Device for monitoring the empty condition of a container cell of a container cleaning machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9394116-B2
Application number	US-201414320094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jul 2, 2013
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A device for monitoring the empty condition of a container cell of a container cleaning machine, preferably a container cleaning machine for cleaning returnable bottles in a beverage filling plant, comprising at least one foreign body ejection device for ejecting a foreign body that is present in a container cell from said container cell, wherein a checking device for checking the integrity of the container cell is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for processing containers comprising:
a first plurality of container cells arranged in a first row;
a second plurality of container cells arranged in a second row behind the first row, wherein the first row and the second row are perpendicular to a direction of movement of the container cells during processing;
a checking device comprising a pivotable feeler arm that moves downward when a container cell insert overlying a corresponding one of the container cells in the first row is absent; and
an ejection device comprising a protrusion extending into a treatment opening of a container cell insert.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ejection device and the checking device form a single assembly.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the checking device is attached to a bracket of the ejection device.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the bracket is approximately perpendicular to the protrusion.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the bracket and the protrusion form a unitary structure.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the checking device is pivotably connected to the ejection device.

7. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a pivot axle attached to the checking device and engaged through an opening in the bracket.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is located behind the pivotable feeler arm in the direction of movement.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the checking device further comprises a triggering area that moves forward when the pivotable feeler arm moves downward.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein triggering area triggers a sensor when a container cell insert is detected as being absent from an associated container cell.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends through a slot of the checking device.

12. The device of claim 3 , wherein the bracket is pre-tensioned in a direction of ejection of material from the container cell inserts.

13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a support beam extending along a direction of the first and second rows and coupled to the ejection device.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the support beam is coupled directly to the ejection device and indirectly to the checking device.

15. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor device associated with at least two of columns of the container cells.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the sensor device comprises a cable or a light barrier.

17. A method for processing containers comprising:
moving a first row of container cells past an ejection device;
moving, subsequently, the first row of container cells past a checking device, wherein a feeler portion of the checking device travels downward in the absence of a container cell insert for a container cell; and
moving a second row of container cells behind the first row of container cells past the ejection device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the downward travel triggers a sensor device.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein moving the first row of container cells past the ejection device comprises moving a protrusion of the ejection device along a treatment opening of a container cell insert.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Winkel Matthias

Classifications

• B08B9/20 Primary

  by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought {(washing or rinsing crockery or tableware A47L15/00)} · CPC title

• B08B9/423

  Holders for bottles, cell construction · CPC title

• B65G47/42 Primary

  operated by article or material being conveyed and discharged {(B65G47/46 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65G43/06

  interrupting the drive in case of driving element breakage; Braking or stopping loose load-carriers · CPC title

• B65G2201/0244

  Bottles · CPC title