APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING CONTAINERS WITH ROLLER-SUPPORTED ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR GRIPPING CLAMPS

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for transporting containers, having a movable carrier on which a plurality of gripping devices for gripping containers are arranged, wherein these gripping devices being designed as gripping clamps, and these clamps each having at least two clamp arms which can be moved between a first position, in which they grip the containers to be transported, and a second position, wherein the gripping clamps having contact portions which are suitable and intended to contact the containers, and wherein furthermore an actuating mechanism is provided which is suitable for transferring the gripping means between the first position and the second position, characterized in that this actuating mechanism comprises at least one roller element which is arranged on at least one of the clamp arms and can be rotated with respect to this clamp arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting containers, having a movable carrier on which a plurality of gripping devices for gripping containers are arranged, wherein these gripping devices being designed as gripping clamps, and these clamps each having at least two clamp arms which can be moved between a first position, in which they grip the containers to be transported, and a second position, wherein the gripping clamps have contact sections which are suitable and intended for contacting the containers, and wherein further an actuating mechanism is provided which is suitable for transferring the gripping devices between the first position and the second position, wherein this actuating mechanism has at least one roller element which is arranged on at least one of the clamp arms and can be rotated with respect to this clamp arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one roller element is arranged on both clamp arms, which is rotatable with respect to this respective clamp arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of at least one roller element is perpendicular to a plane of movement in which the gripping clamps are movable for opening and closing the gripping device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the containers comprise a main body and a mouth region with an opening and the gripping devices are suitable and intended for gripping the containers in the mouth region.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one roller element has an outer cross-section selected from a group of outer cross-sections including circular cross-sections, elliptical cross-sections, polygonal cross-sections.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping devices and/or the gripping clamps are exchangeably arranged on the carrier.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first clamp arm is pivotable with respect to a first pivot axis and the second clamp arm is pivotable with respect to a second pivot axis, wherein these pivot axes coinciding or being parallel to each other.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one pivot axis is arranged in an extension direction of the gripping clamp between the contact sections and the roller elements.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a movable actuator, the movement of which can be transmitted directly to the at least one roller element.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein this actuator is coupled to a lever element.

11. A gripping device for gripping containers, wherein the gripping device is designed as a gripping clamp, and this gripping clamp has at least two clamp arms which can be moved between a first position, in which it grips the containers to be transported, and a second position, wherein the gripping clamps have contact sections which are suitable and intended for contacting the containers, and wherein furthermore an actuating mechanism is provided which is adapted to transfer the gripping device between the first position and the second position, wherein this actuating mechanism comprises at least one roller element which is rotatable on at least one of the gripper arms with respect to said gripper arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.

12. The gripping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamp arms have geometries that are mirror images of one another.

13. An installation for treating containers, comprising a first treatment unit Which treats the containers in a first predetermined manner and a second treatment unit Which treats the containers in a second predetermined manner, wherein the installation comprises a transport device according to claim 1, which transports the containers from the first treatment unit to the second treatment unit.

14. A method for transporting containers with a movable carrier on which a plurality of gripping devices for gripping containers are arranged, wherein these gripping devices are designed as gripping clamps, and these clamps each have at least two damp arms Which are moved between a first position in which they grip the containers to be transported and a second position, wherein the gripping clamps have contact sections which contact the containers and wherein furthermore an actuating mechanism transfers the gripping devices between the first position and the second position, wherein this actuating mechanism has at least one roller element which is rotatable on at least one of the clamp arms with respect to this clamp arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Further embodiments and advantages can be seen in the attached drawings:

[0051] In the drawings:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a representation of a transport device;

[0053] FIG. 2a, 2b show two illustrations of gripping devices according to the state of the art;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a representation of a gripping device in a first embodiment;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a gripping device;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a further illustration of a gripping device according to the invention in a second embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a further view of the gripping device shown in FIG. 5;

[0058] FIG. 7a, 7b show the representations of two clamp arms;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a gripping device;

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a further sectional view of a gripping device;

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a representation of a transport device;

[0062] FIG. 11 shows a further illustration of a gripping device in a further embodiment;

[0063] FIG. 12 shows a representation of a gripping device with actuating device;

[0064] FIG. 13a, 13b show two illustrations of a gripping device in a further embodiment;

[0065] FIG. 14 shows a representation of a further embodiment of a gripping device;

[0066] FIGS. 15a-15d show four illustrations of a gripping device;

[0067] FIG. 16a, 16b show two illustrations of a gripping device in a further embodiment;

[0068] FIG. 17a, 17b show two further illustrations of a gripping device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0069] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for transporting containers (not shown). The reference sign 4 indicates a rotatable carrier on which a plurality of gripping devices 2 are arranged, which here have two gripping clamps 22, 24. The carrier 4 is rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation D.

[0070] FIGS. 2a and 2b show two representations of gripping devices according to the state of the art. These have a pivoting actuator 102, which here can be switched to two different positions by two cams 104 and 106 in order to open or close the gripping device. This means that opening and closing is performed by sliding friction.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a gripping device 2 according to the invention. This has two clamp arms 22, 24, which in turn have contact sections 22a, 24a that contact the (not shown) containers.

