Abstract:
A device having a holder for holding a container such as a bottle of a size and with a second other holder for holding a container such as a bottle of another size. In addition, a method for loading a device with containers such as bottles, whereby the containers of one size are placed in a first holder and the containers of another size are placed in a second other holder to allow easy adjustment to a different size of container without requiring any time-consuming retooling work.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of priority of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2006/000257 filed on Jan. 13, 2006, which application claims priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2005 002 715.6 filed Jan. 20, 2005. The entire text of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to a device having a holder for holding a container such as a bottle, whereby the container is a certain size. In addition, the invention relates to a method for loading a device with containers such as bottles, whereby a container of one size is placed in a first holder. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bottle processing machines, bottle conveyors and bottle storage devices where bottles are held with a holder are known. For example, DE 29 71 35 10 discloses a rotary filling machine having holding elements for bottles which are arranged rigidly on a rotor or so that they are adjustable in height. 
     EP 0 721 808 describes a bottle washer for containers in which the containers can be held with holders which are pivotably mounted on a rotor. 
     EP 1 295 820 A1 discloses a dynamic bottle storage mechanism having a plurality of endless chains which are loaded with gripper-type holders for gripping containers at the neck. 
     The disadvantage of these known machines and/or conveyors is that the holders are designed for only one bottle size, so that always only one type of bottle can be processed and/or conveyed. Although it is possible to replace the holders in order to be able to process other bottles, these retooling jobs take a relatively long amount of time so that considerable costs are associated with retooling the machinery. 
     Grippers designed so they are able to hold bottles of different sizes are also known. However, these grippers are either very complex mechanically or they are able to secure bottles of different sizes only inadequately. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to create a device and a method with which it is possible to process containers of different sizes in the most reliable and least expensive manner. 
     According to the present disclosure, at least one second holder is provided, the second holder being different from the first holder. This second holder may hold a container of a different size. With the two different holders, it is possible to use containers of different sizes without having to retool the device. The holders may be designed so that they can hold only containers of a certain individual size or so that they can hold containers of one size in a certain size range. It is also possible to provide one holder for those containers and another holder having the option of holding containers of a certain size range. 
     If two holders with a different but overlapping size range are provided, then the total available size range of containers that can be used is expanded without leaving any gaps in the size range. 
     To save on space, it is advantageous to arrange the two holders closely side by side. This results space being available for only one container in one of the two holders. If both of the two holders are to be occupied simultaneously, then the two holders may also be arranged farther apart from one another. 
     Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the two holders directly or obliquely above one another. It is necessary only to ensure that a holder does not interfere with a container when the other holder is occupied, respectively. 
     The device may be any container handling device. Examples include a bottle washer, a rinser, a filler, a sealer, a labeler, an inspector or the like. The device may also be a conveyor or a storage device for temporary storage of containers. 
     The device advantageously also has a mechanism by which the holders can be loaded with the containers. The device may be adjusted so that either only one or the other holder may be loaded with a container. 
     In this method, a device is loaded with containers, whereby containers of a first size are placed in a first holder and containers of another size are placed in another second holder. The two holders are different from one another. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the device and the method will now be explained on the basis of the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a device; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of the device from above; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of the device with a carousel from above; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a device with a linear guide from above. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a device  1  having a first holder  2  and the second other holder  3  for containers such as bottles. The two holders  2 ,  3  are arranged on a holder carrier  4 , whereby the holders  2 ,  3  may be screwed down tightly, for example. The holder carrier  4  has a widened area at the ends of which the holders  2 ,  3  are arranged. The holders  2 ,  3  each have connecting parts  9 ,  10  with which the holders  2 ,  3  can be attached to a holder carrier  4 . 
     The holder  2  has two outer curved elements  5  within which two molded pieces  8 , which define the size or size range of a container to be held, are arranged. In the same way, the holder  3  comprises two outer curved elements  6  in which other molded elements  7  are arranged, defining a different size of a container or a size range for containers. The curved elements  5 ,  6  may be elastically deflected outward. This may be accomplished, for example, by the fact that a container  11  (see  FIG. 2 ) is moved toward the holder  2  in the direction of the arrow  12 . 
     The outer elements  5 ,  6  may also be straight or angled. 
