EP2247392B1 - Device for sorting empty bottles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system for sorting empties according to the preamble of claim 1, such as for example DE-A-29 21640 known.

"Empties" in the context of the invention are transport or bottle crates with bottles, especially with empty bottles. "Unsorted empties" within the meaning of the invention are crates containing bottles of different bottle types and / or damaged or broken bottles and / or shards and / or foreign bottles, so bottles and / or foreign bodies unusable.

"Sorted empties" in the context of the invention are transport or crates, each containing bottles only one and the same varieties. For the purposes of the invention, "pure variety" means bottles of only one and the same variety. A "sorted bottle group" is therefore a group of bottles containing only bottles of a variety.

The bottle crates, which are recirculated, for example, to beverage transmissions, often contain bottles of different bottle types, but also partially damaged and / or broken bottles and / or foreign bottles and / or bottle fragments and / or foreign bodies. For trouble-free further processing (especially cleaning) and proper reuse of the empties after cleaning sorting the returned empties is required, at least in the form that the bottles of a sort associated transport or bottle crates actually only bottles one and the same, ie contain the correct type of bottle and, if possible, the crates or crates are completely filled with undamaged proper bottles.

The object of the invention is to show a system that allows this sorting of the empties by machine with high performance. To solve this problem, a system according to claim 1 is formed.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be described below with reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of which in simplified schematic functional representation and in plan view a plant (sorting center) for sorting empties, explained in more detail.

The in the FIG. 1 generally designated 1 plant is used to sort unsorted empties 4a, which is returned for example to a beverage manufacturer and consists of crates 2 and 3 recorded in these bottles. The recycled empties 4a contains at least in some of the bottle crates 2 bottles 3 different types of bottles, with shards or broken bottles, bottle residues, foreign bottles and foreign objects in the system are also regarded as a common bottle type.

The unsorted Leegut 4a is the Appendix 1 or a bottle removal position 5 of this system supplied in the direction of arrow A. After sorting in Appendix 1, the crates 2 are each completely filled with bottles 3 of a single bottle type at a loading or packing position and conveyed away as sorted empties 4b in the direction of arrow B and supplied for further use or treatment.

The plant 1 has two transport systems that are at least partially in different transport levels, i. For example, in the vertical direction are arranged one above the other, namely a transport and sorting system for the bottles 3 and a transport system for the bottle crates 2, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, the transport and sorting system for the bottles 3 at least partially above the transport system or the transport plane for the crates 2 is located.

The basic operation of Appendix 1 is that from the provided at the bottle removal position 5 empties 4a, ie in the example shown from each two provided there crates 2 the existing in these crates bottles 3 (also damaged bottles) with a suitable device, for example with taken from a multiple gripper device and each bottle 3 in a receptacle of a transport frame 6 (often referred to as a puck) is used. There is no sorting or detection for this step of varieties, empty positions or defective bottles. Not shown, but possible by the modular design of Appendix 1, the provision and discharge of three or more crates 2, the subsequent units must be multiplied or adapted in size and / or capacity accordingly.

Each transport frame 6 is square in plan view formed with four perpendicular adjoining perimeter or frame sides of the same length. As a result, a clear guidance of the transport frame 6 together and also on lateral guide elements of transport routes, etc. is possible. In the transport frame 6, the respective bottles 3 are each centered.

The bottles 3 taken at the bottle removal position 5 and inserted into the transport frame 6 bottles 3 form on a subsequent to the bottle removal position 5 system internal transport path 7 several rows, each oriented perpendicular to the transport direction C of the transport route, each row a total of six transport frame 6 with each having a bottle 3. The number of transport frames in each row thus ideally corresponds to the sum of the rows of compartments of the two bottle crates 2 waiting at the bottle removal position 5, so that all bottles 3 of the two crates 2 can be adjusted in one working stroke into the transport frame 6 provided on the transport path 7 ,

The horizontal or substantially horizontal transport path 7 is equipped with suitable, all rows clocked together in the transport direction C moving conveyor elements, for example with at least one pusher or slider.

The transport path 7 is followed by an installation-internal also horizontal or substantially horizontal serving as an inspection section transport path 8, the transport direction D is oriented perpendicular to the transport direction C and to each of which relative to the transport direction C first row of transport frame 6 with the held in these 3 bottles is postponed.

At the transport section 8, a bottle recognition 9 is provided, at which each further arranged in a transport frame 6 bottle 3, and their shape and condition with an example, at least one camera having electronic Image recognition and processing system are detected and each bottle 3, among other things, a bottle type is assigned.

