Apparatus for the treatment of containers with combined size-part and fitting detection

• US 8,912,914 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Ziegler, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US12/964,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/10.1, 340/693.9, 340/691.1, 340/691.7, 340/693.5, 340/693.6, 340/572.8, 340/391.1, 700/213, 534/15, 534/66, 531/353
• US Class Current: 340/693.9
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/78805 Computer or PLC control
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/78 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/40 Controls; Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/26 Applications of control, warning, or safety devices in capping machinery
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/007 Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery flow-control B67C3/28

Abstract

An apparatus for the treatment of containers may include a conveying device which conveys the containers along a pre-set conveying path and a size part which is arranged in an interchangeable manner on the apparatus. The size part may include a first identification element based upon RFID technology in order to identify the size part. The size part may in turn include a position detection device which detects a position of at least one element of the apparatus with respect to the size part and emits a signal characteristic of this position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the treatment of containers, comprising:

a conveying device which conveys the containers along a pre-set conveying path, the conveying device including a size part, which is arranged in an interchangeable manner on the apparatus, the size part having a first identification element based upon RFID technology in order to identify the size part, the size part including a position detection device which detects a position of at least one element of the apparatus with respect to the size part and emits a signal characteristic of said position, the at least one detected element being different from the size part, wherein the position detection device is secured on an outward surface of the size part and connected to the first identification element so as to enable the first identification element when activated.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interrogation device configured to interrogate the information stored in the first identification element.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fastening device for fastening the size part to the apparatus, and the at least one element is a locking element of the fastening device.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification element is connected inseparably to the position detection device.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification element includes a transmission device for the wireless emission of signals.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification element and the position detection device are arranged on a common carrier.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification element and the position detection device are arranged inseparably on the size part.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position detection device is designed in such a way that it determines a locking state of the size part with respect to the apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first identification element includes a memory device for storing signals identifying at least one of the identification element and data derived therefrom.

10. A size part for separable application on an apparatus for the treatment of containers, wherein the apparatus includes a conveying device which conveys the containers along a pre-set conveying path, the size part comprising:

a first identification element based on RFID technology for the identification of the size part, and wherein the identification element includes a transmission device for the wireless transmission of a piece of information identifying the identification element, wherein the size part in turn has a position detection device which detects a position of at least one element of the apparatus with respect to the size part and emits a signal characteristic of this position, the at least one detected element being different from the size part, wherein the position detection device is secured on an outward surface of the size part and connected to the first identification element so as to enable the first identification element when activated.