Container processing system with improved feed
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023820874
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-02-03
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-07
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-10
AI Technical Summary
Container treatment systems for glass bottles or cans fed in base handling experience high back pressure, leading to deformation, damage, or bursting, limiting throughput to less than 50,000 containers per hour, as they cannot utilize the full performance potential of treatment machines like fillers or labeling machines.
A container treatment system with two inlet tracks and an inlet star that combines container streams for the treatment machine, allowing for increased throughput by managing dynamic pressure and enabling flexible operation even if one inlet lane fails, with optional features like transfer stars, dividing screws, and treatment units like washing machines or inspection devices.
The system significantly increases container throughput while reducing the risk of damage, allowing the treatment machine to operate at higher capacities and maintain performance, with the ability to continue operation if one inlet track fails, and flexibility in handling different container types.
Smart Images
Figure EP2023084691_08082024_PF_FP
Abstract
Description
[0001] Container treatment plant with improved feeding
[0002] The invention relates to a container treatment plant, in particular for glass bottles or cans, to a use of the container treatment plant and to a method for treating containers, in particular glass bottles or cans, with the container treatment plant.
[0003] It is known to feed containers, in particular glass bottles or cans, to a processing machine, for example a filler or a labeling machine, using base handling. Containers fed in this way are particularly susceptible to back pressure. Particularly high back pressure can occur upstream of a dividing screw, which is used to divide the containers to a desired size. This back pressure can deform, damage, or even burst the containers. Therefore, container processing systems for such containers cannot be operated at the performance that would actually be achievable with the processing machines, such as fillers. In other words, the throughput of such systems is significantly lower than, for example, that of plastic bottles fed using neck handling. To date, the throughput of such systems has been limited to a treatment of fewer than 50,000 containers per hour.
[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a container treatment plant for containers fed in base handling with increased throughput.
[0005] This object is achieved by a container treatment system according to claim 1. Further developments are found in the subclaims.
[0006] The invention therefore provides a container treatment plant, in particular for glass bottles or cans, comprising a treatment machine and a container feed for feeding the containers to the treatment machine in base handling, wherein the container feed comprises two inlet tracks for one container stream each, and wherein the container feed also comprises an inlet line for combining the two container streams of the two inlet tracks into one inlet stream for the treatment machine.
[0007] Such a container treatment system allows more containers to be fed to the treatment machine per unit of time, thus increasing the overall throughput of the container treatment system. In particular, such a system can divide the container inflow between the two inlet tracks. This allows the back pressure in each of the inlet tracks to be kept at a reasonable level, thereby reducing the risk of damage, deformation, or bursting of containers. However, thanks to the double feed, the number of containers fed per unit of time can be increased compared to the state of the art, allowing the performance of the treatment machine to be utilized and throughput to be increased. A further potential advantage resulting from the double feed is that, in the event of a fault in one of the inlet tracks, the treatment machine can continue to operate, albeit at a lower throughput.
[0008] In particular, more than two inlet tracks can be provided, for example three or four inlet tracks.
[0009] The term "feeding containers" can be understood as the transport of containers to a processing machine, where they are subsequently labeled or filled, for example. During the feeding process, the containers can be prepared for the processing machine, for example, by being divided into sections using a dividing screw.
[0010] The term "infeed conveyor" refers to a device that transports containers toward a treatment machine in base handling. The containers can be transported along the infeed conveyors on conveyor belts and / or with a dividing screw. A dividing screw can be used to divide the containers, in other words, to place them at a predetermined distance from one another. During transport, the containers can be arranged such that the incoming container flow is single-track on each of the infeed conveyors, i.e., the containers are arranged one behind the other.
[0011] During the feeding process to the treatment machine, the containers can be transported continuously via the infeed conveyors, particularly using base handling. Base handling refers to the transport of the containers supported on their base or floor.
