EP0531379A1

EP0531379A1 - Process and device for filling and sealing containers.

Info

Publication number: EP0531379A1
Application number: EP91910046A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hermann Kronseder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-06
Filing date: 1991-05-28
Publication date: 1993-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-28
Also published as: EP0531379B1; JPH06502370A; ES2055605T3; BR9106526A; US5373683A; WO1991018824A3; CA2084783A1; DE59101584D1; WO1991018824A2

Abstract

Selon un procédé amélioré de remplissage et de fermeture de récipients, notamment de remplissage de bouteilles avec un liquide, des récipients remplis dans un dispositif de remplissage sont fermés avec un élément de fermeture, l'élément de fermeture et/ou le récipient étant déformé, pour créer un contact étanche entre le récipient et l'élément de fermeture. Le procédé se caractérise par le fait que l'élément de fermeture est fixé, pendant une première phase de fermeture, avec une pression d'étanchéité, afin de créer un contact étanche, puis est soumis, pendant une deuxième phase de fermeture, à la pression définitive d'étanchéité. L'invention concerne également un dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé.According to an improved method for filling and closing containers, in particular for filling bottles with a liquid, containers filled in a filling device are closed with a closing element, the closing element and / or the container being deformed, to create a tight contact between the container and the closure element. The method is characterized by the fact that the closing element is fixed, during a first closing phase, with a sealing pressure, in order to create a sealed contact, then is subjected, during a second closing phase, to the final sealing pressure. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the method.

Description

Method and device for filling and closing containers

description

The invention relates to a method for filling and closing containers, preferably bottles with a liquid, in which containers filled in a filling device are closed with a closure element with deformation of the closure element and / or the container and with the formation of a sealing press fit between the closure element and the container and an apparatus for carrying out the method, the apparatus accordingly comprising a filling device for filling the containers and a closure device for closing the containers with a closure element.

Such methods and corresponding devices are used primarily in the beverage industry for filling and closing bottles, a so-called crown cap being used as the closing element. In order to ensure the long-term shelf life of the bottled drinks, high demands must be placed on the tightness of the closure. Accordingly, a high sealing pressure is required between the crown cap and the bottle to be closed. This high sealing pressure is achieved in that the crown cork is pressed against the opening edge of the bottle with a large force, for example 80 kp, and the crown edge of the crown cork is deformed in such a way that the crown cork is fixed to the bottle in the pressed position becomes. Accordingly, the construction of the closure device must be designed so that correspondingly high contact pressures can be generated. This requirement results in restrictions with regard to the minimum achievable dimensions of the closure device and in particular the minimum achievable height.

In conventional devices for filling and closing containers, the closing process within the closing device can therefore only take place relatively far away from the filling device due to its large dimensions, with the result that the filled bottles remain open for a relatively long period of time and the bottles contained therein Liquid is exposed to the ambient air. This influence of the ambient air can significantly impair the long-term durability and the taste of a bottled beverage.

The aim is therefore to create closure devices which can be installed as close as possible to the filling device or which can be integrated into the filling device, so that the containers can be closed as soon as possible after filling. Closure devices of this type are described in the documents DE-AS 2042 328, DE-PS 23 13 268, DE-PS 22 53 985, US 3,759,012 and US 2,695,743. In the case of an integration of the closure device into the filling device, there is the disadvantage that a bottle breakage (due to high closure pressures) leads to considerable disruptions to the workflow.

From DE-OS 14 32 416 it is known to place flat caps and cover elements for covering the container openings immediately after filling only on the container openings to feed the containers with the loosely placed lids to a closure device. Especially at high working speeds there is a risk that the loosely placed lid can slide off the containers.

It is the object of the invention to propose a method of the type mentioned at the outset, in which compared to known methods there is a higher quality and in particular long-term durability of the filled product, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, with no increased design effort for reducing the size of the closure device or is necessary for their integration into the filling device.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the closing element is attached in a first closing phase to form a light sealing press fit and in a second closing phase the final sealing press pressure is generated. Accordingly, the closure device of the device according to the invention has a first device for attaching the closure element to the container to form a light sealing press fit and a second device for producing a sealing press fit with the final sealing press pressure.

By means of this solution according to the invention it can be achieved that the containers can be closed by the first device in such a way that the liquid contained therein is no longer exposed to the ambient atmosphere, while the containers are fed to the second device for final sealing. The second device can thus be installed far away from the filling device, and there are no restrictions with regard to its size. The first device intended only for stapling requires only a small size and can therefore advantageously be installed directly at the container outlet of the filling device. By keeping the ambient atmosphere between the filling and the final closure of the containers away from the liquid, there is no impairment of the liquid quality, such as the taste and the long-term durability of a filled beverage. When filling carbonated drinks, for example, the slight press fit generated in the first closing phase ensures that the carbon dioxide can escape from the bottles, whereby there is not the risk that the closing elements will be lifted from the container opening by the escaping carbon dioxide, as is the case only with the sealing caps in place and could fall down.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the closure element, preferably a crown cap, can be suitably preformed by a snap or clamp fit in order to produce the light sealing press fit in the first closing phase. However, it is also possible to plastically deform the closure elements immediately during the first closing phase to produce the light press fit.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling device is designed as a carousel filling device, and the first device for the first Sealing phase has a stapling device which engages in the base circle of the carousel filling device at the container outlet with holders for the closure elements. The stapling is carried out in such a way that the containers arranged in the carousel filling device on lifting tables under filling valves, which can be pressed against the filling valves by the lifting tables, are pressed from below with the aid of the lifting tables against the closure elements held in the holders of the stapling device, the containers Compared to the filling valves have been lowered so far that the stapling device can engage in the space between the container and the filling valve. The containers with the attached closure element are transferred at the outlet of the filling device to a transport device designed as a turntable, through which the containers can be fed on a transport circular path to the second device, which is arranged away from the filling device, for the final sealing of the containers.

