CN111573592B

CN111573592B - Container centering for container handling

Info

Publication number: CN111573592B
Application number: CN202010096073.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 布鲁诺·兰德勒
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2019-02-19
Filing date: 2020-02-17
Publication date: 2022-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-17
Also published as: DE102019104137A1; CN111573592A; EP3705449A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1) and a method for centering a container (100) during its lifting into a processing area, preferably for filling and/or closing a container (100) in a beverage filling plant, wherein the apparatus (1) has: a centering section (10), said centering section (10) having a receiving section (11), said centering section (10) being arranged to receive said container (100) on at least one section thereof; and a guiding section (15), the guiding section (15) being arranged to guide the translational movement of the centering section (10) along a defined trajectory between a receiving position for receiving the containers (100) by the receiving section (11) and a processing position for processing the containers (100) in the processing area.

Description

Container centering for container handling

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device and a method for centering a container during the lifting thereof into a processing region, preferably for filling and/or closing the container in a beverage filling system.

Background

In various methods and devices for filling beverage filling plants with filling products, a technique for impact filling of containers is known, which is described, for example, in DE102014104873a 1. In this case, a filling product is provided at an overpressure which evacuates the container to be filled and introduces the filling product at the overpressure into the container at the underpressure. The introduction of the filling product takes place almost in an impact manner as a result of the pressure difference thus established.

In order to shorten the settling time of the filled product in the container after filling and to prevent foaming and spilling, the container is closed under overpressure without prior pressure equalization of the container interior space with the outside environment.

For this purpose, it makes sense to integrate the filling and closing processes as far as possible in space and time by arranging the filling mechanism and the closure in one and the same treatment chamber, as is evident from the example of DE102014104873a 1. The filling means are here embodied to be movable, wherein the container mouth is first pressed against the filling means to fill the container, and then the filling means are removed in order to make room for the closure.

In order to carry out the integrated process of impulse filling and closing described above, the container to be filled and closed is moved vertically by the lifting device from below into the treatment chamber, so that at least the mouth region of the container is sealingly located in the treatment chamber. The centering of the container relative to the filling device takes place for the filling process by means of a centering ring below the filling device. The centering ring is raised and lowered for each filling/closing cycle by a so-called bell-jar lifting curve towards the container in order then to be moved up together with the container towards the filling mechanism.

The sequence of movement of the centering ring is achieved by a cam controller and therefore requires its own actuator/control assembly. Furthermore, both empty containers still to be filled and filled containers must be transported past under the centering ring. In this case, a bubble or overflow of the filling product can lead to contamination of the centering ring.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to improve the transport, in particular the centering, of containers for the handling of the containers, preferably for filling and/or closing the containers in a beverage filling plant.

This object is achieved by an apparatus having the features of the invention and a method having the features of the invention. Advantageous developments emerge from the following description of the invention and the description of the preferred embodiments.

Therefore, a device is proposed, which has a centering section with a receiving section, which is provided to receive a container on at least one section thereof. The device also has a guide section arranged to guide the translational movement of the centering section along a defined trajectory between a receiving position for receiving the containers and a processing position for processing the containers in a processing area.

The proposed device is used for centering the container during its lifting into the processing area. The processing to be performed in the processing area preferably includes: filling the container with a filling product, preferably a beverage, and/or closing the container with a closure. The proposed device is preferably part of a beverage filling plant.

The receiving section is thus used for temporarily stabilizing and centering the container during its lifting into the processing region. In the case of a bottle, for example a glass bottle or a plastic bottle, the neck of the bottle is preferably received or at least partially surrounded by the receiving section. The guide section ensures that the containers are aligned during their lifting, so that they are reliably and precisely moved into the desired processing position and are thus centered, in particular, relative to the processing means.

The device allows centering of the container during its movement into the treatment area without having to sink the container past under a conventional centering ring. Actuators for moving such centering rings, such as cam controls, may be omitted. The centering is effected substantially passively, i.e. the force from the lifting movement is used for centering in a coordinated manner in that the centering section is pressed upward by the container and the container aligns itself in the receiving section in this way. In addition, the required lifting for moving in and out of the process chamber is minimized, whereby the process angle, i.e. the angle through which the transport carousel for processing (e.g. for filling and/or closing) the containers has to travel, can be reduced. The apparatus can be formed more compact as a whole and simplified in structure. Therefore, maintenance consumption and maintenance cost are also reduced. Possible error sources can be eliminated, thereby increasing reliability.

