Patent Application
20120314213
The invention concerns a container handling device, in particular a labelling device for bottles, containers etc., which comprises at least one centring device with a standing surface and a container gripper, wherein at least one detection and control system is provided comprising at least one optical system. The invention however also concerns a method for inspection, in particular a method for cover seat inspection.
DE 3 308 489 A1 describes a centring device for upright vessels, in particular in labelling machines, with a standing plate which is mobile downwards against spring force from an upper end position fixed by a stop. The standing plate is surrounded by a centring ring which has a hopper-like centring surface adapted to the vessel cross section. A centring bell can be raised and lowered by means of a control device, wherein the vessels are pressed against the standing plate and centring ring by means of the centring bell. To achieve a precise centring and constant height position of the vessel base, DE 3 308 489 A1 proposes that the standing plate comprises a lower end position fixed by a stop and that the centring ring is mounted mobile in height and against spring force downward from an upper end position defined by a stop, and that the control device for the centring bell is formed such that the standing plate reaches its lower end position when the vessel is lowered.
Vessels or containers can for example be used as bottles for fluids, in particular for drinks. The containers e.g. bottles can be made from a transparent or translucent material, for example glass or a translucent plastic e.g. PET. It is however also conceivable that the containers comprise other materials and can be filled with other products.
The filled containers are supplied to the container handling device cited initially e.g. a labelling machine. At an alignment station, before labelling the containers are twisted into a particular position so that the labels are always arranged at the same position on the respective container. This is achieved in that the alignment station has at least one detection system, preferably several detection systems, which detects design features e.g. so-called embossing on the container, in relation to which the labels or other markings should be oriented and positioned precisely. By means of the at least one detection system, preferably by means of several detection systems, the entire periphery of the container is detected wherein the containers pass by the detection system while mounted rotating on the standing surfaces, e.g. in the embodiment as turntables. When the containers have passed the detection system or systems, the containers are twisted by the turntable into the desired position according to a signal generated by the detection system. When the container is correctly aligned, it is labelled so that the labels are preferably always oriented in the same way and as desired in relation to the design features (embossing).
Before labelling, the container was closed in a container handling device, i.e. in the embodiment as a closer, by means of a closer element. The example closer can also comprise a turntable and a container gripper with which the container is securely held upright.
It is conceivable that the closer element on its cover has a decorative or identification mark for example a logo of a drinks manufacturer. It has been shown in practice that closer elements with their identification logos arranged on the cover however are applied at random in relation to the design features of the container and also the label, i.e. quasi-twisted. This gives an overall disruptive picture of the container in comparison with the container which is aligned carefully and with great effort after closing, and its applied labels or similar markings.
Containers are however known which do not have any design features (embossing) or similar so that alignment of the container in relation to constant arrangement of labels or similar marks is not required. Hence the labels are arranged differently on each container in a disadvantageous manner. Viewed overall with the closer elements which are also not aligned to the labels or similar markings, the total picture for the consumer is very disruptive, whereby the appearance of the container is disturbed and the user's perception is adversely affected. This is reinforced in particular if the closer element carries logos which, like the example labels, indicate for example the producer of the container contents or the actual container contents.
The detection system or systems are designed as separate inspection devices which under some circumstances increase the construction size of the container handling device, which is disadvantageous with regard to the usually limited space available. By means of a separate inspection device also the position of the cover on the container is monitored. Namely it is possible for the closer element to be seated incorrectly, i.e. it does not close the container correctly. To this extent the containers are also subject to a quality control.
The invention is based on the object of improving a container handling device and a method of the type cited initially with simple means so that closure inspection is possible directly at the container handling device, while avoiding the disadvantages associated with construction space.
According to the invention the object is achieved by a container handling device with the features of claim 1, wherein the container gripper has inspection openings on both the head and the foot side, and at least one light source is provided, and the container gripper is formed at least partially light-conducting or comprising at least light-conducting elements, so that a surface in particular a cover surface can be inspected by the optical system through the inspection openings and by means of the light-conducting design or light-conducting elements, an illuminated inner area can be inspected. The object is however also achieved with a method with the features of claim 12.
Advantageously the invention provides a hollow shaft container gripper which in cooperation with the light-conducting element or the light-conducting design with the light source “radiates” at least in regions. Also suitably a plate opening is provided in the preferably fixed header plate, corresponding to the optical system. Thus the optical system, e.g. in the embodiment as a camera, can “look” from above through the header plate (plate opening) and the container gripper onto the advantageously evenly illuminated inner area of the container gripper e.g. onto the closer element or the illuminated cover, and record its position. A further advantage in relation to the optical system arranged above the header plate is that in this way the construction width i.e. the radial extent of the container handling device is not adversely affected i.e. not increased. In an image processing and control unit connected with the optical system, the correct position can be verified with regard to closing effect (quality control) but also in relation to the labels or printing to be applied to the container concerned. For this the image processing and control unit generates a corresponding signal for positioning either the container or the closer element in the necessary position.
