DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ORIENTING PACKAGES

Abstract

Using a transporter to either transport a first package or to simultaneously transport several packages, one of which is the first package includes using a double conveyor of the transporter to execute a first rotational movement of at least the first package, using a monitor, detecting an actual orientation of the first package, comparing an actual orientation of the first package with a predetermined setpoint orientation, detecting a deviation between the actual orientation and the setpoint orientation, and causing the transporter to carry out a second rotation of the first package.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method comprising using a transporter to either transport a first package or to simultaneously transport several packages, one of which is said first package, wherein using said transporter comprises using a double conveyor of said transporter to execute a first rotational movement of at least said first package, using a monitor, detecting an actual orientation of said first package, comparing an actual orientation of said first package with a predetermined setpoint orientation, detecting a deviation between said actual orientation and said setpoint orientation, and causing said transporter to carry out a second rotation of said first package.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said double conveyor comprises adjacent conveyor belts and using said double conveyor to execute said first rotational movement comprises causing said adjacent conveyor belts to have different velocities.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein causing said transporter to carry out said second rotation comprises using said double conveyor to compensate for said deviation.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein causing said transporter to carry out said second rotation comprises using a correction conveyor to compensate for said deviation.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting an actual orientation of said first package comprises detecting said actual orientation while said first package is on said double conveyor.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting an actual orientation of said first package comprises detecting said actual orientation while said first package is on a correction conveyor that follows said double conveyor.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting an actual orientation of said first package comprises detecting said actual orientation while said first package is on an intermediate conveyor that is disposed between said double conveyor and said correction conveyor.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising analyzing orientations of packages during a predetermined period of time and, based on said analysis and identifying a systematic deviation of said orientations from said setpoint orientation, wherein carrying out a first rotational movement of at least said first package comprises carrying out said rotation automatically based on said identified systematic deviation.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying a systematic deviation of packages based at least in part on actual orientations of said packages as determined by a monitoring system.

22. An apparatus for rotating packages in a container treatment system, said apparatus comprising a transporter, a monitor, an assessor, and a controller, wherein said transporter comprises a double conveyor that is configured for simultaneously transporting one or more packages and causing a first rotation of said one or more packages, said one or more packages including a first package, wherein said monitor detects an actual orientation of at least said first package, wherein said assessor is configured to identify a deviation between said actual orientation and a setpoint orientation, and wherein said controller is configured to actuate said transporter to cause a second rotation of said first package, wherein said second rotation compensates for said deviation.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said transporter comprises a correction conveyor that is configured to execute said second rotation.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said transporter comprises a correction conveyor and an intermediate conveyor, wherein said intermediate conveyor is disposed between said double conveyor and said correction conveyor, and wherein said correction conveyor is configured to carry out said second rotation.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said monitor is disposed to monitor packages on said double conveyor.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said monitor is disposed to monitor packages on a correction conveyor that is configured to execute said second rotation.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said monitor is disposed to monitor packages on an intermediate conveyor that is between said double conveyor and a correction conveyor, said correction conveyor being configured to carry out said second rotation.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a monitoring system that is arranged to detect an actual orientation of said one or more packages.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said controller is configured to identify a systematic deviation and that is configured to automatically correct orientation of said packages based on said systematic deviation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the apparatus, and

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a view from above the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 during the transport and rotation of several packages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a section of a transporter 1 that forms part of a container-treatment system, the remaining constituents of which have been omitted for clarity. The transporter 1 comprises a double conveyor 2, a correction conveyor 3, and an intermediate conveyor 4. The intermediate conveyor 4 is disposed between the double conveyor 2 and the correction conveyor 3.

[0052] A delivery conveyor 6 brings packages 7 to the double conveyor 2. A discharge conveyor 5 takes packages 7 away. Each package 7 consists of six containers connected together to form a rectangular footprint.

[0053] The double conveyor 2 includes adjacent first and second conveyor belts 8a, 8b that convey in a transport direction T at corresponding first and second speeds V1, V2, which can be different or the same. The different arrow lengths in the drawing indicate different speeds, with the longer arrow indicating the higher of the two speeds.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate conveyor 4 has been implemented using a single conveyor belt 9.

[0055] In contrast, the correction conveyor 3 has been implemented using first and second conveyor belts 10a, 10b that are aligned with and also operable with the corresponding adjacent first and second conveyor belts 8a, 8b of the double conveyor 2.

[0056] As shown in the figures, the correction conveyor 3 is appreciably shorter than the double conveyor 2. The correction conveyor 3 and the intermediate conveyor 4 transport only one package 7 at a time. In contrast, the double conveyor 2 transports and rotates plural packages 7 simultaneously.

[0057] The various conveyors and conveyor belts described herein are implemented as belt or band conveyors. However, in alternative embodiments, the various conveyors and conveyor belts are implemented in other forms, including as chain conveyors.