Preferably, the treatment zone is located in a treatment chamber having a chamber wall with an opening, wherein the centering section and the guiding section are arranged to introduce at least a part of the container, preferably a mouth section thereof, into the treatment chamber through the opening during the lifting. The chamber wall is preferably a lower chamber wall, since the container is usually moved vertically by a lifting device from below into the process chamber. Here, the spatial names "below", "vertical", "gravity direction", "lifting", and the like are clearly determined based on the installation position of the device.

The treatment of the container, in particular the filling and/or closing of the container, is preferably carried out in a sealed atmosphere of the treatment chamber, preferably under excess pressure. In the case of impact filling, the filling product is provided under an overpressure which evacuates the containers conveyed to the processing station and introduces the filling product under an overpressure into the containers under an underpressure. In order to shorten the settling time of the filling product in the container after impact filling and to prevent foaming and bubbling, the container is closed under excess pressure without prior pressure equalization of the container interior space with the external environment. Preferably, the filling process and the closing process are integrated in space and time in the process chamber by arranging the filling mechanism and the closure at least partially in the process chamber. The filling means can here be embodied so as to be movable, wherein the container mouth is first pressed against the filling means to fill the container, and then the filling means is removed in order to make room for the closure. As can be seen from the above description of impact filling, the device for centering is particularly preferably used with a treatment chamber that can be sealed from the outside environment, since it is very important in this case that the containers are always transported precisely to the desired treatment location.

Preferably, the guide section rests on the chamber wall, whereby the means for centering and the process chamber are structurally integrated.

Preferably, a sealing ring is located in the opening of the chamber wall, which sealing ring is arranged in the introduced state of the container, i.e. at the treatment location, to be placed around the container section in such a way that the interior space of the treatment chamber is sealed off from the outside environment for this purpose, i.e. at least at the opening. In this way, not only can the inner space of the treatment chamber be sealed off from the outside environment without the entire container having to be moved into the treatment chamber, but the seal here assumes an auxiliary function for centering.

Preferably, the wall forming the opening has a convex profile to retain the sealing ring. The convex contour can engage into a corresponding groove on the outer circumference of the sealing ring to receive and secure the sealing ring, whereby the sealing ring can be held in a structurally simple and safe manner.

Preferably, the receiving section has a contour which corresponds to a contour of the respective container, i.e. to be received, so that the container can be centered safely and in a precise position. Preferably, the receiving section has a conical profile, whereby the receiving section is particularly suitable for bottle necks.

Preferably, the receiving section has a clip shape with two clamping arms which form an open loop, whereby the clamping arms can surround a respective container section, for example a bottle neck. In this case, the clamping arm preferably forms an indexing ring over an angular range of between 180 ° and 220 °, preferably approximately 200 °. In this way, the container can be moved into the treatment region at a height close to the treatment means and held safely. The lifting of the container towards the processing means, for example a filling means, is thereby minimized, so that the container is ready for processing as quickly as possible.

Preferably, the centering section has a transport section which cooperates with the guide section in such a way that the centering section can be moved in translation along a defined, preferably linear, trajectory. To this end, the transport section may have at least one opening through which the guide section passes at least partially, so that the centering section is movable along the guide section. In this way, guided transport for centering the container can be achieved in a structurally simple and reliable manner.

Preferably, the transport section has at least two openings and the guide section has at least two attached guide rods, which respectively pass through the respective openings. The two guide rods are preferably parallel and extend substantially vertically downwards from the lower chamber wall in the mounted state of the device. By using two or more guide rods, it is ensured in a structurally simple manner that the centering section is prevented from rotating about the axis of the guide rods. However, the defined guidance and the prevention of undesired degrees of freedom can also be achieved in technically different ways, for example by means of a guide rod with a polygonal cross section which cooperates with an opening of a transport section with a corresponding polygonal cross section.

