Method and device for irradiating packages and / or preforms with an electron beam - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a novel method and device for irradiating, in particular sterilizing, packaging and / or preforms with an electron beam. Due to the fact that the packaging and / or the electron beam are handled on a robotic arm during irradiation, the handling process can be flexibly adapted to different packaging types, and the electron beam emitter and the robotic arm can also be flexibly used for exchanging emitters and irradiating other machine surfaces in a clean room environment.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and device for irradiating, in particular for sterilizing, packaging and / or preforms for packaging by means of an electron beam. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, from EP 3415302 it is known to coat and / or sterilize plastic containers by means of an electron beam. For this purpose, the containers are arranged on a carousel of a rotating holder and are guided through the handling area of ​​electron beam emitters arranged stationary around the periphery of the carousel. Both the carousel and the generated electron beam are surrounded by a clean room in accordance with the relevant hygiene regulations for food production.

[0003] However, the problem is that the stationary emitter must be responsible for both the external and internal sterilization of the plastic containers and must therefore be correspondingly powerful and require a relatively large space. In addition, the containers are transported along a fixed reference circle by the stationary electron beam, which means that the sterilization can only be poorly adapted to different packaging.

[0004] Another problem is that the containers on the carousel are guided as a continuous stream of product through the electron beam, and insufficient sterilization of individual containers during an ongoing manufacturing process can only be responded to in that they are ejected downstream, causing loss of product or complicated return of insufficiently sterilized plastic containers to the product stream.

[0005] For example, repair of electron beam emitters when sterilization performance is compromised is associated with undesirably long production downtime. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus for irradiating, and in particular sterilizing, packaging and / or preforms that is improved with respect to at least one of the problems mentioned above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object is met by a method according to claim 1 and by an apparatus according to the independent device claim.

[0008] The method is used to irradiate packaging and / or preforms for packaging, in particular for sterilization, but alternatively or additionally is also suitable for coating the packaging or preforms under the action of a suitable coating agent, known in principle. In either case, the packaging and / or preforms are subjected to at least one electron beam and are handled on a robotic arm during the process. Additionally or alternatively, the electron beam can be handled on the robotic arm during irradiation.

[0009] The packaging is in particular a product container, for example for food products such as beverages. The packaging can be a bottle, a can, a cup, a bowl, etc. It is preferred that this also includes the individual components of the packaging, such as lids, screw caps, etc.

[0010] The packaging is preferably a plastic bottle, in particular a bottle made of PET. The preform is also preferably made of PET. Such packaging and preforms can be sterilized and / or otherwise treated, for example coated, in a particularly efficient manner by electron beam.

[0011] As is known, a preform should be understood to mean a plastic blank which is formed into a package in a further manufacturing process, in particular a blow moulding process. The preform and the packages blown therefrom, in particular bottles, then have, as is known, the same neck finish, so that handling of the packages and the preforms on the robot arm as described herein, in particular by gripping the neck finish from the outside and / or inside (so-called neck handling), is equally suitable for the packages and the preforms.

[0012] If preforms are not explicitly mentioned below, the term "packaging" shall stand for "packaging and / or preforms" for easier reading.

[0013] The robot arm is part of a programmable industrial robot, which may be, for example, an articulated arm robot, a portal robot, or a delta kinematic robot (e.g., "tripod" type).

[0014] "Handling" means holding and moving the package and / or at least one emitter for electron irradiation. For this purpose, the robot arm preferably comprises at least one external and / or internal gripper for one package each. In the case of external and internal grippers, this combination can be used to alternately grip the same package on the inside and outside so that the respective exposed contact areas of the grippers can be treated (sterilized).

[0015] The emitter handled on the robot arm can, for example, be arranged on / in a package that is handled / transported independently of the robot arm. A separate, in particular clock-like, transport of the package is conceivable, for example, in order to introduce the emitter by the robot arm into the package handled in this way for internal irradiation. A separate, in particular continuous, transport of the package is also conceivable, in order to guide the emitter by the robot arm along the package handled in this way for external irradiation.

