Patent ID: 9725290
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: B08B,B65G,B67C

Claim:
1. A device for gripping and holding PET bottles in filling systems, said device comprising: a carrier body configured for being mounted on section of a star-shaped element, spring-loaded gripper arms that can pivot on said carrier body, wherein each of said gripper arms has a first side, a second side opposite said first side, and a pivot end, a tension spring for said gripper arms, and a fixing element positioned between the pivot ends such that an inner surface of said fixing element faces an inner surface of said pivot ends, wherein the gripper arms pivot on the carrier body about pivot axes that pass through said respective pivot ends, wherein each of said pivot ends includes an edge recess allowing removal of the respective gripper arm past the fixing element when the gripper arm is positioned in an extreme opening position, wherein said edge recess is located at the respective pivot end of the gripper arm and faces away from said first and second sides of said pivot arm, wherein said gripper arms are movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the fixing element holds the pivot ends of the gripper arms by overlapping said pivot ends so that said gripper arms cannot be lifted past said fixing element, wherein in said first position, said fixing element faces away from said edge recess, and wherein in the second position, the fixing element releases the pivot ends of the gripper arms by permitting the gripper arms to be lifted past said fixing element.