[0012] The infeed starwheel may be a clamping starwheel. The clamping starwheel may include pairs of clamp arms spaced apart along the circumference of the clamping starwheel to hold containers during transport.
[0013] At least one, in particular each, of the inlet tracks can comprise a transfer starwheel, in particular a clamping starwheel. In the case of clamping starwheels, these can comprise pairs of clamping arms arranged at a distance along the circumference of the clamping starwheel. The transfer starwheel can be arranged at the end of the inlet track, in particular downstream of a dividing screw. The transfer starwheel can transport the containers to the inlet starwheel of the treatment machine. This allows the container streams from the inlet tracks to be combined into one inlet stream for the treatment machine.
[0014] The two inlet tracks can be individually switched on and off. This allows for flexible adjustment of the container treatment plant's throughput. This also allows the container treatment plant to continue operating, for example, if a defect occurs on one of the inlet tracks.
[0015] The inlet tracks can be designed so that the container streams of the two inlet tracks transport the same number of containers per unit of time during operation. In other words, the inlet tracks can be designed identically. This allows for the simplest possible combination of the two container streams of the two inlet tracks.
[0016] At least one treatment unit, in particular a washing machine and / or an inspection unit for containers, for example an optical inspection device for containers, can additionally be arranged upstream or in the region of the inlet tracks. This allows containers to be prepared, for example washed, before they are treated in the treatment machine, for example filled or labeled. In particular, the treatment unit can also be provided in multiple units. This can reduce the load on the treatment units. In particular, each of the inlet tracks can be assigned its own, in particular identical, treatment unit. For example, a washing machine can be arranged upstream of each of the inlet tracks and / or an inspection unit can be arranged along each of the inlet tracks.
[0017] The treatment machine can be a filler or a labeling machine. The container treatment system can, in particular, be a filling system, wherein the filling system comprises, in particular, a filler, a labeling machine, and a capper. The labeling machine can also be a direct printing machine.
[0018] The invention further provides a use of the above-described container treatment system for treating containers, in particular for treating glass bottles or cans. The container treatment system may have one or more of the above-mentioned features.
[0019] The invention further provides a method for treating containers, in particular glass bottles or cans, using a container treatment system as described above. The method comprises, in particular, the following steps:
[0020] Feeding the containers in base handling with two inlet tracks for one container stream each, and
[0021] Combining the two container streams of the two inlet tracks into one inlet stream for the treatment machine using an inlet star.
[0022] The container treatment plant can in turn have one or more of the features mentioned above.
[0023] The method for treating containers may further comprise feeding containers along a first infeed line, wherein these containers differ from the containers on the second infeed line, particularly in size, weight, shape, and / or labeling. This allows two different containers to be fed along the infeed lines but then treated identically by the treatment machine, for example, filled with the same contents. This allows, for example, special edition containers to be effectively treated alongside the regular containers.
[0024] The method for treating containers can additionally comprise the step of shutting down one of the inlet lines while the second inlet line continues to operate, particularly after a defect is detected in the first inlet line or in the area of the first inlet line. This allows for flexible adjustment of the throughput of the container treatment plant. This also makes it possible to continue operating the container treatment plant, for example, if a defect occurs in one of the inlet lines.
[0025] In the method for treating containers, at least one, in particular each, of the inlet tracks may comprise a transfer star. The method may additionally comprise the step:
[0026] Transporting the containers with the transfer system of at least one, in particular each, inlet track to the inlet star of the treatment machine. This allows the container streams of the inlet tracks to be combined into the inlet stream for the treatment machine. Further features and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the exemplary figures. In the figures:
[0027] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary container treatment plant in a schematic representation, and
[0028] Fig. 2 is an exemplary flow chart of the method for treating containers.
