# US 10,766,146 B2 · Active clamping device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,146 B2 - Document ID: US10766146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/213,972 - Filed: 2018-12-07 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-11 - Assignees: Krones AG - Applicants: Krones AG - Inventors: Bruno Landler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766146B2 ## CPC - B25J 15/0028: {with movable, e.g. pivoting gripping jaw surfaces} - B25J 9/0015: {Flexure members, i.e. parts of manipulators having a narrowed section allowing articulation by flexion} - B25J 15/0226: {actuated by cams} - B65G 47/847: {the article-engaging elements being grippers} - B65G 47/90: Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials - B67C 3/242: {engaging with bottle necks (B67C3/26 takes precedence)} - B65G 2201/0247: Suspended bottles - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS ## Abstract An active clamping device for holding a container in a container treatment device, for example for holding a beverage container by a neck section, includes two clamping arms and a pre-tensioning element. Each clamping arm has a holding section for holding the container that is to be held, and a control section for interacting with a control cam to actively displace each holding section. The pre-tensioning element pre-tensions the holding sections in a predetermined position. The clamping arms and the pre-tensioning element are formed as a single piece. A clamping arm and a container treatment device are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An active clamping device for holding a container in a container treatment device, comprising: two clamping arms, wherein each clamping arm comprises a holding section configured to hold the container, and each clamping arm comprises a control section configured to interact with a control cam to actively displace each holding section; and a pre-tensioning element configured to pre-tension the holding sections in a predetermined position, wherein: the clamping arms and the pre-tensioning element are formed as a single piece, each clamping arm comprises support elements that are configured to support a position of the clamping arms against tilting with respect to pivot axes of the clamping arms, a first support element is formed in a region of a pivot axis of each clamping arm, and a second support element is formed at an end of the control section of each clamping arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the pre-tensioning element pre-tensions the clamping arms in an open position of the holding sections, and the control sections are configured to interact with the control cam to actively displace the holding sections to a closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the pre-tensioning element pre-tensions the clamping arms in a closed position of the holding sections, and the control sections are configured to interact with the control cam to actively displace the holding sections to an open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the clamping arms is configured to pivot about the pivot axis of the at least one of the clamping arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the control sections are formed on the clamping arms in the form of a lever arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the pre-tensioning element comprises a bowed element extending from one clamping arm to the other clamping arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the control sections and the pre-tensioning element are disposed on a side of the clamping arms which is opposite to the holding sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The active clamping device of claim 7, wherein the holding sections are disposed on one side of the clamping arms, relative to the pivot axes, and the control sections and/or the pre-tensioning element are disposed on the other side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein at least the clamping arms comprise, on their upper side, inclined surfaces configured to conduct away fluids. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the control sections are elastic, and an elastic element is formed on each lever arm that forms the control section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the clamping arms and the pre-tensioning element are formed as a single piece as a 3D printed part or an injection molded part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The active clamping device of claim 11, wherein the 3D printed part or the injection molded part comprises a plastic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the second support element is formed at a free end of the control section and the control section is formed as a lever arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The active clamping device of claim 1, wherein the first support element comprises a different material than its respective clamping arm. ### Claim 15 A clamping arm for holding a container in a clamping device, comprising: a holding section configured to hold the container; a control section configured to interact with a control cam to actively displace the holding section; and at least two support elements, spaced apart from each other, and configured to support a position of the clamping arm against tilting with respect to a pivot axis of the clamping arm with respect to an installation position in the clamping device, wherein one support element is formed in a region of the pivot axis and one support element is formed at an end of the control section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The clamping arm of claim 15, wherein the control section is elastic, an elastic element is formed on a lever arm that forms the control section, and the lever arm is elastically deformable at least within a defined area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The clamping arm of claim 15, wherein the clamping arm and at least one support element are formed as a single piece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The clamping arm of claim 15, wherein at least one support element comprises a different material than the clamping arm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The clamping arm of claim 15, wherein an upper side of the clamping arm comprises at least one inclined surface configured to conduct away fluids. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The clamping arm of claim 15, wherein the one support element formed at an end of the control section is formed at a free end of the control section and the control section is formed as a lever arm.