CN112645258A

CN112645258A - Device for guiding a container closure and closure device

Info

Publication number: CN112645258A
Application number: CN202011078399.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马库斯·舍恩菲尔德; 克劳斯·布赫霍伊泽; 塞巴斯蒂安·克莱帕茨
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2019-10-11
Filing date: 2020-10-10
Publication date: 2021-04-13
Also published as: EP3805145A1; DE102019127451A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for guiding a container closure, preferably for feeding crown caps to a closing device (6), comprising a first guide rail (3) extending in a longitudinal direction (2), wherein a second guide rail (4) extending in the longitudinal direction (2) is provided, which is movable in the longitudinal direction (2) relative to the first guide rail (3), wherein a guide path of variable length for guiding the container closure is formed by the first guide rail (3) and the second guide rail (4), a closing device (6) having the device (1) and a facility for handling containers (8) having the device (1) and the closing device (6).

Description

Device for guiding a container closure and closure device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for guiding a container closure, for example for feeding a crown cap to a closing device in a beverage filling plant, and to a closing device for closing a container with a container closure, for example for closing a bottle with a crown cap.

Background

In filling plants for filling containers with a filling product, in particular in beverage filling plants, it is known to feed container closures to be applied to filled containers via guide rails to a closing device for closing the containers with the container closures.

The container closures are usually sorted and oriented in a sorting device or a so-called mixing mechanism and then transferred to a guide rail. In each case, such a sorting device or stirring mechanism is arranged at least partially above the closing device, viewed in the direction of gravity, so that the container closures guided in the guide rails are moved in the direction of the closing device due to gravity.

In order to be able to handle container closures of different container heights by means of the same installation or the same closure device, it is known to design the upper part of the closure device to be height-adjustable. In order to switch from a container of a specific type having a specific container height to another container type having a different container height, the upper part is correspondingly moved along the height such that the closing mechanism of the closing device is correctly positioned with respect to the new container height.

If the sorting device or the stirring device is arranged directly on the upper part of the closing device, as is often the case in conventional installations, the spacing between the sorting device or the stirring device and the closing device is not dependent on a change in height, so that no adaptations for handling different container heights are required in the combined configuration.

In modern installations, however, the sorting devices or the stirring mechanisms are also arranged outside the filling and closing process space of the installation. In this case, the sorting device or the stirring device is arranged, for example, on a base above the closing device or on a clean room roof of a clean room enclosing at least one closing device. The sorting device or the stirring mechanism then has a substantially constant height level. When the height of the closing device or closing means is changed in order to process containers having different container heights, the spacing between the sorting device or stirring means and the closing means is correspondingly changed. In order to compensate for said height variations, the installation is correspondingly retrofitted in that: changing between different rails having different lengths. In other words, a specific guide rail is provided for substantially each container height. The facility is correspondingly modified for handling containers of different container heights in a manner that at least: the guide rail associated with the new container height is inserted into the facility.

In order to reduce or even completely avoid the expenditure of such retrofitting, guide apparatuses are known in which the guide rail is divided into different sections which can be guided laterally past one another. The guide device provides a multi-curved guide rail for the container closure. The container closure is here transferred laterally from the first subsection onto the second subsection. Such guide devices are heavy due to the high material usage, are furthermore of complex construction due to the plurality of components and require a significantly increased installation space compared to guide rails. Such a guide device is known, for example, from EP 2451739B 1 or CN 204224204U.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for guiding a container closure, preferably for conveying a crown cap to a closure device, and an improved closure device.

The object is achieved by a device for guiding a container closure, preferably for feeding a crown cap to a closing device. Advantageous developments emerge from the description and the drawings.

Correspondingly, a device for guiding a container closure, preferably for feeding a crown cap to a closure device, is proposed, said device comprising a first guide rail extending in a longitudinal direction. The device is further characterized in that a second guide rail is provided which extends in the longitudinal direction and is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first guide rail, wherein a guide path of variable length for guiding the container closures is formed by the first guide rail and the second guide rail.

By providing a second guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction, which second guide rail is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first guide rail, wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail form a guide path section of variable length for guiding the container closures, the device can provide different guide lengths without having to be retrofitted, in particular replaced. One of the two guide rails can be attached to the sorting device or the stirring device and the other of the two guide rails is attached to the closing device of the closing device. If the spacing of the closing means relative to the sorting apparatus or the stirring means changes, said change in spacing can be compensated via a change in the length of the apparatus by: the first rail moves in a longitudinal direction relative to the second rail.

