EP0281660A1 - Filling device, especially for pouring a liquid or a solid, free-flowing medium into containers, especially casks, closed by screw caps or plugs of a different kind - Google Patents

Abstract

In the disclosed apparatus, a belt feeds empty containers, into a filling station. At a waiting position in the station of the belt lifts a container with a support having centering rollers that permit horizontal displacement of the empty container while alignment pulleys engage the vertical sides of the container to the rotate the container about its vertical axis so that its fill opening is at the leading edge of the container. A horizontally rotatable plate above the container but ahead of the waiting position sequentially applies an unplugging device and a level sensor to the container. When the belt moves the container to the filling position and when filling device has filled the container, the plate swings the unplugging device around to the filling position and plugs the container's fill opening. Upon further rotation, it positions a second device to apply a safety cap to the container. According to an preferred embodiment, the plate also carries a re-centreing pin that enters the opening in the waiting position and prealigns moves the container on the rollers with the filling device at the filling position.

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling, in particular, a liquid or solid, flowable medium into containers sealed with screw plugs or other types of sealing plugs, in particular barrels, the screw plugs preferably being covered with attached safety caps.

Devices for simultaneous filling of a liquid or solid, flowable medium in containers such as containers, barrels, packs or the like. are known in various embodiments.

Such a filling device is known from EP-A-0 105 197, which consists of a pipeline system with a feed pump for supplying the medium to be filled and with filling valves connected via supply lines above the container to be filled, in each of which the supply line leading to the filling valves a volume chamber is arranged with an impeller arranged in the interior thereof and set in rotation by the medium flowing to the respective filling valve, the impellers of all volume chambers being rigidly connected to one another via a mechanical shaft which is connected to a braking device which can be controlled by a system pressure-dependent control device, wherein To control the filling valves, a two-stage pneumatic switching cylinder is provided, which directly with at least one filling valve and with the other filling valves via an actuating device is connected, wherein a control element is provided which responds to the weight of the filled medium via a balance which is assigned to one of the filling valves and which is connected to the switching cylinder. With such a filling device it is possible to be able to fill several containers at the same time, only the filling volume or weight of one container needing to be measured and monitored.

According to US-A-3,548,891, a system for simultaneous filling of several containers is known, but using dosing and filling devices in a number corresponding to the number of containers to be filled, each container to be filled having its own filling device. The filling nozzles used in this system enable individual containers to be filled according to the filling volume, which is possible by assigning a filling device to each individual container. However, with this filling device neither the filling volume nor the filling weight of a single container is measured and monitored, so that the filling of the containers is not controlled by the filling volume or the filling weight of a single container. In this filling system, the filling volume or the filling weight for each individual container is monitored and used to control the filling device.

A filling device is known from US Pat. No. 3,205,920, with which containers passed by several filling valves can be filled with liquids. The containers to be filled are fed via a conveyor belt, the forward movement of which is switched off when the number of containers corresponding to the number of filling valves comes to lie under the discharge openings of the filling valves. At this moment, all the filling valves are simultaneously placed on the openings of the containers to be filled via a gate control, the quantity of liquid which is to be filled into the containers then being supplied to the filling valves at the same time via pumps. In order to ensure that the filling valves are evenly placed on the tank openings, all filling valves are attached to a support beam that is held in a vertical guide. This support beam with the filling valves can be moved up and down via the link drive. The filling valves are connected to the pumps via flexible hose lines. With this filling device, too, all containers are filled with liquid at the same time using filling valves, via which the metering is carried out at the same time.

As is known, drums intended for filling with liquids are delivered with screwed-on sealing plugs. It is therefore necessary to remove them and screw them back on after filling. On the feed belt or the like. The filling device must therefore be precisely aligned with the drums, otherwise there is a risk that the filling material will not flow into the bunghole but next to the drum.

For closing the fill opening of a barrel or the like. with the help of a device for inserting and fastening a stopper in the filling opening is according to the DE-A-18 17 237 discloses a closing device in which both the device for inserting the plug and a position determining device are arranged at a distance from one another in such a way that they move upwards and downwards and according to polar coordinates with respect to a fixed point in one to the other upward and downward movement vertical plane are freely movable. Furthermore, in this known device a gripping device is provided to prevent the free movement of the device for inserting the plug and for determining position together, and a drive device which is suitable for the two devices for inserting the plug and for determining position when the gripping device free movement prevents moving only linearly and forcibly by a distance equal to the distance between the two devices. This locking device has very large dimensions.

Furthermore, from US-A-2,731,185 a plug screwing device with a centering and screwing head is known, which consists of an outer centering ring and a screw head displaceable therein against spring pressure, which is connected to a drive device via a drive shaft with angularly movable joints. In this stopper screwing device, the centering ring is designed and profiled so that when a stopper is screwed into the barrel bung hole, it is supported on the upper circumferential edge of the barrel bunghole connector and is therefore adapted to the dimensions and the diameter of the barrel bunghole connector.

In addition, EP-A-0 065 180 describes a plug-in screwing device for drums with a centering and screwing head, consisting of an outer centering ring and a screwing head which is arranged in the interior thereof and can be displaced against spring pressure and which has a drive shaft with a drive device via an angularly movable joints is known. This plug-in screw device consists of a support frame and an upper support plate and a lower support plate, on which a centering plate is arranged, which is provided with a cross-shaped opening and the inner wall surface delimiting the opening tapers conically in the direction of the centering and screwing head and on the bottom into a vertical one Wall section merges, the inner diameter of the recess delimited by the wall section being larger than the diameter of the drive shaft, a correspondingly profiled molded body having an outer wall surface which tapers conically in the direction of the centering and screwing head, with the molded body on its bottom side being inserted into the opening End which is supported on the drum cover plate during the stopper centering and screwing-in centering ring and is connected to a section lying on the centering plate with a guide plate which is connected to at least three at the bottom Ren support plate of the support frame fastened guide pin is longitudinally displaceable and pivotable against the pressure of springs, and wherein the drive shaft consists of a shaft part connected to the drive device and a shaft part supporting the screw head, both shaft parts being connected to one another via a double universal joint.

