WO2018146127A1

WO2018146127A1 - Method and device for placing a fill line on a vessel

Info

Publication number: WO2018146127A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/053034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manuel Bernroitner
Original assignee: Manuel Bernroitner
Priority date: 2017-02-08
Filing date: 2018-02-07
Publication date: 2018-08-16
Also published as: MX2019009183A; AT519363A4; EP3580529A1; DE102017110379A1; DE102017110379B4; AT519363B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for placing a fill line on a vessel (6) by changing the quantity of gas molecules located within the vessel and to a device for this purpose. The aim of the invention is to allow the placement of a fill line on a vessel (6) with a complex shape in a simple manner without having to clean the vessel (6) afterwards and without having to accept a low degree of precision of the fill line position. This is achieved in that all of the openings of the vessel (6) are closed from the surroundings in a gas-tight manner, and thus the gas molecules located in the vessel are delimited from the surroundings. By changing the number of gas molecules located within the delimited region and by analyzing the occurring pressure and temperature or the changes thereof, a comparison value for the vessel is generated, said comparison value being usable for exactly or approximately assigning the fill line position.

Description

Method and device for setting a filling line on a vessel

The invention relates to a method for setting a filling line on a vessel by means of changing the amount of gas molecules located within this vessel and to an apparatus for carrying out this method.

For leaching of vessels, in particular of vessels with a complex shape such as teapots or measuring vessels, a known volume of liquid is usually introduced into the auszuliternde vessel to then attach at the height of the liquid level a mark as Füllstrich for this known volume of liquid. The disadvantage of this approach is that while the container to be gelled is wetted with the liquid and therefore must be cleaned and dried in a complex subsequent step. The invention is therefore based on the object, the method of the type described above in such a way that the setting of a Füllstriches on a vessel with complex shape can be done in a simple manner without the vessel cleaned afterwards and without a low accuracy of Füllstrichposition in purchasing must be taken.

The object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device and a system according to the independent claims.

A method for setting a filling line on a vessel comprises the following steps: - isolating the gas molecules located in the interior of the vessel from the environment;

Changing the amount of gas molecules per unit volume in the vessel;

Determining a comparison value V from the state change resulting from the change of the gas molecule amount;

- Correlating the comparison value V with a predetermined and the comparison value preallocated filling level z of a predetermined reference volume;

Setting the filling line on the vessel according to the filling height z.

Thus, according to the method, first the interior of the vessel is separated from the environment, e.g. sealed to isolate the gas molecules in the interior of the environment.

Subsequently, we changed the amount of gas molecules in the interior. This can be done, for example, by removing gas molecules from the interior or feeding them into the interior. For this purpose, various measures are conceivable, which will be explained later. For example, it is possible to transfer gas molecules via one line into another Remove space, with a conveyor or a pressure gradient can be used.

Due to the change in the amount of gas molecule, the state of the gas changes, in particular the pressure or other parameters, as explained later. Due to this state change, a comparison value can be determined in a suitable manner, as will also be described in detail below.

In order to detect the change in the quantity of gas molecules, it may be useful to use a suitable measuring device, e.g. a pressure measuring device to provide. Other measuring devices, e.g. Flow measuring devices, etc. are conceivable, wherein the measuring device can also have a plurality of sensors at different locations in a suitable manner. The measuring device can be used to determine the change in the gas molecule quantity. For this purpose, it may be expedient to detect the states before and after the change of the gas molecule amount in the interior. For example, is a detection of the pressure change conceivable, with other changes are detectable.

The comparison value is then to be correlated with the filling level, which was assigned in advance to the comparison value. For this, it may be useful to carry out a calibration procedure in a preliminary process in which assignments of comparison values and fill levels are determined. The assignments may e.g. in the form of tables or parameter equations. Accordingly, if a comparison value was determined in the later actual measurement method, the associated fill level can be determined in a simple manner with the aid of the previously determined assignments.

On the basis of the information about the filling level, which was determined in the manner described above for exactly this one vessel, finally, the filling line can be placed on the vessel. For this purpose, a corresponding marking device with the information about the level, so the altitude (vertical position) of the filling line are supplied, so that the marking device attaches the filling line to the particular vessel.

