Pneumatic adjustment system

{
  "publication_number": "US9782923B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Pneumatic adjustment system",
  "abstract": "The present invention is aimed at an adjustment system, in particular for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms for the transport of, for instance, preforms for plastics containers, wherein the at least two guide mechanisms are respectively connected to a setting unit, and wherein the setting unit comprises in each case at least one piston-like element, which is pneumatically movable to and fro between a first stop and a second stop within the setting unit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An adjustment system, in particular for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) for the transport of, for instance, preforms (2) for plastics containers, wherein the at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) are respectively connected to a setting unit (10, 10 ′), and wherein the setting unit (10, 10 ′) comprises in each case at least one piston-like element (12, 12 ′), which is pneumatically movable to and fro between a first stop (15, 15 ′) and a second stop (16, 16 ′) within the setting unit (1), wherein the setting unit (10, 10 ′) respectively defines an air chamber (13 a, 13 b; 13 a, 13 b ′), in which parts at least of the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) are movably mounted, and wherein at least one of the two stops (15 a, 15 a ′; 16 a, 16 a ′) of the setting unit (10, 10 ′) is configured adjustably.",
    "2. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) is configured in the form of a piston rod, which has a shank part (12 a, 12 a ′) and a piston part (12 b, 12 b ′).",
    "3. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting unit (10, 10 ′) has a shaft-like element (14, 14 ′), which is movable relative to the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) and by means of which a measure (M) is settable in relation to the piston-like element (12, 12 ′).",
    "4. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide mechanism (11, 11 ′) is respectively fitted on the shaft-like element (14, 14 ′).",
    "5. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in particular the piston part (12 b, 12 b ′) of the piston rod (12, 12 ′) divides the air chamber into a first air chamber side (13 a, 13 a ′) and a second air chamber side (13 b, 13 b ′).",
    "6. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first (13 a, 13 a ′) and the second air chamber side (13 b, 13 b ′) are respectively connected to a pneumatic supply device (3).",
    "7. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank part (12 a, 12 a ′) of the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) has a hollow shank, which surrounds, at least partially, the shaft-like element (14, 14 ′).",
    "8. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) and the shaft-like element (14, 14 ′) are slidingly movable relative to each other.",
    "9. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stroke setting element (17, 17 ′) and the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) are slidingly movable relative to each other.",
    "10. An adjustment system, in particular for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) for the transport of, for instance, preforms (2) for plastics containers, wherein the at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) are respectively connected to a setting unit (10, 10 ′), and wherein the setting unit (10, 10 ′) comprises in each case at least one piston-like element (12, 12 ′), which is pneumatically movable to and fro between a first stop (15, 15 ′) and a second stop (16, 16 ′) within the setting unit (1), wherein a stroke setting element (17, 17 ′) surrounds, at least partially, the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) and the shaft-like element (14, 14 ′) and is movable relative to the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) and the shaft-like element (14, 14 ′).",
    "11. The adjustment system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least first stop (15, 15 ′) of the setting unit (10, 10 ′) is configured on the stroke setting element (17, 17 ′).",
    "12. An adjustment system, in particular for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) for the transport of, for instance, preforms (2) for plastics containers, wherein the at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) are respectively connected to a setting unit (10, 10 ′), and wherein the setting unit (10, 10 ′) comprises in each case at least one piston-like element (12, 12 ′), which is pneumatically movable to and fro between a first stop (15, 15 ′) and a second stop (16, 16 ′) within the setting unit (1), wherein the piston-like element (12, 12 ′) has on its end facing toward the guide mechanism a sleeve element (18, 18 ′), and wherein between the sleeve element (18, 18 ′) and a fastening portion (14 a, 14 a ′) of the shaft-like element (14, 14 ′), which fastening portion lies opposite the sleeve element (18, 18 ′), is arranged a spring (19, 19 ′).",
    "13. An adjustment system, in particular for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) for the transport of, for instance, preforms (2) for plastics containers, wherein the at least two guide mechanisms (11, 11 ′) are respectively connected to a setting unit (10, 10 ′), and wherein the setting unit (10, 10 ′) comprises in each case at least one piston-like element (12, 12 ′), which is pneumatically movable to and fro between a first stop (15, 15 ′) and a second stop (16, 16 ′) within the setting unit (1), wherein the adjustment system (1) further comprises a height adjusting mechanism (20), which has at least: a pivotably mounted lever arm (21), on a free end (21 a) of which, preferably on the bottom side of which, is arranged a height guide unit (22); a U-shaped bracket (25), which protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the lever arm (21) and which is mounted movably between two ball head elements (23, 24), and preferably disks (26, 27) each movably arranged on the ball head elements (23, 24); wherein the ball head elements (23, 24) are preferably arranged on a horizontally movable longitudinal adjustment device (28), wherein preferably at least one of the ball head elements (23, 24) is spring-loaded on the horizontally movable longitudinal adjustment device (28); and wherein, from the starting position of the height adjusting mechanism (20), a horizontal forward movement of the longitudinal adjustment device (28), i.e. substantially in the direction of the height guide unit (22), via a tilting movement of the U-shaped bracket (25) and a pivot movement of the lever arm (21), and is converted into a substantially vertical upward movement of the free end (21 a) of the lever arm (21), as well as of the height guide unit (22)."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to a pneumatic adjustment system for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms, for example guide rails for the evacuation and onward transport of, for instance, preforms for plastics containers, of a roller orientor, this for further processing in, for example, a downstream inspection and ejector unit.\n\nFor the setting or adjustment of the distance apart of the guide rails, on which the preforms, for transport, respectively rest with their collars - i.e. for the setting of the width, as becomes necessary, for instance, whenever the preform size or the width of the preform collar is changed - it was previously customary to actuate the appropriate width adjusting units along the transport path in each case manually, i.e. adjust them individually via appropriate adjusting bolts, as is described, for instance, in EP 2 848 558 A1.\n\nThis procedure has inherently proved itself in practice; recently, however, in particular also with regard to the high downtime costs of the downstream stretch blowing and bottling plants, the call for a (yet) more efficient switching facility from one preform size to another has become louder.\n\nThe object of the present invention is therefore to provide an adjustment system by means of which a change from one preform size to another can be more rapidly effected with substantially the same reliability and accuracy.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65G 47/24",
    "B29C 49/4205",
    "B29C 49/42065",
    "B29K 2105/258",
    "B29L 2031/712",
    "B65G 21/20",
    "B65G 21/2072",
    "B65G 21/209",
    "B65G 2201/0244",
    "B65G 2201/0247",
    "B65G 51/035",
    "F15B 15/24"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B29C 49/42",
    "B29K 105/00",
    "B29L 31/00",
    "B65G 21/20",
    "B65G 51/03",
    "F15B 15/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "M Tanner AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Marcel Tanner"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-05-06",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-10",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-10",
  "priority_date": "2015-05-13",
  "application_number": "US-201615148182-A",
  "family_id": "53793887",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US5542789A",
    "US6685401B1",
    "EP1277677A1",
    "US6827203B2",
    "US7404482B2",
    "US8132665B2",
    "US7717254B2",
    "DE102009016593A1",
    "WO2011029949A1",
    "DE102011118519A1",
    "EP2848558A1"
  ]
}