Method of operating a beverage bottling plant with a beverage filling machine for filling beverage bottles, and a method and apparatus for monitoring beverage bottle or container handling machines in the beverage bottling plant

1. A method for the monitoring of an automatic container handling and treatment machine comprising one of: a bottling machine, a capping machine, and a labeling machine, for the correct and error-free handling and treatment of the containers to be processed such as bottles, cans and similar containers, wherein with a first inspection measure, the number of containers input one after another into said handling and treatment machine is recorded, and with a second inspection measure, the number of containers output one after another out of said handling and treatment machine is recorded, and when there is a difference between the number of entering containers and exiting containers a fault message is generated, which is used for the immediate or later action for the operation of the handling and treatment machine.

2. A method for the monitoring of an automatic container handling and treatment machine comprising one of: a bottling machine, a capping machine, and a labeling machine, for the correct and error-free handling and treatment of the containers to be processed such as bottles, cans and similar containers, wherein with a first inspection measure, the number of containers input one after another is recorded, and with a second inspection measure, the number of containers output one after another is recorded, and when there is a change in the number of exiting containers a fault message is generated, which is used for the immediate or later action for the operation of the handling and treatment machine, and wherein one of:

the fault message triggers an immediate stop signal for the handling and treatment machine; and

a plurality of fault signals are stored, and after the input of a specified number or frequency of such signals, a stop signal for the handling and treatment machine is triggered.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein when handling and treatment machines work together in a handling and treatment plant, the number of containers input and output is determined separately for the input and output sides of the machine, and when a fault signal is emitted by any machine, the handling and treatment machines that are arranged in sequence can be shut down one after another in the flow direction.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein:

the individual handling and treatment machines that are arranged one after another cannot be shut down before they are emptied; and

the inspection segments that are located between the inspection points can be divided into additional individual inspection segments and analyzed individually.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:

the individual inspection segments can be evaluated together; and

for the input-side and output-side counting, recording and continuous comparison of the number of containers that flow between the inspection segments, a central control unit is provided, the evaluation results of which are used for the actuation of the handling and treatment machine.

6. An apparatus for the performance of the method claimed in claim 2 , wherein said apparatus comprises a control unit which has a processing device for the storage of a signal corresponding to the number of containers in an inspection segment, for the receipt of inputs and counting pulses of the containers measured at the inspection points and for the storage of the number of containers counted and for the comparison of these data for the output of a fault signal.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein:

the inspection points have at least one photocell counting device and/or at least one counting camera and wherein measurement sensors that respond to reflection are provided at the inspection points; and

said apparatus comprises a cleaning system configured to clean said counting devices and the cleaning system has a source of flow medium.

8. A method for the monitoring of an automatic container handling and treatment arrangement comprising at least one automatic container handling and treatment machine, said automatic container handling and treatment machine comprising one of: a container filling machine, a container closing machine, or a container labeling machine, for the handling and treatment of containers, such as bottles, cans, and similar containers, said method comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of transport time required to transport a single container through said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

feeding containers into said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement one after another at a predetermined time interval between successive containers;

counting and recording the feeding of each container into said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement one after another beginning with a first container;

recording an input time at which said first container is fed into said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

determining a predicted discharge time at which said first container would be expected to be discharged from said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement based on said transport time and said input time;

transporting said containers through said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

discharging containers from said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement one after another at said predetermined time interval between successive containers;

beginning inspecting, at said predicted discharge time of said first container, for expected containers to be discharged at said predetermined time interval between successive containers;

counting and recording the discharge of each discharged container at said predetermined time interval between successive containers, and, upon detecting the absence of an expected container to be discharged or detecting damage of a discharged container, generating a fault signal; and

one of (A) and (B):

(A) upon generation of a fault signal, immediately stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement; and

