DE102021127132A1 - Guiding device for guiding transported containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Guide device (40, 41, 42, 60) for guiding containers (100) while they are being transported along a trajectory, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the guide device (40, 41, 42, 60) having: a guide set (G) with a contact surface (K) arranged to guide the containers (100) through contact during transport along at least a portion of the trajectory; at least one sensor (44) which is set up to detect a mechanical load on the container (100) on the contact surface (K) of the guide fitting (G), the sensor (44) preferably being a force sensor and/or acceleration sensor and/or vibration sensor and/or sound sensor; and a controller (50) set up to receive and evaluate sensor data from the sensor (44).

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding containers while the containers are being transported along a trajectory, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, a device and a method for transporting containers.

State of the art

Among the various methods and devices for treating containers, in particular for filling and sealing containers, technologies based on a rotary design are often used. When containers are filled with a filling product, a large number of filling elements are mounted on a carousel, which usually receives the containers via an infeed starwheel, with the containers then being filled via the filling elements during continuous circulation. The filling is carried out within a pitch circle of the rotary machine. After filling, the containers are transported away, for example via an outfeed star wheel.

Such rotary conveyors convey the containers along a circular path. In order to keep the containers on the predetermined path and to stabilize them in the desired orientation, it is known to install special guide devices which make lateral contact or can come into contact with the transported containers and thus prevent the containers from deviating from the desired path . Guide devices can move with the containers, this applies mostly to radially inner guides, or be stationary, as is mostly the case for radially outer guides.

It is also known to construct guide devices that are adjustable or exchangeable in order to be able to handle different container sizes or different types of containers. Management devices of this type go, for example, from the DE 10 2011 054 639 A1 , WO 2006/056372 A1 and DE 10 2015 121 081 A1 out.

A guide device can be adjusted manually or by means of actuators. In both cases there is the possibility that the guide device is not correctly or not optimally adjusted to the container types to be treated. Guide devices can also become misaligned during regular operation or get out of the optimal position due to wear. If the guiding device is too narrow, containers and/or plant components can be damaged; if it is too wide, there is a risk that the containers will not be properly handled, for example filled.

The problems described are not limited to devices for filling containers with a filling product. Rather, they can also occur during the mere transport of the containers or in other treatment processes, for example when cleaning, sealing, labeling or checking containers, provided that the treatment involves transporting the containers. Furthermore, the problems mentioned can also occur in systems that deviate from the rotary design, provided that one or more guide devices are installed to carry out or at least stabilize the transport.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an improved guide device for guiding containers while they are being transported along a trajectory, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, an improved device and an improved method for transporting containers, in particular to make it easier to adapt the guide to different container types and/or to optimize.

The object is achieved by a guide device having the features of claim 1, a device having the features of claim 9 and a method having the features of the independent method claim. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The proposed guide device is used to guide containers during transport or promotion of the same along a trajectory. The guide device is particularly preferably used in a beverage bottling plant, for bottling, for example, water, carbonated or non-carbonated, soft drinks, beer, wine, mixed drinks, milk products, juices and the like. Examples of possible containers are bottles made of glass or plastic, cans, beverage cartons or cardboard boxes.

The guide device has a guide set with a contact surface, which is set up to guide the containers by contact during transport along at least one section of the trajectory. The contact surface can be a guide surface along which the containers slide at least in sections, or the contact surface can move with the containers, like this that any relative movements between the containers and the contact surface are prevented or minimized, which has a gentle effect on the containers.

According to the invention, the guide device has at least one sensor which is set up to detect a mechanical load on the container on the contact surface of the guide fitting.

The sensor is preferably a force sensor and/or acceleration sensor and/or vibration sensor and/or a sound sensor, in particular an ultrasonic sensor. The sensor data can be received and evaluated by a controller. The transmission of the sensor data from the sensor to the controller can be wired or wireless, digital or analogue. In this case, the control does not necessarily have to be implemented by a central computing device or electronic regulation, but decentralized and/or multi-stage systems, regulation networks, cloud systems and the like are included. The controller can also be an integral part of a higher-level system controller or communicate with one.

From the mechanical load exerted by the containers on the contact surface of the guide set, detected by the at least one sensor, i.e. from the detected forces, accelerations, vibrations, sound in the audible or outside the audible (ultrasonic) spectrum or the like, can be determined by the controller whether the guide device is properly adjusted in relation to the containers currently being transported. For example, a different vibration pattern is generated depending on the contact pressure of the container on the guide device, which gives an indication of whether the guide fitting is set correctly. In particular, after a brand change, when the system is started up, after a production interruption, when the system is started up, but also during regular operation, the guide device can be checked using the at least one sensor.

The check can be carried out at regular intervals, for example. The sensor system can consequently ensure that the guide device and its guide set are always set correctly. In particular, any change in the detected load can be used to determine whether the setting of the guide fitting is suitable for the current container type. In addition, the guide fitting can be protected from any overload and/or the forces exerted on the containers by the guide fitting can be prevented from becoming too high.

