MACHINE FOOT FOR CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a machine base for container treatment machines, in particular to a hygienic, height-adjustable machine base for container treatment machines.

[0002] Machine feet are well known. Machine feet are generally used for supporting machines or systems. They can usually be mounted on the machine frame or on the machine body. As load-bearing feet, they must withstand the weight of the respective machine and the pressure exerted by the load. Such machine feet are usually designed to be height-adjustable.

[0003] For machines in hygienically sensitive areas, such as food production and processing, or the pharmaceutical industry, these machine feet must also meet the strict hygiene requirements applicable in these areas. Design standards specified and defined by the applicable machinery directives and corresponding hygiene guidelines must be observed.

[0004] Such hygiene guidelines are issued, for example, by specific organizations or government agencies, such as the European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG), 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A), or the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). For individual machine components, especially machine feet, a design that allows for easy cleaning and meets corresponding cleanliness requirements is particularly important. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring that residues, such as product residues, cannot accumulate and that any contamination can be easily and thoroughly removed, thus reliably preventing unwanted contamination.

[0005] Basically, height-adjustable leveling feet or height compensation feet are known and are intended, for example, as table legs for height-adjustable desks, as described, for example, in EP 1 021 972 A12.

[0006] Leveling feet or height adjustment feet for such hygienic applications, as mentioned above, are also known from the prior art. For example, the document DE 10 2016 118 047 A1 discloses a hygienic height adjustment foot comprising a connecting foot with a base plate and shaft, as well as an adjustment sleeve enclosing the shaft. An external thread is provided on the shaft, and a corresponding internal thread on the adjustment sleeve. By rotating the adjustment sleeve relative to the shaft, the adjustment sleeve can be moved up and down. A hollow cylindrical device support foot can be loaded onto the adjustment sleeve via an additional flange. To improve the hygienic properties, the axial extension of the external thread section and the length of the adjustment sleeve are selected such that the external thread is never exposed, regardless of the adjustment of the adjustment sleeve.

[0007] US 7,159,829 B1 discloses a support unit comprising a tubular upper part and a tubular lower part, the lower part being telescopically mounted within the upper part for adjustable vertical movement. The upper part comprises a plastic support body surrounded by a stainless steel support sleeve. Furthermore, an externally threaded steel bolt is attached to the support body. The lower part comprises a tubular stainless steel base with a plastic slider attached to the lower end of the lower part and a metal insert attached to the upper end of the lower part. Said metal insert has a central, internally threaded channel extending completely through the metal insert. The metal insert is screwed onto the lower end of the steel bolt to allow vertical movement along the bolt.

[0008] WO 2015 / 192849 A1 also discloses a height-adjustable machine base for hygienic applications, which also comprises a spindle with an external threaded section coupled to a base, and a cylindrical load sleeve with an internal threaded section axially enclosing the spindle. The load sleeve can be moved vertically relative to the spindle by rotating it. The appropriate use of annular seals protects the threaded section, in particular, from contamination.

[0009] In the above-described, state-of-the-art solution, the spindle essentially consists of a threaded part and a fitting part, with a lower part of the adjustable load sleeve sealing against the fitting part of the spindle with an internal seal. A seal is also provided on the upper side of the load sleeve, which seals against the horizontal surface.

[0010] The disadvantage, however, is that this simple solution, based on the existing design described, is only suitable for small adjustment ranges and for spindles with relatively small diameters. However, in the case of container handling machines, such as filling machines, much larger adjustment ranges and designs, as well as spindles with large diameters, are often required. Furthermore, in the hygienically sensitive area of ​​food production and processing, particularly with regard to the applicable hygiene regulations, it is desirable that other or all functional elements and / or protruding parts be concealed, in addition to the sensitive threaded sections. Therefore, despite the known solutions, there is a need for improved machine feet.