Further advantageous design options of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

It is provided in one of these design options that the stitching head has at least three pin elements which are shaped at their end facing the crown cork edge to form a seat which aligns the crown cork with a seat cross-section tapering in accordance with the shape of the crown cork edge.

This configuration ensures that the Crown cap is held on the stitching head in a defined position, so that when the stitching head and the container to be closed are brought into the closing position, an exact alignment between the crown cap and the container is ensured. In the case of the stitching head known from the prior art, precise alignment of the crown caps on the stitching head is very difficult.

With the stitching head designed in this way, the crown cap does not have to lie directly on the magnetic holder. Instead of a spring-loaded stitching head that yields during the stitching process, the magnetic holder can instead be set back from the seating position of the crown cap.

When using three pins, it is ensured that the crown cap rests at three points against one pin each, thus ensuring a tilt-free, centered fit.

A deformation of the crown cork rim which is particularly suitable for stapling the crown cork is achieved by providing in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention that the pins are undercut in their part adjoining the cone end and in particular taper conically.

A guide track can be provided under the rotating stitching heads for feeding the crown caps to the stitching heads. Crown caps introduced from a storage container into this guideway can either be moved by a movable cap crown towards the lowering stitching head or the crown corks are fed to a stitching head which has a deformation pin with an extension which serves as a driver for the crown cork in the guideway. The cap pushes the crown cap onto an inclined ramp and raises it into the effective range of the magnetic holder.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the device comprises a pneumatic drive device for the stitching head. This solution ensures that the stitching process can be carried out at an extraordinarily high speed with sufficient contact pressure, so that only little time is required for attaching the crown caps.

It is advantageous if the drive device comprises at least one pressure cylinder with a piston guided therein. Circumferential stitching heads are preferably provided in the manner of a carousel, to which a pressure cylinder with a piston is assigned, and which can be moved to attach the crown corks into the bottle conveyor track of the filling device, preferably a carousel filling device, so that they cut or tangle the conveyor track. As a result of the high speed of the stitching process that can be achieved according to the invention, the stitching heads need only be aligned with the bottle mouths over a very short path section, and no reduction in the bottle conveying speed is required to carry out the stitching process.

Preferably, the printing cylinders associated with the rotating stitching heads are connected to one Pressurized gas source connectable passage channels for the control disk having pressurized gas connected to the cylinder interior, the passageways to the pressurized gas source via a slide shoe with a pressurized gas supply channel opening towards a seal sliding surface, the opening end of which can be covered by the control disk under abutment against the seal sliding surface and with opening ends facing away from the pressure cylinders Passage channels can be connected, can be connected.

The cross-sectional areas of each passage channel and the cross-sectional area of the compressed gas supply channel are advantageously dimensioned at least at their mutually connectable opening ends in accordance with a desired chronological sequence of the attachment process.

The cross section of the compressed gas supply channel is expediently smaller than the cross section of the passage channel, at least at the mouth opening facing the control disk. Given given dimensions of the sliding block, the sealing of the compressed gas supply channel against the control disk, if no connection to a through channel is established, is facilitated in that the sealing sliding surface is large against the opening of the compressed gas supply channel in the sliding block.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sliding block is connected to a piston guided in a pressure cylinder, the end of the compressed gas supply channel facing away from the control disk ending in the cylinder interior. For optimal control of the Contact pressure of the sealing surface against the control disk can also be applied to the piston with an auxiliary spring.

The invention will now be explained and described in more detail using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings relating to these exemplary embodiments. Show it:

1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention (schematically),

2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for attaching crown caps in a first closing phase (in sections),

3 shows a device for feeding corks to the stitching device according to FIG. 2,

4 shows a device for finally closing a bottle according to the invention with a crown cap attached,

5 a crown cap attached to a bottle according to the invention in a device for finally closing the bottle,

6 shows a crown cap on a bottle after the bottle has been finally closed,

Fig. 7 shows a crown cap, as previously for

Capping bottles was used in one operation 8 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a preformed crown cap, as can be used in a device according to the invention for closing bottles in two phases,

9 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a crown cork which can be used in a device according to the invention,

10 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a crown cork which can be used in a device according to the invention,

11 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a crown cork which can be used in a device according to the invention,

12 shows a device for reshaping a conventional crown cork into a crown cork which can be used in the method according to the invention (schematically),

13 shows a second device for shaping a conventional crown cork into a crown cork which can be used in the method according to the invention,

Fig. 14 shows another embodiment for a

Device for reshaping a conventional crown cap into a crown cap usable in the method according to the invention (schematic), 15 shows a stitching device for the invention

Attaching a crown cap to a bottle with plastic deformation of the crown cap (schematic),

Fig. 16 shows another embodiment for a

Device for attaching a crown cork to a bottle according to the invention with plastic deformation of the crown cork in a position before the attachment (schematic), and

Fig. 17 shows the device of Fig. 16 in a position during tacking.

18 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for filling and closing containers schematically in a detail,

19 shows an embodiment of a stitching head according to the invention in a side view,

20 shows the embodiment of FIG. 19 in a rear view,

21 shows the embodiment according to FIGS. 19 and

20 in a side view while attaching a crown cap,

22 shows an exemplary embodiment of a deformation pin according to the invention,

Fig. 23 shows an embodiment for a deformation pin according to the invention with an extension serving as a driver,

Fig. 24 shows an embodiment for a

Stapling device for attaching crown corks with individually movable stapling heads rotating in the manner of a carousel, and

25 shows a detail from a top view of the stapling device according to FIG. 24.

26 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for filling and closing containers schematically in a detail,

27 shows an exemplary embodiment of a stitching head in a side view,

28 shows the embodiment of FIG. 27 in a rear view,

29 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 27 and

28 is a side view while a crown cap is being attached,

30 shows an exemplary embodiment of a deformation pin,

31 shows an exemplary embodiment of a stapling device according to the invention, as can be used in a device according to the invention for filling and closing containers according to FIG. 26, and FIG. 32 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sliding shoe that can be used in the stapling device according to the invention from FIG. 1 for supplying compressed air.

