Device for transporting and buffering containers on demand

Abstract

An apparatus for transporting and buffering containers on demand, the apparatus comprising: an inlet, in which containers can be transported in a first direction; a distribution zone comprising at least two transport belts which can be moved independently of each other in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein containers can be transported from the inlet to the distribution zone; a buffer zone, to which containers can be transported from the distribution zone, wherein in the buffer zone the containers can be transported and buffered independently of each other in at least two buffer tracks in a third direction transverse to the second direction; an outlet, to which containers can be transported from the buffer zone and in which they can be transported in a fourth direction parallel to the third direction, wherein the apparatus comprises a control unit designed to control the at least two transport belts and the at least two buffer tracks such that the containers, in accordance with their ordering when in the inlet, are transported to the outlet after passing through the buffer zone in substantially the same ordering.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting and on-demand buffered containers according to claim 1, and a method for transporting and on-demand buffered containers according to claim 9. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, devices for transporting and cushioning containers are basically known.

[0003] For example, WO 2024 / 008342 A1 discloses an apparatus for automatically regulating container transport across multiple zones that collectively form a batch transport. The individual conveyor belts and zones can be controlled to achieve the most uniform distribution possible across the entire width of the conveyor.

[0004] However, there is usually a problem in container buffering: the equipment is usually very large and can only respond to changes in process parameters upstream and downstream of the corresponding buffer to a limited extent. Therefore, it is either very difficult to flexibly adjust the performance of the buffer or the buffer needs to occupy a lot of space.

[0005] Purpose

[0006] Based on known existing technologies, the technical objective to be achieved is to provide a device for transporting and buffering containers on demand, which can ensure efficient buffering when operating parameters change, while saving space as much as possible.

[0007] Solution

[0008] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by the apparatus for transporting and on-demand buffer containers according to claim 1 and the method for transporting and on-demand buffer containers according to claim 9. Advantageous improvements of the invention are included in the dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention provides an apparatus for transporting and buffering containers on demand, comprising: an inlet in which transport is permitted along a first direction; a distribution area comprising at least two conveyor belts that are independently movable along a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein containers are conveyed from the inlet to the distribution area; a buffer zone in which containers are conveyed from the distribution area to the buffer zone, wherein in the buffer zone, containers are independently conveyed and buffered along a third direction transverse to the second direction in at least two buffer tracks; and an outlet in which containers are conveyed from the buffer zone to the outlet, and are conveyed along a fourth direction parallel to the third direction, wherein the apparatus includes a control unit designed to control at least two conveyor belts and at least two buffer tracks such that containers are conveyed to the outlet in substantially the same order as when they are in the inlet, after passing through the buffer zone.

[0010] The entrance can be an ordered entrance or implemented as a batch conveyor, and includes one or more conveyor belts for transporting containers. At least in the area where containers enter the distribution area, the entrance is preferably designed to allow containers to be distributed arbitrarily within the entrance and distribution area.

[0011] Each buffer track can be designed to include exactly one conveyor belt. Alternatively, each buffer track may also include at least two or more conveyor belts, wherein these conveyor belts preferably all move at the same speed, or the containers in the relevant buffer track and the corresponding conveyor belt of that buffer track always have the same speed. In the buffer zone, it is preferable not to separate the individual buffer tracks so that containers can be transferred between them. However, this is not mandatory; restrictive elements, such as guides, can be provided at least partially in the buffer zone, extending upwards on a third side to cover at least a portion of the buffer track, thereby preventing containers from transferring from the first buffer track to the adjacent buffer track.

[0012] The control unit can be designed in particular as a computer with associated memory and processor, wherein the memory can store program instructions, which, when executed by the processor, can enable control of the conveyor belt and the buffer track.

[0013] According to the present invention, controlling the conveyor belt and buffer track can be understood as the control unit controlling the drive device, such as a motor, particularly a servo motor, assigned to the relevant conveyor belt and buffer track, thereby being able to adjust the transport speed and / or acceleration and / or deceleration of the container in the relevant conveyor belt or buffer track.

[0014] According to the present invention, "containers are transported to the outlet in substantially the same order after passing through the buffer, according to their order in the inlet" can be understood as the preferred method of transporting containers from the inlet to the outlet in the device according to the first-in-first-out principle. Therefore, containers that first enter the distribution area from the inlet will also first enter the outlet from the buffer.

