DE102020124328A1 - Device for treating a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating a container (120) in a filling product bottling plant, comprising a closing element (4) with a closing element (40) for applying a container closure to a container mouth (122) and a treatment chamber (2) with a Closing device receiving opening (22) for receiving the closing member (4), wherein the closing element (40) can act through the closing device receiving opening (22) on a container mouth (122) of the container (120) to be treated in the treatment chamber (2) in order to To apply a container closure, the closure element (4) having a closure flange ring (42) which can be brought into a sealing position in which it engages with the closure receiving opening (22) in a gas-tight manner, the closure element (40) for applying a container closure to a in the treatment chamber (2) present container mouth (122) relative to Ver closer flange ring can be lowered, wherein the closer flange ring (42) has a seal (420) on its side facing the treatment chamber (2) for gas-tight sealing of the closer flange ring (42) against the closer flange receiving opening (22) and/or a locking device (6) for locking the closure flange ring (42) is provided in the sealing position.

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a device for treating a container, for example for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure.

State of the art

Filling methods and devices for carrying out a filling method are known, in which a container to be filled is sealed with a treatment chamber, a filling valve is connected to the mouth of the container to be filled and the interior of the container to be filled is flushed with a flushing gas to reduce the oxygen content. After the interior of the container has been flushed with the flushing gas, the interior of the container is then filled with the filling product. Depending on the selected filling method and depending on the filling product to be filled, the container to be filled can also be prestressed or evacuated before filling.

Simultaneously with the filling of the container interior with the filling product, also before or also afterwards, the treatment chamber is pressurized and then the filling valve is removed from the mouth of the container already filled with the filling product. Due to the overpressure present in the treatment chamber, when the filling valve is removed from the mouth of the container filled with the filling product, overflowing, splashing out or foaming over, in particular from a carbonized filling product, is reduced or completely avoided. In this phase, the treatment chamber, which is under the overpressure, communicates with the interior of the container filled with the filling product.

In a next treatment step, a container closure is then applied to the container in the treatment chamber, which is still under overpressure, and the container is closed accordingly. The overpressure present in the treatment chamber is then essentially reduced to ambient pressure and the filled and closed container is then removed from the treatment chamber. Such a device and such a method are, for example, from EP 2 937 310 A2 famous.

Container closures for closing filled containers, for example filled beverage containers, can be provided, for example, in the form of crown caps or screw caps or roll-on caps or corks or stoppers. The containers to be closed with these types of container closures are correspondingly adapted to the container closures and in particular have a correspondingly designed mouth area which is designed for closing with the respective type of container closures. However, other types of container closures and containers to be closed with them can also be provided.

the DE 10 2017114 388 A1 shows a device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant, in which a closure member can be moved completely out of a closure member receiving opening of a treatment chamber in order to take over a container closure outside of the treatment chamber with a closing element of the closing member, the closure member receiving opening comprising a seal which provides a gas-tight seal to the closure member provides.

Presentation of the invention

Proceeding from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant.

The object is achieved by a device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

Accordingly, a device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant is proposed, comprising a closure element with a closure element for applying a container closure to a container mouth and a treatment chamber with a closure receiving opening for receiving the closing element, the closure element passing through the closure reception opening onto a closure present in the treatment chamber container mouth of the container to be treated can act in order to apply the container closure, with the closure member having a closure flange ring which can be brought into a sealing position in which it is in gas-tight sealing engagement with the closure receiving opening, the closure element for applying a container closure to one in the Treatment chamber present container mouth can be lowered relative to the closure flange ring. Furthermore, the closure flange ring has a seal on its side facing the treatment chamber for gas-tight sealing of the closure flange ring against the capper receiving opening and/or a locking device for locking the capper flange ring in the sealing position is provided.

Because the closure flange ring has a seal on its side facing the treatment chamber for gas-tight sealing of the closure flange ring against the closure receiving opening and/or a locking device for locking the closure flange ring in the sealing position is provided, a further improved device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant can be provided will. In particular, the formation of the gas-tight seal between the capper receiving opening and the capping element can be improved.