The sensor is preferably attached to the guide fitting or integrated therein. However, in certain cases the sensor may be mounted externally and remotely from the guide assembly, for example on a stationary portion of the device. For example, a sound or ultrasonic sensor can detect changes in the guide set over a certain distance. In this way, assembly of the sensor in the rotating part of the device or in the area of cleaning media or the like can be avoided, thereby improving reliability and low maintenance.

The contact surface of the guide fitting can preferably be adjusted relative to the trajectory of the container, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the trajectory, so that the distance between the contact surface and the container can be changed. The adjustability allows the guide set to be adapted to the containers to be transported, depending on the sensor data evaluated by the controller.

The adjustment or adjustment of the guide fitting is preferably carried out automatically by the controller. For this purpose, the guide device preferably has at least one actuator for adjusting the guide fitting or its contact surface, the control being in communication with the actuator and being set up to actuate the actuator depending on the sensor data received from the sensor.

However, the sensor system for checking the correct position and/or location of the guide device does not necessarily have to be combined with corresponding actuators for adjusting the guide device, although this can be advantageous for reasons of efficiency and/or accuracy. Alternatively, the controller can output an acoustic or visual warning or inform an operator in some other way about the status of the guide device relative to the containers that are currently being transported. If necessary, for example in the event of an overload, the operator can then take appropriate measures, such as manual adjustment or replacement of the guide fitting.

The guide fitting preferably comprises a carrier which extends along a longitudinal axis and is mounted such that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis and on which the contact surface is provided. In this case, the contact surface is adjusted by rotating the carrier about its longitudinal axis. The adjustability of the guide set is thus realized in a mechanically simple manner. The Rotational movement conveys an adjustment over the entire length of the guide fitting, so that in the case of an automatic adjustment, a single actuator is sufficient for actuation. The support may be in the form of a wave. Furthermore, the carrier can be curved, for example by means of a segment-like structure, in order to follow the desired trajectory along which the containers are conveyed. The contact surface can be part of the carrier, provided or installed directly on the carrier or with the help of other components.

A plurality of contact elements, which form the contact surface, are preferably arranged on the carrier and set up such that a distance between at least one section of the contact surface and the longitudinal axis can be changed by rotating the carrier about its longitudinal axis. The guide set is constructed in segments due to the contact elements, which means that it can be flexibly adapted to different trajectories and at the same time flexibly adjusted in relation to the containers to be transported.

The contact elements are preferably lined up closely next to one another for uniform and gentle guidance of the containers, in order to form an essentially closed guide surface with at most narrow gaps between the contact elements. The contact elements are preferably provided in the form of plates with a curve forming the contact surface. In this case, the contact elements have a cam-like shape, as a result of which the adjustment of the contact surface relative to the containers can be implemented in a structurally simple manner. The curve forming the contact surface can, for example, be elliptical, oval, logarithmic or curved in some other way. Alternatively or additionally, the contact elements can be mounted eccentrically on the carrier.

Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of pockets can be arranged on the carrier, which are set up to accommodate a container in sections, as a result of which the containers are guided particularly securely. In this case, the containers are not only delimited in one direction perpendicular to the trajectory, but their alignment can also be stabilized by the pockets along the transport direction.

The guide fitting preferably has at least one guide frame and at least one guide rail which is mounted on the guide frame and encompasses the contact surface, the guide rail preferably being set up to be exchangeable. As a result, an efficient adaptation of the guide device to the respective container types (size, shape, material, etc.) is possible in a mechanically simple manner by exchanging correspondingly dimensioned guide rails. A configuration of the guide device in the form of a segment along the transport direction is not absolutely necessary here. As a result, the use of materials and the complexity of the guide set can be reduced. Furthermore, a simple conversion of the guide device is possible, since only the guide rail, which is made of plastic, for example, has to be replaced.

At least two sensors are preferably attached to the guide fitting or integrated therein and set up to detect a load on the container on the contact surface, with the controller being set up in this case to receive and evaluate sensor data from each of the sensors. In this way, a spatial localization of any incorrect adjustments of the guide fitting can be simplified.

In this case, the controller is particularly preferably set up to deduce the position on the contact surface at which the load on the container is greatest by comparing the sensor data from the at least two sensors. In other words, localization of the origin of the strongest vibrations or oscillations can be achieved.

The object mentioned above is also achieved by a device for transporting containers, preferably in a beverage bottling plant.

The device has a transport device that is set up to move the containers along a trajectory. The transport device can be based, for example, on a conveyor belt, a transport star, a carousel or a conveyor gripper, or it can comprise one or more such components. However, any other transport device that is suitable for moving containers along a predetermined trajectory can also be considered.