[0015] However, since the transport of containers in the buffer may not be completely ordered, especially when entering the buffer from the allocation area and when entering the exit from the buffer, the position of the container entering the exit may be slightly different from the original order in the inlet.

[0016] Therefore, the present invention also includes: substantially the same sorting also includes slight redirection or rearrangement of the container order, such that slight changes in the container order or container sorting to achieve a maximum absolute value are possible, for example... a location or a location or a location or The position. Alternatively, the limit of the sorting can be specified by, for example, a relative value related to the maximum buffer capacity, before which the sorting in the outlet is substantially consistent with the sorting in the inlet. For example, it can be designed such that the deviation of the container position from the original sorting does not exceed 0.1% (in units of containers) of the total buffer capacity, or does not exceed 0.2%, 0.5%, or 1%, which, according to the invention, can still be understood as substantially the same as the sorting in the inlet.

[0017] This device allows containers to be flexibly transported through a buffer system when buffering is not required, without altering the container arrangement. Furthermore, by controlling the buffer tracks, buffer capacity can be increased as needed while maintaining the container order. This enables efficient and flexible container transport within the device.

[0018] The control unit can be designed to control at least two conveyor belts and / or at least two buffer tracks according to the required buffer capacity.

[0019] Instead of simply guiding containers through buffer zones or conveyor belts, containers can be buffered within buffer zones by, for example, reducing the transport speed of containers in one of the buffer tracks, allowing them to also enter adjacent buffer tracks. This can be done to ensure that the buffer zones have the necessary buffering capacity while maintaining a substantially identical order of containers arriving at the exit as they enter the inlet. This further enhances the flexibility of the device in buffering containers on demand.

[0020] In one embodiment, the device includes a detector for detecting the throughput of containers in the inlet and / or outlet, and the control unit is designed to determine the necessary buffer capacity based on the detected container throughput.

[0021] Detectors, such as cameras or light barriers, can be placed at the inlet and / or outlet to determine the container throughput at the inlet and / or outlet. Based on this, it can be determined whether the container throughput at the inlet is greater than the container throughput at the outlet, or, if the detector is only placed at one location, whether a predetermined limit value has been exceeded. Based on whether this limit value has been exceeded or based on the difference in container throughput at the inlet and outlet, the necessary buffer capacity can be determined, and the conveyor belt and / or at least two buffer tracks can be controlled accordingly. This allows for targeted responses to changing conditions (e.g., upstream or downstream conditions of the equipment) by adjusting the buffer capacity.

[0022] The control unit can be designed to determine the necessary buffer capacity based on at least one operating parameter indicating the container inflow and / or container outflow of the device. This operating parameter may be the throughput of a container handler upstream of the device (defining the container inflow) and / or the container throughput of a container handler downstream of the device (defining the container outflow), or a combination of these parameters. The necessary buffer capacity can be adjusted based on possible differences in these throughputs and / or based on whether the throughput upstream or downstream of the device exceeds or falls below predetermined limits.

[0023] It can be designed to control at least two conveyor belts and / or at least two buffer tracks, including controlling the transport speed and / or controlling the acceleration of containers on at least two conveyor belts and / or at least two buffer tracks. By adjusting the transport speed or acceleration (which also includes the deceleration of containers), it is possible to flexibly respond to changes that may occur throughout the container transport process, thereby adjusting the buffer capacity.

[0024] The inlet and / or outlet may include a multi-row container conveyor. Specifically, a multi-row container conveyor may be designed as a single conveyor belt arranged in parallel, in which containers can be transported in a single row. The conveyor belt may be at least partially separated by separating elements (such as guides) to allow for the orderly transport of containers in the relevant conveyors. This then allows the containers to be reliably distributed to, for example, multiple container handling machines.

[0025] The device may include a steering element for turning containers from the inlet into the distribution area, and / or the device may include a guiding element that narrows the buffer toward the outlet and can guide containers in the buffer toward the outlet.

[0026] The steering element can be designed, for example, as a curved guide to transfer containers from the inlet to the distribution area. Containers are conveyed against the steering element in the inlet and transferred to the distribution area due to its curvature and the container pressure generated by subsequent containers, where they are then transported in the opposite direction.

[0027] The guiding element can also be designed as a curved or non-curved guide plate, but facing the outlet direction. The container is transported in the buffer zone against this guide plate and is conveyed towards the outlet direction due to the resulting container pressure or force. In this way, the container can be easily transferred to the relevant area.

