Quick-change coupling for a container treatment machine

Abstract

A quick-change coupling is described for a container treatment machine, in particular a capping machine, with an outer member and an inner member engaging therewith in a positive-fit manner, between which members torques in a working direction of rotation and axial forces can be transmitted. Due to the fact that the outer member and the inner member are connectable to each other by pushing one into the other and twisting, a simple connection/separation of the quick-change coupling is possible without tools, as well as reliable and play-free transmission of unidirectional torques and contact pressure forces.

Claims

1. A quick-change coupling for a container treatment machine, comprising: an outer member and an inner member engaging therewith in a positive locking manner between which the outer member and the inner member torque in a working direction of rotation and axial forces can be transmitted, wherein said outer member and said inner member are connected to each other by pushing one of the outer member and the inner member into the other of the outer member and the inner member and subsequently twisting, wherein said outer member comprises locking pins preloaded resiliently inwardly, and wherein said inner member comprises first guide bevels for said locking pins for forcing said locking pins outwardly when one of the outer member and the inner member is pushed into the other of the outer member and the inner member, and engagement recesses in which said locking pins can engage in a rotationally fixed and axially fixed manner during the subsequent twisting in the working direction of rotation, wherein, directly at the end of the twisting motion, the locking pins engage inwardly in the radial direction in the engagement recesses due to spring tension, wherein second guide bevels are formed on said engagement recesses for said locking pins for forcing said locking pins outwardly during the twisting in a direction opposite to said working direction of rotation and to guide them out from said engagement recesses.

2. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein guide grooves extending substantially circumferentially are formed for said locking pins between said first guide bevels and said second guide bevels.

3. The quick-change coupling according to claim 2, wherein said guide grooves have an axial inclination and/or an eccentric guide surface for said locking pins with a guide radius decreasing toward said engagement recesses.

4. The quick-change coupling according to claim 2, wherein said locking pins have a substantially flat and/or convexly curved face side and said guide grooves.

5. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first guide bevels extend transversely to said working direction of rotation and obliquely outwardly in a direction away from outer member.

6. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein said locking pins, said first guide bevels, and said engagement recesses are each formed at least three-fold in mutually corresponding circumferential distribution.

7. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein said outer member, for preloading said locking pins comprises compression springs associated with the locking pins and/or an elastic ring enveloping said locking pins.

8. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein stops are additionally formed on said outer member for said locking pins and limit a motion of said locking pins out from said outer member.

9. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein cleaning holes are formed on said outer member.

10. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein matching concentric mating surfaces are formed on said outer member and on said inner member.

11. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein said outer member comprises a drive connection for a lifting/rotating of a shaft.

12. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein said inner member is configured as an exchangeable holder for a tool insert or a container component.

13. A capping chuck for mounting screw caps on containers with a quick-change coupling according to claim 1.

14. A capping machine for containers, comprising a continuously rotatable container carousel and several of capping chucks revolving thereon according to claim 13.

15. The quick-change coupling according to claim 1, wherein the container treatment machine is a capping machine.

16. The quick-change coupling according to claim 4, wherein said locking pins have guide grooves comprising a guide cross-section corresponding thereto.

17. The quick-change coupling according to claim 5, wherein said first guide bevels extend orthogonally to said working direction of rotation.

18. The quick-change coupling according to claim 11, wherein the shaft is arranged thereabove the drive connection.

19. The quick-change coupling according to claim 12, wherein the exchangeable holder for the tool is a holder for a cap insert for screwing on caps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The object posed is also satisfied with a container capping machine comprising a continuously rotatable container carousel and several capping chucks revolving thereon as above.

(2) A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, where

(3) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the quick-change coupling;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the inner member of the quick-change coupling;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the inner member along the section line C-C of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-section of a locking pin and a guide groove;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a schematic lateral view of a treatment machine for containers; and

(8) FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-section with alternative resilient mounting of the locking pins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 and 5 in longitudinal section view, quick-change coupling 1 for container treatment machines 100, such as capping machines, comprises an outer member 2 and an inner member 3 engaging therein in a positive-fit manner. Torques 4 between the outer member 2 and the inner member 3 can be transmitted in a working direction of rotation 4a and axial forces 5 in particular in a working stroke direction 5a.