[0016] Furthermore, the robot arm allows movements with several degrees of freedom in a manner known in principle in order to pick up the packaging at least on the inlet side, place the packaging in the area of ​​the electron beam and eject the packaging again on the outlet side for further processing after irradiation. In particular, the robot can have three or more, in particular four or more, axes.

[0017] For internal irradiation of the package, the package is preferably exposed to a first electron beam that is generated on a robot arm and in particular moved along the robot arm.The inside of the package can then be sterilized and / or coated by an electron beam with a relatively low irradiation energy, irradiation power and / or irradiation duration.In addition, the inside of the package can be exposed to the first electron beam substantially during the entire duration of handling with the robot arm, and the duration of handling can then be efficiently utilized or minimized overall, respectively.

[0018] The first electron beam and the package on the robot arm are preferably moved relative to one another, in particular by a motor-driven extension of a finger-shaped / rod-shaped emitter from the robot arm into the package held on the robot arm, the latter being able to be held, for example, by an external gripper at the neck finish of the package.

[0019] The finger-shaped emitters can be extended into the package by a linear drive, a spindle drive, etc. Depending on the length of the package to be processed, the finger-shaped emitters can be extended and / or moved to different extensions along the longitudinal axis of the package during irradiation.

[0020] The leads for supplying energy to the emitter and / or the drive may be routed through, i.e. inside, the housing of the robot arm, which makes cleaning of the robot arm easier.

[0021] In particular, the robot itself can clean and / or sterilize parts of the robot's housing, in particular any emitters present.

[0022] When two such robots are in close proximity to each other, the robots can clean and / or sterilize each other, in particular by means of the emitters present.

[0023] For external irradiation of the package, the package is preferably exposed to a second electron beam that is generated on a robot arm and is in particular moved along the robot arm. The outer wall of the package can then be sterilized and / or coated by an electron beam with a relatively low irradiation energy, irradiation power and / or irradiation duration. In addition, the outer wall of the package can be exposed to the second electron beam substantially during the entire duration of handling with the robot arm, and the duration of handling can then be efficiently utilized or minimized overall, respectively. Thus, a relatively small and inexpensive emitter can be adopted for external irradiation of the package.

[0024] The second electron beam and the package on the robot arm are preferably moved relative to each other, in particular by a partially circumferential circulation of the second electron beam around the package. The associated emitter is then moved around the package, for example by a motor, on a boom or the like rotatably mounted on the robot arm. The package can then be relatively easily handled in a fixed and / or arbitrary rotational position relative to the robot arm, but can be fully irradiated, for example from the side and obliquely from below. The side walls and base area of ​​the package can then be efficiently sterilized and / or coated.

[0025] For external irradiation, the package is preferably guided into the area of ​​a third, in particular stationary, electron beam by a pivoting, tilting and / or linear movement of a robot arm. The package can then be flexibly positioned at different positions in the area of ​​the third electron beam.

[0026] In addition, the packaging in the area of ​​the third electron beam can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by a rotatable holder present on the robot arm and / or tilted perpendicular thereto, for example to an upside-down position.

[0027] For example, internal illumination by finger-shaped emitters carried along a robotic arm and external illumination by fixed emitters are conceivable.

[0028] At least two packages are preferably handled simultaneously on the robot arm and in the process exposed to at least one electron beam, which allows optimizing machine performance.

[0029] To replace an emitter of an electron beam transported along the robot arm, the robot arm preferably moves to a storage location where it removes the emitter to be replaced and receives an emitter made available in the storage location in place of the removed emitter. Emitters made available within the handling area / robot can be quickly accessed and subjected to clean room conditions, for example for replacement when the emitter's performance deteriorates or for a changeover of type.

[0030] For example, after opening the storage from the outside in order to equip it with a new emitter, the robot can sterilize parts of the storage (in particular the inner walls) or the new emitter, respectively.

[0031] If two such robots are placed next to each other, then both can access the same storage.