[0011] One object of the invention is to provide a machine base for container treatment machines which eliminates the disadvantages of the solutions known from the prior art and which, despite being structurally simple and cost-effective to manufacture, meets the applicable hygiene requirements.

[0012] To achieve this object, a machine base for container handling machines is designed according to the features of patent claim 1, as is a protective cover having the features of patent claim 16. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. All described features, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them. Furthermore, the features or combinations of features of the patent claims are declared to be an integral part of the description.

[0013] The present invention provides a machine base for container handling machines comprising at least one height-adjustable support unit extending along a main axis and at least one support unit arranged coaxially with the support unit. The support unit comprises at least one support spindle connected to a base plate and a load sleeve axially enclosing the support spindle in sections, wherein the support spindle has at least one externally threaded section and the load sleeve has at least one corresponding internally threaded section. The load sleeve is adjustably connected to the support spindle. The support unit bears on the load sleeve, and a top-side free end section of the support spindle projects axially into an interior of the support unit.The machine base is particularly characterized by the fact that it further comprises a coaxially arranged, circumferentially extending protective sleeve, wherein the protective sleeve is arranged on the support unit so as to be displaceable in a vertical direction. At least in a vertical end position, the protective sleeve covers at least the support unit from the environment.

[0014] The machine base according to the present invention is in particular a height-adjustable or height-adjustable machine base or leveling base or a leveling base or height compensation base, which is particularly suitable and designed for hygiene applications and can therefore also be understood as a hygienic machine base or hygiene base for machines.

[0015] The present machine base is particularly suitable for container treatment machines, which, within the meaning of the present invention, are machines or parts of a system used, for example, in the beverage industry for treating containers to be filled with liquids. In addition to known container cleaning machines, labeling and / or printing machines, closing machines, etc., it also particularly encompasses container treatment machines that are installed, for example, in hygienically sensitive areas or in sterile or aseptic areas of a system, such as blow molding machines, filling machines, sterilizers, etc. The present machine base can also be used, for example, in connection with transport or conveyor lines, buffer lines, and the like.

[0016] The height-adjustable, hygienic machine base is designed as a load-bearing machine base, with the container treatment machine essentially representing the load and the machine base being mountable on the underside of the container treatment machine, for example by attaching the machine base to the underside of a frame or support part of the container treatment machine or to the machine body or to a part of the machine body. Due to the height adjustability, it is particularly easy to adapt to the floor conditions at the installation site of a container treatment machine or to predetermined conditions with regard to the subsurface in a production hall. At least over a certain adjustment range, the working height of the corresponding machine can also be determined by the height adjustment or height setting.An inclination required for certain applications, for example an inclined alignment of the container treatment machine or an exact horizontal alignment, can also be realized in the simplest way and adjusted precisely.

[0017] Particularly advantageous is the protective sleeve, at least in the vertical end position, that all lower components of the support unit facing the floor are completely covered or enclosed, thus protecting them from the environment, especially from the surrounding space. In particular, all functional components, such as those required for height adjustment or for the possible anchoring of the machine base to the hall floor, are also protected.

[0018] The protective sleeve thus covers all exposed components in their entirety, at least in the vertical end position, namely in particular those components of the support unit that are not accommodated in the interior of the support unit but are arranged outside the support unit and are not covered or surrounded by it. This advantageously protects all components of the support unit effectively and safely against contamination and soiling as well as against the penetration or deposition of product or treatment agent residues. The protective sleeve can essentially be understood as a panel, cover or protective device that shields the components of the support unit, in particular all functional components, from the surrounding space. Nevertheless, the vertically movable arrangement of the protective sleeve on the support unit particularly advantageously enables easy inspection and service access.

