WO2009115169A1

WO2009115169A1 - Transport system for bottles and device for the treatment of bottles

Info

Publication number: WO2009115169A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/000780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Herrmann
Original assignee: Khs Ag
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-02-05
Publication date: 2009-09-24
Also published as: DE102008015411A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system (1) for bottles or similar containers (2) made of a transparent or translucent material, for example glass, or transparent or translucent plastic, for example PET, comprising at least one container carrier (3.1) forming a container support on which the containers (2) stand on with a container bottom (2.1).

Description

TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR BOTTLES AND DEVICE FOR TREATING BOTTLES

[0001] The invention relates to a transport system according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and to apparatus for treating bottles or similar containers according to the preamble of claim 11.

U.a. Inspection devices for bottles or similar containers made of a translucent or transparent material, for example glass or a translucent plastic, e.g. PET are made. In the case of these inspection devices, the containers are guided on a transport route or a transport system past at least one optoelectronic recognition system, which comprises e.g. at least one optoelectronic sensor unit, e.g. in the form of a camera and at least one light-emitting device or at least one light transmitter. Especially for the inspection of the container bottoms or the bottom area of the containers, it is necessary in known devices to move the containers at least temporarily "suspended", ie with their container bottom exposed to the at least one opto-electrical detection system, so that an illumination of the container bottom from below for a above the trajectory of the container arranged opto-electrical sensor unit (eg camera) or conversely, a lighting from above for an arranged below the movement path of the container opto-electric sensor unit (eg camera) is possible.

If the inspection or lighting through the container mouth, it must also be freely accessible to the opto-electrical sensor unit or the light emitting device. These requirements can not be met, especially with a large number of types of containers, even with the required operational reliability for the respective inspection device, or only with a very considerable constructional outlay.

[0004] The object of the invention is to disclose a transport system which permits optical detection, ie imaging or scanning, but also illumination of the container bottoms from the container underside with a simplified design of the transport system. To solve this problem, a transport system according to the patent claim 1 is formed. An advance Direction for treating bottles or similar containers is the subject of claim 11.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All are described and / or illustrated

Characteristics in themselves or in any combination in principle subject of

Invention, regardless of its summary in the claims or their

Dependency. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 and 2 in a very simplified partial representation of a transport system with an opto-electrical detection system according to the invention, together with a bottle formed as a container;

[0008] FIG. 3 shows, in a simplified representation and in plan view, the transport system of a circulating type labeling machine designed as a rotor for labeling containers in the form of bottles;

Fig. 4 in a very simplified schematic representation of one formed as a bottle tray container carrier of the labeling machine of Figure 3, together with a arranged on the container carrier and designed as a bottle container.

In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a transport system, are transported to the container in the form of bottles 2 in a transport direction A. The bottles 2 consist of a transparent or translucent material, for example made of glass or of a translucent plastic, for example PET, and are standing upright, ie arranged with their bottle bottom 2.1 on a moving in the transport direction A transport element 3 of the transport system 1. A special feature is that the transport element 3 is transparent or translucent, for example, formed by a transport chain or transport chain arrangement, in which the transport plane and the Stanflächen for the FIa see 2 and thus ultimately container carrier forming elements 3.1 of the translucent material For example, consist of a translucent plastic with sufficiently high hardness. As a material for the transport element 3 or its Elements 3.1 are suitable eg Polyacrylonitrile or a material, which is available under the name "Acrylic fibers" on the market.This material is permeable up to a light wavelength of about 4000nm.The hardness of this material corresponds to the hardness of metal, such as aluminum.

In the figures 1 and 2, 4 generally designates an opto-electrical detection system on which the bottles 2 are moved with the transport element 3 over. This recognition system 4 consists in the illustrated embodiment of a light-emitting unit or of a light generator 5, which is arranged below the transport element 3 and the transport plane formed by this transport element, and from an opto-electrical sensor device 6, which is above the light generator. 5 and is arranged above the movement path on which the open, for example, empty bottles 2 or their bottle mouths 2.2 move. The opto-electric sensor unit, which is directed with its optical axis in the vertical direction down to the light generator 5, in the illustrated embodiment, a camera whose optics is set so that illuminated by the light generator 5 from below with this camera Bottle bottom 2.1 is detected or imaged. The optics of the sensor unit 6 forming camera is further preferably designed and focused on the inner surface of the bottle bottom 2.1 that with reduced depth of focus substantially only the inner surface of the bottle bottom 2.1 is displayed, but not also possible damage (eg scratches) on the transport element Instead of a camera, a different opto-electrical sensor unit 6 can in principle also be used.

The signal generated by the sensor unit is supplied to a computer-assisted evaluation and control system 7, for example, which then initiates and / or initiates the various processes according to the respective intended use of the recognition system 4 on the basis of the signals supplied by the sensor unit 6.

The recognition system 4 is also particularly suitable for inspection devices, and in this case, for example, especially for inspecting the bottles 2 at their bottom area, before these bottles 2 are fed for further use, for example to a filling machine for filling. With the recognition system 4, contaminations, such as contaminants or contaminations, located on the bottom of the bottle 2.1 are then detected, so that contaminated flames are detected. 2 can be discharged from the process or production line controlled by the evaluation and control system 7.

