Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
  • B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
  • B65G47/846—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
  • B65G47/847—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements the article-engaging elements being grippers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C49/4205—Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means
  • B29C49/42073—Grippers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C49/4205—Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means
  • B29C49/42093—Transporting apparatus, e.g. slides, wheels or conveyors
  • B29C49/42101—Conveyors, e.g. flat conveyor or clamping between two bands
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/28—Blow-moulding apparatus
  • B29C49/30—Blow-moulding apparatus having movable moulds or mould parts
  • B29C49/36—Blow-moulding apparatus having movable moulds or mould parts rotatable about one axis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C49/4205—Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means
  • B29C49/42093—Transporting apparatus, e.g. slides, wheels or conveyors
  • B29C49/42105—Transporting apparatus, e.g. slides, wheels or conveyors for discontinuous or batch transport
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C49/4205—Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means
  • B29C49/42113—Means for manipulating the objects' position or orientation
  • B29C49/42117—Translation e.g. telescopic movement to pick up a preform
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2067/00—Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material

Definitions

• Conveying device for discrete entities comprising an improved transfer arm and container blowing installation provided with such a device
• It relates more particularly to a device for conveying discrete entities comprising a support which is rotated continuously around an axis and which carries a transfer arm
• the envisaged transfer arm is of the telescopic type and it has an internal radial part fixed to the support and an external radial part which can slide relative to the internal radial part along an elongation axis contained in a plane. substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support
• the elongation of the arm is controlled by a cam system as a function of the angular position of the arm around the axis of rotation of the support.
• the arm comprises a gripping head which is capable of supporting at least one entity and which is rotatably mounted on the external radial part of the arm around an axis of orientation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the support L orientation of the gripping head is controlled by a cam system
• corwoyage devices of this type in container blowing machines in which the container is obtained by blowing by introducing into a blowing mold a preform previously produced by injection molding These machines are for example used for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• the preform has the form of a tube which is closed at one end and the other end of which already has the final shape of the neck of the container.
• the preform is therefore brought inside the mold after having been brought to an appropriate temperature in a thermal conditioning oven. Once blown, each container is evacuated from the mold to be directed towards the outlet of the macmne.
• Many container blowing machines are of the rotary type. They then comprise a carousel which rotates continuously around its axis and which carries, at its periphery, a series of identical molds. Conveying devices with transfer arms, also known as transfer stars, therefore make it possible on the one hand to introduce the preforms into the molds and on the other hand to withdraw the containers once formed, this without having to stop the carousel.
• transfer stars also known as transfer stars
• Such transfer arms are also used to bring into the blow mold a body which is intended to be at least partially molded by the material of the container. This is particularly the case for the handles attached to the PET containers.
• the orientation of the gripping head of the transfer arms is particularly important: the case of "bi-cavity" machines in which each blow mold has two cavities to produce two containers simultaneously. The arms . transfer must then simultaneously bring two preforms into the blow mold, each preform being received in one of the cavities. Once the two containers have been formed, they must be collected simultaneously by a transfer arm, the gripping head of which comprises two pairs of gripping pliers.
• transfer arms comprising orientable gripping heads of the type described above.
• This type of transfer arm is found on the "dual imprint" machines produced hitherto by the applicant.
• the elongation of the arm and the orientation of the gripping head are obtained by two cam systems which are independent of each other.
• the external radial part of the arm comprises a cam follower which cooperates with a cam path for controlling, on its own, arm elongation
• the gripping head which is articulated at the end of the external radial part also carries a cam follower which cooperates with another cam path for controlling, alone, the orientation of the head with respect to the elongation axis of the arm
• This device although satisfactory, has certain limits, however, as to the amplitude of the movements which it is possible to obtain
• it requires the provision of means specific to keep each of the two cam followers on the corresponding cam path
• the invention therefore aims to propose a new design for these transfer bases allowing these limitations to be overcome
• the invention provides a device of the type described above, characterized in that the elongation of the arm and the orientation of the gripping head are controlled by a single rocker which is articulated on the external radiated part of the arm and which carries two cam followers each of which cooperates with an independent cam path According to other characteristics of the invention
• the rocker and the gripping head are separate from each other, the rocker controlling the orientation of the head via a transmission device
• the rocker and the gripping head are articulated on the external radial part of the arm around two distinct axes
• the cam tracks which combine the elongation of the arm and the orientation of the head are each arranged in a closed loop around the axis of rotation of the support. Elastic return means are provided which tend to bring the part back.
• external radial of the arm towards a position of me elongation so that the two cam followers, which are arranged on the rocker on either side of a parallel to the axis of elongation passing through the hinge axis of the rocker on the external ra ⁇ ial part of the arm are plates radially inwards against the corresponding cam path, - the means of rap D el elasti ⁇ ue are interposed between the internal radial parts and extern eaub ras -
• the device comprises at least two superimposed fixed plates which each extend in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support, the outer edge of each of the two plates forming one of the two cam paths which control the elongation of the arm and orientation of the head;
• the internal radial part of the arm is mounted on the support so as to be able to pivot relative to the latter about a pivot axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the support, and the pivoting of the arm relative to the support is controlled according to the angular position of the support around its axis,
