Apparatus and method for treating containers and packages with flying machine for monitoring

• US 10,479,667 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Kirzinger, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Sullivan, Tyler W.
• Application Number:
  US15/759,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20180288372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/70 for use inside enclosed spaces, e.g. in buildings or in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/00 UAVs characterised by their flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 2003/227 Additional apparatus related to blow-moulding of the containers, e.g. a complete production line forming filled containers from preforms
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/007 Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery flow-control B67C3/28

Abstract

A device for handling containers and/or packagings, includes a first handling unit which handles the containers and/or packagings in a first predetermined manner, and a second handling unit which handles the containers and/or packagings in a second predetermined manner, a transport unit for transporting the containers and/or packagings, and a monitoring unit for monitoring the device. The monitoring unit includes an unmanned and remote-controlled flying device and a control unit for wirelessly controlling the flying device, wherein the flying device has an image capturing unit, and wherein the device has a delimiting unit which delimits a flying region of the flying device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating containers and/or packages, with a first treatment device which treats the containers and/or packages in a first predefined fashion, with a second treatment device which treats the containers and/or packages in a second predefined fashion, and with a transport device for transporting the containers and/or packages, and with a monitoring device for monitoring the apparatus,

wherein

the monitoring device comprises an unmanned remote-controlled flying machine and a control device for wireless control of this flying machine, wherein the flying machine has an image-recording device and wherein the apparatus has a limiting device which limits a flying range of the flying machine, wherein the apparatus has a rest terminal to which the flying machine can fly in a rest position of the flying machine, and wherein the apparatus comprises a fault detector which is configured for detecting faults in the treatment devices, and the control device controls the flying machine as a function of a fault detected by the fault detection device and instructs the flying machine to fly to the areas of the faults.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the limiting device comprises at least one first signal transmitter configured to emit signals to a first receiving device arranged on the flying machine.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the flying machine has a signal transmitter configured to emit signals and in particular signals which are characteristic of the images recorded by the image recording device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the apparatus has an image outputter configured to output images recorded by the image recording device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the rest terminal comprises a charger configured for electrically charging the flying machine.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the apparatus comprises a collision avoider configured to prevent a collision of the flying machine with movable or immovable objects.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the apparatus comprises a clean room within which containers are treated, and the flying machine is configured for flying inside the clean room.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein

rest positions are provided inside the dean room at which the flying machine can clock in order to allow a stationary inspection with an image recorder.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the flying machine has a gripper and/or a holder configured for gripping and holding objects.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein

the gripper is interchangeable with other grippers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein

the holders are tools or screw elements.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

the flying machine is configured to navigate without GPS signals, wherein the apparatus includes receiving units configured to cooperate with beacons to allow navigation of the flying machine, wherein the beacons are signal transmitters and/or receivers which are arranged stationarily and which emit and/ or receive signals serving for navigation and/or location of the flying machine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein

flying height and extension direction in a plane perpendicular to a vertical direction of the flying machine are limited.

14. A method for operating a device for treating containers and/or packages, wherein the containers and/or packages are treated by a first treatment device in a first predefined fashion and by a second treatment device in a second predefined fashion, and transported with a transport device, wherein for at least part of the time the apparatus is monitored by a monitoring device,

wherein

as part of monitoring by the monitoring device, an unmanned remote-controlled flying machine comprising an image recording device flies to predefined areas of the apparatus and records at least one image of the predefined area, wherein a flying range of the flying machine is limited by the limiting device, and the apparatus has a rest terminal to which the flying machine can fly in a rest position of the flying machine, and wherein faults in the treatment devices are detected by a fault detector, and the flying machine is controlled depending on such detected faults and instructed to fly to the areas of said faults.

15. The method according to claim 14,

wherein

the flying machine flies to the predefined area following predefined flight paths.

16. The method according to claim 14,

wherein

the flying machine for at least part of the time transports objects using a holder and or gripper.