The device also has at least one guide device according to one of the embodiment variants described above, the guide device being arranged and set up to guide the containers during transport by the transport device along at least a section of the trajectory by contact with the contact surface of the corresponding guide fitting.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described above in relation to the guide device apply analogously to the device defined above.

The device is preferably designed as a rotary design. For this purpose, the transport device comprises a carousel mounted rotatably on a frame for transporting the containers along a circular trajectory, ie along at least one segment of a circle. The carousel can be a pure transport star, for example an infeed or outfeed star, or a treatment carousel with several treatment elements that are arranged on the outer circumference of the treatment carousel and set up to treat the containers (apart from mere conveyance).

The treatment carousel can, for example, be part of a filler, in which case the treatment elements are designed as filling elements and set up to introduce a filling product into a container located below (seen in the direction of gravity) the respective filling element. The filling product can be introduced as a free jet, wall filling, in a counter-pressure process or in some other suitable way. The treatment elements are preferably provided as filling elements for bottling beverages, for example water, carbonated or non-carbonated, soft drinks, beer, wine, mixed drinks, milk products, juices, etc.

However, there is no limitation in this respect, since the treatment members can also be set up for another task, such as cleaning a container, labeling, quality inspection, sealing, etc. Furthermore, the treatment organs can be designed to carry out a number of tasks or functions. In the case of filling elements, for example, in addition to actually introducing the filling product into a corresponding container, they can take on one or more of the following process steps: cleaning, rinsing, evacuation, prestressing, relieving.

The guiding device or at least one of the guiding devices, if several guiding devices are used, is preferably provided in a stationary manner relative to the frame. The adjustability of the guide device or its guide set is not excluded here; i.e. the term "stationary" means that the guide set or the contact surface does not move with the containers. In this case, the contact surface is a guide surface along which the containers slide at least in sections.

The guide device or its guide set can be arranged radially on the outside or radially on the inside with respect to the container to be transported, the radial direction being clearly determined by the axis of rotation of the carousel. In the case of a guide device arranged radially on the outside, its guide fitting is preferably designed to be stationary. In the case of a guide device arranged radially on the inside, its guide set is preferably designed on the carousel, i.e. as a revolving guide. Such a revolving guide set can be part of the relevant carousel or rotate synchronously with the carousel, so that no relative movement takes place between the container and the corresponding section of the guide set during transport.

The object mentioned above is also achieved by a method for transporting containers, preferably in a beverage bottling plant.

The method includes: conveying the containers along a trajectory; guiding the containers during the conveyance along at least a section of the trajectory by the containers coming into contact with an adjustable contact surface of a guide set; detecting a mechanical load which the containers exert on the contact surface by means of at least one sensor, with a force and/or acceleration and/or vibration and/or sound preferably being measured; and adjusting the contact area relative to the trajectory as a function of the detected mechanical load.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described in relation to the guide device and the device apply analogously to the method.

The sensor data are preferably evaluated by a controller, with the controller operating at least one actuator for adjusting the contact surface as a function of the evaluation, as a result of which the guide device can be automatically adjusted and optimized for the containers being transported.

The controller is preferably set up in such a way that the guide device can be automatically adjusted to different container types, including, for example, different container sizes, container shapes, container materials, etc., with appropriate activation of the at least one actuator. The setting can be made directly using container parameters or indirectly using, for example, type parameters of a filling product to be filled.

In a further development of the sensor system, the controller is set up in such a way that the guide device automatically learns new container types. In this case, parameters for Cha characterization of the containers can be dispensed with. Instead, an algorithmic adjustment of the guide device then takes place, for example, until the sensor data indicate an optimal position and location of the corresponding guide fitting.

Further advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described there can be implemented on their own or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, provided the features do not contradict one another. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

character list

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Anlage zum Behandeln und Transportieren von Behältern mit einer verstellbaren Führungseinrichtung;
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausschnitts der Führungseinrichtung, umfassend eine stationäre äußere Führungseinrichtung und eine mitlaufende innere Führungseinrichtung;
• 3 eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts der Führungseinrichtung gemäß der 2;
• 4 eine Seitenansicht einer Anlage zum Behandeln und Transportieren von Behältern mit einer verstellbaren Führungseinrichtung; und
• 5 eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung einer Führungseinrichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel.

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

• 1 a perspective view of a system for treating and transporting containers with an adjustable guide device;
• 2 a perspective view of a section of the guide device, comprising a stationary outer guide device and a revolving inner guide device;
• 3 a side view of a section of the guide device according to FIG 2 ;
• 4 a side view of a system for treating and transporting containers with an adjustable guide device; and
• 5 a schematic perspective view of a guide device according to a further embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are provided with identical reference symbols in the figures, and a repeated description of these elements is sometimes dispensed with in order to avoid redundancy.