In FIG. 1, reference number 1 denotes a filling device, which in the present exemplary embodiment is designed as a carousel filling device. In the filling device 11 containers, in the present exemplary embodiment bottles 2, are arranged on lifting tables distributed over a circular sound catch, which can be pressed with their filling openings through the lifting tables against filling valves (not shown in FIG. 1) arranged above the lifting tables. The carousel filling device 1 is fed with bottles via an infeed system, the infeed system having an infeed belt 3 and a transport turntable 4, the transport turntable 4 taking over the bottles 2 from the infeed belt 2 and forwarding them to the filling device 1. 5 designates a transport turntable which takes over the filled bottles at the outlet of the filling device and forwards them to a further transport turntable 6. At the interface marked AB, a device (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided for attaching crown caps to the bottles filled during the circulation in the carousel filling device. At the location of the transport turntable 6 designated with CD, a device (not shown in FIG. 1) for finally closing the bottles with further deformation of the attached crown corks is arranged peripherally. The finally closed Bottles finally enter an outlet system which includes a transport turntable 7 for taking over the closed bottles from the transport turntable 6 and for forwarding them to an outlet belt 8. 9 designates a feed device for crown corks, which feeds the crown corks from a storage container 10 via a guide 12 and a deformation device 111, as will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 13, to the stapling device not shown in FIG. 1. The stapling device comprises a turntable which is coaxial with the transport turntable 5 and on which holders are provided on a circular circumference for the crown corks which are fed in via the feed device.

2, this turntable of the stapling device is shown in sections and is designated by reference number 13. As can further be seen from FIG. 2, the turntable 5 comprises an upper guide part 14 and a lower guide part 15, the guide parts having guide niches on their periphery into which the bottles to be transported can be inserted. With 14a and 15a are each designated guide bows through which the bottles are held in the guide niches. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the turntable 13, the upper guide part 14 and the lower guide part 16 engage in the main circle of the filling device, where the lifting tables 11 carrying the bottles 2 are arranged. 16 in FIG. 2 denotes a fill valve connected to a filler tank 18, arranged above each lifting table 11 and rotating with it, which has a centering bell 17 at its lower end. During the filling process, the bottles 2 are pressed against the centering bell by the lifting table 11. 2 shows the state at the bottle outlet of the filling device, in which the bottles are completely filled and lowered relative to the centering bell 17 by lowering the lifting table 11. The turntable 13 engages in the space between the centering bell 17 and the upper end of the bottle 2, on which, in the present exemplary embodiment by magnetic action, crown caps are held at predetermined locations. At a point in time at which the crown cap brought in through the turntable 13 is aligned with the opening of the bottle 2, the lifting table 11 is moved upwards and the bottle is pressed into the crown cap for tacking, in the present exemplary embodiment with a lifting force of approximately 20 kp. In order to ensure such attachment, the cork is suitably preformed. Suitable preforms will be explained in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 14. Since the guideway of the crown cap and the guideway of the lifting tables 11 do not match, there are signs of wear at the stitching point. By means of additional guide devices, not shown in FIG. 2, the guideways can be brought into line during the stapling process while avoiding such wear, for example by ensuring that the path of the bottle is adapted to the path of the crown cap during the stapling process by means of a suitable guide rail .

It is particularly advantageous if the diameter of the turntable 13 is chosen to be smaller than that of the turntable 5 or the guide parts 14 and 15, and its axis of rotation with respect to that of the guide parts 14, 15 is arranged eccentrically in such a way that the partial circles of the filling carousel, the guide parts 14 and 15 and the turntable 13 overlap at the point labeled A - B in FIG. 1. As a result, a bottle can be held axially clamped between the centering bell 14 and the lifting table 11 until it reaches the guide parts 14, 15 safely before the centering bell 17 is raised or the lifting table is lowered, so that the turntable 13 engages between the bottle head and the filling valve to transfer the cork can. Furthermore, it is favorable to drive the turntable 13 with a rack wheel connected to it above, which meshes with the guide rods of the centering bells 14 on the filling carousel, as a result of which an extremely precise synchronous operation is achieved at the moment the cork is attached to the bottle, which benefits centering accuracy .

FIG. 3 shows how the crown caps are fed to the turntable 13 by the feed device 9 comprising a deformation device 111. Crown corks arriving at the outlet of the deforming device 111 are introduced into a recess 19 in the turntable by the crown corks being attracted by magnetic forces acting on the mounting point in the recess 19. In Fig. 3 a bottle 2 is shown on a sliding plate 20 through the turntable 5, the crown cap 21 is already attached. In the same direction of rotation with which the turntable 5 comprising the upper guide part 14 and the lower guide part 15 transports the bottle 2, the turntable 13 conveys the crown cap to the stitching point. The bottle 2 with the attached crown cap 21 is conveyed through the turntable 5 until it is taken over by the turntable 6, in which the device for finally closing the bottle is arranged.

The device used to finally close the bottles is shown in FIG. 4. In Fig. 4, the reference numeral 22 denotes a closure member for the final closure of the bottles with the attached crown cap, the closure member being formed by a sleeve 22a, in which a hold-down device 23 which is spring-loaded against the closure member is arranged. The sleeve of the closing member 22 has a closing cone 24 at its lower end. The closing member is guided in a rotating bearing plate 26 and has a wheel or a cam 28 which engages in a recess in a fixed stroke curve 27.

By guiding in the rotating holder 26, the closing member 22 can follow the path of the bottle 2 moved by the transport turntable 6. For closing, the closing member 22 is moved downward by the wheel 28 engaging in the stroke curve 27 lowering the closing member 22 in accordance with the course of the curve. In the present exemplary embodiment, a force of approximately 80 kp is exerted on the crown cork by the hold-down device 23, this force being effective before and during the pressing down of the closing cone 24 for flanging the crown edge of the crown cork through the sleeve 22a.