All filling systems work in the same way, namely that after aligning the container to be filled by means of a screwing device, the screw plug is unscrewed from the filling opening of the container, gripped and placed on a conveyor belt which runs parallel to the feed path of the container to be filled. On this transport path, the individual screw plugs picked up by the screwing device and delivered to the conveyor belt are brought into a new position parallel to the feed movement of the containers to be filled, in which the screw plug is screwed into the filling opening of the filled container, the screwing device also being used on this forward movement for the screw plug if no second screw device is provided. If the screw plug is unscrewed, the empty container is conveyed to a filling station on a transport path and remains there until the container is filled with the corresponding filling material. The filled container then runs into the screw-in screw-in position, in which the screwing device is kept ready, in which position, at the same time, the supply of securing caps can take place, which are fitted by means of a corresponding device on the screw-in screw screwed into the filling opening of the filled container three work cycles are provided, namely in the first cycle the barrel is aligned and the screw plug is unscrewed from the filler opening. In the second cycle, after a further advance of the container prepared in this way, the container is filled, and in a third cycle after a further advance of the filled container, the filling opening closed by means of a screw plug and, if necessary, the securing cap placed on it. A bottling plant designed and working in this way has relatively large dimensions, even if satisfactory working speeds are achieved. In addition, the performance of such a filling system depends on the filling time and the number of work cycles. In addition, it is not necessary in such filling systems that the containers have to be aligned precisely with the screwing device and the filling device. An extremely precise alignment of the containers is only required for the placement of safety caps on screw plugs that have already been screwed in.

The invention solves the problem of creating a filling device for containers, in particular barrels, in which the removal of the sealing plugs, the measurement of moisture, the filling of the empty containers, the insertion of the sealing plugs into the filling openings of the filled containers and the fitting of safety caps inside of two work cycles can be carried out, ie, all of these operations are carried out in only two standing positions of the containers, and in addition there is a compact design of the overall device with a short overall length, so that the filling device can also be accommodated in small rooms.

This object is achieved by the features characterized in claim 1.

With a filling device designed in this way, it is possible to provide containers provided with screw plugs, in particular to fill barrels economically and thereby the entire process, such as centering the container to be filled on the feed path, unscrewing the sealing plug from the filling opening, inserting a moisture measuring probe into the interior of the container, filling the container, screwing in the sealing plug in the filling opening of the filled container and the placement of safety caps on the screwed or screwed-in sealing plug, so that they run off and combine in such a way that two containers can be operated simultaneously from the work station of the filling device without a large number of work cycles occurring in which the containers have to stay for the individual operations. In such a filling device, only two cycles are used, namely insofar as the empty containers supplied to the filling device are prepared for filling and, at the same time, the containers leading the empty containers are filled, closed and provided with safety caps, so that after the extension of the filled and closed containers, the prepared empty containers are only transported by one cycle to get into the area of the swung-in filling device, so that when this filling position is reached the prepared container is filled, closed and provided with the safety cap, while at the same time again prepared empty container is being prepared. Since the empty, prepared containers do not have to travel long distances from the preparation station to the filling position, the filling device has the smallest dimensions, ie not a great length. The total length of the The device is at least twice the diameter of a container. Due to the fact that the containers are gripped at their bottom circumferential edge for aligning the individual containers, no high force needs to be applied, since the container is only slightly lifted from its base, ie from the chain belts, for the rotation of the container. The container is rotated about its longitudinal axis for alignment purposes by means of the alignment rollers on the support and centering rollers on which the container rests with its base plate. The fact that the support and centering rollers are arranged on a circular line, in such a way that their bearing axes are radially extending, and in that the support and centering rollers are longitudinally displaceable on their bearing axes, there is the possibility that the support and center and move centering rollers towards the center so that the container can be moved horizontally in all directions for alignment purposes. Characterized in that the container sits on the support and centering rollers, the bottom-side friction on the lifting frame is extremely low, so that a precise alignment of the container while simultaneously centering the container filler opening is possible. It is particularly advantageous here to use the support and centering rollers, which form the sliding surface for the container, on which the container can be displaced in all directions without the need for great force. It is also advantageous that after a rough centering by means of the alignment rollers, a fine centering is carried out by inserting the probe-shaped moisture measuring probe by means of the centering mandrel of the container.

The detection of the container for alignment purposes on its bottom peripheral edge provides the advantage that the container is at its most stable point, i.e. is detected in the area which has the greatest inherent rigidity, so that wall surface deformations are avoided by detecting the container, as is the case with the known devices.

The operating devices for the container, which are combined in the work station, are arranged so that they can be rotated about a vertical central axis in such a way that only the smallest distances are covered, with the feed device advancing and trailing using the turntable or the screwing device only screw device for use, by means of which the screw plugs are unscrewed from the filling openings of the supplied empty containers and by means of which the screw plugs are screwed into the filling openings of the filled containers, the screwing device only having to be pivoted through 180 °. The sequence of movements of the filling device, on the other hand, extends over a much smaller swivel range, since the filling device is so advanced when the screwing device is pivoted from the screw-plug unscrewing position into the screw-plug screwing-in position that the filling device is only a small distance in front of the screwing device, but when the screwing device swivels back Screwing device from the screw-in screw-in position to the screw-in screw-off position only needs to travel a short distance to reach the filling position, this path being coordinated with the forward speed of the prepared empty container into the filling position and since the transport path for the advance of the containers in the area of the filling device is only a very short length, it is ensured that when the filling device has reached its filling position, then the filling opening of the container to be filled comes to rest below the filling device, while the screwing device then stands above the revolving, empty container.