(10) Outer member 2 and inner member 3 can be fixedly connected to each other by axially pushing one into the other and by twisting in the working direction of rotation 4a about a common axis of rotation 1a. For this purpose, locking pins 6 preloaded resiliently inwardly are preferably mounted radially displaceable on outer member 2.

(11) At least 3 first outer guide bevels 7 are formed on the inner member matching the distribution and shaping of locking pins 6. They extend transversely, in particular orthogonally, to working direction of rotation 4a and obliquely outwardly in the direction away from outer member 2. As can be seen, for example, in FIG. 2, first guide bevels 7 are used for threading locking pins 6 on inner member 3 under a preload which preferably increases continuously when pushing one into the other.

(12) Formed on inner member 3 are furthermore engagement recesses 8 for locking pins 6, for example, in the form of substantially round through-holes. Formed at engagement recesses 8 are preferably second outer guide bevels 9 with a ramp inclination 9a schematically indicated in FIG. 3 for again guiding engaged locking pins 6 during the manual twisting action in a direction opposite to working direction of rotation 4a out from engagement recesses 8.

(13) First and second guide bevels 7, 9 are connected to each other by substantially circumferentially extending guide grooves 10 for locking pins 6. This allows for simple production of structures on outer member 2 and inner member 3 engaging with each other in a positive-fit manner. However, first and second guide bevels 7, 9 could also have a more complex, in particular curved extension, and merge directly with one another, so as to effect mutual guidance of outer member 2 and inner member 3 when pushing one into the other and twisting. Likewise, second guide bevels 9 could in principle be replaced or supplemented by functionally equivalent chamfers, bevels or the like on locking pins 6.

(14) Guide grooves 10 can have an axial inclination 11. In particular, axial inclination 11 is formed such that outer member 2 and inner member 3 are moved axially towards each other during the twisting action in working direction of rotation 4a. Outer member 2 and inner member 3 can thereby also be pressed against each other when quick-change coupling 1 is connected.

(15) Guide grooves 10 can additionally or alternatively comprise eccentric guide surfaces 10a for locking pins 6 with a guide radius 12 decreasing with respect to axis of rotation 1a from first guide bevels 7 to associated engagement recesses 8. As a result, the preload decreases at locking pins 6 when twisting in working direction of rotation 4a, i.e. toward engagement recesses 8.

(16) This, firstly, facilitates forced guidance of locking pins 6 out from engagement recesses 8 during the manual separation of quick-change coupling 1 in a direction opposite to working direction of rotation 4a and, secondly, prevents unintentional separation of unloaded quick-change coupling 1. In other words, eccentric guide surfaces 10a promote a relative motion of locking pins 6 in working direction of rotation 4a and prevent twisting in the opposite direction being too easy or occurring in a self-active manner.

(17) As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, locking pins 6, guide bevels 7, 9 and engagement recesses 8 are preferably each formed three-fold at equal angular distances from each other of respectively 120°. This allows for uniform load distribution and simple manual connection of outer member 2 and inner member 3, optionally also without visual inspection. However, a number of connection elements for every quick-change coupling 1 differing therefrom would also be conceivable as well as unequal angular distances (not shown) to allow pushing one into the other only at a certain relative rotational position of outer member 2 and inner member 3.

(18) Locking pins 6 comprise, for example, planar face sides 6a which can slide along guide surfaces 10a. For this purpose, face sides 6a can also have circumferential bevels 6b and/or be formed to be convex (indicated schematically by dashed lines in FIG. 4).

(19) Guide surface 10a then preferably comprises a cross-section corresponding to face side 6a in such a way that locking pins 6 are guided therein along axial inclinations 11 and/or eccentric guide radii 12.

(20) Locking pins 6 are guided in outer member 2 in preferably radial bores 13 or similar channels and preloaded resiliently inwardly, for example, by way of compression springs 14. As a result, locking pins 6 always run in guide bevels 7, 9 and in guide groove 10 when connecting/separating quick-change coupling 1.

(21) Bores 13 comprise cross-sectional constrictions located radially inwardly as stops 13a for heads 6c located radially outwardly and formed on locking pins 6. For example, grub screws 15A are used as an abutment for compression springs 14 or functionally corresponding resilient elements. Together with stops 13a and heads 6c, they prevent locking pins 6 and compression springs 14 from dropping out. In their place or in addition thereto, a resilient compressible cushion made of rubber, silicone, foam or other elastic material could be arranged for each locking pin 6 in/on associated bore 13 to generate the preload.

