Device and method for emptying containers

Abstract

The production of cost-efficient, protein-rich, and sustainable sources for the food and feed industry represents one of the challenges of the new millennium, in particular in view of the ever-increasing population of the earth. The problem addressed by the invention proposed here is that of ensuring accountability and traceability of the material flow when emptying containers. This is achieved by the device according to the invention in that the device has a measuring device, by means of which data relating to the at least one container to be emptied and / or the container contents is collected prior to, during, and / or after the emptying process.

Description

[0001] DEVICE AND METHOD

[0002] FOR EMPTYING CONTAINERS

[0003] The invention relates to a device and a method for emptying containers. The device comprises a container insertion device for inserting at least one container to be emptied, a container emptying device for emptying the at least one container, a container ejection device for ejecting the at least one emptied container, a container conveyor device for transporting the at least one container to be emptied and / or emptied, as well as a conveyor device for transporting the at least one container content emptied from the container and / or a collecting device for collecting the container content emptied from the at least one container. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for emptying containers and the use of a device according to the invention for emptying containers, in particular in insect breeding.

[0004] A device of the type mentioned above is already known from DE 677 253 A, namely a tipping device, in particular for milk cans. This device comprises a distribution device with which the milk cans to be emptied are allocated for emptying. The milk cans are emptied by a carrier, ejected after emptying, and picked up by a carrying basket unit. The milk emptied from the milk cans is collected in a trough, and the milk cans are weighed before emptying. Furthermore, DE 102008 029 663 A1 discloses a device and a method for tracing waste materials from waste containers, which deals with the traceability of the material flow of waste materials.The device described solves its technical problem by detecting the waste container to be emptied and storing the data collected. After shredding and temporarily storing the waste, it takes a sample and matches this sample to the previously stored data. This enables seamless documentation and clear allocation of the waste generated by the producer to a specific waste container.

[0005] However, intermediate storage of the shredded waste is necessary, as well as a sampling unit to ultimately ensure clear classification, which in turn results in greater equipment expenditure and thus causes higher costs and is more time-consuming.

[0006] Furthermore, from DE 102015 004 256 A1 a device for turning dimensionally stable containers, in particular waste containers for emptying them, is already known, the purpose of which is to enable containers to be turned safely.

[0007] The production of cost-effective, protein-rich, and sustainable sources for the food and feed industries represents one of the challenges of the new millennium, especially in light of the world's ever-growing population. Automated breeding of insects, vegetables, sprouts, and mushrooms has emerged as an innovative approach to providing a cost-effective and sustainable food source for use in both the food and feed industries. These sustainable sources can represent viable alternatives if they can compete with conventional feed and food sources in terms of produced sales volumes, nutritional content, and economic decision criteria. This can be achieved through production automation, which allows for scaling by applying the principles of Industry 4.0 to agricultural technology.

[0008] The pioneers of this shift, vertical farming and the use of insects, make it clear that continuous tracking of products and goods within a fully automated factory will become increasingly important in the future. The monitored transition from unit loads, such as the transport of goods as contents of containers and / or plant containers, to the transport of these goods as bulk goods, for example, transported on a conveyor belt, has proven to be essential for quality assurance, monitoring, and continuous optimization of biological and technical processes.

[0009] In this context, Chinese utility model CN ​​209711168 U proposes a device for rotating containers. This device comprises a container feed device, a container rotating device, and a container ejection device. The container feed device comprises a profile frame, a conveyor belt, and a container pushing device. By means of a guide device, the incoming containers conveyed by the container feed device are directed in the intended direction. Once the containers have reached the container rotating device, they are pushed into the container rotating device by the container pushing device and rotated by the container rotating device. The container contents falling out of the containers are guided via a hopper onto a conveyor belt arranged below the container rotating device, and the material is transported by the conveyor belt to the next process step.The emptied container is conveyed to the container ejection device and ejected from the device.