• the gripping head can simultaneously support two entities; and - the support comprises several identical transfer arms with adjustable head.
• the invention also relates to an installation for blowing containers of thermoplastic material from preforms previously produced by injection molding, characterized in that it comprises at least one conveying device incorporating any of the preceding characteristics.
• FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views from above of two positions of the transfer arm illustrated in Figure 1, and on which we can observe the control of the elongation of the arm and the orientation of the head gripping.
• FIG. 1 a transfer arm 1 0 of a transfer star 1 2 of the type that can be found in machines for manufacturing P and P containers by blowing a preform, the preform being previously obtained by injection molding and then being reheated beyond the glass transition temperature of the PET before being introduced into a blow mold
• the transfer star 1 2 can be used for conveying preforms, for conveying containers, or for conveying handles intended to be attached to these containers. It comprises first of all a support 1 4 which is I CI produced in the form of a plate and which is driven in rotation continuously around an axis AO which, for convenience, will be described as vertical. This support 1 4 therefore carries one or more transfer arms 1 0.
• Each transfer arm 1 0 extends substantially in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis A0, and comprises an internal radial part 1 6 and an external radial part 1 8 which are integral with each other but which can slide relative to each other along an elongation axis A1 of the arm
• the internal radial part 1 6 of the arm 1 0 is fixed to the periphery of the support 1 4 in the form of a plate so as to be able to pivot about an axis A2 which is parallel to the axis A0 but not coincident with the latter.
• the outer radial part 1 6 carries, at the end of a lever 20, a roller 22 which is intended to move inside a groove 24 formed in a fixed control plate 26 substantially horizontal.
• the groove 24 extends in a closed loop around the axis A0, the radial distance of the trajectory of the groove 24 relative to the axis A0 varying with the angular position around this axis
• the roller 22 is received in the groove 24 so as to bear radially inwardly or outwardly against one of the two lateral faces of the . groove 24 for controlling the pivoting of the arm 1 0 in both directions around the axis A1.
• the free end of the outer radial part 1 8 of the arm 1 0 carries a gripping head 28 which can be oriented around an axis A3 relative to the two parts 1 6, 1 8 of the arm 1 0.
• L axis A3 of orientation of the head is for example parallel to the axis A2 of pivoting of the arm 1 0.
• the head 28 in this case has two grippers 30 to be able simultaneously enter two preforms 32 (or, at the outlet of the blowing mold, two containers).
• the elongation of the arm 1 0 and the orientation of the head 28 relative to the axis of elongation of the arm 1 0 are controlled by a single rocker 34 which is articulated on the external radial part 1 8 of arm 1 0 and which carries two cam followers 36, 38 each of which cooperates with a medium-dependent cam track 40, 42.
• the rocker 34 is produced in the form of a piece independent of the head 28.
• these independent pieces could be articulated around the same axis, it was chosen in the illustrated example of articulating the rocker 34 on the external radial part 1 8 of the arm 1 0 about an axis A4 which is parallel to the axis A3 but which is distinct from the latter.
• cam followers 36, 38 are carried directly by the gripping head 28, the rocker 34 and the gripping head 28 then being combined.
• the cam followers 36, 38 are produced in the form of rollers mounted for rotation about their vertical axis at the two ends of the rocker.
• the rocker is articulated on the arm 1 0 substantially in its center so that the two rollers 36, 38 are arranged on either side of the elongation axis of the arm 1 0.
• the two rollers 36, 38 are offset one_ relative to the other according to the direction of the axis A3.
• the two cam paths 40, 42 with which they are intended to cooperate are formed by the peripheral edge of two fixed plates 26, 27 which each extend one above the other in horizontal planes perpendicular to the axis A0.
• one 26 of the two plates is the same q ue celu i in which is formed the groove 24 for controlling the pivoting of the arm 1 0.
• the paths of cam therefore form a closed circuit around the axis A0, the distance from the axis varying as a function of the angular position around the axis A0.
• elastic return means 44 ten ⁇ ent to bring the arm 1 0 to a position of lesser elongation, that is to say re to bring the outer radial part 1 8 of the arm 1 0 radially inward towards the axis A2.
• These elastic return means 44 are for example made in the form of one or more tension springs, the two ends of which are hooked respectively on the internal radial 1 6 and external 1 8 parts of the arm 1 0.
• the elastic return means 44 each press the two cam followers 36, 38 on the corresponding cam path 40, 42.
• the rocker 34 begins by orienting itself around the axis A4 as a function of the respective radial distance of the two contact points of the cam tracks 40, 42 with respect to the axis A0
• the rocker 34 is locked radially inwards so that ue the elongation of the arm 1 0 is fixed.
• the rocker 34 being a separate part from the gripping head 28, the two parts must be connected by a transmission mechanism so that the orientation of the rocker around the axis A4 controls the orientation of head 1 8 around axis A3.
• the arm 1 0 is generally animated with a movement which is the composition of two rotations around the axes A0 and A2, and, as a function of this compound movement, the rocker is caused to move along the cam tracks 40, 42 to control the elongation of the arm 10 and the orientation of the head 28.
• the conveying device according to the invention is simple and reliable, and it makes it possible to have a large amplitude for the orientation movement of the gripping head 28. This movement can also be carried out with relatively high speeds by obtaining a large variation in the orientation of the head 28 for a small overall movement of the arm 1 0.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9553148

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (59)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1999
  • 1999-12-13 FR FR9915645A patent/FR2802191B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2000
  • 2000-11-24 CA CA002395237A patent/CA2395237A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-24 US US10/149,010 patent/US6779651B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-24 WO PCT/FR2000/003298 patent/WO2001044084A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2000-11-24 EP EP00985328A patent/EP1409378A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-11-24 BR BR0016314-7A patent/BR0016314A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-24 AU AU21784/01A patent/AU2178401A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-24 KR KR10-2002-7007141A patent/KR100496050B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-11-24 JP JP2001545181A patent/JP3754370B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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