Patent Publication Number: US-2005118007-A1

Title: Apparatus for moving containers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus for moving containers.  
      In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for moving containers for use in the pharmaceutical and/or chemical and/or food industry, the containers holding loose material consisting of powders, fine-grained pellets or similar products.  
      Said containers are normally very large and have a symmetrical shape.  
      Such containers are moved in order to mix the substances of which the afore-mentioned material is composed so that, at the end of this operation, the material has the required level of homogenization.  
      Moving apparatuses are known which comprise a mobile part that normally has a framework to which the container is fixed, and motor means designed to move the mobile part. Rotation of the mobile part consequently involves rotation of the container, normally about a respective axis which is set at an angle to the axis of symmetry.  
      The known apparatuses are not particularly efficient, both due to the complexity of the elements of which they are composed and the consequent difficulties involved in locking the containers to them.  
      In particular, significant disadvantages are encountered when using such moving apparatuses, in the operations for locking the containers to and releasing them from the respective mobile parts of the apparatuses.  
      Such operations are complicated and, at the same time, the locking achieved does not always meet the necessary safety requirements.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for moving containers which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and which is, at the same time, functional, simple and economical to produce and practical and effective to use.  
      The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the above-mentioned aim, are set out in the claims herein, in particular claim  1  and, preferably, any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim  1 .  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The advantages of the present invention are more clearly described in the detailed description below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, without limiting the scope of its application, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of an apparatus for moving containers made according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of a container designed to be moved by the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevation, with some parts in cross-section and other parts cut away for greater clarity, of a detail of a first embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view, with some parts in cross-section and other parts cut away for greater clarity, of the detail illustrated in  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic front elevation, with some parts transparent and other parts cut away for greater clarity, of the detail illustrated in the previous  FIGS. 3 and 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic side elevation, with some parts in cross-section, of a portion of the detail illustrated in the previous figures from  3  to  5 ;  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are two schematic views, respectively a side and a front elevation, of a second embodiment of a detail of the apparatus illustrated in the previous figures. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral  1  denotes as a whole a first embodiment of the apparatus for moving containers  2 .  
      The containers  2  are of the known type and are normally used to hold loose materials in the pharmaceutical and/or chemical and/or food sector.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the container  2  is mounted on a respective supporting frame  3  with a quadrangular base and comprising four vertical uprights  4  forming four respective faces, their lower ends fitted with wheels  5  designed for container transportation.  
      At one of the above-mentioned faces, referred to as the front face and labeled  6 , the frame  3  comprises two parallel crosspieces  7 ,  8 , respectively upper and lower, connecting two adjacent uprights  4 .  
      Again with reference to  FIG. 2 , the upper crosspiece  7  has two holes  9  holes distanced from one another, whilst the lower crosspiece  8  has a hole  10  at the center of the crosspiece  8 .  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the moving apparatus  1  is installed, advantageously but without limiting the scope of the application, on a wall  11  and comprises a fixed structure  12 , integral with the wall  11 , and a mobile body  13  which is rotatably connected to the fixed structure  12  in such a way that it rotates about a respective axis of rotation A.  
      In particular, in the embodiment described, the mobile body  13  has a first, front face  14  and a second, rear face opposite the fixed structure  12  and not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
      The apparatus  1  comprises first motor means, of the substantially known type and not illustrated, designed to move the mobile body  13  relative to the fixed structure  12 .  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , on the mobile body  13  there are three projecting elements  15 ,  16 ,  17  designed to engage with respective housings  15   a ,  16   a ,  17   a  formed by the holes  9 ,  10  in the crosspieces  7 ,  8  of the container  2  supporting frame  3 .  
      The projecting elements  15 ,  16 ,  17  have a substantially cylindrical shape with a first central axis of extension B and have a tapered end  18  to facilitate insertion of the element  15 ,  16 ,  17  in the respective housing  15   a ,  16   a ,  17   a.    
      Of the three projecting elements  15 ,  16 ,  17 , the lower element  17  in  FIG. 5  is fixed whilst the upper elements  15 ,  16  in  FIG. 5  are mobile, rotating about a second, eccentric axis E, parallel with the first, central axis B.  
      Therefore, the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  rotate about the second, eccentric axis E in order to move between a first position, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in which they are centered in the respective housings  15   a ,  16   a , and a second position, not illustrated, in which they are locked relative to the housing  15   a ,  16   a.    
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  are eccentrically connected to respective shafts  19  coaxial with the second, eccentric axis E and supported by respective bearings  20  of the known type.  
      A first end  21   a  of a lever  21  is rigidly connected to each shaft  19 , therefore also pivoting at the second, eccentric axis E.  
      Each lever  21  comprises a second end  21   b  longitudinally opposite the first end  21   a . This second end  21   b  is connected to a mobile rod  22  of a jack  23  of the known type, driven by an electric motor  24 .  
