DE102017114387A1 - Device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating a container (140) in a filling product filling system, comprising a filling member (2) having a filling product outlet (22) for filling the container (140) with a filling product and a filling valve (20) Controlling the filling product flow through the filling product outlet (22), and comprising a closing member (3) for closing the container (140) filled with the filling product, the filling member (2) being moved from a filling position for filling the container (140) to a parked position Release a Verschließhubs the closure member (3) is movable.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant, for example for filling the container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container, preferably for filling a beverage container with a beverage in a beverage filling plant and for subsequently closing the container.

Technical background

It is known to fill in beverage filling the container to be filled in a filler carousel with the respective filling product. For this purpose, the containers to be filled are fed to the filler carousel, each associated with a Füllerkarussell arranged filling member and filled with the respective filling product, then discharged from the Füllerkarussell and fed to a Verschließerkarussell for closing with a container closure. In this process of transferring the already filled but not yet sealed container from the filler carousel to the capper carousel, it can come at a spill of the respective filling products, especially at high performance of beverage bottling and high filling heights of the filling in the container, so that contamination of the system and / or the outside of the filled containers may take place with the filling product.

In the EP 965 524 A1 a filling device is proposed in which a single container to be filled is received in a pressure-tightly sealed to the environment treatment chamber is filled in this treatment chamber by means of a filling member with the filling product and is provided after filling with a container closure. In this way, at least the disadvantages associated with transferring a filled but not yet closed container from a filler carousel to a capping carousel can be overcome.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object to provide an apparatus for treating a container in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, which provides a further improved structure.

This object is achieved by a device for treating a container in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the present figures.

Accordingly, an apparatus for treating a container in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage is proposed, comprising a filling member having a Füllproduktauslauf for filling the container with a filling product and a filling valve for influencing the Füllproduktstrom through the Füllproduktauslauf, and further comprising a closure member for closing the with the filling product filled container. According to the invention, the filling member is movable from a filling position for filling the container into a parking position for releasing a closing stroke of the closing member.

Characterized in that the filling member is movable from a filling position for filling the container to be filled in a parking position, it is achieved that the entire filling member, in particular with its filling product outlet and the filling valve, is moved from the filling position to the parking position. This eliminates a movement of the filling valve outlet relative to the filling valve itself. The mechanical structure of the filling member can be made correspondingly more reliable and hygienic, as can be dispensed with movable connections between filling valve outlet and filling valve. In particular, can be dispensed with the known from the prior art pivoting of the filling valve outlet relative to the filling valve, so that a pivotal connection between the filling valve and the Füllproduktauslauf can be avoided. This can then be dispensed with the respective seals for sealing the Füllproduktstroms, so that a simpler and more hygienic structure can be achieved with an improved cleanability of the filling product contacting parts of the filling member.

A more hygienic training can also be achieved, in particular, by omitting a pivotable connection between the filling valve and the filling product outlet in the regions in contact with the filling product, so that overall the cleanability of the device can be improved compared to the known devices.

The filling valve of the filling member serves for influencing the filling product flow through the filling product outlet and correspondingly for controlling or regulating the filling product flow in order to achieve filling of the container with the desired filling product volume, with the desired filling level and / or with the desired filling weight.

Particularly preferably, the filling element can be pivoted, moved or linearly moved between the filling position and the parking position move. Due to the movement of the filling member from the parking position into the filling position or from the filling position into the parking position, in addition to the above-mentioned positive effects with regard to the hygienic designability of the apparatus and the more robust construction, the space requirement in the circumferential direction can additionally be reduced. This is achieved in particular with a linear movement or a displacement.

For example, when the device is mounted on a treatment carousel, a plurality of devices are typically disposed around the circumference of the treatment carousel. It plays a role for the possible capacity and performance of the treatment carousel how wide the respective device builds, so in particular how wide the extension of each device in the circumferential direction of the Behandlungskarussels. By the formation of the filling member such that it can move linearly from the filling position into the parking position or vice versa, it is possible for the movement of the filling member to extend in a radial direction in a treatment carousel. Compared to a pivoting movement, as is known from the prior art, there is correspondingly a reduction of the installation space in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel, so that the individual devices can be arranged closer together and thus either the treatment carousel can be made more compact at a given power or For a given size of the treatment carousel, the performance can be increased.
Preferably, a Füllventilaktuator is provided by means of which the filling member is movable from the filling position in the parking position. By means of the actuator, an exact control of the position of the filling member can be achieved, so that a precise and efficient treatment process can be achieved.

Preferably, a treatment chamber for receiving a respective container to be treated is provided, and the filling member is provided for filling the container received in the treatment chamber and the closing member is provided for closing the container received in the treatment chamber filled with the filling product. Through the treatment chamber, it is possible to provide for each container predetermined pressure conditions, regardless of the pressure conditions under which other containers are treated. Thus, a controlled treatment and especially a controlled filling and subsequent closing of the respective container can be achieved in an efficient manner.

