Packing tulip

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a packing tulip for selectively gripping bottles from the top, comprising a mouth with an opening. a pot-shaped housing with a receiving opening for the bottle to be gripped, a gripper arranged in the housing for gripping the bottle in the area of ​​its mouth, and a sealing element arranged in the housing with a sealing surface for pressure-tight sealing of the opening of the bottle to be gripped.

[0002] Packing tulips are components of machines for the efficient and reliable handling of bottles using beverage machines, especially so-called bottle lifting machines, which are used to lift empty bottles out of their transport crates.

[0003] The packing tulip has a pot- or bell-shaped housing with a receiving opening for the bottles to be gripped. Inside the housing, there is typically an elastic cuff that can be pressed against the neck of the bottle to be gripped by compressed air. The packing tulips are mounted on a so-called packing head of the bottle lifting machine, according to the number of bottles to be gripped simultaneously. This packing head is positioned over the bottle crate so that, as the packing head is lowered, the bottle necks are inserted through the receiving openings into the housings of the individual packing tulips. The elastic cuffs of the packing tulips are then pressurized with compressed air to grip all the bottles in the transport crate simultaneously. Such a packing tulip is known, for example, from DE 43 25 556 C1.

[0004] With known designs of packing tubes, it is unavoidable that bottles with defects, such as missing bottoms or cracks, are also picked up. Typically, the bottles are transferred by the lifting machine to a conveyor belt for further processing, which then carries them, for example, to a washing unit. Damaged bottles are unsuitable for further use and must therefore be manually identified and sorted out to prevent disruptions, which negatively impacts process speed and also incurs unnecessary labor costs.

[0005] To avoid having to lift damaged bottles out of transport crates in the first place, but rather to allow them to continue their journey with the crate, where they are emptied and disposed of along with any further contamination, DE 1 995 463 U proposes a packing tulip for bottle lifting machines for selectively gripping bottles from the top. In this design, the formation of an air cushion between the sleeve and the cup-shaped housing is only possible if the bottle being gripped is not damaged and leaking. It is proposed that, for pressure equalization, the air space between the elastic sleeve and the cup-shaped housing be connected to the inside of the bottle.

[0006] For pressure equalization, compressed air is introduced into the air space between the sleeve and the cup-shaped housing via air channels. This air then flows through another channel into the bottle's interior, thus equalizing the pressure between the air space and the bottle's interior. If the packing tube is lowered onto a damaged bottle, the air trapped between the cup-shaped housing and the sleeve can escape from the damaged area through the bottle's interior. The pressure between the cup-shaped housing and the sleeve is then insufficient to press the sleeve against the bottle neck. Consequently, when the packing tube is subsequently lifted, the damaged bottle remains in the transport case.

[0007] In the known solution, the air pressure of the air trapped between the cup-shaped housing and the sleeve is the same as the air pressure flowing into the bottle interior. This matching air pressure, required for gripping and checking the bottles, results in high air consumption.

[0008] The familiar packing tulip works with a cuff, also known as a balloon tulip insert, which generates gripping force by building up an air cushion between the cup-shaped housing and the cuff. In practice, such cuffs are frequently damaged by defective or sharp-edged bottle openings, causing the gripping air flowing into the air space between the cuff and the cup-shaped housing to escape at the damaged point. The necessary air cushion for gripping can no longer build up, thus impairing the operation of the packing tulip.

[0009] As previously mentioned, the known lifting machines have a packing head with several, usually between 100 and 170 packing tulips. To grip and test the bottles, a sealing element is placed on the bottle neck of the packing tulip to seal the opening. The packing tulips are sealed by the weight of the packing head. This weight is counteracted by the pressure of the incoming test air inside the bottles being gripped, acting on the sealing elements of the packing tulips. If the lifting force of all packing tulips resulting from the pressure of the test air is greater than the weight of the packing head, a proper seal between the sealing element and the bottle neck opening of the respective packing tulip will not occur.Depending on the number of bottles to be gripped, the packing head must therefore be sufficiently heavy and the lifting force of the lifting machine must be dimensioned accordingly, or, given a certain weight, the number of packing tulips per packing head must be reduced to ensure a proper seal.

