Device for mounting and / or disassembling a spinner nose, and application to a preform thermal conditioning unit

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one spinner nose, mounted on a thermal conditioning unit comprising at least: - a frame (23); - a preform conveying device (26) that includes a plurality of supports and circulates along the frame (23); - a mandrel mounted on each support of the conveying device (26) so as to be able to rotate about the longitudinal mandrel axis, each mandrel comprising at least one attachment means (108) that secures the spinner nose to the mandrel, the spinner nose being able to receive the plastic preform; characterized in that the locking and / or unlocking device (200) further comprises means (206) for locking and / or unlocking the attachment means (108) securing the spinner nose to the mandrel and positioned in line with the conveying device (26).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] TITLE: Device for mounting and / or dismounting a spinner nose and application to a preform thermal conditioning unit.

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a device for transporting and gripping a tubular preform with rotation of the preform around its main axis, more particularly in a thermal conditioning unit, as well as a clamp suitable and intended to be secured to a robotic arm and to cooperate with a conveying device. Another subject of the invention relates to a method for mounting and / or dismounting at least one turntable nose of a conveying device.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] The invention relates to the field of manufacturing hollow bodies made of thermoplastic material, for which a preform is first produced by injection. The preform is then formed into a container in a container manufacturing installation.

[0007] To do this, the container manufacturing facility includes a thermal conditioning unit also called an oven, in which the preform is thermally conditioned, and a blowing unit to obtain the final container where the preform is formed by a blowing operation or by stretch blowing operations.

[0008] The term "hollow body" means a container preform, or a final container, or possibly an intermediate container, i.e. any type of hollow body comprising a body from which an emerging tubular neck extends.

[0009] In the remainder of the document, the term preform will be used preferably and in a non-limiting manner.

[0010] The preform generally has a tubular cylindrical body which is closed at one of its axial ends and which is extended at its other end by a neck, also tubular.

[0011] The neck extends axially from an annular main flange which is arranged at the junction of the neck and the body of the preform, to an annular lip also called a rim, which delimits an axial opening of the neck. The body of the preform is required to undergo plastic deformation to form the final container during the blowing operation. To be able to carry out this blowing operation, it is necessary for the body of the preform to be brought to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the material. For this purpose, thermal conditioning of the preform is carried out by circulating it inside an oven, by means of a conveying device following a heating path. The oven comprises heating means which are, for example, constituted by infrared lamps or laser diodes in front of which the preforms move thanks to the conveying device.

[0012] When moving in the oven, the preform is advantageously rotated around its main axis in order to homogenize the heating.

[0013] The preforms are generally held on the conveying device by gripping means.

[0014] The preform is transferred, or loaded, to the furnace inlet by means of preform transfer from a preform feeder to the conveyor device.

[0015] The operation of gripping a preform using gripping devices is called “dressing”.

[0016] Similarly, at the outlet of the furnace, the operation of unloading the heated preform from the gripping devices is called "stripping". Traditionally, the transport devices grip the preforms by the internal face of the neck using the gripping means. The gripping means are then driven by a vertical downward movement along the main axis of the preform relative to the transfer means in order to allow the insertion of the gripping means into the neck. For this purpose, the transport devices circulate above the transfer means.

[0017] Conversely, the preforms are separated from the conveying device by the support of an ejection face of the ejector on the rim of the preform and the raising of the gripping means along the main axis of the preform relative to the transfer means in order to allow the separation of the gripping means from the neck.

[0018] The trajectory of a preform carried by the transfer means is generally tangent to the trajectory of the transport devices at a point or, at best, the two trajectories are superimposed over a short distance. This area of ​​superposition at a point or over a short distance is subsequently called the "dressing zone". For the dressing operation to take place, the gripping means must be synchronized with the transfer means so that the gripping means are actuated exactly at the right angle to the dressing zone.

[0019] Similarly, for the stripping operation to take place, the gripping means must be synchronized with the transfer means so that the gripping means are actuated exactly in line with the stripping area.

[0020] Such gripping means are well known. This is the case, in particular, of European patent EP0935572 which describes a device for transporting and gripping preforms.

[0021] Said conveying device comprises:

[0022] - a vertical axis support;

[0023] - an axis mandrel mounted pivotally sliding relative to the vertical axis support of which said vertical axis is coaxial with the axis of the mandrel;

[0024] - a turntable mounted on one end of the mandrel, and which includes:

[0025] - a turning nose fixed to one end of the mandrel in a removable manner and capable of gripping a preform.

[0026] Alternatively, the spinner includes:

[0027] - a turning nose fixed to one end of the mandrel in a removable manner and capable of gripping a preform and

[0028] - an ejector at least partially surrounding the spinner nose, is secured to the vertical axis support by a fixing means and capable of ejecting a preform.

[0029] A single installation must be suitable for the production of containers of different models, and in particular of different capacities. A given preform model may be suitable for several container models, but not all. Therefore, the oven must be able to heat different preform models.

