WO2014177685A1

WO2014177685A1 - Device and method for treating containers, comprising statistical evaluation

Info

Publication number: WO2014177685A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/058980
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Lindner
Original assignee: Krones Ag
Priority date: 2013-05-02
Filing date: 2014-05-02
Publication date: 2014-11-06
Also published as: DE102013104484A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating containers (10), wherein a plurality of plastic containers (10) are treated simultaneously at least at times by means of a plurality of first treatment apparatuses (8) of the same type and wherein the plastic containers (10) are transported to an inspection apparatus (12) after this treatment by the treatment apparatus (8), wherein said inspection apparatus (12) individually inspects the plastic containers treated by the treatment apparatuses (8). According to the invention, for at least some of the inspected plastic containers (10), at least one inspection result resulting from the inspection of a particular plastic container is associated with the treatment apparatus (8) that treated said inspected plastic container (10) and a value (W1, W2) associated with said treatment apparatus is output, which value is characteristic of said treatment apparatus (8).

Description

Apparatus and method for treating containers with statistical evaluation

description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for treating containers. The invention will be described with reference to an apparatus for coating plastic containers. It should be noted, however, that an application of the invention to other devices for treating containers is conceivable.

In the prior art PET containers are coated on the inside to increase the barrier properties, in particular with regard to their gas-tightness. It is also known from the internal state of the art that the efficiency of this gas coating by a test device, for example by detecting any foreign substances in the container, in particular after their coating, takes place. Thus, it is also known from the applicant's internal state of the art to carry out an online test of this coating. It is generally known in this coating method that a barrier layer, in particular on an inner wall of a plastic container, is applied by means of plasma. Since a certain treatment time is required for this, a plurality of treatment stations are often arranged against one another or behind one another on a support.

If defective containers are now sorted out in the course of a container coating machine, but also of another apparatus for treating containers, it is not clear in the case of devices and methods from the prior art of which concrete treatment organs they have been (incorrectly) treated. The present invention is therefore based on the object generally to perform a faster or more efficient determination of errors in devices for treating containers. This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matters of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

In a method for treating containers according to the invention, a multiplicity of containers are treated simultaneously by means of a multiplicity of similar first treatment devices and the containers are transported after this treatment by the first treatment device to a testing device. In this case, this test device individually checks the containers treated by the treatment devices. According to the invention, for at least one part of the tested containers, at least one test result resulting from this test is assigned to that treatment device which has treated this tested container. Furthermore, a value associated with this treatment device is output which is characteristic for this treatment device or the treatment of the container by this treatment device.

It is therefore proposed that several containers are treated with similar treatment facilities and then these containers are tested. In particular, a test is carried out with respect to the treatment process carried out by the treatment containers. By assigning the treatment result to the respective treatment facilities, the efficiency of these treatment facilities can be individually assessed on the basis of the treatment result.

Depending on this result, corrections are preferably made to the respective treatment device. For example, the treatment of future containers may be modified by this treatment device. It would also be possible, in the event of an error, to switch off the said treatment device, so that in the further operation the containers are no longer treated by this treatment device, but only the other treatment devices. It would also be possible to nigen containers that would (in the future) reach this (recognized as defective) treatment facility, so as to avoid incorrect handling of containers and / or auszuschleusen the incorrectly treated containers in a subsequent transport.

In a further advantageous method, the outputted result value is a value which is characteristic of a completeness of a treatment process or of a quality of the treatment process. It is also possible that upon detection of a fault, or a wrong treatment, the corresponding incorrectly treated container is discharged. Furthermore, it is also possible that the recognized treated as defective container is recycled and treated again by the first treatment facilities. In a further advantageous method, the treatment devices respectively

Treatment elements for treating the containers, and it is preferably carried out a relative rotation between the treated container and the treatment element treating this container. It is both possible that the container itself is rotated about its longitudinal axis, as well as that a rotation of the treatment element is made. Preferably, however, the said rotation takes place with respect to a longitudinal axis of the container and in particular with respect to an axis of symmetry of the container.

In a further advantageous method, a total number of containers produced or of containers treated by the first treatment device is also determined.

