GB2240086A

GB2240086A - An apparatus for transposing containers, such as bottles, cans and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2240086A
Application number: GB9027877A
Authority: GB
Inventors: G Nter Bargel
Original assignee: H & K Verpackungstechnik GmbH; H&K VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GmbH
Current assignee: H & K Verpackungstechnik GmbH; H&K VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GmbH
Priority date: 1989-12-21
Filing date: 1990-12-21
Publication date: 1991-07-24
Also published as: DE3942269A1; GB9027877D0; FI905929A; FI905929A0

Abstract

When using arrangements for transposing containers, such as bottles and the like, which are in the form of sorting or multiple-type apparatus, relatively long bottle feeding means have to be provided on the bottle feed table, which is common to all of the bottles, because of the different types of containers. The invention provides that at least one gripper head (3), which is disposed on a common displaceable cross-piece member, is associated with these bottle feeding means, and each gripper head is adjustable in respect of its gripper height, independently of the vertical position of the other gripper heads, such that, when bottles are picked-up by the other gripper heads, said gripper head cam remain with its tulip-shaped grippers above the plane of the bottle feeding means. Pref. the apparatus is provided with scanning means (25) which prevent the grippers descending if insufficient bottles have arrived to fill a crate (10). The other heads can descend, grip, lift and deposit the bottles in their crates, as normal. <IMAGE>

Description

:;2:2-QC>Oats 11 AN APPARATUS FOR TRANSPOSING CONTAINERS9 SUCH AS BOTTLES,

CANS AND THE LIKE The Invention relates to an apparatus for transposing containers such as bottles, cans and the like Including a displaceable gripper head support means or cross-piece member on which a plurality of gripper heads are retained adjacent one another and are displaceable from a pick-up position to a deposit position andlor vice versa. the apparatus being a multiple-type apparatus and having a plurality of bottle feeding means of a common bottle feed table which feeding means are each definable or intended for different types of containers.

Sorting and packing apparatus or machines of this type process bottle types using a plurality of gripper heads, depending on the requirements of the particular field of application, such bottle types having been singXed-out accordingly within one cycle of the filling process. In such case, the bottle types may have different colours or may even have different configurations.

The gripper heads of such packing machines are retained on a common crosspiece member and are displaced by said cross-piece member into the pickup and deposit positions. A plurality of bottle feeding means are provided with one being defined or provided for each of the bottle feeding means for the different bottles. The bottle feeding means are disposed on the bottle feed table of region and the bottles to be transposed are assembled in groups one behind the other in said bottle feeding means. In each bottle feeding means, the front group on the bottle feed table is gripped by the lowerable gripper heads and then Inserted into the associated box or carton. Since all of the gripper heads are lowered at an identical height, it is necessary for a relatively long storage path to be kept available for the bottles to be transposed because, otherwise, if one gripper head is lowered and a group of bottles to be picked-up is not yet complete, the incoming bottles may have their feed movement Interrupted by the grippers and, in consequence, they may topple-over. This means that. in general. at least two or three sets of bottles have to be accumulated one behind the other, thereby causing the short, otherwise conventional, bottle feed table of such packing machines to be extensively enlarged. Accordingly, this necessitates the use of long distribution plates and other structural measures. However. this arrangement also renders the accessibility of such machines considerably more difficult for the actual operator.

The basic object of the invention is to achieve a substantial simplification of the apparatus, whereby long bottle feed tables are avoided or minimized and yet a satisfactory transposition of the bottles, which have been assembled as a group. is ensured, without incoming bottles being in any way hindered by the respective grippers.

Utilising an apparatus of the initially mentioned type, this object is achieved according to the Invention.. in that at least one gripper head, which is disposed on a common displaceable cross-piece member. is associated with these bottle feeding means, and each gripper head is adjustable in respect of its gripper height. independently of the vertical position of the other gripper heads, such that, when bottles are picked-up by the other gripper heads, said gripper head 1 I- 1 remains with its tulip-shaped grippers above the plane of the bottle feeding means.

In such case, it has been shown to be advantageous for a separately actuatable lifting means to be associated with each gripper head, and said lif ting means to be actuatable in dependence on the occupancy of the respectively associated bottle feeding means.

It is also proposed that the occupancy of the respective bottle feeding means is determinable by a scanning means in known manner which is disposed directly behind the set of bottles, which is intended for the transposition process, the signal of said scanning means serving to actuate the lifting means of the associated gripper head.

