Method and system for sorting beverage containers

Abstract

A method (100) for sorting beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) is disclosed, in which packages (12), each containing several beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6), are fed into a detection area of ​​a sensor (17). The sensor (17) detects which beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) in a given package (12) meet predefined target criteria. A manipulator (40) then removes only those beverage containers (3, 4) that meet the predefined target criteria from the respective package (12) and places them on a horizontal conveyor (20), whereupon the beverage containers (3, 4) placed on the horizontal conveyor (20) are transported away via the horizontal conveyor (20).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for sorting beverage containers. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for handling beverage containers.

[0002] In the field of packaging technology, it is often necessary to separate single-variety beverage containers from third-party containers, or to sort the corresponding beverage containers before the single-variety beverage containers are sent for further processing. Single-variety beverage containers are those beverage containers that belong to the company's own production facility and are to be refilled after appropriate cleaning. Third-party containers are those beverage containers that belong to another company and are therefore not cleaned and refilled in the company's own production facility.

[0003] Until now, it has often been the case that single-variety beverage containers and third-party containers are manually separated, and then only the single-variety beverage containers are sent for further processing. Manual separation is cumbersome, time-consuming, and requires at least one skilled person to separate the single-variety beverage containers from the third-party containers.

[0004] Sorting systems also exist that at least assist in separating beverage containers from third-party containers. If beverage containers are contained in packaging, such as a beverage crate, such existing sorting systems can unpack all beverage containers and place them on a shelf, where the single-variety beverage containers are then separated from the third-party containers manually or with the assistance of a handling device.

[0005] In addition, systems are already known in which all beverage containers are removed from a package or crate and arranged in a linear array. All beverage containers then enter a sensor detection zone and are then sorted via conveyor belts, taking the detection into account. The subsequent re-insertion into packaging or crates can be done manually or by a packer.

[0006] Such state-of-the-art systems require a lot of space to provide the corresponding sorting function. Furthermore, the described sorting of beverage containers via conveyor belts often leads to damage to the surfaces of the respective beverage containers, which is also referred to as "scuffing" in practice.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a method for sorting beverage containers arranged in packaging with reduced space requirements. Furthermore, the sorting should be carried out gently and without causing damage or impairment to the outer surfaces of the beverage containers.

[0008] The above object is achieved by the subject matter comprising the features in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] The invention relates to a method for sorting beverage containers, in which packages each containing several beverage containers are fed to a detection area of ​​a sensor system.

[0010] The beverage containers can be, for example, beverage bottles or beverage cans. The packaging can be formed by outer packaging and, for example, by cardboard boxes, each of which can accommodate several beverage containers. In preferred embodiments, the packaging can be formed by beverage crates. Each beverage crate can be designed to accommodate several beverage containers.

[0011] In the method, a conveyor system can be provided, via which packaging, each containing a plurality of beverage containers, is fed to a detection zone of a sensor system. In various embodiments, the conveyor system can feed beverage crates, each containing a plurality of beverage containers, to a detection zone of a sensor system. Consecutive beverage crates can be adjacent to one another or in surface contact with one another while the respective plurality of beverage crates are moved through the detection zone of the sensor system.

[0012] The sensors detect which beverage containers in a particular package meet predetermined target criteria. A control device can be provided which, with the aid of the sensors, detects which beverage containers in a particular package meet predetermined target criteria. In various embodiments, the target criteria can only be met by a particular beverage container if a particular beverage container is predetermined for subsequent cleaning and filling. It is therefore conceivable that the control device can use the target criteria to distinguish whether a particular beverage container is to be cleaned and filled or whether it is another beverage container that is neither predetermined for cleaning nor for filling. Such an additional beverage container can be a third-party container that may not belong to the respective company or that maybelongs to another company.

[0013] A manipulator then removes only those beverage containers that meet the specified target criteria from the respective packaging and places them on the at least one horizontal conveyor. The manipulator can be connected to the previously mentioned control device, which controls the manipulator to remove only those beverage containers that meet the specified target criteria from the respective packaging.

[0014] The control device can be configured such that it independently processes information about the beverage containers provided by the sensors using machine learning. The control device can thus be configured such that it independently improves the detection of whether a particular beverage container of a particular package meets specified target criteria using artificial intelligence.