[0072] The reference signs S1 and S2 indicate two pivot axes about which the clamp arms 22, 24 can be pivoted. The reference signs 22b and 24b indicate further sections of the clamp arms 22, 24 via which the opening and closing movement is initiated. For this purpose, roller elements 32, 34 (34 not shown) are arranged at these sections. The reference sign 36 indicates an actuator which contacts these roller elements for opening and closing the gripping device. The actuator is in turn connected to a (cross) lever 42. This lever 42 can be rotated by cams and thus cause the gripping device to open and close.

[0073] In the embodiment shown here, the lever 42 can be rotated further and, depending on the rotational position, the clamp passes from an open to a closed state or from a closed state to an open state, respectively. The reference sign 38 indicates a carrier on which the actuator 36 is arranged or mounted. The reference sign 4 identifies the actuating mechanism of the gripping device in its entirety. This means that opening and closing is achieved by rotating the actuator 36 with respect to an axis of rotation.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the gripping device shown in FIG. 3. In particular, the rotatable bearing of the actuator can be seen. More precisely, a rotatable pin 45 can be seen, which is connected to the carrier 5 and also to the lever 42 in a rotationally fixed manner. This bearing preferably also has a plain bearing socket 49 and/or a disc 47 (which keeps the spring-loaded jaws level).

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a further design of a gripping device. Here again, the rotary lever 42 is provided, which can be moved one position further by a cam 50 in order to open or close the gripping device. FIG. 5 also shows the second roller element 34, which is arranged on the clamp arm 24.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the gripping device from FIG. 5. In this design, the two roller elements 32 and 34 can be seen, which are contacted by a rotation of the rotary lever 42 and thus switch the gripping device between an open and a closed position. The reference sign 25 indicates a spring element which forces the gripping device into an open position. The reference sign 52 indicates further resilient sections which provide a secure hold or engagement of the roller elements with the actuator 36 or pretension these sections towards the actuator. You can see recesses of the actuator which define latching positions.

[0077] FIGS. 7a and 7b show the two clamp arms, wherein here also the roller elements 34 and 32 are shown. In the illustration shown in FIG. 7b, the additional spring element 52 can also be seen.

[0078] Due to the spring 25 between the two clamps, the two halves spring open directly after activation. Thus, there would no longer be any accompanying movement of the rollers on the control element 36 (cf. FIG. 3).

[0079] FIG. 8 shows another sectional view of the gripping device shown in FIG. 7.

[0080] A sliding disc 92 in the lower bearing position can create friction on the actuator 36. This reduces the overturning of the lever (FIG. 2b position 102) against the stop pin (also shown in FIG. 2b) when opening the clamps. The sliding disc 92 is preferably pressed against the bolt by means of disc springs 93. The spring force can be adjusted via a threaded bolt.

[0081] FIG. 9 shows another sectional view of the gripping device. Here, too, an additional pressure piece 94 can be seen that reduces the overturning of the lever. The pressure piece can press on the bolt from below as well as from the side. The reference sign 98 indicates an adjusting screw and the reference sign 96 indicates a spring.

[0082] FIG. 10 shows a transport device with gripping devices 2 according to the invention. The reference sign 5 indicates a carrier on which the individual gripping devices 2 are arranged. The reference sign 42 indicates the rotary lever which is used to open and close the gripping devices.

[0083] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a gripping device, wherein here again the two clamp arms 22, 24 are shown, as well as part of an actuating mechanism in the form of a carrier 62. Unlike the above embodiments, here opening and closing of the gripping device is effected by a displacement of an actuator. However, the roller elements are also provided here.

[0084] FIG. 12 illustrates the operation of the gripping devices of this design. Whereas in the previous designs opening and closing is effected by turning a cross lever, here it is effected by a linear movement or movement along a path of movement. For this purpose, another cam roller 64 is arranged on the gripping device.

[0085] FIGS. 13a and 13b show an open and closed position of the gripping device. You can see the actuator 36, which is in two different positions in FIGS. 13a and 13b. This actuator causes the gripping clamp to open via the roller elements 32 and 34, i.e. the roller elements also roll here in relation to the actuator. The movement of this actuator 36 is achieved by the roller 64 and a (for example constant or stationary) cam 60.

[0086] FIG. 14 shows a further design of a gripping device, wherein opening and closing is also achieved here by a back and forth movement of an actuator. For this purpose, a movable body 72 is provided, which can be pivoted with respect to a pivot axis S3.

[0087] FIGS. 15a and 15b show the transfer of the gripping device by a first cam 74, which here moves the lever 72 from an upper to a lower position and thus also triggers the opening and closing or, in this case, the transfer from an open position to a closed position.

[0088] FIGS. 15c and 15d show the opposite way of closing, wherein here the lever is pivoted upwards again by a further guide roller 76 in order to transfer the gripping device from the open to a closed position.

[0089] FIGS. 16a, 16b show a further design of the gripping device. Here, the opening and closing function is equipped with a cam segment 82, which is arranged here directly on the control lever. By pivoting the element 82, a shift from the opening to the closing position is achieved.

[0090] FIGS. 17a and 17b accordingly show the movement of the actuator 84 to transfer the gripping device from a closed position (cf. FIG. 17a) to an open position (cf. FIG. 17b). This actuator or sliding element can also be held in an end position (clamp closed) here and also in the above embodiments via a magnetic holding system.

[0091] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided that they are individually or in combination new compared to the prior art. It is further pointed out that the individual figures also describe features which may be advantageous in themselves. The skilled person immediately recognises that a certain feature described in a figure can also be advantageous without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, the skilled person recognises that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual figures or in different figures.