In this way, furthermore, a chamber filler can be provided in a compact manner in which certain pressure conditions and / or a specific gas composition or atmosphere can be provided in the treatment chamber, depending on the phase of the filling process.

For example, by loading the treatment chamber with a vacuum or a negative pressure after the initial introduction of the still empty container to be filled into the treatment chamber and the gas-tight seal against the environment, it is initially possible to essentially receive the treatment chamber itself and the container received therein evacuate. Thereafter, it is possible to apply the container to be filled together with the treatment chamber with a predetermined gas atmosphere in order to provide a corresponding filling atmosphere.

The gas atmosphere may be provided, for example, by an inert gas to allow for oxygenated beverages to be bottled under an inert atmosphere. Thereafter, by moving the filling member from the parking position to the filling position and then actuating the filling valve, the container can be filled with the desired filling product. After completion of the filling, the filling element and thus the filling product outlet can be removed again from the container and moved from the filling position to the parking position.

Then then the closure member can apply the appropriate closure to the container, whereby the filling and closing process is completed. Subsequently, then the gas can be withdrawn from the container chamber or the container chamber are brought to the ambient pressure, are opened and the filled and sealed container are removed from the container chamber to prepare the container chamber for the re-admission of an empty container to be filled.

In an alternative method, after the evacuation of the treatment chamber and the container, the filling element can first be moved from the parking position into the filling position and connected in a gas-tight manner to the mouth of the container. Subsequently, after actuation of the filling element in the provided with vacuum, the container to be filled, the filling product can be filled directly. The vacuum in the container is replaced by the filling product. The vacuum in the treatment chamber around the container to be filled or filled around, however, initially remains. Due to the negative pressure in the container, an accelerated or sudden filling of the container with the filling product is made possible accordingly. By the outside of the container The present vacuum will maintain the structural integrity of the container to be filled. In other words, the pressure inside the container is always either equal to or greater than the ambient pressure, so that a "imploding" of the container in the treatment chamber can not occur.

After completion of the filling process, after the vacuum inside the container is largely replaced with filling product, before the removal of the filling member and before moving the Füllorgans from the filling position in the parking position, the treatment chamber with the therein now filled container received therein, always is still connected gas-tight with the filling member, are acted upon by an overpressure, for example, with the pressure, with which the filling member was introduced into the interior of the container. When filling the container with a CO ₂ -containing filling product, this is preferably the CO ₂ pressure which is present in a filling product reservoir in which the filling product was present in the container to be filled prior to filling, for example in a central boiler or ring kettle of a beverage filling device , By applying the treatment chamber to the pressure and, for example CO ₂ under this pressure can be prevented that the CO ₂ is located in the container filled filling product release abruptly but rather is achieved, which is suppressed debonding of the CO ₂ in the filling product , Accordingly, a foaming of the filling product does not take place after the release of the filling member from the then filled container, since the CO ₂ pressure in the treatment chamber then substantially corresponds to the CO ₂ pressure in the interior of the filled container. In this way, foaming or foaming can be avoided.

Instead of pressurized CO ₂ , the treatment chamber can also be acted upon with compressed gas under a high pressure in order to reduce or completely prevent the occurrence of overblowing or debinding of dissolved gas in the filling product.

The filling element can now be moved from the filling position to the parking position and the container can be closed, wherein the elevated pressure is still present in the treatment chamber, ie in particular the overpressure in the treatment chamber caused by the introduction of CO ₂ or compressed gas, which is foaming or Foaming or dispensing of dissolved gas in the filling product prevents, so that a clean closing of the filled container is made possible.

After the pressure-tight closure of the container with the container closure, the pressure in the treatment chamber can then be relieved to the ambient pressure, wherein preferably the gas which is discharged from the treatment chamber can be at least partially reused. The treatment chamber is then opened, the filled and sealed container removed and placed another, to be filled container in the treatment chamber.

The filling member preferably comprises a seal, which allows a gas-tight seal of the mouth region of the container to be filled with the filling product-carrying areas of the filling member. This makes it possible to provide a pressure differing from the pressure existing in the treatment chamber in the interior of the container. In this way it is also possible to provide a different atmosphere or gas composition inside the container to be filled than in the treatment chamber.

Preferably, the seal is supported by a lifting mechanism, by means of which the container can be pressed against the filling member, or the filling member can be pressed against the container, or filling member and container both can each perform a relative movement to each other, by means of which a pressing of the container to the Filling member or its seal and a release of this connection is made possible.

