EP0515629B1 - Container handling machine - Google Patents

Container handling machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0515629B1
EP0515629B1 EP92901104A EP92901104A EP0515629B1 EP 0515629 B1 EP0515629 B1 EP 0515629B1 EP 92901104 A EP92901104 A EP 92901104A EP 92901104 A EP92901104 A EP 92901104A EP 0515629 B1 EP0515629 B1 EP 0515629B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
handling machine
machine according
centring
handling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92901104A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0515629A1 (en
Inventor
Rupert Meinzinger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG
Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
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Publication of EP0515629A1 publication Critical patent/EP0515629A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/24—Devices for supporting or handling bottles
    • B67C3/242—Devices for supporting or handling bottles engaging with bottle necks

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a vascular treatment machine according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Thin-walled and labile vessels have been used for reliable handling for some time, e.g. in the fountain pen, equipped with a stable neck collar in the area below the mouth.
  • the vessels on the neck collar can be gripped by a specially designed support element and raised to the treatment organ of the vascular treatment machine. Because of this handling system, the lifting cylinders that previously used to attack the bottom of the vessels can be dispensed with.
  • a plate with a U-shaped recess for inserting and carrying out the vessels has been used as the supporting element.
  • the vessel mouth With such support elements, an exact centering of the vessel mouth with respect to the treatment organ cannot be guaranteed, since in the period from pushing the vessel into the laterally open recess of the support element to lifting and pressing the vessel mouth against a seal on the filler organ, the vessel as a result of those occurring in rotary machines Centrifugal forces and machine vibrations do not exactly maintain their original position.
  • Accurate centering of the mouth of the vessel is particularly important for vessel inspection machines but also for filling valves with sensitive sensors.
  • inspection machines there is often the additional condition that the vessel does not strike a sealing surface attached to the treatment element, e.g. with filling valves, but the vessel is open, i.e. not sealed airtight, must be positioned on an inspection probe.
  • a very exact height of the vessel mouth is also important during the inspection process. All of these requirements cannot be satisfactorily met by the known devices.
  • the invention has for its object to bring about an improvement in safe and quick handling with high centering accuracy.
  • a vessel supplied to the support element can be clamped immediately thereafter by a relative movement in the axial direction between the provided centering element and the support element supporting the neck collar.
  • the vascular mouth is centered precisely with respect to the treatment organ.
  • the centering element on its side facing the vessel mouth is equipped with a correspondingly shaped centering surface.
  • the clamping and centering process can either be carried out by lowering the centering element onto the vessel mouth or by lifting the support element in the direction to the centering element.
  • the treatment organ can subsequently be introduced into the mouth of the vessel or, conversely, the vessel can be moved in the direction of the treatment organ by lifting the centering and supporting element together.
  • both the centering and the height position of the vascular mouth with respect to the treatment organ are maintained immovably by the device according to the invention.
  • the centering and support element are pressed against one another via a spring-elastic element to clamp the vessel.
  • the required relative movements between the centering and support element on the one hand and the vessel mouth and the treatment element on the other hand are carried out by a single control device.
  • the control engineering outlay and the wear and tear resulting in operation can be reduced to a minimum.
  • the device according to the invention for handling vessels with a neck collar can also be used in an adapted form by using a seal in the area of the centering element for gas-tight sealing of the vessel with respect to a filling element, the operating pressure of which deviates from the atmospheric pressure during the filling process.
  • an inspection device for reusable plastic bottles which comprises a treatment element 7 equipped with a probe 8 for the detection of possible residues in the interior of vessels, which is rigidly attached to the rotating part of the machine designed as a carousel. Any number of such treatment organs 7 can be arranged side by side on a common pitch circle.
  • the circumferential part of the inspection machine which is only partially indicated and designed in the manner of a carousel, essentially consists in its radially outer area of two mutually parallel support plates 24, between which two parallel guide rods 25 with an annular cross section are arranged rigidly for each treatment element 7.
  • a guide 13 for a slide 18 which is formed from a U-shaped sheet and which is mounted so as to be vertically displaceable along the guide 13 by means of sliding bushes.
  • the carriage 18 carries one on its side facing the machine center Cam roller 22 which interacts with the control cam 23 arranged in the area between the vessel outlet and inlet.
  • the control curve 23 is designed as a curve segment limited to the circulation area mentioned. In the rest of the circulation area, the cam roller 22 is not in contact with any control cam.
  • the centering element 3 is also designed as a U-shaped plate with sliding bushes, the lower leg extending radially outward beyond the probe 8 of the treatment element 7.
  • a circular opening 10 is integrated concentrically to the longitudinal axis 16 of the probe 8, to which a centering surface 9 adapted to the shape of the mouth 6 of the vessel 4 is formed on the side facing the vessel 4.
  • a support element 2 designed as an angle plate is rigidly screwed to the two rods 26.
  • a stop 20 which is adjustable in height along the rods 26, is also clamped to it, which, in cooperation with a stop body 12 fastened to the guide rods 25, defines the operating position of the centering element 3 and the support element 2.
  • the stop body 12 is made in two parts and can be clamped in a height-adjustable manner on the guide rods 25 by means of clamping screws.
  • the centering element 3 is permanently acted upon in the opposite direction by a spring-elastic element 17 in the direction of the supporting element 2.
  • a spring-elastic element 17 in the direction of the supporting element 2.
  • the compression springs 17 are supported with one end on the lower leg of the centering element 3 and with their opposite end on an adjusting ring 27 fastened to the rod 26.
  • the centering element 3 has an adjustable stop element 21 in the area between the two guide rods 25 which, together with the top of the height-fixed stop body 12, defines the ready position of the centering element 3 in the area between the vessel outlet and inlet.
  • a complete treatment cycle is as follows: In the machine inlet, the device assumes the position shown in FIG. 1.
  • the vessels 4 to be inserted into the machine slide with their neck collars 5 on stationary guide plates, the upper side of which is aligned with that of the support element 2.
  • a vessel is inserted into the U-shaped recess of the support element 2 by the guide star, which is driven synchronously with the machine and acts on the vessel body, and is in contact with the U-shaped recess of the support element 2 Neck collar 5 on the top of the support member 2.
  • the height of the support element 2 in this so-called standby position is determined by the contour of the control cam 23 which is decisive in this position and against which the cam roller 22 is held in a force-fitting manner by the spring-elastic element 19.
  • the centering element 3 is located with its underside only a few millimeters above the mouth 6 of the vessel 4, this position being determined by the stop element 21, which can be seen in FIG. 3 and fastened to the centering element 3, and the top side of the stop body 12.
  • the contour of the control curve 23 is designed so that the cam roller 22, the slide 18 and the supporting element 2 attached to it can move upward as a result of the force acting through the spring-elastic element 19, until shortly afterwards the mouth 6 into the opening 10 of the centering element 3 engages, the vessel being centered simultaneously under the influence of the centering surface 9. This has the consequence that the centering element 3 and thus the stop element 21 are raised by the stop body 12 in the direction of the probe 8 until the stop 20 comes to rest on the underside of the stop body 12, whereby the upward movement of the slide 18 and all attached parts is finished.
  • control curve 23 ends. Due to the force of the spring element 17, the vessel 4 to be inspected is clamped non-positively and positively between the neck collar 5 and the mouth 6. The required inspection procedures are carried out in the operating position reached.
  • the cam roller 22 runs onto the control cam 23 beginning there, so that the slide 18 and thus the vessel 4 are lowered.
  • the stop element 21 of the centering element 3 touches the stop body 12 on its upper side
  • the downward movement of the centering element 3 is ended while the slide 18 slides further downwards together with the support element 2.
  • This causes an increase in the distance between the centering element 3 and the support element 2, whereby the mouth 6 of the vessel 4 is released.
  • the downward movement of the vessel 4 is stopped when the bottom of the vessel strikes a slide plate 28.
  • the contour of the control curve 23 can be designed in such a way that the support element 2 moves slightly further downward relative to the neck collar 5 and thereby completely releases the vessel 4.
  • the vessel 4 is grasped by an outlet star (not shown) on the fuselage part and directed to a discharge conveyor. Thereafter, the device 1 reaches the inlet star again, as a result of which the described working cycle begins again in the same way.

