Guiding device for clamping, holding, guiding and conveying bottle-shaped containers and clamping and conveying device

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide device for a positioning plate of a conveying device for clamping, holding, guiding and conveying bottle-shaped containers. For the non-rotational guiding and stabilizing of the positioning plate and / or the clamping device, the guide device comprises an elongated hollow body having a plurality of guide slots, each guide slot being formed along the hollow body. Also provided is a conveying device having such a guide device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a guiding device for a positioning plate in a container gripping and conveying apparatus. The invention also relates to a gripping and conveying apparatus, particularly for bottle-shaped containers, for gripping, holding, guiding, and conveying, which includes a guiding device as a height adjustment mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] Gripping and conveying devices for grasping, holding, and / or guiding containers are known in the prior art, particularly those referred to as "clamping stars." These devices have multiple gripping arms with paired gripping arms. They are primarily used in production line processing of containers or storage containers, especially for filling liquids or other bulk goods.

[0003] The batch processing of these containers / receivers requires the periodic repositioning of the clamping and conveying devices to the corresponding different container types. These types of containers can differ significantly from each other in their overall shape, particularly in their height, width, and / or diameter.

[0004] In high-volume container production line processing, the gripping and conveying devices are also subject to mandatory adjustments to ensure safe operation and prevent waste in the form of incorrect filling, incorrect labeling, or damaged containers.

[0005] In addition, hygiene within the assembly line must be considered, especially when filling or subsequently processing food.

[0006] The system is known to require significant machine modifications to adjust its height to accommodate different types of containers. These modifications necessitate complete machine downtime. Therefore, repositioning for different container types is time-consuming and expensive.

[0007] Such gripping and conveying devices already exist, in which the positioning plate with the gripping device or the gripping device itself is height-adjustable. However, these designs exhibit several drawbacks due to the need for additional components during height adjustment to guide and stabilize the positioning plate and / or gripper device without rotation. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The objective of this invention is to provide an advantageous height adjustment device for a gripper and a gripping and conveying device for clamping, holding, guiding and transporting containers, wherein a simple, quick and economical height adjustment is provided while simplifying maintenance and modification.

[0009] This task is accomplished through a guiding device, as well as a clamping and conveying device.

[0010] Specifically, a guiding device is provided for a positioning plate of a conveying apparatus for clamping, holding, guiding, and conveying bottle-shaped containers. The guiding device is characterized by an elongated hollow body having a plurality of guide grooves, each guide groove being formed along the hollow body.

[0011] This has the advantage of providing guidance, stabilization, and / or accommodation of one or more positioning plates in and / or via a guiding device. Therefore, the guide grooves are preferably shaped identically to each other so that the positioning plates can move smoothly along the hollow body during height adjustment.

[0012] In another advantageous embodiment, the hollow body is constructed as a hollow cylinder, and the guide grooves are arranged linearly with a constant width and equidistant from each other. The hollow cylinder is easier and more economical to manufacture, thus allowing for other forms of hollow bodies, such as tubes and / or sleeves with square cross-sections or conical hollow bodies. The linear form of the grooves is particularly advantageous for non-rotational guidance.

[0013] It has also proven advantageous that the guide slots include locking protrusions, allowing the positioning plate to be inserted non-rotatably at a specific height. For this purpose, the locking protrusions can be configured as snap-fits that operatively engage with the positioning plate or a portion thereof.

[0014] To facilitate the insertion of the positioning plate into the guide device and simultaneously provide rotational locking, the guide groove preferably extends to the end of the hollow body, allowing a portion of the positioning plate to be inserted from said end into the hollow body, particularly into the guide groove.

[0015] In addition to rotation locking, the guide device may preferably have a height adjustment shaft disposed within the hollow body, which can be connected to one or more positioning plates, and at least a portion or section of the positioning plates is displaceably and / or rotatably supported. Therefore, the guide device itself can provide height adjustment functionality for the positioning plates.

[0016] As an advantageous embodiment, the height adjustment shaft has an elongated sleeve and a rod arranged within the sleeve, wherein the sleeve can be displaced and / or rotated about the rod for height adjustment. While the rod serves as a guide and stabilizer for the sleeve, the sleeve is connected to, or can be separately connected to, a positioning plate and can be displaced and / or moved axially along the rod.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment, the height adjustment shaft is at least partially or partially spindle-shaped. Therefore, by rotating the spindle, a more precise lifting motion can be provided for the height adjustment shaft or its components.

