Method and device for handling containers

Abstract

A method and device for treating containers with at least two container treatment machines, between which a transport device for transporting the containers is arranged, where the transport device is divided into several transport sections, where the flow of containers is changed from containers of type A to containers of type B, where a separating device is activated once the first transport section has run empty of containers of type A, where containers of the type B are transported into the first transport section and backed up at the separating device, while containers of type A are transported from the second transport section to the second container treatment machine, and where the separating device is deactivated once the second transport section has run empty of containers of the type A, so that the containers of type B are transported through the second transport section to the second container treatment machine.

Claims

1. A method for treating containers with at least two container treatment machines, between which a transport device for transporting said containers is arranged, wherein the method comprises: when changing containers of type A to containers of type B, a separating device is activated between said first and said second container treatment machines which separates a flow of containers into a first and a second transport section after said first transport section has run empty of said containers of type A, where said first transport section adjoins said second transport section, said containers of type B are conveyed previously in said first transport section and backed up upstream of said separating device, while said containers of type A are conveyed out of said second transport section to said second container treatment machine, and thereafter said separating device between said first and said second transport sections is deactivated so that said backed-up and following said containers of type B are transported through said second transport section to said second container treatment machine, wherein said first container treatment machine sends a signal for an end of production of said containers of type A to a control device, and determines in dependence of said signal whether or not said containers are disposed on said first and/or n.sup.th+1 transport section, where the a container of said containers of type A is tracked.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said separating device between said first and said second transport sections is deactivated after said second transport section has run empty of said containers of type A.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein several separating devices are provided between said first and said second container treatment machines, where a further n.sup.th+2 transport path (4.sub.n+2) is provided downstream of an n.sup.th+1 transport section (4.sub.+i), where an n.sup.th+1 separating device between said n.sup.th+1 and said n.sup.th+2 transport sections is activated after said n.sup.th+1 transport section has run empty of said containers of type A, and said containers of type B are conveyed in said n.sup.th+1 transport section, while said containers of first type A are transported out of said n.sup.th+2 transport path, and said n.sup.th+1 separating device is deactivated when said n.sup.th+2 transport section has run empty of said containers of type A, where nϵN.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein while said separating device is activated, said containers of second type B back up upstream of said separating device, and said backed-up second containers of type B pass through the entire second transport section when said separating device is deactivated.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transport device comprises several individually actuatable conveyors and said at least one separating device comprises one of said conveyors which stops upon activation of said separating device such that said container back up, where said conveyor acts as a separating device is arranged in an end region of said respective transport section or said transport path of said conveyor corresponds to said transport section, where a respective specific conveyor is associated with a respective separating device, so that said at least two transport sections each have a predetermined length and position, and several transport sections are provided, each corresponding to said transport path of successive conveyors, where, when said conveyors have respectively run empty of said containers of type A, then said respectively emptied conveyor, which in the direction of transport is located at the front behind said containers of type A, is stopped until said conveyor of said containers of type A, that in the direction of transport is the following one, has run empty, which is then stopped again, where the preceding conveyor enters back into operation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said separating device comprises a mechanical back-up element which is introduced into the flow of containers.

7. The method according to claim 1, said containers of type A and type B differ only to the extent that said same transport device is used without any changeover between said container treatment machines.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined by way of at least one sensor on said first and/or n.sup.th+1 transport section whether containers of said first type A are disposed in said first and/or in said second transport section.

9. A device for performing a method for treating containers of type A and containers of type B with at least two container treatment machines, the device comprising: a first and a second container treatment machine, a transport device between said first and said second container treatment machines, wherein a separating device between said first and said second container treatment machines, wherein the separating device, upon activation, separates a flow of containers into a first and a second transport section such that said containers of type A back up upstream of said separating device, where said first transport section adjoins said second transport section in a direction of transport, a control device which is configured to activate said separating device between the first and a second transport section when there is a changeover from said containers of type A to said containers of type B, if no containers of type A are disposed on said first transport section, such that said first transport section is already fed said containers of type B while at the same time said containers of type A are conveyed out of said second transport section without said containers of type A and B being mixed, and said control device is configured to deactivate said separating device so that said backed-up and following said containers of type B is transported through said second transport section in a direction toward said second container treatment machine, wherein a heating or cooling device is arranged between said first and second container treatment machines and a separating device is arranged upstream of said heating or cooling device and/or downstream of said heating or cooling device.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a plurality of separating devices between said first and second container treatment machines.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said device further comprises a first detection device which detects whether said first transport section has emptied during a product change and generates a signal when said first transport section is empty, on the basis of which said control device activates said separating device.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a second detection device which detects whether said second transport section has emptied and either generates a signal on the basis of which said control device deactivates said separating device when said second transport path has emptied, or generates a respective signal when said second transport path has emptied and said second container treatment machine generates a signal that it is ready to treat said container of type B.