Landscapes

  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Abstract

A container handling machine with at least one handling component and a device allocated thereto for holding containers with a collar in the region beneath the aperture, whereby the device (1) comprises a bearer (2) supporting the collar (5) and a centring component (3) variable in its distance thereto so that a container (4) to be handled can be clamped and centred axially between the collar (5) and the aperture (6).

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Gefäßbehandlungsmaschine gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The invention relates to a vascular treatment machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Dünnwandige und labile Gefäße, insbesondere Kunststoffflaschen, sind seit geraumer Zeit zur zuverlässigen Handhabung, z.B. im Füller, mit einem stabilen Halskragen im Bereich unterhalb der Mündung ausgestattet. Dadurch können die Gefäße am Halskragen durch ein speziell ausgebildetes Tragelement unterfaßt und an das Behandlungsorgan der Gefäßbehandlungsmaschine angehoben werden. Aufgrund dieses Handhabungssystems kann auf die früher üblichen, am Boden der Gefäße angreifenden Hubzylinder verzichtet werden.Thin-walled and labile vessels, especially plastic bottles, have been used for reliable handling for some time, e.g. in the fountain pen, equipped with a stable neck collar in the area below the mouth. As a result, the vessels on the neck collar can be gripped by a specially designed support element and raised to the treatment organ of the vascular treatment machine. Because of this handling system, the lifting cylinders that previously used to attack the bottom of the vessels can be dispensed with.

