EP2698213A1 - Marking device for marking containers, container treatment device and a method for marking containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The marking device (1) has a receiving device (2) which is provided for receiving measured feature data of a container and/or one or more container configurations. A creating device (3) is provided for creating marking data based on the measured feature data. The marking data is created in such a way to indicate which of several criteria of container and/or one or more container configurations do not satisfy. An applying device (4) is provided for physically applying marking onto container, in which marking is based on the marking data. An independent claim is included for method for marking containers.

Description

The invention relates to a marking device for marking containers according to the preamble of claim 1, a container treatment device according to the preamble of claim 6 and a method for marking containers according to the preamble of claim 7.

State of the art

The current state of the art is that, for example, in a filling plant in the food industry, inspection and / or distribution systems are arranged according to inspection units and / or machines, which guide investigated containers onto appropriate paths in accordance with the respective examination result. For example, under a filled machine, underfilled containers may be directed onto a discharge conveyor. But it is also possible that several different inspection results are passed to a common band, such. underfilled and / or incorrectly sealed containers. Thus, there are containers for two different types of errors and also false rejections at an extermination station. In borderline cases, it may happen that it is not obvious what type of fault exists or whether a malfunction or contamination of the inspection device has led to the discharge of the container and the container actually has no error.

The publication DE 26 53 000 discloses a device for marking selected articles in a block of articles which move in rows along a conveyor belt and are arranged in batches transverse to the conveyor belt. A plurality of marking units are arranged transversely above the conveyor belt, and each of them is mounted vertically above one of these rows of articles. The tag unit may receive signals to mark one of the selected items appearing below the tag unit. The marking medium is preferably paint which is non-toxic and preferably reflective.

GB 1 402 857 discloses a marking system for marking defective articles so that they can be easily distinguished from similar articles which are not defective. A marker may be applied to a container by means of a marking unit, using, for example, ink or other marking liquid. Marked defective containers can be detected either by an automatic inspection device or by manual inspection.

WO 2011/030042 A1 discloses a method in which objects that match a criterion are assigned an identifier "1" and an identifier "0" is assigned to objects that do not match the criterion. The identifier is intended to help with a manual sorting of the identified objects that do not match the criterion. The placement of the visual identifier does not physically take place on the object, since a physical marking can damage the object, for example, or adhere poorly to the object. For example, a visual identifier may be to project a cone of light at the identified objects that do not match the criterion.

DE 198 34 185 A1 discloses a method of inspecting container closures, wherein when attaching the closures an internal pressure feature is measured and / or parameters of the closures or containers whose knowledge is necessary for the determination of the internal pressure from the measurement of the internal pressure feature are detected. The marking makes it possible to assign the values measured or recorded when attaching the closures to the respective container. For example, the measured values of the feature and the parameters can be attached directly to the container by means of the marking.

task

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a marking device which makes it possible to create markings and to arrange on / on a container, so that also unambiguous errors can be assigned to or on containers or errors in connection with a container. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a container treatment device with the marking device and an improved method for marking containers by means of the marking device.

solution

This object is achieved by the marking device according to claim 1, the container treatment device according to claim 6 and the method according to claim 7. Preferred embodiments are covered in the subclaims.

The marking device for marking containers, for example in the food industry, comprises means for receiving measured feature data of a container and / or one or more container features, such as label and / or closure, wherein the measured feature data are determined by a measuring device and wherein the measured Feature data concern at least one criterion of several criteria, the container and / or the one or more container equipment not fulfilled. Further, the marking device comprises means for creating marker data based on the measured feature data, wherein the marker data may be created to indicate which of the plurality of criteria does not satisfy the container and / or the one or more container equipments and means for physically applying at least a mark on the container, wherein the at least one mark is based on the marking data.

Measured feature data may include, for example, the presence of contaminants and / or imperfections in the bottom and / or sidewall of a container or the presence of surface wear. Also, the one or more positions may be included in the feature data where fouling, failure, and / or wear has been detected, i. was measured during the determination of the characteristic data. In addition, the measured feature data may include information as to whether a defined fill level of the container is reached, whether a label is present, and whether the label is attached to the container in the correct location and / or orientation, whether the closure of the container is seated properly or if foreign objects are in the contents of the container. For example, in a misadjusted tag, information may be included in the feature data indicating the measured position of the misplaced tag. Furthermore, measured feature data may include information as to whether variable data applied to a container, such as date of best before date and / or time, are located and / or readable in the correct location.

The containers may be bottles and / or beverage containers of glass, PET or other material, cans or the like.

