Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Control for variable input to output speed-ratio – Including coaxial pulleys shiftable axially to align...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2001-11-20
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Control for variable input to output speed-ratio
Including coaxial pulleys shiftable axially to align...
C474S078000, C474S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319163
ABSTRACT:
This application claims Paris Convention Priority of German patent application number 197 44 416.4 filed Oct. 8, 1997 the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a transport device in a packaging machine having a plurality of circulating endless transport members which each travel via at least one drive wheel, wherein the drive wheels can be adjusted relative to each other in the peripheral direction upon a supporting shaft.
In a packaging machine, in particular in a cartoning machine for folded containers, differing transport members, e.g. in the form of transport chains, are provided for in order to transport the bulk product, i.e. the product to be packaged, the folded containers and, if appropriate, the brochures accompanying the packaging through the machine. Towards this end it is important for the function and the efficiency of the packaging machine that the relative motion of the chains with respect to each other be precisely tuned. This is generally achieved through the precise alignment of chain wheels of the respective chains on a common shaft.
Transport means can also be utilized comprising toothed belts instead of chains and having associated drive wheels in the form of pulleys. These transport means are explicitly included within the purview of the invention.
When the packaging machine is reconfigured to adapt to a different type and amount of bulk product and associated folded container, the drive wheels must be newly aligned with respect to each other on the common shaft. Towards this end one has, in the past, held at least one drive wheel on the shaft in a detachable fashion using a screw clamp arrangement so that, after loosening of the clamping screw, a manual adjustment of the drive wheel in the peripheral direction, i.e. a rotation of the drive wheel is possible. After the drive wheel has been adjusted to the desired rotational position, it is once more fixed to the shaft by tightening the clamping screw. This procedure is time consuming and relatively imprecise.
In a conventional arrangement disclosed in DE 43 14 632 C2, each adjustable chain wheel (disposed on a central shaft in a freely rotating fashion) has its own coaxial toothed wheel in engagement with a drive toothed wheel seating on a secondary shaft disposed parallel to the central shaft, wherein the central shaft and the secondary shaft can be synchronously driven by means of a linkage. The linkage driving both shafts comprises a drive wheel seating in a rotationally secure fashion on the central shaft as well as a drive wheel seated for rotation on the secondary shaft and having a pneumatic clutch. When the clutch is activated, a coupling bushing is also activated which fixes the secondary shaft with the drive wheel borne thereon in a rotationally secure fashion. In order to adjust the chain wheels, the secondary shaft can be decoupled from the drive using the clutch, to permit relative motion of the chain wheels via the drive. The amount of constructive effort required by this device is however quite extensive. In particular, the secondary shaft and additional drive require a substantial amount of space within the packaging machine.
It is the underlying purpose of the invention to create a transport device in a packaging machine of the above mentioned kind with which the relative adjustment of the drive wheels is facilitated in a simple and precise fashion and requiring only a small amount of space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This purpose is achieved in accordance with the invention by a transport device of this kind via a hydraulic fastening device to fix the drive wheels relative to each other and with a releasing device to deactivate the fastening device.
The drive wheels can either be chain wheels or pulleys, wherein the transport means are formed accordingly from chains or toothed belts.
In a preferred embodiment, the drive wheels are disposed on a common continuous shaft, wherein at least one of the drive wheels can be fixed radially on the shaft by means of a hydraulic fastening device. In order to adjust the drive wheels relative to each other it is thereby only necessary to decrease the hydraulic pressure of the fastening device to a sufficient extent that the connection or pressure between the drive wheel and the shaft is relieved. The relative adjustment of the drive wheels can then be effected by means of the central drive of the packaging machine to rotate the shaft. The released drive wheel thereby remains stationary to effect relative motion. In this manner, no additional drive device is required for the adjustment so that the constructive effort is accordingly simplified.
Instead of radially fixing the adjustable drive wheel to the shaft by means of the hydraulic fixing device, an alternative embodiment provides that the drive wheels are disposed on coaxially disposed shaft members which can be fixed relative to each other by means of the hydraulic fixing device and, after release of the fixing mechanism, can be adjusted in the peripheral direction relative to each other. The adjustment of the coaxial shaft members is associated with the relative adjustment of the drive wheels located respectively thereon as result of which a format adjustment is achieved. Also in this case the central drive of the machine can be utilized for the adjustment having, if appropriate, manual or motor drive forces acting thereon.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic fixing device comprises a pressure loaded piston and a hydraulic channel feeding into a pressure chamber, wherein the pressure chamber has an associated fixing element which can be pressed against the shaft via the pressure reigning in the pressure chamber. Displacement of the piston leads to changes in the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic channel in a conventional manner. A particularly simple constructive configuration results when the piston is loaded by a spring determining the hydraulic pressure and thereby the required fixing force.
If the adjustable drive wheel is directly fixed radially to the shaft, the pressure chamber should be fashioned in the drive wheel. When two coaxially disposed shaft members are to be fixed by the hydraulic fixing device it is possible, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, for an adapter sleeve to be mounted to one of the shaft members into which the other shaft member is inserted for rotation. The pressure chamber is formed in the adapter sleeve so that the adapter sleeve can be firmly connected to the inserted shaft member at appropriate hydraulic pressures.
An improvement of the invention provides that the adapter sleeve simultaneously supports the drive wheel to keep constructive effort low.
The fixing forces can be introduced onto the shaft or the shaft member in a point-like fashion, wherein a plurality of fixing points are then preferentially provided about the periphery of the shaft. It has turned out to be particularly advantageous if the pressure chamber is a ring chamber surrounding the shaft to effect an even radially inwardly directed pressure about the girth of the shaft. A seating over a wide area and an even introduction of the fixing forces can thereby be effected if a membrane is disposed between the pressure chamber and the surface of the shaft which seats on the outer surface of the shaft at high hydraulic pressures.
In principle, the hydraulic channel can extend in an arbitrary fashion between the piston determining the hydraulic pressure and the pressure chamber. In particular, conduits leading to the pressure chamber can e.g. also be provided. This is a particularly compact solution insensitive to external influences having, however, the hydraulic channel traveling axially within the shaft, wherein the spring can then also be disposed in a spring chamber formed in the shaft.
When the adjustable drive wheel or the adjustable shaft member is released from the shaft through deactivation of the hydraulic fixing device and the adjustment is carried out through activation of the ce
Dreizler Walter
Pluschow Dieter
Bucci David A.
Charles Marcus
IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
Vincent Paul
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