EP0281660B1 - 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 in containers sealed with screw plugs with or without attached safety caps or other types of sealing plugs, in particular barrels, the filling device arranged in a machine frame being a horizontal transport path consisting of two spaced apart , Continuously driven and with their upper runs the container, endless chain belts, a device for slightly lifting the individual containers from the chain belts, which is arranged between the upper runs of the two chain belts and a driven, the individual container in the area between the two Chain platform-detecting lifting platform, a work station with means for removing or attaching plugs, a filling device and a liquid measuring probe, the work station as one above the T transport path at a distance above this, which corresponds to at least the height of the container, is arranged a turntable which can be rotated about a vertical axis by means of a drive device, and a scanning device, which is arranged in the region of the work station and is designed as a proximity switch, photoelectric element or the like for detecting the filling opening of a run-in, empty container for centering this container on the devices of the work station, the devices of the work station being vertically displaceable on vertical guides.

Such a filling device is known from GB-A 2 164 029, which is considered in the preamble. This is an automatic clarifier and refill machine, in which containers with filling openings are fed on a transport path to a workstation, which is designed as a turntable and has facilities for removing or attaching the sealing plugs, for filling level measurement and for filling the containers, the Containers are centered before entering the work station by means of a device so that the filling openings of the supplied empty containers are aligned with the devices of the work station brought into the respective working position. This centering takes place by means of a turntable on which the individual containers sit with their base plates. This turntable can be moved in height in order to be able to lift the empty container from the transport path for the centering process. For the centering process, the raised container is rotated about its longitudinal axis by means of the turntable until its filling opening is brought into contact with a fixed stop arranged on the machine frame, whereas the rearward limitation takes place by means of positioning devices in such a way that the filled container with its filling opening is in the range of motion individual work equipment of the workstation comes to a standstill.

This positioning device detects the container in the region of its middle barrel hoops, this positioning device consisting of two pivotable, arm-like guides. During the lifting process of the empty barrel, a control system is actuated via which the rotational movement of the container is initiated and this rotation is carried out until the filler neck or the closure hub provided on the container has moved against the fixed stop. When the container has reached the desired position, the work station is put into operation and the work devices combined in the work station are moved into the area of the filling opening of the container. When the container is filled and closed again, the container is led out of the device and a new, empty container is inserted.

This device is designed so that only a single container can be filled and closed. For this reason, the transport path for the individual containers has at least a length that corresponds to the diameter of a container, because the container to be filled is only transferred from a leading path to the actual transport path and remains in the area of the centering device in front of the work station and maintains this position throughout the work process. The dwell time of the individual containers in this device is determined by the duration of the position switching of the container in the area of the work station and by the sequence of movements for the individual work devices of the work station, which must be guided past the filling opening of the positioned container. The device is not designed in such a way that a container can be centered and prepared for filling and a second container prepared for the filling process can be filled and closed at the same time. A high level of work cannot be achieved with this device. In addition, the centering device is in no way designed in such a way that it can be re-centered after it has been centered, which is often necessary if, e.g. the filler neck is bent and if there are screw cap closures that have to be opened. A re-centering is not possible because the container sits on its turntable and high forces have to be applied for a subsequent shifting in the horizontal direction, especially when it comes to large-volume containers. In addition, in this device, the work station is in no way designed so that two containers can be operated simultaneously.

