WO1993014975A1 - Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest - Google Patents

Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993014975A1
WO1993014975A1 PCT/US1992/000628 US9200628W WO9314975A1 WO 1993014975 A1 WO1993014975 A1 WO 1993014975A1 US 9200628 W US9200628 W US 9200628W WO 9314975 A1 WO9314975 A1 WO 9314975A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
containers
ballast
bottles
bottle
conveyor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/000628
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Frank G. Pringle
Original Assignee
R&D Innovators, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by R&D Innovators, Inc. filed Critical R&D Innovators, Inc.
Priority to EP92905917A priority Critical patent/EP0621844A4/fr
Priority to PCT/US1992/000628 priority patent/WO1993014975A1/fr
Priority to AU13353/92A priority patent/AU1335392A/en
Priority to CA002117420A priority patent/CA2117420A1/fr
Priority claimed from CA002117420A external-priority patent/CA2117420A1/fr
Publication of WO1993014975A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993014975A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G15/00—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/205—Conveying containers to or from the cleaning machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/42—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus being characterised by means for conveying or carrying containers therethrough
    • B08B9/44—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus being characterised by means for conveying or carrying containers therethrough the means being for loading or unloading the apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G15/00—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
    • B65G15/28—Conveyors with a load-conveying surface formed by a single flat belt, not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B65G2201/0235—Containers
    • B65G2201/0244—Bottles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of container handling, fo example in bottling plants, and in particular to an improvement i handling systems for lightweight plastic bottles.
  • a range quantity of ballast is inserted into the bottles so as to plac temporary additional weight adjacent the bottoms of the bottle during handling prior to filling, thereby lowering the center o gravity of the bottles for stable transport on horizonta conveyors.
  • the bottles in the single file are then carried by a conveyor typically having one or more endless loops of conveyor belt, horizontally attached link plates, rollers or the like, which define a moving horizontal platform for supporting the bottles while advancing the bottles to the next processing station. Each bottle simply rests on a horizontal surface which is moved to advance the bottle.
  • the bottles move through stations typically including the depalletizer and funnel arrangement as described, a bottle washer or rinser where the bottles are inverted and a fluid is sprayed in from below and then allowed to drain, and a filler and capper.
  • the filler and capper has a carousel with a plurality of filling positions at which an empty bottle can be received, filled and finally capped, while moving along a conveying path.
  • the bottling system preferably runs continuously.
  • a gap occurs at least between batches of bottles when starting and stopping any of the processing stations along the bottle path. Depalletizing is inherently a batch process. Various occurrences along the path of the bottles may result in gaps opening up. Typically, one or more workers are required to watch the line and to clear jams. The general nature of bottling plants is well known and well developed. In recent years, however, plastic containers have come into use. The plastic containers are thin but durable, and light
  • Plastic bottles are used for a wide variety of products.
  • a typical lightweight plastic bottle is made of polyethylene
  • Standard bottle capacities for example for beverage containers or bottled water are 12 ounce, 16 ounce, 20 ounce, 1 liter, 1.5 liter, 2 liter and 3 liter. Of course other sizes are also possible and in standard use for various products. Plastic is also a popular material for other forms of containers
  • the bottles are often taller than they are wide and when unsupported are easily knocked over, for example by uneven conveyor passages, impacts, or even by a breeze in the bottling plant.
  • Plastic bottles can be made in one integral piece of PET, or can be assembled from two or more pieces. A standard two piece
  • Plastic bottles in one integral piece also can be made with an excess of plastic at the bottom.
  • a "petaloid" form of bottle has a scalloped bottom with
  • Another form of bottle is the "champagne" type, which has an inward dome in the bottom.
  • a form of bottle construction that has a larger proportion of material at the bottom is inherently more stable than a bottle which is more top heavy.
  • a bottle with a shorter and wider form will also be more stable than a bottle which is taller and narrower.
  • the present invention is applicable to any of these forms; however, a relatively tall and narrow bottle with a minimum of material at the base of course can achieve the greatest improvement in stability.
  • the cup In bottles having a reinforcing bottom cup, the cup is generally made of less expensive plastic than PET.
  • the cup is normally opaque rather than clear.
  • the added bottom weight is helpful for stability, but on the other hand the reinforcing cup conceals the contents at the bottom, requires additional manufacturing steps, and renders the bottle unacceptable for recycling into new PET material.
  • the bottom cup is also undesirable in that it adds to the total weight of the bottle after the bottle is full and stability is no longer a problem. Recycling operations typically cut off and discard the entire bottom of cupped bottles in order to recycle the PET top.
