EP0881607B1 - Device for automatically collecting empty containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a conveyor device which defines a conveyor channel (1). The conveyor carries a measuring device for carrying out at least one width measurement, height measurement, length measurement and location measurement. The measuring device is connected to a central computer and is activated by a switch on button device (30). The latter is triggered by an incoming container. The conveyor device has a rotating member (2) which extends from the input (8) of the conveyor channel (1) as far as the last measuring device. The drive motor (5) of the rotating member (2) is actuated in the transport direction by means of an input button device (9) associated with the input (8) of the channel (1). The input button (9) is triggered by a container input into the channel. The width measuring device (10) is in direct connection with the channel input (8). An engagement protection device associated with the width measuring device has a limiting device (24) associated with the channel input (8). The input button (30) is an edge detector which activates the limiting device and the measuring device on detecting an edge of a container, and makes the conveyor passive.

Description

The invention relates to a device for the mechanical withdrawal of Empty containers, especially bottle crates with and without bottles, with a conveying device which delimits a conveying channel at the bottom and which preferably connected to a central computer, by means of a activating the incoming container of triggerable switch-on device Measuring devices for carrying out at least one width measurement, Height measurement, length measurement and occupancy measurement leads past.

A device of this type is known from DE 38 14 232 C. At this known arrangement contains the conveyor two in a row arranged, by a conveyor belt and a subordinate to this Roller conveyor formed sections with different transport speeds are driven. The measuring devices are the second, faster section formed by the roller conveyor assigned. That is the slower first section of the conveyor forming conveyor belt acts only as an input belt that the Distance between the entrance of the conveyor channel and the Measuring devices bridged. This distance is in the known Arrangement comparatively long, so that a user always over open entrance of the delivery channel not from the outside into the measuring devices can reach into it. However, there is a comparatively large one Overall length, which leads to high space costs and thus to poor profitability leads. Another disadvantage of the known arrangement is that to see that a return transport based on the measurement results of the Measuring devices as incorrectly identified container at the entrance of the conveyor channel is not possible, since the input tape is already here with another Can be occupied. Incorrect containers can therefore not be sent to the Customers are returned, which is also unfavorable to profitability the arrangement affects.

Proceeding from this, it is therefore the object of the present invention a device of the type mentioned avoiding the To improve the disadvantages described so that despite the compact design a high level of security is achieved.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the device according to claim 1.

With these measures, the disadvantages of the known arrangement completely avoided. Because the width measuring device directly can be arranged next to the entrance of the conveyor channel a very short, compact design. With the help of the entrance of the Constraint device assigned to the delivery channel arises despite this small distance of the width measuring device from the entrance of the Conveyor channel a reliable protection against intrusion. As a result of reversibility the conveying device can simply recognize a container as incorrectly Customers are transported back. Since the entrance during the Measurement process is blocked, the way back can not be done by a newly set container must be blocked. With the help of the edge detection device the measuring devices are only activated if the Edge of a container to be measured is detected. When a Foreign objects get into the delivery channel, for example a child crawls into them, the measuring devices are not activated, causing injuries is prevented. The measures according to the invention therefore result in addition to high cost-effectiveness and clear usability, also a high security.

Advantageous refinements and expedient training of the parent Measures are specified in the subclaims. So it can Restriction device useful as a lifting gate with one to the mutually facing ends of a traction device deflected via deflection members attached gate be formed. These measures result in a mechanical restriction device that is high Functional reliability guaranteed.

The gate of the restriction device can expediently enter the entrance of the conveyor channel in the cover position leave a gap, whereby a light barrier can be assigned to this gap, by means of which the the motor associated with the restriction device can be reversed. This ensures that nothing can be pinched what has an advantageous effect on avoiding industrial accidents.