If safety caps are to be placed on the screwed-in screw plugs, then a corresponding device is provided on the turntable of the work station, by means of which the safety caps supplied to the filling device are individually picked up and transported to the plug-on position, the plug-on position being the position in which the container with its Filling opening comes to stand when the container is to be filled.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

• Fig. 1 in einer Ansicht von oben die Abfüllvorrichtung mit ihrer Arbeitsstation mit einem Behälter in der Schraubstopfenabschraubposition und mit einem Behälter in der Füllposition,
• Fig. 2 in einer Ansicht von oben einen Teilabschnitt der Transportbahn der Abfüllvorrichtung mit den Abstütz- und Zentrierrollen und mit einem auf diesen aufgesetzten Behälter mit an der Behälteraußenwandfläche anliegenden Ausrichtrollen,
• Fig. 3 teils in einer Seitenansicht, teils in einem senk­rechten Schnitt die Abfüllvorrichtung mit der Arbeitssta­tion in derjenigen Arbeitsstellung, bei der die Feuchtig­keitsmeßsonde in den Innenraum des Behälters eingeführt ist und bei der der zu befüllende Behälter mit seiner Einfüll­öffnung im Bereich des Füllstutzens der Fülleinrichtung an­geordnet ist,
• Fig. 4 teils in einer Seitenansicht,teils in einem senk­rechten Schnitt die Abfüllvorrichtung mit der Arbeitsstation in derjenigen Arbeitsstellung,bei der die Schraubeinrichtung oberhalb des abzuschraubenden Schraubstopfens und die Ein­richtung zum Aufsetzen von Sicherungskappen oberhalb des eingeschraubten Verschlußstopfens eines gefüllten Behälters ange­ordnet ist,
• Fig. 5 eine Vorderansicht der Abfüllvorrichtung,
• Fig. 6 bis 10 in schematischen Ansichten von oben die Arbeitsweise und die Arbeitsabläufe der einzelnen Einrichtungen der Arbeitsstation der Abfüllvorrichtung,
• Fig. 11 in einer Seitenansicht eine weitere Ausführungsform der Abfüll­vorrichtung mit einer seitlich verschwenkbaren Fülleinrichtung und
• Fig. 12 in einer Seitenansicht die seitlich verschwenkbare Fülleinrichtung.

In the following the subject matter of the invention is explained in the drawings. It shows

• 1 is a top view of the filling device with its work station with a container in the screw plug unscrewing position and with a container in the filling position,
• 2 is a top view of a section of the transport path of the filling device with the support and centering rollers and with a container placed thereon with alignment rollers resting on the outer surface of the container,
• Fig. 3 partly in a side view, partly in a vertical section, the filling device with the work station in the working position in which the moisture measuring probe is inserted into the interior of the container and in which the container to be filled with its filling opening is arranged in the region of the filler neck of the filling device is
• 4 partly in a side view, partly in a vertical section, the filling device with the work station in the working position in which the screwing device is arranged above the screwing plug to be unscrewed and the device for fitting securing caps above the screwed-in sealing plug of a filled container,
• 5 is a front view of the filling device,
• 6 to 10 in schematic views from above the mode of operation and the work processes of the individual devices of the work station of the filling device,
• 11 is a side view of a further embodiment of the filling device with a laterally pivotable filling device and
• Fig. 12 in a side view of the laterally pivotable filling device.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and designated 10 for filling, in particular a liquid medium into containers closed with screw stoppers, in particular drums, consists of a horizontal transport path 20 arranged in a machine frame 200, on which the screw stopper 110 is used to hold the closed and empty containers 100 are fed, 20 additional feed belts can be connected upstream of this transport path. In the same way, the conveyor track 20 further downstream belts, so that the length of the conveyor track 20 is exclusive limited to the area of the filling device 10, the length of the transport track 20 corresponding to at least twice the diameter of a container or barrel 100. The container 100 consists of the actual container body with the container wall 104, an upper cover or cover plate 101, a filler opening 102 formed therein with an internal thread for screwing in a screw plug 110 made of metal or plastic, a base plate 103, the circumferential, projecting edge thereof with 106 and its peripheral edge with 106a. The central axis of rotation of the container is indicated at 107 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

The transport path 20 is formed by two chain belts 21, 22, which are arranged at a distance from one another and rotate in the direction of the arrow X. The two chain belts 21, 22 are guided over deflection rollers, not shown in the drawings, which are mounted in a machine frame 200 (FIG. 5), which receives the filling device 10. The chain belts 21, 22 are driven via driven deflection rollers over which the chain belts are guided. In Fig. 3, the two pulleys of the chain belt 21 are indicated at 24.25. The upper strands of the two chain bands 21, 22 are designated 21a, 22a and the lower strands 21b, 22b (FIG. 5). The two chain belts 21, 22 are driven by a drive device indicated at 23, which, in coordination with the individual work processes, controls the advance transport of an empty container and a filled container in the direction of the arrow Y such that an empty container is closed with a screw plug Container into the screw plug unscrewing position and after releasing the filling position by moving a filled and closed container, the first empty container without screw plug is moved into the filling position. The containers are transported forward in cycles and the control device is decommissioned via a control device (not shown in the drawing) circulating chain belts 21, 22 and also the dwell time within which the two chain belts 21, 22 must remain out of operation in order to be able to carry out the individual operating sequences on the containers fed to the filling device 10.

Furthermore, the filling device 10 comprises a device 30 with which the individual containers 100 can be lifted slightly from the chain straps 21, 22 from the upper runs 21a, 22a of the two chain straps 21, 22 (FIG. 5).

This device 30 consists of a lifting frame 31 which can be raised and lowered in the direction of the arrow X1, this vertical movement of the lifting frame 31 taking place by means of lifting devices indicated by the arrows 32 in FIG. 5, which can be driven hydraulically, pneumatically or by an electric motor.

