EP0290649A1 - Device for filling, especially with a liquid or solid fluent medium, a container, especially a cask, closed by a screw-stopper or a stopper shaped otherwise - Google Patents

Abstract

In the fill apparatus, a container feed belt with a lifting frame at the entry end includes container supporting and centering pulleys for displacing the empty container in the horizontal direction by means of alignment pulleys engaging the container rim in order to rotate the container about its longitudinal axis. A first work station arranged above the container includes a rotary disk rotatable about a vertical axis with circumferentially arranged devices participating in the rotary movement of the rotary disk for unscrewing the screw plugs closing the container fill opening, measuring the moisture content and seeking the container's bunghole. A second work station following the first work station includes a filling device. A third work station having a filling device and a following third work station includes devices for screwing the screw plugs on to the container openings and for mounting safety caps. Simultaneous use of the three work stations makes it possible to simultaneously deal with three containers.

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.

Furthermore, 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 which has 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 tapering in the direction of the centering and screwing head being inserted into the opening, the molded body being on its bottom side End the centering ring which is supported on the drum cover plate during the stopper centering and screwing-in process and is connected to a section lying on the centering plate with a guide plate which is connected to at least three on the bottom en support plate of the support frame is fastened longitudinally and pivotably 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, the two 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 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 kept ready, in which position, at the same time, the supply of securing caps can take place, which are placed on the screw-in screw screwed into the filling opening of the filled container by means of a corresponding device. 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 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 placing safety caps on screw-in 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 so it is feasible that high work rates are achieved.

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

With a filling device designed in this way, it is possible to economically fill containers provided with screw plugs, in particular barrels, and to do 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, the filling of the container, the screwing in of the closure plug into the filling opening of the filled container and the placement of safety caps on the screwed-on or screwed-in sealing plug, so that they drain and combine so that several containers can be operated simultaneously by the workstations of the filling device, without causing a large number of work cycles comes in, in which the containers for the individual manipulations have to linger over longer periods of time.

By dividing the work processes into three work stations, it is possible to treat three containers at the same time, so that the empty container standing in the first work station is initially aligned so that its filling opening, which is closed by means of a screw plug, is in the swivel range of the turntable of the first work station Arranged devices, such as stopper unscrewing device, bunghole locating device and moisture measuring probe come to rest, while the container that has preceded this container is located in the second work station and is filled here, while the container that has preceded and already filled is treated in the third work station in that the plug is screwed on and a safety cap is placed, the safety caps being removed from a supply of safety caps, while the screw plugs are being removed from a conveyor belt to which the containers in the first work station have been removed screwed plugs that have been unscrewed. The container feed takes place in a single cycle, ie the transport path for the containers always moves forward by the section that corresponds to the diameter of a container, so that containers are assigned to all three work stations at the same time.

The fact that for the alignment of the individual containers, the containers are gripped at their bottom, circumferential edge, 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 Rotation of the container for alignment purposes about its longitudinal axis is carried out by means of the alignment rollers on the support and centering rollers on which the container is seated 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. In addition, it is 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 introduced by means of the centering mandrel of the container.

The detection of the container for alignment purposes at 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, which is the case with the known devices.

The operating devices for the containers, which are combined in the first and in the third work station, are arranged such that they can be rotated about vertical central axes in such a way that only the smallest distances are covered. The fact that two screwing devices are used, by means of which the screw plugs are unscrewed from the filling openings of the supplied empty containers and the filled containers are again provided with screw plugs, makes it possible to treat two containers simultaneously and to fill another container.

If safety caps are to be placed on the screwed-in screw plugs, a corresponding device is provided on the turntable of the second 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, this plug-on position representing the position in which the filling opening of the filled container the screw plug has been screwed on.

With a filling device designed in this way, a performance increase of 20% is achieved compared to filling devices in which all three work stations are combined in a single work station. There are about 75 fillings per hour achievable with the filling device having three work stations.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the transport path for the containers has a length which corresponds to four times the diameter of a container. Furthermore, three filling stations are also provided in this filling device, but the middle working station located between the two outer working stations has two filling devices arranged one behind the other and two weighing scales in the area of the transport path, with a weighing device being assigned to each filling device. Rough filling is carried out by means of one filling device and fine filling by means of the second filling device until the desired filling state is reached. In the first work station, the container is aligned by means of the stopper unscrewing device, the sealing plug sitting on the filling opening is unscrewed, then the bunghole search device comes into operation and after the final alignment of the container, the moisture measuring probe is pivoted into the area of the filling opening of the container. The container thus prepared is then fed to the middle work station, namely its first filling device. A rough filling takes place here, while the filling quantity is monitored by means of a balance. Then the filling takes place up to the desired filling state by means of the second filling device of this middle work station, this filling also being monitored in terms of weight by means of a balance. The filled and not yet closed container is then fed to the third work station. The plug is screwed onto the filling opening by means of the plug screwing device and then by means of the device for receiving and putting on safety caps, put a safety cap on the screw plug. The individual containers are fed in and the workflow is carried out in individual cycles, ie the individual containers are gradually fed to the individual workstations or to the two filling devices of the middle workstation. Since four containers can be treated and processed at the same time with this filling device, a high work output can be achieved. About 100 fillings per hour can be achieved with this filling device.