[0030] Preforms are not only distinguished by the shapes (and sizes) of their bodies: they also sometimes have necks of different diameters.

[0031] It is therefore easy to understand that it is then necessary to replace each spinner nose with another, of a diameter adapted to the new model of preform to be heated.

[0032] The lathe nose is usually attached to the chuck by means of a bayonet-type mounting. This mounting is commonly in the form of a bayonet socket. This includes a groove extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chuck and into which a pin secured to the lathe nose engages. To remove the lathe nose, the pin must be disengaged from the socket.

[0033] However, the process of disassembling a set of spinner noses is still quite lengthy. Indeed, for a format change, it is necessary to disassemble all the spinner noses of the thermal conditioning unit. Therefore, for a thermal conditioning unit with two hundred spinner noses, it takes four hours for an experienced operator to make this change.

[0034] Summary of the invention

[0035] The invention proposes, according to a first object, a device for locking and / or unlocking at least one turntable nose, mounted on a thermal conditioning unit comprising at least:

[0036] - a frame;

[0037] - a preform conveying device comprising a plurality of supports, said conveying device circulating along the frame along a predetermined trajectory (T);

[0038] - a mandrel mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis on each support of the conveying device, each mandrel comprising at least:

[0039] - a first end provided with a fixing means securing the spinner nose to the mandrel, said spinner nose being capable of receiving the plastic preform;

[0040] - another portion of the mandrel, opposite said first end, secured to a drive member for rotating said mandrel.

[0041] The device for locking and / or unlocking at least one turntable nose according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a means for locking and / or unlocking said fixing means securing the turntable nose to the mandrel and positioned in line with the conveying device.

[0042] According to another aspect of the invention, said locking and / or unlocking means is secured to said frame (23) of the packaging unit. According to another aspect of the invention, said fixing means comprises a male part secured to said spinner nose and a female part secured to said mandrel, said male part having an annular groove, said female part comprises balls capable of cooperating with said annular groove to achieve locking between the male part and the female part, said female part also comprising a peripheral cage provided with holes in which said balls are housed, and a lock provided with a ramp, said lock being mounted around said peripheral cage, movable between a locking position in which said balls cooperate with said annular groove and a release position in which said balls do not cooperate with the annular groove but cooperate with said ramp.

[0043] According to another aspect of the invention, said fixing means comprises a female part secured to said turntable nose and a male part secured to said mandrel, said male part having an annular groove, said female part comprises balls capable of cooperating with said annular groove to achieve locking between the male part and the female part, said female part also comprising a peripheral cage provided with holes in which said balls are housed, and a lock provided with a ramp, said lock being mounted around said peripheral cage, movable between a locking position in which said balls cooperate with said annular groove and a release position in which said balls do not cooperate with the annular groove but cooperate with said ramp.

[0044] According to another aspect of the invention, said lock comprises a skirt, a flange whose diameter is smaller than said skirt, said skirt and said flange are connected by an intermediate shoulder, said intermediate shoulder and a free end of the flange define a bearing surface intended to actuate said lock.

[0045] According to another aspect of the invention, said fixing means comprises a male part secured to said turntable nose and a female part secured to said mandrel, said male part having at least one stud at one of its ends, said female part comprises at least two jaws capable of cooperating with said stud, and a lock cooperating with said jaws to actuate them, said lock being mounted around said female part and movable between a locking position in which the jaws grip said stud, and a release position in which the jaws are separated from said stud.

[0046] According to another aspect of the invention, said lock comprises a flange secured to a sliding pin inside the female part capable of actuating said jaws, said flange comprises a bearing surface intended to actuate said lock.

[0047] According to another aspect of the invention, the locking and / or unlocking means comprises a locking and / or unlocking member secured to a second actuator capable of moving said lock of said fixing means from its locking position to its release position. According to another aspect of the invention, said locking and / or unlocking member comprises a contact surface capable of cooperating with a bearing surface of said lock.

[0048] According to another aspect of the invention, the locking and / or unlocking means comprises a positioning means capable of positioning said locking and / or unlocking means in line with said means of fixing said turntable nose.

[0049] According to another aspect of the invention, said positioning means comprises an actuator capable of moving said locking and / or unlocking means and / or a positioning member.

[0050] According to another aspect of the invention, said positioning member comprises a base fixed on one side to said first actuator and on the other side to a centering pin intended to cooperate with a centering hole positioned on said frame (23), as well as two branches, one end of which is secured to said base and the other end is secured to a pad intended to come to bear against the conveying device to be dismantled.

[0051] According to another aspect of the invention, the locking and / or unlocking means comprises a blocking means comprising a clamp consisting of two branches, movable relative to each other, each branch being provided at its free end with a jaw capable of gripping the turntable nose to hold it. According to another aspect of the invention, the clamp is mounted on a robotic arm.

