ES2369951B1 - DEVICE WITHOUT SPRINGS OR EXTERNAL ENERGY CONTRIBUTION FOR THE TIMED AUTOMATIC RETURN OF THE COVER OF CONTAINERS AND OTHER ELEMENTS WITH MOVEMENT OF VAIVÉN. - Google Patents

Abstract

Device without springs or external energy supply for the automation of the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement that can be applied directly to elements with tilting movement or indirectly to elements with any type of movement. It can be used in the automatic closing of the covers of garbage containers, bins, various containers and self-service displays in the food trade.

Description

Device without springs or external energy supply for the automatic timed return of the container cover and other elements with reciprocating movement.

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention, a device without springs or external energy supply for the automatic timed return of the container cover and other elements with reciprocating movement, refers to a device that can be attached or included in the body of tilting elements whose effect is that a Once the tilting element has been angularly displaced around an axis by the action of a force, said device causes the return of the tilting element to the initial position in a timed manner, that is, the recovery movement from the initial position begins with Adjustable delay with respect to the moment when the aforementioned force that has moved the tilting element to its displaced position ceases to apply.

Said device has many applications either directly, that is, when the movement on which it is desired to influence is that of the tilting element itself or indirectly when it is intended to influence the movement of a third element with movement not necessarily of tilting. . They can be cited as non-limiting examples, the use in covers of containers or containers of any size, material or use in which it is convenient or essential to have the guarantee that the container or container will not be permanently opened after it has been used. Such convenience or need occurs frequently in sectors such as waste collection and specifically in paper mills, garbage containers, animal excrement containers, sanitary waste, etc. Also in the sector of trade in animal or human food, for example, in self-service exhibitors for feed, frozen, refrigerated, treats, etc. (*) It is understood, for the purposes of this description, that the energy external to the device is that energy, used for the return, other than the potential energy accumulated in said device during its operating cycle. An example of external energy input is the constant or intermittent connection to an electrical network.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

There are numerous previous documents that describe inventions that incorporate automatic return devices without external energy input, the most widespread and popularly recognizable being those that disclose containers intended for different uses. These inventions could be grouped into two modalities:

A first modality would correspond to those devices that cause an automatic non-timed return, in which a force must be exerted to move the tilting element (container lid) and the force must continue to be applied to keep it in its displaced position, resulting in the same moment in which said force is stopped exerting, the tilting element, recovers its initial position automatically, either by the effect of the gravitational force or some type of spring. If the force exerted is of the manual type, then they have the disadvantage that at least one of the user's hands is disabled for loading and unloading maneuvers as is the case of the invention described in document ES1046195U or that of document ES0249176P, although there are, within this non-timed mode other non-manual opening containers or containers such as the one described in document ES0174981U, but those of the latter type, have the disadvantage that they include devices based on levers, springs and pedals which, due to their Greater mechanical complexity increases the probability of failure. In addition, non-manual opening systems lose their practical sense when the containers are small in size and are located far from the ground or when it is necessary to arrange a multiplicity of containers grouped in rows and columns as is usually the case in commercial exhibitions such as, for example , the sale of chocolates, sweets or other food products (see as an example figure 26).

A second modality, continuing with the containers, would correspond to those of equally automatic closure in which the user must exert a force to open them and keep them open, resulting that, when the user stops exerting said force they begin to close immediately but, unlike of the previous ones, they do it with an artificially reduced speed by the action of some type of brake or exhaust gear, so it could be said that they have false-timing. An example of this modality is WO99 / 41163. However, these types of containers have the disadvantage that they increase mechanical complexity, are subject to greater wear or probability of failure and are also not optimal for many applications that require a dilated opening and time to perform loading or unloading maneuvers such as It occurs, for example, in the display containers for the self-service of food, in which the progressive decrease of the access opening makes difficult the purchase action and generates in the client certain anxiety that does not favor the sales.

In view of the above, there are different documents in the state of the art that describe automatic return devices without external energy input, but in all of them the start of the return occurs at the same moment in which the force that stops applying keeps the tilting element displaced, although in some, the closing speed is slowed down by brake mechanisms or exhaust gears.

It is, therefore, object of the present invention, an automatic return device without external energy input that, overcoming the technical or functional problems suffered by those already existing, guarantees

THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:

one.

That it is applicable to the closing of containers and containers or other elements with reciprocating movement and that produces a delay between the cessation of the force that has caused the displacement of the tilting element and the beginning of the automatic return of said tilting element.

2.

That said delay time remains constant throughout the life of the device or with a variation that is hardly noticeable without resorting to measurements.

3.

That the device is always operative even if it is activated immediately after it has been automatically closed and also, even if it is activated immediately after it has been forcedly closed, bypassing the automation and it is also operative for a predictable extreme temperature range in inhabited areas of the planet such as, for example, between -20ºC and 45ºC.

Four.

That is robust, simple and has low production cost and low maintenance cost compared to other systems that pursue the same effect.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Parts of the device

The device to be protected by this patent consists essentially of:

-

A fixed part (30) in which a tilting axis (13) is arranged.

-

A mobile part comprising:

-

A tilting element (11) that rotates around said tilting axis describing an angle defined by two physical stops (14, 16) that determine an initial angular position of rest and an angular position offset boundary.

-

A main body (12) which, assembled to the tilting element or forming with it a single unit, rotates in solidarity with said tilting element around the tilting axis, said main body has three or two interconnected cavities that are called, for the purpose of to give greater clarity to the disclosure, C1, C2, C3, said main body may also have other additional parts of the device and serve as a housing for the device (05).

-

A mobile ballast (04), which moves between the aforementioned cavities due to the effect of gravitational forces, depending on the angular position of the tilting element, altering the center of gravity of the moving part.

-

A material that fills the part of the cavities that is not occupied by the mobile ballast and at the same time allows the free movement of said mobile ballast through the cavities being less dense than said mobile ballast.

And also, depending on the type of device (three or two cavities) and depending on the needs of the application, said device can also present:

-

Means so that between two certain cavities, the ballast flow rate is low in one direction of the circulation but high in the opposite direction to allow a very rapid return of the ballast in the final phase of the operating cycle to its resting position as, by For example, a one-way flow control valve (16-1, 16-2). With these means it is achieved that there are no malfunctions during the ballast recharge period.

-

Means for regulating the flow of the moving ballast (06) in order to adjust the delay time of the start of the return of the tilting element.

-

Means to reduce or eliminate moisture inside the cavities.

-

Automation deactivation means (07).

-

One or more static ballasts or counterweights that can be adjusted in weight and / or position (08).

-

Means or ways of fixing the main body to the tilting element that can allow altering and selecting the relative position between the two (09).

Materials with which the fixed part and the mobile part of this invention can be made.

In the embodiment of this invention, any material for the fixed part and the movable part can be used, with the sole condition that they offer sufficient strength to support all the component parts and admit all the actions taken during normal use, for example, plastics, wood and metals, this relationship having a non-limiting nature because it is a mere example whose purpose is to give more clarity to the disclosure.

Suitable materials to form the mobile ballast and the filling fluid.

