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DE-102024133019-A1 - Bellows

DE102024133019A1DE 102024133019 A1DE102024133019 A1DE 102024133019A1DE-102024133019-A1

Abstract

Bellows (1), preferably for use in a beverage filling plant, wherein the bellows (1) comprises: a bellows body (10) comprising at least one pleated section (11) whereby the length of the bellows body (10) can be varied along an axial direction (A); and at least one separating section (30) with a separating line (T) that defines an interruption of the bellows body (10) in the circumferential direction and extends at least partially in the axial direction, wherein the separating section (30) is configured to allow the bellows (1) to be opened and closed along the separating line (T).

Inventors

  • Tobias Ehrismann

Assignees

  • KRONES AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (11)

  1. Bellows (1), preferably for use in a beverage bottling plant, wherein the bellows (1) comprises: a bellows body (10) comprising at least one pleated section (11), whereby the length of the bellows body (10) can be varied along an axial direction (A); and at least one separating section (30) with a separating line (T) that defines an interruption of the bellows body (10) in the circumferential direction and extends at least partially in the axial direction, wherein the separating section (30) is configured to allow the bellows (1) to be opened and closed along the separating line (T).
  2. bellows (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the separating section (30) comprises a plug connection, preferably with barbs, for opening and closing the bellows body (10).
  3. bellows (1) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one folded section (11) has a connecting receptacle (31) on both sides of the dividing line (T), which is preferably integrally formed with the bellows body (10), wherein the two connecting receptacles (31) each have a pocket (31a) into which a connecting piece (32) can be inserted or is inserted, whereby the two connecting receptacles (31) can be connected to each other or are connected to each other.
  4. bellows (1) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the connecting piece (32) is glued into the pockets (31a) of the connecting receptacles (31).
  5. bellows (1) after Claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the pockets (31a) are T-shaped and the connecting piece (32) has corresponding projections (32a) on opposite sides, whereby the pockets (31a) and the connecting piece (32) form a positive connection.
  6. bellows (1) according to one of the Claims 3 until 5 , characterized in that the connecting piece (32) has a wide side (321) and a narrow side (322) for insertion into a pocket (31a) and two longitudinal sides (323, 324) connecting the wide side (321) and narrow side (322), wherein the two longitudinal sides (323, 324) are preferably curved.
  7. bellows (1) after one of the Claims 3 until 6 , characterized in that the connecting piece (32) is made of a hard plastic, preferably PA12, or of a metal.
  8. bellows (1) after one of the Claims 3 until 7 , characterized in that at least one of the connection receptacles (31) is equipped with a dust lip (35) which bridges the dividing line (T) in the circumferential direction.
  9. Bellows (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows body (10) is at least partially made of a soft and flexible material, preferably TPU.
  10. Bellows (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows (1) has two connection areas (20) which are arranged on opposite end areas of the bellows body (10) when viewed in the axial direction (A).
  11. Bellows (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows body (10) has several fold sections (11) which extend in the circumferential direction, are arranged in a ring-like or spiral shape along the axial direction (A) and define depressions (11a) and elevations (11b) in the radial direction.

Description

Technical field The invention relates to a bellows, in particular for use in a beverage bottling plant. State of the art Bellows for protecting machine components, such as spindles, shafts, etc., are known. In this process, a circumferentially closed bellows is fitted onto the component to be protected during assembly, sealed on both sides, and secured, for example, by means of appropriate radial shaft seals (see [reference]). DE 10 2019 135 075 A1 , which protects the component enclosed by the bellows from external influences/media such as water, cleaning agents, etc. Bellows for protecting components in beverage bottling plants are used, for example, in the DE 295 19 333 U1 and DE 10 2012 103 522 A1 stand out. Occasionally, a bellows may need maintenance or replacement, for example, if it becomes brittle due to material fatigue or tears due to mechanical overload. In such cases, it is usually necessary to at least partially disassemble the assembly containing the bellows. For instance, in the case of a spindle for adjusting the height of a filler carousel in a beverage bottling plant, the entire filler top section must be removed to detach the defective bellows from the spindle. This involves significant labor, production downtime, and high costs. Description of the invention One object of the invention is to provide an improved bellows, particularly for use in a beverage bottling plant. The problem is solved by a bellows having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments follow from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention, and the description of preferred embodiments. The invention relates to a bellows, which is designed in particular for use in a beverage bottling plant. The bellows has a hollow cylindrical shape (in the general sense, i.e., non-circular cross-sections such as polygonal cross-sections are also included) and is configured to at least partially surround or encase a component, for example a spindle or shaft, and thus protect it from external influences and media such as water, cleaning agents, etc. The hollow cylindrical shape of the bellows defines an axial direction, a circumferential direction, and a radial direction. The bellows comprises a bellows body including at least one folded section, allowing the length of the bellows body to be varied along the axial direction. The bellows further includes a dividing section with a dividing line that defines a break in the bellows body in the circumferential direction and extends at least partially in the axial direction. The dividing section is designed to allow the bellows to be opened and closed along the dividing line. Preferably, exactly one separation section with exactly one separation line is provided. However, several separation sections with corresponding separation lines can also be implemented, for example, two diametrically opposed separation sections. The separation section allows the bellows to be removed radially after opening, meaning it doesn't need to be pulled axially off the machine component being protected. This significantly simplifies maintenance and, if necessary, replacement of the bellows, as disassembly of the components to be protected can be completely or almost entirely avoided. It is also possible to retrofit a bellows to fully assembled applications, placing it around the areas to be protected and then sealing it. The separating section includes a mechanism that allows the bellows to be opened, closed, and reclosed. One design of the separating section can be, for example, a plug-in connection, possibly with barbs. The type of closure system keeps the bellows' overall height low, thus enabling the use of relatively short block lengths. Preferably, at least one folded section has a connecting receptacle on both sides of the dividing line (viewed along the circumferential direction). Each connecting receptacle includes a pocket into which a connecting piece can be inserted or is inserted, thereby connecting the two connecting receptacles to each other. In this way, a mechanically simple and reliable mechanism for opening and closing the bellows can be implemented. The connecting elements can be integrally formed with the bellows body and, for example, create thickenings on the folded section in the area of the separation section. Alternatively, the connecting elements can be designed as separate components on the folded section, allowing an existing bellows to be retrofitted with a separation section. Preferably, the connector is glued into the pockets of the connecting receptacles. Such reinforcement with adhesive is particularly advantageous under high loads or when the bellows is subjected to significant elongation. Additionally or alternatively, the pockets can be T-shaped. In this case, the connector has corresponding projections on opposite sides, creating a positive fit between the pockets and the connector. The projections extend axially and can thus snap into the