Device for closing containers and associated operating method

Abstract

The invention relates, among other things, to a method for operating a device (10) for closing containers (B). An electric drive device (18) of the device (10) is operated to move a closing element (14) of the device (10) to a container (B) accommodated in a container receptacle (12) of the device (10) for applying a closure (16) to the container (B). A tracking error (SF) of the electric drive device (18) during operation of the electric drive device (18) to move the closing element (14) to the container (B) is monitored by means of a processing device (26) of the device (10). If the monitored tracking error (SF) reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value (G), the electric drive device (18) is operated to interrupt the movement of the closing element (14) to the container (B) and to move the closing element (14) away from the container (B).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a device for closing containers. The invention further relates to a device for closing containers. Technical background

[0002] Devices for applying closures to containers filled with a filling material are well known. Depending on the type of closure, greater or lesser forces can occur when closing a container. If the container mouth and a closing element of the device that applies the closure are not positioned within a narrow tolerance range to one another immediately during closing, this can lead to damage to the container. For example, glass bottles can break. Fragments of the container and the escaping filling material can contaminate and even damage the closing device, particularly its seals. The drives of the closing device can also be damaged by excessive forces acting during closing. A malfunction can lead to the entire device automatically stopping and having to be started up again manually. Due to the necessary cleaning work and, if necessary,Repair work results in further unwanted downtime.

[0003] Incorrect positioning between the closing element and the container mouth can occur, for example, if the container is positioned too high due to incorrect locking of a lifting cylinder supporting the container or if the closing element is equipped with two closures.

[0004] The closing elements for applying the closures can be driven and moved in different ways. For example, DE 10 2012 209 905 A1, DE 10 2012 219 760 A1, and DE 10 2012 219 757 A1 disclose that a respective closing head is driven by an electric motor.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of developing an improved technology for preventing damage to the container and closing device as well as for preventing contamination of the closing device without the technology impairing the operation of the closing device. Summary of the invention

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims and the description.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for operating a device for closing containers. The method comprises operating an electric (e.g., linear) drive device, preferably a servo drive unit, of the device to move a closing element of the device to a container received in a container receptacle of the device (e.g., held and / or supported on the bottom and / or gripped / clamped) for applying a closure to the container (e.g., by means of a processing device of the device). The method further comprises monitoring a tracking error (e.g., load-related position deviation) of the electric drive device during operation of the electric drive device to move the closing element to the container by means of a processing device of the device.The method further comprises operating the electric drive device to interrupt the movement of the closure element toward the container and to move the closure element away from the container when the monitored tracking error reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value (e.g., by means of the processing device of the device).

[0008] The method advantageously makes it possible to detect when the closing element and the container mouth come into contact too early, outside of a tolerance range, e.g. because the container is positioned too high or because the closing element is loaded twice. This contact can increase the following error and can therefore be detected early. If the limit value for the following error is set sufficiently low, the movement of the closing element can be aborted before damage to the container and possible overloading of the drive device, etc. The subsequent movement away enables safe continued operation of the device. There is no contamination, damage, or unwanted stoppage of the device. The unsealed but undamaged container can advantageously be easily discharged later.

[0009] In one embodiment, the closure element is moved toward the container in a vertical downward direction. Alternatively or additionally, the closure element can be moved away from the container in a vertical upward direction. Alternatively or additionally, the closure element can be moved away to a predetermined target position during the movement away, which preferably corresponds to a starting position of the movement toward the container. Alternatively or additionally, the closure element can move back along a movement path previously followed during the movement toward the container during the movement away. This advantageously enables a secure and defined movement of the closure element away.

[0010] In a further embodiment, monitoring the tracking error of the electric drive device involves monitoring a deviation between a target position, preferably a target height position (e.g. of the closing element, a closer drive axis, or a drive axis of the electric drive device) and an actual position, preferably an actual height position (e.g. of the closing element, a closer drive axis, or a drive axis of the electric drive device), or comprises this. The predefined limit value can preferably be a predefined maximum deviation between the target position and the actual position. Alternatively or additionally, the predefined limit value can be, for example, ≤ 2 mm or ≤ 1.5 mm or ≤ 1 mm. Advantageously, the tracking error can be monitored particularly reliably in this way, and critical situations can be detected at an early stage.