[0052] According to another aspect of the invention, at least one branch of the gripper is driven by an actuator.

[0053] The invention proposes, according to a second object, a method for locking and / or unlocking the spinner nose of a thermal conditioning unit comprising a device for locking and / or unlocking at least one spinner nose according to any one of the preceding aspects of the invention comprising at least the following steps:

[0054] - position said locking and / or unlocking means in line with said lock of the fixing means of said turntable nose,

[0055] -. operate said lock to unlock the fixing means of the turntable nose;

[0056] Brief description of the figures

[0057] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which one will refer to the appended drawings which we describe briefly below. [Fig. 1] is a general schematic view of a container production installation seen from above;

[0058] [Fig. 2] is a detail view of the inset of Figure 1 representing a preform; [Fig. 3] is an overall view of a conveying device;

[0059] [Fig. 4] is an overview of another conveying device;

[0060] [Fig. 5] is a general view of a turntable nose;

[0061] [Fig. 6] is a sectional view in the locked position of a ball-type fixing means securing a chuck to the lathe nose;

[0062] [Fig. 7] is a sectional view in the released position of a ball-type fixing means securing a mandrel to the lathe nose;

[0063] [Fig. 8] is a sectional view in the locked position of a jaw fastening means securing a chuck to the lathe nose;

[0064] [Fig. 9] is a sectional view in the released position of a jaw fixing means securing a chuck to the lathe nose;

[0065] [Fig. 10] is an overview of the device for locking and / or unlocking a lathe nose in the production position;

[0066] [Fig. 11] is an overview of the device for locking and / or unlocking a spinner nose in the holding and unlocking position; [Fig. 12] is an overview of the device for locking and / or unlocking a spinner nose in the releasing position;

[0067] [Fig. 13] is a view of a locking and / or unlocking member

[0068] Detailed description of the invention

[0069] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same reference.

[0070] The longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron (L, V, T) shown in the figures. By convention, the longitudinal and transverse directions are determined in a fixed manner relative to the molding devices so that the open or closed position occupied has no effect on said orientations.

[0071] The terms "front" and "rear" will also be used, without limitation, in reference to the longitudinal orientation, as well as "upper" and "lower" in reference to the vertical orientation and finally "left" or "right" and "inner" or "outer" in reference to the transverse orientation.

[0072] Figure 1 schematically shows an installation 1 for the mass production of containers 2 made of thermoplastic material from preforms 4. In the remainder of the description, the preforms 4 and the containers 2 move in the production installation along a circulation path from upstream to downstream. The preforms 4 are moved in a row along a heating path by conveying means which will be detailed later.

[0073] In a non-limiting manner, the containers here are bottles. The thermoplastic material is for example formed by polyethylene terephthalate, hereinafter referred to by its acronym "PET".

[0074] Such a preform 4, with reference to Figure 2, has a main axis "X" shown vertically in the figure. It has a cylindrical body 6 with a tubular wall closed at one of its axial ends by a bottom 8, and which is open at its other end by a neck 10, also tubular. The neck 10 is delimited downwards by a collar 12 and upwards by an upper end edge called a drinking rim 14.

[0075] The neck 10 generally has its final shape while the body 6 of the preform is intended to undergo a relatively significant deformation to form the final container 2 during a forming step.

[0076] As shown in Figure 1, the container manufacturing installation 1 comprises at least one thermal conditioning unit 16, a forming unit 18 and a manipulator 20.

[0077] The thermal conditioning unit 16, also called an oven, makes it possible to heat a succession of preforms to a reference temperature. The reference temperature is chosen so that the body of each preform at the outlet of the thermal conditioning unit 16 is in a malleable state allowing deformation of the body 6 of the heated preform in order to form the container 2 in the forming unit. The reference temperature is between the glass transition temperature and the crystallization temperature of the plastic material of the preform. In the case of PET, the reference temperature is, for example, close to 110°. The value of the reference temperature may vary depending on the product with which the container will be filled or depending on the container filling technique. Thus, the reference temperature is different for hot filling or for a carbonated product, for example.

[0078] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the thermal conditioning unit 16 is a scroll oven, in which the preforms 4 are transported to be exposed to a plurality of heating radiation sources 22. For this purpose, the thermal conditioning unit 16 comprises a conveying means 24 for the preforms circulating along a frame 23 through the thermal conditioning unit along a heating path extending between an inlet 25 and an outlet 27 of the thermal conditioning unit defining a trajectory T.

[0079] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the conveying means 24 comprises a succession of gripping devices 26, each being capable of supporting a preform, mounted on a chain 28, moving along the heating path, that is to say between the entry and exit of the preforms in the thermal conditioning unit. The chain circulates on wheels 30, at least one of which is motorized. In another embodiment not shown, the conveying means comprises for example a succession of gripping devices, each being capable of supporting a preform, mounted on a shuttle of the linear motor type circulating on a magnetic closed loop. The movement of each of these shuttles being controlled independently of each other by a control unit (not shown in the figures).

