System and method for transporting, filling and closing the containers

1 . A system for transporting, filling and closing containers ( 4 ) transported in an at least two rows comprising a placing section ( 11 ), a filling section ( 12 ) and a closing section ( 13 ),

wherein the system further comprises:

an at least one magnetic linear transport line ( 3 ) extending through the placing section ( 11 ), the filing section ( 12 ) and the closing section ( 13 );

a plurality of transport carts ( 10 ) attached to the at least one magnetic linear transport line ( 3 ) configured to move along the at least one magnetic linear transport line ( 3 );

a plurality of holder pairs ( 1 ),

wherein each of the holder pair ( 1 ) comprises a first holder ( 2 a ) and a second holder ( 2 b ),

wherein each of the first holder ( 2 a ) and the second holder ( 2 b ) comprises a first end portion ( 8 a ) and a second end portion ( 8 b ),

wherein

at least the first end portion ( 8 a ) of the first holder ( 2 a ) is attached to the first transport cart ( 10 ) and

at least the first end of the second holder ( 2 b ) is attached to the second transport cart ( 10 )

wherein each of the first end portion ( 8 a ) of each of the first holder ( 2 a ) and the second holder ( 2 b ) is attached to the different transport cart ( 10 ),

wherein the first holder ( 2 a ) and the second holder ( 2 b ) comprise

at least two first contact areas ( 5 a ) placed such, that the first contact areas ( 5 a ) of the first holder ( 2 a ) are facing toward the first contact areas ( 5 a ) of the second holder ( 2 b ), that is toward an inside of the holder pair ( 1 );

at least one automatic placing device ( 7 ), configured for placing the containers ( 4 ) between the holder pair ( 1 ), located in the placing section ( 11 );

wherein the filing section ( 12 ) is downstream of the placing section ( 11 ),

wherein the filling section ( 12 ) comprises at least one filler unit ( 18 ) comprising at least two rows of at least one filler, configured to fill all rows of the containers ( 4 ) moved to the filling section ( 12 ),

wherein the closing section ( 13 ) is downstream of the filling section ( 12 ),

wherein the closing section ( 13 ) comprises at least two closing subsection ( 13 a ) and

wherein each of the closing subsection ( 13 a ) comprising one row of at least one closing device ( 22 ) and

wherein all closing devices ( 22 ) in each closing subsection ( 13 a ) are configured to put closure on one row of the containers ( 4 ),

wherein each closing subsections ( 13 a ) is configured to put the closure on a different row of the containers ( 4 ).

2 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a base means ( 9 ) extending through the placing section ( 11 ), the filling section ( 12 ) and the closing section ( 13 ), configured for receiving the containers ( 4 ) and allowing movement of at least one container ( 4 ) due to movement of the holder pair ( 1 ).

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the base means ( 9 ) are in form of a conveyor or a slip surface.

4 . The system according claim 1 , wherein the placing section ( 11 ) comprises at least one placing area ( 16 ), configured to temporarily hold the container ( 4 ) by means of a suction force.

5 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein under the base means ( 9 ) there is an at least one actuator ( 21 ) configured for moving the base means ( 9 ) to or away from the holder pairs ( 1 ).

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the placing section ( 11 ) and/or the filling section ( 12 ) comprises at least one servomechanism configured to orientate the container ( 4 ).

7 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor ( 17 ) located in the placing section ( 11 ) configured to determine the presence of one or more containers ( 4 ) in the holder pair ( 1 ) and/or to determine the presence of container ( 4 ) in the automatic placing device ( 7 ).

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first holder ( 2 a ) and/or the second holder ( 2 b ) comprise at least two second contact areas ( 5 b ) located such that the second contact areas ( 5 b ) are facing an outward of the holder pair ( 1 ).

9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first end portion ( 8 a ) and/or the second end portion ( 8 b ) of the first holder ( 2 a ) and/or the second holder ( 2 b ) comprises an attachment element in the form of a latch, magnet, plug, screw or other attachment element cooperating with a twin attachment element of the transport cart ( 10 ).

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic placing device ( 7 ) is an industrial robot.

11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the senor ( 17 ) is an infrared sensor, ultrasound sensor, mechanical sensor, vision sensor, touch sensor or weight sensor.

12 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one cleaning station for cleaning the filler unit ( 18 ).

13 . The system according to claim 1 , comprising a depacking section ( 14 ) which is downstream of the closing section, and wherein the depacking section ( 14 ) comprises a depacking mechanism which is configured to rearrange the containers ( 4 ) such that the containers forma singular row.

14 . The system according to claim 1 , comprising holding means configured to secure the containers ( 4 ) during the process of closing the containers ( 4 ).

15 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first holding areas ( 5 a ) and/or second holding areas ( 5 b ) are separate elements configured to be mounted to the first holder ( 2 a ) and the second holder ( 2 b ).

16 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein an amount of the areas is equal or higher than the number of rows, and wherein for each row there is at least one placing area ( 16 ).

17 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein each of the servomechanisms operates with each row of containers ( 4 ).

18 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the industrial robot is a delta robot, SCARA robot, or six-axis robot.

19 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the number of filler units ( 18 ) and cleaning stations are the same.