Furthermore, the invention provides a further embodiment of a filling device, in which the transport path for the containers has a length which corresponds to 6 times the diameter of a container. This filling device also has three work stations, which are arranged one behind the other, the work station located between the two outer work stations comprising two consecutive filling devices and two consecutive scales in the region of the transport path, with each filling device being assigned a scale. An empty space of the length of the diameter of a container is provided between each filling device and the upstream outer work station and the downstream outer work station, the containers in the filling position taking up a position raised by the transport path. By means of the two filling devices, it is possible to fill two containers at the same time, the filling quantities supplied to the two containers being monitored by means of the two scales. For the filling process, they are below the two filling devices standing containers together lifted out of the transport path so that a further inflow of containers and a further outflow of filled containers can be carried out. The two containers are filled at the same time via the filling devices, so that after the filling process has been completed, the two filled containers are advanced so far that the foremost filled container comes to rest below the third work station, while the other filled container takes up the empty space in front of the third work station . At the same time, two new, prepared empty containers are fed to the two filling devices of the middle work station. This filling device works alternately with single strokes and double strokes, whereby a very high work output can be achieved. About 130 fillings per hour can be achieved.

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

• Fig. 1 in einer Ansicht von oben die Abfüllvorrichtung mit ihren drei Arbeitsstationen und mit in den Arbeits­stationen angeordneten Behältern in den jeweiligen Bearbeitungspositionen,
• Fig. 2 in einer Ansicht von oben einen Teilabschnitt der Transportbahn der Abfüllvorrichtung mit den Abstütz-­und Zentrierrollen 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 den drei Arbeitsstationen in derjenigen Arbeitsstellung, bei der die Feuchtigkeitsmeßsond¨ in den Innenraum eines leeren Behälters eingeführt, ein weiterer zu befüllender Behälter mit seiner geöffneten Einfüllöff­nung im Bereich des Füllstutzens der Fülleinrichtung angeordnet ist und ein dritter gefüllter Behälter im Bereich der dritten Arbeitsstation steht,
• Fig. 4 teils in einer Seitenansicht, teils in einem senkrechten Schnitt die Abfüllvorrichtung mit der ersten Arbeitsstation in derjenigen Arbeitsstellung, bei der die Schraubeinrichtung oberhalb des abzuschrau­benden Schraubstopfens eines Behälters angeordnet
• Fig. 5 eine Vorderansicht der Abfüllvorrichtung,
• Fig. 6 in einer Seitenansicht eine weitere Ausführungs­form der Abfüllvorrichtung mit einer seitlich verschwenk­baren Fülleinrichtung,
• Fig. 7 in einer Seitenansicht die seitlich verschwenk­bare Fülleinrichtung,
• Fig. 8 in einer Seitenansicht in vereinfachter Wieder­gabe die mit drei Arbeitsstationen arbeitende Abfüll­vorrichtung,
• Fig. 9 in einer Ansicht von obeh die Abfüllvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 in einer schematischen Seitenansicht eine Abfüllvorrichtung mit drei hintereinanderliegend angeordneten Arbeitsstationen, wobei die mittlere der drei Arbeitsstationen zwei Fülleinrichtungen umfaßt,
• Fig. 11 in einer Ansicht von oben die Abfüllvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 10,
• Fig. 12 in einer schematischen Seitenansicht eine Abfüllvorrichtung mit drei hintereinanderliegend angeordneten Arbeitsstationen, wobei die mittlere der drei Arbeitsstationen zwei Fülleinrichtungen umfaßt, wobei zwischen den Fülleinrichtungen und der ersten Arbeitsstation und der dritten Arbeitsstation je ein Behälterleerplatz vorgesehen ist und
• Fig. 13 in einer Ansicht von oben die Abfüllvorrichtung nach Fig. 12

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 three work stations and with containers arranged in the work stations in the respective processing positions,
• 2 shows a view from above of a partial section of the transport path of the filling device with the support and centering rollers with a container placed thereon with alignment rollers resting on the outer surface of the container,
• 3 partly in a side view, partly in a vertical section, the filling device with the three work stations in the working position in which the moisture measuring probe is inserted into the interior of an empty container, another container to be filled with its opened filling opening in the area of the filler neck Filling device is arranged and a third filled container is in the area of the third work station,
• Fig. 4 partly in a side view, partly in a vertical section, the filling device with the first work station in the working position in which the screwing device is arranged above the screw plug of a container to be unscrewed
• 5 is a front view of the filling device,
• 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the filling device with a laterally pivotable filling device,
• 7 is a side view of the laterally pivotable filling device,
• 8 is a side view in a simplified representation of the filling device working with three work stations,
• 9 is a top view of the filling device according to FIG. 8,
• 10 shows a schematic side view of a filling device with three work stations arranged one behind the other, the middle of the three work stations having two filling devices includes
• 11 is a top view of the filling device according to FIG. 10,
• 12 shows a schematic side view of a filling device with three work stations arranged one behind the other, the middle of the three work stations comprising two filling devices, a container empty space being provided between the filling devices and the first work station and the third work station, and
• 13 is a top view of the filling device according to FIG. 12

1, 10 and 12, three embodiments of devices for filling, in particular a liquid medium into containers closed with screw plugs, in particular barrels, have, in addition to a basic construction described in more detail below, three work stations 50, 250, 350 arranged one behind the other, to which the individual containers are supplied and in which the individual containers are prepared, filled and sealed, which will be discussed in more detail below.

