WO1998022374A1

WO1998022374A1 - Container transfer system

Info

Publication number: WO1998022374A1
Application number: PCT/CA1997/000869
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter D. Fenton; John Kanold
Original assignee: Septimatech Group Inc.
Priority date: 1996-11-15
Filing date: 1997-11-14
Publication date: 1998-05-28
Also published as: AU5044398A

Abstract

A container transfer system, which is servo-driven under computer control, for transferring bottles and other container types of varying geometries for the purposes of filling or other type of operation related to the preparation of bottles or containers. The system replaces existing transfer stars and provides the ability to transfer a variety of container geometries without changing stars and is 'smart' by virtue of servo driven gripping mechanisms under computer control. The gripping mechanisms consist of arms in parallel with a modified surface on each arm to assist gripping. Under software control, servo drivers move opposing faces of the gripping arms toward each other to securely grip a container, where the plane of the opposing faces is perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Description

CONTAINER TRANSFER SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of the mechanical arts concerned

with devices which handle bottles and other containers which are

ultimately required to be manipulated for filling and/or other types of

processing. In particular, the invention relates to a means of moving

bottles or containers of varying sizes and types, all of which have a

neck, or other relatively consistent geometry between container types,

apart from the rest of the container, for the purpose of filling the bottles

or containers, or other type of processing.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many industries have a requirement for, and have developed,

automated systems of bottle or container handling in order to perform

routine processing. The bottle filling industry is representative in this

respect having developed systems which allow for the mechanical

automation of bottle processing such as filling and capping bottles.

Typically, such systems incorporate the use of an integrated series of

preformed rotating disks and rims which loosely hold bottles in a

predetermined path for the purposes of movement and filling. The disks are referred to in the industry as stars and in such settings,

bottles are advanced in series to a rotary base unit or star by means

of a feedscrew.

Typically a feedscrew means charges an infeed star with bottles

or containers, which would, by rotation, transfer the bottle or container

to a turret star component at which location the bottle or container may

be filled or capped. Containers or bottles may be subject to some

other type of processing, depending upon the nature of the operation.

Rotation of the turret star through various stations of filling or other

processing ultimately causes the bottle or container to be received by

a discharge star component which then moves the target bottle or

container to a discharge avenue, such as a further feedscrew. In

summary, such systems guide bottles or containers along a

predetermined path for a variety of purposes such as filling of the

container. Such systems handle a limited number of variations in

geometry of the bottles or containers as the feed star as well as the

turret star and discharge star components are shaped to allow for only

certain sizes and or shapes of bottles or containers to fit on a conveyer.

As such, when a different bottle type is required, entirely new infeed

star, turret star and discharge star components are required to be put

in place thereby allowing for a different bottle or container geometry. This leads to an increased cost should the manufacturer be involved

in producing a wide range of bottle types due to the requirement of

having an appropriate number of stars capable of handling the

variations in geometry. In addition, the downtime for changing stars

increases the overall cost of production. In these respects a

manufacturer may limit the type of bottle or container variations to

avoid the requirement of different stars.

An alternative form of star-type of mechanism is described in

Canadian Letters Patent 1 ,331 ,467 "Article Transfer Apparatus with

Clamper". This type of star includes a frame, a pair of clampshafts

rotatably mounted on the frame, a pair of clamp shafts rotatably

mounted on the rotatable body for rotation iin opposite directions from

each other with the clamp shafts being carried along a path of travel by

the rotatable body. The clamp arms include a cam mechanism which

comprises a rocking lever mechanically coupled with the clamp shafts,

a cam follower mounted on the rocking lever and a cam member

mounted on the frame. An illustration of this type of star mechanism is

illustrated in Figure 6, with the cam aspects illustrated in Figure 7.

While this type of star mechanism reduces the need to change stars to

accomodate each different radius of different containers the design is

dependent on a cam and rocker arm mechanism which follow a conical cam surface of a cam member. The ability to maintain consistent

gripper position for a given container size depends on the integrity of

a cam follower and rocking lever which level responds to adjustments

to the cam member. This design is subject to wear particularly where

there is rapid, frequent container dimension changes. The wear results

in lost motion to allow accomodation of different container sizes.

Further, the internal cam and rocker mechanism, even without changes

in container dimensions, will wear resulting in lost motion during the

opening and closing of the jawsof the clamps to the point where they

no longer grip a container sufficiently for the purpose of effecting a

transfer.

Also lacking in the article transfer apparatus industry are "smart"

devices which are under servo-driven control allowing for adjustment

of clamp positions in response to computer program input.

Consequently, it is desirable to have an improved means by

which a wide range of bottle and container types can be handled by

one apparatus for processing.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficits in the current art

by providing a means, referred to in this specification as a transferring system or transferring device, which is servo-driven under computer

control, for transferring bottles and other container types of varying

geometries for the purposes of filling or other type of operation related

to the preparation of bottles or containers.

The present invention provides a servo driven gripping means

which acts to grip or hold containers which are manoeuvred for further

processing such as filling. The gripping means grips containers under

software control by servo drivers which moves opposing faces of the

gripping means, where the plane of the opposing faces is

perpendicular to the direction of travel, toward each other.