[0028] The design can be such that, viewed from a third-party perspective, the exit is located in the area to the left or right of the buffer zone. This implementation is particularly desirable if containers pass through the buffer zone from the left or right in the outermost buffer track. This reduces the distance the containers need to travel within the buffer zone. Alternatively, the design can be such that, viewed from a third-party perspective, the exit is located approximately in the middle of the buffer zone. "Approximately in the middle" here refers to the area within the buffer zone extending from 0.25 times the buffer zone length upwards to 0.75 times the buffer zone length, preferably from 0.4 times the buffer zone length to 0.6 times the buffer zone length.

[0029] The present invention also provides a method for transporting and buffering containers on demand by means of an apparatus for transporting and buffering containers on demand, the apparatus comprising: an inlet in which transport is carried out in a first direction; a distribution area comprising at least two conveyor belts that are independently movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein containers are transported from the inlet to the distribution area; a buffer area in which containers are transported from the distribution area to the buffer area, wherein in the buffer area containers are independently transported and buffered in at least two buffer tracks in a third direction transverse to the second direction; and an outlet in which containers are transported from the buffer area to the outlet and are transported in a fourth direction parallel to the third direction, wherein the apparatus includes a control unit that controls at least two conveyor belts and at least two buffer tracks such that containers are transported to the outlet in substantially the same order as they were in at the inlet, after passing through the buffer area.

[0030] This method enables flexible transport and buffering of containers while reducing space requirements.

[0031] It can be designed such that the control unit controls at least two conveyor belts and / or at least two buffer tracks according to the necessary buffer capacity. This implementation allows for flexible handling of varying operating parameters downstream and upstream of the device, especially during container transport.

[0032] The device can be designed such that it includes detectors for detecting the throughput of containers in the inlet and / or outlet, and a control unit determines the necessary buffer capacity based on the detected container throughput, and / or the control unit determines the necessary buffer capacity based on at least one operating parameter indicating the container inflow and / or container outflow of the device. This embodiment allows the necessary buffer capacity to be adjusted according to the container inflow and outflow.

[0033] In one embodiment, the system is designed to control at least two conveyor belts and / or at least two buffer tracks, including controlling the transport speed and / or controlling the acceleration of containers in the at least two conveyor belts and / or at least two buffer tracks. This allows for flexible adjustment of container transport in the conveyor belts and buffer tracks, enabling reliable regulation of buffer capacity.

[0034] The inlet and / or outlet may include a multi-row container conveyor. In this implementation, containers can be fed into or removed from multiple container handlers.

[0035] The device may include a steering element that turns the container from the inlet into the dispensing area, and / or the device may include a guiding element that narrows the buffer toward the outlet and guides the container in the buffer toward the outlet.

[0036] This implementation method allows for easy allocation of containers and targeted redirection of container flows.

[0037] From a third-party perspective, the exit can be located in the area to the left or right of the buffer zone. This implementation method can shorten the distance the container travels, especially when the container only passes through the buffer zone, thereby improving the efficiency of container transportation. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 An embodiment of a device for transporting and buffering containers on demand.

[0039] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a method for transporting and on-demand buffer containers according to one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an apparatus 100 according to one embodiment is shown. The apparatus 100 is used to transport containers 130, such as bottles, cans, etc., in the beverage processing, cosmetics, or medical technology industries. The invention is not limited in terms of container design.

[0041] The device 100 can be arranged, in particular, between two container handlers 160 and 170. The design of the container handlers 160 and 170 is not limited. For example, the container handler 160 can be a filling machine or a sealing machine for filling and / or sealing containers. A combined filling and sealing machine that performs filling and sealing can also be arranged in the same machine. The container handler 170 can be, for example, a decorating device or an inspection device. As a decorating device, it can be designed, for example, as a labeling machine or printing machine capable of applying one or more decorative elements (such as labels or printed patterns) to containers. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and there are other feasible embodiments of the container handlers 160 and 170.

[0042] The device 100 includes an inlet 101 through which containers can be conveyed into place. The inlet 101 may be designed, for example, as a batch conveyor for the generally disordered conveying of containers 130, but may also optionally include a plurality of conveyor belts 111, which may optionally be spaced apart from each other, at least in sections of the inlet 101, by guides or restraints (e.g., guide plates), so that containers may be transported in an orderly manner, either in the respective conveyor belts or in the channels formed by the conveyor belts and restraints, at least before the contiguous distribution area 102.