By means of the device, compensation of the changed spacing can thus be provided without the container closures guided in the guide rails being misaligned along their guide rails. By means of this device, a simple positioning between the sorting device or the stirring device and the closing device can thus be achieved, as in conventional installations, merely by using different guide rails each having a different length, without however having to propose the previously required complex modifications in the form of replacement guide rails in order to handle containers with different container heights by means of the installation.

The device for guiding a container closure described herein has a simplified construction compared to conventional guiding devices. In particular, in combination with the proposed simplified positioning possibilities, the construction of the installation with the device can be greatly simplified by the device.

The guide path is preferably designed as a straight path. The term "straight line" is understood here in a geometric sense. In other words, the "straight-line link" is the shortest connection of two points.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first guide rail forms a first guide path section extending in a straight line in the longitudinal direction, and the second guide rail forms a second guide path section extending in a straight line in the longitudinal direction. The device thus provides a guide path section running in a straight line, which is essentially formed by the first guide path section and the second guide path section.

In order to achieve a particularly compact construction of the device, one of the rails can be moved into the other rail and can be pulled out of it. In other words, the first rail and the second rail are telescopically configured in the longitudinal direction. Correspondingly, the device is a device that is telescopic in the longitudinal direction.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the second guide rail is guided in the first guide rail. This makes it possible to avoid the rails becoming jammed with each other when the length changes and the first rail moves relative to the second rail.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first guide rail has two opposite guide elements each having a guide groove for laterally guiding the container closure, wherein the guide grooves face each other. Thereby, at least one lateral guidance of the container closure can be achieved in a simple manner. Advantageously, guidance of the container closure in its height direction can also be provided by the guide element.

The height direction of the container closure corresponds to the direction from the upper or cover section of the container closure towards the open lower end of the container closure. The height direction in other words substantially corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the container closed by the container closure. The term "laterally" with respect to the container closure is furthermore to be regarded as radial direction with respect to the height direction.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second guide rail has two opposite guide plates, each of which forms a guide groove for laterally guiding the container closure, wherein the guide grooves face each other. Advantageously, guidance of the container closure in its height direction is also provided by the guide plate.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the guide plate of the second guide rail is guided in the guide groove of the guide element of the first guide rail. This enables a particularly simple and compact construction of the device.

Preferably, the guide groove is designed as a T-shaped groove, wherein the guide plate is guided in an undercut recess of the T-shaped groove. Thereby, additional elements for guiding and/or positioning the guide plate relative to the guide groove can be substantially dispensed with.

According to a further preferred embodiment, an external guide device, preferably a linear guide device, particularly preferably a guide device comprising a telescopic cylinder, is provided for guiding the first rail and the second rail relative to each other in the longitudinal direction. This can improve the stability of the apparatus. Furthermore, the requirements with regard to tolerances between the first guide rail and the second guide rail can thereby be reduced.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second rail has at least one guide section for guiding the container closures in the height direction thereof, preferably two opposing guide sections, wherein the at least one guide section is preferably arranged between the guide plates of the second rail. Lateral guidance and guidance in the height direction of the container closure can thereby be provided by the guide rails, and the second guide rails simultaneously have a simple construction, wherein the parts of the second guide rails each have a simple geometry, which can be produced in a simple manner and in a material-saving manner.

In order to prevent the container closures from jamming when they enter the first guide rail, the guide grooves of the first guide rail each have a chamfer on their end facing the second guide rail.

Furthermore, the object set forth above is achieved by a closure device for closing a container with a container closure, preferably for closing a bottle with a crown cap. Advantageous developments emerge from the following description and the drawings.

Correspondingly, a closure device for closing a container with a container closure, preferably for closing a bottle with a crown cap, is proposed, which comprises a closure mechanism for applying the container closure to the container, wherein the height position of the closure mechanism is variable in order to adapt the height position of the closure mechanism to different container types to be closed. The closure device is characterized by a device for guiding a container closure according to one of the above-described embodiments.

The advantages and effects described in connection with the device for guiding a container closure can be achieved in a similar manner by means of the closure device.

Furthermore, the object set forth above is achieved by a facility for handling containers, preferably a filling facility for filling containers with a filling product and closing the containers with container closures.

