EP2444363A1 - Method and device for transporting container closures - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a transportation unit (8) for transportation of container closures (10a, 10b). The transportation unit is arranged in a transport direction of the container closures in sections downstream relative to feed devices (2, 4). The container closures are transported in a given sequence. A distribution device (20) changes a sequence of the container closures in the transportation unit. The feed devices feed the container closures. The container closures are different from each other in physical properties. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a system for closing of containers with container closures (2) a method for transporting container closures.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for transporting container closures. Closers are known from the prior art, which closes containers with closures, such as screw caps. For this purpose, the containers are usually transported and the closures are brought to the containers to then be screwed onto the containers can. Such transport devices for container closures have partially transport rails along which slide the closures or transported.

The DE 195 13 064 B4 describes a method and a system for filling containers with a liquid filling material and a filling machine with labeling device for use with this system. In this case, a capper for closing the containers is provided. This capper can close the containers, for example, with a crown cap or other suitable closure.

The DE 195 220 36 A1 describes a device for producing and supplying aluminum caps to closing organs. In this case, at least two drawing and embossing tools are present for producing the closure caps, each having a feed device with supply channel and these feed channels is arranged downstream of a merge, followed by a further up to the cap transfer extending supply device with supply channel.

This device serves the purpose of producing closure caps with a large diameter and preformed edge made of aluminum in a capping machine for vessels and supply closure organs.

The WO 2008/125898 describes a feeding device for caps. In this case, a first cap supply and a second cap supply is provided which open into a common feed line, wherein the caps of the first supply row are supplied offset from those of the second. In this case, the caps of the common row are always alternately fed from the two Zuführreihen.

From the JP 2005 347444 is also a feeder for caps known, in which also two rows of caps are supplied to a common row.

From the DE 43 06 110 C2 a device for merging cover strands is known. The US 2,325,163 describes a capping machine to apply caps to bottles.

There are also known from the prior art filling devices that can fill different types of drinks, such as three or more different types of milk in containers. In this case, these milk types may for example have different fat contents, wherein these different fat contents are achieved by mixtures in the containers to be filled. These containers must then be closed with a specific closure with a corresponding color, for example, blue color for whole milk, yellow color for low-fat milk and so on. This leads to the problem that the containers were transported in a certain number and also filled accordingly. At the capper this claims to lead the closures in the correct order to the capping. The problem is the very high performance and sometimes very small quantities to a single closure, which must be fed to a feeder such as a gutter.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a transport device for container closures available, which can be supplied with any order of sequences Locks possible. This is inventively achieved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A device according to the invention for transporting container closures has a first feed device for feeding first container closures, a second feed device for feeding second container closures and a transport device for transporting the first container closures and the second container closures. In this case, the first container closures and the second container closures differ from each other in at least one physical property. This transport device is arranged in a direction of transport of the container closures at least in sections and preferably completely downstream with respect to the first supply device and the second supply device and transports the first container closures and the second container closures in a predetermined order.

According to the invention, the device has a distribution device and by means of the distribution device, the sequence of container closures in the transport device can be fixed or changed, in particular as desired. Advantageously, the first supply device and the second supply device are separated from each other.

Advantageously, the first container closures and the second container closures have a different color. Advantageously, the first container closures and the second container closures have the same geometric shape.

Advantageously, the first and the second container closures in the transport device are transported together in a row and the sequence in which the first and the second container closures are transported in series in this row, can be adjusted by the distribution device.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the feeders are separated from each other.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device has a first controllable locking device, which controls the supply of the first container closures to the transport device. This locking device is advantageously arranged in a region and advantageously in an end region of the first supply device.

Advantageously, the device has a second controllable locking device, which controls the supply of the second container closures to the transport device. In this case, the second locking device is advantageously arranged in an end section of the second feed device or a transition region between the feed device and a subsequent unit.

Advantageously, the blocking device has a blocking body which is movable in a transport path of the container closures transported by the respective feeding device.

