Container processing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11809167-B2
Application number	US-202117386290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2021
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

The invention relates to a container processing system (10A-10U) for processing containers (12). The container processing system (10A-10U) has a plurality of processing units (22) for processing the containers (12) and a planar drive system (14) for transporting the containers (12). The planar drive system (14) is configured to move the plurality of movement devices (18) individually to a selection of the plurality of processing units (22) according to in each case one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles has a different selection of the plurality of processing units (22). The container processing system (10A-10U) advantageously allows flexible processing of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, bundles, packages, etc.) from a lot size of 1.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A container processing system for processing containers, comprising:
a plurality of processing units for processing the containers; and
a planar drive system having a base element and a plurality of movement devices for transporting the containers, wherein the base element connects the plurality of processing units to one another and the plurality of movement devices can be moved independently of one another relative to the base element;
wherein the planar drive system is configured to move each of the plurality of movement devices individually to at least one of the plurality of processing units according to in each case an individually selected one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles is configured to direct the planar drive system to move a selected one or more of the plurality of movement devices for which a respective processing profile has been individually selected to a unique selection of the plurality of processing units.

2. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the selection of the plurality of processing profiles has at least two different processing units of the plurality of processing units; and/or
each of the plurality of processing profiles has a sequence of the selected processing units.

3. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of processing units comprises at least one of:
a plurality of testing units for testing the containers;
a plurality of rinsing units for rinsing the containers;
a plurality of filling units for filling the containers;
a plurality of labelling units for labelling the containers;
a plurality of printing units for printing on the containers;
a plurality of closing units for closing the containers;
a plurality of grouping units for grouping the containers;
a plurality of packaging units for packaging the containers; and
a plurality of container production units or container conditioning units for producing or conditioning the containers.

4. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the planar drive system is arranged as a line interface with the plurality of processing units.

5. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of processing units has a rinsing unit for rinsing the containers; and
the plurality of movement devices can be moved upside down on the base element in a section downstream of the rinsing unit in order to empty the containers.

6. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the base element is oriented horizontally; and
at least some of the plurality of processing units are arranged directly above the base element in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

7. The container processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one further planar drive system having a further base element and a plurality of further movement devices, which transport the plurality of processing units, wherein the plurality of further movement devices can be moved independently of one another relative to the further base element.

8. The container processing system according to claim 7 , wherein:
the containers can be moved jointly by use of the plurality of movement devices, and the plurality of processing units can be moved jointly by use of the plurality of further movement devices, during the respective container processing operation; and/or
the base element and the further base element are oriented in a manner inclined relative to one another.

9. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the base element has a plurality of vertically spaced planes;
at least some of the plurality of processing units are arranged on or at different planes of the plurality of vertically spaced planes; and
the container processing system has at least one elevator unit for the plurality of movement devices, wherein the at least one elevator unit connects the plurality of vertically spaced planes of the base element to one another.

10. The container processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of removal systems, which are connected to the planar drive system at different positions,
wherein the plurality of processing units comprises a plurality of testing units of different designs for testing different features of the containers, and
the planar drive system is configured, depending on a fault determined by use of one of the plurality of testing units, to move the respective container subject to the fault by use of one of the movement devices to a removal system of the plurality of removal systems which is associated with the fault.

11. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of movement devices has a support surface for the containers, which is formed by a plurality of webs, and the container processing system further comprises:
an infeed conveyor having a comb-shaped outlet region, wherein the planar drive system is configured so that, for container takeover, the plurality of container movement devices performs a stroke motion relative to the base element at the comb-shaped outlet region, such that the plurality of webs passes through the comb-shaped outlet region; and/or
an outfeed conveyor having a comb-shaped inlet region, wherein the planar drive system is configured so that, for container transfer, the plurality of movement devices performs a stroke motion relative to the base element at the comb-shaped inlet region, such that the plurality of webs emerges from the comb-shaped inlet region.

12. The container processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an infeed conveyor with an outlet region having a beveled underside,
wherein the planar drive system is configured, for container takeover, to move the plurality of container movement devices along the beveled underside of the outlet region in an inclined manner and by way of a stroke motion relative to the base element and to emerge directly downstream of the outlet region for container takeover from the outlet region.

13. The container processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an infeed conveyor having an outlet region and a cross-transfer unit which extends transversely over the outlet region, wherein the planar drive system is configured, for container takeover, to move the plurality of movement devices laterally next to the outlet region and to receive the containers pushed down from the outlet region by use of the cross-transfer unit; and/or
an outfeed conveyor having an inlet region and a cross-transfer unit which extends over the base element and laterally with respect to the inlet region, wherein the planar drive system is configured, for container transfer, to move the plurality of movement devices laterally next to the inlet region and to transfer the containers to the inlet region by use of the cross-transfer unit.

14. The container processing system according to claim 11 , wherein:
the planar drive system is configured to synchronize the plurality of movement devices with a speed of the containers to be taken over on the outlet region during container takeover.

15. The container processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the planar drive system is configured to incline the plurality of movement devices relative to the base element during acceleration and/or cornering; and/or
the planar drive system is configured to adapt a movement path of the plurality of mo

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Scherl Stefan
• Peutl August
• Bielmeier Heinrich
• Lauterbach Florian
• Laumer Roland
• Elsperger Stefan
• Neubauer Michael
• Kaiser Alexander
• Roidl Wolfgang
• Winzinger Frank

Classifications

• G05B19/4166 Primary

  Controlling feed or in-feed (G05B19/4163 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/45048

  Packaging · CPC title

• B67C3/24 Primary

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

• B65G54/02 Primary

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title

• B67C3/26

  Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks · CPC title