EP2258623A1 - Method and device for processing containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has multiple holding devices (14) adjustable in a vertical direction (VR) for holding, gripping and/or rotation of a container (10) at an upper opening (18) and/or at a neck area. The holding devices comprise an electrical linear drive (26) or a dual acting adjusting drive (12) and a force-and/or path sensor (28) for detecting adjusting and/or retaining force of the linear drive and/or actual position of the holding devices, where the retaining force is adjustable for fixing the container within a pre-set area. The holding devices are controlled in dependent upon sensor signals. An independent claim is also included for a method for treating a container.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for treating containers. The container treatment device, which is equipped with at least one vertically adjustable holding device. The holding device is used for holding, gripping and / or rotating containers standing on a support at its upper mouth and / or at its neck region and has at least one double-acting linear drive.

In known container treatment devices in rotary machines such as. Labeling, filling or Behälterinspektionsvorrichtungen the container to be treated usually arranged on a carousel and placed each on a bottle plate and rotatably held there by means of the container from above fixing gripping devices. The gripping devices are usually spring-biased elements such as. Centering, which hold the container when moving through the machine.

In the known labeling devices, the bottles must be kept reliable on the one hand. On the other hand, the bottles should be able to be rotated on their turntables at any time in a desired position. The gripper heads hold the bottles at their upper mouth area. They are usually lifted and lowered by means of cams in response to the rotation of the carousel to release the bottles or fix. A height compensation, which also allows a certain height tolerance and a certain flexibility of the clamping is usually created by means of suitable spring systems, which should provide for an approximately uniform pressure on the bottles.

If containers are to leave the carousel, for example, during the discharge or during discharge to a so-called. Error band, the centering be driven over suitable curved paths upwards. With this movement of the centering each spring preload is canceled. This device has a very complex machine structure and also takes this machine a lot of space. Furthermore, such a structure requires time-consuming retrofitting as soon as other types of containers are to be used. For this the must Container handling devices to be upgraded by the height of the entire career of Zentrierglocken must be changed.

In the DE 40 35 998 C2 are called as disadvantages of this known system, the lack of reliability of the spring system, and that a not uniformly exerted by the springs or too little pressure on the bottles brings the risk of tipping over the bottles with it. In addition, breaking a spring can cause serious damage to the machinery. Finally, attention is drawn to the inertia of the spring system, which can limit the alignment speed. To eliminate these disadvantages mentioned is therefore proposed to apply an axially displaceable piston which is coupled to a cam roller, which in turn cooperates with a frame cam cam, by means of compressed air, so that the previously caused by a compression spring tolerance compensation can be done by means of a pneumatically actuated piston system ,

Incidentally, this labeling machine has a conventional design and furthermore requires the known control by means of a frame-fixed cam curve, which must ensure position-appropriate axial movement of the gripper devices for the bottles.

In the DE 33 08 489 C2 Some disadvantages of a centering device are called, in which the rotatable centering ring is arranged fixed in height and the containers are pushed down by the centering with the footing down, until the containers sit firmly on the conical centering and centered in this. As unfavorable has been found that the container sink more or less deep in the centering depending on the diameter, thus varying their height position. This leads to the fact that often no uniform, exact label seat can be achieved. To eliminate these disadvantages mentioned is therefore proposed to provide a downwardly movable base plate having a stop. The stop has a fixed end position, so that the centering ring mounted vertically movable and against spring force from a defined upper end position is movable downwards. By means of a controlled centering bell, the base plate can reach its lower end position when lowering in all vessels. For the raised and lowered movement of the centering a control device is necessary. In contrast, the invention has the object to improve a generic centering device with the simplest means to the effect that under all operating conditions in addition to a precise centering and a constant altitude of the machine head can be guaranteed.

This object is achieved in a container treatment machine with the features of the independent claim 1, characterized in that the containers are held with actuators, each of which can be controlled independently of a carousel rotation and / or cam or cam discs and actuated for clamping or releasing the container. Thus, in a container treatment apparatus according to the invention with at least one vertically adjustable holding device for holding, gripping and / or turning of standing on a support containers on the upper container mouth and / or on the neck region provided that the holding device by at least one double-acting linear drive and at least one force and / or displacement sensor for detecting an actuating and / or holding force of the linear drive and / or a current position is formed. The linear drive can also be referred to as a double-acting actuator. Such a double-acting linear drive allows a fully variable control, which can be coupled, for example. With a position sensor and / or with optical detection devices. In addition, a container fixation or release is made possible, which is completely independent of a variable angular position of a rotating carousel.