Preferably, the centering section is biased to the stowed position. For this purpose, the device can have one or more springs, which are arranged around the guide rod, for example as helical springs, and which are supported on the chamber wall and the centering section. In this case, the centering section and/or the chamber wall preferably have a corresponding opening or recess for receiving or partially receiving a compression spring. This ensures that the centering section can be moved into the processing position without the spring interfering with the transport between the centering section and the lower chamber wall. The bias towards the stowed position may improve the reliability of the device if the return of the centring section to the stowed position is susceptible to interference or requires too much time due to gravity alone.

As already mentioned, the centering device described herein can be used in a device for handling containers, particularly preferably for filling containers with a filling product and/or closing containers with closures in beverage filling plants.

The above object is also achieved by a method for centering a container during its lifting into a processing region, preferably for filling and/or closing a container in a beverage filling plant, wherein the method has: arranging the centering section at a storage position; introducing the container into a receiving section, which is located at the receiving position, such that the receiving section at least partially surrounds the container on one section thereof; the container is lifted by means of a lifting device into a processing position, whereby the centering section is driven by the container and guided by the guide section to be also lifted, and centering of the container is achieved by the receiving section.

It should be noted that the terms "surrounding", "enclosing", "comprising" and the like do not necessarily imply an active gripping movement by the receiving section in this context, since the centering effect is also achieved by the passive receiving section, i.e. for example a permanent recess for the container.

The technical effects, advantages and embodiments described above in relation to the device apply analogously to the method.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments. The features described herein may be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features described above, as long as such features are not mutually inconsistent. Herein, the preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail by the following description of the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for centering a container as it is being raised and lowered into a processing area, wherein the container is absent;

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the received container in a state prior to entry into the processing region;

FIG. 3 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the received container in a condition after entry into the processing region;

fig. 4 shows the device of fig. 1 from a different perspective, with the received container in the state of fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein, the same, similar or equivalent elements in the drawings are attached with the same reference numerals, and repeated description of these elements is partially omitted to avoid redundancy.

Fig. 1 shows a device 1 for centering a container when the container is moved or lifted into a processing area. Fig. 1 shows the device 1 without a container, while fig. 2, 3 and 4 show the device 1 with a received container 100, which container 100 is here for example a glass bottle.

The treatment zone and the treatment means, such as the filling means and/or the sealer cone, are not shown in the figures. Preferably, the treatment zone comprises a treatment chamber, the lower chamber wall 2 of which is shown in the figure with an opening 20, through which opening 20 at least the mouth section 101 of the container 100 is moved in.

The treatment of the container 100, preferably the filling and/or closing of the container 100, is preferably carried out in a sealed atmosphere of a treatment chamber, particularly preferably under overpressure. For this purpose, the opening 20 preferably has a sealing ring which, in the inserted state of the container 100, lies sealingly around its mouth section 101. The sealing rings are not shown in the figures. However, a male profile 21 is shown, which male profile 21 can engage into a corresponding groove on the outer circumference of the sealing ring to receive and secure the sealing ring.

The device 1 has a centering section 10 and a guide section 15. The guide section 15 is arranged to guide the translational movement of the centering section 10.

In the present embodiment, the guide section 15 has two guide rods 16, which guide rods 16 are parallel and extend vertically downwards from the chamber wall 2 in the mounted state. The guide rod 16 is fastened, e.g. screwed or screwed, to the lower chamber wall 2. In this case, the lower chamber wall 2 can be considered as part of the apparatus 1. However, the guide section 15 can also be arranged on other machine parts and/or have other configurations, as long as the function of the centering section 10 described below is ensured.

The centering section 10 has a receiving section 11 and a transport section 12 (see fig. 4). The transport section 12 cooperates with the guide section 15 such that the centering section 10 is translationally movable along a defined trajectory.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport section 12 is substantially formed by two openings (not shown in the figures) through which the guide rods 16 each pass, so that the movement path of the centering section 10, i.e. the movement freedom, corresponds to the direction of extension of the two guide rods 16. By providing two or more guide rods 16, it is ensured in a structurally simple manner that the centering segment 10 is prevented from rotating about the axis of the guide rods 16. However, the defined guidance and the prevention of undesired degrees of freedom can also be achieved in technically different ways, for example by means of a guide rod with a polygonal cross section which cooperates with an opening of the transport section 12 with a corresponding polygonal cross section.