Because the seal is arranged in the closure flange ring, there is no need to arrange a seal on the wall of the treatment chamber. Accordingly, the wall of the treatment chamber can be constructed more simply. In particular, no recess is to be provided in the wall to accommodate a seal, in which during or after a cleaning process of the device detergent residues and/or product residues can collect. Since the closing member is designed to be lowered onto the container and thus onto the treatment chamber from above, viewed in the direction of gravitation, the side of the closing flange ring pointing in the direction of the treatment chamber is oriented downwards, viewed in the direction of gravitation. As a result, detergent residues and/or product residues cannot, or only with difficulty, stick to the seal on the capping flange ring, but are drained off by gravity. As a result, compared to conventional devices, improved cleanliness of the contact area between the seal and the surface on the treatment chamber wall that engages with the seal for gas-tight sealing can be achieved. Due to the improved cleanliness of the contact area, a reliable gas-tight seal of high quality can be achieved accordingly.

Because the locking device is provided for locking the closure flange ring in the sealing position, it can be achieved that the closure flange ring is securely held or positioned in the sealing position as long as gas-tight sealing is required. The locking device can accordingly prevent the closure flange ring from being unintentionally lifted from the treatment chamber or from being in contact with the treatment chamber in a different way than intended. The formation of the gas-tight seal between the capper receiving opening and the capping element is therefore more reliable than with conventional devices.

Thus, an improved, more reliable gas-tight sealing can be achieved in particular through the combination consisting of the arrangement of the seal on the closing flange ring and the provision of the locking device.

The seal is preferably designed as a front-flush seal. Alternatively or additionally, the seal may include an O-ring and/or a molded seal.

The closing flange ring preferably has a sliding seal on its radially inner side for sealing the closing flange ring against the closing element, with the sliding seal preferably comprising a double-acting sealing ring, preferably prestressed by an elastomeric O-ring and preferably comprising PTFE, particularly preferably a glyd ring.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the locking device is designed in the form of a mechanical lock, it being possible for a locking element arranged on the closure flange ring to be brought into engagement with a locking element arranged on the treatment chamber. It has been found to be particularly advantageous here if the locking device is designed in the form of a bayonet lock. The first locking element can then be a bayonet lug, for example, and the second locking element can be a bayonet receptacle.

Alternatively or additionally, the locking device can comprise a spring element for holding the closing flange ring in the sealing position, with the spring element preferably being designed as a snap hook.

Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition, the locking device can comprise an electromagnetic lock, with a magnetic element or electromagnet element preferably being provided which can hold the closure flange ring in the sealing position by exerting a magnetic force on a magnet element, an electromagnet element or a ferromagnetic material.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the closing element comprises a prestressing element for prestressing the closing flange ring in a predetermined position relative to the closing element, with the pre tensioning element comprises a spring or a magnetic element or an electromagnet element.

In order to optionally also be able to treat twist-lock closures, it has proven to be advantageous if the closure flange ring is designed to be rotationally decoupled from the closure element. In this case, the closing flange ring is preferably constructed in two parts, with a first flange ring being designed to be rotatable in relation to a second flange ring of the closing flange ring.

A roller bearing is preferably provided, which provides a rotational decoupling of the closing flange ring and the closing element. Alternatively or additionally, a roller bearing can be provided for rotationally decoupling the first flange ring and the second flange ring from one another.

Advantageously, the first flange ring is designed to be displaceable relative to the closing element in the direction of movement of the closing element relative to the treatment chamber, and the second flange ring is designed to be rotatable relative to the first flange ring about a geometric axis running in the direction of movement of the closing element relative to the treatment chamber, the second flange ring being the Having a seal for gas-tight sealing of the closing flange ring relative to the treatment chamber.

The closure element can preferably be moved completely out of the closure receiving opening in order to use the closure element to take over a container closure outside the treatment chamber and/or to change the closure element.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the closing element comprises a driver for taking the closing flange ring out of the sealing position. The driver is arranged on the closing element in such a way that when the closing element is pulled out of the treatment chamber, the closing flange ring is lifted out of the sealing position and remains on the closing element. The driver is preferably designed in the form of a shoulder that extends radially outwards from the closing element.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a filling member is provided which acts on the container mouth present in the treatment chamber for filling the container and preferably relative to the treatment chamber from a treatment position for filling the container into a parking position in which the closing element can act on the container mouth is movable.

