JPH08301393A - Device which processes container or articles equivalent to container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for processing a container or the like which are simple in the structure, easy to drive, securely operatable, and low in cost. SOLUTION: Mutually independent drive motors 12, 13 and measuring sensors 19, 20 formed as movement sensors are disposed in carousel-like stations 1, 2. A synchronizing device is provided with a central operation unit 14. Measured data of the sensors are transmitted to the operation unit, and further, the central operation unit 14 controls the drive motors 12, 13 on the basis of the transmitted measured data to achieve a synchronously circulating endless motion of the stations 1, 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a device for filling, closing and labeling containers for containing food or beverages, which containers can be supplied via a supply device for said containers. A first carousel-like station is provided, and at least one further carousel-like station following it is provided, which endlessly circulates during its operation. Of the at least one station, wherein the endlessly reciprocating component has a high mass inertia and is provided with a synchronizing device for synchronizing the endless reciprocating movement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Containers (eg bottles, cans, cardboard containers or the like) are filled in a beverage or food industry with a filling machine, which is followed by the next carousel station, It is known to close at so-called closing stations, for example by means of crowns or lamella covers. Labeling stations often follow as further stations.

In order to ensure smooth processing at the individual stations, it is necessary to operate the individual stations precisely and synchronously with each other. That is, the endless cyclic movements of the individual stations must be invariant in terms of circulation frequency and phase under any operating conditions. An individual station is a group of individual machine components that are connected to one another via a carrier for containers. Since the endlessly reciprocating components of these stations usually have a mass in tons, a high mass inertia occurs.

Known devices of the type mentioned at the outset have a central drive motor mounted, for example, at the filling station or the closing station. The other stations are likewise driven by a central drive motor. For this purpose, such a further station is connected to the station with the drive motor and its drive via a complicated transmission mechanism. It is also known to provide additional compensating gears between the stations, since the gears often have gear play or do not operate exactly synchronously. This compensating transmission can be used to adjust the desired pitch (vessel spacing) and synchronous operation. Such a compensating transmission (m
(also referred to as an option timer) has an extremely complicated and laborious structure. Individual stations usually operate at high working speeds. Since the filling station and the closing station are constituent groups, which usually have a mass in tons, the desired synchronization in this condition can only be achieved by using extremely heavy and cumbersome gearing.

In case of product replacement or removal of individual machine parts, all machine components have to be adjusted again in order to carry out synchronous operation again. This requires a great deal of work. A skilled operator is also required for this work. Maintaining synchronous operation is also very time consuming due to the maintenance of the transmission and the coupling, for example a constant supply of electrical energy from the battery is required. Such an electrical energy supply keeps the coupling still coupled in the event of supply voltage loss, so that the station does not operate asynchronously. This can lead to significant damage. In order to interrupt the operation, braking devices, which are more complicated in the known device, are provided at the individual stations. This aims on the one hand to load the individual transmission elements and the cardan shafts connecting them as small as possible, and on the other hand to achieve precisely aligned stop positions at the individual stations.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is therefore to improve a device of the type mentioned at the outset, which is simpler in construction and operation, yet reliable and inexpensive to operate, or a container or the like. To provide a device for processing

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, in the means of the present invention, a carousel-shaped station is provided with
A separate drive motor and a measurement value sensor (a so-called pickup) formed as a motion sensor are assigned to each, and the synchronization device has a central processing unit (CPU).
The measurement value of the measurement value sensor is transmitted to the arithmetic unit, and the central arithmetic unit further transmits the transmitted measurement in order to achieve a synchronously circulating endless movement of the carousel-like station. The drive motor is controlled based on the value.

[0008]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By assigning a drive motor unique to each station, each machine configuration group can be
It is no longer necessary to connect them to one another via a tedious transmission and a cardan shaft. The synchronization is done by computer technology or electronic means. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that the stations can also be driven separately from each other, for example for cleaning or adjusting operations. Another advantage is that the heavy mass to be driven can be driven directly at each station without the need for a special transmission and the torque required at another station to move this heavy mass. There is no need to send to each next station via the cardan shaft device.

