SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEATING AND / OR COOLING, IN PARTICULAR PASTEURIZING, OF FILLED AND CLOSED CONTAINERS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system and a method for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, closed containers filled with a particularly liquid filling material.

[0002] Devices for heating and / or cooling filled and closed containers are regularly used in automated systems in the consumer goods and / or food industry, e.g. in the form of a pasteurizer.

[0003] Due to the integration of the pasteurizer into an automated system comprising several consecutive machines, there is a need to adapt the system parameters of the individual machines, in particular the transport speeds of the individual machines, in order to ensure a smooth overall process.

[0004] EP 2 833 742 B1 discloses a device in which the transport speed of an internal pasteurizer transport element can be continuously controlled or regulated. When the transport speed is increased, the number of zones serving as preheating zones is reduced while the treatment temperature in these zones is simultaneously increased, and the number of zones serving as pasteurization zones is increased. When the transport speed is reduced, the number of zones serving as preheating zones is increased while the treatment temperature is partially reduced, and the number of zones acting as pasteurization zones is reduced.

[0005] EP 2 702 879 B1 discloses a system and method for temperature control in a temperature processing machine for food containers.

[0006] US 5,772,958 discloses a method and apparatus for pasteurizing a continuous product line.

[0007] Alternatively, an approach is known from the state of the art in which, in the event of limited product availability at the inlet, the pasteurizer stops and resumes operating at full capacity as soon as sufficient product is available. Similarly, if a jam occurs at the outlet, the pasteurizer stops and resumes operating at full capacity once the jam is cleared.

[0008] With this approach, the process control system must assume that full transport capacity is always being achieved at every start-up. To ensure adequate product treatment, the temperature of the treatment medium is raised accordingly. However, if the pasteurizer temporarily stops due to congestion and / or limited product availability at the inlet and / or outlet, this can lead to overpasteurization of the products.

[0009] In view of this, the object underlying the invention is to reduce energy consumption during the heat treatment of filled and closed containers while achieving good pasteurization results.

[0010] This object is achieved by a system according to claim 1.

[0011] The invention provides a system for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, closed containers filled with a liquid product. The system comprises a transport device configured to transport the containers in a transport direction, a device configured to heat and / or cool the containers according to a temperature profile along the transport direction, and a control device configured to control a transport speed of the transport device and the temperature profile. The control device is configured to control the transport speed in temporal alternation between a stop and a nominal transport speed and to control the temperature profile depending on a predicted system parameter.

[0012] The system can in particular be a tunnel pasteurizer.

[0013] Because the transport speed changes between stop and a nominal transport speed, adjusting the temperature profile based solely on the current transport speed would lead to a fairly rapid change in the temperatures in the system. However, since the temperatures in the system are quite sluggish compared to the time within which the transport speed changes (even several times), it seems better to control the temperature profile based on a predicted system parameter than on (only) a current system parameter.

[0014] For example, the change between stop and a nominal transport speed takes place in such a way that only these values ​​are specified for the transport speed by the control system and no intermediate values, such as a transport speed of 30% or 50% or 70% of the nominal transport speed.

[0015] For a fast change between stop and the nominal transport speed (compared to the sluggish temperature control system of the system), caused, for example, by a system load of less than its nominal power, controlling the temperature profile with a predicted system parameter is better than controlling based on the comparatively fast changing actual transport speed.

[0016] Pasteurization can mean briefly heating to temperatures of 60 to 90°C.

[0017] In some cases, the liquid filling is a food, especially a juice or milk.

[0018] Containers can refer to food packaging such as bottles, cans, or canisters. The containers can be sealed with lids and / or closures and / or foil.

[0019] The transport device can be or include a conveyor belt. The transport direction is the direction in which the transport device moves.

[0020] The device designed for heating and / or cooling the containers is intended, for example, to supply the containers with a liquid treatment medium, in particular water, at a controllable and thus adjustable temperature. The desired temperature of the treatment medium is determined by the temperature profile.

[0021] The control device can generate control signals based on data and in particular send the control signals to control devices and / or components.

[0022] The system parameter can include, for example, the transport speed, a number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the length of the full part of a buffer section, the number of (jammed) containers in a buffer section, a receiving and / or output capacity, and / or a system utilization in percent, in each case of the system.

