DE102019104137A1 - Centering a container for its treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) and method for centering a container (100) during a stroke of the same in a treatment area, preferably for filling and / or closing the container (100) in a beverage filling plant, the device (1) having: a centering section (10) having a receiving section (11) which is set up to receive the container (100) on at least one section thereof; and a guide section (15) which is set up to allow a translational movement of the centering section (10) along a defined trajectory between a receiving position for receiving the container (100) through the receiving section (11) and a treatment position for treating the container (100) to lead in the treatment area.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device and a method for centering a container during a stroke of the same in a treatment area, preferably for filling and / or closing the container in a beverage filling plant.

State of the art

Among the various methods and devices for filling filling products in beverage filling systems, a technology for the sudden filling of containers is known, for example in the DE 10 2014 104 873 A1 is described. Here, the filling product is provided under an overpressure, the container to be filled is evacuated and the filling product under overpressure is introduced into the underpressure container. Due to the pressure difference thus produced, the filling product is introduced almost suddenly.

In order to shorten the settling time of the filling product after filling in the container and to prevent foaming and over-foaming, the container is closed under overpressure without any pressure equalization of the container interior with the external environment.

For this purpose, it makes sense to integrate the filling process and sealing process as spatially and temporally as possible by arranging the filling element and the sealing device in one and the same treatment chamber, as is shown in the exemplary embodiments in FIG DE 10 2014 104 873 A1 emerges. The filling element is designed to be movable, the container mouth being initially pressed against the filling element to fill the container and then the filling element being removed in order to create space for the closer.

To carry out the above-described integrated process of sudden filling and closing, the container to be filled and closed is moved vertically from below into the treatment chamber by a lifting device, so that at least the mouth area of the container is sealed in the treatment chamber. The centering of the container relative to the filling element takes place for the filling process by means of a centering ring below the filling element. The centering ring is raised via a so-called bell lifting curve per filling / closing cycle and lowered towards the container in order to then move up to the filling element together with the container.

The movement sequence of the centering ring is implemented using a cam control and thus requires its own actuator / control component. In addition, both the empty container that has yet to be filled and the filled container must be transported past below the centering ring. The centering ring can be contaminated by foaming or sloshing over the filling product.

Presentation of the invention

One object of the invention is to improve the transport, in particular the centering, of a container for its treatment, preferably for filling and / or closing it in a beverage filling plant.

The object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 15. Advantageous further developments follow from the dependent claims, the following presentation of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

Accordingly, a device is proposed which has a centering section with a receiving section which is designed to receive the container on at least one section thereof. The device also has a guide section which is set up to guide a translational movement of the centering section along a defined trajectory between a receiving position for receiving the container and a treatment position for treating the container in the treatment area.

The proposed device is used to center a container during a stroke of the same in a treatment area. The treatment to be carried out in the treatment area preferably comprises filling the container with a filling product, preferably a drink, and / or closing the container with a closure. The proposed device is preferably part of a beverage filling system.

The receiving section is therefore used for the temporary stabilization and centering of the container during its stroke into the treatment area. In the case of a bottle, for example a glass or plastic bottle, the bottle neck is preferably received by the receiving section or is at least partially enclosed. The guide section ensures that the container is aligned during the stroke so that it is moved reliably and precisely into the desired treatment position and is thus centered in particular relative to the treatment organ.

The device allows the container to be centered while it is being moved into the treatment area without the container having to dip under a conventional centering ring. Actuators for moving such a centering ring, such as a cam control, can be omitted. The centering takes place essentially passively, ie the force from the lifting movement is used synergistically for the centering in that the centering section is pushed up through the container and the container aligns itself in the receiving section in this way. In addition, the required stroke for moving into and out of the treatment area is minimized, which means that the treatment angle, ie the angle that a transport carousel must pass through for treatment (for example for filling and / or closing) the container, can be reduced. The system can be more compact overall and structurally simplified. This also reduces the maintenance effort and the maintenance costs. Possible sources of error can be eliminated, which improves reliability.