[0015] The manipulator can be an articulated arm robot, a gantry system or another manipulator.

[0016] The beverage containers placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor are transported away via the at least one horizontal conveyor. It is conceivable that the at least one horizontal conveyor comprises at least one circulating driven conveyor belt or at least one circulating driven mat chain on which the placed beverage containers rest and via which the at least one circulating driven conveyor belt or at least one circulating driven mat chain transports the beverage containers placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor.

[0017] In various embodiments, the beverage containers placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor can be transported to a cleaning machine via the at least one horizontal conveyor and cleaned. In alternative embodiments, the beverage containers placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor can be transported to a storage or intermediate storage area, from which the beverage containers are removed at a later time when they are to be filled.

[0018] A first horizontal conveyor device and a second horizontal conveyor device can be provided, wherein the manipulator deposits the beverage containers removed from the packaging according to or in accordance with the recognized target criteria either on the first horizontal conveyor device or on the second horizontal conveyor device.

[0019] A first horizontal conveyor, a second horizontal conveyor and a third horizontal conveyor can also be provided, wherein the manipulator places the beverage containers removed from the packaging according to or in accordance with the recognized target criteria either on the first horizontal conveyor, on the second horizontal conveyor or on the third horizontal conveyor.

[0020] Furthermore, it may be the case that additional beverage containers remaining in different packaging after each removal completely fill a common packaging, particularly via a handling device. The handling device could be, for example, an articulated-arm robot or a gantry system.

[0021] Embodiments have also proven successful in which the combined packaging is a package in which at least one additional beverage container remains after the respective beverage containers that meet the target criteria have been removed. Since the at least one additional beverage container is already arranged in the packaging, such a combined packaging needs to be filled with fewer beverage containers than a completely empty combined packaging. Such embodiments are therefore characterized by particularly simple and quick filling of the combined packaging.

[0022] The aforementioned handling device can comprise at least one gripper that removes additional beverage containers from several packages that remain after removal and retains them until the combined package is completely filled. Thus, the at least one gripper can temporarily carry several additional beverage containers from different packages until the gripper completely fills a combined package with the several additional beverage containers from the different packages. Such embodiments are characterized by a simple structure, since the at least one gripper itself can temporarily store the respective additional beverage containers without requiring a separate storage or storage area for the additional beverage containers.

[0023] Furthermore, the handling device can comprise at least one gripper which successively removes further beverage containers from a plurality of packages and positions them on a shelf, from which shelf the at least one gripper subsequently picks up the positioned further beverage containers again and completely fills the common package with the picked-up beverage containers. In such embodiments, grippers can be used which have a relatively low storage capacity.

[0024] Designs have also proven successful in which the empty packaging formed by removing the additional beverage containers is transported to a washing machine. After the empty packaging has been cleaned in the washing machine, previously cleaned and filled beverage containers can be placed into the empty and cleaned packaging.

[0025] Furthermore, the respective packaging can be continuously moved while the respective beverage containers that meet the target criteria are removed. This continuous movement can be achieved via a conveyor system that is continuously driven by a motor. Such embodiments are characterized by high throughput when sorting beverage containers.

[0026] It is also possible that additional beverage containers remaining in a respective package after removal are sorted according to additional criteria, particularly via a handling device. Whether a respective additional beverage container meets an additional criterion can be determined or checked using the previously mentioned sensor system. Thus, it is possible that different additional beverage containers that are not intended for cleaning and filling are placed into different beverage crates, sorted according to the additional criteria. The previously mentioned handling device can be used or provided for this purpose.

[0027] The invention also relates to a system for handling beverage containers. The system can be designed to carry out the embodiments of the method already described above. The embodiments of the method according to the invention already described above can also be carried out with the embodiments of the system described below. Features that have already been mentioned previously for various embodiments of the method can also be provided in the embodiments of the system according to the invention described below and will not be mentioned again. Furthermore, the features described below for various embodiments of the system can be provided in the embodiments of the method according to the invention already described above without being mentioned again.

[0028] The system comprises a sorting system or a sorting system for beverage containers. The sorting system includes a conveyor system for transporting packaging, each containing several beverage containers. The packaging can be beverage crates. The conveyor system can therefore be designed to transport beverage crates.