(B) upon generation of a fault signal, storing said fault signal and continuing operating and monitoring said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement until a predetermined number or predetermined frequency of fault signals are generated, then stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said method comprises immediately stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement upon generation of a fault signal.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement comprises at least two automatic container handling and treatment machines, and said method further comprises:

monitoring the input and output of containers for each automatic container handling and treatment machine individually and separately; and

upon generation of a fault signal for the operation of one of said automatic container handling and treatment machines, shutting down said automatic container handling and treatment machines that are arranged in sequence one after another in the flow direction of containers.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said method further comprises discharging all containers from said automatic container handling and treatment machines prior to shut down.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:

said method further comprises monitoring segments between the container input and container output of each automatic container handling and treatment machine can be divided into additional individual inspection segments; and

analyzing each segment either individually or together.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises using a central control system to perform the following steps:

determining an amount of transport time required to transport a single container through said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

determining a predicted discharge time at which said first container would be expected to be discharged from said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement based on said transport time and said input time;

comparing expected containers to be discharged at said predetermined time interval between successive containers with discharged containers counted and recorded by said second counting and recording arrangement, and, upon detecting the absence of an expected container to be discharged or detecting damage of a discharged container, generating a fault signal; and

one of (A) and (B):

(A) upon generation of a fault signal, immediately stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement; and

(B) upon generation of a fault signal, storing said fault signal and continuing operating and monitoring said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement until a predetermined number or predetermined frequency of fault signals are generated, then stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement.

14. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said method comprises storing said fault signal, upon generation of a fault signal, and continuing operating and monitoring said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement until a predetermined number or predetermined frequency of fault signals are generated, then stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement comprises at least two automatic container handling and treatment machines, and said method further comprises:

monitoring the input and output of containers for each automatic container handling and treatment machine individually and separately; and

upon generation of a fault signal for the operation of one of said automatic container handling and treatment machines, shutting down said automatic container handling and treatment machines that are arranged in sequence one after another in the flow direction of containers.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises discharging all containers from said automatic container handling and treatment machines prior to shut down.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein:

said method further comprises monitoring segments between the container input and container output of each automatic container handling and treatment machine can be divided into additional individual inspection segments; and

analyzing each segment either individually or together.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said method further comprises using a central control system to perform the following steps:

determining an amount of transport time required to transport a single container through said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

determining a predicted discharge time at which said first container would be expected to be discharged from said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement based on said transport time and said input time;

comparing expected containers to be discharged at said predetermined time interval between successive containers with discharged containers counted and recorded by said second counting and recording arrangement, and, upon detecting the absence of an expected container to be discharged or detecting damage of a discharged container, generating a fault signal; and

one of (A) and (B):

(A) upon generation of a fault signal, immediately stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement; and

(B) upon generation of a fault signal, storing said fault signal and continuing operating and monitoring said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement until a predetermined number or predetermined frequency of fault signals are generated, then stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement.

19. An arrangement for performing the method according to claim 8 for the monitoring of said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement, said arrangement comprising:

a central control system being configured to determine an amount of transport time required to transport a single container through said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

an infeed device being configured to feed containers into said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement one after another at a predetermined time interval between successive containers;

a first counting and recording arrangement being configured to count and record the feeding of each container into said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement one after another beginning with a first container, and to record an input time at which said first container is fed into said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement;

said central control system being configured to determine a predicted discharge time at which said first container would be expected to be discharged from said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement based on said transport time and said input time;

a discharge device being configured to discharge containers from said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement one after another at said predetermined time interval between successive containers;

a second counting and recording arrangement being configured to count and record the discharge of each discharged container at said predetermined time interval between successive containers;

said central control system being configured to compare expected containers to be discharged at said predetermined time interval between successive containers with discharged containers counted and recorded by said second counting and recording arrangement, and, upon detecting the absence of an expected container to be discharged or detecting damage of a discharged container, generating a fault signal; and

said central control system being configured to one of (A) and (B):

(A) upon generation of a fault signal, immediately stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement; and

(B) upon generation of a fault signal, storing said fault signal and continuing operating and monitoring said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement until a predetermined number or predetermined frequency of fault signals are generated, then stopping said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 , wherein:

said counting and recording arrangements each comprise:

at least one photocell counting device and/or at least one counting camera; and

measurement sensors configured to respond to reflection; and

said automatic container handling and treatment arrangement comprises a cleaning system having a source of flow medium.