The respective container 100 to be lifted and aligned is gripped by this lifting frame 31, which is arranged between the two chain belts 21, 22 or their upper strands 21a, 22a, and the container 100 to be lifted and aligned on its peripheral edge 106a of the container base plate 103 or its formed in the area of the container base plate 103, encircling and laterally projecting edge, the lifting frame 31 executing only a very small stroke, since it is only necessary that the container 100 of the upper strands 21a, 22a be put out of operation during the alignment process Chain belts 21, 22 is raised in order to rotate the container 100 by means of the lifting frame 31 or by means of alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 about its longitudinal axis 107 of the container, that its filling opening 102, which is closed with a screw plug 105, is aligned with the screwing device 60 of the work station 50, which will be described in more detail below, pivoted into the container advance path.

Furthermore, the device 30 comprises at least three support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 which can be lifted together with the lifting frame 31 and are arranged between the upper runs 21a, 22a of the two chain belts and which lie on a circular line indicated at 33 in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, three support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 are provided, on which the container 100 is supported when the container 100 is gripped by the lifting frame 31 and the container about its vertical central longitudinal axis 107 for alignment is twisted. The diameter of the circular line 33, on which the three supporting and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 lie, corresponds approximately to the diameter of the container 100. However, this circular line 33 can also have a smaller or larger diameter. It is essential that the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 lying on the circular line are arranged such that the container 100 to be aligned is supported with its base plate 103 on these support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 (FIG. 5).

The arrangement of the three support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 takes place as shown in FIG. 2, ie the three support and centering rollers are arranged between the upper runs 21a, 22a of the two chain belts 21, 22, the support and Centering roller 34 is lying in the container inlet direction, while the other two support and centering rollers 35, 36 lie on the section of the circular line 33 which runs between the upper runs 21a, 22a of the two chain belts 21, 22, with these two support and centering rollers 35, 36 on the infeed direction for the containers 100 are on the opposite side.

All three supporting and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 are arranged so as to fly freely on bearing axes 37, 38, 39 mounted in the machine frame of the filling device 10, all three bearing axes running radially to the vertical, approximately central axis of rotation 107 of the container, as can be seen in FIG. 2 is, that is, the extensions of the three bearing axles 37, 38, 39 meet in the center 33a of the circular line 33. Each of the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 is free in the longitudinal direction of the bearing axis due to its free-floating arrangement on its bearing axis 37, 38.39 displaceable, so that due to this displaceability, the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 automatically center towards the center 33a of the circular line 33, so that a container 100 standing on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 in all directions in the Is horizontally displaceable, so that a fine centering and alignment of the container with its filling opening is possible. The bearing axles 37, 38, 39 for the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 have corresponding lengths so that the support and centering rollers have a sufficient displacement path. The free displaceability of the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 is indicated in FIG. 2 by the arrows X2.

In that the lifting frame 31 has the container 100 to be aligned in its bottom region, i.e. in the area that has the greatest inherent rigidity and strength, deformation or deformation of the container, in particular its container wall 104, is avoided, so that thin-walled containers 100 can also be filled by means of the filling device 10.

The device 30 further comprises the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42, which are arranged in the peripheral region of the container 100 standing on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36, in such a way that the alignment rollers are located on the outer wall surface 104 of the container or on the peripheral edge Support 106a of the tank bottom plate 103, ie be brought into contact in these areas, it being particularly advantageous if the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 also come into contact with the circumferential edge 106 of the container 100, since the circumferential edge 106 of the container has the greatest intrinsic rigidity and strength and hardly is subjected to a deformation when pressure is exerted on the peripheral edge 106 from the outside (FIG. 4).

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, three alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are provided, of which the alignment roller 40 is arranged outside the chain belt 22 and the other two alignment rollers 41, 42 are arranged outside the chain belt 21. The bearing axes 40a, 41a, 42a of the three alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are arranged vertically in the machine frame 200 of the filling device 10.

Of the three alignment rollers 40, 41, 42, the alignment roller 40 is preferably driven in a rotating manner by means of a drive device indicated at 45 in order to be able to rotate the container 100 about its vertical central axis 107. The two other alignment rollers 41, 42 are then supported during the rotation the container 100, the container rotation being supported by the alignment rollers 41, 42. All three alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 can be swiveled in and out in the direction of the arrows X3, X4, X5 by means not shown in the drawing, such as support arms or the like. By means of these alignment rollers 40, 41, 42, the container 100 is also aligned laterally, in that the alignment rollers are brought into a position in which the alignment rollers on the container wall 104 or on the circumferential, bottom-side edge 106 or on the bottom, circumferential edge 106a of the container 100 come to rest, in the latter case the lifting frame 31 is designed such that the positioning of the alignment rollers is not hindered, the pivoting position of the three alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 being such that during the pivoting-in of these alignment rollers to the system to the container 100, the container is shifted on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36, while the container is lifted at the same time by means of the lifting frame 31 from the upper runs 21a, 22a of the chain belts 21, 22. The lifting frame 31 is designed in such a way that the container is supported on the lifting frame 31 with its peripheral edge 106 on the bottom so that when the container 100 is rotated about its central longitudinal axis 107, the container can also move on the lifting frame 31. The friction that occurs is extremely low, since the container weight is essentially supported on the three support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 and due to the design the support and centering rollers are shifted horizontally on the latter, this overall alignment of the container 100 taking place via the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42. The alignment rollers are preferably spring-loaded in order to obtain a sufficient contact pressure.

All components which comprise the container lifting device 30 can be combined in one structural unit, so that the lifting frame 31, the supporting and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 and the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are arranged in a frame such that all three components work together and enable the container to be aligned precisely.

The alignment rollers 40, 41, 42, which are brought into abutment on the peripheral edge 106a or on the peripheral edge 106 of the container 100, can all be driven in a circumferential manner using suitable drive devices, but then the circumferential directions of all the alignment rollers are the same. The drive devices for the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are combined in a control unit, not shown in the drawing, which cooperates with a scanning device 171, which will be described in more detail below.

