Conveyance device for a processing plant for containers

Abstract

A conveyance device (1) for a processing plant for containers (10) comprising a conveyor (11) connected, at the inlet, to a feeding device for containers (10) which are mutually spaced and arrive from a first container processing device (20) and, at the outlet, to a device for sending containers (10) arranged in a pack to a second device (30) for processing the containers (10), the conveyor (11) having, in sequence, conveyor belts (3) associated with actuation means configured to adjust the advancement speed of each conveyor belt (3) and guiding means (4) arranged laterally with respect to the direction of extension of the conveyor (11) and configured to form a lateral support for the containers (10), wherein at least one portion (12) of the conveyor (11) extends along a curvilinear trajectory.

Description

[0001] CONVEYANCE DEVICE FOR A PROCESSING PLANT FOR

[0002] CONTAINERS

[0003] The present invention relates to a conveyance device for a processing plant for containers and in particular for bottles.

[0004] Container processing plants constituted by a filling and capping device, optionally associated upstream with a blow-molding device, are known.

[0005] Between the capping device and the labeling assembly, a conveyance device is provided that performs the function of slowing down the containers that arrive from the filling and capping device, and of arranging them in a pack before they enter the labeling assembly.

[0006] Such conveyance device, moreover, has the function of compensating for any “gaps” (i.e., missing bottles in the flow due to upstream machine rejects) in the flow of containers that arrive from the filling and capping device, typically by managing its advancement speed.

[0007] Typically, the connection between the filling and capping device and the labeling assembly is performed by providing a conveyance device constituted by a single-line conveyor belt formed by belt portions at decreasing speeds, so as to bring the containers from the spacing of the upstream machine (normally the capping machine) to a mutually packed arrangement. In fact, the containers must be packed before being fed to the screw feeder of the downstream machine constituted by the labeling assembly.

[0008] Traditional solutions have some limitations and drawbacks in so- called transients (filling, emptying, restarting).

[0009] In fact, during transients the packing point moves, without the possibility of being controlled. Moreover, to close any gaps due to rejects, the high speeds of the conveyor belts cause containers to pack at an excessively high speed. This often causes the container to bounce backwards and tilt and fall over backwards. The aim of the present invention is to provide a conveyance device for a container processing plant that is capable of avoiding the drawbacks of the background art in one or more of the aspects indicated above.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to devise a conveyance device for a container processing plant that allows to manage efficiently the packing of the containers, especially during transients.

[0011] Not least object of the invention is to provide a conveyance device for a container processing plant that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide, and at competitive costs.

[0012] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a conveyance device for a container processing plant according to claim 1 , optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the conveyance device for a container treatment plant according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conveyance device according to the invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view of a portion of Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the conveyance device;

[0017] Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of a first embodiment of the conveyance device;

[0018] Figure 5 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 4, with a constructive variation of the guiding means.

[0019] With reference to the figures, the conveyance device 1 for a container processing plant 10 according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a conveyor 11 connected, at the inlet, to a device for feeding containers 10, which are mutually spaced and arrive from a first container processing device 20 and, at the outlet, to a device for sending the containers 10 arranged in a pack to a second device 30 for processing the containers 10.

[0020] The conveyor 11 has, in sequence, conveyor belts 3 associated with control means configured to adjust the advancement speed of each conveyor belt 3, and guiding means 4 arranged laterally with respect to the direction of extension of the conveyor 11 and configured to form a lateral support for the containers 10.

[0021] In particular, at least one portion 12 of the conveyor 11 extends along a curvilinear trajectory.

[0022] Specifically, the packing of the containers 10 is carried out at the portion 12 of the conveyor 11, which has a curvilinear trajectory.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the first processing device 20 arranged upstream of the conveyance device 1 comprises a filling and capping assembly for containers 10, while the second processing device 30 arranged downstream of the conveyance device 1 comprises a labeling assembly.

[0024] In the first processing device 20, the outgoing containers are mutually spaced with a pitch (indicated by the letter P in Figure 1), while in the second processing device 30 the containers fed to it are arranged in a pack since, for example, the incoming containers are fed to a screw feeder.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the at least one portion 12 of the conveyor 11 extends along a portion of a first circumference 12a proceeding in a first advancement direction 101 (clockwise in the example shown) around the axis 201 of the first circumference.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the portion 12 of the conveyor 11 extends, downstream of the portion of the first circumference 12a, along a part of a second circumference 12b proceeding in a second advancement direction 102 which is opposite with respect to the first advancement direction 101 (counterclockwise in the example shown) around the axis 202 of the second circumference.

[0027] Advantageously, the conveyance device 1 has, along the extension of the conveyor 11, at least one control-viewing device.

[0028] The control-viewing device is configured to monitor the distance, along the extension of the conveyor 11 , between the advancing containers 10 in such a way as to control the advancement speed of the conveyor belts 3 so as to produce their packing, conveniently at a predetermined region.

[0029] Advantageously, the guiding means 4 comprise at least one external guide 4a which extends along the portion 12 of the conveyor 11.