      The jack  23  also comprises a tube  25  in which the rod  22  runs. One end  25   a  of the tube  25  pivots at the mobile body  13  so that it oscillates about a respective axis C.  
      Any longitudinal movement by the jack  23  rod  22  causes a corresponding rotation of the lever  21  about the pivoting axis formed by the second, eccentric axis E.  
      The lever  21 , the jack  23  and the electric motor  24  together form actuator means  26  driving each of the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  between their centering and locking positions.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , on its first, front face  14 , the mobile body  13  has two first presence sensors  27 ,  28  respectively positioned at zones of the mobile body  13  close to the projecting elements  16 ,  17  and designed to face the upper and lower crosspieces  7 ,  8  of the container  2  supporting frame  3 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 5 , the first face  14  of the mobile body  13  has a circular and substantially symmetrical shape relative to a plane whose line L in the plane illustrated passes through the axis of rotation A of the body  13  and through the central axis B of the fixed projecting element  17 .  
      The two first presence sensors  27 ,  28  are located on opposite sides of said line L.  
      Therefore, advantageously, the layout of the first presence sensors  27 ,  28  is such that it guarantees, with just two sensors  27 ,  28 , that the presence and correct positioning of both crosspieces  7 ,  8  close to the mobile body  13  will be indicated.  
      The first sensors  27 ,  28  form, for the apparatus  1 , first detector means  29 , which detect the closeness of the container  2  to the mobile body  13 .  
      With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the apparatus  1  comprises a safety part  30  designed to engage with the crosspieces  7 ,  8  in ways that are not illustrated.  
      The safety part  30  comprises an engagement element  31 , having an extended shape, fixed to one end of a shaft  32  projecting cantilever-style from the first, front face  14  of the mobile body  13 .  
      The safety part  30  also comprises an actuator motor  33  designed to rotate the shaft  32  about a respective axis F to move the engagement element  31  between a first, inactive configuration, illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in which the crosspieces  7 ,  8  can be brought alongside the first face  14  of the mobile body  13 , and a second, operating configuration, not illustrated, in which the element  31  is designed to exercise a retaining action on the crosspieces  7 ,  8 .  
      In practice, with reference to  FIG. 5  and starting with the configuration of the engagement element  31  illustrated in it, the element  31  is substantially rotated through approximately 90° 0  to reach the afore-mentioned second, operating configuration, not illustrated, in which it exercises a retaining action on the crosspieces  7 ,  8 .  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the apparatus  1  also comprises two contact elements  34 , fixed on the first, front face  14  of the mobile body  13  and projecting from the latter to engage in contact with the lower crosspiece  8 , at least in one container  2  movement step.  
      Each contact element  34  comprises a portion  35  made of a material with a high friction coefficient, the portion  35  designed to engage with a respective portion of the crosspiece  8  so as to guarantee an improved, more stable contact with the crosspiece  8 .  
      For the apparatus  1  the contact elements  34  form means  36  by which the supporting frame  3  makes contact with the mobile body  13 .  
      An alternative embodiment of the above-mentioned actuator means  26  for the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7, 8 .  
      In this alternative embodiment, the actuator means  26  comprise, for each mobile projecting element  15 ,  16 , an electric motor  37  operatively connected to the respective projecting element  15 ,  16  by a coupling  38  of the gear wheel—worm screw type. This coupling, of the known type and therefore not illustrated in detail, consists of a gear wheel keyed on a portion  19   a  of the shaft  19  eccentrically connected to the projecting element  15 ,  16 , and of a worm screw, also not illustrated, which is integral with the motor output shaft.  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8  and with reference to both of the embodiments of the actuator means  26  for the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  described above, the apparatus  1  comprises two first position sensors  39 , of the known type and not described in further detail, connected in such a way that they are integral with the mobile body  13  and set at an angular distance from the second, eccentric axis E to detect the angular positions assumed by the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  relative to the second, eccentric axis E.  
      The apparatus  1  also comprises, for each electric motor  24 ,  37  designed to move a mobile projecting element  15 ,  16 , a circuit-breaker, not illustrated, designed to stop movement of the projecting element  15 ,  16  when the latter reaches its second position, in which it is locked relative to the housing  15   a ,  16   a.    
      Advantageously, said stopping circuit-breaker is an amperometric relay acting on the electric motor  24 ,  37  to stop motor  24 ,  37  operation when it exceeds a predetermined electrical current absorption level.  
      The first position sensors  39  and stopping circuit-breaker form, as a whole, second detector means  40 , for detecting when the mobile projecting element  15 ,  16  reaches the second, locking position.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the apparatus  1  comprises two second position sensors  41 , of the known type and not described in further detail, connected in such a way that they are integral with the mobile body  13  and set at an angular distance from the axis F to detect the angular positions assumed by the safety part  30 .  