[0019] The protective sleeve also advantageously makes it possible to implement the machine base with a larger adjustment range for height adjustment compared to the solutions known from the prior art. For example, the external thread section of the support spindle can extend along the main axis over a large part of the length of the support spindle, for example over more than a quarter or more than a third of the length, or approximately over half the length, or over more than half or approximately two-thirds of the length, since the entire support spindle is covered by the protective sleeve interacting with the support unit, and the functional threaded sections are effectively protected. For example, an adjustment range of around 100 mm can be realized.In the machine base according to the present invention, support spindles with a larger spindle diameter can also be advantageously used, which, for example, also increases the load resistance or load-bearing capacity.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protective sleeve and the support unit are substantially cylindrical, in particular hollow-cylindrical, and are arranged so that they can be telescoped into and out of each other at least over a predetermined displacement range. In this arrangement, the protective sleeve, for example, extends concentrically around the support unit, with an inner wall surface of the protective sleeve and an outer surface of the support unit facing each other. For vertical displacement, the support unit and protective sleeve are slidably coupled.

[0021] Particularly preferably, at least one first sealing element is provided at least on one upper sleeve end of the protective sleeve, wherein the sealing element is arranged sealingly between the outer side of the support unit and the protective sleeve. The first sealing element advantageously effects a seal against the support unit at the upper sleeve end in such a way that no residues, dirt or the like, for example even liquids running down the support element, enter the interior of the protective sleeve. In particular, the sealing element is designed and configured such that, although it is arranged in a sealing position with the outer side of the support unit, at the same time sliding of the sealing element on the outer side of the support unit is possible when the protective sleeve is moved in the vertical direction.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one second sealing element is provided in the region of a lower sleeve end of the protective sleeve, wherein the sealing element is arranged sealingly between a surface of the base plate and the protective sleeve. In particular, the formation of two sealing elements allows for a completely sealed cover of all components of the support unit. In this preferred embodiment, the protective sleeve is thus formed with two seals located opposite one another in the axial direction.

[0023] The first and / or second sealing elements are particularly preferably annular in the form of a sealing ring. The protective sleeve preferably has a circumferential groove in the region of its upper sleeve end and / or in the region of its upper sleeve end for at least partially receiving the sealing ring. Alternatively, however, the sealing elements can also be designed as sealing lips. The sealing elements can be made of any suitable materials, in particular from suitable materials approved for use in the food industry. For example, the seals can be made of silicone.

[0024] Advantageously, the protective sleeve in the vertical end position covers the support unit in a sealing manner, in particular completely and sealingly against the environment.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one connecting section for establishing a detachable connection to the base plate is provided on the underside of the sleeve end of the protective sleeve. A detachable connection between the connecting section of the protective sleeve and the base plate can also be understood in the present context as simple contact between a free edge of the connecting section or protective sheath and a surface of the base plate. For example, such contact or such "standing in contact" can be realized by resting or abutting the lower edge on the base plate. The connecting area can also preferably be designed such that it can be pushed over the base plate or plugged onto the base plate like a socket.

[0026] The connecting portion is preferably designed to establish a positive, detachable connection with the base plate, in particular to establish a locking connection or snap connection, and for this purpose has at least one projection region serving as a locking lug. The at least one projection region can preferably form an operative connection with a corresponding locking element portion provided on the base plate, for example with a shoulder or rib of the base plate, in particular with a circumferential shoulder or rib, such as an annular shoulder or annular rib.

[0027] To position and fix the protective sleeve, it can be moved vertically along the support unit until the protective sleeve, in its vertical end position, seals all components of the support unit from the outside. The sealed protective sleeve, once pushed over in this way, can then be easily clipped onto the base plate to fix its position, for example, using the locking or snap-in mechanisms described above. However, adjustment or maintenance work can be performed at any time by loosening the locking or snap-in connection and moving or shifting it upwards accordingly.

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a fastening section for attachment to the container treatment machine is provided at a machine-side end of the support unit facing away from the support unit. For example, the fastening section is designed as a cover- or plate-like connecting piece, or as a connecting plate or connecting flange. Using suitable fastening and connecting means, for example, by screwing, the machine base can be firmly connected to a frame part or to a machine body part of the container treatment machine.

