CA2539241A1

CA2539241A1 - A bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid filling material having a container cleaning machine with a conveyor for conveying bottles with driven conveyor elements

Info

Publication number: CA2539241A1
Application number: CA002539241A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Klaus Jendrichowski
Original assignee: KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
Current assignee: KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
Priority date: 2005-03-12
Filing date: 2006-03-10
Publication date: 2006-09-12
Also published as: JP2006248786A; ATE543583T1; CN1868619A; RU2006107516A; AR053850A1; MX337355B; EP1700643A3; EP1700643B1; MXPA06002755A; EP1700643A2; RU2337769C2; BRPI0600952B1; ZA200601923B; BRPI0600952A; DE102005011456A1

Abstract

The present application relates to a container infeed for the transport of bottles or similar containers that are delivered by means of a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction that differs from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or to container transfer elements (5) that are located there, with a simultaneous transformation of the container delivered via the delivery conveyor into a container stream of greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements.

Description

A BOTTLING PLANT FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH A
LIQUID FILLING MATERIAL HAVING A CONTAINER CLEANING
MACHINE WITH A CONVEYOR FOR CONVEYING
BOTTLES WITH DRIVEN CONVEYOR ELEMENTS
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field:
The present application relates to a bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid filling material having a container cleaning machine with a conveyor for conveying bottles with driven conveyor elements.

2. Background Information:
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material. The apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material further comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the filling of the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling material reaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine. Upon filling, a closing station closes the filled bottles.
There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station. Bottles may be labeled in a labeling station, the labeling station having a conveyer arrangement to receive bottles and to output bottles. The closing station and the labeling station may be connected by a corresponding conveyer arrangement.
Container infeeds for cleaning machines for bottles or similar containers are described in the prior art and are used to distribute the bottles of a multi-line stream of bottles as they are being fed via a delivery conveyor to the larger machine width or operating width of the cleaning machine, and thereby feed the bottles to the inlet and to the transfer or driver elements that are located there. For this purpose, the bottles are fed via the delivery conveyor to the transport surface of the container infeed.
The transport surface of the container infeed is formed by a plurality of parallel conveyor belts, and to some extent also by the conveyor belts of the delivery conveyor. All of the conveyor belts of the transport surface thereby move in a first transport direction. As a result of a railing that runs at an angle with respect to this transport direction, the bottles are moved by back-up pressure and the general feeding motion in a second transport direction that is perpendicular to the first transport direction along an overfeed plate that extends along the inlet of the cleaning machine at its inlet or at the feeder or driver elements, for example driver discs or arms, and namely by pushing the bottles or containers over the overfeed plate. This feeding of the containers or bottles to the inlet of the cleaning machine takes place under considerable force and pressure, and with a sliding movement of the bottles over the overfeed plate, which causes friction and generates a significant amount of noise.
OBJECT OR OBJECTS
The object is to design a container infeed with improved operation and with a high degree of operational reliability. The present application teaches that this object is accomplished by a container infeed as disclosed herein below.

SUMMARY
Developments of the embodiments are disclosed herein below.
One aspect of the invention resides broadly in a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a bottle cleaning machine, a rotary bottle filling machine and a rotary bottle closing machine; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be filled to said bottle filling machine; said bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill bottles with liquid beverage material; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to said bottle cleaning machine to be cleaned; said bottle cleaning machine comprising: a conveyor apparatus being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be cleaned through said bottle cleaning machine; a cleaning device being configured and disposed to clean bottles on said conveyor apparatus in said bottle cleaning machine; a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey cleaned bottles to said bottle filling machine; said bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of bottle filling elements for filling bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;
each of said plurality of bottle filling elements comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of said plurality of bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into bottles to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said bottle filling machine; a first filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles into said bottle filling machine; and a second filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles out of said bottle filling machine; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled bottles to said bottle closing machine;
said bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled bottles; said bottle closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles;
a first closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled bottles into said bottle closing machine;
and a second closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed bottles out of said bottle closing machine; said bottle cleaning machine further comprising: a plurality of acceptance elements being configured and disposed to accept bottles to be cleaned into said bottle cleaning machine; a bottle infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers; a feed conveyor being configured and disposed to feed bottles to said bottle infeed in a first transport direction;
said feed conveyor being configured and disposed to change directions to transport bottles in a second transport direction downstream from said first transport direction; said first transport direction and said second transport direction being substantially different; said feed conveyor being configured and disposed to transport bottles to the inlet of said bottle cleaning machine or to said plurality of bottle acceptance elements that are located on said bottle cleaning machine; said feed conveyor comprising a narrower width at one end and a wider width at the end nearest said bottle cleaning machine, and being configured to move a smaller stream of bottles into a stream of bottles with a wider width toward said bottle cleaning machine; a plurality of driven conveyor elements being disposed downstream from said feed conveyor; said plurality of driven conveyor elements being configured and disposed to accept bottles from said feed conveyor upon bottles being moved to the section of said feed conveyor with said wider width, and to convey bottles; said plurality of driven conveyor elements being configured and disposed to form a transport surface of said bottle infeed to transport bottles to said bottle cleaning machine; and said driven conveyor elements that form said transport surface of said bottle infeed extend to the inlet of said bottle cleaning machine.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a beverage bottling plant, a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the conveyor surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.
Yet another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein on the transport surface formed by the conveyor elements, guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided, and that at least one of these guide elements forms, below its guide surface which is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that are carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as bottles that have fallen over are transferred outward.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a bottle cleaning machine, a rotary bottle filling machine and a rotary bottle closing machine;
a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be filled to said bottle filling machine; said bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill bottles with liquid beverage material; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to said bottle cleaning machine to be cleaned; said bottle cleaning machine comprising:

