DE102016122462A1 - Device for sorting and conveying container closures - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for sorting and conveying container closures (9), preferably for conveying and sorting screw closures in a beverage filling plant, comprising a plurality of sorting strips (3, 3 ') movable along a movement path (2) conveying the container closures (9) along the movement path (2) from a collection receptacle (4) having unsorted container closures (9) to a closure transfer (5), the sorting ledges (3, 3 ') for receiving container closures (9) conveying the collection receptacle (3). 4), wherein between the collecting receptacle (4) and the closure transfer (5) a sorting area (6) is provided, in which the sorting strips (3, 3 ') are inclined so that only container closures (9), which with its bottom (90) in the direction of the sorting strips (3, 3 '), due to their center of gravity in the sorting strips (3, 3') remain, the sorting strips (3, 3 ') ind individually to each other are controllable.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for sorting and conveying container closures, preferably for conveying and sorting screw closures in a beverage filling plant.

Technical background

In bottling plants, it is well known to close filled containers with container closures in order to complete them for further processing and transportation to the consumer. There are known different container closures such as screw caps, which are provided as a plastic molded part and are screwed onto an external thread in the mouth region of the filled container. Also known are crown corks, which are molded onto the filled container. Also known are so-called roll-up closures, in which a closure sleeve is placed on a formed on the outside of a container mouth thread and then the closure sleeve is formed on the thread by means of a Aufrollverschließers.

In all closure types, the container closures are supplied to a closing device or a closer for closing the filled containers with the container closures. In order to ensure that the container closures produced in a separate device or plant always reach the closing device with the correct orientation, it is known to sort the container closures in advance.

It is known, for example, to promote the container closures by means of a so-called cascade conveyor and to sort them. In this case, unsorted container closures are conveyed from a collecting receptacle, for example in the form of a trough, by means of an inguinal chain with a multiplicity of sorting ledges to a closure transfer. On the conveying path between the collecting receptacle and the closure transfer, the container closures located on the sorting strips are sorted in a sorting area in which the sorting strips are inclined such that only container closures pointing with their bottom in the direction of the sorting ledges due to their center of gravity in the sorting remain.

Container closures of a different orientation, due to their center of gravity lying outside the sorting strip, fall back into the collecting receptacle and can again be picked up and conveyed by one of the sorting strips. The container closures sorted thereby are, after passing through the sorting area, transferred from the closure transfer with the predetermined orientation to a further treatment device of the beverage filling installation, for example a further transport device or directly a closing device.

Furthermore, it is known to detect the sorting of the container closures their position in the sorting strips and to blow out incorrectly oriented container closures with compressed air.

The DE 103 41 481 A1 shows an apparatus for sorting and conveying container closures, in which the container closures are passed after sorting in a two parallel plates existing collecting device in which they migrate downwards by gravity.

The US Pat. No. 3,835,985 A shows a device for sorting and conveying container closures, in which the container closures are supported by a suction held in the sorting strips.

From the US 8,783,439 B2 a device for sorting and conveying of container closures is known in which the transfer of sorted container closures is done by tilting the sorting. The container closures in the slanted or tilted sorting slips slip or roll over a deeper lying side end of the sorting strips in a receiving channel. The sorting strips are each attached to a conveyor chain, which is deflected by 90 ° in the upper part of the device. By deflecting the chain and a correspondingly performed leadership of the sorting these are tilted by 90 ° and thus achieved the required for emptying the sorting slanted position.

In known devices, the sorting strips are each attached to a conveyor chain with a rigid pitch. Thus, the devices are thus optimally adjusted for conveying and sorting a single container closure type. For conveying another type of container closure, the sorting strips are to be replaced by sorting strips with other dimensions adapted to the other type of container closure, there is to be another device for conveying and sorting the other container closure type in the bottling plant, or the device is not operated in its optimum.