[0029] The load sleeve preferably has a collar section on the upper side for load-bearing accommodation of the support unit, wherein the support unit rests on the collar section.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the support unit has, at a support end opposite the machine-side end, a base section with a central through-opening for the passage of the support spindle, wherein the base section of the support unit rests on the load sleeve, in particular on the collar section of the load sleeve. Preferably, the base section is connected to the load sleeve, in particular to the collar section of the load sleeve. The base section resting flatly on the collar section ensures even load distribution. At the same time, the flat sections can be fixed, for example, by means of a screw connection, whereby a secure connection can be established between the support unit and the support unit.

[0031] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective sleeve is constructed in multiple parts, with several half- or partially shell-shaped protective sleeve parts being sealingly connected, preferably detachably and sealingly, to form the circumferentially extending protective sleeve. In such an embodiment, the protective sleeve can be removed and reattached particularly easily for inspection or maintenance purposes. This also allows for particularly simple subsequent installation if the protective sleeve needs to be replaced.

[0032] The protective sleeve can be made of metal, particularly stainless steel, or plastic. The materials preferably meet all requirements of the food or pharmaceutical industry and, in particular, comply with applicable hygiene regulations, such as 3-A, USDA, or EHEDG guidelines. For example, stainless steel of class AISI 304 or AISI 316, or various plastics, such as Teflon, are suitable.

[0033] Particular advantages arise from the smooth surface finish of the materials used to manufacture the protective sleeve, making them particularly easy and thorough to clean. The material is also selected to ensure sufficient resistance to all products and aids used and processed in container handling machines. For example, corrosion-resistant materials with sufficient resistance to the cleaning and disinfection agents regularly used in the food industry, for example, are used.

[0034] Particularly when using a plastic with elastic or flexible properties, it is also conceivable, for example, for the protective sleeve to be formed from a substantially flat, yet cylindrically bent piece of flat material, wherein the free longitudinal edges of the piece of flat material are arranged adjacent to one another and are sealingly connected to one another along a connecting line or seam line, preferably detachably and sealingly connected to one another. With such an embodiment of the protective sleeve, it can be retrofitted particularly advantageously by first loosening the connection of the longitudinal edges along the connecting or seam line in the separately provided protective sleeve and then pushing the protective sleeve over the support and carrying unit or placing it around the support and carrying unit by bending it slightly from the side, and finally re-establishing the sealing connection between the longitudinal edges.

[0035] According to a further preferred embodiment, the machine base is designed for anchoring in the ground and, for this purpose, has through-holes in the base plate. Corresponding anchoring means, such as screw pins, are guided through the through-holes for anchoring into the ground. In such an embodiment, the machine base is designed as a so-called earthquake-resistant machine base.

[0036] The invention further comprises a protective sleeve for a machine base comprising at least one height-adjustable support unit and a support unit, in which the support unit comprises at least one support spindle connected to a base plate and having an external thread section, and a load sleeve axially enclosing the support spindle in sections and having at least one corresponding internal thread section, in which the load sleeve is adjustably connected to the support spindle and the support unit loads the load sleeve in such a way that a top-side free end section of the support spindle projects axially into an interior of the support unit. The protective sleeve is hollow-cylindrical and can be connected to the support unit in such a way that the protective sleeve circumferentially surrounds the support unit and is displaceable in a vertical direction relative to the support unit.The protective sleeve is further designed and configured to cover the support unit against the environment in at least one vertical end position when connected to the support unit of the machine base.

[0037] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show: Fig. 1 is a roughly schematic representation of an embodiment of the machine base according to the present invention in a longitudinal section along the main axis; Fig. 2 is a detail of the lower part of an embodiment of the machine base according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a protective sleeve; and Fig. 4a, b are schematic cross-sectional views of further preferred embodiments of the protective sleeve.