For subsequent vessels, the measuring procedure must then be followed in each case, so that the filling line can be applied at the correct height for each vessel individually. The volume marked by the filling line for the vessel then corresponds with high accuracy to the actual volume. If, for example, a fill line for 0.2 l is to be attached to a drinking glass, the method according to the invention allows the filling line to be adjusted to the correct filling level, depending on the actual filling volume of the drinking glass, which can sometimes vary considerably due to manufacturing tolerances. The invention thus achieves the stated object by virtue of the fact that, as a first step, all openings of the vessel are closed in a gastight manner relative to the surroundings, and thus the gas molecules within the vessel are delimited from the surroundings. The state of the gas within these limits can be described with sufficient accuracy by the thermal equation of state for ideal gases. This equation represents a relationship between the number of gas molecules within the delimited area N _G , the delimited volume V _G , the prevailing gas pressure p _G within the boundary and the gas temperature T _G prevailing within the boundary. The additionally occurring Boltzmann constant k _B is considered to be known :

For this equation, different representations are available in the associated technical literature, which can be converted into each other using freely available knowledge. This is the skilled person anyway possible.

It goes without saying that any thermal equation of state that can be found in the associated specialist literature can also be used for real gases for producing an even more precise relationship. The application of the thermal equation of state for ideal gases, however, is considerably simpler and already allows sufficient accuracy.

In the industrial production of vessels there are production-related deviations in shape of the actual vessel inner contour compared to the desired contour. As a result, the delimited volume V _G of individual vessels even within a vessel batch is to be regarded as unknown. The filling line position of each vessel is directly dependent on the volume and volume distribution of the vessel and is therefore also regarded as unknown.

Based on the small size of the individual gas molecules, a direct determination of the number of gas molecules within the area defined in the first step is technically very difficult to carry out, as a result of which the number of gas molecules within the delimited area N _{G is also} unknown for the time being. Thus, for the time being, using the thermal equation of state for ideal gases, both the number of gas molecules within the vessel N _G and the volume of the vessel V _{G must be} considered as unknown.

However, in order to at least approximately determine the position of the filling line, it is proposed as a second step according to the invention that the number of gas molecules N _G within the limits defined in the first step be changed by a directly or indirectly determinable or controllable amount AN _G. direct or indirectly determining the obligations associated with that gas molecule quantity change to _G change in pressure within the confined in the first step portion Ap _G and change in temperature within the confined in the first step region AT _G and directly or indirectly determining the prevailing before or after changing the gas molecule quantity absolute gas pressure and directly or indirectly Determining or controlling the temperature prevailing before or after changing the gas molecule quantity allows the determination of a comparison value V for the volume of the area V _G bounded in the first step, from which the position of the filling line is determined in a further (third) step by exact or approximate assignment.

A possibility for the particularly purposeful determination of a comparison value for the volume V _G can be derived from the following equations:

_ N _G k _B T _G _(G + jV AN _G) k _B (T _c + AT _G)

V _G -

PG PG + APG By solving this equation system and simplifying it follows that

T _r , + AT _r ,

V _G = k _B AN _G T _G

Ap _G T _G - p _G AT _G

Thus, with sufficient accuracy, that

V _G ~ AN _G T _G

Ap _G T _G - p _G AT _G

Thus, the following formula is particularly well suited as comparison value V for the volume of the vessel:

T _G + AT _G

V = AN _G T _G ^■

Ap _G T _G - p _G AT _G

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that for the values T _G and p _G , the absolute temperature prevailing before the change in the number of gas molecules and the prevailing absolute pressure can be stated in any desired unit. However, it seems particularly appropriate to convert all pressures and temperatures to SI units before performing any calculations. As the zero point of pressure and temperature, the absolute zero point is then suitably used in each case.

The temperature before changing the number of gas molecules T _G and the temperature after changing the gas molecule number T _Gn can be converted into each other as follows:

T _G + AT _G = T _Gn The pressure before changing the gas molecule number p _G and the pressure after changing the number of gas molecules p _Gn can be converted into each other as follows:

p _G + Ap _G = p _Gn

The created comparison value V for the volume V _G has the advantage that it does not depend on the total particle number N _G. The temperature T _G , and its change AT _G , and the pressure p _G and its change Ap _G can be determined or controlled very easily directly or indirectly.

Using an exact or approximate mapping between the comparison value V and the fill line position, the comparison value V is subsequently used to determine the position of the fill line.

For changing the total number of molecules AN _G , a multiplicity of methods can be considered, the following methods representing an exemplary and incomplete selection:

• Increasing the space available for the gas so that a directly or indirectly at least approximately determinable amount of gas molecules -AN _{G is} forced outside the area defined in the first step. This can be achieved particularly suitably by displacing a piston or deforming a membrane.

Reducing the space available for the gas by AV _G , so that a part of the space delimited in the first step is no longer available for the gas molecules. This is equivalent to a virtual introduction of a number of additional gas molecules AN _G , the virtual number of which can be calculated, for example, by the thermal equation of state for ideal gases. As an approximate calculation possibility, for example, the following formula can be used:

Opening a valve and directly or indirectly determining the amount of gas molecules escaping or flowing in through this valve. Particularly useful here is to determine the change in the amount of gas molecules via a flow-connected to the valve flow sensor directly or indirectly.