The treatment area is preferably located in a treatment chamber which has a chamber wall with an opening, the centering section and the guide section being designed to introduce at least part of the container, preferably its mouth section, through the opening into the treatment chamber during the stroke. The chamber wall is preferably a lower chamber wall, since the container is normally moved vertically from below into the treatment chamber by a lifting device. The spatial terms “bottom”, “vertical”, “direction of gravity”, “stroke” and the like are clearly defined here due to the installation position of the device.

The treatment of the container, in particular the filling and / or closing of the same, preferably takes place in a sealed atmosphere of the treatment chamber, preferably under excess pressure. In the case of sudden filling, the filling product is provided under an overpressure, the container transported to the treatment position is evacuated and the filling product under overpressure is introduced into the underpressure container. In order to shorten the settling time of the filling product after the sudden filling in the container and to prevent foaming and over-foaming, the container is closed under excess pressure without the pressure equalizing the container interior with the external environment beforehand. The filling process and closing process are preferably integrated spatially and temporally in the treatment chamber, in that a filling element and a closer are at least partially arranged in the treatment chamber. The filling element can be designed to be movable, the container mouth being initially pressed against the filling element to fill the container and then the filling element being removed in order to create space for the closer. The above description of the sudden filling shows that the device for centering is particularly preferably used with a treatment chamber that can be sealed off from the external environment, since in this case a consistently precise transport of the container to the required treatment position is extremely important.

The guide section is preferably attached to the chamber wall, as a result of which the centering device and the treatment chamber are structurally integrated.

A sealing ring is preferably located in the opening of the chamber wall, which sealing ring is designed to be in the inserted state of the container, i. in the treatment position so as to lay a container section so that the interior of the treatment chamber in this regard, i. at least at the opening, is sealed against the external environment. In this way, not only can the interior of the treatment chamber be sealed off from the external environment without the entire container having to be moved into the treatment chamber, but the seal also assumes an auxiliary function for centering.

The wall which forms the opening preferably has a convex profile for holding the sealing ring. For receiving and fastening the sealing ring, the convex profile can engage in a corresponding groove on the outer circumference of the same, whereby the sealing ring can be held structurally simply and securely.

Preferably, the receiving section has a contour which corresponds to the corresponding, i. to be recorded, container contour matches, whereby the container can be centered safely and accurately. The receiving section preferably has a conical contour, as a result of which the receiving section is particularly suitable for bottle necks.

The receiving section preferably has a clamp shape with two clamp arms which form an open ring, as a result of which the clamp arms can wrap around the corresponding container section, for example the bottle neck. Here, the clamp arms preferably form a partial ring in the angular range between 180 ° and 220 °, preferably approx. 200 °. In this way, the container can be moved into the treatment area at a level close to the treatment organ and can be securely held become. The stroke of the container to the treatment element, for example the filling element, is minimized, so that the container is ready for treatment as quickly as possible.

The centering section preferably has a transport section which interacts with the guide section in such a way that the centering section can be moved translationally along the defined, preferably straight, trajectory. For this purpose, the transport section can have at least one opening through which the guide section at least partially passes, so that the centering section can be displaced along the guide section. In this way, the guided transport for centering the container can be carried out in a structurally simple and reliable manner.

The transport section preferably has at least two openings and the guide section has at least two associated guide rods which pass through the respective opening accordingly. The two guide rods preferably extend parallel and, when the device is installed, essentially vertically downward from the lower chamber wall. By using two or more guide rods, the centering section is secured against rotation about the axis of the guide rod (s) in a structurally simple manner. However, the defined guidance and prevention of undesirable degrees of freedom can also be implemented in a technically different manner, for example by means of a guide rod with a polygonal cross section, which interacts with an opening in the transport section with a corresponding polygonal cross section.

