Gripper system comprising a gripper module carrier and a gripper module for holding workpieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12064913-B2
Application number	US-202017618583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2019
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A gripper system includes a gripper module carrier and a gripper module for holding containers or container preforms, the gripper module having a gripper base and two gripper arms with gripping elements for at least partially gripping around a holding region of containers or container preforms, the gripper arms being mounted on the gripper base such that they can pivot relative to one another, the gripper module being releasably connected to the gripper module carrier, wherein the gripper system further includes a locking device for locking the gripper module to the gripper module carrier, and wherein the locking device is movable into a locking position for locking the gripper module to the gripper module carrier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Gripper system comprising a gripper module carrier ( 12 ) and a gripper module ( 14 ) for holding workpieces ( 22 ), in particular containers or container preforms, the gripper module ( 14 ) having a gripper base ( 16 ) and two gripper arms ( 18 ) with gripping elements ( 20 ) for at least partially gripping around a holding region ( 24 ) of containers or container preforms, the gripper arms being mounted on the gripper base ( 16 ) such that they can pivot relative to one another, the gripper module ( 14 ) being releasably connected to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ),
characterized that the gripper system ( 10 ) further comprises a locking device ( 26 ) for locking the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), wherein the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into a locking position for locking the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), and wherein the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into a release position for releasing the gripper module ( 14 ) from the locking on the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), wherein the locking device ( 26 ) comprises a tension lever ( 28 ) being pivotable into the locking position and the release position for actuating the locking device ( 26 ), wherein the tension lever is part of, and remains on the gripper module carrier, when the gripper module is removed from the gripper module carrier.

2. Gripper system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into the locking position and into the release position without tools.

3. Gripper system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device comprises a locking mechanism which locks according to the toggle principle.

4. Gripper system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device ( 26 ) may be a tension lock.

5. Gripper system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device has a first holding partner ( 30 ), in particular in the form of a hook, bracket or loop, and a second holding partner ( 32 ), in particular in the form of a hook, bracket or loop, the first holding partner being connected to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ) or to the gripper module ( 14 ) in a tension-proof manner, the second holding partner being designed in a matching manner to the first holding partner ( 30 ) and being connected to the gripper module ( 14 ) or to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ) in a tension-proof manner, the first holding partner ( 30 ) and the second holding partner ( 32 ) interacting in a form-fitting manner in the locking position for providing a tension-proof connection, and being released from one another in the release position.

6. Gripper system according to claim 5 , characterized in that the tension lever ( 28 ) as well as the first holding partner ( 30 ) are connected to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), and that the second holding partner ( 32 ) is connected to the gripper module ( 14 ).

7. Gripper system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking device ( 26 ) comprises a latching element ( 34 ) which is movable into a latching position and into an unlatching position, wherein, in the latching position, the latching element ( 34 ) latches the locking device ( 26 ) in the locking position and, in the unlatching position, unlocks the locking device ( 26 ), such that the locking device ( 26 ) is movable from the locking position into the release position.

8. Gripper system of claim 7 , characterized in that the latching member ( 34 ) comprises a thumb lever ( 36 ) for moving the latching member between the latching position and the unlatching position.

9. Gripper system comprising a gripper module carrier ( 12 ) held by a carrier arm ( 52 ) and a gripper module ( 14 ) for holding workpieces ( 22 ), in particular containers or container preforms, the gripper module ( 14 ) having a gripper base ( 16 ) and two gripper arms ( 18 ) with gripping elements ( 20 ) for at least partially gripping around a holding region ( 24 ) of containers or container preforms, the gripper arms being mounted on the gripper base ( 16 ) such that they can pivot relative to one another, the gripper module ( 14 ) being releasably connected to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ),
characterized that the gripper system ( 10 ) further comprises a locking device ( 26 ) for locking the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), wherein the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into a locking position for locking the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), and wherein the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into a release position for releasing the gripper module ( 14 ) from the locking on the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), wherein the locking device ( 26 ) comprises a detent pin ( 38 ) being movable into the locking position and the release position for actuating the locking device ( 26 ), locking device ( 26 ) comprises a spring element which forces the detent bolt ( 38 ) into the locking position under spring-bias.

10. Gripper system according to claim 9 , characterized in that the detent pin ( 38 ) is displaceably mounted on the gripper module carrier ( 12 ) or the gripper module ( 14 ) and, in the locking position, extends into a bore ( 62 ) arranged on the gripper module ( 14 ) or on the gripper module carrier ( 12 ) to lock the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ) in a form-fitting manner.

11. Gripper system according to claim 9 , characterized in that the gripper system ( 10 ) comprises at least one positioning device ( 40 ) for aligning the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ).

12. Gripper system of claim 11 , characterized in that the positioning device ( 40 ) comprises at least one protrusion ( 42 ) and at least one recess ( 44 ) configured to mate with the at least one protrusion ( 42 ) for receiving the protrusion, the protrusion ( 42 ) being attached to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ) or the gripper module ( 14 ), wherein the recess ( 44 ) is disposed on the gripper module ( 14 ) or the gripper module carrier ( 12 ).

13. Gripper system according to claim 11 , characterized in that said at least one positioning device ( 40 ) further comprises a centering element ( 41 ) for centering said gripper module ( 14 ) on the gripper module carrier ( 12 ).

14. Transport device ( 50 ) for a container or container preform, the transport device comprising at least one gripper system ( 10 ), the gripper system comprising a gripper module carrier ( 12 ) and a gripper module ( 14 ) for holding workpieces ( 22 ), in particular containers or container preforms, the gripper module ( 14 ) having a gripper base ( 16 ) and two gripper arms ( 18 ) with gripping elements ( 20 ) for at least partially gripping around a holding region ( 24 ) of containers or container preforms, the gripper arms being mounted on the gripper base ( 16 ) such that they can pivot relative to one another, the gripper module ( 14 ) being releasably connected to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ),
characterized that the gripper system ( 10 ) further comprises a locking device ( 26 ) for locking the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), wherein the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into a locking position for locking the gripper module ( 14 ) to the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), and wherein the locking device ( 26 ) is movable into a release position for releasing the gripper module ( 14 ) from the locking on the gripper module carrier ( 12 ), wherein the locking device ( 26 ) comprises a tension lever ( 28 ) being pivotable into the locking position and the release position for actuating the locking d

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh
• Kms Gmbh

Inventors

• Klatt Dieter
• Schumacher Dirk

Classifications

• B29C49/42093

  Transporting apparatus, e.g. slides, wheels or conveyors · CPC title

• B29C49/42073 Primary

  Grippers · CPC title

• B29C49/42075 Primary

  with pivoting clamps · CPC title

• B67C7/0053

  using grippers (for supporting bottle necks during filling B67C3/242) · CPC title

• B67C3/242

  engaging with bottle necks (B67C3/26 takes precedence) · CPC title