WO2010003551A1

WO2010003551A1 - Method and device for handling containers

Info

Publication number: WO2010003551A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/004544
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Helfrich; Martin Rübsaamen
Original assignee: Khs Ag
Priority date: 2008-07-10
Filing date: 2009-06-24
Publication date: 2010-01-14

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method and a device for handling containers (1), in particular large-volume beverage containers such as for example kegs (1). The respective container (1) or a group of containers is fixed by means of a gripping device (4) with at least one gripper jaw (5) and a stop (6, 7), which can be moved with respect to said jaw, at least in the plane of the container(s). According to the invention, said stop (6, 7) is designed such that it can be additionally moved in the axial direction of the respective container (1). Furthermore, and independently thereof, the stop (6, 7) acts together with the gripper jaw (5) to provide three-point clamping of the respective container (1) or containers (1) of the group of containers.

Description

Method and device for treating containers

The invention relates to a method and an associated apparatus for treating cylindrical bodies, for example containers, in particular large-volume beverage containers such as KEGs, according to which the respective container or a group of containers is fixed by means of a gripping device with at least one gripper jaw and a stop movable in contrast at least in the container level.

In the aforementioned large-volume containers are usually to such containers having a volume of 5 liters or more, for example 5 I ₁ 10 1, 30 1 or 50 1, have. If drinks are taken up in the containers, that is to say they are beverage containers, what are usually called KEGs are meant to be filled with beverages containing CO2, for example beer.

Most of the KEGs are now returned to the brewery in the form of a returnable system after their filling and consumption. Here they are cleaned and refilled. Since these so-called reusable KEGs are usually made of metal (for example, aluminum or stainless steel), they have a significant weight. Their handling during unloading, cleaning and, if necessary, for filling consequently requires mechanically operated manipulators and should not be performed manually due to the physical strain that occurs.

For this purpose, the generic state of the art according to DE 299 19 624 U1 already proposes a device for treating containers, for example KEGs. This is particularly suitable for converting these containers and has this for a controlled movable equipment carrier and at least one provided on the equipment carrier multiple gripper. With the aid of the multiple gripper, several containers can be grasped and held at the same time. The multiple gripper has at least two receptacles for at least one container between at least three gripper jaws. These recordings must of course be adapted to the respective size of the container or KEGs, so that the treatment of different sized containers is difficult or inevitably associated with a conversion. Much more serious, however, is the fact that the known device grips the containers or KEGs from the side. This results in an increased space requirement in the handling equipment for the container, which is disadvantageous in view of the limited space. Here, the invention aims to provide a total remedy.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a method for treating containers, in particular large-volume beverage containers such as KEGs, that the space requirement of an associated device is reduced and containers of different configurations can be processed without difficulty.

To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes in a generic method, that the stop is additionally designed to be movable in the axial direction of the respective container.

According to the invention, therefore, a fixation of the container or of the respective container group takes place first of all between the at least one (usually fixed) gripper jaw and the stop, which is movable at least in the direction of the gripper. The container level represents the plane, which is spanned by a respective (usually circular) base of the (regular cylindrical) container. In general, the container level coincides with the plane of a work surface upon which the containers are delivered for their subsequent manipulation or handling. In any case, according to the invention, the relevant stop can not only be moved in this generally horizontal container plane, but additionally moved in the axial direction in comparison to the respective container. That is, the stop is capable of movement in a vertical plane in addition to movement in the horizontal plane. Due to this versatility of the at least one stop additionally in the axial direction of the respective container, the stop can easily dive into a container gap or be applied from above to the container to be gripped. This makes it possible to clamp in a container group the respective container in the region of the container gap on its lateral surface.

Such handling on the outer lateral surface is of particular importance because the large-volume beverage containers are usually not allowed to be gripped at their upper edge. Because this can lead to damage or contamination of the edge and / or fittings provided there in practice, which makes further processing difficult or even impossible.

The fact that according to the invention, the stop additionally has a mobility in the axial direction with respect to the container, so it can be regularly moved along or parallel to its axis of rotation, an associated device can be designed extremely space-saving. Thus, unlike the prior art, it is no longer necessary to grasp the containers from the side or from the side. Rather, the stop plunges or immerse the multiple stops in the respective container gap and take the desired container or fix it together with the gripper jaw. In principle, the gripper jaw can not only be designed to be movable in the container plane, but can also be moved and moved in the same way as the stopper in the axial direction. In this way, it is possible to selectively pick out individual containers from a container group and, for example, to transfer them from the work surface for receiving the containers to a transport surface.