In a further advantageous method, several test results resulting from a plurality of tests are assigned to those treatment devices which have handled these containers. In this way, the respective treatment facilities can be identified for the containers examined, and several and preferably all of these treatment facilities can each be assigned examination results which are suitable for a treatment process with them Treatment facilities are characteristic. In this way a complete statistic of the work of the individual treatment facilities can be compiled.

In a further advantageous method, a plurality of different treatment devices associated values are output, which are characteristic of these treatment facilities. In this way, the respective values can be output for several treatment devices. The respective values are preferably output for all treatment devices. The values of the individual treatment device are preferably recorded, evaluated and referenced to the respective treatment device. If it is determined that the treatment device has an error, e.g. By deviating actual values from nominal values, measures can be initiated manually or automatically for the identification or removal of the containers treated by this treatment station. In a further advantageous method, at least two values, which are characteristic of different treatment devices, are compared with one another. Preferably, the values that are characteristic for several and preferably for all treatment devices are compared with one another. In this way, for example, statistics about the occurrence of specific values can be carried out. For example, it can be determined for each individual treatment facility how many containers it treats in an inadequate manner. In this case, for example, the treatment of a container can be issued as either error-prone or error-free, and it can be counted, for example, in a predetermined period of those treatments in which the container was treated insufficiently or incorrectly. This frequency of errors can in turn be specified individually for the individual containers and / or treatment facilities, so that statistics about the treatment with the individual treatment facilities can be set up in this way.

In a further preferred method, the values associated therewith are compared with one another for all treatment devices.

The above comparison is advantageously carried out in the context of statistics. In a further preferred method, at least one treatment device is assigned a plurality of test results which result from the tests of a plurality of containers. For example, the treatments performed by a particular treatment facility may be repeatedly tested on different containers. Advantageously, it is also possible that the said tests are carried out at least over a predetermined period or over a predetermined number of containers.

Based on these results, a statistic is preferably formed, wherein a specific statement can be determined for each treatment facility from this statistic, for example, as mentioned above, an error rate of the respective treatment process.

Advantageously, each treatment device is assigned a plurality of examination results, and preferably a statistic is formed therefrom.

In a further advantageous method, the containers are transported along a predetermined transport path during this treatment. In particular, this is a circular or circular segment-shaped transport path. In a further preferred method, a material is attached to at least one wall of the containers by the treatment device, or attached to this wall, which differs in at least one physical property of the material of the wall. This physical property may be, for example, a transparency of the visible light material, a physical density, an adhesion, or the like. This may be, for example, that a coating is applied to an area of the wall and in particular of the inner wall. Advantageously, this material is at least partially attached to a peripheral wall of the container. However, it would also be conceivable that the treatment is an (internal) sterilization of the containers in which they are exposed to radiation, for example. Advantageously, the treatment element for the purpose of said treatment is at least temporarily introduced into the interior of the containers. However, it would also be possible for a treatment element to treat an outer surface of the container, for example to apply a coating to this outer surface or the like.

In a further advantageous method, an inner surface of the containers is coated with a material by the treatment devices.

Advantageously, the containers are plastic containers and in particular plastic bottles. Advantageously, the containers are made of PET. However, it would also be conceivable to treat plastic preforms. In a further advantageous method, the test device checks a befindliches inside the container gaseous medium, and in particular a check of the medium is carried out for residues. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable to treat the plastic preforms or bottles by means of a sterilizing fluid, wherein the treatment device can check the degree of sterilization achieved. The sterilizing fluid may be, for example, hydrogen peroxide. However, it would also be conceivable to check the degree of sterilization carried out by means of electron beams. In addition or in addition, a self-control of the treatment facilities is conceivable. For example, it would be conceivable for the treatment elements that they themselves monitor the parameters of the treatment, such as values such as current, voltage, temperature and electron intensity during the operation of a beam finger. On the one hand, these values can be used to regulate these treatment elements themselves, but it would also be conceivable that these values are transmitted to a subsequent device, in particular, but not exclusively, a discharge device which discharges the containers treated by the respective treatment device.

In addition, it would also be conceivable that a control is provided which causes a particular treatment organ to readjust itself upon detection of a deviation of a particular parameter itself, and in particular automatically to a desired value with respect to this parameter. In a further advantageous method, the treatment element has a plurality of application units, which apply a material to an inner surface of the container. Advantageously, in this case, a plasma coating of an inner wall of the container is made.