Another advantage provided by the present invention is the significant energy savings compared to the prior art.
This is because no wear occurs due to the absence of the mechanical components that lead to wear used in the prior art. Moreover, complicated oil lubrication systems and the oil regulators associated with them (for example to keep the oil dry) are not used. The device according to the invention has reduced noise and air pollution compared to the prior art, is energy-saving and thus has low pollution. In addition, the risk of vibration effects and the risk of interference with the device, which is caused, for example, by contaminated lubricants, is reduced.

In a further development of the invention, the drive motor is also assigned a measurement sensor, the signal of which can be fed to the central unit. The signal of the measurement sensor is used to compensate for any gear play that may be present in the transmission between the drive motor and the carousel of the station.

The measurement value sensor is preferably embodied as an incremental sensor.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the need for manual synchronization to provide synchronized operation between stations, as was required with general purpose equipment. For this reason, in an advantageous configuration of the invention, the central processing unit is provided with an S
A PC-controlled master computer can be assigned. Different spacings (so-called pitches) in different containers or products to be processed can be realized by corresponding control of the stations via the central unit. Another advantage resides in the ability to synchronously position the machine group of stations at each station via individual drive motors when stopped. The forces generated during braking by the driving masses which are moved at the individual stations are absorbed at their point of origin. Moreover, such forces are not transmitted to another machine component group via the transmission and the cardan shaft.

In order to guarantee a synchronous shutdown of all stations necessary to avoid damage in the event of a power loss or similar emergency shutdown, according to another aspect of the invention, the electrical A storage device for energy is provided. Furthermore, an electrical switching device can be provided. Such a switching device switches the drive motors corresponding to the stations with the respective maximum drive mass to generator operation when the supply voltage is lost or in a similar emergency stop condition. The electrical energy generated during generator operation of the drive motor is supplied to a storage device, which in turn supplies one or more motors, each motor having a relatively small drive mass. In an emergency, the drive mass with the highest kinetic energy is braked by the generator operation of the corresponding drive motor, and the drive motor corresponding to the drive mass with the relatively low kinetic energy is supplied with additional electrical energy. be able to. Therefore, as a whole, all stations are synchronously stopped.

Another advantage of the present invention is that no auxiliary drive is required, in some cases because the individual stations operate independently of each other. According to the invention, maintenance is reduced compared to the prior art by the least possible use of mechanical components, such as transmissions or coupling units (couplings and shafts). As a result of the elimination of wear on the transmission and the shaft, another advantage of the invention is a significant energy saving.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The drawing shows a carousel-like filling station 1 having an endless circulating component during operation and a carousel-like closing station 2 having an endless circulating component during operation. , Schematically illustrated. A container 3, for example a bottle, is supplied to the filling station 1 from a direction indicated by an arrow A via a supply device indicated by reference numeral 4. The containers 3 are then singulated using the singulation device 5 and then fed to a filling plate 6 rotatably arranged in the direction of arrow B. Here, for example, a beverage is filled in the container 3 via a filling device (not shown). The filled container 3 is supplied to an intermediate transfer device indicated by reference numeral 7, and along this intermediate transfer device 7,
It is sent in the direction C of the arrow to the carousel-like closing station 2. The closing station 2 comprises components 8,9,
10 (details not shown). The container 3 formed as a bottle is closed at the closing station 2 with a crown, for example. The closed container 3 is then further conveyed in the direction of the arrow D via the conveying device indicated by 11 and is sent to the next processing device, for example a labeling station (not shown).

