewise predetermined step length (S), such that each distance between two objects ( 1, 2) corresponds to the fraction of a step length (S), which results when the same is divided by the number of objects (1, 2) in a sequence.

2. Device according to claim 1 with endless chains (15) as a transport device (11), on which carrier plates (16, 17) are arranged one behind the other, each having a number of adjacent, uniform receptacles (12, 13), characterized in that the series arrangement different carrier plates (16, 17) assigned to a specific shape of the objects correspond to the predetermined sequence of the objects.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clock drive (14) has a latching coupling (26) or the like for adjusting the position of the transport device (11) or endless chains (15) relative to the stations in the direction of the transport device, such that during the operation of the device, the respective feed steps of the transport device only use the receptacles of one and the same object form at the stations.