As can be seen in the following pages, since the operation of the device is based on the imbalance of moments that cause the mobile ballast and the filling material when moving between the cavities due to gravity, from the strict point of view of the Physically, any pair of materials capable of moving could be used on condition that one of them had a density significantly greater than the other. However, we will analyze here the advantages or disadvantages offered by the different types of materials classified mainly by their form of aggregation and their rheological properties for the foreseeable environmental or climatic conditions of use:

Fluids in gaseous form in general: The gases have very separated molecules with little attraction between them and have very low density, therefore, they are not very suitable as ballast because the imbalances they can produce are not significant. However, they are very suitable as a filling material because they do not oppose resistance to the movement of the ballast and allow large variations in volume under the effect of pressure, allowing the ballast material to dilate freely due to temperature variations without transmitting destructive forces to the cavity walls.

Non-Newtonian fluids in general and in particular liquids: Since their viscosity and some of their rheological properties vary greatly with climatic conditions and with the speed of application of the forces on them, they are inadequate to be used as ballast because they do not allow compliance the advantages numbers 2 and 3 listed on page 3.

Newtonian fluids in liquid form with high viscosity: They are not suitable for the filling material because they do not facilitate the movement of the mobile ballast and are also not suitable for serving as a mobile ballast because they move slowly and, therefore, the time it takes to recovering its resting position constitutes a period in which the automatism is not operational. That is, they cause malfunctions and do not allow you to fulfill the advantage number 3 listed on page 3.

Newtonian fluids in liquid form with low viscosity: These have great advantages over the generality of the fluids to be used as a mobile ballast because due to their low viscosity they can move at high speed making possible the number 3 advantage stated on page 3. On the other hand, within this category there are fluids that allow to fulfill, for its reduced price, the advantage number 4 listed on page 3. As an example of this group of fluids and material that allows to fulfill the aforementioned advantages and keep liquid in a range temperatures hardly exceeded in inhabited areas of the planet, ethanol is quoted, without limitation. Newtonian liquids of low viscosity could also be used as fillers as long as the ballast material had a significantly higher density.

Solids: They are not suitable as filler material because they have a strong opposition to the movement of the mobile ballast. However, they are very suitable to serve as mobile ballast provided they are presented in granular form with negligible cohesion, with very low angle of repose or very low angle of internal friction such as, for example, metallic or non-metallic balls (steel, quartz, glass, etc.) These granular materials are more suitable than low viscosity liquids to serve as mobile ballast because in relation to fluids it has negligible variations in volume with predictable temperature and pressure changes and does not suffer viscosity variations that cause changes in mobility, for therefore, they allow to fulfill the advantage number 2 stated on page 3. They also move at great speed allowing to fulfill the advantage number 3 stated on page 3. In addition, since they can have high density with a relatively reduced cost they allow to reduce the size of the device, adding to this advantage that they do not require a tight realization of the cavities that contain them, so that they allow to perfectly reach the advantage number 4 listed on page 3. In some cases, the mobility of granular solids can be increased and be improved by impregnating them with lubricating materials in the form of very low viscosity liquids Give or in powder form. A granular solid immersed in a liquid matrix can also be used as a mobile ballast, which can also have a lubricating effect of very low viscosity, thereby achieving some advantages such as, for example, the probability of granular ballast clogging is practically reduced to 0%. , the oxidation and excessive wear of the solid material is avoided, the performance and the counterweight effect are increased because the liquid fills all the existing voids in the granular material by displacing the air or gaseous filling that has much lower density than the liquid.

After analyzing the behavior of the materials according to the previous classification, it is concluded that the preferred non-limiting combination for said material pair is:

Mobile ballast material: a granular solid with a low resting angle or low internal friction angle and high density in relation to the filling material, such as polished metal balls. The behavior of the granular solid can be improved by adding fluid lubricants of very low viscosity to impregnate the grains and reduce the angle of repose or the internal friction angle or lubricants in powder form can also be used. The granular solid can also be combined with a liquid matrix of lubricating properties.

Filling material: fluid in gaseous form, preferably air.

A second alternative preferred embodiment is:

Mobile ballast material: granular solid with low resting angle or low internal friction angle and high density in relation to the filling material, such as metal balls.

Filling material: fluid in liquid form of low density with respect to the ballast and low viscosity, said fluid can also have lubricating properties to improve the mobility of the mobile ballast.

A third alternative embodiment is:

Mobile ballast material: fluid in liquid form of low viscosity and high density in relation to the filling material.

Filling material: fluid in the form of gas, preferably air.

A fourth embodiment is:

Mobile ballast material: fluid in liquid form of low viscosity and high density in relation to the filling material.

Filling material: fluid in the form of a liquid of low viscosity and low density in relation to the mobile ballast that is not miscible with said mobile ballast.

Modes of application of the invention

The invention can be applied in such a way that the object whose movement is timed is the tilting element itself, that is to say directly (see as an example figures 01 to 14; 17 to 20 and 26 to 32), or it can be applied indirectly so that the device acts on an external element whose movement, not necessarily tilting, is the one that is really intended to be timed (see as an example figures 21 to 25).

Operation cycle of the invention

The complete operation cycle of the invention for cases of three and two cavities is described below, without this implying a limitation of the embodiments of the device.

Three cavities device, very suitable for angular displacements between approximately 20º and 120º.

The main body is linked to the tilting element so that when said tilting element is in its initial position of rest or first phase, the mobile ballast (04), is located in the cavity C1 for being the cavity that in this phase occupies the lowest place of the three cavities. In this first phase of the operating cycle, the center of gravity (10) of the mobile part formed by the tilting element (11) and the main body with all the parts it comprises (12), is located next to the tilting axis (13) that favors the permanence of the system in its initial position, where there is a physical stop

(14) that prevents displacement in one direction but not in the other.

The second phase is the period in which an external force (15) is applied which essentially causes the rotation on the tilting axis (13) of the mobile part until said mobile part reaches its definitive displaced position when finding a second physical stop (16). With respect to a static observer, the mentioned rotation alters the position of all the parts of the system, resulting that at the end of this second phase, the cavity C2 is lower than the cavity C1 and, therefore, the mobile ballast (04 ) moves rapidly, due to gravity, to the C2 cavity. At the conclusion of this second phase, the center of gravity

(10) of the moving part has changed to the opposite side of the tilting axis, so that said moving part remains in its displaced position even if the force that forced it to move ceases.

In the third or return phase, due to gravity, a transfer of moving ballast mass occurs between the cavity C2 and the cavity C3, this occurs because the cavity C3 is in a lower position than the cavity C2. As the mass transfer proceeds, the center of gravity (10) of the moving part gradually moves again, towards the side of the tilting axis in which it was in the first phase, until, at a certain moment of the mass transfer a critical state of forces is reached that causes the imbalance and the consequent rotation of the moving part that causes it to return to its initial position of the first phase.

As it has already been said, in the initial or first phase position, the cavity C1 is the one that occupies the lowest position, which is why all the mobile ballast (04) is already completely in the cavity C3 , or it still has part of its mass in the cavity C2, quickly returns due to gravity to the cavity C1, said return being carried out automatically without the intervention of any spring, gear, action or external energy.

In order for the described cycle to be carried out correctly in all its phases, it is necessary that there is no transfer of ballast in the direction of C1 to C3, for this purpose different means can be used such as, for example, a non-return valve actuated by the pressure itself of the ballast, located in the conduit that joins C3 and C1 or a large section conduit that joins both cavities arranged so that the end of said conduit that is in the cavity C3 is easily reachable by the mobile ballast when said ballast is in the cavity C3, but the end of the duct that is in the cavity C1, due to its position, is unattainable by the moving ballast when said ballast is in the cavity C1.

Two-cavity device, very suitable for angular displacements between approximately 120º and 180º.

