# US 10,890,891 B2 · Method for regulating a facility for processing a series of containers and corresponding facility

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,890,891 B2
- Document ID: US10890891B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/106,287
- Filed: 2018-08-21
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2021-01-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-21
- Assignees: Sidel Participations
- Applicants: Sidel Participations
- Inventors: Franck Santais; Fabian Petit
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10890891B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/404: characterised by control arrangements for compensation, e.g. for backlash, overshoot, tool offset, tool wear, temperature, machine construction errors, load, inertia (G05B19/19, G05B19/41 take precedence)
- B29C 49/42073: {Grippers}
- B29C 49/42093: {Transporting apparatus, e.g. slides, wheels or conveyors}
- B29C 49/78: Measuring, controlling or regulating
- B65G 43/08: Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)}
- B65G 43/10: Sequence control of conveyors operating in combination
- B29C 49/06: Injection blow-moulding
- B29C 49/36: rotatable about one axis
- B29C 49/42095: {Rotating wheels or stars}
- B29C 49/4273: {Auxiliary operations after the blow-moulding operation not otherwise provided for}
- B29C 49/42802: {a closure or a sealing foil to the article or pincing the opening}
- B29C 49/42808: {Filling the article}
- B29C 2049/78805: {Computer or PLC control}
- B29C 2949/0715: the preform having one end closed
- B65G 47/846: {Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements}
- G05B 2219/35044: Tool, design of tool, mold, die tooling
- G05B 2219/49051: Heat treatment of workpiece, tempering
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

A method for regulating a facility for processing a series of containers includes an operating phase during which a first machine for processing containers that is equipped with a number of first stations is driven in rotation, and a second machine for processing containers that is equipped with a number of second stations is driven in rotation. The facility has a transfer point from the first to the second processing machine. The operating phase includes a synchronized and paired operating step in which the synchronized rotation of the first and second machines is accompanied by a repetitive series of pairing partners at the transfer point, each pairing partner including a first station arriving at the transfer point coincidentally with a second station, enabling transfer of a container from the first station of the pairing partner to the second station of the pairing partner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for regulating a facility for processing a series of containers (4) comprising: rotating, during an operating phase, a first machine (8) and a second machine (10), where:
the first machine (8) is configured for processing containers (4) equipped with a number of first stations (28A, 28B, 38C, 28D), the second machine (10) is configured for processing containers (4) equipped with a number of second stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 360, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H),
and the facility has a transfer point of each of the containers from the first to the second processing machine,
synchronizing, during the operating phase, the speeds of rotation of the first and second processing machines such that the frequency of passage from the two first successive stations to the transfer point is equal to the frequency of passage from the two second successive stations to the same transfer point,
pairing, during the operating phase, the synchronized rotation of the first and second machines is using a repetitive series of pairing partners at the transfer point, with each pairing partner comprising a first station (28i) arriving at the transfer point at the same time as a second station (36j) in such a way as to make it possible to transfer a container from the first station of the pairing partner to the second station of the pairing partner,
detecting the presence of containers (4) in one or the other of the first processing machine (8) and second processing machine (10),
and if one or the other of the first processing machine (8) and second processing machine (10) comprises at least one container (4):
putting on stand-by the desynchronized pairing step,
emptying the containers (4) from one or both processing machines (8, 10),
and carrying out the desynchronized pairing step wherein the driving in rotation of the first processing machine is done by means of a first drive motor, the driving of the second processing machine is done by means of a second drive motor that is separate from the first motor, with the regulating method comprising a desynchronized pairing step during which the first processing machine and/or the second processing machine is/are driven in rotation in desynchronized operation in such a way as to time a first station and a second station of one of the pairing partners to arrive at the same time at the transfer point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein: the first processing machine is a preform feeding wheel and the second processing machine is a machine for shaping containers by blow molding preforms, or in which the first processing machine is a machine for shaping containers from preforms, and the second processing machine is a wheel for output of shaped containers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein: during the desynchronized pairing step, at a given moment, the angular distance between a first station of one of the pairing partners and the transfer point is determined, and the angular distance between the second station of said pairing partner to the same transfer point is determined;
and one of the first or second machines has a rotational overspeed in relation to the speed that said first or second processing machine would have if they were synchronized, with the overspeed being calculated in such a way as to gradually make the first station and the second station of said pairing partner meet at the same time at the transfer point.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the desynchronized pairing phase is followed by a synchronized and paired operation, and/or in which the overspeed is regulated as to optimize the speed and/or the precision of the desynchronized pairing phase, and/or to optimize the flexibility of the transition between the desynchronized pairing phase and the next phase of synchronized and paired operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to the desynchronized pairing phase, a preliminary step of non-paired coordination timed to make a first station and a second station meet at the transfer point, not corresponding to one of the pairing partners, with the step of non-paired coordination comprising:
positioning either the first or second processing machine a the point where one of the stations of said machine arrives at the transfer point, and then immobilizing said machine,
positioning the other machine from the first or second processing machine to the point where one of the stations of said machine arrives at the transfer point.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, further comprising, between the preliminary non-paired coordination step and the desynchronized pairing step, an intermediate synchronized operating step that is in phase but is non-paired.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, in which during the desynchronized pairing step, at a given moment, the angular distance between a first station of one of the pairing partners and the transfer point is determined, and the angular distance between the second station of said pairing partner to the same transfer Page 7 of 14, application Ser. No. 16/106,287 point is determined; one of the first or second machines has a rotational overspeed in relation to the speed that said first or second processing machine would have if they were synchronized, with the overspeed being calculated as to gradually make the first station and the second station of said pairing partner meet at the same time at the transfer point.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, comprising, prior to the desynchronized pairing phase, a preliminary step of non-paired coordination timed to make a first station and a second station meet at the transfer point, not corresponding to one of the pairing partners, with the step of non-paired coordination comprising:
positioning either the first or second processing machine a the point where one of the stations of said machine arrives at the transfer point, and then immobilizing said machine,
positioning the other machine from the first or second processing machine to the point where one of the stations of said machine arrives at the transfer point.

