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WO-2026096194-A1 - STAR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS

WO2026096194A1WO 2026096194 A1WO2026096194 A1WO 2026096194A1WO-2026096194-A1

Abstract

A self-contained drive system for feeding containers to a processing station and for removing containers from the processing station. The drive system includes a housing constructed structurally separate from and positioned relative to the processing station and a drive train insertable as a unit into the housing. The drive train includes a rotatable drive head for feeding containers to and from the processing station, a servo motor linked to the drive head for rotating the drive head and a mounting member for detachably mounting the drive train to the housing as single unit.

Inventors

  • MROZ, Cezary J.
  • WILLS, Wyatt W.
  • MASON, KRISTEN ROSE

Assignees

  • JBT MAREL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251014
Priority Date
20241030

Claims (19)

  1. 1. A self-contained drive system for feeding containers to a processing station and for removing containers from a processing station, the drive system comprising: a housing constructed structurally separate from and positioned relative to the processing station; and a drive train insertable as a unit into the housing, the drive train comprising a rotatable drive head for feeding containers to the processing station and for removing containers from a processing station, a servo motor linked to the drive head for rotating the drive head, a mounting member for detachably mounting the drive train to the housing as unit.
  2. 2. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the housing is elongated in the upright direction to receive the drive train therein.
  3. 3. The drive system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing comprising an upper opening for receiving the drive train into the housing.
  4. 4. The drive system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the servo motor is rigidly attached to the mounting member with a mounting structure extending from the mounting member to the servo motor.
  5. 5. The drive system of claim 4, further comprising a drive shaft extending between the drive head and the servo motor.
  6. 6. The drive system of claim 5, further comprising a gear assembly interposed between the drive shaft and the servo motor.
  7. 7. The drive system of claim 6, wherein the gear assembly is attached to the drive shaft with a coupling that accommodates misalignment between the gear assembly and the drive shaft.
  8. 8. The drive system of any of claims 5-7, wherein the drive train includes a bearing assembly positioned between the driveshaft and the mounting structure.
  9. 9. The drive system of claim 8, wherein the bearing assembly comprises two spaced apart bearings.
  10. 10. The drive system of claim 9, wherein the bearings comprise radial thrust bearings.
  11. 11. The drive system of any one of claims 2-10, wherein the housing is generally in the form of an upright cylinder.
  12. 12. The drive system of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the drive head is adapted to receive at least one indexing wheel shaped to feed containers to the processing station and remove containers from the processing station.
  13. 13. The drive system of claim 12, wherein the indexing wheel includes pockets for receiving the containers to be fed to the processing station and from receiving containers for removal from the processing station.
  14. 14. The drive system of any one of claims 1-13, further comprising a control system for controlling the operation of the servo motor to rotate the drive head in a desired direction and at a desired speed.
  15. 15. A drive train constructed as a singular unit for powering a work piece transfer system, the drive train comprising: a rotatable drive head; a servo motor; a drive shaft linking the drive head to the servo motor; a mounting member for mounting the drive train to an operating location of the drive train; and a rigid mounting structure for mounting the servo motor to the mounting member.
  16. 16. The drive train of claim 15, further comprising a gear assembly interposed between the drive shaft and the servo motor.
  17. 17. The drive train of claim 15 or 16, further comprising at least one bearing assembly interposed between the drive shaft and the mounting structure.
  18. 18. The drive train of any one of claims 15-17, wherein the drive head is configured to be connected to at least one star wheel configured for receiving and transferring work pieces.
  19. 19. The drive train of any one of claims 15-18, adapted for connection to a control system for controlling the operation of the servo motor to rotate the drive head in a desired direction and at a desired speed.

Description

STAR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/713740, filed October 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Containers are commonly fed to a processing station or apparatus one at a time for filling the container, for degassing the container, for sealing the container or for other purposes. The processing station may have a carrousel on to which the container is received for processing. Correspondingly, the filled, degassed, or sealed containers are removed from the processing station carrousel for subsequent operations. The feeding of the containers to the processing station and removal of the containers from the processing station is commonly carried out with a star wheel drive system located adjacent the processing station. Such star wheel drive systems commonly include an indexing wheel having pockets shaped and sized to receive the container and move the containers onto the processing station carrousel and remove the containers from the processing station carrousel. [0003] Star wheel drive systems require maintenance and also may need to be repaired if a failure of the drive system occurs. Disassembly of the star wheel drive system is typically a time consuming task, wherein the drive system is removed or disassembled component by component. Reassembly of the star wheel drive system is likewise a timeconsuming, component-by-component operation. The present disclosure seeks to address this limitation of current star wheel drive systems as well as drive systems in general. SUMMARY [0004] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0005] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a self- contained drive system is provided for feeding containers to a processing station and for removing containers from a processing station. The drive system includes a housing that is constructed structurally separate from and positioned relative to the processing station, a drive train insertable as a unit into the housing, the drive train comprising a rotatable drive head for feeding containers to the processing station and for removing containers from a processing station, a servo motor linked to the drive head for rotating the drive head, and a mounting member for detachably mounting the drive train to the housing as unit. [0006] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the housing is elongated in the upright direction to receive the drive train therein. [0007] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the housing comprising an upper opening for receiving the drive train into the housing. [0008] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the servo motor is rigidly attached to the mounting member with a mounting structure extending from the mounting member to the servo motor.. [0009] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a drive shaft extending between the drive head and the servo motor. [0010] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a gear assembly interposed between the drive shaft and the servo motor. [0011] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the gear assembly is attached to the drive shaft with a coupling that accommodates misalignment between the gear assembly and the drive shaft. [0012] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the drive train includes a bearing assembly positioned between the driveshaft and the mounting structure. [0013] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the bearing assembly comprises two spaced apart bearings. [0014] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the bearings comprise radial thrust bearings. [0015] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the housing is generally in the form of an upright cylinder. [0016] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the drive head is adapted to receive at least one indexing wheel shaped to feed containers to the processing station and remove containers from the processing station. [0017] In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the indexing wheel includes pockets for receiving the containers to be fed to the processing station and from receiving containers for removal from the processing station. [0018] In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a control system for controlling the operation of the servo motor to rotate the drive head in a desired direction and at a desired speed. [0019] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a drive train constructed as a singular unit is provided for powering a wo