A changeover of the system from one container closure type to another is correspondingly associated with a changeover and / or downtime. Moving the sorting strips by means of the conveyor chains also requires a high energy consumption and generates at the same time high noise emissions. The resulting in the operation of such devices volume and the required energy consumption are further increased by the use of compressed air or suction devices.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for sorting and conveying container closures, preferably for conveying and sorting screw closures in a beverage filling plant.

The object is achieved by a device for sorting and conveying container closures, preferably for conveying and sorting screw closures in a beverage filling installation, having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, an apparatus for sorting and conveying container closures, preferably for conveying and sorting screw closures in a beverage filling plant, is proposed, comprising at least two movable along a movement path sorting strips, which promote the container closures along the trajectory of an unsorted container closures comprising collecting receptacle to a closure transfer wherein the sorting strips for receiving container closures traverse the collecting receptacle, wherein a sorting area is provided between the collecting receptacle and the closure transfer, in which the sorting strips are inclined such that only container closures pointing with their bottom in the direction of the sorting bars, due to their center of gravity in remain the sorting bars. According to the sorting strips are individually controlled to each other.

Characterized in that the sorting strips are individually controlled to each other, the movement of the individual sorting strips or their speed can be designed flexibly and independently of the other sorting strips of the device. In other words, the individual sorting strips can thereby each be moved, accelerated and / or braked independently of the other sorting strips at respectively individual speeds. Furthermore, the distance of the individual sorting strips from each other can thereby be adjusted variably.

Preferably, adjacent sorting strips can be controlled individually in such a way that they have different distances from one another in different regions of the movement path over the movement path. The sorting strips can have a small distance from each other, for example in the area of the collecting receptacle. Preferably, the spacing between the individual sorting strips is adapted to the container closure size to be sorted and conveyed, the sorting strips preferably being moved at a low speed so that the sorting strips can receive and transport a possibly high number of container closures when passing through the collecting receptacle. After leaving the collecting receptacle, the sorting strips can then be controlled such that they have a speed which is higher than the speed which the sorting strips have in the area of the collecting receptacle, preferably a multiple thereof. In the area of the closure transfer, the distance and / or orientation and / or speed of the sorting lines can be adapted again in order to optimally transfer the closures from the sorting strips to a device which takes over the container closures, for example a transport device for transporting the sorted container closures, preferably a pick wheel a closure device for closing a container with a container closure to allow. As a result, optimum conveying and sorting of the container closures can be achieved.

As compared to known devices for sorting and conveying container closures, sorting and conveying an equal number of container closures per unit of time can consequently be achieved with a smaller number of sorting strips. Furthermore, it is possible by the individual control of the sorting strips, in a region of the movement path, preferably in the region of the closure transfer or in the conveying direction shortly before this, to provide a buffer of sorted container closures having sorting strips in that a plurality of sorting strips as narrow as possible be driven to each other, whereby the efficiency of the device is again increased, since this ensures that there is always a sufficiently large number of sorted container closures on the closure transfer available.

Furthermore, it is also possible by the individual control of the individual sorting strips relative to one another that the sorting strips have a constant distance or a required minimum distance over the entire movement path to adjacent sorting strips. In particular, if the trajectory has one or more curves, so by adjusting the speed of the individual sorting strips in the region of the one or more curves, a constant distance or required minimum space between the sorting bars. Furthermore, gentle movement can also be achieved in the area of curves or changes in direction in order to prevent accidental falling out of container closures.

On the other hand, it is also possible to achieve a sorting out of incorrectly oriented container closures by conscious, for example jerky, acceleration, so that a sorting threshold in the movement path can be dispensed with.

In particular, in the case of a transition of the sorting strips from the region of the collecting receptacle in which the guide curve has a slight incline with respect to the horizontal, so that as many container closures as possible are taken up by the sorting strips, to the sorting region in which the guide curve has a higher gradient, so that the inclination of the sorting strips correspondingly enables the aforesaid sorting of the container closures, it can thus be ensured that no collisions and / or squeezing out of container closures occur.

