Device and method for processing containers by means of a driverless transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11505352-B2
Application number	US-201816768901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2018
Priority date	Dec 13, 2017
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

Provided is a device for processing containers, in particular plastic containers, including at least one container-processing apparatus, which has at least one changeover access entry, at which at least one of format parts and tools can be exchanged during changeover operation, and including a transport system, by means of which the at least one of format parts and tools can be brought to the at least one container-processing apparatus. The transport system is a driverless transport system, by which the format parts and/or tools can be automatically brought to at least one container-processing apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for processing containers, comprising at least one container-processing apparatus, which has at least one changeover access entry, at which format parts and tools can be exchanged during changeover operation, and comprising a transport system, of which the format parts and/or tools can be brought to the at least one container-processing apparatus, wherein the transport system is a driverless transport system, by which the format parts and/or tools can be automatically brought to at least one container-processing apparatus, and wherein at least one container-processing apparatus is assigned to a changing robot for at least one of replacing and exchanging the format parts and/or tools, wherein the driverless transport system and the changing robot are in communication connection to each other and the driverless transport system and the changing robot are contactable via corresponding contact points, so that the driverless transport system can be connected to the changing robot, wherein at least one first contact point is arranged on the changing robot and at least one second contact point is arranged on the driverless transport system and the at least one first contact point and the at least one second contact point are corresponding connection points which enable a positive and/or non-positive connection between the changing robot and the driverless transport system.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the container-processing apparatus is selected from a group of processing apparatus, which includes a heating device for heating the containers, a shaping device for shaping the containers, a labelling device for the labelling of the containers, a filling device for filling the containers, a closing device for closing the containers, a packaging device for packing the containers, a transport device for transporting the containers, a sterilization device for sterilising the containers or the like.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the format parts and/or tools are transferable by the driverless transport system to a predetermined working position of the container-processing apparatus, wherein this working position is the changeover access entry.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein format parts and/or tools are arranged on a carrying frame which can be received and/or taken off by the driverless transport system.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the carrying frame has at least one sensor and at least one fixing edge to position the carrying frame with respect to the changing robot.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device has a variety of container-processing apparatus and by the driverless transport system the format parts and/or tools are bringable to the variety of container-processing apparatus.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the driverless transport system is freely movable between a variety of container-processing apparatus or can be movable on a rail system.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the rail system runs between individual container-processing apparatuses, and the path of the transport system can be predetermined via a control device.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a control system of the driverless transport system is coupled with a control system of the container-processing apparatus.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device has a variety of container-processing apparatuses, wherein each container processing apparatus has its own changing robot and the driverless transport system supplies all container-processing apparatus with the format parts and/or tools.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the format parts and/or tools are already at the container-processing apparatus before the changeover begins.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a changeover can already be started during operation.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the driverless transport system has a location registration device in order to locate the working position or the changeover access entry.

14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the driverless transport system itself could also replace the format parts, wherein therefore at least one robot arm is arranged on the driverless transport system.

15. A method for processing containers, comprising at least one container-processing apparatus, which has at least one changeover access entry, at which format parts and/or tools will be exchanged during changeover operation, and comprising a transport system, by which the format parts and/or tools will be brought to the at least one container-processing apparatus, wherein the transport system is a driverless transport system, by which the format parts and/or tools will be automatically brought to at least one container-processing apparatus, and wherein at least one container-processing apparatus is assigned to a changing robot for at least one of replacing and exchanging the format parts and/or tools, wherein the driverless transport system and the changing robot are in communication connection to each other and the driverless transport system and the changing robot are contactable via corresponding contact points, so that the driverless transport system can be connected to the changing robot, wherein at least one first contact point is arranged on the changing robot and at least one second contact point is arranged on the driverless transport system and the at least one first contact point and the at least one second contact point are corresponding connection points which enable a positive and/or non-positive connection between the changing robot and the driverless transport system.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the changing robot arranged at at least one container-processing apparatus removes the format parts and/or tools arranged on a carrying frame from the carrying frame and carries out the replacement or exchange of the format parts and/or tools.

17. The method of claim 15 for processing containers, wherein the processing containers are plastic containers.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Hahn Wolfgang
• Mildner Thomas
• Raith Stefan
• Zoelfl Markus

Classifications

• B65C9/0062

  Interchangeable modules, e.g. applicator heads with label magazines and glue rollers · CPC title

• B67C2003/221

  Automatic exchange of components · CPC title

• B29C49/48 Primary

  Moulds · CPC title

• B29L2031/712

  Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418) · CPC title

• B67C7/0073

  Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing (B67C3/2642 takes precedence) · CPC title