The 1 is a perspective view of a plant 1 for handling and transporting containers 100 (cf. 2 and 3 ). Plant 1 has three sections, for example, comprising a device 10 for treating, preferably filling and/or closing, the containers 100, an infeed starwheel 20 for feeding and transferring the containers 100 to the device 10, and an outfeed starwheel 30 for transporting the containers 100 away The device 10 is also referred to herein as a “treatment device”. The infeed starwheel 20 and the outfeed starwheel 30 are normally devices that carry out container transport, but do not carry out any further treatment on the containers 100 .

Each of the three sections 10, 20, 30 is designed as a rotary design, each comprising a stationary plant part and a carousel, which is rotatably mounted on the corresponding stationary frame and set up to transport the containers 100 along a circular path, whereby the containers 100 along a trajectory consisting of essentially consecutive circular segments. The designations "circular", "orbit" and the like are not limited to complete or perfect circles, but include partial circles or circle segments as well as variable circle segments. In certain design variants, particularly in the case of high plant performance, the circular trajectory can deviate from a perfect circle or partial circle, for example in order to transport the container in an acceleration-optimized manner so that no filling product splashes out of the container. The guide sets described below can be adjusted accordingly for such a case.

According to the above distinction, the device 10 comprises a treatment carousel 11 and a stationary frame 12 on which the treatment carousel 11 is rotatably mounted and can be driven by a suitable actuator (for example electric motor), not shown in the figures. The device 10 also has one or more, usually a large number of treatment elements 13 which are arranged on the outer circumference of the treatment carousel 11 and set up to carry out the corresponding treatment. The treatment organs 13 thus move together with the containers 100 to be treated along a circular trajectory.

If the treatment elements 13 are designed as filling elements, they are each set up to introduce a filling product into a container 100 located below the filling element. The filling product can be introduced as a free jet, wall filling, in a counter-pressure process or in some other suitable way. The treatment elements 13 are preferably provided as filling elements for bottling drinks, for example water, carbonated or non-carbonated, soft drinks, beer, wine, mixed drinks, milk products, juices, etc. However, there is no one in this regard restriction, since the treatment members 13 can also be set up for another task, such as cleaning a container 100, labeling, quality control, sealing and the like. The one in the 1 The treatment elements 13 shown are, for example, designed as closure elements, for example for screw caps or press-on caps. Furthermore, the treatment organs 13 can be designed to carry out a number of tasks or functions. In the case of filling elements, these can, for example, take over one or more of the following process steps in addition to actually introducing the filling product into the corresponding container 100: cleaning, rinsing, evacuation, prestressing, relieving.

The infeed star 20 and the outfeed star 30 are transport stars to transport the container 100 from station to station, and each have a carousel 21, 31 and a stationary frame 22, 32 on which the corresponding carousel 21, 31 is rotatably mounted and over a suitable actuator (e.g. electric motor), not shown in detail in the figures, can be driven.

The plant 1 also has a guide device 40, the main function of which is to guide and stabilize the containers 100 during transport. In particular, the position relative to the desired transport route and/or the orientation of the containers 100 are ensured by the guide device 40 in that at least sections of the guide device 40 are in lateral contact or can come into contact with the transported containers 100 and thus prevent a deviation from the desired transport behavior .

The requirements as to how restrictively the guide device 40 is to be designed, ie to what extent and in which directions the freedom of movement of the containers 100 is to be limited by the guide device 40, can certainly vary. For example, correct alignment of empty containers 100 may be less important than when filled. This comes in the present embodiment 1 expressed in that the guide device 40 of the treatment device 10 and the discharge starwheel 30 comprises an outer guide device 41 and an inner guide device 42, while an inner guide device 42 in the area of the infeed starwheel 20 can be dispensed with.

The designations "outer" and "inner" relate to the corresponding pitch circle, i.e. the outer guide device 41 is located radially further outward than the inner guide device 42, based on the corresponding carousel axis. The inner guide device 42 and the outer guide device 41 preferably extend in a circle or segment of a circle, so that they define a type of transport channel T when viewed from above (perpendicular to the carousel axis), which prevents radial deviation of the containers 100 during transport.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the outer guide device 41 is designed as a stationary guide, i.e. it is fixed relative to the respective frame 12, 22, 32 except for any possibility of adjustment/adjustment. The inner guide device 42 is designed, for example, as a revolving guide, i.e. it is part of the relevant carousel 11, 31 or rotates synchronously with the carousel 11, 31, so that during transport between a container 100 and the corresponding section of the inner guide device 42 no relative movement takes place.

The 2 and 3 show a section of the guide device 40 in an enlarged manner and from different perspectives. The guide device 40 is an example of a component of the treatment device 10.

The treatment carousel 11 includes a head mount 11a with a plurality of holding pockets 11b, which are set up to hold the containers 100 in a head area 101 below a retaining ring 101a, so that the containers 100 are secured at least in the direction of gravity and cannot fall down. In the present exemplary embodiment, the containers 100 are bottles, for example PET bottles. The retaining ring 101a is located here on the bottleneck.