In order to provide in the interior of the container to be filled an atmosphere, a pressure and / or a gas composition, which differs from the pressure or the atmosphere or the gas composition in the treatment chamber, the filling member in addition to the actual filling product leading paths on a gas channel, by means of which a gas can be introduced under pressure into the container to be filled when the filling member is arranged in the filling position, or even when the filling member is arranged in the parking position. The introduction of the gas via the gas channel provided in the filling element in the parking position takes place in the treatment chamber. The introduction of the gas through the gas channel of the filling member in the filling position takes place in the interior of the container to be filled.

The gas channel of the filling member, by means of which the interior of the container can be acted upon independently of the environment and in particular independent of the provided in a treatment chamber atmosphere with gas, is preferably connected via a flexible Teflon line with a gas supply. Accordingly, here too without the use of seals between moving parts, the movement or the stroke of the filling member from the filling position to the parking position are gone along.

Preferably, a container receptacle is further provided in which the container to be filled and sealed can be received, wherein the container receptacle is particularly preferably received in the treatment chamber. Particularly preferably, the container receptacle has a device for supporting the torque when screwing a container closure onto the container, preferably a spike plate. This can be achieved that the container can be both filled and closed without changing its container receptacle. By providing a support for the torque can also be achieved that the container is already provided during filling in a container receptacle, which subsequently allows a closure with a screw cap without changing the container receptacle and without the use of further holding devices.

Preferably, the container receptacle has a lifting device, which serves for pressing the mouth of the container to the filling product outlet of the filling member, preferably to a seal of Füllproduktauslaufs. Thus, by means of the lifting device, a sealing of the container interior can be achieved at Füllproduktauslauf, so that a pressurization of the container interior with a different pressure and / or a different atmosphere than the environment, is possible. By using the lifting device can be dispensed with a lifting or lowering of the filling member for pressing against the mouth of the container, so that the mechanical structure of the filling member remains simple.

The filling member is preferably in communication with a filling product reservoir via a flexible conduit, the flexible conduit preferably being a Teflon conduit. By using a flexible conduit can be dispensed with further seals between moving parts for transferring the filling product from the Füllproduktreservoir to the moving between the filling position and the parking position filling member.

Further preferably, the filling member has a gas channel, via which a clamping gas, which is preferably supplied via a flexible conduit to the filling member, the interior of the container pressed to the filling product outlet or the interior of the treatment chamber can be supplied. Thus, a biasing of the container with a biasing gas or pressurizing the container or the headspace of the container after filling can be achieved in a simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling member is movable in a Füllorganbewegungsrichtung between the filling position and the parking position and the Füllproduktauslauf is arranged at an angle to the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung. By providing an angle between the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung can be provided in principle regardless of the necessity of pressing the Füllproduktauslaufs on the mouth of the container. Thus, the geometric design of the device is independent of the feed direction of the container.

The above object is further achieved by a Füllproduktabfüllanlage with the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

Accordingly, a Füllproduktabfüllanlage with a treatment carousel and at least two arranged on the circumference of the treatment carousel, the above-described devices proposed.

Due to the compact design of the devices, the treatment carousel can be constructed particularly efficiently.

The treatment carousel preferably forms a carousel plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and the filling members are each movable in a filling member movement direction between the filling position and the parking position, wherein the filling members are arranged on the treatment carousel such that the filling member movement direction is at an angle to the carousel plane, preferably at an angle of 10 ° to 80 ° to the carousel plane obliquely upward.

The angle can be adjusted depending on the requirements, preferably in a range between 10 ° and 80 °. About the selection and expression of the angle can be given by the filling member to be applied to the container contact pressure. On the selection and expression of the angle and the space requirement of the entire device can be influenced - especially in the radial direction of the device.

In a particularly preferred variant of the angle is set to about 45 °, whereby a particularly good balance between contact pressure and space requirement is achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment, the angle is formed at approximately 30 °.

In other words, in the carousel plane of the treatment carousel, the filling member can be moved radially and obliquely upward or obliquely downward from the parking position into the filling position or from the filling position into the parking position. In this way, a particularly compact design of the treatment carousel can be achieved and the device which makes it possible to allow both a filling of the container to be filled as well as a subsequent closing of the filled container on the treatment carousel, can accordingly with an efficient arrangement and a high Number of devices are arranged around the circumference of the treatment carousel around.

Particularly preferably, the filling members are arranged so that the Füllorganbewegungsrichtungen are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane, and preferably adjacent Füllorgane are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane.