[0023] By controlling the temperature profile depending on the predicted system parameter, which can be an expression of the system's throughput of containers per unit of time in the future, it is possible to determine the expected amount of energy required for heat treatment of the containers and, accordingly, the temperature profile. This solves the underlying task of reducing costs and energy consumption, as well as the negative impact of overpasteurization, in a simple way.

[0024] Here and below, the receiving capacity may refer to the number of containers that can be received. Accordingly, here and below, the output capacity may refer to the number of containers that can be output. The receiving and / or output capacity may be an absolute value or a relative value, particularly relative to the total storage capacity of a storage section.

[0025] Here and below, system utilization is a ratio of the actual throughput of containers per unit of time to the maximum throughput of containers per unit of time. The maximum throughput can be a nominal throughput.

[0026] The system parameter can be an average transport speed of the system.

[0027] The control device is designed to control the transport speed as a function of a number of containers in an inlet and / or outlet of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal profiles and / or an available capacity for receiving containers in the inlet and / or outlet of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal profiles.

[0028] By controlling the transport speed in this way, a jam or shortage at the inlet and / or outlet and thus a critical operating condition and / or operating condition with increased energy consumption is avoided.

[0029] The system may comprise a detection device in the region of the inlet and / or outlet of the system for detecting containers in the region of the inlet and / or outlet of the system. The detection device may comprise a jam switch and / or an image capture device, wherein the control device may, in particular, be configured to control the transport speed based on data from the detection device.

[0030] The detection device in the system inlet and / or outlet area easily records system data that directly influences the system's operating status. The detection device makes it possible to detect containers in the system inlet and / or outlet area and control the transport speed based on the actual presence of containers in the inlet and / or outlet area, particularly in cases of shortages and / or congestion in the inlet and / or outlet. This makes it easy to avoid critical operating conditions and / or operating conditions with increased energy consumption.

[0031] In some cases, the jam switch comprises a movable bracket and a sensor, whereby the bracket is moved as the back pressure increases and the changed position of the bracket is detected by the sensor.

[0032] The image capture device can be, for example, a camera.

[0033] Data from the detection device may mean a signal from the sensor of the jam switch and / or an image from the image detection device.

[0034] The control device can be designed to predict the system parameter based on a transport speed, a number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the length of the full part of a buffer section, a number of (jammed) containers in a buffer section, a receiving and / or output capacity, and / or a system utilization in percent of the system, and / or one or more further systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

[0035] The dependence of the predicted system parameter on one or more system parameters of the system and / or one or more other systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present allows the system parameter to be reliably predicted. An advantage of this type of prediction is that no data other than known, inherent system parameters is required.

[0036] The device can have multiple temperature zones along the transport direction of the containers. The temperature profile can specify controllable temperatures of the temperature zones. Control of the temperature profile can include controlling the temperatures of the temperature zones, whereby each temperature zone can have a uniform temperature.

[0037] The presence of several temperature zones in the device allows the containers to be pasteurized as required.

[0038] In the system, in several temperature zones known as warm-up zones, which can follow one another in the direction of transport, the temperatures can rise from one temperature zone to the next or remain the same. The warm-up zones serve to heat the contents of the containers. In addition, in at least one or more temperature zones known as pasteurization zones that follow the warm-up zones in the direction of transport, the temperature can correspond to a maximum temperature (of the temperature profile). This is where pasteurization of the contents takes place. In addition, in several temperature zones known as cooling zones that follow the pasteurization zones in the direction of transport, the temperatures can decrease from one temperature zone to the next or remain the same. The cooling zones serve to cool the contents of the containers and thus end the pasteurization process in a container.

[0039] By dividing the temperature zones according to functions, control of the heat treatment of the containers is improved.

[0040] In the multiple warm-up zones, temperatures may increase gradually and / or step by step from one temperature zone to the next. The temperatures of the warm-up zones may be lower than the maximum temperature (of the temperature profile).

[0041] In the multiple cooling zones, temperatures may decrease gradually and / or step by step from one temperature zone to the next. The temperatures in the cooling zones may be lower than the maximum temperature.