a conveyor apparatus being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be cleaned through said bottle cleaning machine; a cleaning device being configured and disposed to clean bottles on said conveyor apparatus in said bottle cleaning machine; a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey cleaned bottles to said bottle filling machine; said bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of bottle filling elements for filling bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of bottle filling elements comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of said plurality of bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into bottles to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said bottle filling machine; a first filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles into said bottle filling machine; and a second filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles out of said bottle filling machine; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled bottles to said bottle closing machine; said bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled bottles; said bottle closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles; a first closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled bottles into said bottle closing machine; and a second closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed bottles out of said bottle closing machine; said bottle cleaning machine further comprising: a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the driven conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.
Yet a further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the driven conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present application is explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:
Figure 1A is a schematic illustration of a container filling plant in accordance with one possible embodiment;
Figure 1 is a schematic partial illustration in an overhead view of a container cleaning machine in the form of a bottle cleaning machine, together with a container infeed in the form of a bottle feeder;
Figure 2 is an isolated illustration in perspective of the container infeed from Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a view as in Figure 1 of an another possible embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1A shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers, specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles B with at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein.
Figure 1 A shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 1 01 , to which the containers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow A1 , by a first conveyer arrangement 103, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101 , in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow A1 , the rinsed bottles B are transported to a beverage filling machine 105 by a second conveyer arrangement 104 that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that introduce bottles B into the beverage filling machine 105.
The beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or rotary design, with a rotor 105', which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. The rotor 105' is designed to receive and hold the bottles B for filling at a plurality of filling positions 113 located about the periphery of the rotor 105'. At each of the filling positions 103 is located a filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve. The filling arrangements 114 are designed to introduce a predetermined volume or amount of liquid beverage into the interior of the bottles B to a predetermined or desired level.
The filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annular vessel 117, in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas.
The toroidal vessel 117 is a component, for example, of the revolving rotor 105'. The toroidal vessel 117 can be connected by means of a rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation.
The toroidal vessel 117 is also connected to at least one external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 A, there are two external supply reservoirs 123 and 124, each of which is configured to store either the same liquid beverage product or different products. These reservoirs 123, 124 are connected to the toroidal or annular vessel 117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121 and 122. The external supply reservoirs 123, 124 could be in the form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers, in at least one possible embodiment.

