ASSEMBLY SYSTEM AND ITS USE, AS WELL AS ASSEMBLY METHOD

Description

1 / 13 “ASSEMBLY SYSTEM AND ITS USE, AS WELL AS ASSEMBLY METHOD” Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly system, in particular for assembling containers, according to the preamble of claim 1, to a method for assembling, in particular, such containers, according to the preamble of claim 11, and to a use of such an assembly system for assembling, in particular, such containers, according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0002] The assembly of products, particularly products made up of individual assembly components, generally takes place on the premises of a company or workshop, which is usually located in a particularly suitable geographical location. A general problem with this type of product assembly in fixed facilities is that the products manufactured in these facilities generally cannot be used for their intended purpose immediately on those premises, but usually need to be transported first to another location for their intended use. However, this transport of these fully assembled products is often complex and expensive, and frequently requires complex logistics to ensure that the products are available where they are needed.

[0003] This problem is particularly evident when it comes to the manufacture of containers intended for the collection, transport and storage of filler material that is generally not available at the place of manufacture.

[0004] In the past, this problem was circumvented or solved by using flexible containers made of sheet metal, paper, or cardboard, for example, instead of rigid containers, for a wide variety of fillings. These containers could be transported folded, saving space, and were also relatively Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 6 / 35 2 / 13 very cheap and can be unfolded or folded only at the place of use.

[0005] However, this approach is only suitable for certain fillings that can be handled easily and safely and for which no special packaging, transport and storage precautions are required. In particular, this approach is not possible for fillings that must be transported in stable and, in particular, leak-proof containers, such as barrels, or for which certain conditions must be met for transport and storage, for example, with regard to a specific atmosphere in the container.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of solving the aforementioned problem and specifying an assembly system, together with a method for assembling containers, as well as the use of such an assembly system, in which both the assembly system and the method for assembling containers and their use are simple and inexpensive to implement, avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0007] This objective is solved by an assembly system according to claim 1, a method for assembling containers according to claim 11 and the use of such an assembly system according to claim 12.

[0008] In particular, this objective is solved by an assembly system, in particular for assembling containers, in particular barrels, preferably made essentially of metal, wherein the assembly system is mobile and comprises at least one transportable assembly unit and at least one preferably transportable storage and transport unit.

[0009] An essential point of the invention is that the assembly system according to the invention is not an assembly system Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 7 / 35 3 / 13 stationary, mounted or arranged in a fixed manner, but a mobile mounting system which, according to the invention, consists of two units, namely, a transportable mounting unit and a storage and transport unit, the latter, i.e., the storage and transport unit, being mobile or at least transportable as required, so that both units of the mounting system according to the invention, when combined, form the mounting system.

[0010] According to the invention, the assembly system can generally be used to assemble products from their individual parts or from the product components necessary for the respective assembly, hereinafter referred to as assembly components; the assembly system according to the invention is particularly advantageous, however, for the assembly of containers which, by means of the assembly system according to the invention, are assembled from their assembly components only at the actual place of use of the container, i.e., they can be assembled onto the finished container without the containers, as has always been necessary until now, having to be transported empty, in a laborious manner, with high energy consumption and high cost, to the actual place of use, i.e., the filling of the containers.

[0011] Such containers are preferably containers with a stable geometry that can support larger loads both internally and externally, such as metal crates or barrels. In the context of this invention, the term “essentially produced of metal” means that the boxes or barrels are produced of metal, but may also have components produced of other materials, such as plastic and / or rubber, which may be used, for example, for seals, to improve stability, or for handles or similar accessories or additional components of the containers. Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 8 / 35 4 / 13

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly unit, as well as possibly the storage and transport unit, is designed as a container that can be transported, in particular on a truck or trailer. This ensures that at least the assembly unit, but preferably also the storage and transport unit, can be handled and transported as mobile units, i.e., loading the respective units onto trucks or semi-trailers and transporting them to the respective desired location. On site, the assembly unit and the storage and transport unit can be coupled to the assembly system, provided that, as corresponds to a further embodiment of the invention, they are handled as independent units.It should also be noted at this point that both the assembly unit and the storage and transport unit do not necessarily need to be housed in a container assigned to them, which in turn constitutes a transportable unit, but can also be assembled directly in the cargo area of ​​a truck or semi-trailer.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, both the assembly unit and the storage and transport unit can be moved as independent units and joined together as needed. Thus, it is also possible, according to the invention, to couple an assembly unit of a first assembly system to a storage and transport unit of another assembly system. It should also be noted that the storage and transport unit does not necessarily have to be mobile, but can also be fixed, for example, designed as a storage depot, provided that functional coupling with the assembly unit is possible.