[0010] When lifting a bottle gripped with the familiar packing tulip, the seal between the sealing element and the bottle opening can be compromised, for example, because a spring element located in the force path of the packing tulip relaxes. Due to a faulty seal, the pressure of the gripper air collapses, and the bottle, although undamaged, is released from the gripper while still being lifted.

[0011] From JP 2009 109259 A, a method for inspecting bottles made of synthetic resin is known, which serves for the reliable and efficient detection of minute leaks. For this purpose, a supply valve is opened for a predetermined time, and the internal pressure of the bottle is determined as a reference pressure immediately after the valve is closed. If this reference pressure exceeds a first defined threshold, the bottle is kept in an airtight state for a specified period. After this time, the pressure drop relative to the reference pressure is measured. The bottle is only considered defect-free if the measured pressure drop does not exceed a second, predefined threshold.

[0012] From DE 200 19 272 U1, a gripping device for simultaneously grasping bottles arranged in beverage crates, particularly those with swing-top closures, is known. It comprises a packing head with several packing tulips, the receiving opening of which can be radially reduced by an elastic packing tulip insert under the influence of a pressure medium in order to grip a bottle. An axially adjustable plunger is also arranged in the packing tulip housing. This plunger can be moved into the receiving opening and, depending on its position, either releases or interrupts the supply of the pressure medium to the packing tulip insert. For this purpose, the plunger is mounted in a chamber connected to pressure medium channels and can be moved into the receiving opening by the pressure medium, while a return spring moves it back to its rest position.By contacting the plunger with a bottle closure or penetrating the bottle neck, the flow of pressure medium is opened or blocked, allowing open and closed bottles to be automatically distinguished and selectively gripped.

[0013] Based on this prior art, the invention aims to create a packing tulip for the selective gripping of bottles for a lifting machine, whereby impairment of the packing tulip's function due to damage is reduced and the efficiency and process reliability of the gripping process when the packing tulip is used in a bottle lifting machine is improved. At the same time, the air consumption for actuating the packing tulips is to be reduced.

[0014] This problem is solved by a packing tulip with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the features of dependent claims 2-11. Furthermore, the invention relates to a packing head and a bottle lifting machine.

[0015] The process reliability of the packing tulip according to the invention is improved by separating the test air and gripper air: A section of the test air line and a section of the return air line extend into the interior of the bottle being gripped. The passage of both lines through the sealing element is gas-tight, so that the pressure-tight sealing of the opening of the bottle being gripped is not impaired. A control system temporarily supplies the interior of the bottle being tested with test air via the separate test air line. A further control system actuates the gripper, activating it depending on the pressure of the test air established in the separate return air line.

[0016] Furthermore, the separation of test air and gripper air allows the use of a sleeve-shaped, elastically deformable gripper insert. This gripper insert is constricted in cross-section by a pressurizable, axially displaceable piston, thus gripping the bottle neck. The axial force is applied by the pressurizable piston by connecting the upper circumferential edge of the sleeve-shaped gripper insert to the lower edge, i.e., the piston skirt of the piston, which is axially displaceable within the housing. The lower circumferential edge of the sleeve-shaped gripper insert is attached to the pot-shaped housing along the circumference of the receiving opening for the bottles to be gripped. This attachment can be achieved, for example, by means of a ring base surrounding the receiving opening.Since the gripping force is no longer provided by an air cushion, but by the axial application of a pressure force via the pressurizable piston, the function of the packing tulip is not directly affected even in the event of damage to the gripper insert.

[0017] Separating the test air and gripper air allows the test air pressure to be significantly lower than the gripper air pressure. For example, a test air pressure in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 bar is used, while the gripper air pressure is 3 to 5 bar. This significantly reduces the air consumption for operating each packing tulip. Furthermore, the efficiency of a bottle unloading machine can be considerably improved with the packing tulips according to the invention, since the pressure built up inside the bottles during testing, and thus the forces opposing the sealing elements, are significantly lower. Consequently, the required weight forces exerted by the test head on the bottle openings can be reduced, allowing for an increase in the moment of inertia and thus the travel speed of the packing head, and / or the use of smaller drive mechanisms for the packing head's movement.

[0018] To even out the pressure on the openings of the bottles to be gripped and to compensate for differences in height, the sealing element in the housing of the packing tulip is arranged movably perpendicular to the sealing surface against the force of a spring element.