[0043] The container is transported in inlet 101 along a first direction T1. In the view shown here, direction T1 extends from left to right. Inlet 101 may be driven by a drive element 150 (e.g., one or more servo motors).

[0044] The device 100 also includes a dispensing area 102. Containers can be conveyed from the inlet 101 to this dispensing area. For this purpose, a deflector element 191 may be provided at the end of the inlet 101, which may be designed, for example, in the form of a curved guide. The container moves against the curved guide in the inlet 101 and is propelled along the deflector element 191 by the movement of one or more conveyor belts beneath it, which, due to its curvature, transfers the container to the dispensing area 102.

[0045] Distribution area 102 includes at least two independently driveable conveyor belts 121 and 122. These conveyor belts are arranged to transport containers along a second direction T2, opposite to the first direction T1. Conveyor belts 121 and 122 may each include their own drive element, or be connected to their own drive element, such that the transport speed and / or acceleration and / or deceleration of containers in each conveyor belt can be independent of the other conveyor belts. There is no limitation on the number of conveyor belts in the distribution area; therefore, at least two or more conveyor belts can be provided, such as three, four, or five or more. In this case, these conveyor belts are designed to be independently driveable.

[0046] In addition, the device 100 includes a buffer 103. The buffer includes two buffer tracks 131 and 132. These buffer tracks are designed to transport containers independently of each other. For example, each buffer track may include a conveyor belt that can be moved by a drive element (e.g., a servo drive) in a third direction T3 transverse to the second direction T2 to transport containers from the distribution area toward the outlet 104.

[0047] However, it can also be designed such that buffer zone 103 includes more than one conveyor belt in each buffer track 131, 132.

[0048] According to the present invention, the buffer track should be understood to mean that, regardless of the number of conveyor belts on each buffer track, the containers in each buffer track (i.e., possibly each conveyor belt of the relevant buffer track) are transported at exactly one transport speed, wherein the transport speed of the containers in the various buffer tracks may be different.

[0049] To enable the container to be transferred from the dispensing area 102 to the buffer zone 103, additional steering or guiding elements 192 may be provided. These steering or guiding elements, due to their curvature, will deflect the container moving against the steering element 192 towards the buffer zone 103 within the dispensing area. It is advantageous to design the position and / or shape of the guiding element to be mechanically adjustable. For example, the guiding element 192 may be designed as a plate and mounted on a guide that allows the entire guiding element to translate. To move the guiding element 192 along the guide, a drive element, such as a servo motor, may be provided. Alternatively or supplementarily, one or more regions of the guiding element 192 may be relatively movable. For this purpose, each region may be fixedly connected to an actuator (e.g., an actuator driver). The profile of the guiding element 192 can be changed by (e.g., automatically) operating at least one actuator. In this embodiment, the guide element can be a one-piece design (e.g., implemented as a plate) or a multi-piece design, wherein the elements forming the guide element 192 can be relatively movable, and each element is preferably connected to exactly one separate actuator to change the profile of the guide element 192.

[0050] This causes the containers to be distributed in buffer 103.

[0051] According to the invention, viewed from direction T3, an outlet 104 is provided opposite the distribution area, from which containers can be conveyed from the buffer zone 103 to the outlet. Specifically, it can be designed such that, viewed from a third direction T3, the outlet 104 is located to the left or right or approximately in the middle of the buffer zone or at least one buffer track, so that containers can be conveyed from the buffer track to the outlet 104. To also transfer containers from other buffer tracks, additional guiding elements 193, which are curved, can be provided in the buffer zone 103, causing containers moving against the guiding elements 193 to deflect toward the outlet 104.

[0052] This can be designed such that, for example, in... Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, when direction T1 extends from left to right, direction T2 extends from right to left, and direction T3 extends from top to bottom, the outlet 104 is located to the left of the buffer 103 in the top view of the device. This ensures that when it is not necessary to buffer the container in the buffer 103, the container can be directly transported to the outlet 104 via the first buffer track 132 without buffering. In this case, the buffer 103 only serves as a transport device, which can cover the distance between the distribution area and the outlet 104.