Als Tragelement wurde bisher im einfachsten Fall eine Platte mit einer U-förmigen Ausnehmung zum Ein- und Ausführen der Gefäße verwendet. Mit derartigen Tragelementen ist keine exakte Zentrierung der Gefäßmündung in Bezug auf das Behandlungsorgan gewährleistbar, da in der Zeitspanne vom Einschieben des Gefäßes in die seitlich offene Ausnehmung des Tragelements bis zum Anheben und Anpreßen der Gefäßmündung gegen eine Dichtung am Füllorgan das Gefäß infolge der bei Rundläufermaschinen auftretenden Fliehkräfte und auch der Maschinenvibrationen seine ursprüngliche Lage nicht exakt einhält.In the simplest case, a plate with a U-shaped recess for inserting and carrying out the vessels has been used as the supporting element. With such support elements, an exact centering of the vessel mouth with respect to the treatment organ cannot be guaranteed, since in the period from pushing the vessel into the laterally open recess of the support element to lifting and pressing the vessel mouth against a seal on the filler organ, the vessel as a result of those occurring in rotary machines Centrifugal forces and machine vibrations do not exactly maintain their original position.

Auf eine genaue Zentrierung der Gefäßmündung wird jedoch speziell bei Gefäßinspektionsmaschinen aber auch Füllventilen mit empfindlichen Sensoren Wert gelegt. Gerade bei Inspektionsmaschinen besteht häufig zusätzlich die Bedingung, daß das Gefäß nicht gegen eine am Behandlungsorgan angebrachte Dichtfläche, wie z.B. bei Füllventilen, angepreßt werden darf, sondern das Gefäß offen, d.h. nicht luftdicht verschlossen, an einer Inspektionssonde positioniert werden muß. In besonderen Fällen kommt es während des Inspektionsvorganges auch auf eine sehr exakte Höhenlage der Gefäßmündung an. All diese Anforderungen können durch die bekannten Vorrichtungen nicht in befriedigendem Maße erfüllt werden.Accurate centering of the mouth of the vessel is particularly important for vessel inspection machines but also for filling valves with sensitive sensors. With inspection machines in particular, there is often the additional condition that the vessel does not strike a sealing surface attached to the treatment element, e.g. with filling valves, but the vessel is open, i.e. not sealed airtight, must be positioned on an inspection probe. In special cases, a very exact height of the vessel mouth is also important during the inspection process. All of these requirements cannot be satisfactorily met by the known devices.

Demgegenüber liegt der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Verbesserung hinsichtlich einer sicheren und schnellen Handhabung bei gleichzeitig hoher Zentriergenauigkeit herbeizuführen.In contrast, the invention has for its object to bring about an improvement in safe and quick handling with high centering accuracy.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch die im kennzeichnenden Teil des Anspruchs 1 angegebenen Merkmale gelöst.This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Durch die angegebene Vorrichtung kann ein dem Tragelement zugeführtes Gefäß unmittelbar danach durch eine Relativbewegung in axialer Richtung zwischen dem vorgesehenen Zentrierelement und dem den Halskragen unterstützenden Tragelement eingespannt werden. Während dieses Einspannvorganges erfolgt zugleich eine exakte Zentrierung der Gefäßmündung in Bezug auf das Behandlungsorgan. Hierzu ist das Zentrierelement auf seiner der Gefäßmündung zugewandten Seite mit einer entsprechend ausgeformten Zentrierfläche ausgestattet. Der Einspann- und Zentriervorgang kann entweder durch Absenken des Zentrierelements auf die Gefäßmündung oder Anheben des Tragelements in Richtung zum Zentrierelement erfolgen. Nachfolgend kann das Behandlungsorgan in die Gefäßmündung eingeführt oder umgekehrt das Gefäß in Richtung zum Behandlungsorgan durch gemeinsames Anheben des Zentrier- und Tragelements bewegt werden.By means of the specified device, a vessel supplied to the support element can be clamped immediately thereafter by a relative movement in the axial direction between the provided centering element and the support element supporting the neck collar. During this clamping process, the vascular mouth is centered precisely with respect to the treatment organ. For this purpose, the centering element on its side facing the vessel mouth is equipped with a correspondingly shaped centering surface. The clamping and centering process can either be carried out by lowering the centering element onto the vessel mouth or by lifting the support element in the direction to the centering element. The treatment organ can subsequently be introduced into the mouth of the vessel or, conversely, the vessel can be moved in the direction of the treatment organ by lifting the centering and supporting element together.