[0014] According to a further alternative embodiment of Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 9 / 35 5 / 13 invention, the storage and transport unit can also be designed as part of the assembly unit, and the storage and transport unit can be reversibly extended and / or unfolded from the assembly unit, particularly when the assembly system according to the invention is in an operational state. This should be understood in such a way that the storage and transport unit can also be functionally part of the assembly unit, and any functionality(ies), such as areas for storage or provision of the storage and transport unit, can also be provided by the assembly unit, for example, by extending and / or unfolding one or more bottom and / or ceiling panels and / or any side walls of the assembly unit.

[0015] Consequently, the assembly system according to the invention is formed according to an embodiment in which the storage and transport unit and the assembly unit can be coupled together or are integrally formed with each other and, in particular, form a common space in the operational state, in which an assembly of the desired products, in particular containers, and particularly preferably according to the invention barrels, can then occur.

[0016] Consequently, the assembly unit has, preferably as needed, in particular, fixedly mounted assembly tools, such as - at least one device for separating assembly components, such as sheet metal, and / or - at least one device for cutting sheet metal; and / or - at least one device for bending and / or rounding metal sheets; and / or Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 10 / 35 6 / 13 - at least one device for joining, preferably welding, edges of sheet metal to form a sheet metal tube; and / or - at least one device for forming at least one bead, each extending around the sheet metal tube along the circumference of the sheet metal tube, in order to increase the mechanical strength of the sheet metal tube body, so that, in the case of multiple beads, the beads are spaced from each other along the sheet metal tube, preferably at regular intervals; and / or - at least one device for deburring and / or creasing and / or flanging a sheet metal edge in order to provide the sheet metal tube with a closure, in particular a cap, on at least one side; and / or - at least one device for coating a container internally and / or externally and / or providing it with a covering, in particular a lining, wherein, in particular, the internal coating and / or covering preferably consists of a material that is inert with respect to an intended filling material and / or the external coating and / or covering is a marking and / or imprint of the container; and / or - at least one device for securely connecting the closure, in particular the bottom and / or the lid, to the sheet metal tube by means of at least one seam; and / or - at least one device for testing the tightness of the cylinder, in particular the connection of the bottom and / or the top to the sheet metal tube; and / or - at least one device for transporting assembly components and / or semi-finished parts, in particular from one assembly tool to the next assembly tool; Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, p. 11 / 35 7 / 13 as well as, optionally, - at least one device for the subsequent handling of manufactured containers, in particular barrels, such as a filling device and / or a closing device.

[0017] The respective assembly tool may be fixed to the assembly unit or stored in such a way that the respective tool may be removed by the user to process the respective workpiece, used and returned to its storage location. The latter option is particularly suitable for lighter tools such as screwdrivers, scissors, files, dies, rollers and the like, while heavy tools are preferably fixed to the assembly unit. The assembly tool supplied in the assembly unit depends essentially on the product to be manufactured, and the aforementioned components for the manufacture of cylinders, in particular metal cylinders, i.e., produced from steel, stainless steel or any other inert material in relation to the respective filling, are preferably supplied in the assembly unit.

[0018] In this regard, it should be noted that, for example, in the case of the manufacture of metal barrels, manufacturing can begin from the respective initial components, i.e., the respective metal sheets, which can still be cut to the correct dimensions and / or coated with a coating and / or a design, and only then shaped into a sheet metal tube, i.e., the subsequent container shell. Alternatively, manufacturing can begin from intermediate or preliminary products, such as ready-made container shells, which are made available for later assembly individually, stacked or fitted together in the form of a demountable container shell.

[0019] In the context of this invention, the term container shell Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, p. 12 / 35 8 / 13 demountable refers to a container shell already formed from a sheet metal tube made from a sheet metal, such as a steel sheet, wherein the edges of the sheet metal forming the tube are welded together and the sheet metal tube is, preferably by applying pressure, in particular uniform pressure in the axial direction along the tube, preferably along the weld seam closing the tube, pressed into a double-walled U-shape formed from the sheet metal tube. These pressed U-shaped sheet metal tubes are pressed to varying degrees, each to such an extent that a desired number of these formed double-walled U-shaped sheet metal tubes can be pushed against each other, for example, telescopically, for space-saving storage and transport, and can be separated again for further processing.

[0020] For this proposal, the storage and transport unit of the assembly system according to the invention has a storage area for assembly components, on the one hand, and for fully assembled containers, on the other. In this storage area, the initial components and / or any preliminary products can, on the one hand, be transported to a specific location where the assembly of the final product is to take place, and can also be removed from the storage area in the storage and transport unit at this location and supplied to the assembly unit. If necessary, this storage area can also serve as an intermediate storage for the manufactured final products, although the manufactured final products are preferably supplied directly for their subsequent use, for example, for filling the manufactured containers with filler material.