[0030] Moreover, the guiding means 4 conveniently comprise at least one internal guide 4b which extends along the portion 12 of the conveyor 11.

[0031] The external guide 4a comprises a fixed body designed to make contact with the containers 10 at least at contact portions arranged at different elevations.

[0032] The internal guide 4b may comprise a central body 13a, 13b having a circular extension which is mounted so that it can rotate about the axis 201, 202 of the respective circumference portion 12a, 12b and is designed to make contact with the containers 10 at least at contact portions arranged at different elevations.

[0033] Moreover, the central body 13a, 13b may be rotatable on command, for example by virtue of motor means, or may be mounted freely so that it is turned by the advancement of the containers 10 along the conveyor 11.

[0034] Preferably, the guiding means 4 may comprise a supporting guide 4c shaped like a rail designed to run, on opposite sides, below the neck region of the containers 10.

[0035] The guide 4c operates in the neck region of the container, which is typically the same for all containers. Therefore, by making the guide 4c adjustable in height, it does not need to be replaced in case of format change.

[0036] The external guide 4a, and optionally the internal guide 4b, can be adjustable, both in height and in approach / spacing with respect to the direction of extension of the conveyor 11, so as to adapt to the shape and / or diameter of the containers 10.

[0037] The external guide 4a may also be replaceable depending on the containers 10 to be processed.

[0038] It is evident that by virtue of the curvilinear portion 12 it is possible to significantly reduce the overall space occupation of the conveyance device 11, so as to make it particularly easy to collect the lubricant of the movement chains of the various conveyor belts 3, to allow it to be filtered and recirculated.

[0039] Moreover, it is equally easy to isolate the conveyance device 1 from the external environment by means of housings, preventing dust from depositing on the conveyor belts 3. This makes the operation of the conveyance device 1 independent of the environmental hygiene conditions.

[0040] Means for drying the containers 10 can also be integrated with the conveyance device 1, so as to further compact the plant as a whole.

[0041] The operation of the conveyance device 1 , according to the invention, is as follows.

[0042] The containers 10 at the outlet of the first processing assembly 20, which are mutually spaced, are fed to the conveyor 11 and gradually “slowed down” by providing for gradually lower speeds of the conveyor belts 3 arranged in succession.

[0043] This slowing down takes place preferably at the portion 12.

[0044] In this way, the mutual approach and packing of the containers 10 occurs at a curvilinear portion of the conveyor 11 so that the incoming container 10 rests against both the previous container (designated by the letter A in Figure 2) and a portion of the external guide 4b (designated by the letter B).

[0045] In this way, the incoming container 10 makes contact at two points instead of one as in known solutions, and this makes the packing of the containers 10 more stable and reliable.

[0046] In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a conveyance device for a container processing plant that is extremely reliable in its operation and can handle any transients and / or feeding gaps.

[0047] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0048] In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0049] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000026394 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0050] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A conveyance device (1) for a processing plant for containers (10) comprising a conveyor (11) connected, at the inlet, to a feeding device for containers (10) which are mutually spaced and arrive from a first container processing device (20) and, at the outlet, to a device for sending containers (10) arranged in a pack to a second device (30) for processing said containers (10), said conveyor (11) having, in sequence, conveyor belts (I la) associated with actuation means configured to adjust the advancement speed of each conveyor belt (3) and guiding means (4) arranged laterally with respect to the direction of extension of said conveyor (11) and configured to form a lateral support for said containers (10), characterized in that at least one portion (12) of said conveyor (11) extends along a curvilinear trajectory.

2. The conveyance device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first processing device (20) comprises a filling and capping assembly and in that said second processing device (30) comprises a labeling assembly.

3. The conveyance device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one portion (12) of said conveyor (11) extends along a portion of a first circumference (12a) in a first advancement direction (101) around an axis of said first circumference.

4. The conveyance device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one portion (12) of said conveyor (11) extends, downstream of said portion of a first circumference (12a), along a portion of a second circumference (12b) in a second advancement direction (102) around an axis of said second circumference which is opposite with respect to said first advancement direction (101).

5. The conveyance device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, along the extension of said conveyor (11), at least one control viewing device configured tomonitor the distance between said containers (10) and to control the advancement speed of said conveyor belts (3).

6. The conveyance device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding means (4) comprise at least one external guide (4a) which extends along the portion (12) of said conveyor (11).

7. The conveyance device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding means (4) comprise at least one internal guide (4b) which extends along the portion (12) of said conveyor (11).

8. The conveyance device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said at least one external guide (4a) comprises a fixed body designed to make contact with said containers (10) at least at contact portions arranged at different elevations.

9. The conveyance device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least one internal guide (4b) comprises a central body (13a, 13b) having a circular extension, which is mounted so that it can rotate about an axis that substantially corresponds to the axis of the respective portion of circumference (12a, 12b) and is designed to make contact with said containers (10) at least at contact portions arranged at different elevations.

10. The conveyance device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding means (4) comprise a supporting guide (4c) shaped like a rail, which is designed to run below the neck region of said containers (10), said supporting guide (4c) being adjustable in height to adapt to different bottle formats.

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