EP0455096A1 - Device for filling containers, especially bottles, with a liquid product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for filling containers, especially bottles 2, with a liquid product, having at least one filling element 4 for controlled discharge of the liquid product into the respective container, and having a bell 3 which is provided on each filling element and in which a chamber completely receiving the respective container during a filling operation is constructed, and which possesses, on its underside, an opening serving for the introduction and removal of the respective container, and having a container support 5 which forms a standing area for the containers and is arranged in the direction of a filling-element axis VA below the filling element, it being possible to open and close the chamber at the opening of the bell by means of the container support by relative movement between the bell 3 and the container support 5 in the filling-element axis. <??>The particular feature of the invention is characterised by locking means which are provided on the container support and on the bell and with which the bell and the container support can be positively locked to one another at least for forces in the direction of the filling-element axis when the chamber is closed by the container support. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling containers, in particular for filling bottles, according to the preamble of claim 1 and claim 31.

For example, for the aseptic filling of liquid contents, a device or a bottle filling machine is known (DE-OS 38 09 855), the filling elements of which each have a bell which is open at its lower end. This completely takes up the bottle to be filled and can be closed at its lower end by the container carrier or bottle plate carrying the bottle, which can be moved up and down by a lifting device, in order to hold the bottle received by the bell and the chamber there in one during the filling process to apply steam under pressure to the sterilization phase preceding the actual filling phase. The pressure in the respectively closed bell is absorbed by the machine upper part carrying the filling elements and by the lifting device, which among other things. a significant additional load on the machine upper part and the lifting device and thus above all also means additional wear on the lifting device.

The invention has for its object to develop a device of the type mentioned in such a way that it avoids additional wear and tear on the machine head and / or existing lifting devices and other means for generating the relative movement between bell and container carrier with little wear and optimal operation.

To achieve this object, a device is designed according to the characterizing part of claim 1 and claim 31.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the closed bell and the closing element closing this bell in the locking position of the locking elements also form a self-contained system with regard to the forces generated by a pressure in the chamber. It is therefore not necessary, for example, to pass on forces caused by the pressure in the chamber to external parts carrying the bell, the filling element or the closing element. The entire machine can therefore be easily dimensioned, particularly with regard to construction, bearings, etc. The closing element is, for example, a cover which can be inserted manually into the respective bell and / or the container carrier forming a base for the containers, the opening of the bell then being able to be closed or opened by relative movement between the bell and the container carrier in the filling element axis.

A lid which can be manually inserted into the bell and removed from it is preferably used to close the bell for cleaning purposes. The container carrier serves to close the bell in the most varied of procedures when filling the container, for example in the case of steam sterilization, prestressing with a pressurized gas, etc. If the device is designed with a container carrier closing the bell for cleaning purposes, this is also preferred manually insertable and removable covers provided. With appropriate design of the means for the relative movement between the bell and the container carrier, the latter can also be used to close the bell when cleaning.

The control and / or actuation of the at least one locking element provided on and / or interacting with the container carrier is preferably carried out mechanically or by fluid actuation, for example by compressed air, with the control and / or actuation being carried out by the in a basic, possible embodiment Lift of the respective lifting element takes place. At least the mobile ones Locking elements are then provided on that part (bell or container carrier) which is moved up and down by the lifting device.

In another embodiment, the control and / or actuation of the at least one locking element provided on or interacting with the container carrier takes place using control cams which interact with stationary control elements, past which the container carrier is moved past. In both of the above-mentioned embodiments relating to the control and / or actuation of the at least one locking element, numerous variations are possible, particularly with regard to the design of the locking elements.

In order to achieve a tight seal between the bell and the closing element, in particular the container carrier, when the bell is closed, a seal is provided which is used to reduce wear, i.e. in order to achieve a long service life when the chamber or bell is closed, it bears against a sealing surface on the container carrier or on the bell, which is arranged essentially in a plane perpendicular to the filling element axis. As a result, frictional forces on the seal when closing and opening the bell are largely avoided. The seal preferably has at least one sealing lip which bears against the sealing surface, preferably with a contact pressure generated by the pressure inside the bell.

The device according to the invention, which is preferably designed as a filling machine with a plurality of filling elements, each with a bell and a container carrier, is suitable not only for the aseptic filling mentioned at the outset, but in particular also for other procedures in which a closed and preferably with a pressure actable chamber is necessary during the process or at least expedient.

Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in sehr vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung eines der Füllelemente einer Flaschenfüllmaschine, zusammen mit einer an diesem Füllelement vorgesehenen Glocke sowie mit einem unterhalb des Füllelementes und unterhalb der Glocke vorgesehenen Flaschenteller mit einer auf diesem stehender Flasche, und zwar in Position "a" bei abgesenktem Flaschenteller und in Position "b" bei angehobenem Flaschenteller;

Fig. 2

in Teildarstellung sowie teilweise im Schnitt die Glocke sowie den Flaschenteller bei einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

in Draufsicht ein Verriegelungselement zur Verwendung bei der Ausführung nach Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 und 5

in Teildarstellung und im Schnitt die Glocke im Bereich ihrer unteren Öffnung sowie den Flaschenteller bei möglichen Abwandlungen der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 bis 9

in ähnlicher Darstellung die Fig. 2 vier weitere mögliche Ausführungsformen der Erfindung;

