WO2014173557A1

WO2014173557A1 - Clamps for preforms or plastic bottles which grip only above the support ring

Info

Publication number: WO2014173557A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/053444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Holzer
Original assignee: Krones Ag
Priority date: 2013-04-23
Filing date: 2014-02-21
Publication date: 2014-10-30
Also published as: DE102013207342A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for transferring and for transporting containers (106, 524) by means of neck handling, in particular preforms and/or plastic bottles with a collar, comprising: at least two transporting apparatuses (101, 102) each having at least one two-arm gripper (104, 103, 200, 400, 500, 501, 600, 601) for gripping a container (106), wherein a gripper has at least one gripping/holding element (218, 219, 220, 221), characterized in that the at least one gripper (104, 600) of the first transporting apparatus and the at least one gripper (103, 601) of the second transporting apparatus have recesses (210, 211) to make it possible for gripper parts (508, 509, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519) to be moved into one another in an obstruction-free and collision-free manner when the gripper (500, 600) of the first transporting apparatus is moved into the gripper (501, 601) of the second transporting apparatus, and the grippers (500, 600, 501, 601) of the various transporting apparatuses are configured in such a way that they divide a common gripping plane (614) when they grip and/or hold a container.

Description

Clamp for preforms or plastic bottles, which only grip above the support ring

State of the art

The invention relates to a device specified in the preamble of claim 1 species, and a method specified in the preamble of claim 13 Art.

In container treatment plants, for example in filling plants, so-called transport stars are used as transport devices for the transport of preforms, also called preforms, and bottles, in particular plastic bottles, among others.

These transport stars usually have a multiplicity of clamps or grippers on their circumference, which hold and transport the preforms or containers. As a rule, said clamps or grippers grip the containers on the container neck, which is why this type of container transport treatment also refers to neck handling.

To facilitate the Neckhandling the container can have a support ring or collar, which may be located below a container closure ring, for example.

A conventional neck handling transport system with grippers is described for example in DE 102 47 362 A1.

For transferring containers from a transport device, e.g. a first transport star, to another, e.g. a second transport star, then grip and / or hold the clamps / grippers or container holders of a transport device between the carrying and closing ring or above the closing ring and the clamps / grippers or container holders of the other transporting device below the carrying ring.

Such transfers are described for example in DE 101 46 1 18 A1.

The disadvantage here, however, is that it may be unfavorable in some applications to transfer and transport containers in this way, since under certain circumstances the containers or preforms after passing through heating processes, for example by stretch blow molding, in particular are heated particularly below the support ring and the container can adhere to the gripper, or when gripping unwanted impressions can be molded into the container. A gripping in the area above a locking ring is also problematic, as this may possibly damage the closure thread of the container. In addition, a well-defined uniform gripping the closure thread can be difficult because, for example, due to spiraling courses of the screw threads a gripper sometimes intervenes on a thread, between or on the subsequent.

task

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the transport of containers, for example preforms and / or plastic bottles with neck collars, in particular with regard to the transfer of the containers between different transport devices.

solution

This is inventively achieved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A device according to the invention for transferring and transporting containers by means of neck handling, in particular preforms and / or plastic bottles with neck collars, may comprise at least two transport devices each having at least one two-armed gripper for gripping a container, wherein a gripper may have at least one gripping / holding element , and wherein the at least one gripper of the first transport device and the at least one gripper of the second transport device can have recesses or recesses, which a disability-free and collision-free interaction of gripper parts of the gripper of the first transport device in gripper parts of the gripper of the second transport device when driving the Gripper of the first transport device in the gripper of the second transport device allow, and the grippers of the various transport devices can be configured so that they si ch when gripping and / or holding a container can share a common grip level.

An inventive device for transferring and transporting containers is thus advantageously more independent of the container format or container type, since a gripping device level or a gripping area can be defined, which / can be independent of a possible closure thread form or a container contour.

In particular, the common gripping plane or the common gripping region of the gripper can be used simultaneously by the grippers for gripping and holding a container. Thus, for example, a gripper-in-gripper transfer of a container between different transport devices can take place in the same gripping plane.

For example, the Behältnishalsteil between support ring or collar and locking ring serve as a gripping area, both grippers can use simultaneously.

Incidentally, gripping with contact on the support ring and / or with contact on the locking ring itself can also be understood as gripping between the support ring and the locking ring. In addition, in the context of the present invention, the terms gripper and bracket are to be regarded as synonymous.

The invention offers, inter alia, the advantage that gripping of the containers, for example preforms or plastic bottles, underneath the carrying ring of the container can be avoided and thus, e.g. can be prevented that in heated containers below the support ring impressions are formed by gripping.

Also, the risk can be reduced that the containers adversely adhere to the grippers, as they access parts of the containers can be cooler and / or more cured than the container parts below the support ring.

In addition, it is advantageously avoided that any threaded closure parts of the container, which may be located above the lock ring, may be damaged by the grippers.

To simplify the movement of the grippers into one another, at least one gripper of the first transport device and the at least one gripper of the second transport device can have a gap between their respective gripper arm end parts, so that gripper parts can be disengaged when the gripper of the first transport device is moved into the gripper of the second transport device can collide without collision.