[0018] To save material and / or weight, one or more, particularly rectangular or window-shaped cavities / recesses are advantageously formed between the guide slots. These are preferably formed and arranged at equal intervals and are identical to each other. These window-shaped cavities also establish better access to the interior of the guide device, particularly to the hollow body, and thereby make it easier and faster to clean the interior.

[0019] According to the present invention, a gripping and conveying device for gripping, holding, guiding, and conveying, particularly bottle-shaped containers, is provided with at least one positioning plate, wherein a plurality of gripping devices are fixed or can be fixed to the positioning plate. Therefore, the conveying device includes a guiding device according to the present invention, wherein the positioning plate is fixed to and operatively engaged with the guiding device, such that the positioning plate is non-rotatable and height-adjustable.

[0020] The positioning plate is preferably height-adjustable by means of a manually actuated guide device and / or by means of a motor of the guide device, wherein the motor is arranged inside or on the hollow body.

[0021] It has also proven advantageous that the positioning plate includes a guide strip extending through a guide groove and guided by the guide groove during height adjustment. Thus, the guide strip and / or the guide groove are designed to operatively engage with each other, providing sufficient clearance for height adjustment or displacement, preferably without tilting. Therefore, in addition to the opposing strip and guide groove surfaces, further guiding elements, such as a tongue and groove system, can be formed to improve the guidance of the positioning plate.

[0022] To provide stable support for the positioning plate, the guide strips are preferably connected to or fixed separately to the guide device, particularly the height adjustment shaft.

[0023] In another advantageous embodiment, the guiding device is arranged coaxially with and fixed to the rotation axis of the gripping and conveying device. Furthermore, the guiding device is preferably rotationally symmetrical. This prevents imbalance during the rotation of the conveying device and any potential damage therefrom. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings described below relate to preferred embodiments of the guiding device according to the invention and the gripping and conveying device according to the invention, wherein these drawings are not limiting but are primarily illustrative of the invention. Elements from different drawings but having the same reference numerals are identical; therefore, the description of an element from one drawing also applies to elements that are identically named and / or numbered in other drawings.

[0025] In this respect, it should be noted that all the foregoing components or features, individually and in any combination, particularly the details shown in the accompanying drawings, are required to be essential to the invention. Modifications thereof are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0026] It is shown that:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a clamping and conveying device with a guiding device according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Side view of the clamping and conveying device;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a clamping and conveying device with another guiding device according to the present invention; and

[0030] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Side view of the clamping and conveying device.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0032] 1. A conveying device

[0033] 2. Positioning plate

[0034] 3. Pallet

[0035] 4. Individual clamping device

[0036] 5. Guiding device

[0037] 6. Hollow body

[0038] 7. Cover element

[0039] 8. Height Adjustment Shaft / Shaft

[0040] 9. Guide groove

[0041] 10. Guide bar

[0042] 11. Height Adjustment Screw

[0043] 12. Grab arm

[0044] 13. Control Shaft / Control Camshaft

[0045] 14. Actuating elements

[0046] 15. Control spindle bearing components

[0047] 16. Closing device / spring element

[0048] 17. Pallet support concavity

[0049] 18. Positioning plate bearing hole

[0050] 19. Cavity / Window / Groove Detailed Implementation

[0051] Figure 1 The gripping and conveying device 1 shown is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and includes a support plate 3 and a height-adjustable positioning plate 2. A guide device 5 is coaxially mounted on the upper side of the conveying device 1 above the support plate 3. The guide device 5 includes a hollow cylinder 6, a cover element 7, a height adjusting shaft 8, and a height adjusting screw 11. The hollow cylinder 6 is provided with a vertical guide groove 9 to guide the positioning plate 2 along the axis of rotation. For this purpose, the guide bar 10 of the positioning plate 2 is movably disposed in the guide groove 9 and designed to move non-rotatably along the axis of rotation, also known as the vertical adjustment of the positioning plate 2. The guide bar 10 extends in a star shape to the height adjustment shaft 8 and is fixed to the height adjustment shaft 8 in such a way that the height of the positioning plate 2 can be adjusted by manipulating the height adjustment shaft 8, specifically by the height adjustment screw 11 connected to the height adjustment shaft 8. The cover element 7 is screwed to the upper end of the hollow cylinder 6. The height adjustment shaft 8 is rotatably mounted at the center of the cover element 7, wherein the height adjustment screw 11 connected to the height adjustment shaft 8 is disposed on the upper side of the cover element 7, thereby allowing the height of the positioning plate 2 to be adjusted manually or by an additional motor. The conveying device 1 may be equipped with multiple clamping devices, of which only one clamping device 4 is shown in the figure shown here for clarity. The clamping device 4 includes a pair of clamping arms 12, a spring element 16 as a closing device, a control camshaft 13 as an opening device, a support element 15, and an actuating element 14. The clamping arms 12 are pivotally connected to the outer edge of the circular positioning plate 2 through their respective ends. The spring element 16 is connected to the two clamping arms 12 of the clamping device 4, so that there is always a ready force for closing the clamping arms 12. The control camshaft 13 is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis through the support element 15 and is fixed to the support plate 3 and is also provided in the support recess 17 of the support plate 3. The control camshaft 13 passes through the circular support hole 18 of the positioning plate 2 and is provided between the clamping arms 12 of the clamping device 4. The actuating element 14 is provided at the lower end of the control camshaft 13, and its operation realizes the rotation of the control camshaft 13 and the opening of the clamping arm device 4 or the clamping arm pair 12, respectively.

