DE102004017737A1 - Timed movement carousel filling machine for bottles has carousel including facilities for all bottle handling - Google Patents

Abstract

The carousel filling machine has a carousel which includes all the necessary facilities for processing the bottles (sterilizing, filling, closing, etc.). The carousel may advance by a set number of divisions between the processing stages to the next processing stage. The machine may be divided in a number of segments, each with a number of divisions.

Description

1. Technical problem

To the fill of plastic bottles are common filling used as continuous-running round fillers or as clocking linear fillers. Both types bring different disadvantages.

• – für jeden Behandlungsschritt (Sterilisieren, Füllen, Verschließen) der Flaschen wird ein eigenes Karussell benötigt. Zwischen den Karussells muss eine Übergabemechanik geschaffen werden. Durch diese Anordnung sind diese Maschinen sehr groß und entsprechend teuer.
• – Aufgrund der oben erwähnten Anordnung entsteht ein sehr großer Sterilbereich mit vielen Verwirbelungen, was eine aseptische Abfüllung sehr schwierig macht.
• – Durch die kontinuierliche Rotationsbewegung der Karussells müssen aufwendige Drehverteiler montiert werden, um das Produkt, das Sterilisationsmittel usw. zur Flasche zu transportieren. Diese Verteiler arbeiten mit schleifenden Dichtungen, die entsprechend verschleißen und ebenfalls aseptische Probleme aufwerfen.

For round fillers, the following are the disadvantages:

• - For each treatment step (sterilization, filling, closing) of the bottles a separate carousel is needed. Between the carousels, a transfer mechanism must be created. By this arrangement, these machines are very large and expensive.
• - Due to the above-mentioned arrangement creates a very large sterile area with many turbulences, which makes aseptic filling very difficult.
• - Through the continuous rotation of the carousel complex rotary distributor must be mounted to transport the product, the sterilizing agent, etc. to the bottle. These manifolds use abrasive seals that wear out and also pose aseptic problems.

• – Oftmals aufwendige Flaschenzufuhr und -entnahme
• – Geringe Abfüllleistung
• – Aufgrund des häufig verwendeten Kettenantriebs Positionierungenauigkeiten und undefinierte Kettenlängung nach längerem Betrieb. Hohe Wartungskosten.
• – Die Flaschenträger verlassen im Leertrum den sterilen Bereich. Das führt zu aseptischen Problemen
• – Schlechte Zugängigkeit bzw. Sicht auf die inneren Flaschen
• – Aufwendige Flaschenträger sind in hoher Stückzahl erforderlich, die im Leertrum nicht genutzt werden können.
• – Eine automatische Reinigung der Maschinen ist sehr aufwendig und aseptisch nicht ohne Risiko

Clocking linear fillers have the following night parts:

• - Often time consuming bottle feeding and removal
• - Low filling capacity
• - Due to the frequently used chain drive positioning inaccuracies and undefined chain elongation after prolonged operation. High maintenance costs.
• - The bottle carriers leave the sterile area in the empty section. This leads to aseptic problems
• - Poor accessibility or view of the inner bottles
• - Elaborate bottle carriers are required in large quantities, which can not be used in the empty section.
• - An automatic cleaning of the machines is very complex and aseptic not without risk

A Further development under consideration the o.g. Problems is the "Ovalfüller" dar. Here is a Run chain with bottle holders horizontally in one plane. But the chain problem persists here as well. The bottle supply and Removal is not easy here either. The demarcation between bottleneck area and bottle body area through the bottle carrier is not continuous in the area of the chain deflection.

A Combination of these types of filling machines, a clocking round filler with only one carousel, eliminates the respective disadvantages and combines the respective advantages.

2. Functional description

The Füllmaschinenkonzept is based on the principle of the clocking round filler. The carousel is ticking at each step by x divisions (4 divisions are drawn). While the carousel downtime can the different treatment steps of the bottles (Sterilize, Drying out, filling, closing, Tightness control or similar) similar to at the linear filler carried out at the same time become.

The bottles hang on the neck support ring ( 1 ) in a two-lane or multi-lane accumulation conveyor ( 2 ) ( 3 ).

When Vortakten the carousel, the bottles are individually by the dynamic pressure in the passing receiving lugs ( 3 ) of the carousel ring ( 4 ) pushed. Through inlet guide rails ( 5 ) and peripheral guide rails ( 6 ) the bottles are brought to the exact distance and guided in the machine during the entire time. ( 2 )

Optionally, the bottles can be replaced with modified guide rails ( 7 ) are also aligned linearly in the respective stations in order to facilitate the treatment ( 4 )

The circumference of the carousel is divided into individual segments ( 8th ) divided by x divisions, in which the respective treatment stations (sterilization, drying, filling, sealing, etc.) are permanently installed. ( 2 )

After the bottles have been closed, the filled bottles are removed by means of the outlet guide rails ( 9 ) is pushed out of the receiving lugs when pretending the carousel and transported by two or more (same number as accumulation conveyor) conveyor belts out of the machine. ( 2 )

During transport of the bottles in the machine, the carousel ring ( 4 ) the sterile neck area ( 9 ) from the bottle body region ( 10 ) and thus forms together with the cladding ( 11 ) a lock on germs and spores. ( 1 )

Claims (8)

Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the Ma consists of a bottle carousel in which all treatment steps (sterilization, filling, sealing, etc.) of the bottle are carried out. Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the carousel between the treatment steps by x divisions to the next Treatment station for the bottles pre-clocked Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the machine in y segments of each x Division is divided, in which the stations for treatment the bottles are firmly installed Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that on the circumference of the carousel receiving latches ( 3 ) for the plastic bottles, are inserted into the two or more bottles by guide rails Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the bottles by guide strips ( 5 ; 6 ) are guided in the machine during the entire transport and brought to the correct distance. Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the guide rails optionally can align the bottles in a straight row ( 7 ) to facilitate the treatment Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the bottles after closing by means of the Auslaufführungsleisten ( 9 ) are pushed out of the machine by the rotary motion of the carousel Tactical carousel filling machine for plastic bottles, characterized in that the carousel ring ( 4 ) separates the area of the bottleneck from the area of the bottle body