Method and measuring unit for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow and control device and method for influencing a dynamic pressure in a container flow

Abstract

Disclosed are a measuring method (10) and a measuring device (44), each of which is suitable for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow (12). The container flow (12) is formed by a plurality of containers (14), each with deformable container walls, which contact one another at their lateral surfaces (16) and are conveyed within a conveying area (18) under dynamic pressure conditions. In the measuring method (10) carried out by the measuring device (44), optical detection of top sides (22) of individual or a plurality of containers (14) is provided by means of an optical detection unit (24) with downstream image evaluation (28). The image evaluation (28) is used to determine distances (30) between defined points (32; 34) on or between areas of the top sides (22) of individual or neighbouring containers (14). The data obtained can be used to operate a dynamic pressure control device.

Description

[0001] Method and measuring device for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow as well as control device and method for influencing a dynamic pressure in a container flow

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for optically monitoring a container flow, which is particularly suitable for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a measuring device for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control method for influencing a dynamic pressure in a container flow. Finally, the present invention relates to a dynamic pressure control device for controlling a dynamic pressure in a container flow.

[0003] Common beverage filling and packaging systems comprise numerous interconnected system modules through which containers filled with beverages pass, undergo various treatment and handling steps, and are finally packaged. For this purpose, such systems are equipped with numerous conveyor systems for container transport, usually consisting of horizontal conveyors of various designs.

[0004] In some places, it makes sense to transport the containers in a random mass flow, which can then be converted into an orderly sequential transport system. The sequential transport can optionally take place in several parallel transport lanes. Buffer areas, various curved lines, areas with different transport speeds, and, if necessary, grouping stations are also provided to arrange the containers into groups suitable for forming bundles or packaging units.

[0005] Both when transporting a large number of containers in a random mass flow and when transporting the containers in an orderly series, the containers can optionally be transported under dynamic pressure conditions. Such dynamic pressure, which creates pressure forces between contacting container shell surfaces, can represent a desired or even necessary transport parameter under certain transport conditions. This can be the case, for example, with certain buffer area designs, where the degree of the prevailing dynamic pressure within the mass flow can serve as a control parameter for expanding or reducing a buffer area for the containers.

[0006] On the other hand, under certain transport conditions, excessive back pressure between the containers may lead to adverse effects, such as increased friction effects when the container shell surfaces slide and / or roll against each other or even to undesirable container deformations, which in turn may lead to congestion or general disruptions in the transport flow.

[0007] Such container deformations, which can result in particular from increased back pressure, primarily affect containers equipped with flexible and elastically deformable container walls, which can be the case, for example, with thin-walled plastic containers made of PET plastic or other suitable plastic materials. Such thin-walled containers with deformable outer surfaces can also be made of very thin sheet metal, for example, but also of a cellulose material or a composite material.

[0008] Known devices for monitoring a transport flow in a container transport stream can, for example, utilize image data from surveillance cameras. For example, DE 102013207 139 A1 discloses a method for analyzing the dynamic state of a filling system, particularly for products from the food industry, in which image sequences are recorded and evaluated to determine an optical flow of moving objects such as containers. The acquired data on the optical flows are intended to be used to detect critical conveying process states, for example, to identify excessively slow or excessively fast conveying speeds or other conditions.

[0009] Apart from such a special application of optical image capture with downstream image evaluation within a filling plant, the use of cameras with downstream image evaluation in the area of ​​container transport for monitoring a container flow has been known for some time, as can be seen, for example, from the disclosure of FR 2 576 002 A1.

[0010] However, the specific mechanical properties of containers with flexible shell surfaces lead to certain effects, which can result in image data that are difficult to analyze and in incorrect conclusions regarding the state and flow behavior within the container stream.

[0011] For the reasons mentioned, it can be considered the primary aim of the present invention to be able to better assess the movement behavior within a container flow by using optical detection devices and image evaluation and to influence it as needed by using control means, in particular in such a container flow which is formed by containers with deformable shell surfaces.

[0012] The thus identified objective of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the respective dependent claims.

[0013] To achieve at least part of the above-mentioned objective, the invention proposes a measuring method suitable for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow. This container flow is formed by a plurality of containers, each with deformable container walls, which touch each other at their lateral surfaces and are conveyed within a conveying section under dynamic pressure conditions.

[0014] In the method according to the invention, an optical detection of top sides of individual or multiple containers is provided by means of an optical detection device, wherein the image signals of the optical detection device are transmitted to a downstream image evaluation, so that distances between defined points on or between areas of the top sides of individual or adjacent containers can be determined by means of the image evaluation.

[0015] In this first variant of image data analysis, it may be sufficient to scan individual containers using the optical detection device and evaluate the image data to determine the distance between two measuring points on the container. This allows for the detection of container deformation and, from this deformation, to draw conclusions about the dynamic pressure to which the respective container is exposed in the container flow. However, this measurement method is preferably carried out simultaneously, almost simultaneously, or in rapid succession on several containers in the container flow, as this allows for more precise information about the dynamic pressure, for example, by calculating the average or by determining measuring ranges for the dynamic pressure, rather than individual, specific values.

[0016] In principle, container contours can also be determined and evaluated using the aforementioned image processing to obtain information about the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow from shape deviations of the containers, which deform more or less under dynamic pressure conditions. For example, thin-walled and not completely dimensionally stable cylindrical containers are at least slightly deformed from their cylindrical shape when they are contacted and pushed by neighboring containers on their container shell surfaces, which can be noticeable in an oval or irregular contour of the container under external pressure.

[0017] A useful embodiment of the measuring method according to the invention further provides for a derived measured value to be determined from a distance between defined areas on the top sides of at least two adjacent containers, which provides a quantitative statement about the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow. In this case, it may be particularly useful to use the container lids or other areas as reference points that can serve as the basis for such a distance measurement.

[0018] In particular, the container lids or the bottle tops of the containers usually provide such reference surfaces whose contour and surface area are known, and whose exact position in the center within an optically detectable top surface of the respective container is also known. Thus, meaningful measurements can be obtained from the distances between the container lids of two adjacent containers moving in the container flow. These measurements provide information about the container deformations and thus about the extent of the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow, without having to consider the exact shape deviation of the individual container or the extent of the indentation of a shell surface of an individual container.