Während des Behandlungsvorganges wird durch die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung sowohl die Zentrier- als auch Höhenlage der Gefäßmündung in Bezug auf das Behandlungsorgan unverückbar eingehalten. Zum Ausgleich von unvermeidlichen Fertigungstoleranzen bei der Herstellung der Gefäße ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn das Zentrier- und Tragelement über ein federelastisches Element gegeneinander zur Gefäßeinspannung angedrückt werden.During the treatment process, both the centering and the height position of the vascular mouth with respect to the treatment organ are maintained immovably by the device according to the invention. To compensate for unavoidable manufacturing tolerances in the manufacture of the vessels, it is particularly advantageous if the centering and support element are pressed against one another via a spring-elastic element to clamp the vessel.

Gemäß einer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung ist es besonders vorteilhaft, wenn die erforderlichen Relativbewegungen zwischen dem Zentrier- und Tragelement einerseits und der Gefäßmündung und dem Behandlungsorgan andererseits durch eine einzige Steuereinrichtung vorgenommen werden. Dadurch kann der steuerungstechnische Aufwand und der sich im Betrieb ergebende Verschleiß auf ein Minimum reduziert werden.According to one embodiment of the invention, it is particularly advantageous if the required relative movements between the centering and support element on the one hand and the vessel mouth and the treatment element on the other hand are carried out by a single control device. As a result, the control engineering outlay and the wear and tear resulting in operation can be reduced to a minimum.

Dies läßt sich bei einer höhenfesten Anordnung des Gefäßbehandlungsorgans und einer ausschließlichen Bewegung des Gefäßes besonders vorteilhaft realisieren.This can be realized particularly advantageously when the vessel treatment organ is arranged at a fixed height and the vessel is moved exclusively.

Die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Handhaben von Gefäßen mit einem Halskragen kann in angepaßter Form durch Verwendung einer Dichtung im Bereich des Zentrierelementes zum gasdichten Abschließen des Gefäßes gegenüber einem Füllorgan auch für Füllmaschinen verwendet werden, deren Betriebsdruck während des Abfüllvorganges vom Atmosphärendruck abweicht.The device according to the invention for handling vessels with a neck collar can also be used in an adapted form by using a seal in the area of the centering element for gas-tight sealing of the vessel with respect to a filling element, the operating pressure of which deviates from the atmospheric pressure during the filling process.

Im Nachfolgenden wird die Erfindung anhand eines in den Zeichnungen dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels erläutert. Es zeigt:

Fig. 1
eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung im Bereich des Gefäßauslaufes,
Fig. 2
eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 -aus der Richtung B gesehen- ohne Darstellung des Behandlungsorgans,
Fig. 3
einen Schnitt der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 entlang der Linie A-A.
In the following the invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. It shows:
Fig. 1
a side view of the device in the area of the vessel outlet,
Fig. 2
2 is a front view of the device according to FIG. 1, seen from direction B, without showing the treatment organ,
Fig. 3
a section of the device of FIG. 1 along the line AA.

