DE102008055531A1 - Storing device i.e. rotating carrousel, for storing e.g. polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottles, has output station cooperating directly with storage spaces of magazine for receiving articles from storage space - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has an input station (EIN), an output station (AUS) and a rotatable magazine (11) arranged at a circumference (U). An input station cooperates directly with free storage spaces of another magazine (11-1) for storing the articles, and an output station (AUS) cooperates directly with storage spaces of a third magazine (11-2) for receiving the articles from the storage spaces. The latter and the third magazines are spaced at a distance to each other around the former magazine that defines an outer circumference. A transfer star is provided at an inner circumference.

Description

The The present invention relates to a device for storing Objects within a processing line. The Device has for this purpose an input station and an output station for the items to be stored.

An apparatus for the dynamic storage of objects is known from German Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2004 053 663 A1 known. For this purpose, the device for the dynamic storage of objects has a conveying path which is arranged between an input station and an output station. The device for storing comprises an endlessly flexible conveying means which is variably subdivided into a conveying strand and an empty strand. Furthermore, at least one carriage movable in the conveying plane is provided for changing the storage capacity. The carriage has a first deflection for the conveying strand and a second deflection for the empty strand and with a first drive means for the conveying means in the region of the input station and a second drive means for the conveying means in the region of the output station. The conveyor is provided over the entire length at equal intervals with grippers for the objects. The conveying means has a link chain equipped with rotatable guide rollers, which runs at least in regions in at least one stationary guide rail, wherein at least one guide roller is movably arranged on the respective chain link. Disadvantage of this memory device is the high space requirement for this memory device.

Other devices for storing objects are for. B. by the U.S. Patent 4,413,724 or the European patent application EP 1 275 603 A1 known. Here, a carriage which is infinitely variable in both directions is disclosed, which permits rapid and sensitive adjustment of the buffering capacity as a function of the conditions at the input station and at the output station and thus, for B. enables a dynamic coupling of two mobile with different performance machines. It is characteristic that all objects supplied in the input station and removed in the output station in each operating state pass through the entire conveyor path with variable length, which therefore has both a transport and a memory function. The positioning or movement of the carriage is automatically realized by the two drive means for the conveyor and the articles can remain on the conveyor during transport from the input station to the output station without overshooting.

Unfavorable However, the lack of cornering for the Objects that are free on the conveyor, especially in the area of deflections. For a transport at high speed of objects with low tilting safety, for example, of several plastic bottles, are the known dynamic memory therefore not suitable.

task of the present invention is a storage system create a high storage capacity, takes up a small footprint and secure storage allows the objects to be stored. This task is inventively by the features of the claim 1 solved.

According to the invention the device for storing objects within a processing line with at least one rotatable carousel provided, which has formed a circumference. At the periphery of the rotatable Carousels are arranged several rotatable magazines, each one have identical plurality of memory locations. to Storing the items affects the input station directly with a free space of a first magazine together. to Removing the items from the storage locations the output station acts directly on occupied memory a second magazine together. The first magazine and the second Magazine are spaced apart by at least one magazine.

to Storing the items affects the input station directly with a free space of a first magazine together. to Removing the items from the storage locations the output station acts directly on occupied memory a second magazine together. The first magazine and the second Magazine assigned to the input station or the output station, are spaced apart by at least one magazine.

The carousel is continuously rotatable. It is also possible to switch several of the rotatable carousels, each with several rotatable magazines in a row. According to a further embodiment, it is possible to arrange the rotatable carousels, each with a plurality of rotatable magazines concentrically with each other. Each of the carousels has end turnable magazines with six memory slots each. At the memory locations, the objects to be stored can be held in a force-locking manner. Typically, these devices are used to store the articles for preforms and / or for plastic bottles made from the preforms. At the memory locations thus the preforms and / or the plastic bottles are held non-positively. Holding the preforms or the plastic bottles he follows at a neck area of the plastic bottles or preforms.

The on the carousel arranged magazines set an outer circumference and an inner circumference. On the outer circumference of the magazines is an input tester at the input station and at the output station an output star provided. The output tester and the input tester are arranged such that between the input station and the output station is provided at least one magazine, the does not interact with the input tester and / or the output tester. The input and output of the preforms or the plastic bottles takes place in each case in the outermost radial orientation of the magazine relative to the center of the carousel. In operation turns the carousel is continuous, similar to a transfer star, the number of magazines with the memory locations (pockets or Receiving elements) of the transfer star is comparable. The input into the carousel takes place on division and with the removal from the Carousel, the division can be maintained or resolved. It would also be possible, as mentioned above, radially inside the device one or more magazines or To arrange the magazine chains to the storage capacity of the to increase the device according to the invention. Likewise, it is possible for reasons of increase the storage capacity of several of the devices in series to arrange.