The light generator 5 is designed so that it emits light as large as possible and evenly distributed on the underside of the transport element 3, on a surface which is at least equal to, but preferably greater than the area of the respective bottle bottom 2.1 is taken. The light generator 5 is provided at its light exit side with an optical element, for example with a disc which causes a uniform light emission. Furthermore, the light emitter preferably has a plurality of light-emitting or generating elements.

In principle, it may be appropriate to the respective bottle 2 during the optical detection with the sensor unit 6 relative to the transport element 3 and / or the sensor unit 6 to move, for example, to rotate their bottle axis, so as for example in the evaluation of the Sensor unit 6 supplied image signals to recognize those pixels that are not attributable to the bottom of the bottle 2.1 concretely. The rotation of the bottles 2 about their bottle axis can be effected, for example, by the transport system 1 laterally bound Ania- or guide elements 8 for the bottle 2.

Above, it was assumed that the light generator 5 are arranged below and the sensor unit 6 above the movement path of the bottles 2. Of course, the light transmitter 5 can also be provided above and the sensor unit 6 below the movement path of the bottles 2. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a plurality of sensor units 6 above or below the movement path of the bottles 2 in the transport direction A.

Instead of the light generator 5 with the large-area light emission, another light-emitting device may be used, for example, a device that supplies at least one scanned the bottle bottom 2 light or laser beam.

FIG. 3 shows, in a simplified representation and top view, a labeling machine 10 for labeling bottles 2 with labels 10. The labeling machine designed as a rotary machine consists of a rotor 11 forming the transport system there, which is in the direction of arrow B about a vertical machine axis is circumferentially drivable and at the periphery of a plurality of treatment positions 12 are formed. These are the over an external conveyor

13 supplied, filled and sealed bottles 2 to a container inlet

14 individually, so that at each treatment position 12, a bottle 2 standing upright, i. is arranged oriented with its bottle axis in the vertical direction. The bottles provided with the labels 10 are removed from the treatment positions 12 at a container outlet 15 and forwarded to an external conveyor 16.

The application of the labels 10 on the bottles 2 is carried out using a not moving with the rotor 11 labeling 17 and using not shown Etikettenandrück- and Anbürstelemente on the rotational movement of the rotor 11 between the container inlet 14 and the container outlet 15th

A special feature of the labeling machine 9 is that the treatment positions 12 each have a bottle carrier formed as a container carrier 18, which consists of a transparent or translucent material, for example glass (mineral glass) or again of a transparent or translucent plastic, e.g. made of polyacrylonitrile or a plastic material which is available under the name "Acrylic fibers." The bottles 2 arranged at the treatment positions 12 stand with their bottom 2.1 on the respective container carrier 18 and are secured against overturning by upper punches 19.

The container supports 18 are associated with actuators 20, with which each container support 18 is individually rotatable about a vertical axis, ie controlled on the container support 18 arranged bottle 2 about the axis of this bottle. The actuators 20 are controlled by an electronic, preferably computer-aided evaluation and control system 21 in response to signals from an opto-electrical detection system 22, in such a way that the labels 11 in accurate association with at least one recognition or design feature 2.3 of the bottle 2 these are applied. The at least one design feature 2.3 is provided on the bottom of the bottle 2.1, for example, as embossing and / or depression and / or indentation. Preferably, the bottles 2 then have on their outer surface also in the trunk area, chest area and / or in the area of the neck of the bottle at least one further design feature which is associated with the Design feature 2.3 has a fixed spatial allocation and relative to the labels 11 are applied in the required position on the bottle 2. This at least one additional design feature is formed, for example, by at least one embossing, by at least one surface formed with an edge or frame for applying the label, and the like.

For the exact application of the labels 11, each bottle 2 which has initially arrived at the relevant treatment position 12 with an arbitrary orientation of the design feature 2.3 is rotated by the actuator 20 associated with this treatment position with the container carrier 18 such that the design feature 2.3 at the latest when reaching the labeling 17 has a predetermined target orientation.

An essential part of the opto-electrical detection system 22 is an opto-electrical sensor unit 23, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment of at least one camera. The sensor unit 23 is not arranged co-rotating with the rotor 11 below the movement path of the transparent or translucent container carriers 18, in such a way that the optical axis of the sensor unit 23 points upwards onto the transparent container carriers 18 and thus onto the bottle bases resting on them 2.1 is addressed. The sensor unit 23 are associated with light emitting devices, which are indicated schematically in Figure 4 with 24 and provide sufficient illumination of the respective bottle bottom 2.1 from above.

The sensor unit 23 is of course in the direction of rotation B of the rotor 11 at a sufficient distance from the labeling unit 17, so that after detecting the random actual position or orientation of the design element 2.3 with the sensor unit 23 of the actuator 20 via the Evaluation and control system 21 can be controlled so that the design feature 2.3 and thus the bottle 2 before reaching the labeling 17 have the required orientation or orientation.