In this way, the main body (12) is linked to the tilting element (11) so that when said tilting element is in its initial resting position or first phase, the moving ballast

(04) is located in cavity C1 because it is the cavity that occupies the lowest place of the two cavities in this phase. In the first phase of the operating cycle, the center of gravity (10) of the mobile part formed by the tilting element (11) and the main body with all the parts that it comprises (12), is located next to the axis of tilting (13) that favors the permanence of the mobile part in its initial position, where there is a physical stop (14) that prevents displacement in one direction but not in the other.

The second phase is the period in which an external force (15) is applied that essentially causes the rotation on the tilting axis (13) of the movable part until it reaches its definitive displaced position when finding a second physical stop (16 ). With respect to a static observer, said rotation alters the position of all parts of the system, resulting in that at the end of this second phase, the cavity C2 is lower than the cavity C1 and the center of gravity (10) of the system has changed on the opposite side of the tilting axis, so that said system remains in its displaced position even if the force that forced it to move ceases.

In the third or return phase, due to gravity, a transfer of moving ballast mass occurs between the cavity C1 and the cavity C2, this occurs because the cavity C2 is in a lower position than the cavity C1. Said mass transfer occurs at low speed due to the means arranged to reduce the ballast flow in the direction of C1 to C2. As the mass transfer proceeds, the center of gravity (10) of the moving part gradually moves again, towards the side of the tilting axis in which it was in the first phase, until a certain moment of the mass transfer a critical state of forces is reached that causes the imbalance and the consequent rotation of the moving part that causes it to return to a position close to the initial one of the first phase. After said rotation, the cavity C2 is raised above the C1 and by the means arranged for this purpose, the moving ballast is quickly moved back to the cavity C1, whereby the state of forces returns to that of the first phase and, consequently, the position of the moving part as well.

In order for the return of the ballast from C2 to C1 to be so rapid that it prevents the occurrence of malfunctions due to excessive recharge time, means such as, for example, an automatic non-return type valve actuated by the ballast pressure itself . If said valve is associated in parallel with, for example, a throttle passage of the moving ballast (20), (Figs. 16-1, 16-2), then the flow in the direction of C1 to C2 is achieved to be small but be very large in the opposite direction.

If the mobile ballast used in this two-cavity device is a liquid fluid or a very fine-grained solid that will occupy the entire section of the ballast transfer conduit, then it will be necessary to provide an additional conduit to allow the flow of the filling material.

Timing of the start of the return

So far, the way in which the device causes the deferred return has been exposed, but said device can incorporate means to ensure that the delay in the beginning of the movement of the moving part can be selected within a certain time range. Said selection or adjustment of the delay at the start of the return is achieved by regulating the ballast flow that is transferred in the third phase by any means belonging to the state of the art. Or, by those described below:

Mode No. 1 to adjust the delay.

This mode is based on the direct introduction of an element into the ballast transfer conduit.

(17) to reduce and even block the ballast passage in the third phase.

Said element can be, for example, a screw (18), a piston, a cam, etc. or a combination of several. The type of regulation element used and its specific shape depend on variables such as the type of mobile ballast used, the surface and shape of the section of the transfer duct and the precision or speed required in the regulation.

However, by introducing external elements inside the duct, joints inevitably occur that, if not properly sealed by seals or other means, could possibly allow the leakage of ballast or the entrance of external moisture or dirt that would affect the proper functioning. Of the device.

Mode No. 2 to adjust the delay.

This mode is designed to avoid, in a simple and economical way, any problem that the joints mentioned in the previous paragraph can generate and avoid any need for maintenance due to their cause.

In this mode, the ballast transfer conduit is completely continuous, it does not have seals or perforations where a sealing element can be introduced, but its walls (19), at least in a certain area, have sufficient elasticity to allow it to be vary the section of the ballast passage opening by exerting a pressure from the outside on them. Returning to recover the initial opening when the pressure exerted ceases. Said pressure may be transmitted to the wall of the duct by elements such as those described in mode # 1 or by any other means.

Automation lock mechanism

It may happen that in system maintenance operations or in exceptionally long uses, the programmed time for the return of the tilting element is exceeded. To prevent any inconvenience that may appear in these exceptional cases, the device may incorporate a lock or locking mechanism that prevents automatic return by absolute closing of the ballast transfer conduit, thereby aborting the third phase of the operating cycle and, therefore, the automatic function is canceled. The insurance mechanism used can be independent of the flow regulation mechanism or the same regulation mechanism can be used to prevent the transfer of ballast mass. This action can be carried out by means of the devices described in this document or by any of the means for cutting or regulating the flow belonging to the state of the art.

Another way to selectively cancel the automatic function is to provide a counterweight of sufficient mass and adjustable position (07) by a simple manipulation from the outside, which taken to a certain position prevents the third phase from being completed because, due to the influence of its weight, the position of the center of gravity of the assembly never reaches the side of the tilting axis that causes the return.

Adjustment through fixed ballast positioning

The position with respect to the tilting axis of the center of gravity of the mobile part formed by the tilting element and the main body with all the parts it comprises, is essential for the proper functioning of this invention. Therefore, in certain applications, depending on the shape and distribution of the masses of the element whose return is to be automated, it may be necessary to incorporate counterweights that transfer the center of gravity of the moving part to the exact required point. Although during the operating cycle, these counterweights must remain static in relation to the body of the device, they may have the possibility of admitting certain displacements during installation operations to proceed with their adjustment and adjustment.

Adjustment by means of variable position anchoring means

As mentioned above, the correct position of the center of gravity of the moving part with respect to the tilt axis at each phase of the cycle is the key to the proper functioning of the invention. Any intended or accidental variation in the installation inclination necessarily alters the position of the center of gravity. If the variation of the inclination is small, the system will not need adjustments because the additional moment produced by such circumstance is negligible in relation to the moment generated by the moving ballast.

If the variation of the inclination has an intermediate magnitude, then its adverse effects on the operation of the invention can be corrected by correcting the position of the static weights or counterweights mentioned in the previous title.

But, in the event that the variation of the inclination is large, which almost exclusively occurs intentionally (see figure 26), the device must have the possibility of modifying its position with respect to the tilting element with two fundamental purposes, the The first is to keep the center of gravity in a suitable position and the second is to prevent the angular variation of the installation from altering the position of the cavities so much that the correct transfer of ballast cannot occur in each phase. See, as an example, Figure 26, in which the angular installation position varies incrementally until a difference of 24 ° is reached between the container of the first row and that of the last.

In practice, this means that the fixing means and the design of the system itself must allow the device to be anchored in different positions, whether said anchor positions are preset at specific points corresponding to each specific angular position provided (see Figure 31). ), or, over a continuous spatial interval within which the installer scores the correct installation position.

List of references used

C1. Cavity C1

C2 C2 cavity

C3 C3 cavity

04.

Mobile ballast, 04a. Cavity filling material.

05.

Device enclosure or housing

06.

Means for regulating ballast flow

07.

Insurance mechanism that deactivates the automation

08.

Ballasts or static weights

09.

Fixing means between main body and tilting element

10.

Center of gravity of the system formed by the tilting element and the main body with all the parts it comprises.

eleven.

Tilting element

12.

Main body

13.

Tilt shaft

14.

Physical stop of the initial position

fifteen.

External force

16.

Physical stop of the displaced position

17.

Ballast transfer duct in the third phase.

18.

Screw for ballast flow regulation that penetrates the third phase transfer conduit

19.

Elastic membrane forming the wall of the ballast transfer conduit in the third phase

twenty.

