Modular production system and method for producing and/or filling containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9840404-B2
Application number	US-201314416721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2013
Priority date	Jul 23, 2012
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A production system for producing and/or filling containers, including beverage bottles, includes modular processing units. Each of the modular processing units includes a stationary operating module configured to produce or process the containers and handling devices. The handling devices are configured to handle the containers between a container entry of the processing unit and a container exit of the processing unit and to position the containers in the operating module. The handling devices are configured such that the processing units are individually replaceable. Alternatively or additionally to this, at least two processing units of a same kind are provided to which the containers are specifically distributable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A production system for at least one of producing and filling containers, the containers including beverage bottles, the production system comprising modular processing units, each of the modular processing units comprising:
at least one stationary operating module configured to produce or process the containers; and
handling devices configured to handle the containers between a container entry of the processing unit and a container exit of the processing unit and to position the containers in the operating module,
wherein one of the handling devices is rail-like and extends from the container entry to the container exit, and wherein the processing unit is, at least temporarily, associated with at least one of the other handling devices which is separately driven and moveable along the rail-like handling device in a guided manner, the at least one separately driven handling device being configured to position the container in the operating module,
wherein the at least one separately driven handling device is configured as a vehicle, and the rail-like handling device comprises a magnetic linear drive with a plurality of coils arranged on a rail for driving the vehicle,
wherein at least two of the processing units are of a same kind, and the containers are specifically distributable to the processing units of the same kind,
wherein at least two of the processing units are configured to perform different work steps, and
wherein at least one distribution module is disposed between the processing units for the different work steps, a product flow formed by the containers being distributable with the at least one distribution module to at least two partial product flows or at least two partial product flows formed by the containers being mergeable by the at least one distribution module.

2. The production system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one separately driven handling device is configured to position the container in the operating module during the guided motion.

3. The production system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one separately driven handling device includes gripping units with gripping arms of variable length that are pivotably mounted.

4. The production system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one separately driven handling device includes gripping units with gripping arms, grippers being mounted pivotably on the gripping arms such that the gripping arms and the grippers are separately pivotable about axes of rotation that are parallel to each other.

5. The production system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one separately driven handling device includes gripping units including grippers configured to grip a neck portion of the containers with a positive fit such that a respective one of the containers being held is mounted rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof in the grippers.

6. The production system according to claim 2 , where the rail-like handling device is formed curve-like in a region of the operating module.

7. The production system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one distribution module includes two separately driven transport devices each having at least one row of grippers attached thereto for receiving and transferring the containers, the grippers of the two transport devices being moveable to identical interface positions so as to be respectively useable to receive and transfer from and to the processing units.

8. The production system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one distribution module includes two circulating transport devices each having at least one row of grippers attached thereto for receiving and transferring the containers, a respective run on an entry side of the transport devices and a respective run on an exit side of the transport devices being disposed one above the other such that the rows of grippers are successively moveable to identical interface positions.

9. The production system according to claim 1 , further comprising a mobile operating module configured to perform a first work step with a predetermined work process period and to be consecutively coupled to the processing units to perform a second work step with a longer work process period than the work process period of the first work step such that the first work step is performed during the second work step consecutively for at least two of the containers.

10. A method for at least one of producing and filling containers, the containers including beverage bottles, in the production system according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
distributing containers from a processing unit for a first work step with a first work process period to multiple processing units for a second work step with a second work process period that is longer than the first work process period.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
providing at least one first processing unit for the first work step with a first work process period and at least one second processing unit connected parallel to the at least one first processing unit for the first work step with a second work process period that is longer than the first work process period; and
distributing the containers to the processing units for the second work step in a weighted manner depending on a process period so as to equalize a degree of capacity utilization of the processing units for the second work step.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Hausladen Wolfgang
• Stoiber Christian
• Hahn Wolfgang
• Kaiser Alexander
• Zoelfl Markus
• Winzinger Frank
• Raith Stefan

Classifications

• B67C7/0053

  using grippers (for supporting bottle necks during filling B67C3/242) · CPC title

• B29L2031/7158

  Bottles · CPC title

• B29C31/002

  Handling tubes, e.g. transferring between shaping stations, loading on mandrels · CPC title

• B67C3/24 Primary

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

• B29C49/4205

  Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means (handling of inserts or reinforcements B29C49/20; handling of linings or labels B29C49/2408) · CPC title