WO2009080383A1

WO2009080383A1 - Mechanical filling machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009080383A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/064027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Marek
Original assignee: Christian Marek
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2008-10-17
Publication date: 2009-07-02
Also published as: WO2009080383A8; AT505545B1; AT505545A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for filling and closing individual metering containers (6) for automatic beverage dispensers, particularly coffee machines, comprising filling material, particularly coffee. For this purpose the invention provides that the device comprises a filling station for filling a metering cup (6) with the filling material, and a sealing station for closing the filled metering cup (6), wherein a shaft (1) is provided, which is connected to a drive (4) for creating a predetermined rotational angle of the shaft (1) and to the filling station and the sealing station via a gearbox.

Description

MECHANICAL FILLING MACHINE

The invention relates to a device for filling and closing individual dosage containers for drinks machines, in particular coffee machines, with a filling material, in particular coffee, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In drinks vending machines, in particular coffee machines, it is known to offer dosing containers (also referred to as "taps" or "pads" in the trade) which contain a filling material, in coffee machines such as coffee, for the preparation of a drink and are tightly closed. The dosing container is used in the beverage vending machine, which subsequently uses the intended for a portion of filling material for the preparation of a drink. The spent dosing container is removed after preparation of the drink and disposed of. The vending machines can be designed for the preparation of hot or cold drinks, and include various types of drinks, such as tea or iced tea and the like.

For the consumer, however, this results in the disadvantage, for example, in the choice of a type of coffee to be limited to those varieties that are offered in the form of these dosing container. Furthermore, there is no possibility for the consumer to resort to large packages of the contents, which would make the preparation of several drinks cheaper.

It is thus the object of the invention to enable the consumer via a suitable device filling and sealing of dosing containers, whereby he achieved on the one hand greater flexibility in terms of the contents, and on the other hand also price advantages over the purchase of individual dosing containers. This device should be as simple as possible, and therefore also be as inexpensive as possible, otherwise the price advantage over the purchase of individual dosing containers is reduced. The device should also be as simple as possible service since it is primarily intended for use in homes and offices.

These objects are achieved by the features of claim 1. Claim 1 relates to a device for filling and closing of individual dosage containers for vending machines, in particular coffee machines, with a filling, in particular coffee, is provided in accordance with the invention that they have a filling station for filling a Dosierungsbechers with the contents, and a sealing station for closing of the filled dosing cup, wherein a shaft is provided, which is connected on the one hand with a drive for generating a predetermined angle of rotation of the shaft, and on the other hand via a transmission with the filling station and the sealing station. The features of the invention thus solve the problem of compact and easy set up of a dosing container for later use in a beverage vending machine using a predetermined angle of rotation of a shaft to transmit torque associated therewith via the shaft to the filling station and sealing station, using the transmission derived torques can be used for the operations of filling and closing. Such a mechanical implementation is technically feasible in a variety of ways inexpensively, and in practical terms easy to use, so that about a use in homes and offices is easily possible.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the transmission is a gearbox having partially toothed gears. Due to the partially toothed gears can be achieved that the continuous movement of the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft transmits time-shifted torques to the filling and sealing station. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive is a manually operated lever arm, which is connected via a transmission gear with the shaft, which converts a predetermined pivot angle of the lever in a rotation angle of the shaft of 360 °. The pivot angle of the lever can be predetermined by a stop, wherein the lever is pivoted after manual operation, preferably via a spring mechanism back to the starting position. An angle of rotation of the shaft of 360 ° facilitates a technical design of the transmission in which, after filling, sealing and dispensing a filled dosing tank, the entire transmission is back in the starting position.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the dosing containers are dosing cups with a catching edge arranged in a peripheral region of the dosing cup and held in a cup reservoir for receiving a stack of dosing cups. Here, a separating device is provided for withdrawing a dosing cup from the stack of dosing cups, wherein the separating device is formed by a driver connected to the shaft whose movement path in the course of the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft strips the driving edge of the lowermost dosing cup of the batch of dosing cups. Separation devices for cups of a stack of cups are known per se in the prior art, wherein the cups are usually provided with a protruding cup edge in a peripheral region of the cup. The protruding cup edge of the bottom cup of the cup stack rests on a holding edge of the cup reservoir. A driver exerts pressure on this protruding cup edge of the bottom cup, which due to the elasticity of the cup, the cup edge slips over the retaining edge, and the bottom cup is thus released from the cup stack. For this purpose, it is now proposed that the driver is connected to the shaft, wherein the movement of the driver through the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft is defined. Thus, it can be achieved by appropriate arrangement of the driver approximately that in the course of the predetermined angle of rotation of the shaft of the carrier exactly detaches a dosing cup from the stack.

