WO2005080013A1

WO2005080013A1 - Device to overturn moving bottles

Info

Publication number: WO2005080013A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/000237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gabriele Stocchi
Original assignee: Stk Stocchi Progetti Srl
Priority date: 2004-02-10
Filing date: 2005-02-01
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Also published as: DE602005006790D1; DE602005013307D1; ITBO20040060A1; EP1875972A3; EP1875972B1; EP1744840B1; EP1875972A2; DE07020814T1; EP1744840A1

Abstract

A device to overturn moving bottles characterized by the fact that the overturning of the bottles from the vertical position (B) facing upwards to the vertical position (B') facing downwards is obtained, during the continuous rotation of the carousel (1), through mechanisms (9, 10) (9', 10') that increase the angular excursions of the swinging arm (6), which is articulated through the pivot (7) on the carousel (1).

Description

DEVICE TO OVERTURN MOVING BOTTLES

Field of the art

The present invention concerns the technological field of bottling

plants, particularly devices to overturn moving bottles.

State of the art

Several kinds of continuous rotary machines to perform overturned

bottles washing are known. In said machines, the overturning of the bottles

from the vertical position facing upwards to the vertical position facing

downwards is obtained during the rotation of a carousel provided, externally,

with a plurality of forks that slide along a fixed ring-guide specifically shaped.

The shaping of such metal ring is usually hand made and is expensive and

often imprecise. Also, the continuous sliding causes the wear of the sliding

forks and of the fixed guide (twist), resulting in the altering of the operational

conditions of the plant. Some kinds of plants are provided with a lubrication

system, which has however proved insufficient.

The target is then to avoid all the problems caused by the wear of the

forks and of the shaped guide (twist). The present invention solves all the

aforementioned problems by eliminating the wear due to sliding. Description

The invention is now disclosed with reference to the figures attached to

be considered as an unrestrictive example.

Figure 1 represents the schematic view of a rotating carousel (1)

provided, externally with a set of gripping devices (2) showing an entering

bottle (B) in vertical position facing upwards and an exiting bottle (B') turned

upside down with its neck facing downwards. Please note the presence of a

fixed track (5) specifically shaped with its lower part located by the entrance

zone of the upright bottle, and the higher part located by the exit zone of the

overturned bottle. The moving parts consisting of a lobe wheel (9) and its

congruent sector (10) perform the overturning of the bottle during the rotation

of the carousel (1). The rolls (3) during the carousel rotation (1) roll without

sliding on the fixed track (5), thus causing the angular swings of the arm (6)

articulated to the pivot (7) on the rotating carousel (1). Said arm angular

swings (6), increased by the conjugated mechanism (9, 10), perform the

complete overturning of the bottle from position (B) to position (B').

Figure la shows in detail the entrance of the bottle (B) taken by the

gripping equipment (2) that holds it in vertical attitude face upwards. Figure lb shows in detail an intermediate phase during which the

gripping equipment (2) holds the bottle in horizontal attitude.

Figure lc shows in detail the exit phase of the bottle held in overturned

position by the gripping equipment (2).

Figures 2a, 2b and 2c represent structural variations having functions

similar to those of figures la, lb and lc. The conjugated mechanisms (9', 10')

perform the same function as the mechanisms (9 and 10) and increase the

angular swings of the arm (6). The recall spring (11) allows using a single roll

(3) that rolls on the fixed shaped track (5) without sliding.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the gripping equipment (2) that holds the

moving bottle in horizontal position. The partial section of the swinging edge

(6) shows the engagement of the conjugated mechanisms (9', 10') and the

application of the gripping equipment (2) that holds the moving bottle.

Figure 3 a is a further enlargement of the partial section of the arm edge

(6) which highlights when the angular swinging of the arm (6), increased by

the mechanisms (9', 10'), performs the overturning of the gripping equipment

(2) taking the moving bottle.

Figure 3b is a synoptic schematization of the complete overturning of

the bottle (180 degrees rotation) obtained by increasing tenfold the reduced swinging of the arm (6) around the fulcrum (7). It is implied that the rotation

of the bottle is to be of 180 degrees, but the angular excursion of the arm (6)

can be reduced. In figure 3b the reduction ratio is ten, but a satisfactory

functioning can be achieved even with different ratio values from those

indicated in the drawing.

