Device for grouping containers

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for grouping transported containers, for example bottles, in particular in a container treatment plant. State of the art

[0002] In container treatment plants, containers such as bottles, cans, etc., are treated in several successive process steps. These process steps are generally carried out in separate treatment units, which can be combined, for example, as modules of a common plant concept. A container treatment plant for glass or plastic bottles, e.g., made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PEP), etc., can, for example, include a blow molding machine, filling machine, labeling machine, packaging machine, sterilization machine, inspection machine, etc., as separate, modular treatment units.The individual treatment units, which carry out successive process steps, are generally connected in series, with one or more transport devices taking over the transport of the containers from the treatment units to the respective downstream treatment units.

[0003] The execution of successive process steps by the separate treatment units of the system, as well as the transport between the treatment units, thus corresponds to the known principle of assembly line processing, in which a continuous flow of containers to be treated through the treatment units arranged in series is achieved by means of suitable control processes with regard to the process duration of the individual process steps and / or the quantity of containers transported per unit of time from one treatment unit to the next. In the systems known in the prior art, the transport of the containers between the treatment units is realized by means of conveyor belts and, if necessary, by means of a multitude of separate transport elements in the form of carriers, which hold the containers or preforms by means of suitable holding devices, e.g.Specially shaped gripping units pick up containers at a receiving point, transport them through a series of successive treatment units, and finally deliver them to a discharge point. The containers are generally transferred to the numerous transport elements at the receiving points by appropriately designed feeders and, correspondingly, received from the numerous transport elements at the discharge points by appropriately designed dischargers. Both the feeders and dischargers, as well as the individual container treatment units, convey or treat the containers at a rate of containers per unit of time, which is specified by the operator or a control system depending on the container being treated, the process step, and / or the treatment unit performing the task.

[0004] DE 20 2016 101207 U1 describes a transport device with a transfer guide that enables bottles to be transferred transversely to a transport direction. In particular, a lifting device for raising and lowering a transfer guide for moving the bottles perpendicular to their transport direction on a conveyor belt to a second transverse conveyor belt and a storage position, which can be designed as a further linear conveyor, can be provided. DE 10 2012 201059 A1, which discloses the preamble of claim 1, describes a device for diverting products perpendicular to a transport direction on a conveyor belt by means of a carriage driven by a linear motor and associated diverters. The YouTube video "AQFlex XS: advanced performance and unique agility in a compact design" by Gebo Cermex, 5.May 2017, a portal device for a motor unit designed to move a transfer device for transferring containers is shown.

[0005] For seamless and effective production, containers should arrive at the respective treatment unit or conveying device at predetermined, constant time intervals or at a constant, predetermined speed of the transport elements with predetermined, constant spatial distances, the so-called division of a (product) stream.

[0006] Although the processing rate of the individual treatment units and / or the conveying rates of the conveying equipment are typically controllable or adjustable within certain limits, deviations from the specified rate, i.e., from the specified time interval or the specified spatial interval between two successive transport elements, generally lead to production delays, since the processing rates of the individual treatment units can only be adjusted with a time delay.

[0007] In particular, gaps in the otherwise regular production flow of containers pose significant challenges for the control of treatment units, as these units must temporarily slow down when a gap occurs before returning to normal speed. This generally results in a loss of valuable production time. However, the occurrence of gaps in the production flow of container treatment systems is a common occurrence, arising, for example, from the detection of defective containers and their subsequent rejection.

[0008] On the other hand, predetermined groupings and thus desired spacings between individual container groups may be intended; however, such groupings are not easily technically feasible in the prior art.