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf eine Verriegelungs-Scheibe zur Verwendung bei der Ausführung nach Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 und 12

in ähnlicher Darstellung wie Fig. 2 zwei bevorzugte Ausführungen der Erfindung;

Fig. 13

einen Deckel zum Verschließen der Glocke in Unteransicht;

Fig. 14

einen Schnitt entsprechend der Linie I-I der Fig. 13;

Fig. 15

einen Schnitt entsprechend der Linie II-II der Fig. 13;

Fig. 16

in vereinfachter Darstellung eine ortsfeste Hubkurve für die Hubelemente einer Flaschenfüllmaschine.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a very simplified schematic representation of one of the filling elements of a bottle filling machine, together with a bell provided on this filling element and with a bottle plate provided below the filling element and below the bell with a bottle standing thereon, in position "a" with the bottle plate lowered and in Position "b" with bottle plate raised;

Fig. 2

in a partial representation and partly in section, the bell and the bottle plate in a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

in plan view a locking element for use in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

4 and 5

in partial representation and in section, the bell in the region of its lower opening and the bottle plate with possible modifications of the embodiment according to FIG. 2;

6 to 9

in a similar representation, FIG. 2 four further possible embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 10

a plan view of a locking washer for use in the embodiment of FIG. 9;

11 and 12

in a representation similar to Figure 2, two preferred embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 13

a lid for closing the bell in bottom view;

Fig. 14

a section along the line II of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15

a section along the line II-II of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16

in a simplified representation, a fixed stroke curve for the lifting elements of a bottle filling machine.

In the figures, 1 is a filling element, which is provided in the usual way with a large number of similar filling elements on the circumference of a part (rotor) of a bottle filling machine which rotates around a vertical machine axis and which is used to fill the bottles 2 with a liquid filling material (e.g. still or carbonated drinks) ) serves. Each filling element 1 has the usual design and is provided with a bell 3 open on its underside, which is arranged with its central axis in the vertical direction and coaxially with a filling element axis VA and, in the embodiment shown, encloses a filling tube 4 of the filling element 1 over its entire length . As the position b of FIG. 1 shows, the bell 3 can completely accommodate the bottle 2 to be filled in each case. The bottle 2 stands in the usual way with its base 2 'on a bottle holder provided below the filling element 1, which is formed by a bottle plate 5 which can be moved up and down in the vertical direction by a lifting device 6 (not shown) in accordance with the double arrow A. , in such a way that at the bottle inlet and at the bottle outlet of the bottle filling machine, the bottles 2 can be applied to and removed from a bottle plate 5, respectively, without being impeded by the filling element 1 or the bell 3. In at least one angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor of the bottle filling machine, the respective bottle plate 5 with the associated bottle 2 is raised to such an extent that it closes the bell 3 at its lower opening or at the edge area 3 'there, so that the respective bottle 2 is closed Space is accommodated, which for the most varied of procedures when filling, for example for steam sterilization, for prestressing with a pressurized gas, etc. may be necessary. Since the bell 3 at the edge region 3 'has a relatively large inner diameter, relatively large forces in the sense of a moving apart of bell 3 and bottle plate 5 become effective at a vapor or gas pressure in the interior of the closed bell 3, which are generated by the lifting device 6 for the bottle plate 5 or would have to be taken up by the filling element 1 or its holder. In order to achieve relief here, a lock is provided, with which the bell plate 3 and the bottle plate 5 can be positively locked to one another when the bottle plate 5 rests against the underside of the bell 3, as will be shown in the following on different ones shown in FIGS. 2 to 12 Embodiments will be described in more detail. These exemplary embodiments differ essentially only in the design of the bottle plate having the locking device, which is designated 5a to 5f in FIGS. 2 to 12, and in relation to the design of the bells 3 at their edge regions, which are adapted to the respective bottle plate, in FIG 2 to 12 are designated 3a 'to 3g'.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, a head 7 is provided on the upper end of a lifting cylinder forming the lifting device 6, which surrounds the upper end of the lifting device 6 with a sleeve-like section 7 'and is fastened to it. In a section 7 '' which protrudes upwards above section 7 'and has a reduced outside and inside diameter and is also sleeve-like, there is a plate element 8 which forms the base for the bottles 2 and which is arranged with its central axis in the vertical direction in the direction of this central axis or of the filling element axis VA is displaceably guided, specifically with the aid of a pin-like projection 9 which projects beyond the underside of the element 8 and which engages in the interior of the sleeve-like section 7 ″. A compression spring 12, which extends the projection 9, bears against the underside of the projection 9 and against a collar 11 formed in the bore 10 encloses. The extension, which is arranged coaxially with the axis VA and has an outer diameter which is reduced in comparison to the projection 9, extends through an opening formed in the region of the collar 11 and is provided at its lower end with a stop 14 with overload protection. This stop 14, which rests against the side of the collar 11 facing away from this compression spring when the compression spring 12 is completely relieved, consists, for example, of a disk which is held on the extension 13 by a spring ring which yields when overloaded.