In Fig. 1 ist eine Inspektionsvorrichtung für Mehrweg-Kunststoffflaschen dargestellt, die zur Erkennung von eventuellen Rückständen im Inneren von Gefäßen ein mit einer Sonde 8 ausgestattes Behandlungsorgan 7 umfaßt, das starr am als Karussell ausgebildeten umlaufenden Teil der Maschine befestigt ist. Es können beliebig viele derartige Behandlungsorgane 7 nebeneinander auf einem gemeinsamen Teilkreis angeordnet sein. Das nur teilweise angedeutete, nach Art eines Karussells ausgebildete umlaufende Teil der Inspektionsmaschine besteht in seinem radial äußeren Bereich im wesentlich aus zwei mit Abstand zueinander parallelen Tragplatten 24, zwischen denen jeweils pro Behandlungsorgan 7 zwei zueinander parallele Führungstäbe 25 mit kreisringförmigem Querschnitt starr angeordnet sind. Diese bilden eine Führung 13 für einen aus einem U-förmig gebogenen Blech gebildeten Schlitten 18, der mittels Gleitbuchsen entlang der Führung 13 höhenverschiebbar gelagert ist. Der Schlitten 18 trägt auf seiner zum Maschinenzentrum gerichteten Seite eine Kurvenrolle 22, die mit der im Bereich zwischen dem Gefäßaus- und -einlauf angeordneten Steuerkurve 23 zusammenwirkt. Die Steuerkurve 23 ist als ein auf den genannten Umlaufbereich beschränktes Kurvensegment ausgebildet. Im übrigen Umlaufbereich liegt die Kurvenrolle 22 an keiner Steuerkurve an.In Fig. 1, an inspection device for reusable plastic bottles is shown, which comprises a treatment element 7 equipped with a probe 8 for the detection of possible residues in the interior of vessels, which is rigidly attached to the rotating part of the machine designed as a carousel. Any number of such treatment organs 7 can be arranged side by side on a common pitch circle. The circumferential part of the inspection machine, which is only partially indicated and designed in the manner of a carousel, essentially consists in its radially outer area of two mutually parallel support plates 24, between which two parallel guide rods 25 with an annular cross section are arranged rigidly for each treatment element 7. These form a guide 13 for a slide 18 which is formed from a U-shaped sheet and which is mounted so as to be vertically displaceable along the guide 13 by means of sliding bushes. The carriage 18 carries one on its side facing the machine center Cam roller 22 which interacts with the control cam 23 arranged in the area between the vessel outlet and inlet. The control curve 23 is designed as a curve segment limited to the circulation area mentioned. In the rest of the circulation area, the cam roller 22 is not in contact with any control cam.

Auf der radial äußeren Seite des Schlittens 18 sind zwischen seinen beiden Schenkeln zwei zueinander parallele Stangen 26 angeordnet, die der Höhenbewegung des Schlittens 18 folgen und eine Führung 14 für das Zentrierelement 3 bilden. Das Zentrierelement 3 ist ebenfalls als ein U-förmiges Blech mit Gleitbuchsen ausgeführt, wobei der untere Schenkel sich radial nach außen bis über die Sonde 8 des Behandlungsorgans 7 hinaus erstreckt. In diesem Schenkel ist konzentrisch zur Längsachse 16 der Sonde 8 eine kreisrunde Öffnung 10 integriert, an die an der zum Gefäß 4 gerichteten Seite eine an die Form der Mündung 6 des Gefäßes 4 angepaßte Zentrierfläche 9 angeformt ist. Mit Abstand unterhalb des Zentrierelements 3 ist ein als Winkelblech ausgebildetes Tragelement 2 starr an den beiden Stangen 26 angeschraubt.On the radially outer side of the carriage 18, two mutually parallel rods 26 are arranged between its two legs, which follow the vertical movement of the carriage 18 and form a guide 14 for the centering element 3. The centering element 3 is also designed as a U-shaped plate with sliding bushes, the lower leg extending radially outward beyond the probe 8 of the treatment element 7. In this leg, a circular opening 10 is integrated concentrically to the longitudinal axis 16 of the probe 8, to which a centering surface 9 adapted to the shape of the mouth 6 of the vessel 4 is formed on the side facing the vessel 4. At a distance below the centering element 3, a support element 2 designed as an angle plate is rigidly screwed to the two rods 26.

Unterhalb dem Tragelement 2 ist ferner ein entlang den Stangen 26 höhenverstellbarer Anschlag 20 an diesen klemmbar befestigt, der in Zusammenarbeit mit einem an den Führungstäben 25 befestigten Anschlagkörper 12 die Betriebstellung des Zentrierelements 3 und des Tragelements 2 festlegt. Der Anschlagkörper 12 ist zweiteilig ausgeführt und kann mittels Klemmschrauben an den Führungstäben 25 höheneinstellbar festgeklemmt werden.Beneath the support element 2, a stop 20, which is adjustable in height along the rods 26, is also clamped to it, which, in cooperation with a stop body 12 fastened to the guide rods 25, defines the operating position of the centering element 3 and the support element 2. The stop body 12 is made in two parts and can be clamped in a height-adjustable manner on the guide rods 25 by means of clamping screws.

Zwischen der Oberseite des höhenfesten Anschlagkörpers 12 und dem oberen Schenkel des Schlittens 18 ist ein den Schlitten 18 permanent in Richtung zum Behandlungsorgan 7 beaufschlagendes federelastisches Element 19 angeordnet, das durch die Führungstäbe 25 umgebende Druckfedern gebildet wird.Between the top of the height-fixed stop body 12 and the upper leg of the slide 18 there is a slide 18 Permanently acting in the direction of the treatment member 7 resilient element 19, which is formed by the guide rods 25 surrounding compression springs.

