DE202005014456U1 - Conveyor transporting container e.g. transparent bottle, aligning device, has camera for optical image at container detecting secondary characteristic that stands in range relation to container-specific characteristic - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a camera for optical image at a container e.g. bottle (1), detecting a secondary characteristic that stands in a range relation to a container-specific characteristic. An analysis device determines a random rotary position of the secondary characteristic. A control signal is used for a rotary plate drive under consideration of the range relationship to the container-specific characteristic to transfer the container-specific characteristic into a preset rotary position to the camera, and to detect whether the container-specific characteristic is present by the analysis device.

Description

The Innovation relates to a device for aligning on a promoter moving containers after a container specific Feature according to the preamble of claim 1.

Devices of this kind are for example made EP 1 205 388 B1 , JP 4-367432 A or also DE 28 06 080 B1 known. In this case, sensors are arranged for detecting certain container characteristics, especially at least one camera for optically imaging the lateral surface of a container on the path of a stocked with electric motor turntables conveyor for detecting. Since due to the high conveying speeds the containers are guided past these sensors in a very short time, the determination of optically difficult to detect container characteristics is problematic, while very distinctive features such as printed images, buckles or surface embossing in the form of lettering, brand logos or code characters also are relatively safe and accurate at high levels of work.

To at high power difficult with the required accuracy belongs to features to be detected for example, the detection of a squeeze on transparent bottles or the like. Vessels, the in the region of the parting line during the production process of the bottles used mold halves is caused. This pressure seam is particularly important for glass bottles, but also plastic bottles in the form of two 180 degrees in Circumferentially offset to each other on the lateral surface vertically formed running lines. In some applications exists the need, special treatment steps, e.g. an equipment process (Applying a printed image or label), to such a container in a certain circumferential distance to a press seam or a similar difficult to perform recognizable feature.

With the aforementioned prior art device, the finding of only weakly structured features using the disclosed optical means is possible only up to a relatively low power. In order to be able to achieve high performance, each associated container would have to be carried along assigned sensors over a certain distance in order to provide a sufficiently long recording or sampling time to detect a weakly structured, alignment-relevant feature, but this would be increased Construction cost is connected (see DE 33 08 934 C1 or DE 199 27 668 A1 ).

In contrast, lies The innovation is based on the object, a device for aligning containers according to a weakly structured container-specific characteristic.

Is solved This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

at the approached solution the circumstance is used that in many cases containers with a certain specific Characteristic that in a treatment process a certain peripheral Alignment with respect to the treatment organ (labeling unit, printhead, data device etc.), a secondary, in a known circumferential relationship to the weakly structured container-specific Feature standing second feature is present, the visually too can be quickly and reliably identified and evaluated at high power levels.

The Alignment can then according to the innovation with the proposed device in at least two Ausrichtschritten done by after determining of the secondary Feature exploiting the known circumferential relationship of this secondary feature to the desired container-specific Feature a first pre-alignment is performed with a first rotation step, around the container specific Feature in a directly to the imaging device facing rotary position or in a defined angular position engaging position spend a lot in consequence of the advance accurate detection of the vessel specific Feature is allowed to move from the second figure then in a possibly second turning step the final alignment to reach the exact, predetermined alignment rotational position with respect to the treatment station to achieve with very high accuracy in which a printed image or Label, for example, in the area between two circumferentially offset vertical Press seams placeable without one of the seams to cover which may be undesirable for optical reasons can.

To For this purpose, the imaging device can advantageously two stationary imaging devices offset in the transport direction one behind the other in the transport direction, e.g. in the form of (CCD) cameras or the like, wherein the first to capture the secondary Feature and the second camera for detecting the alignment-relevant container specific Feature is used. Your analysis device for evaluation The images obtained generates control signals that are used to drive the motor drive, e.g. electric servomotor, the one container carrying turntable is used by these to reach the the predetermined Ausrichtdrehlage with respect to a treatment station required rotation angle and possibly also determines the optimal direction of rotation.