As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible embodiment there could be a second toroidal or annular vessel which contains a second product. In this case, each filling arrangement 114 could be connected by separate connections to each of the two toroidal vessels and have two individually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in each bottle B, the first product or the second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.
Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105, in the direction of travel of the bottles B, there can be a beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 which closes or caps the bottles B. The beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 can be connected by a third conveyer arrangement 107 to a beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station 108. The third conveyor arrangement may be formed, for example, by a plurality of starwheels, or may also include a linear conveyor device.
In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit, device, or module, for applying labels to bottles B. In the embodiment shown, the labeling arrangement 108 has three output conveyer arrangement: a first output conveyer arrangement 109, a second output conveyer arrangement 110, and a third output conveyer arrangement 1 1 1 , all of which convey filled, closed, and labeled bottles B to different locations.
The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a first type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 123. The second output conveyer arrangement 110, in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 124.
The third output conveyer arrangement 1 1 1 , in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled bottles B. To further explain, the labeling arrangement 108 can comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the bottles B to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or aligned on the bottles B. The third output conveyer arrangement 111 removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as determined by the inspecting device.
The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central control arrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized control system that monitors and controls the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
Figure 1 A further shows a bottle cleaning machine 200.
The bottle cleaning machine 200 is located before the rinsing machine 101 in the beverage bottling plant, and is described in detail herein below.
Figure 1 shows a bottle cleaning machine of a conventional design and construction, in which the bottles to be cleaned, only one of which, designated 2 in general, is illustrated schematically, are transported in the upright position in a wide, multiple-lane stream of bottles by means of a delivery conveyor which is indicated schematically as 3 in Figure 1 , and a bottle feeder which is designated 4 in general in Figures 1 and 2, by means of which the bottles are then transported, still in an upright position, in a direction of transport B to the driver or feeder elements (not shown) of the cleaning machine 1, for example to the driver discs or driver arms, by means of which the bottles are then introduced into cells of bottle baskets of the bottle cleaning machine, with which the bottles 2 are moved for cleaning through the different cleaning zones of the bottle cleaning machine 1, in a manner that will be familiar to a technician skilled in the art.
In the illustrated embodiment, the two horizontal transport directions A and B enclose an angle alpha that is somewhat less than 90 degrees. The delivery conveyor 3 comprises a plurality of parallel conveyor belts (slat-band chain conveyors) which are not shown in the figures, as well as lateral guide railings and forms a horizontal or approximately horizontal transport surface for the bottles 2. The bottle transfer 4 also comprises a plurality of conveyor belts (slat-band chain conveyors), some of which follow a curved trajectory, and also forms a horizontal or approximately horizontal transport surface.
One special feature of the bottle feeder 4 is that it has a modular construction because of, among other factors, the location, orientation, mounting, guidance and drive of its conveyor belts, and comprises a plurality of delivery blocks or modules, i.e. in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of four modules M1-M4, to which the bottles 2 are delivered in a multiple-lane stream of bottles, i.e. in the illustrated exemplary embodiment in an eight-lane stream of bottles to the feeder elements 5 of the cleaning machine 1 in the transport direction B.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each module M1-M4 is formed by two curved conveyor belts 6 and 7, each of which lies outboard of the multiple-lane stream of bottles of the module in question, whereby with their forward ends, in terms of the direction of transport, said conveyor belts so to speak form the inlet of the module M1-M4 in question, where they are connected directly to each other. Beginning from these forward ends, the conveyor belts 6 and 7 are at an increasing distance from each other, and are thereby simultaneously realized with a curved trajectory, so that each conveyor belt 6 and 7, beginning from its forward end, has a straight-line segment followed by a curved segment in which there is a change of the direction of transport (from transport direction A to transport direction B), and then after that forms a straight-line segment. Each of these two conveyor belts 6 or 7 is followed by an additional conveyor belt 8 or 9 respectively that leads toward the cleaning machine. Between the conveyor belts 6 and 7 or 8 and 9 respectively, on each module M1-M4 there are additional conveyor belts 10, namely so that said conveyor belts 10 lie with their forward ends in terms of the direction of transport in the vicinity of the curved segments of the conveyor belts 6 and 7, and totally or almost totally fill up the transport surface between the outer conveyor belts 6/8 and 7/9. Any gaps between the conveyor belts are closed by small overfeed plates.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, upstream of the two conveyor belts 6 and 7 of the modules M1-M2 and M3, there are two straight-line conveyor belts 11 and 12, which are close to each other laterally, i.e. transverse to the direction of transport, and of which the conveyor belt 11 lies in a line with the straight-line forward segment, in terms of the direction of transport, of the conveyor belt 6 and the conveyor belt 12 lies in a line with the forward segment, in terms of the direction of transport, of the conveyor belt 7 of the corresponding module.
To the side of the forward segment of the conveyor belt 7 and to the side of the associated conveyor belt 12 of the modules M1-M3, there is in each case a straight-line conveyor belt 13. The forward end of the conveyor belt 13 in the forward direction of transport lies on a line with the forward end of the neighboring conveyor belt 12. The forward segment of the conveyor belt 6 and the associated conveyor belt 11 of the respective neighboring module M2-M4 are also consecutive to the conveyor belt 13 transverse to the direction of transport.
Three additional conveyor belts 14 which are laterally adjacent to one another transverse to the direction of transport are provided to the side of the forward, straight-line segment of the conveyor belt 6 and of the conveyor belt 11 of the module M1, where they form a locally wider portion of the transport surface of the bottle feeder 4.
The conveyor belts 1 1 , 12 and 13 form three groups, in each of which a conveyor belt 11, a conveyor belt 12 and a conveyor belt 13 are next to one another laterally, and are oriented in each group with their forward ends on a common line that runs transverse to the direction of transport, whereby said forward ends thus form the forward end of each group. The forward ends of the groups in the illustration in Figure 1 are offset with reference to the direction of transport, so that the different groups extend into the delivery conveyor 3 like fingers or steps.
As a result of the path of the conveyor belts 6, 7, 8 and 9 described above, in the vicinity of the transition between the transport direction A and the transport direction B, on each module M1-M4 there is a funnel-shaped wider portion of the lane width of the conveyor line on which the bottles 2 are fed to the cleaning machine 1 or to the feeder elements of this machine, so that the total conveyor width of the bottle feeder 4 to the cleaning machine 1 is greater by a multiple than the conveyor width of the delivery conveyor 3. All of the conveyor belts 6-14 are preferably formed by slat-band chain conveyors.
The transport surface of the bottle feeder 4 is bordered by outside guide railings 15 and 16. Between the individual modules M1-M4 and between the individual lanes of each module M1-M4 there are also inside guide railings, each of which extends, starting from a guide element 18 in the vicinity of the curved segments of the conveyor belts 6 and 7, to the cleaning machine 1. The guide elements 18 are each connected to a conveyor belt 13 and are provided between the curved segment of the conveyor belt 7 of a module M1-M3 and the curved segment of the conveyor belt 6 of a neighboring module M2-M4. The guide elements 18 are also shaped like boats or shuttles, with a pointed forward end in terms of the direction of transport and a consecutive curved segment, and are each located at some distance above the plane of the transport surface of the bottle feeder 4 such that each guide element 18 forms, with its periphery, guide surfaces for the bottles 2 that are being conveyed, and conducts each of the bottles into one of the adjacent modules, so that any bottles 2 that have fallen over on the transport surface and/or foreign objects that are being carried along with the bottles and are lying on the transport surface of the bottle feeder, such as glass fragments, dirt etc. can be discharged underneath the respective guide element 18 and/or through the opening 19 provided under the guide element 18 and transferred outward.
Additional guide elements 20 are provided at the transition between the conveyor belts 11 and 12 and the downstream conveyor belts 6 and 7 of the modules M1-M3. These guide elements 20 are in turn at some distance from the plane of the transport surface of the bottle feeder 4, far enough that with their periphery they form guide surfaces for the bottles 2, so that any bottles 2 that have fallen over on the transport surface and/or foreign objects that are being carried along with the bottles, such as and or foreign objects that have been carried along and are lying on the transport surface of the bottle feeder, such as glass fragments, dirt etc. can be discharged underneath the respective guide element 20 and/or through the opening 21 provided under the guide element 20 and transferred outward.
By means of the guide elements 20, which are all provided in the direction of transport upstream of the guide elements 19, there is a first distribution of the stream of bottles to the individual modules M1-M4.
One advantage of the bottle feeder 4, among others, is that the individual modules M1-M4 and/or their conveyor belts each have their own drive units. Consequently, it is possible in the event of irregularities or disruptions in one module to continue the operation of the cleaning machine 1 , whereby only the problematic module M1-M4 has to be shut down, while the remaining modules can continue to operate. As a result of this altogether advantageous operating procedure, it becomes possible to significantly increase the effective output of a cleaning machine claimed by the present application. The modules M1-M4 can be installed and removed individually, and therefore can also be replaced individually. As a result of the modular construction, it is also possible, using standardized modules, to adapt the container feed in a particularly easy manner to the respective working width of the cleaning machine.
The modular construction and the individual drives for each module make it possible to control the delivery or transport speed of the individual modules individually so that an optimal distribution of the bottles 2 to the individual modules M1-M4 is achieved, and thus the optimal output with the feed of bottles to the cleaning machine 1.
An additional essential advantage of the bottle feeder 4 is that the transfer of the bottles 2 to the cleaning machine 1 occurs via the conveyor belts 6-10 of the individual modules M1-M4, which conveyor belts extend to the cleaning machine 1 or its feeder elements 5, and not, as on conventional container infeeds, by being pushed across large-area slide plates under back-up pressure. The configuration claimed by the present application therefore achieves a significant reduction in the level of noise generated. An additional contributing factor in this noise reduction is that the bottles 2 that are being transported by the guide elements 18 and 20 are guided to some extent by the realization of the conveyor belts described above, in particular also as a result of the curved realization of the conveyor belts 6, 7 and 10, largely without force and smoothly into the transport containers formed by the individual modules M1-M4.
An additional and altogether important advantage is that both the individual modules as well as the individual conveyor belts of an individual module can be operated at different, e.g.
also variable speeds, as a result of which it becomes possible to realize the feed of the bottles to the individual driver elements uniformly and relatively quietly.
An additional important advantage is that bottles 2 that have fallen over, foreign objects, e.g. dirt, glass fragments etc.
are automatically transferred outward via the openings formed under the guide elements 18 and 20.
Figure 3 shows as an additional potential embodiment a bottle feeder 4a which differs from the bottle feeder 4 essentially only in that the two conveyor belts 6 and 7 are not the outboard conveyor belts of each module M1-M4, but form the center conveyor belts of the module in question, and that the conveyor belts 10 are located laterally with respect to the conveyor belts 6 and 7, and once again in the direction of transport starting from the curved segment of the conveyor belts 6 and 7 to the cleaning machine 1. Furthermore, the bottle feeder 4a differs from the bottle feeder 4 in that the conveyor belts 11, 12 and 13 each have different lengths, such that the frond ends of all the conveyor belts 1 1 , 12 and 13 in terms of the direction of transport lie on a common line that is at a right angle to the direction of transport.
The present application was described above on the basis of exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous modifications and variants can be made and incorporated without thereby going beyond the teaching of the present application.
Thus it is possible, for example, that instead of the conveyor belts 6-14, at least some of said conveyor belts can be replaced by other driven transport elements. For example, it is also possible to use, for example, flat elements that are made of a plate-shaped material, which are mounted movably and are driven so that they transport the bottles by micro-motions into the driver elements of the cleaning machine. Instead of the micro-motions, vibrating drive systems can also be provided.
Still another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the transport surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided on the conveyor surface formed by the conveyor elements.