In addition, the device advantageously has a control device for coordinated control of the first and second locking means on each other. With the aid of this control device, the sequence of the closures supplied to the transport device can be controlled and thus, in principle, arbitrary sequences of the container closures can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a collection device arranged between the feed devices and the transport device, into which opening both the first feed device and the second feed device open. This collecting device can be designed, for example, in the manner of a funnel, by means of which the container closures are fed to the transport device. In this case, this collecting device is advantageously arranged such that the container closures indeed move in a predetermined direction, but can not tilt, so that the orientation of these container closures does not change during movement through the collecting device.

The feed devices are advantageously arranged at least partially above the transport device. Particularly preferably, the container closures pass under the influence of gravity through the collecting device.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a third feed device for feeding a third type of container closures. In this embodiment, an arbitrary sequence of the three types of container closures can be assembled in the transport device. Advantageously, the device also has a third locking device, which can control the supply of the third type of closures to the transport device.

The present invention is further directed to a container closure system comprising a device of the type described above and a closure unit which closes the containers with the container closures.

Advantageously, the system has a transport device for transporting containers to be closed, and a control device controls the sequence of container closures as a function of a sequence of the containers transported by the transport device. Advantageously, these are filled containers. However, it would also be possible to determine the order of the containers before or during the filling process and to adapt the order of the container closures in response to this order. Furthermore, it would also be possible for the order of the container closures to be changed in response to a change in the sequence of the containers which is desired, for example, by the user.

The present invention is further directed to a method for transporting container closures, wherein container closures of a first type with a first feeder and container closures of a second type with a second feeder are each fed to a transport device and with the transport device, in particular by a distributor, in a variable Sequence of the first container closures and the second container closures are transported. Thus, it is also suggested on the method side that the sequence of container closures can be predetermined or changed as desired.

In a preferred method, the supply of the first container closures to the transport device is controlled by a first blocking device and / or the delivery of the second container closures to the transport device by a second blocking device. This blocking device can be, for example, elements which temporarily interrupt the transport flow of the container closures.

By the present invention, it is possible that different types of closures can be attached to the containers with the same closure device.

• Darin zeigen:

  Fig. 1a und 1 b

  zwei schematische Ansichten einer erfindungsgemäßen Transportvorrichtung ;

  Fig. 2

  eine schematische Ansicht einer Transporteinrichtung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

  Fig. 3a - 3d

  vier Darstellungen einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Transportvorrichtung;

  Fig. 4

  eine Gesamtdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Transportieren von Kunststoffverschlüssen;

  Fig. 5

  eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

  Fig. 6

  eine blockdiagrammartige Darstellung einer Anlage zum Verschließen von Behältnissen;

  Fig. 7

  eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung; und;

  Fig. 8

  eine Anlage mit der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 7.

Further advantages and embodiments will be apparent from the attached drawings:

• Show:

  Fig. 1a and 1b

  two schematic views of a transport device according to the invention;

  Fig. 2

  a schematic view of a transport device in a further embodiment;

  Fig. 3a - 3d

  four illustrations of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention;

  Fig. 4

  an overall view of a device according to the invention for transporting plastic closures;

  Fig. 5

  a schematic representation of another embodiment of a device according to the invention;

  Fig. 6

  a block diagram of a system for sealing containers;

  Fig. 7

  a further embodiment of a device according to the invention; and;

  Fig. 8

  a plant with the device off Fig. 7 ,

The FIGS. 1 a and 1b show two views of a device 1 according to the invention for transporting container closures. Here, three feeders 2,4,6 are provided, in each of which container closures 10a, 10b and 10c are arranged. In this case, only one particular type of container closures is arranged in the individual feed devices 2, 4, 6.

The reference numerals 22, 24 and 26 relate to locking devices which are arranged here at the end of the respective feed device 2, 4, 6 and which allow or prevent leakage of the container closures 10a, 10b or 10c by appropriate movements. In this case, the locking devices 22, 24, 26 are each designed so that they can allow the passage of individual container closures 10a, 10b and 10c as in FIG. 1 a illustrates. For this purpose, these locking devices may for example have openings, which just allow the passage of a single closure but block the passage again with a corresponding further movement.