The receiving section 11 serves to receive the container section. In the case of bottles (e.g. glass or plastic bottles), the bottle neck is preferably received, i.e. stabilized and centered, by the receiving portion 11. For this purpose, the receiving sections 11 preferably conform to the contour of the respective container. The contour of the receiving section 11 is preferably conically tapered in the lifting direction of the container 100.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the receiving section 11 has a clamping element shape with two clamping arms 11a, which two clamping arms 11a form an open ring or an indexing ring. The clamping arm 11a preferably surrounds the respective container section, for example a bottle neck, at least partially at an angle of between 180 ° and 220 °, particularly preferably at an angle of approximately 200 °. In this way, the container 100 can be moved into the process chamber to a height near the valve or near the processing element and safely held. The lifting of the container 100 towards a processing mechanism, such as a filling mechanism, is thereby minimized, so that the container 100 is ready for processing, such as for filling, as quickly as possible.

The receiving section 11 can be made of a plastic with a certain flexibility in order to achieve a passive fit and a gentle centering when the container 100 is moved from below and/or laterally into the receiving section 11. Furthermore, the centering section 10 can be constructed in one piece. Even when the receiving section 11 in the present embodiment receives the container 100 purely passively, stabilizes it and centers it, the receiving section 11 may instead have actively adjustable clamping arms in order to clamp the container 100 more safely and reliably when necessary.

In order to move the containers 100 into the processing chamber, the containers 100 are supplied laterally and/or from below to the receiving section 11 in the lower position, i.e. the receiving position, such that the receiving section 11 at least partially surrounds the respective container section. This state is known from fig. 2 and 4 from different perspectives. The container 100 is transported by a lifting device, which is not shown in the figures. For example, the container 100 stands on a lifting plate.

By lifting the container 100 by means of the lifting device and moving the container 100 together with the centering section 10 upwards, the container 100 presses the receiving section 11 upwards until the mouth section 101 enters the processing chamber and the container 100 reaches the desired processing position. The centering of the container 100 takes place simultaneously by the upward movement of the container 100 and the defined guidance of the receiving section 11, so that the container 100 is moved reliably and precisely into the processing position. The centering is preferably carried out purely passively. No additional actuator is required to center the container 100. In this case, the transport of the centering section 10 also takes place passively, i.e. without its own drive. Conversely, the centering section 10 is pressed upward by the container 100 via the receiving section 11. Fig. 3 shows the moved-in state in which the container 100 is located in the processing position.

After the treatment of the container 100, preferably after filling and/or closing, the container 100 is removed downward from the treatment chamber by means of a lifting device.

In the simplest case, the centering section 10 returns to the starting position, i.e. the storage position, due to gravity. However, this process may be supported by biasing the centering segment 10 to the stowed position.

For this purpose, the device 1 can have one or more springs (not shown in the figures) which are arranged around the guide rods 16 and which are supported on the chamber wall 2 and the centering section 10, for example as helical springs. In this case, the centering section 10 and/or the chamber wall 2 preferably have a corresponding opening or recess for receiving or partially receiving a compression spring. This ensures that the centering section 10 can be moved into the processing position without the spring interfering with the transport between the centering section 10 and the lower chamber wall 2.

The above-described apparatus 1 allows centering of the container 100 during its movement into the treatment chamber without having to sink the container 100 past under a conventional centering ring. Actuators for moving such centering rings, such as cam controls, may be omitted. The centering takes place substantially passively, i.e. the force from the lifting movement is used synergistically for centering in that the centering section 10 is pressed upward by the container 100 and in this way the container 100 aligns itself in the receiving section 11. In addition, the required lifting for moving into and out of the process chamber is minimized, whereby the process angle, i.e. the angle through which the transport carousel for processing (e.g. for filling and/or closing) the containers 100 has to pass, can be reduced. The apparatus can be formed more compact as a whole and simplified in structure. Therefore, maintenance consumption and maintenance cost are also reduced. Possible error sources can be eliminated, thereby increasing reliability.