The device for filling, in particular a liquid medium into containers closed with screw plugs, in particular barrels, shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and designated by 10, consists of a horizontal transport path 20 arranged in a machine frame 200, on which the closed by means of screw plugs 110 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 three times 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 and a base plate 103, the circumferential, projecting edge of which is designated 106 and its circumferential edge 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 the 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 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 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, controls the advance of the individual containers in the direction of arrow Y such that the containers are fed to the individual work stations. The containers are transported forward in cycles and the control device is decommissioned via a control device (not shown in the drawing) rotating 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 three work stations 50, 250, 350.

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 being carried out 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. A is then supported on the other two alignment rollers 41, 42 during the rotation of the container 100, 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 there is also a lateral alignment of the container 100, in that the alignment rollers are brought into a position in which the alignment rollers on the container wall 104 or on the peripheral edge 106 on the bottom side or on the peripheral peripheral side on the bottom 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 The container on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 is moved against the container 100, while the container is simultaneously lifted off the upper runs 21a, 22a of the chain belts 21, 22 by means of the lifting frame 31. 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, for searching for the bung hole, for measuring the moisture in the empty containers are combined in a first work station 50, which is part of the filling device 10. The plug unscrewing device, which is designed in a manner known per se, is designated by 60, the bunghole search device by 70 and the moisture measuring probe by 80.

All of these devices 60, 70, 80 are designed in a manner known per se. The bunghole search device 70 can be designed as an optical or electronic or opto / electronic scanning device. However, it does not need to be an integral part of the work station 50, but can also be arranged in the region of the leading path of the empty containers to the first work station 50, which will be discussed in more detail below.

The devices 60, 70, 80 of the first work station 50 are combined on a support plate 170, which is an integral part of the machine frame 200 of the filling device and which is arranged above the transport path 20 at a distance above it, the distance between the transport path 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 under the support plate 170 on the transport path. The support plate 170 is arranged in the machine frame 200 of the filling device 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The support plate 170 preferably extends at least over the entire length of the transport track 20.

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 (FIG. 4) is arranged below the support plate 170 in the inlet region of the container. 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 rests with its base plate 103 on the support and centering rollers 34, 35, 36 supported, 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 unscrewing device 60 or the moisture measuring probe 80, so that when the Screwing device 60 the screwing head of the screwing 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 carries in the region of this opening 74 an upwardly extending support piece 76 designed as a hollow cylinder (FIGS. 3 and 4).

In the circumferential area of the turntable 72, an opening 77 is formed in the support plate 170, which is used to receive and pass the devices 60, 70, 80 (FIGS. 3 and 4). This opening 77 in the support plate 170 is assigned to the forward movement of the empty containers, so that when a container is introduced into the area of the first work station 50 then the closed filling opening of the container comes to rest in the area of this opening 77 in the support plate 170, so that the devices 60, 70, 80 can then be passed through this opening 77 in the respectively required work sequence.

The turntable 72 carries the device 60 for unscrewing the screw plugs, the bunghole search device 70, if necessary, and the moisture measuring probe 80. To accommodate this device, the turntable 72 carries vertical, columnar guides 162, 172, 182 on which the devices 60, 70, 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 at 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 162, 172, 182. The opening 77 in the support plate 170 is 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 these devices can be moved through Opening 77 in the support plate 170 can be passed. The opening 77 therefore faces 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 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 designed in a ring shape and rotates around the fixed support column 180. This support column 180 is in the interior of the hollow-cylindrical support neck 76 of the turntable 72 arranged and led out of the support piece 76 with a section 180b. At this section 180b of the support column 180, a filling device 90 is arranged as a second work station 250, which comprises a filling nozzle 91 (FIG. 3), which is connected via a metering device (not shown in the drawing) to a storage container which contains the filling material. This filling device 90 of the second work station 250 is arranged above the support plate 170, an opening 77a being provided in the support plate 170, through which the filler neck 91 can be lowered and introduced into the interior of the container to be filled. However, the filling device 90 need not be fastened to the support column 180, but there is also the possibility of providing the turntable 72 with a central support socket 76, on which the devices 60, 70, 80 are arranged, while the filling device 90 is on one separate support socket can be arranged, which is connected to the turntable 72 with the devices 60, 70, 80 of the first work station 50.

The guide columns 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, whereas the filling device 90 does not take part in the rotary movement of the turntable 72, since the filling device 90 is not connected to the turntable 72, but in that Support column 180 is held, which is fixedly attached to the support plate 170, or is attached to a further support column shown in Fig. 6, which is arranged vertically on the support plate 170 and the workstation 50 with the turntable 72 is switched.