[0019] Rather, measuring the distance between the lids of adjacent containers already provides usable information about the dynamic pressure. If this distance is below a certain target value, which corresponds to the distance between two containers touching without pressure, it can be assumed that both containers are subject to dynamic pressure. The respective shape deviation of the two containers in question is irrelevant for this purpose.

[0020] However, in one embodiment of the measuring method according to the invention, it may already be sufficient to determine a derived measured value from a distance from defined areas on the top of an individual container, which can also provide a quantitative statement about a back pressure prevailing in the container flow.

[0021] However, if only a single container is actually considered, the resulting value is of limited significance, because the dynamic pressure conditions in such a container flow are constantly changing. Instead of a microscopic analysis of individual container deformations, a macroscopic analysis of the deformations of multiple containers should be performed. The resulting measured values ​​of the container deformations should be correlated to one another, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the dynamic pressure conditions in the container flow.

[0022] The measuring method can be designed to derive the aforementioned defined points on the top sides of the containers from their manufacturing-related contours and / or from container-typical equipment elements. Available as manufacturing-related contours are, for example, the aforementioned container lids with their known dimensions and positions in relation to the container top. Thus, the respective container lids can be used as defined areas on the top sides of the containers as reference points, since these can easily be related to the container lids of neighboring containers serving as reference points. Furthermore, the container outlines with their known contours are available as reference values, if necessary, since the diameters and outer contours of the undeformed containers are known.

[0023] In addition, separate markings, labels and / or equipment elements can be attached or applied to the top sides of the containers, formed, for example, by corresponding printing, by applied or printed line markings, etc., which can optionally also be applied with printing inks that are not visible to the human eye but can only be recognized, for example, by means of the optical detection device.

[0024] The measuring method according to the invention can optionally also be used to perform a one-dimensional density measurement using image data acquisition, which is used to record a number of containers moving in the conveying direction that are currently located within a defined section of the route. For this purpose, the measuring points can be recorded on several consecutive containers, and a density measurement can be derived from this in a one-dimensional or, optionally, a two-dimensional direction. Such a two-dimensional density measurement can be particularly useful for certain container shapes, for example, those with non-precisely cylindrical outer contours or outer surface areas.

[0025] If, from the point of view of the person skilled in the art, they can be combined with one another in a meaningful way, some or all of the above-mentioned variations or embodiments of the measuring method according to the invention can optionally also be combined with one another in order to at least partially achieve the above-formulated aim and / or to achieve the desired effect of the invention.

[0026] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the invention further proposes, in addition to the measuring method proposed in various embodiments, a method for regulating the back pressure in a container flow. The value of the back pressure prevailing in the container flow is determined, in particular, by means of a measuring method according to one of the above embodiments and is used to reduce or increase the back pressure through the regulating intervention of at least one actuator influencing the back pressure. This at least one actuator can be operatively connected to at least one conveying component involved in container conveying and / or container steering.

[0027] For example, the method for back pressure control can provide for the value of the back pressure prevailing in the container flow to be used to reduce or increase the back pressure by means of control interventions by actuators influencing the back pressure, whereby these actuators can be operatively connected to conveying components that are involved in the container conveying and / or container steering.

[0028] Optionally, only one actuator can be controlled for back pressure control. However, it makes sense to control several actuators that influence the back pressure in the tank flow.

[0029] Actuators can be used, for example, as drive motors for railing adjustment. For example, the transport width of a conveyor area can be changed by angularly adjusting or pivoting the guide rails that direct the container flow and laterally limit it.

[0030] In general, different drives can also be used as actuators for container flow diversions, for example to enlarge or reduce buffer areas, which can also have an impact on the back pressure in the container flow.

[0031] The actuators can also be suitable and appropriately equipped to influence the rotational speed of belt drive motors for horizontal conveyor systems. By changing the conveyor speed of the components used to transport the container flow, the back pressure can be directly influenced.

[0032] In this context, it should also be mentioned that the container flow can optionally also be a series transport, in which a back pressure also prevails, but where no mass flow conditions exist; here, too, all of the measurement and control principles mentioned here can be applied equally.

[0033] Furthermore, it may be useful to couple the control system with other upstream components, such as a filler, as this allows the feeding of the container flow to be influenced. For example, if a filler module is throttled, fewer filled containers are fed into the container flow within given time intervals, thus reducing the back pressure. Furthermore, downstream packaging modules may reach their performance limits, so it may be useful to increase the back pressure in the container flow and reduce the throughput.

[0034] Additional measures may also be implemented. For example, the addition of liquid or water sprinkling in the conveying area can be activated as needed to modify and, in particular, reduce friction on the conveyor belt and / or between the containers.

[0035] Another such measure could be the use of a buffer area and / or the removal of containers from the container flow, since both a buffer area that can be used on demand and the removal of containers can effectively reduce the back pressure if necessary in certain conveying situations. Emptying the buffer area and / or returning the previously removed containers back into the container flow can increase the back pressure again, if desired.

[0036] In addition, it may be useful to utilize machine learning algorithms for back pressure control. Such machine learning can be based on vessel properties, external data on the load-bearing capacity of the vessels, their frictional properties when rolling against each other within the accumulated vessel flow, etc.

[0037] However, such machine learning can relate in particular to the conditions prevailing in a container flow and the relationships between the measured values ​​obtained and the actual dynamic pressure values, because there is not always a linear or proportional relationship between the deformations of individual or multiple containers and the associated dynamic pressure conditions in a container flow, especially when a large number of containers are transported there.

[0038] Finally, it should be noted that the optical detection device mentioned here generally refers to a camera with downstream image analysis, which can detect the container flow from above and is therefore ideally mounted at a suitable location above the container flow passing below. However, other optical detection devices can also be used, which may bear little resemblance to a camera.

[0039] The above statements should also apply that some or all of the previously mentioned variations or embodiments of the dynamic pressure control according to the invention or of the corresponding method can be combined with one another, provided that this appears to be sensible from the point of view of the person skilled in the art.

[0040] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention further proposes a measuring device for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow. The measuring device comprises a conveying area for conveying the container flow formed by a plurality of containers, each of which has deformable container walls and touching one another, under dynamic pressure conditions. This definition is intended to encompass the transport of the containers in series. When it is stated here that the measuring device comprises a conveying area, this can also mean that the measuring device is assigned to the conveying area, or that the measuring device can be coupled to the conveying area.

