Container handling machine having movable transport stars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8931621-B2
Application number	US-201213984890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2012
Priority date	Feb 10, 2011
Publication date	Jan 13, 2015
Grant date	Jan 13, 2015

Abstract

A container handling machine includes transport stars and a container transfer station between adjacent stars. The container transfer station has a drive element arranged between two adjacent stars for moving them relative to each other in a way that results in centers of the adjacent stars being moved relative to each other according to an ascertainable and operationally-induced deviation during operation of the container handling machine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising a container-handling machine, said container-handling machine comprising transport stars, a container-transfer station, and a drive element, wherein one of said stars is a primary star on which handling stations are arranged, wherein each of said stars comprises holding positions, wherein each holding position grips a container, wherein said container-transfer station is between adjacent stars, wherein said drive element is arranged between two adjacent stars for moving said two adjacent stars relative to each other, and wherein centers of said adjacent stars are moved relative to each other according to an ascertainable operationally-induced deviation during operation of said container-handling machine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a measuring element for ascertaining said operationally-induced deviation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said measuring element comprises a temperature sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said measuring element comprises a travel-measurement sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said measuring element comprises a distance sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said measurement element is connected to a top face of at least one of said stars.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said measurement element is connected to an underside of at least one of said stars.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control device for adjusting said drive element.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control device, and measurement elements for detecting said operationally induced changes, wherein said measuring elements are connected to said control device, and wherein said control device generates, from measured values provided by said measuring elements, control signals for controlling said drive element.

10. The apparatus claim 1 , further comprising a guide between adjacent stars, wherein said drive element is disposed on said guide.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said drive element comprises a linear guide that engages underneath a level of a star.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a star comprises a rack, and wherein said drive element engages said rack.

13. The apparatus claim 1 , wherein said drive element comprises an electric motor.

14. The apparatus claim 1 , wherein said drive element comprises a control signal receiving unit.

15. The apparatus claim 1 , wherein said drive element is controlled based at least in part on an operating temperature.

Assignees

• Krulitsch Dieter-Rudolf
• Beisel Michael
• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Krulitsch Dieter-Rudolf
• Beisel Michael

Classifications

• B65G47/908

  with inflatable picking-up means (inflatable gripping members on load engaging elements for cranes B66C1/46) · CPC title

• B67C7/0046

  Infeed and outfeed devices · CPC title

• B65G47/847

  the article-engaging elements being grippers · CPC title

• B65G47/846

  Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements · CPC title

• B67C3/242 Primary

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