According to an advantageous development of the invention it can be provided that a filling material reservoir with an inlet and an outlet, as well as an arranged below the outlet of Füllgutreservoirs screw conveyor are provided, wherein the screw conveyor via a screw conveyor gear, which includes a partially toothed screw drive gear, is connected to the shaft , The predetermined angle of rotation of the shaft can thus be converted via the screw conveyor gear to that speed of the screw conveyor, which is required to convey a certain amount of the contents in the dosing cup. The partially toothed auger drive gear ensures that the movement of the auger in the course of the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft takes place only when a metering container has been positioned at the end of the auger.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a compression device may further be provided, which is formed by a slider-crank mechanism with a compressor piston and a connected to a crank pulley push rod, wherein the crank disc via a

Compressor gear, which includes a partially toothed compressor drive gear, is connected to the shaft. The predetermined angle of rotation of the shaft can thus via the compressor gear in that stroke of the

Compressor piston are reacted, which is required to compress the amount of filling material located in a metering container. The partially toothed compressor drive gear ensures that the stroke movement of the

Compressor piston in the course of the predetermined rotation angle of the Shaft only takes place when a dosing tank has been positioned in the path of movement of the compressor piston.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sealing station comprises a film guide and a punching device, wherein the film guide a film supply roll and a film feed roller, between which a film strip is stretched, and the punching device is designed as a cylindrical punch, which held by a spring in an initial position is, and is movable in the direction of the tensioned film strip via a pin which is fixed to a arranged on the shaft punch drive pulley. The cylindrical punch has in a known manner at its end facing the tensioned foil strip a cutting edge, which punches from the tensioned foil strip a circular film piece, and subsequently presses on the marginal edge of a positioned under the foil strip cup. By known measures while the surface of the peripheral edge of the cup and the film are designed so that the circular piece of film adheres to the peripheral edge of the cup, and thus seals the cup.

Preferably, a sliding part is movably mounted between the punching drive disc and the cylindrical punch, which has a first ramp, which is arranged in the path of movement of the pin of the punching drive pulley, and a second ramp has, which abuts a beveled surface portion of the cylindrical punch. When the punch drive pulley moves in the course of the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft, the pin runs on the first ramp and moves the sliding part in the direction of the cylindrical punch, wherein the second ramp of the sliding part moves the punch. If the punch drive disk is subsequently rotated further, the pin releases the sliding part again, and the sliding part is moved back to its starting position via the spring-loaded punch and the second leading edge. Preferably, the film feed roller is connected to the shaft via a film feed gear, wherein the film feed gear comprises a belt transmission, as well as a film feed gear, which meshes with a drive gear of the belt drive. The predetermined rotation angle of the shaft can thus be implemented via the film feed mechanism in that rotational movement of the film feed roller, which is required to pull an unused piece of film tape from the film supply roll under the cylindrical punch, and wind the spent piece of film tape on the film feed roller.

According to an advantageous development of the invention may further be provided a positioning, which meshes with a arranged on the shaft, partially toothed positioning gear, wherein the positioning wheel has a holding device for the dosing container, in which the dosing container on its way to the filling station, the sealing station and an ejection is performed. It can be provided, for example, that the dosing container rests on a arranged underneath the positioning, stationary base plate over which the dosing container is pulled in the course of the rotation of the positioning wheel. The ejection may be approximately as an opening in the base plate through which the dosing container falls as soon as it is pulled by the positioning wheel on the opening. The partially toothed positioning gear ensures that the positioning wheel is moved only when a work operation, ie removal of a dosing cup from the cup reservoir and its inclusion in the holder, filling the dosing cup with the contents, as well as the seal of the dosing cup is completed, and the dosing cup thus to be supplied to the respective next step. Preferably, the positioning takes place in the course of performing all operations, a rotation of 360 °, so that the positioning after the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft again the Initial position reached at which the holding device is located under the cup reservoir.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. It show here the

1 is a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention,

2 is an axial view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 for explaining the separating device,

3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 for explaining the separating device,

4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 for explaining the filling station,

5 shows an axial view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 for explaining the compacting device, FIG.

6 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1 through the axis of the screw conveyor to explain the filling of the dosing container, and the compression of the contents in the dosing container after filling,

7 shows a perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 for explaining the compacting device,

8 is a detail view of Fig. 7 for explaining the compression device,

9 is a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 for explaining the sealing station,

10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 for explaining the sealing station, and Fig. 11 is a detail view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 for explaining the transport of the dosing container to the filling station, the sealing station and an ejection.