[0029] The system further comprises a control device and a sensor system, via which sensor system the control device is designed in such a way that the control device can use the sensor system to distinguish beverage containers of a respective packaging transported via the conveyor device, which meet predetermined target criteria, from other beverage containers of the respective packaging.

[0030] The sorting system also comprises a manipulator and at least one horizontal conveyor. The manipulator is configured, via the control device, to selectively remove only those beverage containers that meet the specified target criteria from the respective packaging and to place the removed beverage containers onto the at least one horizontal conveyor. The manipulator can be, for example, an articulated-arm robot or a gantry system.

[0031] The sorting system can have a first module that includes the sensor system. Furthermore, the sorting system can have a second module that includes the manipulator. The conveyor system can extend through both the first module and the second module. The first and second modules can be arranged directly one after the other. Both the first and second modules can have a frame structure, with a frame structure of the first module and a frame structure of the second module adjacent to one another or located in close proximity to one another.

[0032] The system may also comprise a cleaning machine, wherein the beverage containers placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor device can be transported to the cleaning machine via the at least one horizontal conveyor device.

[0033] It is also conceivable for the system to include a filling machine for beverage containers. Between the cleaning machine and the filling machine, at least one transport device can be arranged, via which beverage containers cleaned by the cleaning machine can be transported to the filling machine.

[0034] Embodiments in which the system comprises a handling device designed to completely fill a common package with additional beverage containers from different packagings, which additional beverage containers remain in the packages after selective removal, have also proven successful. The handling device can be designed, for example, as an articulated-arm robot or a gantry system.

[0035] The handling device can be connected to the previously mentioned control device, which in turn is connected to the sensor system. Through the sensor detection of the beverage containers, the control device can know the positions of the additional beverage containers that do not meet the specified target criteria, so that the control device can control the handling device to remove these additional beverage containers from multiple packages and combine them into a single package.

[0036] Furthermore, the handling device may include a gripper for the additional beverage containers, the capacity of which for additional beverage containers corresponds at least to the capacity of the combined packaging. The gripper may be designed for clamping and / or pneumatically picking up the additional beverage containers.

[0037] It has also proven effective if the handling device has a gripper for the additional beverage containers and the sorting system includes a storage area, wherein the handling device is configured and equipped such that the handling device can pick up additional beverage containers remaining in the packaging by means of the gripper and temporarily store them on the storage area. In such embodiments, the gripper can also be designed for clamping and / or pneumatically picking up the additional beverage containers.

[0038] The system may include a washing machine, with empty packaging being fed to the washing machine via the sorting system.

[0039] Furthermore, designs in which the conveyor is continuously driven have proven successful. The conveyor can be connected to the control device and controlled via the control device for continuous drive.

[0040] The system may also comprise a handling device which is designed to sort further beverage containers according to further criteria, which further beverage containers have remained in the packaging after the selective removal.

[0041] The invention also relates to a use of a system according to one of the preceding embodiments for handling beverage containers which are beverage bottles.

[0042] In the following, exemplary embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged relative to other elements for better illustration. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. Fig. 3 shows the flowchart steps as they can be carried out individually or according to the Fig. 3 combination and sequence shown can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

[0043] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the invention can be configured and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation.

[0044] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they are carried out in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (cf. Fig. 3 ) may be provided.

[0045] The system 1 is designed for handling beverage containers 3, 5, and 6, which in this case are beverage bottles. The system 1 comprises a sorting system 2 and a cleaning machine 19, which is shown only schematically here. A component of the sorting system 2 is a conveyor device 15, which conveys packages 12, each of which has received several beverage containers 3, 5, and 6, along the conveyor belt 16 shown in FIG. Fig. 1 transported in the direction indicated by the arrow. The packages 12 are beverage crates 14. Each package 12 or each beverage crate 14 can therefore accommodate a plurality of beverage containers 3, 5, and 6.

[0046] The beverage containers designated by reference numeral 3 are beverage containers designed for cleaning and refilling. As a rule, these beverage containers 3 are therefore beverage containers that are cleaned by the cleaning machine 19, subsequently filled, and placed in a washed beverage crate for sale with the washed beverage crate.