In the case of a closer, the closer element first laid on the bottle opening can be aligned by or by means of the container gripper. It is however also possible for the container to be modified in its position, e.g. twisted, in relation to the closer element, and the same applies accordingly for both the labelling machine or device and for the closer. It is also conceivable to store the position of the closer element allocated to the container concerned and for example pass the corresponding signal to a subsequent alignment station which aligns the closed bottle according to the closer décor (turntable/container gripper). The alignment station can be allocated to the labelling machine, wherein each turntable with allocated container gripper can perform a corresponding alignment. A signal could also be transmitted to eject containers with incorrectly seated closer elements.
In a preferred embodiment the optical system or camera is arranged stationary on the container handling device i.e. for example on the closer and/or on the labelling machine so that containers to be inspected pass the optical system relative to this. For example a single optical system suffices if this is arranged at a labelling machine. e.g. in the embodiment as a labelling carousel, wherein evidently all container grippers of the labelling carousel should be designed as hollow shaft container grippers.
In a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the at least one light source is arranged stationary. It is suitable if the light source is arranged in relation to the passing container gripper such that the gripper bell is irradiated by the light source. The light source in this embodiment can be arranged laterally radially inside and/or radially outside on at least on one side, preferably on several sides, in relation to the centre axis of the labelling carousel, wherein possibly several light sources can be advantageous with the multi-sided arrangement. To this extent the light source is suitably arranged in relation to the centre axis of the container handling device between the centre axis and the passing container grippers so that also advantages of construction space can be achieved. Favourably the gripper bell is designed as a light-conducting element which transmits light introduced radially from the side such that the inner area of the gripper bell is preferably evenly illuminated. The gripper bell can for example be formed at least partially, in particular completely, from a transparent material (e.g. Plexiglas) or Macrolon to name just some non-restrictive material examples.
It is also possible that the gripper bell or the at least partially, in particular completely, transparent gripper bell, has at least partially non-convex surfaces for optimum light inlet, wherein the gripper bell can also be designed as a polyhedral-conical body. It is conceivable for a correlating light arrangement to be used, e.g. a concave light field, to achieve an optimum light inlet and maximum evenness or scatter at the outlet side. It is also possible to provide a diffuser on the inner surface of the gripper bell from which the introduced light is output, in order to achieve a further improvement in the homogeneous illumination.
The light sources can for example be LED's and/or other suitable light sources which can be controlled or pulsed with overcurrent in synchrony with the image recording, i.e. the optical system, or lit constantly. Preferably the light source and the optical system i.e. the camera are coupled together via the image processing and control unit so that the camera always records an illuminated closer element, and so that the light source is lit or emits a light flash in synchrony with the image recording.
In a further possible embodiment the hollow shaft container gripper can have a light-conducting element arranged in its interior. In this advantageous embodiment the light-conducting element extends from the head side of the container gripper towards the foot side. On the head side the light source can be arranged preferably lying directly on the light-conducting element, wherein the light source is preferably designed as a closed ring light illumination (preferably LED) which is described in more detail below. From the head side in the direction of the foot side, the light-conducting element preferably has a cover which ends before the foot side to form a protrusion of the light-conducting element from which the introduced light emerges and the inner area of the container gripper i.e. the inner area of the gripper bell can be illuminated preferably evenly.
The light element can be formed as a light-conducting tube of a suitable light-conducting material such as for example Plexiglas, wherein however also a fibre bundle is conceivable as a light-conducting element.
To avoid an emergence of light from the light-conducting elements towards the outside or towards adjacent container grippers, the light-conducting element on its outside can have a cover which at the foot side terminates preferably flush with the light-conducting element.
In a preferred embodiment a light source is allocated to each container gripper, wherein again only a single optical system or camera is sufficient, which preferably is arranged stationary on the container handling device. Here too it is advantageous that the light source as a ring light illumination does not increase the space required for the container handling system.
As already stated, the light source as a ring light illumination is arranged at the head side of the light-conducting element such that the emitted light is coupled directly into the light-conducting element evenly all round. By means of the light-conducting element the light is passed into the area of the gripper bell where the light emerges radially inwards. In the foot area of the light-conducting element, this can be ground or have a prism to achieve a light scatter, i.e. further improving the homogeneous illumination. In addition the inner surface of the light-conducting element or its protrusion and/or the prism can be coated with a diffuser or other suitable light scatter element.
