Title of Invention

"APPARATUS FOR TREATING BOTTLES,TINS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS WITH ATLEAST ONE REPLACEABLE DRIVE SYSTEM"

Abstract

A drive system (9) for use in apparatuses or machines (1) for treating bottles, tins and similar containers, wherein the apparatuses or machines (1) have a superordinate machine controller (20), and the drive system (9) is designed to be replaceable and has at least one drive element, an electronic control and/or regulating and/or monitoring device (14) and a storage device (16) for recording a control program for the electronic control and/or regulating and/or monitoring device (14), is intended to be used in a large number of different machines without any manual adaptation. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that in each case corresponding communication interfaces (17) are provided on the drive system (9) and the machine controller (20) and the storage device (16) is designed to be rewritable and is set up in such a way that the cont rol program can be transferred from the machine controller (20) into the storage device (16) by means of the communication interfaces (17).

Full Text

"Interchangeable Drive System" The invention pertains to a drive system according to the introductory part of patent claim 1, as well as to a method for controlling such drive systems. It is known in case of devices or machines for handling bottles, cans or similar containers, as described in the document DE 190 43 907 Al, that the drive systems present should be designed in an interchangeable manner. In such machines, there is a horizontally arranged rotor that has several plate-like container carriers on its circumference, which carry the bottles, cans or similar items. The containers are placed at a point of the rotor circumference on the container carriers and fixed on to the carriers by means of suitable agents, so that on rotation of the container carrier they also rotate along with it. During a revolution of the rotor the containers are guided along several processing stations, which for example provide the containers with labels or imprints according to the design of the machine. For rotating the container carriers and the containers on them, a control drive is foreseen. For precise alignment of the container to the respective passed processing stations, additionally sensors are foreseen, for among other things angle measurement, and a control electronic mechanism is foreseen that takes care of precise alignment and guided rotation of the container at the processing stations. It is also known how to design the control drive with a control electronic mechanism, sensors and if required additional components, into a compact structural unit as drive system that is attached in an interchangeable manner on the rotor. The machine has a super-ordinate machine control that controls handling of the containers while running through the machine. For transmitting control commands to the individual machine components, various connection paths can be foreseen, for example a bus system or something similar. The modular drive units have an electronic control device that contains control programmes necessary for functioning of the drive, for example for evaluating the sensor information and precise controlling of a pre-given angular position. The modular design of the drive system enables us to quickly interchange a defective drive on the machine in case of repair work. One does not have to take up complicated mounting and dismounting jobs, as the complete module can be interchanged as a whole. However, here arises the problem that the class of the described machine is very large and as a result the structure of the machines is very different. Due to this reason, depending on the type of machine, the control drives have to fulfil different requirements, which are achieved among other things, in that different control programmes are used for the drive systems of different machines. In case of interchange, there occurs the problem that one has to take care that the programme version used within the drive system is suitable for the corresponding machine, which according to the state-of-the-art technology leads to the situation that several drive systems have to be kept ready in stock in order to be able to react to faults in different machine types, as described. It is the task of this invention to make a drive system of the described type available, which can be used without manual adaptation for several different machines and thus avoids the above described disadvantages. To fulfil this task, a drive system having the features mentioned in patent claim 1 is suggested. The drive system has a configuration that can be used in several handling machines. On account of the re-describable design of the storage device for the control programme, or the hardware, the respective version suitable for the machine can be transmitted to the storage devices of the drive system. Contrary to the conventional system, where this has to take place with the help of extra installed hardware or replacement of the storage device, in this invention the transmission can take place directly from the super-ordinate machine unit into the storage device. After complete mounting or replacement of the drive system in the machine, with the help of the available communication interface, a connection is established between the storage element and the electronic control-regulating unit and/or monitoring unit of the drive system and the super-ordinate machine control. This can subsequently precisely transmit control programmes suitable for this machine into the storage device. In this way, it is possible that specific drive systems that are not interchangeable do not have to be kept ready for each machine type, but a uniform drive is present that is provided with the required control programmes after mounting into a machine and then becomes completely functionally efficient on this machine. The control programme can be stored in the machine control itself or in external storage units accessible to the machine control. Known controls often have integrated, flexibly usable control devices that can be used for this purpose. The machine control is therefore designed as SPS, PC or micro-controller. Ideally, the