METHOD FOR DIVISING CONTAINERS ONTO A MACHINE DIVISION AND CONTAINER TREATMENT MACHINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for dividing plastic containers into a machine division of a treatment machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and a treatment machine according to the preamble of claim 7.

[0002] From WO 2017 / 190853 A1, a treatment machine for plastic containers with an infeed star wheel for dividing the containers onto a machine division is known. Accordingly, treatment machines, such as labeling machines, typically include a container infeed in which a straight-line flow of containers is separated and directed onto the machine division of the treatment machine. The separated containers are then transferred to the treatment machine by an infeed star wheel.

[0003] Especially for singulating and dividing PET containers filled with product, single-separation star conveyors have proven advantageous over single-separation screws due to the reduced stress and / or damage to the container surfaces during singulation / dividing. This is primarily because the transport pockets of the single-separation star conveyors do not grip the containers by their side walls, but rather by their neck and / or closure areas. Since the side walls of the containers play only a minor role in the production of the transport dividers, single-separation star conveyors are also more flexible with regard to processing different container formats. Such single-separation star conveyors are described, for example, in DE 10 2015 224 731 A1 and DE 10 2008 020 116 A1. A generic method and a generic processing machine are known from WO 01 / 42113 A1.

[0004] However, a problem has emerged: despite comparatively low container back pressure, uncontrolled collisions of individual containers repeatedly occur at the inlet to the sorting star wheel, and such instabilities at the inlet persist until the containers are transferred to a subsequent inlet star wheel and / or the following machine carousel. To make matters worse, the containers are suspended by their necks and / or closures as they are picked up, sorted, and transferred from the sorting star wheel.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for improved methods and devices for dividing containers into a machine division of a treatment machine, particularly with regard to more stable operation when creating the transport division and during the subsequent transfer to the following transport means of the treatment machine.

[0006] The stated problem is solved by a method for dividing plastic containers into a machine division of a processing machine according to claim 1. The containers are made of plastic, and in particular of PET. Preferably, they are containers filled with product.

[0007] Accordingly, a rotating star wheel picks up containers transported in a vertical position in an infeed direction by their neck and / or closure areas at a distance equal to the machine division and transports the containers in this manner until they are transferred to an infeed star wheel. According to the invention, the transport direction of the containers changes by at least 90° from the infeed direction until they are transferred to the infeed star wheel.

[0008] This allows the first process step, namely the allocation of the containers to the machine dividers, to be spatially separated from the second process step, namely the transfer of the containers to the infeed star wheel. Consequently, the transport movement and position of the containers brought to the machine dividers can be reliably stabilized before transfer to the infeed star wheel. In particular, the allocation of the containers and the transfer to the infeed star wheel can be better decoupled from the subsequent flow of containers at the infeed to the divider star wheel.

[0009] Preferably, the single-stage star wheel guides the containers onto the machine indexing within an angular segment of no more than 60°, starting from the infeed direction. This means that the containers are carried in their target position, defined with respect to the transport pockets of the single-stage star wheel, no later than after passing through this angular segment. Consequently, the containers have the specified distance between their necks and / or closures at the machine indexing at the latest after passing through this angular segment.

[0010] Preferably, the containers are held by their necks and / or closures in transport pockets integrated into the star wheel and pushed upright towards the infeed star wheel. This ensures both gentle handling of the containers at their necks and / or closures and continuous stabilization of their upright position through contact with the ground in the star wheel area. This means that the containers are not transported without ground contact in the star wheel area, but are pushed along while resting on a suitable sliding surface.

[0011] Furthermore, the containers are guided laterally around the single-piece star wheel from the outside by means of a guide rail at their neck and / or closure areas. This means that the neck and / or closure areas are pushed forward in the direction of rotation by the transport pockets of the single-piece star wheel and are guided laterally by at least one external guide rail along a circular arc segment.

[0012] Furthermore, the containers are guided laterally around the single-piece star from the inside by means of a guide rail. The neck and / or closure areas can then be guided or centered between the guide rails running on both sides with respect to a predetermined partial circle. This enables particularly stable and reproducible guidance of the neck and / or closure areas.

[0013] Preferably, the containers are guided laterally around the star wheel, at least from the outside, by means of a roller railing. This allows the containers to be additionally stabilized laterally against the centrifugal forces acting on the star wheel, for example, without placing any significant mechanical stress on the side walls. In particular, this method also prevents scratching of the side walls.