[0029] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary container processing system 1. The container processing system 1 comprises a processing machine, in this example a filler carousel 2 (hereinafter also referred to as "filler"), which fills glass bottles. The container processing system 1 also comprises a container feed 3 for feeding the glass bottles to the filler 2 in the base handling process. The container feed 3 comprises a first inlet track 4 and a second inlet track 5, each for a container stream, as well as an inlet starwheel 6 for combining the two container streams into one inlet stream for the filler 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the inlet starwheel 6 is a clamping starwheel.
[0030] In this exemplary embodiment, the two inlet tracks 4, 5 each additionally comprise a transfer starwheel 7, which transports the container stream from the respective inlet track 4, 5 to the inlet starwheel 6. The transfer starwheels 7 are also clamping stars. Such clamping stars are known, for example, from DE 10 2021 107 294 A1. The inlet tracks 4, 5 can each additionally comprise a dividing screw (not shown) that brings the glass bottles to a predetermined pitch. In addition, a washing machine (not shown) and / or an optical inspection device for glass bottles (not shown) can be arranged upstream of the inlet tracks 4, 5. The optical inspection device checks the glass bottles, for example, for damage.
[0031] The three star clamps 6, 7 have pairs of clamp arms (not shown) that are spaced apart along the circumference of the star clamps 6, 7 to hold the glass bottles.
[0032] The inlet tracks 4 and 5 can be individually switched on and off. For example, if one of the inlet tracks 4 and 5 fails, it can be switched off and operation can continue with the second inlet track 4 and 5.
[0033] During operation, both infeed tracks 4 and 5 are typically connected. The glass bottles move along the two infeed tracks 4 and 5 toward the filler 2. The glass bottles are transported using base handling and are arranged in a single lane, i.e., one behind the other. The glass bottles are conveyed using dynamic pressure.
[0034] When passing through the optional optical inspection device, the glass bottles are checked for damage, for example.
[0035] An optional dividing screw located at the end of the infeed tracks 4 and 5 divides the glass bottles. The dividing screw and the subsequent clamping star 7 are coordinated in such a way that one glass bottle at a time is transported by each pair of clamping arms.
[0036] The two transfer stars 7 transport the container streams to the inlet starwheel 6, which combines the two container streams into the inlet stream for the filler 2. The transfer stars 7 and the inlet starwheel 6 are coordinated such that the transfer stars 7 alternately transfer containers to the inlet starwheel. For example, the transfer starwheel 7 of the first inlet track 4 can transfer a glass bottle to each odd-numbered pair of clamp arms of the inlet starwheel 6, and the transfer starwheel 7 of the second inlet track 5 can transfer a glass bottle to each even-numbered pair of clamp arms of the inlet starwheel 6. As a result, the two container streams of the two inlet tracks 4, 5 are combined by the inlet starwheel 6.
[0037] The combined container streams are transported by the inlet star 6 to the filler 2 and thus form the inlet stream of the filler 2, which ultimately fills the glass bottles.
[0038] Instead of filler 2, one or more other processing machines can be used, such as a labeling machine. Cans or other containers can also be processed instead of glass bottles.
[0039] Figure 2 shows an exemplary flow diagram of the method for treating containers, in particular glass bottles or cans, with a container treatment plant 1. To carry out the method, the container treatment plant 1 can in particular be designed with a corresponding control device.
[0040] In this embodiment, the container treatment plant 1 is designed analogously to Figure 1. The method comprises the following steps:
[0041] - Feeding the containers in base handling with two inlet tracks 4, 5 for one container stream each, and - Combining the two container streams of the two inlet tracks 4, 5 to form the inlet stream for the filler 2 using the inlet star 6.
[0042] The method starts with step 201, in which the glass bottles are fed into the base handling system using the two inlet tracks 4, 5 for one container stream each.
[0043] The glass bottles move along the two inlet tracks 4, 5 in the direction of the filler 2 and can pass through an optical inspection device that checks the glass bottles for damage, for example.
[0044] The glass bottles can be divided into a predetermined size using an optional dividing screw located at the end of the infeed tracks 4 and 5. The dividing screw and the subsequent clamping star 7 are coordinated in such a way that one glass bottle at a time is transported by each of the clamping arm pairs.
