System and Method for Independently Routing Vehicles and Delivering Containers and Closures to Unit Operation Systems

• US 20180072552A1
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Orndorff, Jason Matthew, Lyman, Christopher Robert, Fikes, Elizabeth Marie, Royce, Daniel Richard, Burkhard, Ryan Andrew, Moore, Nathan E
• Granted Patent: US 11,584,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2210/02 Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0235 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/682 from a single conveyor lane consisting of one conveyor or several adjacent conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 1/00 Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying stoppers stoppers per se B65D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/00 Closing bottles, jars or similar containers by applying caps caps per se B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/225 Means for filling simultaneously, e.g. in a rotary filling apparatus or multiple rows of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/24 Devices for supporting or handling bottles transport or storing devices in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 7/0006 Conveying; Synchronising
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 7/002 General lay-out of bottle-handling machines
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0263 using magnetic strips

Abstract

A system and method for independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to unit operation stations are disclosed. The containers and closures can, in some cases, be transported on the same vehicle. In other cases, the containers and closures can be transported on different vehicles.

Claims

1. A system for independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to a unit operation station, said system comprising:

at least one container for holding a fluent material, said container having an opening;

a closure for selectively sealing the opening of a container;

a track system;

a plurality of unit operation stations disposed along the track system, one of the unit operation stations being configured for applying a closure onto a container;

a plurality of vehicles propellable along the track system, wherein;

each container is disposed on a respective vehicle; and

the plurality of vehicles are independently routable along the track system to deliver at least one container and at least one closure to the at least one unit operation station for applying a closure onto a container.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the track system is a linear synchronous motor system wherein the vehicles comprise a magnet, and the vehicles are propellable along the track system using electromagnetic force.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the track system comprises:

a primary transport portion that defines a primary path that forms a closed loop; and

a secondary transport portion that extends from the primary transport portion and defines a secondary path that intersects the primary path at an ingress location and an egress location, wherein;

the secondary transport portion comprises at least one unit transport segment; and

one of the unit operation stations is disposed along the at least one unit transport segment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the unit operation stations comprises a loading station that is configured to facilitate loading of a container and/or a closure onto one of the vehicles.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the unit operation stations comprises a decoration station that is configured to decorate a container and/or a closure.

6. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of first containers wherein each first container has a shape and a volume and a plurality of second containers wherein each of said second containers has a shape and a volume that is different from one or more of a shape and a volume, respectively, of said first containers.

7. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of first closures wherein each first closure has a shape, a size, and appearance and a plurality of second closures wherein each of said second closures has a shape, a size, and appearance that is different from one or more of a shape, size, and appearance, respectively, of said first closures.

8. The system of claim 1 which is configured so that a container and a closure travel on the same vehicle to the at least one unit operation station.

9. The system of claim 1 which is configured so that the closure is placed on the container when the container travels to the at least one unit operation station, and said system is configured to:

remove said closure from said container;

dispense fluent material into said container; and

then reattach the closure on the container.

10. The system of claim 1 which is configured so that a container and a closure travel on separate vehicles to the at least one unit operation station.

11. A method for independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to a unit operation station, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a track system comprising a track on which vehicles are propellable, wherein a plurality of unit operations stations are disposed along the track system, wherein said unit operation stations comprise at least one unit operation station that is configured for applying a closure onto a container;

(b) providing at least one container for holding a fluent material, said container having an opening;

(c) providing a closure for selectively sealing the opening of a container;

(d) providing a plurality of vehicles propellable along said track system, the plurality of vehicles are independently routable along the track system to deliver at least one container and at least one closure to the at least one unit operation station for applying a closure onto a container;

(d) loading a container onto a vehicle;

(e) loading a closure onto vehicle;

(f) simultaneously delivering at least one container and at least one closure to the at least one unit operation station configured for applying a closure onto a container.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a container and a closure are loaded onto the same vehicle and travel and travel together to the at least one unit operation station configured for applying a closure onto a container.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein a container and a closure are loaded onto separate vehicles and travel separately to the at least one unit operation station configured for applying a closure onto a container.