IP Library Granted Patent US 11,999,093
Granted Patent B2
US 11,999,093 · App. 17/402,965 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Apparatus and method for treating plastic preforms with inspection device

Inventor: Florian Geltinger (Donaustauf, DE)
Assignee: KRONES AG
B29C49/78B29C49/4205G01N21/8851B29L2031/712G01N2021/8887
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,999,093
App. No.
17/402,965
Granted
Jun 4, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus for treating plastic preforms, having a reservoir which is configured for receiving a plurality of plastic preforms, having at least one first transport device which transports the plastic preforms out of the reservoir, and having a sorting device which is arranged down-stream of the first transport device in a transport direction of the plastic preforms, and having at least one further transport device which is arranged downstream of the sorting device in the transport direction, wherein the apparatus has an inspection device for inspecting the transported plastic performs, arranged between the reservoir and the sorting device.

Claims (22)

1. An apparatus for treating plastic preforms, having a reservoir which is configured for receiving a plurality of plastic preforms, having at least one first transport device which transports the plastic preforms out of the reservoir, and having a sorting device which is arranged downstream of the first transport device in a transport direction of the plastic preforms, wherein the sorting device has a first rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller, wherein the two axes of rotation of these rollers being parallel to each other, and the plastic preforms can be guided between these rollers wherein the sorting device simultaneously aligns the plastic preforms and transports them in a row and having at least one further transport device comprising a transport rail which is arranged downstream of the sorting device in the transport direction wherein the apparatus has an inspection device for inspecting the transported plastic preforms, wherein the inspection device is arranged between the reservoir and the sorting device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inspection device is configured to inspect the plastic preforms in a region of the transport path in which they are not separated and/or are not transported in a defined position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, the inspection device has an image recording device configured to record at least one image of the transported plastic preforms.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, the image recording device is arranged to observe the plastic preforms at an angle which is between 5° and 85° with respect to the transport direction of the plastic preforms.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, the apparatus has an evaluation device configured to evaluate the images recorded by the image recording device and, on the basis of this evaluation, decide as to a state of the plastic preforms.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, the apparatus has an ejection device which is configured for discharging individual plastic preforms from the transport path.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein, the ejection device is arranged upstream of the sorting device in the transport direction.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first transport device comprises at least a first transport belt configured to transport the plastic preforms horizontally.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the inspection device is configured to inspect the plastic preforms during their transport with the conveyor belt.

10. A method for treating plastic preforms, wherein a plurality of plastic preforms is received in a reservoir and plastic preforms are transported away from the reservoir by at least one first transport device, and with a sorting device which is arranged downstream of the first transport device in a transport direction of the plastic preforms, wherein the sorting device has a first rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller, wherein the two axes of rotation of these rollers being parallel to each other, and the plastic preforms are guided between these rollers wherein the sorting device comprising a transport rail simultaneously aligns the plastic preforms and transports them in a row and are transported further by at least one further transport device comprising a transport rail which is arranged downstream of the sorting device in the transport direction, wherein an inspection device inspecting the transported plastic preforms,

wherein

the inspection device is arranged between the reservoir and the sorting device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, the inspection device has an image recording device configured to record at least one image of the transported plastic preforms.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, the image recording device is arranged to observe the plastic preforms at an angle which is between 5° and 85° with respect to the transport direction of the plastic preforms.

13. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, the apparatus has an evaluation device configured to evaluate the images recorded by the image recording device and, on the basis of this evaluation, decide as to a state of the plastic preforms.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, the apparatus has an ejection device which is configured for discharging individual plastic preforms from the transport path.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, the ejection device is arranged upstream of the sorting device in the transport direction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first transport device comprises at least a first transport belt configured to transport the plastic preforms horizontally.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the inspection device is configured to inspect the plastic preforms during their transport with the conveyor belt.

18. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, the image recording device is arranged to observe the plastic preforms at an angle which is between 5° and 85° with respect to the transport direction of the plastic preforms.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein, the apparatus has an evaluation device configured to evaluate the images recorded by the image recording device and, on the basis of this evaluation, decide as to a state of the plastic preforms.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein, the apparatus has an ejection device which is configured for discharging individual plastic preforms from the transport path.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: GELTINGER, FLORIAN
To: KRONES AG
Reel/Frame 057270/0244 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 121 425.1 · Aug 14, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220048236A1 · Feb 17, 2022