• introducing a chemical substance that generates a directly or indirectly determinable amount of additional gas molecules or reduces the amount of gas molecules. For example, a chemical propellant may be used become.

Introducing a substance which performs a phase transition from liquid to gaseous or from solid to gaseous or in the reverse direction and thus increases or decreases the number of gas molecules

As a particularly advantageous method for changing the number of gas molecules within the demarcated in the first step range can be implemented using a reference container by prepared as a preparation in the demarcated area with the volume V _G or in the reference container from the ambient pressure deviating first gas pressure, which by direct or indirectly measuring, after which the vessel and the reference container are connected to each other in flow and the gas pressure is determined during or after the pressure equalization, after which, evaluating the occurring pressures and temperatures, a comparison value V corresponding to the volume of the vessel is established and a marking is made the position of the vessel is attached, which corresponds to a filling level associated with the comparison value.

This method proves to be particularly reliable if the gas temperature occurring before, during and after pressure equalization in the container or in the vessel and the gas temperature profile measured by a temperature sensor or estimated or calculated using a conventional method in technical thermodynamics. Among the multitude of calculation methods which can be used in this case, reference is made in particular to the following equation for isentropic state change:

This formula makes it possible, by determining pressure changes, to calculate the sudden changes in the gas temperature in the vessel and container during pressure equalization.

The time profile of the gas temperature in the vessel T _G (t) after this sudden change can be approximately described with the following equation, where 7> _G the

Represents the solid-state temperature of the vessel and T _{G1 represents} the temperature of the gas molecules present in the vessel after the abrupt temperature change, and t represents the elapsed time since the pressure equalization was performed and T _{g represents} a usually experimentally determined and constant or variable variable over time.

T _G (t) = T _Fc + (T _G1 - T _FG ) - e Likewise, the time profile of the gas temperature in the reference tank T _R (t) after this sudden change can be described approximately with the following further gelichung, where T _{FR represents} the solid state temperature of the reference container and T _{R1 represents} the temperature of the gas molecules present in the vessel after the abrupt temperature change, and t represents the elapsed time since pressure equalization was performed, and T _{R represents} a variable typically experimentally determined and variable for better description than over time. t_

T _R (t) = T _PR + (T _R1 - T _PR ) - e ^~ * R

The measured or approximately calculated temporal temperature profile of the gas molecules in the reference container or in the vessel combined with a measured or approximately calculated time course of the gas pressure p ₂ (t) prevailing in the container and vessel after pressure equalization and application of the thermal equation for ideal gases permits at each point in time from the establishment of the pressure equalization, indirectly determine the change in the number of molecules within the limits of the vessel defined in the first step and calculate a comparison value V (t) for the volume of the area defined in the first step at freely selectable times. One way to calculate this comparison value at any time t after performing the pressure compensation is shown in the following equation, wherein p ₂ (t) represents the time course of the absolute pressure from establishing the pressure equalization and p _{R1 represents} the absolute pressure of the air in the reference container before establishing pressure equalization and p _{G1 represents} the absolute pressure of the air in the vessel prior to establishing pressure equalization and r _{R1 represents} the gas temperature in the reference vessel prior to establishing pressure equalization and T _{G1 represents} the gas temperature in the vessel prior to establishing pressure equalization and T _R (t) represents the time course represents the gas temperature in the reference container after establishing the pressure equalization and T _G (t) represents the time course of the gas temperature after establishing the pressure equalization.

P ₂ (PRI PGI ₂ P (

' _G T _G (t)

Although a relevant change in the vessel volume in the course of time after establishing the pressure equalization is not to be expected, it must be expected that the time profile of the comparison value for the volume of the vessel V (t) is not constant, but has changes. This is mainly due to the fact that all the pressures and temperatures used in calculating the comparison value and their time profiles are not exactly determined, but only approximately directly or indirectly. can be measured or calculated or simulated directly. For this reason, it is expedient to assess the time profile of the comparison value V (t) according to its reliability and to evaluate comparison values at arbitrary times t _x and, for example, to weight them according to reliability. One way to calculate the weighted comparison value V _wk is represented by the following equation, where F (tj) represents the calculated comparison value at arbitrary times t _t and o _{t represents} an associated arbitrary weighting factor and N represents the total number of weighted values.

As a further method of determining a weighted comparison value V _gew2 , gas pressure and gas temperature _profiles may also be determined continuously and weighted using the following equation, where o (i) represents an arbitrary time weighting curve and T represents the period of time from when pressure equalization is established and V (t) represents the calculated time course of the comparison value.