The switch-on switch designed as an edge detection device can simply be several in one to the transport level of the conveyor vertical plane with light barriers one above the other have with the optical axis crossing the conveying channel. Hereby leaves an edge perpendicular to the transport plane in a simple manner detect by having to occupy all light barriers at the same time. If this is not the case, this can be interpreted as a foreign body.

The switch-on device is expediently located in the longitudinal region of the Width measuring device, so that the width measuring device at the Switch-on device reliably detects stopped containers.

Another expedient measure can be that the switch-on device one to form the length measuring device with a interacting with the conveying device Photoelectric sensor with optical axis crossing the conveyor channel is subordinate. This light barrier can advantageously at the same time to be used to limit the entrance side to open. Since the light barrier mentioned outside the width measuring device can be arranged, the restriction device is advantageous Only opened when the container already has the width measuring device has left reliably.

The width measuring device can further develop the higher-level measures a pair of straightening pliers with two have mutually opposed terminal strips, the vertical to Axles that can be swiveled are included with interact with an angle measuring device. This will be more advantageous Way ensured that there are no lateral columns for entry and exit Swinging out the width measuring device are required, what the design facilitated the conveyor as an endless circulating element.

The circulating member of the conveyor is useful as a chain educated. This enables a slip-free and therefore precise drive. The chain links also prevent the transmission of internal moments, which, for example, ensures high accuracy when weighing. Conveniently, each pulley of the chain one with the drive motor interacting drive chain can be assigned. This will ensured that the upper strand of the chain, the direction of which is reversible is, in any case, pulled, which is beneficial to operational safety and affects freedom from interference.

Further advantageous refinements and practical training of overriding measures are specified in the remaining subclaims and from the example description below using the Drawing can be removed more closely.

Figur 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Leerkastenrücknahmevorrichtung in schematischer Seitenansicht und

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf eine bevorzugte Ausführung der Breitenmeßeinrichtung der Anordnung gemäß Figur 1.

In the drawing described below:

Figure 1

an empty box take-back device according to the invention in a schematic side view and

Figure 2

2 shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the width measuring device of the arrangement according to FIG. 1.

The device on which FIG. 1 is based, shown without a housing is suitable for the mechanical withdrawal of in the beverage sector usual bottle crates with and without bottles. Doing the box identified by appropriate measurement and the scope of its Filling noted to give a corresponding pledge can.

The device according to the invention has an approximately horizontal extending conveyor channel 1 downwardly limiting conveyor 2, the as an endlessly rotating over a front and a rear deflection roller 3 Orbital element is formed. An endless conveyor belt can be provided for this his. In the example shown, the conveyor element 2 is as in FIG. 1 is indicated by chain links 4, formed as an endless chain, what enables a positive drive. At the same time, they prevent that Links assigned to chain links transmit internal moments. To drive the conveying element 2, an arranged below it is reversible drive motor 5 is provided. This is with a double sprocket 6 provided. Each of the two sprockets of the double chain wheel 6 is associated with a drive chain 7a, b, which are each connected to the front or rear pulley 3 or an associated drive element to lead. This ensures that the upper run of the endlessly rotating Conveyor 2, the direction of which is reversible, both in the Is pulled in the forward direction as well as in the backward direction and thus stays taut.

The conveyor 2 is started in the forward direction when a box to be taken back via a front entrance 8 of the Delivery channel 1 is inserted into this. This is one in the area of Input 8 provided input probe, here simply in the form of a Light barrier 9 with optical axis crossing the input 8, intended.

Along the conveyor 2 are measuring devices for measuring the entered box and intended to determine its filling. in the Connection to the conveyor 2, which covers all measuring devices extends and extends beyond the last measuring device are peripheral devices, such as a storage section or the like. All Measuring devices and switching devices are useful with a Central computer linked in which a corresponding program is filed.