Non-return valve actuated by the pressure of the ballast associated with a strangulated duct.

twenty-one.

Example of indirect application of the invention on the movement of a third element, in this case, sliding movement

22

Pinion gear with sliding element rack

2. 3.

Free wheel

24.

Ratchet for blocking the return of the sliding element

25.

Eccentricity between the line of action of the external force and the axis of tilt of the automation device.

26.

Zipper of the sliding element that causes the automation system to rotate.

27.

Tooth for crimping with the ratchet of the automation system

28.

Line of action of the external force

29.

Sliding element whose return you want to automate

30

Fixed part presenting the tilting axis. Container.

31.

Perforation in the main body to assemble with a rod in the tilting element

32

Notch in the main body to assemble with a tooth in the tilting element

33.

Rocker rod for assembly with a main body bore

3. 4.

Tooth of the tilting element to assemble with a notch of the main body

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The figures that accompany the present invention and which are explanatory but not limiting serve to interpret and understand the present invention are detailed below. The figures are:

Figure 01: Shows a sectioned view in which the parts of the invention are indicated (in the three-cavity mode).

Figure 02: Shows a sectional view of a two-cavity device in the first phase of operation, when the mobile part is at rest in its initial position because its center of gravity is to the left of the tilt axis and its rotation in the direction Anti-schedule is prevented by a physical stop. In the exemplary embodiment shown in this figure and the following five, the tilting element and main body coincide in a single body.

Figure 03: Shows a sectional view of a two-cavity device at the final moment of the second phase of operation, when an external force has rotated the moving part to a physical stop. The center of gravity of the moving part has moved to the right of the tilt axis so that the system remains stable even if the mentioned force disappears.

Figure 04: Shows a sectional view of a two-cavity device at an instant of the third phase of operation in which sufficient ballast from cavity C1 to C2 has been transferred so that the center of gravity of the moving part returns to position itself to the left of the tilting axis reaching the critical state of equilibrium from which the automatic return of the moving part begins.

Figure 05: Shows a sectional view of a two-cavity device in an instant of the third phase of operation in which the movable part has rotated to a position close to its initial position. In this state, the mobile ballast flow is reversed by transferring at high speed from the cavity C2 to C1. Continuous ballast transfer causes the moving part to quickly approach its initial position.

Figure 06: Shows a sectional view of a two-cavity device in an instant of the third phase of operation in which the moving part has turned to a position very close to its initial position and continues the transfer of ballast from C2 to C1.

Figure 07: Shows a sectional view of a two-cavity device at the moment when the third phase of operation is nearing completion. At this moment the mobile part has already regained its initial position of the first phase but there is still a bit of ballast to be transferred from C2 to C1.

Figure 08: Shows a sectional view of a three cavity device in the first phase of the operating cycle, when the moving part is at rest in its initial position because its center of gravity is to the left of the tilt axis and its rotation Anti-clockwise is prevented by a physical stop.

Figure 09: Shows a sectional view of a three cavity device in the second phase of the operating cycle, when the movement of the moving part begins due to the application of an external force.

Figure 10: Shows a sectional view of a three-cavity device in the second phase of the operating cycle, at the precise moment when the definitive displaced position is about to be reached and the moving ballast mass is being transferred from the cavity C1 to cavity C2.

Figure 11: Shows a sectional view of a three-cavity device in the second phase of the operating cycle, when all the mobile ballast mass has been transferred to the cavity C2 and the displaced position is preserved, even though the external force has disappeared, because the center of gravity of the moving part is to the right of the tilt axis.

Figure 12: Shows a sectional view of a three-cavity device in the third phase of the operating cycle, when the moving ballast mass is being transferred from the cavity C2 to the cavity C3 and the center of gravity of the moving part is displaced to the left of the tilt axis.

Figure 13: Shows a sectional view of the three cavity device in the third phase of the operating cycle, when the center of gravity is already to the left of the center of tilt, the transferred mass of moving ballast has reached the critical point and starts the return movement of the mobile part.

Figure 14: Shows a sectional view of a three cavity device at the last moment of the third phase of the operating cycle, when the movable part has returned to its initial position and the movable ballast is being relocated into the cavity C1.

Figure 15-1: Shows a sectional view of a device in which the regulation of the ballast flow that is transferred in the third phase is carried out by the movement of a screw that is inserted directly into the ballast passage duct.

Figure 15-2: Shows a sectional view of a device in which the regulation of the ballast flow that is transferred in the third phase is carried out by means of pressure on an elastic membrane that forms part of the ballast passage duct.

Figure 16-1: Shows a sectional view of a means to allow the moving ballast flow to be low in one direction of circulation and high in the opposite direction (unidirectional flow regulating valve). You can see in the figure that the ballast is moving in the direction that has its flow reduced.

Figure 16-2: Shows a sectional view of a means to allow the moving ballast flow to be low in one direction of circulation and high in the opposite direction (one-way flow regulating valve). You can see in the figure that the ballast is moving in the direction that has no reduced flow.

Figure 17: Shows a perspective of the invention applied directly to a bin with a tilting cover. You can see in the figure how the user operates the cover (tilting element) that is linked to the main body.

Figure 18: Shows a perspective of the invention applied directly to a bin with a tilting cover. You can see in the figure that the cover is open and remains static while the bin is used.

Figure 19: Shows a perspective of the invention applied directly to a bin with a tilting cover. You can see in the figure that the cover is open and remains static for long enough for the user to finish his action.

Figure 20: Shows a perspective of the invention applied directly to a bin with a tilting cover. You can see in the figure that the cover has started to close automatically when the user is already moving away.

Figure 21: Shows, in the first phase of the operating cycle, a flat exterior view of the mobile part of the invention formed by the tilting element and the main body used indirectly to achieve the delay in the return of an external sliding element .

Figure 22: Shows, in the second phase of the operating cycle, a flat exterior view of the movable part of the invention used indirectly to achieve the delay in the return of an external sliding element. You can see in the figure how the sliding element itself drives the device in its outward movement.

Figure 23: Shows, at the moment when the second phase ends and the third of the operating cycle begins, a flat exterior view of the movable part of the invention used indirectly to achieve the delay in the return of an external sliding element . It can be seen in the figure how a ratchet included in the tilting element blocks the action of the return force.

Figure 24: Shows, in an instant of the third phase of the operating cycle, a flat exterior view of the movable part used indirectly to achieve the delay in the return of an external sliding element. You can see in the figure how the ratchet has released the sliding element.

Figure 25: Shows a perspective of a closed commercial display of frozen products in which the device is applied indirectly to automate the return of the two lower sliding doors.

Figure 26: Shows a perspective of a display cabinet for sweets comprising a multiplicity of individual containers with a tilting lid to which the claimed invention has been incorporated. Said vessels vary their angular position incrementally according to the height at which they are placed.

Figure 27: Shows a perspective view of a container with a closed tilting lid to which a form of the claimed invention has been incorporated. It can be seen in the figure that the main body is anchored in one of its extreme positions to the tilting cover.

Figure 28: Shows an exterior perspective of the main body of an automation device designed with means to be able to be anchored to the tilting lid of a container in seven different spatial positions.

Figure 29: Shows a perspective view of a container with open tilting lid to which a form of the claimed invention has been incorporated. It can be seen in the figure that the main body of the device is anchored in one of its extreme positions to the tilting cover.