The occurring integrals can be solvable both numerically and under certain circumstances also analytically. For numerically solving the integrals, it is possible to make use of freely available methods, all of which can be taken from the associated technical literature.

Both the comparison values V (t) calculated at any desired time t and any kind of weighted comparison values, such as the illustrated comparison values V _gew and V _gew2, can be used to assign a filling line position.

A particularly simple procedure for determining a comparison value V (t) by means of a reference container represents, for example, by sufficiently long waiting for the temperature of the gas in the reference container to be approximately equal to the solid-state temperature of the reference container T _FR before the pressure compensation r _R1 is established, and the temperature of the gas in the vessel before making the pressure equalization T _G1 approximately equal to the solid-state temperature of the vessel 7> _G. As a result, the temperatures r _R1 and T _{G1 can} be determined very simply by measuring the solid-state temperatures. Likewise, for example, by sufficiently long waiting the air temperature in the vessel after establishing the pressure equalization T _G (t) to the Solid-state temperature of the vessel 7> _G and the air temperature in the reference container after

Making the pressure equalization T _R (t) are adapted to the solid state temperature of the reference container T _FR , which in turn can be determined very easily. After making the pressure equalization and matching the air temperatures to the

Festkörtemperaturen (especially temperatures of the vessel and the reference container) prevailing gas pressure p ₂ can be determined, for example by measurement.

By applying the following formula, a comparison value V for the glass volume can be calculated very simply:

If the difference between the solid-state temperature of the vessel 7> _G and the solid-state temperature of the reference container T _{FR is} low, the comparison value V can very easily be determined without determining any temperatures or temperatures under these conditions

Temperature changes are determined. This is possible, for example, with the following formula:

The invention is based on the assumption that at a complete seal between see vessel and reference container and neglecting any auskondensierender humidity, the total number of particles in the enclosed volume is constant at all times. Using the thermal state equation for ideal gases, this results in the following relationship between the volume of the vessel V _G and that of the reference container V _R, each of the first gas pressure p _R1 Renz container in refer- and p _G1 in the vessel and the second gas pressure p _2, the temperatures T of reference container R and vessel G and the Boltzmann constant k _{B are} considered to be known:

After a proposed sufficient temperature balance between the gases and solids and sufficiently small temperature differences between the solids, any difference in the heat between the gases and solids can be neglected, so that the volume of the vessel can be determined with sufficient accuracy by simplifying the above equation as follows: v _c = v _R - ^^

PGI ~ P2 If the volume of the reference container is constant, it is sufficient to determine only one comparison value independent of the actual reference volume. Based on an association between this comparison value and the filling level of a given reference volume in the vessel, the position of the filling line can then be determined and a corresponding marking can be made on the vessel.

In this context, particularly advantageous conditions arise when in the vessel compared to the ambient pressure lower first gas pressure is set, because thereby any pressure losses due to the late onset of sealing against the vessel do not affect the measurement result. This is particularly advantageous when an inventive vessel closure, which is described in more detail below, is used. In particular, air can be used as the gas, whereby the desired pressure changes can be brought about in a particularly simple manner.

In order to be able to easily determine an association between the determined comparison values and the assigned fill levels of a given reference volume, it is proposed that a comparison value be determined for a plurality of vessels having a similar shape and the fill level of a predetermined reference volume in these vessels and an association between comparison values and Fill heights is determined. It is particularly advantageous to determine this assignment by regression, whereby due to their simplicity, linear regression or quadratic regression are best used.

The comparison between the reference value and the filling line position should be carried out in advance on a calibration procedure using a few vessels (for example 5 vessels or more, advantageously 20-30 vessels). In this way, the device may e.g. be set to the measurement of a particular vessel (e.g., a drinking glass) or jar type. Subsequent to the calibration process, the vessels to be measured can then be measured in large numbers.

In order to obtain an association between the comparison value and the filling line position by means of linear regression, it is possible, for example, to proceed as follows:

1 . Randomly select 20-30 reference vessels from a glass batch to calibrate the device 2. Determining a comparison value for each reference vessel, using a device according to the invention

3. Fill the reference vessels with the specified reference volume

4. Manually measure the vertical distance between the level and the rim of the vessel

5. Creation of data points, each consisting of a comparison value and the corresponding vertical distance

6. Determine a straight line equation that best describes the data points, using linear regression

Using linear regression, it is deliberately accepted that the resulting straight-line equation does not provide an exact match between the comparison value and the fill-stroke position, but merely minimizes the sum of all squared-assignment errors. Experiments and theoretical investigations have shown, however, that the accuracy of this assignment is sufficient in many cases. Methods for carrying out the linear regression are described in the associated specialist literature and are freely available. Methods for estimating the reliability of such assignments obtained from samples are also found in related technical literature. The linear equation obtained by the linear regression can then be used for other glasses for direct association between the comparison value and the vertical distance between the filling line position and the previously selected reference point. A manual filling of these vessels is then no longer necessary. The filling line position calculated for each glass is transferred as an electronic signal to a marking device, which attaches the filling line in the appropriate place. For this purpose, both a suitably controllable laser marking system, and a Sandstrahlsigniergerät with automatically adjustable positioning device, e.g. Height positioning.