[0080] Each conveying device 26 is, for example, capable of receiving a preform by fitting the neck onto a turntable 32. Each turntable 32 is, for example, movable in rotation relative to the chain around an axis A of rotation coinciding with the main axis X of a preform when the latter is supported by the turntable.

[0081] The oven also comprises a heating cavity which comprises two side walls 36 facing each other and at least one of these walls being the one which supports several radiation sources 22, arranged one above the other and one next to the other opposite the preforms.

[0082] In other words, the thermal conditioning unit 16 comprises a plurality of radiation sources 22 distributed along the path of the trajectory T and at a height corresponding substantially to the height of the preforms so that the entire height of the body of each preform is exposed to the radiation sources on the path of the preform in the thermal conditioning unit. By rotating the preforms around their main axis X, the spinners 32 make it possible to uniformly expose the entire body 6 of the preforms to the radiation sources 22. In this particular embodiment, the radiation sources 22 are distributed on only one side of this path, and a reflective wall 38 is arranged on the other side of the heating path to reflect the heat towards the preforms.In another embodiment not shown, the radiation sources 22 can be distributed on either side of the heating path without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0083] It should also be noted that the radiation sources 22 are arranged, where appropriate, so as not to subject the neck 10 to the heat emitted by the radiation sources. Indeed, as indicated previously, only the body 6 of the preform 4 is heated to produce the container. Consequently, the neck 10 must not be deformed during forming and must not be heated. To avoid heating the neck 10, the oven may comprise a ventilation device positioned in line with the necks to evacuate the heat likely to be absorbed by the necks. Each radiation source 22 is formed by an incandescent lamp emitting infrared radiation.

[0084] In another embodiment, each radiation source 22 is a laser diode emitting infrared radiation.

[0085] In other words, each radiation source 22 is a laser (for example laser diodes) emitting in the infrared and organized by juxtaposition and / or superposition to form one or more matrices.

[0086] In another embodiment, each radiation source 22 is a microwave generator.

[0087] It is obvious that the radiation sources 22 may consist of any radiation source well known to those skilled in the art, or a combination of these radiation sources without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0088] Then, once the preform 4 has been thermally conditioned in the thermal conditioning unit 16, it is transferred to the forming unit 18 to be formed there.

[0089] The unit 18 for forming containers 2 from preforms 4 consists of a forming wheel 42 rotating a plurality of forming stations 44 from an inlet to an outlet, at which a succession of containers are formed from the preforms, then are extracted, as shown in Fig. 1. The axis of rotation of the forming wheel is, for example, substantially parallel to the main axis X of the preforms when they are transported by the forming wheel. Each blowing station 44 comprises a mold 46 forming a molding cavity having the shape of the container to be formed and arranged to receive a preform so that the body of the preform extends into the molding cavity. The container manufacturing installation 1 also comprises a manipulator 20 provided with a robotic arm 48 equipped at one of its ends with a gripper 50 for dismantling spinners 32.The entire robotic arm and clamp are movable at least partially in line with the furnace, so as to ensure the dismantling of the spinners 32.

[0090] As shown in Figure 3, the conveying device 26 comprises a support 52, also called a link in the figure, which is integrated into a chain which comprises a multitude of such links.

[0091] In this embodiment, the link, preferably metallic (e.g. steel), comprises two branches 54, superimposed, which project laterally from a core 56. The branches are pierced with coaxial holes 58 which jointly define a main axis.

[0092] The conveying device 26 also comprises:

[0093] - a mandrel 60 (visible in dotted lines in Figure 3) with an axis of revolution mounted in the holes 58 of the link following a pivot connection sliding relative to the link. Thus, the main axis of the holes and the axis of revolution of the mandrel 60 are coaxial;

[0094] - a drive member 61 integral in rotation with one of the free ends of the mandrel 60. In this embodiment, the drive member 61 is a pinion which is advantageously formed on a coil-shaped end piece, force-fitted onto the mandrel 60;

[0095] - a cam follower 62, here a roller, secured to the drive member 61, said cam follower being off-center relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 60 to angularly pre-orient each mandrel 60. As a variant, the cam follower 62 may be a finger;

[0096] - a turntable 32 mounted on the other end of the mandrel 60 and which comprises at least:

[0097] - a spinner nose 64 which is fixed to the mandrel 60 in a removable manner, in this case by means of a fixing means which will be described later. The spinner nose 64 is intended to receive the neck of the preform;

[0098] - an ejector 68 secured to the support 52. This ejector 68 has a substantially cylindrical shape and comprises at one of its ends at least one face 70 called the preform ejection face;

[0099] The mandrel 60 and the spinner nose 64 extend coaxially with the ejector such that the free end of the spinner nose 64 projects from the ejector.

[0100] According to another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the conveying device 26 comprises a carriage 72.