[0014] Preferably, the containers are also guided laterally around the single-section star from the inside by means of a roller railing along their side walls. This further stabilizes the lateral guidance with respect to a partial circle of the single-section star.

[0015] According to the invention, the containers enter the conveyor belt while standing upright and are pushed off the belt by the separating star wheel at their neck and / or closure areas, particularly in a lateral direction. This allows stabilizing contact between the containers and the ground to be maintained during transfer from the conveyor belt. Furthermore, the side walls of the containers can be protected from mechanical damage.

[0016] Preferably, the containers are picked up at the infeed starwheel by actively controlled clamps below their neck and / or closure areas. This enables reliable container pick-up even at comparatively high machine speeds. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable to pick up the containers from an infeed starwheel with transport pockets and permanently attached external guide rails or similar devices.

[0017] The stated problem is also solved with a treatment machine according to claim 7. Accordingly, this machine is suitable for treating plastic containers, in particular for treating filled plastic containers, such as PET bottles.

[0018] The treatment machine comprises at least one indexing star for dividing the containers onto a machine division of the treatment machine and a subsequent infeed star, wherein the indexing star has an infeed direction for the containers to be divided and defines a transport direction when the divided containers are transferred to the infeed star. According to the invention, the infeed direction and the transport direction include a deflection angle of at least 90°.

[0019] This allows the advantages described in claim 1 to be achieved. Furthermore, deflection angles of 90-135° and, in particular, 90-115° are practical.

[0020] Furthermore, the single-section star wheel features transport pockets arranged at intervals corresponding to the machine division, facilitating the transport of containers at their neck and / or closure areas. Consequently, the side walls of the containers can be relieved of stress and protected from mechanical damage during the production of the transport division.

[0021] Preferably, the transport pockets are bounded by front, partially convexly curved guide flanks and rear drive flanks. This allows the neck and / or closure areas to slide relatively smoothly into the transport pockets and subsequently be positively engaged by the drive flanks. Consequently, the containers can be moved from the drive flanks to the transport divider within a relatively small deflection angle and are therefore in a stable and reproducible position relative to the transport pockets when taken over by the subsequent infeed star wheel.

[0022] Preferably, the infeed star is a clamping star for actively gripping the containers at their side walls. The clamping star then comprises individually controllable clamps, for example with two overlapping fingers on one clamp leg and a finger positioned between them with respect to height on the other clamp leg, in order to achieve an orthogonal position of the container on the infeed star.

[0023] According to the invention, the processing machine further comprises an infeed conveyor for the upright transport of the containers and preferably a sliding surface for the containers, adjoining the infeed conveyor and extending peripherally around the segmenting star wheel to the infeed star wheel. The bottom sections of the containers then slide on the sliding surface along their transport path around the segmenting star wheel. This enables a structurally simple yet effective stabilization of the containers in a proper upright position during the creation of the transport segment and during further transport to the infeed star wheel.

[0024] Furthermore, the treatment machine includes at least one guide rail adjoining the infeed conveyor for the lateral and, in particular, bilateral guidance of the neck and / or closure areas around the single-piece star. This allows the neck and / or closure areas to be reliably guided along a circular arc segment along the single-piece star until they are transferred to the infeed star. Guide rails on both sides enable guidance that is essentially centered or centered with respect to a partial circle of the single-piece star.

[0025] Preferably, the treatment machine further comprises at least one roller guard adjoining the infeed conveyor for guiding the containers laterally and, in particular, on both sides around their side walls around the single-spindle star. This enables additional stabilization of the containers and, with guidance on both sides by means of roller guards, a guidance of the containers that is essentially central or centered with respect to the pitch circle of the single-spindle star.

[0026] Preferably, the single-piece star wheel includes a co-rotating cover plate for the neck and / or closure areas, wherein the cover plate is designed such that, when the container is in an orthogonally upright position, it has clearance to the neck and / or closure areas and acts as a mechanical stop upwards when the container is tilted and / or lifted. This further stabilizes the position of the containers within the single-piece star wheel to reliably ensure proper transfer of the containers to the infeed star wheel.

[0027] A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 is a top view of the treatment machine; and Figure 2 is a partial view with schematically indicated guide rails and roller railings; and Figure 3 is a schematic radial section through an edge area of ​​the single-piece star.