[0019] A space-saving and structurally advantageous design of the test air and return air duct comprises an inner pipe and an outer pipe concentrically surrounding the inner pipe, wherein one of the two ducts is formed by the inner pipe and the other by the annular space between the inner and outer pipes. Preferably, the annular space forms the test air duct and the inner pipe the return air duct.

[0020] Due to the design of the two lines as coaxial tubes, the sealing element can surround the outer tube in a ring shape and be arranged to be axially displaceable against the force of the spring element on the outer tube's outer surface from a starting position to an upper end position in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube.

[0021] Furthermore, the piston for actuating the gripper can be arranged in a ring-like fashion around the outer tube and slidably on the outer surface of the outer tube within the cup-shaped housing, with the housing simultaneously forming a cylinder as the piston moves along the axis of the coaxial tubes. The piston has a bore corresponding to the diameter of the outer tube and an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the cup-shaped housing. The bore is sealed against the outer tube, for example, by means of a sliding bearing bushing and wiper rings. The piston is sealed against the inner wall of the housing, for example, by means of a piston ring. The space thus defined by the piston and the interior of the cup-shaped housing forms the cylinder.

[0022] In the structurally advantageous design of the test air and return air lines as concentric tubes, the spring element is preferably designed as a helical compression spring that surrounds the outer tube and is supported on one side by the sealing element and on the other by the piston, which is movably guided in the housing. This design ensures that even after the packing tube is lifted, the spring force on the sealing element is maintained and the positive seal of the sealing element against the bottle opening is reliably maintained because the helical compression spring remains pre-tensioned even when the bottle gripped by the gripper is lifted. This increases process reliability during operation of the packing tube.

[0023] The control system for pressurizing the compressed air line with test air pressure preferably comprises a pressure source for supplying the gripper air at a pressure of, for example, 3 to 5 bar above ambient pressure. The pressure source can, for example, be the existing compressed air supply to the bottle lifting machine. Furthermore, the control system for pressurizing the test air line with test air pressure comprises an electrically actuated directional control valve, in particular a 3 / 2-way valve with two working ports and one vent port, as well as at least one control port, wherein in a first switching position the flow path from the pressure source to a pressure line for the gripper air is opened, and in a second switching position the flow path from the pressure line for the gripper air to the vent port is opened.A pressure regulating valve with an inlet and outlet is configured to reduce the gripper air pressure at the inlet to the lower test air pressure at the outlet. The inlet is connected to the pressure line for the gripper air, and the outlet is connected to the test air line. The test air, at a reduced pressure compared to the gripper air pressure, is introduced into the cylinder via the test air line, specifically through the annular space between the outer and inner tubes of the packing tube.

[0024] The at least one control connection of the electrically operated 3 / 2-way valve is connected to a higher-level machine control, in particular the machine control of the bottle lifting machine, in order to switch back and forth between the second and first switching positions when the packing head with the packing tulips has lowered onto the bottles.

[0025] The control system for actuating the gripper comprises a pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve with two working ports and a vent port, as well as a pneumatic control port connected to the return air line, wherein in a first switching position the flow path from the pressure line to the cylinder is opened to supply the piston with gripper air, and in a second switching position the flow path from the cylinder to the vent port is opened.

[0026] The pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve is preferably arranged directly on the packaging tulip, in particular at the upper end of the tulip stem, such that the straight return air line in the form of the inner tube can be directly connected to the control port in the valve cover of the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, a further increase in the process reliability of the gripping operation of the packaging tulip is achieved by making the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve self-holding and providing it with a second control port to block the flow path. This second control port is connected via a return air line to the vent port of the electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve. Sealing the opening of the bottle to be gripped using the sealing element is only necessary during the testing process. During the subsequent handling of the bottle, sealing is no longer required because the valve is self-holding. The gripper therefore remains closed throughout the entire travel path of the packaging tulip. The gripper only opens again when the 3 / 2-way valve is reversed via the second control port using the return air line.