[0101] This carriage 72 comprises a central body 74 from which two lateral guide arms 76 project. Each arm 76 carries, at one end, a lateral guide roller 78. The arms 76 are diametrically opposed and extend obliquely relative to the direction of travel of the conveying device, so as to ensure dynamic balancing of the carriage 72 during its movement.

[0102] Furthermore, each carriage 72 preferably comprises vertical guide means formed by arms 80 projecting from the body 74 and carrying the rollers 82. These arms are advantageously diametrically opposed and extend obliquely relative to the direction of travel of the conveying device 26 so as to ensure the dynamic balancing of the carriage 72 during its movement.

[0103] To allow the integral rotation of the lever 84 and the support 52, each carriage 72 comprises a central shaft 88 mounted in rotation relative to the body 74 of the carriage 72. In practice, the central shaft 88, which extends along the main Z axis of the carriage 72, is mounted in rotation in a bore made in the body 74.

[0104] The support 52 at a lower end of the shaft 88 comprises two spinner noses 64 which are each fixed to a mandrel 60 in a removable manner, in this case by means of a fixing means which will be described later. The spinner nose 64 is intended to receive the neck of the preform;

[0105] The lever 84 is mounted at an upper end of the shaft 88, and the support 52 at a lower end of the shaft 88. The fixing of the lever 84 and the support 52 on the shaft 88 can be carried out by screwing.

[0106] This lever 84 is mounted articulated relative to the carriage 72 between:

[0107] - an unfolded position (visible on the left in figures 4) corresponding to the right position of the support 52, and

[0108] - an offset position (visible on the right in figures 4) corresponding to the oblique position of the support 52.

[0109] The lever 84 carries at one end a cam follower 92 capable of cooperating with a cam path 94.

[0110] The unfolded position and the offset position are a function of the position of the cam follower 92 relative to the cam path 94.

[0111] Furthermore, the coupling of each carriage 72 to its neighboring carriages can be achieved by means of articulated connecting rods, not shown. Each connecting rod is pierced, at each of its ends, with a cylindrical hole fitted onto a finger 99 secured to the central shaft 88, respectively at the level of the lever 84 at the upper end of the shaft 88, and at the level of the support 52 at the lower end of the shaft 88.

[0112] According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the support 52 may be a linear motor comprising at least one bore in which the mandrel 60, the turntable nose 64 and the pinion are mounted on a sliding pivot, without however departing from the scope of the invention.

[0113] With reference to Figure 5, the spinner nose comprises a cylindrical head 96 with a vertical axis "A" whose external diameter is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the neck 10 of the preform so that there remains a radial sliding clearance between the head and the neck 10 when the head 96 is fitted into the neck 10.

[0114] The head 96 comprises rings 98 which are in the form of ring sectors. Each ring 98 is received in a radially sliding manner in a radial housing of the head 96 between:

[0115] - a retracted position towards the axis "A" of the head 96 allowing the vertical sliding of the turntable relative to the neck 10 of the preform 4;

[0116] - a radial expansion position in which they are capable of being clamped against the internal cylindrical face of the neck 10 to retain the preform 4 by friction.

[0117] The rings 98 are elastically constrained towards their expansion position by means of an elastic ring which is interposed radially between the bottom of the housing made in the head 96 and the ring 98.

[0118] The head 96 is delimited vertically downwards by a section of larger diameter delimiting an annular shoulder face 100 which is turned upwards and which forms a positioning face against which the rim 14 is received in vertical abutment when the head 96 is fitted into the neck 10.

[0119] A radiator 102 is arranged under the head 96 and comprises fins 104 which have a generally cylindrical shape with a main vertical axis A, coaxial with the axis A of the head 96 and whose diameter is equivalent to the diameter of the section with a larger diameter than the head 96.

[0120] A rod 106 is fixed at one of these ends to the radiator 102 and head 96 assembly, while the other end of the rod 106 is fixed to the mandrel 60 in a removable manner, in this case by means of a fixing means 108 which will be described later.

[0121] Figures 6 and 7 show a fastening means 108 using at least one ball 110 to secure the mandrel to the spinner nose. Figure 6 shows the fastening means 108 in a locking position and Figure 7 shows the fastening means 108 in a release position. The fastening means 108 comprises a male part 112 secured to the spinner nose or the mandrel and a female part 114 secured to the mandrel or the spinner nose.

[0122] The male part 112 has the shape of a cylinder having an annular groove 116 at one of its free ends capable of being inserted into the female part 114.

[0123] The female part 114 comprises balls 110 capable of cooperating with the annular groove 116 to achieve locking between the male part and the female part.

[0124] The female part 114 comprises a peripheral cage 118 and a lock 120.

[0125] The peripheral cage 118 has the shape of a cylinder with axis G bored in its center, and at one of these ends, the peripheral cage 118 extends radially to define a shoulder 122 defining a surface 123 called “upper”.

