DE102009025907A1 - Apparatus and method for treating containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for treating containers. The container treatment device with at least one vertically adjustable holding device for holding, gripping and / or rotating containers standing on a support at its upper mouth and / or at its neck region, the at least one double-acting linear drive and at least one force and / or displacement sensor for detecting a setting and / or holding force of the linear drive and / or a current position of the holding device comprises.

Description

The The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of treatment of containers. The container treatment device, the with at least one adjustable in the vertical direction holding device Is provided. The holding device serves to hold, gripping and / or rotating containers standing on a support at its upper mouth and / or at its neck area and has at least one double-acting linear drive.

at known container treatment devices are in rotary machines such as. Labeling, filling or Container inspection devices the container to be treated usually arranged on a carousel and each on a bottle plate placed there and there fixing the container from above Gripping devices rotatably held. The gripping devices are usually spring-biased elements such as. Centering, the Hold the containers while moving through the machine.

at The known labeling devices need the bottles be held reliably on the one hand. On the other hand should the bottles on their turntables at any time in a desired Position can be rotated. The gripper heads keep the bottles at their upper mouth area. you will be usually by means of cams as a function of the rotation of the carousel lifted and lowered to release the bottles or to fix. A height compensation, the same time a certain height tolerance and a certain flexibility of the Clamping is possible, usually by means of suitable spring systems created for an approximately uniform Pressure on the bottles.

If Container should leave the carousel, for example. At the outlet or when discharging to a so-called error band, the centering bells on suitable Curved tracks moved up. With this movement of the centering bells each spring preload is canceled. This device has a very complex machine construction and also takes this machine takes up a lot of space. Furthermore, such a Building a time-consuming conversion as soon as others Varieties of containers should be used. For this must retrofitted the container treatment devices be by adjusting the height of the entire track of the centering must be changed.

In the DE 40 35 998 C2 are called as disadvantages of this known system, the lack of reliability of the spring system, and that a not uniformly exerted by the springs or too little pressure on the bottles brings the risk of tipping over the bottles with it. In addition, breaking a spring can cause serious damage to the machinery. Finally, attention is drawn to the inertia of the spring system, which can limit the alignment speed. To eliminate these disadvantages mentioned is therefore proposed to apply an axially displaceable piston which is coupled to a cam roller, which in turn cooperates with a frame cam cam, by means of compressed air, so that the previously caused by a compression spring tolerance compensation can be done by means of a pneumatically actuated piston system ,

These By the way, the labeling machine has a conventional one Set up and still requires the known controller by means of a frame-fixed cam curve, which for a Positionally correct axial movement of the gripping devices for the Bottles must care.

In the DE 33 08 489 C2 Some disadvantages of a centering device are called, in which the rotatable centering ring is arranged fixed in height and the containers are pushed down by the centering with the footing down, until the containers sit firmly on the conical centering and centered in this. As unfavorable has been found that the container sink more or less deep in the centering depending on the diameter, thus varying their height position. This leads to the fact that often no uniform, exact label seat can be achieved. To eliminate these disadvantages mentioned is therefore proposed to provide a downwardly movable base plate having a stop. The stop has a fixed end position, so that the centering ring mounted vertically movable and against spring force from a defined upper end position is movable downwards. By means of a controlled centering bell, the base plate can reach its lower end position when lowering in all vessels. For the raised and lowered movement of the centering a control device is necessary.

the opposite the invention is the object of a generic centering with the simplest Means to improve that under as possible all operating conditions in addition to an exact centering also a constant High altitude of the machine head can be ensured can.

This object is achieved in a container treatment machine with the features of independent claim 1, characterized in that the containers are held with actuators, each independently actuated by a carousel rotation and / or cam or cam discs and operated for clamping or releasing the container are bar. Thus, in a container treatment apparatus according to the invention with at least one vertically adjustable holding device for holding, gripping and / or turning of standing on a support containers on the upper container mouth and / or on the neck region provided that the holding device by at least one double-acting linear drive and at least one force and / or displacement sensor for detecting an actuating and / or holding force of the linear drive and / or a current position is formed. The linear drive can also be referred to as a double-acting actuator. Such a double-acting linear drive allows a fully variable control, which can be coupled, for example. With a position sensor and / or with optical detection devices. In addition, a container fixation or release is made possible, which is completely independent of a variable angular position of a rotating carousel.