The actual locking element of the bottle plate 5a consists of a locking ring 15 which is made in one piece from a flat material made of spring steel and which, on an inner ring or conical section 15 ', has a plurality of finger or wing-like sections 15''and / or 15''which project outwards. ' having. The sections 15 '' differ from the sections 15 '''essentially only in that the sections 15''are rather finger-like with a constant width and the sections 15''' are more segment-like with a width that increases towards the outside. The locking ring 15 can have the sections 15 '' and 15 '''either separately or in combination. Independently of this, the locking ring 15 is shaped in such a way that it also widens like a funnel in the region of the sections 15 ″ and 15 ″ ″. With an inner edge of the section 15 'which does not have the sections 15''and / or 15''', the locking ring 15 bears against and surrounds an annular shoulder 7 '''of the head 7 formed at the upper end of the section 7'' a section 7 '''' which has a reduced outside diameter compared to section 7 ''. The axis of the locking ring 15 is axially aligned with the axis VA, in such a way that the sections 15 ″ and / or 15 ″ ″ rest with their free ends against the underside 8 ″ of the element 8 and one in the region of these free ends have a greater distance from the axis VA than at the transition region to the section 15 '.

The bell 3 is formed on its underside so that when the bottle plate 5a or its plate element 8 is closed, it can move into the opening of the bell 3, so that the plate element 8 is enclosed on its circumference by the lower, thickened edge region 3a 'and Finds a stop on the bell 3, which then prevents the plate element 8 from moving upward or moving further into the bell 3. The abovementioned stop is formed by a collar 16,

2 shows in its right half an operating state in which the plate element 8 has just moved into the bell 3. The compression spring 12 is still relaxed and the sections 15 ″ or 15 ″ ″ form an acute angle with the axis VA with their longitudinal extent. If the lifting device 6 moves further upwards, the plate element 8 lying against the collar 16 is no longer moved, but with increasing tension of the compression spring 12 only the head 7 moves upwards when the plate element 8 is standing, as a result of which the material is deformed elastically Locking ring 15, the sections 15 '' and / or 15 '''are increasingly spread radially outwards until they finally lie essentially in a plane running perpendicular to the axis VA and engage with their free ends in an annular groove 17, which on the Inner surface of the edge region 3a 'is provided. The bell 3 and the bottle plate 5a are hereby positively locked to one another in the manner shown on the left in FIG. 2. An absolutely tight seal of the closed bell is also achieved by a sealing ring 18, which is provided in an annular groove 19 on the inner surface of the edge region 3a 'and bears against the circumferential surface thereof when the plate element 8 is inserted into the bell 3. The sealing ring 18 is essentially V-shaped in cross-section and is arranged such that the open side of this V-shaped cross-section faces the pressure-loaded side of the region to be sealed. This ensures a particularly effective and reliable seal.

4 and 5 show two modifications, which differs from the embodiment of FIG. 2 essentially only in that instead of the sealing ring 18 a sealing ring 19 or 20 is used, which in turn has a V-shaped cross section, with its However, the open side is directed radially inwards, and that in addition the plate element 8 is provided on its upper side 8 'in the region of the edge with a lower-lying ring-like sealing surface 21, against which the sealing ring 19 or 20 abuts with a lip-like section when the bell 3 is closed . The advantage of the modification according to FIGS. 4 and 5 compared to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 is that when the bell 3 is opened and closed there is practically no friction between the plate element 8 and the respective seal 19 or 20, i.e. the sealing rings 19 and 20 are therefore subject to much less wear than the sealing ring 18. The sealing surface 21 is lower than the top 8 'or standing surface for the bottles 2, but also lower than the sliding plates or sliding surfaces provided at the bottle inlet and outlet, so that the sealing surface is also protected against wear and tear. At the bottle inlet and at the bottle outlet of the bottle filling machine, the sealing surface 21 is preferably covered by the sliding plates there. The modifications of FIGS. 4 and 5 also differ from the embodiment of FIG. 2 in that instead of the stop or collar 16 interacting with the upper side 8 ', the plate element 8 in the region of its lower side 8' 'has a radially projecting flange or Has collar 8 '' 'which, when the bell 3 is closed, bears against the underside of the edge region 3a'. This allows 3 smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces inside the bell. The collar 8 can be cleaned without difficulty.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment which differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 essentially in that the bottle plate 5b can be locked on the bell 3 by pneumatic means. The bottle plate 5b has the basic function of the plate element 8 Corresponding plate element 22, which in turn forms the base of the bottle plate 5b with its upper side 22 'and has on its underside 22''a projection 23 lying coaxially with the axis VA, which has a piston-like section 23' in the direction of the axis VA in a recess 24 of a head 25 is guided displaceably, this relative movement between the element 22 and the head 25 being limited to a maximum stroke by means of the stop 25 of the head 25 engaging in an annular groove 23 ″ of the attachment 23.