[0042] The control device can be configured to increase the number of pasteurization zones. This occurs if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, each of the system, increases, and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be dispensed in a unit of time and / or a predicted receiving capacity, each of the system, decreases.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, the control device can be designed to reduce a / the number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, in each case of the system, decreases and / or a predicted number of containers that can be dispensed in a unit of time, and / or a predicted receiving capacity, in each case of the system, increases.

[0044] By adjusting the number of pasteurization zones to predicted system parameters, the heat treatment to be achieved on the containers is controlled as required.

[0045] The control device can be designed to predict the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a unit of time, the output capacity, the number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the receiving capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent based on the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a unit of time, the number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the length of the full part of a buffer section, a number of (jammed) containers in a buffer section, the receiving and / or output capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent of the system and / or one or more further systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

[0046] The reliability of the forecast of the system parameter of the system is improved by the dependence of the forecast system parameter of the system on one or more system parameters of the system and / or one or more other systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

[0047] The invention further provides a method for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, sealed containers filled with a particularly liquid filling material, using a system for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, the sealed containers. The system comprises a transport device configured to transport the containers in a transport direction, a device configured to heat and / or cool the containers according to a temperature profile along the transport direction, and a control device configured to control a transport speed of the transport device and the temperature profile. The control device is configured to control the transport speed in temporal alternation between a stop and a nominal transport speed and to control the temperature profile depending on a predicted system parameter.The method comprises transporting the containers in the transport direction, heating and / or cooling the containers according to the temperature profile along the transport direction, controlling the transport speed of the transport device and the temperature profile, wherein the transport speed changes over time between stop and the nominal transport speed, predicting the system parameter, and controlling the temperature profile depending on the predicted system parameter.

[0048] Such a process enables the temperature profile to be adapted to a predicted system parameter. This solves the underlying problem of reducing costs and energy consumption, as well as the negative impact of heat treatment on the product due to possible overpasteurization.

[0049] According to the method, the transport speed can be controlled depending on a number of containers in an inlet and / or outlet of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal courses and / or an available capacity for receiving containers in the inlet and / or outlet of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal courses.

[0050] By controlling the transport speed in this way, a jam or shortage at the inlet and / or outlet and thus a critical operating condition and / or operating condition with increased energy consumption is avoided.

[0051] The method may include detecting containers in the area of ​​the inlet and / or outlet of the system, wherein the detection may include detecting a jam and / or an image. In particular, the transport speed may be controlled based on the detection data.

[0052] By detecting the inlet and / or outlet of the system, data about the system is easily recorded, which has a direct impact on the system's operating status. This makes it possible to control the transport speed depending on the actual presence of containers in the inlet and / or outlet area, especially in cases of shortages and / or congestion at the inlet and / or outlet. This makes it easy to avoid critical operating conditions and / or operating conditions with increased energy consumption.

[0053] The method may comprise predicting the system parameter based on a transport speed, a number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the length of the full part of a buffer section, a number of (jammed) containers in a buffer section, a receiving and / or output capacity, and / or a system utilization in percent of the system, and / or one or more other systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

[0054] The dependence of the predicted system parameter on one or more system parameters of the system and / or one or more other systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present allows the system parameter to be reliably predicted. An advantage of this type of prediction is that no data other than known, inherent system parameters is required.

[0055] The method may comprise increasing a number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, in each case of the system, increases and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be dispensed in a unit of time and / or a predicted intake capacity, in each case of the system, decreases.Alternatively or additionally, the method may comprise reducing a / the number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, in each case of the system, decreases and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be dispensed in a unit of time, and / or a predicted intake capacity, in each case of the system, increases.

[0056] By adjusting the number of pasteurization zones to predicted system parameters, the heat treatment to be achieved on the containers is controlled as required.

[0057] The method can comprise predicting the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a unit of time, the output capacity, the number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the receiving capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent based on the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a unit of time, the number of containers that can be delivered in a unit of time, the length of the full part of a buffer section, a number of (jammed) containers in a buffer section, the receiving and / or output capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent of the system and / or one or more other systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

[0058] The reliability of the forecast of the system parameter of the system is improved by the dependence of the forecast system parameter of the system on one or more system parameters of the system and / or one or more other systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

[0059] The present invention will be further illustrated by the following exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures, without limiting the invention to the specific embodiments shown. In the figures: Fig. 1 schematically shows a system for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, of closed containers filled with a liquid filling material in a side view and corresponding temperature profile, Fig. 2 a block diagram during operation of the system of Fig. 1for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, closed containers filled with a liquid filling material, in particular, Fig. 3 schematically shows an exemplary temporal course of a transport performance of a pasteurizer, as well as a predicted heat output of the pasteurizer depending on the performance of an upstream filler.

