Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
  • B67B7/38—Power-operated cutting devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a box lid opening machine and a box emptying method; it can be applied in particular to the treatment of nuclear fuel powders.
• a box lid opening machine including a support of a box and a press comprising a movable tool body to the support and located in front of the support, the press comprising a tool for cutting the lid of the box, characterized in that the press comprises a member located opposite the cover, movable towards the cover relative to the press and able to detach the cover from the tool and push it back into the box.
• the press is provided with a movable element relative to the tool for retaining the box, the movable assembly being biased towards the box by at least one spring and comprising a flat bearing surface of an upper edge of the box which surrounds the lid, characterized in that the moving element also comprises a conical guiding face of the box for centering.
• the machine is provided with sensors for detecting the insertion of the tool into the box, the sensors are arranged on detection heads which are independently adjustable in the direction of movement of the press.
• the fine position adjustment offered by this arrangement accurately gives the position of the tool and thus ensures the proper execution of the opening process.
• FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 illustrate the invention, with a view to cutting and in perspective
• FIG. 3 illustrates an equipment that is an appendix to the invention.
• a box 1 may contain nuclear fuel powder is placed on a support. It comprises an upper lid 3 surrounded by a rim 4 rising a little above him.
• the machine for opening the box 1 comprises a tool body 5 mounted on a frame 6 and movable relative to it in the vertical direction by a press 7; the tool body 5 is guided by the adjustment of a rib 9 which forms part thereof in a slide 8 constructed on the frame 6.
• the tool body 5 comprises a plate 10 at a lower part, which carries a group of peripheral columns 11 directed downwards and at the lower end of which is screwed a guide ring 12.
• a movable flange 13 slides on the peripheral columns 11 between the plate 10 and the guide ring 12.
• a tool 14 whose active part is a ring gear 15 pointing downwards is surrounded by the guide ring 12 and the movable flange 13, and it is retained by the plate 10 by means of mounting screws 16.
• Springs 17 are engaged around the peripheral columns 11 and bring the mobile flange 13 down. In the center of the device, under the tool 14, extends a piston 18 whose bottom carries a magnet 19.
• the piston 18 is movable in a bore of the plate 10 lined with a bearing 20 to a lower position of stop; a spring 21 compressed between the bearing 20 and the magnet 19 returns the piston 18 to the lower position but does not prevent it being raised towards the plate 10. It also slides in a bore of the plate 10 a pin 22 extending to under the magnet 19 when a lower stop position is reached. Its upper end then remains below an induction sensor 23 mounted on the upper face of the plate 10. There is another pin 24, actuated by an electromagnet 25 mounted on the top of the tool body 5, also extending vertically, through the piston 18, but without however coming below the magnet 19 in the usual position.
• the tool body 5 When the box 1 is placed on the support 2, the tool body 5 is lowered by the press 7.
• the guide ring 12 engages the upper edge 4 of the box 1 by a chamfered inner face 26 stripped towards the bottom and center of the box 1 relative to the tool body 5.
• the upper edge 4 finally hits a bottom face 26 of the movable flange 13 which holds the box 1 in place, and the rest of the movement descending the tool body 5 is accompanied by a compression of the springs 17, the flange 13 movable abutting against the upper edge 4, remaining at the same altitude while the rest of the tool body 5 continues to descend.
• the ring gear 15 reaches the cover 3 and pierces it until it is cut.
• the magnet 19 comes into contact with the cut-off cover 3 and grasps it.
• the pin 22 is raised by the cover 3 until its upper end comes within range of the inductive sensor 23, so that the presence of a lid 3 attached to the magnet 19 is proven.
• the machine described so far is improved by means of the invention.
• the tool body is changed. It comprises, according to FIG. 2, in addition to the plate 10, the peripheral columns 11, the springs 17 and the tool 14, which are unchanged, a new guide ring 30, which is here movable between a lower abutment end, at the end of the peripheral columns 11, and the plate 10.
• Its inner face comprises both a tapered chamfered face 32 downwardly, intended to center the upper edge 4 of the box 1, and a stop face 33 directed downwards that the upper edge 4 must reach in order to be retained in place.
• the guide ring 30 is guided by rolling element bearings mounted on the peripheral columns 11 and sliding bearings 35.
• the high-height guide face between the tool 14 and the mobile flange 13 is here removed, and a wide clearance extends between the tool 14 and the lower guide ring 30.
• the tool body further comprises the movable piston 18 and the springs 21 which recall it downwards.
• the magnet 19 is here absent and the piston 18 carries a lower collar 36 simple, without magnetic property.
• an ejection pin 37 is shown which passes vertically through the plate 10 and the piston 18.
• the operation of the device is as follows.
• the box 1 is still placed on the support 2.
• the press still similar to that of the previous machine down the tool body down.
• the lower guide ring 30 centers the box 1 by its bevel face 32 and rises as soon as the lower edge 4 has reached the abutment face 33, but the tool 14 continues to descend and cuts the lid 3
• the piston 18 also continues to descend and pushes the lid 3 cut towards the bottom of the box 1 despite the spring deflection 21.
• the pin 37 protruding under the tool 14 and the piston 18 detaches the lid 3 if it ever had been retained.
• the lid 3 remains in the box 1.
• the emptying is carried out as indicated in connection with Figure 3.
• a flange said lower flange 40 receives the box 1.
• a flange 41 is placed on the upper edge 4 and s' extends around him by a flange 42; the remainder of the lower flange 40 is a latticework 43 of bars comprising a lug 51 extending beyond the flange 41.
• the lug 51 has a peripheral position which allows it to tilt the lid 3 cut into lowering it to where it is.
• the box 1 and the lower flange 40 are held pressed against one another by jaws 51 and 45 forming part of a turning machine which is not shown further.
• the assembly can however tilt so that the lower flange 40 comes under the box 1.
• the powder pushes the cover 3, which tilts when it touches the lug 51 and opens the box 1.
• the inclination of the lid 3 allows the powder contained in the box 1 to flow without difficulty through the opening thus formed.
• the lid is retained by
• FIG. 4 Another aspect of the invention will be described by means of FIG. 4.
• the presence of the box 1 under the press is detected by the depression of the lower guide ring 30.
• This depression is measured by inductive sensors 46. , they are not mounted rigidly relative to the plate 10, but on adjustable heads 47 connected to fixed heads 48, screwed to the plate 10, by micrometer screws 49 which can independently adjust their level according to calibrations. Compressed springs 50 between the heads 47 and 48 maintain their spacing at the setting value. Safer detection can thus be obtained.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
• Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)
• Automatic Assembly (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40675149

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2008
  • 2008-10-15 FR FR0857003A patent/FR2937027B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-10-13 US US13/123,883 patent/US20110232111A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-10-13 EP EP09783965.8A patent/EP2344411B1/fr active Active
  • 2009-10-13 WO PCT/EP2009/063313 patent/WO2010043600A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2009-10-13 RU RU2011119419/12A patent/RU2503612C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2009-10-13 JP JP2011531465A patent/JP5490810B2/ja active Active
  • 2009-10-13 CN CN2009801399054A patent/CN102177084A/zh active Pending
• 2011
  • 2011-02-14 ZA ZA2011/01164A patent/ZA201101164B/en unknown

Patent Citations (2)

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