The holding or actuating forces and / or predefinable end positions are individually adjustable or specifiable depending on different container locations and / or sizes. Thus, with the container treatment apparatus according to the invention has the particular advantage that easily different container sizes and container dimensions can be handled without retrofitting the system, as the individually and continuously adjustable in height and can be acted upon by a holding device holding device can be easily adapted to different container sizes. Thus, both a tolerance compensation for slightly different in height containers of the same size as well as a compensation for the handling of different container sizes, eg. When changing the container to be labeled or treated type of container allows. That is, within reasonable limits, for example, up to 150 mm, different varieties, such as. Containers with Contents of 0.33 I and 0.5 I, can only be used by adjusting the driving points of the linear drives in the device. Thus, no adjustment of the upper machine head is necessary.

A typical embodiment of the container treatment device according to the invention can provide that the linear drive is arranged in the vertical direction and has at a lower end a gripping, holding, centering and / or suction cup for fixing an upper container opening and / or an upper container edge. This embodiment corresponds largely to a conventional configuration of a container carousel, with the essential difference that no curve or cam guides for mechanical forced control of the holding devices are required at the container storage or axis, as these invention can be controlled separately and individually in the desired manner. In such an embodiment, a plurality of holding devices may be arranged in a star shape on a rotatable sorting star and / or a carousel and have a central drive power supply. This drive power supply can be designed, for example, as a pressurized fluid or compressed air supply or as an electrical supply.

The actuator of the holding device may in particular have a fluid-actuated, double-acting linear drive. For example, this drive can be formed by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. Alternatively, however, are suitable as actuators and electric motor drives, for example. Electric linear actuators. All these variants allow a very precise position control with predeterminable actuating speeds and precisely controllable actuating and holding forces.

The holding force for fixing the container within a predeterminable range is preferably predeterminable or adjustable, so that the force can be adjusted and varied individually for each individual bottle. In order to detect the holding force suitable for the respective type of containers or bottles, it is optionally possible to use a suitable force sensor. Optionally, a force-controlled holding the container can be ensured by an internal sensor of the motors, in which, for example, the fluidic holding pressure of a fluidic linear drive or a current or power consumption of an electric linear drive can be detected. From these values can then be concluded on the corresponding holding force, which corresponds to an indirect force detection.

According to the present invention, the plurality of holding devices are each individually controllable, so that a high variability of the device is made possible. The holding devices may each be individually controllable in dependence on sensor signals, in particular as a function of position encoders and / or of optical detection devices or the like. For the first approach of the holding device and its delivery movement to the container, a slightly touching pre-centering on the container is useful or necessary. Thereafter, a fixed main centering acts on the respective container to allow stabilization of the containers during their treatment. For this purpose, different Voreinspannungen can be adjusted to handle containers made of different materials, each with suitable holding forces. Furthermore, a relaxation of the centering before removing the container from the carousel is necessary so that it is safely continued on leaving the treatment device. These just mentioned centering methods are each dependent on the angle of rotation of the carousel. Among other things, the use of force sensors would be possible for such an individual control of the holding device.

The containers are preferably each on a turntable, whereby an easy rotation, eg. For a speedy labeling of the container, is made possible.

By this individual control of the holding device, the containers could be discharged at arbitrary locations of the carousel. This would be possible, for example, by means of a second rotation star, which in each case grips the loosened containers and transports them further via another device.

In the case of a lack of a container or if a container breaks during the treatment while it is in the carousel, a back pressure loss can be determined by the linear drive and / or by the force sensor associated therewith. This loss of holding power is reported immediately as an error. Even if one axis of a holding device fails, an error message is generated.

With such a device, the construction cost and the complexity of the entire stationary part of the machine head can be minimized, so that in Essentially, only one column with a torque arm incl. A slip ring is necessary.

The invention further comprises a method for treating containers which are supported and held in the vertical direction by means of an adjustable holding device at its upper mouth and / or at its neck area, fixed and / or rotated. In the method, it is provided that the holding device is raised, lowered and / or fixed in the reached position by means of a double-acting linear drive. The adjusting movements and / or setting or holding forces used can be detected by means of at least one force and / or displacement sensor.