The holding pockets 11b are designed as semicircular indentations or recesses in the disc-shaped head mount 11a, as a result of which they partially enclose the bottleneck below the holding ring 101a. In this configuration, the head mount 11a is also referred to as a “neck star”. However, there is no restriction in this regard. The specific configuration of the head mount 11a can be based on the basic shape of the container 100 to be treated or transported. Alternatively, it can include active and/or passive gripping devices or even be omitted entirely, if, for example, the central inner guide device 42 also takes over the function of the head holder 11a or the containers 100 are transported upright, supported on the floor.

The inner guide device 42, also referred to as the "central star", is arranged in the present exemplary embodiment below the head mount 11a, so that it can be used for stabilization or for Supporting the container 100 in the head area 101 and/or in a transition area from the head area 101 to the stomach area 102 of the container 100 is set up. The guide device 42 includes a carrier 42a, which is also referred to herein as an “inner carrier” because, extending in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel 11, it guides or stabilizes the containers 100 on the radially inner side.

A plurality of pockets 42b are arranged on the inner support 42a and are designed to receive and stabilize a container 100 in sections, in particular in the radially inward direction. Due to their pocket shape, the pockets 42b can also have a stabilizing effect on the alignment of the containers 100 in the transport direction and counter to the transport direction. The number and position of the pockets 42b match the holding pockets 11b of the headgear 11a, so that each holding pocket 11b is assigned exactly one pocket 42b. The head mount 11a with the holding pockets 11b can thus be regarded as part of the inner guide device 42.

The pockets 42b are preferably conical in the axial direction of the treatment carousel 11, as a result of which the inner guide device 42 can be adjusted for different container shapes and/or container sizes. For this purpose, the inner carrier 42a can be designed as a rotatable shaft that is curved or segment-like in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel 11 . A rotation of the inner support 42a about its own axis causes the pockets 42b to be adjusted in this way, so that the corresponding receiving section is enlarged or reduced relative to the container 100. The distance between the inner guide device 42 and the containers 100 can also be designed to be adjustable in this way. Alternatively or additionally, the pockets 42b can be individually adjustable. The inner support 42a can be surrounded at least in sections by a bellows 42c, as a result of which the inner support 42a is protected and the inner guide device 42 is easy to clean and maintain.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the guide device 40 comprises the above-mentioned outer guide device 41, which is designed as an adjustable, apart from that, stationary guide.

The outer guide device 41 has an inwardly directed guide surface 41a extending in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel 11, which is arranged to guide the containers 100 by contact during transport. The guide surface 41a preferably guides the containers 100 on the belly area 102, in particular on the radially outer side, so that displacement and/or pivoting of the containers 100 outwards, for example due to the centrifugal acceleration provided by the treatment carousel 11, is prevented.

The outer guide device 41 according to the present exemplary embodiment is constructed in segments; it includes a large number of contact elements 41b, which are attached to and along a carrier 41c (cf. 3 ) are arranged. The carrier 41c is also referred to herein as an “outer carrier” since it is located on the radially outer side of the transport channel T. The contact elements 41b are lined up closely next to one another for uniform and gentle guidance of the containers 100 in order to form an essentially closed guide surface 41a with at most narrow gaps between the contact elements 41b.

The contact elements 41b are plate-shaped and can each have a cam-like shape, in that at least the outer section forming the guide surface 41a has a specific contour or curve, for example elliptical, oval, logarithmic or the like. In this way, the guide surface 41a can be adjusted by rotating the contact elements 41b about an axis of the outer support 41c, in particular in the radial direction of the treatment carousel 11. Alternatively or additionally, the contact elements 41b can be mounted eccentrically on the outer support.

For the purpose of adjusting the outer guide device 41, the outer support 41c can be designed as a rotatable shaft that is curved or segment-like in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel 11. A rotation of the outer support 41c around its own axis causes the contact elements 41b and thus the guide surface 41a to be adjusted in this way, so that the transport radius, i.e. the distance between the guide surface 41a and the containers 100 to be transported, increases or decreases in the radial direction. Alternatively or additionally, the contact elements 41b can be set up to be individually adjustable.

The guide device 40 is preferably equipped with one or more actuators 43 (cf. 4 ) which are set up to adjust the corresponding guide fittings or contact surfaces, ie in the present exemplary embodiment the guide surface 41a of the outer guide device 41 and/or the pockets 42b of the inner guide device 42.

The guide device 40 also includes a controller 50 which is in communication with the actuators 43 . The controller 50 and the communication paths are in the 4 schematic drawn. Communication can be wired or wireless, digital or analogue. The communication does not necessarily have to involve a two-way exchange of information. A unidirectional data and/or signal flow falls under the term “communication” here. The control 50 does not necessarily have to be formed by a central computing device or electronic regulation, but decentralized and/or multi-level systems, regulation networks, cloud systems and the like are included. The controller 50 can also be an integral part of a higher-level system controller or communicate with such.

