Method for transporting containers with gripping action on a handling and transporting apparatus and container and transport apparatus having self-adaptive gripping elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604791-B2
Application number	US-201514633840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 29, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A method for transporting containers using a handling and transporting apparatus comprising two transporting elements, and a gripping element and force introduction elements disposed on one of the transporting elements. A container is transported between the transporting elements at a transfer region by opening the gripping element and either releasing or receiving the container. The gripping element is closed to grip the container. In order to open or close the gripping element, a control element of a gripping finger of the gripping element is engaged with a control structure to pivot a base element of the gripping finger. Upon pivoting, a gripping region of the gripping finger is pressed against one of a pair of the force introduction elements to thereby deform the gripping region into a sickle shape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for transporting containers using a handling and transporting apparatus comprising two transporting elements, and a gripping element and force introduction elements disposed on one of said transporting elements, said method comprising the steps of:
transporting a container between said transporting elements at a transfer region by opening said gripping element and either releasing or receiving said container;
closing said gripping element and gripping said container upon receiving said container; and
said steps of opening and closing comprising:
engaging a control element of at least one gripping finger of said gripping element with a control structure disposed in said transfer region, and thereby pivoting a base element of said at least one gripping finger; and
upon pivoting, pressing a gripping region of said at least one gripping finger against one of a pair of said force introduction elements disposed on opposite sides of a base portion of said gripping region adjacent said base element, and thereby deforming said gripping region into a sickle shape.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
said base element is mounted on its transporting element;
said step of transporting said container comprises transporting said container at two transfer regions; and
said control structure comprises a control rail.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
said gripping element comprises a pair of said gripping fingers disposed opposite one another;
said gripping region is self-adaptive such that said gripping fingers are self-adaptive gripping fingers, or said base element is at least partially elastic or comprises an elastic material; and
said base element and said gripping region are disposed transversely in an L-shape, wherein said base element forms a transverse web, arranged at which is a base portion of said gripping region.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein:
said control elements of said gripping fingers are disposed at different vertical positions;
said handling and transporting apparatus comprises at least one additional control rail, disposed at a different vertical position than said control rail, which control rails correspond to said control elements;
said control rails are configured and disposed such that said control element of only one of said gripping fingers of said gripping element is in contact with said control rail;
said method further comprises contacting said control element of only one of said gripping fingers of said gripping element with said control rail and thereby deforming said gripping region of only one of said gripping fingers into a sickle shape;
each of said control elements comprises a roller;
said handling and transporting apparatus comprises an accommodation element disposed between said gripping fingers of said gripping element;
one of said transporting elements comprises a stationary guide track configured to engage with said control elements;
said gripping region comprises a conical or tipped shape;
said gripping region comprises an outer flank, an inner flank, and jointed braces disposed between said flanks;
said gripping region comprises layers, at least at its inner flank, wherein an inner layer is more expandable than an outer layer which is in contact with the container, and wherein said inner layer exhibits elevations and depressions; and
said method further comprises:
said step of gripping said container comprises holding said container against said accommodation element; and
said step of closing said gripping element comprises engaging said control elements of both of said gripping fingers with said stationary guide track, and thereby pivoting each of said base elements and deforming each of said gripping fingers toward one another and into contact with said container.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
said gripping region comprises a flexible outer flank, a flexible inner flank, and braces disposed between and transverse to said flanks;
each of said flanks has a first end and a second end, wherein said first ends are spaced apart from one another and joined to said base element, and said second ends are disposed closer to one another than said first ends, such that said gripping region comprises a tapered shape;
said braces are of different lengths, wherein the length of said braces decreases in the direction from said first ends to said second ends of said flanks; and
said step of deforming said gripping region comprises bending or curving said flanks around said force introduction element, while also pivoting said braces with respect to said flanks.

6. A handling and transporting apparatus for handling containers according to the method of claim 1 , said apparatus comprising:
two rotary transporting elements configured to transport a container therebetween at a transfer region;
at least one of said transporting elements comprising at least one gripping element and force introduction elements;
said at least one gripping element comprising at least two gripping fingers configured to grip containers therebetween;
each of said gripping fingers comprising: a base element, a gripping region connected to a first end of said base element, and a control element connected to a second end of said base element;
said force introduction elements being disposed in pairs on opposite sides of a base portion of said gripping region of each of said gripping fingers;
said first end of said base element being disposed outside of said second end of said base element in a radial direction;
said base element being pivotably mounted to permit pivoting, or being movably mounted to permit linear displacement;
at least one control structure being disposed in said transfer region and being configured to engage with said control element of at least one of said gripping fingers to pivot or displace said control element to press said gripping region against one of its pair of said force introduction elements, and thereby deform said gripping region into a sickle shape.

7. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
said base element is mounted on its transporting element;
said transporting elements define two transfer regions; and
said control structure comprises a control rail.

8. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said gripping fingers of each gripping element are disposed opposite one another.

9. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said gripping region is self-adaptive such that said gripping fingers are self-adaptive gripping fingers, or said base element is at least partially elastic or comprises an elastic material.

10. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said base element and said gripping region are disposed transversely in an L-shape, wherein said base element forms a transverse web, arranged at which is a base portion of said gripping region.

11. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said control elements of said gripping fingers are disposed at different vertical positions.

12. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said handling and transporting apparatus comprises at least one additional control rail, disposed at a different vertical position than said control rail, which control rails correspond to said control elements.

13. The handling and transporting apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said control rails are configured and disposed such that said control element of only one of said gripping fingers of said

Assignees

• Fahldieck Andreas
• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Fahldieck Andreas

Classifications

• B65G47/847 Primary

  the article-engaging elements being grippers · CPC title

• B65G2201/0244

  Bottles · CPC title