DE-A 3 301 189 describes an automatic drum filling device with a filling head and at least one further treatment head, for example for screwing the bunghole cover, the treatment heads being movably arranged above the stationary drum, so that the drum is centered only once on a stand common to all treatments must be turned off, over which the treatment heads in succession in engagement with the Bunghole are brought. The treatment heads are arranged linearly with a slide in or out of the working position above the centering position of the bung hole. This drum filling device is also designed such that only a single drum in the device is exposed to the treatments by the individual treatment heads when positioned at one and the same point. The device is not designed so that two drums can be treated in the device at the same time, because in this device there is only one stand common to all treatments, on which the drum is placed and centered and remains on this place during the treatment. The centering device used in this device enables the barrel to be filled to be precisely positioned at a stand. Laterally acting grippers grip the drum in the positioned position and hold the drum rotatably in the adjustment position on the stand. The work station, which comprises several treatment heads, is linearly movable so that the individual treatment heads can be guided past the bung hole of the barrel. Due to this linear movement of the work station with the treatment heads instead of a rotary movement, the drum has a relatively long dwell time in the area of the work station, since the individual treatment heads have to be moved above the bung hole of the drum and have to be moved back to a starting position after reaching the end position. The work station also includes a clinching head, which carries a clincher, which in turn is mounted such that it can move vertically and is placed with clinching caps on the screwed bunghole and clinched there.

From DE-A 2 653 608 a device for the automatic filling of standing drums, consisting of a drum conveyor track, to which a decapping machine, a weighing machine, a filling device, a positioning device and a lid closing machine is assigned, is known. In this device, a centering device is arranged for positioning in the area of the barrel conveyor track from a horizontal friction wheel that can be driven in two stages and two horizontally movable pressure rollers opposite this, below which there is a rotating device with rollers that can be lifted over the barrel conveyor track and above which one of a fixed frame With its sliding elements, the bung hole positioning, which can be lowered downwards, is attached, which consists of an initiator that can only be adjusted to the orbit of the bung hole, an initiator that can be adjusted to the orbit of the ventilation hole, and an extendable mechanical stop switch, with centering device, rotating device and bung hole positioning via a control device are linked together. In this device, the barrel to be positioned sits on four rollers arranged on a circular line, whereas the rotary movement of the barrel itself takes place by means of a friction wheel. In addition, two pressure rollers that can be moved forward with compressed air cylinders are provided in the region of the barrel. The four rollers on which the barrel to be centered are arranged in a liftable bridge, which are central to the actual centering device. With a filling device designed in this way, it should be possible to align standing drums by means of an automatic positioning device in such a way that the further operations, such as removing the lid and filling, can be carried out without swiveling out the positioning device. But even with this device, the barrel is placed for centering on a stand common to all treatments, so that there is no space for treating two barrels supplied to the device at the same time.

Such a filling device is known from EP-A 0 105 197, which consists of a piping 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 which one supply line leads to the filling valves in each Volume chamber is arranged with an impeller arranged in the interior thereof, rotated 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 brake device which can be controlled by means of a system pressure-dependent control device Control of the filling valves, a two-stage, pneumatic switching cylinder is provided, which is connected directly to at least one filling valve and to the other filling valves via an actuating device, one based on the weight of the filled medium Weighing scale, which is assigned to one of the filling valves, appealing control element is provided, 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 a 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 there are several filling valves bypassed containers can be filled with liquids. The containers to be filled are fed in 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 rest 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. The drums must therefore be precisely aligned on the feed belt or the like of the filling device, since otherwise there is a risk that the filling material will not flow into the bunghole, but next to it onto the drum.

For closing the filling opening of a barrel or the like. With the aid of a device for inserting and fastening a stopper in the filling opening, a closing device is known from DE-A 1 817 237, in which both the device for inserting the stopper and a position determining device are of such a type are placed at a distance from each other so that they can move freely up and down and according to polar coordinates with respect to a fixed point in a plane perpendicular to the upward and downward movement. 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 barrels with a centering and screwing head, consisting of an outer centering ring and a screwing head arranged in the interior thereof and displaceable against spring pressure, which is connected to a drive device via a drive shaft having 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, recorded and placed on a conveyor belt which is parallel to the front. push path of the container to be filled is running. 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, with the screwing device also on this forward movement for the screw plugs can participate if no second screw device is provided. If the screw stopper 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 ready ten is, in this position, the supply of safety caps can be carried out at the same time, which are placed by means of a corresponding device on the screw plug screwed into the filling opening of the filled container. ₅ In such a filling system three work cycles are provided, namely in the first cycle the barrel is aligned and the screw plug is unscrewed from the filling opening. In the second cycle, after a further advance of the container thus prepared, the container is filled, and in a third cycle after a further advance of the filled container, the filling opening is closed by means of a screw plug and, if necessary, the securing cap is put on. Such a ₁ 5 trained and operating bottling plant has relatively large dimensions, even if satisfactory working speeds to be achieved. In addition, the performance of such a filling system depends on the filling time and the number of ₂₀ 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 required only for placing securing caps ₂₅ on screw plugs that have already been screwed in.

