CLAMP DEVICE AND CONTAINER-HANDLING APPARATUS

Abstract

A clamp device for retaining a container in a container-handling apparatus, for example for retaining a drinks container at a neck portion or at a body portion, includes two clamp arms, which each have a retaining portion for retaining the container which is to be retained, and at least one prestressing element for prestressing the retaining portions towards one another, wherein for the purpose of adjusting the distance which is present between the retaining portions, the clamp arms are designed in a displaceable manner in relation to the prestressing of the at least one prestressing element. A container-handling apparatus having at least one clamp device is also described.

Claims

1. A clamp device for retaining a container in a container-handling apparatus comprising: two clamp arms, wherein each of the two clamp arms comprises a retaining portion configured to retain the container; and a prestressing element configured to prestress each retaining portion of the two clamp arms towards one another, wherein the two clamp arms are displaceable along a distance between the retaining portions in relation to prestressing of the prestressing element.

2. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the two clamp arms are displaceable parallel to a displacement direction.

3. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the two clamp arms and the prestressing element are formed as one piece.

4. The clamp device of claim 1, further comprising a clamp carrier comprising two guide elements, wherein the two clamp arms are each configured to be guided in a displaceable manner on the clamp carrier via the guide elements.

5. The clamp device of claim 4, wherein each of the two guide elements is guided in a linearly displaceable manner in a respective guide groove of the clamp carrier.

6. The clamp device of claim 4, wherein each of the two clamp arms is attached to one of the guide elements via a pin connection or a polygonal contour, and/or each of the two clamp arms are guided in a displaceable manner in the clamp carrier in two parallel, spaced-apart guide grooves.

7. The clamp device of claim 1, further comprising an actuating unit configured to actively move the retaining portions of the two clamp arms in relation to the prestressing.

8. The clamp device of claim 7, wherein the two clamp arms and the actuating unit extend in a single plane.

9. The clamp device of claim 7, wherein the actuating unit comprises a displaceable actuating member, and displacement of the actuating member causes displacement of the two clamp arms.

10. The clamp device of claim 9, wherein a displacement direction of the actuating member is transverse in relation to a displacement direction of the two clamp arms.

11. The clamp device of claim 9, wherein the actuating member is coupled to each of the two clamp arms via a coupling member that is arranged in a pivotable manner on the actuating member and in a pivotable manner on each of the two clamp arms.

12. The clamp device of claim 11, further comprising a clamp carrier comprising two guide elements, wherein the two clamp arms are each configured to be guided in a displaceable manner on the clamp carrier via the guide elements, and each coupling member is arranged in a pivotable manner on each guide element.

13. The clamp device of claim 9, wherein the actuating member comprises at least one rack portion, the two clamp arms each comprise a rack portion, and each rack portion of the two clamp arms is coupled to the at least one rack portion of the actuating member via a coupling gearwheel.

14. The clamp device of claim 9, wherein the retaining portions are prestressed at a predetermined distance from one another, the predetermined distance corresponds to an open position of the retaining portions, and the retaining portions are configured to be moved into a closed position by displacement of the actuating member.

15. The clamp device of claim 9, wherein the retaining portions are prestressed at a predetermined distance from one another, the predetermined distance corresponds to a closed position of the retaining portions, and the retaining portions are configured to be moved into an open position by displacement of the actuating member.

16. The clamp device of claim 9, wherein the actuating member comprises an interaction element configured to interact with a predetermining device configured to predetermine a position of the actuating member, the interaction element comprises a sliding element and/or a roller, and the interaction element is arranged on a side of the actuating member that is directed away from the two clamp arms.

17. The clamp device of claim 16, wherein the interaction element is configured to slide and/or roll on a guide curve.

18. The clamp device of claim 1, wherein the prestressing element comprises an elastic spring bracket extending from one clamp arm to the other clamp arm, and the spring bracket and the two clamp arms extend in a single plane, and the elastic spring bracket is attached to each of the two clamp arms between each retaining portion and a guide-element attachment portion, or the spring bracket is attached to each of the two clamp arms in a region of each retaining portion.

19. The clamp device of claim 18, wherein the spring bracket comprises a stiffening element configured to stiffen a central region of the spring bracket.