Fig. 1 shows a side view, by means of which the basic structure of an embodiment of the device according to the invention is to be explained. The central element of the device according to the invention is a shaft 1, which is mounted in a framework 2. The shaft 1 is connected via a drive gear 3 and a transmission gear, which in the case shown comprises two further gears (see, for example, FIG. 7), to a drive 4, in the case shown, a manually operated lever arm. The transmission gear sets a predetermined pivoting angle of the lever arm in a rotational angle of the shaft of 360 °, and ensures the same direction rotation of the shaft 1 with the pivoting direction of the lever arm. If the lever arm is actuated, a predetermined angle of rotation of the shaft 1 of 360 ° is generated. The associated torque is used by a gear for the respective operations, as will be explained in more detail below.

In a cup reservoir 5 is a stack of dosing container 6, in the case shown dosing cup held. In a Füllgutreservoir 7 is the contents of the dosing container 6. The other components of the device according to the invention can be assigned to the respective operations as follows:

For the separation of the dosing containers 6, ie for the withdrawal of a dosing cup from the cup reservoir 5, a separating device is provided comprising a separating drive wheel 8 arranged on the shaft 1, a driving wheel 9, and a driver 10 arranged centrally on the driving wheel 9 (see also FIG. 3) provided. For receiving the dissolved from the stack dosing container 6 and its delivery to the respective processing stations a holding device 11 is provided, which is located on a positioning wheel 12. The positioning wheel 12 is connected via a bevel gear with the arranged on the shaft 1, partially toothed positioning gear 13, and is driven by this discontinuous. Below the Positionierrades 12 is a base plate 14, on which the dosing container 6 rests during its transport, and having an opening which serves as an ejector 15 for the filled and sealed dosing container 6.

For the filling of the dosing container 6 with the contents of a screw conveyor 16 is provided (see also Fig. 4 to

6), with their task force in the outlet of the

Füllgutreservoirs 7 is arranged, and with its discharge end on a correspondingly positioned metering container. 6

If the conveyor screw 16 rotates by a defined angle of rotation, then a defined amount of the contents of the

Füllgutreservoir 7 transported in the dosing container 6. The

Auger 16 is this over a

Conveyor worm gear, which is a partially toothed

Auger drive gear 17 includes, connected to the shaft 1. The screw conveyor 16 is located in

Auger housing 18.

For the compression of the contents in the metering container 6, a compression device is provided, which is formed by a sliding crank gear with a compressor piston 19 (see also Fig. 5), and connected to a crank disc 20 push rod 21, wherein the crank disc 20 via a compressor gear, the a partially toothed compressor drive gear 22 is connected to the shaft 1. Of the compression device is shown in FIG. 1, only arranged on the shaft 1 compressor drive gear 22 can be seen. The compressor piston 19 is mounted in a piston guide 23, which in the illustrated embodiment of the auger housing 18 is formed.

For the sealing of the dosing container 6, a sealing station is provided which comprises a film guide and a punching device, wherein the film guide a film supply roll 24 and a film feed roller 25, between which a film strip 26 is stretched, and the punching device is designed as a cylindrical punch 27, which is held by a spring 28 in a starting position, and via a pin 29 which is fixed to a arranged on the shaft 1 punch drive disc 30, in the direction of the tensioned film strip 26 is movable. Between the punch drive disc 30 and the cylindrical punch 27, a sliding part 31 is movably mounted, which has a first Auflauframpe, which is arranged in the path of movement of the pin 29 of the punch drive disc 30, and a second Auflauframpe, which abuts a beveled surface portion of the cylindrical punch 27 , The film feed roller 25 is connected to the shaft 1 via a film feed gear, the film feed gear comprising a belt transmission 33, and a film feed gear 34 meshing with a drive gear 32 of the belt transmission 33.

The operation of the device according to the invention is now as follows:

Upon actuation of the lever arm 4 by a predetermined pivot angle different operations are effected in different Schwenkwinkelinkrementen. The entire swivel angle is first transmitted to the shaft 1 via the drive gear 3 and a transmission gear, which in the case shown comprises two further gear wheels (see, for example, FIG. 7), wherein the transmission gear changes the predetermined swivel angle into a rotational angle of the shaft 1 of 360 ° implements. A first Drehwinkelinkrement the shaft 1 is not yet on the Positioning wheel 12 transmitted, since the positioning gear 13 is not toothed in the corresponding peripheral region, and thus transmits no torque to the positioning wheel 12. The positioning wheel 12 thus remains unmoved, wherein the holding device 11 is positioned below the cup reservoir 5.