13. The device according to claim 9 wherein said transport device comprises a plurality of individually actuatable conveyors and said separating device comprises a conveyor which upon activation of said separating device stops such that said containers back up.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said first container treatment machine is a packer and said second container treatment machine is a palletizer.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein said first and second container treatment machines is at least a machine from the following group: stretch blow-molding machine, filler, labeler, packer, palletizer, pusher.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said first machine is a block comprising a blow-molding machine and a labeler and a filler and a capper, and wherein the second container treatment machine is a packer or a palletizer.

17. A method for treating containers with at least two container treatment machines, between which a transport device for transporting said containers is arranged, wherein the method comprises: when changing containers of type A to containers of type B, a separating device is activated between said first and said second container treatment machines which separates a flow of containers into a first and a second transport section after said first transport section has run empty of said containers of type A, where said first transport section adjoins said second transport section, said containers of type B are conveyed already in said first transport section and backed up upstream of said separating device, while said containers of type A are conveyed out of said second transport section to said second container treatment machine, and thereafter said separating device between said first and said second transport sections is deactivated in such a way that said backed-up and following said containers of type B are transported through said second transport section to said second container treatment machine, wherein an activated separating device is not deactivated when a control device receives a malfunction signal of said container treatment machine arranged downstream of said separating device or of a conveyor arranged downstream.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The present invention shall be explained below in more detail with reference to the following figures:

(2) FIGS. 1-11 show a simplified schematic representation of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

(3) FIGS. 12-20 show a simplified schematic representation of a second embodiment according to the present invention with a heater.

(4) FIGS. 21a-d show a simplified schematic representation of a further embodiment according to the present invention.

(5) FIGS. 22-26 show a device according to the present invention by way of a PET line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 show a simplified schematic representation of, two devices 1a, 1b strung together according to the present invention. Device 1a according to the present invention shows a first container treatment machine 2.sub.1, presently e.g. a container treatment block, which comprises e.g. a filler and a capper or, according to a preferred embodiment, a stretch blow-molding machine, a filler, a labeler and a capper. Furthermore, device 1a comprises a packer 2.sub.2, for example, for the purpose of producing packages. Arranged between first and second container treatment machine 2.sub.1, 2.sub.2 is a transport device 7 which transports containers in a flow of containers from first container treatment machine 2.sub.1 to second container treatment machine 2.sub.2. The transport device can comprise several independently actuatable individual conveyors 8.sub.1-8.sub.n, such as chain conveyors, roller or belt conveyors, etc.

(7) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a first transport section 4.sub.1 is defined, where several conveyors, presently conveyors 8.sub.1, 8.sub.2 and 8.sub.3, are arranged in first transport section 4.sub.1. Furthermore, a second transport section 4.sub.2 comprises at least one further conveyor, presently conveyors 8.sub.4 and 8.sub.n. Finally, the device comprises a separating device (6.sub.1) between the first and the second container treatment machine which, upon activated, separates the flow of containers between first and second container treatment machine 2.sub.1, 2.sub.2 into first and second transport section 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2. The separation takes place such that no container can move any more from the first to the second transport section and vice versa. In this embodiment, separating device 6.sub.1 comprises conveyor 8.sub.3 which is located in the end region of first transport section 4.sub.1, i.e. is the last conveyor in the transport section. Upon activation of the separating device, this conveyor stops so that containers 3 back up upstream of conveyor 8.sub.3 and cannot pass into second transport section 4.sub.2. The separating device can alternatively also comprise a mechanical back-up element which can be incorporated into the flow of containers. A corresponding back-up element can be realized, for example, such that a stopper with a pneumatic cylinder pivots onto the conveyor, presently e.g. at the end of conveyor 8.sub.3, which stops the incoming containers.