Correspondingly, a facility for processing containers, preferably a filling facility for filling containers with a filling product and closing containers with container closures, is proposed, which comprises a filling device for filling containers, a sorting device for sorting container closures and a closing device for closing filled containers. The device is characterized in that the closure device has a device for guiding the container closures according to one of the above-described embodiments.

Drawings

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in detail by the following description of the figures. Shown here are:

fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a plant for filling containers with a filling product and closing the filled containers with container closures;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates another side view of the facility in FIG. 1;

fig. 3 schematically shows a perspective side view of an apparatus for guiding container closures according to the installation of fig. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 schematically shows another perspective side view of the apparatus in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 schematically shows a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 schematically shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

fig. 7 schematically shows another perspective side view of the device according to fig. 3 to 6;

figure 8 schematically shows a perspective cross-sectional view through the device perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device;

figure 9 schematically shows a perspective detail view of a first guide rail of the apparatus in figure 8;

figure 10 schematically shows a perspective detail view of a second guide rail of the apparatus in figure 8; and

fig. 11 schematically shows a perspective detail view of the second guide rail in fig. 10.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this case, identical, similar or identically functioning elements in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals, and a repeated description of the elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancy.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a plant 10 for filling containers 8 with a filling product and closing filled containers 8 with container closures. Currently, the container 8 is provided in the form of a bottle which is closed by a container closure in the form of a crown cap. For this purpose, the containers 8 are initially filled with filling product in a filling device, not shown, and are subsequently conveyed to the closing device 6 via a container conveying device 66. The closure device 6 has a closure mechanism 60 which is designed to equip the container 8 with a container closure. The closure 60 is designed to be height-adjustable. The height position of the closure 60 is thus variable, so that the height position of the closure 60 can be adapted to different container types to be closed. The closure 60 is positioned at a height corresponding to the height of the respective container in order to be adapted to the type of container. In fig. 1, the closure 60 is arranged, for example, at a first height position 61, whereby the closure 60 is designed to fit a container 8 having a first container height 80 with a container closure.

In the presently shown embodiment, a filling device and a closing device 6, not shown, are arranged in the clean room 9. On the clean room roof 90 of the clean room 9, a sorting device 7 is arranged for sorting container closures. For feeding the container closures sorted in the sorting device 7 to the closing device 6, a device 1 for guiding the container closures is provided between the sorting device 7 and the closing device 6. Currently, crown caps sorted in the sorting device 7 are thus fed to the closing device 6 via the device 1.

The device 1 comprises a first guide rail 3 extending in the longitudinal direction 2 and a second guide rail 4 extending in the longitudinal direction 2, which is movable in the longitudinal direction 2 relative to the first guide rail 3. A variable-length guide path for guiding the container closures is formed by the first guide rail 3 and the second guide rail 4, wherein the guide path substantially corresponds to the first length 20 of the device 1 shown here.

The first length 20 is predetermined by the distance 70 between the sorting device 7 and the current height position 61 of the closing element 60 of the closing device 6.

The first guide rail 3 constitutes a linearly extending first guide section extending in the longitudinal direction 2 and the second guide rail 4 constitutes a linearly extending second guide section extending in the longitudinal direction 2, as will be further described in detail with respect to fig. 5 and 6.

The second guide rail 4 can now be moved into the first guide rail 3 and can be pulled out of said first guide rail. In other words, the device 1 is telescopically constructed via the

guide rails

3, 4.

Fig. 2 shows the installation 10 from fig. 1, in which, instead of the containers 8 having a first container height 80, containers 8 'having a second container height 80' are processed. The second container height 80' is different from the first container height 80. In order to be able to close the container 8', the closing means 60 is correspondingly moved into the second height position 62. The height difference between the first height position 61 and the second height position 62 is indicated by means of reference numeral 64. The spacing 70' between the sorting device 7 and the closing device 6 is therefore different from the spacing 70 as shown in fig. 1. Correspondingly, the device 1 has a second length 22, which is different from the first length 20. In order to enable said change of the length of the device 1, the first guide rail 3 and the second guide rail 4 are moved in relation to each other in the longitudinal direction 2 compared to fig. 1 so as to occupy the position shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows the device 1 of the installation 10 according to fig. 1 and 2 in a schematic perspective side view, with the device 1 in a completely moved-in state. In other words, the second rail 4 is moved into the first rail 3 as far as possible. The device 1 thus has a first length 20, which corresponds to the minimum length of the device 1.