[0010] However, the device for rotating containers disclosed in the utility model lacks a way to assign the emptied container contents to the previously conveyed container. However, since the condition of the container contents can vary from container to container, for example, due to the growth stage of the living organisms, such as insects, within the boxes, the object of the invention described here is to ensure such assignment at all times. In other words, the object of the device and method according to the invention is to ensure traceability of the material flow after a container has been emptied.

[0011] This object is achieved by a device according to independent claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by the independent method claim 25 and the use claim 35. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0012] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for emptying individual or palletized containers, which device comprises a container insertion device for inserting at least one container to be emptied into the container emptying device, a container emptying device for emptying the at least one container, a container ejection device for dispensing the at least one emptied container, a container conveying device for transporting the at least one container to be emptied and / or emptied, as well as a conveying device for transporting a container content emptied from the container and / or a collecting device for collecting the container content emptied from the at least one container.

[0013] To achieve the object of the invention, the invention proposes that the device comprise at least one measuring device with which measurement data can be collected from the at least one container and / or the container contents before, during, and / or after the container is emptied, and that these data collected by the at least one measuring device can be assigned to the container contents emptied by the container emptying device onto the conveyor device and / or into the collection device. It is also conceivable that the container contents of a container are assigned not to the individual container, but to a batch of containers and / or a pallet of containers.

[0014] This also makes it possible to monitor the position of the container contents in or on the downstream conveying medium or in the collection medium, or to derive instructions for transport to specific downstream processing stations and processing locations or for the subsequent process itself.

[0015] This means that the measurement data collected in this way can be accessed in a subsequent processing step, if necessary, and the respective downstream process step can be adapted to the available data situation.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one measuring device, which is preferably arranged on the container insertion device, has at least one sensor and / or at least one optical detection device for collecting measurement data of the container to be emptied and / or the container contents. The at least one measuring device can be arranged stationary and / or can move along part of the path with the moving container to be emptied and, in a further advantageous embodiment, can also be introduced into the stationary and / or moving container and / or the container contents in order to collect data that must be collected through contact or from a short distance to the object to be measured. The data to be collected can be, for example, temperature, thermal radiation, humidity, fill level or an entire surface profile, degree of ripeness in insects, coloration, etc.It is also conceivable that the optical detection device, which can be a camera in the visible spectrum, can be used to determine the condition of the contents of the container, in particular insects, in particular their growth stage, size distribution, activity, colour, health, distribution in the container, etc.

[0017] Furthermore, in a further advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a weighing device with which, for example, the container to be introduced from the container insertion device into the container emptying device can be weighed before being introduced into the container emptying device. In combination with the fill level or the overall surface profile, this can be used to determine, for example, the density of the container contents.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the measuring device has an identification device with which an identification element present on the at least one container, at least one batch of containers and / or at least one pallet of containers can be detected and thus the identity of the at least one container, the at least one batch of containers and / or the at least one pallet of containers can be clearly determined and the container contents can be assigned to them. Any information received can thus be clearly assigned to a container, a batch of containers and / or a pallet of containers. A QR code, for example, is conceivable as the identification element and a QR code reader as the identification device. However, simple designs of identification elements in the form of barcodes, notches in the container, etc. are also conceivable.If the container identification does not take place in the device itself, it is also conceivable that, in an alternative embodiment, the corresponding information for identifying the at least one container, the at least one batch of containers and / or the at least one pallet of containers is collected by a device upstream of the device and transmitted to the device itself. This upstream device can, for example, be a destacking or container singling device that is connected upstream of the device according to the invention. The device according to the invention preferably has an interface to a conveyor and / or buffer device in order to be able to connect the device to a conveyor system and / or a buffer device.Particularly preferably, the device itself has a buffer device from which at least one stored container, at least one batch of containers and / or at least one pallet of containers can be introduced into the device according to the invention via a conveyor device, in particular the container conveyor device.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has an upstream and / or downstream container singling device, with which at least one stack, a batch and / or a pallet of containers can be singulated and fed to the container conveying device and, after emptying the singulated containers, can be received by the container conveying device and stacked again into a stack, a batch of containers and / or a pallet of containers by the container singling device.