[0126] The cage 118 is provided with holes 124 in which the balls 110 are housed. These holes 124 are made orthogonally to the axis G. They are cylindrical and have a counterbore 126 towards the inside which locally restricts the section, thus limiting the radial movement of the balls 110 towards the inside.

[0127] The lock 120 is mounted to move around the peripheral cage 118 between the locking position and the release position.

[0128] The lock 120 comprises a skirt 128 and an annular flange 130 whose diameter is smaller than the skirt. The annular flange 130 and the skirt 128 are connected by an intermediate shoulder 132 defining a surface 134 called “lower”.

[0129] The flange defines inwardly a truncated cone-shaped ramp 136 with upwardly directed taper relative to the downwardly directed G axis.

[0130] A return spring 138 working in compression is mounted around the cage 118, being interposed between the surface 134 and the surface 123 of the cage 118.

[0131] The lock 120 is thus axially movable relative to the axis G, by sliding the flange 130 on the cage 118, between a locking position (figure 6) where the ramp 136 is located in line with the balls 110 and exerts on them a radial force directed towards the axis G, and a release position (figure 7) in which the ramp 136 is axially spaced from the balls, and the balls no longer cooperate with the annular groove 116.

[0132] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the return spring 138 bears between the so-called “lower” surface 134 and the so-called “upper” surface 123; it works in compression and tends to separate these two surfaces. Thus, the lock 120 is constantly urged towards its locking position. To move to the release position, it is necessary to move the lock 120 and, consequently, to constrain the spring 138 by pressing on a bearing surface. The bearing surface is defined by the intermediate shoulder 132 or by a free end 142 of the flange.

[0133] Figures 8 and 9 show a fixing means 108 comprising jaws 144 securing the chuck to the turntable nose, one in a locking position and the other in a release position.

[0134] The fixing means 108 comprises a male part 146 secured to the turntable nose and a female part 148 secured to the mandrel.

[0135] The male part has at least one nipple 150 at one of these ends

[0136] The female part 148 comprises at least two jaws 144 capable of cooperating with said nipple 150.

[0137] The fixing means 108 comprises a peripheral cage 152 and a lock 154 for actuating the jaws.

[0138] The peripheral cage 152 consists of three cylinders aligned with respect to each other along an axis H. These three cylinders are bored in their center with respect to the axis H. The external diameter of the first cylinder 156 is smaller than the external diameter of the second cylinder and the latter has an external diameter smaller than the external diameter of the third cylinder 160. The junction between the first cylinder and the second cylinder forms a first shoulder 162 and the junction between the second cylinder and the third cylinder also forms a second shoulder 164. The third cylinder comprises on its internal wall an annular housing 166 capable of receiving a part of each jaw.

[0139] The lock 154 is mounted to move along the axis H around the peripheral cage 152 between a locking position and a release position.

[0140] The lock 154 consists of a flange 168, a pin 170 and jaws 144. The flange 168 and the pin 170 are linked in movement by a mechanical connection, in particular a pin.

[0141] The flange surrounds the cage 152 at the second cylinder and slides between the first shoulder 162 and the second shoulder 164.

[0142] This flange 168 comprises a lower surface and an upper surface 174. The upper surface 174 serves as a bearing surface for moving from the locked position to the release position.

[0143] A return spring 176 working in compression is mounted around the cage 152 by being interposed between the lower surface of the flange and the second shoulder 164 of the cage in order to maintain the fixing means in the locked position. The pin 170 is a cylinder coaxial with the axis H and whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the first cylinder 156 making up a part of the cage 152. This pin 170 has an annular groove 178 at the free end, that is to say, the one which is not inserted into the first cylinder.

[0144] Each jaw 144 comprises at one of its ends, a section capable of cooperating with the annular groove 178 positioned on the pin 170 providing a pivot connection of the jaw. The jaw is held in the annular groove 178 by an elastic element of the seal or spring type. At the other end of the jaw is a jaw 180 consisting of a first part intended to cooperate with the stud 150 of the male part 146 and a second part 182 intended to cooperate with the cage 152 to achieve rotation of the jaw. The lock 154 is thus axially movable relative to the axis H, by sliding the flange 168 on the cage, and the pin 170 in the cage also between a locking position (figure 8) where each jaw 144 grips the stud 150 of the male part, and a release position (figure 9) in which each jaw is moved away from the stud.

[0145] Figures 10 to 12 illustrate an overall view of a device for locking and / or unlocking 200 at least one turntable nose equipping a conveyor device 26 positioned on the heating path of the thermal conditioning unit 16, i.e. at the level of the wheels 30 or at the level of the side walls 36.

[0146] The device for locking and / or unlocking 200 is integral with the frame 23 of the thermal conditioning unit.

[0147] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the device for locking and / or unlocking 200 comprises a positioning means 204 and a locking means 206.

[0148] The positioning means comprises a first actuator 208 and a positioning member 210.