[0028] As the Figure 1As can be seen, the treatment machine 1 for containers 2 made of plastic, such as PET bottles filled with product, comprises a dividing star 3 for dividing the containers 2 onto a machine division 4 of the treatment machine 1 and an infeed star 5 adjoining the dividing star 3.

[0029] The inlet star 3 has a schematically indicated inlet direction 6 for the containers 2 to be divided and a transport direction 7 when the divided containers 2 are transferred to the inlet star 5. In this example, the inlet direction 6 and the transport direction 7 include a deflection angle 8 of the container flow of 90°.

[0030] As can be seen in particular from the Figure 2 As can be seen, the single-piece star 3 has transport pockets 9 arranged at the interval of the machine division 4 for carrying the containers 2 at their neck and / or closure areas 2a. The latter are in the Figure 3 schematically recognizable.

[0031] The transport pockets 9 are bounded by front, convexly curved guide flanks 9a and rear drive flanks 9b. Each neck and / or closure area 2a initially runs along a guide flank 9a and into the respective transport pocket 9 until the neck and / or closure area 2a abuts the drive flank 9b and is carried along by it at the rotational speed of the indexing star 3 in a manner known in principle. This enables gentle handling and largely format-independent transport and division of the containers 2 onto the predetermined transport division 4. The infeed star 5 is preferably designed as a clamping star with individually controllable clamps 10. The clamps 10 can be individually controlled by moving the clamp legs 10a, 10b towards each other, for example, by means of a control cam.To stabilize the containers 2 in the clamps 10, for example, one of the clamp legs 10a, 10b can each have only a single finger, while the other clamp leg can have one finger positioned above and one below it. This stabilizes a substantially upright orthogonal position of the containers 2 when they are transferred into the infeed star 5. As the... Figure 1 As can be further seen, the treatment machine 1 also includes an infeed conveyor 11 for the upright transport of the containers 2. Above the infeed conveyor 11, guide rails 12, 13 are arranged for guiding the neck and / or closure areas 2a of the containers 2 on both sides. With respect to the pitch circle of the cutting star 3, one guide rail 12 is located on the outside, the other guide rail 13 on the inside. The guide rails 12, 13 on both sides guide the neck and / or closure areas 2a essentially centrally with respect to a predetermined path of movement towards and around the cutting star 3. In the Figure 1This is only visible for the outer guide rail 12 with respect to the path of movement, as the inner guide rail 13 with respect to the path of movement is concealed in the area of ​​the single-piece star wheel 3. The guide rails 12, 13 enable particularly precise guidance of the neck and / or closure areas 2a during / after entering the transport bags 9 until the transfer of the containers 2 to the infeed star wheel 5.

[0032] In the Figure 3 The guide rails 12, 13 are schematically indicated in a section plane radial to the axis of rotation 3a of the single-piece star 3.

[0033] According to the Figure 3 Optionally, and preferably on both sides in the area of ​​the single-section star 3, roller railings 14, 15 are provided for the side walls 2b of the containers 2. The curved course of the roller railings 14, 15, which are concealed in the top view, is shown in the Figure 2schematically indicated by dashed lines. The roller railings 14, 15 guide the side walls 2b of the containers 2 in a particularly material-friendly manner.

[0034] The same applies to the roller guardrails 14, 15: they do not necessarily have to be present on both sides of the movement path of the containers 2. The outer roller guardrail 14 is particularly advantageous for stabilizing the containers 2 against the centrifugal forces acting on them in the area of ​​the single-section star wheel 3.

[0035] In the Figure 3 Furthermore, a sliding support 16 for the bottom areas 2c of the containers 2 can be seen. The sliding support 16 connects directly to the infeed conveyor 11 and extends into the transport area of ​​the infeed star wheel 5. This is partially visible in the Figure 2 to recognize.

[0036] The sliding support 16 can also be referred to as a transfer support. The sliding support 16 enables the containers 2 to be transported in a consistently upright position both in the area of ​​the indexing star 3 and in the area of ​​the infeed star 5. This ensures that the correct, namely the upright orthogonal, transport position of the containers 2 remains consistently stable during the manufacturing transport division 4 and during the transfer to the infeed star 5.