In gleicher Weise wird in umgekehrter Richtung das Zentrierelement 3 permanent durch ein federelastisches Element 17 in Richtung zum Tragelement 2 hin beaufschlagt. Dies geschieht ebenfalls durch zwei Druckfedern, die jeweils auf einer der beiden Stangen 26 im Bereich zwischen den beiden Schenkeln des Zentrierelements 3 angeordnet sind. Die Druckfedern 17 stützen sich dabei mit einem Ende auf dem unteren Schenkel des Zentrierelements 3 und mit ihrem gegenüberliegenden Ende an einem an der Stange 26 befestigten Stellring 27 ab.In the same way, the centering element 3 is permanently acted upon in the opposite direction by a spring-elastic element 17 in the direction of the supporting element 2. This is also done by two compression springs, which are each arranged on one of the two rods 26 in the area between the two legs of the centering element 3. The compression springs 17 are supported with one end on the lower leg of the centering element 3 and with their opposite end on an adjusting ring 27 fastened to the rod 26.

Wie besonders gut in Fig. 3 erkennbar, besitzt das Zentrierelement 3 im Bereich zwischen den beiden Führungstäben 25 ein einstellbares Anschlagelement 21, das gemeinsam mit der Oberseite des höhenfesten Anschlagkörpers 12 die Bereitschaftstellung des Zentrierelements 3 im Bereich zwischen dem Gefäßaus- und -einlauf definiert.As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 3, the centering element 3 has an adjustable stop element 21 in the area between the two guide rods 25 which, together with the top of the height-fixed stop body 12, defines the ready position of the centering element 3 in the area between the vessel outlet and inlet.

Ein vollständiger Behandlungszyklus läuft folgendermaßen ab:
Im Einlauf der Maschine nimmt die Vorrichtung die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Stellung ein. Die in die Maschine einzuführenden Gefäße 4 gleiten mit ihrem Halskragen 5 auf ortsfest angeordneten Führungsblechen, deren Oberseite mit der des Tragelements 2 fluchtet. Durch einen synchron zur Maschine angetriebenen, am Gefäßrumpf angreifenden Einlaufstern wird ein Gefäß von den genannten, nicht dargestellten Führungsblechen in die U-förmige Ausnehmung des Tragelements 2 eingeführt und liegt mit ihrem Halskragen 5 auf der Oberseite des Tragelements 2 auf. Die Höhenlage des Tragelements 2 in dieser sogenannten Bereitschaftstellung wird durch die in dieser Stellung maßgebliche Kontur der Steuerkurve 23 bestimmt, an der die Kurvenrolle 22 kraftschlüssig durch das federelastische Element 19 angedrückt gehalten wird. In dem gleichen Moment befindet sich das Zentrierelement 3 mit seiner Unterseite nur wenige Millimeter oberhalb der Mündung 6 des Gefäßes 4, wobei diese Stellung durch das in Fig. 3 erkennbare am Zentrierelement 3 befestigte Anschlagelement 21 und die Oberseite des Anschlagkörpers 12 bestimmt wird. Die Kontur der Steuerkurve 23 ist im weiteren Verlauf so ausgelegt, daß sich die Kurvenrolle 22, der Schlitten 18 und das daran befestigte Tragelement 2 infolge der Kraftwirkung durch das federelastische Element 19 nach oben bewegen können, bis kurz darauf die Mündung 6 in die Öffnung 10 des Zentrierelements 3 eingreift, wobei das Gefäß unter dem Einfluß der Zentrierfläche 9 gleichzeitig zentriert wird. Dies hat zur Folge, daß im weiteren Verlauf das Zentrierelement 3 und damit das Anschlagelement 21 vom Anschlagkörper 12 in Richtung zur Sonde 8 angehoben werden, bis der Anschlag 20 an der Unterseite des Anschlagkörpers 12 zur Anlage kommt, wodurch die Aufwärtsbewegung des Schlittes 18 und aller daran befestigten Teile beendet ist.A complete treatment cycle is as follows:
In the machine inlet, the device assumes the position shown in FIG. 1. The vessels 4 to be inserted into the machine slide with their neck collars 5 on stationary guide plates, the upper side of which is aligned with that of the support element 2. A vessel is inserted into the U-shaped recess of the support element 2 by the guide star, which is driven synchronously with the machine and acts on the vessel body, and is in contact with the U-shaped recess of the support element 2 Neck collar 5 on the top of the support member 2. The height of the support element 2 in this so-called standby position is determined by the contour of the control cam 23 which is decisive in this position and against which the cam roller 22 is held in a force-fitting manner by the spring-elastic element 19. At the same moment, the centering element 3 is located with its underside only a few millimeters above the mouth 6 of the vessel 4, this position being determined by the stop element 21, which can be seen in FIG. 3 and fastened to the centering element 3, and the top side of the stop body 12. The contour of the control curve 23 is designed so that the cam roller 22, the slide 18 and the supporting element 2 attached to it can move upward as a result of the force acting through the spring-elastic element 19, until shortly afterwards the mouth 6 into the opening 10 of the centering element 3 engages, the vessel being centered simultaneously under the influence of the centering surface 9. This has the consequence that the centering element 3 and thus the stop element 21 are raised by the stop body 12 in the direction of the probe 8 until the stop 20 comes to rest on the underside of the stop body 12, whereby the upward movement of the slide 18 and all attached parts is finished.