control programme is stored in the data format used for the drive system, i.e. in the form of a binary file, so that it can easily be directly transmitted to the storage device of the drive system and one does not have to go through any complicated conversion steps. For differentiating the different control programmes, these could have a version identification element that can be read by the machine control. In this way, it is easily possible to distinguish the different versions of control programmes from one another, in order to determine which programme is required for the actual machine in question. The machine control can then subsequently compare the read version identification element of the newly inserted drive with the one available in its storage device and determine whether interchanging of the stored programme is necessary. If that be the case, the machine control transmits the stored control programme to the drive system and overwrites for example the programme already present in the storage device, so that as a result it contains the correct suitable programme. This can take place either automatically or manually, whereby ideally after interchanging the drive system checking is undertaken. The then required interchanging, if necessary, can similarly take place automatically or after confirmation, for example, by an operator. This and further extensions of the invention can be obtained from the sub-claims. For fulfilling the task of the invention, additionally a device for handling bottles, cans and similar containers is suggested according to claim 9. This device similarly fulfils the required task in a favourable manner. For fulfilling the task, the invention further presents a controlling method for drive systems according to claim 10, which similarly fulfils the required task in a favourable manner. The invention is described in more details below on the basis of drawings. The following are shown: Fig. 1 A schematic top view on a processing/handling machine as per the invention; and Fig.2 A partially sectioned schematic view of a drive system as per the invention. Fig. 1 schematically depicts a processing machine according to the invention generally denoted by 1. It has a circular rotor 2 that is supported to rotate about a vertical axis and is rotated by a drive system that is not shown in details. On the rotor there are several container carriers 3 that circulate along with the rotor and in themselves can rotate about their central axis. Containers 4, like for example bottles, are delivered to the machine by a conveying mechanism 5 and placed on the container carriers 3 by a protractor 6, where they are pressed by a fixing unit (not shown in details) from above on to the container carrier 3. The containers are then guided past the processing stations 7 by the rotating rotor 2, where the containers are provided with labels, for example, on the front and back side. For this/by rotating the container carrier 3, on the one hand, the exact positioning of the labels on the front or back side is ensured, and by corresponding rotation of the container 4 while passing by, a clean application of the labels is also ensured. After the containers have been guided past all the handling stations, they are removed from the container carriers 3 by another protractor 8 after loosening the fastening mechanism and placed on the conveying mechanism 5, from where they are subsequently transported away. For precise positioning of the container carriers 3, a drive system is foreseen that is generally designated as 9 and shown in more details in fig. 2. The drive system 9 is structured as a compact module and is inserted with its cover plate 10 into corresponding recesses in the rotor 2 and fixed there. It carries on its upper side respectively one container carrier 3. For precise rotation of the container carrier 3, an electro-motor servo drive 11 is foreseen in the interior space, whose rotation axis is connected directly or, in an extension, through a gear, with the rotation axis of the container carrier 3. For determining the actual angular position of the servo drive 11 and hence of the container carrier 3, a rotation angle sensor 12 is foreseen on the servo drive 11. Another sensor 13 is foreseen for monitoring further operating parameters and for detecting faults. The sensors 12 and 13 are connected to a control unit 14. This has an internal storage unit 15 for recording running operating parameters and another storage device 16 for recording a control programme. The control unit 14 is connected to an external bus system 19 by means of a communication interface 17 through a plug connection 18. The bus system 19, apart from being connected to the drive systems 9 according to the invention, is also connected to a super-ordinate machine control 20. This monitors the functioning of the machine 1 with a number of sensors (not shown in details) and forwards control commands to the various machine components. Among other things, it forwards appropriate control commands related to the actual required positioning of a container carrier 3 to the drive systems 9. These control commands that are transmitted to the control device 14 through the bus system 19 and the communication interface 17 are evaluated there, and on the basis of the actual position of the container carrier 3 made known by the sensor 12, corresponding control impulses are generated for required rotation of the servo motor 11 and transmitted to it. Additionally, in the described art and manner, return messages about the actual position of the container carrier 3 can be transmitted by the control 14 to the machine control 20. The machine control 20 also has a storage zone 21, in which required control programmes for the individual components of the machine are stored. Besides, the machine control 20 can query through the bus system 19 from the individual control unit 14, as to which version identification element the storage programmes stored in their storage unit 16 have. Moreover, the machine control 20 can compare these identification elements with identification elements of the control programmes stored in its storage 21. It is also possible to transmit the control programmes stored in the storage 21 to selected control units 14 through the