Apparatus for orienting components of a rotary machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9815637-B2
Application number	US-201414912719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus and method for orienting components of a rotary machine, such as a container treatment machine, where the rotary machine comprises a stator and a rotor and also at least one component which is arranged on the stator, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one reference element which is arranged on the stator and a sensor which is arranged on the rotor so as to rotate with it, wherein the sensor is suitable for measuring the distance from the reference element and from the component, and the stator, the rotor and the component can be oriented in relation to one another based on the values measured by the sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for orienting components of a rotary machine, where said rotary machine comprises a stator and a rotor and also at least one component which is arranged on said stator, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one reference element which is arranged on said stator and a sensor which is arranged on said rotor so as to rotate with said rotor, where, in motion, a rotational velocity of the sensor relative to the stator is identical to a rotational velocity of the rotor relative to the stator and a rotational axis of the sensor is identical to a rotational axis of the rotor, where said sensor is suitable for measuring the distance from said reference element and from said component, and said stator, said rotor and said component can be oriented in relation to one another based on the values measured by said sensor, the sensor adapted to determine the orientation of the rotor relative to the stator in four degrees of freedom, comprising three translational degrees of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor can determine the distance between said sensor and said reference element and/or said component while said rotary machine is at a standstill and/or said rotor of said rotary machine is moved.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises at least one of a pneumatically operated measuring gauge, an optical sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation of said stator, said rotor and said component relative to one another can be done manually or automatically.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one orientation apparatus is provided which is suited to change a relative position of said stator to said rotor by a relative motion of said stator and said rotor in relation to one another.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of reference elements is arranged on said stator.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said rotary machine is a labeling machine or a blow molding machine or a direct printing machine or a filler or an inspection machine.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said orientation apparatus can change the relative position of said stator and said rotor in relation to one another in 6 degrees of freedom.

9. A method for orienting components of a rotary machine comprising a stator and a rotor and at least one component, wherein said method comprises:
positioning a sensor, which is arranged on said rotor so as to rotate with the rotor, on a reference element which is arranged on said stator and a component which is arranged on said stator where a rotational velocity of the sensor relative to the stator is identical to a rotational velocity of the rotor relative to the stator and a rotational axis of the sensor is identical to a rotational axis of the rotor; and
measuring a distance between said sensor and said reference element and a distance between said sensor and said component; and
orienting said stator, said rotor and said component in relation to one another based on values measured by said sensor, wherein the orientation of the rotor relative to the stator is determined in four degrees of freedom, comprising three translational degrees of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said sensor determines the distance from said reference element and/or said component while said rotor is at a standstill or while said rotor is moving.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the orientation of said stator, said rotor and said component relative to one another is done manually or automatically.

12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein a relative position of said stator to said rotor is changed by an orientation apparatus by a relative motion of said stator and said rotor in relation to one another.

13. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said sensor determines a distance from a plurality of reference elements.

14. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said sensor determines a distance from each reference element and/or each component in at least two dimensions.

15. A method according to claim 12 , wherein said orientation apparatus adjusts the relative position of said stator and said rotor in relation to one another in 6 degrees of freedom.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary machine comprises a container treatment machine.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Neubauer Michael
• Peutl August

Classifications

• B65C9/0062

  Interchangeable modules, e.g. applicator heads with label magazines and glue rollers · CPC title

• B29C49/36

  rotatable about one axis · CPC title

• B65G29/00

  Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones (mechanical projectors B65G31/00; screw or rotary spiral conveyors B65G33/00) · CPC title

• B65G47/244 Primary

  by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane · CPC title

• B41J3/4073

  Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112) · CPC title