The controller 50 is preferably set up in such a way that the guide device 40 can be automatically adjusted to different container types, including, for example, different container sizes, container shapes, container materials, etc., with appropriate activation of the actuators 43 . The setting can be made directly using container parameters or indirectly using, for example, type parameters of the filling product to be filled.

To check the correct setting of the guide device 40 and, if necessary, to readjust, the guide device 40 includes one or more sensors 44. The sensors 44 are mounted on the flexible or adjustable guide fittings or are integrated and set up in such a way that a load on the container 100 is applied to the corresponding Contact surfaces of the guide device 40 can be detected. The load can manifest itself in accelerations, vibrations, sound patterns, sound levels, but also mechanical stresses, etc. For this purpose, the sensors 44 are preferably designed as force sensor(s) and/or acceleration sensor(s) and/or vibration sensor(s) and/or sound sensor(s), in particular ultrasonic sensor(s). The sensors 44 are in communication with the controller 50, as a result of which the controller 50 can evaluate the measured values/data provided by the sensors 44. Communication can be wireless or wired, digital or analog.

From the load detected in this way, the controller 50 can determine whether the guide device 40 is set correctly in relation to the current container 100 . For example, depending on the contact pressure of the container 100 on the guide device 40, a different vibration is generated. In particular after a brand change, when the system 1 is started up, after a production interruption, when the system 1 is started up, but also during regular operation, the guide device 40 can be checked by means of the sensors 44, for example at regular intervals. The sensor system can thus ensure that the guide device 40 or its guide fittings are set correctly. In particular, the change in the detected load can be used to determine whether the setting of the guide fitting matches the container 100 . In addition, the guide set can be protected against any overload.

In the embodiment of 2 until 4 the outer guide device 41 and the inner guide device 42 each include a sensor 44. However, several sensors 44 can also be installed per guide set, as a result of which any misalignments of the guide device 40 can be spatially localized more easily.

In a further development of the sensor system, the controller 50 is set up in such a way that the guide device 40 automatically learns new container types. In this case, parameters for characterizing the containers 100 can be dispensed with; instead, the controller 50 carries out, for example, a systematic/algorithmic adjustment of the guide device 40 until the sensor data indicate an optimal position and location of the corresponding guide fittings.

The 5 shows schematically a guide device 60 according to a further embodiment.

The guide device 60 is designed as an external guide and, in contrast to the external guide device 41 of the previous exemplary embodiment, is not constructed from a large number of segments lined up in a row. The guide device 60 has a guide frame 61 and a guide rail 62 , the guide rail 62 being exchangeable and lockable on the guide frame 61 . The guide rail 62 has a guide surface 62a, which takes over the actual guidance of the containers 100, for example glass bottles, plastic bottles, cans, beverage cartons and/or cardboard boxes, and with which the respective containers 100 come into contact.

The locking of the guide rail 62 on the guide frame 61 is achieved via a latching device 63, which is designed as a spring-loaded latching bolt 63a in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The locking bolt 63a is preloaded in the locking direction and is captively connected to the guide frame 61 via a holding mechanism 63b. In other words, the locking device 63 is designed so that a locking of Füh Guide rail 62 on the guide frame 61 then automatically occurs when the locking bolt 63a is inserted into a locking recess 63c complementary to this by the pretension.

The 5 shows an example of a section of a guide device 60, which is formed in the shape of a circular arc. Such an arcuate section can be used, for example, in the area of a transport star or a guide star as an external guide for the respective container 100 .

The 5 1 shows in the exemplary embodiment of the guide device 60 two guide frames 61 and 61' arranged one above the other, which correspondingly carry two guide rails 62, 62' arranged one above the other. The guide frames 61, 61', which are arranged one above the other, are connected to one another by means of connecting bolts 64 and are therefore at the same time arranged at a fixed distance from one another, so that there is a suitable distance between the two guide rails 62, 62', and in particular between their respective guide surfaces 62a, 62a' provided. The distance depends, among other things, on the geometry of the respective container 100 and is typically selected to be greater for higher containers 100 than for lower containers 100.

Depending on the arrangement of the guide device 60 in the conveying path of the corresponding transport and/or treatment device, in addition to the 5 shown two guide rails 62, 62 'more than two guide rails, or only a single guide rail can be provided. The number and arrangement of the guide rails 62, 62' depends on the geometry of the containers 100 to be guided and on the respective application.

The guide rail 62 has a groove 62b and fastening means 62c in the form of a bolt spanning the groove 62b. The fasteners 62c are in the 5 located at the positions where the machine screws lie on the surface of the guide rail 62. In the 5 Furthermore, the groove 62b of the guide rail 62, into which a section of the guide frame 61 is inserted, can also be seen schematically. In a variant or development that is not shown, the guide frame 61 can be provided with a groove into which a spring attached to the guide rail 62 is to be inserted.