communication interface 17 and thus overwrite the control programmes stored there in the storage 16. In case of a defect in any part of a drive system 9, this defect is identified by the control unit 14 and conveyed to the machine control 20 through the communication connections 17. Irrespective of the intensity of the defect, it subsequently releases an alarm and brings the machine to a standstill. It also displays corresponding messages and identifies the corresponding drive system. Subsequently this drive system 9 can be replaced by a functional one by detaching the complete unit from the rotor 2 and again inserting and fixing the new functional unit. Thereafter, only the electrical and the communication connections have to be re-established and the machine is basically again ready for use. After complete installation, the machine control 20 asks the version identification element of the control unit 14 newly installed in the storage unit 16 about the stored control programme and compares this identification element with that of the stored programme stored in its storage 21 and which is required for correct functioning of the machine. If both identification elements match, corresponding messages are generated and the machine 1 is again taken into operation. If the version identification elements do not match, the machine control 20 passes on a copy of the suitable control programme available in its storage 21 to the control unit 14 through the bus system 19 and the communication connection 17; the control unit 14 then overwrites the control programme already present in its storage unit 16. After completion of the transmission process and checking, if required, as to whether the transmission was successful, the correct control programme is now also present in the replaced drive system 9, so that subsequently re-commissioning of the machine 1 is initiated by the machine control, as described above. In the description of the design example above, one exclusively spoke of control software. Within the scope of this application, the term control software implies that software which is required for operating the drive systems, whereby within the scope of this invention it is not absolutely necessary that this software is completely transmitted by the machine control 20 to the storage unit 16 of the drive system. For example, parts of the required software may already be present within the drive system. Within the scope of this application, the term control software implies software components that are commonly known as operating system, as well as also software components that are commonly known as application software. Here the term "operating system" refers to programmes or data that provide the super-ordinate software, e.g. the control software, the information and control commands necessary for operating the hardware components within the drive systems. The term "application software" in the shown design example refers, for example, to the rotation programme, i.e. the instruction as to how the containers have to rotate during a circulation of the rotor. Obviously the invention is not restricted to the above mentioned design example, but can be varied in multiple respects without departing from the basic concept of the invention. Hence it is not necessary to use the drive system only for driving plate-like container carriers. Rather several drive systems that can be applied in handling machines can be designed as a modular unit and can be adapted to the respective application purpose by using appropriately adapted control programmes. Even in such systems, the invention obviously finds application. Also further variations of the invention, like the application of external storages instead of integrated storage units, star-like communication systems instead of using bus systems, several possible drives etc. have been enumerated here only as examples of variation. List of reference signs 1. Handling/processing machine 2. Rotor 3. Container carrier 4. Container 5. Conveying mechanism 6. Protractor 7. Handling/processing station 8. Protractor 9. Drive system 10. Cover plate 11. Servo drive 12. Rotating angle sensor 13. Sensor 14. Control unit 15. Storage unit 16. Storage mechanism 17. Communication interface 18. Plug connection 19. Bus system 20. Machine control 21. Storage Patent Claims 1. Drive systems (9) for application in devices or machines (1) for handling bottles, cans and similar containers, where the devices or machines have a super-ordinate machine control (20) and the drive system (9) is designed in an interchangeable/replaceable manner and has at least one drive element, an electronic control- and/or regulating unit and/or monitoring unit (14) as well as a storage device (16) for recording a control programme for the electronic control- and/or regulating unit and/or monitoring unit (14), having the distinctive feature that respectively corresponding communication interfaces (17) are foreseen on the drive system (9) and the machine control (20) and the storage device (16) is designed in a re-describable manner and is installed in such a way that the control programme can be transmitted by the machine control (20) to the storage device (16) with the help of the communication interfaces (17). 2. Drive system as per claim 1, having the distinctive feature that the machine control (20) is designed for storing at least one control programme for the electronic control- and/or regulating device and/or monitoring device (14) of the drive system (9). 3. Drive system as per claim 2, having the distinctive feature that the control programme is stored in the machine control (20) in a data format suitable for the electronic control- and/or regulating device and/or monitoring device (14) of the drive system (9). 4. Drive system as per claim 1 to 3, having the distinctive feature that each control programme has a version identification element and the machine control (20) is equipped to read the identification element of the storage programme stored in the storage device (16) of the drive system (9). 5. Drive system as per claim 4, having the distinctive feature that the machine control (20) is equipped for comparing the read identification element with the identification element of the control programme stored in the machine control (20). 