During the first rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, however, the separating drive wheel 8, which is arranged on the shaft 1, is rotated about this first rotation angle increment. The separating drive wheel 8 thereby drives the driving wheel 9, on which the driver 10 is arranged centrally (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The driver 10 is designed as a flag whose movement in the course of the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft 1, the driving edge of the lowermost dosing container 6 of the stack of dosing container 6 strips. He exerts pressure on this protruding cup edge of the bottom cup, which due to the elasticity of the cup, the cup edge slips over the retaining edge of the cup reservoir 5, and the bottom cup is thus released from the cup stack. During the predetermined rotation angle of the shaft 1, which transmits to the driver 10, exactly one metering container 6 is detached from the stack, which falls into the holding device 11 due to gravity.

During a second rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, a toothed peripheral region of the positioning gear 13 is reached, so that now a torque is transmitted to the positioning wheel 12. The positioning wheel 12 is thus rotated together with the holding device 11, which carries the dosing container 6 with it. At the end of this second rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, an untoothed circumferential region of the positioning gearwheel 13 is again achieved, so that no torque is transmitted to the positioning gearwheel 12 any more. The second Drehwinkelinkrement the shaft 1 is dimensioned so that the Dosing container 6 is now positioned just below the discharge end of the screw conveyor 16.

During a third Drehwinkelinkrements the shaft 1 is now the dosing container 6 again at rest, since the corresponding peripheral portion of the positioning gear 13 is again untoothed, and the positioning wheel 12 remains unmoved. Instead, now a toothed peripheral region of the partially toothed auger drive gear 17 is reached, which during this third Drehwinkelinscrement of the shaft 1 now via a screw conveyor gear, the screw conveyor 16 rotates (see Fig. 4-6). The third rotation angle increment of the shaft 1 is converted via the screw conveyor gear into sufficient rotation of the screw conveyor 16 to convey a desired amount of the contents into the dosing tank 6.

During a fourth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, an untoothed peripheral area of the auger drive gear 17 is again achieved, so that the movement of the auger 16 is stopped. Also, the positioning wheel 12 remains at rest, so that the now filled metering container 6 remains in its position below the discharge end of the screw conveyor 16. However, during this fourth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, a toothed peripheral region of the partially toothed compressor drive gear 22 is reached, so that during this fourth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, the compressor drive gear 22 is now set in motion. By the rotation of the compressor drive gear 22, the

Crank pulley 20 driven, wherein the rotational movement of the

Crankshaft 20 via the push rod 21 in a

Translational movement of the compressor piston 19 is implemented

(see Fig. 5-8). During the fourth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, the lower dead center of the compressor piston 19 is also reached, with the compressor piston 19 first traversing the screw conveyor housing 18 and finally penetrating into the metering container 6 (see FIG. 6). In this case, the contents are compressed in the dosing container 6. During the fourth Drehwinkelinkrements the compressor piston 19 is also brought back to its original position at the top dead center.

During a fifth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, in turn, a toothed peripheral region of the positioning gear 13 is reached, so that a torque is again transmitted to the positioning wheel 12. The positioning wheel 12 is rotated together with the holding device 11, which carries the dosing container 6 with it. At the end of this fifth Drehwinkelinkrements the shaft 1, an untoothed peripheral region of the positioning gear 13 is again achieved, so that no torque is transmitted to the positioning 12 more. The fifth Drehwinkelinkrement the shaft 1 is dimensioned so that the dosing container 6 is now positioned just below the cylindrical punch 27.

During a sixth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, the pin 29 of the punch drive disc 30 strikes the first ramp of the sliding member 31, thereby displacing it in the direction of the cylindrical punch 27. In this case, by abutment of the second ramp of the sliding part 31 on a tapered surface portion of the cylindrical punch 27 latter moves against the pulling force of a spring 28 down (see FIGS. 9 and 10). The cylindrical punch 17 finally hits with its cutting edge on the tensioned between the film supply roll 24 and the film feed roller 25 film strip 26, and punches from the tensioned film strip 26 a circular piece of film. The circular piece of film is subsequently carried along by the cutting edge of the punch 27 and pressed onto the marginal edge of the dosing container 6 positioned below the foil strip 26. By known measures while the surface of the peripheral edge of the dosing container 6 and the film are designed so that the circular Foil piece adheres to the peripheral edge of the dosing container 6, and thus sealed the dosing container 6.

At this lowest point of movement of the punch 27, the pin passes the first ramp of the sliding part

31, so that he no longer exerts force on the sliding part 31.

The tensile force of the spring 28 thus pulls the punch 27 back up to its original position, whereby the

Slide part 31 is returned to its original position.