[0028] To prevent further leakage of test air during the handling of a packing tube whose gripper was not activated due to a damaged bottle, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the test air line is formed by the annular space between the inner and outer tubes. The outer tube has at least one outlet opening for the test air on the section of the line projecting into the interior of the bottle being gripped. The sealing element closes the at least one outlet opening in its initial position and releases the at least one outlet opening in its final position. The sealing element, which is movable against the force of the spring element, only releases the at least one outlet opening for the test air when it has moved from its initial position to its compressed final position against the force of the spring element.If, however, the sealing element remains in its initial position with the spring relaxed, the outlet remains closed and no test air escapes. This reduces the air consumption of the packing nozzle and thus of the lifting machine, thereby improving its efficiency. Furthermore, it prevents a pressure drop in the pressure line, or test air line, from affecting the function of other packing nozzles of the lifting machine that are connected to the same pressure line or test air line.

[0029] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. They show Figure 1 an overview drawing of a first embodiment of a packing tulip according to the invention; Figure 2a) a cutaway front view of the packing tulip Figure 1 ; Figure 2b) a cut side view of the packing tulip Figure 1 ; Figure 3a) a cutaway front view of the packing tulip Figure 1with intact bottle in hand; Figure 3b) a cut side view of the packing tulip Figure 1 with intact bottle in hand; Figure 4a) a cutaway front view of the packing tulip Figure 1 with a defective bottle; Figure 4b) a cut side view of the packing tulip Figure 1 with a defective bottle; Figure 5a) a cutaway front view of a second embodiment of a packing tulip with a bottle gripped; Figure 5b) the embodiment of the packing tulip according to Figure 5a ) without a bottle; Figure 6 a pneumatic diagram of the packing tulip according to the invention Figure 1 .

[0030] As from Figure 1 combined with Figures 2aAs can be seen in Figure 3a), the packing tulip for selectively gripping bottles 18, with an opening 18.1, comprises a pot-shaped housing 1 with a receiving opening 1.4 on the underside. A tulip shaft 1.3 is attached to the housing 1, in which various lines, which are explained in detail below with reference to the other figures, are arranged. A control 8 for actuating a gripper 2 is located on the upper side of the tulip shaft 1.3. Also visible are a return air line 15, a pressure line 17, and the test air supply line 16, which opens into the tulip shaft 1.3.

[0031] The various assemblies of the packing tulip according to Figure 1 and their function will now be explained based on the Figures 2 - 4In more detail: The housing 1 has a tulip-shaped lower part 1.1 and a tulip-shaped upper part 1.2 screwed to it. The tulip-shaped upper part 1.2 is connected to the tulip-shaped shaft 1.3 via a screw connection, at the upper end of which is the control 8 for the gripper 2, which in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12.

[0032] The gripper 2, arranged in the pot-shaped housing 1, is designed as a sleeve-shaped gripper insert 2.1 made of an elastomeric material. The sleeve-shaped gripper insert 2.1 has an upper circumferential rim 2.2 and a lower circumferential rim 2.3. The lower circumferential rim 2.3 is supported on an annular base 1.5 of the tulip-shaped lower part 1.1, which surrounds the receiving opening 1.4. The upper circumferential rim 2.2 of the sleeve-shaped gripper insert 2.1 is attached to a piston skirt 3.2 of a pressurizable piston 3, which is slidably guided in the housing 1 (see figure). Fig. 2bTo actuate the gripper 2, the opening cross-section of the gripper insert 2.1 is narrowed by introducing an axial compressive force in the Z-direction compared to an extended initial position. The force is introduced by means of the pressurizable piston 3, which is movable in the Z-direction within the housing 1. Figure 2a ) the sleeve-shaped elastic gripper insert 2.1 is shown narrowed in cross-section compared to its extended initial position, i.e. in its gripping function.

[0033] In the housing 1, in the area of ​​the gripper insert 2.1, a sealing element 6 is guided axially in the Z-direction and has a sealing surface 6.1 for pressure-tight sealing of the opening of the bottle 18 to be gripped. The sealing element 6 also has a guide section 6.2 with a sliding bearing bushing 6.3, with which the sealing element 6 is guided slidingly along a tube 5 extending in the Z-direction into the housing 1 (see figure). Fig. 2b).

[0034] The stepped piston 3 comprises a piston base 3.1, a centrally arranged guide section 3.3 which accommodates a sliding bearing bushing 3.4, with which the piston 3 is slidably arranged in the Z-direction on the outer tube 5 in the housing 1. The piston 3 is sealed against the inner wall of the tulip-shaped upper part 1.2 by a piston ring 3.5 and against the outer tube 5 by wiper rings 3.7 above and below the sliding bearing bushing 3.4. The space bounded by the tulip-shaped upper part 1.2 and the piston base 3.1 forms the cylinder 3.6, which is pressurized with gripper air to move the piston 3 downwards in the Z-direction in order to introduce an axial compressive force into the elastically deformable gripper insert 2.1 (see Figure 1). Fig. 3a )).