Yet anotheraspect of the inventionresides broadlyin a containerinfeed,characterized in least one of guide that at the elements,below a guide surface thatat some distancefrom is the plane of the transport surface, forms at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that may be carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as containers that have fallen over, are transferred outward.
Still another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the at least two modules can be installed and/or removed separately from one another.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the at least two modules have an identical or almost identical construction.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the at least two modules can be controlled individually with regard to their delivery action and/or capacity, for example they can be turned on and off separately from one another and/or individually regulated in terms of their delivery speed.
Yet another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the at least one opening for the outward transfer is located underneath the respective guide element.
Still another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that at least a portion of the driven transport elements is realized with a curved trajectory.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the first and the second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is significantly greater than 0 degrees.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the first and second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.
Yet another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the transport plane of the container infeed is formed by a total of four feed blocks or modules.
Still another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that each module of the transport surface of the container infeed has a plurality of driven conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the direction of transport and/or are consecutive to one another in the direction of transport.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that at least some of the driven conveyor elements are conveyor belts or chains.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that at least some of the driven conveyor elements are equipped with vibration drives.
Yet another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that respective individual drive systems, e.g. electric motors, electric vibration drive systems or micro-movement drive systems are provided for the modules.
Still another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that each module has at least one first conveyor element, which with its forward end in the direction of transport forms an inlet of the corresponding module and which directly or by means of a contiguous driven conveyor element extends to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and that each module has at least one second, preferably a plurality of second transport elements which are consecutive to the at least one first conveyor element and to one another transverse to the direction of transport.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the forward end of the at least one second transport element in the direction of transport is consecutive, in the direction of transport, to the forward end of the at least one first conveyor element.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that each module has at least two first conveyor elements.
Yet another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the at least one first conveyor element of each module is curved, i.e. realized with a curved segment, and that the forward end of the at least one second conveyor element is located in the vicinity of the curved segment of the associated first conveyor element.
Still another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the two first conveyor elements, on the end that forms the inlet of the module in question, are next to one another laterally, and are at an increasing distance from one another as the distance from this end increases, and that the at least one second conveyor element of each module is/are located between the two first conveyor elements and/or between additional conveyor elements that are contiguous to them.
A further aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that each module has at least two first conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the transport direction over their entire length or a majority of said length.
Another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that at least one second conveyor element is provided on both sides of the at least one first conveyor element and/or an additional contiguous conveyor element.
Yet another aspect of the invention resides broadly in a container infeed, characterized in that the transport surface of the container infeed, in the vicinity of the connection to the preceding feed conveyor is formed by a plurality of groups of conveyor elements that are next to one another, and that the forward ends of said groups, in terms of the transport direction, are offset from group to group in the direction of transport.
The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally to enable the Patent Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the technical field is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the technical field of this patent application. However, the description of the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification.
The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.
The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generally to enable the Patent Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the object or objects is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the object or objects of this patent application. However, the description of the object or objects may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately summarize this patent application. However, portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally to enable the Patent Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of this patent application. However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention.