[0053] If the directions are reversed, i.e., the first direction T1 extends from right to left, the second direction T2 extends from left to right, and the third direction T3 extends from top to bottom again, then exit 104 can be located at... Figure 1 The right side of the buffer in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, in one embodiment, it can be designed such that the outlet 104 is always located on one side of the buffer, from which the container in the inlet 101 is conveyed.

[0054] In principle, the entrance and exit can be located on the same side of the buffer or on opposite sides of the buffer.

[0055] According to the invention, the device 100 also includes a control unit 180, which is designed to control the conveyor belts 121 and 122 in the distribution area and the buffer tracks 131 and 132 in the buffer zone 103, such that containers arriving at the entrance 101 in a specific order (i.e., container number order) arrive at the exit in substantially the same order.

[0056] Control of the transport speed and / or acceleration and / or deceleration of containers in the various conveyor belts or buffer tracks can be based specifically on container flow measured by detectors 181, 182 (e.g., cameras or light barriers) at the inlet and outlet or upstream of the inlet and downstream of the outlet. Alternatively or supplementarily, this control can also be based on operating parameters otherwise accessible to the control unit, particularly the throughput of container processors 160 and 170. For example, if a difference is found between the container throughput in container processor 160 and container throughput in container processor 170, the buffer capacity of the buffer can be adjusted by regulating the transport speeds in the various buffer tracks 131 and 132 according to the magnitude of this difference.

[0057] The control unit may, for example, be equipped with a deterministic algorithm to determine the necessary settings for the transport speeds in the conveyor belts and / or buffer tracks to achieve a specific buffer capacity. For this purpose, the control unit may include, for example, a memory, particularly a lookup table-type memory, in which specific container throughputs upstream and downstream of the device correspond to specific sets of transport speeds in the respective conveyor belts and buffer tracks. Then, based on the measured or transmitted throughput, the stored speed combinations can be selected and set by the control unit.

[0058] Alternatively, the control unit may include a trained neural network that is substantially known in the prior art (particularly WO 2024 / 008342 A1). This neural network can be trained to determine the most suitable speed combination for each conveyor belt and buffer track based on various combinations of upstream and downstream container throughput. This implementation allows for as much flexibility and complete adaptation as possible to any combination of downstream and upstream container throughput.

[0059] The training of a neural network can be performed as described below.

[0060] First, a digital twin model of the device (specifically all transport and buffer belts) can be created using simulation software (game / physics engine). Then, simulations can be run multiple times using a suitable Design of Experiment (DOE) or sequentially, preferably with different belt speeds in each simulation. During the simulation, the occupancy rate of a predefined area is determined to estimate the uniformity of bottle distribution at the inlet. After collecting this data, an environmental model is created to investigate other (unseen) scenarios / belt speeds and their impact on bottle distribution.

[0061] Subsequently, actual occupancy rates at different belt speeds can be measured, for example, using cameras or other sensors, and various simulations can be performed again to obtain one or more real-world datasets. These real-world datasets are then used to optimize the parameters of the trained environment model. The AI ​​model is trained to minimize differences between different areas and maximize the uniformity of bottle distribution. If access to the machine is not practically available, the trained model can be tested and / or optimized on a physics engine (game-engine data). A reasonably known reward model can be used during optimization and training, which assigns a reward for correctly determining a specific belt speed occupancy, thereby optimizing the parameters of the AI ​​model (neural network) so that it can correctly determine the belt speed and reduce erroneous belt speed determinations as training progresses.

[0062] The actual training phase can be accomplished through direct interaction with the optimization model, where the agent interacts with the environment by manipulating the conveyor belt speed at each defined time step. This continuous interaction occurs at least during a period of time in the transport of the container's mass flow rate, or from the beginning to the end of the container's mass flow rate. The mass flow rate distribution, measured using a camera / sensor (representing the distribution of mass flow rate), can be included as an evaluation function for the agent, providing a series / combination of values ​​for evaluating the belt speed along multiple defined time steps. The agent's goal is to obtain the optimal evaluation value, thereby achieving a uniform distribution of mass flow rate.

[0063] There are several methods that can be used to measure occupancy.

[0064] For example, a camera and associated image processing software can be used to selectively assign pixels to containers within the images recorded by the camera. By identifying and labeling pixels belonging to containers, the number of container pixels in a specific predefined region is determined, and then this number is subtracted from the total number of pixels in that region. This allows the determination of occupancy. A segmented model can then be used, trained with labeled data (pixels and related information, i.e., whether a pixel is a container) and defined categories. Alternatively, a model that requires no training can be used. This type of AI model searches for pixels belonging to specific labels (e.g., using similarity analysis) and identifies them within defined regions.