The means for applying the mark may comprise a laser printer, an ink jet printer, a label and / or a UV ink printer. This type of marking offers the advantage that the output data reproduced by the marking can be read directly from the container by a user or a read-out device. This is advantageous if an uncomplicated overview of the errors of the discharged container is to be obtained. In addition, UV ink is advantageous for printing on non-absorbent materials such as glass and plastic. In addition to color pigments and photoinitiators, the UV ink contains individual molecules and short molecular chains that can chain to form polymers. The photoinitiators disintegrate upon irradiation with UV light and thereby form radicals which initiate a polymerization process, resulting in solid, three-dimensional network structures.

The laser printer, the ink jet printer, and / or the UV ink printer may be configured to print directly onto the container or may be designed to print on the label before or after the label has been applied to the container. For example, a selection of the printing process may depend on a material of the containers and / or their shape.

For example, the means for creating the tag data may include at least one data processing program configured to process the received feature data into tag data. The feature data generally includes information about which criterion or criteria a container does not meet. Besides these indications, e.g. also includes values by how much a deviation from the criterion exists. For example, it may be stated that a fill level is 2% less than the setpoint fill level or that a label is rotated by 3 ° with respect to the setpoint position. In addition, information about which preforming machine, blow molding machine, filling system, sealing device or labeling machine or from which treatment device the container comes from the feature data can also be included.

The means for receiving the measured feature data may be an interface, which is preferably adapted to receive measured feature data from various measuring devices. This is advantageous if, for example, measurements are carried out according to a preforming machine, blow molding machine, filling installation, closure installation, inspection machine, and / or labeling machine. It is then possible for the marking device to receive the corresponding measured feature data through the means for receiving. Thus, a corresponding marking device does not have to be provided for each of the various measuring devices.

A container treatment device, such as a preforming machine, a blow molding machine, a filling system, a closure device, an inspection machine or a labeling machine, comprises the marking device according to the invention for marking containers, whereby it is possible to mark containers in such a way that e.g. an overview can be obtained in a diversion station, which of the sorted out and marked containers which have errors.

A method for marking containers by means of the marking device according to the invention comprises receiving measured feature data of a container and / or container equipment by the means for receiving, wherein the measured feature data is determined by a measuring device and wherein the measured feature data is at least one criterion of several Concern criteria that the container and / or the one or more container equipment does not meet. Further The method comprises generating marker data based on the measured feature data by the marker data generating means, wherein the marker data is created to indicate which of the plurality of criteria does not and does not satisfy the container and / or the one or more container features physically applying at least one mark to the container by the means for physical application, wherein the at least one mark is based on the marking data.

The at least one criterion may relate to defects in the bottom, sidewalls and / or sealing surface of the container, surface wear of the container, level, seat of the closure, seat of the label and / or foreign body in the container.

For a measurement of the feature data, the container, if any, may be transported by the measuring device along with the one or more container equipments and at least one feature of the container and / or, if present, the one or more container equipments. If there is no container equipment and / or on the container, so only a measurement of the feature data of the container.

At least one criterion for the measurement can be predeterminable, the measured feature data being compared with the at least one criterion in order to be able to determine whether the container and / or the one or more container equipment fulfills all criteria or if one of the criteria is not fulfilled , By specifying the at least one criterion, a sorting out of containers due to non-fulfillment of a criterion can be made variable. For example, a criterion relating to the surface wear of the container can be adjusted in each case so that a certain number of containers are sorted out. Thereby, e.g. a reject rate of 1.2% of the containers or more or less can be achieved.

Further, the method may include a step of diverting the container and communicating the measured feature data of the container to the means for receiving the marking device if the container does not satisfy at least one of the criteria.

In addition, the marked containers can be transported to a diversion station. Thus, an overview can be obtained as to which of the sorted and marked containers have errors. For example, it is possible to reuse containers that have too low a level, a misplaced label, or a misplaced closure in a new filling process while containers are defective or damaged floor, side walls and / or sealing surfaces can be excluded from another filling process.

Brief description of the figures

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung der Markierungsvorrichtung;
• Figur 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Teils einer Industrieanlage mit einer Messvorrichtung und einer Markierungsvorrichtung sowie mit unmarkierten und markierten Behältern;
• Figur 3 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Markieren eines Behälters; und
• Figur 4 tabellarisch Merkmalsdaten und zugeordnete Markierungsdaten.