[0060] Fig. 1 illustrates the schematic structure of an embodiment of a system 1 for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, closed containers filled with a liquid filling material. In the system 1 shown, closed containers filled with a liquid filling material are heated and / or cooled, in particular pasteurized.

[0061] Such a system 1 is used, for example, in a block-type plant in the food and / or consumer goods industry for the heat treatment of containers. Upstream, for example, a device for filling and closing the containers is arranged. Downstream, for example, a device for labeling the containers is arranged.

[0062] The Fig. 1 shows containers 3, for example bottles, filled with a product 2, for example, juice or beer. The containers can also be cans or jars. The containers 3 are transported upright in a transport direction 5 on a transport device 4, for example, a conveyor belt.

[0063] During transport, the containers 3 can be supplied from above with a liquid treatment medium 6a, for example water, from outlets of a device 6 for heating and / or cooling the containers 3.

[0064] The temperature of the liquid treatment medium 6a is, for example, controllable zone-by-zone. A temperature profile 7 comprises controllable temperatures 7a-7g of temperature zones 8a-8g. For example, the device 6 comprises seven temperature zones 8a-8g. More or fewer, such as approximately 5 to 12, temperature zones can also be provided. The liquid treatment medium 6a of the specific temperature zone 8x has the specific temperature 7x, where x stands for a, b, c, d, e, f, or g. First temperature zones 8a-c that follow one another in the transport direction 5 are referred to, for example, as warm-up zones. These can be, for example, three, four, or five or more temperature zones. The containers 3 are warmed up in these temperature zones 8a-c. The temperature zones 8a-8c are characterized, for example, by a gradual increase in the corresponding temperatures 7a-7c.Following temperature zone 8c in the transport direction 5 is a temperature zone 8d, referred to as the pasteurization zone, whose temperature 7d corresponds to a maximum temperature of the temperature profile, or whose temperature is so high that a pasteurization effect occurs. Pasteurization of the containers 3 takes place in temperature zone 8d. Temperature 7d is the highest temperature among temperatures 7a-7g. This means that both temperatures 7a-7c and temperatures 7e-7g are lower than temperature 7d. Following temperature zone 8d in the transport direction 5 are the successive temperature zones 8e-8g, referred to as cooling zones. The containers can be cooled in these temperature zones 8e-8g. Temperature zones 8e-8g are characterized, for example, by a gradual decrease in the corresponding temperatures 7e-7g.

[0065] As the containers 3 pass through the temperature profile 7 in the transport direction 5, the temperature of the contents 2 changes according to a temperature curve 9. The temperature curve 9 was determined experimentally by measuring the core temperature in the center of a container 3. The temperature curve 9 rises from an initial temperature of the contents 2 at the beginning of temperature zone 8a in the temperature zones 8a-8d until the maximum temperature is reached in temperature zone 8d, at which the containers 3 are pasteurized. In the temperature zones 8e-8g, the temperature curve 9 decreases.

[0066] The transport device 4 is controlled by a control device 10. This includes, for example, the control device 10 controlling the transport speed 11 of the transport device 4 in temporal alternation between stop and a nominal transport speed.

[0067] The transport speed 11 can be controlled based on data from a detection device 12, for example an image capture device, for example a camera. The detection device 12 is arranged, for example, in the region of an inlet 13 of the system 1 and is provided for detecting the containers 3 in the region of the inlet 13 of the system 1. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device(s) can be arranged in the region of an outlet 14 of the system 1 for detecting the containers in the region of the outlet 14 of the system 1. This latter alternative will not be discussed further below. The detection device 12 in the region of the inlet 13 of the system 1 can continuously detect data, for example images of the containers 3 in the region of the inlet 13. Using known image analysis methods, a number of containers 3 in the inlet 13 can be determined from the data, for example.