### Claim 9

A facility for processing a series of containers (4) comprising a:
a first machine (8) for processing containers (4), the first machine (8) comprising a number of first stations (28A, 288, 28C, 28D) that rotate, with said first processing machine (8) being driven in rotation by a first synchronous motor,
a second machine (10) for processing containers (4), the second machine (10) comprising a number of second stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) that rotate, with said second processing machine (10) being driven in rotation by a second synchronous motor,
wherein each container (4) of the series of containers (4) is transferred to a second station (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) at a transfer point (32), wherein the facility has a series of pairing partners each comprising a first station (28i) and a second station, as well as a control unit that guides the first and second synchronous motors in such a way as to bring the first station and the second station of a pairing partner to the transfer point at the same time,
wherein the control unit is configured to:
rotate, during an operating phase, the first machine (8) and a second machine (10), synchronize, during the operating phase, the speeds of rotation of the first and second processing machines such that the frequency of passage from the two first successive stations to the transfer point is equal to the frequency of passage from the two second successive stations to the same transfer point;
pair, during the operating phase, the synchronized rotation of the first and second machines using a repetitive series of pairing partners at the transfer point, with each pairing partner comprising a first station (28i) arriving at the transfer point at the same time as a second station (36j) in such a way as to make it possible to transfer a container from the first station of the pairing partner to the second station of the pairing partner;
detect the presence of containers (4) in one or the other of the first processing machine (8) and second processing machine (10);
and if one or the other of the first processing machine (8) and second processing machine (10) comprises at least one container (4):
put on stand-by the desynchronized pairing step,
empty the containers (4) from one or both processing machines (8,10),
and carry out the desynchronized pairing step.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The facility according to claim 9, in which each container (4) of the series of containers (4) being received by a first station (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) at an entry point of the first processing machine (8) and is delivered at an exit point (44) of the second processing machine (10), and/or in which the control unit guides the first and second synchronous motors in such a way as to bring the first station and the second station of successive pairing partners successively to the transfer point.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The facility according to claim 9, in which the first processing machine (8) and the second processing machine (10) comprise a first drive wheel (26) and a second drive wheel (40) of the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) and second stations (36A, 368, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H), with the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) and second stations (36A, 368, 3 6C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 3 6G, 36H) being uniformly distributed angularly respectively on each of the first drive wheel (26) and second drive wheel (40).

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The facility according to claim 9, in which the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) and second stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) are rotated around two axes (A, A′) of rotation that are independent of one another.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The facility according to claim 8, in which the first processing machine (8) is a machine for transfer of containers (4), and the second processing machine (10) is a machine for shaping containers (4), with the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) comprising elements for gripping the containers (4) and the second stations (36A, 36V, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) comprising stations for shaping containers (4).

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The facility according to claim 9, in which one of the first or second processing machines is a primary processing machine that comprises Np primary stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 3 6H); the other of the first or second processing machines is an auxiliary processing machine that comprises Na auxiliary stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D), with Np being equal to the product of Na by an integer k that is greater than or equal to 1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The facility according to claim 9, in which each synchronous motor comprises an angular position encoder.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The facility according to claim 10, in which the first processing machine (8) and the second processing machine (10) comprise a first drive wheel (26) and a second drive wheel (40) of the first stations (28A, 2 8B, 28C, 28D) and second stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H), with the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) and second stations (36A, 36B, 3 6C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) being uniformly distributed angularly respectively on each of the first drive wheel (26) and second drive wheel (40).

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The facility according to claim 10, in which the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) and second stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) are rotated around two axes (A, A′) of rotation that are independent of one another.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The facility according to claim 10, in which the first processing machine (8) is a machine for transfer of containers (4), and the second processing machine (10) is a machine for shaping containers (4), with the first stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) comprising elements for gripping the containers (4) and the second stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 36H) comprising stations for shaping containers (4).

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The facility according to claim 10, in which one of the first or second processing machines k a primary processing machine that comprises Np primary stations (36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E, 36F, 36G, 3 6H); the other of the first or second processing machines is an auxiliary processing machine that comprises Na auxiliary stations (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D), with Np being equal to the product of Na by an integer k that is greater than or equal to 1.