The Device for storing objects within a Processing line can be used in various ways in the end, the length of stay of objects to be stored increase within the processing route.

A Possibility is that the items with the carousel according to the invention are stored. The magazines are clocked with at least one carousel rotatable. The storage locations of the individual magazines are during the rotation of the carousel at the entrance station can be filled and emptied at the exit station.

The Saving can be done according to the principle "first in first out" (FIFO) respectively. Likewise is an indiscriminate storage of incoming Objects with the invention Device possible. The inventive Device can be used before or after a blow molding machine become. With the blow molding machine you can choose from the preforms that are made come to a preheat oven, which produce plastic bottles.

A further possible use of the invention Device is that the objects with the inventive Device to be cooled. This is not it to buffer, but to provide one certain distance, within which the objects to be cooled (Plastic bottles) dwell to a certain at the exit point Temperature for the plastic bottles to be cooled to reach. During the residence time of the plastic bottles a targeted, for each storage space the same length, continuous cooling. The magazines of at least one carousel are also clocked rotatable and the memory slots The magazines are on during the rotation of the carousel the input station continuously refillable and at the Starting station can be emptied continuously.

A Another possibility of using the invention Device is the use in conjunction with a device to discard defective items (preforms and / or Plastic bottles). For this purpose, before the inventive Device the device for the removal of defective items positioned. The device according to the invention is only fulfilled with inspected, the defined quality requirements Filled objects. Is an object outside the specification, he is still ahead of the invention Device eliminated and the storage space in the device thus remains free. To prevent this gap in a downstream blowing machine passes, the inventive Device by targeted filling of freely positionable Magazines out of normal operation (in case of malfunctions in the downstream plant or before starting the processing line) specifically filled and contains thereafter exclusively Items within the required specification lie. This makes it possible to eject the magazines before output to position so that only one with one within the specification Object busy space at the removal position is applied and there is no space or filled space located. However, this is only possible until the respective magazine is empty. The output of the device for Deleting defective items is just as big or slightly below the power of the processing line. The lower output of the device for rejecting defective items can as a result of the device according to the invention be compensated for storing objects.

A further embodiment of the device for storing objects within a processing path according to the invention would be to provide cross connections between the individual magazines of the carousel. This could be z. B. over the inner circumference of the magazines of the carousel transfer stars may be possible. This would make it possible to operate the device for rejecting defective items with a transfer to compensate for the proportion of defective items and distribute the free memory spaces evenly across all magazines. This would allow a complete output on parts without a buffer path from the device for storing objects.

in the Below are exemplary embodiments of the invention Device and the method according to the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures explain.

1 shows the schematic plan view of a plant for producing and filling of plastic bottles, in which two processing devices for storing the objects are integrated.

2 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the designed as a carousel device for storing objects within a processing path.

3 shows a further schematic plan view of the device for storing objects within a processing path, in which the storage capacity is further increased.

4 shows a further arrangement of a plurality of devices for storing objects within a processing path, in which also the storage capacity is increased.

5 shows a schematic representation of the device for storing objects, in which the objects to be stored are input or output via an input star and an output star.

6a to 6y schematically show the method by which the objects are stored within the device according to the invention.

7 shows a schematic view of the carousel according to the invention for storing objects, wherein on the inner circumference of the magazines transfer stars are provided so as to allow a variable measurement of the memory locations.

For the same or equivalent elements of the invention will be identical Reference numeral used. Furthermore, for clarity's sake only reference numerals in the individual figures shown for the description of the respective figure are required.