[0009] The present invention aims to achieve an improved grouping of containers during their transport in a container treatment plant. Description of the invention

[0010] The above-mentioned task is solved by a device for grouping containers, with a first conveyor belt for transporting the containers in a first transport direction; a container receiving device; a second conveyor belt arranged between the first conveyor belt and the container receiving device; a transfer device configured to transfer at least some of the containers transversely to the first transport direction from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt and to transfer at least some of the containers transferred to the second conveyor belt transversely to the first transport direction to the container receiving device; a first rail system aligned parallel to the first transport direction; a second rail system aligned parallel to the first transport direction;a first motor device, in particular a long stator motor device, which is arranged above the first conveyor belt, the second conveyor belt and the container receiving device, and which is designed to move the transfer device for transferring the respective containers, wherein the transfer device comprises a first shuttle element movable along the first rail system with a number of engagement elements, each of which extends at least partially transversely to the first transport direction, so that the transfer device is designed, by means of the engagement elements, to group the respective containers on the second conveyor belt and / or the container receiving device and to transfer the respective containers;and a second motor assembly, in particular a second long-stator motor assembly, which is arranged above the first conveyor belt, the second conveyor belt and the container receiving device and offset in the first transport direction relative to the first motor assembly and is configured to move a second shuttle element along the second rail system, wherein the second shuttle element is coupled to the first shuttle element, in particular via a connecting rod, so that by a relative movement of the coupled first and second shuttle elements in the first transport direction the engagement elements can be guided transversely to the first transport direction.

[0011] The transfer device can be designed to slow down the containers transferred onto the second conveyor belt and / or to move and / or group them in the opposite direction to the first transport direction.

[0012] The examples of a device for grouping containers described above can be used in a container treatment plant.

[0013] Using the embodiments of the device according to the invention described above, methods for grouping containers and diverting defective containers that do not undergo manipulation by the transfer device and thus remain on the first conveyor belt can be carried out.

[0014] Further features and exemplary embodiments, as well as advantages of the present invention and examples that are not part of the invention but serve to illustrate its understanding, are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It is understood that these embodiments do not exhaust the scope of the present invention. It is further understood that some or all of the features described below can also be combined in other ways. Figures 1a, 1b and 1c represent a device for grouping containers according to an example that is not part of the present invention. Figure 2 shows an engagement of engagement elements of a sliding device that is in the Figures 1a, 1b , 1c The device shown is placed in a container stream. Figure 3 illustrates a transfer of containers from an infeed conveyor to an intermediate conveyor that leads into the Figures 1a, 1b , 1c device shown. Figures 4a and 4b illustrate groupings on a container receiving station in the Figures 1a, 1b , 1c device shown. Figure 5a, 5b , 5c and 5d represent an example of a device for grouping containers according to the present invention. Figure 6 shows an engagement of engagement elements of a sliding device that is in the Figures 5a, 5b , 5c The device shown is placed in a container stream. Figure 7illustrates a transfer of containers from an infeed conveyor to an intermediate conveyor that leads into the Figures 5a, 5b , 5c device shown. Figure 8 illustrates part of a push-over device, which is located in the Figures 1a to 1 and 5a to 5c The device shown can be used. Figure 9 shows details of the in the Figure 8 illustrated part of a transfer device.

[0015] An exemplary device 100 for grouping containers, which is not part of the present invention, is described in the Figures 1a, 1b and 1c shown. Further details are in the Figures 2 and 3 The device comprises a first conveyor belt in the form of an infeed belt 10, onto which containers 1 of a container stream 2 are conveyed. Individual containers 1 are separated from one another on the infeed belt by dividing gaps (a container divider) 3. As shown in Figure 1bAs shown, larger undesirable gaps 4, for example due to the loss of containers, can occur in the container flow 2 on the infeed conveyor belt 10. On the other hand, a defective container to be diverted is Figure 1a Designated with reference numeral 5. Reference numeral 6 in Figure 1 shows a damaged container remaining on the infeed conveyor belt 10 after the overthrow / grouping described below, and thus diverted.

[0016] Containers within the meaning of the invention are, in particular, beverage bottles, but also other containers for food, medicines, hygiene products, cleaning agents, or the like, such as cans, glass bottles or other glass containers with lids, packaging based on cardboard or composite materials, Tetra Pak, or similar. The containers 1 can simply stand on the infeed conveyor 10 or be located on respective transport elements / carriers.