It is thus also possible, due to the individually controllable speed of the sorting strips to move them in certain areas of the trajectory at high speed, so that even large distances can be bridged by the device for sorting and conveying container closures and any otherwise necessary facilities for Transporting the container closures can be dispensed in a plant having the device.

A particularly advantageous embodiment is obtained if the movement of the sorting strips in the region of the closure transfer is adapted in such a way that a distribution-accurate loading of a device processing or transporting the container closures takes place. The container closures can thus be forwarded, for example, directly to a closing device for closing a container with a container closure or precisely to its closure receptacles, without providing a further transfer device between the device for sorting and conveying container closures and the closing device.

In a further preferred embodiment, the movement path has a conveying path in which the container closures are conveyed from the collecting receptacle to the closure transfer, and at least one return region adjoining the conveying path, wherein the sorting strips in the return region from one end of the conveying path to a beginning of Conveyor are traceable. The sorting strips can thereby be moved along the path of movement with a constant sense of motion. Thus, while some sorting strips are moved along the conveying path, at least one further sorting strip can be guided from the end of the conveying path over the return region to the beginning of the conveying path.

In the return region, the sorting strips are preferably movable and / or accelerated at a different speed than along the conveying path. As a result, the number of sorting strips of the device can be reduced. Due to an increased speed of the sorting strips in the return area, they can be moved more quickly to the beginning of the conveyor line than a sorting strip for passing through the conveyor line requires. Thus, the number of total required for a planned system performance sorting can be reduced because the sorting bars are moved faster in the return area.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an electric linear drive or linear motor for individually controlling the sorting strips is provided, wherein the sorting strips are preferably each individually and independently connected to the electric linear drive or linear motor or each have their own sorting sledge. As a result, the sorting strips can be individually controlled safely and precisely. In addition, this makes it possible to dispense with a conventional movement device, in particular a conveyor chain or an inguinal chain, so that the noise emissions of the device are reduced in comparison to a conventional device. Furthermore, only the individual sorting strips are to be moved, which have lower individual masses in comparison to the movement of the connected conveyor chain with a large total mass. The device can therefore be made less massive and operated comparatively low consumption. Thus, the device is very simple and very efficient.

In order to set different speeds of the sorting strips precisely and energy-efficiently individually and at the same time to achieve a simple and robust construction of the device, in a further preferred embodiment the linear drive has a long stator with a multiplicity of individually energizable electromagnets. In each case, a sorting strip is preferably arranged in each case on a carriage, wherein the carriages can be driven individually via the long stator.

In order to allow a particularly quiet and energy-efficient guiding of the sorting strips, in a further preferred embodiment, a magnetic sliding guide for guiding the sorting strips is arranged at least in a partial section of the movement path. In other words, the device by the combination of the electric linear drive or linear motor and the magnetic Schwebeführung then a magnetic levitation railway for guiding and moving the sorting.

Alternatively, the sorting strips can also be guided along a mechanical guide which images the movement path, preferably a plain bearing guide or a rolling bearing guide.

Preferably, the sorting strips for emptying the sorted container closures in the region of the closure transfer can each be tilted from their delivery position into a tilted position. The tilted sorting strips can then be emptied by gravity. In other words, the container closures slip and / or roll in the direction of the lower side end of the tilted sorting strips and can thus be transferred to a closure takeover device. During sorting and / or sorting, the sorting strips preferably have a conveying position in which the sorting strips are oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravitational acceleration in their longitudinal extent. Container closures located in the conveying position on the sorting strip do not roll or slip thereby from a side end of the sorting strip. Due to the tilting of the sorting ledges, due to the force of gravity, a slope-down force arises in the direction of the lower side end of the sorting strip on the container closures located on the sorting strip.

In order to ensure that the container closures do not fall from them during conveying and sorting by accidental tilting of the sorting strip, the sorting strips are preferably biased into their conveying position and / or locked in their conveying position, wherein the sorting strips are tiltable for emptying against the bias and / / or unlocked.