  • plastic bottles are not carried on horizontal support surfaces, but rather are moved along supporting structures having rails or flanges that face inwardly to engage the neck of the bottle.
  • the bottles are provided with a circumferential bead or flange at the neck, that rests on the conveyor rails to support the bottle.
  • the bottles are supported entirely by such rails, and blasts of air are used to propel the bottles along the conveyor path. While such systems are useful, it would be desirable to provide a substantially jam-proof arrangement that does not require added bottle material, processing requirements and/or conveyor structure.
  • instability is a critical problem with lightweight plastic containers. Instability is less of a problem with glass containers as they are heavier to begin with. However, even a glass bottle may have a particularly high ratio of height to diameter, making it unstable in the same manner as a plastic bottle.
  • U.S. Patent 2,516,998 - Kimball et al discloses adding water to containers along a conveyor.
  • reusable (i.e., glass) bottles enter a delabeling apparatus along a conveyor leading to a tank containing a liquid in which the bottles are to be immersed for the purpose of soaking the labels off the bottle sidewalls.
  • the bottles are led into the tank via an inclined run of the conveyor and would float in the tank unless steps were taken to force the bottles to sink.
  • a liquid spraying device is provided upstream of the tank to fill the bottles sufficiently that they sink when carried into the soaking liquid by the inclined conveyor.
  • the bottles are immersed until their neck labels are below the level of liquid in the tank.
  • the bottles are not filled to where they would sink. Instead, bottles are stabilized by preliminarily placing a limited quantity of ballast in the bottom of the bottles.
  • the ballast can be added in an amount comparable to the empty weight of the bottle, the ballast residing immediately adjacent the bottom. This lowers the center of gravity of the bottles as compared to empty bottles (and also as compared to substantially filled bottles) such that the stabilized bottles will not easily fall over when carried on a conveyor which supports the containers from below.
  • Kimball does not lower the center of gravity of the bottles or otherwise address stability. Kimball simply increases the overall weight of the bottles to exceed the weight of the soaking liquid which the bottles displace when disposed in the tank.
  • the bottles are glass, which is heavier than water (specific gravit approximately 2.3); however, in view of the thin walled hollo nature of the bottles it is necessary to substantially fill the with water to make them heavy enough to sink as required to thei necks. Assuming that a bottle is filled completely with liquid, or at least filled to a point substantially above the center of gravity as empty, the resulting (filled) center of gravity is approximately at the same height as the center of gravity of the bottle when empty. Additionally, substantial filling requires substantial time, as does emptying the container afterwards.
  • a typical bottling plant includes at least a means for rinsing the containers.
  • U.S. Patent 2,915,773 - Whelan discloses dispensing a spray from an upwardly oriented nozzle into a downwardly oriented bottle, for rinsing. The spray of course drains away.
  • U.S. Patent 3,079,936 - Hockett et al discloses complete immersion of bottles, followed by inverted rinsing. Hockett requires individual pockets for supporting each bottle, and therefore avoids problems with the bottles falling over.
  • U.S. Patent 3,159,164 - McBrady dispenses cleaning fluid upwardly into the containers when carried around a carousel which inverts the containers. As in Whelan, the fluid drains away. As in Hockett, the containers are individually supported, thus avoiding a need for stability, as in horizontally supported bottles.
  • U.S. Patent 3,270,783 - Hughes discloses a bottle filling apparatus.
  • the bottles are of course filled substantially completely with the contents to be stored therein. Whereas the bottles are filled, the center of gravity is not lowered as occurs when a limited quantity of ballast is placed in a container to improve stability.
  • U.S. Patent 3,545,024 - Randrup discloses cleaning the external surfaces of bottles. According to the disclosure, gross accumulations of the cleaning liquid are to be removed. The accumulations which are described are on the outside surface of the bottles.
  • U.S. Patent 3,674,060 - Ruekberg limits the level to which a container is filled by a filling machine. Nevertheless, the container is filled substantially completely and no means are suggested for improving stability by limited filling with ballast during handling of the empty containers.
  • U.S. Patent 4,325,775 - Moeller includes a drenching station with a downwardly directed fluid nozzle 26.
  • the drenching station is intended to apply water externally for softening labels on the outer surface. Whereas the drenching nozzle is above the container in Fig. 2, some of the drenching liquid might be expected to fall into the container.