This ensures that the filling elements can be arranged even closer to each other around the circumference of the treatment carousel and accordingly a particularly efficient construction of the filling product filling plant can be achieved.

list of figures

• 1 eine schematische, teilgeschnittene Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt und zum anschließenden Verschließen des befüllten Behälters, wobei die Vorrichtung an einem Behandlungskarussell einer Füllproduktabfüllanlage angeordnet ist;
• 2 eine schematische, geschnittene Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters und zum nachfolgenden Verschließen des befüllten Behälters in einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel wobei das Füllorgan in einer Befüllposition positioniert ist;
• 3 eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus 2, bei der eine Halteklammer zum Halten eines zu behandelnden Behälters gut zu erkennen ist;
• 4 eine schematische, geschnittene Darstellung einer Detailansicht aus den 2 und 3, wobei das Füllorgan in einer Parkposition angeordnet ist und einen Verschließhub für das Verschließorgan freigibt;
• 5 eine schematische, geschnittene Darstellung der Vorrichtung der 2 bis 4, wobei das Füllorgan in einer Befüllposition positioniert ist;
• 6 eine schematische, geschnittene Darstellung der Vorrichtung der 2 bis 5, wobei ein zu befüllender Behälter an das sich in der Befüllposition befindliche Füllorgan herangeführt ist;
• 7 eine schematische, geschnittene Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt und zum nachfolgenden Verschließen des befüllten Behälters in einer weiteren Ausführungsform, in welcher das Füllorgan radial und schräg nach oben geführt bewegbar ist und das Füllorgan in dieser Darstellung in der Parkposition positioniert ist;
• 8 eine schematische, geschnittene Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus 7, wobei das Füllorgan in einer Befüllposition positioniert ist;
• 9 eine schematische, geschnittene Darstellung der Vorrichtung der 7 und 8, wobei der zu befüllende Behälter an das in der Befüllposition positionierte Füllorgan angepresst ist; und
• 10 eine schematische, perspektivische, teilgeschnittene Darstellung einer Spikeplatte.

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

• 1 a schematic, partially sectioned view of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container, wherein the device is arranged on a treatment carousel of a filling product filling plant;
• 2 a schematic, sectional view of a device for filling a container and for subsequently closing the filled container in a further embodiment wherein the filling member is positioned in a filling position;
• 3 a schematic, perspective view of the device 2 in which a retaining clip for holding a container to be treated is clearly visible;
• 4 a schematic, sectional view of a detailed view of the 2 and 3 wherein the filling member is disposed in a parking position and releases a Verschließhub for the closing member;
• 5 a schematic, sectional view of the device of 2 to 4 wherein the filling member is positioned in a filling position;
• 6 a schematic, sectional view of the device of 2 to 5 in which a container to be filled is brought to the filling member located in the filling position;
• 7 a schematic, sectional view of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container in a further embodiment in which the filling member is radially and obliquely upwardly movable and the filling member is positioned in this view in the park position;
• 8th a schematic, sectional view of the device 7 wherein the filling member is positioned in a filling position;
• 9 a schematic, sectional view of the device of 7 and 8th wherein the container to be filled is pressed against the filling member positioned in the filling position; and
• 10 a schematic, perspective, partially cut view of a spike plate.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In the 1 to 6 is a schematic representation of a device 1 for filling a container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container with a container closure in a first exemplary embodiment.

The filling product is in a filling product reservoir shown schematically here in the form of a ring boiler 100 provided and via a filling organ 2 which is a filling valve 20 and a filling product spout 22 includes, in a 6 schematically shown to be filled container 140 brought in. Furthermore, a closure member 3 provided by means of which a container closure 300 on the then filled with the filling product container 140 can be applied.

The filling organ 2 is in the in 1 shown embodiment in a filling position, but it can in the direction of the schematic with the reference number F indicated arrow, which indicates the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung, from the in 1 shown filling position are moved to a parking position to the container closure receptacle 30 Make room, which can be lowered and raised along a direction indicated by the arrow V Veschließorganbewegungsrichtung. By lowering and lifting the container closure 30 then a container closure can be applied to the filled container.

The filling of the container with the filling product by means of the filling member 2 and closing the filled container by means of the closing member 3 can due to these movement possibilities of the filling organ 2 and the closing organ 3 on the container 140 be carried out without the container 140 with respect to the plane defined by the treatment carousel (which extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel) would have to be moved. In other words, at least the position of the mouth remains 142 of the container 140 at filling and closing same and at most along the moves through the container 140 predetermined axis, which also extends through the mouth.

Accordingly, the filling organ 2 which at least the filling product outlet 22 for introducing the filling product into the container 140 and the filling valve 20 which is used to control or regulate the filling product supply from the filling product reservoir 100 to the filling product outlet 22 serves, in the direction of Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F be moved to be moved from a parking position to a filling position and from the filling position back to the parking position. In this way, the filling product outlet 22 in the filling position with the mouth 142 of the container 140 be matched so that filling product into the container 140 can flow. After filling the container with the filling product, the filling member 2 then again in Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F be retracted to the parking position to move space for the subsequent closing operation by means of the closure member 3 to give free.

The closing organ 3 can in turn from a parking position in which it is in 1 is moved to a closing position along the Verschließorganbewegungsrichtung V, according to a in a container closure receptacle 30 received container closure 300 on a container filled with the filling product 140 to raise to its mouth 142 to close.