[0038] Figure 1shows a roughly schematic sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a machine base 1 according to the present invention. The machine base 1 extends lengthwise along a main axis HA, which is oriented vertically in the use position of the machine base 1. The machine base 1 can be used, for example, to support a container treatment machine (not identified in more detail and not shown in the figures), in particular for setting up such a container treatment machine on a hall floor. The machine base 1 is height-adjustable or height-compensable and is therefore designed as a so-called leveling base.

[0039] The machine base 1 has a height-adjustable support unit 2 extending along the main axis HA and a support unit 3 arranged coaxially with the support unit 2. The support unit 2 forms a lower part of the machine base 1, which faces the ground and rests, for example, on the hall floor. The support unit 3 forms an upper part of the machine base 1, which faces the container handling machine and is available for attachment to the container handling machine.

[0040] The height-adjustable support unit 2 has a base plate 6 and a support spindle 4 connected to the base plate 6. The base plate 6, whose underside 6a serves as a standing surface and which can also be referred to as a base plate, floor plate or standing base, forms a supporting base for the support spindle 4, which can be fixed, for example, by means of a holder 9 (in Figure 1 not shown, see Figure 2) is attached to the base plate 6, in particular in the region of an upper side 6b of the base plate 6.

[0041] The support spindle 4 is supported by a spindle axially along the main axis HA extending, elongated spindle is formed, which in the example shown has a lower section of smaller diameter and an adjoining upper section with a larger diameter. The support spindle 4 is equipped with an externally threaded section 7, which in the example shown extends in the axial direction only over a limited section in the upper section, but which can of course extend over a longer area or over almost the entire or even the entire upper section of the support spindle.

[0042] The support unit 2 further comprises a load sleeve 5, which axially encloses the support spindle 4 in sections in a nut-like or sleeve-like manner and through which the support spindle 4 projects axially. The load sleeve 5 has an internal thread section 8 corresponding to the external thread section 7 of the support spindle 4 and is adjustably connected to the support spindle 4 by the intermeshing of the corresponding threads of the corresponding external and internal thread sections 7, 8. By rotating the load sleeve 5 relative to the support spindle 4, the load sleeve 5 can be moved or displaced axially along the support spindle 4 relative to it in a vertical direction Rv at least over an adjustment range, wherein the adjustment range is determined, among other things, by the axial extent of the external thread section 7.Although not shown in the figures, suitable wrench surfaces for the engagement of corresponding wrenches are provided on both the load sleeve 5 and the support spindle 4 for the corresponding rotation of the load sleeve 5 against the support spindle 4.

[0043] The load sleeve 5 serves to support the load of the essentially hollow-cylindrical support unit 3, which ultimately rests on the load sleeve 5 connected to the support spindle 4, in such a way that a free upper end section 4.1 of the support spindle 4 projects axially into an interior of the support unit 3. For this purpose, the load sleeve 5 has a collar section 5.1 on the upper side, on which a lower support end 3.2 of the support unit 3 rests. The lower support end 3.2 of the support unit 3 in turn has a base section 18 with a central through-opening for the passage of the support spindle 4. The base section 18 of the support unit 3 and the collar section 5.1 of the load sleeve 5 are in surface contact with one another or lie flat against one another.In the example shown, screw connections are guided through the flat adjacent base and collar sections 18, 15 in order to fix the base and collar sections 18, 15 against each other and thereby securely connect the carrying unit 2 and the support unit 3.

[0044] The support unit 3 has a fastening section 17 on a machine-side end 3.1 facing away from the carrying unit 2, which fastening section is available for assembly or attachment to the container handling machine. In the present example, the fastening section 17 is designed as a cover- or plate-like connecting piece or as a connecting plate, which can be firmly connected to a frame part or to a machine body part of the container handling machine using suitable fastening and connecting means, e.g. by means of screwing. The container handling machine resting on or bearing weight on the fastening section 17 thus represents the load, which is ultimately transferred via the support unit 3 to the load sleeve 5 of the carrying unit 2 and held there as a whole. The forces emanating from the load are thus transmitted in the axial direction.