[0065] As an alternative or supplementary solution, ultrasonic sensors can also be used to determine occupancy. For example, an ultrasonic sensor is placed above the inlet and oriented to emit waves toward the tape and identify reflections from containers. For instance, the sensor emits one or more ultrasonic waves of a specific frequency. These waves travel through the air and bounce back when they encounter an object. The sensor identifies the reflected waves. The time it takes for the wave to return is measured. Based on the time of flight (the round trip time), the sensor calculates the distance between it and the object. If the measured distance is less than the distance to an empty tape, it indicates the presence of an object. By continuously measuring distances at different points along the tape, the sensor can determine the occupancy rate. By integrating data on time and tape width, the total occupancy rate—how much of the tape is occupied by containers—can be calculated. This data can be used for training and / or operation.

[0066] As an alternative or supplementary solution, one or more light barriers can be used to determine occupancy. These light barriers use beams of light (visible or infrared) to identify the presence or absence of an object. The light barrier detects the presence of an object when the beam emitted by it is interrupted (transmissive and retroreflective) or when the light is reflected back (diffuse). Multiple light barriers can be used to cover different sections of the strip (e.g., in the entrance) and provide data on the presence of containers along the length of the strip.

[0067] While the above description largely assumes that models are created and / or trained based on container size and / or shape, it can be designed such that, for each container size and / or shape, a model is first created and / or trained to determine, for example, the belt speed at which a specific occupancy rate is achieved. These models can then be combined to obtain a closed model applicable to each container size and / or shape, which can then be used in operation. This model can then determine the container size and / or shape during operation based on measurements taken during operation, or by providing the container size and / or shape to the model upon startup and / or change of container type. Based on this information, along with occupancy rate values ​​measured during operation, the belt speed can be optimized.

[0068] Figure 2 This illustrates a feasible implementation of a method for transporting and on-demand buffer containers, which can utilize... Figure 1 The apparatus of the embodiment shown is used to implement this.

[0069] Method 200 begins with step 201, in which the apparatus is operated at predetermined speeds for the respective conveyor belts and buffer belts. This could be a state where the containers are not buffered in the buffer zone, but rather, as previously described, the containers simply pass through the buffer zone. Alternatively, it could be a state where the containers have already been partially buffered in the buffer zone to compensate for the difference in container throughput between the inlet and outlet.

[0070] Use combination Figure 1 The detectors 181 and 182 can detect the container throughput at the inlet or outlet, or upstream of the inlet and downstream of the outlet, in step 202. As previously mentioned, this detection can also be accomplished by correspondingly passing throughput characteristic parameters of the downstream or upstream container handling machines (e.g., container handling machines 160 and 170).

[0071] Then, the control unit can compare the container throughput in step 203. Specifically, it can check whether the difference in container throughput exceeds a certain limit. This limit can be determined, for example, based on the current difference in container throughput, and can be set as a relative value of a larger or smaller container throughput. Differences in absolute values ​​below this limit (i.e., whether positive or negative) can be ignored because the required change in transport speed is, for example, too small. As an alternative to determining whether the difference in container throughput is greater than or less than the limit, the transport speed of the conveyor belt and / or buffer track can also be controlled using any obtained difference in container throughput that differs from the current difference.

[0072] In step 204, the necessary buffer capacity is determined based on the difference. Specifically, this may include determining the number of containers that must be stored in the buffer per unit time based on the difference in container throughput. For example, if the throughput difference is 500 containers / minute, meaning that 500 fewer containers can pass through the outlet than enter the device via the inlet, then 500 containers / minute must be temporarily stored in the buffer and cannot be directly transported to the outlet. If the difference is negative, meaning the number of containers flowing out of the outlet exceeds the number flowing in via the inlet, then the buffer capacity is negative, or the number of containers buffered in the buffer must be reduced based on the flow difference. Again, assuming the difference in this case is -500 containers / minute, meaning that 500 more containers flow out of the outlet than flow in via the inlet, then an additional 500 containers must be transferred from the buffer to the outlet per minute.

[0073] After determining the necessary buffer capacity, the speed combination of the conveyor belt and buffer track can first be determined in step 205 and then set. After setting, the device can be run at the new conveyor belt and buffer track speed in step 206 so that the device can operate at the newly set speed.