As already mentioned, gripping arms of the grippers can be designed with two arms in order to advantageously enable a secure grip or hold of the container. Furthermore, a gripper or a gripping arm can have at least one gripping / holding element, preferably at least two gripping / holding element per gripping arm, for improving gripping safety and gripping strength.

Said gripping arms can be rotatable about a pivot axis. In addition, the grippers can be arranged movably on the transport devices.

The mobility of the gripper and the pivoting of their gripping arms advantageously facilitates the meshing and meshing of the grippers of different transport devices in the transfer of a container.

Incidentally, transporters may be used as rotary machines, e.g. Transport star, and / or be designed as a linear transport device.

In addition, the grippers and gripping arms can, for example, be moved mechanically, electromechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically, and have inter alia spring elements and / or magnetic elements for exerting gripping force or for opening the gripper.

Said recesses of the grippers for enabling the gripper of the first transport device to grasp into the gripper of the second transport device without hindrance or collision may, depending on the number of gripping / holding elements, for example between the gripping / holding elements of a gripper arm and / or between a gripper arm. / Holding element of a gripper arm and a Greifarmbasisteil a gripping arm and / or between a gripping / holding element of a gripping arm and a Greifarmendteil a gripping arm are.

The recesses of the grippers may preferably be in the gripping plane, so that gripper parts, in particular gripping / holding elements of one gripper can move in the gripping plane into the recesses of the other gripper, and thus the gripper a container in the same gripping plane or gripping area better can grab and hold without colliding when driving into one another.

Said recesses or recesses may in particular also be designed in such a way that reciprocating grippers can also be moved during movements of the transport devices, e.g. when rotating transport stars, do not collide with each other.

In the region of the recesses, the gripper arm end part or the gripper arm end parts can run next to the gripping plane or next to the gripping region. Said recesses may have an average length, eg 5 to 40 mm, measured along an axis parallel to a gripper arm longitudinal axis, and an average height, eg 0.1 to 10 mm, measured as the average distance between a surface of a gripper arm end part and a surface of a gripper arm base part ,

The grippers can be designed so that they can surround the Behältnishalsteil between support ring and lock ring at least over an angle of 180 degrees of Behältnishalsteilumfangs.

As a pair of grippers to be understood in the following a pair consisting of a gripper of a first transport device and a gripper of a second transport device, wherein a container transfer between said transport devices can take place via said gripper pair. The grippers of the various transport devices, or the gripper of a gripper pair can be designed differently or identical.

The at least one gripper of the first transport device and the at least one gripper of the second transport device can be mounted against each other with height misalignment (534) with different orientation of their surface sides, or with different orientation of the same surface sides with identical grippers or with different orientation functionally identical surface sides with not identical grippers ,

In non-structural grippers of different transport devices, a height offset may be optional, since their recesses / recesses or gaps to allow the collision-free meshing of the gripper can for example also be designed so that no height offset of the gripper against each other must be required.

For example, the grippers of various transport devices can be tilted 180 +/- 10 degrees and offset with a height offset, e.g. 1 to 20 mm, be arranged against each other. This is illustrated for example in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The gripping / holding elements of a gripper and / or their contact surfaces may be spaced from a surface of a gripper arm end portion and / or an inner side surface of a gripper arm end portion.

The gripping plane of a gripper can be offset from the main lever action plane of the gripper. It should be noted at this point that there is a better understanding of the terms used above such as gripping / holding element, gripper arm, Greifarmbasisteil, Greifarmendteil, gripping plane, inner side surface of a Greifarmendteils, main lever action plane, recess or recess, and gap results from the accompanying figures.

In a method according to the invention for transferring and transporting containers by means of neck handling, in particular preforms and / or plastic bottles with neck collars, the gripping and holding of a container by a gripper of a first transport device can be carried out, for example, and then a gripper-in-gripper Transfer of the container to a gripper of a second transport device, wherein the gripper of the first transport device and the gripper of the second transport device drive in one another and can share a common gripping plane for gripping / holding the container.

The grippers or gripping arms of the grippers may have recesses or recesses, to allow a disaffected or collision-free meshing of grippers of different transport devices.

Thus, it can be advantageously facilitated the meshing and meshing of the grippers of different transport devices in a gripper-in-gripper handover of a container.

After release of the container from the grip of the gripper of the first transport device, then a further transport of the container by the gripper of the second transport device can take place.

In particular, in the case of gripper-in-gripper transfer, the gripper of the first transport device and the gripper of the second transport device can simultaneously grasp and hold between the container in a gripping region between the carrier ring and the closure ring of the container.

Thus, according to the invention, container transfer of gripper-in-gripper or gripper-to-gripper between different transport devices in a common gripping plane of the gripper can thus be advantageously realized.

The following figures are an example:

Fig. 1: Device for transfer and transport of containers Fig. 2: gripper for gripping and / or holding and / or transporting a container

Fig. 3: gripper with container

Fig. 4: Alternative gripper with container

Fig. 5: gripper pair with container

Fig. 6: side view of gripper pair with container

Fig. 7: Top view of gripper pair with container

Fig. 8: Alternative plan view of gripper pair with container

FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a device 100 for transferring and transporting containers, in particular preforms and / or plastic bottles, in a container treatment plant. The device may include, among other things, two transport devices 101, 102, which may, for example, be designed as transport stars.

