Device for transferring hollow glass objects from a glass-forming machine onto a conveyor belt

Abstract

A for horizontally transferring at least one hollow glass object from a dead plate of each section of an I.S. (Individual Section) glass-forming machine to a conveyor belt which is common to all sections is characterised by a transfer device (30) which is connected via a carrying bar (42) to a guide piece (35) which can be displaced along two guide rods (36) which are disposed in a housing (13) in parallel with each other at a mutually spaced disposition and extending in a horizontal manner. A freely rotatable roller (32) which is disposed on one end of a crank (28) engages in a groove (34) of the guide piece which extends in a perpendicular manner with respect to the two guide rods (36), wherein the crank (28) can rotate about an axis (8) which extends in parallel with the axis of the roller (32). The housing (13) is mounted for this purpose via a hollow shaft (9) which extends coaxially with respect to the axis (8) and inside which hollow shaft is mounted in turn a shaft (11) which drives the crank (28) and is operatively connected to a drive unit (22). The drive unit 22) thus serves to displace the transfer device (30) via the crank (28) and the guide piece (35) in the longitudinal direction of the carrying bar (42), whereas a further drive unit (14) which is drive-connected to the hollow shaft (9) is intended to rotate the transfer device (30) about the axis (8). The device requires an extraordinarily small volume of installation space and is characterised by a structurally simple construction.

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of Claim 1.

In the case of a known device of this type (CZ 288 848 B6) a first drive unit enables the transfer device to pivot in a reciprocating manner. Furthermore a second drive unit is provided, the driven shaft of which rotates constantly in the same direction and by means of a pair of cranks in the shape of a parallelogram enables the transfer device to move radially in a reciprocating manner into and out of contact with the hollow glass objects. This device is costly to construct. The device for moving the transfer device horizontally in a linear reciprocating manner requires a large volume of space and has an unfavourably large mass which is to be periodically accelerated and decelerated.

The object of the invention is to simplify the device enabling the horizontal movement in a linear reciprocating manner of the transfer device and to make operation thereof safer.

This object is achieved by virtue of the features of Claim 1. The device which enables the transfer device to move horizontally in a linear reciprocating manner requires a small volume of space, is stable and can be actuated in a sensitive manner by virtue of the associated second drive unit.

The features of Claim 1 are structurally particularly simple.

In accordance with Claim 3 the guide piece is guided in an extremely precise manner during its linear movement.

In accordance with Claim 4 it is also possible if required to install two mutually parallel carrying bars.

The features of the claim ensure that the at least one carrying bar is guided in a precise manner during its linear movement.

The electro-servo motors in accordance with Claim 6 render it possible for the transfer device to pivot and to move in a linear direction in an extremely precise and reproducible manner.

The toothed belt gear mechanisms in accordance with Claim 7 are other tried-and-tested structural components and render it possible for the turning moment to be transmitted in a slip-free manner.

The feature in Claim 8 enables the toothed belt to be tensioned in a convenient manner.

These and further features and advantages of the invention are further described hereinunder with reference to the exemplified embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a device,

FIG. 2 is essentially the partially sectioned view along the line II-II in FIG. 1 and

FIG. 3 is essentially the cross-sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device 1 for transferring hollow glass objects 2 (FIG. 2) from a dead plate (not illustrated) of a section of an I.S. (individual section) glass-forming machine on to a conveyor belt which is common for all sections. Such devices are known per se and therefore a detailed description of their structural details is not required here.

The device 1 comprises in accordance with FIG. 1 a plate-shaped component 3 which is fixedly mounted on the machine. Above the component 3 is disposed a cover plate 4 which is screwed to the component 3. A bearing bush 5 is inserted into a central bore of the component 3 and screwed to the component 3 by means of screws (not illustrated). Two roller bearings 6 are inserted into the bearing bush 5 and secured at the top by means of a cover ring 7. The cover ring 7 is fixed to the bearing bush 5 by means of screws (not illustrated).

A hollow shaft 9 which can pivot about a vertical first longitudinal axis 8 is mounted in the two roller bearings 6. In the hollow shaft 9 there is mounted by way of two roller bearings 10 a shaft 11 which can rotate about the first longitudinal axis 8.