[0045] In the Figure 1Although not shown, appropriate seals can also be provided in the area of ​​the load sleeve 5, which seals are arranged, for example, internally in the area of ​​the passage of the load sleeve 5 and sealingly bear against the surface of the support spindle 4. For example, corresponding seals can be arranged in the lower area of ​​the load sleeve 5. Corresponding seals can also be provided in the upper area, which seal against the horizontal surface.

[0046] The machine base 1 further comprises a coaxially arranged, circumferentially extending protective sleeve 10, which is also substantially hollow-cylindrical in design and is coupled to the support unit 3 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction Rv, specifically such that the protective sleeve 10 extends substantially concentrically around the support unit 3. The protective sleeve 10 is arranged relative to the support unit 3 and, in particular with regard to its shape and dimensions, is designed and configured such that the protective sleeve 10 and the support unit 3 can be telescopically pushed into and apart from one another at least over a predetermined displacement range.

[0047] The protective sleeve 10 covers the support unit 2 in at least one vertical end position P1, specifically all elements of the support unit 2, especially those not covered or accommodated by the support unit 3. In the vertical end position P1, the protective sleeve 10 completely covers the support unit 2 and seals it against the external environment. The axial length of the protective sleeve 10 is selected to ensure complete coverage of the support unit 2 in the vertical end position P1. Preferably, the axial length of the protective sleeve 10 corresponds approximately to the axial length of the support unit 2.

[0048] For the purpose of top-side sealing, a first sealing element 11 is provided on an upper sleeve end 10.1 of the protective sleeve 10. In the example shown, this first sealing element 11 is designed as a ring-shaped sealing ring and is arranged in a sealing position between an outer side 12 of the support unit 3 and the protective sleeve 10. The sealing ring 11 lies sealingly against the outer side 12 of the support unit 3 and against an inner wall area of ​​the protective sleeve 10. In the example shown, the sealing ring 11 is partially received in a circumferential groove 16 in the area of ​​the upper sleeve end 10.1.

[0049] At a lower sleeve end 10.2 of the protective sleeve 10, a connecting section 13 is provided for establishing a connection with the base plate 6 of the support unit 2, which in Figure 1 only vaguely indicated, in Figure 2 However, it is presented in more detail, so that in the following reference is also made to the Figure 2 .

[0050] In the example shown, the connecting section 13 is designed to form a positive connection with the base plate 6, in particular to form a snap or latching connection, and for this purpose has projection areas 20 serving as latching lugs, which come into operative connection with communicating latching element sections 21 on the base plate 6. For example, a corresponding annular rib or shoulder is provided on the base plate 6 as a latching element section 21. The projection areas 20 formed in the connecting section 13 of the protective sleeve 10 engage behind the annular rib or shoulder 21 of the base plate, whereby the connecting section 13 hooks into the base plate, forming a latching or snap connection. The protective sleeve 10 can thus be easily clipped onto the base plate 6.

[0051] In particular, a second sealing element 14 is also provided on the underside sleeve end 10.2 of the protective sleeve 10 in the region of the connecting section 13, which second sealing element 14 is also designed as a ring-shaped sealing ring and is arranged in a sealing position between a surface 15 of the base plate 6 and the protective sleeve 10, such that the sealing ring 14 bears sealingly against the surface 15 of the base plate 6 and against an inner wall region of the protective sleeve 10. In the example shown, the sealing ring 14 is at least partially received in a circumferential groove 16' in the region of the connecting section 13 of the protective sleeve 10.