[0047] For the other beverage containers that are in Fig. 1 The beverage containers designated by reference numerals 5 and 6, respectively, are those that are not designed for cleaning or refilling. The other beverage containers 5 and 6 may be third-party containers or beverage containers belonging to a third-party company and therefore should not be refilled using a filling machine. It is therefore necessary to separate the beverage containers 3 from the other beverage containers 5 and 6, or to sort the beverage containers 3, 5, and 6, in order to clean only the beverage containers 3 and subsequently refill them.

[0048] To accomplish this task, the packages 12 with the beverage containers 3, 5, and 6 accommodated therein are transported in the direction of the arrow via the conveyor system 15. The conveyor system 15 moves the packages 12 with the beverage containers 3, 5, and 6 accommodated therein past a sensor system 17. During a movement through the detection range of the sensor system 17, the packages 12 or the beverage crates 14 are adjacent to one another.

[0049] The sensor system 17 is a camera 18 that is connected to the control device S. The sensor system 17 allows the control device S to detect whether a respective beverage container 3, 5, or 6 meets specified target criteria. Thus, the control device S can detect via the sensor system 17 whether a respective beverage container 3, 5, or 6 should be cleaned and refilled, or whether it is a third-party container for which no cleaning or refilling is intended.

[0050] The control device S is also connected to the manipulator 40, which can be a gantry system, an articulated-arm robot, or another manipulator 40. Embodiments in which the manipulator 40 includes a gripper for beverage containers 3, 5, or 6 have proven successful.

[0051] Since the control device S is connected to both the sensor system 17 and the manipulator 40, the control device S is able to control the manipulator 40 in such a way that the manipulator 40 removes from a respective packaging 12 only those beverage containers 3 which meet predetermined target criteria or which are to be cleaned and refilled.

[0052] The other beverage containers 5 and 6 are not detected or accepted by the manipulator 40, but remain in the respective packaging 12. The manipulator 40 places the received beverage containers 3 on the horizontal conveyor 20. The horizontal conveyor 20 transports the beverage containers 3 placed thereon to the cleaning machine 19. The cleaning machine 19 is followed by a Fig. 1 filling machine (not shown) with which the cleaned beverage containers 3 are filled.

[0053] The Fig. 1 It is clear that consecutive packages 12 and 14 form surface contact as they move through the detection range of the sensor system 17 and maintain this surface contact until the respective beverage containers 3, which meet the specified target criteria, are removed. Advantageously, this allows for a very precise allocation of the beverage containers 3 to be removed. The risk of the manipulator 40 inadvertently removing a beverage container 5 and 6 from the respective package 12 that does not meet the specified target criteria is thus kept very low.

[0054] In addition, the Fig. 1 The sensor system 17 belongs to a first module, and the manipulator 40 belongs to a second module. The two modules directly follow one another in the direction of movement of the packaging 12. This also minimizes the risk of incorrect assignment of beverage containers 3, 5, or 6.

[0055] Since only very few packages 12 are located between a detection area of ​​the sensor system 17 and a working area of ​​the manipulator 40, or since the sensor system 17 and the manipulator 40 are positioned only a short distance from each other, it can be ruled out with a high degree of certainty that an incorrect allocation occurs and that additional beverage containers 5 or 6, which are not intended for removal, are inadvertently positioned on the horizontal conveyor 20. Furthermore, such a setup allows the space requirement of the system 1 to be further reduced.

[0056] After beverage containers 3 have been removed from a respective packaging 12 and placed on the horizontal conveyor device 20, it can be the case in various embodiments that the packaging 12 or the respective beverage crates 14 with the further beverage containers 5 or 6 are transported away from the working area of ​​the manipulator 40 and the further beverage containers 5 or 6 are removed from the packaging 12 manually or by a person.

[0057] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 However, the packages 12 with the remaining beverage containers 5 and 6 are transported to a workstation 25, which is configured as part of the sorting system 2. The workstation 25 comprises a handling device 30, which can be an articulated-arm robot, a gantry system, or another handling device. The handling device 30 is also connected to the control device S.