(8) Furthermore, device 1.sub.a comprises a control device 10 which is configured such that it can activate separating device 6.sub.1 between an (n.sup.th) first and a second (n.sup.th+1) transport section 4.sub.1, 4.sub.2 when changing over from containers of type A to containers 3 of type B when there is no longer any container of type A disposed on first transport section 4.sub.1, such that the first transport section can already be fed containers 3 of type B while at the same time containers of type A can be conveyed out of second transport section 4.sub.2 without the containers of type A and B being mixed, which shall be explained in more detail below.

(9) The control device is adapted such that it can also again deactivate separating device 6.sub.1, such that the containers of type B can be transported through second transport section 4.sub.2 in the direction toward second container treatment machine 2.sub.2.

(10) Furthermore, the device according to the invention also comprises a first detection device which can detect whether, for example, containers of type A are disposed on the first transport section and/or the second or, in the case of several transport sections, the n.sup.th+1 transport section. For this purpose, at least one sensor, not shown, is arranged on the first and/or the second transport section or, in the case of several transport sections, on the n.sup.th+1 transport section. The position of the containers, for example containers of type A, can also be determined by tracking the last container of type A. For this purpose, container treatment machine 2.sub.1 can send a signal for the end of production of containers of type A to control device 10, where it can then be determined in dependence of the signal whether the container is disposed on the first or the second or the n.sup.th+1 transport section. Tracking the containers is possible, since a respective position can be determined based on the known transport speed and the transport path. It is there assumed that no backup has been detected on the subsequent conveyor.

(11) Additionally or alternatively to determining the containers on the first and/or second (or n.sup.th+1) transport section, it is also possible that the number of containers of type A arriving on the first and/or the second (or n.sup.th+1) transport section and the number of container of type A leaving the first and/or the second (or n.sup.th+1)) transport section is counted by way of a counting device, and the difference is determined and thus the number of containers disposed on the first and/or the second (or n.sup.th+1) transport section can be determined.

(12) The position of the containers of type A or B can also be determined by way of cameras in the region of the transport sections

(13) These are only examples of how the position of the containers can be determined using sensors and counters, respectively.

(14) FIG. 1b shows a second device according to the present invention in which packer 2.sub.2 represents the first container treatment machine and palletizer 2.sub.3 the second container treatment machine. Where this device corresponds to previously described device 1a with the exception that presently, e.g. there are three transport sections 4′.sub.1, 4′.sub.2, 4′.sub.3. Therefore, there are also two separating devices 6′.sub.1, 6′.sub.2, as shall be explained in more detail below.

(15) The method according to the invention for treating containers when changing from containers of type A to containers of type B shall be described in detail below.

(16) For example, PET bottles filled with a certain beverage are produced in container treatment machine 2.sub.1, where the PET bottles are produced, filled, labeled and closed and then transported via transport device 7 to the packer. A corresponding production of containers of type A is shown in FIG. 2. The continuous arrows represent the transport of containers of type A, the dotted lines represent a transport path without containers or packages (empty). The dashed lines show containers of type B. In this application, containers are understood to mean individual containers or also an arrangement of containers, e.g. a package (downstream of the packer).

(17) When changing over the production of containers of type A to containers of type B which, for example, have a different shape and/or capacity and/or content, container treatment machine 2.sub.1 must be converted accordingly. For this purpose, machine 2.sub.1 is first stopped. A corresponding signal can be sent to a control device 10. After the end of production of containers of type A, first transport section 4.sub.1 downstream of container treatment machine 2.sub.1 gradually runs empty, here last container 3.sub.E moves in the direction of the packer, as is apparent from FIG. 3. The conveyor occupancy between machines 2.sub.1, 2.sub.2 can be determined e.g. by counting the incoming and outgoing containers 3, by sensors that are present for control device 10 of the production, such as photocells and back-up switches and by signal exchange of the container treatment machines with control device 10 (i.e. when the production was terminated or started, etc.), as already described in above.