Another possibility for producing an association is to evaluate the approximate vessel cross-section in the region of the filler line to be applied and to calculate therefrom a direct association between the comparison value for the vessel volume and the filler stroke position.

The method can be further simplified if the first and second gas pressures are measured as a relative gas pressure relative to an ambient pressure and the difference between the two gas pressures normalized to the second gas pressure. By determining a relative gas pressure, for example with a relative pressure sensor, the following relationship arises for the comparison value V, which is independent of it, whether the first relative gas pressure p _rell in the reference container or in the vessel itself is determined: y _ Prell ~ Prel2

Experiments have shown that, due to the simplifications already made, temperature deviations between vessel and reference container of 4 ° C. cause volume distortions of more than 1%. For this reason, the invention proposes that the vessel and the reference container are flowed around by a stream of air at a constant temperature, so that vessel and reference container as quickly and consistently accept the same Festköpertemperatur. The temperature of the air flow or of the vessel and the reference container need not be known, as long as it can be ensured that the vessel and the reference container have the same solid-state temperature. The invention further relates to a device for determining the comparison value for the described method, comprising a reference container, a pressure sensor and a pump, characterized in that the reference container is connected via a control valve with a, provided with a sealing surface vessel closure. As a pump is meant in this context, a compressor which can compress gas or air in a suitable manner.

According to these measures, a particularly advantageous seal between the vessel to be measured and the vessel closure, because on the one hand a seal regardless of the actual position of the vessel with respect to the vessel closure and on the other hand, a seal even with unevenness of the vessel rim is made possible by the sealing surface. The deformability of the sealing surface must be designed for this purpose so that on the one hand compensates for unevenness of the edge of the vessel and on the other hand an excessive sinking of the vessel is avoided in the sealing surface in order not to falsify the comparison value excessively. Particularly advantageous conditions arise in this context when the vessels sit upside down on the sealing surface of the vessel closure. In this case, namely, the own vessel weight provides a seal during placement. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the term pump also a compressor for compressible fluids can be understood, which can be performed for example as a vacuum pump. Particularly advantageous conditions result in combination with the abovementioned features when using a vacuum pump. If the pressure sensor is designed as an absolute pressure sensor, advantageous measuring conditions result if the ratio of the volumes between the reference container and the vessel is between 0.5 and 2. If, on the other hand, the pressure sensor is designed as a relative pressure sensor with a very well balanced zero point, it is proposed according to the invention that the ratio of the volumes between the reference container and the vessel is between -7 = and is at a high level

2V2V2

To achieve measurement accuracy. The actual volume of the reference container is therefore to be chosen in an advantageous manner such that it stands for the different vessels to be measured in each case in the above-described ratio to the vessel volumes in order to reliably measure different types of vessels can. In order to enable a simple control of the device according to the invention, the control valve can be designed as a 2x3 / 2-way valve, which selectively connects vessel, reference container and ambient pressure connection, vessel and pump and reference container and ambient pressure connection, vessel and pump with closed reference container and optionally vessel and reference container ,

Experiments have shown that particularly accurate measurement results are achieved when the reference container is sealed with surface sealing compound. By this measure according to the invention can namely be avoided that gas trapped in sealing grooves slowly flows through the subsequent close fits and the gas pressure is not or only comparatively late converges. For the same reason, threads or other components where there is a risk that gas molecules are trapped and only slowly into the remaining vessel or. Refuse container volume can be avoided in the device according to the invention.

To provide several vessels industrially quickly filled with a filling line, the invention proposes a system in which the devices described are arranged concentrically rotatable and wherein a task and removal station for the vessels to be measured and a device for marking the vessels at the position of the reference volume corresponding fill level is provided. A fan ensures a uniform and rapid temperature control of the vessels and reference container during the process according to the invention, wherein several vessels are measured simultaneously and applied to one or more devices for marking the vessels filling lines on the vessels. In a particularly advantageous form, a radial blower can be used, around which the devices described are arranged concentrically rotatable, for example on a turntable. By means of the described method, it is also possible to place multiple fill strokes on a vessel. This can be useful, for example, if a scale or several fill levels on the vessel are to be marked or if particularly high accuracy requirements exist.