[0011] In one embodiment, the tracking error is monitored on the electric drive device, preferably a drive shaft of the electric drive device, or on a closer drive shaft that connects the electric drive device to the closing element. Advantageously, the tracking error can be monitored particularly reliably in this way.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the movement comprises a (e.g. translational) movement of the closure element (e.g. downwards in a vertical direction) to an application position for starting application of the closure to a container mouth of the container and / or a (e.g. translational and / or rotational) movement (e.g. downwards in a vertical direction) of the closure element from an application position to a closing position for applying the closure to the container mouth. The monitoring of the tracking error can occur, for example, during operation of the electric drive device for moving the closure element to the application position. Alternatively or additionally, the monitoring of the tracking error can occur, for example, during operation of the electric drive device for moving the closure element from the application position to the closing position.In this way, different scenarios of incorrect positioning between the closure element and the container mouth can be advantageously detected.

[0013] In one embodiment, if the monitored tracking error reaches or exceeds the specified limit, a warning is issued at a user interface. Alternatively or additionally, the container assigned to the closing element can be subsequently ejected while monitoring the tracking error. Alternatively or additionally, operation of the device for closing subsequent containers can be continued without interruption. This advantageously enables continued operation of the device without any downtime.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the processing device is part of a servo converter connected to the electric drive device, preferably with a cycle time in the three-digit µs range, particularly preferably ≤ 500 µs or ≤ 400 µs. This advantageously enables particularly fast and high-resolution monitoring of the tracking error and thus particularly early detection of critical situations, reliably preventing damage to the container and the device.

[0015] In one embodiment, the electric drive device for moving the closure element toward the container to apply the closure to the container is operated by the processing device and a further processing device. Optionally, the electric drive device for interrupting the movement of the closure element toward the container and for moving the closure element away from the container is operated by the processing device, which overrides (superimposes / overrides) the further processing device. As already explained, this advantageously enables particularly fast-response and high-resolution monitoring of the tracking error.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the additional processing device is a processing device that is higher-level than the processing device, and / or the additional processing device has a longer cycle time than the processing device, and / or the additional processing device is a central processing device of the device. This advantageously allows the advantages of high monitoring resolution and the resulting rapid response to critical situations to be realized particularly effectively.

[0017] In one embodiment, the method further comprises, by means of a user interface of the device, specifying at least one parameter, preferably a target position, a speed, an acceleration, and / or a deceleration, of the closing element specifically for the removal. Preferably, the electric drive device for moving the closing element away from the container can be operated according to the at least one specified parameter. Advantageously, parameters can be specified by the user specifically for the removal in this way, whereby the removal can resolve the critical situation particularly reliably and safely.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the device is a pure closing device. Alternatively, the device can be, for example, an integrated filling and closing device, preferably with a treatment chamber in which at least one container mouth of the container can be accommodated, preferably sealed, for filling and closing the container. Optionally, the tracking error can be monitored, preferably only, during the movement of the closing element within the treatment chamber.

[0019] It is possible that, for example, the tracking error monitoring is deactivated during a CIP cleaning operation of the filling and closing device.

[0020] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a device for closing containers, preferably a rotary closing device. The device comprises (at least) one container receptacle for receiving (e.g., holding and / or supporting at the bottom and / or gripping / clamping) a container. The device comprises (at least) one closing element that is movable, preferably in a vertical downward direction, for moving toward a container received in the container receptacle (e.g., held and / or supported at the bottom and / or gripped / clamping) for applying a closure to the container. The device comprises (at least) one electric drive device, preferably a servo drive unit, wherein the electric drive device is connected to the closing element for driving the closing element to move toward the container (e.g., via a drive axis).The device comprises a processing device configured to execute a method as disclosed herein for operating the device. Advantageously, the device can achieve the same advantages as those already explained with reference to the method. The same applies to the preferred embodiments of the device explained below.

