Individualizing device and individualizing method

Abstract

The invention relates to an individualizing device, which is connected between different numbers of conveyor belts with different speeds for transporting containers and / or container packages in a transport direction, in order to receive and deposit the containers and / or container packages. The individualizing device compensates for speed differences of the containers and / or container packages in the transport direction between the conveyor belts, which are arranged upstream and downstream of the individualizing device, and the individualizing device has a variable receiving and depositing position for receiving or transferring containers and / or container packages at least in the transport direction. The invention additionally relates to a system comprising such an individualizing device and a plurality of conveyor belts, the conveyor belts which are arranged downstream of the individualizing device having at least the same transport capacity as the conveyor belts which are arranged upstream of the individualizing device. The invention additionally relates to a method for individualizing containers and / or container packages provided on conveyor belts which differ, in terms of number and conveyor speed, from the conveyor belts that transport the containers and / or container packages away, said method having the steps of: receiving the containers and / or container packages from supplying conveyor belts in variable positions in the transport direction, depositing the containers and / or container packages onto conveyor belts which transport the containers and / or container packages away in variable positions in the transport direction, and compensating for speed differences between the supplying conveyor belts and the conveyor belts which transport the containers and / or container packages away.

Description

[0001] Separation device and method for separating

[0002] The present invention relates to a separating device and a method for separating containers and / or container bundles.

[0003] In bottling plants, especially beverage bottling plants, the production flow is divided among parallel processing machines and then reconvened. Multiple parallel conveyor belts are often used for this purpose. If the production flow is divided among multiple parallel conveyor belts, the conveyor speed of the individual belts must be adjusted to ensure that downstream conveyor belts have the same conveying capacity. For example, one conveyor belt can convey the same number of containers and / or container packs as two conveyor belts operating at half speed.

[0004] Systems are known from the state of the art in which the containers are accelerated to the speed of the target belt on additional mass conveyors.

[0005] However, this requires a lot of space in the production hall, as the speed adjustment takes place via various belts and transfers, meaning the containers are accelerated slightly with each belt transfer. Furthermore, the system and conveyor belts must be designed for the specific application, depending on the geometry and process stability of the containers.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of proposing a method and a device which enable the separation of containers and / or container bundles between conveyor belts of different numbers and speeds in a space-saving and flexible manner.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved with a separating device according to claim 1.

[0008] With the features of claim 1, it is proposed that the separating device designed to pick up and deposit the containers and / or container bundles compensates for the speed difference between the conveyor belts. The separating device can pick up and deposit the containers and / or container bundles in a variable position in the transport direction. Therefore, the separating device according to the invention enables the successive picking up of containers and / or container bundles arriving in parallel, which are then accelerated to the speed of the downstream conveyor belts and deposited. Due to the variable picking and depositing position of the containers and / or container bundles in the transport direction, the distance by which the containers and / or container bundles move during the displacement of a parallel-positioned container and / or container bundle can be compensated.In this way, the product flow (in the form of containers and / or container packs) can be separated flexibly and in a space-saving manner.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the singling device can be designed such that the speed of the singling device is adapted to the speed of the containers and / or container bundles to be picked up, or the singling device can be designed such that the speed of the containers and / or container bundles is adapted to the speed of the respective conveyor belt on which the containers and / or container bundles are placed before being placed down.

[0010] This ensures a consistent product flow or smooth movement of the containers and / or container packs. Shaking, tipping, or twisting of the containers and / or container packs due to the abrupt acceleration caused by the speed difference during picking or setting down without adjusting the speed can be prevented.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the separating device can have a variable pick-up and deposit position in two dimensions for picking up and depositing containers and / or container bundles. This allows the containers and / or container bundles to be picked up and deposited in different positions, allowing the conveyor belts to be flexibly positioned within the space.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the maximum distance between the variable pick-up and deposit positions for picking up or depositing containers and / or container bundles of the separating device in the transport direction can be at least 0.5 m, in particular at least 1 m. This allows containers transported in parallel to be successively picked up or deposited successively in parallel, even at faster transport speeds. In a further embodiment, the separating device can comprise a gripper for guiding and securing the containers and / or container bundles against rotation. This allows the containers and / or container bundles to be gripped in such a way that they do not tip or rotate during the acceleration process.

[0013] The object is also achieved by a system comprising a singling device according to one of claims 1 to 6 and a plurality of conveyor belts, wherein the conveyor belts arranged downstream of the singling device have at least the same transport capacity as the conveyor belts arranged upstream of the singling device.