Of course, one usually tries to implement a group of containers at a stroke from the work surface to the transport surface. In this case, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the container of the container group are at points to each other, so to speak between the horizontal and vertically movable stop and the gripper jaw are tightened. It is usually worked so that the container of the container group form a series and otherwise the stop moves, for example, up to a maximum of half the container height in the axial direction. This ensures that the respective containers are actually acted upon only on their outer lateral surface with corresponding clamping forces, so that any damage can be reliably excluded.

Of particular independent importance in this context is that the stop together with the gripper jaw overall provides for a three-point clamping of the respective container or container of the container group. In this case, this three-point clamping can already be realized if the stop is movable only in the container level and does not additionally have a movability in the axial direction in comparison to the containers. However, this three-point clamping is very particularly preferred when the stop - as described - can be moved horizontally and vertically. The same may apply to the gripper jaw, although this is usually configured stationary or at least remains in position relative to the movable stop.

As a rule, the gripper jaw has a prism-shaped receptacle which already provides two contact points for the container, which is usually cylindrical in comparison. The third point of contact is then provided by the opposite of the gripper jaw movable stop available, so that it comes in this way practically automatically to the described three-punk clamping of the respective container. This three-point clamping is still maintained throughout, if with the help of the gripping device and the stop a group of containers from several containers simultaneously seized and implemented, for example, from the work surface on the transport surface. This is desirable for reasons associated with increased speed of operation and is usually so implemented.

In any case, the stop according to the invention is capable of submerging, as it were, from above into the container group, namely into the region of a container. terlücke. This is possible because the stop usually has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of this container gap is dimensioned. As a result, an associated device for treating the container can be made particularly compact because the stop is applied as it were from above and only then laterally to the container to be taken or the already existing container gaps for the application of the stop to the outer surface of the container to be taken be used.

In this case, this three-point clamping of the respective container is regularly monitored consistently and also applies to those containers that abut each other and define with their point of contact an investment point of their three-point storage. As a result, the containers can be taken quickly, reliably and taking into account a compact structure flexible, which is in view of the treatment rates required today of particular importance. - The invention is also a device as it is particularly suitable for carrying out the method described and in the claims 6 ff. Described.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment; show it:

1 shows the device according to the invention for treating containers in perspective,

2 is a plan view of the article of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 shows the object of Fig. 2 with partially removed machine elements and containers for detailed presentation and

Fig. 4 shows a manipulation process schematically, and

Fig. 5 shows another manipulation process schematically. In the figures, a device is shown, which serves for treating containers 1. The containers 1 in the example are large-volume beverage containers, in particular KEGs 1, for receiving and storing beer. The containers or KEGs 1 are converted by a work surface 2, for example a pallet on which they are delivered, with the aid of the relevant device onto a transport surface 3, which is merely indicated. On this transport surface 3, which may be a conveyor belt, the containers or KEGs 1 are supplied by way of example for subsequent cleaning and refilling.

For this purpose, the apparatus shown in its basic structure has a gripping device 4, which in the present case is equipped with two gripper jaws 5 and a stop 6, 7. In order to grasp the containers or KEGs 1 provided on the work surface 2, the gripping device 4 pivots over the available containers 1 and grips them during the unloading process and places them on the transport surface 3. For this purpose, the stop 6, 7 is movable both in a container level, which is spanned by a base of the container 1 and which in this case coincides with the working surface 2 and perpendicular thereto, that is, in the axial direction of the container 1. The movement arrows in FIGS 1 and 2. Since the containers 1 in the present case are predominantly rotationally symmetrical and substantially cylindrical, the respective container axes or axes of rotation are perpendicular to the work surface 2. In most cases, the working surface 2 is arranged horizontally, whereas the Behälterachseπ have a vertical orientation. Consequently, the stop 6, 7 according to the invention can be moved both horizontally and vertically.

In principle, the two grippers 5 can not only be moved in the container level (horizontal). Rather, a complementary movement perpendicular thereto - similar to the stop 6, 7 - conceivable and is also included in the invention. In the embodiment shown but not limiting the scope of the invention, the two gripper jaws 5, after the gripping device 4 have been pivoted on the container 1, However, designed stationary and it moves only the stop 6, 7 in contrast.

It can be seen that the stop 6, 7 at least two parts with a fixed element 6 and a Verfahrelement 7 is formed. The displacement element 7 is for this purpose connected to an adjusting device 8, which is presently designed as a linear actuator, in particular actuating cylinder 8. With the help of the adjusting device 8, the displacement element 7 can be adjusted relative to the fixed element 6 or can be a distance A between the two elements 6, 7 change, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 is expressed. That is, the two elements 6, 7 of the stop 6, 7 can vary their distance from each other, in the container level. As a result, the two elements 6, 7 according to the schematic diagrams in Fig. 4 can be applied laterally to the lateral surface of a container 1 (compare Fig. 4 right, center) or it is possible to clamp a container 1 between the two elements 6, 7 as shown below.