[0035] The spring element 6.4, designed as a helical compression spring, also surrounds the outer tube 5 and is supported on one side by a circumferential collar of the sealing element 6 and on the other side by the underside of the stepped piston 3.

[0036] The outer pipe 5 concentrically surrounds an inner pipe 4, with a test air line 5.1 being formed through the annular space between the inner and outer pipes 4.5 and a return air line 4.1 being formed through the inner pipe 4. As can be seen in particular from the Figure 2a As can be seen, both the test air line 5.1 and the return air line 4.1 extend through the sealing element 6. A section 5.2 of the test air line 5.1 below the sealing surface 6.1 and a section 4.2 of the return air line 4.1 below the sealing surface 6.1 project into the interior of the bottle 18 to be gripped (see figure). Fig. 2a ) combined with Fig. 3b )).

[0037] The packing tulip includes a control 7 for temporarily supplying the test air line 5.1 with test air, which is introduced into the annular space between the outer and inner tubes 4, 5 via a test air supply line 16 in the form of a tube at the upper end of the outer and inner tubes 4, 5 (see Fig. 2b ) combined with Fig. 6 ).

[0038] The design of the control unit 7 for pressurizing the test air line 5.1 with test air pressure is described with reference to Figure 6In more detail: The control unit 7 comprises a pressure source 9 for supplying the gripper air with a gripper air pressure of, for example, 3 to 5 bar gauge pressure. The pressure source 9 can, for example, be a compressed air line of the lifting machine, which is equipped with a packing head with the packing tulips according to the invention. To keep the pressure of the pressure source 9 at a constant level, a pressure regulating valve 9.1 can additionally be provided. The control unit 7 further comprises an electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 10 with two working ports 10.1 and a vent port 10.2, as well as an electrical control port 10.3. In a first switching position, the flow path from the pressure source 9 to a pressure line 17 for the gripper air is opened. In a second, Figure 6 In the illustrated switching position, the flow path from the pressure line 17 for the gripper air to the vent port 10.2 of the 3 / 2-way valve 10 is opened.

[0039] A pressure regulating valve 11 is connected downstream of the electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 10 to reduce the gripper air pressure of 3 to 5 bar gauge pressure at the inlet side 11.1 to the test air pressure of 0.25 to 0.5 bar gauge pressure at the outlet side 11.2 of the pressure regulating valve 11. The inlet side 11.1 is fluidly connected to the pressure line 17 for the gripper air, and the outlet side 11.2 is fluidly connected to the test air line 5.1 for the test air in the packing tube. The test air is supplied from the control unit 7 to the test air line 5.1 in the packing tube via the test air supply line 16, as also shown in the sectional view of Figure 2b ), 3b, 4b) is recognizable.

[0040] The control unit 8 for actuating the gripper 2 is designed to supply the piston 3 with gripper air depending on the pressure of the test air established in the return air line 4.1. With an undamaged bottle 18 to be gripped (see... Fig. 3a), 3b) an overpressure builds up inside the bottle due to the test air flowing in via the test air line 5.1. By means of the resulting overpressure in the return air line 4.1, the control unit 8 actuates the gripper 2 by acting on the piston 3, which thereby moves downwards in the Z-direction and narrows the cross-section of the elastically deformable gripper insert 2.1, thus gripping the bottle 18 in the area of ​​the bottle neck 18.2.

[0041] However, if the packing tulip was lowered over a bottle 18 with the pot-shaped housing that had a damaged area 18.3, as is the case in Figures 4aAs shown in Figure 4b), the test air flowing into the interior of bottle 18 via the test air line 5.1 escapes through the defect 18.3, so that no overpressure builds up in the interior of the bottle or in the return air line 4.1. As a result, the control unit 8 does not actuate the gripper 2. The sleeve-shaped gripper insert 2.1 remains in its extended initial position, as shown in Figure 4b). Figures 4a ), 4b) is shown.