[0068] Depending on the determined number of containers 3 in the inlet 13, the control device 10 can control the transport speed 11 of the transport device 4. This includes, for example, the control device 10 stopping the transport device 4 if the number of containers 3 in the inlet 13 falls below a predetermined minimum number and controlling the transport speed 11 to a nominal transport speed if the number of containers 3 in the inlet 13 exceeds a predetermined maximum number. The minimum number is lower than the maximum number.

[0069] Furthermore, the temperature profile 7 can be controlled by the control device 10. Control of the temperature profile 7 includes controlling the temperatures 7a-7g of the temperature zones 8a-8g. The temperature profile 7 is controlled, for example, depending on a predicted system parameter 15, for example, a transport speed of the system. The system parameter 15 is predicted by the control device 10, for example, based on a transport speed of an upstream system 16, for example, a filling machine. Alternatively, the control device 10 can also predict the system parameter 15 based on a transport speed of a downstream system 17, for example, a labeling machine. This latter alternative will not be discussed further below.The upstream system 16 sends information about its current transport speed to the control device. For example, based on this information and the time known to the control device 10 that the containers need to travel from the upstream system 16 to the system 1, the control device can predict the system's future transport speed. Depending on the predicted transport speed of the system 1, the control device 10 can then, for example, set, change, or control the temperature profile 7. The control device 10 can, for example, increase the temperatures 7a-7g of individual temperature zones 8a-8g such that several of the temperature zones 8a-8g have the maximum temperature at which the pasteurization of the containers 3 takes place if the predicted transport speed of the system 1 increases compared to a previous value.On the other hand, the control device 10 can reduce the temperatures 7a-7g of individual temperature zones 8a-8g such that fewer of the temperature zones 8a-8g have the maximum temperature at which the pasteurization of the containers 3 takes place if the predicted transport speed of the system 1 decreases compared to a previous value. At any time, at least one of the temperature zones 8a-8g has a temperature required for pasteurizing the containers 3.

[0070] Fig. 2 shows the sequence of operations of the control device 10 during the operation of the system 1 of the Fig. 1 for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, closed containers filled with a liquid filling material in a block diagram.

[0071] Firstly, the control device 10 receives data, for example images of the containers 3 in the area of ​​the inlet 13, from the detection device 13, for example an image detection device, for example a camera. Using known methods of image analysis, the control device 10 can, for example, determine a number of containers 3 in the inlet 13 from the data. Depending on the determined number of containers 3 in the inlet 13, the control device 10 can control the transport speed 11 of the transport device 4. This includes the control device 10 being able to stop the transport device 4 if the number of containers 3 in the inlet 13 falls below a predetermined minimum number and controlling the transport speed 11 to a nominal transport speed if the number of containers 3 in the inlet 13 exceeds a predetermined maximum number. The minimum number is less than the maximum number.

[0072] Secondly, the control device 10 receives information about the current transport speed of the upstream system 16. Based on this information and the time known to the control device 10 that the containers 3 need to travel from the upstream system 16 to the system 1, the control device 10 can predict the system parameter 15, for example, the transport speed of the system in the future. Depending on the predicted system parameter 15 of the system 1, the control device 10 controls the temperature profile 7 in the future.

[0073] Fig. 3 shows schematically an exemplary temporal course of a transport performance 20 of a pasteurizer, as well as a predicted system utilization 21b of the pasteurizer depending on the performance of an upstream filler 21a.

[0074] In this case, the temporal profile of the transport performance 20 can correspond to a temporal profile of the transport speed 11 of previous embodiments. The higher / lower the transport performance 20 at a given time, the higher / lower the corresponding transport speed 11. The pasteurizer can be an example of a system 1, the upstream filler can be an example of an upstream system 16 from previous embodiments. The predicted system utilization 21b of the pasteurizer can be included in the predicted system parameter of previous embodiments. According to the predicted system utilization 21b of the pasteurizer / the predicted system parameter, the temperature profile 7 can be analogous to the embodiment of the Fig. 1be adjusted. In this example, the power of the upstream filler 21a can correspond to the transport speed of the filler. The higher / lower the power of the filler, the higher / lower the corresponding transport speed.