[0021] In one embodiment, the processing device is part of a servo converter connected to the electric drive device, preferably with a cycle time in the three-digit µs range, particularly preferably ≤ 500 µs or ≤ 400 µs. Alternatively or additionally, the device can, for example, have a further processing device which, together with the processing device, is configured to operate the electric drive device to move the closure element toward the container for applying the closure to the container. Preferably, the processing device can be configured to override the further processing device when the processing device operates the electric drive device to abort the movement of the closure element toward the container and to move the closure element away from the container.Alternatively or additionally, the further processing device can preferably be a processing device higher than the processing device and / or have a longer cycle time than the processing device and / or be a central processing device of the device.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the device further comprises a user interface configured to receive at least one parameter, preferably a target position, a speed, an acceleration, and / or a deceleration, of the closure element specifically for moving away from the container via a user input. Preferably, the processing device can further be configured to operate the electric drive device according to the at least one predetermined parameter for moving the closure element away from the container.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the device is a pure closing device. Alternatively, the device can be, for example, an integrated filling and closing device, preferably with a treatment chamber in which at least one container opening of the container can be accommodated, preferably in a sealed manner, for filling and closing the container. Optionally, the tracking error can be monitored, preferably only, during the movement of the closing element within the treatment chamber.

[0024] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a container treatment system (e.g., for tempering, manufacturing, cleaning, coating, testing, filling, sealing, pasteurizing, labeling, printing, marking, laser marking, and / or packaging containers for liquid or pasty media, preferably beverages, liquid foodstuffs, or products from the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry). The container treatment system may comprise the device as disclosed herein.

[0025] For example, the containers can be designed as bottles, cans, canisters, cartons, flacons, tubes, etc.

[0026] Preferably, the term "processing device" can refer to electronics (e.g., implemented as a driver circuit or with microprocessor(s) and data memory) that, depending on its design, can perform control and / or regulation tasks and / or processing tasks. Even if the term "control" is used herein, it can also appropriately include or mean "regulation" or "control with feedback" and / or "processing."

[0027] The previously described preferred embodiments and features of the invention can be combined with one another as desired. Short description of the characters

[0028] Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for closing containers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 shows two schematic representations for explaining an operation of the exemplary device; and Figure 3 shows several representations for explaining a monitoring of a tracking error of a drive device of the exemplary device for closing containers.

[0029] The embodiments shown in the figures correspond at least partially, so that similar or identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals and for their explanation reference is also made to the description of the other embodiments or figures in order to avoid repetition. Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0030] The Figure 1 shows a device 10 for closing containers B.

[0031] The device 10 comprises a container receptacle 12, a closure element 14, an electric drive device 18, and a processing device 26. Preferably, the device 10 may further comprise a further processing device 28 and / or a user interface 24.

[0032] The container B is in the container holder 12 during the closing process (not shown in detail in Figure 1 shown). For example, the container receptacle can have a container holder for holding the container B. The container holder can, for example, be a container plate (a support plate) for supporting the bottom of the container B. The container B can stand on the container plate. Alternatively or additionally, the container holder can support the container B, for example, on its container body or container neck ring, e.g. as a container clamp.

[0033] The closure element 14 is movable to a container B received in the container receptacle 12 and to apply a closure 16 to the container B. Preferably, the closure element 14 is movable downwards and upwards in a vertical direction. Specifically, the closure element 14 can be moved to a container mouth of a container B received in the container receptacle 12 and then apply the closure 16 to the container mouth. It is possible for the closure 16 to be pressed, pressed, or screwed onto the container B by means of the closure element 14, for example.

[0034] The closure 16 that can be applied by the closure element 14 can be, for example, a lid, a cork, a crown cap, or a screw cap. Particularly preferably, the closure element 14 is designed to close the container B with a closure 16 in the form of a crown cap. The closure element 14 can, for example, have a closing head designed as a stamp or attachment.

[0035] The electric drive device 18 is connected to the closure element 14 for driving the closure element 14 to move towards and away from the container B. Preferably, the electric drive device 18 can move the closure element 14 vertically, for example in a vertical direction downwards towards the container B and in a vertical direction upwards away from the container B. Depending on the design of the closure 16, however, rotational movements of the closure element 14 driven by the electric drive device 18 are also possible.

[0036] The electric drive device 18 can preferably be connected to the closing element 14 via a closer drive shaft 20, which is preferably only vertically movable, for moving the closing element 14. The closer drive shaft 20 is preferably only vertically movable. The closer drive shaft 20 can, for example, be elongated or rod-shaped. A longitudinal axis of the closer drive shaft 20 is preferably oriented vertically. It is possible for the closer drive shaft 20 to be detachably coupled to a drive shaft 22 of the electric drive device 18, for example, or to be integrally formed.