[0042] The design of the control unit 8 for actuating the gripper 2 is described with reference to Figures 2a ), 2b ) and 6 explained in more detail:

[0043] The control unit 8 for actuating the gripper is equipped as a pneumatic 3 / 2-way valve 12, which is arranged as an assembly on the top of the tulip shaft 1.3. In the exemplary embodiment, the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12 comprises a valve body 12.2, a valve cover 12.3, and a valve piston 12.1 slidably arranged in the valve body 12.2. The pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12 has two working ports 12.5, a vent port 12.6, and a control port 12.7 in the valve cover 12.3, which is fluidly connected to the return air line 4.1. In addition, the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12 has a second control port 12.8 for blocking the flow path via the return air line 15, which is connected to the vent port 10.2 of the electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 10. The function of the packing tulip is described in more detail below:

[0044] Based on the Figures 1 to 4 combined with Figure 6 The packing tulip shown is integrated in the required number into the packing head of a bottle lifting machine. The lifting process is initiated by the machine control of the bottle lifting machine. The packing tulips are lowered vertically onto the bottles 18 located in a crate below. The opening 18.1 of the bottle 18 contacts the sealing surface 6.1 of the sealing element 6 and presses the sealing element 6 against the force of the spring element 6.4, causing the sealing element 6 to compress. The lowering of the packing tulip and the pre-tensioning of the spring element 6.4 create a pressure-tight connection between the bottle 18 being tested and the sealing surface 6.1.

[0045] The electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 10 in the bottle lifting machine is then actuated by the machine control, so that the pressure line 17 is fluidly connected to the pressure source 9 and gripper air is applied to the pressure line 17 at approximately 3 to 5 bar overpressure. The pressure regulating valve 11 is also supplied with gripper air at an inlet pressure of approximately 3 to 5 bar overpressure, and the test air supply line 16, connected to the outlet side 11.2, is pressurized with the test air pressure set on the pressure regulating valve 11, for example, 0.2 to 0.5 bar overpressure. In a preferred setting, the lowest possible overpressure is selected to minimize air consumption and the forces built up against the sealing surface 6.1 due to pressure build-up inside the bottle.

[0046] The test air flows through the test air line 5.1 between the outer and inner pipes 4, 5 and through line section 5.2 into the interior of bottle 18. As in Figure 3aAs shown in Figure 3b), an overpressure is created inside the intact bottle 18 by the inflowing test air. This overpressure is released via the return air line 4.1, i.e., the inner tube 4, to the control port 12.7 of the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12. The valve piston 12.1 is axially displaced by the overpressure and opens the passage between the two working ports 12.5 of the pneumatic 3 / 2-way valve 12. This allows the flow from the pressure line 17 to a connecting line 14 on the packing tube, from where the gripper air flows into the cylinder 3.6 via a gripper air line 13. The gripper air line 13 is formed by a radial gap between the outer tube 5 and the tube shaft 1.3. As a result of the opened flow path, the piston base 3.1 of the piston 3 is subjected to the pressure of the gripper air and moves axially downwards, thereby compressing the sleeve-shaped, elastically deformable gripper insert 2.1, thereby narrowing its cross-section and enclosing the bottle neck 18.2 of the bottle 18 to be grasped.

[0047] The bottle 18 is then removed from the bottle crate by the drive mechanism of the bottle lifting machine in a vertical upward movement and finally placed on a conveyor belt with its base facing down. At this point, the machine control of the bottle lifting machine deactivates the electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 10. The gripper air compressed by the piston 3 escapes via the gripper air line 13, the connecting line 14, the still open pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12, the pressure line 17, and finally into the atmosphere via the vent port 10.2 of the now closed electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 10. Simultaneously, some of the returning gripper air passes through the second control port 12.8 to the valve piston 12 via the return air line 15 connected to the vent port 10.2.1, which is thereby moved into the closed position of the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12. Any overpressure still present between the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12 and the piston 3 can now escape completely via the vent port 12.6 of the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12. Due to the pressure loss, the elastically deformable gripper insert 2.1 expands back to its extended starting position and the piston 3 moves upwards. The bottle 18 is released. Subsequently, a new bottle lifting cycle can begin and proceeds in the same manner as described above.