Advantageously, the admission of the containers (with the Beschichtungsmatenal) under an atmospheric pressure or a normal ambient pressure instead.

Advantageously, the test device checks at least indirectly a material applied to a wall and in particular also to a circumferential wall of the container by the treatment device. By an indirect test is meant that, for example, as mentioned above, residual gas can be checked, but it would also be possible to make a direct examination, for example, an optical inspection applied to the outer wall of the container coating.

However, the method described here and also the apparatus described below can also be applied to a verification of a sterilization of the containers. In a further preferred method, therefore, the treatment process is a sterilization process in which at least a portion of the container is sterilized. In addition, the treatment process can also be a cleaning process with respect to the container to be treated.

In this case, preferably at least one and preferably a plurality of loading devices is provided, which can be at least one surface region of the containers, which may be in particular plastic preforms or plastic bottles, but if necessary. Also Glasfischen or container Verschlüssnis, with a flowable medium and / or a Radiation, for example, apply UV radiation or electron beam. It is possible that these Beaufschlagungseinrichtungen are stationary and move the containers against these Beaufschlagungseinrichtungen. However, it would also be conceivable and preferred that the loading devices move with the containers to be sterilized. In a further preferred embodiment, the loading device has at least one nozzle which applies a flowable sterilizing agent, for example a hydrogen peroxide solution, to a wall region of the containers. In a further advantageous embodiment, the loading device is inserted through an opening of the containers in this. Advantageously, a plurality of such sterilization devices are provided, which preferably allow, at least in part, a simultaneous sterilization of the containers. Preferably, a plurality of elongated bodies is provided, which are insertable into an interior space of the containers, and which act on at least one inner wall of the containers with a radiation and / or with charge carriers. Advantageously, the charge carriers are electrons. In this case, these elongate bodies preferably each have a housing within which the electrons are moved and / or accelerated, as well as preferably an exit window, through which the electrons can escape from the said housing (but in particular inside the container).

These treatment devices can be arranged on a common carrier, such as on a common carrier wheel.

Here too, the test device is advantageously arranged downstream of the loading device in the transport direction of the plastic containers and is suitable for checking a sterilization process. It is conceivable, for example, that the test device checks a proportion of the gas in the container in order to determine whether a sterilization process has taken place on the relevant container. It is also conceivable that the testing device performs a visual inspection of a sterilization process.

On the basis of this test, in that case, the loading device which sterilized the corresponding container can again be evaluated. Preferably, the containers are sterilized during their transport. In this case, the above-mentioned elongated bodies may preferably be introduced into the containers by a relative movement with respect to the containers.

In a further advantageous method, at least one container is provided with a marking which is characteristic of the test result. This marking may be, for example, a two-dimensional code or an RFID code. In this way, a station-related measurement result, for example on the barrier properties of the applied material, are applied to the container.

In a further advantageous method, at least one characteristic value for the test result is transmitted to a downstream in the transport direction of the containers of the testing device treatment device. This downstream treatment device may be, for example, a discharge station which rejects containers identified as defective. In general, it is possible for the test result to be transferred to the later-following treatment machines or else to a higher-order control system, in particular in order to enable a subsequent assignment to an overall result. In this way, troubleshooting and traceability of occurring errors to the components involved in the process can be simplified.

In addition or in addition, it would also be possible to transmit the test result to a further treatment device lying in the direction of movement of the plastic preforms in front of the treatment device. It is conceivable that a change in the treatment result can also be achieved by an adaptation of this further treatment device located in front of the treatment device. This further treatment device is, in particular, a treatment device which treats the containers differently than the treatment device described above.

In addition, the entire treatment process of the containers can be controlled and / or regulated on the basis of the test result.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable that on the basis of the test result for a particular container exactly that treatment device is controlled or regulated, which has treated the said container.

Thus, the determined test result is advantageously also used for controlling or regulating that treatment device which has treated this container. Thus, an important aspect of the invention is the fact that a tracing of test results to that treatment device with which the special container is treated, for example coated, is made possible. However, it is possible to extend this idea to other treatment facilities, such as, for example, all grasping devices involved in the process which grip the containers. In addition, an extension to sequential errors is possible, which can occur, for example, when retracting the containers in a vacuum lock. For example, it can be determined that every second or every fourth container has not been properly coated because, for example, dirt adheres. In addition, as mentioned above, it can be detected which treatment device works with which quality so that a qualitative evaluation is possible for each individual treatment device. On the basis of the measured values obtained in this way, it is also possible to provide feedback to the individual treatment devices, for example the individual (high-voltage) fingers, which serve to coat the inner walls. The results obtained here can also be transmitted to a total machine control system.