(18) If it is now found that first transport section 4.sub.1 has run empty, then separating device 6.sub.1 is activated by control device 10, as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, for example, conveyor 8.sub.3 is stopped, which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4. This means that container treatment machine 2.sub.1 does not have to wait until packer 2.sub.2 has run empty of containers of type A, but can already start production of container processing machine 2.sub.1 beforehand, either when the separating device has already been activated, as shown in FIG. 4, but also before that. It only needs to be ensured that the containers of type B are still disposed in the direction of transport upstream of the separating device, i.e. in first transport section 4.sub.1 when separating device 6.sub.1 is activated. The separating device entails the advantage that containers of type B can already enter the transport path between the first and the second container treatment machine, while the last containers of type A are still running out of transport path 4.sub.2. Even if back-ups arise at packer 2.sub.2 or at the conveyors downstream of separating device 6.sub.1, it can be reliably prevented that container of type A and B mix.

(19) FIG. 5 shows a state in which second transport section 4.sub.2 has already been completely run empty of containers of type A. If it is determined by a respective device that no more containers of type A are disposed in second transport section 4.sub.2, i.e. presently that the packer inlet has run empty, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the separation can be canceled and containers of type B can now also be transported into second transport section 4.sub.2 in the direction of the second container treatment machine, presently packer 2.sub.2. The separation can be canceled, for example, in that conveyor 8.sub.3 is put back into operation. In the region of conveyor 8.sub.3, a so-called back-up stretch can be formed which is configured such that it can buffer the containers that were backed up. It is now possible, for example, that this buffer is drawn empty by an increased speed of the conveyors which are arranged downstream of the separating device. The buffer can also be emptied by the packer overperforming.

(20) After the packer runs empty, the packer is changed over to the production of packages with containers B, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the separation has already been canceled before the packer was completely changed over. According to a further embodiment, however, the separation can also be canceled only once a signal has been generated by the packer that a changeover has taken place. However, to cancel the separation beforehand entails a time advantage, where it is still ensured that no mixing of the products occurs.

(21) As can be seen from FIG. 7, the containers of type B are now transported from block 2.sub.1 to packer 2.sub.2 in the flow of products.

(22) The packer is there ready for packages of type B but does not yet produce.

(23) Therefore, the production could easily and safely be changed over in device 1a from containers of type A to containers of type B.

(24) When viewing device 1b, in which packer 2.sub.2 represents the first container treatment machine and palletizer 2.sub.3 the second container treatment machine, then it can be recognized in FIG. 7 that the last containers of type A, there already as a package, are still moving through second transport section 4′.sub.2 and third transport section 4′.sub.3 toward palletizer 2.sub.3. First transport section 4′.sub.1 has already been run empty, as is apparent from FIG. 7. This can be determined by a corresponding detection device, as described above. Since no container or package of type A is disposed in this region anymore, control device 10 activates first separating device 6′.sub.1, where, for example, conveyor 8.sub.3 is stopped in this embodiment. As can be seen from FIG. 8, packages or containers of type B can therefore already enter the first transport section, while packages or containers of type A are still being transported out of second or third transport section 4′.sub.2, 4′.sub.3. Mixing types can therefore be effectively prevented. When the last container or the last package of type A now leaves second transport section 4′.sub.2, this can be detected by a detection device, where a second separating device 6′.sub.2 can be activated, as is evident from FIG. 9. For example, conveyor 8′.sub.4 is then stopped there. At the same time, first separation 6′.sub.1 can be cancelled, so that containers of type B can move on to second transport section 4′.sub.2.

(25) The advantage of several separating devices is that the size of the buffer in the individual separating devices can be selected to be smaller because the buffers are distributed along the transport path. As is apparent from FIGS. 9 and 10, the last containers of type A now also move out of third transport section 4′.sub.3. As shown in FIG. 10, when the palletizer has run empty, it can be changed over to the packages of containers of type B.