[0037] The electric drive device 18 is preferably an electric servo drive unit. For example, the servo drive unit is designed to follow a predetermined target movement, e.g., in the form of predetermined target positions for the closer drive axis 20 or drive axis 22. For this purpose, the servo drive unit can preferably detect actual positions, e.g., of the closer drive axis 20 or drive axis 22, and compare them with the predetermined target positions. Depending on the comparison, it can regulate the further movement of the drive axis 22. A deviation between the actual position and the target position can be referred to as a tracking error.

[0038] Preferably, the electric drive device 18 is a linear drive device. The linear drive device can preferably only move the closure element 14 in a vertical direction, downwards and upwards.

[0039] The device 10 preferably has several stations, each with a container receptacle 12, a closing element 14, and an electric drive device 18 for the simultaneous or temporally overlapping closing of several containers B. The device 10 can preferably be designed as a rotary device. For example, the stations can be arranged around a circumference of a carousel of the rotary device.

[0040] The user interface 24 can be operated to receive user inputs and / or output information to a user. For example, the user inputs can be provided tactilely, acoustically, and / or via gestures. For example, the information can be output to the user visually, acoustically, and / or haptically. The user interface 24 can, for example, have a preferably touch-sensitive display, a microphone, a loudspeaker, a signal light, and / or at least one button or switch.

[0041] The processing device 26 is configured to operate the electric drive device 18 to move the closure element 14, as will be explained in detail later herein.

[0042] Preferably, the processing device 26 is part of a servo converter connected to the electric drive device 18. The servo converter can preferably have a cycle time in the three-digit µs range, particularly preferably ≤ 500 µs or ≤ 400 µs.

[0043] The further processing device 28 can, for example, be a processing device higher than the processing device 26. For example, the further processing device 28 can be a central processing device of the device 10. The further processing device 28 can have a cycle time that is greater than a cycle time of the processing device 26. For example, the further processing device 28 can have a cycle time that is in the range between 3000 µs and 6000 µs, e.g., approximately 4800 µs.

[0044] It is possible for the processing device 26 and the further processing device 28 to be configured together to operate the electric drive device 18 to move the closing element 14. It is also possible for the processing device 26 to override (override / superimpose) the further processing device 28 to operate the electric drive device 18, e.g., to move or stop the closing element 14.

[0045] Preferably, the device 10 is arranged downstream of a filling device, e.g., a rotary filling device, for filling the containers B, e.g., with a liquid or pasty filling material, with respect to a container flow. For example, the device 10 can be a purely closing device for closing the containers B.

[0046] However, it is alternatively possible that the device 10 is an integrated filling-closing device, as in Figure 1The dotted lines are shown as an example. The filling and closing device can, for example, have a filling element 30 and optionally a treatment chamber 32.

[0047] The filling element 30 can be designed to fill the container B accommodated in the container receptacle. The filling element 30 can fill the container B, for example, with a liquid or pasty filling material. For example, the filling element 30 can have a filling valve for selectively releasing or blocking the filling element 30. The filling element 30 can be connected to a filling material source (not shown), preferably a filling material tank. Preferably, the filling element 30 can also evacuate, pre-pressurize, and / or rinse the container B.

[0048] Preferably, the filling element 30 can be pressed against a container mouth of the container B in order to fill the container B. Preferably, an adjusting device can be assigned to the filling element 30. The adjusting device can move the filling element 30 to press it against the container mouth and to release the container mouth. Preferably, the adjusting device can move an outlet of the filling element 30 within the treatment chamber 32. The adjusting device can move the outlet of the filling element 30 to press it against the container mouth, e.g., if a treatment, such as evacuation, rinsing, pre-tensioning and / or filling, by the filling element 30 is desired. The adjusting device can move the outlet of the filling element 30 away from the container mouth in order to, for example, enable treatment of the container B by the closing element 14. The adjusting device can preferably move the filling element 30 along an axis that is inclined to a vertical axis of the station orof the container B. The adjustment device can be driven, for example, electrically, electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically, e.g. controlled by the further processing device 28.