In the plate element 22 locking segments 26 are provided at predetermined intervals around the axis VA, which can be displaced radially to the axis VA such that the locking segments 26 are arranged in a first position with a radially outer locking section 26 'within the circumference of the plate element 22 and protrude in a second, locking position with their locking portion 26 'each over the circumferential surface of the plate element 22. In the illustrated embodiment, three locking segments 26 are provided. The locking segments 26 are so biased by spring means, for example by a common worm spring 27, that they are normally in the non-locking position. By means of a pneumatic actuation device, which in the embodiment shown is formed by a tubular membrane 28, the locking segments 26 can be moved against the action of the worm spring 27 by acting on the interior of the membrane 28 with a pressure to the outside into the locking position. The interior of the membrane 28 is connected via channels 29, 30 and 31 to a chamber formed by the recess 24.

When the bell 3 is closed, the plate element 22 of the bottle plate 5b is first moved into the bell 3, the locking segments 26 being in their unlocked position and the chamber formed by the recess 24 via an opening 32 provided in the head 25 communicates with the atmosphere. When the plate element 22 has moved so far into the opening of the bell that this element is enclosed by the edge area 3b 'and abuts against this edge area 3b' with a collar 22 ''', the head 25 moves under tensioning of a compression spring 33 when the plate element is stationary 22 further upwards, which is closed by the section 23 'in the opening 32 and a valve 35 is opened to a compressed air line via a plunger 34 protruding from the section 23', so that via this valve 35 and the channels 29-31 compressed air into the Interior of the membrane 28 can flow in, whereby the locking segments 26 are moved radially outward into their locking position, in which they engage with their locking portions 26 'in an annular groove 36 on the inner surface of the edge region 3b'. Unlocking takes place automatically in that when the head 25 is moved downward, the valve 35 is closed and at the same time the opening 32 is released from the section 23 ', so that with the venting of the interior of the membrane 28, the locking segments 26 move into their non-locking position move back.

Instead of pneumatic actuation of the locking segments, mechanical actuation is also conceivable. FIG. 7 shows such an embodiment. The bottle plate 5c there consists of a plate element element 37 corresponding to the plate element 8, which on a head 38 provided on the lifting device 6 in the direction of the axis VA by a predetermined amount or stroke against a spring action. namely against the action of the compression spring 12 is displaceable. The shape of the head 38 largely corresponds to that of the head 7. With regard to the guidance of the plate element 37 on the head 38, the bottle plate 5c is practically identical to the bottle plate 5a. The main difference to the bottle plate 5a is that the bottle plate 5c has several, for example at least three, locking bolts 39 as locking elements, which are arranged radially to the axis VA in the plate element 37 in the region of the underside of this element, in such a way that these locking bolts 39 are in a non-locking position with their radially outer end or locking portion 39 'within the circumferential line of the plate element 37 and a return spring 40 can be moved radially outwards from this position against the action, so that the ends 37' into one Engage recess or groove 41, which is provided on the inner surface of the edge region 3c 'of the bell 3. The locking bolts 39 are actuated by a wedge or conical surface 42 which is provided on the outer surface of the sleeve-like section 38 '' corresponding to the section 7 '', in the region of the upper end of this section in such a way that in the bell completely introduced and thereby held plate element 37 and with the head 38 moving further upward, the radially inner ends 39 ″ of the locking bolts 39 come to rest against the conical surface 42 and the locking bolts 39 are thereby increasingly moved outwards.

Instead of the locking bolts 39, other locking elements which can be moved radially outward by the head or by a control surface there (wedge or conical surface) can also be used, for example also a slotted ring 46 made of spring wire, as is the case in FIG. 8 reproduced bottle plate 5d is the case. This bottle plate 5d consists essentially of the plate element 43 and the head 44 corresponding to the head 38. On the outer surface of the upper end, the head 44 is provided with a conical surface 45 such that the head 44 tapers in the region of this conical surface from the upper end . The split ring 46 made of spring wire, which surrounds the axis VA essentially concentrically, sits on the conical surface 45. Above the ring 46, the plate element 43 forms an annular surface 47, likewise concentrically enclosing the axis VA and essentially lying in a plane perpendicular to this axis. The plate element 43 is guided on the head 44 in the same way as the plate element 8 on the head 7, inserted into the open end of the glock 3 in such a way that the plate element 43 enclosed by the edge region 3d 'does not move any further upwards If the head 44 moves further upwards, the ring 46 is increasingly spread apart radially to the axis VA by the conical surface 45 and then finally lies in one before the upper end of the head 44 comes into contact with the plate element 43 the inner surface of the edge region 3d 'provided groove 48, in such a way that the annular contact surface 47, which is provided immediately after the peripheral surface of the plate element 43, can be supported on the upper region of the ring 46 and the ring 46 with its lower Supported area at an edge of the groove 48 there. The ring 46 thus spread then prevents the bell 3 and the plate element 43 or the bottle plate 5d from moving apart, as is shown in the left half in FIG. 8.

Of course, the ring 46 does not protrude beyond the circumferential surface of the plate element 43 in the non-spread state, as shown in the right half in FIG. 8, so that the plate element 43 is inserted to close the bell 3 (with the ring 46 not yet spread) or when the bell 3 is reopened (with the ring 46 no longer spread) can be moved out of the bell.