The invention solves the problem of a filling device for containers, in particular barrels to ₃₀ provide for the removal of the sealing plug, the measurement of the moisture, the filling of the empty container, the insertion of the stopper into the filling openings of the filled containers and the placement of safety caps within 35 of two work cycles is half as practicable, that is, in only two prior positions of the container, all these operations are carried out, whereby a compact design of the overall device yields in addition to a low overall length, so 4 ₀ that a housing of the filling device is possible even in small rooms is.

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

With a thus designed filling apparatus _45, it is possible, provided with screw plug containers, in particular barrels to fill economically and thereby the whole processes, such as the centering of the, container to be filled on the feed path, the unscrewing of the closure ₅₀ plug of the filling opening the Inserting a moisture probe into the interior of the container, filling the container, screwing the sealing plug into the filling opening of the filled container and placing 55 securing caps on the screwed or screwed-in sealing plug, so that they run off and combine so that two at the same time Containers can be operated from the work station of the filling device, without there being a large number of work cycles in which the containers have to linger for the individual operations. In such a filling apparatus is carried out only with two cycles, namely, in that the blank, the dispenser conces- ₆₅ led container for filling prepared and simultaneously each of the empty containers advancing containers filled, sealed and are provided with safety caps, so that after ₅ the extension of the filled and closed containers, the prepared empty containers are only conveyed on by one cycle in order to get into the area of the pivoted-in filling device, so that when this filling position is reached. ₁₀ sition of the prepared container is filled, closed and provided with the safety cap, while an empty container that has just run in again is prepared. Since the empty, prepared containers from the preparation station in FIG. ₁₅ do not have to travel long distances to the filling position, the filling device has the smallest dimensions, ie not a great length. The total length of the device is at least twice the diameter of a container. DA ₂₀ by, that the containers are gripped at its bottom side, the circumferential edge for alignment of the individual containers, a high power needs to be expended since the rotation of the container, the container only slightly from sides ₂₅ ner floor space, ie the chain straps.

The container is rotated about its longitudinal axis for alignment purposes by means of the alignment rollers on the support and 30 centering rollers on which the container sits 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 that the support and ₃₅ centering rollers are longitudinally displaceable on their bearing axes, there is the possibility that the support and Center and move the centering rollers towards the center so that the container can be moved horizontally in all 40 directions for alignment purposes. Characterized in that the container is seated on the supporting and centering rollers, the bottom-side friction on the lift frame is extremely low, so that an accurate alignment of the container with simultaneous Zentrie-4 ₅ tion of Behältereinfüllöffnung is possible. Especially advantageous is the use of the supporting and centering rollers which form the sliding surface for the container on which the container is displaceable in all directions, without this requiring large expenditures of force _50. It is also advantageous that after a rough centering by means of the alignment rollers, a fine centering is carried out when the probe-shaped moisture measuring probe is inserted 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 gripping the container, as is the case with the known devices.

The controls for the container, ₆ 5, which are combined in the work station, are arranged so that it can be rotated about a vertical central axis in such a way that only the smallest distances are covered, the lead and the trailing of the filling device being effected via the turntable or the screwing device. Only a single screwing device is used, by means of which the screwing plugs are unscrewed from the filling openings of the supplied empty containers and by means of which the screwing 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 moves forward when the screwing device is swiveled out of the screw-plug unscrewing position into the screw-plug screwing-in position such 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 forwarding of the containers in the area of the filling device is only one has 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 below the filling device tion comes to rest, while the screwing device is then above the revolving, empty container.