[0049] At least an upper portion of the container B, including its container mouth, can be received in the treatment chamber 32 for treatment by means of the filling member 30 and the closing element 14. For example, the container B can be moved into the treatment chamber 32 by means of the container holder 12 to position the upper portion of the container B.

[0050] For treatment, the portion of container B accommodated in treatment chamber 32 can be sealed within treatment chamber 32. For example, treatment chamber 32 can be sealed on the top side by closure element 14. For example, treatment chamber 32 can be sealed on the bottom side by means of a (e.g., container neck) seal 34 to a container neck of container B. Seal 34 can, for example, be designed as an inflatable ring body that can wrap around a container neck of container B.

[0051] It is possible that the treatment chamber 32 can be evacuated, rinsed and / or pre-stressed, for example, preferably while the container B is pressed against the filling element 30.

[0052] The following is an exemplary operation of the device 10 with reference to the Figures 1 to 3 explained.

[0053] The drive device 18 is operated to move the closing element 14 to the container B accommodated in the container receptacle 12, e.g., from the further processing device 28 via the processing device 26. The movement of the closing element 14 to the container B preferably takes place in a vertical downward direction. Normally, the closing element 14 first reaches an application position P1 (see Figure 2 ) to start the application of the closure 16 to a container mouth of the container B. For example, the closure 16 can almost or already contact a container mouth of the container B. After reaching the application position P1, the drive device 18 can be used to move the closure element 14 from the application position P1 to a closing position P2 (see also Figure 2 ) to ultimately apply the closure 16 to the container B.

[0054] However, it may happen that, for example, due to double-received closures 16 on the closure element 14 or due to a container B that is too high or positioned too high in the container holder 12, the closure element 14 cannot reach its application position P1 or its closure position P2 due to premature contact with the container B. Such situations are to be detected and subsequently reacted to using the method explained below.

[0055] When operating the drive device 18 to move the closing element 14 to the container B, a tracking error of the drive device 18 is monitored by means of the processing device 26, e.g. when moving the closing element 14 to the application position P1 and / or the closing position P2 (see Figure 2). The following error can preferably be monitored directly on the drive device 18, e.g., its drive axis 22, or on the closer drive axis 20. When monitoring the following error, it is preferably monitored for a deviation between a target position, preferably a target height position, e.g., of the drive axis 22, and an actual position, preferably an actual height position, e.g., of the drive axis 22.

[0056] If the monitored tracking error reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value, the drive device 18 is operated to stop the movement of the closing element 14 toward the container B and to move the closing element 14 away from the container B.

[0057] The limit value can preferably be a specified maximum deviation between the target position and the actual position. The limit value can be specified, for example, as ≤ 2 mm, ≤ 1.5 mm, or ≤ 1 mm.

[0058] When the movement is interrupted, the drive axis 22 can be braked. Preferably, the closure element 14 can be moved away from the container B in a vertical upward direction. During the movement away, the closure element 14 can be moved away to a predetermined target position, which preferably corresponds to a starting position for the movement to the container B. Preferably, the closure element 14 can move back along a movement path previously followed during the movement to the container B during the movement away.

[0059] While the operation of the drive device 18 for moving the closing element 14 to the application position P1 and / or the closing position P2 preferably takes place by means of both processing devices 26, 28, the operation of the drive device 18 for interrupting the movement of the closing element 14 to the container B and for moving the closing element 14 away from the container B preferably takes place only by means of the processing device 26, which overrides the further processing device 28.

[0060] Preferably, the drive axis 22 and thus the closure element 14 can move during the movement away from the container B according to at least one parameter specifically specified for the movement away. Preferably, the parameter(s) can be specified via the user interface 24. For example, a target position for the movement away, a speed during the movement away, an acceleration for the movement away, and / or a deceleration for the movement away can be specified via the user interface 24.

[0061] Monitoring is exemplary in Figure 3 shown. In Figure 3Four diagrams I, II, III and IV are shown. Diagram I shows an actual speed v_ist of the drive axis 22 of the drive device 18 over time. Diagram II shows an actual position z_ist of the drive axis 22 of the drive device over time. Diagram III shows an (actual) following error SF of the drive axis 22 over time. Diagram IV shows the state of a monitoring bit X over time. The monitoring bit X indicates whether the following error SF has reached / exceeded a limit value G (=1) or not (=0).