[0020] In order to also be able to obtain any information about the at least one container emptied by the container emptying device, a further advantageous embodiment of the device provides that a measuring device for collecting data from the at least one emptied container is arranged on the container ejection device. If, for example, the at least one container is damaged, exhibits excessive wear, or was damaged or not completely emptied during emptying by the container emptying device, this can be determined using the measuring device arranged on the container ejection device.Particularly advantageously, the measuring device on the container ejection device has at least one sensor, for example a scale, which detects the weight of the emptied container, and / or at least one optical detection device, in particular a camera, for collecting the relevant data.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the invention provides for the device to be equipped with a measuring device for collecting data before, during, and / or after emptying. Data that may be of interest during emptying include, for example, the quantity and number of emptied container contents, the particle or grain size and composition and distribution of the container contents, the speed at which the container contents are emptied, and any other parameters that may arise in this context.

[0022] Particularly preferably, in an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the conveying device is a continuous and / or discontinuous conveying device, such as a conveyor belt and / or an automated guided vehicle. Automated guided vehicle systems are, for example, automated guided vehicles, which represent a floor-mounted conveying device with its own drive, which is automatically controlled and guided without contact.

[0023] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment, the invention provides for the container emptying device to rotate the at least one container by a rotating device so that the at least one container can be emptied and the container contents can be transferred to the conveying device. It is also conceivable that after the at least one container has been rotated and emptied by the rotating device, the container emptying device rotates the at least one container back again before further conveyance by the container ejection device, or that the container is transferred to the container ejection device in the rotated position.Preferably, the at least one container is not rotated by the rotating device through an angle of 90° to 270°, for example 180°, but through an angle between 90° and 180°, whereby any necessary rotation of the container back to its starting position can be achieved more quickly due to the shorter step path, wherein the angle for complete emptying can be adapted to the container height, the contents and the rotation speed or is preset. In an alternative embodiment, the container is rotated by the rotating device through an angle of 90° to 270°, for example 180°, and the container is transferred to the container ejection device in its 180° rotated position. In a further alternative embodiment, the container is rotated through 270° to 450°, particularly advantageously through 360°, so that a reversal of the direction of rotation is avoided.In other words, the container is preferably rotated completely once around one of its axes.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the container emptying device comprises a removal device, for example, a suction device, with which the container contents can be removed from the at least one container by suction and transferred to the conveying device or introduced into the collecting device. In this case, the at least one container can be transferred from the container emptying device to the container ejection device without changing its position, which in turn has a positive effect on the efficiency and speed of emptying the at least one container.

[0025] To ensure that all container contents have been removed from the at least one container by the container emptying device, the invention provides, in an advantageous embodiment, that the container emptying device has a residual emptying device with which, in particular, any residue that may be present can be removed from the at least one emptied container. This can, for example, have a shaking, tapping, vibrating, high-pressure jet, or brushing device, or a combination of the aforementioned devices, with which the at least one container to be emptied can be processed before, during, and / or after emptying, so that any residue that may be present can be released and removed from the at least one container. This residue is preferably transferred to the conveying device or introduced into the collecting device.

[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a cleaning unit that prevents contamination of the at least one container to be emptied or emptied, particularly between individual batches, by removing any residue that may be present in the device. This can be achieved, for example, by an integrated high-pressure cleaning system directed at contaminated areas of the device, for example, the container emptying device and / or the conveying device. In an alternative embodiment, cleaning can be carried out using air or water pressure or other suitable fluids, with or without cleaning agents, or mechanically.