[0041] The measuring device comprises at least one optical detection device with downstream image evaluation, which is arranged above the conveying area and can detect at least defined sub-areas of the container flow. An image evaluation device downstream of the optical detection device transmits its signals to a computer and evaluation unit, which can derive and calculate a value of the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow from a distance from defined areas on the top sides of at least one detected container.

[0042] The measuring device can be equipped and configured in such a way that a value of a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow can be derived and calculated in the computer and evaluation unit from a distance between defined areas on the top sides of at least two adjacent containers of the containers detected within the defined partial area.

[0043] The dynamic pressure values ​​determined in this way can be usefully compared with historical data from extensive databases to obtain realistic dynamic pressure values, possibly with additional use of machine learning principles. Expert systems, neural networks, etc., can thus enable improved assessment and / or control of dynamic pressure, since in addition to the currently acquired measured values, the relationships between the recorded vessel deformation and the resulting dynamic pressure conditions can be more precisely considered from a large number of previously acquired, processed, and stored measurement data.

[0044] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the invention finally proposes a dynamic pressure control device for controlling a dynamic pressure in a container flow, which dynamic pressure control device comprises a measuring device according to one of the previously described embodiments. The dynamic pressure control device is capable of controlling at least one actuator influencing the dynamic pressure in the container flow based on the derived and calculated values ​​for the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow. This at least one actuator is operatively connected to at least one conveying component involved in container conveying and / or container steering.

[0045] The back pressure control device can in particular be provided and equipped in such a way as to reduce or increase the back pressure from the respectively determined value of the back pressure prevailing in the container flow by means of regulating interventions by actuators influencing the back pressure, which actuators are operatively connected to conveying components involved in the container conveying and / or container steering.

[0046] Different application options and / or positions of use are available for the dynamic pressure control device, such as regulating the dynamic pressure in an inlet of a subsequent packaging module, or regulating an upstream filler module, etc. If the person skilled in the art considers them to be reasonably combinable, some or all of the aforementioned variations or embodiments of the measuring device according to the invention and / or the dynamic pressure control device according to the invention can optionally also be combined with one another in order to at least partially achieve the aim formulated above and / or to achieve the desired effect of the invention.

[0047] It should be expressly noted at this point that all aspects and design variants explained in connection with the measuring device according to the invention and / or with the dynamic pressure control device according to the invention equally relate to or can form partial aspects of the measuring and / or control method according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at any point in the description or in the claim definitions for the measuring and / or control device according to the invention, this applies equally to the method according to the invention, be it the measuring method or the dynamic pressure control method.

[0048] The same applies in reverse, so that all aspects and design variants explained in connection with the measuring and / or control method according to the invention equally relate to or can be partial aspects of the measuring and / or dynamic pressure control device according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at any point in the description or in the claim definitions for the method according to the invention, this applies equally to the device according to the invention.

[0049] In the following, exemplary embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged relative to other elements for better illustration.

[0050] Fig. 1A shows a schematic plan view of a container stream being monitored by an optical detection device. Fig. 1B shows a detailed view of some containers in the container stream according to Fig.

[0051] 1A.

[0052] Fig. 1C shows a schematic plan view of a container stream with containers conveyed in series, which are monitored by an optical detection device.

[0053] Fig. 2A shows a schematic plan view of a container flow conveyed between spaced-apart guide rails, which is influenced by means of a variant of a back pressure control device.

[0054] Fig. 2B shows a schematic side view of a variant of the container flow, which is influenced by means of a further embodiment of a back pressure control device.

[0055] Fig. 2C shows a highly schematic representation of a third variant of a back pressure control device for influencing a container flow.

[0056] Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment variant of a complete beverage filling and packaging system with its interacting modules, wherein the system can be equipped with a conveyor area for container transport according to one of Figures 1A to 2C.

[0057] The following description of the figures generally uses the same reference numerals for identical or similarly acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, in many cases only those reference numerals are used in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the measuring device according to the invention, the dynamic pressure control device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be designed and do not represent an exhaustive limitation. Furthermore, the features described below are not to be understood in close connection with other features of the respective embodiment, but can each be provided in a general context or used for this purpose. The schematic representation of Fig.1A shows, in a top view, some of the basic principles underlying a measuring method 10 according to the invention for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container stream 12. Such a container stream 12, as shown here by way of example, can be formed by a plurality of containers 14, which partially touch at their lateral surfaces 16 and are conveyed under dynamic pressure conditions within a conveying section 18 (not initially specified in more detail here). A conveying direction is designated by the reference numeral 20 in the described top view, i.e., according to Fig. 1A, the containers 14 are transported in the conveying direction 20 in the container stream 12 in the conveying section 18.

[0058] Since the containers 14 considered here are typically made of thin-walled plastic material, they are deformable to a certain extent, so that individual or some of the containers 14 within the container flow 12 may be subject to deformation, which is essentially caused by the prevailing dynamic pressure. Such containers 14 made of thin-walled plastic material, such as PET plastic, are frequently used in the beverage industry because such containers 14 can be produced cost-effectively in large quantities and are particularly well suited for filling with gassed or ungassed beverages.

[0059] In the measuring method 10 illustrated here, an upper side 22 of at least one individual container 14 within the container stream 12 is detected by means of an optical detection device 24 and its image signals 26 are transmitted to an image evaluation 28 connected downstream of the optical detection device 24, so that the latter is able to determine a distance 30 between defined points on the upper side 22 of the optically scanned container 14 from the image signals 26.

[0060] The optical detection device 24, which is assigned to the conveying area 18 and at least partially scans the container stream 12 from above, is illustrated in the schematic representation of Fig. 1A merely by a box symbol with dashed lines. The signal connection to the image evaluation unit 28 is illustrated by the directional arrow with the corresponding reference number for the image signals 26. It goes without saying that a configuration such as that shown here can also be designed differently, since cameras used for such purposes often have integrated image evaluation.

[0061] However, the representation in Fig. 1A is not intended to imply that the optical detection device 24 and the downstream image evaluation 28 are separate components, but rather to emphasize the signal-technical relationships between the functional components.

[0062] The defined points on the upper side 22 of the container 14 optically scanned by means of the optical detection device 24, which are used to determine the distance 30 to be determined, can be, for example, a center point of a container lid 32 and any point 34 on the outer surface 16 of the optically scanned container 14.