Further advantages and embodiments will become apparent from the accompanying drawings. It shows:

• FIG. 1 a schematic representation of the marking device;
• FIG. 2 a schematic representation of part of an industrial plant with a measuring device and a marking device and with unmarked and marked containers;
• FIG. 3 a flowchart of a method for marking a container; and
• FIG. 4 tabular feature data and associated marking data.

Detailed description of the figures

FIG. 1 schematically shows a marking device 1 for marking containers, for example in the food industry. The marking device 1 comprises means for receiving 2 measured characteristic data of a container and / or one or more container equipment, wherein the measured feature data are determined by a measuring device and wherein the measured feature data relate to at least one criterion, the container and / or the one or more several container equipment not met. In addition, the marking device 1 comprises means 3 for generating marking data based on the measured feature data and means for physically applying 4 a marking to the container, the at least one marking being based on the marking data.

The means 3 for generating tag data may comprise data processing programs that process the received feature data such that tag data is obtained. The tag data may e.g. Control commands for the physical application means 4 comprise the marking, so that at least one marking can be applied to the container in accordance with the control commands.

The means for receiving 2 may be an interface via which the marking device 1 can communicate with the measuring device. The means for receiving 2 are here preferably designed so that they can receive measured feature data from different measuring devices. This is advantageous if, for example, measurements are made according to a preforming machine, blow molding machine, filling installation, closure installation, Inspection machine or labeller be performed. It is then possible for the marking device 1 to receive the corresponding measured feature data by means for receiving 2. Thus, a corresponding marking device 1 does not have to be provided for each of the various measuring devices.

The means for physical application 4 of the at least one mark may comprise a laser printer, an ink jet printer, a label and / or a UV ink printer. Using the printers, the at least one mark can be printed directly on a container. However, the at least one mark can be previously printed on a label, and this label is then applied to the container.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a part of an industrial plant in the container 5 on conveyor belts 6, 7, 8 are transported. The containers 5, exemplified here as bottles, are first transported in succession through a measuring device 9 in which one or more features of a container 5 and / or the one or more container equipment are measured simultaneously or in succession to determine whether the Container 5 and / or the one or more container equipment meets a predetermined criterion or more predetermined criteria. In the FIG. 2 illustrated container 5 include closures as container equipment.

Such a criterion may be, for example, a level of the container 5, which should not fall below a minimum value and should not exceed a maximum value. If the measured level (ie the measured characteristic of the container 5) is in the range between the minimum and maximum values, then the container fulfills the criterion. If the measured filling level (ie the measured characteristic of the container 5) is outside the range between the minimum and maximum values, then the container 5 does not fulfill the criterion. In this case, at least one marking 10 should subsequently be applied to this container 5 by the marking device 1. In the FIG. 2 Measuring device 9 shown schematically also measures whether the closure of a container 5 is present and if it is seated correctly. This can be done for example by a silhouette comparison of a correctly sealed container with the actual silhouette of the measured container.

If it is determined during the measurement by the measuring device 9 that a container 5 and / or the one or more container equipment fulfills all criteria, then the container 5 remains on a first conveyor belt 6 and is transported further, so that it does not pass under the marking device 1 is transported. However, if it is determined that the container 5 and / or the one or more container equipment does not fulfill at least one criterion, the container is discharged via a discharge belt 7 and reaches the marking device 1 by means of a second conveyor belt 8.

The marking device 1 receives with the means for receiving 2 from the measuring device 9 the measured feature data of the container 5 and / or the one or more container equipment and generates therefrom marking data. The data transmission can be done wirelessly or by wire. The at least one marker 10 is then physically applied to the container 5, the at least one marker 10 being based on the marker data.

The marked containers 5 can be transported by the second conveyor belt 8, for example, to a diversion station, so that a user of the industrial plant can get an overview of how many containers 5 were discharged with which errors. By applied to the container 5 markers 10 an easy and clear assignment to errors is possible.

FIG. 3 1 shows a flowchart of a method for marking a container by means of a previously described marking device 1. In a filling device of an industrial plant, in general, many containers 5 are transported on conveyor belts or the like by the individual machines and also by measuring devices 9. In the following, the method will be described for clarity only for a container 5.

In step 11, the container 5 is transported, for example, by a first conveyor belt 6 through a measuring device 9. The measuring device 9 is in this case arranged so that it can make a measurement from above, laterally or from below the container 5, depending on the feature of the container 5 and / or the one or more container equipment to be measured. In step 12, one feature may be measured during a measurement, or several features of the container 5 and / or the one or more container equipments may be measured simultaneously or sequentially.