The stop 6, 7 now has a cross-sectional area which is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a container gap 9. This makes it possible to immerse the stop 6, 7 in such a container gap 9 in the vertical direction. In this context, it is determined via a sensor not explicitly shown whether the stopper 6, 7 possibly collides with an edge of the respective container 1. At the same time, the position of the individual containers 1 on the work surface 2 and thus the position of the respective container gaps 9 can be detected beforehand.

In any case, a mandatory control unit S, to which the actuating cylinder 8 and the entire gripping device 4 are connected in conjunction with signals of the addressed sensor respectively based on the image or the arrangement of the container 1 on the work surface 2 sure that the stop 6, 7 can dive into the container gaps 9 without collision. In this case, the stop moves 6, 7 preferably up to a maximum of half the container height in the axial direction. This ensures that the stop 6, 7 acts on the respective container 1 to be taken only on its outer lateral surface, specifically at points, or in the form of a linear contact. For this purpose, both the fixed element 6 and the displacement element 7 are each designed prismatic.

About a likewise prismatic design, the two grippers 5 have on their inner surfaces. As a result, the individual containers 1 are clamped only at three points or contact points or bearing lines P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ , as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4 clearly. That is, the stop 6, 7 together with the at least one gripper jaw 5 for a three-point clamping or three-line clamping of the respective container 1 and the container 1 of a group of containers. In this case, the container 1 of the container group can selectively abut each other, as is made clear in the bottom right of FIG. 4.

The stop 6, 7 may be attached to a gantry device 10, 11 as shown. This gantry device 10, 11 is composed of a traverse 10 spanning the work surface 2 and a carriage 11 which can be moved on the traverse 10. The entire portal device 10, 11 is arranged largely above the container 1. A lateral arrangement of the portal device 10, 11 or in general an adjusting device in this context is conceivable. In fact, as a positioning device and a robot arm or the like can be used. In any case, the adjusting device or portal device 10, 11 ensures in the example case that the container 1 is transferred from the working surface 2 on the transport surface 3 and implemented on this.

An unloading process will be described below by way of example. After the adjusting device or portal device 10, 11 has been pivoted over the work surface 2, it is lowered from above via a barrel arrangement. In this process, the stopper 6, 7 dips into the container gap 9 or moves laterally vertically downwards along the container to be gripped 1. Thereafter, the displacement element 7 moves relative to the fixed element 6 until the single drum 1 is fixed , as this example way in the top, third, fourth and fifth figure of FIG. 4 is shown on the right.

At the end, the two gripper jaws 5 move together or the one gripper jaw 5 moves up against the stop 6, 7 and the containers 1 to be reacted are clamped tight. Now, the single barrel or the container 1 or the barrel row can be lifted from the work surface 2 and transferred to the transport surface 3. Finally, the fixed element 6 and the displacement element 7 change their distance A again or drive apart and also the gripper jaws 5 release the container 1 again. After the containers 1 are free again, the entire adjusting device or portal device 10, 11 moves upwards and then pivots back to the working surface 2 in order to grip another group of containers.

Claims

claims:

1. A method for treating containers (1), in particular large-volume beverage containers such as KEGs (1), after which the respective container (1) or a group of containers by means of a gripping device (4) with at least one gripper jaw (5) and a contrast At least in the container level movable stop (6, 7) is fixed, dadurchg ek ennzeichnet that the stop (6, 7) in addition in the axial direction of the respective container (1) is designed to be movable.

2. Method according to the preamble of claim 1 or claim 1, characterized in that the stop (6, 7) together with the gripper jaw (5) for a three-point clamping of the respective container (1) or the container ( 1) of the container group.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (1) of the container group selectively or linearly abut each other.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container (1) form the container group a row.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stop (6, 7) moves to a maximum of half of the container height in the axial direction.

6. An apparatus for treating containers, in particular of large-volume beverage containers such as KEGs, preferably for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 5, with a gripping device (4) with at least one gripper jaw (5) and a contrast, at least in the container level movable stop (6, 7), characterized in that the stop (6, 7) in addition in the axial direction of the respective container (1) is designed to be movable.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the stop (6, 7) is formed at least in two parts with a fixed element (6) and a displacement element (7).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the displacement element (7) to an adjusting device (8), in particular a linear actuator, for example a setting cylinder (8) is connected.

9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the stop (6, 7) has a smaller cross-sectional area than a container gap (7).

10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the stop on a gantry device (10, 11), a robot arm or the like adjusting device is fixed.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the adjusting device is arranged above or laterally compared to a working surface (2) for receiving the container (1).

12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the adjusting device, the container of the working surface (2) on a transport surface (3) transferred.