In addition, the occurrence of sequential errors can be monitored advantageously. For example, if a container stream is supplied to a treatment machine having a predetermined number of treatment stations, for example eight treatment stations, if one of the treatment stations is defective (via the system), it can be specified that precisely those containers are monitored by that station were treated, eg 1, 9, 17, 25. In this procedure, therefore, preferably only certain containers are checked and preferably those containers which are in a stream of containers in precisely defined intervals or sequences.

In addition or in addition, however, a quota monitoring is conceivable. If one obtains percentage deviations of e.g. If incorrectly handled bottles are monitored, these deviations may increase in percentage terms if no corrective measures are taken on the machine. For this case, it would be conceivable that one monitors these creeping errors.

It would be conceivable (eg in the system) to store limit values (max./min.) At which the machine operator is informed or has to intervene. For example, assuming 0.5% of incorrectly handled bottles and no changes to the machine setting, etc., this adjustment may increase over the duration of the production and thus increase the percentage of incorrectly treated bottles.

The test is therefore preferably carried out on the basis of or taking into account at least one limit value. Advantageously, at least one limit value and preferably at least two limit values are taken into account for the test result.

For example, a threshold may be set, e.g. 1, 5% (in particular based on a setpoint) and in which the machine operator is informed or in which the machine goes into emergency stop, so that the machine operator controls the settings within the machine and corrects if necessary.

The present invention is further directed to a device for treating containers. This device has a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path. Furthermore, a plurality of similar treatment facilities is provided, which are arranged on this transport device and which treat the containers in a predetermined manner. Furthermore, the device has a test device which individually checks the containers treated by the treatment devices.

According to the invention, the device has an allocation device which, for at least a part of the tested containers, in each case assigns at least one test result resulting from this test to that treatment device which has treated this tested container and an output device which outputs a value associated with this treatment device, which is characteristic of this treatment device. Advantageously, this value represents a quality of the treatment performed by this treatment device.

Advantageously, this display device can be a display which, for example, can also output statistics about a fault frequency of the individual treatment devices. The display device is thus advantageous in that it compares a plurality of treatment devices at least with regard to a characteristic value. In addition, however, it would also be possible for the said values to be output to wireless output devices such as ipads, smartphones and the like. These values could also be transmitted to a control center or the like (if necessary also via the Internet).

Advantageously, the transport device is rotatable, or it is a treatment wheel on which the individual treatment devices are arranged. Advantageously, the treatment device is an attachment device, which attaches a material to a wall of the container. This is advantageously a coating device which coats an inner surface of the container and, in particular, plasma coats.

Furthermore, a rotating device is advantageously provided, which generates a relative rotation between the container to be treated and a treatment element of the treatment device. In this case, this rotation is advantageously carried out with respect to an axis of symmetry of the container to be treated.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one treatment device and preferably several treatment devices have sensor devices which determine at least one parameter of this treatment device and in particular an operating parameter. These operating parameters determined in this way can also be assigned to the treatment of a specific container and, if required, also be related to the test results determined later by the test device or to the assigned values resulting therefrom. For example, it can be determined how an adjustment of a particular parameter of a particular treatment device will later affect the treatment of the containers. Furthermore, it is also possible that in turn, depending on the test result, this treatment parameter is changed.

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

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention for

Treating containers; Fig. 2 is a representation for illustrating a possible statistical

Evaluation; and

Fig. 3 is a further illustration to illustrate a possible statistical see evaluation.

1 shows a schematic representation of a device 1 according to the invention for treating containers 10. In this case, a feed device 22, such as a feed star, is provided, which transfers the plastic containers 10 to a treatment plant. This treatment plant in this case has a rotatable support 2 here, on which a plurality of treatment stations 8 is arranged, which serve to treat the plastic containers 10.

Each individual treatment device 11 carries out a predetermined treatment step on the containers, for example a coating of the inner surfaces of the plastic containers.