[0027] In order to ensure that the container contents, in particular the insects to be removed from the at least one container, reach the conveyor device as precisely, gently and in a concentrated manner as possible, the invention provides in a further advantageous embodiment that the container emptying device has a guide device which enables particularly gentle reception and transfer of the container contents and is preferably adapted to the respective material. This can be achieved, for example, by a particularly soft lining of the guide device and / or by a correspondingly adapted geometry of the guide device, in which the impact of the bulk material can be absorbed, for example, by a very steep, parabolically flattening angle. Alternatively, this can also be achieved by generating an air flow, in particular one opposite to the direction of fall of the bulk material, which dampens the impact of the bulk material, i.e. the container contents.It is also conceivable that the guide device is driven, thus allowing for a very gentle, non-gravimetric transport of the emptied container contents. This could be achieved, for example, by vibration conveying or pneumatic / hydraulic conveying.

[0028] Since the container contents may sometimes contain fine particles, such as substrate, feed residues, etc., and thus emptying the container can lead to the formation of dust, the invention provides, in a further advantageous embodiment, a device for complying with ATEX guidelines. Preferably, the device is an ignition source analysis device, ignition source prevention device, dust precipitation device, and / or purge air device, which can reduce dust discharge in accordance with ATEX guidelines.

[0029] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for emptying at least one container, in particular using a device according to the invention. A container to be emptied is conveyed by a container conveyor to a container insertion device and introduced by a container insertion device into a container emptying device, wherein the contents of the container to be emptied are emptied by the container emptying device onto a conveyor and / or into a collecting device.

[0030] The method according to the invention is characterized in that before, during and / or after the emptying of the container contents, data about the at least one container and / or the container contents are collected by means of at least one measuring device, and the data thus collected are assigned to the container contents emptied onto the conveying device and / or into the collecting device. In other words: the data collected from the at least one container and / or the container contents are married or linked to the container contents on the conveying device or in the collecting device, so that at any later time, for example during a further process step, the container contents conveyed by the conveying device or by the collecting device can be assigned to the previously collected data and, if necessary, any further process actions can be adapted using this data.It is also conceivable that the previously collected data could be used for quality assurance and process monitoring.

[0031] This can be achieved, for example, by detecting the position of the conveyor onto which the container contents were emptied when emptying onto a conveyor, or by detecting a code or number strip on the conveyor or by transmitting the position of the point on the conveyor onto which the container contents were emptied at the time the corresponding container was emptied. It is also conceivable to detect the exact time of the emptying process and subsequently assign it to the position on the conveyor, for example by detecting the motor position of the conveyor drive or, in the case of a conveyor belt, by combining the average transport time to the next process step.

[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment, the data collected by the measuring device can be made available to a data processing device, in particular a higher-level control and monitoring system, for example a process control system, in order to ensure continuous monitoring and tracking of the material flow, even during the transition from piece goods to bulk goods.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention provides for the method that the collected data is transmitted to a production control system, a monitoring system, and / or a quality assurance device. The invention preferably provides for the method that, based on the collected data, instructions are derived, in particular for subsequent processes, such as further transport, processing, packaging, etc. In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the at least one container emptied by the container emptying device is transferred from the container emptying device to the container ejection device, from which the at least one container is discharged from the device.

[0034] Furthermore, the method according to the invention provides that the identity of the at least one container, at least one batch of containers and / or at least one pallet of containers is uniquely determined by reading the identification element present on or in the at least one container, the at least one batch of containers and / or the at least one pallet of containers by means of an identification device.

[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment, when the at least one container is ejected by the container ejection device, measurement data about the at least one container and its condition are collected. This allows, for example, the container to be sorted out if it is damaged.

[0036] In order to ensure or avoid contamination of the container contents and / or of the at least one container, the method provides in a further advantageous embodiment that residues in the device, in particular in the container emptying device and / or the container conveying device, are removed by means of a cleaning unit after emptying the at least one container, at least one batch of containers and / or at least one pallet of containers.

