CN110386451B

CN110386451B - Device and method for closing an object

Info

Publication number: CN110386451B
Application number: CN201910303140.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: U·迈尔; W·施洛瑟
Original assignee: Xingdeke Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Xingdeke Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-16
Filing date: 2019-04-16
Publication date: 2022-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-16
Also published as: CN110386451A; DE102018205728A1

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for closing objects are proposed, comprising at least one closing station for closing objects, at least one supply for supplying objects to be closed, at least one wheel for transporting the objects supplied by the supply further to the closing station, at least one closing check for checking whether the objects are closed as intended, characterized in that the supply interrupts the transfer of objects to the wheel at least once in the event that the objects are not closed as intended, and in that the wheel is designed to re-supply objects identified by the closing check as not closed as intended to the closing station.

Description

Device and method for closing an object

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device and a method for closing an object.

Background

A device of this type is known, for example, from EP 21255261B 1. The closing station comprises a supply of caps to the containers and sorting means for orienting, separating and transferring the caps to the supply of caps. The lid supply can be moved during the assembly in accordance with the feed movement of the container.

A conveying device with a path switching device is known from EP 3074332B 1. The path switch comprises a first and a second star wheel, wherein they are designed for transporting containers. The path switching device is designed for transferring containers from one star wheel to another star wheel. The conveying surface of the path switching device is designed with a specific geometry.

If a missing closure or an incorrect closure is identified, the otherwise good subject is discarded. Alternatively, the objects may be supplied to the second closing station in the absence of a closure.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to prevent or reduce the disposal of objects.

This object is achieved by a device for closing objects, comprising at least one closing station for closing objects, at least one supply unit for supplying objects to be closed, at least one wheel for transporting the objects supplied by the supply unit further to the closing station, at least one closing check unit for checking whether the objects are closed as intended, wherein the supply unit interrupts the transfer of objects to the wheel at least once if the objects are not closed as intended, and wherein the wheel is designed to re-supply objects identified by the closing check unit as not closed as intended to the closing station.

The object is also achieved by a method for closing objects, wherein a supply unit supplies objects to be closed to a wheel, wherein the wheel supplies the objects to a closing station, wherein the closing station closes the objects, wherein a closure check unit then checks whether the objects are closed as intended, characterized in that, in the event that objects are not closed as intended, the supply unit interrupts the transfer of at least one object onto the wheel, so that the wheel resupplies objects that are not closed as intended to the closing station.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention for closing objects have the advantage over the prior art that the rejection of good products due to closing problems, for example sorting problems, is completely avoided or at least greatly reduced by the targeted setting of the possibility of resupplying into the same closing station. No additional closing station is required. According to the invention, this is achieved by: the supply unit interrupts the transfer of the objects to the wheel at least once if the objects are not closed as specified, and the wheel is configured to resupply the objects identified by the closure check unit as not closed as specified to the closure station.

In a suitable embodiment, it is provided that at least the supply unit is actuated as a function of the output signal of the closure check unit. In this way, a recess can be formed in a targeted manner, into which the object to be reclosed can be introduced.

In a suitable embodiment, at least one further wheel is provided, which can be configured to be actuated independently of the wheel supplying the objects to the closing station. The further wheel is designed to receive objects that are not sealed according to specifications and to supply at least one object that is not sealed according to specifications back to the wheel. The objects identified as not correctly closed can thus be parked until a suitable gap is formed in the wheel, which now also supplies objects identified as not closed as specified to the closing station. This improves both the flexibility of the arrangement and the productivity. A certain number of objects which are not closed as intended can also be held until errors, for example in the closure supply, have been eliminated. Objects that are not closed as specified do not have to be disposed of, so that, for example, expensive filled drugs do not have to be disposed of as waste products.

In a suitable embodiment, additional wheels are provided. By means of which the objects that are closed or have passed the closing station can be supplied to one of the closed examination sections. Furthermore, objects which have been identified as not being closed as specified can be parked as already described.

Further suitable developments are given in the description.

Drawings

Embodiments of an apparatus and method for enclosing an object are shown in the drawings and explained in detail below.

The figures show:

the sole figure 1 shows a schematic top view of the device.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a device for closing an object 12. The object 12 may be, for example, a container, such as a syringe, an ampoule, a vial or the like, in particular in the pharmaceutical industry. The supply 10 introduces the object 12 into the sensing area of the wheel 21. The wheel 21 is designed as a star wheel or conveyor wheel, which has a corresponding receptacle on the outside of the wheel 21 for receiving the object 12. The closures are fed through the closure feed 14 to a wheel 21 or a closing station 18 arranged thereon, where they are placed and pressed onto the objects 12 to be closed. In this embodiment, the wheel 21 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. In the region of the first transfer location 31, the object 12 can be transferred to a further wheel 22. These further wheels 22 likewise have corresponding receptacles on the outside in order to receive and further transport the objects 12 to be moved. The other wheel 22 moves in a clockwise direction or in the opposite direction to the wheel 21.