      In particular, the two second sensors  41  are designed to detect, respectively, when the engagement element  31  reaches the first, inactive configuration and the second, operating configuration.  
      The second position sensors  41  form third detector means  42  for the apparatus  1 .  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , on the fixed projecting element  17  there is a second presence sensor  43 , designed to engage with a wall of the respective housing  17   a  to indicate the presence of the projecting element  17  in the housing  17   a.    
      The second presence sensor  43  forms fourth detector means  44  for the apparatus  1 .  
      The projecting elements  15 ,  16 ,  17  form means  45  for locking the container  2  to the mobile body  13  for the apparatus  1 .  
      In practice, the container  2  is brought close to the apparatus  1  taking advantage of the fact that the wheels  5  of the frame  3  run on the ground and with the front face  6  of the frame opposite the first, front face  14  of the mobile body  13 .  
      Taking advantage of the tapered shape of the ends  18  of the projecting elements  15 ,  16 ,  17 , the latter, in the first, centering position, are inserted in the respective housings  15   a ,  16   a ,  17   a  formed by the holes  9 ,  10  in the crosspieces  7 ,  8 .  
      The first presence sensors  27 ,  28  detect when the frame  3  has been brought alongside the mobile body  13 , whilst the second presence sensor  43  located on the fixed projecting element  17  indicates when said element  17  has been inserted in the respective housing  17   a.    
      Advantageously, these indications also signal that the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  are correctly inserted in the respective housings  15   a ,  16   a , since otherwise the front face  6  of the frame  3  could not be alongside the first front face  14  of the mobile body  13 .  
      With reference to the first embodiment of the actuator means  26  illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , the electric motors  24  of the jacks  23  are activated so that they rotate the respective levers  21  about their pivoting axes formed by the second, eccentric axis E for each mobile projecting element  15 ,  16 .  
      Rotation of the lever  21  results in the simultaneous rotation of the shaft  19  about the respective second, eccentric axis E and, therefore, moves the mobile projecting element  15 ,  16  away from its first, centering position.  
      Following eccentric rotation about the second axis E, each of the two mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  rests on the wall of the respective housing  15   a ,  16   a , that is to say, on the edge of the hole  9  forming the housing  15   a ,  16   a.    
      The second of the two first position sensors  39  for each mobile projecting element  15 ,  16  detects that the element  15 ,  16  has reached its second, locking position.  
      At this point the jack motor  24  continues to use the lever  21  to force rotation of the shaft  19  and the mobile projecting element  15 ,  16  until the amperometric relay automatically interrupts the electrical power supply when a predetermined level of current absorption is reached.  
      This situation guarantees secure container  2  locking to the mobile body  13 .  
      Once locking of the mobile projecting elements  15 ,  16  to the respective housings  15   a ,  16   a  is complete, the safety part  30  is made operative by activation of the relative actuator motor  33 .  
      In other words, the shaft  32  is made to rotate, about the axis F, so that the engagement element  31  passes from its first, inactive configuration, in which the frame crosspieces  7 ,  8  can be brought alongside the mobile body  13 , to its second, operating configuration, in which the safety part  30  is designed to exercise a geometric retaining action on the crosspieces  7 ,  8 .  
      The second position sensors  41  indicate when the two configurations of the engagement element  31  have been reached.  
      With reference to the second embodiment of the actuator means  26  illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , from the moment when the projecting elements  15 ,  16 ,  17  have been inserted in the relative housings  15   a ,  16   a ,  17   a , their operation differs from that just described exclusively in terms of the different mechanisms used to transfer motion from the electric motor  37  to the shaft  19  integral with the mobile projecting element  15 ,  16 .  
      In this second embodiment, with the gear wheel-worm screw coupling  38 , after activation of the electric motor  37 , rotation is transmitted from the worm screw to the gear wheel keyed to the portion  19   a  of the shaft  19  and from the latter to the mobile projecting element  15 ,  16  integral with it.  
      Advantageously, this second embodiment is more suitable for smaller, lighter containers  2 , whilst the first embodiment of the actuator means  26  is easily usable with containers  2  which may even be large and heavy, since it can apply high torques for locking the elements  15 ,  16  in the respective housings  15   a ,  16   a.    
      Subsequent apparatus  1  operation for moving the container  2  is as in known processes and therefore not described in detail in this text.  
      Similarly, this text does not provide a description of the steps for releasing and detaching the container  2  at the end of its movement, since these may be directly deduced from the locking steps described above.  
      The apparatus  1  disclosed therefore advantageously allows a container  2  to be locked to the mobile body  13  in a secure, simplified and effective way, without the need for bulky and complex outer structures.  
      Another obvious advantage of the present invention is, therefore, that linked to the extreme limitation on parts projecting from the moving apparatus, since such parts, in sectors such as those of the pharmaceutical or chemical or food industry, require continuous cleaning and therefore take up a lot of time.  
      The invention described is suitable for evident industrial applications and may be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.