If safety caps are to be placed on the screwed-in screw plugs, then a corresponding device is also 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 push-on position, the push-on position representing 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.

1 to 5 and designated 10 for filling, in particular a liquid medium into containers closed with screw plugs, in particular barrels, consists of a horizontal transport path 20 arranged in a machine frame 200, on which the by means of screw plugs 110 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 is followed by further discharge belts, so that the length of the conveyor track 20 is limited exclusively to the area of the filling device 10, the length of the conveyor 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 accommodates 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 deflection rollers of the chain belt 21 at 24, 25 are indicated. The upper strands of the two chain bands 21, 22 are designated 21 a, 22a and the lower strands 21 b, 22b (FIG. 5). The drive of the two chain belts 21, 22 takes place via a drive device indicated at 23, which, in coordination with the individual work processes, the advance transport of an empty container and one controls each filled container in the direction of arrow Y such that an empty container, which is still closed by means of a screw plug, is moved into the screw plug unscrewing position and, after the filling position has been released, the first empty container without screw plug is moved into the filling position by deriving a filled and closed container. The forwarding of the containers takes place in cycles and a decommissioning of the control of the circulating chain belts 21, 22 and also the dwell time within which the two chain belts 21, 22 must remain out of operation are controlled by a control device, not shown, in order to adapt the individual operating sequences to the To be able to perform filling device 10 supplied containers.

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 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 21 a, 22 a and the container 100 to be lifted and aligned on its peripheral edge 106 a of the container base plate 103 or at its formed in the area of the container bottom 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 runs 21a, 22a of the during the alignment process out of operation set 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 in such a way that its filling opening 102, which is closed with a screw plug 105, onto the screwing device 60 pivoted into the container advance path Work described in more detail below itsstation 50 is aligned.

Furthermore, the device 30 comprises at least three lifting 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. 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 supporting 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, in which case these two supporting and centering rollers 35, 36 are on the side facing away from the inlet direction for the containers 100.

All three support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 are arranged free-floating 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 at the center 33a of the circular line 33. Each of the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 is free due to its free-floating arrangement on its bearing axis 37, 38, 39 in the longitudinal direction of the bearing axis 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 very fine centering. and alignment of the container with its fill 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 displacement 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 circumferential 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 container wall surface 104 or on the Support the peripheral edge 106a of the container base plate 103, that is, bring it into contact in these areas, it being particularly advantageous if the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are also on the peripheral edge Edge 106 of the container 100 comes into contact because the peripheral edge 106 of the container has the greatest inherent rigidity and strength and is hardly subjected to any deformation when pressure is exerted on the peripheral edge 106 from the outside (FIG. 4).

In the 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 two other 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 in a vertical position in the machine frame 200 of the filling device 10.

Of the three aligning rollers 40, 41, 42, the aligning 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 container 100 is then supported on the two other alignment rollers 41, 42 during rotation, the container rotation movement 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 in such a way that the positioning of the aligning rollers is not hindered, the pivoting position of the three aligning rollers 40, 41, 42 being such that during the pivoting-in of these aligning 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 of the support and centering rollers, is shifted horizontally on these, this overall alignment of the container 100 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 include the container lifting device 30, can be combined in one unit, so that the lifting frame 31, the support 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 circumferential edge 106a or on the circumferential edge 106 of the container 100, can all be driven circumferentially using suitable drive devices, but the circumferential directions of all alignment rollers are then 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 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 designated by 60, the device for fitting the securing caps by 70, the moisture measuring probe by 80 and the filling device by 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 arranged above the transport path 20 at a distance above it, the Ab stood between the transport track 20 and the support plate 170 corresponds at least to the height of the container 100 to be filled, so that the container 100 can be easily passed below the support plate 170 on the transport track. The mounting plate 170 is arranged in the machine frame of the filling device 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