Furthermore, the filling device 10 comprises a further, namely the third work station 350, which has the plug screwing device 360 and the device 370 for receiving and fitting securing caps 120 onto the screw plugs already screwed into the container filling openings. This third work station 350 consists of a turntable 372 rotatable on the support plate 170 in the container outlet area about a vertical axis 373 by means of a drive device 375, which carries a central vertical support socket 376, on or on the vertical guides 362, 372 arranged on the turntable 372, the plug screwing device 360 and the securing cap attachment device 370 is arranged to be displaceable in height by means of laterally projecting, radially extending, on guide carriages 363, 373, wherein in the support plate 170 in the container outlet area facing area and an opening 78 is provided in the center of the flow path of the container for the passage of the device 350, 370. This third work station 350 is connected downstream of the second work station 250 (FIG. 3).

In the area of the transport path 20, the filling device 90 of the work station 250 is assigned a scale 255, by means of which the filling device 90 can be controlled, in such a way that when the filling quantity weight set on the weighing device 255 is reached, the further inflow of filling material is then achieved is interrupted in the filling device 90. The scale 255 is designed so that the dead weight of the empty container is detected before the filling process and recorded in a memory, not shown in the drawing, in which the weight of the required amount is also entered so that when the required amount is reached Filling quantity via the scale 255 the further inflow of filling material is interrupted. Instead of a scale 255, other types of devices can also be provided, by means of which the filling quantity is monitored and recorded. For example, also the possibility to use level sensors. When using a scale 255, an additional device, not shown in the drawing, is provided in the region of the transport path 20, by means of which the container to be filled is slightly raised for the filling process, in order then to be operatively connected to the scale 255 in the raised state.

The screw plugs are fed to the plug screwing device 360 of the third work station 350 via a plug transport path 400 which runs parallel to the transport path 20 for the containers and which is in the machine frame 200 of the filling device 10 is arranged. The stopper end 400a of the transport path 400 is arranged in the swivel range of the stopper unscrewing device 60 of the first work station 50, while the stopper end 400b of the stopper transport path 400 lies in the swivel range of the stopper screwing device 360 of the third workstation 350, so that the screw stopper screwed out of the container filling openings by means of the stopper unscrewing device 60 After the plug unscrewing device 60 has been pivoted into the region of the transport path 400, the cap screw unscrewing device 60 delivers the detected screw plug to the transport path 400. By means of this transport path 400, the screw plug of the plug screwing device 360 pivoted into the region of the transport path 400 is then fed to the third work station 350. The stopper screwing device 360 detects the individual stoppers and after swiveling into the stopper screwing position, the screw stopper is then screwed by means of this stopper screwing device 360 into the filling opening of the container or onto the filler neck of the container provided with an external thread (FIG. 9). The conveyor track 400 for the screw plugs is designed as an endless conveyor belt driven in rotation. The screw plugs unscrewed from the empty containers that are introduced into the work station 50 are then screwed back into the fill openings of the containers in the third work station 350 by means of the plug screwing device 360.

Furthermore, a further transport path 190 is provided parallel to the transport path 20 for the containers, and preferably in an extension of the plug transport path 400, for the supply of safety caps 120 to the device 370 of the third work station 350. Become 370 by means of this device the safety caps 120 supplied on the transport path 190 are grasped and, after carrying out a corresponding pivoting movement of the device 370, brought into the area of the filling opening of the filled container which has already been closed with a screw plug, and then placed on the screw plug by means of this device 370. The supply of the securing caps 120 to the device 370 for fitting the securing caps onto screw plugs which have already been screwed in is indicated at 190 in FIG. 1. The safety caps 120 are fed from a storage container 191 to the device 370 via this transport track or feed track 190, which can be designed as a rotating belt, when this device has been pivoted into the area of the feed track 190 and assumes a position in which the individual safety caps received by the device 370 and then after the device 370 has been moved into the mounting position, the safety caps are 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 plug unscrewing device 60 and the plug screwing device 360 are used for containers whose filling openings are closed by means of screw plugs. Are used instead of screw plugs press-in sealing plugs are used, then the devices 60, 360 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. The plug unscrewing device 60 and the plug screwing device 360 can be of the same design in so far as they are devices which are simultaneously capable of screwing in screw plugs and unscrewing screw plugs. If such devices are used in the first work station 50 and the third work station 350, then these devices will only carry out the required work processes which are necessary for unscrewing and screwing in the plugs.

In the embodiment of the filling device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the filling device 90 is not part of the first work station 50 and is connected to the support column 180, but rather is fastened to the machine frame 200 of the filling device or on the support plate 170 so that it can be swiveled in and out, whereby in the latter case the support plate must have a correspondingly large opening so that the filling device 90 can be pivoted into the filling position. The filling device 90 can be designed to be pivotable into and out of the filling position; however, it is also possible to arrange the filling device 90 in a stationary manner. If the filling device can be pivoted in and out, then the pivoting takes place about the pivot point indicated at 95 in FIG. 7.