Figure 30: Shows a perspective view of a container with a closed tilting lid to which a form of the claimed invention has been incorporated. It can be seen in the figure that the main body of the device is anchored in one of its extreme positions opposite to that of Figures 27 and 29 to compensate for the variation in the inclination of the container.

Figure 31: Shows a perspective of an automation device designed to be assembled in different positions. It can be seen in the figure that the means used for selective anchoring, in this example, are seven perforations and seven notches made in the main body that allow seven different spatial positions when assembled with the rod and the tooth of the tilting element.

Figure 32: Shows a perspective view of a container with open tilting lid to which a claimed form of the invention has been incorporated. It can be seen in the figure that the main body of the automation device is anchored in one of its extreme positions opposite to that of Figures 27 and 29 to compensate for the variation in the inclination of the container.

PREFERRED MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention has many possible embodiments and applications without any being highlighted as preferred. Note that, with the relevant design and adaptations, the claimed device can be used to influence movements of any kind, either by stopping, delaying or slowing them down. However, we find optimum performance when applying said device to reciprocating movements such as those described below with the sole purpose of serving as an example without limitation.

Device used in fixed direct application to automate the return of a tilting element. For example, the tilting lid of a bin.

This embodiment refers to the case that the object whose movement is to be automated is the tilting element itself and no significant deviations are foreseen in the installation angle of the system with respect to the intended position. To illustrate and make this embodiment more understandable, a tilting cover of a wastebasket similar to any of those that can usually be found among the urban furniture of any city or of public enclosures such as stadiums, shopping centers, etc. has been chosen as an element to automate. . Figures 17 to 20. It is therefore a completely closed bin, very suitable for places where you want to achieve a high degree of cleanliness. Said bin includes:

-

A fixed part that is a container (30) or means for containing the waste that is its own, said container has its upper part in the form of a vault delimited by two opposite walls with approximately semicircular shape, in the front part of said vault, according to its position of use, an opening is located that preferably has an angular amplitude not exceeding 90 ° so it occupies approximately the front half of said vault, said fixed part has a slightly eccentric tilt axis with respect to the vault axis; Y

-

A mobile part comprising:

-

A main body (12) preferably of three cavities that can rotate around the tilt axis that is anchored to the fixed part; Y

-

A tilting element that is a cover (11) or cover, which also has a vault shape but a radius slightly greater than the radius of the container vault in order to allow it to swing over the container, the cover has side walls that are extend in the direction of the tilting axis and are jointly linked to the main body so that they swing on the same axis, the aforementioned eccentricity of the tilting axis with respect to the center of the side walls of the container vault allows the lid to be completely adjusted to the container when it is in its closed position, but conveniently separates from said container when the lid is open to avoid friction that could hinder the proper functioning of the claimed invention, the lid can move angularly between two physical stops, one in the front part corresponding to its closed position and ot ro at the rear corresponding to its open position, the angular displacement delimited by said stops is equivalent to the angle of the opening of the container, in this case, slightly less than 90 °.

Adjustable position device applied directly to automate the return of a tilting element. For example, a tilting lid of a container.

This embodiment refers to the case where the object whose movement is to be automated is the tilting element itself but different angular installation positions are provided for said tilting element with respect to the vertical. To illustrate and make this embodiment more understandable, a tilting cover of a food product display container, such as sweets or chocolates, has been chosen as an element to automate. Said container can be placed in a piece of furniture that houses a multiplicity of equal containers but arranged in such a way that the greater the installation height, the greater its inclination angle in order to maintain the good visibility of the exposed product and also the good accessibility. Figures 26 to 32.

It is therefore a container that, in order to comply with certain sanitary standards, must protect and completely isolate the product it contains from the polluting environment that surrounds it, that is, it must necessarily remain closed when it is not being used. Said display container comprises:

-

A fixed part that is a container (30) or means for containing the food products that are its own, said container is completely open at its top, according to the position of use, the container has two side walls whose free edges are preferably curved , at least in part, said container has a tilting axis (13) located slightly eccentrically with respect to the center of the curved edges of the side walls; Y

-

A mobile part comprising:

-

A main body (12) preferably of three cavities that can rotate around the tilting axis (13), said main body has means to allow it to be fixed in different preset positions that cause a variation in angle and position, said means consist, by For example, in perforations (31) and notches (32) which define by perforation-notch pairs variations of inclination angle and position relative to the tilting element, with said variation it is achieved that for the first phase of the operating cycle the position is always preserved angular of the cavities with respect to the vertical, whatever the angular position of the tilting element and, at the same time, the masses of the main body are displaced to compensate for the change in the position of the center of gravity of the tilting element; Y

-

A tilting element that is a cover (11) or lid whose curved surface results from considering the free lateral edge of the container as a generatrix of the lower surface of said lid, which ensures a perfect coupling when closed, the lid has legs laterals that extend in the direction of the tilting axis and are jointly and severally connected to the main body by means of a rod (33) and a tooth (34) that are inserted in the corresponding piercing-notch pair of the main body, so that, Once said cover is connected in solidarity with said automation device, both pivot in solidarity on the same axis, the aforementioned eccentricity of the tilting axis with respect to the center of the side walls of the container allows the lid to be completely adjusted to the container when it is in position. closed, but conveniently separate from said container when the lid is opened, which prevents friction from appearing that could hinder the proper functioning of the claimed invention, the cover can move angularly between two physical stops, one in the front part (14) corresponding to its closed position and another in the corresponding rear part (16) to its open position.

Device applied indirectly to the automation of the return of an element other than the tilting element.

The claimed invention, with a suitable embodiment, can act on the movement of an external element even if said movement is not of the tilting type. This embodiment comprises:

-

A fixed part that has a tilting axis;

-

A mobile part of the device comprising:

-

A main body (12) that can rotate on the tilt axis anchored to the fixed part; Y

-

A tilting element (11) integral with the main body comprising: means for converting the movement of an external element into a turning movement of the main body, such as a pinion (22) or gearwheel; and means for retaining and releasing the movement of the external element, such as a ratchet (24) with a wheel (23) at its end; Y

-

An external element with reciprocating movement (29) whose return movement is the one that remains automated, comprising: means for transmitting its own movement to the mobile part of the device such as, for example, a rack (26) that meshes with the pinion of the tilting element; and means for being retained by the action of the tilting element such as, for example, a tooth (27) that meshes with the ratchet of said tilting element and serves as a stop for the angular position displaced limit.

To make the operation of this embodiment more comprehensible, it will be described by a practical example of application to a commercial frozen food display (fig. 25) of those of the type consisting of a large upper opening chest whose enclosure has some fixed panels located at the top and some flaps that can slide under said fixed panels, these flaps being the external elements (29) whose return movement is automated.

Said flaps are arranged so that the user must apply a force on them to open them but not to close them because, due to the slope of their guides, said sliding flaps are closed by the effect of the force of gravity. Each of the flaps has a zipper (26) and a stop piece (16) with a tooth (27) at the upper end of one of its sides.

The fixed part is the own chest or container (30) that has a tilting axis anchored in its upper part, in the example of figure 25, the exhibitor has two independent sliding flaps, therefore, it also has two devices independent automation.

The movable part of the device formed by the main body and the tilting element are inserted in the tilting axis and solidly linked to each other so that they rotate integrally around said tilting axis.

The tilting element is composed of a pinion (22) and a ratchet (24) that has a wheel (23) at its end or means to reduce or save the frictional force, said ratchet is free when the device is in position initial rest or first phase (fig. 21).

