Apparatus and method for treating containers and packages with flying machine for monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479667-B2
Application number	US-201615759107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 9, 2015
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A device for handling containers and/or packagings, includes a first handling unit which handles the containers and/or packagings in a first predetermined manner, and a second handling unit which handles the containers and/or packagings in a second predetermined manner, a transport unit for transporting the containers and/or packagings, and a monitoring unit for monitoring the device. The monitoring unit includes an unmanned and remote-controlled flying device and a control unit for wirelessly controlling the flying device, wherein the flying device has an image capturing unit, and wherein the device has a delimiting unit which delimits a flying region of the flying device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating containers and/or packages, with a first treatment device which treats the containers and/or packages in a first predefined fashion, with a second treatment device which treats the containers and/or packages in a second predefined fashion, and with a transport device for transporting the containers and/or packages, and with a monitoring device for monitoring the apparatus,
wherein
the monitoring device comprises an unmanned remote-controlled flying machine and a control device for wireless control of this flying machine, wherein the flying machine has an image-recording device and wherein the apparatus has a limiting device which limits a flying range of the flying machine, wherein the apparatus has a rest terminal to which the flying machine can fly in a rest position of the flying machine, and wherein the apparatus comprises a fault detector which is configured for detecting faults in the treatment devices, and the control device controls the flying machine as a function of a fault detected by the fault detection device and instructs the flying machine to fly to the areas of the faults.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the limiting device comprises at least one first signal transmitter configured to emit signals to a first receiving device arranged on the flying machine.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the flying machine has a signal transmitter configured to emit signals and in particular signals which are characteristic of the images recorded by the image recording device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the apparatus has an image outputter configured to output images recorded by the image recording device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the rest terminal comprises a charger configured for electrically charging the flying machine.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the apparatus comprises a collision avoider configured to prevent a collision of the flying machine with movable or immovable objects.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the apparatus comprises a clean room within which containers are treated, and the flying machine is configured for flying inside the clean room.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein
rest positions are provided inside the dean room at which the flying machine can clock in order to allow a stationary inspection with an image recorder.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the flying machine has a gripper and/or a holder configured for gripping and holding objects.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein
the gripper is interchangeable with other grippers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein
the holders are tools or screw elements.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the flying machine is configured to navigate without GPS signals, wherein the apparatus includes receiving units configured to cooperate with beacons to allow navigation of the flying machine, wherein the beacons are signal transmitters and/or receivers which are arranged stationarily and which emit and/ or receive signals serving for navigation and/or location of the flying machine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein
flying height and extension direction in a plane perpendicular to a vertical direction of the flying machine are limited.

14. A method for operating a device for treating containers and/or packages, wherein the containers and/or packages are treated by a first treatment device in a first predefined fashion and by a second treatment device in a second predefined fashion, and transported with a transport device, wherein for at least part of the time the apparatus is monitored by a monitoring device,
wherein
as part of monitoring by the monitoring device, an unmanned remote-controlled flying machine comprising an image recording device flies to predefined areas of the apparatus and records at least one image of the predefined area, wherein a flying range of the flying machine is limited by the limiting device, and the apparatus has a rest terminal to which the flying machine can fly in a rest position of the flying machine, and wherein faults in the treatment devices are detected by a fault detector, and the flying machine is controlled depending on such detected faults and instructed to fly to the areas of said faults.

15. The method according to claim 14 ,
wherein
the flying machine flies to the predefined area following predefined flight paths.

16. The method according to claim 14 ,
wherein
the flying machine for at least part of the time transports objects using a holder and or gripper.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Kirzinger Johannes

Classifications

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B67C2003/227

  Additional apparatus related to blow-moulding of the containers, e.g. a complete production line forming filled containers from preforms · CPC title

• B67C3/007 Primary

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