[0063] By comparing the length measurement determined for the distance 30 with a target value that applies to an undeformed container 14, a container deformation on the outer surface 16 in the region of the measuring point 34 can be calculated, which in turn results in a value 36 that can be derived therefrom, which can correspond to the dynamic pressure determined in this way in the measuring range of the optically detected container 14 or, in particular, can correspond to it in a proportional relationship. The distance 30 calculated from the image signals 26 can be processed, for example, by means of a target-actual value analysis with the aid of a computer and evaluation unit 38, which can calculate the effective value 36, which represents the dynamic pressure, from the data supplied by the image processing unit 28.

[0064] By means of the detection and calculation method thus practiced, the measuring method 10 according to the invention allows the determination of a dynamic pressure within a container flow 12, whether this is a container flow 12 in which a large number of containers 14 are transported in a random mass flow, or whether this is an ordered serial transport of the containers 14 (see Fig. 1C). If the aforementioned dynamic pressure conditions prevail within such a container flow 12, this dynamic pressure creates pressure forces between contacting container shell surfaces 16, which can be optically detected and measured.

[0065] The enlarged detailed view of Fig. 1B is intended to once again illustrate the above-described option of determining the distance 30 by means of the optical detection device 24 using the example of a single container 14. For example, the optical detection device 24 can be used to detect an upper side 22 of an individual container 14 and determine its deformation, wherein a useful measuring point 34 can be located on the outer surface 16 of the container 14 in a contact area with an adjacent container 14, as indicated by Fig. 1B.

[0066] The two containers 14 considered there and each designated by a corresponding reference number can, for example, be deformed by the prevailing dynamic pressure and given a slightly oval contour, so that the measured distance 30 between the center of the container lid 32 and the marked measuring point 34 at the contact area to the adjacent container 14 can be reduced compared to an undeformed container 14 not subjected to the dynamic pressure, which can be translated into a value 36 for the dynamic pressure prevailing between the containers 14 under consideration by appropriate evaluation and calculation in the computer and evaluation unit 38 (cf. Fig. 1A).

[0067] Since under some transport conditions an excessive back pressure between the containers 14 can have adverse effects, for example due to increased friction effects when the container shell surfaces 16 slide and / or roll against each other or due to undesirable container deformations, which in turn can lead to congestion or general disruptions in the transport flow, it is useful to be able to determine the back pressure in the container flow 12.

[0068] The measuring method 10 according to the invention makes use of the container deformations that occur with flexible containers 14, which can result in particular from an increased back pressure in the container stream 12. The typical effects of the specific mechanical properties of such containers 14 with flexible outer surfaces 16 lead to the effects described here, which can be recorded optically and calculated by appropriate analysis of the image data and a precise evaluation of the image data. Control parameters can be obtained from the calculated values ​​36 for the back pressure in order to be able to influence the back pressure in the desired manner (cf. Figures 2A, 2B and 2C). The schematic plan view in Figure 1C illustrates a variant of the measuring method 10 according to the invention using a container stream 12 conveyed in a row 40. The row 40 shown with containers 14 transported one behind the other in the conveying direction 20 can, for example,within a transport lane 42, wherein the row 40 shown may be part of a multi-row container transport system in which a disordered mass flow has been transferred into several regular row transport sections by dividing it into several subdivided transport lanes 42. Of these several transport lanes 42, which may run parallel to one another, only one is shown in Fig. 1C.

[0069] A minimally modified variant of the measuring method 10 can be explained, in particular, using such a row transport 40. For example, the measuring method 10 can provide for a derived measured value 36 to be determined from a distance 30 from defined areas on the top sides 22 of at least two adjacent containers 14, which can provide information about a dynamic pressure prevailing in the single-row container flow 12. The container lids 32 are particularly suitable as such defined areas, since they can be very easily detected and precisely localized using the optical detection device 24 and the downstream image processing system 28.

[0070] It is expedient to use the geometric centers of the container lids 32 as reference points or as measuring points 34, through which points the vertical longitudinal center axes of the containers 14, not marked in Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, pass.

[0071] While in the simplest variant of the measuring method 10 explained in Fig. 1A, a derived measured value 36 can be determined from a distance from defined areas on the top side 22 of an individual container 14, which allows a certain statement about the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow 12, the method variant according to Fig. 1B provides for the optical detection of at least two containers 14 touching at their jacket surfaces 16, so that, for example, the deformation evenly or unevenly distributed across both containers 14 can be determined from the distance 30 between their container lids 22. As Fig. 1C illustrates, no measuring point 34 on the container jacket surfaces 16 is taken into account, so that the summed deformation of two touching containers 14 cannot be assigned to a single one of these containers 14.However, this does not have to play a role for an effective determination of the back pressure, since the distances 30 between the container lids 32 of the two containers 14 under consideration can also provide the desired value 36 for the back pressure.

[0072] The further signal processing preferably corresponds to that according to Fig. 1A, ie the transmission of the image signals 26 to the image evaluation 28, which transmits the determined distance 30 as a data signal to the computer and evaluation unit 38, which in turn can calculate a value 36 for the dynamic pressure prevailing between the containers 14.

[0073] It should also be clarified at this point that the two schematic plan views of Figures 1A and 1C can each be regarded as different embodiments of a measuring device 44 according to the invention, which can be provided in particular for carrying out the measuring method 10 according to Figures 1A and 1B, according to Figure 1C or a modification of the measuring method 10 illustrated there by way of example, in order to determine a back pressure prevailing in the observed container flow 12 and to be able to quantify this back pressure in particular by means of the calculated value 36.

[0074] As already mentioned above, the conveying section or conveying area 18, in which the containers 14 to be observed and at least partially optically detected move in the conveying direction 20, can receive a container stream 12 under mass flow conditions according to Fig. 1A or in a series transport 40 according to Fig. 1C.

[0075] As already described above, in the computer and evaluation unit 38, either a single container 14 or several individual containers 14 can be viewed on their upper sides 22 in order to calculate the required values ​​36 from a distance 30 or from the distances 30 of respectively defined areas on the upper sides 22, which values ​​can provide a measure of a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow 12.

[0076] The schematic plan view of Fig. 2A also illustrates an embodiment variant of a dynamic pressure control device 46 according to the invention, which can carry out control interventions to influence the dynamic pressure on the basis of the values ​​36 for a dynamic pressure in a monitored container flow 12 determined by means of at least one optical detection device 24 according to Fig. 1A or Fig. 1B.