[0014] With such a system, containers and / or container bundles can be transported and separated in a space-saving and flexible manner, as differences in position and speed can be compensated.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the number of conveyor belts located downstream of the separating device can be fewer than the number of conveyor belts located upstream of the separating device. The containers and / or container bundles can thus be deposited and transported on a small number of conveyor belts in an energy- and space-saving manner.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the number of conveyor belts located upstream of the separating device can be fewer than the number of conveyor belts located downstream of the separating device. The containers and / or container bundles can thus be placed and transported on different conveyor belts for processing, such as labeling or filling.

[0017] The object is also achieved by a method according to claim 10.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the system can comprise a singling device with at least two robot kinematics and, in particular, at least two conveyor belts upstream and at least three conveyor belts downstream of the singling device (10). This allows the container throughput of the system to be increased. The features of claim 10 propose that, when picking up and setting down the containers and / or container bundles, the speed difference between the conveyor belts is compensated, with the containers and / or container bundles being picked up and set down in a variable position in the transport direction.

[0019] Therefore, the method according to the invention enables the successive picking up of containers and / or container bundles arriving in parallel, which are then accelerated to the speed of the downstream conveyor belts and deposited. Due to the variable picking and depositing position of the containers and / or container bundles in the transport direction, the distance the containers and / or container bundles move during the displacement of a parallel-positioned container and / or container bundle can be compensated. This allows the product flow (in the form of containers and / or container bundles) to be separated flexibly and in a space-saving manner.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the speed when picking up the containers and / or container packs can be adapted to the speed of the containers and / or packs to be picked up, or the speed when depositing the containers and / or container packs can be adapted to the speed of the conveyor belt on which the containers and / or container packs are to be deposited.

[0021] This ensures a consistent product flow or smooth movement of the containers and / or container packs. Shaking, tipping, or twisting of the containers and / or container packs due to the abrupt acceleration caused by the speed difference during picking up or setting down without adjusting the speed can be prevented.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the position for picking up and depositing the containers can be variable in two dimensions. This allows the containers and / or container bundles to be picked up and deposited in different positions, allowing the conveyor belts to be positioned flexibly within the space.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the containers and / or container bundles can be picked up or deposited within a variable range of at least 0.5 m, in particular at least 1 m. Thus, containers transported in parallel can be successively picked up or deposited in parallel, even at faster transport speeds.

[0024] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the figures.

[0025] Figure 1A shows a separating device according to a first embodiment at a first point in time.

[0026] Figure 1 B shows the separating device according to a first embodiment at a second time.

[0027] Figure 2A shows a separating device according to a second embodiment at a first point in time.

[0028] Figure 2B shows a separating device according to a second embodiment at a second time.

[0029] In the following, the conveyor belts positioned upstream of the separating device are also referred to as incoming conveyor belts and the conveyor belts positioned downstream of the separating device are also referred to as outgoing conveyor belts.

[0030] Figure 1A shows a first embodiment of the separating device 1 and an incoming conveyor belt 2, which transports containers 3 in the form of container bundles 5, each containing four containers 3, to the separating device 1. However, embodiments are also possible in which the containers 3 are picked up individually or in which a different number of containers 3 are combined to form container bundles 5.

[0031] The separating device 1 picks up the container packs 5 all at once and distributes the container packs 5 onto the outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E. Several, for example up to nine, outgoing and / or incoming conveyor belts are also conceivable. The outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E have, in particular, a speed of 20% of the speed of the incoming conveyor belt 2. Thus, the combined conveying capacity of the five outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E corresponds to the conveying capacity of the incoming conveyor belt 2. However, embodiments are also conceivable in which the sum of the conveying capacity of the outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E exceeds the conveying capacity of the incoming conveyor belt 2. Likewise, embodiments in which the speed of the individual outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E differs are also possible.In addition, depending on the requirements of the production plant, combinations of several incoming conveyor belts and several outgoing conveyor belts are conceivable.