  • the disclosed drenching uses a "high volume" of fluid (Column 2, line 33), thereby presumably filling the container. The container is fully supported by the delabelin structures.
  • U.S. Patent 4,683,009 -shriver concerns spraying a sealin compound on the surfaces of plastic containers. The compound is applied externally. A jet of hot air is applied downwardly.
  • U.S. Patent 4,715,920 - Ruppman et al also handles plasti bottles.
  • the bottles are supported by their necks, eithe individually or on a neck rail.
  • a supplemental polyethylene cu is attached to the bottom of each bottle, rendering the bottle bottom heavy.
  • Ruppman is an example of the processing step required to place protective cups on the bottoms of bottles.
  • U.S. Patent 4,779,634 - Gutierrez et al applies rinse wate to containers already filled with a food product.
  • the container are inverted to drain the surface water from the food while th food is retained by a perforated panel.
  • Summa y of the Invention It is an object of the invention to facilitate handling of lightweight containers, especially plastic bottles, by temporarily increasing the weight of the bottles during handling while empty, using an easily placed and easily removed ballast.
  • the ballast is added at an early point in processing empty containers, for example during or immediately after depalletizing the bottles.
  • the ballast can be added at this point by an array of valves associated with a ballast reservoir under which the bottles are passed while arranged in a corresponding array in an upright orientation.
  • the bottles can be handled at high speeds and through various obstructions.
  • the relatively low typical speed of a bottling system for lightweight containers e.g. , several hundred per minute
  • can be increased substantially e.g., to 2500 per minute or more).
  • valves communicating with the reservoir or other source of ballast can by arranged in an X-Y array or in a line.
  • the valves are defined by a plurality of openings in a reservoir wall controllably plugged by valve bodies attached to a common support. The valves are opened simultaneously by displacing the common support.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an initial section of a container handling process according to the invention, with a depalletizer leading to a horizontal conveyor;
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view from an opposite direction, with the depalletizer shown generally and the ballast reservoir broken away;
  • Fig. 3 is an elevation view thereof
  • Fig. 4 is an elevation view of a further section in the handling process, leading to a container rinser;
  • Fig. 5 is a section view showing a preferred ballast dispenser according to the invention;
  • Fig. 6 is a partial elevation view of the ballast dispenser.
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a ballast dispenser according to an alternative embodiment.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the initial section of a container processing plant, in particular a bottling plant as typically used in bottling soft drinks, beverages or bottled water.
  • a container processing plant in particular a bottling plant as typically used in bottling soft drinks, beverages or bottled water.
  • Such bottles are typically employed in standard sizes with volumes of 12, 16 and 20 fluid ounces and in 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 liters.
  • the containers can be polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which are quite light in weight.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the containers in general pass through stages of depalletizing, ballast loading, rinsing (which includes inverting the containers and thereby unloading the ballast) , filling and capping.
  • the depalletizer 30 receives a pallet 22 of bottles 20 or the like.
  • the bottles 20 are supplied in a plurality of horizontal levels or ranks 26.
  • each rank may have 300 or more bottles, standing upright on their bottoms on a divider panel 24.
  • the depalletizer 30 includes a vertical indexing drive means 34 operable to raise the pallet 22 in increments equal to the vertical height of a rank 26 and its base panel 24. After each index the uppermost rank is disposed at the same level as a conveyor 40.
  • a sweep bar or housing 32 encloses around the periphery of the uppermost rank, and when the uppermost rank is in position the sweep bar 32 advances toward and over conveyor 40 to move the peripherally enclosed bottles onto the conveyor 40.
  • Conveyor 40 can be arranged to index synchronously with advance of the sweep bar or can be continuously moving. Conveyor 40 in the embodiment shown defines an endless loop, however, it can be made up in sections of smaller endless loops.
  • the conveyor can have a continuous flexible mesh or the like, or can be made of linked plates. At least the section in the area of the ballast loading apparatus 160 is foraminous or arranged with gaps, such that spillage of the ballast can fall through to a receptacle therefor.
  • the ballast can be loaded by passing the upright bottles through a continuous downward spray. However, this is somewhat wasteful of water and/or pumping capacity.
  • Each rank of bottles at the depalletizing stage in processing is arranged in an orderly fashion, with the bottles disposed in a regular X-Y array.
  • the ballast loader 160 accordingly preferably has dispensing orifices for each position in the array, operated briefly when the bottles are aligned with the dispensing orifices.
  • the ballast loader is activated and a quantity of ballast, preferably clean water, is dispensed into each of the bottles in the array.