The rack that presents the trapdoor, at the end of the upward path of said trapdoor, meshes with the pinion of the tilting element starting the second phase of the cycle (fig. 22) and rotating the device around the tilting axis. By the combination of the rotation imposed on the movable part and the displacement of the sliding flap, the ratchet (24) of the tilting element ends up engaging with the tooth (27) of said flap and abutting a piece arranged for that purpose.

When the ratchet (24) is already engaged (fig. 23), it is then able to prevent the return movement of the trapdoor and, therefore, even if the user stops holding it, the trapdoor will remain open.

When the eccentricity between the line of action of the return force and the center of tilt is properly dimensioned, the moment with respect to the center of tilt produced by the return force of the trapdoor is less than the opposite moment produced by the ballast mobile at the end of the second phase, so the trapdoor does not close. However, if the user applies a moderate force, he will be able to close the trapdoor manually because it will increase the return force to the point that the moment thus generated will be greater than the moment of the opposite sign generated by the moving ballast. With such extra force, the user urges the device to return to the first phase in a faster way but without harmful consequences for said device.

Once the ratchet has been crimped, if the user does not wish or forgets to manually close the trapdoor, the third phase of the operating cycle is entered in which the moving ballast inside the main body begins to transfer until at a certain moment it causes the device to rotate in the opposite direction to that of the second phase causing the ratchet to tear off the tooth and release the trapdoor (fig. 24). In order to achieve optimum ratchet sliding, means must be provided to save or reduce frictional forces between said ratchet and the tooth such as, for example, a wheel at the end of said ratchet or materials with low coefficient of friction, lubricant application, etc.

Device applied indirectly to automation with the effect of slowing the return of an element other than the tilting element.

In an embodiment similar to that of the previous example, providing means for the ratchet to be crimped and released repeatedly, in addition to being delayed the start of the return movement, the slowdown of said return occurs.

Claims (21)

1. Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, characterized in that it comprises: A fixed part that has a tilting axis; Y A mobile part comprising: a tilting element that rotates around said tilting axis describing an angle defined by two physical stops that determine an initial angular position of rest and an angular position offset boundary; and a main body that, assembled to the tilting element or forming with it a single unit, rotates in solidarity with said tilting element, said main body comprises: a mobile ballast that, depending on the angular position of the mobile part of the device, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity; three cavities connected to each other that are called, in order to give greater clarity to claim, C1, C2 and C3, the cavity C1 being the lowest position and the one containing the entire mobile ballast when the movable part is in the angular position of rest, in said resting position the center of gravity is located on the side of the tilting axis that favors said rest, C2 being the cavity to which the entire mobile ballast is transferred by gravity when the tilting element is brought to the displaced limit position, thereby causing the center of gravity to be located on the side of the tilting axis that favors the permanence in said displaced limit position, and C3 being the cavity to which the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from the cavity C2 after the tilting element has been brought to the angular position displaced limit, causing as said ballast is transferred mobile that the center of gravity moves towards the side of the tilting axis that induces by imbalance of moments that said tilting element initiates a return movement to its initial angular position of rest, then moving the moving ballast back to the cavity C1 by gravity; a fluid filling material that occupies the volume of the cavities that is not occupied by the mobile ballast; means for transferring ballast in the direction of cavity C1 to C2 and of cavity C3 to C1 occurring at high speed; means for ballast transfer between cavities C2 and C3 to occur at low speed; and means for preventing the transfer of ballast in the direction of the cavity C1 to C3 but not of C3 to C1, such as, for example, a non-return valve actuated by the ballast pressure itself located in the conduit that joins C3 and C1 . 2. Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, characterized in that it comprises: A fixed part that has a tilting axis; Y A mobile part comprising: a tilting element that rotates around said tilting axis describing an angle defined by two physical stops that determine an initial angular position of rest and an angular position offset boundary; and a main body which, assembled to the tilting element or forming with it a single unit, rotates in solidarity with said tilting element, said main body comprises: a mobile ballast that, depending on the angular position of the mobile part of the device, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity; two cavities connected to each other which are called, in order to give greater clarity to claim, C1 and C2, the cavity C1 being the lowest position and the one containing the entire mobile ballast when the tilting element is in the angular position initial rest, in said resting position the center of gravity is located on the side of the tilting axis that favors said resting position, when the tilting element is brought to the limit displaced position then the center of gravity moves to the other side of the tilting axis forcing the permanence of the tilting element in said bounded position and in addition the cavity C1 is higher than the C2, as a consequence of the new relative positions, the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from the cavity C1 to the C2 causing the center of gravity to move until it causes an imbalance of moments that said tilting element starts a m ovimiento return to its initial angular position of rest; a fluid filling material that occupies the volume of the cavities that is not occupied by the mobile ballast; means for ensuring that the transfer of ballast in the direction of the cavity C1 to C2 occurs at low speed and the transfer of mobile ballast in the direction of the cavity C2 to C1 occurs at high speed; and one or more static ballasts or counterweights that are adjustable in weight and / or position in order to move the center of gravity of the moving part to a spatial position that allows all phases of the operating cycle of the invention to be developed correctly . 3. Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, characterized in that it comprises: A fixed part that has a tilting axis; Y A mobile part comprising: a tilting element that rotates around said tilting axis describing an angle defined by two physical stops that determine an initial angular position of rest and an angular position offset boundary; and a main body which, assembled to the tilting element or forming with it a single unit, rotates in solidarity with said tilting element, said main body comprises: a mobile ballast that, depending on the angular position of the mobile part of the device, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity; two cavities connected to each other which are called, in order to give greater clarity to claim, C1 and C2, the cavity C1 being the lowest position and the one containing the entire mobile ballast when the tilting element is in the angular position initial rest, in said resting position the center of gravity is located on the side of the tilting axis that favors said resting position, when the tilting element is brought to the limit displaced position then the center of gravity moves to the other side of the tilting axis forcing the permanence of the tilting element in said bounded position and in addition the cavity C1 is higher than the C2, as a consequence of the new relative positions, the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from the cavity C1 to the C2 causing the center of gravity to move until it causes an imbalance of moments that said tilting element starts a m ovimiento return to its initial angular position of rest; a fluid filling material that occupies the volume of the cavities that is not occupied by the mobile ballast; means for ensuring that the transfer of ballast in the direction of the cavity C1 to C2 occurs at low speed and the transfer of mobile ballast in the direction of the cavity C2 to C1 occurs at high speed; and an adjustable position counterweight by manipulation from the outside which, taken to a certain position, influences the position of the center of gravity of the moving part in such a way that it prevents the device's operating cycle from being completed because said center of gravity never reaches to be positioned on the side of the tilting axis that causes the return of the moving part. 4. Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, characterized in that it comprises: A fixed part that has a tilting axis; Y A mobile part comprising: a tilting element that rotates around said tilting axis describing an angle defined by two physical stops that determine an initial angular position of rest and an angular position offset boundary; and a main body which, assembled to the tilting element or forming with it a single unit, rotates in solidarity with said tilting element, said main body comprises: a mobile ballast that, depending on the angular position of the mobile part of the device, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity; two cavities connected to each other which are called, in order to give greater clarity to claim, C1 and C2, the cavity C1 being the lowest position and the one containing the entire mobile ballast when the tilting element is in the angular position initial rest, in said resting position the center of gravity is located on the side of the tilting axis that favors said resting position, when the tilting element is brought to the limit displaced position then the center of gravity moves to the other side of the tilting axis forcing the permanence of the tilting element in said bounded position and in addition the cavity C1 is higher than the C2, as a consequence of the new relative positions, the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from the cavity C1 to the C2 causing the center of gravity to move until it causes an imbalance of moments that said tilting element starts a m ovimiento return to its initial angular position of rest; a fluid filling material that occupies the volume of the cavities that is not occupied by the mobile ballast; means for ensuring that the transfer of ballast in the direction of the cavity C1 to C2 occurs at low speed and the transfer of mobile ballast in the direction of the cavity C2 to C1 occurs at high speed; and means for regulating the flow of the mobile ballast that is transferred between certain said cavities in order to vary the duration of the operating cycle of the device such as, for example, a screw operable from the outside.