The optical system is preferably arranged stationary above the container gripper as already stated. A collimator is allocated to the optical system or camera in a preferred embodiment. Also the container gripper can have at least one lens in order to create the required light beam path of the optical system or camera. It is favourable if one lens is arranged at the head and another lens at the foot.
It is also suitable if a damping element is arranged on the gripper bell or on the corresponding contact surface to the closer element, which damping element in the simplest design is an O-ring, wherein the gripper bell is designed such that this contacts the closer element on its side surface to ensure a fault free “view” of the camera onto the cover side of the closer element. The damping element can be made of white or transparent resilient plastic. Naturally several web or circular damping elements can also be provided.
Naturally each container gripper has a drive system which in a preferred embodiment acts on the outside of the container gripper, for example in the embodiment as a magnetic direct drive, in order to drive the gripper by means of a reciprocating and/or rotary drive.
Advantageously it is provided that in a closer, the closer element is placed on a mouth opening of the container or bottle. The container or bottle is transported or delivered to the labelling machine or labelling device. By means of the centring device the containers are aligned preferably by means of or by the container gripper. The cover seat inspection can advantageously take place through the hollow container gripper, wherein alignment takes place on the basis of the actual image recorded or actual data, to the necessary nominal data. Before the last two steps a rough alignment can take place. The container gripper and/or parts thereof are brought to radiate by light introduction so that the inner area is illuminated.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the sub-claims and the following description of the figures. These show:
In the various figures, the same parts always have the same reference numerals so these are usually only described once.
The standing surface 3 is designed in the known manner as a turntable 3, wherein the container gripper 4 is mounted on a drive device 5 so that it can be raised and/or rotated. The centring devices 2 rotate the containers 7 (
The container handling device 1 has a fixed header plate 8 and a detection and control system 9 which comprises an optical system 10, in the present embodiment a camera 10, and an image processing and control unit 11.
The optical system 10 is arranged stationary on the container handling device 1 in the drawing plane above the header plate 8, and is suitably fixed. Corresponding to the arrangement of the optical system 10, in the header plate 8 is a plate opening 12 so that the optical system 10 can look through the header plate 8 from above onto the container gripper 4 or through this, which will be explained in more detail below and is indicated by means of lines 13. The beam path of the optical system 10 through the container gripper 4 is shown in
The container handling device 1 comprises a stationary light source 14 which is arranged on a fixing device 15 and designed such that a gripper bell 16 of the container gripper 4 is illuminated when it passes the light source 14. For this the light source 14 has two lighting means 17 arranged at the side of the gripper bell 16, each of which can emit a pulsed light beam 18 shown in
As
The gripper bell 16 is made at least partially and in particular completely from a transparent material, for example a Plexiglas or Macrolon. The container gripper 4 has a gripper holder 21 which comprises a plastic tube 22.
If now the corresponding container gripper 4 passes the light source 14 and the optical system 10, the lighting means 17 emit the light flash 18 so that the emitted light is coupled radially laterally into the gripper bell 16. The gripper bell 16 is advantageously designed as a light-conducting element 6 or is made from light-conducting material (light-conducting element) 6 so that the light introduced is emitted at the inner surface of the gripper bell 16 and illuminates the inner area 23 of the gripper bell 16. Thus the optical system 10 can view the illuminated cover side 24 of the closer element 20 and take a corresponding picture. For this the light source 14 and optical system 10 i.e. the camera 10 are connected via the image processing and control unit 11, as indicated by dotted line 25. This ensures for example that the light flash 18 and image recording can be synchronised, i.e. an image can be recorded while the closer element 20 is illuminated. For example on the cover side 24 can be placed a décor element or other design feature. The actual image recorded by the optical system 10 is passed to the image processing and control unit 11 in which the images or image data supplied are analysed. The images or image data supplied are processed for example by comparison with the nominal data stored in the image processing and control unit 11. The image processing and control unit 11 is for example a computer or a computer-controlled unit with corresponding inputs for analog or digital data supplied by the optical system 10. Furthermore the image processing and control unit 11 has an output not shown which for example can be connected with the drive device 5 of the respective container gripper 4 in order to position the container 7 in a nominal position, i.e. to achieve a corresponding twist of the container 7 held in the container gripper 4 into the desired position. It is also possible if the image processing and control unit 11 is connected with the turntable 3 to achieve a repositioning of the container 7 standing thereon. Also the image processing and control unit 11 can carry out inspections with regard to seat quality of the closer element 20 on the container mouth, in order where applicable to be able to exclude from labelling and/or then eject containers 7 with poorly seated closer elements 20.