Where applicable, all individual features shown in the embodiments can be combined with each other and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Description of reference numerals:

1 device for centering a container

2 chamber wall

10 centring section

11 receiving section

11a clamping arm

12 transport section

15 guide section

16 guide rod

20 opening

21 convex profile

100 container

101 mouth section of a container

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for centering a container (100) during its lifting into a processing area, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises:

a centering section (10), said centering section (10) having a receiving section (11), said centering section (10) being arranged to receive said container (100) on at least one section thereof; and

a guiding section (15), the guiding section (15) being arranged to guide a translational movement of the centering section (10) along a defined trajectory between a receiving position for receiving the containers (100) by the receiving section (11) and a processing position for processing the containers (100) in the processing area;

characterized in that the process zone is located in a process chamber having a chamber wall (2), the chamber wall (2) having an opening (20), wherein the centering section (10) and the guide section (15) are arranged to introduce at least a part of the container (100) into the process chamber through the opening (20) during lifting, and the receiving section (11) has a clamp shape with two clamping arms (11 a), the two clamping arms (11 a) forming an open loop.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, for filling and/or closing a container (100) in a beverage filling plant.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said centering section (10) and said guiding section (15) are arranged to introduce a mouth section (101) of said container (100) into said treatment chamber through said opening (20) during lifting.

4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide section (15) is arranged on the chamber wall (2).

5. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing ring is located in the opening (20), which sealing ring is arranged to be placed around a container section in the introduced state of the container (100) such that the inner space of the treatment chamber is sealed from the outer environment.

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the wall forming the opening (20) has a convex profile (21) to retain the sealing ring.

7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing section (11) has a profile that coincides with the profile of the respective container.

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the contour of the receiving section (11) tapers conically in the lifting direction of the container (100).

9. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said gripping arm (11 a) forms an indexing ring in an angular range between 180 ° and 220 °.

10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said gripping arm (11 a) forms an indexing ring at about 200 °.

11. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said centering section (10) has a transport section (12), said transport section (12) cooperating with said guide section (15) so that said centering section (10) is movable in translation along a defined trajectory.

12. Device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that said transport section (12) cooperates with said guide section (15) so that said centering section (10) can move in translation along a rectilinear trajectory.

13. Device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the transport section (12) has at least one opening through which the guide section (15) passes at least partially, so that the centering section (10) is movable along the guide section (15).

14. Device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the transport section (12) has at least two openings and the guide section (15) has at least two appurtenant guide rods (16), the guide rods (16) respectively passing through the openings.

15. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the centering section (10) is biased into the storage position by means of one or more springs.

16. An apparatus for processing containers (100), the apparatus having:

-a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims;

a treatment chamber having a chamber wall (2), wherein a guide section (15) of the device (1) is arranged on the chamber wall (2).

17. The device according to claim 16, for filling the container (100) with a filling product and/or closing the container (100) with a closure in a beverage filling plant.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing chamber is sealable from an external environment.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein an overpressure is established in the processing chamber when the container is in a processing position for processing the container (100).

20. Method for centering a container (100) during its lifting into a processing area by means of a device according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the method has:

arranging the centering section (10) at a storage position;

-introducing the container (100) into a receiving section (11), the receiving section (11) being located at a receiving position such that the receiving section (11) at least partially surrounds the container (100) on one section thereof;

-lifting the container (100) to a processing position by means of a lifting device, whereby the centering section (10) is driven by the container (100) and guided by the guide section (15) to be lifted as well, and centering of the container (100) is achieved by the receiving section (11);

characterized in that the process zone is located in a process chamber having a chamber wall (2), the chamber wall (2) having an opening (20), wherein the centering section (10) and the guide section (15) are arranged to introduce at least a part of the container (100) into the process chamber through the opening (20) during lifting.

21. Method according to claim 20, for filling and/or closing a container (100) in a beverage filling plant.