Said transport devices 101, 102 may each have at least one gripper 104, 103 for gripping a container 106. Preferably, however, said transport devices 101, 102 may be equipped with a plurality of grippers 104, 103, for example.

In a transition region or at a transition point 105, a container 106 can be transferred from one transport device to the other transport device. In particular, there may take place, for example, a container from a gripper 104 of the first transport device 101 to a gripper 103 of the second transport device 102, i. a direct transfer of a container 106 from gripper to gripper take place.

In this case, the grippers 104, 103 in the transfer of a container the same gripping plane 109, spanned by the coordinate axes 107 and 108, share.

In other words, the grippers 104, 103 can move into each other during the transfer of a container. For example, so gripper 104, 103 in the transfer of a container grip the same container area, for example, the container area between a possible support ring (not shown) and a possible locking ring (not shown).

FIG. 2 illustrates by way of example a gripper 200 as it can be used in a transport device described above for gripping and / or holding and / or transporting a container with a neck collar (not shown) by means of neck handling.

The gripper 200 can be designed with two arms and, for example, have a first gripping arm 206 and a second gripping arm 207. For example, the gripping arms 206, 207 may be pivotally 227, 238 about their respective pivot axes 226, 237.

Said gripping arms 206, 207 may also have recesses or recesses 210, 21 1.

Said recesses 210, 21 1 may be e.g. between the gripping / holding elements 218,

219, 220, 221 of a gripping arm 206, 207, or between a gripping / holding element 218, 219,

220, 221 of a gripping arm 206, 207 and a gripping arm base part 228, 229 of a gripping arm 206, 207, or between a gripping / holding element 218, 219, 220, 221 of a gripping arm 206, 207 and a gripper arm end part 209, 208 of a gripping arm 206, 207 , are located.

For example, said recesses or recesses 210, 21 1, as well as the gap 236 between the gripper arm end parts 209, 208, may allow the gripper arm end parts of a second gripper (not shown) to travel into the gripper arm end parts 209, 208 without interference can.

For example, the recesses 210, 21 1 may have an average length 230, e.g. measured along an axis 204 parallel to a gripper arm longitudinal axis, and an average height 231, e.g. measured as a mean distance between a surface 234, 232 of a gripper arm end portion 208, 209 and a surface 235, 233 of a gripper arm base portion 228, 229.

It should be noted that although the gripping arms 206 and 207 exemplified in Fig.1 are symmetrical to each other, the gripping arms 206 and 207 may also be asymmetrical to each other, and in particular may have different geometries with respect to their recesses or recesses, eg recesses 210, 21 1 may have different middle lengths and / or middle heights. An inventive gripper may have at least one gripping / holding element, which may be in touching contact with the container to be gripped / held.

Gripper 200 has, for example, the four gripping / holding members 218, 219, 220 and 221, e.g. Gripping / holding elements 219 and 220 to gripper arm 206 and gripping / holding elements 218 and 221 may belong to gripper arm 207.

Said gripping / holding members 218, 219, 220, 221 may be offset relative to their respective gripper arm end portions 208 and 209, respectively.

For example, in particular, the contact surface 212, 213, 214, 215 of a gripping / holding element 218, 219, 220, 221 may be offset by an offset distance 216 relative to the inner side surface 217, 222 of a Greifarmendteils 208, 208.

Furthermore, said gripping / holding elements 218, 219, 220, 221 or contact surfaces 212, 213, 214, 215 can also be arranged offset by a distance 201 from the main lever action plane 203, the coordinate axes 204, 205, which span the main lever action plane 203, within The gripping arms 206, 207 can run.

In other words, the gripping / holding elements 218, 219, 220, 221 or contact surfaces 212, 213, 214, 215 can face a surface 234, 232 of a gripper arm end part 209, 208 and / or an inner side surface 222, 217 of a Greifarmendteils 209, 208 spaced apart.

The gripping plane 225, spanned by the coordinate axes 223, 224, can thus be offset, e.g. preferably parallel offset, be the main lever action plane 203.

The finite spatial or geometrical extent of the gripping / holding elements 218, 219, 220, 221 or their contact surfaces 212, 213, 214, 215 implies that the said gripping plane 225 can be understood here primarily as a reference plane and the actual gripping / Holding a container along a finally spatially extended gripping / holding area can be done. In other words, said spatially extended gripping / holding area, which is in direct contact with the container to be gripped, can be determined by the contact surface 212, 213, 214, 215 of a gripping / holding element 218, 219, 220, 221.

The gripping / holding elements 218, 219, 220, 221 may have, inter alia, for example, an L or T shape.

The Greifarmendteile 206, 207 may be formed so that they can enclose a possible circumference 202 in gripping plane 225 of a container to be gripped / held in each case over a Umfassungswinkel of at least 90 degrees. In other words, the gripper 200 can enclose a container to be gripped / held over an enclosure angle of at least 180 degrees.