The filling device 10 works as follows:

A container B1 is moved in on the sports track 20 until the container comes to rest below the first work station 50 (FIG. 8). 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 3I 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 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, 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 located 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 170. The entire alignment process is controlled via the scanning device 171 or via 170 and corresponding control elements, not shown in the drawing, in which all drive devices of the device of the work stations are brought together. The individual workflows are then in the required order by these controls or controlled by the control device. A further possibility of controlling the alignment process is possible via the bunghole search device 70, which is pivoted by rotating the turntable 72 over an area in which the bunghole or the filling opening 102 of the empty container lies. It is advantageous if the screw plug has been unscrewed from the fill opening 102 of the container beforehand with the plug unscrewing device 60, so that the bunghole search device 70 can be used. Instead of the bunghole search device 70 provided in the work station 50, the alignment can also be carried out via the scanning device 171, wherein all the control elements required for carrying out the alignment processes and the associated drive devices can be brought together in a control unit, via which the individual work processes in each case required order.

The thus prepared and roughly aligned container B1 then takes the position shown in FIG. 8 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 inserted, which assumes the position shown in FIG. 8 in front of the container B1, this position being the filling position below the second work station 250 acts (Fig. 6).

If the container B1 has assumed the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the turntable 72 is rotated in the direction of the arrow X11 until the screwing device 60 has assumed the position A in FIG. 9 and in this position above the screw plug of the empty container B1 comes to a standstill. The screw device 60 is lowered with its screw head onto the screw plug 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. The turntable 72 is then rotated further in sections in the direction of the arrow X11, so that the screwing device is moved out of the position A until the bunghole locating device 70 has been moved into the position A. If the screwing device 60 is moved further from the position A in the direction of the arrow X11, then the bunghole cutting device 70 follows the rotary movement. If no bunghole locating device 70 is provided, then when the turntable 72 is rotated and the screwing device 60 is pivoted out of position A, the moisture measuring probe 80 is pivoted into position A, so that the moisture measuring probe 80 has then assumed the position shown in FIG. 6 , which position is position A in FIG. 9. The moisture measuring probe 80 is lowered through the container filling opening 102 into the interior of the empty container, whereby at the same time, by means of this moisture measuring probe 80, a further alignment, ie fine centering, takes place by means of the re-centering mandrel 81 provided on the moisture measuring probe 80, which surrounds the probe 80 and which when the probe is retracted Moisture measuring probe 80 the filling opening or the bung hole of the empty container exactly centered. During this process, the alignment rollers 40, 41, 42 are released 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 (FIG. 6) fits with the outer diameter exactly into the opening of the container filling opening. In this position lowers the lifting frame 31 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.

When the turntable 72 is rotated and the screwing device 60 is pivoted sideways at the same time, the screwing plug captured by the screwing device 60 is placed on the transport path 400 and fed to the screwing-in device 360 of the third work station 350.

The container B1 thus prepared is then fed to the work station 250 and its filling device 90 in such a way that the filler neck 91 of the filling device 90 comes to rest in the region of the filling opening 102 of the empty container B2. At the same time, the container B2 is supported on the scale 255 of the work station 250. The filling takes place and after the filling has been completed the filled container is fed to the third work station 350 by means of the switched-on transport path 20. 6 and 8, the filled and not yet closed container is designated B3. In this position of the container B3, the screw plug, which is gripped by the transport path 400, is placed and screwed onto the filling opening 102 of the container by means of the plug screwing device 360. After the turntable 372 has been rotated about its vertical axis 373, the plug-in screwing device 360 is then pivoted out of the screw-in position and the securing cap attachment device 370 connected to the turntable 372 is pivoted into the region of the plug-in screw-in position. The device 370 has previously removed a securing cap 120 from the feed path 190 and put this safety cap on the screw plug. After the container B3 is closed in this way, the container B3 is moved out of the filling device, the containers following the container B3 being simultaneously introduced into the corresponding work stations 50 and 250 and 350, the individual containers being forwarded in cycles, so that after each container has reached a work station and the corresponding work processes have been carried out in this work station, the container is then fed to the subsequent work station. By means of this filling device 10, three containers can be processed simultaneously by means of the three work stations 50, 250, 350 (FIGS. 8 and 9). The turntables 72, 372 can be moved back and forth. The devices 360, 370 are in an angular position to one another such that when the device 360 is in the region of the transport path 400, the device 370 is in the region of the inlet path 190.

The filling device 10a shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is constructed in a similar manner to the filling device 10, the filling device 10a also having a first work station 50, a second work station 250 and a third work station 350. The difference from the filling device 10 is that the work station 250 of the filling device 10a has two filling devices 90, 290 and two scales 255, 255a assigned to these filling devices. The transport path 20, on which the containers are guided past the work stations 50, 250, 350, has at least four times the length of the diameter of a container. The design of the transport track 20 and the device 30 for lifting the individual containers 100 from the chain belts 21, 22 of the transport track 20 and the work stations 50 and 350 are designed in accordance with those of the filling device 10. The work processes carried out in the two work stations 50, 350 also correspond to the filling device 10a those of the filling device 10, only with the difference that by designing the work station 250 with two filling devices 90, 290 in the filling device 10a, four containers B1, B2, B3, B4 can be loaded and treated at the same time. 10 and 11, the three workstations 50, 250, 350 are arranged one behind the other in the forward direction of the containers, which also applies to the two filling devices 90, 290. In the same way as for the filling device 10, the screw plug is unscrewed from the container B1 in the first work station 50 with the plug unscrewing device 60 and placed on the transport path 400, from which the individual screw plugs are received by the plug screwing device 360 of the work station 350 and onto the filling opening of the filled container are screwed on. The same is also provided in the filling device 10a for securing caps 120 to be placed on the screwed-on screw plugs, the securing caps 120 being fed to the work station 350 by means of the feed path 190.

