EP1134182B1 - Device for filling bottles and similar containers with liquids - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling bottles and other containers with food and beverages, such as liquid ones pasteous dairy and fat products, juices, water or the like the preamble of claim 1. A device designed as a bottle filling machine this genus includes described in DE 196 42 987 A1.

In the known bottle filling machine, the conveying means is at the end arranged deflection wheels endlessly guided. At the The outside of the conveying means are support elements arranged transversely to the conveying direction attached, which with approximately basket-shaped cup holders are provided, whose longitudinal central axes are orthogonal to the direction of rotation extend the funding. The basket-shaped cup holders are used according to DE 196 42 987 A1 to hold PET bottles all the individual work stations arranged exclusively in the upper run Walk upright with the bottle necks pointing upwards. The Pass through the basket-like receptacles below the device empty when returning. When returning just before the deflection wheels, which will redirect the basket-like receptacles into the upper run eight empty bottles (in the bottle filling machine according to DE 196 42 987 A1 is an eight-lane machine) from below with the bottle bottoms first used in the basket-like receptacles.

Based on the subject of DE 196 42 987 A1, the invention the task is to develop a device with a new advantageous Provide application options offering modified structure and for the processing of different containers, especially for the Processing of bottles of different bottle volumes is suitable.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the conveying means two arranged on opposite end faces of the device, Has lower run and upper run connecting side runs, that workstations are arranged in the space delimited by the rubble and with their effective sides the inside of the carrying elements of the Untertrums and the container receptacles there facing.

In contrast to the device according to DE 196 42 987 A1, the invention has created an arrangement in which essential work stations, for example the sterile medium station, the filling station, the lid disinfection station and the lid sealing station, are not arranged on the outside of the upper run. Rather, according to the invention, almost all of the essential workstations are located in a specially created room, which is framed in a side wing connecting the lower run, the upper run and the lower run and upper run. This room is expediently accessible from the outside, so that the individual units of the workstations can also be operated, equipped and serviced.
If you now arrange the lower run at a selected working height, in contrast to what is known, the space underneath the lower run can be used almost unhindered, such as for auxiliary units in the form of sterile air heaters, control cabinets, etc. The empty run formed by the upper run, on the other hand, is shifted to a height at which there is usually no particular use of equipment.

From a genus not belonging to the invention, in which DE 24 60 175 A1 (see FIG. 6 there) cleaning device for Removing bottle labels is known to include a steam line and water jets between the upper and lower run and overflow nozzles below to arrange the lower run of an endlessly running gripper conveyor, who grabs the bottles by their necks. The with the invention Workstations not comparable fluid leaks of the known device are, because for functional reasons they must not be easily accessible, surrounded by a housing. Finally, the funding of the known The cleaning device does not connect the upper and lower run Side debris on.

The invention has a particular advantage in that Below the lower run, one that extends in the conveying direction and perpendicular to it Space for moving from the container receptacles to the carrying elements protruding container is formed. Such a designed according to the invention So device is not only for small volume, but special also suitable for large, high bottles.

Such high bottles can with their mouth areas in the Container receptacles are to some extent "hung up" while the bulky ones tall bottle body unhindered in the direction of conveyance and Movement space extending perpendicular to it can protrude.

According to the invention, an expedient structure is provided with a housing a lower frame leg receiving the lower run, with one that Upper run receiving upper frame legs and with the side debris receiving frame bridges have been created.

This results in a favorable statics for the device if the upper one Frame leg by means of at least one support on the lower frame leg is supported.

For sterile air control, inert gas control and / or for the control of In a further embodiment of the invention, sterile agents can remove the frame legs, the frame webs and optionally the support are channel-like his.

The supports can form a support portal, in the one of the supports and / or aggregates or aggregate parts formed by the portal opening, such as. Product containers, can be arranged.

An advantageous variant of the invention consists in that each of the through the frame legs and the corner areas formed by the frame webs a deflection wheel for the conveying means is arranged in the housing. there forms at least one of the deflection wheels a drive wheel, while the rest Idler wheels are idler idler wheels.

A particularly useful embodiment in which the drive the actual filling and conveying of the device in no way impaired, is given according to the invention in that the driven Deflection wheel in a corner area between the upper frame leg and a frame web is arranged.

The drive is expediently designed such that the driven one Deflection wheel a servo drive, in particular an electric servo drive, assigned. Such a servo drive allows, due to different Products and container volumes, variably adjustable cycle times.

Fig. 1 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen von Behältern, beim gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel von Flaschen,

Fig. 2-7 etwa entsprechend dem in Fig. 1 mit II-VII bezeichneten eingekreisten Detail in schematischer Darstellung eine Behälter-Zuführstation in ihren verschiedenen Arbeitsphasen,

Fig. 8 ein vergrößertes Detail etwa entsprechend der mit VIII bezeichneten Einkreisung in Fig. 7 und

Fig. 9 eine teilweise Draufsicht auf eine Folge von länglichen Platten, etwa entsprechend der in Fig. 7 mit IX bezeichneten Blickrichtung.