Such a measuring device 9 may, for example, measure the bottom, side walls and sealing surface of the container 5 to determine that one or more defects exist (ie the container 5 fails to meet and mark one or more criteria) or that there are no defects (ie the container 5 fulfills the one criterion or the several criteria and does not have to be marked). If one or more faults are present, the feature data measured by the measuring device 9 can also include the one or more positions at which contamination, an error and / or wear has been detected.

For example, another measuring device 9 may measure the level and closure of the container 5 to determine that the level and closure are correct (ie, the container 5 and the closure (container equipment) meet the criteria and therefore, the container 5 need not be marked) or that the level and / or the closure are not correct (ie the container 5 and / or the closure does not meet one or more criteria and therefore the container 5 must be marked). If, for example, the fill level is incorrect, the feature data measured by the measuring device 9 may include the values of the measured fill level.

In another measuring device 9, for example, the seat of the label (a container equipment) can be measured. It can be measured whether the label is sitting correctly, whether it is rotated by an angle and / or shifted by dx and / or dy attached; dx and dy represent displacements in the x and y directions.

Another measuring device 9 can measure the fit and / or the readability of variable data applied to a container, such as the best-before date and / or time. If an incorrect fit is detected during the measurement, the measured feature data may include information about the position of the misplaced variable data.

The method will be described below for a measuring device 9, which measures the level and the closure of the container 5. Thus, in step 11, a previously filled and sealed container 5 is transported by the measuring device 9 by means of the first conveyor belt 6. In step 12, for example, the measuring device 9 first measures the fill level of the container 5. In order to determine in step 13 whether the fill level is correct or not, the measured value of the fill level can be compared to a predetermined minimum value and a predetermined maximum value.

If the measured value of the filling level is within the range specified in this way, the filling level is correct and the container 5 fulfills the criterion. If the measured value of the fill level is outside the range thus specified, the fill level is incorrect and the container 5 does not fulfill the criterion.

In addition, the measuring device 9 measures the closure of the container 5 in step 12. If the closure sits correctly and closes the container 5, the container equipment fulfills the criterion. If the closure is not seated properly and / or does not properly close the container 5, the container equipment does not meet the criterion.

If it is determined in step 14 that the container 5 and the container equipment fulfill all the criteria (feature criteria), in this case the correct level and correct seat of the closure, then the container 5 is transported further in step 15, for example by means of the first conveyor belt 6.

If it is determined in step 16 that the container 5 and / or the container equipment does not fulfill at least one of the criteria (feature criteria), here incorrect fill level and / or incorrect fit of the closure, the container 5 is in step 17, for example by means of the Ausleitbands 7 discharged. When the container 5 is discharged due to failure of a criterion or both criteria, it is transported by a marking device 1 in step 18 by means of the second conveyor belt 8. In addition, in step 19, the feature data of the container 5 are transmitted from the measuring device 9 to the marking device 1. In step 20, the marker data creation means 3 creates the marker data for the container 5.

In step 21, the physical application of the at least one mark based on the marking data of the container 5 by means of physical application 4 of the marking device 1. If the container 5 is marked, it can be transported by means of the second conveyor belt 8, for example, to a diversion station, in which the discharged container 5 are collected.

FIG. 4 FIG. 12 exemplifies two types of marker data 23 that may be used to represent certain measured feature data 24 of a container 5 and / or one or more container features. In the case of the type I 25, 23 characters are used for the marking data, which represent a kind of abbreviation of the feature data 24, as a result of which an applied mark permits a clear assignment to the measured feature data 24. For example, "oV"("o" hne "V" ligation) may be associated with the feature data 24 "Latch missing", "sV"("s" chiefer "V" ligation) may be associated with the feature data 24, "Latch in the wrong position", "nF"("n" lower "F" level) the feature data 24 "level too low", "B"("B" oden) the feature data 24 "error in the ground", "SW"("S""wall") the Feature data 24 "Error in sidewall", "D"("D" face) the feature data 24 "Error in sealing surface" and "fE"("f" Ehling "E" label) the feature data 24 "label missing".

If a label is present, but for example rotated by an angle n ° with respect to a predetermined orientation, then the error indication in the marking data 23 can also include the angle value n °, so that a marking indicates "gE (n °)". The marking data 23 "gE (n °)" ("g" rotated "E" label) can thus be assigned to the feature data 24 "label rotated by n °".