[0037] To further stabilize the transport position, a cover plate 17 is used which rotates with the single-piece star 3 and limits it upwards, and which, when the containers 2 are in a properly orthogonally upright position, has a clearance 18 to the neck and / or closure areas 2a or to closures 2d located thereon.

[0038] The play 18 allows, on the one hand, the unimpeded threading of the neck and / or closure areas 2a into the transport bags 9 and, on the other hand, limits unwanted tipping and / or lifting of the containers 2 from the properly upright transport position, for example when pushing the containers 2 forward on the sliding base 16. In the Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates, by way of example, an infeed star wheel 5, a subsequent linear transport means 19, and an associated treatment unit 20. This is intended to clarify that, in addition to the described infeed area with the parting star wheel 3 and the infeed star wheel 5, the treatment machine 1 has at least one treatment unit 20, for example, a labeling unit, for treating the containers 2. The transport means 19 of the treatment machine 1 is preferably a transport carousel, in the periphery of which at least one treatment unit 20 is arranged in a known manner.

[0039] Treatment system 1 can be used, for example, as follows.

[0040] The containers 2 are preferably conveyed in a straight line and continuously on the infeed conveyor 11. The containers 2 are preferably product-filled and sealed plastic containers, such as PET bottles. The containers 2 enter the infeed conveyor 11 upright and preferably without gaps, with comparatively low back pressure. Their side walls 2b are preferably guided on both sides by friction-reducing roller rails, and the neck and / or closure areas 2a of the containers 2 are threaded between the guide rails 12, 13.

[0041] The guide rails 12, 13 guide the neck and / or closure areas 2a preferably below support rings formed thereon. Even in the area of ​​the guide rails 12, 13, the containers 2 remain upright in contact with the infeed conveyor 11.

[0042] The containers 2 enter the infeed area of ​​the single-section star wheel 3 one after the other, each entering a transport pocket 9, and are then carried along by its drive flanks 9b at a distance equal to the machine division 4. This process step, i.e., the creation of the transport division 4, preferably takes place within a single step in the Figure 2The schematically indicated angular segment 22 deviates by a maximum of 60° and, in particular, a maximum of 45°. This establishes the transport division 4 and stabilizes the upright transport position before the containers 2 reach the area of ​​the infeed star 5, i.e., before the start of the process step of transferring the containers 2 to the clamps 10 of the infeed star 5. Between the infeed direction 6 of the containers 2 and their transport direction 7 during transfer to the infeed star 5, the containers are deflected by at least 90° and travel essentially along a circular segment-shaped path. The neck and / or closure areas 2a remain continuously engaged with the drive flanks 9b of the transport pockets 9.

[0043] The containers 2 are guided laterally throughout the entire transport area of ​​the single-section star wheel 3 by the guide rails 12, 13 and preferably by at least one of the roller rails 14, 15. During the transfer of the containers 2 to the infeed star wheel 5, the containers 2 slide essentially upright on the sliding surface 16.

[0044] When the container flow is redirected at the single-section star wheel 3 from the infeed direction 6 to the transport direction 7, the containers are initially pushed by the transport bags 9 at their neck and / or closure areas 2a from the infeed conveyor 11 onto the subsequent sliding surface 16, whereby the containers 2 maintain continuous contact with the ground. The cover plate 17 essentially prevents the containers 2 from rising and / or tipping over, or at least limits this to a predetermined extent.

[0045] The containers 2 are gripped by the controllable clamps 10 of the inlet star 5 below their neck and / or closure areas 2a and transferred to a downstream transport means 19 of the treatment machine 1.

[0046] For the sake of simplicity, in the Figure 1 A conveyor belt is shown at this point. Preferably, however, the subsequent transport means 19 is a machine carousel to which, for example, treatment units 20 for treating the containers 2 are peripherally docked. The transfer of the containers 2 from the infeed star wheel 5 to the transport means 19 takes place in a manner known in principle and is therefore not described in detail.

[0047] With the described treatment machine 1 and the described method for dividing the containers 2 onto the machine division 4 of the treatment machine 1, filled plastic containers, such as PET bottles filled with beverages, can be processed in a particularly gentle manner and with flexibility with regard to the processing of different container formats.