In this case, the gas molecules located in the interior of the vessel can be isolated into a plurality of separate individual areas and, according to the same procedure, a comparison value for each individual area can be determined. By correlating these comparison values with the filling height z or z of a reference volume or the filling heights of a plurality of reference volumes, the position of a filling line or also the positions of a plurality of filling lines can be determined with increased accuracy.

To implement this, for example, a seal provided with a mandrel can be introduced into a vessel. The mandrel or the sealing rings carried by it must be adapted in this case to the respective inner diameter of the vessel.

In general, the inner wall of a vessel type is subject to production-related fluctuations. To compensate for these variations, it may be useful not to perform the sealing ring as a static component, but to make it so that it can be pressed by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure to the inner wall of the vessel. The sealing ring is then suitable to adapt within certain limits to different inner diameters of a vessel. In order to achieve such a flexible design of the sealing ring, the mandrel, for example, at the point to be sealed with a radial groove (circumferential groove) are provided, in which a serving as a sealing ring O-ring is inserted. The cord thickness of the O-ring is chosen so that the following relationship between the cord thickness of the O-ring and the width of the radial groove applies:

Line thickness> groove width

This connection ensures that the space lying between the O-ring and the groove base area is sealed off from the interior of the vessel. The O-ring lies with its sides sealingly against the flanks of the radial groove and isolates this space.

The space lying between the O-ring and the groove base can be subjected to overpressure by means of a channel located within the dome. As a result, the O-ring is forced radially outward from the radial groove. If the following condition is fulfilled, the O-ring will Pressed nenwandung and seals the above and below the vessel areas from each other.

In order to achieve a seal within the vessel in this manner, the following condition must be satisfied, where d _mandrel _ _{DS represents} the diameter of the dome at the sealing ring position, and d _vessel _ _{DS represents} the diameter of the vessel at the sealing ring position and d _cord the line thickness of the O-ring is: dGefäß_DS ~~ d _{Dorn DS} <d _Line The _line thickness of the O-ring, ie the material thickness of the O-ring must be sufficiently large, so that the O-ring the gap between the mandrel and the inner wall of the O-ring Filling the vessel and thus can separate the areas from each other.

By observing this condition, it is possible to divide the interior of the vessel into separate individual areas by means of the O-ring, as well as to separate the groove base from these individual areas.

With the sealing rings of the interior of the vessel is thus divided into one or more isolated and separate from the environment areas. If e.g. the mandrel carries two sealing rings, two areas can be defined inside the vessel and separated from each other.

Subsequently, by changing the amount of gas molecules in one or more of the isolated regions, one or more comparative values are determined. These comparative values, in turn, are correlated with the fill level of a reference volume or with the fill levels of several reference volumes.

In order to make it possible to change the amount of gas molecules in the individual regions, it is expedient if corresponding channels leading to the regions are provided in the mandrel, via which the gas molecule quantity in the respectively connected region can be changed.

In the presence of two isolated areas B1 and B2 by changing the gas molecule number or quantity, a first comparison value V for the area B1 and a second comparison value V ₂ for the field B2 determined.

From these comparison values, the fill level of a first reference volume z and / or the fill level of a second reference volume z _{2 are} determined, for example, by the following equations, where a _t , b _t , c, d, e _t , f _t , g ₁ , and a ₂ , b ₂ , c ₂ , d ₂ , e ₂ , f ₂ and g ₂ For example, by comparison experiments and / or geometrical considerations to be determined parameters: a _t ^■ V ₁ + b ₁ - V ₂ + c _t

Z ^{l =} d ₁ - V ₁ + e ₁ - V ₂ + f ₁ ^{+ 9i}

_ a ₂ ^■ V ₁ + b ₂ - V ₂ + c ₂

2 ^{2 ~} d ₂ - V ₁ + e ₂ - V ₂ + f ₂ ^{+ 92}

The filling levels z and z ₂ determined in this way can then be used to set respective filling lines. Of course, it is also possible to interpolate the area between two filling heights determined in this way in order to set further filling lines and thus to apply a scale on the vessel.

In the drawing, the subject invention is shown, for example. Show it

Fig. 1 is a highly simplified block diagram of an apparatus for performing the method according to the invention and

2 shows a simplified section through a system according to the invention on a smaller scale.

An apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises a reference container 1, a pressure sensor 2 and a pump 3, wherein the reference container 1 is connected via a control valve 4 with a vessel closure 5 for a vessel 6. In order to seal the vessel closure 5 with respect to the vessel 6, a sealing surface 7, for example, a flange sealing mat is provided.