In a further preferred embodiment, a further linear drive is arranged at least in the region of the closure transfer, wherein the further linear drive is preferably arranged parallel to the first linear drive and preferably parallel to the conveying direction.

The sorting strips preferably each have two slides or runners, one runner being assigned to one linear drive in each case. As a result, on the one hand, a particularly precise movement of the sorting strips in this area can be achieved. On the other hand, this makes it possible to individually control the position and orientation of the sorting strips moved by means of both linear drives. If the two runners of a sorting strip are moved at the same speeds, the sorting strips are moved in the conveying position. By controlling the two runners of a sorting strip such that the two runners have different speeds, the sorting strip experiences an inclination or tilting. The end of the page, which is closer to the faster carriage, thus precedes the other side end of the sorting bar, which is then lower than the leading end of the page. Preferably, the two carriages or runners are again moved at the same speed when the desired lateral inclination of the sorting strip is reached.

Alternatively, for tilting the individual sorting strips in a preferred embodiment, a control cam, in which a guide element of the sorting strip is guided, be controllable. As a result, the device can have a simple structure and at the same time a reliable tilting and consequently emptying of the individual sorting strips can be achieved.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, a sorting strip is tiltable by varying the distance of the sorting strip to be tilted to an adjacent sorting strip, wherein the sorting strip to be tilted is preferably connected to the adjacent sorting strip by means of a connecting unit such that increasing the distance between two adjacent sorting strips one of the sorting strips undergoes a tilting movement. On additional facilities for tilting the sorting bars can thus be dispensed with and thereby a further simplified structure of the device can be achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sorting strips for conveying and sorting different container closures are adjustable in their depth. The sorting strip preferably has an adjustable format stopper defining the depth of the sorting strip. This makes it possible to easily and quickly adjust the apparatus from the conveying and sorting of container closures of one type and / or size to the conveying and sorting of container closures of a different type and / or size. Replacing the sorting strips can therefore be dispensed with when changing over to another container closure type. As a result, stand and / or changeover times of the device can be reduced or even completely avoided.

A particularly quick and easy adjustment or retrofitting can be achieved if an adjusting device is provided for adjusting the depth of the sorting strips, wherein the adjusting device is preferably arranged in a return region of the sorting strips. Sorting rails to be adjusted can then be moved to the adjustment unit and remain there until the required adjustment of the depth to the new container closure type has taken place. Subsequently, the displaced sorting strip can be fed to the beginning of the conveyor line in order to convey and sort the new container closure type.

In a further preferred embodiment, a sensor unit is provided in the return region, which detects the depth of the sorting strips of the sensor unit. Sorting strips detected as incorrectly adjusted can be set to the correct value by the adjusting device before they are moved further to the beginning of the conveying path. This enables high efficiency and precision of the sorting process in the sorting area. Preferably, the sensor unit is formed as part of the adjustment and / or integrated into it. The sensor unit preferably has a sensor for detecting the depth of the sorting strips, preferably a light barrier, an ultrasonic sensor, a push button switch or an optical distance sensor.

As a result of different accelerations, for example jerky accelerations, it is possible to apply an impulse to the transported container closures, as when passing over a sorting threshold, which causes the container closure to fall out of the sorting bar in the event of an orientation that is not intended. Within a certain framework, the setting of the depth of the sorting strip can thus be dispensed with, as the device can be adapted to the respective type of container closure via the application of different pulses. This can be dispensed with a complicated guidance of the movement path with a sorting threshold, whereby the entire device can be constructed simplified.

In order to achieve a particularly simple and inexpensive construction of the device, the sorting strips are seen in the conveying direction coupled at a beginning of the electric linear drive with the electric linear drive and decoupled seen in the conveying direction at one end of the electric linear drive of the electric linear drive in a further preferred embodiment. As a result, the electric linear drive is also provided only in the region of the conveying path.