     The molded pieces  7 ,  8  may each be designed in one piece with the respective outer elements  5 ,  6 , but they may also be joined, screwed on or otherwise attached, as is the case with the other elements  5 ,  6 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a container  11  in a view from above, where both the outer circumference of the container  11  and the mouth circumference  13  are shown. It should be assumed here, for example, that the holder  2  should hold the container  11  on the neck circumference  13  beneath its carrying ring T. By moving the container  11  in the direction of the arrow  12  toward the holder  2 , the molded parts  8  are forced apart against a spring force of the curved elements  5 . In the end position (see dotted line  14 ), the container  11  is held in the holder  2  in a form-fitting manner and is centered with respect to this center axis M 2 . Similarly, a container may be brought to the position  15  in the other holder  3 , as illustrated with the dotted lines. As shown clearly in  FIG. 2 , the diameter of the dotted circle  15  is greater than that of the circle  14 , which means that a container  11  having a larger circumference can be held and centered with respect to the same center axis M 1 . 
     The curved elements  5 ,  6  and the molded parts  7 ,  8  may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, plastic, rubber, rubberized metal, plastic-coated metal or similar materials. 
     The elements  5 ,  6  may be rotatably or displaceably mounted and may be prestressed, forcing them into the closed position with a restoring force, e.g., by means of a spring element or a rubber element. Instead of or in addition to this, however, the elements  5 ,  6  may also be elastic themselves. It is also possible to actively move the elements  5 ,  6  into an opened position or a closed position by means of special control devices. 
     The curved elements  5 ,  6  of the two holders  2 ,  3  are shown as the same size in  FIG. 2 . However, they may also be of different sizes so that holders of different sizes are the result. 
       FIG. 3  shows a container handling machine with a carousel  20 . The carousel  20  may revolve about an axis  18  in the direction of the arrow  19 . On the circumference of the carousel  20 , several similar devices  1  like those shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are arranged. A feed star  21  and a discharge star  22  which are arranged next to the carousel  20  can convey the containers  11  toward the carousel  20  or away from it. 
     The feed star  21  is designed so that it transfers the containers  11  either to the holder  2  or to the holder  3 . To do so, the feed star  21  may be rotated, adjusted, offset or otherwise adapted accordingly. 
     It is also possible to simply retool the feed star electronically by having it assume a different relative position in comparison with the positioning of the carousel  20 , so that the containers  11  are transferred to the other holder. The same thing is also true of the discharge star  22 . 
     The carousel  20  may be the carousel of a bottle washer, a rinser, a filler, a labeler, a sealer, an inspector or the like. However, it is not obligatory for any of these devices to include a carousel. 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment in which several similar devices  1  are arranged on one conveyor element  24 . This conveyor element  24  may be moved along a guide  25 , such as that which may be used with conveyors or storage devices, for example. The transport device  24  may have rollers  23 , for example. A drive for the transport elements  24  is not shown in  FIG. 4  for the sake of simplicity. 
     A device  1  having a first holder and at least one second other holder may also be provided on a revolving chain, a revolving conveyor belt or the like. A chain K is shown with dotted lines in  FIG. 4 . 
     For loading the devices  1  and for removing the containers  11  in the case of a conveyor or a storage device, a feed star and/or a discharge star or some other suitable device may likewise be provided. 
     The inventive method will now be explained on the basis of  FIG. 3  as an example. The containers  11 , e.g., bottles, enter in the direction of the arrow  16  and are transferred through the feed star  21  to the carousel  20  with the devices  1 , more specifically each on a holder  3 . After revolving along the circumference of the carousel  20 , the containers  11  are transferred by the discharge star  22  and are removed in the direction of the arrow  17 . If another type of container  11  is to be processed, then the feed star  21  is adjusted in relation to the carousel  20 . Therefore, the feed star can transfer the containers  11  to the holder  3  instead of to the holder  2 . It is also possible to provide two feed stars  21 , one being provided for loading the first holder and the other being provided for loading the second holder. The same thing also applies to the two discharge stars  22 . 
     A procedure with the device from  FIG. 4  is similar. 
     Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the carousel  20  or the transport elements  24  and/or the chain K with respect to the feed star  21  and the discharge star  22 , namely according to the distance from M 1  and M 1 . Therefore, the position of the containers remains unchanged in space and therefore also their position with respect to the processing elements remains unchanged, e.g., filling valves which revolve in synchronization with the carousel by means of their own rotor or carrier, which is not adjustable with respect to the feed star and the discharge star. Accordingly the central axes M 1  and M 2  are arranged on the same circular path.