At the same time as the width measurement, the entered box parallel to a reference plane, here to the central longitudinal plane of the conveyor channel 1. The width measuring device 10 contains accordingly a pair of straightening pliers with two mutually opposite terminal strips 11. These are, as from FIG. 2 is recognizable, arranged around vertical, that is perpendicular to the transport plane Axles pivotable parallelogram links 12 added. The terminal strips 11 and parallelogram link 12 are located above the transport plane of the conveyor member 2, so that this in the longitudinal direction can go through continuously. Lateral gaps are not required. The outer ends of the parallelogram link 12 are located laterally outside the conveyor element 2. One of the handlebars on each side is with its outer end on a shaft 13 coaxial with the pivot axis attached, which is provided with a radially projecting lever arm 14. The Lever arms 14 of the left and right shaft 13 are assigned Linkage 15 connected to a turntable or a rotary lever 16. This organ can be rotated by means of a motor 17. This can be are located below the conveyor 2. The waves 13 can accordingly carried down and at the bottom with the Swivel arm 14 may be provided.

With the help of the arrangement outlined above, one by means of the motor 17 accomplished rotary movement into a pivoting movement of the terminal strips 11 implemented. The distance between the terminal strips 11 in the alignment position, that is, when a box is clamped between the terminal strips 11 is the width of the box in question. This will thereby determined that the swivel path from the outer stop position is measured up to the plant position. This can be done using the motor 17 drivable incremental element 18 can be provided, which by means of a assigned sensor 19 is scanned.

The straightening tongs forming the width measuring device 10 are, as in FIG. 1, further can be seen, arranged directly next to the input 8 of the conveyor channel 1. In order to nevertheless guarantee a high level of accident safety, the Width measuring device 10 is assigned an anti-tamper device. For this purpose, an optical or electronic barrier can be provided. in the illustrated example, a mechanical closure device is provided for this purpose. This has a cover element 20 through which the input 8 of the delivery channel 1 can be blocked. In the example shown, this is Cover element 20 can be raised and lowered. This is the gate-shaped cover element 20 at the mutually facing ends of a Circumferential traction element 21 arranged perpendicular to the conveyor element 2 attached, which is deflected via an upper and lower deflection roller 22 and can be driven by a motor 23. This practically results a lift gate arrangement designated as a whole by 24 as the input 8 of the conveyor channel 1 associated restriction device.

The end positions of the cover element 20 which can be raised and lowered are through End stops 25 defined. This can be mechanical stops act against which a counter-attack starts. In the example shown are inductive proximity switches that work without contact, which is beneficial to noise development and the avoidance of Operational accidents. The upper limit switch 25 is so arranged that the raised and lowered cover member 20 in the figure 1 underlying closed position between its upper edge and leaves a gap 26 at the upper edge of the inlet 8 of the conveying channel 1, so that crushing accidents are effectively prevented. The gap is 26 assigned a light barrier 27. As soon as this is occupied, the closing process interrupted and the cover member 20 in its lower open position brought in which the entire cross section of the entrance 8 open is.

To carry out the alignment of a box using the width measuring device 10 the box is stopped. This is the drive of the funding body 2 interrupted. These processes are carried out in the width measuring device 10 broken box itself triggered. For this is in Area of the width measuring device a device for recognizing the front edge of a box provided. This edge detection device contains in the example shown, the processing of cube-shaped Beverage crates are based, three in one to the transport level of the conveyor 2 vertical plane spaced one above the other Light barriers 28 with optical crossing the conveyor channel 1 Axis. If containers with front edge not perpendicular to the transport plane processed, the light barriers 28 would have to be adapted. If all three light barriers 28 run through the front edge of a indicated in Figure 1 with dash-dotted outline Box 29 are occupied at the same time, there are the light barriers 28th formed device a signal to a computer-side sequential circuit, the the conveyor 2 stops, which is formed here by the lifting gate 24 Restriction device activated in the closing direction and then the width measuring device 10 starts. The light barriers 28 form accordingly a switch-on device which can be triggered by the box 29 30. If the light barriers 28 are not occupied at the same time, this will interpreted as a foreign body in the feed channel 1. In this case all processes stopped and an error message given. That the Lifting gate 24 forming the restriction device remains open. If the Foreign body is removed and the error message has been acknowledged start a new entry process.