[0052] Figure 2 Shown in side view Figure 1 The gripping and conveying device 1. Thus, it can be seen that the guide device 5 is mounted on the conveying device 1 by a flange formed under the positioning plate 2. The guide groove 9 is rectangular and leads to the upper side or upper end of the hollow cylinder 6 respectively. Therefore, the hollow cylinder 6 can be manufactured as a single component. Thus, in other embodiments, a multi-component hollow cylinder design is also possible.

[0053] Figure 3 The gripping and conveying device 1 shown is with Figure 1 / Figure 2The difference in the conveying device lies in the hollow cylinder 6 and the cover element 7. Three window-shaped or correspondingly rectangular recesses 19 are formed in the hollow cylinder 6, one of which is always arranged between the two guide slots 9. These recesses 19 serve to save material and weight, and also act as entrances to the interior of the hollow cylinder 6, making it easier and faster to clean the hollow cylinder 6 and / or any components within it. In other embodiments, suitable, particularly insertable elements of the positioning plate 2, such as pins, bolts, etc., can be operatively engaged with or protrude into the recesses 19 to establish additional guidance and / or height adjustment limits. The cover element 7 also includes an arcuate cavity to save material and weight.

[0054] Figure 4 Shown in side view Figure 3 The gripping and conveying device 1. It can be seen here that the lower edge of the guide groove 9 and the cavity or corresponding recess 19 of the hollow cylinder 6 are at the same height.

Claims

1. A clamping and conveying device for clamping, holding, guiding and conveying containers, characterized in that, The clamping and conveying device has: At least one positioning plate (2) and multiple clamping devices (4) are fixed to the positioning plate (2); The guiding device (5) includes an elongated hollow body (6) having a plurality of guiding grooves (9), each of the guiding grooves (9) being formed along the hollow body (6). The positioning plate (2) is fixed to and operatively engaged with the guide device (5), such that the positioning plate (2) is non-rotatable and height-adjustable. The guide groove (9) of the guide device (5) includes a locking protrusion, which allows the positioning plate (2) to be inserted at a specific height in a non-rotatable manner.

2. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow body (6) of the guiding device (5) is formed as a hollow cylinder, and the shape of the guiding groove (9) is a straight line with a constant width, and the plurality of guiding grooves (9) are arranged at equal intervals.

3. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide groove (9) of the guide device (5) extends to the end of the hollow body (6), so that a portion of the positioning plate (2) can be inserted into the guide groove (9) from the end.

4. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height adjustment shaft (8) is arranged inside the hollow body (6) of the guide device (5), the height adjustment shaft (8) can be connected to one or more of the positioning plates (2) and at least part or section of the positioning plates (2) can be displaced and / or rotatably supported.

5. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The height adjustment shaft (8) of the guide device (5) has an elongated sleeve and a rod arranged in the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is capable of shifting and / or rotating about the rod for height adjustment.

6. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The height adjustment shaft (8) of the guide device (5) is at least partially or in sections spindle-shaped.

7. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One or more cavities (19) are formed between the guide grooves (9) of the guide device (5).

8. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cavity (19) of the guide device (5) is rectangular.

9. The clamping and conveying device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The positioning plate (2) can be height-adjusted by manually actuating the guide device (5) and / or by a motor of the guide device (5), wherein the motor is arranged inside the hollow body (6) or on the hollow body (6).

10. The clamping and conveying device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The positioning plate (2) includes a guide strip (10) that extends through the guide groove (9) and is guided by the guide groove (9) during height adjustment.

11. The clamping and conveying device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The guide strip (10) is connected to or fixed to the guide device (5).

12. The clamping and conveying device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The guiding device (5) is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of the clamping and conveying device and is fixed to the clamping and conveying device.

13. The clamping and conveying device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The container is a bottle-shaped container.

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