[0149] The first actuator 208 is capable of moving and positioning the positioning member 210, as well as the locking means 206.

[0150] The first actuator 208 is a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or any other actuator capable of moving the positioning member and / or the locking means in a horizontal direction.

[0151] The positioning means 204 comprises a jack 208 consisting of a body 209 fixed to the frame 23 and a piston 211 movable in translation in the horizontal direction and secured to the positioning member 210. The positioning member 210 comprises a base 212 fixed on one side to the piston 211 and on the other side to a centering lug 214 intended to cooperate with a centering hole 216 positioned on the frame 23, as well as two branches 218, one of the ends of which is secured to the base and the other end is secured to a pad 220 intended to bear against the dismantled conveying device 26.

[0152] In this embodiment, the locking means 206 is secured to one of the branches of the positioning means 204.

[0153] In another embodiment not shown, the locking means 206 is secured to the piston of the first actuator 208.

[0154] The locking means 206 comprises a locking and / or unlocking member 222 secured to a second actuator 224 arranged so as to move the lock 120, 154 of the fixing means 108 from its locking position to its release position.

[0155] The second actuator 224 is also a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or any other actuator capable of moving the positioning member and / or the locking means in a vertical direction.

[0156] The jack 224 consists of a body 226 secured to one of the branches 218 of the positioning means and a piston 228 on which the locking and / or unlocking member 222 is secured.

[0157] The locking and / or unlocking member 222 is positioned opposite the conveying device 26 and more particularly at the level of the lock 120, 154 of the fixing means 108.

[0158] As shown in Figure 13, the locking and / or unlocking member 222 consists of a plate 238 comprising a fixing section 236 to the piston of the second actuator 224 and at least one notch 230 whose upper surface called “contact surface 232” is colored black in Figure 13, is intended to cooperate with the lock 120, 154 of the fixing means 108.

[0159] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13, there are two notches 230.

[0160] In the case where the positioning of the conveying device 26 is precisely positioned relative to the frame 23 and to the locking means 206, the positioning member is not useful. Therefore, in this other embodiment, the positioning means 204 would only have the function of positioning the locking means 206 in line with the conveying device, that is to say in an unlocking position. Figures 10 to 12 represent the kinematics of the device for locking and / or for unlocking at least one turntable nose relative to the conveying device.

[0161] Figure 10 illustrates an overview of a device for locking and / or unlocking 200 at least one turntable nose 64 in a production position.

[0162] The production position means that the device for locking and / or for unlocking 200 is not implemented and therefore the container production facility is able to produce containers.

[0163] The first actuator 208 is retracted and the second actuator 224 is in the extended position.

[0164] Figure 11 illustrates an overall view of a device for locking and / or unlocking 200 at least one turntable nose 64 placed in the holding and unlocking position.

[0165] The holding and unlocking position means that the locking and / or unlocking device 200 is positioned to perform the unlocking operation of the fixing means 108, i.e. the first actuator 208 is deployed according to the horizontal movement represented by the arrow E. Consequently, the pads 220 and the centering lug 214 are positioned for the former on the conveying device 26 and for the latter, in the centering hole 216 located on the frame 23 of the thermal conditioning unit 16 and the locking and / or unlocking member 222 is positioned at right angles to the bearing surface at the level of the lock 120, 154 of the fixing means 108.

[0166] Figure 12 illustrates an overview of a device for locking and / or unlocking at least one turntable nose 64 placed in the release position.

[0167] The release position means that the device for locking and / or for unlocking is positioned to carry out the operation of releasing the fixing means, that is to say that the second actuator 224 is deployed according to a vertical movement represented by the arrow F. Consequently, the locking and / or unlocking member 222 exerts a force on the bearing surface of the lock 120, 154 to actuate the unlocking of the locking device of the fixing means 108.

[0168] The kinematics of the device for locking and / or unlocking is controlled by a control unit of the container production installation (not shown). The device for locking and / or unlocking 200 may also comprise a blocking means 234 secured to the frame 23 of the thermal conditioning unit, or outside the thermal conditioning unit as shown in FIG. 1 by the robotic arm 48.

[0169] The locking means 234 comprises a clamp 50 consisting of two branches, movable relative to each other, each branch being provided at its free end with a jaw capable of gripping the turntable nose 64 to immobilize it in rotation.

[0170] This clamp 50 is mounted on the robotic arm 48 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the locking means 234 comprises a jack consisting of a body fixed to the frame 23 and a piston capable of being moved to bear on the turntable nose 64 to hold it. This embodiment is not shown in the figures.

[0171] Alternatively, the locking means 234 comprises a jack consisting of a body fixed to the frame 23 and a piston capable of being moved to magnetize the turntable nose 64 so as to hold it. This embodiment is also not shown in the figures.