In the in the 1 to 6 Shown embodiment, both the filling product outlet 22 as well as the container closure 30 in a treatment chamber 4 arranged, in which also the container to be filled 140 at least partially recorded. Depending on the characteristics of the treatment chamber 4 can the container 140 either completely absorbed, or only one neck area of the container 140 in the treatment chamber 4 taken up and the rest of the container 140 is outside the treatment chamber 4 arranged. In both variants, but at least the mouth 142 of the container 140 in the treatment chamber 4 arranged to fill the respective container 140 and closing the mouth 142 of the container 140 with a container closure within each same treatment chamber 4 to enable.

The container to be filled 140 is in the embodiment shown in a container receptacle 5 held, here the container receptacle 5 the container to be filled 140 on a neck ring 144 receives. The container pickup 5 has a spike plate in the embodiment shown 50 on top of which, for example, especially good in 10 To see, has individual elevations and in particular spikes, which extend from below into the neck ring 144 in the container receptacle 5 taken container 140 buried to the torque, which of the closure member 3 on the then filled container 140 when applying a screw cap or a roll-up closure is applied, can support.

Accordingly, a safe application of the container closure 300 on a container filled with the filling product 140 be achieved and in particular a screwing a screw on a corresponding external thread 146 a container filled with filling product 140 ,

The treatment chamber 4 is preferably closed to the environment gas-tight, this being both in the complete recording of the container 140 , as well as only a partial inclusion of the container 140 applies. The treatment chamber 4 is preferably formed so that it can be acted upon with a pressure and / or an atmosphere, which is independent of the pressure and / or the atmosphere in the vicinity of the treatment chamber 4 is.

One with the device 1 from the 1 To be performed treatment process provides accordingly that in the treatment chamber 4 a container to be filled 140 in the container receptacle 5 is held. The container 140 can, for example via a feeder - for example in the form of a feed star - to the contraption 1 and directly into the container receptacle 5 to be delivered.

For this purpose, a wall, the container chamber 4 defining sleeve 40 by means of a lifting device 42 be lowered so that the container receptacle 5 is freely accessible and the container to be filled 140 according to the container receptacle 5 can be handed over. After the container to be filled 140 in the container receptacle 5 is picked up, via the lifting device 42 the sleeve pushed back up to the treatment chamber 4 Completely gastight to the environment. In this embodiment, according to the container 140 completely in the treatment chamber 4 added.

In a preferred treatment method, the treatment chamber 4 now evacuated, and thus the container in the receptacle 5 recorded containers 140 also evacuated.

As soon as the interior of the treatment chamber 4 is located at the desired negative pressure, which is in the container receptacle 5 held to be filled container to the filling product spout 22 of the filling element located in the filling position 2 pressed. The pressing can either by lowering the Füllproduktauslaufs 22 by lifting the container 140 or by a combination of the two movements. By pressing the mouth 142 to the filling product outlet 22 can be a gas-tight seal of the container interior of the container to be filled 140 towards the environment and especially towards the treatment chamber 4 be achieved. In other words, this way in the treatment chamber 4 and in the interior of the container 140 different pressures and different atmospheres are provided.

By opening the filling valve 20 can now in the filling product reservoir 100 held filling product in the interior of the container to be filled 140 be directed. As in the interior of the container 140 is a negative pressure and in particular a vacuum, the filling can be done relatively quickly due to the pressure conditions and it takes place in particular a sudden filling. As in the opposite of the container interior gas-tight closed treatment chamber 4 there is still a negative pressure or a vacuum, is the pressure which, during the filling process on the walls of the container to be filled 140 acts, always an outward pressure. In other words, the pressure is inside the container to be filled 140 in this embodiment of the method always the same size or higher than that on the outside of the container to be filled 140 acting pressure.

Via a supply line 44 located in the lower part of the treatment chamber 4 is provided, is now in a further treatment step, the interior of the treatment chamber 4 brought to an elevated pressure, for example, a high pressure, for example, in the headspace of Füllproduktreservoirs 100 corresponding CO ₂ pressure corresponds.

Accordingly, the internal pressure in the now filled with the filling product container and the pressure in the treatment chamber 4 , which surrounds the filled container, aligned or equal. At this time, the Füllproduktauslauf 22 from the mouth 142 the filled container to be solved and the filling member 2 can along the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F be moved to the parking position. This allows the closure member 3 , the container lock receptacle 30 in which a container closure 300 is added to the estuary 142 Lower the filled container and close the container accordingly. It can by the closing organ 3 For example, a present as a molding plastic screw on an external thread 146 of the filled container 140 be applied.