[0075] In a lower part 19 of the Fig. 3The temporal progression of the filler's 21a performance is shown as an example. From t=-2 min to t=4 min, i.e., in this example, a period of six minutes, the filler's performance is, for example, 50%. Subsequently, from t=4 min to t=10 min, the filler can run at one-third load with 33.3% performance. From t=10 min to t=16 min, the filler's performance can be two-thirds, i.e., 66.6%. In this example, the temporal progression of the filler's 21a performance is two minutes ahead of the predicted system utilization of the pasteurizer 21b. The temporal progression of the filler 21a can serve as a basis for predicting the system utilization of the pasteurizer 21b. In the example shown, the performance curve of the filler 21a can be exactly as far earlier in time than the system utilization curve of the pasteurizer 21b as the containers 3 need to be transported from the filler to the pasteurizer, in this example two minutes.In the present case, the system utilization of the pasteurizer 21b can be predicted according to the performance of the filler 21a. Consequently, the system utilization of the pasteurizer 21b is predicted to be 50% in a first time period 22 from t=0 min to t=6 min, 33.3% in a second time period 23 from t=6 min to t=12 min, and 66.6% in a third time period 24 from t=12 min to t=18 min. According to the predicted system utilization 21b of the pasteurizer / the predicted system parameter, the temperature profile 7 can be calculated in this example analogously to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. Fig. 1 be adjusted.

[0076] In an upper part 20 of the Fig. 3To illustrate this example, the temporal progression of the transport performance of the pasteurizer 20 is shown. The transport performance of the pasteurizer 20, and thus the temporal progression of the transport speed 11, shows in this example a temporal change between stop (0% performance) and a nominal transport speed (100% performance) over all time periods 22, 23, and 24. The current transport performance / transport speed of the pasteurizer can be adjusted depending on the current number of containers in an inlet of the pasteurizer, analogous to the embodiment of the Fig. 2Averaged over a time period 22, 23, or 24, the transport capacity of the pasteurizer 20 in the example shown can be controlled based on the current number of containers in the pasteurizer inlet, with an offset of two minutes, to correspond to the respective capacity of the upstream filler 21a. This achieves continuous operation. Slow filler operation corresponds to alternating transport operation of the pasteurizer with increased stop times, and fast filler operation corresponds to alternating transport operation of the pasteurizer with extended nominal load times. List of reference symbols:

[0077] 1System 2Filling material 3Container 4Transport device 5Transport direction 6Device 6aTreatment medium 7Temperature profile 7a-7gTemperatures 8a-8gTemperature zones 9Temperature curve 10Control device 11Transport speed 12Detection device 13Inlet 14Outlet 15Predicted system parameter 16Upstream system 17Downstream system 18Upper part 19Lower part 20Transport performance of a pasteurizer 21aPerformance of an upstream filler 21bPredicted system utilization of a pasteurizer 22First time period 23Second time period 24Third time period

Claims

1. System (1) for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, containers (3) filled with a particularly liquid product (2) and closed, comprising: a transport device (4) designed to transport the containers in a transport direction (5), a device (6) designed to heat and / or cool the containers according to a temperature profile (7) along the transport direction, and a control device (10) designed to control a transport speed (11) of the transport device and the temperature profile, wherein the control device is designed to control the transport speed in a time-varying manner between stop and a nominal transport speed, wherein the control device is designed to control the temperature profile as a function of a predicted system parameter (15), wherein the control device is designed to control the transport speed as a function of: - a number of containers in an inlet (13) and / or outlet (14) of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal sequences, and / or - an available capacity for receiving containers in the inlet and / or outlet of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal sequences.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the system parameter comprises the transport speed, a number of containers arriving in a time unit, a number of containers that can be delivered in a time unit, a length of the full part of a congestion section, a number of (congested) containers in a congestion section, a receiving and / or delivery capacity, and / or a system utilization in percent, in each case of the system.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a detection device (12) in the area of the inflow and / or outflow of the system for detecting containers in the area of the inflow and / or outflow of the system, wherein the detection device comprises a jam switch and / or an image detection device, in particular wherein the control device is designed to control the transport speed based on data from the detection device.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device is designed to control the system parameters based on a transport speed, a number of containers arriving in a time unit, a number of containers that can be delivered in a time unit, the length of the full part of a jam section, a number of (congested) containers in a congestion section, a receiving and / or output capacity, and / or a system utilization in percent of the system, and / or one or more further systems upstream (16) and / or downstream (17) of the system in the past and / or present.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has several temperature zones (8a-g) along the transport direction of the containers, wherein the temperature profile comprises controllable temperatures (7a-g) of the temperature zones and control of the temperature profile comprises control of the temperatures of the temperature zones, wherein each temperature zone has a uniform temperature in itself.