[0037] Finally, in a third aspect, the invention provides for the use of the device according to the invention for emptying containers in a facility in the feed and / or food industry. The device according to the invention is particularly preferably used in insect breeding. The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

[0038] It shows:

[0039] Fig. 1 : the embodiment in a schematic representation in a perspective view, as well as

[0040] Fig. 2: the container emptying device according to Figure 1 in a detailed view.

[0041] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the exemplary embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. The device 1 comprises a container insertion device 4, a container emptying device 7, and a container ejection device 12. For conveying the containers 2 within the device 1, the device has a container conveying device 3, which is, for example, a conveyor belt.

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the container insertion device 4 has a measuring device 5 arranged on the container insertion device 4 and a weighing device 6. The weight of the container 2 can be determined using the weighing device 6. By means of the measuring device 5, any data, for example fill level, temperature, humidity, degree of ripeness of insects, etc., about the container contents to be emptied and about the container 2 itself, for example the age of the container 2, existing damage, etc., can be collected. It is also conceivable for the device 1 to have an identification device (not shown here) with which the containers 2 can be clearly identified and the data thus collected can be unequivocally assigned to the correct container 2, or the data for container identification can be transferred from an upstream device to the device 1. The collection of the data for the container 2 orThe container contents are measured by the measuring device 5 and the weighing device 6 while the container 2 is being conveyed by the container insertion device 4 in the direction of the container emptying device 7.

[0043] The container emptying device 7, shown in detail in Figure 2, in this embodiment has a rotating device 8 for rotating the containers 2 conveyed by the container introduction device 4. By rotating the container 2 by 180° using the rotating device 8, the container contents emptied from the container 2 are guided via a guide device 11 onto a conveyor device 14 arranged below the container emptying device 7. The guide device 11 serves to specifically introduce the emptied container contents onto the conveyor device 14. The conveyor device 14 is, for example, also a conveyor belt like the container conveyor device 3. However, it is also conceivable that the conveyor device 14 is a driverless transport system that transports individual batches of emptied container contents.

[0044] To ensure that when the container 2 is rotated by 180° by the rotating device 8, the entire container contents are emptied onto the conveyor device 14, the container emptying device 7 has a residual emptying device 9. This has a vibrating device (not shown in detail here), with which, for example, the container 2 rotated by 180° can be vibrated in order to loosen any remaining container contents and transfer them to the conveyor device 14. In this exemplary embodiment, the container emptying device 7 also has a cleaning device 10 with which any residue still present within the container 2 can be removed.

[0045] During the emptying of the container 2 by the container emptying unit 7, the emptying process can be monitored before, during, and after emptying by a measuring device 12 arranged here on the container emptying unit 7. It is conceivable that this measuring device 12 can measure all data relevant to the emptying process, for example, the rotational speed of the rotating device 8, the pouring speed of the container contents, the grain size of the container contents, the composition, volumes, and quantity or number of the material being emptied and / or being emptied, color distribution, etc.

[0046] Once the container 2 has been emptied by the container emptying device 7 and the container contents transferred to the conveyor device 14, the data previously collected by the measuring device 5 arranged on the container introduction device 4, the weighing device 6 and the measuring device 12 arranged on the emptying device 7 are assigned to the container contents located on the conveyor device 14. In the case of a conveyor belt, this can be done, for example, by defining the position of the conveyor belt at the time the container 2 is emptied onto the conveyor belt, i.e., the conveyor device 14. In the case of an automated guided vehicle system, it is conceivable that the data of the emptied container 2 are assigned to the respective transport vehicle. Furthermore, emptying into a container arranged on the device 1 is conceivable, which can be removed or transported further by a floor-mounted or floor-mounted conveyor device.The container contents ultimately obtained in this way can be fed together with the data assigned to the container contents to further process steps, for example the treatment and processing of the container contents, whereby in the further process steps the previously obtained data can be used as a basis for the further procedure or can be fed to different process steps according to the data situation, depending on the container content classification.