[0058] Since the further beverage containers 5 and 6 and their respective position in the packaging 12 have already been detected by means of the sensor system 17, the control device S can actuate the handling device 30 so that the handling device 30 removes all further beverage containers 5 and 6 from a respective packaging 12 and positions them in a common packaging 12'.

[0059] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 The additional beverage containers shown with reference to item 5 are first additional beverage containers or third-party containers belonging to a first third-party company. The additional beverage containers shown with reference to item 6 in Fig. 1 The additional beverage containers shown are second additional beverage containers or third-party containers belonging to a second third-party company. Both first additional beverage containers 5 and second additional beverage containers 6 are arranged in the common packaging 12' by means of the handling device 30. However, in further embodiments, it is also conceivable for the handling device 30 to separate first additional beverage containers 5 from second additional beverage containers 6 and arrange them in different packaging.

[0060] The empty 12" packaging or the empty 14" beverage crates are transported to a washing machine and cleaned so that they can subsequently receive filled beverage containers and are then sold with the filled beverage containers.

[0061] Like it Fig. 1 As can also be seen, by directly removing only those beverage containers 3 from packages 12 which meet defined target criteria for beverage containers 3, a system 1 is provided which can sort beverage containers 3, 5 and 6 with very little space requirement. If the system comprises a workstation 25, common packages 12' are also provided, in which all other beverage containers 5 and 6 or all third-party containers are accommodated.

[0062] System 1 therefore has a high degree of automation. As previously mentioned, the sensor system 17 and the manipulator 40 are positioned close to each other, eliminating the need for long transport distances to transport the packages 12 containing the beverage containers 3, 5, or 6 into the working area of ​​the manipulator 40.

[0063] The sorting system 2, which is designed as a component of system 1, also offers the advantage of eliminating the need for a frequently used sorting of beverage containers 3, 5, or 6 in the area of ​​a downstream filling machine. For this reason, the entire system 1 also requires little space, since the sorting system 2 already fully fulfills the necessary sorting function for separating the beverage containers 3 from the other beverage containers 5 or 6.

[0064] Since the beverage containers 3 that meet the required criteria only need to be removed from the respective packaging 12 and placed on a horizontal conveyor 20 for the sorting process, the system 1 operates with very gentle product handling. The risk of damage or negative influences on the outer surfaces of the beverage containers 3 that are to be fed to the cleaning machine 19 can be eliminated.

[0065] Since only those beverage containers 3 intended for subsequent filling are fed to the cleaning machine 19, the system operates very energy-efficiently and consumes a smaller amount of cleaning medium than prior art systems. Furthermore, practice has shown that the system 1 can operate at high throughput even when the packaging 12 contains a high proportion of additional beverage containers 5 or 6, which represent third-party containers.

[0066] Since system 1 can operate at high throughput, even with a high proportion of additional beverage containers 5, 6 or a high proportion of third-party containers, there is no shortage of beverage containers 3 in the area of ​​a filling machine. This eliminates gaps in the area of ​​the filling machine, which in practice would require brief interruptions in operation or reduced filling speed in known systems. System 1 can also be operated very economically, as it is characterized by its small footprint, high degree of automation, and low energy and media consumption.

[0067] The Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they are carried out in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (cf. Fig. 3 ) may be provided. Compared to Fig. 1 were also in Fig. 2 The same elements are shown with the same reference numbers. As is the case when looking at the Figuren 1 and 2 As can be seen, the embodiment according to Fig. 2 a second horizontal conveyor 22, wherein the first horizontal conveyor 20 and the second horizontal conveyor 22 are arranged parallel to each other and have parallel transport directions. Beverage containers 3 and 4, which have been placed on the respective horizontal conveyor 20 and 22, can be fed to a cleaning machine 19 via both the first horizontal conveyor 20 and the second horizontal conveyor 22. In the embodiment according to FIG. Fig. 2 a filling machine that fills the cleaned beverage containers.

[0068] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 The packaging contains 12 different beverage containers 3 and 4, each of which meets specified criteria and is therefore predefined for subsequent cleaning and filling. As stated in Fig. 1 has already been shown, are in Fig. 2 in the packaging 12 there are also several further beverage containers 5 and 6, which do not meet the specified target criteria and therefore should neither be cleaned nor filled.