9 and 10 show a further possible embodiment of a bottle plate 5e, in which the bell 3 is locked on the bottle plate or on the plate element 49 by means of a locking disk 50 which is freely rotatable on the underside of the plate element 49 about the axis VA is provided. The locking disc 50 has a central opening 51, with which this disc is freely rotatably supported on a circular cylindrical projection 52 projecting from the underside of the plate element 49, between two rings 53 and 54, of which the lower ring 54 against axial displacement is secured and the upper ring 53 is acted upon by a plurality of compression springs 55, so that the locking disc 50 is clamped at the edge of the opening 51 by the force of the compression springs 55 between the rings 53 and 54 and accordingly only when overcome a torque predetermined by this clamping can be rotated about the axis VA. On its outer circumference, the locking disk 50 is provided with a plurality of locking segments 56, which also protrude radially over the peripheral surface of the plate element 59, while the locking disk 50 does not otherwise protrude over this peripheral surface. The plate element 49 is fastened to a head 58 provided on the lifting device 6 by means of an extension 57, which projects beyond the lower end of the projection 52. The head 58 is designed as a threaded sleeve which is screwed onto the upper end of the lifting device 6 and is closed by a bottom region at its end which projects beyond the lifting device. The extension 57 extends through an opening 59 of this floor area and is secured or held in the head 58 by a stop 60 corresponding to the stop 14 with overload protection.

The edge area 3e 'of the bell 3 is designed such that the plate element 49 can be inserted into the bell together with the locking disk 50 to close the bell 3 and then both elements are enclosed by the edge area 3e'. On the inner surface of the edge region 3e ', projections 61 assigned to the locking segments 56 are provided, in an arrangement corresponding to the distribution of the locking segments 56 around the axis VA such that in the angular positions of the locking disk 50, which correspond to the non-locking position, all the projections 61 are located in the areas between the locking segments 56. By turning the locking disc 50 by an angular amount that corresponds to half the pitch, i.e. half the angular distance between two locking segments 56, the locking disc 50 comes into the locking position in which the locking segments 56 engage behind the projections 61, as a result of which the bell 3 and the bottle plate 5e are positively connected. FIG. 9 shows the non-locking position in the left half and the locking position of the locking disk 50 in the right half.

The control of the locking disc 50, i.e. the switching of this disc by half the division for locking and unlocking takes place via external fixed, i.e. Control elements not co-moving with the rotor of the filling machine, which interact with pin-shaped control cams 62 and 63. The latter lie with their axis parallel to the axis VA and are provided on the locking disc 50 so that they protrude from the underside of this locking disc. Each control cam 62 is located on the outer circumference of the locking disc 50 in the area between two successive locking segments 56. The control cams 63, which are shorter in comparison to the control cams 62, are each provided in the area of a locking segment 56, namely in a somewhat larger radial one in comparison to the control cams 62 Distance from the central axis VA.

Due to the different length and the different radial spacing of the control cams 62 and 63, it is possible to provide separate, fixed control elements for the control cams 62 and separate control elements for the control cams 63, so that the correct position for each locking disk 50 depending on the To ensure the respective angular position of the rotor of the bottle filling machine.

11 shows, as a further embodiment, a bottle plate 5f which represents a preferred modification of the bottle plate 5a and differs from it only in that several levers 64 are provided instead of the locking ring 15 or the sections 15 '' or 15 ''' are. Otherwise, the bottle plate 5f corresponds in terms of its design and construction to the bottle plate 5a, so that in FIG. 11 the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 are used for elements which correspond in principle to the bottle plate 5a in terms of shape and function. The levers 64, for example three or four at equal angular intervals the axles VA are provided distributed, are pivotally mounted at one end by means of a hinge pin 65 at the upper end of the section 7 ″ of the head 7 about the axis of the respective hinge pin 65. The axes of all the pivot pins 65 lie in a common plane running perpendicular to the filling element axis VA and form the tangents to a common imaginary circle surrounding this axis VA. The levers are provided by a common compression spring 66 which surrounds the section 7 'in the region of its upper end, which is supported with its upper end against the lever 65 and with its lower end against a collar 67 projecting beyond the outer surface of the section 7'' 64 is biased into its non-locking position, indicated by the broken line 64 'in FIG. 11, in which the lever 64 or its longitudinal extension with the axis VA, each extending perpendicular to the axis of the associated hinge pin 65, moves upward include an opening acute angle and the free end of each lever bears against the underside 8 ″ of the plate element 8 or against a sliding surface 68 provided there with a radial distance from the axis VA that is greater than the radial distance of the associated hinge pin 65 from the latter Axis. In this embodiment too, the annular groove 17 is again provided on the inner surface of the edge region 3f 'of the bell 3, in such a way that the upper horizontal side or boundary surface of the groove 17 in FIG. 11 essentially coincides with one plane the underside 8 ″ of the plate element 8 is located when it comes into contact with the collar 16 or another stop after it has been inserted into the bell 3. When the head 7 is moved further upwards relative to the plate element 8, the arms 64 are then pivoted downward against the action of the compression spring 66, so that they ultimately lie essentially radially with respect to the axis VA with their longitudinal extension and with their radially outer ends engage in the groove 17 and thereby lock the bottle plate 5f on the bell 3, as shown in FIG. 11.

Instead of a common compression spring 66, a separate compression spring can also be provided for each lever 64, and a pin 69 is then provided on the collar 67 to secure it.

