PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR THE HANDLING OF WORKPIECES
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE(54) Title METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING WORKPIECES (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B65G 047/84 B08B 009/42 (21) Application No: 2003236789(22) Application Date: 2003.05.09(87) WIPONo: WO03/099G88 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 102 23 288.1 2002.05.24DE102 34 374.8 2002.07.27DE(43) Publication Date : 2003.12.12(43) Publication Journal Date : 2004.02.05(71) Applicant(s) SIG TECHNOLOGY LTD.(72)Inventor(s)LITZENBERG, Michael; LEWIN, Frank;MULLER, Hartwig; VOGEL, Klaus; ARNOLD,Gregor; BEHLE, Stephan; LU1 1RINGHAUS-HENKEL, Andreas; BICKER,Matthias ; KLEIN, Jurgen; CHOINSKI,Julian (H) Application NoAU2003236789 A1(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE(54) Title METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING WORKPIECES (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B65G 047/84 B08B 009/42 (21) Application No: 2003236789(22) Application Date: 2003.05.09(87) WIPONo: WO03/099G88 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 102 23 288.1 2002.05.24DE102 34 374.8 2002.07.27DE(43) Publication Date : 2003.12.12(43) Publication Journal Date : 2004.02.05(71) Applicant(s) SIG TECHNOLOGY LTD.(72)Inventor(s)LITZENBERG, Michael; LEWIN, Frank;MULLER, Hartwig; VOGEL, Klaus; ARNOLD,Gregor; BEHLE, Stephan; LU1 1RINGHAUS-HENKEL, Andreas; BICKER,Matthias ; KLEIN, Jurgen; CHOINSKI,Julian The invention relates to a method and a device for handling work pieces which are transported by a rotating coupling wheel (81). At least two workpieces (42) are positioned at least temporarily on a common retaining element (86). In order to carry out the positioning, a rotational displacement is performed relative to a rotational axis (82) of the coupling wheel, in addition to a rotational displacement relative to a rotational axis extending diagonally in relation to the rotational axis of the coupling wheel. A transfer of work pieces occurs between the retaining element and at least one reference station for at least two workpieces which are to be positioned by the retaining element is carried out relative to each other at different moments in time. The retaining element is provided with at least two fixing element (97) for positioning the work pieces. Method of handling workpieces (5), whereby the workpieces are transported by a rotating coupling wheel (81) and at least two workpieces are positioned by a common retaining element (86), which positioning involves both a rotating movement relative to a rotation axis of the coupling wheel and a rotating movement relative to a rotation axis extending transversely to the rotation axis of the coupling wheel, characterised in that workpieces (5) are transferred by the retaining element (86) at different times to at least one reference station for the at least two workpieces (5) positioned relative to one another by the retaining element (86). Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the transfer process is cam-controlled. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the workpieces (5) are positioned in the region of the retaining element (86) by means of jaw-type fixing elements (97). Method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the fixing elements (97) are operated under the control of a cam. Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is displaced about an essentially vertically extending rotation axis. Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5,characterised in that the retaining element (86) is pivoted about an essentially horizontally extending pivot axis. Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the retaining element (86) is cyclically pivoted backwards and forwards by 180° respectively. Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the pivoting movement of the retaining element (86) is controlled by means of a cylinder cam positioned at the exterior on a base (84) of the coupling wheel (81). Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that jaw arms (98, 99) of the fixing elements (97) are spring-biased relative to one another. Method as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the jaw arms (98, 99) are spring-biased in a clamping position provided as a means of fixing the workpiece (5). Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is used as a means of performing transfer manoeuvres in the vicinity of at least one plasma station (3). Method as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the plasma station (3) is positioned by means of a rotating plasma wheel (2). Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10,characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is used to perform transfer manoeuvres in the vicinity of at least one blowing station (43). Method as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the plasma station (3) is positioned by means of a rotating blowing wheel (65). Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that bottle-type workpieces (5) are positioned by the coupling wheel (81). Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is used to perform transfer manoeuvres in the vicinity of a treatment station for the workpieces (5), at least two workpieces (5) being treated in the treatment station simultaneously. Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the retaining element (86) is provided with a number of fixing elements (97) corresponding in number to the number of workpieces (5) to be handled simultaneously in the region of the treatment station. Device for handling workpieces, provided in the form of a rotating coupling wheel (81), which has at least one retaining element (86) for jointly positioning at least two workpieces and on which the retaining element is mounted so as to be displaceable in rotation relative to the coupling wheel, characterised in that the retaining element (86) has at least two fixing elements (97) for the workpieces (5), each of which is provided with control elements (103, 104) which control the fixing elements (97) relative to one another with a time delay. Device as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is provided with a cam control for pre-setting a rotating movement of the retaining element (86) relative to a base (84) of the coupling wheel (81). Device as claimed in claim 18 or 19, characterised in that the fixing elements (97) are of a jaw-type design. Device as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is provided with a cam control for positioning jaw-type jaw arms (98, 99) of the fixing element (97). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that a centre line (82) of the coupling wheel (81) constituting the rotation axis is disposed essentially vertically. Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 22, characterised in that a rotation axis (88) of the retaining element (86) is disposed essentially horizontally. Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 23, characterised in that a rotation angle range of +/- 180° is pre-set for the retaining element (86) by means of the cam control. Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 24, characterised in that the cam control has a cylinder cam constituting a cam track (92) for positioning the retaining elements (86). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 25, characterised in that the jaw arms (98, 99) of the fixing element (97) are biased relative to one another by means of at least one spring (107). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 26, characterised in that the jaw arms (98, 99) are positioned in a pre-set clamping position by means of the spring (107). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 27, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is disposed adjacent to at least one plasma station (3) for treating at least one workpiece (5). Device as claimed in claim 28, characterised in that the plasma station (3) is disposed on a rotating plasma wheel (2). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 27, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is disposed adjacent to at least one blowing station (43) for treating at least one workpiece (5). Device as claimed in claim 28, characterised in that the plasma station (3) is disposed on a rotating blowing wheel (65). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 31, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is designed for handling bottle-type workpieces (5). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 32, characterised in that the coupling wheel (81) is disposed adjacent to a treatment station for jointly treating at least two workpieces (5). Device as claimed in one of claims 18 to 33, characterised in that the retaining element (86) is equipped with a number of fixing elements (97) which is selected so as to be the same as the number of workpieces (5) accommodated by the processing station.