[0021] For this proposal, the storage and transport unit and / or the assembly unit have openings that serve Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 13 / 35 9 / 13 as loading and / or unloading hatches.

[0022] In addition, the assembly unit and / or the storage and transport unit comprise external and internal connections, in particular for power supply, especially of an electrical nature, and / or compressed air and / or water supply for the assembly tools, as well as, if necessary, discharge piping(s) for consumable liquids such as water and / or oil.

[0023] For this proposal, the assembly unit and / or the storage and transport unit may each have external connection sockets and / or plugs to connect the corresponding supply lines for electricity, compressed air, water, as well as the corresponding disposal lines. Within the assembly unit and / or the storage and transport unit, the respective supply lines and, if applicable, the disposal lines are routed to the respective assembly tools and supply them with power, compressed air and / or any consumable fluids.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the assembly unit and / or the storage and transport unit also comprises air conditioning, in particular in the form of at least one air conditioning system and / or at least one ventilation device and / or at least one air exhaust device.

[0025] Thus, according to the invention, it is possible, in the assembly unit, as well as optionally also in the storage and transport unit, to define a desired climate, in particular with regard to temperature, humidity and / or atmospheric pressure, such as negative pressure or positive pressure, in order to create an acceptable to pleasant working atmosphere, even in tropical, subtropical or arctic conditions, on the one hand, as well as to process the starting materials to be processed and / or the respective containers. Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 14 / 35 10 / 13 Products produced and / or the goods to be packaged in the manufactured containers must be kept in an ideal atmosphere and protected from any prevailing environmental conditions outside the assembly, storage and transport unit and / or aspirate any substances produced during assembly or released during filling.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the storage and transport unit and the assembly unit are designed to be height adjustable, in particular to be lowered essentially to ground or street level.

[0027] Such individual height adjustment, according to the invention, of both the storage and transport unit and the assembly unit, has the decisive advantage that the respective units of the assembly system, according to the invention, can be adjusted in height relative to each other, independently of the terrain, and thus ideally coupled. Furthermore, in this way, it is also possible to lower the finished product to ground or street level, which simplifies the subsequent transport of the finished products, for example, to a filling unit. Even if the filling of the manufactured containers already occurs in the assembly unit or the storage and transport unit, the subsequent transport of the filled containers is simplified by lowering the assembly system to ground level.

[0028] Furthermore, the objective of the invention is also achieved by a method for assembling containers, in particular barrels, produced essentially of metal, wherein the assembly is carried out in an assembly system according to the descriptions above.

[0029] Furthermore, the objective of the invention is also achieved by using a mounting system according to the descriptions above for the mobile mounting of containers, in particular barrels.

[0030] Other embodiments of the invention result from the claims Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 15 / 35 11 / 13 dependent sharks.

[0031] The invention is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment, which is explained in more detail with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1, a schematic representation of an assembly system according to the invention, according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2, a schematic representation of the mounting system according to the invention, as per Fig. 1, with the side wall open; Fig. 3, a schematic representation of the mounting system according to the invention, as per Fig. 1, in the lowered position; Fig. 4, a schematic representation of the assembly unit of the assembly system according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, with the assembly tool shown; and Fig. 5, an additional view of a schematic representation of the mounting unit of the mounting system according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, with the mounting tool shown schematically.

[0032] In the following description, the same reference numbers are used for identical parts with similar functionality.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an assembly system 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the assembly system 10 is formed by an assembly unit 20 and a storage and transport unit 30, which are coupled together. Both the assembly unit 20 and the storage and transport unit 30 have openings 60 that can serve as loading and / or unloading hatches, with the openings 60 of the storage and transport unit being... Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 16 / 35 12 / 13 can also be used as windows and therefore to illuminate the storage and transport unit 30 and the mounting unit 20. The openings 60 on both sides of the mounting unit 20 can be closed with a folding ramp 70, which can also be used as a ladder if desired. Both the mounting unit 20 and the storage and transport unit 30 are arranged in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1. According to Fig. 1, the storage and transport unit 30 is supported by feet, as is the mounting unit 20, by ramps 70 extended on both sides. It should be noted that this type of installation of the mounting system 10, according to the invention, is only exemplary and schematic, and that the installation of both the mounting unit 20 and the storage and transport unit 30 could be carried out, for example, on a trailer and a truck or on two trucks parked side by side. According to Fig.1. The storage and transport unit 30 is designed as an extendable unit from the mounting unit 20 and, when extended, is supported by feet 80.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows the mounting system 10, according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, with the side wall open, so that the mounting tools 40, installed inside the mounting system 10 in the mounting unit 20, are visible. These mounting tools 40 are fixed and therefore fixed in their sequence for the assembly of a cylinder.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the mounting system 10, according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, in the lowered position, with the respective ramps 70 on both sides closed.