The thereby applied holding force for the actuator can be specified in particular by a controllable fluidic or pneumatic pressure. In this case, the pneumatic pressure of the actuator, for example. Between about 2 to 8 bar, in particular be adjustable between about 3 to 6 bar. The actuator is preferably moved in the vertical direction and acts at a lower end with a gripping and / or suction cup for fixing an upper container opening and / or an upper container edge together. In addition, however, other suitable drives can be used, for example. Electric linear motors o. The like.

In the manner described, different container sizes and container dimensions can advantageously be handled without retrofitting the system, since the holding or setting forces and / or predefinable end positions can be set or specified individually as a function of different container locations and / or sizes. The individual containers are each fixed individually and in the required height or within a predetermined range and with a required holding force, so that the fixation can be easily adapted to different container sizes. In this way, both a tolerance compensation in slightly different in height containers of the same size as well as a compensation for the handling of different container sizes, eg. When changing the container to be labeled or treated type of container allows.

In a further embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, a plurality of holding devices can each be controlled individually and in dependence on the sensor signals. So can in a carousel-like arrangement of several Holding devices are dispensed with any mechanical coupling for rotationally correct operation of the holding devices, as known from the prior art and, for example, are realized by means of suitable link guides with cams running therein.

In addition, the linear drive is moved in the vertical direction and acts at a lower end with a gripping, holding, centering and / or suction cup for fixing an upper container opening and / or an upper container edge together.

If in the present context of containers is mentioned, so basically all types of liquid and beverage containers are included. This can be bottles, cans, etc. made of mineral glass or plastic, such as PET or the like. The container treatment device according to the invention allows due to the individually controllable holding devices, the clamping and fixing of different containers, which may also have different closures.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Behälterbehandlungsvorrichtung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Behälterfixierung mittels eines doppelt wirkenden Linearantriebs.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as a non-restrictive example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same components in principle have the same reference numerals and will not be explained several times.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a container treatment device.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a container fixation by means of a double-acting linear actuator.

The schematic representation of Fig. 1 thus illustrates a typical structure of a container treatment device according to the invention 8. In the container treatment device 8 shown a plurality of holding devices 14 are arranged in a star shape on a rotatable sorting star or a carousel 38 and connected to a central power supply (not shown). In the Fig. 1 embodiment shown largely corresponds to a conventional configuration of a container carousel, with the essential difference that on a column 36 no curve or cam guides for a mechanical positive control of the holding devices 14 (see FIG. Fig. 2 ) are present, since these exclusively by means of actuators 12 (see. Fig. 2 ) separately and individually controlled in the desired manner can be. Container 10 or bottles are between the holding device 14 and a support 16 (see. Fig. 2 ) clamped. The containers 10 are in each case on the turntable or the support 16, whereby a slight rotation, for example. For a quick labeling by means of a labeling unit 54, is possible.

The schematic representation of Fig. 2 shows a container fixing to a container treatment device 8 (see. Fig. 1 ). With this container treatment device 8, containers 10 can be held by means of a double-acting actuator 12 of a holding device 14. The holding device 14 is adjustable in the vertical direction VR and serves for holding, gripping, centering and / or rotating the standing on the turntable or support 16 container 10. The holding device 14 fixes the container 10 at the upper mouth 18 and has for this purpose a holding bell 20th on. The vertically adjustable, double-acting, and preferably rotatable actuator 12, which is adjustable in the vertical direction, permits fully variable actuation, which is preferably coupled to a position transmitter 22 and / or to optical detection devices 24, so that the container fixation and release depends on a variable angle of rotation of the actuator rotating carousel 38 (cf. Fig. 1 ). On the holding device 14 force or displacement sensors 28 are mounted, which can detect the actuating or holding forces of the linear drive 26.

The actuator 12 of the holding device 14 may be formed in the illustrated embodiment by a double-acting linear actuator 26, preferably by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. Alternatively, however, are suitable as actuators and electric motor drives, for example. Electric linear actuators 26th

The linear drive 26 is installed vertically and below the top of the linear drive 26, the commercial holding, or centering bell 20 is attached. This holding bell 20 may be provided with or without spring mechanism (not shown).