The object 12 transferred at the first transfer location 31 is moved into the sensing region of the enclosed examination portion 16. The sealing inspection unit 16 inspects whether or not the object 12 is sealed and provided with a sealing material in a predetermined manner. The corresponding information is forwarded to a not shown control unit, which can thus unambiguously assign a state to the respective object 12: whether the object 12 is closed as specified. If the object 12 is closed as intended, it reaches the wheel 24 via a further transfer point 32. The wheels 24 are again designed as star wheels or transport wheels, which have corresponding lateral receptacles for the objects 12. Objects 12 deemed good are exported by the wheel 24 for additional processing. In this embodiment the wheel 21, the further wheel 22 and the wheel 24 are arranged side by side, i.e. the centre points of the

wheels

21, 22, 24 lie on a straight line. But the arrangement may be different depending on the spatial situation and requirements.

The objects 12 that are not closed as intended are not transferred to the wheel 24 at the further transfer point 32, but remain in the further wheel 22 up to the third transfer point 33 and are transferred there to the wheel 23. The wheel 23 is likewise designed as a star wheel or transport wheel, which has a corresponding receptacle for the objects 12. The wheel 23 is now used to bring the objects 12, which are not closed as intended, in particular back into the closing position on the wheel 21 or the sensing region of the closing station 18, in order to close them again. This occurs in the following manner: the objects 12 that are not closed as intended are swiveled again in the counterclockwise direction in the wheel 23 or are first parked there. At the third transfer station 33 the object arrives again in the wheel 22. The wheel 22 re-supplies the objects 12 that are not closed as intended to the wheel 21 at the first transfer location 31. If necessary, the objects 12 that are not closed to specification are additionally prepared, for example, by removing the non-placed closures, to a closed position, in which the reclosing takes place.

The re-enclosed object 12 then reaches the further wheel 22 via the first transfer location 31. The occlusion check unit 16 detects whether the object 12 to be re-occluded is now occluded as specified. If so, the reclosed object 12 reaches the wheel 24 for good product via a further transfer station 32. If it is again indicated that the object 12 is not closed as intended, the object arrives as already described via the third transfer point 33 into the wheel 23 and then via the first transfer point 31 back into the wheel 21 for reclosing. If necessary, the object 12, which has been closed again and can no longer be closed, can be discharged, for example, by a discharge function not shown, after a certain number of unsuccessful closing attempts.

The transfer station 31 is configured to transfer the object 12 from the wheel 21 to the other wheel 22 or to transfer the object 12 from the other wheel to the wheel 21.

The transfer station 33 is configured to transfer the object 12 from the wheel 22 to the wheel 23 and also to transfer the object 12 from the wheel 23 to the wheel 22. The transfer points 31, 32, 33 are constructed, for example, as pivotable components in order to release the desired path. Alternatively, the transfer can also be controlled via corresponding vacuum openings, which are provided for holding the objects 12 in the

wheels

21, 22, 23, 24. For example, at a transfer point 33 for transferring the objects 12 from the wheel 22 to the wheel 23, a vacuum is removed, which is applied to the transported objects 12 by the further wheel 22 for holding. At the same time, a vacuum or other holding force is applied to the object 12 to be transferred at the transfer location 33 by means of the wheels 33. The transfer of the objects 12 between the

wheels

21, 22, 23, 24 can also be brought about by corresponding release or closing of the grippers, a specifically controlled overpressure nozzle, an inclined bottom guide or the like. The transfer portions 31, 32, and 33 are controlled based on an output signal of the sealing inspection unit 16. Depending on whether the object 12 has been sealed as specified, a resupply to the sealing station 18 is made for reclosing the object 12.