[0032] To pick up the container packs 5, the separating device 1 can comprise a gripper (not shown). The gripper can in particular be designed such that the containers 3 or container packs 5 do not twist and grips the containers 3 and / or container packs 5 in such a way that the acceleration forces of the separating device 1 can be transmitted to the containers 3 and / or container packs 5. For this purpose, the gripper is designed with one or more elastic elements, preferably made of a rubber material. These elastic elements are compressed when the container is gripped and adapt to the contour of the container, thereby increasing the contact surface and thus the frictional force. In the illustrated embodiment, the containers 3 and / or container packs 5 are variably placed on the outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E both in the transport direction X and in the direction Y orthogonal thereto.However, embodiments are also conceivable in which the individual outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E are arranged one behind the other in the X direction, rather than in the Y direction. The robot kinematics of the separation device can be designed as a delta robot, also called a tripod (not shown). Due to their high dynamics, delta robots enable acceleration or synchronization to the respective speed of the incoming / outgoing conveyor belt. Furthermore, a fast cycle sequence (short cycle time) is possible at high belt speeds. Furthermore, a large work area can be covered.

[0033] With the described separation device, the process can be carried out as follows:

[0034] The containers 3 and / or container packs 5 are transported on the incoming conveyor belt 2 to the separating device 1. The separating device 1 receives the incoming containers 3 and / or container packs 5 and accelerates them to the speed of the respective outgoing belts 4A to 4E. In particular, the separating device 1 can accelerate the container packs 5 to the speed of the respective outgoing conveyor belt 4A to 4E. The separating device 1 then deposits the container packs 5 onto the respective conveyor belt 4A to 4E at the respective transport speed of the respective conveyor belt 4A to 4E.Furthermore, the variable positioning of the container bundles 5 in the transport direction X makes it possible to successively distribute individual container bundles 5 among the individual outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E, so that they are still transported parallel to one another on the individual conveyor belts 4A to 4E. In one embodiment, however, it is also possible to deactivate individual conveyor belts. For example, 4A, 4B, and 4E are actively supplied with containers, while 4C and 4D are not. Furthermore, multiple outgoing and / or incoming conveyor belts, for example, up to nine, are also conceivable.

[0035] Figure 1B shows the singling device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, which is offset in time with respect to the illustration in Figure 1A. During the duration of a picking and depositing process for a container bundle 5, the remaining container bundles 5 have moved further on the outgoing conveyor belts 4A to 4E by the distance As1. By variably positioning the containers and / or container bundles 3 in the direction of movement X, the distance difference As1 resulting from the time offset can now be compensated, so that the container bundles 5 that are placed on a parallel outgoing conveyor belt 4A at a later point in time can also be deposited parallel to the other container bundles 5.

[0036] In particular, with a separating device 1 which can deposit container packs 5 in a variable range of at least 0.5 m, in particular at least 1 m, it is possible to ensure a flexible and parallel positioning of the container packs 5 on the outgoing belts 4A to 4E even at faster transport speeds of the individual conveyor belts.

[0037] Additionally, the container bundles 5 can also be moved in the Y direction by the separating device 1 and placed on the respective target conveyor belt. However, embodiments are also conceivable in which the removed conveyor belts 4A to 4E are arranged one behind the other in the X direction. This can further increase the flexibility of the separation process. This is particularly advantageous in production plants with different containers 3 and / or container bundles 5, which are processed, for example, by different labeling or filling systems.

[0038] Figures 1A and 1B show the container bundles 5 being picked up in sequence (from top to bottom). However, the parallel blocks of container bundles 5 do not have to be picked up one after the other, but can be picked up in any order. Figures 2A and 2B show a separating device 10 according to a second embodiment. There is a time offset between the views in Figures 2A and 2B.

[0039] The outgoing conveyor belt 14 can have a transport capacity of at least the sum of the individual incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E. Therefore, the transport speed of the outgoing conveyor belt 14 is at least the sum of the speeds of the individual incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E. Embodiments are also conceivable in which the transport speed of the outgoing conveyor belt 14 exceeds the sum of the individual transport speeds of the individual incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E. It is also possible for the individual incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E to differ in their transport speed.

[0040] The incoming conveyor belts 14A to 14E convey the containers 13 and / or container bundles 15 to the separating device 10. In the embodiment shown, a container bundle 15 consists of four containers 13. However, embodiments are also possible in which the containers 13 are picked up individually or in which a different number of containers 13 are combined to form container bundles 15.

[0041] As already mentioned, the speed of the outgoing conveyor belt 14 is increased relative to a single incoming conveyor belt 12A to 12E. Therefore, the container bundle 15 is accelerated by the separating device 10 before it is deposited on the outgoing conveyor belt 14. This prevents tipping or shaking of the container bundles 15. As shown in exemplary embodiment two, the containers can be transported in individual parallel groups on the incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E to the separating device 10.