Arranged below the support plate 170 in the inlet area of the container is a scanning device 171, which is used as a proximity switch, as a photoelectric element, e.g. Photo cell or the like. Is formed and which is used 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 into contact with the circumferential edge 106 or the circumferential edge 106a of the container 100. When starting up these alignment rollers 40, 41, 42, i.e. 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 with the aid of the scanning device 171 with respect to it The filler opening is aligned and brought into the position in which the filler opening of the container with the screw plug comes to rest in the working area of the plug-in and unscrew device 60 or the moisture measuring probe 80, so that when the screw device 60 is lowered, the screw head of the screw device on the screw plug of the container comes to rest, grabs 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 center, the turntable 72 has an opening, preferably a circular opening 74, and in the region 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 safety caps and the moisture measuring probe 80. To accommodate these devices, the turntable 72 carries vertical, columnar guides 162, 171, 182, on which the devices 60, 70 and 80 are displaceable in the direction of the 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 when the guide carriages 161, 171, 181 are moved vertically on the guide columns 162, 172, 182 the institutions 60, 70, 80 participate. The two openings 77, 78 in the support plate 70 are arranged so 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 via connecting webs to the support piece 76 of the turntable 72, which is advantageous for stabilization purposes. If the turntable 72 is rotated, 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, i.e. arranged centrally to the turntable 72, which is guided with its bottom end 180a 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 ring-shaped and runs around the fixed support column 180. This support column 180 is arranged in the interior of the hollow cylindrical support neck 76 of the turntable 72 and is led out of the support neck 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 stub 76 of the turntable 72 or this support stub 76 can be provided with corresponding guides on its outer wall surface, which then guide slides 161, 171, 181 for the facilities 60, 70, 80 record.

Because of this configuration, only the devices 60, 70, 80 participate 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 to 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 relative 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 screw-off 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. If the device 70 assumes the position shown in FIG. 7, the moisture measuring probe 80 assumes the position also shown in FIG. 7 above the filling opening of an empty container which is 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 been completed, 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, i.e. the filling device 90 leads the leading screw device 60 and then assumes the position shown in FIG. 8 when the screw device 60 is brought into register with the filling opening of the filled container.

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 run 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, wherein these supporting and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 can be an integral part of the lifting frame 31. The alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 then come into contact with the peripheral edge 106 or the peripheral edge 106a of the container, the alignment roller 40 already representing the lateral limitation during the alignment process for the container, i.e. the alignment roller 40 represents a fixed stop. Then the two further alignment rollers 41, 42 are adjusted so 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, then the container is rotated and displaced about its longitudinal axis 107 and to this extent until its filling opening 102 with the screw plug 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 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 Bi, 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. Then another one follows Rotation of the turntable 72 in sections 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 measurement 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 measuring probe. A re-centering mandrel 81 is arranged on the moisture measuring probe 80, which surrounds the probe 80 and which, when the moisture measuring probe 80 is retracted, exactly re-centers the filling opening or the bunghole of the empty container. In this process, the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are detached from the container edge so that the container can move freely on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36. The re-centering mandrel 81 fits with the outer diameter exactly into the opening of the container filling opening. 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), due to the mechanical coupling, the filling device 90 is pivoted from its filling position D in FIG. 7 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 rotates 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, namely until the device 70 has the position shown in FIG. 9 takes the position A1 shown, after the device 70 in the position E shown in FIG. 8 has received a securing cap supplied on the feed path 190. The device 70 is pivoted from the position E (FIG. 8) to the position A1 (FIG. 9) with this received safety cap. If the device 70 has assumed this position A1, the device 70 is lowered and at the same time the securing cap is placed on the screw plug.

The container B1 with the screwed-out screw plug has been lowered again onto the transport path 20 after the unscrewing process. If the container B2 is filled, the screw plug is screwed in and the safety cap is put on, the container B2 is led 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 plug 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 returns in the direction of the arrow. Due to the mechanical coupling of the filling device 90 with the turntable 72, X15 runs after the filling device 90 of the screwing device 60 and then assumes the position shown in FIG. 6 when the screwing device 60 has reached 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, which, however can only be prepared if the Screw plug is screwed into the filled container and the screw device 60 in position A (Fig. 6) is moved.