[0077] The values ​​36 for the dynamic pressure are determined in the same way from the distance 30 measured by means of the optical detection device 24, obtained from the image signals 26 and calculated by means of the image processing 28 (cf. Figures 1A to 1C), wherein the distance 30 converted into the dynamic pressure value 36 by means of the computer and evaluation unit 38 is measured either from the center of a container lid 32 to the container shell surface 16 of a selected container 14 (cf. Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B) and / or from the centers of the container lids 32 of contacting and preferably mutually deforming containers 14 (cf. Fig. 1C).

[0078] Both distance measurements can be combined within an observation area of ​​the optical detection device 24, both spatially and temporally. This means that both described variants of distance measurements can be performed simultaneously on different containers 14 in different ways, or they can alternate in time, for example, depending on expediency and / or a corresponding program control.

[0079] The back pressure control device 46 comprises a measuring device 44, as described above. The back pressure control device 46 is also configured and equipped such that, based on the derived and calculated values ​​36 for the back pressure prevailing in the container stream 12, it controls at least one actuator 48 influencing the back pressure in the container stream 12. This at least one actuator 48 is coupled and operatively connected to at least one conveying component 50, which is responsible for conveying and / or steering the container in the conveying area 18.

[0080] In the embodiment of Fig. 2A, this conveying component 50, which can be controlled by means of the actuator 48, can be formed, for example, by an adjustable lateral guide rail 52 or by a pair of opposing lateral guide rails 52 that form a railing guide for the container stream 12, which is transported in the conveying direction 20 between these guide rails 52, the widths of which can be adjusted relative to one another by means of the actuator 48 or by means of several actuators 48. An actuator 48 coupled to and acting on such an adjustable guide rail 52 can therefore be formed, for example, by a suitable linear drive 54 or another suitable adjusting device that can ensure the desired adjustment of the respective guide rail 52 to change a transport width 56 of the container stream 12 between the left-hand and right-hand guide rails 52.

[0081] In the schematic plan view shown in Fig. 2A, at least the guide bar 52 located on the right side of the container stream 12 is assigned such an actuator 48, formed, for example, by the linear drive 54 shown, with the right side referring to the conveying direction 20. By means of the linear drive 54, the section of the guide bar 52 that is articulatedly connected to a rigid section of the lateral transport path boundaries upstream of the container stream 12 can be adjusted in its angle, so that, for example, the shown tapering of the effective conveying section 18 with the variably reducible transport width 56 can result.

[0082] This adjustable transport width 56 is indicated by a double arrow that connects the two guide rails 52 and is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction 20.

[0083] Such a change in the transport width 56 of the container stream 12, as described here by way of example, can have a direct effect on the back pressure, whereby an increase in the transport width 56 normally causes an immediate reduction in the back pressure and a reduction in the transport width 56 conversely causes an increase in the back pressure.

[0084] In the case of a larger container stream 12 with a large number of transported containers 14, the distances 30 can expediently be measured at several points simultaneously, as indicated by the several double arrows drawn between container lids 32 of adjacent containers 14 in the area of ​​the optical detection device 24. The image processing unit 28 can normally easily detect several such distances 30 from the image signals 26 supplied to it by the optical detection device 24 as it scans the container stream 12 passing beneath it, so that the computing and evaluation unit 38 can use the total signals or sum signals available in each case to calculate more meaningful values ​​36 to obtain usable information about the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container stream 12.

[0085] It makes sense to also access historical data from larger databases in order to arrive at realistic values ​​36, possibly by additionally using machine learning principles.

[0086] Furthermore, according to Fig. 2B, a transport speed v of a horizontal conveyor 58 can be changed, with which the containers 14 are transported in the conveying direction 20 in the conveying area 18. Such a change in the transport speed v of the container stream 12 can also have a direct effect on the back pressure, whereby an increase in the transport speed v normally reduces the back pressure, while a reduction in the transport speed v causes an increase in the back pressure.

[0087] The change in the transport speed v can be achieved in a simple manner by appropriately influencing a motorized belt drive 60, which is responsible for driving a conveyor plane 62 moving in the conveying direction 20 for the containers 14 transported thereon. This conveyor plane 62, which forms the support plane moving in the conveying direction 20 for the container stream 12 conveyed within the conveying area 18 of the conveying path described here, is also identified in Fig. 2A by the corresponding reference number.

[0088] The variable specifications for the motorized belt drive 60 can in turn be calculated on the basis of the image data 26 supplied by the optical detection device 24, from which preferably a plurality of distance values ​​30 are obtained by means of the image evaluation 28, from which plausible values ​​36 for the dynamic pressure can be obtained by means of corresponding calculation steps in the computer and evaluation unit 38, if necessary using principles of machine learning and / or using previously collected database values ​​of the corresponding control and regulation.

[0089] When it is graphically indicated in Fig. 2B that the values ​​36 for the dynamic pressure directly control the motor drive 60, this is to be understood in such a way that the values ​​36 form the basis for the control and the respective meaningful changes in the transport speed v through corresponding speed specifications for the horizontal conveyor device 58. The computer and evaluation unit 38 thus controls and regulates the motorized belt drive 58 based on the calculated values ​​36 for the dynamic pressure in order to be able to influence it in the desired manner.

[0090] The control or regulation of the motorized belt drive 60 explained with reference to Fig. 2B and the change in the transport width 56 by means of the described control of the linear drive 54 for the purpose of adjusting the guide rail 52, illustrated with reference to Fig. 2A, can optionally also be combined with one another. The motorized belt drive 60 with its variable speed can thus also be understood as an actuator 48 in the above sense, which, in the same way as the position-adjustable guide rails 52, can ensure the desired influence on the back pressure. The conveying plane 62 of the horizontal conveyor device 58 shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, whose transport speed v is variable, thus also represents a conveying component 50 in the above sense.

[0091] In addition, a control system can be designed in such a way that, as required, fewer or more containers 14 are conveyed and fed into the container stream 12, which is illustrated in the schematic representation of Fig. 20 by an exemplary control connection of the computer and evaluation unit 38 with a handling and / or treatment module 64 arranged upstream of the container stream 12 of a filling and packaging system, not shown here in all its details.