[0032] The robot arm preferably places the poorly irradiated packages in a storage area subject to clean room conditions and only removes these packages again from the storage area after handling / irradiating other packages, especially if there is a transport interval and / or a transport interruption on the inlet side. The poorly irradiated packages are then re-exposed to the electron beam. A sterile intermediate storage in the handling area of ​​the robot simplifies the return of the poorly irradiated packages to the product flow and reduces product losses. In particular, for this purpose there can be a rail in the vicinity of the robot, on which the packages can be hung or hooked, in particular on a support ring present on the rail. Arrangement of the packages on the base surface is also possible.

[0033] The robot arm is preferably adapted to rotate the packaging to an upside-down position, in particular after irradiation with the first, second and / or third electron beam. For example, an upside-down position is required for a subsequent rinser. The robot may therefore also be usefully used to change the position of the packaging for a subsequent processing step. No additional assembly is then required for a corresponding change of position elsewhere. Additionally or alternatively, the robot arm distributes the preforms to different production lines, in particular after irradiation with electrons, for example to produce different packaging downstream of the preforms or to supply packaging to different filling stations.

[0034] The machine surfaces present in the clean room surrounding the robot arm are preferably sterilized by at least one electron beam, in particular the first and / or second electron beam, generated and transported along on the robot arm. The machine surfaces can be, for example, the surfaces of the robot, the surfaces of the transport devices on the inlet and / or outlet side of the packaging, as well as the surfaces of adjacent processing and / or inspection machines. Irradiation of the surfaces of rotating machines is particularly efficient if the machine surfaces on the rotor move through the electron beam.

[0035] The robotic arm can then be flexibly used for a variety of tasks to handle, place and / or dispense packaging, as well as to perform maintenance on machine surfaces or comply with hygiene production regulations.

[0036] The claimed device is used for irradiating, in particular for sterilizing, packaging by means of an electron beam, in particular according to at least one of the above-mentioned embodiments. The device comprises a programmable robot having a robot arm for handling the packaging when subjected to the electron beam, and at least one emitter, transported along the robot arm and / or arranged, in particular fixedly, in the handling area of ​​the robot arm for generating the electron beam. Thus, the advantages described with respect to the method according to the invention can be achieved.

[0037] The first emitter for internal irradiation of the package and / or the second emitter for external irradiation of the package are preferably mounted on a robot arm. Due to the small irradiation distance between the emitter and the package, this allows a relatively efficient irradiation with at least one electron beam and an efficient use of the handling time on the robot arm for internal and / or external irradiation. In addition, the package on the robot arm can be accurately positioned with a relatively short positioning movement with the electron beam.

[0038] The first emitter, preferably finger- or rod-shaped, can be moved by a motor into the packaging held on the robot arm. The first emitter can then also be flexibly moved in the longitudinal direction of the packaging in order to adapt the area of ​​action of the first electron beam and / or to properly expose the entire interior of the packaging to the electron radiation. The packaging is then preferably held on the robot arm by an external gripper. However, the use of an internal gripper for the packaging is also conceivable, the first emitter then being introduced into the packaging through a recess formed in the internal gripper.

[0039] The second emitter is preferably mounted on the robot arm in such a way that it can be rotated by a motor so that the emitter can move in a respective circumferential direction around the package held on the robot arm. This allows a partially circumferential or completely circumferential external irradiation without interfering with the pick-up and set-down of the package on the robot arm. The package is then preferably held on the robot arm by an internal gripper. In principle, however, the use of an external gripper is also conceivable.

[0040] The device preferably further comprises a third emitter arranged in particular in a fixed handling area of ​​the robot arm for external irradiation of the packaging. The packaging can be relatively flexibly arranged in the handling area of ​​the third emitter with the aid of the robot arm. Such a fixed emitter is also particularly suitable for packaging that is rotationally asymmetric or has some other complex shape, for example a molded surface.

[0041] The device preferably further comprises a storage for at least one, in particular a plurality of first and / or second emitters, the storage being arranged in the handling area of ​​a robot / robot arm, the robot arm comprising a motor-controlled holder for picking up and setting down the first, second emitters. The holder can be for example a mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and / or electrical quick-change coupling for the first / second emitters. In case of wear and / or type changeover, the emitters can be optionally changed relatively quickly in an automated manner and with little or no interruption to the production operation. No additional devices are required to perform the maintenance / adaptation of the emitter type.