[0042] While a container bundle 15 is being transferred to the outgoing conveyor belt 14, the incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E continue to move, whereby the container bundles 15 are transported further in the direction of the singling device 10. Figures 12A to 12E illustrate the transport path of the incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E between the times at which a container bundle 15 is picked up (gripped). Since the singling device 10 is designed such that the picking up of container bundles 15 is possible in a variable transport position X, the individual container bundles 15 can be picked up one after the other in different X-positions by the individual incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E and placed on the outgoing conveyor belt 14 after they have been accelerated to the respective target speed of the outgoing conveyor belt 14.

[0043] Combining several incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E into one outgoing conveyor belt 14 is suitable for packaging different containers 13 into mixed container bundles 15 and / or for packaging the containers 13 after individual process steps, each of which has taken place on the individual incoming conveyor belts 12A to 12E. Furthermore, the separating device 10 can be designed such that the container bundles 15 can also be moved in the Y direction (lateral direction), which is orthogonal to the transport direction X. This further increases the separation flexibility, allowing the separating device 10 to be easily integrated into complex production systems.

[0044] As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the parallel blocks of container bundles 15 do not have to be picked up one after the other, but can be picked up in any order.

Claims

Claims 1. Separating device, connected between conveyor belts (2, 4A-4E, 12A-12E, 14) of different numbers and speeds, for transporting containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) in a transport direction (X), for picking up and depositing the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15), wherein the separating device (1, 10) compensates for speed differences of the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) in the transport direction (X) between the conveyor belts (2, 4A-4E, 12A-12E, 14) which are arranged downstream and upstream with respect to the separating device (1, 10), and the separating device (1, 10) has a variable picking and depositing position for picking up or depositing containers, at least in the transport direction. (3, 13) and / or container packages (5, 15).

2. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating device (1, 10) is designed such that the speed of the separating device (1, 10) is adapted to the speed of the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) to be picked up.

3. Separating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separating device (1, 10) is designed such that the speed of the containers (3, 13) and / or container packs (5, 15) is adapted before depositing to the speed of the respective conveyor belt (4A-4E, 14) on which the containers (3, 13) and / or container packs (5, 15) are deposited.

4. Separating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating device (1, 10) has a variable receiving and depositing position in two dimensions for receiving or depositing containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15).

5. Separating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum distance between the variable receiving and depositing position for receiving or depositing containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) of the separating device (1, 10) in the transport direction (X) is at least 0.5 m, in particular at least 1 m.

6. Separating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating device (1, 10) comprises a gripper for guiding and securing against rotation of the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15).

7. System comprising a singling device according to one of the preceding claims and a plurality of conveyor belts (2, 4A-4E, 12A-12E, 14), wherein the conveyor belts (4A-4E, 14) arranged downstream of the singling device (1, 10) have at least the same transport capacity as the conveyor belts (2, 12A-12E) arranged upstream of the singling device (1, 10).

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the number of conveyor belts (14) located downstream of the singulating device (10) is less than the number of conveyor belts (12A-12B) located upstream of the singulating device (10).

9. System according to claim 7, wherein the number of conveyor belts (2) located upstream of the singulating device (1) is less than the number of conveyor belts (4A-4E) located downstream of the singulating device (1).

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a separating device (10) with at least two robot kinematics and in particular at least two conveyor belts upstream and at least three conveyor belts downstream of the separating device (10).

11. A method for separating containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) which are provided on conveyor belts (2, 12A-12E) which differ in number and conveying speed from the conveyor belts (4A-4E, 14) which transport the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15), the method comprising: - Picking up the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) from the conveyor belts (2, 12A-12E) in a variable position in the transport direction (X), - depositing the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) on transporting conveyor belts (4A-4E, 14) in a variable position in the transport direction (X), - Compensation of speed differences between the supply and removal conveyor belts (2, 4A-4E, 12A-12E, 14).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the speed when picking up the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) is adapted to the speed of the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) to be picked up.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the speed when depositing the containers (3, 13) and / or container packs (5, 15) is adapted to the speed of the conveyor belt (4A-4E, 14) on which the containers (3, 13) and / or container packs (5, 15) are to be deposited.

14. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the position for picking up and placing down the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) is variable in two dimensions.

15. Method according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the containers (3, 13) and / or container bundles (5, 15) are picked up or deposited in a variable area of at least 0.5 m, in particular at least 1 m.

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