Because in the interior of the filled container 140 as well as in the treatment chamber 4 the same pressure or a substantially equalized pressure, it comes when releasing the Füllproduktauslaufes 22 from the mouth 142 of the container 140 not to a strong foaming or debinding of dissolved gases in the filling product, but a possibly resulting Füllproduktschaum is by that in the treatment chamber 4 present overpressure in the filled container 140 pushed back. Accordingly, a closure of the filled container 140 be achieved without filling product from the mouth 142 the not yet closed container 140 exit. Accordingly, a hygienic sealing can be achieved.

After the filled container 140 is now closed by the application of the container closure gas-tight, the pressure in the interior of the treatment chamber 4 be relaxed to ambient pressure and then the treatment chamber 4 be opened to the filled and sealed container 140 to remove and the treatment chamber 4 for receiving a further container to be treated 140 prepare.

The device 1 with the filling organ 2 , the closing organ 3 and the treatment chamber 4 is preferred in a treatment carousel 120 arranged, the device 1 in the region of the outer circumference of the treatment carousel 120 is arranged. In the figures, only one is at a time contraption 1 shown. However, a filling product bottling plant typically includes a variety of devices 1 around the perimeter of the treatment carousel 120 arranged around to provide a continuous production filled with a filling product and sealed with a container closure containers. In a filling product filling plant, a stream of filled and closed containers is produced in this way.

The filling organ 2 and in particular also the filling element movement direction F of the filling organ 2 extend in the embodiment shown in the radial direction R of the treatment carousel 120 , By the extension of the filling element 2 and the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F of the filling organ 2 in the radial direction R can be achieved that a variety of devices 1 right next to each other around the circumference of the treatment carousel 120 can be arranged around without additional space in the circumferential direction would be required for pivoting a Füllproduktauslaufes. In other words, in this way, a particularly compact and efficient form of arrangement of a plurality of devices 1 at the treatment carousel 120 possible.

The interior of the treatment chamber 4 is via a supply line for compressed gas 44 correspondingly connected to a pressurized gas reservoir to the interior of the treatment chamber 4 under pressure after the actual filling has been completed.

Furthermore, a supply line for vacuum 46 or provided for negative pressure, by means of which the treatment chamber 4 at least partially evacuated before the filling process begins.

In 2 is concretely the filling organ 2 shown which is a filling valve 20 having. The filling valve 20 includes a filling cone 200 and a filling valve seat 210 in which the filling cone 20 can be lowered sealingly. Directly to the end of the filling valve seat 210 closes in the embodiment shown, the Füllproduktauslauf 22 at.

The filling cone 20 is about a linkage 220 with an actuator 230 connected, which is formed in the embodiment shown as a pneumatic actuator. The actuator 230 Can be operated to the filling cone 20 in the filling valve seat 210 lower or from the filling valve seat 210 lift out. Will the filling cone 200 from the filling valve seat 210 lifted out, so is a fluid connection between the Füllproduktreservoir 100 and the filling product outlet 22 made to fill the container accordingly 140 to allow with the filling product.

The filling organ 2 is via a Füllventilaktuator 6 along the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F movable. The filling valve actuator 6 is in the embodiment shown in the form of a cylinder chamber 60 provided in which a piston 62 is provided. Via pneumatic connections 64 is the piston 62 accordingly in the cylinder chamber 60 movable back and forth. The filling valve actuator 6 is accordingly a double-acting pneumatic drive, by means of which the filling organ 2 in the in 2 shown filling position or in an example in 4 shown parking position can be moved.

To the filling product reservoir 100 leads a flexible filling product line 70 which is formed in the embodiment shown as a flexible Teflon line. Accordingly, in a reciprocating movement of the filling member 2 by actuation of the Füllorganaktuators 6 along the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F the flexible line 70 be easily moved back and forth for the filling product, without this would be an additional seal or against each other moving parts would be needed. It can be a structurally and hygienically advantageous transfer of the filling of the filling product reservoir 100 to the filling organ 2 to reach.

The filling organ 2 is through a recess 480 of the lid 48 the treatment chamber 4 slidably disposed therethrough. This is the cylinder chamber 60 the Füllventilaktuators 6 also stuck with the lid 48 connected.

A linear seal 240 seals the filling organ 2 opposite the lid 48 and especially with respect to the treatment chamber 4 off, leaving the treatment chamber 4 during the passage of the filling element 2 is formed gas-tight relative to the environment.

The actuator 230 of the filling organ 2 is via a pneumatic connection 234 controllable.

In the embodiment shown is still a valve block 8th provided, by means of which the interior of the treatment chamber 4 can be acted upon with gases or with vacuum.

The closing organ 3 is also shown schematically, wherein the container closure receptacle 30 for receiving a container closure, which is then to be applied to the mouth of the container filled with the filling product, is clearly visible.