The sorting strips are preferably guided along the entire movement path in a continuous guide. The decoupling of the linear drive is preferably carried out by introducing a pulse at the end of the linear drive, which moves the sorter from the range of the linear drive, so that they can be returned to its beginning again. Alternatively, the sorting strips can also be coupled and decoupled from a guide of the linear drive. For further guidance of the sorting strips, a further guide can then be provided which guides the sorting strips back to the beginning of the electric linear drive.

Preferably, the sorting strips are traceable to the beginning of the trajectory after decoupling in the return area. For this purpose, a further drive unit may preferably be provided, preferably a chain drive or a belt drive or another electric linear drive, which optionally has a simpler construction and / or a lower precision than the electric linear drive in the region of the conveying path. Alternatively, the sorting strips can also be guided back to the beginning of the electric drive by means of gravity and their own weight. In addition, it is possible to give the sorting strips at the end of the electric linear drive when decoupled by the electric linear drive a pulse which is sufficient for the sorting in an independent movement, preferably at least partially assisted by gravity, move back to the beginning of the linear drive.

Particularly preferably, the linear drive extends over the entire path of movement to allow a fully controlled movement.

In a further preferred embodiment, other and / or further treatment zones and / or treatment steps, preferably a cleaning and / or sterilization of the container closures, may also be provided along the conveying path.

list of figures

• 1 schematisch eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Sortieren und Fördern von Behälterverschlüssen;
• 2 schematisch eine Vorderansicht einer Förderstrecke der Vorrichtung aus 1 ;
• 3 schematisch eine Vorderansicht einer Förderstrecke der Vorrichtung aus 1 in einer alternativen Ausführungsform;
• 4 schematisch eine Vorderansicht einer Förderstrecke der Vorrichtung aus 1 in einer weiteren alternativen Ausführungsform;
• 5 schematisch eine Vorderansicht einer Verschlussübergabe der Vorrichtung aus 1 in einer alternativen Ausführungsform;
• 6 schematisch eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Sortieren und Fördern von Behälterverschlüssen in einer alternativen Ausführungsform; und
• 7 schematisch eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Sortieren und Fördern von Behälterverschlüssen in einer weiteren alternativen Ausführungsform.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

• 1 schematically a side view of a device according to the invention for sorting and conveying container closures;
• 2 schematically a front view of a conveyor line of the device 1 ;
• 3 schematically a front view of a conveyor line of the device 1 in an alternative embodiment;
• 4 schematically a front view of a conveyor line of the device 1 in a further alternative embodiment;
• 5 schematically a front view of a closure transfer of the device 1 in an alternative embodiment;
• 6 schematically a side view of an apparatus for sorting and conveying container closures in an alternative embodiment; and
• 7 schematically a side view of an apparatus for sorting and conveying container closures in a further alternative embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to the invention 1 for sorting and conveying container closures 9 shown. The device 1 includes a variety of sorting strips 3 moving along a trajectory 2 in a conveying direction F are movable. The trajectory 2 is in a conveyor line 20 and a return area 22 divided.

Along the conveyor line 20 become container locks 9 from a collection 4 in which the container closures 9 unsorted, by means of the sorting bar 3 to a closure transfer 5 promoted, in their range sorted container closures 9 be transferred to a downstream treatment device, not shown. For sorting the container closures 9 is between the collection 4 and the closure delivery 5 a sorting area 6 arranged in which the sorting bars 3 are inclined so that only container closures 9 which with her bottom 90 towards the sorting bars 3 due to their focus in the sorting bars 3 remain. container closures 9 another orientation and according to a lying outside the sorting bar focus fall back into the collection 4 and again from one of the sorting bars 3 when crossing the collection 4 be received and promoted.