Fig. 12 shows a further embodiment of a bottle plate 5g, which represents a modification of the bottle plate 5f and which, among other things. characterized in that a plate 71 is fastened to the top 8 'of the plate element 8 by means of a screw 70, which forms the standing surface 72 for the bottles 2 to be filled as an interchangeable closing part. On its circumference, the circular disk-shaped plate 71 is provided with an annular recess which is open both to this circumference and to the top of the plate 71 and forms a sealing surface 73 which is lower than the standing surface 72 and thus the sealing surface 21 of FIGS. 4 to 6 corresponds. The plate 71 is preferably provided on the base 72 with a centering for the bottles 2. This centering is formed, for example, by centering projections, not shown, by semicircular wall sections, etc. The centering ensures an exact positioning with respect to the axis VA, particularly in the case of narrow-necked bottles 2, and prevents the respective filling tube 4 from coming into contact with the mouth of a narrow-necked bottle 2 when it is lifted.

The associated bell 3 has an edge area 3g 'which essentially corresponds to the edge area 3f'. The locking of the bottle plate 5g in the bell 3 is carried out in the same manner as that described for the bottle plate 5f. In the interior of the bell 3, however, an annular seal 75 is arranged at the edge region 3g 'in a groove 74 provided there, concentrically enclosing the axis VA and radially inwardly open, which has a radially inwardly projecting annular sealing lip in the region of its lower edge in FIG. 12 76, which rests against the annular sealing surface 73 from above on the bottle plate 5g closing the bell 3. When there is pressure in the interior of the bell 3, the sealing lip 76 pressed against the sealing surface 73, whereby the transition between bell 3 and bottle plate 5g is reliably sealed. Like the seal 19 and 20, the seal 75 is also subject to extremely little wear.

A channel 77 is provided in the edge area 3g, which opens into the interior of the bell 3 directly above the ring seal 75 and thus, when the bell 3 is closed, at a short distance above the standing surface 72. The channel 77 is provided on the outside of the bell 3 with a channel or connected to a line 78 which leads to a valve arrangement 79 provided on the bell 3 and shown only in principle in FIG. 12.

The deep arrangement of channel 77, i.e. the arrangement of this channel directly above the ring seal 75 has the advantage, for example, in the case of steam treatment or steam exiting this channel, that a bottle 2 is flowed around from top to bottom by the steam.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a closing cover 80 with which the bells 3 can be closed at their lower end, specifically when the bottle filling machine is to be cleaned with liquid cleaning media in a closed circuit. The cover 80 consists essentially of a plate element 81 which fits into the lower, open end of the respective bell and closes this open end of the bell 3 after insertion, ie the plate element 81 is designed similarly to the plate element 8. On its underside, the plate element 81 has two locking elements 82, which are radially displaceable with respect to the central axis of the plate element 81 and are biased radially outwards by a compression spring 83. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking elements 82 are stamped parts made from flat material. For the radial displacement, each locking element 82 is provided with an elongated hole 84 and held in the region of this elongated hole with a screw 85 on the underside of the plate element 81. The locking elements 82 are simultaneously pivotable about the screws 85. On hers the radially inner end of the locking elements 82 are each provided with an eyelet 86 forming a gripping surface for a finger. By gripping these eyelets 86, the locking elements 82 can be moved inwards to unlock the respective cover 80.

The locking elements 82 project with their radially outer ends over the circumferential surface of the cover element 81, so that when the cover 80 is inserted into a bell 3, the locking elements 82 engage in a recess formed in the interior of the bell 3, for example in the groove 17 or 41 of the Bells 3 with the edge areas 3a ', 3b', 3c ', 3f' and 3g '.

It goes without saying that when cleaning the bottle filling machine all bells 3 are closed with a lid 80 each.

To ensure that the interior of the bell 3 is completely emptied of the cleaning liquid after the cleaning process and before the cover 80 is removed, an emptying valve 87 is provided on the cover 80. This essentially consists of a valve tappet 88 which is guided through the plate element 81 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction. At one end the valve tappet 88 is provided with a valve plate 89 which is pressed against the upper side of the plate element 81 by a valve spring 90 and thereby closes two valve openings 91 provided in the plate element 81. When the cover 80 is attached to a bell 3, the valve plate 89 is located inside the closed bell 3. With its other end, the valve tappet 88 projects beyond the underside of the cover 80 or the bell 3 closed with this cover, so that when a bottle plate, for example the bottle plate 5a, 5b, 5c, 5f or 5g, is raised against the closed bell 3, the emptying valve 87 opens via the valve tappet 88 and thus cleaning liquid present inside the bell 3 can flow off via the valve openings 81. After completing the cleaning process, At least one cycle of the bottle filling machine ensures that the bells 3 are completely emptied before the covers 80 are removed, which in particular also avoids the risk of accidents caused by sharp, caustic cleaning liquids.