The devices for unscrewing the screw plugs from the filling openings of the containers and for screwing the screw plugs into the filling openings of filled containers, for measuring the fill level in the container, for putting on the securing caps and for filling the container with the respective filling material are combined in a work station 50 , which is part of the filling device 10. The stopper screwing and unscrewing device, which is designed in a manner known per se, is at 60, the device for fitting the securing caps at 70, the moisture measuring probe at 80 and the filling direction labeled 90. All of these devices 60, 70, 80 and 90 are designed in a manner known per se. The filling device 90 comprises a filler neck 91 (FIG. 3), which is connected via a metering device (not shown in the drawing) to a storage container which contains the filling material. The supply of the securing caps 120 to the device 70 for fitting these securing caps onto screw plugs which have already been screwed in is indicated at 190 in FIG. 1. Via this feed path 190, which can be designed as a revolving belt, the securing caps 120 are fed from a storage container 191 to the device 70 when this device has been pivoted into the area of the feeding path 190 and assumes a position in which the individual securing caps from of the device 70 and after the device 70 has been moved into the mounting position, the securing caps are then placed on the screw plugs. The securing caps can be arranged in the form of stacks in the storage container 191. The individual security caps are unstacked by reversible security cap inserts, which are designed in a manner known per se, as are also used for unstacking deep-drawn lids. The individual security caps can also be unstacked from the security cap stack by pushing off the individual security caps. It is also possible to unstack the individual safety caps by unwinding them with conveyor spirals.

The devices 60, 70, 80 and 90 of the work station 50 are combined on a support plate 170, which is above the transport path 20 at a distance is arranged above this, the distance between the transport path 20 and the support plate 170 corresponds at least to the height of the containers 100 to be filled, so that the containers 100 can be easily passed below the support plate 170 on the transport path. The support plate 170 is arranged in the machine frame of the filling device 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

Arranged beneath the support plate 170 in the inlet area of the container is a scanning device 171, which is designed as a proximity switch, as a photoelectric element, such as a photo cell or the like, and which serves to control the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42. The empty container entering the filling device 10 with the screw stopper still screwed into its filling opening is raised slightly from the transport path 20 by means of the lifting frame 31. The alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are then brought to bear on the peripheral edge 106 or on the peripheral edge 106a of the container 100. When these alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are started up, ie when these alignment rollers are driven in rotation, the container 100, which is held on the one hand by the lifting frame 31 and on the other hand is supported with its base plate 103 on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 , then aligned with the aid of the scanning device 171 with respect to its filling opening and brought into that position in which the filling opening of the container with the screw plug comes to rest in the working area of the plug-in and screw-out device 60 or the moisture measuring probe 80, so that one Lowering the screw device 60 of the screw head Screw device comes to rest on the screw stopper of the container, grips it and unscrews it from the thread of the filler opening. This precise alignment of the container is controlled via this scanning device 171.

On the upper side of the support plate 170 there is arranged a disk 72 which can be rotated about a vertical axis 73 and which is supported adjacent to its peripheral edge on roller or roller bearings. The turntable 72 is rotated by means of a drive device indicated at 75. In the middle, the turntable 72 has an opening, preferably a circular opening 74, and in the area of this opening 74 carries an upwardly extending support piece 76 designed as a hollow cylinder (FIG. 4).

In the circumferential area of the turntable 72, openings 77, 78 are formed in the support plate 170, which are used to receive and pass the devices 60, 70, 80 and 90 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The turntable 72 carries the device 60 for screwing and unscrewing the screw plugs, the device 70 for fitting the securing caps and the moisture measuring probe 80. To accommodate these devices, the turntable 72 carries vertical, columnar guides 162, 172, 182, on which the devices 60, 70 and 80 are displaceable in the direction of arrows X6, X7, X8. This movement of the devices 60, 70, 80 on the guide columns 162, 172, 182 takes place by means of drive devices, not shown in the drawing.

The guide columns 162, 172, 182 carry guide carriages 161, 171, 181 with laterally projecting arms 163, 173, 183, on the free ends of which the devices 60, 70, 80 are arranged, so that the devices 60, 70, 80 participate in the guide columns 162, 172, 182 in a vertical movement of the guide columns. The two openings 77, 78 in the support plate 70 are arranged such that when the devices 60, 70, 80 have been brought into their working position by rotating the turntable 72, these are aligned with these devices, 60, 70, 80, so that they Devices can be passed through the openings 77, 78 in the support plate 70. The openings 77, 78 in the support plate 70 are arranged opposite one another, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that the opening 77 faces the inlet area of the containers, while the opening 78 faces away from the inlet area of the containers. The guide columns 162, 172, 182 can also be connected to the support piece 76 of the turntable 72 via connecting webs, which is advantageous for stabilization purposes. If the turntable 72 is set in rotation, the devices 60, 70, 80 also take part in this rotation.

In the area of the vertical axis of rotation 73 of the turntable 72 there is a further support column 180, that is to say arranged centrally to the turntable 72, the bottom end 180a of which is guided through the central opening 74 in the turntable 72. This support column 180 is firmly connected at its bottom end 180a to the support plate 170 and can therefore not participate in the rotation of the turntable 72. The turntable 72 is then annular and rotates around the fixed support column 180. This support column 180 is arranged in the interior of the hollow-cylindrical support socket 76 of the turntable 72 and is led out of the support socket 76 with a section 180b.

This support column 180 carries a rotary ring 92 which is mounted or held on the support column 180 in the region of the extended section 180b of the support column 180 so that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis 73 in the direction of the arrow X9. This rotary ring 92 carries a laterally projecting arm 93, on which a vertical guide column 94 is arranged, on which a guide carriage 95 is arranged displaceably in the direction of arrow X11 and carries the filling device 90 with the filler neck 91. This guide carriage 95 is connected to a drive device, not shown in the drawing, so that the filling device 90 can be displaced longitudinally on the guide column 94 by means of the guide carriage 95 (FIG. 3).

The guide pillars 162, 172, 182 for the devices 60, 70, 80 can also be an integral part of the support piece 76 of the turntable 72 or this support piece 76 can be provided with corresponding guides on its outer wall surface, which then guide slides 161, 171, 181 for the devices 60, 70, 80 record, tape.

