Transfer device

• US 6,125,996 A
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sidel (Crédit Mutuel Asset Management SA)
• Original Assignee: Sidel (Crédit Mutuel Asset Management SA)
• Inventors: Cornet, Maurice, Guiffant, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bower, Kenneth W
• Application Number:
  US09/297,193
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 198/852, 198/644
• US Class Current: 198/852
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/385 adapted to follow three-dimensionally curved paths
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for transferring bodies (9) supported by plates (A_i, B_i) followed in succession in a mobile curved line; the plates are grouped in successive pairs (A_i, B_i) joined by a horizontal shaft (13) enabling their mutual rotation; the adjacent plates of two successive pairs (B_i-1, A_i ; B_i, A_i+1) are coupled and articulated about at least one vertical rotation axis (2); further the horizontal shaft (13) is preferably arranged such that there is a clearance between the plates (A_i, B_i) so that they can slope with respect to each other perpendicularly to said horizontal and vertical axes.

Claims

1. A body transfer device, this device comprising a multiplicity of plates (Ai, Bi) each supporting a body and which are coupled one after another in an endless curvilinear mobile chain with articulations suitable to allow the curvilinearity of said mobile chain and simultaneously the rotation of the plates around a horizontal axis so as to turn the bodies over or set them upright, characterized in that the plates supporting the bodies are coupled in the following way:

the plates are joined in successive pairs (Ai, Bi) and the two plates (Ai, Bi) of each pair are coupled by a horizontal shaft (13) allowing the mutual rotation of the two plates around said shaft to turn the bodies (9) over or set them upright and,

each of the two above-mentioned plates (Ai, Bi respectively) of a pair is coupled to another immediately adjacent plate belonging to a neighboring pair (Bi-1 Ai+1 respectively) in an articulated way around at least one vertical axis of rotation suitable to allow their mutual inclination around said vertical axis.

2. A device for transferring hollow bodies (9) made of thermoplastic material equipped with an opening forming a neck such as preforms, bottles, flasks or the like, this device comprising a multiplicity of plates (Ai;

Bi) supporting respective hollow bodies which are coupled one after another in an endless curvilinear mobile chain with articulations suitable to allow the curvilinearity of said mobile chain and simultaneously the rotation of the plates around a horizontal axis so as to turn the hollow bodies over (neck down) or set them upright (neck up),

characterized in that it is constituted according to claim 1.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that additionally, the above-mentioned horizontal shaft (13) coupling the two above-mentioned plates (Ai, Bi) of a pair is configured so that there remains some clearance between said two plates (Ai, Bi) of each pair and that these may tilt relative to each other vertically by mutual rotation around an imaginary axis perpendicular at the same time to the above-mentioned horizontal and vertical axes.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal shaft (13) coupling the two plates (Ai, Bi) of each pair of plates prevents the mutual inclination of these two plates (Ai, Bi) around a vertical axis.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of two plates belonging respectively to neighboring pairs is suitable to prevent their mutual rotation around a horizontal axis.

6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal coupling shaft (13) of the two plates (Ai, Bi) of a pair is rigidly fixed, by one of its ends, to a first of the plates (Ai) and is connected to the second plate (Bi), by its other end, by means of a ball bearing (22).

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the ball bearing (22) comprises, on the one hand, an internal race surrounding said other end of the coupling shaft (13) and supported against a terminal support surface formed by a widened head (23) of said shaft (13) end and, on the other hand, an external race retained in a cavity (21) provided in said second plate (Bi).

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that the configuration of the internal race (24), the external race (26) and the balls (28) allows the above-mentioned clearance between the two plates (Ai, Bi) of a same pair.

9. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a coupling component (16) interposed between each of the two above-mentioned plates (Ai Bi respectively) and the plate which is immediately adjacent to it (Bi-1;

Ai+1 respectively), said coupling component (16) being articulated with the two plates which it joins (Ai, Bi-1 Ai+1, Bi) around two respective axes of rotation.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the coupling component (16) supports additionally at least one guide part (17, 18) suitable to engage with a fixed cam controlling rotation around the above-mentioned horizontal shaft for turning the bodies over or setting them upright.

11. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the two axes of rotation of the coupling component (16) and of the two respective plates are respectively coaxial to the tubular bodies (1) supported by the plates.