The basic structure of a device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant, comprising a treatment chamber, a closing element and a filling element, can be DE 10 2017114 388 A1 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

character list

• 1 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Behandeln eines Behälters in einer Füllproduktabfüllanlage gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 2 schematisch eine Detailansicht der Vorrichtung aus 1;
• 3 schematisch eine weitere Detailansicht der Vorrichtung aus 1;
• 4 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung behandeln eines Behälters in einer Füllproduktabfüllanlage gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;
• 5 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung behandeln eines Behälters in einer Füllproduktabfüllanlage gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform; und
• 6 schematisch eine Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung behandeln eines Behälters in einer Füllproduktabfüllanlage gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

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

• 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant according to a preferred embodiment;
• 2 schematically shows a detailed view of the device 1 ;
• 3 schematically shows a further detailed view of the device 1 ;
• 4 schematically shows a sectional view of a device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant according to a further embodiment;
• 5 schematically shows a sectional view of a device for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant according to a further embodiment; and
• 6 schematically shows a sectional view of a device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant according to a further embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are provided with identical reference symbols in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is sometimes dispensed with in order to avoid redundancies.

In 1 is a schematic sectional view of a device 1 for treating a container 120 in a filling product bottling plant, comprising a closure element 4 with a closure element 40 for applying a container closure (not shown) to a container mouth 122 and a treatment chamber 2 with a closure receiving opening 22 for accommodating the closure element 4 , It being possible for the closure element 40 to act through the closure receiving opening 22 on a container mouth 122 of the container to be treated in the treatment chamber 2 in order to close the container closure element 4 has a closure flange ring 42, which can be brought into a sealing position in which it engages the closure receiving opening 22 in a gas-tight manner, the closure element 40 for applying a container closure to a container mouth 122 present in the treatment chamber 2 relative to the Closing flange ring in a direction of movement B can be lowered.

A filling element 3 is also provided, which acts on the container mouth 122 present in the treatment chamber 2 in order to fill the container 120 and moves relative to the treatment chamber 2 from a treatment position for filling the container 120 into a parking position in which the closing element 40 acts on the container mouth 122 can act, is movable.

A lifting device 5 is provided for raising and lowering the container 120 , by means of which the container 120 to be treated can be introduced into the treatment chamber 2 with its container opening 20 of the treatment chamber 2 with its container mouth 122 . In this case, a seal (not shown) is arranged in the container receiving opening 20, by means of which the container receiving opening 20 and the container 120 can be sealed against one another in a gas-tight manner.

The basic functionality of the in 1 Device 1 shown is in FIG DE 10 2017114 388 A1 described and can be taken from it.

In 1 the filling element 3 is shown in the filling position, in which a filling product outlet 30 is arranged above the container mouth 122 . The closure element 4 is in a position lifted upwards from the treatment chamber 2, in which position a container closure (not shown) can be accommodated. The closing element 4 can be moved towards and away from the treatment chamber 2 in the direction of movement B, which essentially extends in the longitudinal direction of the closing element 4 .

On its side facing the treatment chamber 2 , the closure flange ring 42 has a seal 420 for gas-tight sealing of the closure flange ring 42 against the closure receiving opening 22 . For this purpose, the seal 420 comes into contact with a surface 24 of the upper side of the treatment chamber 2 in the sealing position.

A locking device 6 is also provided for locking the closure flange ring 42 in the sealing position.

The closing flange ring 42 has on its radially inner side a sliding seal 422 for sealing the closing flange ring 42 in relation to the closing element 40, the sliding seal 422 in the present case optionally being a double-acting sealing ring, preferably pretensioned by an elastomer O-ring and preferably comprising PTFE, here in the form of a so-called glyd rings.

The closing member 4 also includes an optional prestressing element 7, in the present case in the form of a spiral spring, by which the closing flange ring 42 is prestressed in the direction of the treatment chamber 2 on the closing element 40.

the 2 1 is a schematic detail view of the device 1 1 refer to. It can be seen here that the locking device 6 is designed in the form of a bayonet lock. For this purpose, the locking device 6 comprises two opposite bayonet lugs 60 arranged on the closure flange ring 42 and two bayonet receptacles 62 arranged on the treatment chamber 2.

