Device for processing containers with container alignment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9403668-B2
Application number	US-201113327637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2011
Priority date	Dec 16, 2010
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A device for production of drinks containers may include a forming device which transforms plastic preforms into plastic containers, a filling device which is arranged after the forming device in the transport direction of the plastic containers and fills the plastic containers with a fluid, and a transport device which transports the plastic containers individually from the forming device in the direction of the filling device along a prespecified transport path. The device includes, along the transport path, an alignment device which aligns the plastic containers at least partially in relation to a rotary position about their longitudinal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Device for production of drinks containers, comprising:
a forming device which transforms plastic preforms into plastic containers;
a filling device which is arranged after the forming device in the transport direction of the plastic containers and fills the plastic containers with a fluid;
a transport device which receives the plastic containers individually from the forming device and transports the plastic containers in the direction of the filling device along a prespecified transport path; and
an alignment device provided along the transport path, the alignment device aligning the plastic containers received from the transport device at least partially in relation to a rotary position about their longitudinal axis, wherein the alignment device comprises a turning device which rotates the plastic containers at a predetermined rotary angle, wherein the alignment device includes an alignment unit which is constructed and arranged after the turning device in the transport direction of the plastic containers and which rotates the plastic containers at least partially in relation to a longitudinal direction of the plastic containers, wherein the alignment unit has a pair of contacting elements for aligning the plastic containers, wherein the contacting elements contact the plastic containers to align the containers on their outer surface, and wherein the pair of contacting elements is constructed and arranged in a configuration including a first rail on one side of the outer surface of the containers and a second rail on another side of the containers so that the transport path extends between the first and second rails, and wherein the contacting elements are arranged to have a hopper configuration so that at least one contacting element of the contacting elements has a first radius that is greater at an end receiving the containers, and has a second radius at the other end of the at least one contacting element, or has a distance between the first and second contacting elements at the end receiving the containers that is greater than a distance at the other end, and wherein the at least one contacting element is movable in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment device aligns the plastic containers such that after leaving the alignment device the containers are oriented in the same rotary position in relation to their longitudinal axis.

3. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment unit is arranged stationary in relation to the transport path of the containers.

4. Device according to claim 3 , wherein a distance between a contacting element of the pair of contacting elements and the transport path of the plastic containers reduces in the transport direction of the plastic containers.

5. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising an ejection device for ejecting containers, the ejection device being arranged between the forming device and the filling device.

6. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic containers each have a non-circular cross section.

7. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic containers each have a mouth, a bottom region, and a base body below the mouth and above the bottom region, and wherein the contacting elements contact the plastic containers at the base body between the mouth and the bottom region.

8. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device comprises a plurality of gripper elements, which extend in a direction that is offset with respect to the longitudinal direction of the plastic containers, and higher than the contacting elements.

9. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the contacting elements extend in a direction that is parallel to the transport path.

10. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the contacting elements are pretensioned by at least one springing element.

11. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising a detection device and an ejection device, wherein the detection device detects a particular deflection of the contacting elements, and wherein in response to the detection of the partial deflection of the contacting elements, a plastic container corresponding to the detected partial deflection is ejected by the ejection device.

12. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second rails are pretensioned in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

13. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment device further comprises a turning device, wherein the turning device has a trunk star having recesses, and wherein the recesses have a diameter that is the same or similar to a diameter of a container diagonal so that the containers can be turned in relation to the recesses 54 , and wherein the trunk star grips the container sideways.

14. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising an ejector star that includes a trunk star and recesses adapted to an exterior of the containers.

15. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical switch element that checks an alignment of the containers.

16. Device according to claim 15 , further comprising a chute device, gripper elements above the chute device, and a bottle trolley along the transport path, wherein if a container rotates or twists too far, this triggers a movement of the mechanical switch element, wherein the gripper elements or the mechanical switch element, and in response to the movement of the mechanical switch element, the gripper elements above the chute device are opened so that the containers fall onto the chute device, and output to the bottle trolley.

17. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment device includes a plurality of recesses adapted to a diagonal of the containers so that the containers are rotated in relation to the recesses.

18. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide element and an inlet chamfer which overlaps a contacting element of the pair of contacting elements along the transport path so that the containers are guided over a short path section by the contacting element and the guide element.

19. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising an assembly that includes a trunk star having a plurality of recesses constructed and arranged to prevent the containers from rotating, wherein the recesses are at least partially adapted to an outer contour of the containers.

Assignees

• Klarl Hermann
• Roithmeier Stefan
• Blochmann Erik
• Beulshausen Sebastian
• Gloetzl Reiner
• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Klarl Hermann
• Roithmeier Stefan
• Blochmann Erik
• Beulshausen Sebastian
• Gloetzl Reiner

Classifications

• B65G47/846

  Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements · CPC title

• B65G47/244

  by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane · CPC title

• B67C7/004 Primary

  the containers travelling along a circular path · CPC title

• B65D1/00

  Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material (with curved or partially-curved cross-section made by winding or bending paper B65D3/00; with polygonal cross-section formed by folding B65D5/00; specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions B65D17/00; rigid pallets with side walls B65D19/02) · CPC title