[0052] The machine base 1 of the example shown is designed for anchoring in the ground or for fastening to the hall floor and is designed as a so-called "earthquake-proof" variant. For this purpose, the base plate 6 has several through holes 23, two of which are in the Figure 1 and 2are visible. An anchoring means 22 for anchoring engagement in the floor is passed through each of the through-holes 23. Of course, the machine base can also be designed without such an anchoring mechanism, in particular as a simple stand base without through-holes 23 and anchoring means 22. In all design variants, to increase slip resistance, the underside 6a of the base plate 6, which is designed as a standing surface, can be provided with an adhesion-promoting coating, or an adhesion-promoting layer, for example a rubber mat, can be applied there.

[0053] Advantageously, the protective sleeve 10 also completely covers the through holes 23 and anchoring means 22 provided in the base plate 6 from the environment, so that these functional elements of the machine base 1 are also completely protected from contamination and residue deposits.

[0054] Figure 3shows, in a perspective view and shown in isolation, an embodiment of the protective sleeve 10. The protective sleeve 10, which is essentially designed as a hollow cylinder, has, at its lower sleeve end 10.2 in the region of the connecting section 13, several projection areas 20 for locking with the base plate 6 of the support unit 2. The protective sleeve 10 can be made of stainless steel or plastic.

[0055] For the initial assembly of the machine base 1, in particular for the assembly of the protective sleeve 10 on the machine base 1, for example, the support spindle 4 and the load sleeve 5 can first be assembled and then the support unit 3 can be connected to the load sleeve 5. Subsequently, the protective sleeve 10 can be pushed, for example, from below onto the support spindle 4 connected to the load sleeve 5 and guided or pushed over the support unit 3, so that finally a lower end opposite the upper free end section 4.1 of the support spindle 4 can be connected to the base plate 6.

[0056] The Figures 4a and 4bshow schematic cross-sectional views of further preferred embodiments of the protective sleeve 10. When using a plastic with sufficient flexible or elastic properties, the protective sleeve 10 can be formed from a bent piece of flat material which is shaped into a cylinder or bent into a substantially cylindrical structure, as in Figure 4a The formed cylinder is sufficiently stabilized or stable so that the cylindrical shape can be bent open only by applying appropriate force. Free longitudinal edges of the flat material piece are arranged adjacent to one another and are sealingly and preferably detachably connected to one another along a connecting line or seam line 24. In the example shown, a sealing strip 19 is applied along the abutting edges or along the seam line 24 to create a sealing connection.

[0057] A multi-part protective sleeve 10 formed from two half-shell-shaped protective sleeve parts 10a, 10a' is shown in Figure 4b shown. The half-shell-shaped protective sleeve parts 10a, 10a' are sealingly connected to one another to form the circumferentially extending protective sleeve 10. To connect the half-shell-shaped protective sleeve parts 10a, 10a', the respective adjacent longitudinal edges of the adjoining protective sleeve parts 10a, 10a' are sealingly connected to one another along butt lines or seam lines 24'. For example, the longitudinal edges of the protective sleeve parts 10a, 10a' are profiled for this purpose, in particular designed for a connection in the manner of a tongue and groove connection, as can be seen from the enlarged section A of the Figure 4b emerges.

[0058] Each protective sleeve part 10a, 10a' thus has a longitudinal edge with a tongue-like profile and an opposite longitudinal edge with a groove-like profile. To form the circumferential protective sleeve 10, the protective sleeve parts 10a, 10a' are arranged relative to one another such that two corresponding longitudinal edges adjoin one another along the seam lines 24', forming the tongue-and-groove connection. Seals (not shown), such as sealing lips or sealing strips, can also be used. List of reference symbols

[0059] 1Machine base 2Support unit 3Support unit 4Support spindle 4.1Top free end section of the support spindle 5Load sleeve 5.1Collar section 6Base plate 6aUnderside of the base plate 6bTop of the base plate 7External thread section 8Internal thread section 9Holder 10Protective sleeve 10a, 10a'Protective sleeve parts 10.1Top sleeve end 10.2Bottom sleeve end 11First sealing element 12Outside of the support unit 13Connecting section 14Second sealing element 15Surface of the base plate 16, 16'Circumferential groove 17Fastening section 18Bottom section 19Sealing strip 20Protrusion area 21Locking element sections 22Anchoring means 23Through hole 24, 24'Seam line HAMain axis P1Vertical end position Rvvertical direction