[0017] The device 100 further comprises a second conveyor belt (intermediate belt) 11, a container receiving device (a transverse system) 12, and a long-stator motor system A arranged above the infeed belt 10, the intermediate belt 11, and the container receiving device 12. The system includes movable shuttle elements 26 with engagement elements (paddles) 13, a long-stator linear motor 14, and a rail system 15, which function as a transfer device 28. The direction of movement 20 of the shuttle elements 26 corresponds to the conveying direction 18. The intermediate belt 11 can run at the same speed as the infeed belt 10 and parallel to it, and it can be part of the infeed belt 10, for example, a widening of the same, or it can be designed separately from the infeed belt 10.

[0018] The container receiving device 12 includes means for moving transferred containers, and these means may include a conveyor belt. For example, the transferred containers may be placed on support elements attached to a conveyor belt of the container receiving device 12, positioned transversely to the direction of transport 18 (see reference numeral 19 in Figure 1). Figure 1a ) are transported and grouped. Containers, such as container 6 in Figure 1 , which are not manipulated by the intervention elements 13, remain on the infeed conveyor 10.

[0019] The long stator motor system A can be vertically mounted (in the z-direction; see reference numeral 22 in ) using a portal system (YZ linear axis portal system) 16, 17. Figure 1c ) and perpendicular to the direction of travel (transport direction) 18 of the infeed conveyor 10, i.e. in the y-direction 21 of the Figure 1cThe shuttle elements 26 with engagement elements 13 are arranged one behind the other on the rail system 15 and can be moved in or against the transport direction 18 by means of the long stator linear motor 14. The engagement elements 13 serve to transfer selected containers 1 from the infeed conveyor 10 onto the intermediate conveyor 11 or the container receiving device 12.

[0020] The intervention of the intervention elements 13 in the container flow 2 of the container 1 is in Figure 2 The intervention can be performed from above (from the z-direction) and / or perpendicular to the transport direction 18 (from the y-direction), and it can be performed in such a way that initially no contact occurs with a container 1 on the infeed conveyor 10. For this purpose, the portal system 16, 17 can move the long stator linear motor A with the shuttle elements 26 accordingly. The intervention can be controlled via a control device of the apparatus 100 (not shown).

[0021] Figure 3 Figure 1 illustrates the transfer of containers 1 from the infeed conveyor 10 to the intermediate conveyor 11, which also runs in the transport direction 18 and can, for example, run at the same speed as the infeed conveyor. In the examples shown, the engagement elements 13 have an L-shaped geometry, with one part of the L being parallel to the transport direction 18 and the other part of the L being perpendicular to it.

[0022] During operation, the engagement elements 13 can be synchronized with the containers 1 to be manipulated, so that each container 1 to be manipulated is assigned a shuttle element 26 with engagement element 13. After synchronization, the containers 1 on the infeed conveyor 10 and the shuttle elements 26 of the long-stator motor system A move parallel to each other at the same speed and direction, and the part of the engagement element 13 oriented perpendicular to the transport direction 18 is located at a relatively small distance in the transport direction 18 in front of the container 1 to be manipulated, as can be seen from the Figures 2 and 3 as is evident.

[0023] For the transfer, the containers 1 are gripped by the engagement elements 13, as shown in Figure 3As shown. More precisely, the containers 1 are pushed from the infeed conveyor 10, with the parts of the L oriented parallel to the transport direction 18, onto the intermediate conveyor 11 transversely to the transport direction, being supported by the parts of the L oriented perpendicular to the transport direction 18. In the Figure 3 At the position shown, containers 1 are removed from the container stream 2 of the infeed conveyor 10 and can be further manipulated independently of it. For example, containers subsequently entering via the infeed conveyor 10 can overtake the containers pushed onto the intermediate conveyor 11 in the transport direction 18.

[0024] The containers pushed onto the intermediate conveyor belt 11 can be slowed down or moved against the direction of transport 18 by means of the engagement elements 13, specifically the part of the L oriented perpendicular to the transport direction 18, by means of a movement of the shuttle elements 26 caused by the long stator linear motor 14. This movement can create closed rows or groups of containers (grouped in the transport direction 18) on the intermediate conveyor belt 11. In the case of relatively large gaps 4 in the container flow 2 on the infeed conveyor belt 10, a closed row of containers can be created on the intermediate conveyor belt 11 by means of two or more successive pushing operations (strokes).