20. A container-handling apparatus comprising: a transporting apparatus configured to transport a container, wherein the transporting apparatus comprises a clamp device, the clamp device comprising: two clamp arms, wherein each of the two clamp arms comprises a retaining portion configured to retain the container; and a prestressing element configured to prestress each retaining portion of the two clamp arms towards one another, wherein the two clamp arms are displaceable along a distance between the retaining portions in relation to prestressing of the prestressing element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] Further embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail by the following description of the figures, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective lateral plan view of a clamp device for retaining a container in a container-handling apparatus according to a first embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a plan view of a single-part clamp of the clamp device from FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows, schematically, a plan view of the clamp device from FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows, schematically, a side view of the clamp device from FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows, schematically, a perspective side view of a container-handling apparatus having a multiplicity of clamp devices;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows, schematically, a perspective side view of a container-handling apparatus according to a further embodiment;

[0047] FIG. 7 shows, schematically, a plan view of the container-handling apparatus from FIG. 6; and

[0048] FIG. 8 shows, schematically, a further plan view of the container-handling apparatus from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Exemplary embodiments will be described hereinbelow with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or equivalent elements are denoted in the different figures by identical reference signs, and a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with in some cases in order to avoid redundancies.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective lateral plan view of a clamp device 1 for retaining a container in a container-handling apparatus according to a first embodiment. The clamp device 1 comprises two clamp arms 10, which are arranged opposite one another in relation to a longitudinal centre axis 12 of the clamp device 1 and each have a retaining portion 11 for retaining the container which is to be retained. The clamp arms 10 are prestressed towards one another by means of a prestressing element 2.

[0051] Correspondingly, the clamp arms 10 are prestressed at a predetermined distance 15 from one another, wherein the predetermined distance 15 corresponds to a closed position of the clamp arms 10 or of the retaining portions 11.

[0052] For the purpose of adjusting the distance 15 which is present between the retaining portions 11, the clamp arms 10 are designed in a displaceable manner in relation to the prestressing of the prestressing element 2.

[0053] The clamp arms 10 here are guided in a displaceable manner, in a displacement direction 13, on a clamp carrier 4 in each case via a guide element 3. The displacement direction 13 is predetermined by guide grooves 40, which are arranged in the clamp carrier 4 and in which a respective one of the guide elements 3 can be moved in a translatory manner. The guide elements 3 are prevented from rotating in the guide grooves 40. In other words, rotation of the guide elements 3 is prevented by the guidance in the guide grooves 40. Furthermore, the clamp arms 10 are arranged on the guide elements 3 in each case such that rotation is prevented. The rotation-prevention means is formed here by a pin connection 7 between the respective clamp arm 10 and its guide element 3.

[0054] The clamp device 1 also has an actuating unit 5, which is designed to move the retaining portions 11 actively away from the distance 15 which is predetermined by the prestressing element 2. In other words, the actuating unit 5 can alter the distance 15 between the retaining portions 11.

[0055] The actuating unit 5 here has an actuating member 50, which is displaceable in a displacement direction 52, which in the present case is oriented parallel to the centre longitudinal axis 12 or corresponds to said axis, and is guided on the clamp carrier 4 via a linear guide 56.

[0056] The actuating member 50 is coupled to the clamp arms 10 in each case via a coupling member 53 which is arranged in a pivotable manner on the actuating member 50 and in a pivotable manner on the respective clamp arms 10.

[0057] The pivotable attachment between the actuating member 50 and the coupling members 53 is provided by means of a bolt connection 57. The pivotable attachment of the coupling members 53 to the clamp arms 10 is provided in that each coupling member 53 is arranged in a pivotable manner on the respective guide element 3 of the respective clamp arms 10.

[0058] As a result of the above described attachment of the actuating member 50 to the clamp arms 10 via the coupling members 53 and the guidance of the clamp arms 10 along the guide grooves 40 via the guide elements 3, it is possible for a translatory movement of the actuating member 50 in the displacement direction 52 to be transformed into a translatory movement of the clamp arms 10 in a displacement direction 13.

[0059] The actuating member 50 also has an interaction element for interacting with a predetermining device for predetermining the position of the actuating member 50, in this case in the form of a roller 54. The roller 54 can roll along a guide curve predetermined by the predetermining device.

[0060] The clamp arms 10 and the prestressing element 2 are formed in one piece here. According to an alternative embodiment, it is also possible as an alternative, or in addition, for the guide elements 3 to be formed in one piece with the clamp arms 10.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a plan view of the single-part clamp of the clamp device 1 from FIG. 1, the clamp being formed from the clamp arms 10 and the prestressing element 2.

[0062] The single-part clamp can be produced from a plastic, for example polyether ether ketone (PEEK), by means of injection moulding. As an alternative, the single-part clamp or the clamp arms 10 and/or the prestressing element 2 can also have a different plastic or a different material, for example a metal or a metal alloy.

[0063] The prestressing element 2 comprises a spring bracket 20, which is attached to the clamp arms 10 in the region of the retaining portions 11 and extends from the clamp arms 10, around the clamp arms 10, on the far side of attachment portions 16, which are arranged at that end of the respective clamp arm 10 which is located opposite the respective retaining portion 11 of the respective clamp arms 10. The guide elements 3 are retained in the attachment portions 16. The attachment portions 16 here have a circular-cylindrical shape, wherein the rotation-prevention means is provided by the pin connection 7 (see FIG. 1). Instead of the circular-cylindrical shape and the pin connection 7, it is also possible for the attachment portions 16 to have a polygonal inner contour, wherein, level with the attachment portions 16, the guide elements 3 likewise have a correspondingly formed polygonal outer contour, and therefore, by virtue of the polygonal inner contour and outer contour interacting, the clamp arms 10 are prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the guide elements 3.