AT LEAST PARTIAL LIST OF TERMS
1 Cleaning machine 2 Bottle 3 Feed conveyor 4, 41 Bottle infeed Feeder elements 6-14 Conveyor belt 15-16 Outer guide railing 17 Inner guide railing 18 Guide element 19 Opening Guide element 21 Opening M1-M4 Module or feed block A Transport direction on the feed conveyor 3 B Transport direction for the feed of the bottles 2 to the cleaning machine alpha Angle between the directions of transport A and B

Claims

1. A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising:
a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a bottle cleaning machine, a rotary bottle filling machine and a rotary bottle closing machine;
a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be filled to said bottle filling machine;
said bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill bottles with liquid beverage material;
a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to said bottle cleaning machine to be cleaned;
said bottle cleaning machine comprising:
a conveyor apparatus being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be cleaned through said bottle cleaning machine;
a cleaning device being configured and disposed to clean bottles on said conveyor apparatus in said bottle cleaning machine;
a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey cleaned bottles to said bottle filling machine;
said bottle filling machine comprising:
a rotor;
a rotatable vertical machine column;
said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;
a plurality of bottle filling elements for filling bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;

each of said plurality of bottle filling elements comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled;
each of said plurality of bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into bottles to be filled;
at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material;
at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said bottle filling machine;
a first filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles into said bottle filling machine; and a second filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles out of said bottle filling machine;
a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled bottles to said bottle closing machine;
said bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled bottles;
said bottle closing machine comprising:
a rotor;
a rotatable vertical machine column;
said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;
a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;
each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled bottles;
each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles;
a first closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled bottles into said bottle closing machine; and a second closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed bottles out of said bottle closing machine;
said bottle cleaning machine further comprising:
a plurality of acceptance elements being configured and disposed to accept bottles to be cleaned into said bottle cleaning machine;
a bottle infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers;
a feed conveyor being configured and disposed to feed bottles to said bottle infeed in a first transport direction;
said feed conveyor being configured and disposed to change directions to transport bottles in a second transport direction downstream from said first transport direction;
said first transport direction and said second transport direction being substantially different;~
said feed conveyor being configured and disposed to transport bottles to the inlet of said bottle cleaning machine or to said plurality of bottle acceptance elements that are located on said bottle cleaning machine;
said feed conveyor comprising a narrower width at one end and a wider width at the end nearest said bottle cleaning machine, and being configured to move a smaller stream of bottles into a stream of bottles with a wider width toward said bottle cleaning machine;
a plurality of driven conveyor elements being disposed downstream from said feed conveyor;
said plurality of driven conveyor elements being configured and disposed to accept bottles from said feed conveyor upon bottles being moved to the section of said feed conveyor with said wider width, and to convey bottles;
said plurality of driven conveyor elements being configured and disposed to form a transport surface of said bottle infeed to transport bottles to said bottle cleaning machine; and said driven conveyor elements that form said transport surface of said bottle infeed extend to the inlet of said bottle cleaning machine.

2. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 1 , comprising a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the driven conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

3. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 2, wherein the conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

4. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 3, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.

5. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 4, wherein guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided on the conveyor surface formed by the conveyor elements.

6. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 5, wherein at least one of the guide elements, below a guide surface that is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, forms at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that may be carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as containers that have fallen over, are transferred outward.

7. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 6, wherein the at least two modules can be installed and/or removed separately from one another.

8. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 7, wherein the at least two modules have an identical or almost identical construction.

9. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 8, wherein the at least two modules can be controlled individually with regard to their delivery action and/or capacity, for example they can be turned on and off separately from one another and/or individually regulated in terms of their delivery speed.

10. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 9, wherein the at least one opening for the outward transfer is located underneath the respective guide element.

11. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the driven transport elements is realized with a curved trajectory.

12. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 11, wherein the first and the second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is significantly greater than 0 degrees.

13. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 12, wherein the first and second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.

14. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 13, wherein the transport plane of the container infeed (4, 4a) is formed by a total of four feed blocks or modules (M1-M4).

15. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 14, wherein each module of the transport surface of the container infeed has a plurality of driven conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the direction of transport and/or are consecutive to one another in the direction of transport.

16. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 15, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are conveyor belts or chains.

17. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 16, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are equipped with vibration drives.

18. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 17, wherein respective individual drive systems, e.g. electric motors, electric vibration drive systems or micro-movement drive systems are provided for the modules.

19. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 18, wherein each module has at least one first conveyor element, which with its forward end in the direction of transport forms an inlet of the corresponding module and which directly or by means of a contiguous driven conveyor element extends to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and that each module has at least one second, preferably a plurality of second transport elements which are consecutive to the at least one first conveyor element and to one another transverse to the direction of transport.

20. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 19, wherein the forward end of the at least one second transport element in the direction of transport is consecutive, in the direction of transport, to the forward end of the at least one first conveyor element.

21. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 20, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements.

22. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 21, wherein the at least one first conveyor element of each module is curved, i.e. realized with a curved segment, and that the forward end of the at least one second conveyor element is located in the vicinity of the curved segment of the associated first conveyor element.

23. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 22, wherein the two first conveyor elements, on the end that forms the inlet of the module in question, are next to one another laterally, and are at an increasing distance from one another as the distance from this end increases, and that the at least one second conveyor element of each module is/are located between the two first conveyor elements and/or between additional conveyor elements that are contiguous to them.

24. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 23, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the transport direction over their entire length or a majority of said length.

25. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 24, wherein at least one second conveyor element is provided on both sides of the at least one first conveyor element and/or an additional contiguous conveyor element.

26. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 25, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed, in the vicinity of the connection to the preceding feed conveyor is formed by a plurality of groups of conveyor elements that are next to one another, and that the forward ends of said groups, in terms of the transport direction, are offset from group to group in the direction of transport.

27. In a beverage bottling plant, a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the conveyor surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.

28. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 27, wherein the conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

29. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 28, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.

30. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 29, wherein guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided on the conveyor surface formed by the conveyor elements.

31. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 30, wherein at least one of the guide elements, below a guide surface that is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, forms at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that may be carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as containers that have fallen over, are transferred outward.

32. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 31, wherein the at least two modules can be installed and/or removed separately from one another.

33. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 32, wherein the at least two modules have an identical or almost identical construction.

34. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 33, wherein the at least two modules can be controlled individually with regard to their delivery action and/or capacity, for example they can be turned on and off separately from one another and/or individually regulated in terms of their delivery speed.

35. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 34, wherein the at least one opening for the outward transfer is located underneath the respective guide element.

36. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the driven transport elements is realized with a curved trajectory.

37. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 36, wherein the first and the second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is significantly greater than 0 degrees.

38. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 37, wherein the first and second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.

39. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 38, wherein the transport plane of the container infeed is formed by a total of four feed blocks or modules.

40. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 39, wherein each module of the transport surface of the container infeed has a plurality of driven conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the direction of transport and/or are consecutive to one another in the direction of transport.

41. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 40, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are conveyor belts or chains.

42. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 41, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are equipped with vibration drives.

43. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 42, wherein respective individual drive systems, e.g. electric motors, electric vibration drive systems or micro-movement drive systems are provided for the modules.

44. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 43, wherein each module has at least one first conveyor element, which with its forward end in the direction of transport forms an inlet of the corresponding module and which directly or by means of a contiguous driven conveyor element extends to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and that each module has at least one second, preferably a plurality of second transport elements which are consecutive to the at least one first conveyor element and to one another transverse to the direction of transport.

45. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 44, wherein the forward end of the at least one second transport element in the direction of transport is consecutive, in the direction of transport, to the forward end of the at least one first conveyor element.

46. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 45, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements.

47. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 46, wherein the at least one first conveyor element of each module is curved, i.e. realized with a curved segment, and that the forward end of the at least one second conveyor element is located in the vicinity of the curved segment of the associated first conveyor element.

48. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 47, wherein the two first conveyor elements, on the end that forms the inlet of the module in question, are next to one another laterally, and are at an increasing distance from one another as the distance from this end increases, and that the at least one second conveyor element of each module is/are located between the two first conveyor elements and/or between additional conveyor elements that are contiguous to them.

49. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 48, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the transport direction over their entire length or a majority of said length.

50. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 49, wherein at least one second conveyor element is provided on both sides of the at least one first conveyor element and/or an additional contiguous conveyor element.

51. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 50, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed, in the vicinity of the connection to the preceding feed conveyor is formed by a plurality of groups of conveyor elements that are next to one another, and that the forward ends of said groups, in terms of the transport direction, are offset from group to group in the direction of transport.

52. A container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein on the transport surface formed by the conveyor elements, guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided, and that at least one of these guide elements forms, below its guide surface which is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that are carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as bottles that have fallen over are transferred outward.

53. The container infeed according to Claim 52, wherein the conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

54. The container infeed according to Claim 53, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.

55. The container infeed according to Claim 54, wherein guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided on the conveyor surface formed by the conveyor elements.

56. The container infeed according to Claim 55, wherein at least one of the guide elements, below a guide surface that is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, forms at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that may be carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as containers that have fallen over, are transferred outward.

57. The container infeed according to Claim 56, wherein the at least two modules can be installed and/or removed separately from one another.

58. The container infeed according to Claim 57, wherein the at least two modules have an identical or almost identical construction.

59. The container infeed according to Claim 58, wherein the at least two modules can be controlled individually with regard to their delivery action and/or capacity, for example they can be turned on and off separately from one another and/or individually regulated in terms of their delivery speed.

60. The container infeed according to Claim 59, wherein the at least one opening for the outward transfer is located underneath the respective guide element.