  • the added ballast renders the bottles substantially more bottom heavy and stable, reducing the tendency of the bottles to fall over.
  • ballast could be added to the peripheral bottles only, thus defining a stable wall of bottles enclosing the unstable internal bottles. Ballast could also be added to every other bottle, etc. However, since the relative positions of the bottles is not retained throughout the process, it is preferred that all the bottles be loaded with ballast.
  • depalletizers and the like can also be equipped with ballast loading means.
  • the gripping mechanism can be provided with a nozzle that injects the ballast during the transfer.
  • the ballast loader can be placed at another point in the bottle processing sequence.
  • the bottles moving in a stable rank along conveyor 40 are converted into a row arrangement to be carried further through the process along conveyor 60.
  • the lateral sidewalls enclosing conveyor 40 are narrowed incrementally, forcing the bottles 20 to merge into a row for receipt on single file conveyor 60.
  • This structure is an example of an obstruction along the conveyor path that could easily cause bottles to fall over, particularly if the conveyor is moving at a substantial speed.
  • Various potential obstructions may be defined along a typical conveying path.
  • the ballast in the bottles renders the bottles stable and allows them to be advanced through such obstructions at a substantial speed without undue fallovers.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment including one or more gates 36 for retaining the rank in position at the dispensing station.
  • the gates 36 can by pivotable vertically or horizontally, for example being mounted on supports 42 for the ballast reservoir 44.
  • An air cylinder (not shown) can advance and retract the gates for each ballast loading cycle.
  • the ballast reservoir 44 can be vertically adjustable, for example via handwheel 56. This enables the orifices in the reservoir to be placed immediately over the open tops of the bottles.
  • the handwheel can drive a rack and pinion positioning mechanism or a winch for lifting and lowering the reservoir. Suitable locking means fix the reservoir at the desired position.
  • Conveyor 60 advances the bottles, preferably in single file, to a rinsing apparatus 110.
  • the incoming conveyor 40 can be positioned at the height of the highest rank of bottles in a pallet, and the conveyor path downstream along the bottle path can include a decrease in elevation via inclined conveyor section 70. This enables mounting of the rinsing apparatus and filler/capper at floor level.
  • a suitable inclined conveyor is available under the tradename Lowerlator.
  • the rinsing apparatus 110 as shown in Fig. 4 inverts the bottles initially, thereby draining the ballast via gravity, sprays a rinse solution (preferably clean water) into each bottle, and after a draining time replaces the bottle upright.
  • a rinse solution preferably clean water
  • the bottles are stable, and this is achieved without adding to the material or expense of the bottles.
  • the ballast system has a minimal effect on the bottling process as a whole. Inasmuch as the bottles are to be rinsed in any case, the ballast does not require additional steps to remove or further clean the bottle, in addition to that already undertaken in the known rinser.
  • Overspray and drained rinse solution or ballast is preferably recovered.
  • a catch basin 46 defining a wide channel under conveyor 40 receives overspray and the like from the ballast loader.
  • the channel can extend continuously along the length of the inclined section 70 to the rinsing apparatus to catch ballast dripping from the outside of the bottles.
  • the catch basin 46 can be connected by suitable conduits to the ballast storage reservoir 44 with a pump provided for moving the collected ballast fluid or material back to the ballast dispenser.
  • the catch basin 46 is arranged to drain into the same reservoir 122 used by the rinser 110.
  • a pump 48 moves the ballast material back to the reservoir 44 and also provides pressurized water for rinser heads 116.
  • Pump 48 or a valve along the path from pump 48 to the reservoir 44 can be operable under control of a level or pressure sensor at reservoir 44 (not shown) , for maintaining a predetermined level or pressure of ballast fluid in the reservoir.
  • the rinser 110 also includes a catch basin 118 draining into a tank 122, collecting overspray and drainage, and recycling the solution.
  • the preferred solution for both ballast and rinsing is clean water, and suitable filtering and/or water purification apparatus can be associated with the water handling systems for both ballast and rinsing such that the water remains clean for at least a number of ballast or rinsing cycles. Of course it is also possible to use fresh water for ballast and/or rinsing and simply to discard the water after use.
  • the preferred amount of ballast to be dispensed into the containers is shown in Table 2, together with a comparison of the volume and height of the preferred amount of ballast to the volume and height of the container.
  • the preferred amounts of ballast are small compared to the container volume, and thus can be loaded into the container quickly, and drained quickly after use.