5 shows the state immediately before the bottle 2 is finally closed. The one Crown cap 21 attached to bottle 2 with a sealing insert 29 is connected to bottle 2 by a clamp seat which is effective in the region 30 of the crown edge of the crown cap. The holding-down device generates, by means of a contact pressure of, in the present exemplary embodiment, 80 kp, the sealing press pressure required for the final closure and the crown cork is flanged over by the sleeve 22 of the closing member, as shown in FIG. 6. Due to the flanging, the contact pressure generated by the hold-down device is essentially retained and the bottle is sealed gas-tight.

Fig. 7 shows a crown cap, as is conventionally used for closing bottles. The crown edge of the crown cork has an inclination of about 3% in the middle of the width and the inside diameter of the crown cork in the middle of the crown edge exceeds the outside diameter of the bottle to be closed by about 0.5 mm. A preformed crown closure suitable for use in the inventive method is shown in FIG. 8. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the crown edge is not inclined in the middle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the base part of the crown cap and the inside diameter of the crown cap approximately in the middle of the crown edge is about 0.1 mm smaller than the outside diameter of the capping bottle. Such a crown cork can be attached to the bottle in the manner described with reference to FIG. 2 in a first closing phase by forming a snap or clamp fit between the crown cork and the bottle to be closed.

Another preform suitable for tacking Crown cap is shown in FIG. 9. Depressions 31 are pressed into the crown edge of the crown cork, by means of which bulges projecting inwards are formed. Through these inward protruding bulges, the cork can be attached to a bottle to form a snap or clamp fit.

FIG. 10 shows another crown cap that can be attached in a first closing phase. Crown cap 32 has a sealing insert 34 with a central shoulder 33. A snap or clamp fit can be produced between the central shoulder 33 and the inner edge of the opening of a bottle 35, as a result of which the crown cap 32 can be attached to the bottle 35 in a first closing phase.

A further possibility for the suitable preforming of a conventional crown cap is shown in FIG. 11. The crown cork is pressed in at opposite points of the crown rim. An impression could also be made at further, preferably opposite, points.

In Fig. 12 a device is shown schematically, with which such bends can be produced, a crown cap 37 is guided for deformation between opposing, in the opposite direction rotating deformation rollers 135 and 36, the deformation rollers having deformation cams 38 to 42, through which the Crown edge of the crown cork can be pressed in in the manner explained with reference to FIG. 11, a preformed crown cork with three bends being produced in the present case. FIG. 13 shows a device which is used to transform a conventional crown cap into a crown cap according to FIG. 11. Such a shaping device is contained in the feed device shown in FIG. 1, where it is designated by reference number 111. The crown corks supplied via the guide 12 are passed between two deformation wheels 43 by a turntable 44 which has peripheral driver niches which are laterally closed off by a guide bend 45 in the transport area of the driver disc, the crown corks being laterally bent. With 46 a hold-down rail is designated, which enables an exact guidance of the crown cork on a crown cork support 47 during the deformation. In FIG. 13, 48 denotes a magnet holder arranged on the turntable 5, to which the deformed crown caps are transferred.

A possible device by means of which crown caps can be produced similar to the example shown in FIG. 8 is shown in FIG. 14. The inner diameter of the crown corks is narrowed evenly by pressing the crown corks through a sleeve 49, which has a correspondingly suitable inner diameter.

15 shows a tacking method which is similar to the described method for finally closing the bottles. A bottle 53 with a conventional crown cap 52 placed thereon is pressed against a hold-down device 50 which is arranged in a deformation sleeve 51. The difference to The resulting from the Fig. 4 sealing method for the final closure of the bottles is that the inner diameter of the deformation sleeve 51 is selected so that only a slight press fit is generated between the bottle 53 and the crown cap 52.

16 and 17 it can be seen that the attachment can also take place in that a bottle 57 can be pressed against a conventional crown cork held by a magnetic holder 54, lateral deformation pins 56 flanging the crown edge of the crown cork 58 in places and thereby a press fit of the cork on the bottle. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the magnetic holder 54 is connected via a spring 55 to a turntable 53 which corresponds to the turntable 13 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The preforming device included in the device in the present exemplary embodiment could also be provided separately from the device.

Embodiments which have stitching heads with at least 3 pins are described below with reference to FIGS. 18 to 25.

The reference numeral 201 generally designates a carousel filling device in FIG. 18, of which an edge section is shown in FIG. 18. In the carousel filling device, lifting tables 205 are arranged on the circular conveyor track designated by 204, on which bottles 202 to be filled are placed. The bottles within the filling device 201 are countered by the tables 205 which can be raised Fill valves, not shown in FIG. 18, can be pressed. 203 is generally a stapling device having a turntable 206. On the turntable 206, stitching heads are arranged on a circumference, of which magnetic plates 207 inserted into the turntable 206 are visible in FIG. 18. The turntable 206 with the stitching heads engages in the conveyor track 204 of the filling device such that the tracks of the bottles conveyed on the lifting tables 205 of the carousel filling device 201 and the tracks of the stitching heads rotated with the turntable 206 are located in an area in which crown caps are attached can be done, overlap. A guide path is designated by 208, through which crown caps can be guided laterally under the turntable 206 and then under the turntable, along the circumferential path of the stitching heads. The supply of crown caps to the stitching heads via this guideway 208 will be explained in more detail later with reference to FIG. 19.

With 209 another turntable is designated, which has recessed pockets 209a for the bottles 202 at the edge of the disk. 210 denotes a bottle side guide which, like the turntable 209 with its pockets 209a, engages in the conveyor circuit 204 of the carousel filling device and is stationary with respect to the carousel filling device, the turntable 209 and also the turntable 206. 211 is a further bottle side guide which engages in the circulation path of the bottles in the turntable 209 and feeds the bottles to a device for final closure, not shown in FIG. 18. Drive devices for the turntable 206 and the turntable 209 and Synchronization devices for synchronizing the rotation of the turntable 206 and the turntable 209 with the rotation of the carousel filling device are also not shown in FIG. 18.