[0092] For example, the handling and / or treatment module 64 can be formed by a filling module 66 of the filling and packaging system (not shown), in which prepared empty containers 14 are filled in large numbers, usually in rapid succession, each with a beverage. After this, the filled containers 14 are sealed and conveyed to downstream machine modules for further handling steps. These can be, for example, labeling modules, grouping modules, and various packaging modules, as well as their associated handling devices. If the computer and evaluation unit 38 has information about undesirably high back pressure values ​​36, it can, for example,transmit a corresponding control signal 68 to a handling and / or treatment module 64 formed by a filling module 66, which instructs the filling module 66 to reduce its processing speed, so that fewer filled containers 14 are fed from there into a subsequent container stream 12 per unit of time, which in turn can ensure the desired reduction in back pressure. In this way, a further variant of a back pressure control device 46 can be realized.

[0093] All of the control measures mentioned, as well as any additional control interventions not mentioned here, can also be superimposed and implemented jointly in order to regulate the back pressure in the container stream 12 as desired. For example, a further control measure can provide for the targeted removal of some containers 14 from the container stream 12. These removed containers 14 can optionally be buffered for subsequent refeeding to the container stream 12 at a suitable later time, provided this does not lead to an undesirable increase in the back pressure.

[0094] Likewise, other input signals from downstream handling devices, packaging modules, etc. can optionally be fed to the computer and evaluation unit 38 in order to be processed into useful control or regulation interventions. If, for example, a downstream packaging module reaches its performance limits, it may be useful to throttle the tracking of containers 14 ready for packaging by reducing the back pressure in the manner described, preferably by reducing the transport speed v in the relevant conveyor area 18 and / or by reducing the filling speed in a filling module 66 (see Fig. 2C).

[0095] All interventions performed and described above for controlling and influencing back pressure can also be optimized using recorded and evaluated series of measured values ​​stored in a database. Such series of measured values ​​can contain numerous experiences from previous control interventions that can be advantageously used in current and future control tasks. In addition, there is the optional use of expert systems, neural networks, etc., in which the principles of machine learning can be considered and implemented.

[0096] The schematic top view of Fig. 3 also shows a conceivable embodiment of a complete beverage filling and packaging system 70 with its interacting modules, wherein the system 70 can be equipped, in particular, with a conveyor area 18 for conveying a container stream 12 according to one of Figures 1A to 20. Several practical positioning options for the conveyor area 18 within the beverage filling and packaging system 70 will be explained below.

[0097] The embodiment of the beverage filling and packaging system 70 shown in Fig. 3 consists of several modules connected to one another by conveyor technology, with the overall system 70 comprising at least one so-called wet section 72 (top in Fig. 3) and a packaging complex or packaging machine 73 (bottom in Fig. 3). With such a beverage filling and packaging system 70, containers 14 (see Figures 1A to 20) can be filled with liquid beverages and then packaged and combined into packaging units or bundles, which can then be packaged and / or palletized.

[0098] Fig. 3 shows a practical module sequence that can be used in the production, filling, and further handling of beverage containers 14 made of plastic, mineral glass, or an organic cellulose material. This shows a practically relevant design variant of a complete beverage filling and packaging system 70 with its interacting modules, with the lower section of the overall system 70 being formed by the packaging machine 73, which is followed by further handling elements for palletizing packaged or otherwise finished packaging units or piece goods.

[0099] This packaging machine 73, shown in the lower right part of the beverage filling and packaging system 70, can be, for example, a so-called wrap-around packer, a tray packer, or the like. To form packaging units or piece goods, the packaging machine 73 can also be a machine for inserting container groups into cardboard outer packaging provided for this purpose, or can comprise such a machine. The module sequence of the schematically illustrated beverage filling and packaging system 70 begins with the so-called wet section 72 (top left), in which a beverage is filled into containers 14 prepared for this purpose. These containers 14, which can be formed by the beverage containers mentioned several times above, such as cans or bottles, are conveyed from the wet section 72 via connected conveyor sections 74 (top right in Fig. 3) and 76 (center left in Fig. 3) to an optional labeling module 78, which is located centrally in the lower third of the drawing.In the labeling module 78, which can be considered optional, the liquid or beverage containers 14, cans or bottles, which are normally conveyed in rows one behind the other, can each be provided with labels.

[0100] Instead of such a labeling module 78, a direct printing module for directly applying ink to the container shell surfaces can optionally be provided within the conveyor line of the beverage filling and packaging system 70. It is also possible to dispense with such labeling or printing of the containers, which may be appropriate for containers prepared in color or with a design, or for containers packaged in other ways.

[0101] A container production module 80 can be located at the beginning of the conveyor line shown, since the processed beverage containers 14 are made of thin-walled plastic or, for example, of suitable organic cellulose material. If the beverage containers 14 produced in the container production module 80, e.g., by blow molding or other suitable processes, require further treatment steps, for example, because they need to be coated internally, this can take place in a coating module 82 arranged downstream of the container production module 80. However, such a coating module 82 is to be understood as optional, as is an optional drying module, which can serve to dry the containers.

[0102] Downstream of the optional coating and / or drying module 82 is normally the above-mentioned filling module 66, also referred to here as filler 66, with which the previously produced and optionally additionally dried and / or internally coated plastic or cellulose containers are filled with a liquid, in particular a beverage. In the immediate vicinity of this filling module or filler 66, the illustrated beverage filling and packaging system 70 can optionally be equipped with a further module 86 for producing suitable closures or container lids. These closures or container lids can optionally be made of metal, plastic, or a suitable cellulose material, for example, the same material that can also be used for the containers or bottles, provided they are not glass bottles.

[0103] Thus, the module 86 can in particular be a closure manufacturing module 86, which can be connected to a suitable handling module, which can ensure the closure of the containers filled by means of the filler 66 using the container lids produced in the module 86.

[0104] Downstream in the transport direction behind the second conveyor section 76 and behind the (optional) labeling module 78 there are packaging and treatment modules for the previously finished containers conveyed in the conveyor sections 74 and 76 to the packaging machine 73 and preferably grouped on the transport path.

[0105] The conveying area 18 shown in Figures 1A to 20 with the container flow 12 which can be influenced with regard to the respectively prevailing back pressure can optionally be assigned to the conveying sections 74 and / or 76, which is indicated by the corresponding reference numerals.

[0106] Depending on the desired packaging variant, an outer packaging module 88 for forming packaging units or containers can be located optionally in the area of ​​the labeling module 78 or downstream of it, which can serve to equip the previously formed container groups with suitable secondary packaging.

[0107] The outer packaging module 88 can be provided in particular for inserting container groups into cardboard outer packaging provided for this purpose in order to form packaging units in this way.