The second guide rail 4, as already mentioned in relation to fig. 1 and 2, is configured such that it can be moved into the first guide rail and pulled out of it. The second guide rail 4 is guided in the first guide rail 3, as will be explained further below.

For guiding the container closures, the second guide rail 4 has two opposite guide plates 40, which each form a guide groove for laterally guiding the container closures, wherein the guide grooves face each other. Due to the view in fig. 3, only one of the two guide plates 40 is visible. The opposite guide plates are covered by guide sections 44. The guide section is one of two opposite guide sections 44 for guiding the container closures in their height direction, wherein the guide sections 44 are arranged between the guide plates 40 of the second rail 4.

The guide section 40 has a stop 48, which is guided in the longitudinal direction 2 in the slot 36 of the first guide rail 3. The end of the elongated hole 36 in combination with the stopper 48 restricts the movement of the second rail 4 with respect to the first rail 3. The end of the elongated hole 36 is thus preset for the final position of the second rail 4 relative to the first rail 3.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a further perspective side view of the device 1 from fig. 3, wherein the second rail 4 is displaced in the longitudinal direction 2 compared to fig. 3 relative to the first rail 3, so that the stop 48 comes to rest on the upper end of the elongated hole 36 shown in fig. 4. The device 1 thus has a second length 22, which corresponds to the maximum length of the device 1.

Fig. 5 and 6 each show the device 1 according to fig. 3 and 4 in a schematic side view. Fig. 5 shows the device 1 in a completely pushed-in state, schematically, so that it has the first length 20 described above. The device 1 thus provides a guide path section along the longitudinal direction 2 for the container closures guided by the device 1, said guide path section substantially corresponding to the first length 20. The first guide rail 3 provides a first guide path section 24 and the second guide rail 4 provides a second guide path section 26, which together form a linearly extending guide path section provided by the device 1.

Correspondingly, the device 1 in fig. 6 has a second length 22, which is different from the first length 20, which in turn corresponds to the guide path section provided by the device 1. It can be seen here that the first guide path section 24' provided by the first guide rail 3 in the position of the device 1 corresponds to the guide path section 24 in fig. 5. The second guide path section 26' provided by the second guide rail 4 differs from the second guide path section 26 as shown in fig. 5, since the second guide rail 4 in fig. 6 is removed from the first guide rail 3 compared to fig. 5. Correspondingly, the

guide rails

3, 4 jointly provide a guide path section, which substantially corresponds to the second length 22.

Fig. 7 shows the device 1 of the aforementioned figures schematically in a further perspective side view, wherein the device 1 is shown in a position rotated by approximately 90 ° about the longitudinal direction 2 in comparison with fig. 3 and 4, so that additional external guide means 5 of the device 1 can be seen. The guide device 5 currently has a telescopic cylinder 50 which comprises a first telescopic cylinder part 52 which is connected to the first guide rail 3 and a second telescopic cylinder part 54 which can be moved into the first telescopic cylinder part 52 and can be pulled out of it and which is connected to the second guide rail 4. The external guiding means 5 thus guide the movement of the second rail 4 in the longitudinal direction 2 relative to the first rail 3.

Fig. 8 schematically shows a perspective section through the device 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 2 at a height indicated in fig. 7 by means of the reference sign a-a.

Two opposing guide elements 30 each having a guide groove 32 for laterally guiding the container closure are clearly visible, wherein the guide grooves 32 face each other. Here, two opposite guide plates 40 are also visible, each of which forms a guide groove 42 for laterally guiding the container closures, the guide grooves 42 facing one another.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the guide plate 40 of the second guide rail 4 is guided in the guide groove 32 of the guide element 30 of the first guide rail 3. The guide grooves 32 are each formed as a T-shaped groove, wherein the guide plates 40 are each guided in an undercut recess 34 of the T-shaped groove 32.

The projections 35 of the guide slot 32 provide a basic width of the guide slot 32 which is larger than the height of the container closure to be transferred, but are dimensioned such that guidance in the height direction of the container closure is provided by the projections 35. The undercut recess 34 and the guide plate 40 are designed such that the lateral limbs of the guide plate 40 have a spacing from one another which is equal to or preferably greater than the basic width provided by the projection 35. The container closures are thereby guided in the height direction substantially only by the first guide rail 3.