In the example of 5 the guide surfaces 62a, 62a` are guided essentially parallel to one another. However, in special configurations or with certain container geometries, it may be useful to design the guide surfaces 62a, 62a` to differ from one another, for example the lower guide surface 62a' projecting backwards in relation to the upper guide surface 62a, or if, for example, an inclined position of the container 100 is desired , also a path-varying geometric relationship between the lower vane 62a' and the upper vane 62a to meet the appropriate geometric constraints.

The guide frame 61, 61' is preferably made of a metallic material, in particular stainless steel, in order to provide easy cleaning and sterilization as well as high stability. The guide rail 62, 62' is preferably made of a plastic material in order to keep the friction with the containers 100 low and to avoid damage to the containers 100. The guide rail 62, 62' is preferably designed as a wearing part that is exposed to frictional and scouring movements of the container 100 and must be replaced accordingly at regular intervals.

Analogously to the exemplary embodiments described above, the guiding device 60 comprises a controller 50 and one or more (in the exemplary embodiment of 5 two) sensors 44 which are mounted on the guide frame 61, 61' or integrated and set up in such a way that a load of the container 100 on the guide device 60 can be detected. The load can manifest itself in acceleration, vibration, noise, but also mechanical stress, etc. For this purpose, the sensors 44 are preferably designed as force sensor(s) and/or acceleration sensor(s) and/or vibration sensor(s) and/or sound sensor(s), in particular ultrasonic sensor(s). The sensors 44 are in communication with the controller 50, as a result of which the controller 50 can evaluate the measured values/data provided by the sensors 44.

The embodiment of 5 shows that the sensor system for checking the correct position and/or position of the guide device 60 does not necessarily have to be combined with corresponding actuators for adjusting the guide device 60. In this way, an operator can be informed of the current status of the guide device 60 by the sensor system. If the setting is not optimal, the operator can take appropriate measures, for example manually adjusting the guide device 60 or exchanging the guide rails 62, 62'. Alternatively, of course, the guide device 60 can also be equipped with one or more actuators for automatic adjustment.

The controller 50 is particularly preferably set up to, when at least two sensors 44 are present, by comparing the sensor data of the at least two sensors 44, conclude the position on the contact surface K at which the load on the containers 100 is greatest. This can be achieved, for example, by evaluating the transit time differences in the sensor data, by means of which the position of the section on the contact surface K can be inferred, at which the greatest mechanical stress occurs. In other words, the origin of the vibrations or oscillations can be located using more than one sensor.

While the exemplary embodiments for guide devices 40, 41, 42, 60 described above differ in detail, their basic structure has similarities. The guide devices 40, 41, 42, 60 comprise a guide fitting G and a contact surface K, which comes into contact with the containers 100 to guide them along the desired trajectory. The guide set G serves as a support or frame for the contact surface K.

Thus, in the case of the outer guide device 41, the guide fitting G comprises the contact elements 41b and the outer carrier 41c. The contact surface K is formed by the guide surface 41a of the contact elements 41b. In the case of the inner guide device 42, the guide set G includes the inner support 42a. The contact surface K is formed by the surfaces of the pockets 42b which come into contact with the containers 100 to be transported. The guide set G in the case of the guide device 60 comprises the guide frames 61, 61' and the replaceable guide rails 62, 62'. The contact surface K is formed by the guide surfaces 62a, 62a`.

The contact surface K can, as in the case of the outer guide device 41 and the guide device 60, thus be a guide surface along which the containers 100 slide, or the contact surface K can move with the containers 100, as in the case of the inner guide device 42.

The guide devices 40, 41, 42, 60 described are not limited to use in transport or treatment devices of rotary construction. It can alternatively be designed as a linear, meandering or otherwise shaped guide device, for example for a linear transport device or belt transport device. The carousels 11, 21, 31 described are thus special implementations of a generally designated “transport device” which is set up to move the containers 100 along a desired trajectory.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are presented in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and/or exchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Reference List

1

Plant for handling and transporting containers

10

Device for handling containers

11

treatment carousel

11a

head mount

11b

holding bag

12

frame

13

treatment organ

20

inlet star

21

carousel

22

frame

30

outlet star

31

carousel

32

frame

40

guide device

41

External guidance device

41a

guide surface

41b

contact element

41c

carrier

42

Internal guidance system

42a

carrier

42b

Bag

42c

bellows

43

actuator

44

sensor

50

steering

60

guide device

61

guide frame

61'

guide frame

62

guide rail

62`

guide rail

62a

guide surface

62a`

guide surface

62b

groove

62c

fasteners

63

locking device

63a

detent bolt

63b

holding mechanism

63c

recess

64

connecting bolts

100

container

101

header area

101a

retaining ring

102

abdominal area

T

transport channel

G

guide set

K

contact surface

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102011054639 A1 [0004]
• WO 2006/056372 A1 [0004]
• DE 102015121081 A1 [0004]