If a label of a container in the x-direction and / or in the y-direction (coordinate system on the surface of the container on which the label is applied) offset from a predetermined orientation is mounted, so the values dx, dy of the offset in the Marking data 23 can be specified. The marking data 23 "vE (dx, dy)" ("v" replaced "E" label) can thus be the feature data 24 "tag offset by dx, dy" assigned.

In type II 26, the measured feature data 24 are stylized in a quadrilateral, so that a user can see which or which defect the container 5 has when viewing the marking or markings on the container 5. For example, an error in a side wall of the container 5 can be identified by the fact that the vertical side lines of the rectangle are marked thick and / or colored. If a label is attached by dx, dy offset to the container 5, this can be represented by an arrow cross in a label quadrilateral within the quadrilateral.

The marking data can also be encrypted by means of a two-dimensional bar code and the marking can be applied to the container as a bar code or as a ^QR® code. Such codes can be read and decoded with a readout device so that the marking data stored in the code can be accessed and it can be determined why a container has been discharged.

In particular, the above-mentioned embodiments relate to the configurations set forth in the claims and represent the concrete device characteristics of the claimed configurations, so that the relationship of the terminologies used in the embodiments and in the claims is comprehensive. In addition, the embodiments, their properties and combinations of properties are examples of the embodiments in the claims and do not limit the claims, but serve to illustrate them.

The present invention is described by the description and the drawings by way of examples, but is not limited thereto, but includes all variations, modifications, substitutions and combinations which the person skilled in the art will understand from the available documents, such as the claims, the general explanations in the introduction the description, the practical examples in the description and the corresponding representations in the drawings. In particular, all the individual properties and possibilities of the embodiments of the invention can be interconnected.

Claims (12)

Marking device for marking containers (5), for example in the food industry, wherein the marking device (1) comprises: - means for receiving (2) measured feature data (24) of a container (5) and / or one or more container equipment, such as label and / or closure, wherein the measured feature data (24) from a measuring device (9) are determined and wherein the measured feature data (24) relates to at least one criterion of a plurality of criteria that the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipment does not satisfy, Means for producing (3) marker data (23) based on the measured feature data (24), wherein the marker data (23) can be created to indicate which of the multiple criteria the container (5) and / or the one or the multiple container equipments not met, and - means for physically applying (4) at least one marking (10) to the container (5), wherein the at least one marking (10) is based on the marking data (23). The marking device of claim 1, wherein the means for physically applying (4) the at least one marker comprises a laser printer, an ink jet printer, a label and / or a UV ink printer. The marking device of claim 2, wherein the laser printer, the ink jet printer and / or the UV ink printer are adapted to print directly onto the container (5) or wherein the laser printer, the ink jet printer and / or the UV ink printer are adapted to print on the label before or after the label has been applied to the container (5). The marking device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means (3) for generating the marking data (23) comprise at least one data processing program adapted to process the received measured feature data (24) into marking data (23). The marking device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for receiving (2) the measured feature data (24) is an interface. A container treatment device, such as a preforming machine, a blow molding machine, a filling plant, an enclosure, an inspection machine or a labeling machine, characterized in that the container treatment device comprises a marking device for marking containers (5) according to one of claims 1 to 5. A method for marking containers by means of a marking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, the method comprising the following steps: - Receiving measured feature data (24) of a container (5) and / or one or more container equipment by the means for receiving (2) measured feature data (24), wherein the measured feature data (24) by a measuring device (9) are determined and wherein the measured feature data (24) relates to at least one criterion of a plurality of criteria that the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipment does not satisfy, - generating marker data (23) based on the measured feature data (24) by the means (3) for generating marker data (23), wherein the marker data is generated to indicate which of the plurality of criteria the container and / or the one or more container equipment not met, and - physically applying at least one marking (10) to the container (5) by the physical application means (4), the at least one marking (10) being based on the marking data (23). The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one criterion includes errors in the bottom, side walls and / or sealing surface of the container (5), surface wear of the container (5), level, seat of the closure, seat of the label and / or foreign matter in the container (5 ). The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein for measuring the feature data (24), the container (5) is transported by the measuring device (9) and at least one feature of the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipments is measured , The method of claim 9, wherein at least one criterion is predeterminable, wherein the measured feature data (24) is compared to the at least one criterion to determine whether the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipments meets all the criteria or whether the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipment does not meet at least one of the criteria. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of discharging the container (5) and transmitting the measured feature data (24) of the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipments to the means for receiving (2) the marking device (1 ) when the container (5) and / or the one or more container equipment does not meet at least one of the criteria. The method of any one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising the step of transporting the marked container (5) to a diversion station.

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