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 observed. 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. Has e.g. the turntable 72 or the screw device 60 reaches a certain position, then the drive device for the rotating ring 92 can be put into operation via a control cam, which then e.g. the filling device 90 is pivoted from the filling position A1 into an adjacent position D1, so that the screw 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, especially for pouring a liquid or solid, free-flowing medium into containers (100), especially casks, sealed with or without mounted safety screw stoppers (120) or otherwise constructed plugs, in which the filling device (10) disposed within a machine frame (200) consists of a horizontal conveyor path (20) of two endless chain conveyor belts (21, 22) arranged at a distance from each other, driven rotatingly and, with their upper running chain sections (21a, 22a) carrying the containers, an apparatus (30) for slightly raising the individual containers from the chain conveyor belts (21, 22), which is disposed between the upper running chain sections (21 a, 22a) of the two chain conveyor belts and of a driven lifting platform seizing the individual containers within the area between the two chain conveyor belts (21, 22), a working station (50) with means (60) for removing or fitting screw plugs (110), a filling device (90) and a moisture measuring probe (80), in which the working station (50) is constructed in the form of a turntable (72) disposed above the conveyor belt (20) at a distance above the latter, which corresponds to at least the height of the container, which is rotatable about a vertical axis (73) by means of a driving device (75) and which possesses scanning means (171) disposed within the area of the working station and is constructed in the form of a proximity switch, photoelectric cell or the like for the detection of the filling aperture (102) of an arrived, empty container for centering said container on the facilities (60; 80; 90) of the work station (50), in which the facilities (60; 80; 90) of the work station are vertically displaceable on perpendicular guideways, characterized in that the horizontal conveor belt (20) has a length that corresponds to at least the double diameter of a container, in that the apparatus (30) for slightly lifting the individual containers (100) from the chain conveyor belts (21, 22) consists of a raisable and lowerable lifting frame (31) which which seizes the individual container (100) on its revolving, laterally projecting bottom edge (106), of at least three supporting and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) which can be raised and lowered together with the lifting frame (31) and are arranged between the upper running chain sections (21 a, 22a) of two chain conveyor belts (21, 22) on a circular line (33) having a diameter corresponding to at least the container diameter, which rollers are intended for the container (100) with supporting axes (37, 38, 39) extending radially to the vertical, approximately concentric container axis of rotation (107), in which the supporting and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) are automatically centering toward the center (33a) of the circular line (33) on their supporting axes (37, 38, 39) in the longitudinal direction of the supporting axes in a freely displaceable manner, so that a container (100) standing on the supporting and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) is displaceable into all directions in the horizontal and consists of alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) with supporting axes (40a, 41a, 42a) disposed within the circumferential area of the container (100) standing on the supporting and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) which can be brought into abutment against the outer wall surface (104) of the container or against the revolving rim (106;106a) of the bottom plate (103) of the container, wherein three alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) are provided, of which at least one alignment roller (40) is driven revolving with the aid of a driving means (45) which, at the same time, serves as a fixed lateral limiting stop for the container (100), in which the two other alignment rollers (41, 42) located opposite the alignment roller (40) are arranged so as to be floating freely on their supporting axes (40a, 41a, 42a), in which preferably all three alignment rollers can be swung out from their container outer wall surface abutment position, and in that the turntable (72) of the work station (50) rotatably disposed on a mounting plate (170) is provided with a supporting stay (76) extending vertically upwardly in the extension of the perforation (74), on which stay or on vertical guideways (162, 172, 182) mounted on the turntable (72), the screwing means (60), the moisture measuring proobe (80) and, if required, a means (70) for the securing caps (120) are arranged in a vertically displaceable manner by means of laterally projecting arms (163, 173, 183) secured to slide carriages (161, 171 , 181), in which, in the mounting plate (170), two opposite openings (77, 78) located concentrically