CN107176417B

CN107176417B - Device for transporting packaging elements, in particular bottles or cups

Info

Publication number: CN107176417B
Application number: CN201710136919.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·比贝尔; D·米勒; J·彼得; R·施密德; J·哈克
Original assignee: Anpac Ltd
Current assignee: Anpac Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-09
Filing date: 2017-03-09
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-09
Also published as: CN107176417A; DE102016203816A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transporting packaging components, in particular bottles or cups, comprising-at least one workstation (20, 22, 24, 26, 28), -at least one transport device (10), -at least one packaging component carrier (14), the transport device (10) moving the packaging component carrier along the workstation (20, 22, 24, 26, 28), -at least one drive (16) for driving the transport device (10), wherein-at least one further drive (18) is provided for driving the transport device (10), wherein at least one of the two drives (16, 18) is actuated for adjusting a desired stress of the transport device (10).

Description

Device for transporting packaging elements, in particular bottles or cups

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for transporting packaging means, in particular bottles or cups.

Background

Devices of the type described for conveying bottles or the like are known, for example, from DE 19542673 C2. The conveyor device has a closed chain, wherein at least one fixed-position measuring device for the length of the chain is arranged on the running rail of the chain.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is based on the task of: further improving the accuracy of the conveying device. This object is achieved by the device according to the invention for transporting packaging means, in particular bottles or cups.

According to the invention, a device for transporting packaging components, in particular bottles or cups, is provided, which comprises at least one transport device, at least one drive for the transport device, at least one workstation, at least one packaging component carrier for transporting the packaging components, which transport device moves the packaging component carrier along the at least one workstation, wherein at least one sensor is provided for monitoring the packaging component carrier.

In contrast to the prior art, the device for transporting packaging components according to the invention has the advantage that: in terms of the function of the device, wear and elongation of the chain or the conveyor system are detected and reduced, which lead to a reduction in the chain prestress. Thereby, an accurate positioning of the packaging device carrier relative to the processing station can be achieved. Incorrect positioning that may lead to collisions with other stations is avoided. Furthermore, the moving quality of the packaging device carrier is improved in that shocks and vibrations, which would cause a large machine length and corresponding wear, are reduced. Manual calibration between the module and the chain can be eliminated, as this can be done automatically by the device according to the invention.

According to the invention, this may be achieved by: two drives for the conveyor are provided, at least one of which is actuated with respect to the desired stress of the conveyor, in particular of the auxiliary chain or of the auxiliary belt.

In a suitable embodiment, one of the drives is actuated as a master drive, and the other drive is actuated as a slave drive as a function of the actuation of the master drive. In this way, the handling in the case of using two drives to drive only one chain can be achieved in a particularly simple manner.

In a suitable embodiment, it is provided that the two drives are operated in speed synchronization with one another. This manner of actuation can be achieved particularly simply in terms of control technology, in the event of the desired stress of the chain being reached.

In a suitable embodiment, at least one of the drives, in particular the slave drive, is actuated by a positional offset or a positional shift relative to the other drive, in particular the master drive. The corresponding chain stretching in the following manner can thus be accurately taken into account in a particularly accurate manner: the desired chain stress can be maintained. Particularly suitably, the positional offset or positional shift is related to the desired chain stress and/or to the chain stretch. In this way, the desired parameters can be easily adjusted and influenced in a particularly simple manner.

In a further embodiment, at least one control device is provided, which changes the actuation of at least one of the two drives when the torque applied by the at least one drive changes, in particular by changing the position offset or the positional deviation by which the drive is actuated. It is particularly expedient to know the wear, in particular the tensile length, of the chain from a change in the torque that has to be applied by one of the drives, in particular by the drive. This parameter gives a sufficient inference about the current stress of the chain and is usually provided to the drive without further sensing means.

In a suitable embodiment, a sensor is provided for sensing a value that is used to detect wear of the conveyor device, in particular of a chain that is part of the conveyor device. The state of the conveying device can be monitored point by point or continuously by means of the sensor and the drive can be actuated in a targeted manner. For this purpose, at least one control device is preferably provided, which controls at least one of the two drives as a function of at least one output signal of the sensor.