As can be further seen in
In
A further embodiment of the hollow shaft container gripper 4 is shown in
The hollow shaft container gripper 4 as before has a hollow gripper holder 21 which is designed cylindrical viewed in longitudinal section. This comprises for example an inner protection and guide tube 29 which on the foot side terminates flush with the gripper holder 21. The inner protection and guide tube 29 is merely optional and comprises a plastic, whereas the gripper holder 21 as before can be made of stainless steel. Naturally the said materials should be considered merely as examples. The optional protection and guide tube 29 on the outside is surrounded by a light-conducting element 30. The light-conducting element is designed for example as a Plexiglas tube but can also comprise a fibre bundle.
The light-conducting element 30 extends from the head side of the container gripper 4 in the direction of the opposing foot side, wherein the light-conducting element 30 protrudes by protrusion 31 over the lower edge of the gripper holder 21 and the optional protection and guide tube 29. The light-conducting element 30 is surrounded on the outside by an outer protective tube 32. The gripper bell 16 is connected with the outer protective tube 32. In this embodiment the gripper bell 16 can be formed of a standard material and need not be designed as a light-conducting element.
On the head side allocated to the light-conducting element 30 is the light source 14, which in this embodiment example is designed as a ring light illumination 33. This ring light illumination can for example be formed as an LED crown from a multiplicity of individual LED's. The ring light illumination 33 is designed and arranged such that emitted light is coupled directly into the light-conducting element 30 evenly all round on the header side. The light source 14 or ring light illumination 33 can light constantly but can also be connected with the image processing and control unit 11 and thus light or flash in synchrony with the image recording of the optical system 101. 1 Translator's Note: The German text has the incorrect reference numeral 11 here
Via the light-conducting element 30 the light introduced is guided in the direction of the protrusion 31 where the light is emitted and illuminates the inner area 23 of the gripper bell 16. To this extent the optional protection and guide tube 29 or gripper holder 21 with its cylindrical section and/or the outer protection tube 34 can also be designated a cover element or cover for the light-conducting element 30 which prevents light emerging from the light-conducting element 30 to the inside or outside before the protrusion 31 viewed in the height direction.
As already stated, the light introduced on the head side emerges from the light-conducting element 30 to the inside at the protrusion 31. Preferably here the light is emitted obliquely laterally by means of multiple reflections. As shown for example in
Naturally also the embodiment example in
The variant shown in
The ring light illumination 33 in the variant shown is designed or arranged in several levels so that emitted light is coupled directly into the inspection cylinder 35 evenly all round on the head side. The ring light illumination 33 is connected with electrical and control systems by lines not shown. The light source 14 or ring light illumination 33 can light constantly but can also be connected with the image processing and control unit 11 in order to light or flash in synchrony with the image recording of the optical system 102. Naturally illumination can be provided which, in the same way as the example shown in
For optimum light coupling into the inspection cylinder 35 and subsequent illumination of the desired examination window e.g. a crown cap 20, it may be necessary for the outer cylindrical face of the inspection cylinder 35 to be roughened or etched in the area of the ring light 33 so as to prevent reflections. In particular it is advantageous to polish the faces 36 and 37 of the inspection cylinder 35 to a high standard e.g. by means of an electric polishing method, in order to achieve optimum optical properties. Naturally it can be provided that the gripper 16 and the inspection cylinder 35 are made of one single piece.
The advantage of the version according to
The invention offers the possibility of illuminating the closer element 20 or its cover side décor by means of at least one light source 14 in cooperation with the respective light-conducting element 6 or 30, or with the at least partially light-conducting design of the container gripper 4 according to the invention, or with the advantageous embodiment of the container gripper 4 with light-conducting elements, wherein by means of camera 10 the image of the closer element 20 or its cover side décor can be recorded from above through the header plate 8 and through the container gripper 4, in order to use the recorded image for inspection purposes. For example the container 7 can be aligned according to the cover features, wherein a quality control (cover seat) can be carried out. Also the closer element 20 can be moved by means of the container gripper or gripper bell into the desired position (closer).
To this extent the container handling device 1 is not restricted to the labelling machine described. For example the container handling device 1 can also be designed as a closer in which closure inspections through a plate opening from above through the container gripper 4 are possible with the invention. In particular naturally also the individual elements of the container gripper 4, as shown in the respective examples of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2010 012 214.9 | Mar 2010 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP10/07501 | 12/9/2010 | WO | 00 | 8/22/2012 |