Below the feed devices 2, 4, 6, a collecting device 12 is arranged, into which the individual container closures 10a, 10b and 10c fall. By a corresponding control of the locking devices 22, 24, 26 can be controlled in which order the container closures 10a 10b and 10c reach the collecting device 12. At the lower end of the collecting device is followed by a transport device 8, in which the container closures 10a 10b and 10c arrive. It can be seen that the sequence or sequence of the container closures 10a, 10b and 10c in the transport device 8 can be controlled by a corresponding activation of the blocking devices 22, 24, 26. Advantageously, the container closures 10a, 10b and 10c move in the individual feed devices and advantageously also in the transport device under the action of gravity. In this case, the individual container closures in the feed devices and the transport device 8 are advantageously already uniformly oriented.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the invention 1. It can be seen that here the feeder 4 is set higher than the two feeders 2 and 6. In this way, the circumstance can be taken into account that the closures 10a and 10c may have a greater fall time, since they are over the Slant surfaces 12a of the collector 12 slide off while the closures 10b fall directly in the vertical direction down.

The FIGS. 3a-3d show an illustration of a device according to the invention 1. Again, each of the feeders 2, 4, 6 are shown and a distribution device 20, in which the individual feeders 2, 4, 6 open. The distributor 20 has a housing 28.

FIG. 3b shows a representation in which the collecting device 12 is opened, ie in which a lid 16 is opened (especially for cleaning and maintenance purposes or to eliminate jams) and thus a collecting chamber 14 of the collector 12 is free. The collecting space 14 is designed such that the container closures do not tilt when the cover 16 is closed and can thus become wedged.

The Figures 3c and 3d show a further illustration, in which now the housing 28 of the distributor 20 is opened. It can be seen here, the three locking devices 22, 24 and 26, each controlling the supply of the container closures in the collecting device 12. The feeders 2, 4, 6 are in this embodiment, in particular in Figure 3c shown completely separated but parallel to each other. Furthermore, the lower portion of the feeders 2, 4, 6 each form a jam distance for the container closures.

FIG. 4 shows an overall view of a device according to the invention for transporting container closures. In this case, three reservoirs 42, 44, 46 are provided here, in each of which the container closures are unsorted but are introduced separately into classes, for example colors. The reservoirs 42, 44, 46 are in this embodiment sorting, which are suitable container closures, which are present as bulk material, in a similar orientation - bring a predetermined position - and isolated, so leave in a row successively. The similar orientation can, for example, be "all container closures with their interior upwards". Starting from these reservoirs 42, 44, 46, the container closures pass via chutes 42a, 44a and 46a respectively to inspection or control devices 52, 54, 56 in which the container closures are checked, for example, according to physical characteristics or damage. Damaged container closures or those with unwanted physical features can be removed from the series of container closures. The container closures which are to be supplied to the distributing device 20 can be transported, for example, by means of conveyor belts 42b, 44b and 46b. Subsequent to the inspection or control devices, the container closures enter the respective feed devices 2, 4, 6 and the distribution device 20 into the transport device 8. The reference numeral 50 relates to a single-ended star that separates the container closures into a capper (not shown) supplies.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the invention. Here, a rotating Sägezahnrad 60 is provided which serves as a collector for container closures in the desired sequence. The Sägezahnrad 60 has a plurality of recesses 62, each for guiding the individual
Container closures 10a, 10b and 10c serve. Again, three feeders 2, 4, 6 are shown, via which either the container closures can be supplied. In this embodiment, it would be possible that the Sägezahnrad 60 is supplied in any order with the individual container closures 10a 10b and 10c. The reference numeral 64 denotes a border, which causes the container closures hold in the recesses 62 and thus serves as a transport device 8. The container closures 10a, 10b, 10c are transferred directly to the capping machine in the desired order. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange a further transport device 8, for example in the form of a (not shown) channel after the Sägezahnrad 60.

For example, it is possible that the sawtooth 60 is permanently supplied with the closures 10c from the feeder 6. If the closures 10c are located in the recesses 62, this prevents entry of further container closures 10a and 10b. If the blocking device 26 prevents the supply of the container closures 10c instead, the container closures 10b may occur and in turn prevent entry of the container closures 10a. If the blocking device 24 also blocks the supply of the container closures 10b, the container closures 10a enter into the recesses 62. If desired, however, it would also be possible to selectively create vacancies, ie positions of recesses 62 which are not occupied by container closures. For this purpose, all feeders 2, 4, 6 blocked by the locking devices 22, 24, 26 for the moment in which a corresponding recess 62 at them moved over. In this way, for example, deliberately a blank space can be generated, for example, if in advance a container was bottled incorrectly. The incorrectly filled container is then not closed with a container closure.