(26) FIG. 11 shows that second separating device 6′.sub.2 is also deactivated by control device 10. This can be done when it is recognized that no containers of type A are disposed in section 4′.sub.3 downstream of the separating device, i.e. the palletizer inlet or supply, respectively, has run empty. The palletizer can also comprise its own stop device which can be switched on and off by the palletizer itself. If the separating device is located relatively close to the palletizer, then it can also be expedient to have the separation only be canceled when the palletizer generates a signal that it is ready for operation for packages of containers of type B. Since the separation is canceled, the containers of type B can now pass through the third transport section toward the palletizer, where the production of the containers of type B is now running continuously and the changeover has been completed.

(27) As described above, a separation is always canceled if it is determined that no containers of the preceding type A are disposed in a certain downstream transport section anymore. If, however, a malfunction at a container treatment machine downstream of the separating device or of a downstream conveyor is detected, so that a backup is to be expected or a backup has already occurred, then a malfunction signal is passed to control device 10 and the separating device is not deactivated.

(28) FIGS. 12-20 show device 1a of FIGS. 1-11 in which block 2.sub.1 represents the first container treatment machine and packer 2.sub.2 the second container treatment machine. The device there corresponds substantially to the device described in FIG. 1, but where a heating device 12 is additionally provided between block 2.sub.1 and packer 2.sub.2. The heating device can be, for example, a pasteurizer or a device for heating the products, for example, to prevent condensation. However, heating device 12 can also be a cooling device for cooling down hot-filled products. In any case, the transport speed through heating device 12 is slower than the transport speed with conveyors 8.sub.1-8.sub.5. A first transport section 4.sub.1 extends from block 2.sub.1 to the heating device, a second transport section extends through heating device 12, for example, until the end of the first conveyor downstream of heating device 12. A third transport section 4.sub.3 extends in a region downstream of heating device 12 and upstream of packer 2.sub.2. In this embodiment, first separating device 6.sub.1 comprises conveyor 8.sub.5 and second separating device 6.sub.2 conveyor 8.sub.6. The respective conveyors associated with the separating devices are therefore disposed at the end of the respective transport section, as already explained, because they have to be emptied before they are stopped.

(29) FIG. 13 now shows a method step in which the block produces containers of type A which are heated, for example, in heater 12. After heating, the containers of type A are then conveyed to packer 2.sub.2 which produces packages of containers of type A.

(30) When changing over to containers of type B, the production of containers of type A ends. As shown in FIG. 14, the block is changed over to containers of type B so that the corresponding conveyors in first transport section 4.sub.1 are emptied. Once the block or the first container treatment machine 2.sub.1, respectively, has been changed over to containers of type B, the block can immediately start to produce containers of type B. If last conveyor 8.sub.5 is now emptied, i.e. if there are no containers of type A disposed on first transport section 4.sub.1 anymore, then separating element 6.sub.1 is activated, as shown in FIG. 15, in that, for example, conveyor 8.sub.5 stops. Transport section 4.sub.1 is therefore separated from transport section 4.sub.2 and any mixing of the containers of the different types cannot occur. Furthermore, transport section 4.sub.2 in heating device 12 is slowly emptied and the containers of type A move in the direction of packer 2.sub.2, see also FIG. 16.

(31) As indicated in FIG. 17, containers of type B back up upstream of activated separating device 6.sub.1. If it is now determined, as is apparent from FIG. 18, that second transport section 4.sub.2 has run empty, i.e. that no containers are disposed on last conveyor 8.sub.6 anymore, directly downstream of the heat treatment, then first separating device 6.sub.1 can be deactivated. When second transport section 4.sub.2 has run empty of containers of type A, as can be seen from FIG. 18, conveyor 8.sub.6 can be stopped, i.e. separating device 6.sub.2 can be activated. Since the containers of type B, which are now entering heating device 12, dwell in heating device 12 for a longer time anyway, no separate or only a small buffer region is necessary.

(32) The containers of type A now run out in the direction of the packer, where the last container 3.sub.E moves through third transport section 4.sub.3. As can be seen from FIG. 19, third transport section 4.sub.3 is now emptied and the packer is still producing packages with type A. If it is determined that no containers of type B are disposed in third transport section 4.sub.3, then second separating device 6.sub.2 is deactivated. i.e. conveyor 8.sub.6 starts up again. Containers of type B can therefore now also enter third transport section 4.sub.3. Emptied packer 2.sub.2 of FIG. 20 is now changed over to containers of type B and the containers of type B can be treated in packer 2.sub.2. The changeover or conversion of production from type A to type B has now been changed over.