In this case, for example, the inner side surfaces 222, 217 of the Greifarmendteile 206, 207 may be concavely curved.

Said inner side surfaces 222, 217 of the Greifarmendteile 206, 207 can also be in gripping / holding a container in touch. However, it may be preferred that the inner side surfaces 222, 217 of the gripper arm end portions 206, 207 have no contact with a container to be gripped / held.

Gripper arms 206, 207 and Greifarmendteile may also each have at least one gripping / holding element. FIG. 2 illustrates only one example in which the gripping arm 206 can dispose of the gripping / holding elements 219 and 220 as well as gripping arm 207 via the gripping / holding elements 218 and 221.

It is also conceivable that, for example, gripping arms 206, 207, in particular Greifarmendteile 209, 208, are not symmetrical to each other and each having only one gripping / holding element, which may be spaced differently from the associated Greifarmbasisteilen 228, 229 or arranged.

Alternatively, for example, an asymmetric gripper configuration would be conceivable in which a first gripping arm two gripping / holding elements and a second gripping arm may have only one gripping / holding element, wherein a gripping / holding element of the first gripper arm may be located on Greifarmbasisteil the first gripper arm. Also possible would be a symmetrical gripper configuration with three gripping / holding elements, wherein a gripping / holding element can be immobile on an additional gripper component, which can be arranged between the first gripper arm and the second gripper arm.

In addition, the contact surfaces 212, 213, 214, 215 of the gripping / holding elements 218, 219, 220, 221 can assume different surface profiles, and for example be flat, convex or concave, or be formed following the container contour.

Thus, advantageously, the contact and the adhesion between a gripping / holding element and a container to be gripped / held can be optimized.

Fig. 3 exemplifies, in a spatial perspective, a gripper 300, e.g. can have all the features of the previously described gripper 200.

In particular, gripper 300 may thus comprise two pivotable gripper arms 305, 306, wherein said gripper arms 305, 306 may each have a gripper arm base part 308, 320 and a gripper arm end part 309, 319.

The gripper arms 305, 306 may be symmetrical to each other. However, other asymmetrical designs of the gripping arms 305, 306, as described above, are also conceivable.

In addition, the gripper arms 305, 306, for example, each have two gripping / holding elements. For reasons of illustration, however, only the gripping / holding elements 310, 31 1 of gripping arm 305 and gripping / holding element 312 of gripping arm 306 are visible.

The gripper 300 can be used to grip / hold a container 301, e.g. the container may have a closure portion 316. Said closure region 316 may include a container opening 315, a possible closure thread region 302, and a closure ring 303 which may define a container closure (not shown).

In addition, on the container neck 318, a container ring 304 surrounding the container neck 318, also neck collar, can be arranged, which is spaced apart from the closure ring 303 by an average distance 307. Gripper 300 is shown as he just embraces, for example, a container 301 and holds with the contact surfaces / contact points of his gripping / holding elements.

The gripping holding elements of the gripper arms 305, 306 can hold a container 301 along a gripping area 313, the gripping area 313 being e.g. may lie between the locking ring 303 and the support ring 304, so the gripping portion 313 may have a maximum width or height equal to the distance 307.

Although the inner side surfaces of the gripper arm end portions 309, 319 (of which only the inner side surface 313 of gripper arm end portion 319 in Fig. 3 can be seen) could also contact the gripping / holding container, e.g. on the support ring 304, however, it may be preferred that said inner side surfaces of the gripper arm end portions 309, 319 are not in touching contact with the container 301, or with portions of the container 318, respectively.

Like gripper arms 206, 207 of gripper 200 described above, gripper arms 305, 306 of gripper 300 can have recesses or recesses, with only recess 314 of gripper arm 305 being visible in the illustration.

These recesses or recesses of the gripper arms, as well as the gap 321 between the gripper arm end parts 309, 319, can, for example, serve in particular to allow the gripper arm end parts of a second gripper (not shown) to move into one another into recesses and gaps 321 that the second gripper can also engage in the gripping region 313, and the container 301 can grasp and hold its gripping / holding elements simultaneously and together with the gripper 300.

FIG. 4 exemplifies, in a spatial perspective, a gripper 400, e.g. all features of the previously described gripper 200, 300 may have, including the possibility that the gripper 400 may be identical to the grippers 200, 300.

However, the gripper 400 is oriented differently relative to the grippers 200, 300 and tilted here for example with respect to the main lever action plane 203 of the gripper 200 by an angle of 180 +/- 10 degrees.

As in FIG. 3, a container 401 to be gripped / held is also shown. In particular, gripper 400 can thus have two pivotable gripping arms 405, 406, said gripping arms 405, 406 each having a Greifarmbasisteil 408, 409 and a Greifarmendteil 41 1, 410 may have.

The shape of the gripper arm base parts 408, 409, which is changed in comparison with gripper arm base parts of the grippers 200, 300, illustrates, by way of example, that the gripper arm base parts can be adapted for mounting on different transport devices (not shown).

The gripper arms 405, 406 may be symmetrical to each other. Other asymmetric versions of the gripping arms 405, 406 as described above are also conceivable.