[0042] A monitoring device capable of monitoring the mode of operation of the emitters is preferably located near the robot and can output an error message in the event of an emitter failure or output a signal to the control device which initiates an automatic exchange of the emitter.

[0043] The controller is also configured to control a sterilization process for sterilization of a room in which the one or more robots are located.

[0044] The storage unit or further storage units, which are also arranged in the access area of ​​one or more robots, can have a supply of internal and / or external grippers, each of the supplies having a different type, for example a different receiving diameter.

[0045] In particular, the robot can place a gripper disposed on the robot in this storage area and independently pick up another gripper having a new model.

[0046] Instead of irradiating with an emitter, the method and device can also sterilize the packaging with a gas or liquid. Instead of an emitter, a jet of water can also be used to eject the gas or liquid and place it on the robot.

[0047] All elements disclosed in the method section can also be used in the apparatus and vice versa.

[0048] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a robot arm having a first emitter for internal illumination of the packaging. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a robot having a second emitter for external irradiation of packaging. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a robot having a third emitter for external irradiation of packaging. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows a clean room with storage for robots and emitters. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] As can be seen in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 , an apparatus 1 for irradiating and in particular sterilizing packages 2 and / or preforms (not shown) by means of an electron beam comprises a programmable robot 3 having a robotic arm 4 for handling the packages 2 during irradiation and a first emitter 5 which is moved along the robotic arm 4 for internally irradiating the packages 2 by means of a first electron beam 6.

[0051] The robot arm 4 comprises, for example, an upper arm 4a, a lower arm 4b, and a gripping hand 4c (these structural terms are used only for the purpose of explanation). The upper arm 4a is attached to a column 3a of the robot 3, for example, by a first pivot joint 4d. The upper arm 4a and the lower arm 4b are connected to each other, for example, by a second pivot joint 4e.

[0052] On the gripper hand 4c, preferably an external gripper 7 is arranged, which holds the package 2 on the gripper hand 4c at the neck finish 2a of the package, for example by means of a support ring formed on the gripper hand 4c. The gripper 7 is preferably a controllable gripper that actively closes to pick up the package 2 and reopens to release the package 2. The mode of operation of such a gripper 7 is known in principle and therefore will not be described further. In principle, the gripper 7 can also be an internal gripper that engages from the inside at the neck finish 2a, unlike the illustration in FIG. 1.

[0053] The first emitter 5 is preferably attached to the robot arm 4 by a quick change coupling 8. In addition to the mechanical connection between the first emitter 5 and the robot arm 4, the quick change coupling 8 can also establish electrical, pneumatic and / or hydraulic connections to supply operating resources such as drive energy, control signals, coolant, etc. to the first emitter 5 via the robot arm 4.

[0054] The first emitter 5 can in particular be moved in an electrically controlled manner relative to the robot arm 4, preferably by means of an associated lifting drive 9. This allows a lifting movement 10 of the first emitter 5 relative to the robot arm 4 along the longitudinal axis 2b of the package 2. The lifting movement 10 is used, for example, to introduce the first emitter 5 into the package 2 held by the holder 7 and to position it in a manner suitable for internal irradiation of the package.

[0055] Different lifting positions of the first emitter 5 can be accessed by a lifting drive 9 during the internal irradiation of a particular package 2, as well as for adapting the maximum stroke of the lifting movement 10 to the respective type of package 2 to be processed. Depending on the supply of the packages 2 and the mode of operation of the gripper 7, the first emitter 5 can in principle also be arranged in a defined height position relative to the robot arm 4, whereby a lifting drive 9 is not necessary.

[0056] The gripping hand 4c (or a similar end of the robot arm 4) may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis 4f in order to perform a rotational movement 11 (shown diagrammatically) that places the gripper 7 and the package 2 held thereby in, for example, an upside-down position.

[0057] Furthermore, linear movements 12 are conceivable for moving the gripper hand 4c (or similar end of the robot arm 4) in and out, i.e. for retracting and extending the robot arm 4.