A preferred exemplary embodiment according to the invention is shown in the drawings, in which:

1 is a schematic side view of a device for filling containers, in the shown embodiment of bottles,

2-7, roughly corresponding to the circled detail designated II-VII in FIG. 1, in a schematic representation, a container feed station in its various working phases,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail approximately corresponding to the encirclement designated VIII in Fig. 7 and

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of a series of elongated plates, approximately corresponding to the viewing direction designated IX in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1 is a device for filling containers B, shown Embodiment of bottles, overall with reference number 10 designated. The housing 11 of the device 10 is on a support feet 12 on a Elevated building footprint 13.

The housing 11 is substantially frame-shaped and accordingly has a lower frame leg 14, an upper frame leg 15 and lower and upper frame legs connecting each other Frame webs 16, 17 on. The upper frame leg 15 is supported its central area via a support portal 18 on the lower frame leg 14 from.

The frame legs 14, 15, the frame webs 16, 17 and optionally the supports 18 can be channel-shaped and the guide of Fluids such as of sterile air, inert gas or other sterile agents.

Through the frame of the housing 11 is a conveyor 19 (traction) endlessly circumferential about deflection areas arranged at the frame ends 20, 21, 22, 23 out. Extends between the deflection areas 20, 21 the upper run OT and between the deflection areas 22, 23 the lower run UT of funding 19.

The funding 19 can be of any convenient type e.g. as a chain, be designed as a rope or toothed belt. In the embodiment shown the funding 19 is formed by two link chains. The funding 19 is accordingly in pairs, in the exemplary embodiment consists of two in Direction of conveyance x single chains.

The conveying means 19 is driven via the in the deflection area 20 included chain drive wheel 24 in the direction of rotation U, while in the other Deflection areas 21, 22, 23 each only drive-less moving chain deflection wheels 25, 26, 27 are present. Accordingly, the funding return direction denoted by z and the conveying direction of the conveying means by x. The Axes (deflection axes) of the deflection areas 20-23 or the deflection wheels 24-27 each have the reference number 39.

The wheels 24-27 are each connected to the frame legs 14, 15 as well as corner areas of the housing formed by the frame webs 16, 17 11 arranged.

The driven deflection wheel or chain wheel 24 is in a corner area arranged between the upper frame leg 15 and the frame web 17. In this way, the drive disrupts the conveying and filling process of the device in no way. The chain drive wheel 24 can be a servo drive, in particular on an electric servo drive, which is assigned both in terms of conveyor speed and in terms of cycle times can be set relatively easily.

On the outside of the deflection area 22, the containers B, and are to be filled indeed in the present case PET bottles, via a container feed device 28 brought up and finally by means of a swivel bracket 29 having container feed station 30 in the following descriptive manner, the support members 41, namely elongated elongated rectangular Plates 41, fed so that the container B indirectly through these plates 41 in the lower strand UT of the funding, hanging on the latter, one Can go through treatment route. The elongated plates 41 are with their Longitudinal axes L arranged transversely to the conveying direction x.

The treatment section assigned to the lower run UT includes named according to the flow in the direction x in succession, the following Workstations: downstream of the container feed station 30, a sensor station 31 for finding container receptacles not occupied by containers B. A, 32 a sterile agent station, 33 a first filling station for delivery a first product, the product pad, into the containers B, 34 a second Filling station for feeding a second product into the containers B, 35 a Lid disinfection and lid feed station, 36 a lid sealing station, 37 a lid crimping station and 38 a container removal station.

From Fig. 1 it is clear that the work stations 31-37 in that of the Debris, i.e. from the lower strand UT, from the upper strand OT and from the two side debris ST1 and ST2 delimited space 52 are arranged. Here are the Effective sides of the workstations, the inner sides IS of those located in the lower strand UT Plates 41 and the container receptacles A facing there.

From Fig. 1 it is also clear that below the lower strand UT in the conveying direction x and perpendicular to it moving space 53 for containers B projecting from the plate receptacles A from the plates 41 is formed.

To feed the container B is adjacent to the deflection area 22 already mentioned container feed station 30 with the swivel bracket 29 provided that one to the deflection axis 39 of the deflection area 22 or Chain deflection wheel 26 has parallel pivot axis 40.

On the outside of the conveying means 19 are arranged transversely to the conveying direction x the elongate plates 41 are provided, each of two complementary Sub-plates 42, 43 exist, which are divided by a parting line T. which are at the same time the container receptacles consisting of recesses A divides. The container receptacles A each consist of two to each other open semicircular recesses 48, 49 together.

From Fig. 2 it is clear that the joint T when passing Deflection area 22 due to the angular position of the two has corresponding complementary partial plates 42, 43 opened, so that the holding area H of the container B are inserted into the container receptacle A. can, as Fig. 3 can be seen.