[0064] The prestresssing element 2 also comprises a stiffening element 22, which stiffens a central region 24 of the spring bracket 20.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows, schematically, a plan view of the clamp device 1 from FIG. 1, from which it can be gathered that the displacement direction 52 of the actuating member 50 and the displacement direction 13 of the clamp arms 10 are oriented orthogonally in relation to one another.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows, schematically, a side view of the clamp device 1 from FIG. 1, from which it can be gathered that the clamp arms 10 and the actuating unit 5 extend essentially in a single plane 14. In other words, the clamp arms 10 and the actuating unit 5 are arranged essentially at the same height, or are offset in height only to a slight extent. The clamp arms 10 and the actuating unit 5 here are arranged directly one below the other, as seen in the heightwise direction, although, as seen in a direction perpendicular to the heightwise direction, the clamp arms 10 and the actuating unit 5 are partially offset in relation to one another, in other words are arranged one behind the other.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows, schematically, a perspective side view of a container-handling apparatus 100 having a multiplicity of clamp devices 1, which correspond essentially to the clamp device from FIG. 1 and are arranged on a transporting apparatus 110, which can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation 120. In contrast to the clamp device 1 which is shown in FIG. 1, the clamp devices 1 of the container-handling apparatus 100 from FIG. 5 do not have just one pair of clamp arms 10; rather, they have two pairs of clamp arms 10, 10′, which are arranged one above the other as seen in the direction of the axis of rotation 120, which corresponds to a heightwise direction of the container-handling apparatus 100.

[0068] Each of the clamp pairs 10, 10′ has a dedicated actuating unit 5, 5′ with a dedicated actuating member 50, 50′ in each case.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows, schematically, a perspective side view of a container-handling apparatus 100 according to a further embodiment. Instead of a single-part clamp as shown in FIG. 1, the clamp arms 10, 10′ of a pair of clamp arms 10, 10′ of the clamp device 1 shown here are designed in the form of respectively separate individual parts.

[0070] The clamp device 1, once again, is of “double-storey” construction. In other words, it has an upper pair of clamp arms 10 and a further pair of clamp arms 10′, this further pair being offset in the heightwise direction below the upper pair. The two pairs have a common actuating unit 5 with a common actuating member 50, wherein the clamp arms 10, 10′ are connected to the common actuating member 50 in each case via a dedicated coupling member 53. The actuating member 50 is guided in a displacement direction 52 in a further guide groove 42 of the clamp carrier 4.

[0071] In other words, the upper pair of clamp arms 10 extends in a first plane 14, whereas the second pair of clamp arms 10′ extends in a further plane 14′, which is spaced apart from the first plane 14 by a predetermined height difference 17.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows, schematically, a plan view of the container-handling apparatus from FIG. 6. The actuating member 50 here has been moved counter to the prestressing, which is provided by the prestressing element 2 designed in the form of a tension spring, into a front, first end position, and therefore, on account of the actuating member 50 being coupled to the clamp arms 10, the clamp arms 10 have been displaced in displacement direction 13 out of their rest position, which is predetermined by the prestressing element 2, into the position which is shown in FIG. 7. This position of the clamp arms 10 corresponds to a fully open position of the clamp arms 10 or of the retaining portions 11. The self-adjusting distance 15 here is the maximum possible distance between the retaining portions 11. The distance 15 here allows a container 6 of container diameter 60 to be introduced. In order for the container 6 to be gripped, the force which is retaining the actuating member 50 can be taken from the actuating member 50. Then, the prestressing provided by the prestressing element 2 causes displacement of the clamp arms 10 towards one another, and therefore the clamp arms 10 grip, and retain, the container 6.

[0073] FIG. 8 shows, schematically, a further plan view of the container-handling apparatus 100 from FIG. 6. In the illustration of this figure, there is no external force acting on the actuating member 50, and therefore the prestressing element 2 prestresses the clamp arms 10 into a fully closed position. As a result, the retaining portions 11 are correspondingly prestressed at the predetermined distance 15. The clamp arms 10 here use their retaining portions 11 to retain a container 6′, which, in comparison with the container 6 from FIG. 7, corresponds to a different type and has a smaller container diameter 62, which in this case corresponds to the smallest possible container diameter with which an appropriately designed container can be retained by the clamp device 1.

[0074] If applicable, all the individual features presented in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.