[0062] For example, at time t1, the drive device 18 begins to move the closure element 14 toward the container B. Accordingly, the drive axis 22 can be accelerated from time t1 (see diagram 1) and the actual position z_ist of the drive axis 22 changes from time t1 (see diagram 2). Initially, the following error SF can be comparatively small. At a time between t1 and t2, the closure element 14 with the closure 16 can strike the container B undesirably early for the reasons explained above, e.g., before the specified application position P1 (see Figure 2). Container B can make further movement of the closing element 14 difficult or hinder it, e.g. depending on the storage of container B in the container holder 12. The following error SF increases and can finally reach or exceed a predetermined limit value G at time t2 (see diagram 2). The monitoring bit X therefore changes to 1 at time t2. As a result, the drive device 18 aborts the actually intended further movement of the closing element 14 towards the container B, is braked and finally moved in an opposite direction away from the container B. This can be seen in diagrams 1 and 2, wherein the negative sign of the actual speed v_ist indicates the opposite direction and the decreasing position value z_ist indicates a retraction of the drive axis 22.Before reaching a specified target point at time t3, the drive axis 22 is braked, causing the current speed v_actual to finally reach 0 mm / s at time t3. The progression of the following error SF after the limit value G has been undershot again is less relevant, since no (continued) monitoring of the following error SF takes place while moving away from container B.

[0063] It is possible that, if the monitored tracking error reaches or exceeds the specified limit value G, a warning, for example, visual or acoustic, is output at the user interface 24. For example, the processing device 26 can instruct the further processing device 28 to operate the user interface 24 to output the warning.

[0064] It is also possible for the container B, which has not been sealed or at least has not been completely sealed, to be subsequently ejected. For example, information about this container B can be sent via the further processing device 28 to an ejection device arranged downstream of the device 10, which can eject the respective container B from the normal container flow.

[0065] It is also possible for the operation of the device 10 to continue without interruption for closing subsequent containers despite the limit value G for the following error SF being exceeded.

[0066] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and modifications are possible which also make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the subclaims, independent of the claims referred to. In particular, the individual features of independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the subclaims are also disclosed independently of all features of independent claim 1. All ranges referred to herein are to be understood as disclosed in such a way that, as it were, all values ​​falling within the respective range are individually disclosed, e.g., also as preferred, narrower outer limits of the respective range. List of reference symbols

[0067] 10Device for closing containers 12Container holder 14Closing element 16Closure 18Electric drive device 20Closing device drive shaft 22Drive shaft 24User interface 26Processing device 28Further processing device 30Filling device 32Treatment chamber 34Seal BContainer GGlimit value P1Application position P2Closing position SFLag error t1-t3Time points v_istActual speed XMonitoring bit z_istActual position

Claims

1. A method for operating a device (10) for closing containers (B), the method comprising: operating an electric drive device (18), preferably a servo drive unit, of the device (10) to move a closing element (14) of the device (10) to a container (B) received in a container receptacle (12) of the device (10) for applying a closure (16) to the container (B); monitoring a tracking error (SF) of the electric drive device (18) during operation of the electric drive device (18) to move the closing element (14) to the container (B) by means of a processing device (26) of the device (10); and when the monitored tracking error (SF) reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value (G), operating the electric drive device (18) to interrupt the movement of the closing element (14) to the container (B) and to move the closing element (14) away from the container (B).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is fulfilled: the movement of the closing element (14) towards the container (B) takes place in a vertical downward direction; the movement of the closing element (14) away from the container (B) takes place in a vertical upward direction; the closing element (14) is moved away during the movement away to a predetermined target position, which preferably corresponds to a starting position of the movement towards the container (B); and the closing element (14) moves back during the movement away along a movement path previously followed during the movement towards the container (B).