  • the noted amounts are preferred and it should be understood that the specific ratios and volumes can be changed as appropriate in view of variations in the container height to width ratio, the relative need for stability in view of other aspects of the handling apparatus, etc. Stabilitywill always improve providedthe ballast is added in a sufficient amount to lower the center of gravity to a point lower than the center of gravity of the empty container.
  • the total weight added to the container at the bottom is substantial as compared to the container weight, and preferably exceeds the container weight
  • the effect is to move the center of gravity of the container much closer to the bottom of the bottle than the center of gravity of the bottle when empty.
  • the ballast is emptied after handling, and accordingly the drawbacks of an end cup, including the need for additional material, added weight, etc., are avoided.
  • ballast dispensed into the bottles in sufficient amounts to place about 0.4 to 2.0 inches, and preferably 0.5 to 1.0 inch of ballast in the bottom, effectively places a stabilizing weight on the order of the empty container weight immediately adjacent the bottom of the container.
  • an empty container has a center of gravity that is near the midpoint of its height (or somewhat lower for bottles with end cups)
  • the ballast temporarily moves the center of gravity to a point between the original center of gravity (e.g., the height midpoint) and the bottom of the bottle.
  • the ballast is preferably filled to a point below the center of gravit of the empty container.
  • the amount of ballast can be increased to a point above the center of gravity of the empt container provided the net effect is to move the center of gravit to a point below that of the empty container. More particularly, the center of gravity of the added ballast apart from the bottl must be located lower than the center of gravity of the bottle t achieve improved stability.
  • the ballast can be dispensed from one or more wide pattern spray heads directed downwardly over the path of the bottles along conveyor 40.
  • the ballast is dispensed into a group of the containers from a rank 26 from a pallet as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, before forming the containers into a row.
  • the dispenser can simultaneously load ballast in an X-Y array of the containers, for example an entire rank 26.
  • the dispenser can simultaneously load a lateral line of the containers in a rank as shown in Fig. 7.
  • valves in the required array are defined by a plurality of openings or valve seats 168 in the bottom wall of the reservoir.
  • the openings or valve seats 168 are controllably plugged by valve bodies 166 attached to a common support 164.
  • the common support is displaced upwardly to simultaneously open the valves by lifting all the valve bodies 166 relative to the seats 168 at one time.
  • a cam drive, air cylinder, electromagnetic (solenoid) drive or the like can lift the common support 164, which is preferably slidably disposed via guide shafts 174 on support blocks 172 fixed on the inner wall of the reservoir.
  • the ballast dispenser includes a pressurized fluid supply rather than a gravity feed supply as in Fig. 3.
  • a pump 184 can be provided to pressurize the supply vessel 182, which has an array of solenoid valves 186 directed toward the containers.
  • the valves 186 can be operated simultaneously, for example when a row or other array of containers abuts a gate (not shown in Fig. 7) along the conveyor.
  • each valve can be operable individually.
  • a control photoeye is directed downwardly to detect the passing edge of a bottle 20, whereupon the valve is opened for a predetermined time, for example a time determined as a functiono of conveyor speed or a preset time controlled by a one shot timer or the like.
  • each of the bottles In passing the area, each of the bottles accumulates a quantity of ballast water, which can b pumped in a circuit between a collection reservoir under the bottl zone to the spray heads over the bottles.
  • the invention as disclosed is an improved handling system for empty containers 20, the handling system having a conveyor 40 operable to support and transport the containers when rested thereon, and means 30 for delivering containers to the conveyor in an upright orientation.
  • the ballast dispensing apparatus 160 is operable to dispense a quantity of ballast into containers 20 in the upright orientation, the ballast stabilizing the containers when transported on the conveyor 40.
  • a container inverting apparatus 112, 114 is associated with a destination 110 of the conveyor, and is operable to invert the containers 20 for removing the ballast.
  • the containers are preferably bottles, and the means for delivering the containers is a bottle depalletizer operable to remove a rank 26 of bottles from a pallet and to funnel the rank of bottles into a line.
  • the ballast dispensing apparatus 160 can be disposed adjacent the depalletizer and operable to dispense ballast into a plurality of the bottles prior to being funneled into the line.
  • the container inverting apparatus is associated with a container rinser 110 operable to invert the containers and to rinse the containers via a rinse fluid directed upwardly into the inverted containers.
  • the handling system can be a bottling system and further comprises a filling station.
  • the ballast dispensing apparatus 160 includes a fluid supply 160, 182 with at least one valve 166, 168, 186 directed toward the containers 20 and means 164, 188 for opening the valve when a container is in position to receive the ballast.