6. System according to claim 5, wherein in a plurality of temperature zones referred to as warming zones, which follow one another in the transport direction, the temperatures rise or remain the same from temperature zone to temperature zone, and wherein in at least one or more temperature zones referred to as pasteurization zones, which follow the warming zones in the transport direction, the temperature corresponds to a maximum temperature, and wherein, in a plurality of temperature zones designated as cooling zones and following the pasteurization zones in the transport direction, the temperatures decrease or remain constant from temperature zone to temperature zone.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein the control device is designed: - increase the number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, each of the system, increases and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be discharged in a time unit and / or a predicted intake capacity, each of the system, decreases and / or - reduce the number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, each of the system, decreases and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be discharged in a unit of time and / or a predicted intake capacity, in each case of the system, increases.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the control device is designed to determine the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a time unit, the output capacity, the number of containers that can be delivered in a time unit, the intake capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent based on the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a time unit, the number of containers discharged in a time unit, the length of the full part of a congestion section, a number of (congested) containers in a congestion section, the intake and / or output capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent, in each case of the system, and / or one or more further systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.

9. Method for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, containers (3) filled with a particularly liquid filling (2) and sealed, using a system (1) for heating and / or cooling, in particular pasteurizing, the sealed containers (3), comprising: a transport device (4) designed to transport the containers in a transport direction (5), a device (6) designed to heat and / or cool the containers according to a temperature profile (7) along the transport direction, and a control device (10) designed to control a transport speed (11) of the transport device and the temperature profile, wherein the control device is designed to control the transport speed in alternation between stop and a nominal transport speed, wherein the control device is designed to control the temperature profile as a function of a predicted system parameter (15), wherein the method comprises the following steps: transporting the containers in the transport direction (5), heating and / or cooling the containers according to the temperature profile (7) along the transport direction, controlling the transport speed (11) of the transport device (4) and the temperature profile, wherein the transport speed alternates between stop and the nominal transport speed over time, predicting the system parameter (15), and controlling the temperature profile depending on the predicted system parameter.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the transport speed is controlled depending on: - a number of containers in the inlet (13) and / or outlet (14) of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal courses, and / or - an available capacity for receiving containers in the inlet and / or outlet of the system in the past and / or present, in particular their temporal courses.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising detecting containers in the area of the inlet and / or outlet of the system, wherein the detection comprises detecting a jam and / or an image, in particular wherein the transport speed is controlled based on data from the detection.

12. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, comprising predicting the system parameter based on a transport speed, a number of containers arriving in a time unit, a number of containers that can be delivered in a time unit, the length of the full part of a congestion section, a number of (congested) containers in a congestion section, a receiving and / or output capacity, and / or a system utilization in percent, in each case of the system, and / or one or more further systems upstream (16) and / or downstream (17) of the system in the past and / or present.

13. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12 relating to a system according to claim 7 or 8, comprising: - increasing a number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a time unit, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, each of the system, increases and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be discharged in a unit of time, and / or a predicted intake capacity, each of the system, decreases and / or - Reducing the number of pasteurization zones if a) a predicted transport speed, a predicted number of containers arriving in a unit of time, a predicted output capacity, and / or a predicted system utilization in percent, each of the system, decreases and / or b) a predicted number of containers that can be discharged in a unit of time and / or a predicted intake capacity, each of the system, increases.

14. Method according to claim 13, comprising predicting the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a time unit, the output capacity, the number of containers that can be delivered in a time unit, the intake capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent based on the transport speed, the number of containers arriving in a time unit, the number of containers that can be delivered in a time unit, the length of the full part of a congestion section, a number of (congested) containers in a congestion section, the intake and / or output capacity, and / or the system utilization in percent, in each case of the system, and / or one or more further systems upstream and / or downstream of the system in the past and / or present.