[0025] Using the shuttle elements 26 with the engagement elements 13, the containers pushed onto the intermediate belt 11 can be pushed further transversely to the transport direction 18 onto the container receiving device 12. For example, the long stator motor system A can be moved by the portal system 16, 17 perpendicular to the transport direction 18 (x-direction) in the y-direction. In particular, containers grouped in the transport direction 18 can be pushed from the intermediate belt 11 onto the container receiving device 12, as shown in Figure 4a as shown, or a container row 7 closed in the transport direction 18 can be pushed from the intermediate belt 11 onto the container receiving device 12, as shown in Figure 4bAs shown. On the container receiving device 12, the containers can be moved further perpendicular to the transport direction, in particular grouped. Thus, container groups 9 grouped in the x and y directions, or container rows 7 grouped in the y direction and closed in the x direction, can be created on the container receiving device 12 (see Figures 4a and 4b ). The grouping of the containers on the container receiving device 12 can be achieved by appropriate timing of support elements moving in the y-direction (for example on a circulating belt).

[0026] The moved / grouped containers can then be fed from the container receiving station 12 to a processing station, for example, one or optionally several packaging machines with different packaging formats. It can also be provided that, after grouping on the container receiving station 12, the containers are picked up by one or more automated guided vehicles (AGVs) 340 of potentially different sizes, or they can be palletized on the container receiving station 12 so that the pallets can be picked up by an AGV / AGV 340. The AGV / AGV 340 can, for example, pick up and store the pallets on several levels and can simultaneously or sequentially supply the container receiving station 12 with empty pallets.

[0027] After the containers have been transferred from the intermediate conveyor 11 to the container receiving device 12, the long stator motor system A with the long stator linear motor 14, the rail system 15, the shuttle elements 26 with the engagement elements 13 is raised vertically (in the z-direction) by the YZ linear axis portal system 16, 17 to a height at which the lower edges of the engagement elements 13 are above the height of the upper edges of the newly entering containers on the infeed conveyor 10, and the shuttle elements are moved back to their starting position against the transport direction 18 and the y-direction, so that a new grouping operation can be carried out.

[0028] An example of a device 200 according to the invention for grouping containers is shown in the Figures 5a, 5b , 5c and 5d shown. Elements that are the same as those shown in the Figures 1a to 1c The items shown have the same reference symbols. The description of the Figures 1a to 1cThis applies accordingly. Unlike the one in the Figures 1a, 1b and 1c The configuration shown indicates the one in the Figures 5a to 5d The device 200 shown comprises two long-stator motor systems A, B, each with a long-stator linear motor 14, 25 and a rail system 15. The long-stator motor systems A, B are arranged parallel to each other and offset from each other in the transport direction 18. Shuttle elements 16, 26 of both long-stator motor systems A, B can be moved by the long-stator linear motors 14, 25 in a direction of movement 20 parallel to the transport direction 18.

[0029] The shuttle elements 26 of the long stator motor system A have engagement elements (paddles) 13 that are identical to those described above. The shuttle elements 26 of the long stator motor system A with the engagement elements (paddles) 13 constitute a transfer device 28. The shuttle elements 16 of the long stator motor system B do not have such engagement elements. The shuttle elements 16 of the long stator motor system B are connected to the engagement elements 13 of the shuttle elements 26 of the long stator motor system A via connecting rods 24, as shown in Figure 5c The connection via the connecting rods 24 is such that the engagement elements 13 are displaced transversely to the transport direction 18 by increasing the distance between the shuttle elements of the long stator motor systems A, B in the transport direction 18.