1 shows the plant 1 for the manufacture, labeling, filling, sealing and packaging of items in the form of plastic bottles (PET bottles) for beverages, hereinafter referred to as bottles 32 called. The bottles 32 have in the head area in the usual way a support ring on which the bottles 32 through the plant 1 be transported. Along a conveyor line 2 a variety of processing machines is arranged. The attachment 1 includes a rotating stretch blow molder 15 with an outlet star 16 putting the finished blown plastic bottles back on the conveyor line 2 inflicts. There is an oven in front of the blower 4 arranged in which the preforms are brought to the required temperature, so that they with the blow molding machine 15 can be processed. From the oven 4 get the preforms via an inlet star 8th in the blowing machine 15 , The blowing machine 15 is along the processing route 2 a rotating labeling machine 17 downstream. The rotating labeling machine 17 includes an inlet star 18 and an outlet star 19 , The labeling machine 17 is still along the processing route 2 a rotating filling and closing machine 20 with an inlet star 21 and an outlet star 22 downstream. Each one along the processing route 2 arranged machines has its own motor, not shown, by means of which they are continuously driven together with their star wheels with variable speed. In the in 1 The embodiment shown is between the stretch blow molding machine 15 and the labeling machine 17 as well as after the filling and closing machine 20 each arranged a device for storing objects. The first device V1 for storing articles is between the stretch blow molding machine 15 and the labeling machine 17 intended. The second device V2 for storing objects is the filling and closing machine 20 downstream.

In 2 is a possible embodiment of the device 10 to store items. This device 10 to store items can within the in 2 described processing path 2 can be used to cache the corresponding items in the various stages of processing. The device 10 is designed as a carousel, which is designed to be rotatable about a center Z ₁ about the direction of rotation D ₁ . The revolving carousel has a circumference U formed on which several rotatable magazines 11 are arranged. The magazines 11 , which are arranged on the circumference U of the rotatable carousel, describe an outer circumference 13 ₁ and an inner circumference 13 ₂ , Each of the magazines 11 on the carousel is also arranged around its own center Z ₂ about the direction of rotation D ₂ rotatable on the carousel. Each of the magazines 11 carries several memory spaces 5 also on a perimeter 14 of every magazine 11 are arranged. Each of the magazines 11 carries an equal number of memory locations 5 , In the 2 illustrated embodiment of the device 10 for storing objects formed as a carousel shows a basic shape that can be appropriately expanded and changed according to the requirements of the storage capacity and / or the processing problem. The memory slots 5 the individual magazines 11 are arranged on a circle. Likewise are the magazines 11 arranged on a roundabout on the carousel.

3 shows an embodiment of the device 10 for storing items within a processing path 2 in which the storage capacity has been increased by having a second rotatable carousel with further magazines 21 inside the carousel with the rotatable magazines 11 is arranged. By the in 3 The representation shown can be the objects of the arranged in the first carousel magazines 11 on the magazines 21 which also have a plurality of memory locations 5 exhibit. With the in 3 Thus, one can thus increase the storage capacity to a narrow space.

4 shows a further embodiment in which a plurality of devices 10 for storing objects in series so as to increase the storage capacity. For the storage of the first device 10 within the row the objects to be stored on the next following device 10 be handed in the row until the last device 10 the row is filled.

5 shows a detailed view of the arrangement of the device 10 in terms of the processing line 2 , Through an input station ON, the items to be stored reach the magazines 11 which are in the device 10 are arranged on the circumference U. At the outer circumference 13 ₁ the items are sent to the magazines 11 to hand over. The carousel with the variety of magazines 11 rotates continuously around the center Z ₁ along the direction of rotation D ₁ . The magazines 11 thus arrive successively to a starting station OFF, at which the stored items from the magazines 11 be transferred to the output station OFF. From the exit station, the stored items return to the processing line 2 , The input station ON and the output station OUT are in this respect with respect to the magazines 11 the device 10 arranged that the input station is ON and the output station is OFF on the outer circumference 13 ₁ through a magazine 11 spaced apart from each other. The input station ON and the output station OUT are in the form of transfer stars. To store the objects, the input station ON acts directly with a free memory space 5 a first magazine 11 ₁ together. To remove the items from the storage locations 5 the output station OFF acts directly on occupied memory 5 a second magazine 11 ₂ together.

The 6a to 6y describe schematically the process of placing objects in the device 10 to save. To the passage of the individual items through the device 10 to be able to describe the individual objects are labeled with letters A to E. Thus, in a simple manner, the position of the individual objects before, within and after the device 10 better understand. On the basis of five objects A to E, the storage in the device 10 and emptying the device 10 described. Both 6a to 6b the object A is first sent to a magazine 11 to hand over. The carousel on which the individual magazines 11 are arranged, continues to rotate, so at 6c the next item B from the magazine 11 has been recorded. In the 6d is already the subject C of a magazine 11 the device 10 added. In the presentation of 6e are already the objects A to D in the device 10 saved. In the presentation of the 6f is the item E of a magazine 11 the device 10 added. The article A is already out of the device 10 to re-issue items. In the next 6g to 6y be successively by the rotational movement of the device 10 and at the periphery U of the device 10 arranged magazines 11 the items B to E issued. In the presentation of the 6y is the device 10 completely empty for storing objects.