To measure the height of the box 29 and to record its occupancy, that is, the number of bottles in it is opposite the transport level of the conveyor 2 is arranged to be raised and lowered Lift carriage 31 is provided, the one of the conveyor channel 1 bridge-like crossing, provided with juxtaposed sensors Probe head 32 for detecting the key assignment and two in height mutually offset light barriers 33, 34 with the conveying channel 1 crossing optical axis. The lower light barrier 33 is there in the plane of the light barriers 28 of the switch-on switch device 30 arranged. When the box 29 is aligned, the above will mentioned sequential circuit of the lifting carriage 31 from an upper Stop position lowered until the lower light barrier 33 through the upper edge of the box 29 is occupied, as in Figure 1 with broken Lines is indicated. The lowering distance is recorded, which results in Difference to the upper end position gives the box height. The capture can by measuring the angle of rotation of one of the lifting slides 31 associated lifting device 35 belonging drum or the like respectively. For this purpose, an incremental disk 36 can be provided is scanned by means of an associated sensor 37.

The probe is set up at the same time as the height measurement 32 to the required distance to the top of the box, so that the Probe 32 forming the top of the under the probe 32nd continuous box 29 contained bottles can determine. This Occupancy detection takes place during the forward movement of the box 29. Accordingly, after completing the height measurement, the Above-mentioned sequential circuit of the motor 5 for driving the conveyor element 2 activated in the forward direction.

The second, higher light barrier 34 of the lifting carriage 31 is used to the protruding parts of the box, for example overlong bottles, that could collide with the probe 32. As soon as the Photoelectric sensor 34 is occupied, those assigned to input 8 Closure device opened and the motor 5 and thus the conveyor element 2 reversed in the reverse direction, so that the box in question to Entrance 8 and thus transported back to the customer. The same applies if the box 29 has impermissible dimensions and therefore none represents acceptable pledges.

The measurement of the length of the box 29 is carried out like the determination of the Box assignment during forward operation of box 29. This is one downstream of the width measuring device 10, just above the Transport level of the conveyor 2 with the conveyor channel 1 crossing Light barrier 38 arranged on the optical axis is provided. As long as this is occupied, the transport route of the conveyor element 2 detected. To do this, simply turn the angle of rotation in sync with the Conveyor 2 rotating element, for example a deflection roller 3, can be detected. In the example shown, this is the front deflection roller 3 an incremental disk 39 is assigned, which by means of an assigned Sensor 40 is scanned.

When the box 29 has passed the light barrier 38 and accordingly measured in terms of width, height, length and occupancy and is detected, the access block assigned to input 8 is removed, so that a next box can be placed in the feed channel 1. This applies in the event that the previously measured box is accepted as a deposit becomes. If the box has impermissible dimensions or an impermissible one Filling contains, as already mentioned above, a Reversal of the conveying element 2 in the return direction, with which the box 29 is returned to input 8. If box 29 is accepted, runs the driven in the occupancy and length measurement in the forward direction Conveyor 2 further, whereby the box 29 on a in shown example to the right of the conveyor 2, not Reservoir section shown in detail is postponed.