(22) The preferably round cross-sections of engagement recesses 8 and locking pins 6 fit to each other in such a manner that locking pins 6 engage in a self-acting manner in engagement recesses 8 due to the preload and inner member 3 is fixedly coupled to outer member 2 both in working direction of rotation 4a and in working stroke direction 5a when locking pins 6 are engaged. As schematically indicated by FIG. 5, torques 4 as well as axial forces 5, in particular contact pressure forces, can therefore be transmitted between outer member 2 and inner member 3 by way of quick-change coupling 1 substantially without play, in particular from outer member 2 to the inner member 3.

(23) Concentric mating surfaces 16, 17 are preferably formed on outer member 2 and on inner member 3 and abut each other when quick-change coupling 1 is connected and establish a coaxial arrangement of outer member 2 and inner member 3 with respect to axis of rotation 1a. This also facilitates precise and smooth guidance of locking pins 6 on inner member 3.

(24) Cleaning holes 18 are preferably formed on outer member 2 for cleaning quick-change coupling 1, furthermore, a drive connection 19, for example, in the form of an internal thread.

(25) Inner member 3 preferably comprises a holding region 20 for a tool, a container component or the like. For example, a cap insert for receiving and screwing on screw caps can there be inserted.

(26) FIG. 5 illustrates the use of quick-change coupling 1 at a container treatment machine 100 which is configured, for example, as a capping machine with several capping chucks 21 (only one of which is shown) for mounting screw caps 22 to containers 23. Capping chucks 21 include lifting/rotating shafts 24 known per se for transmitting torque 4 and axial force 5 when screwing screw caps 22 on and there revolve continuously on a carousel 25 about an axis of rotation 25a.

(27) Containers 23 revolve synchronously thereto, for example, at a further carousel 26, about axis of rotation 26a in a known manner. In the region of the point of contact of the associated partial circles, screw caps 22 are placed on containers 23 and screwed thereonto. For this purpose, screw caps 22 are held in a torque-resistant manner by a cap insert 27 (see FIG. 6) seated in a positive-fit manner in holding region 20. Such cap inserts 27 can be produced in a simple manner and adapted to specific container formats or cap formats.

(28) For changing a format, inner member 3 of quick-change coupling 1 with cap insert 27 seated therein can be separated without tools from outer member 2 by first twisting inner member 3 in a direction opposite to working direction of rotation 4a and then withdrawing it downwardly. Consequently, access to capping chuck 21 can there take place from below. Any lateral access requiring space, however, is unnecessary. Quick-change coupling 1 is also easy to clean.

(29) Quick-change coupling 1 further enables reliable and play-free transmission of unidirectional torques 4 and axial contact pressure forces 5.

(30) FIG. 6 shows in cross-section from above a quick-change coupling 31 which differs from the above embodiment by a different resilient mounting of locking pins 6 in outer member 2. The preload can according thereto be effected by a resilient ring 34, for example, by an O-ring, which envelops bores 13 seated in a circumferentially extending groove 35 and presses from the outside on locking pins 6 by way of expansion stress.

(31) FIG. 6 shows locking pins 6 in the engaged position in associated engagement recesses 36 which, by way of example, but not necessarily, are configured as blind holes. Schematically indicated are also guide grooves 10 and second guide bevels 9 for locking pins 6. These elements are representative of a plurality of possible distribution patterns, by way of example in quadruple version at equal angular intervals 37 to each other Indicated schematically in inner member 3 is furthermore a cap insert 27 for clamping screw caps 22 in a rotationally fixed manner.

(32) When twisting outer member 2 and inner member 3 against each other in a direction opposite to working direction of rotation 4a, locking pins 6 are pressed outwardly by second guide bevels 9 and guide grooves 10 in bores 13 against the resistance of elastic ring 34. Elastic ring 34 is in the region of bore 13 stretched outwardly but remains guided in circumferential groove 35.

(33) Elastic ring 34 circumferentially enveloping locking pins 6 simultaneously causes the preload inwardly and prevents locking pins 6 from dropping outwardly.

(34) The features of the embodiments of quick-change coupling 1, 31 described and illustrated can be combined and/or mutually exchanged. The number and the angular distribution of locking pins 6 and engagement recesses 8 can also be adapted to different applications and to torques 4 and axial contact pressure forces 5 that are respectively to be transmitted. Furthermore, axial tensile forces can basically also be transmitted with quick-change coupling 1, 31.