The two filling devices 90, 290 are designed in such a way that a rough filling takes place initially via the filling device 90, while a fine filling is carried out via the filling device 290, ie the quantity of liquid or liquid still missing is added to the container via the filling device 290 in order to achieve the to reach the specified total filling quantity. The scale 255 assigned to the filling device 90 is set such that a quantity of filling material is fed to the container which is still below the actual target value, so that by means of the filling device 290 still as much filling material is supplied to the container until the target weight set on scale 255a or specified for this scale is reached.

The filling device 10a according to FIGS. 10 and 11 works as follows: The container B1 is fed to the filling device 10a and stopped in the area of the work station 50. Here, as described above, the container B1 is aligned, the screw stopper sitting on the filling opening is unscrewed by means of the plug unscrewing device 60 and placed on the transport path 400, while the bunghole search device 70 moves into the region of the filling opening of the container B1 and with it the container filling opening detected, while the liquid measuring probe 80 is then pivoted and lowered into the area of the filling opening of the container B1, with the liquid measuring probe 80 also allowing the container to be re-centered. After the moisture measuring probe 80 has been removed, the container B1 is then fed to the first filling device 90 of the second work station 250, stopped in the area of this work station 250 in such a way that the container at B2 is filled via the filling device 90, but the predetermined target weight is not achieved , but the filling quantity entered in the container B2 is below the target weight, which corresponds to the total filling quantity in the container. The control of the filling material inflow is carried out by weight-based detection by means of the balance 255 or other suitable devices with which the respective filling level or the predetermined upper filling level is monitored. If the container B2 is filled with filling material, the container B2 is fed to the second filling device 290 of the work station 250. In this position, the original container B1 is indicated at B3. In this position below the filling device 290, the container is then filled to the predetermined target weight or to the predetermined target quantity, the control again taking place here via the balance 255a. When the container B3 is filled, it is transferred to the third work station 350 forwarded, in which the filling opening is closed with a screw plug by means of the plug screwing device 360. A securing cap 120 is attached by means of the device 370 provided in the work station 350. The container is designated B4 in this treatment position. As the container B1 passes through the individual stages B2, B3, B4, new empty containers enter the filling device 10a, so that when the containers are gradually advanced from the first work station 50 to the first filling device 90 and from there to the second filling device 290 and from this to the third work station 350, the containers pass through all the individual work stations, so that four containers standing on the transport track 20 can be prepared, treated and loaded at the same time, which contributes to a high work performance of the overall filling device 10a.

12 and 13 show a further embodiment of a filling device, designated 10b, in which the transport path 20 for the containers 100 has a length which corresponds approximately to six times the diameter of a container. In this filling device 10b too, the construction and design of the transport track 20 corresponds to that of the filling device 10 and 10a. The same container alignment device is also provided in the filling device 10b, as are the transport tracks 400 for the screw caps and 1g0 for the securing caps.

Furthermore, the filling device 10b comprises a first work station 50 with the plug unscrewing device 60, the bunghole locating device 70 and the moisture measuring probe 80, and furthermore, at the end of the passage, the third work station 350 with the plug screwing device 360 and the device 370 for picking up and putting on safety caps. Between these two work stations 50, 350, the work station 250 is arranged, which is designed corresponding to the work station 250 of the filling device 10a. The two workstations 50, 350 in the filling device 10b are designed in accordance with those of the filling device 10. The workstation 250 also includes the two filling devices 90, 290 and the scales 255, 255a assigned to the two filling devices in the filling device 10b. Between the first work station 50 and the first filling device 90 of the work station 250 and between the second filling device 290 of the work station 250 and the third work station 350, a container empty space 500 or 510 is provided, each container empty space 500, 510 roughly corresponding to the diameter of a container 100 , so that containers can be parked in these empty spaces 500,510. The length of the transport path 20 in the filling device 10b is dimensioned such that six containers can be arranged one behind the other on the transport path, it being advantageous if a corresponding distance is formed between the individual containers, the distances between the individual containers also being predetermined by the arrangement of the work stations 50,250,350. The same also applies to the transport paths of the filling devices 10 and 10a, which are dimensioned accordingly in relation to the number of containers to be accommodated. In addition to the transport path 20, the filling device 10b has the transport path 400 for the screw plugs and the feed path 190 for the securing caps 120 on. The work stations 50, 350 are designed in accordance with the work stations described above. They have the same work processes. The construction of the filling devices 90, 290 provided in the work station 250 corresponds to the filling devices of the filling device 10a, but with the difference that the containers are completely filled via the filling devices 90, 290. Both Filling devices 90, 290 are assigned to scales 255, 255a. In the area of the two filling devices 90, 290, the transport path 20 is designed such that the containers can be raised for the filling process. This lifting takes place by means of devices designed in a manner known per se, such as, for example, additionally guided chain belts which are connected to the scales 255, 255a, but in such a way that both scales 255, 255a can independently weigh the quantity of the filling material. Both the filling device 90 and the filling device 290 serve to completely fill the containers assigned to them. Since the filling of two containers by means of the filling device 90, 290 takes place simultaneously, it is necessary for the containers to be lifted together by the transport path 20 for the filling process and during the filling process, so that the transport path can be moved independently of the filling process to bring containers in to be able to transfer the other workstations, which will be discussed in more detail below.