5.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to claim 1, characterized by

include means for regulating the flow of the mobile ballast that is transferred between certain said cavities in order to vary the duration of the operating cycle of the device.

6.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said means for regulating the flow of the mobile ballast comprise:

A ballast passageway between certain said cavities whose walls, at least in one part, have sufficient elasticity to allow the section of the ballast passage opening to be varied by exerting pressure from the outside on said elastic walls of the conduit, returning to recover the initial opening when the pressure exerted ceases; and means for exerting pressure on said elastic walls of the duct such as, for example, a screw, a piston or a cam.

7.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises means for cutting the ballast flow mobile that is transferred between certain said cavities in order to interrupt the operating cycle of the device to cancel its automatic function.

8.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2 or 4, characterized by presenting an adjustable position counterweight by manipulation from the outside which, when taken to a certain position, influences the position of the center of gravity of the mobile part in such a way that it prevents the device's operating cycle from being completed because said center of gravity never manages to position itself on the side of the tilting axis that causes the return of the mobile part.

9.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized by presenting means or ways of fixing the body main to the tilting element that allow altering and selecting the relative position between them.

10.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said mobile ballast is a granular solid with negligible cohesion and low angle of rest or internal friction, preferably less than 20 °.

eleven.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said mobile ballast is a granular solid with negligible cohesion and low angle of rest or internal friction, arranged in a liquid matrix of low viscosity, preferably with lubricating characteristics.

12.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said mobile ballast is a Newtonian fluid in liquid form of very low viscosity, such as ethanol, to achieve the advantages over other types of fluids to reduce the cost, that the device has no malfunctions when operated immediately after an automatic or forced closure and that it works in a range determined by the temperatures that can occur in normally inhabited areas such as, for example, between -20ºC and 45ºC.

13.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said filling material is a liquid of Very low viscosity, preferably with lubricating characteristics.

14.

Device without springs or external energy supply for the automation of the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it is applied to the automation of the return of the cover of a wastebasket and because: Said fixed part of the device having a tilting axis is a container or means for containing the waste of a wastebasket; The tilting element of the mobile part of the device is the cover of said container which rotates tilting around said tilting axis between two physical stops that delimit the angular limit positions; and the main body is firmly attached to said cover so that both rotate in solidarity.

fifteen.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1,

2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it applies to the automation of the return of the cover of a container for food products and because: Said fixed part presenting a tilting axis is a container or means for containing food products; Y Said movable part comprises: a main body that rotates around said tilting axis, said main body has means to allow it to be assembled in different positions with respect to the tilting element, for example, a series of perforations and notches that define perforation pairs a multiplicity of variations in inclination angle and position relative to the tilting element; and a tilting element that is the cover of said container or means for containing food products, said cover has means for being assembled to the main body such as, for example, a rod and a tooth that are inserted into any of the perforation-notch pairs of said main body. 16. Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it acts on the movement of a external element with not necessarily tilting movement and because: Said tilting element comprises: means for converting the movement of an external element into a turning movement of the mobile part, such as a pinion; and means for retaining and releasing the movement of the external element, such as a ratchet with a wheel at its end; and because it also includes: An external element with reciprocating movement, to be automated its return movement, comprising: means for transmitting its own movement to the mobile part of the device such as, for example, a rack that meshes with the pinion of said tilting element; and means for being retained by the action of said tilting element such as, for example, a tooth that meshes with the ratchet of said tilting element and serves as a stop for the angular position displaced limit. 17. Device without springs or external energy supply for the automation of the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to claim 16, characterized in that it is applied to the automation of the return of the sliding hatch of a bunker commercial display of frozen products and why: The fixed part that has a tilting axis is a container for frozen products with a large opening in its upper part, according to its position of use; The mobile part of the device itself is located at the end of the sliding hatch path coinciding with its open position; Y The external element with cyclical reciprocating movement is a sliding hatch along guides with an upward slope in the direction of the opening.

18.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to claim 1, characterized by having as a means to prevent the transfer of ballast in the direction of the cavity C1 to C3 a large section duct that joins both cavities arranged so that the end of said duct that is in the cavity C3 is easily reachable by the mobile ballast when said ballast is in the cavity C3, but the end of the duct that is in the cavity C1, due to its position, it is unattainable by the mobile ballast when said ballast is in the cavity C1.

19.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, according to claim 1, characterized by having one or more static ballasts or counterweights that are adjustable in weight and / or position in order to move the center of gravity of the moving part to a spatial position that allows all phases of the operating cycle of the invention to be developed correctly.

twenty.

Device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement, of the type comprising a tilting element that rotates around a tilting axis describing an angle defined by two physical stops that determine an initial angular position of rest and an angular position displaced limit; and a main body that, assembled to the tilting element or forming with it a single unit, rotates in solidarity with said tilting element, said main body comprises:

a mobile ballast that, depending on the angular position of the main body of the device, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity; two cavities connected to each other which are called, in order to give greater clarity to claim, C1 and C2, the cavity C1 being the lowest position and the one containing the entire mobile ballast when the tilting element is in the angular position initial rest, in said resting position the center of gravity is located on the side of the tilting axis that favors said resting position, when the tilting element is brought to the limit displaced position then the center of gravity moves to the other side of the tilting axis forcing the permanence of the tilting element in said bounded position and in addition the cavity C1 is higher than the C2, as a consequence of the new relative positions, the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from the cavity C1 to the C2 causing the center of gravity to move until it causes an imbalance of moments that said tilting element starts a m ovimiento return to its initial angular position of rest; a fluid filling material that occupies the volume of the cavities that is not occupied by the mobile ballast; means to ensure that the transfer of ballast in the direction of the cavity C1 to C2 occurs at low speed and the transfer of mobile ballast in the direction of the cavity C2 to C1 occurs at high speed, characterized in that: it acts on the movement of an external element with not necessarily tilting movement and because: Said tilting element comprises: means for converting the movement of an external element into a turning movement of said tilting element such as, for example, a pinion; and means for retaining and releasing the movement of the external element, such as a ratchet with a wheel at its end; and because it also comprises: An external element with reciprocating movement, to be automated its return movement, comprising: means for transmitting its own movement to said tilting element of the device such as, for example, a rack that meshes with the pinion of said tilting element; and means for being retained by the action of said tilting element such as, for example, a tooth that meshes with the ratchet of said tilting element and preferably serves as a stop for the angular position offset boundary. SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application number: 201131191 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 13.07.2011 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: E05F1 / 02 (2006.01) B65F1 / 16 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

X

WO 9806918 A1 (CORDIAL B V; KOK JOHAN; JONGEJAN CORNELIS) 19.02.1998, the whole document. 1,2,9,10-14,18