As already described above, the second guide rail 4 has a guide section 44 in order to guide the container closures also in the height direction. The guide section 44 serves in particular here for guiding the container closures in the second guide section sections 26, 26' in the height direction. The guide sections 44 are provided for this purpose at a distance which substantially corresponds to the basic width of the guide groove 32.

In order to avoid jamming of the container closures on entry into the first guide rail 3, the projections 35 each have a chamfer 38 on the end of the guide groove 32 facing the second guide rail 4, as can be seen from the schematic perspective detail view of the first guide rail 3 in fig. 9.

Fig. 10 schematically shows a further perspective detail of the first guide rail 3. It is clearly visible that the T-shaped groove of the guide groove 32 ends approximately at the level of the lower end of the long hole 36. The T-shaped groove of the guide groove 32 is therefore formed with a limited length. The undercut recess 34 of the guide groove 32 extends here until the respective guide plate 40, in the maximum insertion position of the device 1, as can be seen from fig. 3 and 5, can be inserted into the first guide rail 3 without interference, without colliding with the end of the undercut recess 34.

Fig. 11 schematically shows a perspective detail of the second guide rail 4. The guide plates 40 each have a driver 46, which is in the present case optionally designed as a wing extending laterally from the guide plates 40. The driver 46 enables the guide section 44 to be driven in height by the guide plate 40, wherein the stop 48 of the guide section 44 in turn limits the movement of the second rail 4 relative to the first rail 3 in cooperation with the slot 36.

All individual features shown in the embodiments can be combined and/or interchanged with one another as applicable without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals:

1 apparatus

2 longitudinal direction

20 first length

22 second length

24, 24' first guide path section

26, 26' second guide path section

3 first guide rail

30 guide element

32 guide groove

34 undercut clearance

35 projection

36 long hole

38 chamfered edge

4 second guide rail

40 guide plate

42 guide groove

44 guide section

46 driving part

48 stop

5 guide device

50 telescopic cylinder

52 first telescoping cylinder section

54 second telescoping cylinder part

6 sealing device

60 closure mechanism

61 first height position

62 second height position

64 difference in height

66 container conveying device

7 sorting equipment

70, 70' pitch

8, 8' container

80, 80' container height

9 ultra-clean room

90 super clean room roof

10 installation

Claims

1. A device (1) for guiding container closures, preferably for feeding crown closures to a closing device (6), comprising a first guide rail (3) extending in a longitudinal direction (2),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

a second guide rail (4) extending in the longitudinal direction (2) is provided, which is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first guide rail (3), wherein a guide path of variable length for guiding the container closure is formed by the first guide rail (3) and the second guide rail (4).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the first guide rail (3) forms a first guide path section (24) extending in a straight line in the longitudinal direction (2), and the second guide rail (4) forms a second guide path section (26) extending in the longitudinal direction (2) in a straight line.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

one of the guide rails (3, 4) can be moved into the other guide rail (4, 3) and can be pulled out of the other guide rail.

4. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second guide rail (4) is guided in the first guide rail (3).

5. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the first guide rail (3) has two opposing guide elements (30) each having a guide groove (32) for laterally guiding the container closure, wherein the guide grooves (32) face each other.

6. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second guide rail (4) has two opposite guide plates (40) which each form a guide groove (42) for laterally guiding the container closure, wherein the guide grooves (42) face each other.

7. The device (1) according to claim 6 in relation to claim 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the guide plate (40) of the second guide rail (4) is guided in the guide groove (32) of the guide element (30) of the first guide rail (3).

8. The device (1) according to claim 7,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the guide groove (32) is designed as a T-shaped groove, wherein the guide plate (40) is guided in an undercut recess (34) of the T-shaped groove.

9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

an external guide device (5), preferably a linear guide device, particularly preferably a guide device (5) comprising a telescopic cylinder (50), is provided for guiding the first guide rail (3) and the second guide rail (4) relative to each other in the longitudinal direction (2).

10. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second rail (4) has at least one guide section (44), preferably two opposing guide sections (44), for guiding the container closures in the height direction thereof, wherein the at least one guide section (44) is preferably arranged between guide plates (40) of the second rail (4).

11. A closure device (6) for closing a container (8) by means of a container closure, preferably for closing a bottle by means of a crown cap, comprising a closure mechanism (60) for applying the container closure to the container (8), wherein the height position (61, 62) of the closure mechanism (60) is variable in order to adapt the height position (61, 62) of the closure mechanism (60) to different container types to be closed,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

device (1) for guiding container closures according to one of the preceding claims is provided.