[0108] The secondary packaging, packaging units, or containers thus formed in the outer packaging module 88 can optionally be formed by cardboard outer packaging, but also optionally by film packaging or the like, with which a defined number of grouped containers can be wrapped. Optionally, the secondary packaging, packaging units, or containers can also be formed by plastic beverage cartons or beverage crates, into which a defined number of grouped containers can be inserted.

[0109] Instead of the outer packaging module 88 mentioned here merely as an example, or as a component of the outer packaging module 88, a wrapping module for wrapping the container groups with secondary packaging made of paper or film can also be provided. Likewise, the outer packaging module 88 could be formed by a strapping station for equipping the container groups with pre-tensioned plastic or paper strapping bands.

[0110] Alternatively, instead of the aforementioned outer packaging module 88, another wrapping module or a strapping station, an application station could be provided for equipping the container groupings with packaging blanks, wherein such packaging blanks can be regarded as secondary packaging.

[0111] Furthermore, instead of the aforementioned outer packaging module 88, another wrapping module, or a strapping station, an application station could be provided for equipping the container groups with adhesive joints, thereby forming adhesive packages with several containers adhered to one another. Such adhesive joints could also, in principle, be considered a variant of secondary packaging.

[0112] Optionally, in addition to the aforementioned outer packaging module 88, to another wrapping module, to an adhesive module or to a strapping station, an application station could be provided for equipping the container groupings or packaging units with packaging blanks, wherein such packaging blanks can in this case be regarded as tertiary packaging.

[0113] It should be noted at this point that the system illustration in Fig. 3 is merely exemplary and should not be understood as limiting. In practice, it has proven particularly successful to implement the system section referred to here as the outer packaging module 88 using several highly efficient handling and packing lines that can process and repack a large number of simultaneously handleable piece goods or packaging units in parallel using several robots. These handling robots, not shown due to the schematic nature of the illustration, can also each have several packing heads or gripper heads, for example up to six or more, which can grasp a corresponding number of piece goods groupings, transfer them, and place them in prepared outer packaging.

[0114] The outer packaging module 88 – possibly equipped with several powerful robots and / or designed for parallel processing – or the alternatively provided packaging or treatment module can be followed downstream, for example, by a further treatment module 90, which can serve for the post-processing of the previously produced packaging units, for example to apply additional equipment. Such equipment can be printing or additional labeling or the like. However, the further treatment module 90 can also be a so-called shrink tunnel for the heat treatment of the container groups previously wrapped with heat-shrinkable film, which the film-wrapped container groups all pass through to be further processed into shrink-wrapped packages.

[0115] After passing through this optional further treatment module 90, the packaging units are conveyed further via the conveyor device 92 adjoining the module 90. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor device 92, designed as a horizontal conveyor device and which can also be considered a third conveyor section 92, describes a 180° deflection and continues in a straight conveyor section 94.

[0116] After the 180° deflection of the conveyor device 92 and the rectilinear conveyor section 94—optionally containing the transport path 10 according to the invention—follows a further handling module 96, which can be formed, for example, by a layer-forming station 98. In this further handling module 96 or in the layer-forming station 98, the conveyed packaging units or piece goods can be positioned, shifted, and / or rotated for the purpose of layer formation, particularly with the aid of suitable manipulators 100 or handling devices, e.g., gripper robots.

[0117] Since these manipulators 100 or gripper robots are dependent on knowing the exact positions of the piece goods or packaging units being conveyed in the area of ​​the module 96 or the layer formation station 98, it is advantageous to distance the piece goods or packaging units, which are initially conveyed without gaps, from one another using an appropriately designed transport route.

[0118] The manipulators 100, which are merely indicated in the schematic representation of Fig. 3, can preferably each be equipped with suitable gripper heads, which are not shown in detail here, however. Such gripper heads, which can be suspended, for example, from gantry robots, parallel kinematic robots, or multi-axis movable gripper-arm robots or so-called articulated-arm robots, which form the manipulators 100, grasp the packaging units or piece goods individually, in pairs, or in larger groups of four or more pushed-together packaging units or piece goods, in order to either transfer them into a waiting tertiary packaging or to arrange them in a layered arrangement for subsequent stacking and palletizing.

[0119] If the further handling module 96 is to be formed by a layer forming station 98, the pushed-together layers with the container groupings, the packaging units or piece goods can, after passing the layer forming station 98 and being treated there by the manipulators 100 including the gripper heads, then be transferred to a palletizing device or palletizing station 102, where larger pallet units or pallet stacks can be formed from the previously formed layers by stacking them on top of one another, which, however, is not shown in detail here.

[0120] In contrast to the illustration in Fig. 3, the palletizing device or palletizing station 102 can optionally be viewed as part of the packaging system or machine 73, but optionally also as a separate module connected to the packaging system or packaging machine 73. Depending on the selected system, the layer formation station 98 together with the manipulators 100 or handling devices assigned to it can be viewed as a component of the palletizing device or palletizing station 102, since the assembly of the container groupings, piece goods or packaging units into stackable bundle layers is directly related to the stacking, i.e., the palletizing of these bundle layers.

[0121] The palletizing device or the palletizing station 102 can also be assigned a pallet transport module 104, with which suitable pallets are transported in each case in order to be able to deposit the pallet layers for the pallet stacks to be formed thereon.

[0122] Another optional module that can be coupled to the palletizing device or to the palletizing station 102 is an intermediate layer inserter 106 for handling and positioning the intermediate layers between successively deposited pallet layers, which is illustrated as a schematic element in Fig. 3.

[0123] Optionally, parallel processing with several similarly functioning modules can be provided at many points in the system 70 shown as an example in Fig. 3. This is useful in many high-performance systems in order to achieve the desired high throughput of piece goods or containers to be processed. These options and variants are not shown or mentioned in detail, but are generally intended to be included in the above explanations when considering the illustration.

[0124] The interacting modules of the beverage filling and packaging system 70 are necessarily each equipped with their own control modules, although this is not shown in the drawing here. A central control unit can also be provided, although this is also not shown in the drawing here. The control modules of the individual system modules and the central control unit can each exchange various sensor signals or process them as input variables in order to generate control signals for the various system modules.