In some cases it is also necessary to add the weight of the Box 29 to record. For this purpose, the upper run of the conveyor 2 is over a weighing device 41 provided with a load cell is guided away. The formation of the endlessly circulating conveyor 2 as a link chain ensures high accuracy. It can also happen that only boxes with a certain color are accepted. This is a Color detection device 42 is provided. This can be done on the lifting slide 31 be arranged so that they the front edge of the box 29th detected. In the example shown, the color recognition device is 42 arranged laterally from the conveyor channel 1 and combined with a logo recognition. This makes it possible, even on a box recognize existing logo. With the help of the weighing device 41 can For example, it can be determined whether the box 29 with glass or plastic bottles is filled. In the case of an impermissible box weight or one inadmissible box color or an inadmissible box logo, such as in the case of wrong box dimensions, a return transport to the entrance 8 of the Conveying channel by corresponding reversal of the funding body 2. Zur Achieving high accuracy can be useful if that Upper run of the conveyor member 2 is gripped by a support plate 43 in which the weighing device 41 can be integrated. The support plate 43 can be in one part or in several parts. A frame-like support device would also be conceivable.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for the mechanical collection of empty containers, more especially bottle crates (29), with and without bottles, having a feed mechanism, which downwardly defines a feed duct (1) and travels past measuring means for effecting at least one width measurement, height measurement, length measurement and occupancy measurement, said measuring means being actuatable by means of a start-up sensor device (30), which is triggerable by an arriving container, and said measuring means preferably being connected to a central computer, the feed mechanism comprising a reversible rotary member (2), which extends from the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1) to the last measuring means, and which conveys further empty containers which are recognised as being correct by the measuring means and returns empty containers which are recognised as incorrect to the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1) again, the drive motor (5) of which rotary member is actuatable, in the direction of transportation, by means of an inlet sensor device (9), which is associated with the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1) and is triggerable by a container put into the feed duct (1), in that the width measuring means (10) is provided with direct communication with the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1), in that an anti-tampering means is provided, which is associated with at least the width measuring means (10) and has a limiting means (24) associated with the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1) disposed upstream of the rotary member (2), and in that the start-up sensor device (30) is configured as an edge recognition device, which activates the limiting means (24) and the measuring means when a container edge is detected and stops the feed mechanism.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the limiting means (24), which is preferably configured as a vertical-lift gate, has a closure member (20), which can be brought from a standby position into a covering position by means of a motor (23), which is controllable by the start-up sensor device (30), and said closure member is preferably mounted on the ends of a drawing means (21) facing each other, said drawing means being guided by guide members (22).
3. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure member (20) leaves open the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1), in the covering position, a gap (26), with which a light barrier (27) is associated, by means of which light barrier the motor (23) is reversible.
4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inlet sensor device (9) is configured as a light barrier having an optical axis traversing the inlet (8) of the feed duct (1).
5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the start-up sensor device (30) has a plurality of light barriers (28), disposed one above the other with a spacing therebetween, in a plane vertical to the plane of transportation, said light barrier having an optical axis traversing the feed duct (1), and said start-up sensor device is preferably disposed in the longitudinal region of the width measuring means (10).
6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a light barrier (38), having an optical axis traversing the feed duct (1), is disposed downstream of the start-up sensor device (30), said light barrier co-operating with a distance measuring device associated with the feed mechanism to form the length measuring means.
7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a light barrier (33) is provided above the start-up sensor device (30), said light barrier having an optical axis, which traverses the feed duct (1), and being disposed so as to be raisable and lowerable relative to the plane of transportation, which light barrier co-operates with a distance measuring device, associated with its lifting means (35), to form the height measuring means, a carriage (31) preferably being provided, which is raisable and lowerable by means of a lifting means (35) and carries a sensor head (32), which overlaps the feed duct (1) and forms the occupancy measuring means, and at least the light barrier (33) belonging to the height measuring means, preferably two light barriers (33, 34) which are vertically offset from each other.
8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the width measuring means (10) comprises straightening tongs, which have two oppositely situated clamping bars (11), which extend in the direction of transportation and are accommodated on parallelogram links (12), which are pivotable about the vertical axis and co-operate with an angle measuring means.
9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a colour and/or logo recognition means (42) and/or a weighing means (41), which engages beneath the upper section of the rotary member (2) of the feed mechanism are/is provided in the region of the feed duct (1).
10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotary member (2) of the feed mechanism is configured as a chain, each guide roller (3) having associated therewith a drive chain (7a, b) which co-operates with the motor (5).

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