The

wheels

21, 22, 24 are typically continuously operated synchronously. This may be done by means of only one drive. While wheel 23 has its own drive independent of

wheels

21, 22, 24 and can be switched on, off or run continuously in a clocked manner independently. If an object 12 that is not closed as specified is parked in the wheel 23, the wheel 23 may be stopped (when all objects 12 to be parked have been received) and remain stationary. The wheel 23 has the following tasks on the one hand: the non-defined object 12 is brought to a near standstill 36 there, i.e. the object 12 is put into a waiting position until all preparation measures for the formation of suitable gaps in the wheel 21 have been completed in the control unit. For this purpose, a mechanism is provided in the supply 10, which can interrupt the continuous supply of the objects 12 to be closed, at least under the frame forming the gap 28 at one point, as illustrated in the figures. The object 12 to be reclosed, or possibly a plurality of objects 12 to be reclosed, is located in the wheel 23 until it (taking into account the respective times in the wheel 23 and in the wheel 22 up to the transfer point 31) encounters one or more gaps in the first wheel 21 at the transfer point 31. The object 12 to be reclosed is indicated by hatching in the

different wheels

21, 22, 23. The object 12 to be reclosed is first located in the wheel 23 and is stepped further approximately in the parking position 36 or first stays in the stationary state.

The supply part 10 forms one or more voids according to the closure check part 16. The re-supply 38 of the objects 12 to be reclosed in the wheel 23 is synchronized with the moment at which the one or more voids made in the wheel 21 are located at the first transfer location 31. It is then achieved that the object 12 to be reclosed is supplied 38 to the wheel 21 via the wheel 23 and the wheel 22. The wheel 21 also moves the object 12 to be reclosed in a counterclockwise direction through the area of the supply 10. Even in this state, the supply section 10 must ensure: the respective gap formation 28 takes place with the object 12 to be reclosed passing through this region, i.e. at least one object 12 from the supply 10 is not supplied to the wheel 21 as indicated by reference numeral 28 in the region of the supply 10. Thereby, the object 12 to be reclosed is moved into the closed position. The working steps as described above are followed.

The supply 10 is likewise designed, for example, as a conveyor wheel with peripherally arranged receptacles for the objects 12. The supply comprises an entry region for the objects 12, wherein the supply of the objects 12 to the wheel as a constituent of the supply 10 can also be carried out in a single-controlled manner, taking into account the desired gap formation 28. The supply section 10 is controlled in consideration of the void formation 28 in accordance with the output signal of the closure inspection section 16. If the objects 12 that are not closed as specified are resupplied 38, the supply 10 forms the appropriate gap 28.

The wheel 23 is designed to receive an entire row of objects 12 that are not closed as intended. This may be the case, for example: the closure supply is interrupted so that the closures no longer reach the closing station 18. The closure inspection unit 16 detects the absence of a closure and discharges the objects 12 that are not closed as intended out of the feed wheel 23 via the further wheel 22. During this time, the supply section 10 interrupts the supply of the additional object 12. Based on a plurality of objects 12 that are not closed to specification, a systematic error is assumed, which requires intervention. However, in order that the objects 12 already filled, for example, with a pharmaceutical product do not have to be rejected as waste, the objects 12 arrive in the wheel 23. In order to reliably avoid possible collisions with the objects 12 located in the wheel 22 (which, however, remain in the wheel 22 at the transfer point 33 and are not transferred to the wheel 23), the wheel 23 is further stepped into at least one position, as a result of which an empty point is formed after the last, non-filled object 12, as is shown in the figure. In this position, the wheel 23 is stopped. Only if, for example, an error in the closure supply has been corrected again, objects 12 that are not closed as intended are supplied back to the closing station 18.

The following scheme is basically obtained. The closure inspection portion 16 identifies a missing closure or an improperly placed closure, such as a stopper. The closed inspection portion 16 may be realized, for example, by a corresponding sensor, a camera, or other suitable means. Incorrectly closed objects 12 or objects 12 without a closure are sorted out. The objects 12 that are not closed as intended are parked, in particular in the wheels 23. If necessary, the broken closure is stripped off, for example, with the wheel 23 being further advanced. The formation of the recesses 28 is effected by a control unit or machine control unit (e.g. a shift register and an entry lock in the supply unit 10). The object 12 without the closure is then resupplied. The objects 12 are then continuously re-enclosed in the enclosure station 18.

In the event of a subsequent defective closure check 16, the transport is stopped in the monitoring state, possibly together with the

wheels

21, 22 required there, before the number of objects 12 to be parked exceeds a maximum. There is the possibility of eliminating systematic error causes if necessary and restarting the process after elimination and active release. The recess is formed accordingly by the control unit so that it can be closed again. The supply 10 is only activated again if the closure check 16 is successful.