[0125] In particular, the packaging system 70 shown is equipped at a suitable location with at least one back pressure control device 46, which can control or regulate the back pressure within a container stream 12 in at least one of the aforementioned conveyor sections 74, 76, and / or 88, specifically by means of one of the variants described above, which refer to Figures 1A to 2C. The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes to the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

[0126] List of reference symbols

[0127] 10 measuring methods

[0128] 12 Container flow

[0129] 14 containers

[0130] 16 Shell surface, vessel shell surface

[0131] 18 conveyor section, conveyor area

[0132] 20 Conveying direction

[0133] 22 Top

[0134] 24 optical detection device

[0135] 26 image signals

[0136] 28 Image processing

[0137] 30 distance

[0138] 32 Lids, container lids

[0139] 34 measuring points

[0140] 36 value, dynamic pressure, value of dynamic pressure, dynamic pressure value

[0141] 38 Computer and evaluation unit, computer and evaluation circuit

[0142] 40 row, row transport

[0143] 42 Transport aisle

[0144] 44 Measuring device

[0145] 46 Back pressure control device

[0146] 48 Actuator

[0147] 50 conveyor components

[0148] 52 Guide rail

[0149] 54 Linear actuator

[0150] 56 transport width

[0151] 58 Horizontal conveyor system

[0152] 60 belt drive, motorized belt drive

[0153] 62 conveyor level

[0154] 64 Handling module, treatment module, handling and / or

[0155] Treatment module

[0156] 66 filling module

[0157] 68 Control signal, control signal

[0158] 70 Complete system, beverage filling and packaging system 2 Wet part 3 Packaging machine 4 Conveyor section, first conveyor section 6 Conveyor section, second conveyor section 8 Labeling module 0 Container manufacturing module 2 Coating module 6 Further module, closure manufacturing module 8 Outer packaging module 0 Treatment module, further treatment module 2 Conveyor device, third conveyor section 4 Conveyor section, straight conveyor section 6 Handling module, further handling module 8 Layer forming station 0 Manipulator 2 Palletizing station 4 Pallet transport module 6 Interlayer inserter v T ransport speed

Claims

Claims 1. Measuring method (10) suitable for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container stream (12), which container stream (12) is formed by a plurality of containers (14) which touch one another at their lateral surfaces (16) and are conveyed within a conveying region (18) under dynamic pressure conditions and each have deformable container walls, in which measuring method (10) an optical detection of upper sides (22) of one or more containers (14) is provided by means of an optical detection device (24) with downstream image evaluation (28), wherein distances (30) between defined points (32; 34) on or between regions of the upper sides (22) of individual or adjacent containers (14) are determined by means of the image evaluation (28).

2. Measuring method (10) according to claim 1, in which a derived measured value (36) is determined from a distance (30) between defined regions (32; 34) on the upper sides (22) of at least two adjacent containers (14), which measured value provides information about a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow (12).

3. Measuring method (10) according to claim 1, in which a derived measured value (36) is determined from a distance (30) of defined areas (32; 34) on the upper side (22) of an individual container (14), which measured value provides information about a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow (12).

4. Measuring method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the defined points (32; 34) on the upper sides (22) of the containers (14) are derived from their manufacturing-related contours and / or from container-typical equipment elements.

5. Measuring method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the container lids (32) of the containers (14) are used as reference points as defined regions (32; 34) on the upper sides (22) of the containers (14), which can be related to the container lids (32) of adjacent containers (14) serving as further reference points.

6. Method for regulating the back pressure in a container flow (12), in which a value (36) of a back pressure prevailing in the container flow (12) is determined by means of a method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5 and is used to reduce or increase the back pressure by regulating interventions of at least one actuator (48) influencing the back pressure, which at least one actuator (48) is operatively connected to at least one conveying component (50) which is concerned with the container conveying and / or container steering.

7. Method according to claim 6, in which the value (36) of the dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow (12) is used to reduce or increase the dynamic pressure (12) by means of regulating interventions by actuators (48) influencing the dynamic pressure (12), which actuators (48) are operatively connected to conveying components (50) which are involved in the container conveying and / or container steering.

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the actuators (48) can act on lateral guide rails (52) which influence a transport width (56) of the container stream (12).

9. Method according to claim 6 or 7, in which the actuators (48) can act on motorized belt drives (60) which change a transport speed (v) of a conveyor level (62) on which conveyor level (62) the container stream (12) is transported.

10. Measuring device (44) for determining a dynamic pressure prevailing in a container flow (12), with a conveying region (18) for conveying the container flow (12) formed by a plurality of containers (14) touching each other at their lateral surfaces (16) and each having deformable container walls under dynamic pressure conditions, - wherein the measuring device (44) comprises at least one optical detection device (24) with downstream image evaluation (28), which is arranged above the conveying area (18) and can detect at least defined partial areas of the container flow (12), - and wherein the image evaluation (28) connected downstream of the optical detection device (24) transmits its output signals to a computer and evaluation unit (38) which, from a distance (30) of defined areas (32; 34), top sides (22) of at least one detected container (14) can derive and calculate a value (36) of a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow (12).

11. Measuring device (44) according to claim 10, in which a value (36) of a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow (12) can be derived and calculated by means of a computer and evaluation unit (38) from a distance (30) of defined areas (32; 34) on the upper sides (22) of at least two adjacent containers (14) of the containers (14) detected within a defined partial area.

12. Measuring device (44) according to claim 10 or claim 11, which is suitable and usable for carrying out a measuring method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

13. A dynamic pressure control device (46) for controlling a dynamic pressure in a container flow (12), which dynamic pressure control device (46) comprises a measuring device (44) according to one of claims 10 or 11, and which dynamic pressure control device (46) controls at least one actuator (48) influencing the dynamic pressure in the container flow (12) on the basis of the derived and calculated values (36) for a dynamic pressure prevailing in the container flow (12), which at least one actuator (48) is operatively connected to at least one conveying component (50) which is concerned with container conveying and / or container steering.

14. Back pressure control device (46) according to claim 13, which is provided and equipped in such a way as to reduce or increase this back pressure from the respectively determined value (36) of the back pressure prevailing in the container flow (12) by means of regulating interventions by actuators (48) influencing the back pressure, which actuators (48) are operatively connected to conveying components (50) which are concerned with container conveying and / or container steering.

15. Back pressure control device (46) according to claim 13, which is provided and equipped in such a way as to reduce or increase this back pressure from the respectively determined value (36) of the back pressure prevailing in the container flow (12) by means of regulating interventions by actuators (48) influencing the back pressure, which actuators (48) are operatively connected to handling and / or treatment modules (64) located upstream of conveying components (50), which are suitable for influencing the back pressure within the conveying area (18) by means of a flow control or regulation.

Images