The centering section is preferably preloaded into the receiving position. For this purpose, the device can have one or more springs which are arranged, for example, as spiral spring (s) around the guide rod (s) and are supported on the chamber wall and the centering section. In this case, the centering section and / or the chamber wall preferably has corresponding openings or depressions for receiving or partially receiving the compressed spring (s). This ensures that the centering section can be moved into the treatment position without the spring (s) between the centering section and the lower chamber wall interfering with the transport. A preload directed into the receiving position can improve the reliability of the device if a return of the centering section into the receiving position purely due to the force of gravity is prone to failure or takes too much time.

The centering device set out herein can - as already mentioned above - be used in a device for treating a container, particularly preferably for filling the container with a filling product and / or closing the container with a closure in a beverage filling plant.

The object set out above is also achieved by a method for centering a container during a stroke of the same in a treatment area, preferably for filling and / or closing the container in a beverage filling plant, the method comprising: arranging the centering section at the receiving position; Introducing the container into the receiving section, which is located at the receiving position, so that the receiving section at least partially encloses the container on a section thereof; Lifting the container by means of a lifting device into the treatment position, whereby the centering section is also lifted, driven by the container and guided by the guide section, and centering of the container is effected by the receiving section.

It should be pointed out that the terms “encompass”, “enclose”, “comprise” and the like do not necessarily imply an active gripping movement through the receiving section, since the centering effect is also provided by a passive receiving section, i.e. for example, an invariable recess for the container can be achieved.

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

Further advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described there can be implemented on their own or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, provided that the features do not contradict one another. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure list

• 1 eine Vorrichtung zur Zentrierung eines Behälters beim Hub in einen Behandlungsbereich, ohne Behälter;
• 2 die Vorrichtung der 1 mit aufgenommenem Behälter in einem Zustand vor dem Eintritt in den Behandlungsbereich;
• 3 die Vorrichtung der 1 mit aufgenommenem Behälter in einem Zustand nach dem Eintritt in den Behandlungsbereich; und
• 4 die Vorrichtung der 1 mit aufgenommenem Behälter im Zustand der 2 aus einer anderen Perspektive.

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

• 1 a device for centering a container when lifting into a treatment area, without a container;
• 2 the device of 1 with the container picked up in a state prior to entering the treatment area;
• 3 the device of 1 with the container picked up in a state after entering the treatment area; and
• 4th the device of 1 with the container picked up in the state of 2 from a different perspective.

Detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or identically acting elements are provided with identical reference symbols in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is partly dispensed with in order to avoid redundancies.

The 1 shows a device 1 for centering a container when moving or lifting the container into a treatment area. The 1 shows the device 1 without container, while the 2 , 3 and 4th the device 1 with a recorded container 100 , which is a glass bottle as an example.

The treatment area and the treatment organs, such as a filling element and / or a closer cone, are not shown in the figures. The treatment area preferably comprises a treatment chamber, the lower chamber wall of which 2 with an opening 20th through which at least the mouth section 101 of the container 100 is retracted is shown in the figures.

Treatment of the container 100 , preferably the filling and / or closing of the same, preferably takes place in a sealed atmosphere of the treatment chamber, particularly preferably under excess pressure. For this purpose, the opening points 20th preferably a sealing ring, which is in the retracted state of the container 100 sealing around its mouth section 101 lays. The sealing ring is not shown in the figures. However, it is a convex profile 21st shown, which can engage in a corresponding groove on the outer circumference of the same for receiving and fastening the sealing ring.

The device 1 has a centering section 10 and a guide section 15th on. The guide section 15th is designed to allow a translatory movement of the centering section 10 respectively.

The guide section 15th has in the present embodiment two guide rods 16 which are parallel and in the installed state from the chamber wall 2 extend vertically downwards. The guide bars 16 are on the lower chamber wall 2 attached, for example screwed on or screwed. In this case, the lower chamber wall 2 as part of the device 1 be considered. The guide section 15th can, however, also be attached to another machine part and / or have a different structure, as long as the functionality of the centering section set out below 10 is guaranteed.