The filling device 10b according to FIGS. 12 and 13 works as follows:

The containers assigned to the individual work stations or filling devices and the empty spaces 500, 510 are designated B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6. First, the container B1 runs into the filling device 10b and comes to stand below the first work station 50. In this work station 50, the container B1 is aligned, the screw plug is unscrewed from the filling opening of the container by means of the plug unscrewing device 60, the container filling opening is detected by means of the bunghole search device 70 and then the liquid measuring probe 80 is then introduced into the container interior inserted and then pulled out again. The container B1 prepared in this way is then conveyed into the subsequent empty space 500 and takes on the position there as container B2, while at the same time another container runs into the filling device 10b, which remains below the first work station 50 in order to be treated there in the same way , like the previous container, which is now in position B2. The two containers B1, B2 are not yet filled in the position shown in FIG. 13. Then the two containers B1, B2 are jointly advanced until the two containers come to rest below the filling device 90, 290 of the second work station 250. The containers then assume the container positions at B3, B4 shown in FIG. I3. Both containers B3, B4 are lifted simultaneously for the filling process. The transport path 20 is then moved forward in a single cycle in order to feed a new empty container to the work station 50 and to be able to move the container, which has then been freed from the screw plug, into the empty space 500, whereupon another container then simultaneously enters the work station 50, so that again take two prepared and empty containers B1, B2 in the position shown in FIG. 13. If the two containers B3, B4 are filled, both containers are lowered together onto the conveyor belt and are advanced together until the containers B3, B4 in FIG. 13 assume the position that the containers B5, B6 take, then the container B6 is located in the region of the third work station 350 and here the screw plug is screwed on by means of the plug-in screwing device 360 and the securing cap is then fitted by means of the device 370. The container B6 is closed here while the container B₅ is still unlocked. The two containers run simultaneously while the two filled containers B3, B4 advance to the container position B5, B6 B1, B2 into the filling position below the two filling devices 90, 290 and assume the position B3, B4 shown in FIG. 13. For the filling process, the two containers standing in the area of the filling devices 90, 290 must then be raised again, while the transport path 20 then advances by one cycle, so that the yet unlocked but filled container B5 is moved into the region of the work station 350 in order to be closed there . During the advance movement of the container B5 into the container position B6, the closed and filled container B6 then runs out of the filling device 10b. The advancing container B5 is then closed in the work station 350 and the securing cap is put on. The transport track 20 then runs in single cycles and partially in double cycles in order to ensure a continuous filling process.

Claims (7)