Container 401 may, analogously to FIG. 3, have a container neck 402 which may have a closure thread region 407, a closure ring 403, and a support ring 403.

Lock ring 403 and support ring 404 may have a mean distance 418 from each other, thus limiting a possible gripping area 417.

The gripping arms 405, 406 can embrace the container 401, and grip and hold with the contact surfaces / contact points of their gripping / holding elements 416, 417 (for reasons of representation, possible further gripping / holding elements are not visible).

The gripping holding elements of the gripping arms 405, 406 can thereby hold or grip a container 401 along the gripping region 417, whereby, as already mentioned, the gripping region 417 can be gripped, for example. may lie between the locking ring 303 and the support ring 304, so the gripping portion 313 may have a maximum width or height equal to the distance 307.

The inner side surfaces 413, 414 of the gripper arm end parts 41 1, 410 may theoretically also touch the container 401 in gripping / holding, e.g. however, it may be preferred that said inner side surfaces 413, 414 of the gripper arm end portions 41 1, 410 are not in touching contact with the container 401, or with portions of the container body 402.

Like the previously described gripping arms of the grippers 200, 300, the gripping arms 405, 406 of gripper 400 may have recesses. These recesses or recesses of the gripping arms, as well as the gap 420 between the gripper arm end parts 41 1, 410, may, for example, serve in particular to allow the gripper arm end parts of a second gripper (not shown) to be driven into one another into said recesses and gap 420; so that said second gripper can also engage in the gripping area 417, and the container 401 can grip and hold at the same time and together with gripper 400 via its gripping / holding elements.

Due to the already mentioned different orientation of gripper 400 with respect to gripper 200 or 300, a gripper pair, which consists for example of the grippers 400 and 200 or 300, grab and hold a container at the same time, wherein the gripper a common gripping plane or a gripping area can share. The oppositely oriented grippers may e.g. Be part of two different container transport devices.

In the following figures, the operation of a gripper pair is exemplified.

Thus, FIG. 5 shows by way of example two grippers 500, 501 during the transfer of a container 524 between the grippers 500, 501. For simplicity, the container 524 may be considered analogous or identical to the container 401, i. its container neck 530 may, for example, also have a closure thread region 528, a closure ring 526, and a support ring 525.

The spacing 529 between support ring 525 and lock ring 526 may define or define a gripping area 527, wherein the gripping area 527 of both grippers 500, 501 may be used to grip and hold receptacle 524.

The gripper 500 may be analogous or identical to gripper 400, i. For example, about two pivotable gripping arms 504, 505 with Greifarmbasisteilen 507, 506 and Greifarmendteilen 509, 508, and each have two gripping / holding elements per gripping arm 504, 505, of which in Fig. 5, however, only the three gripping / holding elements 517th , 518, 519 are visible.

Analogous to FIG. 4, the gripper 500 is shown in the closed gripping position, ie gripper 500 grips or holds the container 524 by means of its gripping / holding elements, which grip and hold the container 524 in the gripping region 527 between the support ring 525 and the closure ring 526. The grippers 500, 501 may belong to different transport devices (not shown) and be movably mounted thereon.

In the following, it is assumed by way of example that the container 524 is transferred from the gripper 500 of a first transport device (not shown) to the gripper 501 of a second transport device (not shown). However, it is equally possible that, conversely, a transfer of the container 524 from gripper 501 to gripper 500 can take place.

As already indicated above, for example, an inventive gripper pair consist of two identical grippers, which, however, are oriented oppositely.

Gripper 501 can therefore be identical to gripper 500. However, gripper 501 may be opposite gripper 500 e.g. tilted by an angle of 180 +/- 10 degrees and offset by a height offset 534 so that, for example, equal surface sides of the grippers, such as e.g. Surface side 535 of Greifarmendteil 513 and surface side 536 of Greifarmendteil 508 may be oriented facing each other.

Of course, not identical grippers in this way, i. with height offset 534 and with different orientation, be arranged.

As already mentioned, e.g. for non-identical grippers of various transport devices, a height offset 534 may also be optional only because e.g. the recesses / recesses 520, 521, 522 or gaps 523 for enabling collision-free meshing of the grippers 500, 501 and / or the gripper arm base parts 506, 507, 510, 51 1 may, for example, also be designed such that no height offset 534 of the grippers 500, 501 against each other must be required.

In such a gripper pair configuration, the grippers 501, 500 can then move into one another and engage in one another in such a way that the recesses / recesses of the gripper arm end parts and gaps between gripper arms of the grippers interfere with one another or engage in collision with one another. / Holding elements of the gripper 501, 500 allow.

FIG. 5 shows, for example, how gripping arm end part 513 of gripping arm 503 or gripping / holding element 516 can travel into recess 520 of gripper arm 505, and gripper arm / Holding elements 514 and 515 can drive into the gap 523 between the Greifarmendteilen 508, 509 of gripper 500.

Similarly, it can be seen in Fig. 5 that in the recess 521 of gripping arm 503, for example, the gripping / holding member 517 of Greifarmendteil 508 can drive, as well as in the recess 522, the gripping / holding member 518 of Greifarmendteil 509 can drive, and also how the gripping / holding member 519 can move into a gap between the gripper arm end parts 512, 513 of gripper 501.