[0069] Beverage containers 3 can, for example, be beverage containers 3 intended to be filled with a first beverage. Beverage containers 4 can, for example, be beverage containers 4 intended to be filled with a second beverage, which second beverage differs from the first beverage. Beverage containers 5 and 6 can also be different third-party containers that are neither intended for cleaning nor for filling.

[0070] Using the sensor system 17, which is a camera 18, the control device S can detect whether a respective beverage container 3, 4, 5, or 6 meets predefined target criteria. Furthermore, the control device S can use the sensor system 17 to detect whether the beverage container 3 or 4 that meets the predefined target criteria is a beverage container 3 that is to be filled with a first beverage or whether it is a beverage container 4 that is to be filled with a second beverage.

[0071] The manipulator 40 is then actuated via the control device S, which removes all beverage containers 3 or 4 that meet the specified target criteria from a respective packaging 12 and leaves the other beverage containers 5 or 6 in the respective packaging 12.

[0072] In addition, the manipulator 40 can be actuated via the control device S such that the manipulator 40 places those beverage containers 3 which are to be filled with a first beverage on the first horizontal conveyor device 20 and places those beverage containers 4 which are to be filled with a second beverage on the second horizontal conveyor device 22.

[0073] After the beverage containers 3 and 4 placed on the horizontal conveyors 20 and 22 have been fed to the cleaning machine 19, the beverage containers 3 and 4 are transported to a filling machine and filled with the corresponding first and second beverages. The manipulator 40 can therefore be used in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 in operative connection with the control device S and the sensor system 17, those beverage containers 3 or 4 which meet predetermined target criteria are additionally arranged or sorted.

[0074] If, in practice, beverage containers 3 or 4, which meet specified target criteria, are to be sorted according to additional criteria, it may also be necessary to increase the number of horizontal conveyors 20 or 22. For example, it is conceivable that the sorting system 2 comprises exactly three horizontal conveyors or exactly four horizontal conveyors, each of which is intended for the orderly depositing of beverage containers 3 or 4 according to specific criteria.

[0075] The remaining beverage containers 5 and 6 in the packaging 12 are also Fig. 2 a work station 25, which produces the further beverage containers 5 and 6 according to the previous description of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 from the packages 12 and completely fills a common package 12' with the other beverage containers 5 and 6. The previous description applies to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 This also applies to the embodiment according to Fig. 2 .

[0076] The Fig. 3 shows the flowchart steps as they can be carried out individually or according to the Fig. 3 The combination and sequence shown can be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 is a method 100 for sorting beverage containers 3, 4, 5, or 6, which are initially arranged in a package 12.

[0077] In step 110, packages 12, each containing several beverage containers 3, 4, 5, 6, are fed into a detection zone of a sensor system 17, which may be a camera 18. A control device S uses the sensor system 17 to detect which beverage containers 3, 4 of a respective package meet specified target criteria. These beverage containers 3 and 4, respectively, that meet the specified target criteria, are designated for subsequent cleaning and filling.

[0078] In step 120, a manipulator 40 is then actuated via the control device S, which removes only those beverage containers 3 or 4 that meet the specified target criteria from the respective packaging 12 and places them on at least one horizontal conveyor 20 or 22. The other beverage containers 5 or 6 that do not meet the specified target criteria initially remain in the respective packaging 12 and are moved out of the working area of ​​the manipulator 40 together with the respective packaging 12 via a conveyor 15.

[0079] In step 130, those beverage containers 3 or 4 which have been placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor device 20 or 22 are transported via the respective horizontal conveyor device 20 or 22 to a cleaning machine 19.

[0080] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or variations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. Bezugszeichenliste

[0081] 1System 2Sorting system 3Beverage container 4Beverage container 5Additional beverage container 6Additional beverage container 12Packaging 12'Common packaging 12"Empty packaging 14Beverage crate 14'Common beverage crate 14"Empty beverage crate 15Conveyor device 17Sensors 18Camera 19Cleaning machine 20Horizontal conveyor device 22Horizontal conveyor device 25Workstation 30Handling device 40Manipulator SControl device 100Procedure 110First process step 120Second process step 130Third process step

Claims

1. Method (100) for sorting beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6), in which packages (12) each containing a plurality of beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) are fed to a detection area of ​​a sensor system (17) which detects which beverage containers (3, 4) of a respective package (12) meet predetermined target criteria, whereupon the manipulator (40) removes only those beverage containers (3, 4) which meet the predetermined target criteria from the respective package (12) and places them on at least one horizontal conveyor device (20, 22), whereupon the beverage containers (3, 4) placed on the at least one horizontal conveyor device (20, 22) are transported away via the at least one horizontal conveyor device (20, 22).