Because of this configuration, only the devices 60, 70, 80 take part in the rotary movement of the turntable 72, since the filling device 90 is not connected to the turntable 72, but is held on the support column 180, which is fixedly attached to the support plate 170. In this way the filling device 90 can be rotated about the vertical longitudinal axis 73 independently of the rotary movement of the turntable 72. For this purpose, there is a mechanical coupling between the turntable 72 and the filling device 90, in that the filling device 90 is moved out of its filling position when the turntable 72 is rotated, namely the movement takes place either in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, specifically depending on the direction of rotation of the turntable 72, which rotates in the direction of the arrow X10. This mechanical coupling of the filling device 90 with the turntable 72 can take place via a driver cam device, not shown in the drawing, such as driver cams, in such a way that when the screwing device 60 is pivoted by means of the turntable 72, the filling device 90 then moves ahead or behind is.

The arrangement of the devices 60, 70, 80, 90 in relation to one another is such that when the screw device 60 assumes the position shown in FIG. 6, then the filling device 90 assumes a position opposite the screw device 60, while the other two devices 70 and 80 are arranged between the screwing device 60 and the filling device 90, in such a way that when the turntable 72 is rotated in the direction of the arrow X11, the screwing device 60 is likewise moved out of the plug unscrewing position in the direction of the arrow X12. This movement of the screwing device 60 is followed by the device 70 for fitting the securing caps, the device 70 also being moved in the direction of the arrow X13 when the turntable 72 is rotated in the direction of the arrow X11. Takes the facility 70 the position shown in Fig. 7, then the moisture probe 80 takes the position also shown in Fig. 7 above the fill opening of an empty container ready. During these movements of the devices 60, 70, 80, the filling device 90 remains in the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 until the container is filled and after the filling process has ended, the screw device 60 is rotated further by means of the turntable 72 until the screw device 60 comes to lie above the filling opening of the filled container. During this forward movement of the screwing device 60 into the screw plug-in screwing position, the filling device 90 is pivoted out of its filling position in the direction of the arrow X14, that is to say the filling device 90 is leading in relation to the advancing screwing device 60 and then assumes the position shown in FIG. 8 when the screwing device 60 with the Filling opening of the filled container is brought to cover.

The filling device 10 works as follows:

A container B1 is retracted on the transport track 20 until the container comes to rest below the work station 50. By means of the lifting frame 31, the container is raised slightly from the upper runs 21a, 22a of the chain belts 21, 22 of the stationary transport path 20, the lifting frame 31 gripping the peripheral edge 106 or the bottom peripheral edge 106a of the container. At the same time, the container is supported on the supporting and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 raised together with the lifting frame 31, these supporting and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 can be an integral part of the lifting frame 31. The alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are then placed against the circumferential edge 106 or the circumferential edge 106a of the container, the alignment roller 40 already representing the lateral limitation during the alignment process for the container, ie the alignment roller 40 makes a firm stop Thereupon, the two further alignment rollers 41, 42 are adjusted in such a way that the container comes to rest between the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 (FIGS. 2 and 5). If the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 or only the alignment roller 40 is driven, the container is rotated and shifted about its longitudinal axis 107 and to this extent until its filling opening 102 with the screw stopper 110 still in the filling opening corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 6 shown position below the turntable 72 and below the front opening 77 in the support plate 70. The entire alignment process is controlled by the scanning device 170 and corresponding control elements, not shown in the drawing, in which all the drive devices of the devices of the work station are brought together. The individual work processes are then controlled in the required sequence by these control elements or the control device.

The thus prepared and roughly aligned container B1 then takes the position shown in FIG. 6 below the work station 50. It should be noted that when a continuous filling process is carried out in front of the container B1, a container B2 has already been introduced, which assumes the position shown in FIG. 6 in front of the container B1, this position being the filling position.

If the container B1 has assumed the position shown in FIG. 6, the turntable 72 is rotated in the direction of the arrow X11 until the screwing device 60 has taken the position A and comes to rest in this position above the screw stopper of the empty container B1. The screwing device 60 is lowered with its screw head onto the screw stopper of the container B1. The screw plug is gripped and unscrewed by means of a rotary movement about a vertical axis from the thread of the filler neck which forms or delimits the filler opening of the container.

The screwing device 60 then moves upward and takes the screwed-out screw plug with it. This is followed by a further section-wise rotation of the turntable 72 in the direction of the arrow X11, so that the screwing device is moved out of the position A in the direction of the arrow X12. If the screwing device 60 is moved further in the direction of the arrow X12, then the device 70 follows, the movement of this device 70 being indicated by the arrow X13. The turntable 72 is rotated until the moisture measuring probe 80 has assumed the position at A shown in FIG. 7. The screwing device 60 and the device 70 between the screwing device 60 and the level measuring probe 80 then assume the positions shown at B and C. The filling device 90 remains in its filling position above the filling opening of the container B2, since the filling device 90 does not participate in these rotary movements of the turntable 72. The moisture content in the container B1 is determined by means of the moisture measurement probe. A re-centering mandrel 81 is arranged on the moisture measurement probe 80, which surrounds the probe 80 and which fills in when the moisture measurement probe 80 is retracted opening or the bung hole of the empty container is exactly centered. In this process, the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are detached from the edge of the container so that the container can move freely on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36. The re-centering mandrel 81 fits exactly into the opening of the container filling opening with the outside diameter. In this position, the lifting frame 31 lowers and sets the container aligned on the chain conveyor 21, 22. However, the moisture measurement probe 80 can also be omitted. In this case, only the re-centering mandrel 81 is provided, which takes the place of the moisture measuring probe 80 and is automatically inserted into the container filling opening by means of appropriate drive means.

