System for filling containers, having a transport device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10017288-B2
Application number	US-201515128409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Apr 9, 2014
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling system for filling containers, such as cans, in the beverage-processing industry, comprising at least one filling station connected to a product storage container, a transport device by means of which containers are conveyed to the filling station, and a container feeding means that feeds containers to the transport device in layers, the transport device having arranged thereon a counter capable of determining the number of containers in the transport device, characterized in that a control unit is provided, which controls the container feeding means depending on the product amount available in the product storage container and on the number of containers in the transport device. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filling system to fill containers comprising:
at least one filling station connected to a product storage container;
a transport device to convey containers to the at least one filling station, the transport device having arranged thereon a counter capable of determining a number (K) of containers in the transport device;
a container feeder to feed containers to the transport device in layers; and
a control unit to control the container feeder depending on a product amount (M) available in the product storage container and on the number (K) of containers in the transport device, wherein the control unit determines a number (m) of layers, which are fed to the transport device by the container feeder, from

m
=

(

M
V

-
K

)

⁢

:

⁢

⁢
n

,

where V stands for a container volume and the number m is either case a) where m=((M div V)−K)div n or case b) where m=((M div V)−K)div n+1.

2. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein the product storage container has arranged therein one or a plurality of sensors for periodically or continuously measuring the product amount (M) available in the product storage container, wherein the sensors are to transmit to the control unit a signal indicative of a filling level.

3. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device comprises one or a plurality of inspection units to inspect containers on the transport device and discharge the containers from the transport device.

4. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the layers comprises n containers, where n≥100.

5. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the layers is a monolayer.

6. The filling system according to claim 1 , wherein the filling system comprises an outlet through which superfluous product can be discharged in case a) or wherein the transport device comprises a discharge device capable of discharging superfluous containers from the transport device in case b).

7. A method of filling containers comprising:
controlling, by a control unit, a feeding of containers to a transport device, which conveys the containers to a filling station, wherein the feeding of the containers to the transport device is dependent on a product amount (M) available in a product storage container connected to the filling station and on a number (K) of containers in the transport device; and
determining, by the control unit, a number (m) of layers, which are to be fed to the transport device, from

m
=

(

M
V

-
K

)

⁢

:

⁢

⁢
n

,

where V stands for a container volume and the number m is either case a) m=((M div V)−K) div n or case b) m=((M div V)−K)div n+1.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
feeding the containers to the transport device in a plurality of container layers, wherein each container layer of the plurality of container layers comprises n containers, where n≥100, with n being constant for a container grade.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein an inspection is performed on the containers in the transport device, and wherein the containers are discharged dependent on a result of the inspection.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the product amount (M) in the product storage container is measured continuously or periodically by one or a plurality of sensors and a signal indicative of the product amount is transmitted to the control unit.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein in case a) superfluous product is discharged from the product storage container and in case b) containers which have not been filled are discharged from the transport device.

12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
feeding the containers to the transport device based on the number (K) of containers in the transport device.

13. A filling system to fill containers comprising:
at least one filling station connected to a product storage container;
a transport device to convey containers to the at least one filling station, the transport device having arranged thereon a counter capable of determining a number (K) of containers in the transport device;
a container feeder to feed containers to the transport device in layers; and
a control unit to control the container feeder depending on a product amount (M) available in the product storage container and on the number (K) of containers in the transport device, wherein the control unit determines a number (m) of layers, which are fed to the transport device by the container feeder, from

m
=

(

M
V

-
K

)

⁢

:

⁢

⁢
n

,

where V stands for a container volume and the number m is either case a) where m=((M mod V)−K) mod n, or case b) where m=(((M mod V)−K) mod n)+1.

14. The filling system according to claim 13 , wherein the product storage container has arranged therein one or a plurality of sensors for periodically or continuously measuring the product amount (M) available in the product storage container, wherein the sensors are to transmit to the control unit a signal indicative of a filling level.

15. The filling system according to claim 13 , wherein the transport device comprises one or a plurality of inspection units to inspect containers on the transport device and discharge the containers from the transport device.

16. The filling system according to claim 13 , wherein the filling system comprises an outlet through which superfluous product can be discharged in case a) or wherein the transport device comprises a discharge device capable of discharging superfluous containers from the transport device in case b)

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Bockisch Christian
• Klein Robert

Classifications

• B65B57/20 Primary

  Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles (other applications B65B65/08) · CPC title

• B67C3/007 Primary

  Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery (flow-control B67C3/28) · CPC title

• B67C3/24 Primary

  Devices for supporting or handling bottles (transport or storing devices in general B65G) · CPC title

• B65G2203/044

  Optical · CPC title

• B65G2201/0252

  Cans · CPC title