FIGS. 19 to 21 show a stitching head as can be used in the device shown in FIG. 18. A mounting magnet 207 in the form of a stepped round disk is let into the turntable 206 for each stitching head. In the present exemplary embodiment, each arranged at the same distance from the central axis of the disk and corresponding to the corners of an equilateral triangle, deforming pins 213 to 215 projecting vertically from the turntable are provided, as will be described in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 22 and 206. Of the three deformation pins, the pin 215 has an extension 216 which projects beyond the length of the pins 213 and 214. A ramp is designated by 218, which is formed on the guide track 208 shown in FIG. 18. The ramp has two spaced rail links between which the extension 216 of the deformation pin 215 is moved. 19 to 21 denotes a crown cap which is carried along by the extension in the guideway and is raised in the direction of the magnet holder by the ramp which rises in the conveying direction. The pins 213 to 215 have conical surfaces tapering in the direction of the crown cap, which form a seat for the crown cap.

A pen as used for pins 213 and 214 of the stitching head shown in Figs. 19 and 20 is shown in Fig. 22. The pin has a (in Fig. 19 and 220, each not shown) shaft 219, via which the pin is anchored in the turntable 206. The deformation pin 213 has a conical surface 220, the inclination of which is preferably approximately 30 ° to the pin axis and is approximately matched to the shape or inclination of a crown cap rim to be attached. The pin part 221 adjoining the cone 220 has a slight conical taper in the direction of the shaft 219. The end edges 222 and 223 of the cone 220 are rounded.

The deforming pin 215 shown in FIG. 23 corresponds to the pin 213 shown in FIG. 22 with respect to the parts 219a, 220a, 221a and 222a designated by the same reference numbers. In contrast to the pin 213, the pin 215 has an extension 216 which tapers conically towards the end of the pin in the present exemplary embodiment. A transition edge 224 between the cone 220a and the extension 216 is rounded.

The filled bottles conveyed on the circular conveyor line 204 of the carousel filling device are pressed against the stitching heads of the turntable 203 by means of the lifting tables 205 provided in the carousel filling device in order to attach the crown caps. The movement of the turntable 206 with the stitching heads takes place in synchronism with the rotation of the carousel filling device, so that the stitching heads are brought into approximately alignment with the bottle mouths over a small angle of rotation of the turntable 206 or the carousel filling device, so that the attachment can be carried out. Additional guiding devices could ensure that the webs of the bottles and the stitching heads over one somewhat larger angles of rotation are adapted to each other. When the bottles are pressed against the stitching heads by the lifting tables for attaching the crown corks, the edge of the crown cork is bent in places at the points where the shaping pins are in contact, as shown in FIG. 21, the bending resistance of the crown cork edge causing the Bottom of the crown cap is pressed with a pressing force against the bottle mouth, which is sufficient for a slight closure of the bottles. For a suitable deformation of the crown corks for a fastener, it has proven to be advantageous that the pin parts adjoining the crown cork cone are undercut, in the exemplary embodiments shown are tapered. As a result, the ejection of the bottles from the stitching heads when lowering the lifting tables 205, caused by the resilience of the deformed crown cap rim, is not disturbed. The ejection of the bottles from the stitching heads could alternatively also be supported in that a limitation for the advancement of the pins when attaching is provided in such a way that the crown cork edge also in the advancing end position of the pin elements against a seat of the pin elements forming the seat with the tapering seat cross section comes to the plant. The resilience of the deformed crown cap thus acts on an inclined plane and encourages the attached crown cap to slide out of the stitching heads automatically.

In the embodiment shown, the side of the magnet holder facing the crown cap is flush with the turntable. The magnetic disk could also be set back or protrude so far that the lifting height required for attaching the crown cap is guaranteed. It would also be conceivable that the magnetic disk protrudes up to the edge 222 or 222a of the cone 220 or 220a and that the magnetic disk can be moved upwards against spring force and / or its weight.

Immediately after the crown caps have been attached, when the bottles are lowered again to the normal transport level, the bottle side guide 210 engaging in the conveying path 204 ensures that the bottles with the attached crown caps leave the carousel filling device and from the turntable 209, guided through the side guide 210 , to be transported further. The movement of the turntable 209 is synchronized with the rotation of the carousel filling device such that a bottle can be transferred from a lifting table 205 of the carousel filling device to a pocket 209a of the turntable 209. The bottles with the attached cork are transported further on the turntable 209, standing on sliding surfaces, not shown, until they are gripped by the side guide 211, and are fed to the closing device for the final closing of the bottles with the generation of the final sealing pressure of the crown cork.

When the stapling heads are loaded with crown corks via the guide track 208, crown corks are delivered in the radial direction, one crown cork being gripped by the extension 216 of the deformation pin 215 and pushed onto the ramp shown in FIG. 19. The crown cap 217 is lifted and gets into the effective range of the magnet holder 207, which it in the through the conical surfaces 220 and 220a Pins 213 to 215 formed seat pulls. By the conical surfaces in their inclination approximately the inclination of the crown cork edge and the deformation pins are also adapted with their curves to the shape of the crown cork edge, a precise alignment and support is achieved in the seat formed by three deformation pins in the present embodiment. This precise alignment is necessary in order to achieve an exact alignment of the crown cap and bottle mouth when the bottle and the stitching head are arranged one above the other for attaching the crown cap. The supply of the crown corks via the ramp and the appropriate metering of the magnetic force of the magnetic disk 207 ensures that the magnetic force only becomes effective when the precise alignment of the crown cork in the seat formed by the conical surfaces of the deformation pins is largely complete.

An alternative stapling device is shown in FIG. 24, which has stapling heads 225 which run around in the manner of a carousel and which can be moved individually vertically to attach crown caps. 24 in FIG. 24 denotes a valve device which belongs to a carousel filling device and rotates in synchronism with the lifting tables 205 for a bottle 202 in the carousel filling device. 227 denotes a pinwheel wheel connected to the stapling device for synchronizing the rotary movement of the stapling device with the rotation of the carousel filling device, which meshes with cylindrical regions of the valve devices 227. The stitching heads 225 are connected via a slide device 31 to a central one Rotated part 230 connected, wherein the slide device 31 on the central rotating part is guided vertically and non-rotatably and is displaceable upwards against the force of a spring 229. The guided slides are seated at their lower ends on a fixed cam 228, by means of which a vertical movement of the slides and thus the stitching heads can be controlled. 18 in FIG. 18 denotes a lateral feed path for crown caps, which opens into a further guide path described in more detail in FIG. 25.