[0036] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show schematic illustrations of assembly unit 20 of the assembly system according to Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 17 / 35 13 / 13 invention, as shown in Fig. 1, with assembly tools illustrated in different views. A rounding device 90° for a prefabricated, demountable container shell is provided near one or more devices 100 for optionally producing at least one bead and / or deburring and / or creasing and / or flanging an upper edge of the container shell to be closed with a lower bottom. Furthermore, near device 100, there is a device 110 for securely connecting a bottom-side closure, in particular a lower bottom of the cylinder to be manufactured, to the container shell. Additionally, a device for testing the tightness 120 of the cylinder is located on the assembly unit 20.

[0037] It should be noted at this point that all the parts described above, viewed individually and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention. Modifications thereof are familiar to those skilled in the art.

[0038] List of reference plates Assembly system Assembly unit Storage and transport unit Assembly tool Storage area Opening Ramp Foot Rounding device 100 Device(s) for deburring and / or creasing and / or flanging and / or producing a bead 110 Device for fixed connection 120 Leak testing device Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 18 / 35

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. Assembly system (10), in particular for assembling containers, in particular barrels, preferably made essentially of metal, characterized in that the assembly system (10) is mobile and comprises at least one transportable assembly unit (20) and at least one storage and transport unit, preferably transportable (30).

2. Assembly system according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly unit (20), as well as, if applicable, the storage and transport unit (30) are designed as a container that can be transported, in particular in a truck or trailer.

3. Assembly system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage and transport unit (30) is designed as part of the assembly unit (20), is extended and / or unfolded reversibly from the assembly unit (20), in particular in the operational state.

4. Assembly system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage and transport unit (30) and the assembly unit (20) can be coupled together, forming a common space, particularly in the operational state.

5. Assembly system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 19 / 35 2 / 4 the assembly unit (20) comprises, preferably as needed, in particular, fixedly mounted assembly tools (40), such as - at least one device for separating assembly components, such as sheet metal, and / or - at least one device for cutting sheet metal; and / or - at least one device for bending and / or rounding sheet metal; and / or - at least one device for joining, preferably welding, edges of sheet metal to form a sheet metal tube; and / or - at least one device for forming at least one bead, each extending around the sheet metal tube along the circumference of the sheet metal tube, in order to increase the mechanical strength of the sheet metal tube body;and / or - at least one device for deburring and / or creasing and / or flanging an edge of sheet metal in order to provide the sheet metal tube with a closure, in particular a bottom or a lid, on at least one side; and / or - at least one device for coating a container internally and / or externally and / or providing it with a covering, in particular a lining; and / or - at least one device for securely connecting the latch, in particular the bottom and / or the lid, to the sheet metal tube by means of at least one seam; and / or - at least one device for testing the tightness of the cylinder, in particular the connection of the bottom and the lid, with the sheet metal tube; and / or - at least one device for carrying the assembly components and / or semi-finished parts;as well as, optionally, - at least one device for subsequent handling of manufactured containers, in particular barrels, such as a filling device and / or a closing device.

6. Assembly system, according to claim 5, characterized in that the assembly unit (20) and / or the storage and transport unit (30) comprises both external and internal connections, in particular for a power supply, especially of an electrical nature, and / or a supply of compressed air and / or water for the assembly tools, as well as, if necessary, discharge line(s) for consumable liquids, such as water.

7. Assembly system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly unit (20) and / or the storage and transport unit (30) further comprise air conditioning, in particular in the form of at least one air conditioning system and / or at least one ventilation device and / or at least one air exhaust device.

8. Assembly system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage and transport unit (30) has a storage area (50) for assembly components, as well as, if necessary, for fully assembled containers.

9. Assembly system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, page 21 / 35 4 / 4 the storage and transport unit (30) and / or the assembly unit (20) have openings (60), in particular loading and / or unloading hatches.

10. Mounting system, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage and transport unit (30) and the mounting unit (20) are height adjustable, in particular to be lowered essentially to ground or street level.

11. Method for the mobile assembly of containers, in particular barrels, produced essentially of metal, characterized in that the assembly is carried out in an assembly system (10) as defined in any of the preceding claims.

12. Use of an assembly system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is for the movable assembly of containers, in particular barrels, which are essentially produced of metal, as well as a method as defined in claim 11. Petition 870250090687, dated 06 / 10 / 2025, p. 22 / 35

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