[0058] The motor drives 13 required to perform the optional rotary movements 11 and / or linear movements 12 are known in principle and therefore will not be described in detail.

[0059] To handle the packages 2, the robot arm 4 can be designed in a selective manner with the degrees of freedom required depending on the installation configuration in a manner known in principle. Joints 4d, 4e (shown by way of example) allow tilting movements 14, 15 of the robot arm 4. A horizontal pivoting movement 16 (shown by way of example) of the robot arm 4 relative to the base 3b of the robot 3 is entirely possible as well as a horizontal and / or vertical translational movement 17 of the column 3a and / or the base 3b.

[0060] Finally, the handling of the package 2 for irradiation can be flexibly adapted by a programmable control device 18 for the robot 3, e.g. the trajectory of the package 2 on the robot arm 4, the function of the gripper 7, the quick change coupler 8 and / or the lifting drive 9.

[0061] In principle, several grippers 7, gripping hands 4c or similar ends with the described functionality can be present on the robot arm 4 in order to handle several packages 2 simultaneously with the robot 3 and in the process expose the packages to at least one electron beam. This applies to all the described embodiments.

[0062] 2 shows a further advantageous device 21 for irradiating, and in particular for sterilizing, packages 2 and / or preforms (not shown) by means of an electron beam. For simplicity, the device 21 is shown in a very simplified manner in the free end region of the robot arm 4, and in principle it is possible for all the features and functions of the device shown in FIG. 1 to be present in the region of the gripper hand 4c. For example, the first emitter 5, the holder 7, the quick-change coupler 8 and / or the lifting drive 9 can be present.

[0063] Thus, only one package 2 with a longitudinal axis 2b and a second emitter 25 for external irradiation of the package 2 with a second electron beam 26 are shown as a representation. The second emitter 25 is also arranged on the robot arm 4 and can be transported as required during the irradiation action with the second electron beam 26, with the package 2 being held on the robot arm.

[0064] The second emitter 25 is preferably rotatably mounted on the robot arm 4, for example on the gripper hand 4c, so that the second emitter 25 can be moved at least partially, preferably completely, around the package 2. The second emitter 25 then performs a substantially rotational movement 27 around the longitudinal axis 2b of the package 2.

[0065] A second emitter 25 for external irradiation of the package 2 is also attached to the robot arm 4, preferably by means of a quick change coupler 28. For example, a rotation drive 29 for the second emitter 25 is provided on the robot arm 4 in order to perform the rotational movement 27. For example, the rotation drive 29 can be driven electrically or otherwise in a known manner.

[0066] The second emitter 25 can then move, for example, around the entire circumference of the package 2 held by the robot arm 4, preferably to expose both the side wall and the base region of the package 2 from the outside to the second electron beam 26.

[0067] The package is then preferably held by a robotic arm by an internal gripper (not shown).

[0068] Furthermore, the rotational drive 29 allows the second emitter 25 to be optionally moved to a specific rotational position for picking up and setting down the packaging 2 in order to optimize handling of the packaging 2.

[0069] Figure 3 shows an apparatus 31 with the further advantage of irradiating, and in particular sterilizing, packages 2 and / or preforms (not shown) by means of an electron beam. Most of the features of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and the functions of the robot 3 described in this connection are likewise omitted in Figure 3 for the sake of clarity. Here again, for example, a first emitter 5, a holder 7, a quick-change coupler 8 and / or a lifting drive 9 may be present.

[0070] As an alternative or in addition to the second emitter 25 for external irradiation of the packaging 2, the apparatus 31 comprises a third emitter 35, which is positioned stationary in particular in the handling area of ​​the robot 3, i.e. substantially within the reach of the robot arm 4, for external irradiation of the packaging 2 by a third electron beam 36.

[0071] 1, configured to hold the package 2 in a fixed rotational position relative to the robot arm 4, can then be optionally replaced by a holder 37 which can be rotated about the longitudinal axis 2b of the package 2. As a result, the package 2 can be rotated about the respective longitudinal axis 2b in the area of ​​the third emitter 35 or in the area of ​​the third electron beam 36, for example, to facilitate an all-round external irradiation of the package 2. The associated rotational movements 38 are shown diagrammatically for better understanding.