[0048] If bottle 18 is defective, as in Figures 4aAs shown in Figure 4b), the test air escapes through the defect 18.3 into the atmosphere, so no overpressure builds up inside bottle 18. Consequently, there is no pressure increase in the return air line 4.1, which connects the interior of bottle 18 to the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12. As a result, the valve piston 12.1 is not moved, and the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve 12 remains in its closed position, so no gripper air flows from the pressure line 17 towards the piston 3. Since the piston 3 is not pressurized with gripper air, it remains in the upper position. The elastically deformable gripper insert 2.1 is not axially compressed, and the defective bottle 18 is therefore not gripped; it remains in the bottle crate when the packing tubes are moved vertically upwards by the bottle lifting machine via the drive mechanism.

[0049] The second embodiment of the packaging tulip according to the invention, as described in the Figures 5a The device shown in Figure 5b) differs in its construction and function only insofar as the outlet opening 5.3 for the test air from the outer tube 5 is arranged radially. At its lower end face, the outer tube 5 is sealed against the inner tube 4. The sealing element 6, which is slidably arranged on the outer tube 5 against the force of the spring element 6.4, closes in its initial position, as shown in Figure 5b). Figure 5b ) shown, which has at least one radial outlet opening 5.3 from the test air line.

[0050] When the spring element 6.4 is pre-tensioned as the packing tulip is lowered over the neck 18.2 of the bottle 18 to be gripped, the sealing element 6 reaches its end position and, as described in Figure 5a ) is recognizable, the radial outlet opening 5.3 in the section of the line projecting into the bottle 18 to be grasped is free (cf. Figure 5a )), so that bottle 18 is pressurized with test air.

[0051] If the gripper insert 2.1 does not grip a bottle, at least one radial outlet opening 5.3 remains closed and no test air flows into the atmosphere when the electrically operated 3 / 2-way valve 10 supplies test air to the test air supply line 16 (see Fig. 5b , 6 )). Reference symbol list Nr. Designation Nr. Designation 1 Housing 13 Gripper air line 1.1 Tulip base 14 Connection line 1.2 Tulip top 15 Return air line 1.3 Tulip Manor 16 Test air supply 1.4 opening 17 Pressure line 1.5 Ring base 18 Bottle 2 Grabber 18.1 mouth 2.1 Gripper insert 18.2 Bottleneck 2.2 Upper circumferential edge 18.3 Damaged area 2.3 Lower circumferential edge 3 Pistons 3.1 Piston head 3.2 piston skirt 3.3 Guided section 3.4 Plain bearing bushing 3.5 piston ring 3.6 cylinder 3.7 wiper ring 4 Inner tube 4.1 Return air duct 4.2 Pipe section 5 Outer pipe 5.1 Test air line 5.2 Pipe section 5.3 Exit opening 6 Sealing element 6.1 Sealing surface 6.2 Guided section 6.3 Plain bearing bushing 6.4 spring element 7 Control test air 8 Gripper control 9 Pressure source 9.1 Pressure regulating valve 10. Electrically operated 3 / 2-way valve 10.1 Work connection 10.2 vent connection 10.3 Control connection 11 Pressure regulating valve 11.1 Homepage 11.2 Homepage 12 Pneumatically operated 3 / 2-way valve 12.1 Valve piston 12.2 Valve body 12.3 Valve cover 12.5 Work connection 12.6 vent connection 12.7 Control connection 12.8 Second control connection

Claims

1. Packing tulip for selectively gripping bottles (18) at the top, comprising a mouth (18.1) having an opening, comprising - a pot-shaped housing (1) with a receiving opening (1.4) for the bottle (18) to be gripped, - a gripper (2) arranged in the housing (1) for gripping the bottle (18) in the area of its mouth (18.1), - a sealing element (6) arranged in the housing (1) with a sealing surface (6.1) adapted to close the opening of the bottle (18) to be gripped in a pressure-tight manner, characterized by - a sleeve-shaped, elastically deformable gripper insert (2.1), wherein, to actuate the gripper (2), an opening cross-section of the gripper insert (2.1) is narrowed by introducing an axial pressure force compared to a stretched initial position, and the force is introduced by means of a pressurizable piston (3), - a test air line (5.1) extending through the sealing element (6), wherein a line section (5.2) of the test air line (5.1,) projects into the interior of the bottle (18) to be gripped, - a return air line (4.1) extending through the sealing element (6), wherein a line section (4.2) of the return air line (4.1) projects into the interior of the bottle (18) to be gripped, - a controller (7) adapted to temporarily supply the test air line (5.1) with test air, - a controller (8) for actuating the gripper (2), adapted to supply the piston (3) with gripper air depending on the pressure of the test air established in the return air line (4.1), wherein - if the bottle (18) to be gripped is undamaged, an overpressure builds up inside the bottle due to the inflowing test air and the controller (8) actuates the gripper (2) by means of the overpressure in the return air line (4.1), - if the bottle to be gripped (18) is damaged, no overpressure builds up inside the bottle and in the return air line (4.1) due to the escaping test air, so that the controller (8) does not actuate the gripper (2).