The gripping of the present embodiment occurs at at the "neck"

of the container as in the bottle industry the variability of geometries

and surface angles are minimized at this location. However, it is

understood that the present invention encompasses any means which

reversibly holds a container at some structural feature which is

relatively consistent across a variety of container types.

The invention further provides a means by which the gripping

mechanism is adjustable to cope with or interact with bottles and

containers of varying heights in response to programming input.

The present invention further provides a means which can be

employed at various stages of container processing. The present embodiment of the invention grips containers in the

"neck" area only and is capable of gripping a wide range of different

containers. The gripper is made smart by virtue of software control of

servo drivers which adjust the grippers depending upon the container

to be transferred. The gripping means has freedom of movement in the

vertical plane by virtue of servo drivers, also under the control of

software adding to the intellegence of the gripping mechanism allowing

it to adapt to a reasonable angle variance in the neck area. The ability

to adjust to the varying neck area is based on a predetermined range

of container dimensions. A minimum of one neck gripping assembly is

possible according to the present invention, however, the device

operates preferably with two or more gripping assemblies within one

transfer system depending upon the setting in which the transfer

system is installed.

A software inputs to servo drivers adjust the gripping

mechanism according to predetermined parameters to drive the

gripping mechanism based on a range of containers expected to be

handled. The gripping mechanism has freedom of movement in the

vertical plane and is able to adapt to a reasonable angle. In other

words, the gripping mechanism is able to accomodate varying "neck"

areas on containers. In order to be able to respond to varying neck sizes a database is consulted and the angle database is determined

from a known number of different containers.

In one embodiment of the invention, there are contained two

gripping assemblies located at 180° from each other and are activated

for elevation changes by way of a remote communication relay servo-

drive which is achieved through push button activation of pre-selected

positions. However, it is understood that the number of gripping

assemblies illustrated in the present embodiment is not intended to be

limiting. In this respect it is understood that the number of gripping

assemblies may be increased to, for example eight to ten, or more,

depending upon the setting in which a transfer system of the present

invention is employed.

The transfer device of the present invention is capable of being

mounted on an existing rotary base unit and may be positioned at any

point in a container movement system where a star would normally be

located. This would include, for example, an infeed star located to

receive containers from a charging feedscrew stage. The functionality

of the transfer system is synchronized through a servo system with

servo driven feedscrews and machine rotation. While complete

replacement of existing star components is possible with a transfer

device at each location, depending upon the industrial setting, only one or two transfer devices may be integrated with existing star

components.

FIGURES

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a working prototype of the

present invention installed in a setting having turret star

and discharge star components.

Figure 2 is a side view of the transfer system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the gripping mechanisms/assemblies

of the infeed transfer system of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the rotational drive on the vertical axis

of the transfer device of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of electronic components of

a working prototype of the invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a prior art transfer apparatus.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a prior art clamp and cam used in an

apparatus illustrated in Figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 provides a plan view

of an installation of a working prototype of the present invention 70, integrated at the infeed stage of a bottle conveyor system having turret

star 10 and discharge star 20 components. This view is intended to

illustrate how the transfer device of the present invention may be

integrated in a typical conveyor, container processing system. In this

example, it is understood that the transfer device could be adapted to

perform all three functions of the components illustrated.

The stars and transfer device operate on a platform 30 and turn

in a fashion such that bottles arriving from an infeed screw 40 are

transferred and turned around underneath a filling station or other type

of bottle processing. The bottles are retained in a predetermined travel

path by notches 50 on the turret star and discharge star. These

notches, in cooperation with a retaining guide 60 ensure that bottles

travel along a predetermined path. The turret star and the discharge

star are fixed by conventional means to a rotary disk which is at the

same plane as the retaining table 30. From the plan view in Figure 1 ,

the transfer system 70 may be seen to contain two gripper

mechanisms 80 located at 180° from each other. The transfer system

rotates on its vertical axis, where this rotation is under control by

computer program. The rotation is programmed to be synchronized

with the rotation and timing of delivery of bottles from the infeed screw

pitch and the machine processing pitch. As such the transfer device is positioned to allow freedom of rotation and is specifically set up

such that the gripper will receive bottles travelling along the infeed

screw which is capable of transferring them to a receiving board or

notch in the turret star 10. It is understood that the transfer system,

while illustrated in this example to receive containers from an infeed

screw, may be programmed to operate in any other setting where this

functionality is required.

Referring now to Figure 2, which provides greater detail of the

transfer system, it can be seen that there is an up/down or horizontal

plane adjustment shaft 90 upon which the gripping mechanisms 80

have freedom of movement. In this prototype this is achieved with an

ACME thread shaft. The ability to move up and down is adjusted on the

basis of a servo drive motor 190 and related hardware. The opening

and closing of the gripping assemblies/ mechanisms is also driven by

servo motors and this may be better seen in Figure 3 where the servo

motor 100 drives the opening and closing of the gripper mechanisms

by means of a drive belt 110 which itself is connected to a shaft 120

which in turn is connected to a second shaft 130 of the second gripper

mechanism by means of a gear belt 140. In this way the drive belt

adjusts the opening and closing of the two grippers simultaneously.