A housing 13 which is disposed above the cover plate 4 is attached at the top to the hollow shaft 9 by means of screws 12.

A first drive unit 14 is attached by means of screws 15 at the bottom to a first holding device 16. The first holding device 16 is drawn by means of screws 17 against a lower side of the component 3. Each screw 17 penetrates an elongated hole 18 of the component 3 which extends in the direction of the first longitudinal axis 8. A driven shaft 19 of the first drive unit 14 is connected to the hollow shaft 9 by a first gear mechanism 20 which is in the form of a toothed belt gear mechanism.

The shaft 11 can be rotatably driven by a second drive unit 22 via a second gear mechanism 21 which is in the form of a toothed belt gear mechanism. The second drive unit 22 is attached by means of screws 23 at the bottom to a second holding device 24. The second holding device 24 is in turn fixed by means of screws 25 and associated elongated holes 26 in the component 3 in such a manner as to be adjustable relative to the first longitudinal axis 8.

If in the case of each of the drive units 14 or 22 the tension in the toothed belt of the associated gear mechanism 20 or 21 is to be adjusted, the associated screws 17 or 25 are slackened and the associated holding device 16 or 24 displaced radially outwards with respect to the first longitudinal axis 8, until the desired belt tension is achieved. The screws 17 or 25 are then retightened.

A crank 28 of a device 29 is screwed to an upper end of the shaft 11 by means of screws 27. The device 29 is disposed substantially inside the housing 13 and serves to enable a transfer device 30 to move horizontally in a linear reciprocating manner in the directions of a double arrow 31. At a free end of the crank 28 is mounted a freely rotatable roller 32 with a perpendicular second longitudinal axis 33. The roller 32 engages with a slide-fit into a groove 34, which extends transversely to the directions 31 of the reciprocating movement of the transfer device 30, in a guide piece 35 of the device 29. The guide piece 35 can be displaced in the directions 31 of the reciprocating movement of the transfer device 30 on two guide rods 36 which are disposed at a mutually spaced disposition and in a mutually parallel manner. The guide rods 36 are fixed by means of screws 37 to the housing 13 (cf. also FIG. 2).

FIGS. 1 and 2 both clearly show that the transfer device 30 comprises a base component 38 and for each hollow glass object 2 which is to be transferred a pushing finger 39 which extends in a transverse manner from the base component 38. The base component 38 is connected via a tongue and groove connection 40 in a positive-locking manner to a connection plate 41 of a carrying bar 42. This connection is secured by means of screws 43. Each pushing finger 39 is attached by means of screws 44 in a releasable manner to the base component 38.

The carrying bar has a circular periphery and slides in the directions 31 in a bearing bush 45 which is inserted into a bore in a side wall 46 of the housing 13 and is held there by means of screws 47.

At its left end in FIGS. 1 and 2 the carrying bar 42 is provided with two diametrically opposite surfaces 48. The carrying bar 42 engages with its end and the surfaces 48 into a recess 49 formed in a complementary manner in the guide piece 35. Consequently, the carrying bar 42 is prevented in a positive-locking manner from rotating about its longitudinal axis 50 relative to the guide piece 35. The left end of the carrying bar 42 is also provided with a centring spigot 51 which has a smaller diameter than the carrying bar 42. The centring spigot 51 engages in a complementary centring bore of the guide piece 35 and supports perfect positioning of the carrying bar 42 relative to the guide piece 35. The carrying bar 42 is drawn by means of a central screw 52 axially into its seat in the guide piece 35.

A dot-dash line in FIG. 1 illustrates an upper edge 54 of the conveyor belt.

FIG. 3 illustrates further details of the device 1 in the cross-section.

