Buffer Conveyor Control for Thermal Container Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal container treatment systems require significant space for buffer conveyors and are inflexible in handling errors across different machines in the filling line.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a buffer conveyor in a thermal container treatment device that captures and analyzes error data from upstream and downstream devices, adjusting the buffer conveyor's fill level to optimize buffer time based on error frequencies and locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple buffers are provided between filler, pasteurizer, inspection machine and dry section, then error buffering capability is improved, but space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer conveyor is designed to serve multiple functions: it buffers containers for errors in the filler (upstream), errors in the pasteurizer (downstream), errors in the inspection machine (downstream), and errors in the dry section (downstream). By making the buffer universal rather than dedicated to a single machine, the patent eliminates the need for separate buffers for each machine, thereby significantly reducing space requirements while maintaining comprehensive error buffering capability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If buffer fill level is increased to buffer longer, then error buffering time is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the buffer conveyor's fill level based on real-time error data from upstream and downstream machines. The control system adjusts the fill level dynamically - increasing it when errors are detected and decreasing it when operation is normal. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to extend buffer time when needed without permanently increasing space requirements, as the buffer is only filled to higher levels temporarily during error conditions.
3Device complexity
If buffer is dedicated to buffering only upstream errors, then simplicity is maintained, but flexibility in handling downstream errors is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control by continuously monitoring error data from both upstream (filler) and downstream (pasteurizer, inspection machine, dry section) machines and using this information to adjust the buffer conveyor's operation. The control system receives feedback about error occurrences and durations from all machines and dynamically adjusts the buffer fill level accordingly. This feedback mechanism provides flexibility in handling errors from any machine while maintaining a relatively simple single-buffer design, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a buffer conveyor for buffering containers, which buffer conveyor is comprised by a thermal container treatment device in a filling line as a buffer device. The filling line comprises at least one further device for treating the containers, said device being upstream or downstream of the thermal container treatment device. The method comprises: capturing error data relating to the at least one further device; analyzing the error data and obtaining control data; and controlling a fill level of the buffer conveyor during normal operation of the filling line on the basis of the control data. The invention also relates to a filling line comprising a thermal container treatment device, which comprises a buffer conveyor for buffering containers, wherein: the buffer conveyor is comprised in the filling line as a buffer device; the filling line also comprises at least one further device for treating the containers, which further device is upstream or downstream of the thermal container treatment device; wherein the buffer conveyor is controlled by means of the method according to the invention.