to the forward travel path are provided for the facilities (60, 70, 80) to travel trough, in which, on the mounting plate (170), a supporting column (180) is fixedly disposed with its bottom end (180a), said column being passed through the perforation (74) in the turntable (72) and is passed out of the supporting stay (76) of the turntable (72) with a section (180b), which bears a turntable ring (92) that is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (73) of the supporting stay which is provided with a laterally projecting arm (93) which supports a perpendicular guideway (94) with a vertically displaceable slide carriage (95) to which the filling device (90) with a filler neck (91) is secured, in which the turntable ring (92) with the filling device (90) is mechanically or electromotively coupled to the forward or backward travel of the turntable (72) or of the screwing means (60) in such a way that, when the turntable (72) or the screwing means 60 travel forward in the anticlockwise direction, the filling device (90) moved forwardly and, when the turntable (72) or the screwing means (60) moves backwardly, the filling device (90) of the latter follows behind the latter, in which, in the starting position, the screwing means (60) is disposed on the inlet side of the container and is located opposite the filling device (90), and the facility 70 and the filling level measuring probe (80) between the screwing means (60) and the filling device (90) are arranged within an angular range of 45_° or 90_° proceeding from the screwing means (60), in which, after the alignment of the empty container which arrived in the filling installation (10) with its screw plug on the screwing means (60) assuming the plug unscrewing position, said screwing means is lowered onto the screw plug, the latter is screwed out and lifted off the filling aperture of the container, whereupon the turntable (72) is rotated until the moisture measuring probe (80) is flush with the container filling aperture, the moisture measuring probe (80) is lowered into the container interior, in the process the filling device (90) is simultaneously rendered coincident with the filling aperture of the container, leading the arrived empty container and the liquid is filled into the container, hereupon the turntable (72) is rotated until the screwing means (60) is flush with the filling aperture of the filled container, and this while simultaneously moving the filling device (90) forward, after terminating the filling operation, from the filling position by mechanically coupling the filling device (90) to the screwing means (60) moving into the screw plug screwing-in position, or with the turntable (72) and while simultaneously picking up; a securing cap (120) supplied by a feeder conveyor belt (190) by the facility (70), with a forward movement of the turntable (72), the screwing means (60) is moved out of the screwing-in position subsequent to the screwing in of a screw plug into the filling aperture of the filled container and the facility (70) moved into the area of the screwed-in plug of the filled container and the securing cap is placed upon the screw plug of the filled container, whereupon the filled and sealed container is then moved out of the filling installation (10) and the empty container is, while the turntable (72) is simultaneously rotated clockwise, moved into the rearward filling position so that the screwing means (60) is moved into the plug unscrewing position and a new, empty container with its screw plug is brought into the area of the screwing means (60) and is aligned with the same.

2: Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the moisture measuring probe (80), on its circumference, at a distance from its free end, bears a recentering mandrel (81) for a subsequent centering of the containers which extends conically toward the free end of the moisture measuring probe (80) and which, when the moisture measuring probe (80) is inserted into the container filling aperture, engages with the latter, while the alignment rollers (40, 41, 42) are detached from the container rim so that the container, by means of the recentering mandrel (81), is displaceable on the supporting and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) and is aligned.

3. Device according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the work station (50) comprises the plug screwing-in and unscrewing means (60), the safety cap picking up and fitting means (120) and the filling device (90), while on the turntable (72), in lieu of the moisture measuring probe (80), the recentering mandrel (81) is provided which is vertically displaceable with the aid of a driving means.

4. Device according to any of the preceding Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filling device (90) is arranged independently of the movement of the facilities (60, 70, 80) and stationarily in the container filling position on the machine frame (200) of the filling installation (10) and can be pivoted about a point of rotation (95) laterally out of the path of movement of the facilities (60, 70, 80) and can be pivoted inwardly into the filling position with the aid of a driving means.

Images