[0030] As in the Figure 3 In the example shown, the intervention elements 13 can be L-shaped (see Figure 6The engagement elements 13 are attached to corresponding shuttle elements 26, which can move in the rail system 15 of the long stator motor system A and furthermore have counter-holding elements 23 aligned parallel to the transport direction 18 (see Figure 6 Of course, such counter-holding elements 23 can also be used in the Figure 3 The configuration shown is provided for. The containers 1 of the container stream 2 entering on the infeed conveyor 10 then run after synchronization between the engagement elements 13 and the counter-holding elements 23 (see Figure 5cAfter synchronization, the containers 1 on the infeed conveyor 10 and the shuttle elements 26 of the long stator motor system A, as well as the shuttle elements 16 of the long stator motor system B, move parallel to each other at the same speed and direction, and the part of the engagement element 13 oriented perpendicular to the transport direction 18 is located at a relatively small distance in the transport direction 18 in front of the container 1 to be manipulated, as can be seen from Figure 6 as is evident.

[0031] Using the engagement elements 13 and counterholding elements 23, containers 1 can be moved from the infeed conveyor 10 to the intermediate conveyor 11 and from there to the container receiving device 12 (see Figure 7During the sliding process, the counter-holding element 23, the part of the L-shaped engagement element 13 that is aligned parallel to the transport direction 18, and the part of the L-shaped engagement element 13 that is aligned perpendicular to the transport direction 18 move synchronously, so that the manipulated container remains continuously supported from three sides for safe sliding.

[0032] The movement of the engagement elements 13 perpendicular to the transport direction 18 is caused by an increase in the distance between coupled shuttle elements 26 of the long stator motor system A and shuttle elements 16 of the long stator motor system B by a correspondingly controlled movement of the shuttle elements 16 by the long stator linear motor 14 and / or of the shuttle elements 26 by the long stator linear motor 25.

[0033] The containers pushed onto the intermediate belt 11 can in turn be slowed down using the engagement elements 13, namely using the part of the L oriented perpendicular to the transport direction 18, or moved against the transport direction 18, whereby closed rows or groups of containers (grouped in the transport direction 18) can be created on the intermediate belt 11.

[0034] In device 200, as above with reference to the one in the Figures 1a to 1cThe device 100 shown is described in which the containers, which have been pushed onto the intermediate belt 11, are further pushed transversely to the transport direction 18 onto the container receiving device 12. In particular, containers grouped in the transport direction 18 can be pushed from the intermediate belt 11 onto the container receiving device 12, or a row of containers closed in the transport direction 18 can be pushed from the intermediate belt 11 onto the container receiving device 12. On the container receiving device 12, the containers can be moved further perpendicular to the transport direction, in particular grouped. Thus, container groups 9 grouped in the x- and y-directions, or container rows 7 grouped in the y-direction and closed in the x-direction, can be produced, as already described previously with reference to the Figures 4a and 4b was described.

[0035] Both the ones in the Figures 1a to 1c The device shown, 100, as well as those in the Figures 5a to 5dThe device 200 shown allows for reliable, desired container grouping without interrupting a subsequent container flow delivered on the infeed conveyor 10. Devices 100 and 200 can each have more than one infeed conveyor 10 and / or intermediate conveyor 11, so that different container types can be selectively fed to the container receiving device 12. By grouping the containers on the intermediate conveyor 11, gaps 4 of any size in the container flow 2 on the infeed conveyor 10 can be buffered.

[0036] Thus, a container stream 2 with relatively small gaps 3 and relatively large gaps 4, which are created, for example, by lost containers, as well as with defective containers 6, can be processed in such a way that defective containers 6 are discharged on the infeed conveyor without manipulation and grouped container formations are provided by the container receiving device 12 for further processing. For further processing, the devices 100 and 200 can have one or more workstations, for example packaging stations, downstream of the container receiving device 12.

[0037] As described above, the containers are manipulated using a transfer device with engagement elements. A specific example of a component design for a transfer device is described below. Figure 8Figure 1 shows a container 1, in this case an example of a plastic bottle, on an infeed conveyor 10. An intermediate conveyor 11 and a container receiving device 12 are also indicated (see description above). A sliding device 300 includes an L-shaped engagement element 333 for sliding the container 1 onto the intermediate conveyor 11. A counter-holding plate 312 is attached to a counter-holder 302. Figure 8 The sliding device 300 is shown in an open position, allowing the container to pass on the infeed conveyor 10. Details of the sliding device 300 are shown in the Figures 9a and 9b illustrated.