The centering section 10 has a receiving portion 11 and a transport section 12 (see. 4th ) on. The transport section 12 acts with the guide section 15th together so that the centering section 10 translationally, is movable along a defined trajectory.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport section 12 essentially formed by two openings (not shown in the figures) through each of which a guide rod 16 passes through, so that the movement trajectory of the centering section 10 , ie the degree of freedom of movement, the direction of extension of the two guide rods 16 corresponds. By having two or more guide rods 16 are provided, an anti-twist device of the centering section is provided in a structurally simple manner 10 around the axis of the guide rod (s) 16 guaranteed. However, the defined guidance and prevention of undesired degrees of freedom can also be implemented in a technically different manner, for example by means of a guide rod with a polygonal cross section, which has an opening in the transport section 12 cooperates with a corresponding polygonal cross-section.

The receiving section 11 serves to accommodate a container section. In the case of a bottle (for example a glass or plastic bottle), the bottle neck is preferably from the receiving section 11 recorded, ie stabilized and centered. The receiving section 11 for this purpose preferably matches the corresponding container contour. The contour of the receiving section 11 runs in the lifting direction of the container 100 preferably conical to.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the receiving section has 11 a bracket shape with two bracket arms 11a , which form an open ring or partial ring. The clamp arms 11a wrap around the corresponding container section, for example the bottle neck, at least partially, preferably at an angle between 180 ° and 220 °, particularly preferably approx. 200 °. In this way the container 100 be moved into the treatment chamber to a level close to the valve or the treatment organ and held securely. The stroke of the container 100 to the treatment organ, for example filling organ, is minimized, so that the container 100 is ready for treatment as quickly as possible, e.g. ready for filling.

The receiving section 11 can be made of a plastic with some flexibility to allow passive adjustment and gentle centering when the container 100 from below and / or from the side in the receiving section 11 comes in. The centering section 10 can also be designed in one piece. Even if the receiving section 11 in the present embodiment the container 100 The receiving section can absorb, stabilize and center purely passively 11 alternatively have actively adjustable clamp arms around the container 100 even safer and more reliable to grip, if necessary.

For retracting the container 100 into the treatment chamber this is laterally and / or from below the receiving section 11 , which is in a lower position - the receiving position - is supplied so that it at least partially encloses the corresponding container section. This state comes from the 2 and 4th in different perspectives. The container 100 is transported by a lifting device that is not shown in the figures. For example, the container is standing 100 on a lifting plate.

By lifting the container 100 by means of the lifting device this moves together with the centering section 10 up by the container 100 the receiving section 11 pushes up until the mouth section 101 enters the treatment chamber and the container 100 reaches the desired treatment position. By the upward movement of the container 100 and the defined guidance of the receiving section 11 finds a centering of the container at the same time 100 instead, so that it is moved reliably and precisely into the treatment position. The centering is preferably done purely passively. There are no other actuators for centering the container 100 required. Also the transport of the centering section 10 in this case takes place passively, ie without its own drive. Rather, the centering section 10 over the receiving section 11 through the container 100 pushed up. The retracted state in which the container is 100 is at the treatment position is in the 3 shown.

After treating the container 100 , preferably for filling and / or closing, it is moved downward out of the treatment chamber by means of the lifting device.

In the simplest case, the centering section reverses 10 Due to gravity back into the starting position, ie the pick-up position. However, this process can be aided by the centering section 10 is biased into the receiving position.

For this purpose, the device 1 have one or more springs (not shown in the figures) which are arranged, for example, as a spiral spring (s) around the guide rod (s) 16 and are located on the chamber wall 2 as well as the centering section 10 prop up. In this case, the centering section 10 and / or the chamber wall 2 preferably corresponding openings or depressions for receiving or partially receiving the compressed spring (s). This ensures that the centering section 10 can be moved into the treatment position without the spring (s) between the centering section 10 and lower chamber wall 2 disrupt the transport.