In the embodiment shown above, three or more sorting units with the individual webs or feed devices 2, 4, 6 can thus be available at a filling device, which bring the container closures up to the stoppers 22, 24, 26 shown. After these locking devices, as mentioned, the funnel-shaped collecting device is provided, into which the container closures can slip.

The said locking devices can react as quickly as necessary to place the container closures. Depending on the order or customer request, the container closures can thus slide out of the various paths or feed devices 2, 4, 6 into the collecting device 12 and thus the transport device 8. This transport device 8 can then, as in FIG. 4 shown, lead to the so-called pick wheel 50 of the capper.

The collecting device 12 may, depending on how fast the container closures must fall, be mounted vertically or at a different angle. The length of the collector 12 is dependent on the cycle time or performance of the filler. In the embodiment shown, the collecting device is drawn as a sheet metal construction, but it would also be possible that the collecting device is formed, for example, of rods into which the container closures slide, as in the case of closure channels known from the prior art.

This makes it possible to provide a known so-called. Pick and place unit with multiple Zuläufen for closures. In systems known from the prior art, only such an inlet is present or further feeds are blocked by removable parts.

As part of the in Fig. 5 In the embodiment shown, it is proposed to provide at each inlet a movable stop and guide element 22, 24, 26 (shown only schematically) which can be opened and closed by a pre-set control. As a result of the controlled sequence, the various container closures 10a, 10b, 10c can be formed in the pick wheel 60 in an indiscriminate but predetermined sequence. From this pick wheel or sawtooth 60, the order is passed unchanged to the closing elements of the sealer.

The advantages of such sequence formation are short reaction paths. The pre-assignment of the control can be done only a few divisions before the inlet of the containers to be closed in the Verschliesser. Even vacancies (in the case of containers) can only be detected late and the closure supply can be interrupted accordingly. Thus, in the case of a misallocation, the number of Fehlverschließungen is reduced to a minimum.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram-like representation of a plant for treating containers. In this case, a filling device 40 is provided which fills the individual containers 70a, 70b and 70c with a liquid, for example with milk. In this case, this filling device has a control device 45, which on the one hand controls the filling of the container on the other hand, however, allows a clear individualization of the filled containers 70a, 70b and 70c.

The containers are preferably transported isolated. Furthermore, an association device 55 is provided, which assigns the respective filled containers 70a, 70b and 70c those closures 10a, 10b and 10c, with which they are closed. The reference numeral 25 denotes a control device, which controls the individual locking devices 22, 24, 26
In this way it can be ensured that each container 70a, 70b and 70c is closed by means of a closing device 90 with a corresponding correct closure 10a, 10b and 10c. This means that, for example, the in FIG. 6 shown container 70a is already associated with a corresponding closure 10a, which is then bolted to the container 70a. Furthermore, the device advantageously has an error detection device (not shown) which, for example, outputs a corresponding alarm signal in the case of faulty closures or faulty container or ejects a correspondingly incorrectly closed container. Furthermore, the individual containers 70a, 70b and 70c can each have identification devices, such as barcodes or the like, so that it can be determined after their filling with which closure they are to be closed.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the invention. In this embodiment too, different closure variants 10a, 10b, 10c can be supplied to the capper in free combinatorics. In this embodiment, a plurality of feeders 2, 4, 6 are arranged on a rotatable support 30. This carrier is attached to a shaft 32 and is driven by a drive device 34. Locking devices are also provided in this embodiment, but only the two locking devices 22 and 26 are shown. Thus, each of the feeders 2, 4, 6 and each of the magazines each contains a closure type that can be sorted and sorted removed from the magazine. The removal is done by populating a star 80 according to the desired order of closure types. This star also rotates by means of a shaft 82 and a drive 84.

At the in Fig. 7 In the embodiment shown, therefore, the feed devices 2, 4, 6 are at least partially movable and in particular rotatable about a predetermined axis of rotation. In this case, the feed devices can be designed such that they allow a transport of the container closures even with slight twists or twists. Also, the feeders could be arranged at a shorter distance on the support, so that only correspondingly lower rotations or movements of the feeders 2, 4, 6 are necessary to convert the shutter feed.