Said configuration and design of the grippers 500, 501, in particular thanks to the design of Greifarmendteile 508, 509, 512, 513, thus advantageously allows the two grippers 500, 501 a common gripping plane 533, spanned by the coordinate axes 531, 532, said gripping plane 533 may intersect the gripping region 527 between the carrier ring 525 and the closure ring 526 of the container 524.

Among other things, such a gripper pair 500, 501 advantageously allows the transfer of gripper-in gripper regardless of the type of a possible closure thread or contour of the container, for example a preform or a plastic bottle.

6 is an alternative side view of the exemplary gripper pair 500, 501, that is, the gripper 600 may be considered identical to gripper 500, and gripper 601 may be considered identical to gripper 501. For reasons of illustration, however, only one gripper arm 603 of gripper 600 and one gripper arm 602 of gripper 601 are visible.

The side perspective of Fig. 6, however, allows the meshing of the gripper pair 600, 601 or 500, 501 better to illustrate, in particular the meshing of gripping / holding element 617 of gripping arm 602 in the recess 612 of Greifarmendteil 604 of the gripper arm 603, and the Intertwining of gripping / holding element 616 of gripper arm 603 in the recess 61 1 of Greifarmendteil 605 of the gripping arm 602nd

Likewise, a possible height offset 613 between the grippers 600, 601 can now be seen more clearly, and also that the common gripping plane 614 of the gripper pair 600, 601 intersects the gripping area 610 of the container 606 to be gripped / held. As described above, the gripping region 610 lies between the closure ring 608 and the support ring 609 of the container 606. For the sake of completeness, the container neck 615 and the closure thread region 607 of container 606 are also identified.

The recesses 61 1, 612 of the grippers 600, 601 can preferably be located in the gripping plane 614 or in the gripping region 610, so that gripper parts, in particular gripping / holding elements of one gripper can travel into the recesses of the other gripper, and thus the grippers a container in the same gripping level better grip and hold.

In the region of the recesses 61 1, 612, the gripper arm end part or the gripper arm end parts can run next to the gripping plane 614 or next to the gripping region 614.

When the grippers 600, 601 mesh with one another, gaps between the gripping parts which are moved into one another, in particular the gripping / holding elements, can remain in the gripping area or in the gripping plane.

As an example of such gaps, the gap 618 between gripping / holding elements 616 and 617 and the gap between gripping / holding element 617 and gripper arm end part 604 are marked.

FIG. 7 is an alternative plan view of the example gripper pair 500, 501 and 600, 601 of FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, wherein gripper 700 may be considered identical to gripper 500, and gripper 701 may be considered identical to gripper 501.

Advantageously, however, this exemplary plan view allows all gripping / holding elements 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 71 1, 712, 713, 717 of the gripper pair 700, 701 to be seen.

In addition, it can be seen that grippers 700 of a transport device 718, e.g. a transport star, may belong, said transport device 718 can transport containers along a transport path 720, for example along a circle or partial circle. In addition, the gripper 700 or its gripper arms 702, 703 can move rotationally about an axis perpendicular to an axis 725 in the transport direction plane.

Analogously, gripper 701 may belong to a second transport device 719, for example a transport star, said transport device 719 being able to transport containers along a transport path 721, for example along a circle or partial circle. Likewise The gripper 701 or its gripping arms 704, 705 can move rotationally about an axis perpendicular to an axis 726 in the transport direction plane.

It can be clearly seen in the figure how container 723 can be gripped and held by all gripping / holding elements 71 1, 712, 713, 717 of gripper 700 between carrying ring 722 and closing ring 724.

Following the convention of FIG. 5, it may be assumed, for example, that the container 723 is to be transferred from the gripper 700 of the transport device 718 to the gripper 701 of the transport device 719. Of course, it is equally possible that, conversely, a transfer of the container 723 from gripper 701 to gripper 700 can take place.

In particular, it may be possible for the grippers 700, 701 to move toward one another and to move into one another.

For example, gripper 701 may retract into gripper 700, along with all of its gripping / holding members 706, 707, 708, 709 and its gripper arm end portions 715, 716, and between the gap between gripper arm end portions 713, 714 of gripper arm 700 and into the recesses of said gripper arm end portions 715, 716 engage so as to grip the container 723 between the support ring 722 and locking ring 724 with its gripping / holding elements 706, 707, 708, 709 and hold.

After e.g. Gripper 701 has gripped the container 723 in an exemplary manner, for example, gripper 700 may open, i.e., open. its gripping / holding elements 710, 71, 712, 717 can release the container, and thus the container 723 can be transferred to gripper 701 of the transport device 719.

FIG. 8 shows a further plan view of a pair of grippers consisting of gripper 800 and gripper 801, which can be regarded as identical to grippers 700 and 701.

While in Fig. 7, however, only one gripper, namely gripper 700, holds the container by means of its gripping / holding elements, Fig. 8 shows by way of example the moment of transfer of the container of gripper-in-gripper in which both grippers 800, 810 the container 820 simultaneously with all their gripping / holding elements 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 81 1, 812, 813 between the support ring 819 and locking ring 818 grab and hold. In other words, the gripper pair 800, 801 shares a common gripping plane or a common gripping area. It can also be clearly seen in FIG. 8 that the grippers 800, 801 can each enclose the circumference 821 of the container part between the closure ring and the support ring, ie the circumference of the gripping region, at least over an angle of 180 degrees.