The Holding or actuating forces and / or predefinable end positions are depending on different container types and / or sizes individually adjustable or predetermined. Thus, with the invention Container treatment device the particular advantage that easily different container sizes and tank dimensions without retrofitting the system can be handled as the individual and stepless adjustable in height and acted upon by a holding force Holding device easily to different container sizes can be adjusted. Thus, both a tolerance compensation slightly different in height Containers of the same size as well as one Compensation for the handling of different container sizes, eg when changing the type of container to be labeled or treated, allows. Ie. within reasonable limits, eg. B. to 150 mm, can different varieties, such as. Container with contents of 0,33 l and 0,5 l, only by adjustment of the driving points the linear drives are used in the device. Thus is no adjustment of the upper machine head necessary.

A Typical embodiment of the container treatment device according to the invention can provide that the linear actuator is arranged in the vertical direction is and at a lower end of a gripping, holding, centering and / or Suction cup for fixing an upper container opening and / or an upper container edge. This embodiment largely corresponds to a conventional configuration a container carousel, with the essential difference that at the container storage or -achse no curve or cam guides for a mechanical positive control the holding devices are required, as these according to the invention separately and be controlled individually in the desired manner can. In such an embodiment can a plurality of holding devices star-shaped at one rotatable sorting star and / or a carousel be arranged and have a central drive power supply. These Drive power supply can, for example, as Druckfluid- or compressed air supply or be designed as an electrical supply.

Of the Actuator of the holding device may in particular a fluidic actuated, double-acting linear actuator have. So this drive can, for example, by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder be formed. Optionally suitable as Actuators but also electric motor drives, eg. Electric Linear drives. All these variants allow a very exact Position control with presettable actuating speeds and exactly controllable actuating and holding forces.

The Holding force for fixing the container within a predefinable Range is preferably predetermined or adjustable, so that the Force sort and bottle individually adjusted and varied can. To record the for each type of containers or bottles suitable holding force can optionally be a suitable Force sensor can be used. Optionally, a force-controlled Holding the containers by internal sensors of the motors be guaranteed, for example, the fluidic holding pressure a fluidic linear drive or a power or power consumption an electric linear drive can be detected. From these Values can then be closed to the appropriate holding force, which corresponds to an indirect force detection.

According to the present invention, the plurality of holding devices are each individually controllable, so that a high variability of the device is made possible. The holding devices may each be individually controllable in dependence on sensor signals, in particular as a function of position encoders and / or of optical detection devices or the like. For the first approach of the holding device and its delivery movement to the container, a slightly touching pre-centering on the container is useful or necessary. Thereafter, a fixed main centering acts on the respective container to allow stabilization of the containers during their treatment. For this purpose, different Voreinspannungen can be adjusted to handle containers made of different materials, each with suitable holding forces. Furthermore, a relaxation of the centering before removing the container from the carousel is necessary so that it is safely continued on leaving the treatment device. These just mentioned centering Procedures are each dependent on the rotation angle of the carousel. Among other things, the use of force sensors would be possible for such an individual control of the holding device.

The Containers are preferably each on a turntable, whereby a slight rotation, for example. For a swift Labeling of the container is possible.

By this individual control of the holding device could the containers discharged at any point of the carousel become. This would be, for example, by a second rotating star possible, each of the loosened container engages and this transported on another device on.

in the Case of a lack of a container or if a container during treatment breaks down during this in the carousel, can by the linear drive and / or by the this associated force sensor detected a back pressure loss become. This loss of holding power is immediately as Error reported. Even with a failure of an axle of a holding device an error message is generated.

With Such a device, the construction costs and the complexity of the entire stationary part of the machine head be minimized, so that essentially only one column with a torque arm including a slip ring transmitter necessary is.

The Invention further comprises a method for treating containers, which stand on a support and in the vertical direction by means of an adjustable holding device at its upper mouth and / or held at its neck area, fixed and / or rotated become. In the method, it is provided that the holding device raised, lowered and / or by means of a double-acting linear drive is fixed in the achieved position. The used adjusting movements and / or adjusting or holding forces can by means of at least one force and / or displacement sensor are detected.