In the filling product outlet 22 is a seal 24 provided by means of which a to the filling product outlet 22 Pressed container to be filled 140 gastight against the interior of the treatment chamber 4 as well as gas-tight against the environment can be sealed.

The pressing of the container mouth can be, as in 3 indicated schematically, via a lifting device 52 the container receptacle 5 reach, by means of which a raising or lowering of the container receptacle 5 relative to the filling product outlet 22 of the filling organ 2 is possible.

Via a flexible line 72 for CO ₂ feed CO ₂ can additionally the Füllproduktauslauf 22 be introduced into the interior of the container to be filled. In this way it is possible in the interior of the treatment chamber 4 first to evacuate container received by the fact that the treatment chamber 4 is evacuated, while the container interior over the mouth still with the treatment chamber 4 is in communication.

Then, in another variant of the process, the mouth 142 of the container to be filled 140 gastight to the filling product outlet 22 pressed and then the container interior via the flexible pipe 72 subjected to CO ₂ , in which case via a valve 720 a corresponding control of the CO ₂ supply can be achieved. Accordingly, the interior of the container to be filled is already biased with CO ₂ , before the filling valve 2 is opened, so the Füllventilkegel 200 from the valve seat 210 is lifted out. In this way it can be prevented that when filling the filling product into the interior of the container to be filled, the CO ₂ bound in the filling product is released and, correspondingly, the foaming tendency is reduced or completely suppressed. In other words, by biasing the interior of the container to be filled with CO _2, the Aufschäumneigung be reduced or completely suppressed.

In a further alternative embodiment, the interior of the container to be filled may also be subjected to a vacuum when the filling product is filled, in which case a particularly rapid filling of the filling product into the container to be filled is achieved due to the strong pressure difference.

The spike plate 50 is in the in the 2 to 6 shown embodiment in the form of a retaining clip which is spring-biased. Accordingly, a in the container receptacle 5 The container is held securely in the container clamp, with the spikes of the spike plate 50 when applying the container closure according to the torque which is introduced when screwing a container closure in the filled container, record or intercept, to allow a secure screwing the container closure.

In the 4 to 6 now different steps of the respective filling process are shown, in 4 the filling organ 2 is retracted to the parking position and accordingly the closing member 3 could be operated. In 5 however, the filling organ 2 in the filling position radially with respect to the treatment carousel 120 advanced to the outside, so that a container by operating the lifting device 52 the container receptacle 5 to the filling product outlet 22 or its seal 24 can be pressed gas-tight, such as in 6 shown.

In the 7 to 9 is a device 1 shown in a further embodiment, wherein the basic principle of providing a filling member 2 , which together with its filling product spout and its filling valve 20 from a parking position into a filling position and from the filling position can be moved back to the parking position, the aforementioned embodiments corresponds.

In the in the 7 to 9 However, the embodiment shown is the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F of the filling organ 2 not only radially in a carousel plane which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120 extends, but also oriented obliquely upward. The angle shown in this embodiment is approximately at 30 ° to a perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120 standing carousel level.

Depending on the requirements, however, the angle can be set in a larger range, for example in a range between 10 ° and 80 °. About the selection and expression of the angle can from the Füllorgan 2 specified on the container to be applied contact pressure. About the selection and expression of the angle can also be the space requirement of the entire device 1 be influenced - especially in the radial direction of the device 1 ,

In a particularly preferred variant, the angle is set to about 45 °.

This also results in a tendency between the stroke direction of the linkage 220 of the filling cone 200 relative to the outlet direction of the Füllproduktauslaufes 22 to the effect that here too an angle is maintained, which is smaller than 90 °. In the in the 1 to 6 shown embodiments, the outlet angle was about 90 °.

By in the 7 to 9 embodiment shown may be a spatially even more advantageous embodiment of the filling member 2 in the treatment carousel 120 can be achieved because by the substantially radial arrangement of the filling member 2 a reduction of the installation space required in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel is achieved and at the same time a reduction of the overall length in the radial direction is achieved by the orientation arranged obliquely upward with respect to a carousel plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, so as to collide with further components of a treatment carousel 120 avoided.

In a further variant can each adjacent devices 1 with respective different angles with respect to the perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120 defined carousel plane lying orientation of Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F and thus also with regard to the orientation of the filling organs 2 be provided. In other words, a first filling member, for example, at an angle of 20 ° with respect to a perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120 be defined carousel level and a directly on the circumference of the treatment carousel 120 adjacently arranged filling member is arranged at an angle of 60 °. In this way, collisions between the filling organs 2 in the interior of the treatment carousel 120 be avoided and the devices 1 can be around the perimeter of the treatment carousel 120 be placed around even closer together to achieve a more compact design at high power.

From a fluid dynamic point of view, the reduced outflow angle at the filling product outlet can continue 22 , which is less than 90 °, and be achieved by the obliquely downwardly running arrangement, that the filling product faster from the non-controlled portion downstream of the Füllventilsitzes 210 runs out, so that dripping can be reduced or avoided.