The gripper is composed of two solid arms 150 which are connected by screws to a retaining body 160. The arms have a replaceable

portion 155. The arms need not necessarily be of solid construction

and can be manufactured from any suitable material such as nylon,

plastic or metal, or metal alloys. The arms of the gripper 80 are

retained in position by means of a lead screw 130, 120 which is

threaded through each arm of the gripper. As the drive belt drives the

shafts through the gear belt 140 the arms simultaneously move inward

or outward depending upon the instructions from the servo motor 100.

The arms also move over stabilizing bars 170 to ensure their position

as well as to provide strength in holding the bottles and preventing

them from having any vertical movement due to the weight of the

bottles.

Referring again to Figure 2, the entire gripping mechanism stage

is retained in uniform position by means of a single plate 180 which

moves up and down on the ACME thread shaft 90 which movement is

brought about by means of servo drive motor 190. ACME thread shaft

90 at its lower end is part of a female receptacle formed in the lower

platform 260. The lower platform 260 and upper platform 280 are

maintained at a fixed distance and provide the limits of the range of

up/down movement of the gripping assemblies. These platforms are

maintained in position by way shaft 220. A bushing 240 allows for smooth up and downward movement of the assemblies' support plate

180 over the shaft 220.

Power to the transfer system is via the 110Volt supply and

ground transmitted through a slip ring at 195 as indicated in Figure 4.

The platform 30 is stationary while the transfer device itself rotates on

its up/down adjustment shaft 90. This shaft is part of a female

receptacle 265 formed in platform 260 which fits onto a male

receptacle 200 such that the transfer system is able to be removed

from the workstation setting for repair and ease of exchange of transfer

systems. The male receptacle 200 is the upper extremity of a shaft

which is received by the slip ring 195 and encoder housing 290. With

in the encoder housing is located an encoder 300 all of which rotates

on the vertical axis of shaft 200. This assembly is retained in position

by the support structure 310. It is understood that any structure which

achieves support and allows for rotation of the transfer device is within

the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it is understood that

any means by which the transfer device may be rotated is within the

scope of the present invention.

Turning now to Figure 5, it may be seen that the system can be

controlled by a remote driver 210 through a conventional wireless

modem which is comprised with an encoder 300, amplifier 230 and controller 240 in operation. The conveyor aspect of such a system is

driven by an AC speed control 320 and the stars of the present

embodiment are driven by a DC speed control 330. The feed screws

of the conveyor in the present example are servo driven 340 and the

timetable ratio of operation between the feedscrew and stars is 2:1 in

this embodiment, however it is understood, that all elements of the

drive systems for the components of a conveyor processing system

must be integrated for smooth transfer of containers from conveyor

belts to the transfer device of the present invention, and that this is

preferably under standard computer programmed control.

In summary, and with respect to the present illustration of the

invention, in operation, a transfer system of the present invention is

integrated with a turret star and feedscrew such that there is a

synchronized movement of the infeed transfer system allowing it

capture a bottle or other container at the end of the infeed screw and

smoothly transfer it to a receiving notch on the turret star. The height

of the grippers is dependent on software control from a database of

varying bottle types and the user would be free to adjust the program

depending upon the bottle type in use. The movement of the gripper

arms is also under computer software control and is adjusted on the

basis of a predetermined database of varying bottle sizes. When the grippers are in the completely closed position which movement is also

under software control, it is possible to allow for a determination when

the entire system may be activated and deactivated.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described

with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood by

those skilled in the art that various other changes in form and detail

may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the

invention.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A transfer system for transferring containers of varying

geometries for the purposes of filling or other type of operation related

to the preparation of containers, comprising:

one or more gripper mechanisms each of which comprising two

parallel arms, each of said arms containing a region modified to assist

gripping said containers where said regions are opposite each other;

means connecting said arms;

means for retaining said arms in position relative to each other;

means to effect movement of said arms toward and away from each

other depending upon instructions from a servo motor;

means for up/down or horizontal plane adjustment of said one or more

gripping mechanism depending upon instructions from a servo motor

and wherein said one or more gripping mechanisms have freedom of

movement;

arranged such that said transfer system rotates on its vertical axis,

where said rotation, said movement of said arms relative to each other

and up/down are all under control by computer program, said rotation

is programmed to be synchronized with rotation and timing of delivery

of said containers from a delivery device, said transfer system being

positioned to allow freedom of rotation and set up such that said one or more gripper mechanism receives said containers and is capable of

transferring said containers to a receiving board.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein two gripper mechanisms are

employed and positioned 180 degrees relative to one another.

3. The system of claim 2 wherin said containers are bottles and

said gripper mechanisms grip said bottles necks.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said means connecting said arms

are stabilizing bars and a lead screw and said means for retaining said

arms in position relative to each other is a plate.