The function of device 1 is as follows:

In a starting position the hollow glass objects 2 which have just been produced in the associated section of the I.S. glass-forming machine are positioned on the dead plate (not illustrated in FIG. 2). The transfer device 30 is not in contact with the hollow glass objects 2 and is shown further left than in FIG. 2. The transfer cycle commences when the transfer device 30 is pushed out of its starting position into a working position in which the pushing fingers 39 are disposed in each case behind one of the hollow glass objects 2. The device 1 is then pivoted about the first longitudinal axis 8. In so doing the free ends 53 of the pushing fingers 39 quickly come into contact with the hollow glass objects 2. Following this, the hollow glass objects 2 are transferred by means of the pushing fingers 39 normally at least along a quarter circle from the dead plate to the conveyor belt (not illustrated in FIG. 2). Subsequently, the transfer device 30 is drawn back into its previously mentioned starting position, wherein the pushing fingers 39 are removed from the hollow glass objects 2. The device 1 is finally pivoted back around the first longitudinal axis 8 into its starting position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Claims

1. Device (1) for transferring at least one hollow glass object (2) from a dead plate of each section of a I.S. (Individual Section) glass-forming machine on to a conveyor belt which is common to all sections, having a transfer device (30) which comprises a base component (38) and for each hollow glass object (2) which is to be transferred at least one pushing finger (39) which extends in a transverse manner from the base component (38), having a first drive unit (14) which is disposed fixed to the machine and by means of which a hollow shaft (9) fixedly mounted to the machine in such a manner as to be able to rotate can be rotatably driven in a reciprocating manner with its perpendicular first longitudinal axis (8) by way of a first gear mechanism, wherein a housing (13) is connected to the hollow shaft (9), wherein the housing (13) comprises a device (29) for moving the transfer device (30) horizontally in a linear reciprocating manner, and wherein a shaft (11) driving the device (29) is rotatably mounted concentrically with the first longitudinal axis (8) inside the hollow shaft (9) and penetrates the hollow shaft (9) and the shaft (11) can be rotatably driven via a second gear mechanism (21) by means of a second drive unit (22) which is disposed fixed to the machine, characterised in that a crank (28) of the device (29) is connected to the shaft (11), which crank extends into the housing (13), that a roller (32) is mounted in a freely rotatable manner with a perpendicular second longitudinal axis (33) on a free end of the crank (28), that the roller (32) engages with a slide-fit into a groove (34) which is provided in a guide piece (35) of the device (29) and which extends in a transverse manner with respect to the directions (31) of the reciprocating movement of the transfer device (30), that the guide piece (35) can be displaced on at least guide rod (36), which is fixedly mounted on the housing (13), in the directions (31) of the reciprocating movement of the transfer device (3), and that at least one carrying bar (42) which carries the transfer device (30) is attached to the guide piece (35).

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the groove (34) is formed in a straight line.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that two guide rods (36) are provided in a mutually spaced disposition and in parallel with each other.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that two carrying bars are provided in a mutually spaced disposition and in parallel with each other.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each carrying bar (42) is displaceably mounted (45) in a wall (46) of the housing (13).

6. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each drive unit (14;22) comprises an electro-servo motor.

7. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each gear mechanism (20;21) is in the form of a toothed belt gear mechanism.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that in order to adjust the tension of a toothed belt of each toothed belt gear mechanism (20;21) a holding device (16;24) of each drive unit (14;22) is attached to a component (3), which is fixed to the machine, in such a manner as to be adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the toothed belt.

9. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that two guide rods are provided in a mutually spaced disposition and in parallel with each other.

10. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that two carrying bars are provided in a mutually spaced disposition and in parallel with each other.

11. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that two carrying bars are provided in a mutually spaced disposition and in parallel with each other.

12. Device as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that each carrying bar (42) is displaceably mounted (45) in a wall (46) of the housing (13).

13. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each carrying bar (42) is displaceably mounted (45) in a wall (46) of the housing (13).

14. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each carrying bar (42) is displaceably mounted (45) in a wall (46) of the housing (13).

15. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each drive unit (14;22) comprises an electro-servo motor.

16. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each drive unit (14;22) comprises an electro-servo motor.

17. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each drive unit (14;22) comprises an electro-servo motor.

18. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that each drive unit (14;22) comprises an electro-servo motor.

19. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each gear mechanism (20;21) is in the form of a toothed belt gear mechanism.

20. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each gear mechanism (20;21) is in the form of a toothed belt gear mechanism.