When the desired closure is changed, the revolver or carrier 30 rotates correspondingly quickly, so that a different kind of closure now falls into the transport device 8 or the feed chute of the closures for the actual capper or is specifically removed or placed. Each feeder 2, 4, 6 can be fed by a separate sorting unit or a separate alignment module, which previously assumes the orientation, optionally sterilization and / or quality assurance. The feeders 2, 4, 6 here also perform the function of a buffer memory.

As in Fig. 8 are shown, the closures 10a, 10b, 10c are supplied to the capper 90 in a pre-selected combinatorics, this combination corresponds exactly to the supplied product, label and / or container. For this purpose, the closures are buffered in a revolver magazine or in individual chambers sorted and controlled according to a code (which, for example, from a production planning results) and fed the capping trough (not shown in detail) in the desired order.

Alternatively, an upstream color and form sorter can be used to load the feed unit / capping trough in the desired order of closure types. The closures are poured into a funnel and fall into the sorting unit, which preferably also takes over the orientation and possibly sterilization. In the sorting unit unwanted closures fall through a grid and are fed again to the hopper. The desired closures are then transported on.

In Fig. 8 The reference numeral 92 refers to a transport star which transports, for example, from a filling device, the filled but still unclosed containers 70a. In the capper 90, the containers are transported with the predetermined container closures and closed and then the filled and sealed containers are transported away with another transport star 94.

The Applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided they are novel individually or in combination with respect to the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2, 4, 6

feeding

8th

transport means

10a, 10b, 10c

container closures

12

collecting device

12a

inclined surfaces

14

plenum

16

cover

20

distributor

22, 24, 26

blocking devices

25

control device

28

casing

30

carrier

32

wave

34

driving means

40

filling

42, 44, 46

reservoirs

42a, 44a, 46a

Slip

42b, 44b, 46b

conveyor belts

45

control device

50

Pickrad

52, 54, 56

control devices

55

allocator

60

Sägezahnstern

62

recess

64

border

70a, 70b, 70c

containers

80

star

82

wave

84

drive

90

capper

92, 94

transport star

Claims (10)

Device (1) for transporting container closures (10a, 10b) with a first feed device (2) for feeding first container closures (10a), with a second feed device (4) for feeding second container closures (10b), wherein the first container closures (10a) and the second container closures (10b) differ from one another in at least one physical property, and with a transport device (8) for transporting the first container closures (10a) and the second container closures (10b) at least in portions downstream in a transport direction of the container closures (10a, 10b) with respect to the first feed device (2) and the second feed device (4) and which transports the first container closures (10a) and the second container closures (10b) in a predetermined sequence,
characterized in that
the device (1) has a distributor device (20) and the sequence of the container closures (10a, 10b) in the transport device (8) can be changed by the distributor device. Device (1) according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the device (1) has a first controllable locking device (22) which controls the supply of the first container closures to the transport device (8). Device (1) according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the device (1) has a second controllable locking device (24) which controls the supply of the second container closures to the transport device (8). Device (1) according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the device (1) has a control device for the coordinated control of the first locking device (22) and the second locking device (24). Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the apparatus (1) has a collecting device (12) arranged between the feed devices (2, 4) and the transport device (8), into which opening both the first feed device (2) and the second feed device (4) open. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the device (1) has a third feed device (14) for feeding a third type of container closures (10c). Plant for closing containers with container closures (10) with a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims and with a closing unit which closes the containers with the container closures (10). Plant according to claim 7,
characterized in that
the system has a transport device (92) for transporting containers to be closed, wherein the control device controls the sequence of the container closures in dependence on a sequence of the containers transported with the transport device. Method for transporting container closures (10a, 10b), wherein container closures (10a) of a first type with a first feed device (2) and container closures (10b) of a second type with a second feed device (4) are each fed to a transport device (8) and be transported with the transport device in a variable sequence of the first container closures (10a) and the second container closures (10b). Method according to claim 9,
characterized in that
the supply of the first container closures to the transport device (8) is controlled by a first blocking device (22) and / or the delivery of the second container closures (24) to the transport device by a second blocking device (24)

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