1.Filling device, in particular a liquid or solid, flowable medium in sealed with screw plug (110) or other types of sealing plug containers (100), in particular barrels, wherein the screw plugs are preferably covered with attached safety caps (120), characterized in that the filling device (10) arranged in a machine frame (200) a) a horizontal transport path (20) for the containers (100) with a length which corresponds to at least three times the diameter of a container, the transport path (20) consisting of two spaced apart, 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), between the upper runs (21a, 22a) of the two chain belts (21, 22) on a circular line (33) with at least the container Support and centering rollers (34, 35, 36) for the container (100) with a diameter corresponding to the diameter with bearing axes (37, 38, 39) running radially to the vertical, approximately central axis of rotation of the container (107), the support and centering rollers (34 , 35, 36) on their bearing axles (37, 38, 39) in the longitudinal direction of the bearing axis are freely displaceable and are automatically centering towards the center (33a) of the circular line (33), so that one on the support and centering rollers (34, 35, 36 ) standing container (100) in all directions in the horizontal, and b3) from in the peripheral 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 first work station (50) with a plug unscrewing device (60) for the screw plugs (110) with a bunghole locating device (70) and with a moisture measuring probe (80) designed as a centering device or with a centering device instead of a moisture measuring probe, the first working 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), and extends approximately over the length of the transport path (20), below which a scanning device (171) for detecting the screw plugs of the incoming empty containers 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), and c2) from a turntable (72) rotatable on the support plate (170) in the container inlet area about a vertical axis (73) by means of a drive device (75) with a central vertical support neck (76) on or on the turntable (72) itself arranged vertical guides (162, 172, 182) the plug unscrewing device (60), the bunghole locating device (70) and the moisture measuring probe (80) in an angular position to one another by means of laterally projecting, radially extending guide slides ten (161, 171, 81, attached arms are arranged so as to be vertically displaceable, an opening (77) for passing the devices (60, 70, 80) being provided in the support plate (170) in their area facing the container inlet and in the center of the flow path of the container . d) a second work station (250) with a filling device (90) with a movable in the vertical direction or in the container bung hole filler neck (91), which is arranged on the support plate (170) such that the filler neck (91) Filling device (90) is arranged centrally in the container advance path, and with a scale (255) arranged below the transport path (20), the filling device (90) and the scale (255) being located opposite one another and downstream of the first work station (50) and the tragolatte (20) is provided with an opening (77a) for passing the filler neck (91), e) a third work station (350) with a plug screwing device (360) and with a device (370) for receiving and fitting safety caps (120) onto the screw plugs screwed into the container filling openings, the third work station (350) consisting of one on the Support plate (170) in the container outlet area about a vertical axis (373) by means of a drive device (375) rotatable turntable (372) with a central vertical support piece (376) on or on the turntable (372) arranged vertical guides (362,372ʹ) Plug screwing device (360) and the securing cap fitting device (370) in an angular position to one another by means of the side cantilevered radially extending, on guide carriages (363, 373ʹ) are arranged to be vertically displaceable, an opening (78) for passing the devices (350, 370) being provided in the support plate (170) in its area facing the container outlet area and in the center of the flow path of the container , and wherein the third work station (350) is connected downstream of the second work station (250), f) a stopper conveying path (400) running parallel to the transport path (20) for the containers, the end (400a) of the stopper in the swivel range of the stopper unscrewing device (60) of the first work station (50) and the end (400b) of the stopper delivery side in the swivel range of the stopper screwing device ( 360) of the third work station (350) is lying, and g) a transport path (190) running parallel to the transport path (20) for the containers and preferably lying in the extension of the stopper transport path (400) for the supply of safety caps (120) to the device (370) for receiving and fitting the safety caps ( 120) of the third work station (350), whereby after aligning the empty container that has entered the filling device (10) with its screw plug onto the screw device (60) in the screw plug unscrewing position of the first work station (50), it is lowered onto the screw plug, unscrewed from the filling opening of the container is lifted off and placed on the screw plug transport path (400), the bunghole search device (70) is activated and the moisture measuring probe (80) is inserted into and pulled out of the container interior, whereupon the empty container of the second one, freed from the screw plug Work station (250) fed, the container filled by means of the filling device (90), then the filled container fed to the third work station (350), in which the screw plug removed from the screw plug transport path (400) by means of the plug screwing device (360) by pivoting the screw device ( 360) is brought into the stopper screw-on position and screwed onto the container opening and the safety cap (120) removed from the transport path (190) is placed on the screwed-on stopper by means of the device (370). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport path (20) for the container (100) has a length which corresponds to four times the diameter of a container, and that the work station (250) lying between the two work stations (50, 350) has two Filling devices (90, 290) arranged one behind the other and two scales (255, 255a) one behind the other in the region of the transport path (20), each filling device (90; 290) being assigned a scale (255; 255a), with a coarse filling by means of the filling device (90) and with the filling device (290), a fine filling is carried out until the desired filling state is reached. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport path (20) for the container (100) has a length which is six times the diameter corresponds to a container and that the work station (250) lying between the two work stations (50, 350) comprises two filling devices (90, 290) arranged one behind the other and two scales (255, 255a) one behind the other in the region of the transport path (20), each filling device (90; 290) a scale (255, 255a) is assigned and that between each filling device (90; 290) and the respective upstream work station (50) and the downstream work station (350) there is an empty space (500; 510) the length of the diameter of a container The containers in the filling position assume a position raised by the transport path (20), while at the same time the other containers are fed to the individual work stations (50, 350) or moved into the empty spaces (500, 510). 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the moisture measuring probe (80) carries on its circumference at a distance from its free end for a container re-centering a re-centering mandrel (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 moved in, the aligning rollers (40, 41, 42) being detached from the edge of the container, so that the container by means of the re-centering mandrel (81) on the supporting and centering rollers (34,35,36) is slidable and aligned. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the re-centering mandrel (81) is provided on the turntable (72) instead of the moisture measuring probe (80), which can be moved in the vertical direction by means of a drive device. 6. The device according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the work station (50) a) from a above the conveyor track (20) at a distance above this, which corresponds to at least the height of the container (100), arranged horizontal support plate (70), below which a scanning device (171) for detecting the screw plug of the incoming empty 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), b) 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 extending upwards through the opening (74) Support socket (76), on or on the on the turntable (72) arranged vertical guides (162, 172, 182), the plug unscrewing device (60), the bunghole search device (70) and the moisture measuring probe (80) in an angular position relative to one another by means of laterally projecting Guide carriages (161, 171, 181) of fixed arms are arranged such that they can be moved in height, an opening (77) for guiding the devices (60, 70, 80) is provided in the support plate (170) in their area facing the container inlet and in the center of the container advance path, and c) 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 firmly connected with 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 the filling device (90).

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