Method and Device To Insert Individual Products Into Containers In An Automated Line

Abstract

In a process for introducing individual products into containers by means of an automated line comprising at least two insertion robots, individual products are individually gripped and transferred to containers inside a transfer region. The individual products and the containers are delivered in synchronization on at least one transportation device for the individual products and on at least one transportation device for the containers. The delivery of a next container to be filled into the transfer region of the automated line is controlled by a metering device. Metering is effected at a position relative to the exit of the transfer region.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . Method for batchwise transferring of, per batch, at least one type of individual products into at least one type of container that receives a determined number of individual products by means of an automated line, which comprises at least two insertion robots, which are arranged in a transfer region between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the individual products are transported irregularly to the inlet of the automated line, in order to transfer them individually into containers in the transfer region of the automated line by the insertion robots, wherein the individual products and the containers are transported in synchronization on a product belt or several product belts and on a container belt or several container belts and wherein for each batch, a maximum frequency of the total transported individual products is predetermined,
 wherein depending on each batch,
 a speed is predetermined for each product belt and for each container belt, such that each product belt and each container belt have a constant relative speed with regard to a slowest container belt, and furthermore 
 a metering position is predetermined for each product belt, in such a way that 
 an individual product which is metered at the metering position and not transferred reaches a target position at the same time as a container which is simultaneously guided on the slowest container belt into the inlet of the transfer region of the automated line, 
 wherein the target position coincides with an outlet from the transfer region of the automated line, if each product belt and each container belt are moved at the speed which is predetermined depending on each batch, 
   wherein, during the transfer, the individual products on each product belt are metered at the corresponding metering position and a current speed of the slowest container belt is adapted depending on a deviation from the predetermined maximum frequency for each batch of the transported individual products in such a way that the simultaneously reached target position is shifted towards the metering position with regard to the outlet of the transfer region.   
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the speed of each container belt is adapted depending on a deviation from the predetermined maximum frequency for each batch of the transported individual products, in such a way that the simultaneously reached target position is set with regard to the outlet of the transfer region towards the metering position and that the simultaneously reached target position for each container belt is adapted separately. 
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the guiding of a container, which is next to be filled, into the inlet of the transfer region occurs when, at the metering position or the metering positions of the product belt or of the product belts, the number of individual products was detected which is still needed, according to expectation, for the complete filling of a container at the metering position of the fastest moving product belt. 
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the guiding of the containers to be filled on the container belt or on at least one of the several container belts occurs at fixed intervals. 
     
     
         23 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the guiding of the containers to be filled on the container belt or on at least one of the several container belts occurs at variable intervals and the current speed of this container belt or these container belts is determined by these variable intervals. 
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein a characterization according to type, weight, size, color and/or another feature of each transported individual product occurs and the transfer of the individual products into a transported container occurs depending on these features. 
     
     
         25 . Method according to  claim 24 , wherein a determination of the frequency distribution of these determined features occurs and the guiding of a container, which is next to be filled, occurs depending on this frequency distribution. 
     
     
         26 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein a target filling level of the containers is continuously determined for each section of a predeterminable, conceived subdivision of the transfer region, which is passed through by the container belt or the several container belts, and the target filling level of the containers in each section is set depending on the present target position, and wherein the target filling level corresponds to the quotient in the respective section of the length of the sections that have already been passed through and the length of all sections arranged in the direction of travel before the present target position, wherein, preferably, no more individual products are transferred into containers in a section if the filling of the containers has already reached the target filling level in this section. 
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein a target emptying level of the respective product belt is determined for each section of a predeterminable, conceived subdivision of the transfer region, which is passed through by the product belt or the several product belts, and the target emptying level for each section of the product belt is set depending on the deviation from the predetermined maximum frequency for each batch of the transported individual products in this section, and wherein the target emptying level corresponds to the quotient in the respective section of the length of the sections that have already been passed through and the length of all sections arranged in the direction of travel before the present target position, wherein, preferably, no more individual products are transferred into containers in a section, if the target emptying level in this section is reached. 
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 26 , wherein the speed of the product belt or of the several product belts and/or of the container belt or of the several container belts is reduced, if the target filling level and/or the target emptying level is not reached in a section of the respective container belt or of the respective product belt and the transfer capacity of the insertion robots in the remaining sections is not sufficient to completely fill the containers and to completely transfer the individual products. 
     
     
         29 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the product belt or at least one of the several product belts is embodied in two parts in the direction of travel and that the speed of the first part, arranged upstream, is controlled independently of the speed of the second part and the first part, arranged upstream, is arranged completely before the metering position in the direction of travel. 
     
     
         30 . Method according to  claim 29 , wherein on the first part of each product belt, which is embodied in two parts, an additional metering of the individual products occurs and the control of the speeds of the first and of the second part of the product belt occurs depending on this additional metering. 
     
     
         31 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein each product belt is embodied in two parts in the direction of travel and that each container belt and the second part of each product belt are stopped temporarily, if no more individual products are transported according to the additional metering of the individual products on the first part of each product belt or if the individual products are backed-up here. 
     
     
         32 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the container belt or at least one of the several container belts and/or the product belt or at least one of the several product belts is moved cyclically. 
     
     
         33 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein the metering of the individual products at the metering position of at least one product belt or the several product belts occurs through mathematical updating of one of the metering positions prior to the product data transmission or a metering prior to the metering position of the individual products. 
     
     
         34 . Method according to  claim 19 , wherein during discharge of a container at the outlet of the transfer region of the automated line, a data value corresponding to this container is simultaneously transmitted, which corresponds to the individual features or a value calculated from these individual features of the individual products inserted into the containers. 
     
     
         35 . Automated line for the batchwise transfer of, per batch, at least one type of individual product into at least one type of container which receives a determined number of individual products, wherein a maximum frequency of the total transported individual products is predeterminable for each batch, comprising
 at least two insertion robots, arranged in a transfer region between an inlet and an outlet, in order to grip individual products individually in the transfer region of the automated line and transfer them into the containers,   at least one product belt on which the individual products can be transported,   at least one container belt on which the containers are transported in synchronization with the individual products,   at least one programmable control unit for controlling the automated line, wherein the control unit is formed and programmed in such a way that depending on each batch,   a speed is predeterminable for each product belt and for each container belt, such that each product belt and each container belt has a constant relative speed with regard to a slowest container belt, and furthermore   a metering position is predeterminable for each product belt in such a way that   an individual product which is metered at the metering position and not transferred reaches a target position at the same time as a container which is simultaneously guided on the slowest container belt into the inlet of the transfer region of the automated line,   wherein the target position is predeterminable in such a way that it coincides with the outlet of the transfer unit of the automated line, if each product belt and each container belt is moved at the speed that is predeterminable depending on each batch,   
       wherein, during the transfer, the individual products on each product belt can be metered at the corresponding metering position and a current speed of the slowest container belt is adaptable depending on a deviation from the predetermined maximum frequency for each batch of the transported individual products, in such a way that the simultaneously reached target position can be shifted towards the metering positions with regard to the inlet of the transfer region. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . Automated line according to  claim 35 , wherein the product belt or at least one of the several product belts is embodied in two parts in the direction of travel and that the speed of the first part, arranged upstream, can be controlled independently of the speed of the second part and the first part, arranged upstream, is arranged completely before the metering position in the direction of travel.