61. The container infeed according to Claim 60, wherein at least a portion of the driven transport elements is realized with a curved trajectory.

62. The container infeed according to Claim 61, wherein the first and the second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is significantly greater than 0 degrees.

63. The container infeed according to Claim 62, wherein the first and second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.

64. The container infeed according to Claim 63, wherein the transport plane of the container infeed is formed by a total of four feed blocks or modules.

65. The container infeed according to Claim 64, wherein each module of the transport surface of the container infeed has a plurality of driven conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the direction of transport and/or are consecutive to one another in the direction of transport.

66. The container infeed according to Claim 65, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are conveyor belts or chains.

67. The container infeed according to Claim 66, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are equipped with vibration drives.

68. The container infeed according to Claim 67, wherein respective individual drive systems, e.g. electric motors, electric vibration drive systems or micro-movement drive systems are provided for the modules.

69. The container infeed according to Claim 68, wherein each module has at least one first conveyor element, which with its forward end in the direction of transport forms an inlet of the corresponding module and which directly or by means of a contiguous driven conveyor element extends to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and that each module has at least one second, preferably a plurality of second transport elements which are consecutive to the at least one first conveyor element and to one another transverse to the direction of transport.

70. The container infeed according to Claim 69, wherein the forward end of the at least one second transport element in the direction of transport is consecutive, in the direction of transport, to the forward end of the at least one first conveyor element.

71. The container infeed according to Claim 70, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements.

72. The container infeed according to Claim 71 , wherein the at least one first conveyor element of each module is curved, i.e. realized with a curved segment, and that the forward end of the at least one second conveyor element is located in the vicinity of the curved segment of the associated first conveyor element.

73. The container infeed according to Claim 72, wherein the two first conveyor elements, on the end that forms the inlet of the module in question, are next to one another laterally, and are at an increasing distance from one another as the distance from this end increases, and that the at least one second conveyor element of each module is/are located between the two first conveyor elements and/or between additional conveyor elements that are contiguous to them.

74. The container infeed according to Claim 73, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the transport direction over their entire length or a majority of said length.

75. The container infeed according to Claim 74, wherein at least one second conveyor element is provided on both sides of the at least one first conveyor element and/or an additional contiguous conveyor element.

76. The container infeed according to Claim 75, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed, in the vicinity of the connection to the preceding feed conveyor is formed by a plurality of groups of conveyor elements that are next to one another, and that the forward ends of said groups, in terms of the transport direction, are offset from group to group in the direction of transport.

77. A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising:
a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a bottle cleaning machine, a rotary bottle filling machine and a rotary bottle closing machine;
a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be filled to said bottle filling machine;
said bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill bottles with liquid beverage material;
a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles to said bottle cleaning machine to be cleaned;
said bottle cleaning machine comprising:
a conveyor apparatus being configured and disposed to convey bottles to be cleaned through said bottle cleaning machine;

a cleaning device being configured and disposed to clean bottles on said conveyor apparatus in said bottle cleaning machine;
a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey cleaned bottles to said bottle filling machine;
said bottle filling machine comprising:
a rotor;
a rotatable vertical machine column;
said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;
a plurality of bottle filling elements for filling bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;
each of said plurality of bottle filling elements comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled;
each of said plurality of bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into bottles to be filled;
at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material;
at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said bottle filling machine;
a first filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles into said bottle filling machine; and a second filling machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles out of said bottle filling machine;
a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled bottles to said bottle closing machine;
said bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled bottles;
said bottle closing machine comprising:
a rotor;
a rotatable vertical machine column;
said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;
a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;
each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled bottles;
each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles;
a first closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled bottles into said bottle closing machine; and a second closing machine star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed bottles out of said bottle closing machine;
said bottle cleaning machine further comprising:
a container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the driven conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

78. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 77, wherein the conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

79. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 78, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.

80. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 79, wherein guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided on the conveyor surface formed by the conveyor elements.

81. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 80, wherein at least one of the guide elements, below a guide surface that is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, forms at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that may be carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as containers that have fallen over, are transferred outward.

82. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 81, wherein the at least two modules can be installed and/or removed separately from one another.

83. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 82, wherein the at least two modules have an identical or almost identical construction.

84. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 83, wherein the at least two modules can be controlled individually with regard to their delivery action and/or capacity, for example they can be turned on and off separately from one another and/or individually regulated in terms of their delivery speed.

85. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 84, wherein the at least one opening for the outward transfer is located underneath the respective guide element.

86. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 85, wherein at least a portion of the driven transport elements is realized with a curved trajectory.

87. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 86, wherein the first and the second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is significantly greater than 0 degrees.

88. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 87, wherein the first and second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.

89. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 88, wherein the transport plane of the container infeed (4, 4a) is formed by a total of four feed blocks or modules (M1-M4).

90. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 89, wherein each module of the transport surface of the container infeed has a plurality of driven conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the direction of transport and/or are consecutive to one another in the direction of transport.

91. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 90, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are conveyor belts or chains.

92. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 91, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are equipped with vibration drives.

93. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 92, wherein respective individual drive systems, e.g. electric motors, electric vibration drive systems or micro-movement drive systems are provided for the modules.

94. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 93, wherein each module has at least one first conveyor element, which with its forward end in the direction of transport forms an inlet of the corresponding module and which directly or by means of a contiguous driven conveyor element extends to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and that each module has at least one second, preferably a plurality of second transport elements which are consecutive to the at least one first conveyor element and to one another transverse to the direction of transport.

95. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 94, wherein the forward end of the at least one second transport element in the direction of transport is consecutive, in the direction of transport, to the forward end of the at least one first conveyor element.

96. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 95, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements.

97. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 96, wherein the at least one first conveyor element of each module is curved, i.e. realized with a curved segment, and that the forward end of the at least one second conveyor element is located in the vicinity of the curved segment of the associated first conveyor element.

98. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 97, wherein the two first conveyor elements, on the end that forms the inlet of the module in question, are next to one another laterally, and are at an increasing distance from one another as the distance from this end increases, and that the at least one second conveyor element of each module is/are located between the two first conveyor elements and/or between additional conveyor elements that are contiguous to them.

99. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 98, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the transport direction over their entire length or a majority of said length.

100. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 99, wherein at least one second conveyor element is provided on both sides of the at least one first conveyor element and/or an additional contiguous conveyor element.

101. The beverage bottling plant according to Claim 100, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed, in the vicinity of the connection to the preceding feed conveyor is formed by a plurality of groups of conveyor elements that are next to one another, and that the forward ends of said groups, in terms of the transport direction, are offset from group to group in the direction of transport.

102. A container infeed for the conveyance of bottles or similar containers that are fed via a feed conveyor in a first transport direction in a second transport direction which is different from the first transport direction to the inlet of a container cleaning machine or container acceptance elements that are located there, with the simultaneous transformation of the container stream delivered via the feed conveyor into a container stream that has a greater width on a transport surface that has driven conveyor elements, wherein the driven conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

103. The container infeed according to Claim 102, wherein the conveyor elements that form the transport surface of the container infeed extend to the inlet of the cleaning machine.

104. The container infeed according to Claim 103, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed formed by the driven conveyor elements is divided into at least two feed blocks or modules.

105. The container infeed according to Claim 104, wherein guide elements with guide surfaces for the containers are provided on the conveyor surface formed by the conveyor elements.

106. The container infeed according to Claim 105, wherein at least one of the guide elements, below a guide surface that is at some distance from the plane of the transport surface, forms at least one passage to at least one opening that is provided in the transport surface, by means of which any foreign objects that may be carried along with the containers, such as, for example, dirt and/or glass fragments, as well as containers that have fallen over, are transferred outward.

107. The container infeed according to Claim 106, wherein the at least two modules can be installed and/or removed separately from one another.

108. The container infeed according to Claim 107, wherein the at least two modules have an identical or almost identical construction.

109. The container infeed according to Claim 108, wherein the at least two modules can be controlled individually with regard to their delivery action and/or capacity, for example they can be turned on and off separately from one another and/or individually regulated in terms of their delivery speed.

110. The container infeed according to Claim 109, wherein the at least one opening for outward transfer is located underneath the respective guide element.

111. The container infeed according to Claim 110, wherein at least a portion of the driven transport elements is realized with a curved trajectory.

112. The container infeed according to Claim 111, wherein the first and the second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is significantly greater than 0 degrees.

113. The container infeed according to Claim 112, wherein the first and second transport directions enclose an angle between them that is equal to or approximately equal to 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.

114. The container infeed according to Claim 113, wherein the transport plane of the container infeed is formed by a total of four feed blocks or modules.

115. The container infeed according to Claim 114, wherein each module of the transport surface of the container infeed has a plurality of driven conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the direction of transport and/or are consecutive to one another in the direction of transport.

116. The container infeed according to Claim 115, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are conveyor belts or chains.

117. The container infeed according to Claim 116, wherein at least some of the driven conveyor elements are equipped with vibration drives.

118. The container infeed according to Claim 117, wherein respective individual drive systems, e.g. electric motors, electric vibration drive systems or micro-movement drive systems are provided for the modules.

119. The container infeed according to Claim 118, wherein each module has at least one first conveyor element, which with its forward end in the direction of transport forms an inlet of the corresponding module and which directly or by means of a contiguous driven conveyor element extends to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and that each module has at least one second, preferably a plurality of second transport elements which are consecutive to the at least one first conveyor element and to one another transverse to the direction of transport.

120. The container infeed according to Claim 119, wherein the forward end of the at least one second transport element in the direction of transport is consecutive, in the direction of transport, to the forward end of the at least one first conveyor element.

121. The container infeed according to Claim 120, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements.

122. The container infeed according to Claim 121, wherein the at least one first conveyor element of each module is curved, i.e. realized with a curved segment, and that the forward end of the at least one second conveyor element is located in the vicinity of the curved segment of the associated first conveyor element.

123. The container infeed according to Claim 122, wherein the two first conveyor elements, on the end that forms the inlet of the module in question, are next to one another laterally, and are at an increasing distance from one another as the distance from this end increases, and that the at least one second conveyor element of each module is/are located between the two first conveyor elements and/or between additional conveyor elements that are contiguous to them.

124. The container infeed according to Claim 123, wherein each module has at least two first conveyor elements, which are next to one another transverse to the transport direction over their entire length or a majority of said length.

125. The container infeed according to Claim 124, wherein at least one second conveyor element is provided on both sides of the at least one first conveyor element and/or an additional contiguous conveyor element.

126. The container infeed according to Claim 125, wherein the transport surface of the container infeed, in the vicinity of the connection to the preceding feed conveyor is formed by a plurality of groups of conveyor elements that are next to one another, and that the forward ends of said groups, in terms of the transport direction, are offset from group to group in the direction of transport.