It was assumed above that the bells 3 are closed by the bottle plates 5a-5g and the associated locking means for a wide variety of procedures when filling the bottles 2, while the lid 80 is used in the cleaning to close the bells 3. In principle, however, it is also possible to use the bottle plates 5a - 5g to close the bells 3 for cleaning. For this purpose, the lifting devices for the bottle plates 5a - 5g are designed so that all bottle plates 5a - 5g each remain in the raised position during cleaning, even when the bottle filling machine is rotating. If the lifting devices have the lifting devices or lifting cylinders which are normally used and which are prestressed by a compressed gas in the sense of lifting the bottle plates 5a-5g, each of which is provided with a cam roller 92 and which cooperate with a control cam 93 to lower the bottle plates 5a-5g, a segment 94 is provided at the start of the start-up side of the control curve 93. This segment can be moved from an effective position, in which it is located in the movement space of the cam rollers 92 and thus forms the start of the start side of the cam 93, to an inactive position in which the segment 94 is arranged outside the path of movement of the cam rollers 92 is. If the segment 94 is in this inactive position, the cam rollers 92 move past the control cam 93 on their upper line of motion when the bottle filling machine rotates, i.e. the bottle plates 5a - 5g are not lowered and the bells 3 remain closed for the cleaning process.

When cleaning using the bottle plates 5a-5g to close the bells 3, the so-called "format parts", such as bottle stars, bottle guides, are of course used etc. removed or removed from the path of movement of the raised bottle plates 5a - 5g or the associated lifting devices 6, insofar as this is necessary.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous further modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept which bears the invention.

Claims (34)