The reference numeral 24 refers to a further transport device, via which the plastic containers are removed after their treatment. At this Ausführeinrich- device 24 a test device 12 is provided, which checks the plastic containers with regard to certain characteristics. In this case, for example, the quality of an applied coating can be determined directly or indirectly. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the test device 12 is arranged stationary and the containers are guided past this test device. However, it would also be possible here for the test device to move with the containers or else for several test devices to be provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the testing device is arranged immediately after the transport device 2, which transports the containers 10, in particular during their treatment. However, it would also be conceivable to arrange the test device 12 alternatively or additionally in the immediate vicinity of the treatment device.

The reference numeral 50 roughly indicates schematically a control or regulating device which controls or regulates the individual treatment stations 8. Here are the individual treatment stations, or their elements, preferably also controlled in dependence on the output from the test device 12 results.

The reference numeral 14 denotes a display device which is also suitable for outputting characteristic values for the tests of the containers, preferably with reference to the respective treatment device which has treated the tested container. This display device can output respective values W1, W2... Wn assigned to the individual treatment devices. For example, these values may indicate an error rate of the respective treatment device 8, where n is the total number of treatment devices. However, these respective values W1, W2... Wn can again be based on a large number of individual measurements. Also, several different values can be output for each treatment device, such as values representing different physical properties. In addition, the individual treatment devices 8 can also have sensor elements which check the operation of these treatment devices. Also, values outputted from these sensor elements may be set by values outputted by the display device and, if necessary, also in relation to the above values W1, W2, Wn.

For example, it can be established that a specific treatment device, which has a certain error frequency Wn, works with certain treatment parameters, for example with a certain voltage. It can also be determined via the allocation device 18 with which treatment parameters a specific treatment device has treated a specific container (which will be checked later).

Advantageously, this control device also has a memory device 16 in which the determined results are stored. Advantageously, these results are stored with reference to the respective treatment facilities. The reference numeral 18 refers to an allocation device which assigns to the individual test results output by the test device in each case that treatment device 8 which has treated the container tested by the test device. Preferably, the transport device 24 also preferably transports the containers 10 in isolated fashion. In this way it can be recalculated, from which treatment device 8 this Container was treated. Thus, the individual tested containers can be individualized by the allocation device 18.

In this case, it is possible, for example, for a predetermined number of tests on containers to be carried out as part of a checking operation and for these individual results to be checked in each case with reference to the containers.

The reference numeral 28 denotes (roughly schematically) a sensor element which determines at least one value or parameter characteristic of the treatment of the containers by this treatment device 8. This sensor device may be, for example, a pressure measuring device, a voltage measuring device, a temperature measuring device or the like. It would also be possible to provide a plurality of such sensor elements which determine several (operational) parameters of the treatment. It is also possible that the values measured by this sensor element 28 are also correlated with the values measured later by the test device, and preferably individually for each individual treatment device.

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of a possibility for an evaluation of the individual treatment devices. These treatment devices are here a total of sixteen treatment or coating heads, which are introduced into the interior of the containers in order to coat them inside. To distinguish between these individual treatment facilities on the ordinate are each provided with numbers in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, here, the display device is designed to represent the occurring error rates in descending order. Here, for example, the coating head no. 12 is the one with the highest error rate, which, for example, is 60% here. The next treatment device No. 7 has an error rate of 40%, the next treatment device only 12%. For example, a threshold could be defined below which an operation of the associated treatment facility is considered acceptable and is no longer considered acceptable thereafter. Thus, it would be conceivable, for example, that the machine control or the user determines that modifications are made to the treatment devices 12, 7, 4, 3 and 11 and the others remain unchanged during operation. Again, a limit value can be defined for each container examined, from which a appropriate treatment process is classified as defective. The user can also determine how many checks are used to determine the error frequency. Thus, it would be possible, for example, for each treatment device to take into account 100 tests of the containers in order to determine the error frequency in this way. For example, if the value of the error rate of a treatment station falls below a predetermined threshold, it would be conceivable to eject each bottle treated by that treatment station or mark it as "faulted." In a treatment center having x treatment stations, one treatment station has a faulty one Then every xth container could be automatically ejected.