The swivel bracket 29 represents an angle bracket with an approximately secantial container contact surface 44 arranged with respect to the pivot axis 40 and with an approximately parallel to the assigned pivot radius SR extending Container support surface 45.

In the transition from the working position shown in Fig. 2 to 3 is the swivel bracket 29 in the swivel direction a been swung forward.

This pivoting movement in direction a is called a carry-along movement long continued until the intermediate positions according to the 4, 5 and 6 the parting line T, and thus the container receptacle A, final has closed, so that the respective container B according to FIG. 7 safely in the each container receptacle A hangs.

7 shows that the swivel bracket 29 in the opposite Swivel direction b is pivoted back so that container B along the feed direction y from above along the container support surface 45 to the container footprint 44 can be promoted.

Since in the present case (see FIG. 9) it is a three-lane device 10, there is always a row of containers R containing three containers B. the swivel bracket 29 and there are always three containers B with their Holding areas H also introduced into the container receptacles A.

9 are the orbits formed by the recordings A with S and R series.

After the container B the individual work stations of the lower run Have gone through the bottom, the lids are filled and flared provided container B by means of essentially representing a short conveyor belt Container removal station 38 removed at the deflection area 23 because the separating joints T with the container receptacles A at the deflection region 23 opened analogously to the representation of FIG. 2 and so the holding areas H of Have released container B.

The parting lines T thus open in the deflection areas, e.g. at 22 and 23 and close as soon as they are straight in the conveying direction x extended arrangement of the conveyor 19 and the elongated plates 41, the latter e.g. at the beginning of the lower strand UT.

Around the opening width of the parting line T at the deflection areas 22, 23 to enlarge, they are independent of each other with regard to the conveying direction x complementary partial plates attached to each other on the conveyor 19 42, 43 distanced from the outside of the conveyor 19. This happens in the individual by means of the angle tabs 46 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which Form spacer webs 47 arranged radially to the deflection regions 22, 23.

8 and 9 can be seen how PET bottles B with the arranged below their external thread mouth 51 holding flange 50 above support on the partial plates 42, 43 forming the container receptacles A.

8 and 9 it is conceivable that also bottles or others Containers of whatever material, modified mouth shapes can have, which can also be used advantageously in the sense described above are.

Claims (10)

1. Device (10) for filling bottles and other containers (B) with foods and delicacies, such as highly fluid to pasty dairy and fatty products, juices, waters or the like, the said device having at least one conveyer means (19) which is guided over deflecting regions (20-23), particularly over deflecting wheels (24-27), in a continuously revolving manner and which forms an upper strand (OT) and a lower strand (UT) and carries, on its outer side, carrying elements (41) which are disposed with their longitudinal axes (L) transverse to the direction of conveyance (x) and which have, in each case, a row (R), which is disposed transversely to the said direction of conveyance (x), of container receptacles (A) which additionally form tracks (S) disposed in the said direction of conveyance (x), containers (B) which are held in the said container receptacles (A) running successively through working stations (30-38) such as a container infeed station (30), a product-filling station (33, 34), a lid-applying station (35), a lid-sealing station (36) and a container removal station (38), characterised in that the conveyer means (19) has two lateral strands (ST1, ST2) which are disposed on opposite end faces of the device (10) and connect the lower strand (UT) and upper strand (OT) to one another, and that working stations (31-37) are disposed in the space (52) bounded by the strands (UT, OT, ST1, ST2) and face, with their operative sides, the inner sides (IS) of the carrying elements (41) of the lower strand (UT) and the container receptacles (A) located therein.
2. Device for filling bottles according to claim 1, characterised in that there is formed, underneath the lower strand (UT), a movement space (53), which extends in the direction of conveyance (x) and perpendicularly thereto, for containers (B) projecting down from the container receptacles (A) of the carrying elements (41).
3. Device for filling bottles according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by a housing (11) having a lower frame piece (14) which receives the lower strand (UT), an upper frame piece (15) which receives the upper strand (OT) and frame webs (16, 17) which receive the side strands (ST1, ST2).
4. Device for filling bottles according to claim 3, characterised in that the upper frame piece (15) is supported on the lower frame piece (14) by means of at least one support (18).
5. Device for filling bottles according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the frame pieces (14, 15), the frame webs (16, 17) and, optionally, the support (18) are of channel-like construction.
6. Device for filling bottles according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the supports (18) form a supporting gantry (18, 18).
7. Device for filling bottles according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that a deflecting wheel for the conveyer means is disposed, in each case, at the corner regions of the housing (11) which are formed by the frame pieces (14, 15) and by the frame webs (16, 17).
8. Device for filling bottles according to claim 7, characterised in that at least one of the deflecting wheels (24, 27) constitutes a driving wheel (24), while the remaining deflecting wheels are loose deflecting wheels (25-27).
9. Device for filling bottles according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the driven deflecting wheel (24) is disposed in a corner region between the upper frame piece (15) and a frame web (17).
10. Device for filling bottles according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that a servo drive, in particular an electric servo drive, is associated with the driven deflecting wheel (24).

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