2. Method according to claim 1, in which a first horizontal conveyor device (20) and a second horizontal conveyor device (22) are provided, wherein the manipulator (40) deposits the beverage containers (3, 4) removed from the packaging (12) according to the recognized target criteria either on the first horizontal conveyor device (20) or on the second horizontal conveyor device (22).

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which a first horizontal conveyor (20), a second horizontal conveyor (22) and a third horizontal conveyor are provided, wherein the manipulator (40) deposits the beverage containers (3, 4) removed from the packaging (12) according to the recognized target criteria either on the first horizontal conveyor (20), on the second horizontal conveyor (22) or on the third horizontal conveyor.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which a common packaging (12') is completely filled with further beverage containers (5, 6) which remain in different packaging (12) after the respective removal, in particular via a handling device (30).

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the common packaging (12') is a packaging (12) in which at least one further beverage container (5, 6) remains after removal of the respective beverage containers (3, 4) which meet the target criteria.

6. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the handling device (30) comprises at least one gripper which removes from a plurality of packages (12) further beverage containers (5, 6) which remain after removal and retains them until the common package (12') is completely filled.

7. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the handling device (30) comprises at least one gripper which successively removes further beverage containers (5, 6) from a plurality of packages (3) and positions them on a shelf, from which shelf the at least one gripper subsequently picks up the positioned further beverage containers (5, 6) again and completely fills the common package (12') with the picked up further beverage containers (5, 6).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the respective packaging (12) is continuously moved during removal of the respective beverage containers (3, 4) which meet the target criteria.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which further beverage containers (5, 6) which remain in a respective packaging (12) after the respective removal are sorted according to further criteria, in particular via a handling device (30).

10. System (1) for handling beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6), comprising a sorting system (2), wherein the sorting system (2) comprises - a conveyor device (15) for transporting packages (12) each having a plurality of accommodated beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) and - a control device (S) and a sensor system (17), via which sensor system (17) the control device (S) is designed such that the control device (S) can distinguish, via the sensor system (17), beverage containers (3, 4) of a respective package (12) transported via the conveyor device (15) that meet predetermined target criteria from further beverage containers (5, 6) of the respective package (12), wherein the sorting system (2) additionally comprises - a manipulator (40) and at least one horizontal conveyor device (20, 22), wherein the manipulator (40) via the control device (S) for selective removal only those beverage containers (3, 4) which meet the specified target criteria,from the respective packaging (12) and for depositing the respective removed beverage containers (3, 4) on the at least one horizontal conveyor device (20, 22).

11. System (1) according to claim 10, comprising a handling device (30) which is designed to completely fill a common packaging (12') with further beverage containers (5, 6) of different packaging (12), which further beverage containers (5, 6) have remained in the packaging (12) after the selective removal.

12. System (1) according to claim 11, wherein the handling device (30) comprises a gripper for the further beverage containers (5, 6), the receiving capacity of which for further beverage containers (5, 6) corresponds at least to the receiving capacity of the common packaging (12').

13. System (1) according to claim 11, wherein the handling device (30) has a gripper for the further beverage containers (5, 6) and the sorting system (2) comprises a storage area, wherein the handling device (30) is configured and equipped such that the handling device (30) can pick up further beverage containers (5, 6) remaining in packages (12) by means of the gripper and can temporarily store them on the storage area.

14. System (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the conveyor device (15) is continuously driven.

15. System (1) according to one of claims 10 to 14, with a handling device (30) which is designed to sort further beverage containers (5, 6) according to further criteria, which further beverage containers (5, 6) have remained in the packaging (12) after the selective removal.

16. Use of a system (1) according to one of claims 10 to 15 for handling beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) which are beverage bottles.

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