[0074] The speed is always determined based on the principle that the order of the containers at the outlet is basically consistent with the order of the containers at the inlet.

[0075] To increase buffer capacity, the transport speed in the buffer track closest to the exit is, in principle, reduced. This prevents as many containers from flowing directly from the distribution area to the exit, instead crowding into the buffer track adjacent to the first buffer track. Depending on the degree of speed reduction in the buffer track closest to the exit, containers are distributed to at least one other buffer track, but it is also possible to distribute them to multiple other buffer tracks, thereby further increasing the buffer capacity. By appropriately setting the transport speeds in the distribution area and the buffer zones, and optionally through targeted structuring of the steering and guiding elements, it is possible to maintain the container's order upon arrival at the exit, compared to the order at the inlet.

[0076] This does not necessarily require the buffer to be sorted in the same way as the ingress, because containers can be distributed across different buffer tracks.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting and on-demand buffer containers, the apparatus comprising: An entrance, in which transport can proceed in a first direction; A distribution area, comprising at least two conveyor belts that can move independently of each other along a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein containers can be conveyed from the inlet to the distribution area; a buffer zone, into which containers can be conveyed from the distribution area, wherein in the buffer zone, the containers can be conveyed and buffered independently of each other along a third direction transverse to the second direction in at least two buffer tracks; and an outlet, into which containers can be conveyed from the buffer zone to the outlet, and in the outlet, containers can be conveyed along a fourth direction parallel to the third direction, wherein the device includes a control unit designed to control the at least two conveyor belts and the at least two buffer tracks such that containers, in the same order as when they were in the inlet, are conveyed to the outlet in substantially the same order after passing through the buffer zone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the at least two conveyor belts and / or the at least two buffer tracks according to the necessary buffer capacity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus includes a detector for detecting the throughput of containers in the inlet and / or the outlet, and the control unit is configured to determine the necessary buffer capacity based on the detected container throughput.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the necessary buffer capacity based on at least one operating parameter indicating the container inflow and / or container outflow of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein controlling the at least two conveyor belts and / or the at least two buffer tracks includes controlling the transport speed and / or controlling the acceleration of the containers in the at least two conveyor belts and / or the at least two buffer tracks.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inlet and / or the outlet comprises a multi-row container transport.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the apparatus includes a steering element for turning a container from the inlet into the dispensing area, and / or wherein the apparatus includes a guiding element that narrows the buffer zone toward the outlet and can guide a container in the buffer zone toward the outlet.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, viewed from the third party, the outlet is arranged in the region to the left or right of the buffer zone.

9. A method for transporting and on-demand buffer containers using an apparatus for transporting and on-demand buffer containers, the apparatus comprising: An entrance, in which transport is carried out in a first direction; A distribution area, comprising at least two conveyor belts that can move independently of each other along a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein containers are conveyed from the inlet to the distribution area; a buffer zone, into which containers are conveyed from the distribution area, wherein in the buffer zone, containers can be conveyed and buffered independently of each other along a third direction transverse to the second direction in at least two buffer tracks; and an outlet, into which containers are conveyed from the buffer zone to the outlet and conveyed along a fourth direction parallel to the third direction, wherein the device includes a control unit that controls the at least two conveyor belts and the at least two buffer tracks such that containers are conveyed to the outlet in substantially the same order as when they were in the inlet, after passing through the buffer zone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control unit controls the at least two conveyor belts and / or the at least two buffer tracks according to the necessary buffer capacity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus includes a detector for detecting the throughput of containers in the inlet and / or the outlet, and the control unit determines a necessary buffer capacity based on the detected container throughput, and / or wherein the control unit determines the necessary buffer capacity based on at least one operating parameter indicating the container inflow and / or container outflow of the apparatus.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein controlling the at least two conveyor belts and / or the at least two buffer tracks includes controlling the transport speed and / or controlling the acceleration of the containers in the at least two conveyor belts and / or the at least two buffer tracks.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the inlet and / or the outlet comprises a multi-row container transport.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device includes a steering element that turns the container from the inlet into the dispensing area, and / or wherein the device includes a guiding element that narrows the buffer zone toward the outlet and guides the container in the buffer zone toward the outlet.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein, viewed from the third party, the outlet is arranged in the area to the left or right of the buffer zone.

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