Container handling machine, such as a container filling machine for filling bottles, cans, or similar containers with a liquid beverage, and a device for gripping and holding containers in a container handling machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527616-B2
Application number	US-201514730786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2012
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A device for gripping and holding containers in a container handling machine. The device includes pivotable gripper arms to grip a container, a carrier body to support the gripper arms, and a transport element to connect the carrier body to the container handling machine. The carrier body comprises retaining elements to attach the carrier body to the transport element. Each of the retaining elements comprises a retaining structure. The transport element comprises retaining portions. Each of the retaining elements is designed to be resilient to hold the retaining structures in a position to permit engagement of the retaining structures with the retaining portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for gripping and holding containers in a container handling machine, said device comprising:
pivotable gripper arms to grip a container;
a carrier body to support said gripper arms;
a transport element to connect said carrier body to a container handling machine;
said carrier body comprising retaining elements to attach said carrier body to said transport element;
each of said retaining elements comprising a retaining structure;
said transport element comprising retaining portions, each being configured to engage with at least one of said retaining structures, to thereby resist detachment of said carrier body from said transport element upon a force being exerted that presses at least one of said retaining structures against at least one of said retaining portions; and
each of said retaining elements being resilient to hold said retaining structures in a position to permit engagement of said retaining structures with said retaining portions.

2. A device for gripping and holding containers in container treatment machines, having a carrier body which can be attached to a transport element and which comprises pivoted, spring-loaded gripper arms, wherein the carrier body comprises detent elements that are configured as spring bars, which can be locked in corresponding counter detent elements of the transport element; the carrier body can be locked with the transport element in a form fit and additionally in a force fit by the bending stress of said spring bars.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the detent elements are configured in an L shape with a transverse bar and a vertical bar and with their transverse bar disposed on a swivel mount.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the detent element is arranged with its vertical bar at an angle to its transverse bar, with the vertical bar being oriented at an angle with its head section towards a head region.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the detent element comprises overhangs on its head section, with the overhangs standing proud to the side of a vertical bar of the detent element.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the counter detent elements are configured as detent openings.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the counter detent elements comprise two partial openings of different widths which merge one into the other, with a first larger partial opening matched to a width of a head section with its overhangs of the detent element, and with the second narrower partial opening matched to a width of a vertical bar of the detent element.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the counter detent elements are arranged inversely relative to one another on the transport element.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the transport element is configured as a segmental element.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the transport element is configured as a circular disk element.

11. The device of claim 2 , in combination with a transporter or a container treatment machine, such as a filling machine or the like, which device comprises counter detent elements in which the detent elements of the carrier bodies can be locked, in particular two counter detent elements per device for gripping and holding the carrier body.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the counter detent elements are configured as detent openings through which the head regions of the vertical bars can be guided and locked in that position.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the counter detent elements are configured as detent openings which comprise at least two partial regions, that is, a first larger partial region through which the head region of the vertical bar can be guided, and a second smaller partial region into which the vertical bar can be moved in its mounted position, in particular on the basis of the bending force; the head regions of the vertical bar can be laid in the edge region of the smaller partial region, specifically on that side of the transport element which lies opposite a contact face of the carrier body.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the end wall of the counter detent element is at such a distance away and the counter detent element is of such a size that the vertical bar does not meet the end wall in the direction of the bending force when in the mounted position.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the end wall of two opposite counter elements are dimensioned and/or spaced in such a way that at least one vertical bar does not meet an associated end wall in the direction of the bending force when in the mounted position.

16. A container handling machine, such as a container filling machine for filling bottles, cans, or similar containers with a material, such as a liquid beverage, or a container closing machine for closing filled bottles, cans, or similar containers, or a container transport machine, such as a star wheel, for transporting bottles, cans, or similar containers, or a container treatment machine for treating bottles, cans, or similar containers, said container handling machine comprising:
a support structure comprising a rotary support structure configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
a plurality of container gripping and holding devices configured to grip and hold containers comprising bottles, cans, or similar containers;
said plurality of container gripping and holding devices being disposed on and connected to said support structure;
each of said plurality of container gripping and holding devices comprising:
pivotable gripper arms to grip a container;
a carrier body to support said gripper arms; and
a transport element to connect said carrier body to a container handling machine;

said carrier body comprising retaining elements to attach said carrier body to said transport element;
each of said retaining elements comprising a retaining structure;
said transport element comprising retaining portions, each being configured to engage with at least one of said retaining structures, to thereby resist detachment of said carrier body from said transport element upon a force being exerted that presses at least one of said retaining structures against at least one of said retaining portions; and
each of said retaining elements being resilient to hold said retaining structures in a position to permit engagement of said retaining structures with said retaining portions.

17. The container handling machine according to claim 16 , wherein:
said gripper arms are spring-loaded;
each of said retaining elements comprises a spring bar;
said spring bar is bent at an angle or in a substantially L-shape;
said spring bar comprises a first spring bar portion and a second spring bar portion disposed transverse to said first spring bar portion;
said carrier body comprises a swivel mount configured to pivotably support said gripper arms; and
said second spring bar portion is connected to and supported by said swivel mount.

18. The container handling machine according to claim 17 wherein:
said swivel mount comprises a first end portion and a second end portion;
said second spring bar portion is connected to said first end portion of said swivel mount;
said first spring bar portion comprises a base portion joined to said second spring bar portion, a head portion, and an elongated body portion that connects said base portion and said head portion; and
said first spring bar portion extends away from said second spring bar portion, such that said head portion of said first spring bar portion is disposed adjacent said second end portion of said swivel mount.

19.

Assignees

• Fahldieck Andreas
• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Fahldieck Andreas

Classifications

• B65G2201/0244

  Bottles · CPC title

• B65G47/847 Primary

  the article-engaging elements being grippers · CPC title

• B65B43/46 Primary

  using grippers · CPC title

• B65B43/60

  rotatable · CPC title