If the sensor unit 23 is a camera, then this camera or its optics are designed and focused such that the imaged image plane is preferably the underside of the bottle bottom 2.1 with the local recognition or design feature 2.3. When imaging or scanning the bottle bottom 2.1 with the sensor unit 23 is preferably not only the respective position of the design feature 2.3, but among other things also its shape detected and taken into account in the evaluation in the evaluation and control system 21 to the design feature 2.3 of Other image components, in particular to distinguish from damage, such as scratches in the container carrier 18.

The invention has been described above by embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the invention-bearing thought.

It has been assumed above that the sensor unit 23 is a camera. Of course, other sensor units or sensors suitable for optically detecting or for scanning and / or imaging the bottle bottom 2.1 can also be used.

Furthermore, it was assumed above that the light-emitting devices 24 are arranged above the movement path of the container carrier 18, for a translucent illumination of the bottle bottoms 2.1. Of course, an arrangement of the light emitting devices below the path of movement of the container carrier 18 is possible. Furthermore, it is also possible for these light-emitting devices to be designed in such a way that they each scan the respective bottle bottom 2.1 with at least one concentrated light or laser beam.

Furthermore, it was assumed above that the alignment of the bottles 2 takes place in one step by detecting the random actual position or - orientation of the design feature 2.3 and then turning the respective bottle 2 in the desired position. It is also possible to perform this alignment of the bottles 2 in at least two steps, using at least two detection systems 22, which are provided consecutively in the direction of rotation B of the rotor 11. In this case, coarse alignment then takes place first in at least one step and fine-level alignment in at least one subsequent step.

Furthermore, it has been assumed above that the machine shown in Figures 3 and 4 is a labeling machine. In principle, this could This machine, even with the same design and arrangement of the at least one recognition system 22, may be another handling machine for bottles 2 or similar containers, for example an inspection machine or a printing machine for printing the bottles 2 or similar containers on their outer surface in a predetermined relation to external design features. In this case, for example, instead of the labeling 17 or in addition to this, a printing device 25 is provided, in the latter case, for example, for printing previously applied labels 11 in a predetermined label area.

Furthermore, it is of course in the labeling machine 9 or other processing machine rotating design also possible to provide at each treatment position 12, a sensor unit 23 with the rotor 11 with circumferentially.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 transport system

2 bottle

2.1 bottle bottom

2.2 Bottle mouth

2.3 Recognition or design feature on the bottom of the bottle 2.1

3 transport element

3.1 elements or transport chain elements

4 opto-electrical detection system

5 light-emitting device or light source

6 sensor unit or camera

7 evaluation and control system

8 guides

9 treatment or labeling machine

10 label

11 rotor

12 treatment position

13 outer conveyor

14 container inlet

15 container outlet

16 outer conveyor

17 labeling unit

18 container carriers or plates

19 stamps

20 actuator

21 evaluation and control system

22 opto-electrical detection system

23 sensor unit or camera

24 light-emitting device

25 printing device

A transport direction of the transport system 1

B Direction of rotation of the rotor 11

Claims

claims

1. Transport system for bottles or similar containers made of a transparent or translucent material, for example made of glass or a transparent or translucent plastic, e.g. PET, with at least one container support (3.1, 18) forming a container support surface, on which the containers (2) stand with a container bottom (2.1), characterized in that the container support (3.1, 18) or its container support surface at least in one of the Container bottom (2.1) of the container (2) occupied area are transparent or translucent.

2. Transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that the container carrier (3.1, 18) or its container footprint of a rotating transport element (3) or elements of this transport element (3), for example, formed by elements of a circumferentially driven belt or chain-like transport element are.

3. Transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one container carrier (3.1, 18) is provided together with further container carriers on a revolving transport element, for example on a rotatable about a vertical machine axis rotor (11).

4. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one on the transport system (1, 11) provided opto-electrical detection system (4, 22) with at least one opto-electrical sensor unit (6, 23) and / or with at least one light emitting means (5, 24) for imaging and / or scanning or scanning and / or illuminating the container bottoms (2.1) by the at least one container carrier (3.1, 18) or by its container footprint.

5. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opto-electrical detection system (4, 23) is part of an inspection device for container (2).

6. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container carrier (3.1, 18) for moving the container (2) in the transport direction (A, B) is movable.

7. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one container carrier (3.1, 18) made of glass, e.g. Mineral glass or made of a transparent or translucent plastic, such as acrylic glass or polyacrylonitrile.

8. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one opto-electrical detection system (23) is part of a system for aligning the container (2) with respect to at least one container-side recognition or design feature (2.3), preferably by controlled turning or pivoting of the container (2) or of the respective container carrier (18) about a container or container carrier axis.

9. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one opto-electrical detection system (4, 22) and / or its at least one sensor unit (6, 23) and / or its at least one light-emitting unit (5, 24) with the at least one container carrier (3, 18) are not provided mitbewegt.

10. Transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each container carriers (18) each container carrier or a group of container carriers (18) is associated with at least one sensor unit (23) and / or a light-emitting device (24).

11. An apparatus for treating bottles or similar containers (2), for example, inspection device, labeling machine or apparatus for printing on containers (2), with a transport system (1, 11), characterized in that the transport system (1, 11) after a of the preceding claims is formed.