[0072] With the aid of the robot 3, the packages 2 can be flexibly positioned in different positions in the area of ​​the third emitter 35 / third electron beam 36 for external irradiation and / or moved according to different trajectories. This applies in particular also to packages 2 with rotationally asymmetric cross-sections, complex shaped wall contours etc., which can be only insufficiently irradiated from the outside with the second emitter 25 being transported along.

[0073] 4 shows a further advantageous apparatus 41 for irradiating, and in particular sterilizing, packages 2 and / or preforms (not shown) by means of an electron beam. The apparatus 41 thus comprises a clean room 42 in which the robot 3 is arranged together with its robot arm 4 (shown in very simplified form). Furthermore, a storage 43 for the first and / or second emitters 5, 25 is arranged in the handling area of ​​the robot 3.

[0074] The first emitter 5 for internal irradiation of the package 2 and the second emitter 25 for external irradiation of the package are preferably attached to the robot arm 4 by means of the above-mentioned quick-change couplers 8, 28. The quick-change couplers 8, 28 allow a relatively simple, in particular tool-free, exchange of the first and / or second emitter 5, 25.

[0075] For replacement, the robot arm 4 moves the emitter 5, 25 held on it to the area of ​​the storage section 43. By mechanically actuating at least one of the quick change couplers 8, 28, the respective first and / or second emitter 5, 25 to be replaced is placed in the storage section 43, and the first and / or second emitter 5, 25 operably held in the storage section 43 is removed as a replacement and mechanically fixed to the robot arm 4 by the quick change coupler 8, 28.

[0076] Replacement of the first and / or second emitters 5, 25 may be necessary, for example, due to wear, reduced sterility performance, and / or model changeover, for example when using packaging types having different lengths, different cross-sections, different sidewall contours, etc.

[0077] The exchange of the emitters 5, 25 is mechanical and can be triggered fully automatically by the control device 18 (not shown in FIG. 4 ) and there are no additional transfer mechanisms and conveying devices for the emitters 5, 25 between the robot arm 4 and the storage 43. In addition, the exchange of the emitters 5, 25 can be integrated into the production process without or with relatively little interruption to production.

[0078] In addition, a storage area 44 for packages 2' that have not been properly treated by the electron beam is shown diagrammatically in Figure 4. The packages are available there and can be supplied again for treatment by the electron beam.

[0079] A storage area 44 is arranged in the clean room 42 and in the handling area of ​​the robot 3, so that accidentally irradiated packages 2' can firstly be kept in a waiting position under appropriate hygienic conditions and for any period of time for reprocessing by electron beam, and secondly, rapid access by the robot arm 4 to the waiting packages 2' is given.

[0080] In addition, at least one fourth emitter 45 for electron irradiation, in particular for sterilization of the machine surface 46, can be arranged on the robot arm 4 and can be selectively directed onto the machine surface 46 by controlling the robot 3. The machine surface 46 can additionally or alternatively be irradiated with at least one of the emitters 5, 25 that are conveyed along the robot arm 4 for processing the packages 2. The machine surface 46 is arranged in the clean room 42 and / or is accessible to the robot arm 4 from the clean room 42 through a suitable lock (not shown).

[0081] The machine surface 46 can for example be a component of at least one processing machine 47 for the packages 2 and / or at least one inspection unit 48 for inspecting the packages 2 and / or at least one transport device 49 for transporting the packages 2 in the clean room 42. This is shown diagrammatically and by way of example in Figure 4. The inner walls of the clean room 42 can also be treated in this way.

[0082] The robot 3 may have additional degrees of freedom for irradiating the machine surface 46 and / or covering processing areas that are not required for irradiating the packaging 2 with the first electron beam 5 / second electron beam 6.

[0083] It may then be particularly advantageous that different tasks for the manufacture and maintenance of the devices 1, 21, 31, 41 can be carried out by means of the described robot 3. For example, the gripper, the filling valve, the closing head can be subjected to a sterilizing electron beam through emitters 5, 25, 45 arranged on the robot arm 4, just like the storage part 43.