In the in the 7 to 9 The embodiment shown is still the container receptacle 5 formed in the form of a lifting plate, which on its upper side provides a friction-increasing surface coating, for example by providing a rubber pad, to receive in this way also the registered during the screwing of container closures torques.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, the container to be filled is a glass bottle to be closed off with a bottle cap, for example a beer bottle, in which the closure member 3 is formed in the form of a Kronkorkers, so that the inclusion of torques is not necessary, but only a support of the forces against the Verschließorganbewegungsrichtung V.

How out 9 it can be seen, is the treatment chamber 4 in the embodiment shown, one which only the mouth 142 of the container to be filled 140 receives. The remaining part of the container 140 is not from the treatment chamber 4 surround. Accordingly, in the area of the mouth 142 of the container 140 a corresponding atmosphere or a specific pressure regime in the treatment chamber 4 be provided, which means that after completing the filling process of the container to be filled 140 the filling product filled in the container does not foam over. Accordingly, a quick and clean closing can be achieved immediately after completion of the filling process by the application of the closure member.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

100

Füllproduktreservoir

120

treatment carousel

140

container

142

muzzle

144

collar

146

external thread

2

Filling head

20

filling valve

22

Füllproduktauslauf

24

poetry

200

Füllventilkegel

210

Füllventilsitz

220

linkage

230

actuator

234

pneumatic connection

240

line seal

3

A closure

30

Container closure Recording

300

container closure

4

treatment chamber

40

shell

42

lifting device

44

Supply line compressed gas

46

Supply line vacuum

48

cover

480

Recess for filling element

5

container receptacle

50

Spike plate

52

lifting device

6

Füllventilaktuator

60

cylinder chamber

62

piston

70

flexible pipe for filling product

72

flexible line for CO ₂

720

Valve for controlling CO ₂

8th

manifold

F

Füllorganbewegungsrichtung

V

Verschließorganbewegungsrichtung

R

radial direction

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 965524 A1 [0003]

Claims (13)

Apparatus (1) for treating a container (140) in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, comprising a filling member (2) having a Füllproduktauslauf (22) for filling the container (140) with a filling product and a filling valve (20) for influencing the Füllproduktstrom through the having Füllproduktauslauf (22), and comprising a closing member (3) for closing the filled with the filling product container (140), characterized in that the filling element (2) from a filling position for filling the container (140) of a parking position for releasing Verschließhubs the closing member (3) is movable. Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the movement of the filling member (2) from the parking position into the filling position comprises a pivoting and / or a displacement and / or a linear movement. Device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a Füllventilaktuator (6) is provided, by means of which the filling member (2) is movable from the filling position to the parking position. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a treatment chamber (4) for receiving a respective container to be treated (140) is provided, and the filling member (2) for filling the accommodated in the treatment chamber container (140) is and the closing member (3) is provided for closing the accommodated in the treatment chamber, filled with the filling container. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a container receptacle (5) is provided, in which the container to be filled and sealed can be received, wherein the container receptacle (5) is preferably received in the treatment chamber (4) , Device (1) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the container receptacle (5) has a device for supporting the torque when screwing a container closure (300) onto the container (140), preferably a spike plate (50). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container receptacle (5) has a lifting device (52) for pressing the mouth (142) of the container (140) against the filling product outlet (22) of the filling element (2), preferably to a seal (24) of the Füllproduktauslaufs (22). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling member (2) via a flexible conduit (70) with a Füllproduktreservoir (100) is in communication, wherein the flexible conduit (70) is preferably a Teflon conduit. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling member (2) has a gas passage, via which a clamping gas, which is preferably supplied via a flexible conduit (72) to the filling member (2), the interior of the at Füllproduktauslauf (22) pressed container (140) or the interior of the treatment chamber (4) can be supplied. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling member (2) is movable in a filling member moving direction (F) between the filling position and the parking position and the filling product outlet (22) is arranged at an angle to the filling member moving direction (F) is. A filling product filling installation having a treatment carousel (120) and at least two devices (1) arranged on the circumference of the treatment carousel (120) according to one of the preceding claims. Filling product filling plant according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the treatment carousel (120) forms a carousel plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation and the filling members (2) are movable between the filling position and the parking position in a filling member movement direction (F), whereby filling members (2) are thus moved on the treatment carousel (2). 120) are arranged so that the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung (F) is arranged at an angle to the carousel plane, preferably at an angle of 10 ° to 80 ° to the carousel plane. Filling product filling plant according to Claim 12 , characterized in that the filling members (2) are arranged so that the Füllorganbewegungsrichtungen (F) are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane, and preferably adjacent Füllorgane (2) are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane.

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