The control valve 4 and the pump 3 are operated via a control unit 8, which evaluates the measurement results of the pressure sensor 2. In order to enable simple sequence control, the control valve 4 can be designed as a 2x3 / 2-way valve, the optional vessel 6, reference container 1 and ambient pressure connection 9, vessel 6 and pump 3 and reference container 1 and ambient pressure connection 9, vessel 6 and pump 3 with the reference container closed 1 and optionally vessel 6 and reference container 1 with each other, as will be explained in more detail below:

First, a vessel 6, for example a wine glass, is placed on the sealing surface 7 of the vessel closure 5. The control valve 4 connects both the vessel 6 and the reference container 1 with an ambient pressure connection 9. Thereafter, the control valve 4 is actuated to connect the vessel 6 with the pump 3 and to close the reference container 1. During this valve state, the vessel 6 is evacuated, for example, whereby the vessel 6 presses against the sealing surface 7 and thereby increases the sealing effect with decreasing gas pressure in the vessel 6. During this process, both the vessel 6 and the reference container 1 can be flowed around by a stream of air at a constant temperature in order to ensure an equal temperature of vessel 6 and reference container 1. The air flow can be generated by a blower, not shown.

After the temperature compensation between vessel 6 and reference vessel 1 on one side and between gas and solids (vessel 6, reference vessel 1) on the other side of the first gas pressure in the vessel 6 is determined by means of the pressure sensor 2 and passed to the control unit 8. The control unit 8 then switches the control valve 4 so that the vessel 6 and container 1 are fluidly connected to each other.

After pressure equalization and temperature compensation between vessel 6 and reference container 1 and after the temperature has been equalized between gases and solids, the second gas pressure is determined with the aid of pressure sensor 2 and likewise passed on to control unit 8.

The control unit 8 then calculates a comparison value V as the reference to a reference pressure difference between the first and second gas pressure and retrieves a filling level of a reference volume associated with this reference value from a reference memory. If necessary, it is also possible to interpolate between stored support values. On the basis of the determined filling level of a reference volume, the control unit 8 activates a device 10 for marking the vessel 6, which then attaches a filling line to the vessel 6 at the position of the filling level corresponding to the reference volume. Then the vessel 6 and the reference container 1 are again connected to the ambient pressure connection 9 and the vessel 6 can be removed from the vessel closure 5 after pressure equalization has taken place.

The following description serves to illustrate the procedure for setting the filling lines of a wine-tasting batch:

A wine glass (corresponding to a vessel 6) of unknown volume is placed on the sealing surface 7.

2 By switching the valve 4, the vessel interior is connected to a vacuum pump 3. The gas pressure in the glass (p _G1 ) is reduced to, for example, 20,000 Pa absolute pressure and the glass is thereby very advantageously pressed against the seal. At the same time, the reference container is connected to the environment, whereby the gas pressure in the reference container corresponds to the ambient pressure (p _R1 ). The ambient pressure is assumed here to be 100,000 Pa.

3 The resulting gas pressure (p _G1 ) (20,000 Pa) is measured by means of a pressure sensor 2 and the connection to the vacuum pump is disconnected. 4. The reference container is shut off from the environment and fluidly connected to the vessel interior (the interior of the wine glass).

5. The gas pressure (p ₂ ) which is established in the interior of the vessel and the reference container is measured. This may for example be 70,000 Pa.

6. By switching the valve 4, the vessel interior is connected to the environment. The vessel can then be removed without much effort.

7. The pressure sensor 2 is now directly connected to the environment and can measure the ambient pressure (p _R1 ), here 100,000 Pa. Since the ambient pressure can be regarded as constant within the elapsed time, the pressure measured thereby corresponds to the gas pressure in the reference container before the pressure compensation is carried out (p _R1 )

8. Use the following formula to calculate a comparative value V for the volume of the glass:

y _

With the pressure values described, for example, a comparison value of V = (70,000-100,000) / (20,000-70,000) = 0.600 results.

These steps are carried out in advance in a calibration process for, for example, 20 randomly selected glasses from a single glass batch.

If the volume of another glass from the same batch is slightly larger, with otherwise identical starting pressures p _G1 and p _R1 , a pressure p ₂ of, for example, 69,000 Pa results in step 5 and, in step 8, a comparison value of V = 0.6327.

Then, each of these glasses is erected and filled with a predetermined reference amount of a liquid. The reference amount may be, for example, 200 ml. Using a depth caliper or another suitable measuring device, the vertical distance z between the edge of the vessel and the resulting liquid level is then measured. The measured vertical distances z are assigned to the respective comparison value V. For glasses with a larger comparison value usually results in a larger vertical distance z.