(33) The last separating device is advantageously in all embodiments not deactivated until the downstream container treatment machine has run completely empty of the previous container type and/or all previous containers have been transferred to the downstream container treatment machine. For this purpose, a respective container treatment machine can generate a corresponding signal.

(34) The embodiment illustrated in the context of FIGS. 21a-d is likewise particularly advantageous for non-backup transport paths with several conveyors. A device is shown there which comprises, for example, a packer as a first container treatment machine and a palletizer as a second container treatment machine 2.sub.3. In this embodiment, transport device 7 again comprises a several conveyors 8.sub.a-8.sub.n which are arranged one behind the other. Transport sections 4.sub.n each correspond to the transport path of a conveyor 8.sub.n, as shown in FIG. 21a. This means that if, for example, first conveyor 8.sub.a has run empty, i.e. it is determined that first transport path 4.sub.1 has run empty, the respective conveyor 8.sub.a can be halted. However, since the packer also takes a certain amount of time to be changed dover, the first transport section can also extend over several conveyors, presently, for example, over three, as illustrated by section 4.sub.10, where last conveyor 8.sub.C acts as a separating device 6, when section 4.sub.10 has run empty. If it is determined that section 4.sub.4 connected downstream of separating device 6.sub.1 has likewise run empty, as can be seen from FIG. 21a, then associated conveyor 8.sub.d is stopped (FIG. 21b) and thereby serves as the separation.

(35) Therefore, this means, if the conveyors of containers of type A have respectively run empty, then the respectively emptied conveyor, which in the direction of transport is located at the front behind the last containers of type A, is stopped until the conveyor of containers of type A, that in the direction of transport is the following one, has run empty, which is then stopped again, where the preceding conveyor enters back into operation. The active separating devices therefore follow the motion of the containers of the first type in the direction of the palletizer (see also FIGS. 21c, 21d).

(36) FIG. 22 shows the present invention in connection with a PET line. Where the embodiment substantially corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. As is evident from FIG. 22, the number of containers of type A on container transport 7 can be determined by counting, for example, the containers in the block, i.e. presently first container treatment machine 2.sub.1, and by counting the individual containers of type A in the packer. The number of containers or packages on the transport path between packers and palletizer can be determined by calculating the difference between the packages at the packer and packages at the palletizer. Only containers of type A are produced in FIG. 22.

(37) FIG. 23 already shows that block 2.sub.1 has been changed over to the production of containers of type B and transport device 7 has there already run empty of containers of type A and the first containers of type B are already transported by transport device 7 in the direction of heating device 12. Separation 6.sub.1 upstream of the heating device is activated there. It can be determined by counting the containers and calculating the difference, for example, how many containers of a respective type are disposed on the respective transport device. By tracking, for example, the container of type A last produced, it can also be determined, as described above, in which transport section the containers of type A are disposed.

(38) FIG. 24 now shows that several, presently for example, 2500 containers of type B are already disposed in a region between block 2.sub.1 and packer 2.sub.2. Since separation 6.sub.1 is already active, these containers are disposed in first transport section 4.sub.1. There are still 2,000 containers disposed downstream of heater 12. As described above and is evident from FIG. 25, there is now no container of type A disposed in transport section 4.sub.2 anymore, for which reason second separation 6.sub.2 has been activated. Disposed in transport section 4.sub.3, presently in the packer inlet, are only 200 containers. Even if a malfunction in packer 2.sub.2 were to occur and containers of type A would back up upstream of the packer, there would be no mixing of the containers of type A and B due to the activated separating devices downstream of heater 12.

(39) FIG. 26 shows the state in which only 20 containers are still transported on the package transport upstream of the palletizer. Separation 6′.sub.1 is activated there in order to prevent the different types from mixing, even if a malfunction of the palletizer were to occur. As described above, this separation can be deactivated when the transport path has emptied downstream of this separating device