[0045] When performing step 202, the two transfer stars 7 transport the glass bottles to the inlet star 6, which combines the two container streams into the inlet stream for the filler 2.
[0046] The transfer starwheels 7 and the infeed starwheel 6 are coordinated in such a way that the clamping arm pairs of the infeed starwheel 6 alternately pick up bottles from the transfer starwheel 7 of the first infeed track 4 and from the transfer starwheel 6 of the second infeed track 5. As a result, the two container streams of the two infeed tracks 4, 5 are combined by the infeed starwheel 6.
[0047] The combined container streams are transported by the inlet star 6 to the filler 2 and thus form the inlet stream of the filler 2, which finally fills the glass bottles (step 203).
[0048] It is also possible for the first infeed line 4 to feed containers that differ from the containers on the second infeed line 5. For example, for special editions, the first infeed line 4 can feed containers that have previously been printed or labeled accordingly. The second infeed line 5 feeds the standard containers. However, the container streams on the infeed lines 4, 5 are filled with the same contents. In the event of a defect in one of the infeed lines 4, 5, the method can include the additional step of shutting down the defective infeed line 4, 5 while the functioning infeed line 4, 5 continues to operate.
[0049] List of reference symbols Container treatment plant Treatment machine Container feed First inlet track Second inlet track Inlet star Transfer star
Claims
Claims 1. Container treatment plant (1), in particular for glass bottles or cans, comprising: a treatment machine (2), and a container feed (3) for feeding the containers to the treatment machine (2) in base handling, wherein the container feed (3) comprises two inlet tracks (4, 5) for one container stream each, and wherein the container feed (3) also comprises an inlet star (6) for combining the two container streams of the two inlet tracks (4, 5) into one inlet stream for the treatment machine (2).
2. Container treatment plant according to claim 1, wherein at least one, in particular each of the inlet tracks comprises a transfer star.
3. Container treatment plant according to claim 2, wherein the transfer star of the at least one, in particular each inlet track, transports the containers to the inlet star of the treatment machine.
4. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer stem of at least one, in particular each inlet track is arranged at the end of the inlet track.
5. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet tracks additionally each comprise a dividing screw which brings the container flow of the respective inlet track to a predetermined pitch.
6. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the two inlet tracks can be switched on and off individually.
7. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet tracks are designed such that the container streams of the inlet tracks transport the same number of containers per unit of time.
8. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the container streams of the two inlet tracks are each formed as a single track.
9. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one treatment unit, in particular a washing machine and / or an inspection unit for containers, is additionally arranged upstream and / or in the region of the inlet tracks.
10. Container treatment plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment machine is a filler or a labeling machine.
11. Use of a container treatment plant (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for treating containers, in particular for treating glass bottles or cans.
12. A method for treating containers, in particular glass bottles or cans, with a container treatment plant (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising the steps: - feeding the containers in base handling with two inlet tracks (4, 5) for one container stream each, and - Combining the two container streams of the two inlet tracks (4, 5) to form the inlet stream for the treatment machine (2) using the inlet star (6).
13. A method for treating containers according to claim 12, the method additionally comprising the step: - feeding containers with a first inlet track (4), wherein these containers differ from the containers of the second inlet track (5), in particular differ in size, weight, shape and / or labeling.
14. A method for treating containers according to claim 12 or 13, the method additionally comprising the step: - Switching off one of the inlet tracks (4, 5) during continued operation of the second inlet track (4, 5), in particular after detecting a defect in the first inlet track (4, 5) or in the region of the first inlet track (4, 5).
15. A method for treating containers according to at least one of claims 12 to 14, wherein at least one, in particular each of the inlet tracks comprises a transfer star, and the method additionally comprising the step: - Transporting the containers with the transfer star of at least one, in particular each inlet track, to the inlet star of the treatment machine.