Figure 4 indicates a variation of the example shown in figures 1, la,

lb,lc. Please note that the mechanism (9 and 10) has been replaced by the

mechanism (9' and 10'). Figure 5 shows a variation similar to figure la with

two fixed tracks ( 5, 5').

Figure 6 is similar to figure 2a, with the only variation of the amplifying

mechanisms (9, 10) instead of the mechanisms (9' and 10').

In the figures each single detail is marked as follows:

1 : rotating carousel;

2 : a gripping mechanism;

3 : a roll that rolls without sliding on a fixed track specifically shaped;

4 : the fixed base of the rotating carousel;

5 : specifically shaped fixed track;

5' : a second fixed track;

6 : a swinging arm; 7 : the swinging fulcrum of the arm (6).

8 : the carousel rotation axis.

9 : a three-lobed wheel.

9' : a toothed pinion.

10 : a sector engaging with the three-lobed wheel (9).

10' : a sector engaging with the pinionv©').

11 : a recall spring to keep the rolls (3) adherent to the fixed track.

The figures point out that the overturning of the moving bottles is

obtained through the rolls (3) that roll without sliding along the specifically

shaped track, with the lower part facing the bottle entrance zone (B) and the

upper part facing the exit zone of the fully overturned bottle (B'). Said rolls

(3) both engaged to run along the fixed track (5), perform the swinging of the

arm (6) around the pivot (7) on the rotating carousel (1). At the end of said

swinging arm (7) there is a lobed wheel (9) engaging with a rack (10)

connected to the carousel (1). During the continuous rotation of the carousel

(1) the rolls (3) roll without sliding along the fixed track (5) and perform the

swinging of the arm (7) and the consequent increased rotation of the

mechanisms (9, 9') engaged with relevant racks (10, 10'). The rotations of said mechanisms (9, 9') cause the overturning of the

gripping organs (2) that take each incoming bottle, turn it during the path of

the inclined track and overturn it completely before setting it free at the exit.h e figures of the attached drawings represent graphically only an

example of the possible forms of practical realization of the different parts

composing the devices object of the present invention. It is in fact evident that

the structural dimensioning and proportioning of the different components will

be defined according to the productivity goals set for each kind of plant, for

the handling of bottles or other containers, or objects to be overturned during

the continuous transit.

The lobed wheel (9) and the rack (10) can be manufactured with

different mechanisms such as sectors of helical or globoid wheels with worm

screws, or with conic sectors engaging with conjugated pinions or also with

special conjugated mechanisms with conjunct outlines. It is also evident that

the technological choices concerning the building materials will be made

according to different criteria of realization in compliance with the economic

choices necessary to meet the variable market needs.

The inventive core of the invention is the realization of a device to

overturn objects in continuous transit with the total elimination of the sliding organs used so far in the systems known. The key point of the invention lies

in the simplicity of the solution and in the absolute functional reliability even

at high productive rhythms. Its manufacturing is also significantly

inexpensive, easy to be performed and it also requires very little maintenance.

Upon disclosure of the main original characteristics of the overturning

device object of the present invention, any average technician will be able to

manufacture, without inventive effort, devices based on the description and

the schematic figures of the attached drawings representing an unrestrictive

example.

All the devices featuring the characteristics as basically described,

illustrated and hereinafter claimed will be considered as being part of the

protection sphere of the present invention.

Claims

1) A device to overturn moving bottles characterized by the fact that the overturning of the bottles from the vertical position (B) facing upwards to vertical position (B') facing downwards is obtained, during the continuous rotation of the carousel (1) through mechanisms (9, 10) (9', 10') that increase the angular excursions of the swinging arm (6) articulated through the pivot (7) on the carousel

(1). 2) A device to overturn moving bottles, as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the angular excursions of the swinging arm (6), during the rotation of the carousel (1), are performed by the roll (3) that rolls without sliding along the fixed track.