Method and device for determining a quality of empties

US12145175B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KRONES AG · DE

Inventors

• Juergen Eichhorn · Lappersdorf, DE
• Alexander Kaiser · Neutraubling, DE
• Stefan Laumer · Barbing, DE
• Raphael Weiss · Plainview, US
• Christian Schebesta · Deggendorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 16, 2023
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2024
• Expiry date: May 16, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B07C5/361
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining a quality of empties comprising pallets, boxes and bottles which are fed to an equipment for sorting the empties according to the quality and for controlling the equipment. The method comprises: Receiving a pallet that is palletized with boxes that can comprise bottles, assigning information about an origin of the pallet; feeding the pallet to a depalletizer, determining whether the pallet is depalletizable, and assigning information to depalletizability to the pallet, and if the pallet is depalletizable, depalletizing the pallet; assigning information about the origin to each of the depalletized pallets; feeding the boxes to an empties inspection system, determining whether the boxes are unloadable, and assigning information about unloadability to each of the boxes; if the boxes are unloadable, checking the fullness with bottles and assigning information about the fullness to each of the boxes.