In a suitable embodiment, the control device controls at least one workstation as a function of the output signals of the sensors. Since such a sensed state of the conveyor system is responsible for the relative positioning of the packaging carrier with respect to the workstation, a positional error of the workstation with respect to the packaging carrier can be compensated for particularly simply. Thereby improving the safety of the arrangement.

In a suitable embodiment, the control device actuates the drive to perform a referencing such that it moves to a reference position in the region of the reference station. The accuracy between the packaging component carrier and the work station or the reference station is thereby increased, since the reference position is the starting point for further knowledge of the stretch length of the chain and the possible influence of the stretch length on the positioning of the packaging component carrier in the other work stations. Particularly preferably, the reference station is likewise a workstation. Preferably, the workstation involves a transfer station and/or a sealing station and/or a filling station and/or a packaging station and/or a inspection station and/or a packaging machine.

Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the further dependent claims and the description.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

figure 1 is a perspective view of the conveyor while passing through different workstations,

an enlarged view of the arrangement of the sensor of figure 2 on the terminal end of the delivery device,

an enlarged view of the arrangement of the sensor of figure 3 at the beginning of the conveyor,

fig. 4 is a perspective view of a conveyor with three sensors, and

fig. 5 is a perspective view of a conveyor with an alternative arrangement of two sensors.

Detailed Description

The conveyor 10 is described in detail below with reference to fig. 1 to 5. The conveyor 10 is used for conveying packaging devices, such as cups or bottles, in particular for filling liquid or pasty food products in filling plants. However, the application is not limited thereto. The conveyor 10 includes at least one chain 12 or belt. A plurality of drivers 13 are fixed to the chain 12. These drivers 13 cooperate with the packaging carrier 14 to be fastened there. A receiving portion 15 in the form of a circular recess is provided in the packaging device carrier 14 for receiving a packaging device, not shown. Each packaging carrier 14 may be provided with a plurality of receptacles 15, so that a plurality of packaging can be transported and processed, for example filled and sealed, simultaneously. On each of the two end sides of the packaging carrier 14, the packaging carrier is connected to a chain 12. The packaging carrier 14 is moved along different stations 24, 26 or work stations by the chain 12.

The chain 12 is driven by at least one drive wheel 17, which is moved by a drive 16. On the other side of the conveyor 10 a turning device 19 is arranged. The steering device 19 is likewise driven by a further drive 18. Here, for example, teeth, not shown, engage into the chain 12.

The sensor 30 is arranged on the conveyor 10, preferably at the beginning of the conveyor 10. The sensor 30 is located, for example, in the region of the transfer station 20. As will be shown in more detail later, the sensor 30 is arranged outside the chain 12 in such a way that the stretched length of the chain 12 can be reliably sensed. Optionally, another sensor 32 may be provided. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, this sensor can be arranged, for example, at the other end of the conveyor 10. In an embodiment, a further sensor 32 is located in the region of the packaging machine 28. However, it is also possible for only one single sensor 30 to be arranged on the conveyor 10. Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange only further sensors 32 only in the region of the packaging machine 28.

The sensor 30 transmits a sensor signal 31 to a control device 34. The further sensor 32 transmits a further sensor signal 33 to the control device 34. The control device 34 is used to control the drive 16 and/or the further drive 18, if necessary. If necessary, the control device 34 obtains a corresponding position signal of the drive 16, 18 or other characteristic parameters of the drive 16, 18, such as the applied torque, rotational speed or similar feedback. An operator interface 36 is coupled to the control device 34. The user may communicate corresponding operating instructions to the control device 34 via the interface 36. In addition, corresponding information or alarm signals can be issued to the operator via the interface 36. The control device 34 may optionally be connected to the transfer station 20 and/or further stations 24, 26 and/or the reference station 22 and/or the packaging machine 28 as examples of possible workstations in order to handle and/or feed back the characteristic data that is desired. The concept of the control device 34 is not to be interpreted in a limiting manner, but rather includes a control device which is usual in servo drives and which has an associated control circuit, for example with respect to position, rotational speed, torque or similar parameters.