6. Drive system as per claim 5, having the distinctive feature that in case the read identification element of the control programme stored in the storage device of the drive system (9) does not match the identification element of the control programme stored in the machine control, the machine control (20) transmits the control programme stored in the machine control (20) to the storage device (16) of the drive system (9) through the communication interfaces (17). 7. Drive system as per claim 6, having the distinctive feature that the machine control (20) is equipped in such a way that reading of the identification element of the control programme stored in the storage device (16) of the drive system (9) and comparing it with the identification element of the control programme stored in the machine control (20) and/or transmission of the control programme stored in the machine control (20) to the storage device (16) of the drive system (9) after interchanging/replacing the drive system (9), takes place automatically and/or on release of a signal. 8. Drive system as per claim 6 or 7, having the distinctive feature that the machine control (20) is equipped in such a way that transmission of the control programme stored in the machine control (20) to the storage device (16) of the drive system (9) takes place automatically and/or on the basis of a confirmation signal. 9. Device (1) for handling bottles, cans or similar containers with a machine control (20) and at least one drive system (9) according to the claims 1 to 8. 10. Method for control of a drive system (9) for application in devices or machines (1) for handling bottles, cans or similar containers, where the devices or machines (1) have a super-ordinate machine control (20) and the drive system (9) is designed in an interchangeable/replaceable manner, and has at least one drive element, an electronic control- and/or regulating device and/or monitoring device (14) as well as a storage device (16) for recording a storage programme for the electronic control- and/or regulating device and/or monitoring device (14), having the distinctive feature that the control programme is transmitted by the machine control (20) to the re-describable designed storage device (16) of the drive system (9) through corresponding communication interfaces (17) present on the drive system (9) and the machine control (20). 11. Method as per claim 10, having the distinctive feature that transmission of the control programme takes place only once before commissioning the drive system (9). 12. Method as per claim 10 or 11, having the distinctive feature that the version identification element contained in the control programme is read by the machine control (20) from the storage device (16) of the drive system (9) and is compared with the version identification element of a control programme stored in the machine control (20) and if the read version identification element and the one in the machine control (20) are different, then the control programme stored in the machine control (20) is transmitted to the storage device (16) of the drive system (9) through the communication interfaces (17). A drive system (9) for use in apparatuses or machines (1) for treating bottles, tins and similar containers, wherein the aparatu ses or machines (1) have a superordinate machine controller (20), and the drive system (9) is designed to be replaceable and has at least on drive element, an electronic control and/or regulating and/or monitori ng device (14) and a storage device (16) for recording a control progr am for the electronic control program for the electronic control and/or regulating and/or monitoring device (14), is intended to be used in a large number of different machines without any manual adapta tion. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that in each case corresponding communication interfaces (17) are provided on the drive system (9) and the machine controller (20) and the storage device (16) is designed to be rewritable and is set up in such a way that the cont rol program can be transferred from the machine controller (20) into the storage device (16) by means of the communication interfaces (17).

Documents:

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-ABSTRACT.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-AMANDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-FORM-3.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-FORM-5.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137-1.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-(21-08-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-abstract.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-claims.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-correspondence.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-description (complete).pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-DRAWINGS-1.1.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-drawings.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-ENGLISH TRANSLATION.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-form 1.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-FORM 13.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-form 18.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-FORM 2-1.1.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-form 2.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-form 3.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-FORM 5-1.1.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-form 5.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-gpa.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-international preliminary examination report.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-international publication.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-international search report.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-OTHERS.pdf

323-KOLNP-2009-PA.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-pct priority document notification.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-pct request form.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-specification.pdf

323-kolnp-2009-translated copy of priority document.pdf

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