7 shows a further embodiment of the device 10 for storing objects. Here are on the inner circumference 13 ₂ the magazines 11 the device 10 several transfer stars 30 arranged by means of which the individual objects to be stored arbitrarily on the individual magazines 11 the device can be distributed. This embodiment is mainly used when the device 10 a device for inspecting the objects to be stored is arranged upstream. Above all, the preforms are inspected to determine whether the preforms are within a predefined specification. The device (not shown) for inspecting the preforms is intended to prevent preforms that move out of specification from ultimately entering the blow molding machine and causing defects in the finished blown plastic bottles or interrupting the blowing process. When the device 10 upstream device for the inspection of objects, it comes to objects that themselves are out of specification, discarded and thus not in the device 10 to save the objects. This causes that in the device 10 or in the individual magazine 11 the device 10 individual memory locations 5 not occupied by an object. One wants to prevent of course that these gaps get into the downstream blow molding machine. This leads to a targeted filling of the individual memory locations 5 the magazines 11 the device 10 by. These are the transfer stars 30 provided the items to be stored by a magazine 11 to the other magazine 11 the device 10 transfer and so the storage capacity of the device 10 or the individual magazines 11 optimally exploit.

The Invention has been made in consideration of preferred embodiments described. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that Modifications and changes are made can, without losing the scope of the following To leave claims.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 102004053663 A1 [0002]
• US 4413724 [0003]
• EP 1275603 A1 [0003]

Claims (16)

Contraption ( 10 ) for storing items within a processing line ( 2 ), the device ( 10 ) an input station (EIN) and an output station (AUS) characterized in that the device ( 10 ) is designed for storing as a rotatable carousel with a circumference (U), that at the periphery (U) a plurality of rotatable magazines ( 11 ) are arranged, each having an identical plurality of memory locations ( 5 ) that for storage of the objects the input station (ON) directly with a free memory space ( 5 ) of a first magazine ( 11 ₁ ) and that for the removal of the objects from the memory locations ( 5 ) the output station (OFF) directly with a occupied memory space ( 5 ) of a second magazine ( 11 ₂ ), the first magazine ( 11 ₁ ) and the second magazine ( 11 ₂ ) by at least one magazine ( 11 ) are spaced from each other. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the carousel is continuously rotatable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that a plurality of rotatable carousels with the respective plurality of rotatable magazines ( 11 ) are connected in series. Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that a plurality of rotatable carousels with the respective plurality of rotatable magazines ( 11 ) are arranged concentrically with each other. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each carousel n rotatable magazines ( 11 ) with z memory locations ( 5 ). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that arranged on the carousel magazines ( 11 ) an outer circumference ( 13 ₁ ), wherein the outer circumference ( 13 ₁ ) of magazines ( 11 ) at the input station (ON) an input tester and at the output station (AUS) an output tester are arranged such that between the input station (ON) and the output station (OFF) at least one magazine ( 11 ) that does not interfere with the input terminal of the input station (ON) and the output terminal of the output station (OUT). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the storable with the device Articles, preforms or preforms Plastic bottles are. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that preforms or the plastic bottles at the memory locations ( 5 ) are held frictionally. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the objects with the device ( 10 ) are storable, the magazines ( 11 ) of the at least one carousel are clocked rotatably and that the memory locations of the magazines ( 11 ) can be filled during the rotation of the carousel at the entry station (EIN) and emptied at the exit station (AUS). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the filling and emptying of the memory locations ( 5 ) of magazines ( 11 ) according to the FIFO principle or randomly. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that that the items are preforms or from the preforms shaped bottles are. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the objects with the device ( 10 ) are defined as coolable, the magazines ( 11 ) of the at least one carousel are clocked rotatable and that the memory locations ( 5 ) of magazines ( 11 ) can be continuously filled during the rotation of the carousel at the entry station (EIN) and continuously emptied at the exit station (AUS). Device according to claim 12, characterized in that that the items are preforms or from the preforms shaped bottles are. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device ( 10 ) a device for the removal of defective objects is arranged upstream, wherein the individual arranged on the carousel magazines ( 11 ) about transfer stars ( 30 ) are interconnected so that free memory locations ( 5 ) of magazines ( 11 ) about the transfer stars ( 30 ) can be filled with non-defective objects. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the transfer stars ( 30 ) on an inner circumference ( 13 ₂ ) abutting through the arranged on the carousel magazines ( 11 ) is formed. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that that the items are preforms for bottles are.