The device described above 1 allows the container to be centered 100 while moving into the treatment chamber without the container 100 must dip under a conventional centering ring. Actuators for moving such a centering ring, such as a cam control, can be omitted. The centering takes place essentially passively, ie the force from the lifting movement is used synergistically for the centering by the centering section 10 through the container 100 is pushed up and the container 100 in this way itself in the receiving section 11 aligns. In addition, the required stroke for moving into and out of the treatment chamber is minimized, which results in the treatment angle, ie that angle that a transport carousel makes for treatment (for example for filling and / or closing) the container 100 must go through can be reduced. The system can be more compact overall and structurally simplified. This also reduces the maintenance effort and the maintenance costs. Possible sources of error can be eliminated, which improves reliability.

As far as applicable, all the individual features that are shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and / or exchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference symbols

1

Device for centering a container

2

Chamber wall

10

Centering section

11

Receiving section

11a

Clamp arm

12

Transport section

15th

Guide section

16

Guide rod

20th

opening

21st

convex profile

100

container

101

Mouth portion of the container

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102014104873 A1 [0002, 0004]

Claims (15)

Device (1) for centering a container (100) during a stroke of the same in a treatment area, preferably for filling and / or closing the container (100) in a beverage filling plant, the device (1) having: a centering section (10) with a receiving section (11) which is designed to receive the container (100) on at least one section thereof; and a guide section (15) which is set up to allow a translational movement of the centering section (10) along a defined trajectory between a receiving position for receiving the container (100) through the receiving section (11) and a treatment position for treating the container (100) in the Guide treatment area. Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the treatment area is located in a treatment chamber which has a chamber wall (2) with an opening (20), the centering section (10) and the guide section (15) being set up around at least part of the container (100 ), preferably its mouth section (101), to be introduced into the treatment chamber through the opening (20) during the stroke. Device (1) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the guide section (15) is attached to the chamber wall (2). Device (1) according to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that there is a sealing ring in the opening (20) which is set up to wrap around a container section when the container (100) is inserted in such a way that the interior of the treatment chamber is sealed from the external environment in this regard. Device (1) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the wall which forms the opening (20) has a convex profile (21) for holding the sealing ring. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving section (11) has a contour which corresponds to the corresponding container contour, the contour of the receiving section (11) preferably tapering in the lifting direction of the container (100). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving section (11) has a clamp shape with two clamp arms (11a) which form an open ring. Device (1) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the clamp arms (11a) form a partial ring in the angular range between 180 ° and 220 °, preferably approximately 200 °. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering section (10) has a transport section (12) which cooperates with the guide section (15) in such a way that the centering section (10) translates along the defined, preferably straight, Trajectory is movable. Device (1) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the transport section (12) has at least one opening through which the guide section (15) at least partially passes, so that the centering section (10) can be displaced along the guide section (15). Device (1) according to Claim 10 , characterized in that the transport section (12) has at least two openings and the guide section (15) has at least two associated guide rods (16) which correspondingly pass through the openings. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering section (10) is pretensioned into the receiving position, preferably by means of one or more springs. Device for treating a container (100), preferably for filling the container (100) with a filling product and / or closing the container (100) with a closure in a beverage filling plant, which has: a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; a treatment chamber with a chamber wall (2) to which the guide section (15) of the device (1) is attached. Device according to Claim 13 , characterized in that the treatment chamber can be sealed off from the external environment, preferably an overpressure can be built up therein when the container (100) for treatment of the same is at the treatment position. Method for centering a container (100) during a stroke of the same in a treatment area, preferably for filling and / or closing the container (100) in a beverage filling plant, by means of a device according to one of the Claims 1 to 12 , the method comprising: Arranging the centering section (10) at the receiving position; Introducing the container (100) into the receiving section (11) which is located at the receiving position, so that the receiving section (11) at least partially encloses the container (100) at a section thereof; The container (100) is lifted into the treatment position by means of a lifting device, whereby the centering section (10) is also lifted, driven by the container (100) and guided by the guide section (15), and centering of the container (100) is effected by the receiving section (11) .

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