Device for filling containers, in particular bottles (2), with a liquid filling material, with at least one filling element (1) for the controlled delivery of the liquid filling material to the respective container, and with a bell provided on each filling element (1), in which one the respective container is completely accommodated during a filling process and has on its underside an opening which serves to introduce and discharge the respective container and can be closed by a closing element, with a container carrier (5a-5g) and preferably with a lifting device (6) Formed means for generating a relative movement between the container carrier (5a -5g) and bell (3) in the direction of a filling element axis (VA), characterized by locking means (15, 26, 39, 46, 56) provided on the closing element and on the bell (3) , 64, 82; 17, 36, 41, 48, 61), with which closed by the closing element In its chamber, the bell (3) and the closing element can be positively locked to one another at least for forces in the direction of the filling element axis (VA). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the container support (5a - 5g) forming a base (8 ', 22', 72) for the containers is arranged in the direction of the filler element axis (VA) below the filler element (1), that the container support (5a - 5g) forms the closing element, and that by relative movement between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a - 5g) in the filling element axis (VA), the chamber at the opening of the bell is closed by the container carrier (5a - 5g) and can be opened. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that when the device is used in a rotating type of filling machine, the means for generating the relative movement between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a - 5g) can be switched off in such a way that the container carrier (5a - 5g) remains in its position closing the opening of the bell (3) despite the rotating machine. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for generating the relative movement between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a - 5g) is a guide element which interacts with a fixed control cam (93), preferably a cam roller (92) which interacts with the fixed control cam ) on the lifting device (6) for the container carrier (5a - 5g), and that the control cam (93) can be converted from an active state into an inactive state. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control cam (93) has a segment (94) at the beginning of a start-up side, which segment can be moved between an active position and an inactive position. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a cover (80) which serves as a closing element and can be inserted manually into the opening of the bell (3). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking means of at least one movable locking element (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82) on the container carrier (5a - 5g) or on the lid (80) and / or are formed on the bell (3), which can be moved from a non-locking position into a locking position in which this locking element (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82) with at least one locking section is preferably one of one non-movable locking element (17, 36, 41, 48, 61) engages behind the locking surface formed on the bell and / or on the container carrier (5a - 5g). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking sections of the movable locking elements (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82) can be moved from the non-locking position into the locking position substantially radially to the filling element axis (VA). Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the means for the relative movement between bell (3) and container carrier (5a - 5g) is a lifting device which moves the container carrier (5a - 5g) in the vertical direction, and that the movable locking elements (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64) are provided on the container carrier (5a - 5g). Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the bell (3) can be moved in the vertical direction relative to the container carrier (5a - 5g) by a lifting device, and in that the movable locking elements are provided on the bell (3). Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the movement and / or control of the movable locking elements (15, 39, 46, 64) takes place by the lifting movement of the lifting device (6). Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the container carrier (5a, 5c, 5d, 5f, 5g) consists of a plate element (8, 37, 43) closing the chamber of the bell (3) and a head (7, 38, 44 ), which is attached to the lifting device (6) or forms part of this lifting device, and that the plate element (8, 37, 43) is guided on the head in the direction of the filling element axis (VA) so as to be displaceable so that after the chamber of the bell (3) has been closed by the plate element (8, 37, 43) and when the plate element bears against a stop (16) of the bell (3), a further stroke of the head (7, 38, 44) is carried out Movement of the movable locking element (15, 39, 46, 64) from the non-locking position into the locking position. Device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that for the actuation of the at least one movable locking element (26) is provided an actuating device (28) which can be acted upon by a pressure medium, preferably compressed air. Device according to claim 13, characterized by a control valve arrangement (23 ', 24, 32, 34, 35) for controlling the actuating device (28) as a function of the movement of the lifting device (6) for the container carrier (5b) or the bell (3) . Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the container carrier (5b) has a plate-like element (22) which closes the chamber of the bell (3) and which on the device or on a head (25) provided there by a predetermined amount in the direction of the Filler element axis (VA) is displaceable, so that a further stroke of the lifting device (6) for controlling the control valve arrangement (23 ', 24, 32, 34, 35) is possible when the chamber is closed and the plate element (23) abuts against the bell. Device according to one of Claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the at least one movable locking element (64) can be moved between the non-locking position and the locking position by means of control cams (62, 63) by means of control elements, past which the container carrier (5e) can be moved is. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the at least one movable locking element is an expansion ring (15) with a plurality of finger-like or wing-like sections (15 '', 15 '''), which from a common side of the filler element axis (VA) enclosing annular portion (15 '), and that the finger or wing-like portions (15'',15''') in the non-locking position each enclose an angle of less than 90 ^° with the filling element axis (VA) and on their free ends have a first radial distance from this axis, and that the sections (15 '', 15 ''') are elastically deformable to achieve the locking position in the sense of an increase in the angle and an increase in the radial distance. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the at least one movable locking element is formed by a lever (64) which is pivotable at one end about an axis which is tangent to a circle surrounding the filler element axis (VA) that the longitudinal extent of the lever (64) in the non-locking position encloses an angle of less than 90 ^° with the filling element axis (VA) and the other, with respect to this filling element axis, the radially outer end of the lever (64) a distance from the filling element axis (VA) and that the lever (64) can be moved into the locking state by increasing the aforementioned angle and the aforementioned radial distance. Device according to one of Claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the at least one movable locking element, which is preferably designed as a locking segment (26) or locking bolt (39), is arranged radially in the container carrier (5b, 5c) or in an element (22, 37) of this container carrier or is guided displaceably approximately radially to the filling element axis (VA) between the locking position and the non-locking position. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the at least one movable locking element is formed by an elastically spreadable ring (46). Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the at least one movable locking element is formed by a locking disc (50) or by a section, preferably by a locking segment (56) of such a locking disc (50). Device according to one of claims 2 to 20, characterized in that the bell (3) has at its lower end an annular edge region (3a ', 3b', 3c ', 3d', 3e ', 3f', 3g '), which when the chamber is closed, the container carrier (5a - 5g) or the cover (80) or its plate element (8, 22, 37, 43, 49, 81) is enclosed and on which the at least one locking element (17, 36, 41, 48, 61) the bell (3) is provided or designed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the at least one locking element of the bell (3) is a groove (17, 36, 41, 48) or at least one projection (61). Device according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that a seal (18, 19, 20) is provided on the bell (3) or on the container carrier (5a - 5g) for a tight closure of the chamber, that the seal (18th , 19, 20) at least in a partial area has a V-shaped cross section with two sealing lips forming this cross section, and that the seal (18, 19, 20) with the recess formed between the lips when the chamber is closed, the part of the chamber leading to this chamber sealing area between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a - 5g) facing. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a seal (18, 19, 20, 75) is provided on the bell (3) or on the container carrier (5a - 5g), which is preferred when the chamber (3) is closed with a sealing gap (76) against a sealing surface (21, 73) on the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) or on the bell (3), which (sealing surface) is arranged essentially in a plane perpendicular to the filling element axis (VA) . Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the sealing surface (21, 73) provided on the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) is lower than the container standing surface (8 ', 22', 72) there. Apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the sealing surface (21, 73) at the container inlet and / or at the container outlet of a container filling machine is covered by sliding plates provided there. Device according to one of claims 9 to 27, characterized by an overload protection (14) between the container carrier (5a - 5g) and the lifting device (6). Device according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the container standing surface (72) on the container carrier (5g) is formed by an exchangeable plate (71), preferably provided with centering elements. Device according to one of claims 6 to 29, characterized in that the cover (80) has an emptying valve (87) which, at least for releasing, by means of an element protruding over an underside of the cover (80), preferably by means of a valve tappet (88) a valve opening (91) provided in the cover (80) can be opened. Device for filling containers, in particular bottles (2) with a liquid filling material, with at least one filling element (1) for the controlled delivery of the liquid filling material to the respective container, and with a bell (3) provided on each filling element (1), in which a chamber that completely accommodates the respective container during the filling process is formed and which has on its underside an opening which serves to introduce and remove the respective container, and with a container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) which forms a base for the containers and which in Direction of a filling element axis (VA) is arranged below the filling element (1), the chamber at the opening of the bell (3) being caused by relative movement between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5c) in the filling element axis (VA). can be closed and opened by the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g), characterized in that on the bell (3) or on the container lter carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) a seal (19, 20, 75) is provided which, when the chamber (3) is closed, against a sealing surface (21, 73) on the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) or on the bell ( 3) is applied, which (sealing surface) is arranged essentially in a plane perpendicular to the filling element axis (VA). Apparatus according to claim 31, characterized in that the seal (19, 20, 75) bears against the sealing surface (21, 73) with a sealing lip (76) when the bell (3) is closed. Apparatus according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that the sealing surface (21, 73) provided on the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) is lower than the container standing surface (8 ', 22', 72) there. Apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the sealing surface (21) at the container inlet and / or at the container outlet of a container filling machine is covered by sliding plates present there.

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