The endless circulating components of the filling station 1 and the closing station 2 have masses in tons of different sizes. Separate drive motors are assigned to the filling station 1 and the closing station 2, and these drive motors are shown schematically. A drive motor 12 is assigned to the filling station 1, and a drive motor 13 is assigned to the closing station 2. The synchronizing device for synchronizing the movements of the filling station 1 and the closing station 2 comprises a central processing unit 14. The arithmetic unit 14 comprises a transmission section schematically shown, for example a wireless transmission member or conductor 15,1.
Connected to drive motors 12 and 13 via 6 and via separate conductors 17 and 18 to a measurement value sensor 19 provided in station 1 for filling and station 2 for closing. It is connected to the measurement value sensor 20. The measured value sensors 19, 20 detect parameters relating to the movement of the endlessly circulating components of the filling station 1 and the closing station 2 and are preferably embodied as incremental sensors.
The central processing unit 14 includes a power supply unit 21 having a power supply connection unit 22, a CPU 22, a first drive module 23 assigned to the drive motor 12, and a second drive module 24 assigned to the drive motor 13. have. The drive modules 23, 24 are connected via conductors 25, 26, respectively, to a storage device 27 for electrical energy.
The CPU 22 is further connected via a conductor 28 to a master computer 29 having a power supply connection 30.

The synchronization between the filling station 1 and the closing station 2 is effected by the central processing unit 14 transmitting the measured values via measured value sensors 19, 20. Using the measured values by electronic means, the drive motor 12, so that the desired synchronization is achieved,
13 controls can be performed. Drive motors 12, 13
Compensation of any gear play that may be present in the mechanical drive (not shown) between the motor and the stations 1, 2 by electronic means, the measured values additionally assigned to the drive motors 12, 13. This is done by evaluating the signals emitted by the sensors 31, 32.

In order to accurately position and stop the filling station 1 and the closing station 2 when the power supply voltage disappears or in the case of another emergency stop condition, the drive with the maximum drive mass respectively corresponds to the drive. The motor is switched to generator operation in such a case. The electric energy obtained during the operation of the generator is supplied to the storage device 27. The other drive motor is supplied with electrical energy from the storage device 27, so that the component group is correctly positioned and stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 schematically shows a filling station and a closing station for containers.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 station for filling, 2 station for closing, 3 container, 4 feeding device, 5 individualizing device,
6 filling plate, 7 intermediate transfer device, 8, 9, 10
Constituents, 11 Conveying device, 12,13 Drive motor, 14 Arithmetic unit, 15,16,17,1
8 conductors, 19 and 20 measured value sensor, 21 power supply section, 22 power supply connection section, 22 CPU, 23 and 2
4 drive module

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A device for filling, closing and labeling containers for containing food or beverage, the containers (3) being able to be supplied via a supply device for the containers (3). A first carousel station (1) is provided, at least one further carousel station (2) following the first station (1) is provided, and these stations are provided. (1,
2) is endlessly circulated during its operation, and the endlessly circulated component of at least one station has a high mass inertia and synchronization for synchronizing the endless circulatory movement. In the type in which the device is provided, separate drive motors (12, 13) and measurement value sensors (19, 20) formed as motion sensors are provided in the carousel-shaped stations (1, 2) respectively. And the synchronization device has a central arithmetic unit (14) to which the measured value sensors (19, 20) are attached.
Measurement value is transmitted, and further the central processing unit (14)
Controlling the drive motors (12, 13) on the basis of the transmitted measurements in order to achieve a synchronously circulating endless movement of the carousel-like stations (1, 2). Equipment for processing containers or the like. 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive motor (12, 13) is associated with a measurement value sensor (31, 32) electrically connected to a central processing unit (14). 3. The measurement value sensor (19, 20, 31,
Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 32) is embodied as an incremental sensor. 4. The master computer (29) is assigned to the central processing unit (14), according to claim 1.
The apparatus according to claim 1. 5. Storage device (27) for electrical energy
And an electric switching device for switching the drive motor (12; 13) corresponding to the station having the maximum driving mass to the generator operation when the power supply voltage disappears or a similar emergency stop is provided. An electric energy generated during the operation of the drive motor (12; 13) in the generator;
To said one or more drive motors (12; 13) each having a relatively small drive mass,
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, which is capable of supplying electrical drive energy from the storage device (27).