The thereby used holding force for the actuator can in particular by a controllable fluidic or pneumatic Pressure to be specified. Here, the pneumatic pressure of the Actuator example. Between about 2 to 8 bar, in particular between be adjustable from 3 to 6 bar. The actuator is preferably moved in the vertical direction and acts at a lower end a gripping and / or suction cup for fixing an upper container opening and / or an upper container rim together. About that In addition, however, other suitable drives for Use come, for example, electric linear motors o. The like.

In The described manner may advantageously different Tank sizes and tank dimensions be handled without retrofitting the plant, since the holding or actuating forces and / or predefinable end positions depending of different container types and / or sizes can be individually set or specified. The individual containers are each individually and in the required amount or within one predetermined range and with a required holding force Fixed, allowing the fixation easily to different container sizes can be adjusted. In this way, both a tolerance compensation slightly different in height containers same size as well as a compensation for the Handling of different container sizes, eg. when changing the type of container to be labeled or treated, allows.

at a further embodiment of the invention Method, several holding devices each individually and be controlled in dependence of the sensor signals. Thus, in a carousel-like arrangement of several holding devices to every mechanical coupling for rotary position-appropriate operation the holding devices are omitted, as they are from the prior Technique known and example. By means of suitable slide guides realized with running cam in it.

moreover The linear drive is moved in the vertical direction and acts a lower end with a gripping, Hake-, centering and / or suction cup for fixing an upper container opening and / or an upper container edge together.

If in the present context of containers is mentioned, thus basically all types of liquid and beverage containers. This can Bottles, cans, etc. made of mineral glass or plastic, such as PET o. The like. Be. The container treatment device according to the invention allows due to the individually controllable holding devices the clamping and fixing of different containers, which can also have different closures.

Further Features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as a non-limiting example serves and refers to the accompanying drawings. Identical components basically have the same reference numerals on and are sometimes not explained several times.

1 shows a schematic representation of a container treatment device.

2 shows a schematic representation of a container fixation by means of a double-acting linear actuator.

The schematic representation of 1 thus illustrates a typical structure of a container treatment device according to the invention 8th , In the illustrated container treatment device 8th are several holding devices 14 star-shaped on a rotating sorting star or a carousel 38 arranged and connected to a central power supply (not shown). In the 1 shown embodiment corresponds largely to a conventional configuration of a container carousel, with the essential difference that on a column 36 no curve or cam guides for a mechanical positive control of the holding devices 14 (see. 2 ) are present, since these exclusively by means of actuators 12 (see. 2 ) can be controlled separately and individually in the desired manner. container 10 or bottles are between the holding device 14 and an edition 16 (see. 2 ) clamped. The containers 10 each stand on the turntable or the support 16 whereby an easy rotation, for example. For a quick labeling by means of a labeling 54 , is enabled.

The schematic representation of 2 shows a container fixing to a container treatment device 8th (see. 1 ). With this container treatment device 8th can container 10 by means of a double-acting actuator 12 a holding device 14 being held. The holding device 14 is adjustable in the vertical direction VR and is used for holding, gripping, centering and / or turning on the turntable or support 16 standing container 10 , The holding device 14 fixes the container 10 at its upper mouth 18 and has a holding bell for this purpose 20 on. The vertically adjustable, adjustable, double-acting and preferably rotatable actuator 12 allows a fully variable control, preferably with a position sensor 22 and / or with optical detection devices 24 is coupled, so that the container fixation and release is dependent on a variable angle of rotation of the rotating carousel 38 (see. 1 ). At the holding device 14 are force and displacement sensors 28 attached, the adjusting or holding forces of the linear drive 26 can capture.

The actuator 12 the holding device 14 can in the illustrated embodiment by a double-acting linear drive 26 , preferably be formed by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. Alternatively, however, are suitable as actuators and electric motor drives, for example. Electric linear actuators 26 ,

The linear drive 26 is installed vertically and below at the top of the linear actuator 26 is the commercial holding, or centering bell 20 appropriate. This holding bell 20 can be provided with or without spring mechanism (not shown).

The linear drives 26 move with the carousel 38 (see. 1 ), its control units 44 with in the rotatable part of the machine head (not shown) may be attached. The device can with different holding bells 20 be varied, for example. For co-rotating or fixed systems. It would also be conceivable that a filling valve (not shown) in the container treatment device 8th is recorded.

With Such an embodiment of the device becomes the machine head no longer adjusted in height. The height is only set during setup.