The guide path designated 233 is arranged under the stitching heads 225 and adapted to the path curve of the stitching heads.

The stapler shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 could be used in place of the turntable shown in FIG. 18. In this case, the crown corks are not attached by a lifting movement of the lifting tables 205 but by a vertical movement of the stitching heads 225 controlled by the cam disc 228. Via the pinion gear 227 it is ensured that there is a stitching position in which the bottles 202 and the Stapling heads 225 are aligned with one another for attaching the crown caps.

In the stapling device shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the stapling heads are not fed via a ramp provided in the guideway 233 and an elongated deformation pin, but rather the stapling heads are each brought to the individual crown caps entering the guideway 233 from the guideway 232 with the aid the cam 228 lowered. When lowering, the crown corks are aligned in the seat formed by the conical surfaces of the deformation pins and the magnetic holders 207a ensure that the crown corks remain in the seat when the stitching heads lift off the guideway again. In the exemplary embodiment for a stitching head according to FIGS. 24 and 25, however, cork feeding could also take place via ramps, as was described with reference to FIG. 21.

In the following figures

Described embodiments that work with pneumatic drives for the stitching head. The basic structure corresponds to that already described with reference to FIG. 18.

FIG. 26 corresponds to FIG. 18, but 334 in FIG. 26 denotes additional compressed gas passage channels which are provided in the control disk 306 and are each assigned to one of the stitching heads connected to the control disk 306. The openings of the pressurized gas passage channels can be connected to a pressurized gas source (not shown in FIG. 26) by rotating the control disk 306 via a stationary slide shoe 335, which will be explained in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32.

FIGS. 27-28 show a stitching head as can be used in the device shown in FIG. 26. A mounting magnet 307 in the form of a stepped round disk is embedded in a stitching head carrier plate 336. In the present embodiment, each at the same distance from the central axis of the disc and corresponding to the corners of an equilateral triangle arranged vertically projecting deformation pins 313-315 are provided by the stitching head carrier plate, as are described in more detail with reference to FIG. 30. 27-28 in FIGS. 27-28 designates a crown cork which can be fed to the stitching head via the guide track 308 shown in FIG. 26, the stitching heads being lowered, for example, so far onto the feed path that the crown corks fall into the effective range of the holding magnet 307 reach. The pins 313-315 have conical ends tapering in the direction of the crown cap, which form a seat for the crown cap.

A pin as used for pins 313-315 of the stitching head shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 is shown in detail in FIG. 5. The pin has a shaft 310 (not shown in FIGS. 27-28 in each case) via which the pin can be anchored in the stitching head carrier plate 336. The deformation pin has a conical surface 320, the inclination of which is preferably approximately 30 ° to the pin axis and is approximately matched to the shape or inclination of a crown cap rim to be attached. The pin part 321 adjoining the cone 320 has a slight conical taper in the direction of the shaft 19. The end edges 322 and 323 of the cone 320 are rounded.

In Fig. 31, reference numeral 306a designates a control disk with through channels 334a. On the underside of the control disk 306a, a plurality of pressure cylinders 337 corresponding to the number of the passage channels 334a are arranged on a circumference, the passage channels 334a being open to the interior of the compressed air cylinder. In the Compressed air cylinders 337 each have a piston 338 which is connected to a stitching head support plate 336a. Shaping pins forming the stapling head and connected to the carrier plate 336a are denoted by 313a - 315a and a magnetic plate embedded in the carrier plate is denoted by 307a. The piston rod of the piston 338 is guided in a guide bush 339 which is provided in the cylinder 337 and is fastened via a ring 347. The piston 338 is movable against a helical spring 340, one end of which rests against the edge of the piston 338 which projects beyond the piston rod and the other end of which rests against the edge of the guide bush 339 facing the piston. The cylinders 337 are each provided as recesses in blocks 341 which are pressure-tightly connected to the control disk 306a. In a further recess 342 in the blocks 341, a guide pin 343 connected to the stitching head carrier plate is guided via a guide bush 344.

346 denotes a central carrier part, on which the control disk with the stitching heads connected to it is rotatably mounted via bearings 348 and 349.

The reference numeral 350 in FIG. 31 denotes a filling bell of a valve device which rotates in the carousel filling device synchronously with bottles 302a which are placed on lifting tables (not shown in FIG. 31) for lifting the bottles against the filling bell 350.

In FIG. 32, a feed device (not shown in FIG. 31), which is horizontally stationary on the control disk 306a, for the feed of Compressed air shown. The device has a cylinder 359 which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the control disk 306a and in which a piston 357 with a sealing ring 360 is guided. The piston 357 is connected to a piston rod which is designed as a sliding shoe 356 resting on the control disk 306a. The piston 357 and the sliding shoe 356 connected to it are provided with a bore 362 which opens at one end to the interior of the cylinder 359 and at the other end to the seal sliding surface with which the sliding shoe 356 bears against the control disk 306a. 355 denotes a supply line via which the interior of the cylinder 359 can be connected to a compressed air source, not shown in FIG. 32. The wall of the cylinder 359 is formed on the cylinder disc facing the control disc 306 a in such a way that guiding of the sliding block 356 is ensured. A coil spring 354 is arranged in the cylinder interior, one end resting against the piston 357 and the other end against the end wall of the cylinder 359.

32 shows a state in which the control disk 306 a is arranged in relation to the feed device in such a way that the passage opening 334 a is connected to the bore 362. The control disk 306a with the stitching heads moves synchronously with the carousel filling device in such a way that the stitching heads for attaching the crown corks are each aligned over delivered, just filled bottles, the stitching heads engaging in the space between the filling bell 350 and the bottle 302a lowered relative to the filling bell . The compressed air supply device is on the control disc 306a arranged so that a passage 334 a with the bore 362 connects when the stitching head with the crown cap 317 a previously supplied to it has reached a bottle to which the crown cap is to be attached. Since compressed air can enter cylinder 337 through the respective passage 334a, the piston and the stitching head connected to it are moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle and the crown cap is attached to bottle 302a by this movement. Due to the additional guidance of the stitching head support plate 336a via the pin 343, torques are absorbed which arise because the stitching head is offset in a horizontal direction with respect to the piston 338. Upon further rotation of the control disk 6a, the connection between the bore 362 and the passage 334a is interrupted again and the piston 338 is pressed upward by the coil spring 340, so that the stitching head is lifted off the bottles with the crown cap which has meanwhile been attached. After the attachment, the bottles 302a are transferred to the turntable 309 shown in FIG. 26 and fed via this to the device for finally closing the bottles. In order to receive the crown corks fed on the guideway 308, the stitching heads are lowered in a controlled manner by a cam path, not shown in FIG. 31, against the force of the spring 340 towards the guideway 308, so that the crown corks reach the area of action of the magnetic disk 307a and thus are pulled into the seat formed by the guide pins. On the right side of FIG. 31, a stitching head is shown in such a lowered position. The crowner cork feeder to the stitching heads could also be done via a ramp on the guideway 308, as previously described.

The cross sections of the bore 362 and the passage channels 334 are designed so that the timing of the piston movement and the pressure release in the available sealing time, i.e. the time during which the stapling heads and bottles rotating on different paths are suitably precisely aligned with each other to ensure that the crown caps are securely attached. The pistons 338 are pressurized as long as the bore 362 is connected to the respective passage 334a.

The shape and dimensions of the cross-sectional areas of the passage channels 334a and the bore 362 can be suitably dimensioned, at least at their mutually facing end openings, in such a way that a certain desired temporal behavior of the feed movement and the pressure development of the stitching heads is achieved.

The auxiliary spring 354 ensures that there is also sufficient contact pressure between the sliding shoe and the control disk if there is a pressure drop in the interior of the cylinder when the opening ends of the bore 362 and a respective passage 334a overlap.

Claims

Method and device for filling and closing containers

1. A method for filling and closing containers, preferably bottles, with a liquid, in which filled in a filling device container (2) with a closure element (21) deforming the closure element and / or the container and forming a sealing press fit between the Closure element and the container are closed, characterized in that the closure element (21) is attached in a first closing phase to form a light sealing press fit and in a second closing phase a sealing press fit with the final sealing press pressure is generated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment takes place immediately after the filling of the container (2).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light sealing press fit under load of the closure element (21) is generated with a contact pressure of about 20 kp.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing press fit with the final sealing press pressure under load of the closure element (21) with a contact pressure of approx. 80 kp is generated.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure element (21) is preformed to form a snap fit or press fit ensuring a light sealing press fit.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure element (21) is plastically deformed during the first closing phase to form the light sealing press fit.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a crown cap (21) is used as the closure element.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown cork is crimped to the extent that the inner diameter of the crown cork is narrowed so that a snap or clamp fit on a container to be sealed is ensured.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown cork is bent in places to form a snap or clamp fit.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that depressions are pressed into the crown edge of the crown cap to form inwardly projecting bumps for a snap or clamp fit.

11. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the crown cap is flanged during the first closing phase to form a light sealing press fit.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown cork is flanged in places during the first closing phase.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown cork is flanged at two diametrically opposite points.

14. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the closure element for forming a snap or clamp fit on the inner edge of the opening of a container to be closed is provided with a central approach.

15. Device for filling and closing containers (2), preferably bottles containing a liquid, with a filling device (1) for filling the container, a closure device for closing the container with a closure element (21) while deforming the closure element or / and Container and forming a sealing press fit between the closure element and the container, characterized in that the closure device comprises a first means for adhering the closure element to the container to form a light sealing press fit and a second device for producing a sealing press fit with the actual sealing pressure.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the first device is provided directly at the container outlet of the filling device (1).

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that between the container outlet of the filling device (1) and the second device, a transport device (6) is provided for the transport of the container from the filling device to the second device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the transport device comprises a transport hub (6) for transporting the container on a circular transport path.

19. Device according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the filling device is a carousel filling device (1).

20. Device according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the first device comprises a stapling device engaging in the filling device at the outlet of the filling device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the stitching device comprises a turntable (13) with brackets (48) arranged thereon for closure elements (21).

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the holders comprise a magnetic holder (48).

23. Device according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the first device comprises a feed device (9) for feeding closure elements to the stapling device, which includes a device (11) for deforming the closure elements.

24. Device according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the container in the filling device on relatively against a filling valve

(16) movable storage tables are arranged.

25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that the closure elements can be attached to the container by pressing the container with the aid of the storage table against the closure element held in a holder on the turntable (13).

26. Device according to one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that the holders on the turntable have means for deforming the closure elements.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the deformation means comprise projecting pins (56) for flanging the crown edge of a crown closure in places.

28. The device according to at least one of claims 15-27, characterized in that the deformation devices have a stitching head with at least three pin elements (213-215, which on their End facing the crown cork edge to form a seat that aligns the crown cork with a seat cross section that tapers substantially according to the shape of the crown cork edge.

29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that the pin elements for abutment against the crown cork substantially have bevels corresponding to the inclination of the crown cork edge.

30. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the pin elements have a conical surface which is essentially adapted to the inclination of the crown cap edge.

31. Device according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that three pin elements (213-215) are provided.

32. Device according to one of claims 31, characterized in that the pin elements (213-215) are arranged approximately according to an equilateral triangle.

33. Device according to at least one of claims 28 to 32, characterized in that the bevels against the pin axis have an inclination of approximately 30 °.

34. Device according to one of claims 28 to 33, characterized in that a limitation is provided for the advancement of the pin elements when attaching such that the crown cap edge in the End position of the pin elements against a seat of the pin elements forming the seat with the tapering seat cross-section comes to rest.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, characterized in that the feed limitation is formed by a stop for the crown cap bottom.

36. Device according to one of claims 30 to 33, characterized in that round pins (213-215) with a cone are provided as pin elements.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, characterized in that the pins (213-215) are undercut in their part adjoining the maximum cone cross section.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that the pins (213-215) taper conically in their part adjoining the maximum cone cross section.

39. Apparatus according to claim 37 or 38, characterized in that the surface of the cone has rounded end edges.

40. Device according to one of claims 28 to 39, characterized in that the first device for attaching the crown cork in the manner of a carousel comprises peripheral stitching heads.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that the stitching heads are arranged on a turntable (206).

42. Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that a device (227) for synchronizing the circulation of the stitching heads and the rotation of the carousel filling device is provided.

43. Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that a container for attaching the crown cap can be pressed against a stitching head with the aid of the storage table.

44. Device according to one of claims 28 to 43, characterized in that a guide track (8) is provided for the supply of crown caps to the stitching heads under the rotating stitching heads.

45. Apparatus according to claim 44, characterized in that one of the pins (213-215) has an extension (16) projecting beyond the cone end as a driver for a crown cap on the guideway.

46. Apparatus according to claim 44 or 45, characterized in that a ramp (218) for lifting a crown cork is provided in the region of attraction of the mounting magnet (207) on the guideway.

47. Apparatus according to claim 46, characterized in that the ramp (218) has two spaced-apart ramp rails, between which the extension (216) of a pin is guided.

48. Device according to one of claims 28 to 47, characterized in that the crown caps can be pressed against the container for attachment by movement of the stitching heads.

49. Apparatus according to claim 48, characterized in that the stitching heads (225) for attaching the crown caps are individually movable.

50. Device according to one of claims 28 to 49, characterized in that the magnet holder comprises a magnetic plate movable in the direction of the pin axes against a spring or its own weight.

51.Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that the first device (303) for attaching the crown cork comprises a pneumatic drive device for the stitching head.

52.Device according to claim 51, characterized in that the pneumatic drive device is provided for generating a feed movement of the stitching head.

53. Apparatus according to claim 52, characterized in that the feed takes place against a return spring element (340).

54. Device according to one of claims 51-53, characterized in that the drive device comprises at least one pressure cylinder (337) with a piston (338) guided therein.

55. Apparatus according to claim 54, characterized in that the stitching head for driving with the Piston (338) is connected.

56. Device according to one of claims 51-55, characterized in that the first device for attaching the crown cork in the manner of a carousel comprises peripheral stitching heads.

57. Apparatus according to claim 56, characterized in that a pressure cylinder (337) with piston (338) is assigned to each of the rotating stitching heads.

58. Apparatus according to claim 57, characterized in that the printing cylinders (337) assigned to the revolving stitching heads are connected to a control disk (306) having a passage disk (334) which can be connected to a compressed gas source for supplying compressed gas.

59. Apparatus according to claim 58, characterized in that the passage channels (334) to the pressurized gas source via a slide shoe (356) with a pressurized gas supply channel ending in a sealing sliding surface bearing against the control disk, the opening end of the control disk (306) facing through the control disk (306 ) which can be covered and which can be connected to the passage channels by rotating the control disk, can be connected.

60. Apparatus according to claim 59, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of each passage channel (334) and the cross-sectional area of the compressed gas supply channel (362) at least at their mutually facing opening ends for timing the Are dimensioned.

61. Apparatus according to claim 59 or 60, characterized in that at least at their mutually facing opening ends, the cross-sectional area of the compressed gas supply channel (362) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of each passage channel (334).

62. Device according to one of claims 58-61, characterized in that the slide shoe is connected to a piston (357) guided in a pressure cylinder connected to the pressure gas source for generating a sealing pressure between the sealing sliding surface and the control disk.

63. Apparatus according to claim 62, characterized in that the compressed gas supply channel opens at its end facing away from the control disk (306) towards the interior of the pressure cylinder.

64. Device according to one of claims 59-13, characterized in that the slide shoe (356) can be acted upon by a spring element (354) to generate or increase the sealing pressure between the control disk (306) and the seal sliding surface of the slide shoe (356).

65. Apparatus according to claim 63 or 64, characterized in that the piston can be acted upon by an auxiliary spring (354).

66. Device according to claim 65, characterized in that the auxiliary spring is a helical spring (354) arranged in the interior of the pressure cylinder (359). includes.

67. Apparatus according to claim 51, characterized in that the circumferential stitching heads for receiving the supplied crown caps can be lowered towards the guideway.

68. Apparatus according to claim 67, characterized in that the lowering of the rotating stitching heads is controlled by a cam track.

69. Device according to one of claims 15 to 68, characterized in that a container guide device for temporarily aligning the container transport path with the path of the closure element moved by the stapling device is provided during the stapling process.

70. Crown cork for closing containers in two phases, characterized in that the crown cork is preformed in the first closing phase to form a snap or clamp fit ensuring a light sealing press fit.

71. Crown cork according to claim 70, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown closure is crimped to such an extent that the inside diameter is narrowed so that a snap or clamp fit is ensured.

72. Crown cork according to claim 71, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown cork is flanged in places so far that a snap or clamp fit is guaranteed.

73. Crown cork according to claim 72, characterized in that the crown cork is flanged at diametrically opposite points of the crown cork circumference.

74. Crown cork according to one of claims 70 to 73, characterized in that the crown edge of the crown cork has inwardly protruding bulges (31) to form a snap or clamp fit.

75. Crown cork according to one of claims 70 to 74, characterized in that the crown cork has a central approach to the formation of a snap or clamp seat with the inner edge of the closure opening of a container to be closed.

76. Crown cork according to claim 75, characterized in that the approach is connected to a sealing insert of the crown cork.