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EP-4739602-A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR BLOCKING AND FREEING A TRANSPORT PATH FOR CONTAINERS OR CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS

EP4739602A1EP 4739602 A1EP4739602 A1EP 4739602A1EP-4739602-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for blocking and freeing a transport path (24) for containers (12) made of thermoplastic material, in particular preforms, or for closure means (12a) for containers, said device comprising a first guide element (20) for supporting a first holding-collar portion (16) of containers or for guiding a first side portion (16a) of a closure means (12a), and a second guide element (22) for supporting a second holding-collar portion (18) of the containers (12) or for guiding a second side portion (18a) of a closure means (12a), wherein the transport path (24) extends between the guide elements (20, 22), and at least one blocking element (26) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a) moved along the transport path (24), wherein the blocking element (26) is mounted at least pivotably about an axis of rotation (28) and is pivotable between a first functional position, in which the blocking element (26) frees the transport path (24) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a), and a second functional position, in which the blocking element (26) blocks the transport path (24) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a).

Inventors

  • HELLER, ALEXANDER
  • LEWIN, FRANK
  • BAUMGARTE, ROLF
  • KLATT, DIETER
  • POLZIN, CHRISTIAN
  • KRIEG, ANDREAS

Assignees

  • KHS GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240619

Claims (13)

  1. 1. Device (10) for blocking and releasing a transport path (24) for containers (12) made of thermoplastic material, in particular preforms, or closure means (12a) for containers, in particular caps or lids, comprising a first guide element (20) for supporting a first retaining collar section (16) of containers (12) or for guiding a first side section (16a) of closure means (12a) and a second guide element (22) for supporting a second retaining collar section (18) of the containers (12) or for guiding a second side section (18a) of the closure means (12a), wherein the transport path (24) extends between the guide elements (20, 22), and at least one blocking element (26) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a) moved along the transport path (24), characterized in that the blocking element (26) is mounted at least pivotably about an axis of rotation (28) and between a first functional position in which the blocking element (26) releases the transport path (24) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a), and a second functional position in which the blocking element (26) blocks the transport path (24) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a).
  2. 2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (26) is mounted on one of the guide elements (20, 22).
  3. 3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element (26) is arranged flush with the first guide element (20) or the second guide element (22) and preferably forms a guide section (30) for supporting a retaining collar section (16, 18) of containers (12) or for guiding a side section (16a, 18a) of closure means (12a).
  4. 4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (26) in the second functional position is designed for contact with a container (12) above or below one of the retaining collar sections (16, 18) of the container (12).
  5. 5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (26) is rotationally connected to a lever arm (32) for connection to a drive device (34), wherein the axis of rotation (28) is arranged between the locking element (26) and the lever arm (32).
  6. 6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (26) is rotationally connected to at least one driver element (36) for the containers (12) or closure means (12a) transported along the transport path (24), wherein the driver element (36) is designed to take along the at least one container (12) or closure means (12a) or at least one container (12) or closure means (12a) following the container (12) or closure means (12a) when the locking element (26) changes from the second functional position to the first functional position.
  7. 7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) further comprises a drive device (34) for the locking element (26), wherein the drive device (34) is preferably designed as a linear drive (38) or as a rotary drive (40).
  8. 8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (26) has a direction of rotation (42) when changing from the first functional position to the second functional position, which corresponds to a direction of rotation (42) when changing from the second functional position to the first functional position.
  9. 9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (26) has a shock-absorbing material which, in the second functional position, is arranged on a contact region (27) of the blocking element (26) with a container (12) or closure means (12a).
  10. 10. Feed system (50) for containers (12) or closure means (12a) for containers for a system (60) for producing and/or treating containers or closure means (12a) for containers, comprising at least one device (10) according to one of the preceding claims and a transfer section (52) for transferring containers (12) or closure means (12a) to a system (62, 64) of the system (60), wherein the device (10) is arranged upstream of the transfer section (52) in the transport direction (11) of the containers (12) or closure means (12a).
  11. 11. Plant (60) for producing and/or treating containers or closure means (12a) for containers, comprising a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and/or a feed system (50) according to claim 10 and at least one system (62, 64) for producing and/or treating containers or closure means, wherein the device (10) is arranged upstream of the at least one system (62, 64) in the transport direction of the containers (12) or closure means (12a).
  12. 12. Method for blocking and releasing a transport path (24) for containers made of thermoplastic material, in particular preforms, or closure means (12a) for containers by means of a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and/or a feed system (50) according to claim 10, comprising at least the steps: Transporting (102) containers (12) or closure means (12a) along the transport path (24), wherein a first retaining collar portion of the containers (12) rests on the first guide element (20) and a second retaining collar portion of the containers (12) rests on the second guide element (22) or wherein a first side portion (16a) of the closure means (12a) is attached to the first guide element (20) and a second side portion (18a) of the closure means (12a) rests on the second guide element (22); Pivoting (104) the blocking element (26) from the first functional position into the second functional position to block the transport path; and - pivoting (106) the blocking element (26) from the second functional position into the first functional position to release the transport path.
  13. 13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the blocking element (26) is designed according to claim 6 and the method (100) further comprises at least the following step: Carrying along (108) at least the container (12) or closure means (12a) in contact with the blocking element (26) or at least one container (12) or closure means (12a) following the container (12) or closure means (12a) when changing from the second functional position to the first functional position, wherein a pivoting movement of the blocking element (26) is accelerated at least temporarily.