To move the sorting bars 3 is an electric linear drive 7 in the form of a linear motor with long stator, which has a plurality of individually energizable electromagnet, along with guide provided by which the trajectory 2 is predetermined. By means of the electric linear drive 7 or linear motors, the individual sorting strips 3 individually controlled. These are the individual sorting bars 3 each individually and independently with the electric linear drive 7 or linear motor by means of their own sorting sledge 30 connected. The individual sorter carriages 30 are individually driven by individually controlling the electromagnets of the long stator.

The sorting bars 3 In the present embodiment, these are individually controlled in such a way that they pass over the path of movement 2 seen to have different distances and speeds. For the largest possible number of container closures 9 The sorting bars will be included 3 in the area of the group intake 4 moved with a small distance to each other and low speed. After leaving the collection 4 become the sorting bars 3 then driven so that they have a speed which is higher than the speed which the sorting strips 3 in the area of the group intake 4 preferably a multiple thereof. Due to the associated acceleration of the sorting bars 3 after leaving the collection 4 the sorting effect is in the sorting area 6 due to the inertia of the container closures 9 additionally supported, so that sorting is particularly efficient. In the area of the closure transfer 5 become the individual sorting bars 3 each briefly and, as follows in relation to the 2 to 5 explained in more detail, in the direction of a page end 34 the sorting bar 3 tilted so that's on the sorting bar 3 located container closures 9 over the bottom of the page 34 to a device, not shown, taking over the container closures, for example a transport device for transporting the sorted container closures, preferably a pick-wheel of a closing device for closing a container with a container closure 9 , be handed over. After this done emptying the sorting bar 3 this is in the conveying direction F over the return area 22 back to the collection area 4 moves, then again container closures 9 to be able to record.

In the return area 22 is also an adjustment 8th for adjusting the depth T the sorting bars 3 arranged. To the depth T a sorting bar 3 To adjust, this is the adjustment 8th moved and held there in a predetermined position. The adjustment takes place in the present case fully automatically by turning one in the sorting bar 3 arranged adjusting screw. By the Turning the set screw becomes a format stop 32 the sorting bar 3 shifted, so that according to the depth T the sorting bar 3 is changed. The adjusting device 8th also has a sensor unit 80 on which the position of the format stop 32 measures. Is the depth T the sorting bar 3 The sorting bar is set to the required level 3 back to the collection 4 emotional. On the one hand it is possible, the depth T the sorting bars 3 during operation of the device 1 continuously monitor if this is the sensor unit 80 happen. On the other hand, the sorting bars 3 be adapted in this way to the conveying and sorting of another container closure type.

The device 1 also has a control device 12 on, inter alia, with the electric drive 7 is connected and by means of which the electromagnets of the long stator and thus the movement of the sorting strips 3 as well as the adjusting device 8th are controllable. The control unit 12 has for this purpose a processor unit. This is programmed in such a way that the sorting bars 3 are individually controlled in a way, so that the sorting always the required minimum distance x two adjacent sorting bars 3 comply. This ensures that it is in particular in the curve of the trajectory 2 between collection 4 and sorting area 6 not to collisions of adjacent sorting bars 3 comes.

2 schematically shows a front view of the conveyor line 20 the device 1 out 1 , The sorting bars 3 are mounted centrally and biased by a spring in its conveying position, in which the sorting strips 3 are aligned in their longitudinal extent substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravitational acceleration. Yourself on the sorting bar 3 in container position located container closures 9 do not roll laterally from the sorting strip 3 , To the sorting bars 3 To empty, these are in the area of the closure transfer 5 with another electric linear drive 7 ' coupled. By the further linear drive 7 ' become the sorting bars 3 tilted out of the conveying position against the bias so that they, as in 2 in the present sorting strip 3. ' , in a tilted position. Which is on the tilted sorting bar 3. ' located sorted container closures 3 then move by gravity towards the lower side of the page 34 the tilted sorting bar 3. ' and thereby become a takeover unit 50 to hand over.