An dieser Stelle endet die Steuerkurve 23. Durch die Kraftwirkung des Federelements 17 ist das zu inspizierende Gefäß 4 kraft- und formschlüssig zwischen Halskragen 5 und Mündung 6 eingespannt. In der erreichten Betriebstellung werden die erforderlichen Inspektionsvorgänge durchgeführt.At this point, the control curve 23 ends. Due to the force of the spring element 17, the vessel 4 to be inspected is clamped non-positively and positively between the neck collar 5 and the mouth 6. The required inspection procedures are carried out in the operating position reached.

Vor Erreichen des Gefäßauslaufes läuft die Kurvenrolle 22 auf die dort beginnende Steuerkurve 23 auf, so daß der Schlitten 18 und damit das Gefäß 4 nach unten abgesenkt wird. Sobald das Anschlagelement 21 des Zentrierelements 3 den Anschlagkörper 12 auf seiner Oberseite berührt, wird die Abwärtsbewegung des Zentrierelements 3 beendet, während der Schlitten 18 zusammen mit dem Tragelement 2 weiter abwärts gleitet. Dies bewirkt eine Abstandsvergrößerung zwischen dem Zentrierelement 3 und dem Tragelement 2, wodurch die Mündung 6 des Gefäßes 4 freigegeben wird. Die Abwärtsbewegung des Gefäßes 4 wird bei Auftreffen des Gefäßbodens auf eine Überschubplatte 28 gestoppt. Die Kontur der Steuerkurve 23 kann so gestaltet sein, daß sich das Tragelement 2 gegenüber dem Halskragen 5 noch geringfügig weiter abwärts bewegt und dadurch das Gefäß 4 vollständig freigibt. Gleichzeitig wird das Gefäß 4 durch einen nicht dargestellten Auslaufstern am Rumpfteil erfaßt und auf einen Abförderer geleitet. Danach erreicht die Vorrichtung 1 erneut den Einlaufstern, wodurch der beschriebene Arbeitszyklus in gleicher Weise erneut beginnt.Before reaching the vessel outlet, the cam roller 22 runs onto the control cam 23 beginning there, so that the slide 18 and thus the vessel 4 are lowered. As soon as the stop element 21 of the centering element 3 touches the stop body 12 on its upper side, the downward movement of the centering element 3 is ended while the slide 18 slides further downwards together with the support element 2. This causes an increase in the distance between the centering element 3 and the support element 2, whereby the mouth 6 of the vessel 4 is released. The downward movement of the vessel 4 is stopped when the bottom of the vessel strikes a slide plate 28. The contour of the control curve 23 can be designed in such a way that the support element 2 moves slightly further downward relative to the neck collar 5 and thereby completely releases the vessel 4. At the same time, the vessel 4 is grasped by an outlet star (not shown) on the fuselage part and directed to a discharge conveyor. Thereafter, the device 1 reaches the inlet star again, as a result of which the described working cycle begins again in the same way.

Claims (22)