[0048] For format adjustments, for example, the single-section star 3 can be adjusted in height in the area of ​​its transport pockets 9 and the cover plate 17, as can the guide rails 12, 13. The roller railings 14, 15 could be exchanged depending on the container cross-section in order to reduce necessary conversion work to a minimum.

Claims

1. A method for distributing containers (2) made of plastic, in particular PET, on a conveying pitch (4) of a treatment machine (1), wherein a rotating distributing starwheel (3) having an inflow direction (6) for the containers (2) to be distributed and a transport direction (7) for transferring the distributed containers (2) to an inflow star wheel (5) of the treatment machine (1) grasps containers (2) arriving in the flow direction in an upright position at their neck and / or closure regions (2a) in the interval of the conveying pitch (4) thus creating the same and continues to convey the containers (2) until they are transferred to the inflow star wheel (5), and wherein the transport direction of the containers (2) changes by at least 90° starting from the inflow direction (6) until they are transferred, characterized in that the containers (2), during inflow, are standing on an inflow belt (11) and are pushed off the inflow belt (11) by the distributing starwheel (3) at their neck and / or closure regions (2a) and in that guiding rails (12, 13) above the inflow belt (11), one of which is arranged outside the pitch circle of the distributing starwheel (3) while the other one is arranged inside thereof, guide the neck and / or closure regions (2a) substantially in the centre of a predetermined trajectory towards the distributing starwheel (3) and around the same.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distributing starwheel (3) makes the containers (2), starting with the inflow direction (6), assume the conveying pitch (4) within an angular segment (22) not larger than 60° such that the containers, after having traversed that angular segment, are driven at target positions defined with respect to transport pockets (9) formed in the distributing starwheel.

3. The method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the containers (2) are driven at their neck and / or closure regions (2a) by transport pockets (9) formed in the distributing starwheel (3) and are pushed towards the inflow starwheel (5) in an upright position.

4. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers (2) are at their side walls (2b) guided at least from outside by means of a roller chain (14, 15) laterally around the distributing starwheel (3).

5. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers (2) are pushed by the distributing starwheel (3) at their neck and / or closure regions (2a) laterally off the inflow belt (11).

6. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers (2) are received at the inflow star wheel (5) by actively controlled clamps (10) below their neck and / or closure regions (2a).

7. A treatment machine (1) for containers (2) made of plastic comprising: a distributing starwheel (3) for distributing the containers (2) to a conveying pitch (4) of the treatment machine (1) and a subsequent inflow starwheel (5), wherein the distributing starwheel (3) has transport pockets (9) arranged in the interval of the conveying pitch (4) for driving the containers (2) at their neck and / or closure regions (2a) and for establishing the conveying pitch (4), an inflow direction (6) of the containers (2) to be distributed (2) and a transport direction (7) for the transfer of the distributed containers (2) to the inflow star wheel (5), wherein the inflow direction (6) and the transport direction (7) include a diverting angle (8) of at least 90°, characterized in that the treatment machine (1) further comprises an inflow belt (11) for supplying the containers (2) in an upright position and guiding rails (12, 13) positioned thereabove for guiding neck and / or closure regions (2a) of the containers (2) from both sides, and in that relative to the pitch circle of the distributing starwheel (3) one guiding rail (12) is arranged outside thereof and the other guiding rail (13) is positioned inside thereof for guiding the neck and / or closure regions (2a) substantially in the centre of a predetermined trajectory towards the distributing starwheel (3) and around the same.

8. The treatment machine according to claim 7, wherein the transport pockets (9) are delimited by front guiding flanks (9a) at least partially convexly curved and rear driving flanks (9b).

9. The treatment machine according to claims 7 or 8, wherein the inflow starwheel (5) is a clamping starwheel for actively enclosing the containers (2) at their side walls (2b).

10. The treatment machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a sliding support (16) for the containers linking up to the inflow belt (11) and extending at the periphery around the distributing starwheel (3) up to the inflow starwheel (5).

11. The treatment machine according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising at least one roller chain (14, 15) linking up to the inflow belt (11) for guiding the containers (2) on their side, in particular on both sides, at their side walls (2b) around the distributing starwheel (3).

12. The treatment machine according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the distributing star wheel (3) comprises a co-rotating cover plate (17) for the neck and / or closure regions (2a) having a clearance (18) relative thereto at an orthogonally upright position of the containers and restricting a tipping and / or lifting of the containers (2) in the upward direction.