The turntable 72 is then rotated further in the direction of the arrow X11, so that the screwing device 60 comes to rest in the position A1 in FIG. 8 above the filling opening of the filled container B2. During the pivoting of the device 60 from the position B (FIG. 7) to the position A1 (FIG. 8), the filling device 90 is pivoted out of its filling position D in FIG. 7 due to the mechanical coupling until the filling device 90 moves the position D1 in FIG 8 occupies. The screw plug unscrewed from the container B1 is still in the screwing device and is now inserted and screwed into the opening after the screwing device 60 has been lowered onto the filling opening of the container B2. If the filled container is closed, the turntable 72 is rotated further in the direction of the arrow X11, so that the screwing device 60 is moved out of the position A1 and then remains in the position A2 (FIG. 9). Since the other devices 70 and 80 are connected to the turntable 72, these two devices take part in the rotary movement of the turntable 72 and are pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 9, to the extent that until the device 70 assumes the position A1 shown in FIG. 9 after the device 70 in the position E shown in FIG. 8 has received a securing cap fed on the feed path 190. The device 70 is pivoted from this position E (FIG. 8) to the position A1 (FIG. 9) with this safety cap. Once the device 70 has assumed this position A1, the device 70 is lowered and at the same time the safety cap is moved onto the position Screw plug attached.

The container B1 with the screwed-out screw plug has been lowered again onto the transport path 20 after the unscrewing process. When the container B2 is filled, the screw plug is screwed in and the safety cap is put on, the container B2 is brought out of the filling device 10 by starting up the transport track 20, the container B1 being simultaneously moved from the position F to the position F1 (FIG. 10) and thus assumes the position of the container B2 shown in FIG. 6, a new container B3 then simultaneously entering the device in order to assume the position F of the container B1 in FIG. 6. At the same time, the turntable is turned clockwise and at the same time takes all the facilities connected with it. The turntable is rotated until the screwing device 60 has assumed the position A1 in FIG. 6 after the newly entered container B3 has been aligned as described above. If the container B1 has taken the position F1 (FIG. 10) and the new container B3 has been brought into the position F, the transport path 20 is put out of operation, the container B3 is aligned and its screw stopper is unscrewed while at the same time the container B2 is filled because the filling device 90 has assumed the position shown in FIG. 6, because when the turntable 72 rotates in the direction of the arrow X15, the filling device 90 of the screwing device 60 runs gradually due to the mechanical coupling of the filling device 90 to the turntable 72 assumes the position shown in FIG. 6 when the screwing device 60 has reached the position A.

Due to the design of the filling device 10 and its mode of operation, it is possible to prepare an empty container for the filling and to fill the other container at the same time in a single working step, whereby the control of the device of the work station 50 can also be such that the filling device 90 so It is widely pivoted that when the screwing device 60 assumes the position above the container B2 (FIG. 8), the filling device comes to lie above the filling opening of the container B1 and then the filling process already takes place here, so that after the extension of the filled and closed container B2 then the already filled container B1 is moved into the previous position of the container B2, in order to be closed in this position after the turntable 72 has been rotated accordingly, a new container being then simultaneously introduced into the filling device, but this can only be prepared if d he screw plug is screwed into the filled container and the screw device 60 is moved to position A (FIG. 6).

The sequence of the process for the preparation of a container for filling and the filling process are coordinated so that the shortest times can be met. During the filling process of an empty container, the turntable 72 is rotated to such an extent that the screwing device 60 comes to rest next to the filling device 90, while the container B1 which has already run in, aligned and prepared is in the waiting position and is moved to the position of the container B2, when the filling process is finished, the screw plug is screwed in and the safety cap is fitted. If the screwing device 60 has assumed its position next to the filling device 90, then there is no longer any need for a large pivoting path in order to move the screwing device 60 into the position in which the screwing plug is screwed into the filling opening of the filled container. The filling device 90 is then simultaneously moved away from its filling position and is returned to the filling position when the screwing device 60 is moved back from the position A1 in FIG. 8 to the position A in FIG. 6.

The forward or follow-up movement or the pivoting of the filling device 90 does not need to take place via a mechanical coupling with the turntable 72 or the screw device 60. There is also the possibility of rotating the rotary ring 92, which carries the filling device 90, by means of a drive device, it being possible for this drive device to be controlled by the rotary movement of the turntable or by pivoting the screw device 60. If, for example, the turntable 72 or the screwing device 60 has reached a certain position, the drive device for the rotating ring 92 can be put into operation via a control cam are then pivoted, for example, the filling device 90 from the filling position A1 into an adjacent position D1, so that the screwing device 60 can assume the position A1 (FIG. 8).

The screw plug-in and screw-out device 60 is used for containers whose filling openings are closed by means of screw plugs. If press-in sealing plugs are used instead of screw plugs, the device 60 will have a corresponding design in order to pull the sealing plugs out of the filling openings of the containers and to press them into them by means of pressure.

In the embodiment of the filling device shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the filling device 90 is not part of the work station and is connected to the support column 180, but is fastened to the machine frame of the filling device so that it can be swiveled in and out laterally. The filling device 90 then does not take part in the circulating movements or the partial circulating movements of the devices 60, 70 and 80, but is arranged stationary in the predetermined filling position and, after the filling process has ended, becomes out of the orbit of the turntable 72 or the movement path of the devices 60, 70 , 80 swung out to the side. In Fig. 12 the pivot point is indicated at 95.