The transport path 8 is adjoined by another system-internal horizontal or substantially horizontal transport path 10 serving as a sorting section, the transport direction E of which is oriented perpendicular to the transport direction D. Controlled by the bottle recognition 9, the transport frames 6 with the associated bottles 3 are pushed onto the transport path 8 in such a way that a plurality of rows R1 - R8, in each case oriented in the transport direction E, are conveyed on the transport path 10. In the illustrated embodiment, a total of eight rows are formed such that each row exclusively comprises transport frames 6 with bottles 3 of a single sort, ie "sorted series are formed." Of course, there is the possibility that two or more rows R1 - R8 for bottles 3 one At least one row is provided for empty transport frames 6, which remain when the boxes 2 are not completely filled with empties bottles during delivery and overstroke.These empty transport frames 6 pass through the sorting station without interference Series R 8 for broken bottles and broken or damaged bottles 3 and for foreign bottles 3, which can not be assigned to a usable bottle type, and provided for foreign objects, if such unusable material were removed from the bottle crates 2 and mitgef with the transport frame 6 were carried. Of course, it may be useful to a number, for example number 8 for empty transport frame and the above-mentioned Provide foreign bottles or defective bottles.

With a suitable transfer system, the bottles 3 are each sorted the individual rows R1 - R7 and used sorted in the parking positions or on parking spaces of the lower transport level empty bottle crates 3, so that each bottle crate 2 contains only 3 bottles of a variety and sorted empties 4b can be transported away from the plant 1 in the direction of arrow B.

The empty after removing the bottles 3 transport frame 6 are transported via a transport path 11 to the removal position 5 and to the local end of the transport path 7 back, as indicated by the arrows F. The transfer of the empty transport frame 6 of the transport path 10 to the example formed by a conveyor belt 11 is carried out, for example, by the fact that the empty transport frame 6 are supported by the transport plane of the transport path 6 in a funnel-like collector, from which they then on the transport route 11th forming conveyor belt fall.

The plant-internal transport routes 7, 8 and 10 are each formed with suitable, the clocked transport movement of the transport frame 6 with the bottles 3 effecting conveying elements, for example with slider-like transport elements or with e.g. servo-controlled clocked driven conveyor belts. The transfer of the transport frame 6 with the bottles 3 of the transport path 7 to the transport path 8 and the controlled transfer of the transport frame 6 with the bottles 3 to form the unmixed rows R1 - R8 of the transport path 8 to the transport path 10, for example, by sliding over and In this case, the transfer from the transport path 8 to the transport path 10 specifically by individually controllable in response to the bottle detection 9 Überubelementen, or using other suitable transfer elements.

The arrangement of the bottles 3 in the transport frame 6 of the plant-internal transport system has the advantage, inter alia,
the bottles 3 are centered in the transport frame 6 and, in particular, kept secured against falling over,
that the transport frame 6 center each other and
that the bottles 3 by the transport frame 6 in particular when passing the bottle detection 9 a predetermined distance from each other, so that the bottle recognition can be done properly.

Further advantages of the device 1 are that the rows R1 - R8 are freely selectable for the different bottle types. In this case, it is also possible, in particular, to provide a plurality of rows R1-R8 for a bottle type contained mainly in recycled unsorted empties 4a. In particular, when three or four adjacent rows of the transport path 10 are used for each bottle type, it is also possible to withdraw the bottles 3 a bottle of the transport route 10 "box by box" and sorted into a bottle crate 2.

Furthermore, as already described, it is possible to remove the bottles 3 of a bottle crate 2 or several crates 2 in a working stroke at the bottle removal position 5 and insert them into the empty transport frame 6 provided there on the transport path 7.

Since the transport frame 6 are formed like a frame and at the bottom of their recording for the bottles 3 are open, emptying the transport frame 6 can be effected in that they are moved over a flap or trap, for example, on the transport path 10.

The system 1 forms a closed system and can be expanded according to the required power or the system 1 can be supplemented by a further similar system to an overall system corresponding to high performance.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide in the system 1 or in the transport plane for the crates 2 a device in which a turning of the crates 2 takes place for removing unusable material, after removing the bottles 2 and before sorted insertion of the Bottles 3 in the bottle crates 2.

The transport plane for the crates 2 is formed in the illustrated embodiment of a horizontal or substantially horizontal table or a plate 12 on which the crates 2 are moved by appropriate, formed for example by sliders conveyors and on the also parking spaces or parking positions for empty crates 2 are provided. Of course, there is the possibility that the transport plane of the transport system for the crates 2 is formed at least in subregions of conveyor belts.

The FIG. 2 shows as a further embodiment of a plant 1a, which differs from the plant 1 essentially only in that the plant-internal transport path 7, which connects the bottle removal position 5 with the bottle detection 9 having transport path 8, is designed so that each perpendicular to the transport direction C. oriented row has only three transport frame 6 each. The number of transport frames 6 and arranged in these bottles 3 so equal to the number of longer Gefachreihen in conventional crates 2 is. The bottle types are in FIG. 2 outlined by different surface patterns.