[0038] The sliding device 300 can be moved via a displacement mechanism 312, which is connected to one of the aforementioned movable satellite elements 26. Thus, according to this example, the sliding device 300 and its associated satellite element 26 can form a transfer device. A container can be transferred from the infeed conveyor 10 to the intermediate conveyor 11 by means of a movement mediated by the satellite element transverse to the direction of travel of the infeed conveyor 10, using the engagement elements 333 and the counter-holding plate 312. A movable spacer 305 is movably mounted on guides 316.

[0039] The movable spacer 305 allows adaptation to varying container dimensions of the containers 1 to be manipulated. A selected distance y1 can be set by pressing a locking device 317, which is mounted in the spacer 305, onto a rack 310 by means of a spring 313. The spacer 305 can be fixed to a counter-holder 312, to which the counter-holding plate 323 is attached, by means of a magnet 304. The counter-holder 312 in turn has a magnet 304' below a stop 303. The resulting closed state of the sliding device 300, in which a container 1 can be manipulated, is described in Figure 9b Shown in top view. In this state, a container 1 can be safely pushed from the infeed conveyor 10 to the intermediate conveyor 11 and the container receiving device 12, being supported against tipping over by the L-shaped engagement element 333 and the counter plate 323.

[0040] When two sliding devices 300 move together along a rail system, for example along a rail system of a long stator motor system (see above), in the x-direction, i.e. parallel to the direction of travel of the infeed conveyor 10, the adjusting pin 311 of one of the two sliding devices 300 presses against a corresponding adjusting flange 308 of the other of the two sliding devices 300, thereby pressing the locking device 307, which is mounted in the x-direction, into the spring 313, thus releasing the connection between the locking device 307 and the rack 310. When the two sliding devices 300 move apart again, the spring 313 pushes the locking device 307 back into the rack 310, so that a securely closed state of the sliding device 300 can be restored.

Claims

1. Device (100, 200) for grouping containers (1), comprising a first conveyor belt (10) for transporting the containers (1) in a first transport direction (18); a container receiving device (12); a second conveyor belt (11) which is arranged between the first conveyor belt (10) and the container receiving device (12); a transfer device (28) which is configured to transfer at least some of the containers (1) from the first conveyor belt (10) to the second conveyor belt transversely to the first transport direction (18), and to transfer at least some of the containers (1) transferred to the second conveyor belt to the container receiving device (12) transversely to the first transport direction (18); a first rail system oriented in parallel to the first transport direction (18); a second rail system oriented in parallel to the first transport direction (18); a first motor device (14), in particular a long stator motor device, which is arranged above the first conveyor belt (10), the second conveyor belt (11), and the container receiving device (12), and which is configured to move the transfer device (28) for transferring the respective containers (1), wherein the transfer device (28) comprises a first shuttle element movable along the first rail system with a number of engagement elements of which each at least partially extends transversely to the first transport direction (18), so that the transfer device is configured, by means of the engagement elements, to group the respective containers (1) on the second conveyor belt (11) and / or the container receiving device (12) and to transfer the respective containers (1); and a second motor device (25), in particular a second long stator motor device, which is arranged above the first conveyor belt (10), the second conveyor belt (11) and the container receiving device (12) and which is configured to move a second shuttle element along the second rail system, and wherein the second shuttle element is coupled to the first shuttle element, in particular via a coupling rod, such that by a relative movement of the coupled first and second shuttle elements in the first transport direction the engagement elements can be guided transversely to the first transport direction; characterized in that the second motor device (25) is arranged offset, in the first transport direction (18), with respect to the first motor device (14).

2. Device (100, 200) according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device (28) is configured to slow down the containers (1) transferred to the second conveyor belt and / or shift them against the first transport direction (18) and / or group them.