[0058] FIG. 1 also shows plural monitoring devices 11 and an optional monitoring system 12. The monitoring devices 11 are disposed at corresponding first, second, and third positions P1, P2, P3. The monitoring system 12 is disposed at a container inlet 2a of the double conveyor 2. An alternative embodiments features only a single monitoring device 11, which is disposed at one of the first, second, or third positions P1, P2, P3

[0059] A monitor 11 at the first position P1 is able to detect a package 7 that is being transported on the double conveyor 2. A particularly useful place for the first position P1 is in the region between a midline 13 of the double conveyor 2 and the end of the double conveyor 2. A monitor 11 at the second position P2 is able to detect a package 7 on the intermediate conveyor 4. Finally, a monitor 11 at the third position P3 is able detect a package 7 on the correction conveyor 3.

[0060] The optional monitoring system 12 improves the precision with which the package 7 can be located. In particular, the monitoring system 12 makes it possible to determine package's starting position at the double conveyor's container inlet 2a. Additionally, because the distance between the first monitor 11 and the monitoring system 12 is known, it is possible to determine an absolute value for the package's rotation as it rotates between the monitoring system 12 and the first monitor 11 in response to the movements of the double conveyor 2.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a section of a transporter 1 for carrying out rotation. In the transporter 1, a delivery conveyor 6 leads into a double conveyor 2. The double conveyor 2 ends at the beginning of an intermediate conveyor 4, which continues on to a correction conveyor 3 that discharges into a discharge conveyor 5.

[0062] FIG. 2 also shows first, second, third, and fourth packages 7a-7d being transported simultaneously. The first and second packages 7a, 7b are on the double conveyor 2. A third package 7c has just being moved from the double conveyor 2 onto the intermediate conveyor 4.

[0063] Because the second conveyor 8b is moving faster than the first conveyor 8a, the first and second packages 7a, 7b have a tendency to rotate counter-clockwise about a vertical longitudinal axis as they move in the transport direction T.

[0064] The fourth package 7d is on the correction conveyor 3. The correction conveyor 3 also has two conveyor belts 10a, 10b that can move at different speeds V1, V2. As a result, the correction conveyor 3 is able to rotate the fourth package 7d in the same way that the double conveyor 2 rotates the first and second packages 7a, 7b.

[0065] The monitor 11 at the second position P2 detects the actual rotational angle of the package at the intermediate conveyor 4. An assessor 14, which is not shown, receives the angle as determined by the monitor 11 and compares it with a desired rotational angle, referred to herein as the setpoint angle. The setpoint angle represents the angle that at which the package is intended to be oriented when it is on the intermediate conveyor 4.

[0066] The assessor 14 provides a correction signal to a controller 16. This correction signal causes the controller 16 to control the speeds V1, V2 of the first and second conveyor belts 10a, 10b of the correction conveyor 3 in such a way that the package 7 located on the correction conveyor 3 carries out a second rotational movement that rotates the package toward the setpoint angle.

[0067] In an alternative embodiment, a monitor 11 at the third position P3 detects a package 7d standing on the correction conveyor 3. In this embodiment, there is no need for an intermediate conveyor 4. The remainder of the operation is as described in connection with the first embodiment.

[0068] Another embodiment features a monitor 11 at the first position P1. In this position, the monitor 11 detects one of the packages 7a-7d that are simultaneously being transported on the double conveyor 3. In particular, the monitor 11 detects the package that is next in line to be transferred from the double conveyor 3 to a component that follows the double conveyor, such as another conveyor.

[0069] In this third embodiment, detection of a discrepancy between the actual orientation and the setpoint orientation causes the adjustment of the relative speeds V1, V2 of the conveyor belts 8a, 8b so as to reduce this discrepancy in the remaining time during which that package will be on the double conveyor 3. In this embodiment, all packages that happen to be on the double-conveyor 3 will be rotated in the same way at the same time.

[0070] The first position P1 and the detection of one of the packages 7a-7d on the double conveyor 2 are matched to one another in such a way that the package 7a that follows the detected package 7b is the only one detected and the speeds V1, V2 of the conveyor belts 8a, 8b are only adjusted as soon as the first detected package 7b has completed its second movement and/or has left the double conveyor 2. This prevents the first detected package 7b from undergoing a further rotation that would would otherwise bring it out of its setpoint orientation.

[0071] Some of the foregoing embodiments include an additional monitor 11 associated with either or both a correction conveyor 3 and an intermediate conveyor 4. Such embodiments are able to carry out a second check on actual orientation and to cause additional corrective rotation of the relevant package. This further increases the extent to which the package can be accurately positioned.

[0072] In some cases, there exists a systematic deviation in connection with feeding the packages. As a result, all packages arrive at the double conveyor 2 with similar rotation errors. To take advantage of this systematic deviation, certain embodiments analyze the orientations of incoming packages 7a-7d to identify the existence of a systematic deviation and to identify which of several known systematic deviations it corresponds to. These known systematic deviations will have been stored beforehand. Thus, the pattern of orientations of incoming packages can be matched with these known and stored systematic deviations.

[0073] Upon recognizing evidence of the occurrence of a known systematic deviation, a corrector 18 adjusts the speeds V1, V2 of the conveyor belts 8a, 8b of the double belt conveyor 2 in such a way as to compensate for the systematic deviation.