A transfer station 20 is provided at the beginning of the conveyor 10. Through which transfer station 20 the packages can be supplied to the respective ready package carriers 14. The transfer station 20 is arranged movably, preferably horizontally, along the conveying direction 9 of the conveyor 10 or the chain 12. The transfer station 20 extends through the entire packaging material carrier 14 so that each of the receptacles 15 can be filled with packaging material.

The reference stations 22 are arranged transversely to the conveying direction 9 of the conveying device 10 over the entire width of the conveying device 10. The reference station 22 may be arranged, for example, in the middle of the conveyor 10. The reference station 22 is a defined workstation whose position is used as a reference position for the drives 16, 18. In particular, when using the servo motor type drivers 16, 18, the zero point freely selected in the machine can be automatically used as a reference.

Immediately following are further stations 24, 26, two of which are shown by way of example, but fewer or more are possible. These further stations 24, 26 or just the individual work stations can likewise be moved if necessary in the conveying direction 9 of the conveying device 10. The movability of the stations 24, 26 or workstations may be used to adapt the positioning of the stations 24, 26 to such detected, varying stretch lengths of the chain 12 as the chain 12 is stretched. For example sterilization modules, filling devices, sealing devices for sealing lidding films or the like to filled packaging elements are used as possible stations 24, 26 or work stations. Stations 24, 26 may also be used to aspirate foreign particles, apply crimped caps, such as control systems for cup seals or marking systems for marking or coding caps or the like. The packaging carrier 14 is used to transport packaging to the work stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 necessary according to the working steps.

As a final station, the conveyor 10 moves to the packaging machine 28. The packaging machine 28 can be used to grasp correspondingly processed packaging components (for example filled and sealed cups) and supply them to further processing steps. In the case of the conveyor 10 being connected as part of a filling machine with a downstream further packaging device (the packaging machine 28 being used as part of the further packaging system), there is a need for an increased gripper system of the packaging machine 28. The packaging machine 28 gathers individual packages in a crate into multiple bundles. Small deviations in positioning may lead to disturbances on the packaging machine 28 or damage to the packaging device. The sensor signal 33 can be transmitted to the packaging machine 28 as a measure of the positional deviation of two adjacent packaging component carriers 14, i.e. the distance 40 known relative to the nominal measure. The packaging machine 28 can accurately control the pick-up movement of the gripper to the middle of the packaging device carrier 14. This is preferably done on the basis of the known distance 40 or on the basis of deviations from the nominal dimensions. Alternatively, the sensor signals 33, 37 of the further sensors 32, 35 can also be used. Here, the position of the packaging machine 28 can be derived from the stretch of the chain 12 known from the further sensors 32, 35. It is considered herein that: the chain 12 is uniformly stretched. The resulting stretch length is estimated or interpolated based on the known spacing between the respective sensor 32, 35 and the packaging machine 28 or other desired workstation 20, 22, 24, 26. The associated stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 can accordingly be moved further in the conveying direction 9 past the known stretch length.

The fragment of fig. 1 is now shown enlarged in fig. 2. The sensor 32 is arranged laterally to the chain 12 in such a way that it knows its distance 38 in the conveying direction 9 when two adjacent packaging support 14 are in a defined position. The sensor 32 is located on the end of the conveyor 10 near the packaging machine 28. The stretched length of the chain 12 is known from the spacing 38 of two adjacent package carriers 14. For this purpose, the sensor 32 is oriented with its sensing area transversely to the conveying direction 9 of the conveying device 10. The sensing area is preferably selected such that the distance 38 between the two packaging device carriers 14 can be reliably sensed not only in the normal state but also in the state in which the chain 12 is stretched. The corresponding sensor signal 33 arrives at the control device 34 for further evaluation. The sensor 32 is therefore used to measure deviations of the chain elements or the packaging component carriers 14 in the conveying direction of the conveying device 10. The sensors 30, 32 recognize the current stretch length of the chain 12 from the learned spacing 38, 40.