Claims

Claims 1. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64), mounted on a thermal conditioning unit (16) comprising at least: - a frame (23); - a preform conveying device (26) comprising a plurality of supports (52), said conveying device (26) circulating along the frame (23) along a predetermined trajectory (T); - a mandrel (60) mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis on each support (52) of the conveying device (26), each mandrel (60) comprising at least: - a first end provided with a fixing means (108) securing the spinner nose (64) to the mandrel (60), said spinner nose (64) being capable of receiving the plastic preform (4); - another portion of the mandrel (60), opposite said first end, secured to a drive member (61) for rotating said mandrel (60), characterized in that the device for locking and / or unlocking (200) further comprises a locking means (206) and / or unlocking of said fixing means (108) securing the turntable nose (64) to the mandrel (60) and positioned in line with the conveying device (26).

2. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to claim 1 characterized in that said locking (206) and / or unlocking means is secured to said frame (23) of the thermal conditioning unit.

3. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing means (108) comprises a male part (112) secured to said turntable nose (64) and a female part (114) secured to said mandrel (60), said male part (112) having an annular groove (116), said female part (114) comprises balls (110) capable of cooperating with said annular groove (116) to achieve locking between the male part (112) and the female part (114), said female part (114) also comprising a peripheral cage (118) provided with holes (124) in which said balls (110) are housed, and a lock (120) provided with a ramp (136), said lock (120) being mounted around said peripheral cage (118), movable between a locking position in which said balls (110) cooperate with said annular groove (116) and a release position in which said balls (110) do not cooperate with the annular groove (116) but cooperate with said ramp (136).

4. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to claim 1 characterized in that said fixing means (108) comprises a female part (114) integral with said turntable nose (64) and a male part (112) integral with said mandrel (60), said male part (112) having an annular groove (116), said female part (114) comprises balls (110) capable of cooperating with said annular groove (116) to achieve locking between the male part (112) and the female part (114), said female part (114) also comprising a peripheral cage (118) provided with holes (124) in which said balls (110) are housed, and a lock (120) provided with a ramp (136), said lock (120) being mounted around said peripheral cage (118),movable between a locking position in which said balls (110) cooperate with said annular groove (116) and a release position in which said balls (110) do not cooperate with the annular groove (116) but cooperate with said ramp (136)., 5. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of the preceding claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said lock (120) comprises a skirt (128), a flange (130) whose diameter is smaller than said skirt (128), said skirt (128) and said flange (130) are connected by an intermediate shoulder (132), said intermediate shoulder (132) and a free end of the flange (130) define a bearing surface intended to actuate said lock (120).

6. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to claim 1 characterized in that said fixing means (108) comprises a male part (146) integral with said turntable nose (64) and a female part (148) integral with said mandrel (60), said male part (146) having at least one stud (150) at one of its ends, said female part (148) comprises at least two jaws (144) capable of cooperating with said stud (150), and a lock (154) cooperating with said jaws (144) to actuate them, said lock (154) being mounted around said female part (148) and movable between a locking position in which the jaws (144) grip said stud (150), and a release position in which the jaws (144) are moved away from said stud.

7. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said lock (154) comprises a flange (168) secured to a pin (170) sliding inside the female part (148) capable of actuating said jaws (144), said flange (168) comprises a bearing surface intended to actuate said lock (154).

8. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the locking (206) and / or unlocking means comprises a locking and / or unlocking member secured to a second actuator capable of moving said lock (120, 154) of said fixing means (108) from its locking position to its release position.

9. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said locking and / or unlocking member comprises a contact surface capable of cooperating with a bearing surface of said lock (120, 154).

10. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking (206) and / or unlocking means comprises a positioning means capable of positioning said locking (206) and / or unlocking means in line with said fixing means (108) of said turntable nose (64).

11. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said positioning means comprises an actuator capable of moving said locking (206) and / or unlocking means and / or a positioning member.

12. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said positioning member comprises a base fixed on one side to said first actuator and on the other side to a centering lug (214) intended to cooperate with a centering hole (216) positioned on said frame (23), as well as two branches, one end of which is secured to said base and the other end is secured to a pad (220) intended to bear against the conveying device (26) to be dismantled.

13. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking (206) and / or unlocking means comprises a blocking means (234) comprising a clamp (50) consisting of two branches, movable relative to each other, each branch being provided at its free end with a jaw capable of gripping the turntable nose (64) to hold it.

14. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the clamp (50) is mounted on a robotic arm (48).

15. Device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one turntable nose (64) according to any one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that at least one branch of the clamp (50) is driven by an actuator.

16. Method for locking and / or unlocking the spinner nose (64) of a thermal conditioning unit (16) comprising a device for locking and / or unlocking (200) at least one spinner nose (64) according to any one of claims 3 to 15 comprising at least the following steps: - position said locking means (206) and / or unlocking means in line with said lock (120, 154) of the fixing means (108) of said turntable nose (64), -. actuate said lock (120, 154) to unlock the fixing means of the turntable nose (64);

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