Both used for alignment Characteristics are proprietary features determined by the manufacturing process; Additionally or subsequently attached for the purpose of alignment markings or the like. Are not required.

following the innovation will be explained with reference to a preferred embodiment. It shows:

1 a bottle in a top view,

2 a side view of the bottle behind 1 and

3 a top view of a machine for aligning and labeling the bottles after 1 and 2 ,

The circular bottle 1 has on its lateral surface, for example, in the area of the oblique shoulder surface similar emblems 2a to 2d on, which are arranged offset uniformly on a common circumferential line by 90 ° to each other. Midway between the emblems 2a and 2 B is located at a circumferential angle of 45 ° in the counterclockwise direction offset or a vertically extending on the lateral surface pressing seam 3a ; also in the middle between 2c and 2d another squeeze 3b , Both press seams are mutually offset by 180 ° circumferentially in a common vertical, the bottle vertical axis enclosing plane arranged.

The machine after 3 has in a known manner an inlet star 7 one at its circumference at regular pitches with turntables 10 equipped turntable 8th and an outlet star 9 on. Every turntable 10 is a separate electric servomotor 11 assigned, the integrated control electronics on the input side with a continuous, the current rotational position of the turntable 8th communicating with respect to the machine frame indicating angle encoder.

Behind the inlet star 7 are stationary at the periphery of the turntable 8th in the direction of rotation of the turntable with a mutual distance offset two with their optical axis substantially radially to the turntable axis aligned CCD cameras 12a and 12b , which are approximately at right angles to the surface of passing bottles 1 are directed and represent them properly driven, when they are in the center in front of the camera lens. About an analysis and control device 13 the recorded images are utilized to form control commands for the rotational movement of the individual turntables by current setpoints, for example via a bus line to the servo control electronics of the respective servomotors 11 to get redirected. In the image analysis of the first bottle casing imaging camera 12a becomes the random rotational position of the bottle 1 Based on the emblems contained in the picture, ie the secondary features, determined with evaluation methods, as disclosed for example in JP 6-24424 A.

The image analysis result is utilized to the effect that the turntable carrying the recorded and evaluated bottle via its servomotor this on the subsequent circulation path until reaching the second camera 12b aligns with a first alignment rotation in a rotational position, in which this second camera looks exactly centrally between two circumferentially adjacent emblems on the lateral surface and generates and evaluates another shot of the previously already portrayed by the first camera bottle.

If a pressure seam can be seen in this figure, for example, there is still a fine alignment into a predetermined alignment end position for passing through a labeling station 4 , if necessary taking into account the precisely determined position of the pressure seam. If, on the other hand, no squeezing seam can be detected in the figure, a control command is issued for a second, additional 90 ° rotation relative to the previous case to reach the predetermined alignment end position. The position of the emblems also appearing in the second figure can be used in addition to a further evaluation in order to further increase the accuracy of the rotational position determination.

Everyone Camera can in known manner a lighting device for incident light and / or transmitted light be provided.

Claims (4)

Device for aligning a container transported by a conveyor according to a container-specific feature on its outer lateral surface, with a turntable device for controlled motorized rotation of the container about its vertical axis, with means for optically imaging the lateral surface and means for analyzing the recorded images and for exploiting a Analysis result in a control signal for rotating the container in a predetermined orientation position in which its container-specific feature occupies a certain relative position with respect to a treatment station, characterized in that first a second standing in a known circumferential relationship to the container-specific feature second feature of the means for optical imaging detected on the container and its random rotational position of the Analyseinrich tion and to use therefrom a control signal for the turntable drive taking into account the known circumferential relationship to the container-specific feature in order to transfer this in a predetermined rotational position to the imaging means and then to be detected by the analyzer of its presence or absence. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in that the imaging means have a first and a second transport direction the conveyor offset, stationary Camera have. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the first camera seen in the transport direction a first shot a container produced and the analysis device therefrom the rotational position of at least one secondary Feature of the container certainly. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that that the second camera produces a second shot of the same container and the analyzer the presence and possibly the exact Drehlage or the absence of the container-specific feature determined and depending of which an individual control command to achieve a predetermined Orientation position relative to the treatment station at the controlled Turntable drive outputs.