[0084] For example, the robot arm 4 may move at least one emitter 5, 25, 45 into the area of ​​the rotating machine, so that components present on the robot arm 4 may move continuously past each emitter 5, 25, 45 as a result of the rotational movement of the rotating machine, as described above by way of example, and be subjected to electron radiation.

[0085] The sterilization performance of the individual emitters 5, 25, 35 can be monitored in a manner known in principle through measurement techniques. In case of a drop in the sterilization performance to an unacceptable level, the affected and therefore unacceptably irradiated packages 2' can be selectively fed to a storage area 44 and irradiated again, for example after the respective emitter 5, 25 has been replaced in an automated manner.

[0086] A conveying device 49 for feeding the packages 2 to be irradiated to the handling area of ​​the robot 3 is shown by way of example in Fig. 4. A corresponding conveying device in the handling area of ​​the robot 3 for transferring the irradiated packages into the clean room 42 is not shown for the sake of clarity. Conventional conveying devices, e.g. conveyor belts, transport star wheels etc. are suitable for the packages 2.

[0087] The one or more conveying devices 49 may also extend, for example, through a handling area (not shown) of the robot 3 so that the packaging 2 can be handled / conveyed independently of the robot 3 when subjected to the electron beam.

[0088] The robot arm 4 can then, for example, place at least one of the emitters 5, 25, 45 in / onto the packaging 2 which is handled separately by the conveying device 49 and / or move at least one of the emitters 5, 25, 45 in an appropriate manner relative to the emitters 5, 25, 45.

[0089] In order to enable the packaging 2 to be irradiated over its entire inner and outer surface, several separate transport devices 49, possibly with different handling of the packaging 2, are also conceivable in the handling area of ​​the robot 3.

[0090] One advantage of the described robot 3 is therefore that it can interact with different conveying means at the inlet and outlet of the described apparatus 1, 21, 31, 41 and / or with at least one storage area 44 for packagings 2, 2'. The robot can also distribute a particular packaging 2, in particular a preform, to a downstream conveying path or production line, respectively, possibly for producing different packaging etc. from the preform.

[0091] The devices 1, 21, 31, 41 can for example be arranged between a blow moulding machine for producing plastic packaging, in particular plastic bottles, and the downstream filling material. The clean room 42 then extends for example at least from the blow moulding machine to the filling material.

[0092] A system configuration is also conceivable in which the devices 1, 21, 31, 41 are arranged between an oven for heating the preforms and a blow moulding machine for blow moulding the packaging 2, in particular a plastic bottle, from the preforms. A clean room 42 then preferably extends from the oven to the blow moulding machine, preferably above the blow moulding machine to the downstream processing machine.

[0093] In the method according to the invention, the packages can be transported in a conventional manner, for example through a linear conveyor, a transport star wheel, etc. to the handling area of ​​the robot 3. The packages 2 are then picked up one after the other by the gripper 7 on the robot arm 4, or also in groups by the gripper 7 which receive the first, second and / or third electron beams 6, 26, 36 as they may be present on the robot arm 4 and are handled on the robot arm 4 for a processing time sufficient for each processing.

[0094] The treatment with the electron beam 6, 26, 36 then serves primarily to sterilize the package 2, but can also be used for coating the package 2 or a similar treatment.

[0095] The programmable control of the robot 3 allows the robot arm 4 to flexibly adapt to different packages 2, a flexible positioning of the packages 2 and the electron beams 6, 26, 36 relative to each other, as well as the transfer of the inlet and outlet packages 2 to the associated transport devices. For example, the trajectory, the speed of movement, the irradiation time, etc. can be flexibly adapted, even when the sterilization performance of the emitters 5, 25, 35 gradually decreases.

[0096] The integrated and automated inclusion of at least one storage section 43 for emitters 5, 25 also enables a quick and hygienically unproblematic replacement of worn emitters or the use of different emitters 5, 25 suited to a particular type of packaging 2.