Claims

1. A machine foot (1) for container handling machines, comprising at least one height-adjustable carrier unit (2) that extends along a main axis (HA) and at least one support unit (3) arranged coaxially with the carrier unit (2), wherein the carrier unit (2) comprises at least one base plate (6) and a carrying spindle (4) connected to the base plate (6) and a load sleeve (5) axially enclosing the carrying spindle (4) in sections, wherein the carrying spindle (4) has at least one externally threaded section (7) and the load sleeve (5) has at least one corresponding internally threaded section (8), the load sleeve (5) being adjustably connected to the carrying spindle (4) and the support unit (3) resting on the load sleeve (5) and a top-side free end section (4.1) of the carrying spindle (4) projecting axially into an interior space of the support unit (3), the machine foot (1) furthermore having a coaxially arranged protective sleeve (10) running around the periphery, characterised in that the protective sleeve (10) is arranged on the support unit (3) so as to be slidable in a vertical direction (Rv) and, in at least one vertical end position (P1), the protective sleeve (10) covers at least the carrier unit (2) against the environment.

2. The machine foot (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the protective sleeve (10) and the support unit (3) are of an essentially cylindrical design and are arranged such that they can be pushed telescopically into and out of one another at least over a predetermined sliding range.

3. The machine foot (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised at least one first sealing element (11) is provided at least at a top-side sleeve end (10.1) of the protective sleeve (10), the sealing element (11) being arranged in a sealing manner between an outer side (12) of the support unit (3) and the protective sleeve (10).

4. The machine foot (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one second sealing element (14) is provided in the region of a bottom-side sleeve end (10.2) of the protective sleeve (10), the sealing element (14) being arranged in a sealing manner between a surface (15) of the base plate (6) and the protective sleeve (10).

5. The machine foot (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the first and / or the second sealing element (11, 14) is / are annular in the form of a sealing ring.

6. The machine foot (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the protective sleeve (10) has a circumferential groove (16, 16') in the region of its top-side sleeve end (10.1) and / or in the region of its bottom-side sleeve end (10.2) for an at least partial reception of the sealing ring (11, 14).

7. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one connecting section (13) for producing a releasable connection to the base plate (6) is provided on the bottom-side sleeve end (10.2) of the protective sleeve (10).

8. The machine foot (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the connecting section (13) is designed to produce a form-fitting, releasable connection with the base plate (6), in particular a latching connection or snap-on connection, and to this end has at least one projection region serving as a latching lug.

9. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the vertical end position (P1), the protective sleeve (10) covers the carrier unit (2) in a sealing manner against the environment, in particular covers it completely and in a sealing manner against the environment.

10. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a fastening section (17) for fastening to the container handling machine is provided on a machine-side end (3.1) of the support unit (3) that faces away from the carrier unit (2).

11. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a collar section (5.1) for the supporting accommodation of the support unit (3) is provided on the top side of the load sleeve (5) and the support unit (3) is supported on the collar section (5.1).

12. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support unit (3) has, at a support end (3.2) that is opposite the machine-side end (3.1), a bottom section (18) with a central through-opening for the passage of the carrying spindle (4), the bottom section (18) of the support unit (3) resting on the load sleeve (5) and being connected thereto.

13. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protective sleeve (10) is of a multi-part design, a plurality of semi- or part- shell-shaped protective sleeve parts (10a) being sealingly connected to one another in order to form the circumferentially extending protective sleeve (10).

14. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protective sleeve (10) is made of metal, in particular of stainless steel, or of a plastic.

15. The machine foot (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base plate (6) has one or more through-holes (23) and anchoring means (22) are provided for anchoring engagement in the ground, which are passed through the through-holes (23).