Claims (4)

1.Filling device, in particular a liquid or solid, flowable medium in sealed with screw plug 110 or other sealing plug container (100), in particular barrels, the screw plug are preferably covered with attached safety caps (120), characterized in that the in a filling device (10) arranged on a machine frame 200 a) a horizontal transport path (20) for the containers (100) with a length which corresponds to at least twice the diameter of a container, the transport path (20) consisting of two spaced apart, rotatingly driven and with their upper strands (21a, 22a) there are endless chain belts (21, 22) guiding the containers, b) a device (30) for slightly lifting the individual containers (100) from the chain belts (21, 22), which are arranged on the feed side between the upper runs (21a, 22a) of the two chain belts (21, 22), the device (30) b1) from a hydraulically, pneumatically or electromotively driven (32) lifting and lowering lifting frame (31) which detects the individual container (100) on its peripheral and laterally projecting edge (106) in the area between the two chain belts (21, 22) , b2) from at least three, which can be raised and lowered together with the lifting frame (31), arranged between the upper runs (21a, 22a) of the two chain belts (21, 22) on a circular line (33) with a diameter at least corresponding to the container diameter and centering rollers (34,35,36) for the container (100) with bearing axles (37, 38, 39) running radially to the vertical, approximately central axis of rotation of the container (107), the supporting and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) on their bearing axles (37, 38, 39) being free in the longitudinal direction of the bearing axles are displaceable and automatically centering towards the center (33a) of the circular line (33), so that a container (100) standing on the support and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) can be displaced horizontally in all directions, and b3) from the circumferential region of the container (100) arranged on the support and centering rollers (34, 35, 36), which can be brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the container (104) or with the peripheral edge (106; 106a) of the container base plate (103) Alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) with vertical bearing axes (40a, 41a, 42a) are provided, three alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) being provided, of which at least one alignment roller (40) is driven in rotation by means of a drive device (45) , which at the same time serves as a fixed, lateral limit stop for the container (100), the other two alignment rollers (41, 42) opposite the alignment roller (40) being arranged freely on their bearing axes (40a, 41a, 42a), preferably all three alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) can be swiveled out of their container outer wall surface contact position, c) a work station (50) with a stopper screwing and unscrewing device (60) for the screw stopper (110), with or without a device (70) for receiving and fitting the securing caps (120) onto the containers filling openings (102) screwed in screw plugs, with or without a moisture measuring probe (80) and with a filling device (90), the work station (50) c1) from a horizontal support plate (70) arranged above the transport path (20) at a distance above it, which corresponds at least to the height of the containers (100), below which a scanning device (171) for detecting the screw plugs of the incoming empty ones Container is arranged, or the like as a proximity switch, photoelectric element. and which serves to control the alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) for centering each empty container on the devices (60, 70, 80) of the work station (50) arranged above the container inlet path (20), c2) from a turntable (72) which can be rotated on the support plate (70) about a vertical axis (73) by means of a drive device (75) and has a central opening (74) and a vertical opening which extends upwards through the opening (74) Support socket (76), on or on the on the turntable (72) arranged vertical guides (162, 172, 182) the screwing device (60), the moisture measuring probe (80) and the device (70) for the securing caps (120) by means of laterally projecting, on guide carriages (161, 171, 181) fastened arms (163, 173, 183) are arranged such that they can be shifted in height, with two in the support plate 70 opposite one another and centered on the lead breakthroughs (77, 78) lying on the track are provided for driving through the devices (60, 70, 80),
and c3) consists of a support column (180) which passes through the interior of the support socket (76) and through the opening (74) in the turntable (72) and which is connected at its base end (180a) to the support plate (70) The support column (180) is led out of the support socket (76) of the turntable (72) with a section (180b) which carries a rotating ring (92) which can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the support column (73) and which has a laterally projecting arm ( 93) is provided, which carries a vertical guide (94) with a height-adjustable guide carriage (95), on which the filling device (90) is fastened with a filler neck (91), the rotary ring (92) with the filling device (90) mechanically or is coupled by an electric motor to the forward or reverse movement of the turntable (72) or the screwing device (50) such that when the turntable (72) or the screwing device (60) advances counterclockwise, the filling device (90) advances nd and with a return movement of the turntable (72) or the screwing device (60) the filling device (90) follows it, in the starting position the screwing device (60) being arranged on the container inlet side and opposite the filling device (90) and the device (70) and the Level measuring probe (80) are arranged between the screwing device (60) and the filling device (90) in an angular range of 45 ° or 90 ° starting from the screwing device (60), after aligning the empty container that has run into the filling device (10) with its screw plug onto the screw device (60) in the screw plug unscrewing position, the screw device is lowered onto the screw plug, unscrewed and lifted from the filling opening of the container, then the turntable (72) rotated, until the moisture measuring probe (80) is aligned with the container filling opening, the moisture measuring probe (80) is lowered into the interior of the container, the filling device (90) is brought into congruence with the filling opening of the container leading the empty container and the contents are placed in this container the turntable (72) rotates until the screwing device (60) is aligned with the filling opening of the filled container, with simultaneous further movement of the filling device (90) after completion of the filling process from the filling position by mechanical coupling of the filling device (90) with the in the scraper screwing device (60) or with the turntable (72) and, at the same time, a securing cap (120) supplied on a feed path (190) is received by the device (70), and when the turntable (72) moves further, the screwing device (60 ) after screwing in a screw plug into the filling opening of the filled container out of the screwing position and the device (70) is moved into the area of the screwed screw plug of the filled container and the safety cap is placed on the screw plug of the filled container, whereupon the filled and closed container from the filling device (10) and the empty container is moved clockwise into the rear filling position while rotating the turntable (72), so that the screw device (60) moves into the screw plug unscrewing position and a new empty container with its screw plug in the area of the screw device ( 60) is retracted and aligned with it. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the moisture measuring probe (80) carries on its circumference at a distance from its free end for a re-centering a Nachzentrierdorn (81) which is conical to the free end of the moisture measuring probe (80) extending and which engages in the container filler opening when the moisture measuring probe (80) is retracted, the alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) being detached from the edge of the container so that the container is supported on the supporting and centering rollers (34) by means of the re-centering mandrel (81) , 35,36) is displaceable and is aligned. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the work station (50) comprises the plugging and unscrewing device (50), the securing cap receiving and mounting device (120) and the filling device (90), on the turntable (72) instead of the moisture measuring probe (80) the re-centering mandrel (81) is provided, which can be moved in the vertical direction by means of a drive device. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filling device (90) independently of the movement of the devices (60,70,80) and stationary in the container filling position on the machine frame (200) of the filling device (10) arranged and can be moved laterally out of the movement path of the devices (60, 70, 80) about a pivot point (95) and pivoted into the filling position by means of a drive device.

Images