Device for buffering molded parts in a beverage filling plant

• US 9,016,459 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Buchhauser, Klaus, Klepatz, Sebastian, Schnfelder, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R
• Application Number:
  US14/083,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20140138209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 198/347.1, 198/450, 198/452
• US Class Current: 198/347.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1464 using the centrifugal effect to arrange or orientate the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/261 Accumulating articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5136 using rotary conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/06 Feeding caps to capping heads

Abstract

A device for buffering molded parts in a beverage filling plant, and in one embodiment, for buffering container closures in a beverage filling plant, is described. The device has an intake and an outlet, between which a buffer surface for buffering the molded parts is disposed. The buffer surface is rotatably disposed.

Claims

1. A device for buffering molded parts in a beverage filling plant comprising:

an intake;

an outlet; and

a rotatable buffer surface disposed between the intake and the outlet for buffering the molded parts, wherein the rotatable buffer surface is connected to a transport surface for transport of the molded parts from the intake to the outlet and provides a direct connection between the intake and the outlet.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable buffer surface is horizontally oriented.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the intake and the outlet are disposed at the same elevation relative to each other.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable buffer surface comprises a rotatable buffer disk or a rotatable buffer ring.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the transport surface is annular in form and formed by a transport ring.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transport surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the rotatable buffer surface.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transport surface is rotatable independently of the rotatable buffer surface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the intake discharges onto the rotatable buffer surface.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the intake comprises at least two intakes and/or the intake is formed with a plurality of tracks.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises at least two outlets and/or the outlet is formed with a plurality of tracks.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable buffer surface comprises at least two buffer surfaces that are disposed one above the other, each of which is connected successively with the intake and the outlet.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the vertical distance between the at least two buffer surfaces is adjustable.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable buffer surface comprises at least two buffer surfaces disposed one above the other, wherein one is connected with the intake and one with the outlet, and the at least two buffer surfaces are connected with each other via connecting surfaces.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the connecting surfaces comprise slides.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a guide surface disposed above the rotatable buffer surface at a distance such that the molded parts can be guided between the buffer surface and the guide surface while remaining correctly oriented.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the distance between the rotatable buffer surface and the guide surface is adjustable to the geometry of the molded part.

17. A method for buffering molded parts in a beverage filling plant comprising:

feeding the molded parts to a buffer surface; and

rotating the buffer surface during the feeding, wherein the buffer surface is connected to a transport surface for transport of the molded parts from an intake to an outlet and provides a direct connection between the intake and the outlet.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the buffer surface is rotated at a speed such that the molded parts are forced outwards due to the centrifugal force.

19. A device for buffering molded parts in a beverage filling plant comprising:

an intake;

an outlet; and

a rotatable buffer surface disposed between the intake and the outlet for buffering the molded parts, wherein the rotatable buffer surface is connected to a transport surface for transport of the molded parts from the intake to the outlet, wherein the transport surface is rotatable about an axis of rotation independently of the rotatable buffer surface.