  1. Vessel handling machine of rotating design with at least one handling member and a device fitted in the correct position for holding vessels, in particular bottles, with a neck collar in the region below the mouth, wherein the device (1) includes a carrying element (2) which supports the neck collar (5) and a centring element (3) which can be applied to the vessel mouth, which are designed with variable distance relative to each other, characterised in that the carrying element (2) and the centring element (3) are arranged in such a way that, after clamping and centring of the vessel (4), they are movable together relative to the handling member (7).
  2. Vessel handling machine according to claim 1, characterised in that clamping and centring of a vessel (4) take place by lowering the centring element (3) onto the vessel mouth.
  3. Vessel handling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the device (1) is mounted axially movably relative to the handling member (7).
  4. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the centring element (3) comprises an opening (10) concentric with the vessel mouth (6) and a centring surface (9) integrally formed therewith and adapted to the contour of the mouth, and in particular the opening (10) of the centring element (3) is aligned concentrically with the handling member (7).
  5. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the carrying element (2) includes a plate-like portion with an essentially U-shaped recess which opens towards the introduction side.
  6. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the distance between the carrying element (2) and the centring element (3) is adjustable by a control device (11).
  7. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the handling member (7) is mounted at a fixed height and the carrying element (2) and the centring element (3) are guided slidably in an axial direction relative thereto.
  8. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that both the relative movement between the handling member (7) and the device (1) and the relative movement between the centring element (3) forming the device (1) and the carrying element (2) can be controlled by only one control device (11).
  9. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a stop body (12) of fixed height for the centring element (3) and/or the carrying element (2) is arranged on the rotating part of the vessel handling machine.
  10. Vessel handling machine according to claim 9, characterised in that an operating position of the centring element (3) and of the carrying element (2) for coordination of vessel (4) and handling member (7) can be fixed by the stop body (12).
  11. Vessel handling machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that a stand-by position of the centring element for inserting and removing the vessel (4) is defined by the stop body (12).
  12. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the carrying element (2) is rigidly connected to a guide (14) of which the axis (15) is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (16) of the handling member (7).
  13. Vessel handling machine according to claim 12, characterised in that the centring element (3) is mounted slidably on the guide (14).
  14. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 1 to 13 characterised in that the centring element (3) is biased permanently by a spring element (17) in the direction towards the carrying element (2).
  15. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the guide (14) is arranged rigidly on a carriage (18) which for its part is guided on the rotating part of the vessel handling machine so as to be slidable parallel to the longitudinal axis (16) of the handling member (7).
  16. Vessel handling machine according to claim 15, characterised in that the carriage (18) is biased by a spring element (19) permanently in a direction towards the handling member (7).
  17. Vessel handling machine according to claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the stop body (12) in conjunction with a stop (20) connected to the carriage (18) limits the path of travel of the carriage (18) in the direction towards the handling member (7).
  18. Vessel handling machine according to claim 17, characterised in that the stop body (12) and the stop (20) are mounted so as to be adjustable in height.
  19. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 9 to 18, characterised in that the stop body (12) in conjunction with a stop element (21) connected to the centring element (3) defines the lower end position thereof facing away from the handling member (7).
  20. Vessel handling machine according to any of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that on the carriage (18) is mounted a cam roller (22) which cooperates with a cam (23) which is fixed relative to the rotating part of the vessel handling machine.
  21. Vessel handling machine according to claim 20, characterised in that the cam (23) is designed as a curve segment which is limited exclusively to the region between vessel exit and entrance.
  22. Vessel handling machine according to claim 20 or 21, characterised in that the lower end position of the carrying element (2) is determined by the contour of the cam (23).
EP92901104A 1990-12-21 1991-12-20 Container handling machine Expired - Lifetime EP0515629B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE9017262U DE9017262U1 (en) 1990-12-21 1990-12-21 Vascular treatment machine
DE9017262U 1990-12-21
PCT/EP1991/002469 WO1992011197A1 (en) 1990-12-21 1991-12-20 Container handling machine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0515629A1 EP0515629A1 (en) 1992-12-02
EP0515629B1 true EP0515629B1 (en) 1995-12-06

Family

ID=6860534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92901104A Expired - Lifetime EP0515629B1 (en) 1990-12-21 1991-12-20 Container handling machine

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5301725A (en)
EP (1) EP0515629B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH05503908A (en)
DE (2) DE9017262U1 (en)
ES (1) ES2082446T3 (en)
WO (1) WO1992011197A1 (en)

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JP4452904B2 (en) * 1999-07-27 2010-04-21 澁谷工業株式会社 Weight filler
ITBO20020523A1 (en) * 2002-08-05 2004-02-06 Azionaria Costruzioni Acma Spa MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS.
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FR2872144B1 (en) * 2004-06-24 2006-10-13 Sidel Sas CONTAINER TREATMENT MACHINE HAVING CONTROLLED GRIPPING MEANS FOR SEIZING CONTAINERS THROUGH THEIR COLLAR
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FR2946623B1 (en) * 2009-06-11 2016-07-01 Serac Group SUSPENDED DELIVERY DEVICE AND FILLING PLANT FOR CONTAINERS COMPRISING SUCH DEVICES.
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CN108675253A (en) * 2018-06-26 2018-10-19 江苏星A包装机械集团有限公司 For the bottleneck centering body in glass bottle filling machine
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1992011197A1 (en) 1992-07-09
JPH05503908A (en) 1993-06-24
EP0515629A1 (en) 1992-12-02
ES2082446T3 (en) 1996-03-16
DE9017262U1 (en) 1991-03-28
DE59107037D1 (en) 1996-01-18
US5301725A (en) 1994-04-12

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