Claims (15)

Guiding device (40, 41, 42, 60) for guiding containers (100) while the containers (100) are being transported along a trajectory, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the guiding device (40, 41, 42, 60) having: a guide fitting (G) with a contact surface (K) which is set up to guide the containers (100) by contact during transport along at least a portion of the trajectory; at least one sensor (44) which is set up to detect a mechanical load on the container (100) on the contact surface (K) of the guide fitting (G), the sensor (44) preferably being a force sensor and/or acceleration sensor and/or vibration sensor and/or sound sensor; and a controller (50) set up to receive and evaluate sensor data from the sensor (44). Guide device (40, 41, 42, 60) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the contact surface (K) of the guide fitting (G) is adjustable relative to the trajectory of the containers (100), preferably in a direction perpendicular to the trajectory. Guide device (40, 41, 42, 60) according to claim 2 , characterized in that it also has at least one actuator (43) for adjusting the contact surface (K), the controller (50) being in communication with the actuator (43) and being set up to control the actuator (43) as a function of the to actuate sensor data received from the sensor (44). Guide device (40, 41, 42) after claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the guide fitting (G) comprises a carrier (41c, 42a) which extends along a longitudinal axis and is mounted rotatably about the longitudinal axis and on which the contact surface (K) is provided, the contact surface (K) being adjusted by rotation of the carrier (41c, 42a) takes place about its longitudinal axis. Guide device (40, 41) after claim 4 , characterized in that a plurality of contact elements (41b), which form the contact surface (K), are arranged and set up on the carrier (41c) in such a way that rotation of the carrier (41c) about its longitudinal axis creates a distance between at least one section of the contact surface (K) and the longitudinal axis of the carrier (41c), the contact elements (41b) preferably being provided in the form of plates with a curve forming the contact surface (K). Guide device (40, 42) after claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that a plurality of pockets (42b) are arranged on the carrier (42a), which are set up to accommodate a container (100) in sections. Guide device (60) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide fitting (G) has at least one guide frame (61, 61') and at least one guide rail (62, 62`) mounted on the guide frame (61, 61`) and which Contact surface (K) comprises, wherein the guide rail (62, 62`) is preferably set up to be exchangeable. Guide device (40, 41, 42, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two sensors (44) are attached to the guide fitting (G) or are integrated therein and set up to detect a load on the containers (100) on the To detect contact surface (K), and the controller (50) is set up to receive and evaluate sensor data from each of the sensors (44), wherein the controller (50) is particularly preferably set up to compare the sensor data of the at least two sensors (44) to close the position on the contact surface (K) where the load on the container (100) is highest. Device (10, 20, 30) for transporting containers (100), preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the device (10, 20, 30) having: a transport device (11, 21, 31) which is set up to move the containers (100) along a trajectory; and at least one guiding device (40, 41, 42, 60) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is arranged and adapted to guide the containers (100) by contact during transport by the transport device along at least a portion of the trajectory. Device (10, 20, 30) according to claim 9 , characterized in that the transport device comprises a carousel (11, 21, 31) rotatably mounted on a frame (12, 22, 32) for transporting the containers (100) along a circular trajectory, the carousel (11, 21, 31 ) is preferably a treatment carousel (11) with a plurality of treatment elements (13) which are arranged on the outer circumference of the treatment carousel (11) and set up to treat the containers (100), preferably to fill them with a filling product and/or to close them. Device (10, 20, 30) according to claim 10 , characterized in that at least one of the guide devices (41, 42, 43, 60) relative is arranged stationary with respect to the frame (12, 22, 32) and/or radially on the outside with respect to the containers (100) to be transported. Device (10, 20, 30) according to claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that at least one of the guide devices (42) is arranged on the carousel (11, 31) and/or is arranged radially on the inside with respect to the containers (100) to be transported. Method for transporting containers (100), preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the method comprising: conveying the containers (100) along a trajectory; Guiding the containers (100) during the conveyance along at least one section of the trajectory by the containers (100) coming into contact with an adjustable contact surface (K) of a guide set (G); detecting a mechanical load which the containers (100) exert on the contact surface (K) by means of at least one sensor (44), a force and/or acceleration and/or vibration and/or sound preferably being detected; and Adjustment of the contact area (K) relative to the trajectory depending on the detected mechanical load. procedure after Claim 13 , characterized in that the sensor data of the sensor (44) are evaluated by a controller (50) and the controller (50) actuates at least one actuator (43) to adjust the contact surface (K) depending on the evaluation, the controller (50 ) is preferably set up to automatically teach the contact surface (K) to new container types. procedure after Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that this by means of a device (10, 20, 30) according to one of claims 9 until 12 is carried out.

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