In the enlarged illustration according to fig. 3, the sensor 30 is arranged in the region of the transfer station 20. Similar to the sensor 32 in the vicinity of the packaging machine 28, the sensor 30 is oriented such that a distance 40 between two adjacent packaging component carriers 14 can be reliably sensed in the region of the transfer station 20. The corresponding sensor signal 31 is transmitted to the control device 34. The further sensor 32 is fixedly arranged on the side of the chain relative to the moving chain 12. The sensing region of the sensor is oriented such that it reliably detects the end face of the packaging component carrier 14 or the distance 40 between the packaging component carriers. Alternatively, the sensors 30, 32 can also be oriented such that they also detect the region between the driver 13 and the packaging carrier 14, i.e. the distance transversely to the conveying direction 9. In this way, an accurate fixing of the packaging carrier 14 to the driver 13 can be monitored. If the distance between the driver 13 and the end face of the packaging carrier 14, transverse to the conveying direction 9, is too great, a fixing error is inferred. This may be communicated to the user by a corresponding message on interface 36.

The arrangement according to fig. 4 differs from that of fig. 1 in that a further sensor 35 is provided, so that there are a total of three sensors 30, 32, 35. This further (third) sensor 35 is likewise arranged laterally to the chain 12 in the region of the reference station 22. The first sensor 30 is located in the region of the transfer station 20 at the beginning of the conveyor 10. The (second) sensor 32 is located next to the packaging machine 28 at the end of the machine or conveyor 10. Thus, the total elongation of the chain 12 from station 20 through station 22 to station 28 is measured. The further sensor 35 transmits a further sensor signal 37 to the control device 34.

The arrangement according to fig. 5 differs from that of fig. 4 in that the sensor 32 in the region of the packaging machine 28 is absent here. Thus, only two sensors are provided, namely a sensor 35 in the region of the reference station 22 and a sensor 30 in the region of the transfer station 20, each arranged laterally of the chain 12. The chain length of the wrapping machine 28 at the end of the machine or conveyor 10 is linearly scaled by the distance from station 20 to station 22 and, if necessary, to further work stations, such as the wrapping machine 28.

The drive wheel 17 for the push chain 12 is driven by a drive 16, preferably a servomotor, in particular with a transmission. The further drive 18 also moves the steering wheel or steering device 19, which also acts on the chain 12 during pushing. The further drive 18 can also preferably be a servomotor, in particular a servomotor with a transmission. The drives 16, 18 operate in a mode in which the chain 12 is tensioned without play in the upper chain return section during movement and stopping and is loaded with as little prestress as possible, which is defined by the drives 16, 18. For this purpose, at least one of the two drives 16, 18 is actuated in order to adjust the desired stress of the conveyor 10, in particular of the chain 12 and/or the belt of the conveyor 10. The stresses associated therewith are understood to be, in particular, mechanical loads exerted on the conveyor 10, in particular on the chain 12. For this purpose, the drives 16, 18 are moved into positions in which the chain 12 is preferably tensioned without play. In the event that a tensioning of the chain 12 without play is desired, the position of the drives 16, 18 is dependent on the increasing stretch length of the chain 12 over the course of time. Thus, depending on the stretch length that occurs to the chain 12, at least one of the drives 16, 18 moves relative to the other drive 16, 18 into a position in which the stretch length is compensated for. This may for example correspond to an increase in the stretched length. Alternatively, at least one of the drives 16, 18 can be actuated and moved over a long period of time, for example, if the other drive 16, 18 (which applies a holding torque to the chain 12) is stopped, until a significant increase in torque becomes necessary for reaching the next position increment. This torque rise means that the chain 12 is now sufficiently tensioned. The drives 16, 18 can then now be operated, for example, in a speed-synchronous manner, as explained below, to normally transport the packaging carrier 14, so that, for example, a desired stress of the chain 12 is maintained in the form of a desired length of the chain 12, which is situated between the two drive wheels 17, 19.