The linear drives 26 move with the carousel 38 (see. Fig. 1 ), Whose control units 44 may be secured in the rotatable part of the machine head (not shown). The device can be varied with different holding bells 20, for example. For co-rotating or fixed systems. It would also be conceivable a filling valve (not shown) is received in the container treatment device 8.

With such an embodiment of the device, the machine head is no longer adjusted in height. The height is set only during construction.

The force-controlled holding of the container 10 by the holding device 14 is achieved by means of internal sensors of the linear drives 26. With the help of the position sensor 22, the linear drive 26 can be controlled so that the container 10 is centered in different stages.

The actuator 12 is arranged in the vertical direction VR. At its lower end, the drive, the holding bell 20 for fixing the container 10 at its upper mouth 18 and / or the upper edge of the container 10. The actuator 12 forming the linear drive 26 is formed by a pneumatic cylinder (not shown) via pressure lines with a control valve (not shown) in communication. The control valve may be formed, for example, as a 5/2-way solenoid valve, which is coupled via a further pressure line with a rotary distributor (not shown) of a central pressure line in the central column 36 of the carousel shown 38 (see. Fig. 1 ) is fed. On an upper side of the column 36 is an absolute value transmitter 40 or rotary angle sensor for detecting a current angular position of the rotating carousel 38, the signals of which are supplied via a signal line 42 to a central control unit 44. The central control unit 44 further processes the signals from initiators which detect an actual altitude of the vertically adjustable linear drive 26. A supply line 48 for the control unit 44 is connected to a arranged on the column 36 Schleifringübertrager 50 and provides for the supply of the control unit 44 with electrical energy. A control signal line (not shown) finally supplies the control signals generated by the central control unit 44 to the pneumatic control valve (not shown), which is responsible for raising and lowering the holding bell 20 by means of the positioning movements of the linear drive 26.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Rather, a variety of variants and modifications are conceivable that make use of the inventive concept and therefore also fall within the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

8th

Container treatment device

10

container

12

actuator

14

holder

16

Edition or turntable

18

upper mouth

20

holding bell

22

locator

24

optical detection device

26

linear actuator

28

Force or displacement sensor

36

pillar

38

carousel

40

Absolute encoders

42

signal line

44

control unit

48

supply line

50

A slip ring transmission

VR

vertical direction

Claims (13)

Container treatment device (8) with at least one in the vertical direction (VR) adjustable holding device (14) for holding, gripping and / or rotating on a support (16) standing containers (10) at its upper mouth (18) and / or at its Neck region which comprises at least one double-acting linear drive (26) and at least one force and / or displacement sensor (28) for detecting an actuating and / or holding force of the linear drive (26) and / or a current position of the holding device (14). Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding or actuating forces and / or predeterminable end positions in dependence on different container locations and / or sizes are individually adjustable or can be predetermined. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein a holding force for fixing the container (10) is adjustable within a predeterminable range. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the linear drive (26) in the vertical direction (VR) is arranged and at a lower end of a gripping, holding, centering and / or suction cup (20) for fixing an upper container opening (18) and / or an upper container edge. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of holding devices (14) are arranged in a star shape on a rotatable sorting star and / or a carousel (38) and are supplied via a central drive power supply. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the containers (10) each stand on a turntable (16). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the plurality of holding means (14) are each individually controllable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding means (14) are each individually controllable in dependence of the sensor signals. Method for treating containers (10) which rest on a support (16) and are held and / or fixed in the vertical direction (VR) by means of an adjustable holding device (14) at its upper mouth (18) and / or at its neck region be rotated, wherein the holding device (14) by means of a double-acting linear actuator (26) is raised, lowered and / or fixed in the position reached and the adjusting movements and / or actuating or holding forces by means of at least one force and / or displacement sensor ( 28). The method of claim 9, wherein the holding or actuating forces and / or predeterminable end positions depending on different container types and / or sizes are set or specified individually. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein a holding force for fixing the container (10) is set within a predeterminable range. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the linear drive (26) in the vertical direction (VR) is moved and at a lower end with a gripping, holding, centering and / or suction cup (20) for fixing an upper Container opening (18) and / or an upper container edge cooperates. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 12, in which a plurality of holding devices (14) are each driven individually and in dependence on the sensor signals.

Images