During the sixth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, an untoothed circumferential region of the film feed gear 34 is achieved, so that the drive gear 32 of the belt drive 33 is not rotated. The foil strip 26 is thus unmoved. After completion of the punching and sealing process, a toothed peripheral region of the film feed gear 34 is reached again at the end of the sixth rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, so that the film feed roller 25 is rotated again via the drive gear 32 and the belt transmission 33, and an unused piece of film strip 26 from the film supply roll 24 is pulled.

During a seventh rotation angle increment of the shaft 1, in turn, a toothed peripheral region of the positioning gear 13 is reached, so that a torque is again transmitted to the positioning wheel 12. The positioning wheel 12 is rotated together with the holding device 11, which carries the filled and sealed metering container 6 with it. In the course of this seventh Drehwinkelinkrements the shaft 1, the holding device 11 passes through the ejection 15, so the opening in the base plate 14 so that the dosing container 6 slips out of the holder 11, and gravity falls down (see Fig. 11). During the seventh rotation angle increment, the positioning gear moves 13 continues until the holding device 11 is again below the cup reservoir 5.

At the end of the seventh Drehwinkelinscrement the predetermined pivot angle of the lever arm 4 is reached, and the

Wave 1 has completed the predetermined rotation angle of 360 °.

The lever arm 4 can be returned to its starting position, for example, by means of a spring mechanism, and is available for filling and sealing a further dosing container 6.

The device according to the invention thus enables the consumer to fill and seal metering containers 6, on the one hand achieving greater flexibility with regard to the contents, and on the other hand also having price advantages over the purchase of individual metering containers 6. The device according to the invention has a simple structure and therefore also very inexpensive in the production. The device is extremely easy to use, and is therefore well suited for use in households or offices, for example.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device for filling and closing of individual dosing container (6) for vending machines, in particular coffee machines, with a filling material, in particular coffee, characterized in that it comprises a filling station for filling a Dosierungsbechers (6) with the contents, and a sealing station for closing the filled

Dosing cup (6), wherein a shaft (1) is provided, on the one hand with a drive (4) for generating a predetermined angle of rotation of the shaft

(1), and on the other hand via a transmission with the filling station and the sealing station.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in the transmission is a gear transmission having partially toothed gears.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is the drive (4) is a manually operated lever arm, which is connected via a transmission gear with the shaft (1) having a predetermined pivot angle of the lever arm in a Rotation angle of the shaft (1) of 360 ° converts.

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dosing containers (6) are dosing beakers with a driving edge arranged in a peripheral region of the dosing beaker and held in a cup reservoir (5) for receiving a stack of dosing beakers are provided, and a separating device for withdrawing a dosing cup from the stack of dosing cup, wherein the separating device by a shaft connected to the shaft (1) driver (10) is formed whose movement path in the course of the predetermined rotational angle of the shaft (1) strips the driving edge of the lowermost metering cup of the stack of dosing cup.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a Füllgutreservoir (7) having an inlet and an outlet, and a below the outlet of the Füllgutreservoirs (7) arranged screw conveyor (16) are provided, wherein the screw conveyor (16 ) is connected to the shaft (1) via a screw-type worm gear comprising a semi-toothed worm drive gear (17).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a compression device is provided, which is formed by a sliding crank gear with a compressor piston (19) and with a crank disc (20) connected push rod (21), wherein the crank disc ( 20) is connected to the shaft (1) via a compressor gear transmission comprising a partially toothed compressor drive gear (22).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sealing station comprises a film guide and a punching device, wherein the film guide a film supply roll (24) and a film feed roller (25), between which a film strip (26) is stretched , and the

Punching device is designed as a cylindrical punch (27), via a spring (28) in one

Starting position is held, and over a pin

(29) which is fixed to a on the shaft (1) arranged punch drive disc (30), in the direction of the tensioned foil strip (26) is movable.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that between the punch drive disc (30) and the cylindrical punch (27) a sliding part (31) is movably mounted, which has a first ramp, which in the path of movement of the pin (29) of the punching drive disc ( 30), and a second ramp which bears against a bevelled surface portion of the cylindrical punch (27).

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the film feed roller (25) via a film feed gear to the shaft (1) is connected, wherein the film feed gear a belt transmission (33), and a film feed gear (34), with a drive gear (32) of the belt drive (33) meshes.

10.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a positioning wheel (14) is provided, which meshes with a on the shaft (1), partially toothed positioning gear (13), wherein the positioning wheel (14) has a holding device (14). 11) for the dosing container (6), in which the dosing container (6) on its way to

Filling station, the sealing station and an ejector (15) is guided.