Description

Device and method for blocking and releasing a transport path for containers or closure means for containers The invention relates to a device and a method for blocking and releasing a transport path for containers made of thermoplastic material, in particular preforms, or closure means for containers. Plastic containers can be made using blow molding or hydraulic molding. Rotary machines are used to produce large quantities. A transfer device takes a large number of plastic preforms from a feed device one after the other. The preforms are containers that can be formed. The transfer device transfers the plastic preforms to a heating device for heating the preforms. After heating, the preforms are transferred to a transport wheel, which transfers the preforms to a large number of forming units on a forming device. The preforms are separated using a loading star, to which the preforms are provided by the feed device. A locking finger can stop and release the transport of the preforms between the feed device and the loading star. The transport of the preforms is stopped, for example, when the loading star or the device for producing containers is to be emptied of the preforms and manufactured containers. The locking finger is moved linearly between the preforms. This can lead to a machine failure in the event of a collision with a preform. The same applies to closure devices for containers. From DE 10 2020 130 535 A1, a locking star is known that can be driven by a stepper motor. The locking star is used for the mechanically controlled release and blocking of the feed of the preforms into the heating module. As long as the locking star is rotated, the preforms are fed. As soon as the locking star stops, the feed of the preforms is stopped. Furthermore, FR 2487308 A1 discloses a device for separating bottles on a conveyor belt, in which two levers can be pivoted into a locking position in order to position a first bottle separately from a subsequent bottle in a stationary manner for treating the first bottle. For this purpose, the levers are arranged one behind the other along the transport direction. The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method which have improved energy efficiency and cost efficiency as well as increased flexibility in handling. The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description. In a device for blocking and releasing a transport path for containers made of thermoplastic material, in particular preforms, or closure means for containers, in particular caps or lids, etc., comprising a first guide element for supporting a first retaining collar section of containers or for guiding a first side section of closure means and a second guide element for supporting a second retaining collar section of the containers or for guiding a second side section of a closure means, wherein the transport path extends between the guide elements, as well as at least one blocking element for the containers or closure means moved along the transport path, it is provided according to the invention that the blocking element is mounted at least pivotably about an axis of rotation and is pivotable between a first functional position in which the blocking element releases the transport path for the containers or closure means, and a second functional position in which the blocking element blocks the transport path for the containers or closure means. The invention provides a device in which containers, in particular preforms, which are supported on their retaining collar by the first guide element and the second guide element or closure means which are arranged between the Guide elements can be guided laterally, in particular at high transport speeds, and can be stopped gently and safely. The containers or closure means are transported along a transport path that is arranged between the guide elements and can be defined by the guide elements. Furthermore, the containers can be suspended from the retaining collar between the guide elements. The guide elements can be inclined in the transport direction in such a way that the containers can already slide along the guide elements in the transport direction by gravity. The closure means can be mounted on an inclined rail in a similar way so that they slide along the rail guided by gravity between the guide elements. In this way, a chain of containers or closure means can move along the transport path. The blocking element is arranged on the transport path in such a way that it releases the transport path in a first functional position and can block the transport path in the second functional position. If the transport path is blocked, the containers or closure means cannot overcome the position of the blocking element on the transport path. The blocking element is pivoted or rotated about an axis of rotation between the first functional po