Container gripper and transporting device for transporting containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259665-B2
Application number	US-201615563068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Apr 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A container gripper has pivotable gripper arms and a blocking element that comprises a spring element with first and second regions that preloads the gripper arms into a closing position. The blocking element moves between a releasing position and a blocking position such that a closing force exerted in the blocking position exceeds that exerted in the releasing position. The spring elements interact with control surfaces of the gripper arms such that, when the blocking element is in the releasing position, the control surface takes effect against the first region, thereby causing the spring element to exert the first closing force and wherein, when the blocking element is in the blocking position, the control surface takes effect against the second region, thereby causing the spring element to exert the second closing force.

First claim

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus comprising a container gripper, wherein said container gripper comprises pivotable gripper-arms and a blocking element, wherein said blocking element comprises spring elements that preload said gripper arms into a closing position, wherein each of said spring elements comprises a first region and a second region, wherein each gripper arm comprises a control surface, thereby defining first and second control surfaces, wherein said blocking element is movable along a movement direction between a releasing position, which corresponds to said gripper's releasing state, and a blocking position, which corresponds to said gripper's blocking state, wherein, in said releasing position, said spring elements exert a first closing force on said gripper arms and wherein, in said blocking position, said spring elements exert a second closing force on said gripper arms, said second closing force being greater than said first closing force, wherein said spring elements interact with said control surfaces of said gripper arms such that, when said blocking element is in said releasing position, said control surface takes effect against said first region, thereby causing said spring element to exert said first closing force, and wherein, when said blocking element is in said blocking position, said control surface takes effect against said second region, thereby causing said spring element to exert said second closing force.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element moves along an axial direction and wherein said first and second regions of said spring element are offset against one another along said axial direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is configured to transition between said releasing position and said blocking position by moving in a direction that is radial relative to the machine axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and second control surfaces face each other and define a space through which said spring element is movable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spring element comprises a spring tongue that has a first end and a second end, wherein said spring tongue is supported at said second end, wherein said first end is a free end, wherein said first region and said second region are on said spring arm, and wherein said first region is closer to said free end than said second region.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spring element comprises spring arms and wherein said spring arms assume a relaxed state, wherein, when in said relaxed state, said spring arms are essentially straight.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spring element comprises a spring tongue, at least a portion of which is cambered.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is a unitary structure that is made from spring steel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element has a U-shaped profile defined by a base, wherein said blocking element has limbs that project upward from said base, and wherein said spring element comprises spring arms that extend from said limbs.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element has a U-shaped profile defined by a base, wherein said blocking element comprises posts that project upward from said base, and wherein said spring element comprises spring arms that extend from said posts.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide slot that moves with a transport element, wherein said guide slot guides said blocking element, wherein said blocking element has a U-shaped profile defined by a base and limbs that project upward from said base, wherein said spring element comprises spring arms that extend from said limbs, and wherein said limbs and said spring arms are configured to be received by said guide slot.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier having a guide slots, wherein said blocking element comprises a baseplate and limbs that extent from said baseplate and through said guide slots, and wherein said guide slots guide said blocking element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gripper unit, wherein said gripper arms and a receiver form said gripper unit, wherein said gripper unit latches to said transport element so as to be removable by disengaging said latch, wherein said gripper arms are double-lever arms, wherein each gripper arm is mounted to pivot about said receiver, said receiver being disposed between its two ends, and wherein said gripper arms receive a container at a first end thereof and define a control surface at a second end thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a curve roller for controlling said movement of said blocking element, wherein said curve roller comprises a bearing bolt, wherein said blocking element comprises a bearing section and a permanent magnet, and wherein said bearing section holds said bearing bolt using said permanent magnet.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a transport device for transporting containers, wherein said transport device comprises a transport element and wherein said container gripper is one of a plurality of identical container grippers disposed on said transport element.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a transport device for transporting containers, wherein said transport devices comprises a rotor that comprises said container grippers, wherein, as said rotor rotates around a machine axis, said blocking element moves along said movement direction between said releasing position and said blocking position.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spring element is an element that is selected from the group consisting of a leaf spring and a yoke clamping clip.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is configured to transition between said releasing position and said blocking position by moving in a direction that is radial relative to a pivot axis of said gripper arms.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spring element comprises a spring tongue that has a cross-section that is constant along said movement direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said spring element comprises a spring tongue that has a cross-section that is variable along said movement direction.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said blocking element is a unitary structure that is made from plastic.

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Fahldieck Andreas
• Mallitzki Nils

Classifications

• B65G2201/0244

  Bottles · CPC title

• B65G47/847 Primary

  the article-engaging elements being grippers · CPC title