It should be expressly noted at this point that all previously described features of the gripper 200, 300, 400, 500, 501, 600, 601, 700, 701, 800, 801 can be combined with each other.

There are 8 leaves with 8 figures.

The reference numerals are assigned as follows.

100 Device for transferring and transporting containers

101 First transport device, e.g. first transport star

102 second transport device, e.g. second transport star

103 gripper / clamp of the second transport device

104 gripper / clamp of the second transport device

105 transfer area of gripper / clamp of the first transport device to

Gripper / clamp of the second transport device

106 container, e.g. Preform or plastic bottle

107 First coordinate axis, e.g. axis of ordinates

108 Second coordinate axis, e.g. abscissa

109 gripping plane spanned by coordinate axis 107 and coordinate axis 108

200 grippers for gripping and / or holding and / or transporting a container

201 Offset height / offset distance of gripping / holding element with respect to

Main leverage level

202 Possible extent in grip level 225 of a to be grasped or held

container

203 Main action level

204 First coordinate axis of the main lever action plane / axis parallel to a gripper arm longitudinal axis

205 Second coordinate axis of the main lever action plane

206 First gripper arm

207 second gripper arm

208 Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 207th

209 Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 206th

210 recess / recess Recess / recess

Contact surface / contact point of gripping / holding element 220

Contact surface / contact point of gripping / holding element 221

Contact surface / contact point of gripping / holding element 219

Contact surface / contact point of gripping / holding element 218

Offset distance from contact surface / contact point of a gripping / holding element to the inside side surface of a gripper arm end part

Inner side surface of gripper arm end portion 208

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 207

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 206

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 207

Inner side surface of Greifarmendteil 209

First coordinate axis of the gripping plane

Second coordinate axis of the gripping plane

Gripping plane spanned by coordinate axis 223, 224

Pivot axis of gripper arm 206

Possible pivoting direction of gripping arm 206

Gripper arm base of gripper arm 206

Gripping arm base part of gripper arm 207

Average length of a recess 210, 21 1

Average height or average depth of a recess 210, 21 1

Surface side of a Greifarmendteils 208

Surface side of a gripper arm base part 229

Surface side of a Greifarmendteils 209

Surface side of a gripper arm base part 228

Gap between gripper arm end parts

Pivot axis of gripper arm 207

Possible pivoting direction of gripper arm 207

grab

container

Closing thread area of container

lock ring

Neck ring / collar

First gripper arm

Second gripper arm Middle distance between locking ring and carrying ring. Grabber base part of gripper arm 305

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 305th

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 305

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 306

Inner side surface of gripper arm end part 319

Recess / recess

Container opening / container mouth

Header of the container

Griffin area

container neck

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 306th

Gripper arm base of gripper arm 306

Gap between the Greifarmendteilen

grab

container

container neck

lock ring

Neck ring / collar

First gripper arm

Second gripper arm

Closing thread area of container

Gripping arm base part of gripper arm 405

Gripping arm base part of gripper arm 406

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 406th

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 405th

Recess / recess

Inner side surface of gripper arm end part 41 1

Inner side surface of Greifarmendteil 410

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 406

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 405

Griffin area

Middle distance between locking ring and bearing recess / recess

Gap between the Greifarmendteilen First gripper

Second gripper

First gripper arm of second gripper

Second gripper arm of second gripper

First gripper arm of first gripper

Second gripper arm of first gripper

Gripping arm base part of gripper arm 505

Gripper arm base of gripper arm 504

Gripper arm end of gripper arm 505

Grab arm end of gripper arm 504

Gripping arm base part of gripper arm 502

Gripping arm base part of gripper arm 503

Grab arm end of gripper arm 502

Greifarmendteil of gripper 503

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 503

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 502

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 503

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 505

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 504

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 505

Recess / recess of gripper arm 505

Recess / recess of gripper arm 503

Recess / recess of gripper arm 502

Gap between the gripper arm end parts of gripper 500

container

support ring

lock ring

Griffin area

Closing thread area of container

Distance between bearing ring and lock ring / width or height of the gripping area of the container neck

First coordinate axis of the gripping level 533

Second coordinate axis of the gripping plane 533

gripping plane

Height offset between two grippers of different transport devices Surface side of Greifarmendteil 513 Surface side of Greifarmendteil 508

First gripper

Second gripper

Gripping arm of first gripper

Gripper arm of second gripper

Greifarmendteil of gripper 603

Gripper arm end of gripper arm 602

container

Closing thread area of container

lock ring

support ring

Griffin area

Recess / recess

height offset

gripping plane

container neck

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 602

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 603

Space between gripping / holding elements 616 and 617

Space between gripping / holding element 617 and Greifarmendteil 604 First gripper