The closing element 4 also includes a driver 402, by means of which the closing flange ring 42 is also lifted off the treatment chamber 2 when the closing element 4 is lifted. In other words, the driver 402 prevents the closing flange ring 42 from slipping off the closing element 40 .

In 3 1 is a schematic detail view of the device 1 1 shown in which the obturator 4 has been lowered onto the treatment chamber 2 in the direction of movement B such that the obturator flange ring 42 is in the sealing position in which the seal 420 is in contact with the upper surface 24 of the wall 26 of the treatment chamber 2 and thus provides a gas-tight seal.

As described above, the closure flange ring 42 is tensioned in the direction of the treatment chamber 2 by the pretensioning element 7 . The locking device 6 can optionally include a restraint (not shown here) for the closure flange ring 42, which performs the pivoting movement for locking the bayonet lock, thus locking the bayonet lug 60 into the bayonet receptacle 62, and correspondingly for releasing the bayonet lock.

4 shows schematically a detailed view of a device 1 for treating a container 120 in a filling product bottling plant according to a further embodiment. The device 1 corresponds essentially to that of the 1 until 3 . In contrast to the latter, the device 1 according to 4 a mechanical locking device 6 comprising a plurality of snap hooks 63 extending around the receiving opening 22 substantially concentrically therewith.

The snap hooks 43 each have an insertion surface 630, which is inclined in such a way that when the closing element 4 is moved down towards the treatment chamber 2, the prestressing force in the direction of movement B by the prestressing element 7 is greater than the force directed in the opposite direction by the snap hooks 63. As a result, the snap hooks 63 are deformed radially outwards, so that the closure flange ring 42 can be moved further in the direction of the treatment chamber 2 . in the in 4 In the illustrated sealing position of the closure flange ring 42, the snap hooks 63 are snapped shut, so that the closure flange ring 42 is held in the sealing position by holding surfaces 632 of the snap hooks 63.

If the closing element 4 is again lifted from the treatment chamber 2, the closing flange ring 42 is also lifted upwards as a result of the form fit in the direction of movement B between the closing flange ring 42 and the driver 402.

5 shows schematically a detailed view of a device 1 for treating a container 120 in a filling product bottling plant according to a further embodiment. The device 1 corresponds essentially to that of the 1 until 3 . In contrast to the device 1 from 1 comprises the device 1 according to FIG 5 an electromagnetic locking device 6 . A ferromagnetic material 64 is contained in the closer flange ring 42 for this purpose. An electromagnet 65 is provided in the wall 26 of the treatment chamber 2 and, when activated, exerts an (electro)magnetic attraction force on the ferromagnetic material 64, as a result of which the closure flange ring 42 is held or locked on the treatment chamber 2 in the sealing position.

The locking device 6 also includes an optional sensor 66 which detects whether the closing element 40 is present at its level. If the sensor 66 detects the presence of the closing element 40, the electromagnet 65 is activated. When the closing element 4 is pulled out of the treatment chamber 2 , the electromagnet 65 switches off as soon as the closing element 40 lies above the sensor 66 . Thus, the closure flange ring 42 can be lifted off the treatment chamber 2 by means of the driver 402 analogously to the previously described embodiments. It therefore remains on the closing element 4.

6 shows schematically a detailed view of a device 1 for treating a container 120 in a filling product bottling plant according to a further embodiment. The device 1 corresponds essentially to that of the 1 until 3 . In contrast to the device 1 from 1 comprises the device 1 according to FIG 6 a closure member 4, which is designed for applying a twist lock. For this purpose, the closing element 4 can be rotated about a geometric axis extending in the direction of movement B.

In the present case, the closure flange ring 42 is constructed in two parts. A first flange ring 424 or inner flange ring 424 is designed to be rotatable relative to a second flange ring 425 or outer flange ring 425 about the geometric axis extending in direction of movement B, in that a roller bearing 426 is arranged between first flange ring 424 and second flange ring 425.

The first flange ring 424 includes the sliding seal 422, by which the first flange ring 424 is sealed off from the closing element 40. The first flange ring 424 is designed to be displaceable in the direction of movement B relative to the closing element 40 . When the closing element 40 rotates, the inner, first flange ring 424 is designed to rotate with the closing element 40 . A rotary seal 427 is arranged between the first flange ring 424 and the second flange ring 425 .