The plant 1a differs from the plant 1 further characterized in that in the return of the empty transport frame 6 in addition to the conveyor belt 11 formed by the transport path then a transport path 13 is provided with a direction perpendicular to the transport direction C transport direction G, namely for the formation of several, ie in the illustrated embodiment of four each extending in the transport direction G rows of empty transport frame 6. From these rows then the rows of transport frames 6 are formed on the transport path 7 by sliding over, in each case four perpendicular to the transport direction C rows formed, so that in the region of the removal position 5 each twelve empty transport frame 6 are available in an arrangement that corresponds to the arrangement of the compartments usual crates 2 and thus the bottles 3 of a bottle crate 2 in one operation in empty, on the transport path 7 ready transport frame 6 can be used ,

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a

Plant for sorting empties

2

bottle case

3

bottles

4a

unsorted empties

4b

sorted empties

5

removal position

6

Puck or transport frame

7, 8

Facilities internal transport route

9

Transport or sorting line

11

Transport path for returning the transport frame. 6

12

table

13

Transport route for returning the transport frame 6 and for forming transport frame rows

A, B, C, D, E, F, G

transport direction

Claims (14)

1. An installation for sorting empties in the form of transport or bottle cases (2) containing bottles (3), having a bottle withdrawing position (5) at which the bottles (3) are withdrawn from the transport cases (2) as well as at least one loading or packing position at which after sorting the bottles (2) are placed correctly sorted into the transport containers (2), there being provided for the transport cases (2) and for the bottles (3) separate transport systems which are integral to the installation and with which the bottles (3) are moved past at least one bottle recognition (9) and on a sorting section (10) are gathered into homogeneous bottle groups sorted by bottle type under the control of the bottle recognition (9), there being means provided for the placing of the homogeneous bottle groups into the transport cases (2) for the forming of sorted empties (4b), characterised in that the transport system for the bottles (3) exhibits a plurality of transport frames (6) each serving to accommodate one bottle (3).
2. The installation of claim 1 wherein the at least one sorting section (10) is configured to form rows (R1 - R8) preferably oriented in a transport direction (E) of the sorting section (10) and comprising transport frames (6) and bottles (3) therein arranged, and namely controlled by the bottle recognition (9) in such a way that each row (R1 - R8) only contains transport frames (6) having bottles (3) that constitute a homogeneous bottle group.
3. The installation of claim 2 wherein the transport system for the bottles (3) exhibits upstream of the sorting section (10) an inspection section (8) having at least one bottle recognition (9) past which the transport frames (6) containing the bottles (3) are moved, and wherein means are provided to convey the transport frames (6) containing the bottles (3) under the control of the bottle recognition (9) from the first inspection section (8) to that row (R1 - R8) of the sorting section (10) that is associated with the respective bottle type.
4. The installation of claim 3 wherein the means for conveying are each formed by a conveying or push-over element which is individually controllable and associated with the respective row (R1 - R8) of the sorting section (10).
5. The installation of either claim 3 or 4 wherein the sorting section (10) is laterally adjacent to the inspection section (8).
6. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein the inspection section (8) is configured for a single-track stream of transport frames and bottles.
7. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein a row (R8) of the sorting section (10) is provided for unusable material, in particular for damaged or broken bottles (3), for bottle shards, for non-sortable foreign bottles and for foreign bodies.
8. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein the transport system for the bottles (3) exhibits upstream of the inspection section (8) a further transport section (7) which connects the inspection section (8) with the at least one bottle withdrawing position (5) and on which the transport frames (4) with the bottles (3) are moved to the inspection section (8) in a multiple-track stream of transport frames and bottles.
9. The installation of claim 8 wherein the number of tracks on the further transport section (7) is three or a whole-number multiple of three, or four or a whole-number multiple of four.
10. The installation of any one of the preceding claims characterised by a transport section (11, 13) for returning the empty transport frames (6) to the withdrawal position (5) or to the further transport section (7).
11. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein the transport system for the transport cases (2) exhibits a horizontal or essentially horizontal transport level formed in partial regions at least by a table or plate (12) and on which the transport cases (2) are moved by conveying elements, for example by pushers.
12. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein the transport system for the transport cases (2) exhibits a horizontal or essentially horizontal transport level formed in partial regions at least by transport belts.
13. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein the sorting section (10), the inspection section (8) and the further transport section (7) are configured for a controlled and cycled movement of the transport frames (6) in the respective transport direction (C, D, E).
14. The installation of any one of the preceding claims wherein the transport systems for the bottles (3) and for the transport cases (2) or their transport levels are arranged in part at least on different height levels.

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