US 12,729,445 B2 · Cylinder processing device

Abstract

A processing apparatus for a plurality of cylinders that includes a superstructure having a support frame and a rotary structure mounted to the support frame for rotation about a rotational axis. The rotary structure includes a plurality of cylinder stations, angularly spaced about the rotational axis, each configured, in use, to receive a cylinder a plurality of restraining arms, each restraining arm corresponding to a respective cylinder station, and a locking mechanism coupled to the plurality of restraining arms. Each restraining arm is moveable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration the restraining arm contacts a cylinder received on the corresponding cylinder station to restrain the cylinder on the cylinder station. In the open configuration, the restraining arm is retracted away from said cylinder received on the corresponding cylinder station such that a cylinder can be removed from the cylinder station or placed on the cylinder station. The locking mechanism has an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. In the unlocked configuration movement of the plurality of restraining arms between said closed and open configurations is possible. In the locked configuration, movement of the plurality of restraining arms from said closed configuration to said open configuration is prevented by the locking mechanism.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A processing apparatus for a plurality of cylinders, the processing apparatus comprising:

a superstructure comprising a support frame;
a rotary structure mounted to the support frame for rotation about a rotational axis, the rotary structure comprising
a plurality of cylinder stations, angularly spaced about the rotational axis, each configured, in use, to receive a cylinder;
a plurality of restraining arms, each restraining arm corresponding to a respective cylinder station, wherein each restraining arm is moveable between:
a closed configuration in which, in use, the restraining arm contacts a cylinder received on the corresponding cylinder station to restrain the cylinder on the cylinder station;
and
an open configuration in which, in use, the restraining arm is retracted away from said cylinder received on the corresponding cylinder station such that a cylinder can be removed from the cylinder station or placed on the cylinder station;
and
a locking mechanism coupled to the plurality of restraining arms, the locking mechanism having:
an unlocked configuration in which movement of the plurality of restraining arms between said closed and open configurations is possible;
and
a locked configuration in which movement of the plurality of restraining arms from said closed configuration to said open configuration is prevented by the locking mechanism.

9 more elements

A method of carrying out a processing operation on a plurality of cylinders using a processing apparatus, the processing apparatus comprising:

a superstructure comprising a support frame;
a rotary structure mounted to the support frame, the rotary structure comprising a plurality of cylinder stations, angularly spaced about a rotational axis, and a plurality of restraining arms, each restraining arm corresponding to a respective cylinder station, and
a locking mechanism coupled to the plurality of restraining arms;
wherein the method comprises:
rotating the rotary structure relative to the support frame about the rotational axis,
receiving a cylinder on each cylinder station;
moving each restraining arm between:
a closed configuration in which, in use, the restraining arm contacts a cylinder received on the corresponding cylinder station to restrain the cylinder on the cylinder station;
and
an open configuration in which, in use, the restraining arm is retracted away from said cylinder received on the corresponding cylinder station such that a cylinder can be removed from the cylinder station or placed on the cylinder station;
changing the state of the locking mechanism between:
an unlocked configuration in which movement of the plurality of restraining arms between said closed and open configurations is possible;
and
a locked configuration in which movement of the plurality of restraining arms from said closed configuration to said open configuration is prevented by the locking mechanism;
carrying out a processing operation on each cylinder.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cylinder processing device

Life of this patent

Cylinder processing device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22