Method of positioning containers in a container processing installation, a corresponding positioning device, and an installation including such devices

Abstract

A method of positioning containers in an installation for processing containers having mouth segments ( 103 ) of different cross-sections, the method comprising the step of moving the containers along a container movement line ( 1 ) in an installation while maintaining a reference point on each of the mouth segments on said movement line, the movement line being common to all mouth segment cross-sections, and the reference points on the mouth segments being the same regardless of the cross-sections of the mouth segments of the containers, wherein the reference point is situated on an outside side surface of the mouth segment in a manner such that the mouth segments are tangential to the movement line. A corresponding positioning device and an installation including such devices.

1 . A method of positioning containers in an installation for processing containers having mouth segments ( 103 ) of different cross-sections, the method comprising the step of moving the containers along a container movement line ( 1 ) in an installation while maintaining a reference point on each of the mouth segments on said movement line, the movement line being common to all mouth segment cross-sections, and the reference points on the mouth segments being the same regardless of the cross-sections of the mouth segments of the containers, wherein the reference point is situated on an outside side surface of the mouth segment in a manner such that the mouth segments are tangential to the movement line. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement line ( 1 ) comprises at least one circular segment centered on an axis of rotation and the reference point is on a side of the mouth segment that is opposite from the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein, firstly with the installation comprising two rotary conveyor platforms ( 2 ,  3 ) that are tangential to each other, and secondly with the movement line ( 1 ) winding at least partially around said platforms, the method includes the step of having the containers go from one platform to the other by having the mouth segments ( 103 ) of the containers go from one side of the movement line to the other, and simultaneously having the reference points go from one side of the mouth segments to the other. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, with the processing installation further comprising at least one filler nozzle in a filling zone, the movement line ( 1 ) that is common to all of the cross-sections of mouth segments ( 103 ) is defined in the filling zone to extend under the filler nozzle while being offset laterally relative to said filler nozzle, in a manner such the mouth segment of smallest cross-section is centered under the filler nozzle. 
   
   
       5 . A positioning device for positioning containers, each of which comprises a body ( 100 ) and a neck ( 101 ) provided with a projecting collar ( 102 ) and with a mouth segment ( 103 ) above the collar, wherein the device is provided with an abutment having a reference face ( 15 ,  25 ) for bearing against an outside side surface of the mouth segment and a jaw ( 7 ) that has a support face for supporting a portion of the collar and a bearing face for bearing against a portion of the outside side surface of the neck, the jaw being mounted on a body ( 6 ) of the device to be movable in a sliding direction that is normal to the reference face so as to receive mouth segments of different cross-sections. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the jaw ( 7 ) is connected to the body ( 6 ) via a resilient return element ( 12 ) urging the jaw back into a position corresponding to the smallest cross-section of mouth segment ( 103 ). 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the jaw ( 7 ) comprises a bottom plate ( 9 . 2 ) and a top plate ( 9 . 1 ) that are parallel to each other, each of which plates is provided with a V-shaped cutout ( 10 ) for receiving a portion of the neck ( 101 ,  103 ) in a manner such that the collar ( 102 ) rests on the bottom plate ( 92 ). 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the V-shape presents an angle of about 108°. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the abutment ( 15 ) is secured to a finger ( 8 ) that is mounted to pivot between an active reference position and a retracted position for making it possible to put the mouth segment ( 103 ) in place in the device and to extract the mouth segment from the device. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the finger ( 8 ) is received between two walls ( 9 . 1 ,  9 . 2 ) of the jaw ( 7 ) guiding the finger as it pivots. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein, with the body ( 6 ) of the device being designed to be mounted on a moving platform ( 2 ,  3 ), the abutment comprises a guide rail ( 25 . 1 ,  25 . 2 ) extending facing the platform. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 5 , provided with position adjustment means ( 21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ) for adjusting the position of the jaw ( 7 ) along the sliding direction, and with two side arms ( 27 ) hinged to the body to have free ends for supporting the collar, the spacing between said free ends being adjustable in a manner synchronized with the jaw between two extreme positions corresponding to two extreme mouth segment cross-sections. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the side arms ( 27 ) are connected to the jaw ( 7 ) via cam elements ( 28 ,  29 ) that are such that they cause the arms to move in a manner synchronized with the jaw. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the jaw ( 7 ) is connected to an end of a rod ( 21 ) having an opposite end co-operating with the position adjustment means. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the jaw ( 7 ) is mounted on the rod ( 21 ) to slide over a safety stroke maintained at its minimum value by a resilient return member. 
   
   
       16 . An installation for processing containers having mouth segments of different cross-sections, said installation including at least one platform equipped with devices according to  claim 5 .