The gap formation 28 for the objects 12 to be reclosed in the wheel 23 has to provide two gaps in the supply 10. One of the recesses is used for receiving the object 12 to be reclosed at the transfer point 31 from the wheel 22 to the wheel 21. Another vacancy in the supply 10 of the object 12 guarantees: when the object 12 to be reclosed passes through the entry point of the supply 10, it does not collide with the object 12 from the supply 10, in such a way that a new object 12 to be reclosed is prevented from being supplied at this point.

In an alternative embodiment, the closed inspection portion 16 can already be arranged on the wheel 21. If the occlusion check unit 16 recognizes that the object 12 has not been occluded as intended, the control unit can select the path through the wheel 22 and/or the wheel 23. Alternatively, it is possible for objects 12 that are not closed as intended to remain in the wheel 21. The control unit controls the supply unit 10 in such a way that the supply of new objects 12 to be closed to the first wheel 21 is stopped at least once. The object 12 to be reclosed therefore arrives at the closing station 18 in a new revolution or revolutions in the wheel 21 and is reclosed there.

In a further alternative embodiment, the object 12 to be reclosed can already remain in the wheel 22. The appropriate gap formation 28 in the wheel 21 takes place accordingly.

The apparatus and method for closing an object 12 are particularly suitable in the pharmaceutical industry for closing a liquid or solid drug filled in a container. The application is not limited thereto. It is also possible to enclose further objects 12 to be enclosed in the device, for example in bottles, bags, pouches or the like, which are filled with other products, for example food or beverages.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enclosing an object (12), comprising:

at least one closing station (18) for closing objects (12), at least one supply (10) for supplying objects (12) to be closed, at least one wheel (21) for transporting the objects (12) supplied by the supply (10) further to the closing station (18), at least one closing inspection unit (16) for inspecting whether the objects (12) are closed as intended, characterized in that the supply (10) interrupts the transfer of the objects (12) to the wheel (21) at least once in the event that the objects (12) are not closed as intended, and in that the wheel (21) is designed to re-supply the objects (12) identified by the closing inspection unit (16) as not closed as intended to the closing station (18).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply section (10) is operated as a function of the output signal of the closure check section (16).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one third wheel (23) is provided, which is configured to be maneuverable independently of the wheel (21), wherein the third wheel (23) is configured for receiving at least one object (12) that is not enclosed as specified and for resupplying the wheel (21) with at least one object (12) that is not enclosed as specified.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one further wheel (22) is provided for further conveying the objects (12), wherein the wheel (21) is configured for supplying the objects (12) to the further wheel (22).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one third wheel (23) and/or fourth wheel (24) is provided for the further transport of the object (12) from the wheel (21) or the further wheel (22).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer of the object (12) onto the further wheel (22) and/or onto the third wheel (23) and/or onto the fourth wheel (24) is controlled in dependence on the output signal of the closed examination portion (16).

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the further wheel (22) is configured for conveying the object (12) further to the closed examination portion (16).

8. A method for closing objects (12), wherein a supply (10) supplies objects (12) to be closed to a wheel (21), wherein the wheel (21) supplies the objects (12) to a closing station (18), wherein the closing station (18) closes the objects (12), wherein subsequently a closure check (16) checks whether the objects (12) are closed as intended, characterized in that, in the event that an object (12) is not closed as intended, the supply (10) interrupts the transfer of at least one object (12) onto the wheel (21) in order for the wheel (21) to resupply objects (12) that are not closed as intended to the closing station (18).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that objects (12) that are not closed as specified are left standing until a void is formed in the wheel (21) for later receiving the objects (12) that are not closed as specified in the wheel (21).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the object (12) is transferred onto a further wheel (22) and/or onto a third wheel (23) and/or onto a fourth wheel (24) depending on the output signal of the occlusion examination portion (16).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the supply (10) does not supply the wheel (21) with objects (12) in order to be able to supply the objects (12) to be reclosed at a transfer point (31) between the wheel (21) and the further wheel (22) by means of the further wheel (22) and/or by means of the third wheel (23).

12. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the supply (10) does not supply new objects (12) to be closed to the wheel (21) at least twice when objects (12) that are not closed as specified are closed again in the closing station (18).

13. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one non-scheduled closed object (12) is parked in a further wheel (22).

14. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one empty place is created in the further wheel (22) after the parked object (12) and/or the further wheel (22) on which the parked object (12) is located is stopped.

15. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the ongoing operation of the wheel (21) at least one empty place for the object (12) to be reclosed is established in the wheel (21).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the closure inspection (16) is arranged on a further wheel (22).

17. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that objects (12) which are not closed as specified are parked in a further wheel (22) until a void is formed in the wheel (21).

18. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the ongoing operation of the wheel (21) is continuous.