[0047] The container 2 emptied by the container emptying device 7 is then transferred from the container emptying device 7 to the container ejection device 13. In this case, the container 2 is transferred to the container ejection device 13 in its 180° rotated state. This has the advantage that the step of rotating the container 2 back to its original position is eliminated, thus achieving greater efficiency and speed in the emptying of the container 2. The container 2, emptied in this way and rotated by 180°, is examined in the container ejection device 13 for residues or damage, for example, using a measuring device (not shown) arranged here on the container ejection device 13.The container 2 is then ejected from the device 1 by the container ejection device 13 and can, for example, be fed to a cleaning device (not shown) for cleaning the container 2 if residues are present or can be disposed of if there is any damage.

[0048] Thus, a device for emptying individual or palletized containers, in particular containers containing insects, is disclosed above, which device enables monitoring of the emptied container contents and / or the emptied container, as well as the recording of a wide variety of measurement data or measuring of a wide variety of parameters of a container and / or a container content and the provision of these data or parameters for monitoring, regulating and controlling downstream transport and processing processes, as well as for quality assurance, process control and yield testing.

[0049] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0050] device

[0051] container

[0052] Container conveyor system

[0053] Container insertion device

[0054] measuring device

[0055] Weighing device

[0056] Container emptying device

[0057] Rotating device

[0058] Residual emptying device

[0059] Cleaning facility

[0060] Guide device

[0061] measuring device

[0062] Container ejection device

[0063] conveyor system

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS Device (1) for emptying individual or palletized containers (2), comprising a container insertion device (4) for inserting at least one container (2) to be emptied, a container emptying device (7) for emptying the at least one container (2), a container ejection device (13) for ejecting the at least one emptied container (2), a container conveying device (3) for transporting the at least one container (2) to be emptied and / or emptied, as well as a conveying device (14) for transporting a container content emptied from the at least one container (2) and / or a collecting device for collecting the container content emptied from the at least one container (2), characterized in that the device (1) has at least one measuring device (5) with which data about the at least one container (2) and / or the container content before,can be collected during and / or after the emptying of the at least one container (2), and the data collected by the at least one measuring device (5) can be assigned to the container contents emptied by the container emptying device (7) onto the conveyor device (14) or into the collecting device. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data collected by the at least one measuring device (5) can be assigned to the at least one emptied container (2). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the measuring device (5) has at least one sensor and / or at least one optical detection device, in particular a camera, for collecting the data of the at least one container (2) to be emptied and / or the container contents.

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one weighing device (6) for weighing the at least one container (2) to be emptied and / or emptied.

5. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one identification device with which the identity of the at least one container (2), at least one batch of containers (2) and / or at least one pallet of containers (2) can be clearly determined via an identification element present on or in the at least one container (2), the at least one batch of containers (2) and / or at least one pallet of containers (2).

6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an identification device is connected upstream and / or downstream thereof, with which the identity of the at least one container (2), at least one batch of containers (2) and / or at least one pallet of containers (2) can be clearly determined via an identification element present on or in the at least one container (2), the at least one batch of containers (2) and / or the at least one pallet of containers (2).

7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an interface to a conveying and / or buffering device.

8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a buffer device in which the at least one container (2) to be emptied and / or emptied can be temporarily stored. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an upstream and / or downstream container singling device for stacking and / or unstacking a container stack, a batch of containers (2), and / or a pallet of containers (2), with which unstacked containers (2) can be fed to the container conveying device (3) and / or emptied containers (2) can be received by the container conveying device (3). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one measuring device (12) is arranged on the container ejection device (13) for collecting measurement data of the at least one emptied container (2) and its condition.Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one measuring device (12) has at least one sensor and / or at least one optical detection device, in particular a camera, for collecting the measurement data of the at least one emptied container (2). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one measuring device is arranged on the container emptying device (7) for collecting measurement data before, during and / or after the emptying of the at least one container (2). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container conveying device (3) is a device suitable for the continuous and / or discontinuous transport of at least one container (2), in particular a. Roller, belt, ball track or chain conveyor, a conveyor belt and / or an automated guided vehicle system.

14. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container emptying device (7) has a rotating device (8) for rotating the at least one container (2) to be emptied.

15. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container emptying device (7) has a removal device, in particular a suction device, for removing the container contents from the at least one container (2) to be emptied.

16. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container emptying device (7) has a residue emptying device (9) with which in particular any residue that may be present can be removed from the at least one emptied container (2).

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the residual emptying device (9) is a suction, shaking, tapping, vibration, high-pressure jet or brushing device or a combination of the aforementioned devices, with which any residue can be removed from the at least one emptied container (2).

18. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a cleaning device (10) with which any residue present in the device (1), in particular in the container emptying device (7) and / or the container conveying device (3), can be removed. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container emptying device (7) has a guide device (11) for guiding the container contents emptied from the at least one container (2) in the direction of the conveying device (14). Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the guide device (11) has a lining and / or geometry, in particular a very steep, parabolically flattening angle, with which the container contents can be gently guided in the direction of the conveying device (14) and the impact of the container contents on the conveying device can be reduced.Device according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the guide device (11) has at least one flow device with which the container contents can be conveyed onto the conveying device (14) and / or collected by the conveying device (14) not exclusively gravimetrically, but in particular by vibration, hydraulics and / or pneumatics. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that an impact of the container contents on the conveying device (14) can be reduced and / or prevented by means of the flow device, in particular by forming an air cushion. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a device for complying with the ATEX directives.

24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the device for complying with the ATEX directives is an ignition source prevention and / or analysis device and / or a dust precipitation device and / or a purge air device.

25. Method for emptying at least one container (2), in particular with a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 24, characterized in that at least one container (2) to be emptied is conveyed by a container conveying device (3) and introduced into a container emptying device (7) by a container introducing device (4), and the at least one container (2) to be emptied is emptied in the container emptying device (7) onto a conveying device (14) and / or into a collecting device, and before, during and / or after the emptying of the at least one container (2) by means of at least one measuring device (5) data about the at least one container (2) and / or the container contents are collected.

26. Method according to claim 25, characterized in that the data collected by the at least one measuring device (5) are assigned to the container contents emptied onto the conveying device (14) and / or into the collecting device and / or to the at least one emptied container (2).

27. Method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the data collected by the at least one measuring device (5) are assigned to a position of the conveyor device (14) at the time of emptying the container contents onto the conveyor device (14).

28. Method according to at least one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the collected data are transmitted to at least one data processing device, in particular a data processing device of a process control system or downstream processes and / or systems.

29. Method according to at least one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that the collected data are transmitted to a production control and / or a monitoring system and / or a quality assurance device.

30. Method according to at least one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that instructions for action, in particular for subsequent processes, are derived from the collected data.

31. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 25 to 30, characterized in that the at least one emptied container (2) is transferred from the container emptying device (7) to the container ejection device (13) and the at least one emptied container (2) is ejected from the device (1) by the container ejection device (12).

32. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 25 to 31, characterized in that the identity of the at least one container (2), at least one batch of containers (2) and / or at least one pallet of containers (2) is unambiguously determined by reading an identification element present on or in the at least one container (2), the at least one batch of containers (2) and / or the at least one pallet of containers (2) by means of an identification device. Method according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that during the ejection of the at least one container (2) by the container ejection device (13), measurement data about the at least one container (2) and its condition are collected. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 25 to 33, characterized in that by means of a cleaning unit (10), residues in the device (1), in particular in the container emptying device (7) and / or the container conveying device (3), are removed after the emptying of the at least one container (2), at least one batch of containers (2), and / or at least one pallet of containers (2). Use of a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 24 for emptying containers (2) in a facility in the feed and / or food industry. Use according to claim 35, characterized in that the facility is an insect breeding facility.

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