Since the drives 16, 18, which are preferably implemented as servo motors, can be automatically referenced to a freely selectable zero point in the machine. The drives 16, 18 can be adjusted in freely selectable proportions to divide into a pulling load and a pushing load. For example, 50-90% of the total load is allocated to the traction load and the corresponding 10-50% of the total load is allocated to the propulsion load. The drive 16, 18 design of the sized drives 16, 18 may generally be one standard level smaller than in the case of a single drive. The maximum load of the chain 12 of packaging device carriers 14 is greater than in the case of a single drive.

The drives 16, 18 preferably operate in a master-slave mode with a tensioning function between the drive 16 and the further drive 18. The chain 12 thus remains constant and smooth or gapless. The drive system is referenced to a defined zero point. The system may be maintained in the middle of the station (respective stations 24, 26) during the production run. An alternative datum point may be defined in the conveyor chain 12 that can be manipulated if desired.

The traction drives 16, 18 are master drives and the push drives 18, 16 are slave drives. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the drive 18 is a traction drive, i.e. a master drive, in the case of the conveying direction 9 shown, and the drive 16 at the beginning of the conveying device 10 is a slave drive. Different variants exist for operating the drives 16, 18. In a first variant, a simpler embodiment of the control technology is involved. Here, the slave drives 18, 16 follow the master drives 16, 18 in a speed-synchronous manner. For this purpose, the control device 34 outputs corresponding speed setpoint values to the two drives 16, 18.

In a further variant, the two drives 16, 18 follow the movement profile of the virtual axis. The slave drives 18, 16 operate with a position offset (input value of e.g. 2 mm). The position offset causes "hysteresis". Thereby effecting tensioning of the chain 12. If the chain 12 is stretched gradually during operation here, the drive torque from the drives 18, 16 decreases. The falling torque is detected from the control 34 of the drives 18, 16. The control device 34 increases the bias value in order to keep the torque from the drives 18, 16 and thus the stress of the chain 12 constant.

The chain 12 or the upper return section can be inverted without stress, which is not explicitly shown in the figures. Different variants exist here. Thus, the chain 12 may be inverted. The chain 12 may also be provided with a tensioning wheel in the reverse. Furthermore, the drive wheel 17 or the steering device 19 may have a tensioning function in the conveying direction 9.

The length of the machine or the length of the conveyor 10 is known. The nominal size (theoretical size) of the machine or conveyor 10 from station 20 to station 28 is thus known. The machine and the modules or stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 constructed thereon have a range of movement of about half the width (e.g., 50 mm) of the packaging device carrier 14. At a chain elongation of about 0.5%, the limit of the calibration range of the modules or stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 is reached. The chain 12 must then be replaced with a new one. By means of the sensors 30, 32, 35 for measuring the chain elongation or tensile length and by means of the machine operating time, maintenance or calibration of the machine can be predicted, for example the time to the next calibration module or station 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 or the point in time for changing the chain. This information is output through interface 36. The actual position of the chain 12 can be known by calculation for each machine station (stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28). The deviation between the actual value and the target value is known as the current difference. The control 34 and interface 36 inform the operator whether the machine is operating in a safe operating window or whether the workstation (stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) or module must be calibrated. Calibration may be performed fully automatically or manually. For this purpose, the control device 34 can output corresponding signals to the (work) stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 in order to change the position slightly in response to the current stretch length of the chain 12, for example.

In addition to the signals (functionality, measurement, chain length) in the conveying direction 9, sensors 30, 32, 35 for the positional accuracy of the packaging device carrier 14 or the chain 12 can also receive signals in the vertical direction. Thus, when the distance between the packaging carrier 14 and the driver 13 exceeds the permissible dimension, a loosening of the packaging carrier 14 from the driver 13 of the chain 12 (for example by a loosening screw connection) is detected. Interface 36 indicates troubleshooting to the operator. The packaging device carrier 14 can be automatically moved to the repair position.