3 schematically shows a front view of the conveyor line 20 the device 1 out 1 in an alternative embodiment, in which the sorting strips 3 by means of two parallel to the conveying direction F arranged linear actuators 7 . 7 ' to be moved. The sorting bars 3 in each case two carriages or runners, each with a rotor each one of the linear actuators 7 . 7 ' assigned. Will the two runners of a sorting bar 3 moving at the same speeds, so are the sorting bars 3 moved in the conveying position. For tilting the conveyor bar 3 in the tilted position, the two runners of the sorting strips to be tilted 3 controlled such that the two runners have different speeds. The bottom of the page 34 ' , which is closer to the faster slide, so runs the other footer 34 the sorting bar 3 ahead, which is then lower than the leading end of the page 34 ' , This causes the sorting bar 3 is tilted from the conveying position to the tilted position.

In 4 is a schematic front view of a conveyor line 20 the device 1 out 1 shown in a further alternative embodiment, in which the tilting of the individual sorting strips 3 over a control curve 26 he follows. The control curve 26 runs over the trajectory 2 Seen substantially parallel to the electric linear drive 7 so the sorting bars 3 are held in the funding position. Only in the area of the closure 5 the cam has a deviation, so that the sorting bars 3 There can be a tipping experienced and emptied.

5 shows schematically a front view of a closure transfer 5 the device 1 out 1 in a second alternative embodiment. Here are the individual sorting bars 3 . 3. ' with their neighboring sorting bars 3 each via a connection unit 36 articulated. The sorting bars 3 In turn, they are articulated via their sorting strip carriage with the electric linear drive 3 connected and biased in the conveying position. Be the sorting bars 3 moved with the minimum distance to each other, they remain in the conveying position. Will the distance between two sorting bars 3 . 3. ' increases, so learns the leading sorting bar 3. ' due to the articulated connection by means of the connection unit 36 a tilting or tilting in the tilted position.

Out 6 is a schematic side view of a device 1 for sorting and conveying container closures 9 in an alternative embodiment. The electric linear drive 7 extends here only over part of the trajectory 2 , In conveying direction F seen is the beginning 70 of the linear drive 7 the collection 4 upstream, the end 72 of the linear drive 7 the closure transfer 5 downstream. In the return area 22 is merely one of the sorting ledges on the trajectory leading leadership 24 arranged. The sorting bars 3 are at the beginning 70 of the electric linear drive 7 with the electric linear actuator 7 coupled and at the end 72 of the electric linear drive 7 from the electric linear drive 7 decoupled. The decoupling of the linear drive 7 takes place here by introducing a pulse at the end 72 of the linear drive 7 which the sorting bars 3 from the range of the linear drive 7 moved, so this, guided by the guide 24 , to the beginning 70 to be led back. The return of sorting strips 3 in the return area 22 takes place in this training due to gravity.

Alternatively, the sorting bars 3 Also coupled by a guide of the linear drive and decoupled. For further guidance of the sorting strips, a further guide can then be provided which holds the sorting strips 3 back to the beginning of the electric linear drive 7 leads.

Instead of the gravitational feedback may alternatively be provided a further drive unit, preferably a chain drive or a belt drive or another electric linear drive, which optionally has a simpler structure and / or lower precision, as the electric linear drive in the conveying path. The further drive unit preferably extends from the end 72 of the linear drive 7 until the beginning 70 , wherein the sensor units 3 at the end 72 from the linear drive 7 decoupled and coupled with the other drive unit, and at the beginning 70 decoupled from the other drive unit and with the linear drive 7 be coupled.

The conveyor line 12 also has another treatment zone 28 on. In the present case, it is designed as a buffer, thus always sufficiently sorted sorting bars 3 at the lock delivery 5 in stock. Alternatively, other and / or further treatment zones and / or treatment steps, preferably a cleaning and / or sterilizing the container closures 9 , be provided.