[0097] Additionally, packages 2 that are not properly irradiated can also be re-irradiated in a timely manner and within the clean room 42 as many times as necessary until successful sterilization (or even coating) by electron beam is achieved, possibly by using the robot arm 4. This avoids channeling of poorly irradiated packages 2 out of the clean room 42 and / or complications in the overall manufacturing process and / or loss of product.

[0098] In principle, any packaging, such as bottles for food and / or preforms for producing such packaging, can be treated with the method and apparatus 1, 21, 31, 41. The application of the invention to plastic bottles made of PET and preforms used in the production of bottles is particularly advantageous.

[0099] The described sequences of movements of the robot 3 / robot arm 4 can be flexibly predefined by the programmed control device 18 and adapted to different production conditions. Related programs for production, system sterilization and / or other maintenance measures can be retrieved quickly and without errors.

Claims

1. A method for irradiating a package (2) and / or a preform for a package, comprising the steps of: the packaging and / or the preforms are exposed to at least one electron beam (6, 26, 36), the packaging and / or the preforms and / or the electron beam are handled on a robotic arm (4) during the process, said robot arm (4) being part of a programmable industrial robot in the form of an articulated arm robot or a delta kinematic robot, The method of claim 1, wherein the robot arm (4) moves to a storage section (43) for replacing an emitter (5, 25) of the electron beam (6, 26) supported on the robot arm (4), removes the emitter to be replaced in the storage section (43), and receives in place the emitter (5, 25) held available in the storage section (43).

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the package (2) is exposed to at least one first electron beam for internal irradiation and / or to at least one second electron beam (26) for external irradiation, the second electron beams being generated and respectively moved along on the robot arm (4).

3. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first electron beam (6) and / or the second electron beam (26) and the package on the robot arm (4) are moved relative to each other.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the package (29) is guided into the field of a third, in particular stationary, electron beam (36) for external irradiation of the package (29) by a pivoting, tilting and / or rectilinear movement of the robot arm (4).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the packages (2) are handled simultaneously on the robotic arm (4) and exposed to at least one electron beam (6, 26, 36) during the process.

6. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the robot arm (4) places the insufficiently irradiated package (2') in a storage area (44) complying with clean room conditions, picks up the package (2') again from the storage area (44) after processing further packages (2), in particular if there are transport intervals and / or transport interruptions on the inlet side, and exposes the package (2') again to the electron beam (6, 26, 36).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the robotic arm (4) after electron irradiation rotates the packages (2) into an upside down position and / or distributes them to different production lines.

8. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a machine surface (46) present in a clean room (42) surrounding the robot arm (4) is sterilized by at least one electron beam, in particular a first electron beam (6) and / or a second electron beam (26), generated and moved along on the robot arm.

9. Apparatus (1, 21, 31, 41) for a method of irradiating packaging (2) and / or preforms for packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a programmable industrial robot (3) in the form of an articulated arm robot or a delta kinematic robot having a robot arm (4) for handling said packaging (2) and / or said preforms while they are being irradiated; at least one emitter (5, 25, 35) which is transported in a stationary manner along and / or within a handling area of ​​the robot arm to generate the electron beam; Equipped with a storage section (43) for the first emitter (5) and / or the second emitter (25), The storage section (43) is arranged in a handling area of ​​the robot arm (4), the robot arm comprising a motor-controlled holder (7) for picking up and setting down the first emitter (5) and / or the second emitter (25).

10. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one first emitter (5) for internal irradiation and / or at least one second emitter (25) for external irradiation of the packaging (2) and / or the preforms is attached to the robot arm (4).

11. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first emitter (5) is finger-shaped and can be moved by a motor into the packaging (2) and / or the packaging (2) and / or the preform held by the robot arm (4).

12. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second emitter (25) is rotatably mounted by a motor on the robot arm (4) so ​​that the second emitter can perform a rotational movement (27) around the packaging (2) and / or the preform held on the robot arm and is guided over the packaging and / or the preform during the process.

13. 13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising a third emitter (35) arranged in a particularly stationary manner in the handling area of ​​the robot arm (4) for external irradiation of the packaging (2) and / or the preforms.

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