Y

5-7

Y

WO 9941163 A1 (CORDIALPHEN B V; JONGEJAN CORNELIS) 19.08.1999, page 7, lines 2-8; figure 3. 5-7

TO

US 4205483 A (CLARK LLOYD D; PRESSMAN DAVID) 03.06.1980, column 2, line 3 - column 3, line 5; Figures 1-3. 1,2,18

TO

GB 2251782 A (MOWBRAY GEORGE M) 22.07.1992, page 6, line 24 - page 9, line 14; Figures 5-9. 1,2,18

TO

US 2005284870 A1 (SIMPLEHUMAN) 29.12.2005, figure 9. 16.17

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 08.11.2011

Examiner F. J. Riesco Ruiz Page 1/5

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201131191 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) E05F, B65F Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201131191 Date of Written Opinion: 08.11.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 2-12.15-17 1.13,14,18 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 3,4,8,15-17 1,2,5-7,9-14,18 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201131191  1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

WO 9806918 A1 (CORDIAL B V; KOK JOHAN; JONGEJAN CORNELIS) 19.02.1998

D02

WO 9941163 A1 (CORDIALPHEN B V; JONGEJAN CORNELIS) 19.08.1999

 2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The object of the invention according to independent claim 1 is a device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement comprising a fixed part, which has a tilting axis. , and a movable part comprising, in turn, a tilting element, which rotates between two physical stops determining an initial resting position and an angular position offset boundary, and a main body that rotates with said tilting element. This main body comprises a mobile ballast that, depending on the position of the mobile part, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity and three cavities connected to each other. The cavity C1 is the one with the lowest position and the one that contains all the moving ballast in the rest position; in said position the center of gravity favors said resting position; the cavity C2 is the cavity to which the entire mobile ballast is transferred in the displaced limit position, the center of gravity now favoring the permanence in said position; and C3 is the cavity to which the mobile ballast is gradually transferred from the cavity C2 after the tilting element has been brought to the bounded position, causing said gradual displacement that the center of gravity moves until inducing a return movement to the resting position, then moving the moving ballast to cavity C1 by gravity. The main body also has a fluid material that occupies the cavities not occupied by the mobile ballast; means for transferring ballast from C1 to C2 and from C3 to C1 at high speed and from C2 to C3 at low speed; and means to prevent the transfer of ballast from C1 to C3, but not from C3 to C1. It is also the object of the invention, according to independent claim 2, a device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the container cover or other elements with reciprocating movement comprising a fixed part, which has an axis of tilting, and a movable part comprising, in turn, a tilting element, which rotates between two physical stops determining an initial resting position and an angular position offset boundary, and a main body that rotates with said tilting element. This main body comprises a mobile ballast in the form of granular solid with negligible cohesion and low angle of repose that, depending on the position of the mobile part, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity and two cavities connected to each other. The cavity C1 is the one with the lowest position and the one that contains all the moving ballast in the rest position; in said position the center of gravity favors said resting position. When the tilting element is brought to the limit displaced position the center of gravity moves there, forcing the permanence in said position and the cavity C1 being higher than the cavity C2. In this new position the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from C1 to C2, causing said gradual displacement that the center of gravity moves until inducing a movement back to the rest position. The main body also has a fluid material that occupies the cavities not occupied by the mobile ballast and means so that the transfer of ballast from C1 to C2 is at low speed and that of C2 to C1 is at high speed. Document D1 discloses a device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the cover of a container comprising a fixed part, which has a tilting axis, and a moving part comprising, in turn, a cover tilting, which rotates between two physical stops determining an initial resting position and an angular position displaced limit, and a main body that is firmly attached to the cover and that rotates with said tilting cover. This main body comprises a movable ballast (reference 26; figures 11-13) which, depending on the position of the roof, moves by altering the position of the center of gravity and three cavities connected to each other. The cavity C1 (reference D in figure 13) is the one with the lowest position and the one that contains all the moving ballast in the rest position; in said position the center of gravity favors said resting position; the cavity C2 (entry of the tapes 49.50; figures 12.13) is the cavity to which the entire mobile ballast is transferred in the bounded position, the center of gravity now favoring the permanence in said position; and C3 (reference C in Figure 13) is the cavity to which the mobile ballast is gradually transferred and delayed from the cavity C2 after the tilting element has been moved to the displaced boundary position, causing said gradual displacement that the center of gravity moves to induce a movement back to the rest position, then moving the moving ballast to cavity C1 by gravity. The main body also has a fluid material, which can be air or a viscous liquid material, which occupies the cavities not occupied by the mobile ballast; an elastic lip that allows a rapid transfer of the ballast from C3 to C1, but prevents the transfer of ballast from C1 to C3, while the base of the main body allows a rapid transfer of ballast from C1 to C2. Likewise, a pair of material tapes (references 49 and 50) act as means that delay the passage of ballast from C2 to C3, causing it to occur at low speed (see page 14, line 26 - page 16, line 19; figures 11-13). State of the Art Report Page 4/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201131191 Therefore, claims 1, 13, 14 and 18 are novel in relation to what is disclosed in document D1 (Art. 6 LP). On the other hand, in another possible embodiment, document D1 discloses a device without springs or external energy supply for automating the return of the cover of a container comprising a fixed part, which has a tilting axis, and a moving part that It comprises, in turn, a tilting cover, which rotates between two determining physical stops of an initial resting position and an angular position offset boundary, and a main body that is firmly attached to the cover and which rotates with said tilting cover. This main body comprises a movable ballast (reference 26; figures 3,4) which, depending on the position of the roof, is displaced by altering the position of the center of gravity and two cavities connected to each other. The cavity C1 (reference 27 in figures 3 and 4) is the one with the lowest position and the one that contains all the moving ballast in the rest position; in said position the center of gravity favors said resting position. When the cover is moved to the limit displaced position the center of gravity moves there, forcing the permanence in said position and the cavity C1 being higher than the cavity C2 (opposite end to 27 in the guide 24). In this new position the moving ballast is gradually transferred by gravity from C1 to C2 through a curved guide that joins them, causing said gradual displacement that the center of gravity moves until inducing a movement back to the rest position. The main body also has a fluid material that occupies the cavities not occupied by the mobile ballast and the curvature of the guide makes the transfer of ballast from C1 to C2 at low speed and that from C2 to C1 is at high speed. It is also contemplated to replace the solid ballast with a liquid fluid (see page 10, line 6 - page 13, line 20; figures 1-4). The fact that the ballast is a granular solid is considered an obvious alternative for the person skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention defined in claims 2, 10 to 12 does not differ from the known technique described in document D1 in any essential way, being considered obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention according to claims 2 and 10-12 is not considered to imply inventive activity based on what is disclosed in document D1 (Art. 8 LP). On the other hand, in relation to dependent claim 9, that the union between the main body and the cover allows altering its relative position is considered an obvious option for the person skilled in the art, which does not imply an inventive activity (Art. 8 LP ). In relation to dependent claims 5 to 7, document D2 discloses an automatic and delayed closing container cover by friction that walls exert on a mobile counterweight of the lid. The device includes external screws that allow to regulate the friction between walls and counterweight, increasing or decreasing it (see page 7, lines 2-8; figure 3). For a person skilled in the art, it would be obvious to employ an analogous regulation element in order to influence friction with the mobile ballast described in document D1, resulting in the technical object set forth in claims 5 to 7 of the application. Therefore, claims 5-7 lack inventive activity in relation to what is disclosed in documents D1 and D2 (Art. 8 LP). State of the Art Report Page 5/5