The Initially-mentioned disadvantages are overcome by this proposed solution according to the invention. The bottle feed table and the bottle feeding means disposed thereon, with their individual distribution plates, may have a relatively short configuration, or respectively may be constructed in accordance with a conventional series packing machine. Breakdowns and obstructions, which were otherwise usually encountered for example as a result of toppling bottles, are hereby eliminated or minimized. In general, fewer breakdowns may occur, more especially in the region of the bottle feed table, or respectively such breakdowns may accordingly be eliminated more rapidly. Finally, the entire sorting apparatus used has a substantially smaller construction and, in consequence, may be utilised in simple manner for the relevant projects.

4 - The invention will be described further, by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention for transporting bottles; and Figs. 2 and 3 are simplified side elevational views of respective gripper heads above the bottle feeding means and in different positions relative to the supporting means therefor - Fig. 2 showing the operative pick-up position of the gripping means and Fig. 3 pending complete grouping of the bottles.

According to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the transposing apparatus includes a packing machine 1, which is provided with gripper heads 3, which are disposed on a.support means or cross-piece member 2 and on which,, in the lower region inverted bell-like or tulip-shaped grippers 4 are disposed for gripping bottles 5. The gripper heads 3 are displaceable, together with their cross-piece member 2, from the pick-up position 7 into the deposit position 8 by means of transmission units 6, which are disposed on both sides. The respective box conveyor means 9, with boxes 10 disposed thereon., is situated beneath the deposit position in order to receive the gripped group of bottles 11. The actual bottle feed region or table 12 is situated on the opposite side and includes a plurality of defined bottle feeding means 13-16. which may have different widths depending on the types to be processed or respectively their quantities to be transposed. In such case. the bottles 5 are already supplied to the bottle feed table 12 on plate conveyor belts 21 or the like In the desired grouping by a feed i 1, i 1 1 conveyor 17 - 20. The individual bottle feeding means 13 - 16 are oriented in the direction of the transposition movement and have, at their front end, a stop bar 22 to define the front portion of a set of bottles 23 to be transposed. As is especially apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, in such case, each gripper head 3 has a separately actuable lifting means 24, which is actuable in dependence upon the occupancy of the respectively associated bottle feeding means 13 - 16. For this purpose, each bottle feeding means 13 - 16 has a light barrier unit or a different type of scanning means 25, which may be actuated by pivotable scanning vanes 26, which scan the Incoming bottles 5. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a complete set of bottles 23 is situated beneath the gripper head 3. In this case, the scanning vane 26 is raised for sufficient time by a first, supplied bottle 27 of the subsequent set of bottles and thereby exposes the light barrier, the signal of which then serves to actuate the appropriate gripper head 3, or respectively to indicate that this set of bottles has its total number. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the gripper head 3 is situated in a position, which differs in respect of the height of the gripper head 3 of Fig. 2, that is to say in a higher position, which permits the further supply of bottles 5 until the desired set of bottles has its total number. However,. those bottle feeding means 1316. which are already occupied, may be transposed by the remaining gripper heads 3 and may affect the transposition process by gripping the completed groups of bottles. In this case, the gripper head 3, which is not in use, remains in its upper position and likewise is displaced with the others in the transposition process. In such case. the box 10, which is situated directly on the box feeding means 9. is accordingly not filled by the empty gripper head 3 and is automatically 6 - moved into an ejection position. Special measures may be provided in order to allow the remaining, empty box either to join the subsequent line or be previously singled-out and be supplied again to the normal flow of empty boxes.

i i 1 7 -

Claims

1. An apparatus for transposing containers.

Including a displaceable gripper head support means or cross-piece member on which a plurality of gripper heads are retained adjacent one another and are displaceable from a pick-up position to a deposit position andlor vice versa, the apparatus being a multiple-type apparatus and having a plurality of bottle feeding means of a common bottle feed table which feeding means are each definable or intended for different types of containers wherein at least one gripper head (3) which is disposed on a common displaceable cross-piece member (2), is associated with each of the bottle feeding means (13-16), and each gripper head (3) is adjustable in respect of its height, independently of the vertical position of the other gripper heads (3), such that, when containers are picked-up by the other gripper heads (3), said gripper head remains with its grippers (4) above the container receiving region of the container feeding means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a separately actuatable lifting means (24) is associated with each gripper head (3) and is actuable in dependence on the occupancy of the respectively associated container feeding means (13-16).

3. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the occupancy of the respective container feeding means (13-16) Is determinable in known manner by a scanning means (25), which is disposed immediately behind of the set of containers (23), which is to be transposed at such time. and the signal of said scanning means serves to actuate the lifting means (24) of the associated gripper head (3) to dispose said gripper head (3) In its operative disposition.

4. An apparatus for transposing containers substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 1 i 1 i 1 i Published 1991 at 7be Patent Office. State House. 66/71 High Holborn, LandonWCIR47?. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent.