EP0455096B1 - Device for filling containers, especially bottles, with a liquid product - Google Patents

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 open at their 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 solve this problem, a device is designed according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

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 lid 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 that can be inserted manually 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 the 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 aforementioned 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. to achieve a long service life when the chamber or bell is closed 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 methods 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 in bekannter Ausgestaltung, 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 a known configuration, namely in position "a" with the bottle lowered Bottle plate 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 disc 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 which is open on its underside and 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 is in the usual way with its bottom 2 'on a bottle support 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, according to 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 or 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 region 3 'there, so that the respective bottle 2 is in a closed position Space is accommodated, which for the most varied of procedures when filling, for example for steam sterilization, for prestressing with a gas under pressure, 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 are effective at a steam or gas pressure in the interior of the closed bell 5 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 5 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 essentially differ 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 with 3a 'to 3g' are designated.

In the embodiment of 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 attached to this. In a projecting above the section 7 'upward, having a reduced outer and inner diameter, also sleeve-like section 7˝ is a base for the bottles 2 forming and arranged with its central axis in the vertical direction plate element 8 in the direction of this central axis or Filler element axis VA slidably guided, with the aid of a pin-like projection 9 projecting beyond the underside of the element 8, 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 made in one piece from a flat material made of spring steel, which on an inner ring or conical section 15 'has a plurality of outwardly projecting, finger or wing-like sections 15 Abschnitte and / or 15 ‴. 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 an outwardly increasing width. 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 such that it widens like a funnel in the region of the sections 15˝ and 15 ‴. With one of the sections 15˝ and / or 15 ‴ not having the inner edge of section 15 ', the locking ring 15 lies against an annular shoulder 7 ‴ of the head 7 formed at the upper end of section 7˝ and encloses a section 7˝˝ there, which has a reduced outer 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 an rest with their free ends against the underside 8˝ of the element 8 and in the area of these free ends a greater distance from the Axis VA have as at the transition area to section 15 '.

The bell 3 is formed on its underside so that when closing the bottle plate 5a or its plate element 8 can move into the opening of the bell 3, so that the plate element 8 is enclosed by the lower, thickened edge region 3a 'on its circumference and a stop is found on the bell 3, which then prevents the plate element 8 from moving further up or 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˝ and 15 ‴ with their longitudinal extent form an acute angle with the axis VA. 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 stationary, 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. Through a sealing ring 18, which is provided in an annular groove 19 on the inner surface of the edge region 3a 'and abuts against the circumferential surface when the plate element 8 is inserted into the bell 3, an absolutely tight seal of the closed bell is also achieved. 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 open side, however, 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 differ from the embodiment of FIG. 2 further 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 Collar 8 ‴, which bears against the bottom of the edge region 3a 'when the bell 3 is closed. 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 means 25 of the head 25 engaging in an annular groove 23˝ of the projection 23.

In the plate element 22 are provided at predetermined intervals around the axis VA locking segments 26 which are radially displaceable to the axis VA such that the locking segments 26 are arranged in a first position with a radially outer locking portion 26 'within the circumference of the plate element 22 and project in a second, locking position with their locking portion 26 'each over the peripheral surface of the plate member 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. Has the plate element 22 moved so far into the opening of the bell that this element is enclosed by the edge area 3b 'and abuts with a collar 22 ‴ against this edge area 3b', the head 25 moves under tensioning a compression spring 33 with the plate element 22 standing 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 moving the head 25 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 essential 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 in a non-locking position with its radially outer end or locking portion 39 'lie within the circumferential line of the plate element 37 and from this position a return spring 40 can be moved radially outwards against the effect, so that the ends 37' in 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 Abschnitt corresponding to section 7˝, in the region of the upper end of this section in such a way that when fully inserted into the bell 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 bear against the conical surface 42, and as a result the locking bolts 39 are 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 cone 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 which also concentrically surrounds the axis VA and lies essentially 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 upward, 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 afterwards on 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 one 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 FIG. 8 in the left half.

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 can be freely rotated about the axis VA on the underside of the plate element 49 is provided. The locking washer 50 has a central opening 51, with which this washer is freely rotatably supported on a circular cylindrical projection 52 projecting beyond the underside of the plate element 49, namely 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 beyond 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 in 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 region 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 region 3e'. On the inner surface of the edge region 3e 'the locking segments 56 associated projections 61 are provided, in an arrangement corresponding to the distribution of the locking segments 56 around the axis VA such that in 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. with the rotor of the filling machine not co-moving control elements which cooperate 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 disk 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 a further embodiment of 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‴. 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, of which, for example, three or four are at equal angular intervals the axis 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. By a common, the section 7 'in the region of its upper end enclosing compression spring 66, which is supported with its upper end against the lever 65 and with its lower end against a projecting beyond the outer surface of the section 7˝ collar 67, the lever 64th biased in their, in Fig. 11 each with the broken line 64 ', non-locking position in which the lever 64 or their, respectively perpendicular to the axis of the associated hinge pin 65 longitudinal extension with the axis VA an opening towards the top Include an 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 which is greater than the radial distance of the associated hinge pin 65 from this axis. Also in this embodiment, 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 is essentially in one plane with the underside 8 Teller of the plate element 8 is when this has come into contact with the collar 16 or another stop after insertion into the bell 3. When the head 7 is moved further upward 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. differs in that on the top 8 'of the plate element 8 by means of a screw 70, a plate 71 is attached, 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 corresponds essentially 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. Inside the bell 3 but at the edge area 3g 'in a provided there, concentrically enclosing the axis VA and radially inwardly open groove 74, an annular seal 75 is arranged, which in the region of its lower edge of FIG. 12 has a radially inwardly projecting annular sealing lip 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 seal 19 and 20, seal 75 is also subject to extremely little wear.

A channel 77 is provided in the edge region 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 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 from this channel, that a bottle 2 is flowed around from top to bottom by the steam.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a closing lid 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 grip 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 protrude 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 cover 80 each.

To ensure that the interior of the bell 3 is completely emptied of the cleaning liquid after the cleaning process has been completed and before the cover 80 has been removed, an emptying valve 87 is provided on the cover 80. This consists essentially 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 lifted 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 such 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, which are each provided with a cam roller 92 and cooperate with this to lower the bottle plates 5a-5g with a control cam 93, a segment 94 is provided at the beginning of the start-up side of the control curve 93. This segment can be moved from an active position, in which it is located in the movement space of the cam rollers 92 and thus forms the start of the run-up side of the cam 93, to an inactive position in which the segment 94 is arranged outside the movement path of the cam rollers 92 is. If the segment 94 is in this inactive position, when the bottle filling machine rotates, the cam rollers 92 move past the control cam 93 on their upper line of motion, i.e. the bottle plates 5a - 5g are not lowered and the bells 3 remain closed for the cleaning process.

Of course, the so-called "format parts", such as bottle stars, bottle guides, are used when cleaning using the bottle plates 5a-5g to close the bells 3 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.

Claims (34)

1. Device for the filling of containers, in particular of bottles (2) with a liquid filling stock, with at least one filling element (1) for the controlled delivery of the liquid filling stock to the respective container as well as with a bell, which is provided at each filling element (1) and in which a chamber is formed, which completely receives the respective container completely during a filling operation, and which at its underside has an opening which serves for the introduction and extraction of the respective container and is closable by a closure element, with a container carrier (5a to 5g) as well as with means, which are formed by a lifting device (6), for the production of a relative movement between the container carrier (5a to 5g) and the bell (3) in the direction of a filling element axis (VA), characterised by latching means (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82; 17, 36, 41, 48, 61), which are provided at the closure element as well as at the bell (3) and by which the bell (3) and the closure element are shape-lockingly latchable together at least for forces in the direction of the filling element axis (VA) when the chamber is closed by the closure element.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that the container carrier (5a to 5g) forming a base (8′, 22′, 72) for the containers is arranged underneath the filling element (1) in the direction of the filling element axis (VA), that the container carrier (5a to 5g) forms the closure element and that the chamber can be opened and closed at the opening of the bell (3) by the container carrier (5a to 5g) through relative movement between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a to 5g) in the filling element axis (VA).
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that in the case of the use of the device in a filling machine of rotary mode of construction, the means for the production of the relative movement between the container carrier (5a to 5g) and the bell (3) are switchable off in such a manner that the container carrier (5a to 5g) in spite of the machine revolving remains in its setting closing the opening of the bell (3).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised thereby, that the means for the production of the relative movement between the container carrier (5a to 5g) and the bell (3) display a guide element co-operating with a stationary control cam (93), preferably a cam roller (92) co-operating with the stationary control cam, at the lifting device (6) for the container carrier (5a to 5g) and that the control cam (93) is transferable from an operative state into an inoperable state.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised thereby, that the control cam (93) at the beginning of a ramp side displays a segment (94), which is movable between an operative setting and an inoperative setting.
6. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised by a lid (80), which serves as closure element and is manually insertable into the opening of the bell (3).
7. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised thereby, that the latching means are formed by at least one movable latching element (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82) at either the container carrier (5a to 5g) or at the lid (80) and/or at the bell (3), which is movable out of a non-latching setting into a latching setting, in which this latching element (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82) engages by at least one latching portion behind a latching surface formed by a preferably immovable latching element (17, 36, 41, 48, 61) at the bell (3) and/or at the container carrier (5a to 5g).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised thereby, that latching portions of the movable latching elements (15, 26, 39, 46, 56, 64, 82) are movable substantially radially to the filling element axis (VA) out of the non-latching setting into the latching setting.
9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised thereby, that the means for the relative movement between the container carrier (5a to 5g) and the bell (3) is a lifting equipment moving the container carrier (5a to 5g) in vertical direction and that the movable latching elements (15, 26, 39, 46, 64, 82) are provided at the container carrier (5a to 5g).
10. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised thereby, that the bell (3) is movable relative to the container carrier (5a to 5g) in vertical direction by a lifting device and that the movable latching elements are provided at the bell (3).
11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised thereby, that the movement and/or controlling of the movable latching elements (15, 39, 46, 64) is effected by the lifting movement of the lifting equipment (6).
12. Device according to claim 11, characterised thereby, that the container carrier (5a, 5c, 5d, 5f, 5g) consists of a plate element (8, 37, 43) closing the chamber of the bell (3) as well as of a head (7, 38, 44), which is fastened at the lifting device (6) or forms a part of this lifting device, and that the plate element (8, 37, 43) is guided at the head to be displaceable by a preset amount in the direction of the filling element axis (VA) so that, after the closing of the chamber of the bell (3) by the plate element (8, 37, 43) and when the plate element is lying against an abutment (16) of the bell (3), a further stroke of the head (7, 38, 44) causes a movement of the movable latching element (15, 39, 46, 64) out of the non-latching setting into the latching setting.
13. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 12, characterised thereby, that an actuating equipment (28), which is loadable by a pressure medium, preferably by compressed air, is provided for the actuation of the at least one movable latching element (26).
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised by a control valve arrangement (23′, 24, 32, 34, 35) for the control of the actuating equipment (28) in dependence on the movement of the lifting device (6) for the container carrier (5b) or the bell (3).
15. Device according to claim 14, characterised thereby, that the container carrier (5b) displays a platelike element (22), which closes the chamber of the bell (3) and is displaceable by a preset amount in the direction of the filling element axis (VA) at the device or at a head (25) provided there so that a further stroke of the lifting device (6) is possible for the control of the control valve arrangement (23′, 24, 32, 34, 35) when the chamber is closed and the plate element (23) is lying against the bell (3).
16. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 15, characterised thereby, that the at least one movable latching element (64) is movable between the non-latching setting and the latching setting by means of control cams (62, 63) through control elements, past which the container carrier (5e) is movable.
17. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 16, characterised thereby, that the at least one movable latching element is an expanding ring (15) with several fingerlike or bladelike portions (15˝, 15 ‴), which project from a common side of an annular portion (15′) surrounding the filling element axis (VA), that the fingerlike or bladelike portions (15˝, 15‴) in the non-latching setting are each at an angle of less than 90° to the filling element axis (VA) and at their free ends display a first spacing from this axis and that the portions (15˝, 15‴) are elastically deformable for the achievement of the latching setting in the sense of an increase in the angle as well as of an increase in the radial spacing.
18. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 16, characterised thereby, that the at least one movable latching element is formed by a lever (64), which is pivotable at one end about an axis which lies tangentially to a circle surrounding the filling element axis (VA), that the longitudinal extent of the lever (64) in the non-latching setting is at an angle of less than 90° to the filling element axis (VA), that the other end, which lies radially outwards with respect to this filling element axis, of the lever (64) displays a spacing from the filling element axis (VA) and that the lever (64) is movable into the latched state with an increase in the aforementioned angle as well as in the aforementioned radial spacing.
19. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 16, characterised thereby, that the at least one movable latching element, which is preferably constructed as latching segment (26) or latching pin (39), is guided in the container carrier (5b, 5c) or in an element (22, 37) of this container carrier to be displaceable radially or about radially of the filling element axis (VA) between the non-latching setting and the latching setting.
20. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 16, characterised thereby, that the at least one movable latching element is formed by a ring (46), which is splayable apart elastically.
21. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 16, characterised thereby, that the at least one movable latching element is formed by a latching disc (50) or by a portion, preferably a latching segment (56), of such a latching disc (50).
22. Device according to one of the claims 2 to 20, characterised thereby, that the bell (3) at its lower end displays an annular rim region (3a′, 3b′, 3c′, 3d′, 3e′, 3f′, 3g′), which when the chamber is closed surrounds the container carrier (5a to 5g) and either the lid (80) or its plate element (8, 22, 37, 43, 49, 81) and at which the at least one latching element (17, 36, 41, 48, 61) of the bell (3) is provided or formed.
23. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 22, characterised thereby, that the at least one latching element of the bell (3) is a groove (17, 36, 41, 48) or at least one projection (61).
24. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 23, characterised thereby, that a seal (18, 19, 20) for a tight closure of the chamber is provided at the bell (3) or at the container carrier (5a to 5g), that the seal (18, 19, 20) at least in a partial region displays a V-shaped cross-section with two sealing lips forming this cross-section and that the seal (18, 19, 20) - when the chamber is closed - faces that part of the region to be sealed off between the bell (3) and the container carrier (5a to 5g), which leads to this chamber, by the recess formed between the lips.
25. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterised thereby, that a seal (18, 19, 20, 75), which - when the chamber (3) is closed - lies preferably with a sealing gap (76) against a sealing surface (21, 73), which is at the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) or at the bell (3) and arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the filling element axis (VA), is provided at the bell (3) or at the container carrier (5a to 5g).
26. Device according to claim 25, characterised thereby, that the sealing surface (21, 73) provided at the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) lies lower than the container support surface (8′, 22′, 72) there.
27. Device according to claim 26, characterised thereby, that the sealing surface (21, 73) at the container inlet and/or the container outlet of a container filling machine is covered by metal slide plates present there.
28. Device according to one of the claims 9 to 27, characterised that by an overload protection (14) between the container carrier (5a to 5g) and the lifting equipment (6).
29. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 28, characterised thereby, that the container support surface (72) at the container carrier (5g) is formed by an exchangeable plate (71) preferably provided with centring elements.
30. Device according to one of the claims 6 to 29, characterised thereby, that the lid (80) displays an emptying valve (87), which can be opened for the freeing of at least one valve opening (91) provided in the lid (80) by means of an element, preferably by means of a valve plunger (88), projecting beyond an underside of the lid (80).
31. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 30, characterised thereby, that a seal (19, 20, 75), which - when the chamber (3) is closed - lies against a sealing surface (21, 73), which is at the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) or at the bell (3) and arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the filling element axis (VA), is provided at the bell (3) or at the container carrier (5a to 5g).
32. Device according to claim 31, characterised thereby, that the seal (19, 20, 75) lies by a sealing lip (76) against the sealing surface (21, 73) when the chamber (3) is closed.
33. Device according to claim 31 or 32, characterised thereby, that the sealing surface (21, 73) provided at the container carrier (5a, 5b, 5g) lies lower than the container support surface (8′, 22′, 72) there.
34. Device according to claim 33, characterised thereby, that the sealing surface (21) at the container inlet and/or the container outlet of a container filling machine is covered by metal slide plates present there.

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