Second gripper

First gripper arm of gripper 700

Second gripper of gripper 700

Second gripper arm of gripper 701

First gripper arm of gripper 701

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 705

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 704

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 703

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 702

Greifarmendteil of gripper 702

Greifarmendteil of gripper 703 Grab arm end of gripper arm 704

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 705th

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 702

First transport device, e.g. first transport star

Second transport device, e.g. second transport star

Transport path along transport device 718

Transport path along transport device 719

support ring

container

lock ring

Axis in transport direction plane

Gap between the gripper arm end parts 713, 714 of gripper arm 700

First gripper

Second gripper

First gripper arm of gripper 800

Second gripper of gripper 800

Second gripper arm of gripper 801

First gripper arm of gripper 801

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 805

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 804

Gripping / holding element of gripper arm 803

Gripping / holding element of gripping arm 802

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 803

Grab arm end of gripper arm 804

Greifarmendteil of gripper arm 805th

Greifarmendteil of gripper 802

lock ring

support ring

container

The circumference of the container part between the locking ring and the support ring / circumference of the gripping area

Claims

claims

1 . Device (100) for transferring and transporting containers (106, 524) by means of neck handling, in particular preforms and / or plastic bottles with neck collars, comprising: at least two transport devices (101, 102) each having at least one two-armed gripper (104, 103, 200 , 400, 500, 501, 600, 601) for gripping a container (106), wherein a gripper has at least one gripping / holding element (218, 219, 220, 221), characterized in that the at least one gripper (104 , 600) of the first transport device and the at least one gripper (103, 601) of the second transport device have recesses (210, 21 1) for enabling a disability-free and collision-free engagement of gripper parts (508, 509, 512, 513, 514 , 515, 516, 517, 518, 519) when the gripper (500, 600) of the first transport device moves into the gripper (501, 601) of the second transport device, and the grippers (500, 600, 50 1, 601) of the various transport devices are configured to share a common grip plane (614) when gripping and / or holding a container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one gripper (104, 600) of the first transport device and the at least one gripper (103, 601) of the second transport device a gap (236, 321, 420, 523, 727) between Their respective Greifarmendteilen (208, 209, 319, 320, 410, 41 1, 508, 509, 713, 714), for enabling a disability-free and collision-free interlocking driving of gripper parts (508, 509, 512, 513, 514, 515 , 516, 517, 518, 519) when driving the gripper (500, 600) of the first transport device into the gripper (501, 601) of the second transport device.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gripping arm of a gripper at least two gripping / holding elements (218, 219, 220, 221, 310, 31 1, 312, 313, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518 , 519, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 71 1, 712).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses (210, 21 1) between the gripping / holding elements (218, 219, 220, 221) a gripping arm (206, 207) and / or between a gripping / holding element (218, 219, 220, 221) of a gripper arm (206, 207) and a gripper arm base part (228, 229) of a gripper arm (206, 207), and / or between a gripping / holding element (218, 219, 220, 221) of a gripper arm (206, 207) and a gripper arm end portion (209, 208) of a gripper arm (206, 207).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses an average length (230), preferably 5 to 40 mm, measured along an axis (204) parallel to a gripper arm longitudinal axis, and a mean height (231), preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, measured as the average distance between a surface (234, 232) of a gripper arm end portion (208, 209) and a surface (235, 233) of a gripper arm base portion (228, 229).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one gripper (500) of the first transport device and the at least one gripper (501) of the second transport device against each other with height offset (534) are mounted and with different orientation of their surface sides (535 , 536).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping / holding elements (218, 219, 220, 221) and / or their contact surfaces (212, 213, 214, 215) relative to a surface (234, 232) of a Greifarmendteils (209, 208) and / or an inner side surface (222, 217) of a Greifarmendteils (209, 208) are spaced apart.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping plane (225) of a gripper is offset from the main lever action plane (203) of the gripper (200).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grippers (103, 104, 200, 400) are movably arranged on the transport devices (101, 102, 718, 719).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gripper (103, 104, 200, 400) is designed so that it the container part (417) between the support ring (404) and locking ring (403) at least over an angle of 180 degrees of Behältnishalsteilumfangs can enclose.

1 1. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping arms (206, 207) of a gripper (200) about a pivot axis (226, 237) are pivotable.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport devices as a rotary, e.g. Transport star, and / or designed as a linear transport device.

13. Method for transferring and transporting containers (524, 606) by means of neck handling, in particular preforms and / or plastic bottles with neck collars, comprising:

Gripping and holding a container (524, 606) by a gripper (500, 600, 700) of a first transport device (718),

Gripper-in-gripper transfer of the container (524) to a gripper (501, 601, 701) of a second transport device (719), wherein the gripper (500, 600, 700) of the first transport device and the gripper (501, 601, 701) of the second transport device (719) and share a common gripping plane (533, 614),

Releasing the container (524, 606) from the grip of the gripper of the first transport device (718),

Further transport of the container (524, 606) by the gripper of the second transport device (719).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gripper (500, 600, 700) of the first transport device (718) and the gripper (501, 601, 701) of the second transport device (719) in the gripper-in-gripper transfer simultaneously between the container (606) in a gripping area between the support ring (525, 609, 722) and locking ring (526, 608, 724) engage and hold.