Alternatively, the one and/or the further sensor 30, 32, 35 is arranged above or below, preferably laterally, the packaging component carrier 14, in order to learn from above or below the gap between two adjacent packaging component carriers 14. Alternatively, bores or recesses in the packaging component carrier 14 or pins on the packaging component carrier 14 can also be known. Detection of the rollers of the chain 12 when measured from below also gives an inference about the state of the chain 12. Therefore, on the one hand, signals corresponding to the analog values of the chain length can also be output directly by the sensors 30, 32, 35 provided with a certain intelligence. In addition, the sensors 30, 32, 35 may output alarm signals directly as the chain 12 wears. This may be the case if the current chain stretch length exceeds an allowable limit.

In filling machines, in which the conveyor 10 is preferably used, specialized work stations, such as stations 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, with high positioning accuracy are particularly important. Here, for example, stations 24, 26 for aspirating foreign particles, crimping caps, cup tightness control, cap marking or coding are involved.

These machines with the associated conveyor 10 are used here mainly in the dairy industry and in baby and hospital foods for filling liquid to pasty foods. Filling machines are also increasingly used in the field of cold drinks, soups and when filling sauces.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transporting packaged devices, said apparatus comprising

At least one conveying device (10),

at least one workstation (20, 22, 24, 26, 28),

at least one packaging component carrier (14), the conveyor (10) moving the packaging component carrier along at least one working station (20, 22, 24, 26, 28),

at least one drive (16, 18) for driving the conveying device (10),

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

-providing at least one further drive (16, 18) for driving the conveyor (10), wherein at least one of the two drives (16, 18) is operated for adjusting a desired stress of a chain (12) of the conveyor (10) for further conveying of the packaging device carrier (14),

at least one sensor (30, 32, 35) is provided for sensing a magnitude (38, 40) in the conveying direction (9) for detecting the stretch length of the chain (12) of the conveying device (10),

at least one control device (34) is provided, which controls the at least one workstation (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) as a function of the output signals (31, 33, 37) of the sensors (30, 32, 35) for compensating positional errors of the workstation with respect to the packaging component carrier,

at least one control device (34) is provided, which controls at least one of the two drives (16, 18) as a function of at least one output signal (31, 33, 37) of the sensor (30, 32, 35).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two drives (16, 18) is operated in accordance with the identified wear of the chain (12) of the conveying device (10).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the manipulation of at least one of the two drives (16, 18) changes when the wear of the chain (12) changes.

4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the drives (16, 18) is operated as a master drive and the other drive (16, 18) is operated as a slave drive in accordance with the operation of the master drive.

5. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two drives (16, 18) are operated in speed synchronization with each other.

6. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the drives (16, 18) is steered by being offset with respect to the position of the other drive.

7. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positional deviation depends on the desired stress of the chain (12) and/or the tensile length of the chain (12).

8. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control means change the manipulation of at least one of the two drives (16, 18) when the torque applied by the at least one drive is changed.

9. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control means is aware of the wear of the chain (12) from a change in the torque that one of the drives (16, 18) has to apply.

10. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device operates the drive (16, 18) for referencing such that the drive moves to a reference position in the area of the reference station (22).

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the slave drive is operated at a reduced torque relative to a torque used to operate the master drive.

12. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the work stations (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) involve at least a transfer station and/or a sealing station and/or a filling station and/or a packaging station and/or a checking station and/or a packaging machine.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packaging device is a bottle or a cup.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wear is a stretched length.

15. A device according to claim 3, wherein the wear is a stretched length.

16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the slave drive is steered by being offset relative to the position of the master drive.

17. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device (34) changes a positional deviation by means of which the drive (16, 18) is operated.

18. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control means is aware of the wear of the chain (12) from the change in torque that the slave drive has to apply.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wear is a stretched length.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wear is a stretched length.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reference station (22) is a workstation.