7 schematically shows a side view of a device 1 for sorting and conveying container closures 9 in a further alternative embodiment. The emptying of the sorting strips at the closure transfer 5 takes place here by the inertia of the container closures. The sorting bars 3 be at a predetermined speed in the direction of a transport device 10 , designed here in the form of a horizontally extending conveyor belt, moves. To transfer the container closures 9 becomes the respective sorting bar 3 braked. Due to the inertia, the container closures move 9 from the sorting bar to the conveyor belt. To make sure the container closures 9 in the transfer do not change their orientation, in addition, an orientation guide, not shown, preferably in the form of a guide plate arranged above the conveyor belt, may be provided.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

10

transport device

12

control device

2

trajectory

20

conveyor line

22

Restoration area

24

guide

26

cam

28

treatment zone

3,3 '

sortbar

30

Sorting strips slide

32

format attack

34, 34 '

bottom of page

36

connecting unit

4

collecting receptacle

5

Closure handover

50

transfer unit

6

sorting area

7, 7 '

linear actuator

70

Beginning

72

The End

8th

adjustment

80

sensor unit

9

container closure

90

ground

F

conveying direction

x

minimum distance

T

depth

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10341481 A1 [0007]
• US 3835985 A [0008]
• US 8783439 B2 [0009]

Claims (11)

Device (1) for sorting and conveying container closures (9), preferably for conveying and sorting screw closures in a beverage filling installation, comprising at least two sorting strips (3, 3 ') movable along a movement path (2) for conveying the container closures (9) an unsorted container closures (9) having a collecting receptacle (4) to a closure transfer (5), wherein the movement path (2) passes through the collecting receptacle (4), characterized in that the sorting strips (3, 3 ') are individually controlled to each other. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the movement path (2) has a conveying path (20) in which the container closures (9) are conveyed from the collecting receptacle (4) to the closure transfer (5), and a return region adjoining the conveying path (20) ( 22), which recycles the sorting strips (3, 3 ') to the beginning of the conveying path (20). Device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that an electric linear drive (7, 7 ') for individually controlling the sorting strips (3, 3') is provided. Device according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the linear drive (7, 7 ') has a long stator with a plurality of individually energizable electromagnet. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least in the region of the closure transfer (5), a further linear drive (7 ') is arranged, wherein the further linear drive (7') is preferably arranged parallel to the first linear drive and tilting the sorting strips (3, 3 ') for emptying the transported container closures (9) can provide. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting strips (3, 3 ') for emptying the sorted container closures (9) in the region of the closure transfer (5) in each case from its conveying position in a tilted position are tilted. Device according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the sorting strips (3, 3 ') are biased into their conveying position and / or locked in their conveying position, wherein the sorting strips (3, 3') are tiltable for emptying against the bias and / or unlocked. Device according to one of the Claims 6 or 7 , characterized in that a sorting strip (3, 3 ') can be tilted by varying the distance of the sorting strip (3, 3') to be tilted to an adjacent sorting strip (3, 3 '), wherein the sorting strip (3, 3') to be tilted is tiltable ') is preferably connected to the adjacent sorting strip (3, 3') by means of a connecting unit (36). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting strips (3, 3 ') for conveying and sorting different container closures (9) in their depth (T) are adjustable, wherein preferably an adjusting device (8) for adjusting the depth (T ) of the sorting strips (3, 3 ') is provided, wherein the adjusting device (8) is preferably arranged in a return region (22) of the sorting strips (3, 3'). Device according to one of the Claims 3 to 9 , characterized in that the sorting strips (3, 3 ') seen in the conveying direction (F) at a beginning (70) of the electric linear drive (7, 7') with the electric linear drive (7, 7 ') can be coupled and in the conveying direction ( F) seen at one end (72) of the electric linear drive (7, 7 ') of the electric linear drive (7, 7') are decoupled. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the collecting receptacle (4) and the closure transfer (5) a sorting area (6) is provided, in which the sorting strips (3, 3 ') are inclined such that only container closures (9 ) in a given orientation due to their center of gravity in the sorting strips (3, 3 ') remain.

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