2. Packing tulip according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sealing element (6) is arranged movably in the housing (1) perpendicular to the sealing surface (6.1) against the force of a spring element (6.4).

3. Packing tulip according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the test air and return air line (5.1, 4.1) comprise an inner and an outer tube (5) concentrically surrounding the inner tube (4), wherein one of the two lines (5.1, 4.1) is formed by the inner tube (4) and the other of the two lines (5.1, 4.1) is formed by the annular space between the inner tube (4) and the outer tube (5).

4. Packing tulip according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sealing element (6) surrounds the outer tube (5) in an annular manner and is arranged to be axially displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube (5) on its lateral surface against the force of the spring element (6.4) from a lower starting position to an upper end position.

5. Packing tulip according to Claim 4, characterized in that - the piston (3) surrounds the outer tube (5) in an annular manner and is arranged to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube (5) on its lateral surface in the pot-shaped housing (1), wherein the housing (1) simultaneously forms a cylinder (3.6) in which the piston (3) moves, - the spring element (6.4) is configured as a helical compression spring that surrounds the outer tube (5) and is supported on one side by the sealing element (6) and on the other side by the movable piston (3).

6. Packing tulip according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the controller (7) for pressurizing the test air line (5.1) with test air pressure comprises the following: - a pressure source (9) for providing gripper air at a gripper air pressure, - an electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve (10) with two working connections (10.1) and a vent connection (10.2) and a control connection (10.3), wherein in a first switching position the flow path from the pressure source (9) to a pressure line (17) for the gripper air is opened and in a second switching position the flow path from the pressure line (17) for the gripper air to the vent connection (10.2) is opened, - a pressure regulating valve (11) with an inlet and outlet side (11.1, 11.2), configured to reduce the gripper air pressure at the inlet side (11.1) to the test air pressure at the outlet side (11.2), wherein the inlet side is connected to the pressure line (17) for the gripper air and the outlet side is connected to the test air line (5.1) for the test air.

7. Packing tulip according to Claim 6, characterized in that the controller (8) for actuating the gripper (2) comprises the following: - a pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve (12) with two working connections (12.5) and a vent connection (12.6) and a control connected (12.7) connected to the return air line (4.1), wherein in a first switching position the flow path from the pressure line (17) to the cylinder (3.6) is released in order to supply the piston (3) with gripper air, and in a second switching position the flow path from the cylinder (3.6) to the vent connection (12.6) is opened.

8. Packing tulip according to Claim 7, characterized in that the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve (12) has a second control connection (12.8) configured to block the flow path, wherein the second control connection (12.8) is connected via a return air line (15) to the vent connection (10.2) of the electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve (10).

9. Packing tulip according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the pneumatically actuated 3 / 2-way valve (12) is arranged directly on the packing tulip.

10. Packing tulip according to one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the control connection (10.3) of the electrically actuated 3 / 2-way valve (10) is connected to a higher-level machine control in order to switch back and forth between the first and second switching positions.

11. Packing tulip according to one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that - the test air line (5.1) is formed by the annular space between the inner and outer tubes (4, 5), - the outer tube (5) on the line section (5.2) projecting into the interior of the bottle (18) to be gripped has at least one outlet opening (5.3) for the test air, - the sealing element (6) in the initial position closes at least one outlet opening (5.3) and - the sealing element (6) in the end position releases at least one outlet opening (5.3).

12. Packing head comprising a group of packing tulips according to any one of Claims 1 to 11.

13. Bottle packaging machine for packaging and transporting bottles comprising a packing head according to Claim 12 and a motion drive for the packing head, configured to perform a traversing movement of the packing head.

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