This example leads to a list of 20 value pairs V / z. The value pairs of this list are used to obtain an approximate correlation between volume and fill line position using linear regression. This assignment then results in the form z (V) = k - V + d, where k and d represent the coefficients determined by the regression.

For all other glasses to be marked it is sufficient to determine the comparative value V by means of the procedure described above. Using the formula z (V) = k - V + d and the coefficients k and d determined in advance by linear regression, it is possible to directly associate with each comparison value V an approximately filling line position z. Thus, in the actual measuring operation of large glass bins following the calibration process, the associated filling line position z (vertical distance from the edge of the vessel) can be determined on the basis of the comparison value V determined for each glass by the above method.

To make this process as efficient as possible, the necessary calculations are carried out directly by the control electronics. By means of electronic switching of the valves and electronic reading of the pressures, the control electronics can directly determine the comparison value and assign it to the filling line position. The filling line can then be attached by a correspondingly controlled marking laser. The filling line position is transferred via a data interface directly to the control of the marking laser. Alternatively, the fill line may be applied using a sandblast signing device. This signing device is provided with an automatically adjustable, mechanical positioning device. This positioning device is adjusted automatically for each glass according to the calculated filling line position z. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of a system according to the invention comprises a plurality of devices 1 1 according to the invention, which are arranged concentrically rotatable about a radial fan 12 on a turntable 13. The vessels 6 are placed at a non-illustrated task and removal station on the sealing surfaces 7 of the vascular occlusion 5 and go through when rotating about the radial fan 12, the method described above, at the end of a device 10 for marking the vessels at the position of the filling volume corresponding to the reference volume, a filling line is applied to the vessels 6.

The entire handling of the vessels 6 can be completely or partially automated.

Claims

claims

1 . Method for setting a filling line on a vessel (6), comprising the steps of - isolating the gas molecules located in the interior of the vessel from the environment;

Changing the amount of gas molecules per unit volume in the vessel (6); Determining a comparison value (V) from the state change resulting from the change in the gas molecule amount;

- Correlating the comparison value (V) with a predetermined and the comparison value preallocated filling level (z) of a predetermined reference volume;

Set the filling line on the vessel (6) according to the filling level (z).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of gas molecules per unit volume by introducing or removing an approximately directly or indirectly traceable amount of gas molecules is changed.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the amount of gas molecules per unit volume using a reference container (1) is changed.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount of gas molecules in the vessel (6) is changed by that gas molecules between the interior of the vessel and the interior of the reference container (1) are moved.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

for varying the quantity of gas molecules, first in the vessel (6) or in the reference vessel (1) a first gas pressure deviating from the ambient pressure is determined, which is determined by means of a measuring device (2), after which the vessel (6) and the reference vessel ( 1) are connected to each other in flow and, after pressure equalization, a self-adjusting second gas pressure is determined by means of the measuring device (2);

after which the comparison value (V) is determined and a marking is applied to the position of the vessel (6) which corresponds to the predetermined fill level (z) of a predetermined reference volume assigned to the comparison value (V).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the context of a calibration procedure to be carried out in advance, respective comparison values for a plurality of vessels (6) with a similar shape and the respective filling heights of a predetermined reference volume can be determined in these vessels and from this an association between the respective comparison values and filling heights is determined.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that a generalized assignment of comparison values and filling heights is determined by means of a mathematical method in the course of the calibration procedure on the basis of the comparison values and fill levels concretely assigned to each other.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel (6) and the reference container (1) are flowed around by a stream of air at a constant temperature.

9. Device for determining the comparison value (V) for the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a reference container (1), a pressure sensor (2) and a pump (3), characterized in that the reference container (1) via a control valve (4) is connected to a vessel closure (5) provided with a sealing surface (7), wherein a vessel (6) can be placed on the vessel closure (5).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control valve (4) is designed as a directional control valve, which optionally

Vessel (6), reference container (1) and an ambient pressure connection (9), vessel (6) and pump (3) and reference container (1) and ambient pressure connection (9),

Vessel (6) and pump (3) and optionally vessel (6) and reference container (1) interconnected.

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the directional control valve by a control unit (8) is controllable.

12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, wherein one of the control unit (8) controllable device (10) for generating a Füllstrichs on the vessel (6) is provided at the position of the reference volume corresponding filling level.

13. Installation with devices according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the devices (1 1) are arranged concentrically rotatable, wherein a task and removal station for the vessels to be measured (6) and a device (10) for marking the vessels (6) is provided at the position of the filling height corresponding to the reference volume.