Stiffened table for a container handling machine

Abstract

Table ( 1 ) for a container handling machine ( 2 ), comprising:. a housing ( 3 ) having an upper panel ( 4 ) and a lower panel ( 5 ) spaced apart, a plurality of barrels ( 7 ) mounted onto the housing ( 3 ), said barrels ( 7 ) being adapted for receiving functional elements ( 8 ) of said container handling machine ( 2 ), a network ( 10 ) of stiffeners ( 9 ) mounted in the housing ( 3 ) between the upper panel ( 4 ) and the lower panel ( 5 ), and including stiffeners ( 9 ) interconnecting the barrels ( 7 ).

1 . Table for a container handling machine, comprising: 
 a housing having an upper panel and a lower panel spaced apart,    a plurality of barrels mounted onto the housing, said barrels being adapted for receiving functional elements of said container handling machine,    wherein the table further comprises a network of stiffeners mounted in the housing between the upper panel and the lower panel, said network including stiffeners interconnecting barrels.    
   
   
       2 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein said stiffeners interconnecting barrels are welded to the barrels.  
   
   
       3 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffeners are welded to the lower panel.  
   
   
       4 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffeners are welded to the upper panel.  
   
   
       5 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the table further comprises legs fixed to the housing, and wherein the network includes at least one stiffener interconnecting at least one leg and one barrel.  
   
   
       6 . Table according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one stiffener interconnecting at least one leg and one barrel is welded to said at least one leg and at least one barrel.  
   
   
       7 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the table comprises legs fixed to the housing, and wherein the network includes at least one stiffener interconnecting at least one leg and another leg.  
   
   
       8 . Table according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one stiffener interconnecting at least one leg and another leg is welded to both legs.  
   
   
       9 . Table according to  claim 1 , further comprising legs fixed to the housing, said network of stiffeners further including at least another stiffener interconnecting one leg or one barrel to another stiffener.  
   
   
       10 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffeners consist of substantially rectangular metallic plates.  
   
   
       11 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffeners are provided with holes therethrough.  
   
   
       12 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein each barrel consists of a hollow cylinder.  
   
   
       13 . Table according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower panel is provided with cut-outs defining strips of material which link mounting areas for the mounting of the barrels, and wherein the stiffeners are mounted onto the strips.  
   
   
       14 . Container handling machine comprising a table according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       15 . Method for manufacturing a table according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
 providing the lower panel,    providing the barrels,    mounting the barrels onto the lower panel, at predetermined respective mounting areas,    fixing the barrels to the lower panel,    providing the stiffeners,    mounting the stiffeners onto the lower panel so as to link the barrels,    fixing the stiffeners to the lower panel and to the barrels,    providing the upper panel,    mounting the upper panel onto the barrels and the stiffeners,    fixing the upper panel to the barrels and the stiffeners.    
   
   
       16 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of fixing the barrels to the lower panel consists of provisionally welding the barrels to the lower panel.  
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of fixing the barrels to the lower panel consists of spot welding the barrels to the lower panel.  
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 16 , comprising a further step of permanently welding the barrels to the lower panel.  
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of fixing the stiffeners to the lower panel and to the barrels consists of provisionally welding the stiffeners to the lower panel and to the barrels.  
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of fixing the stiffeners to the lower panel consists of spot welding the stiffeners to the lower panel and to the barrels.  
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 19 , comprising a further step of permanently welding the stiffeners to the lower panel.  
   
   
       22 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein the step of fixing the upper panel to the barrels and to the stiffeners consists of welding the upper panel to the barrels and to the stiffeners.