The second flange ring 425 includes the seal 420. Furthermore, the second flange ring 425 has a ferromagnetic material. A magnetic element 67 is arranged in the wall 26 of the treatment chamber 2 and exerts a magnetic force of attraction on the second flange ring 425 . The locking device 6 is thus formed by the second flange ring 425 and the magnetic element 67 .

The flange rings 424, 425 are prevented from shifting in the direction of movement B relative to one another via the roller bearing 426. Correspondingly, the prestressing can be applied to the closing flange ring 42 via the prestressing element 7 analogously to the previously described embodiments. Furthermore, analogous to the above-described embodiments, raising the Closing flange ring 42 by means of driver 402.

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

Reference List

1

contraption

120

container

122

container mouth

2

treatment chamber

20

container receiving opening

22

capper receiving opening

24

surface

26

Wall

3

filling element

30

filling product outlet

4

closing element

40

closing element

402

driver

42

capper flange ring

420

poetry

422

sliding seal

424

First flange ring

425

Second flange ring

426

roller bearing

427

rotary seal

5

lifting device

6

locking device

60

bayonet nose

62

bayonet mount

63

snap hook

630

insertion surface

632

holding surface

64

ferromagnetic material

65

electromagnet

66

sensor

67

magnetic element

7

biasing element

B

direction of movement

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited 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

• EP 2937310 A2 [0004]
• DE 102017114388 A1 [0006, 0026, 0032]

Claims (8)

Device (1) for treating a container (120) in a filling product bottling plant, comprising a closing element (4) with a closing element (40) for applying a container closure to a container mouth (122) and a treatment chamber (2) with a closure receiving opening (22) for Receiving the closure element (4), the closure element (40) being able to act through the closure receiving opening (22) on a container mouth (122) of the container to be treated (122) in the treatment chamber (2) in order to apply the container closure, the Closure element (4) has a closure flange ring (42) which can be brought into a sealing position in which it engages with the closure receiving opening (22) in a gas-tight sealing manner, the closure element (40) for applying a container closure to a container in the treatment chamber (2 ) present container mouth (122) can be lowered relative to the closure flange ring, dadu rch characterized in that the closure flange ring (42) on its side facing the treatment chamber (2) has a seal (420) for gas-tight sealing of the closure flange ring (42) against the closure receiving opening (22) and/or a locking device (6) for locking the closure flange ring (42) is provided in the sealing position. Device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the seal (420) is designed as a front-flush seal (420) and/or comprises an O-ring and/or a molded seal. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the locking device (6) is designed in the form of a mechanical lock, a locking element (62) arranged on the closing flange ring (42) preferably being engageable with a locking element (64) arranged on the treatment chamber (2), wherein the locking device (6) is preferably designed in the form of a bayonet lock, and/or the locking device (6) comprises a spring element for holding the closure flange ring (42) in the sealing position, the spring element preferably being designed as a snap hook (63), and /or the locking device (6) comprises an electromagnetic lock, with a magnetic element or electromagnet element (65) preferably being provided which, by exerting a magnetic force on a magnet element, an electromagnet element (65) or a ferromagnetic material (64), locks the closing flange ring (42 ) in the sealing position hä according to Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (4) comprises a prestressing element (7) for prestressing the closing flange ring (42) into a predetermined position relative to the closing element (40), the prestressing element (7 ) comprises a spring or a magnetic element or an electromagnet element. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing flange ring (42) is rotationally decoupled from the closing element (40) and/or the closing flange ring (42) is preferably constructed in two parts, with a first flange ring (424) rotatable opposite a second flange ring (425) of the closing flange ring (42), a roller bearing (426) for rotationally decoupling the closing flange ring (42) and the closing element (40) or roller bearing (426) for rotationally decoupling the flange rings (424, 425) from one another is. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure member (4) can be moved completely out of the closure receiving opening (22) in order to take over a container closure outside the treatment chamber (2) with the closure element (40) or the closure element ( 40) to switch. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (40) comprises a driver (402) for taking the closing flange ring (42) out of the sealing position. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filling element (3) is provided which, for filling the container (120), acts on the container mouth (122) in the treatment chamber (2) and preferably relative to the treatment chamber (2) is movable from a treatment position for filling the container (120) into a parking position in which the closing element (40) can act on the container mouth (122).

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