  • a plurality of valves 166, 168, 186 can be operable simultaneously to dispense the ballast into a plurality of containers at once.
  • the fluid supply can include a reservoir 162 disposed over the containers and the valves are defined by a plurality of openings 168 in a reservoir wall controllably plugged by valve bodies 166 attached to a common support 164. Means 176, 174, 172 for displacing the common support simultaneously open the valves.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Abstract

On décrit des récipients de poids léger tels que des bouteilles pour boissons (20) en polytéréphtalate d'éthylène (PET) qui sont stabilisés pour leur transport sur une bande transporteuse horizontale (40) en ajoutant provisoirement un lest rempli d'eau (44). Le lest (44) est vidé lors des étapes de lavage/rinçage et ne s'ajoute pas ainsi au poids habituel de la bouteille. Le lest, représentant environ 2 à 10 % du volume de la bouteille, est suffisant pour permettre l'augmentation de la vitesse de la chaîne de production avec un nombre reduit d'engorgements de la chaîne dus à la chute des bouteilles de poids léger. Le lest peut être ajouté dans une proportion de 50 à 150 % du poids du récipient vide calculée sur la base d'un récipient ordinaire, remplissant ainsi la bouteille de seulement 0,5 à 1,5 pouce du fond. Les bouteilles sont placées debout, par exemple sur un chariot dépalettiseur (30), et chargées avec le lest à partir d'un réservoir ou d'une source d'alimentation en eau sous pression. Les bouteilles peuvent être chargées en groupe et une pluralité de vannes (168), pourvues de corps sur un support commun amovible, s'ouvrent simultanément. Le lest est retiré de la bouteille au poste de rinçage, ce qui renverse les bouteilles afin de permettre l'évacuation du lest ainsi que de l'eau de rinçage.
PCT/US1992/000628 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest WO1993014975A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP92905917A EP0621844A4 (fr) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest.
PCT/US1992/000628 WO1993014975A1 (fr) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest
AU13353/92A AU1335392A (en) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Handling system for lightweight containers including ballast dispenser
CA002117420A CA2117420A1 (fr) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de contenants legers avec distribution de lest

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1992/000628 WO1993014975A1 (fr) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest
CA002117420A CA2117420A1 (fr) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de contenants legers avec distribution de lest

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993014975A1 true WO1993014975A1 (fr) 1993-08-05

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PCT/US1992/000628 WO1993014975A1 (fr) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 Systeme de manutention de recipients de poids leger avec distributeur de lest

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AU (1) AU1335392A (fr)
WO (1) WO1993014975A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19635433A1 (de) * 1996-09-02 1998-03-05 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zum Überführen von flachliegenden Faltschachtelzuschnitten aus einer Umverpackung in eine Zuführeinrichtung einer Kartoniermaschine

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1292994A (en) * 1918-04-09 1919-02-04 Henry Bayer Bottle-emptying apparatus.
US2516998A (en) * 1944-02-15 1950-08-01 Hartford Empire Co Bottle delabeling apparatus
US4055202A (en) * 1976-06-29 1977-10-25 James Albert Greene In-case bottle filling apparatus
US4544059A (en) * 1981-07-03 1985-10-01 De Forenede Bryggerier A/S Apparatus for combining several rows of bottles or similar objects on an inlet conveyor to a single row on an outlet conveyor

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1292994A (en) * 1918-04-09 1919-02-04 Henry Bayer Bottle-emptying apparatus.
US2516998A (en) * 1944-02-15 1950-08-01 Hartford Empire Co Bottle delabeling apparatus
US4055202A (en) * 1976-06-29 1977-10-25 James Albert Greene In-case bottle filling apparatus
US4544059A (en) * 1981-07-03 1985-10-01 De Forenede Bryggerier A/S Apparatus for combining several rows of bottles or similar objects on an inlet conveyor to a single row on an outlet conveyor

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP0621844A4 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19635433A1 (de) * 1996-09-02 1998-03-05 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zum Überführen von flachliegenden Faltschachtelzuschnitten aus einer Umverpackung in eine Zuführeinrichtung einer Kartoniermaschine
DE19635433C2 (de) * 1996-09-02 1999-05-20 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zum Überführen von flachgelegten Faltschachtelzuschnitten aus einer Umverpackung auf eine Zuführeinrichtung einer Kartoniermaschine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1335392A (en) 1993-09-01

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