Fig. 3 gives an example of overall statistics. Here, for example, a thickness of an applied coating is determined. Overall, it is possible to use a statistic to show how many containers have been "ideally" coated and how many deviations therefrom can be, as well as defining limits within which the coating can still be considered tolerable It is also possible to split the respective coating thicknesses, here for example in a frame of 50 nm less than required and 50 nm more than required, whereby it is also possible to output a criterion for the overall efficiency of the installation, for example by determining what percentage of the total number of containers produced are within specified tolerance ranges, for example here in a + / -50 nm range with respect to a mean value.

Advantageously, however, in the memory device shown in FIG. 1, the individual measured values are each stored with assignment to the respective treatment device.

Advantageously, therefore, the containers are not only isolated in the area of the transport device 2, but also downstream with respect to the transport device. Thus, it can be advantageously determined at any time which container, which is currently being checked by the testing device, has been treated upstream by which treatment device. In addition, a multiple assignment is possible, for example, not only an assignment to the treatment facilities 8, but for example, to individual previously arranged treatment facilities. For example, in the Frame of a plant, which is composed of several machine parts, not only an assignment of the respective coating device are made, but also an assignment of further upstream arranged machine parts, such as the individual blowing stations of a blow molding machine or the like. In this way it is also possible to output a cross-machine overall statistics for the system.

Furthermore, it would be possible for a plurality of test devices to be provided downstream of the individual treatment devices 8, which accordingly also determine different parameters of the produced containers.

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

1 device

2 rotatable carrier / transport device

8 treatment stations

10 containers

1 1 treatment facility

12 testing device / coating head

14 display device

16 storage device

18 allocation device

22 feeder

24 more transport equipment

28 sensor element

50 control / regulation device

W1, W2 ... Wn assigned value to the treatment facility

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Method for treating plastic containers (10), wherein a plurality of plastic containers (10) are treated at the same time at least temporarily by means of a plurality of similar first treatment devices (8), and after this treatment by the treatment device (8), the plastic containers (10) become one Testing device (12) are transported, this testing device (12) individually checking the plastic containers treated by the treatment devices (8),

characterized in that

For at least some of the tested plastic containers (10), at least one test result resulting from this test is assigned to the treatment device (8) which treated this tested plastic container (10) and a value (W1, W2) assigned to this treatment device is output , which is characteristic of this treatment facility (8).

2. Method according to claim 1,

characterized in that

several test results resulting from several tests of different plastic containers are assigned to those treatment facilities (8) which have treated these containers.

3. Method according to claim 2,

characterized in that

Values assigned to several different treatment devices (8) are output, which are characteristic of these treatment devices (8).

4. Method according to claim 3,

characterized in that

at least two values, which are for different treatment facilities (8) are characteristic, can be compared with each other.

5. Method according to claim 2,

characterized in that

for all treatment facilities (8) the values assigned to them are compared with one another.

6. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

Several test results resulting from the tests of several plastic containers are assigned to at least one treatment facility.

7. Method according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the plastic containers are transported along a predetermined transport path during their treatment.

8. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

a material is attached to at least one wall of the plastic containers by the treatment device, which differs in at least one physical property from the material of the wall.

9. Method according to claim 7,

characterized in that

an inner surface of the plastic containers is coated with a material by the treatment devices.

10. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the testing device (12) at least indirectly tests a material applied to a wall of the plastic container (10) by the treatment device (8).

1 1 . Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one area of the plastic containers is sterilized by the treatment device.

12. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one plastic container (10) is provided with a marking which is characteristic of the test result.

13. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one value characteristic of the test result is transmitted to a treatment device downstream of the testing device (12) in the transport direction of the containers.

H. Device (1) for treating plastic containers (10) with a transport device (2), which transports the plastic containers (10) along a predetermined transport path, with a plurality of similar treatment devices (8), which are arranged on this transport device (2). are and which treat the plastic containers in a predetermined manner, with a testing device (12) which individually checks the plastic containers treated by the treatment devices,

characterized in that

the device is an allocation device

(14) which, for at least some of the tested plastic containers (10), assigns at least one test result resulting from this test to the treatment device (8) which treated this tested plastic container (10), as well as an output device which assigns one of this treatment device outputs assigned value (W1, W2), which is characteristic of this treatment device (8).

15. Device (1) according to claim 14,

characterized in that

at least one treatment device has a sensor device, which at least one parameter of this treatment device and in particular a parameter characteristic of the treatment process of the plastic containers by this treatment device is recorded.