The force-controlled holding of the containers 10 through the holding device 14 becomes by means of internal sensors of the linear drives 26 reached. With the help of the position sensor 22 can the linear drive 26 be controlled so that the container 10 is centered in different stages.

The actuator 12 is arranged in the vertical direction VR. At its lower end, the drive has the holding bell 20 for fixing the container 10 at its upper mouth 18 and / or the upper edge of the container 10 on. The actuator 12 forming linear drive 26 is formed by a pneumatic cylinder which communicates via pressure lines (not shown) with a control valve (not shown) in connection. The control valve may be formed, for example, as a 5/2-way solenoid valve, which is coupled via a further pressure line with a rotary distributor (not shown), of a central pressure line in the central column 36 of the carousel shown 38 (see. 1 ) is fed. At the top of the column 36 there is an absolute encoder 40 or rotation angle sensor for detecting a current angular position of the rotating carousel 38 , its signals via a signal line 42 to a central control unit 44 to be delivered. The central control unit 44 continues to process the signals from initiators, which is a current altitude of the vertically adjustable linear actuator 26 to capture. A supply line 48 for the control unit 44 is with one on the pillar 36 arranged slip ring transmission 50 connected and provides for the supply of the control unit 44 with electrical energy. A control signal line (not shown) finally supplies that from the central control unit 44 generated control signals to the pneumatic control valve (not shown), which is responsible for the raising and lowering of the holding bell 20 by means of the positioning movements of the linear drive 26 responsible for.

The The invention is not limited to the above embodiments limited. Rather, a variety of variants and Modifications conceivable that of the invention Use your thoughts and therefore also in the protection area fall.

8th

Container treatment device

10

container

12

actuator

14

holder

16

edition or turntable

18

upper muzzle

20

holding bell

22

locator

24

optical detector

26

linear actuator

28

Force- or displacement sensor

36

pillar

38

carousel

40

Absolute encoders

42

signal line

44

control unit

48

supply line

50

A slip ring transmission

VR

vertical direction

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 4035998 C2 [0005]
• - DE 3308489 C2 [0007]

Claims (13)

Container treatment device ( 8th ) with at least one in the vertical direction (VR) adjustable holding device ( 14 ) for holding, gripping and / or rotating on a support ( 16 ) standing containers ( 10 ) at its upper mouth ( 18 ) and / or at its neck region, the at least one double-acting linear drive ( 26 ) and at least one force and / or displacement sensor ( 28 ) for detecting a setting and / or holding force of the linear drive ( 26 ) and / or a current position of the holding device ( 14 ). Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding or Actuating forces and / or predefinable end positions depending of different container types and / or sizes individually adjustable or specifiable. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein a holding force for fixing the container ( 10 ) is adjustable within a predeterminable range. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the linear drive ( 26 ) is arranged in the vertical direction (VR) and at a lower end of a gripping, holding, centering and / or suction cup ( 20 ) for fixing an upper container opening ( 18 ) and / or an upper container edge. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of holding devices ( 14 ) star-shaped on a rotatable sorting star and / or a carousel ( 38 ) are arranged and are supplied via a central drive power supply. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the containers ( 10 ) each on a turntable ( 16 ) stand. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the plurality of holding devices ( 14 ) are each individually controllable. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the holding devices ( 14 ) are each individually controllable in dependence of the sensor signals. Method of treating containers ( 10 ), which are published on a 16 ) and in the vertical direction (VR) by means of an adjustable holding device ( 14 ) at its upper mouth ( 18 ) and / or held at its neck area, fixed and / or rotated, wherein the holding device ( 14 ) by means of a double-acting linear drive ( 26 ) is raised, lowered and / or fixed in the achieved position and the adjusting movements and / or actuating or holding forces by means of at least one force and / or displacement sensor ( 28 ). Method according to claim 9, wherein the holding or Actuating forces and / or predefinable end positions depending of different container types and / or sizes individually set or specified. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein a holding force for fixing the container ( 10 ) is set within a predefinable range. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, in which the linear drive ( 26 ) in the vertical direction (VR) is moved and at a lower end with a gripping, holding, centering and / or suction cup ( 20 ) for fixing an upper container opening ( 18 ) and / or an upper container edge cooperates. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 12, in which a plurality of holding devices ( 14 ) are each controlled individually and in dependence of the sensor signals.