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: monitoring the following error (SF) of the electric drive device (18) is or comprises monitoring a deviation between a desired position, preferably a desired height position, and an actual position, preferably an actual height position, wherein preferably: the predetermined limit value (G) is a predetermined maximum deviation between the desired position and the actual position; and / or the predetermined limit value (G) is ≤ 2 mm or ≤ 1.5 mm or ≤ 1 mm.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the monitoring of the following error (SF) takes place on the electric drive device (18), preferably a drive axis (22) of the electric drive device (18), or on a closer drive axis (20) which connects the electric drive device (18) to the closing element (14).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the moving comprises: - moving the closing element (14) to an application position (P1) to start applying the closure (16) to a container mouth of the container (B); and - moving the closing element (14) from the application position (P1) to a closing position (P2) to apply the closure (16) to the container mouth; monitoring the tracking error (SF) occurs when operating the electric drive device (18) to move the closing element (14) to the application position (P1), and / or monitoring the tracking error (SF) occurs when operating the electric drive device (18) to move the closing element (14) from the application position (P1) to the closing position (P2).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: if the monitored tracking error (SF) reaches or exceeds the predetermined limit value (G): - a warning is output at a user interface (24); and / or - the container (B) assigned to the closing element (14) during monitoring of the tracking error (SF) is subsequently ejected; and / or - operation of the device (10) for closing subsequent containers (B) is continued without interruption.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the processing device (26) is part of a servo converter connected to the electric drive device (18), preferably with a cycle time in the three-digit µs range, particularly preferably ≤ 500 µs or ≤ 400 µs.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the operation of the electric drive device (18) for moving the closure element (14) towards the container (B) for applying the closure (16) to the container (B) is carried out by means of the processing device (26) and a further processing device (28); and optionally the operation of the electric drive device (18) for interrupting the movement of the closure element (14) towards the container (B) and for moving the closure element (14) away from the container (B) is carried out by means of the processing device (26), which overrides the further processing device (28).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the following is fulfilled: the further processing device (28) is a processing device higher than the processing device (26); the further processing device (28) has a longer cycle time than the processing device (26); and the further processing device (28) is a central processing device of the device (10).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: by means of a user interface (24) of the device (10), specifying at least one parameter, preferably a target position, a speed, an acceleration and / or a deceleration, of the closing element (14) specifically for the moving away, wherein: the operation of the electric drive device (18) for moving the closing element (14) away from the container (B) takes place in accordance with the at least one predetermined parameter.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the device (10) is a pure closing device; or the device (10) is an integrated filling-closing device, preferably: - with a treatment chamber (32) in which at least one container mouth of the container (B) for filling and closing the container (B) can be received, preferably in a sealed manner, and optionally the monitoring of the drag error (SF) takes place, preferably only, when the closing element (14) moves within the treatment chamber (32).

12. A device (10) for closing containers (B), preferably a rotary closing device, the device (10) comprising: a container receptacle (12) for receiving a container (12); a closing element (14) that is movable, preferably in a vertical direction downwards, for moving towards a container (B) received in the container receptacle (12) for applying a closure (16) to the container (B); an electric drive device (18), preferably a servo drive unit, the electric drive device (18) being connected to the closing element (14) for driving the closing element (14) to move towards the container (B); and a processing device (26) configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

13. Device (10) according to claim 12, wherein at least one of: the processing device (26) is part of a servo converter connected to the electric drive device (18), preferably with a cycle time in the three-digit µs range, particularly preferably ≤ 500 µs or ≤ 400 µs;the device (10) has a further processing device (28) which, together with the processing device (26), is configured to operate the electric drive device (18) to move the closure element (14) towards the container (B) for applying the closure (16) to the container (B), wherein preferably: - the processing device (26) is configured to override the further processing device (28) when the processing device (26) operates the electric drive device (18) to abort the movement of the closure element (14) towards the container (B) and to move the closure element (14) away from the container (B); and / or - the further processing device (28) is a processing device higher than the processing device (26); and / or - the further processing device (28) has a longer cycle time than the processing device (26);and / or - the further processing device (28) is a central processing device of the device (10); 14. Device (10) according to claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising: a user interface (24) configured to receive at least one parameter, preferably a target position, a speed, an acceleration and / or a deceleration, of the closure element (14) specifically for moving away through a user input, wherein: the processing device (26) is further configured to operate the electric drive device (18) according to the at least one predetermined parameter for moving the closure element (14) away from the container (B).

15. Device (10) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: the device (10) is a pure closing device; or the device (10) is an integrated filling-closing device, preferably: - with a treatment chamber (32) in which at least one container mouth of the container (B) for filling and closing the container (B) can be received, preferably in a sealed manner, and optionally the processing device (26) is configured to monitor the following error (SF), preferably only, during the movement of the closing element (14) within the treatment chamber (32).

Images