EP1338551B1 - Device for filling bottles and other containers with food products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling bottles and other containers with food and beverages the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is described in DE 100 10 145 A1.

The special feature of the device known from DE 100 10 145 A1 consists in the longitudinal division of each elongated plate into two complementary partial plates with a container receptacle at the same time dividing parting line.

The corresponding complementary partial plates DE 100 10 145 A1 are each independently on the outside held on an endlessly circulating funding. The known device uses the effect that two each corresponding complementary partial plates when going through a Deflection range, for example a pair of chain stars, with respect of the deflection area different secant positions, i.e. a Angular position to each other, take what with an open Parting line and at the same time with open container receptacles. In these temporarily open container receptacles are then Holding areas of the container introduced.

The containers are removed in the known device, compared to the container feed described above, in in the opposite way to that with regard to the conveying direction downstream deflection area.

The known device is particularly suitable for the use of Suitable for bottles. Because a variety of bottles at least similar has shaped mouth areas with the same dimensions, what is the case with many types of PET bottles allows the known Device with the use of different types of bottles differing external shapes and volumes.

Another special feature of the device according to the DE 100 10 145 A1 is that corresponding to each other complementary part plates by means of plate vertical movement means of the primary centering means assigned to the funding and from below together with the containers they hold pushed onto secondary centering means and after filling the Containers in turn are lowered onto the primary centering means. The device known from DE 100 10 145 A1 serves in this Related to the containers from below on filling pipes Push up doses and to avoid product foam in the Lower the course of the filling again.

Starting from the device according to DE 100 10 145 A1, the object underlying the invention is the known Remodel device and an additional or modified Supply use.

According to the invention, this object is shared with the features of the preamble of claim 1 solved in that at least one arrangement with secondary centering elements, each of the inclusion and centering of a partial plate serve to expand container receptacles from the corresponding complementary partial plate can be distanced.

Another preferred feature of the invention is that two arrangements with secondary centering elements, each of which arrangement serves to accommodate a complementary partial plate, for expansion the container receptacles can be spaced apart.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the distancing movement runs that of the secondary centering elements Arrangements symmetrical with respect to a transverse to the longitudinal axis (Conveying direction) of the device arranged level evenly.

Another preferred feature of the invention is that the primary Centering elements and the secondary centering elements each in the vertical direction are aligned with each other and with their towards each other pointing free end areas each form a centering cone.

Other preferred features of the invention are that the Centering cones of the primary and secondary centering elements Form the same dimensions, each of which is a circular cylindrical Section joins.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one row of containers Assigned to vertical container movement. The vertical container movement are useful with. Grippers or suction cups provided, which grip the container on their respective bottom surface can.

The invention allows a number of advantages:

First and foremost, one advantage is that, for example Containers with an upper narrow mouth area and a lower one Container area of much larger diameter (such as PET bottles) e.g. after appropriate retrofitting with the previous ones mainly used cup fillers can be processed, at which the individual workstations in the upper part of the funding are assigned, while the lower conveyor run the return serves.

In such cup fillers that according to the invention PET bottles, for example, can be equipped via a magazine fed from above, while two corresponding to each other complementary partial plates on the secondary centering means held and distanced from each other. With the help of a container vertical means of movement, for example by means of the bottom of the container gripping suction device, then the respective container through the expanded container receptacle so far down until the two complementary sub-plates are level of the container holding area and then to close the Container receptacles can in turn be moved towards one another, so that the respective container is held securely in the container receptacle is. Then the two complementary partial plates by means of Plate vertical moving means lowered, while from the secondary Centering elements removed and finally from above onto the primary Centering elements pushed on and completely on the Subsidies are lowered, whereupon the subsidy to the next Workstation can be clocked further.

Another advantage of the invention is that complementary Partial plates with closed parting line together with the containers accommodated in them by the primary centering elements away and up over the secondary centering elements can be moved if it is the workstation, similar to that of the Device according to DE 100 10 145 A1, required.

In the drawings, an essential detail is a preferred one Illustrated embodiment of the invention, show it

Fig. 1-6 different operating phases of a container feed.

Two roller chains arranged at right angles to each other Conveyor chains 10 formed are not endless over two shown reversal stations performed. The reversing stations can each be formed by chain star pairs, of which at least a chain star pair is driven. Of the conveyor chain 10 is only one Length range of the upper conveyor chain consisting of a few chain links Shown OT.

Both conveyor chains 10 bear on opposite corresponding ones Make two consecutive in the conveying direction x Holding brackets 11. Each holding bracket 11 points as the primary Centering element on a primary centering pin 12, each from a circular cylindrical base 13 and from the free end region forming, upwardly facing truncated cone 14.

Each primary centering pin 12 is a secondary centering pin 15 assigned, which in certain operating phases (see Fig. 1 and 2; 5 and 6) with the correlating primary centering pin 12 is aligned coaxially.

Each secondary centering pin 15 is on a holding arm 16, hanging downwards, fixed by means of a circular cylindrical base 17, which is followed by a truncated cone 18 pointing downwards.

Both holding arms 16 are components of a stationary arrangement Aggregate.

In the present case, the filling device is cycled operated, i.e. the conveyor chains 10 are synchronized during one Movement phase in conveying direction x moved or clocked, which is followed by a rest phase in which the individual work stations, such as e.g. a container feed station, at least one product filling station, a lid placement station, a lid closing station and one Container removal station at different at the same time in the conveying direction x successive rows of containers.

1-6, the function of a container feed station is now intended to be shown:

1 is about a container magazine, not shown an approximately bottle-like container B fed in the downward direction z. How 3-6, the neck region H of the container B has a much smaller diameter than the two bulbous ones Areas 19, 20 of the container B. The mouth of the container B is marked with M.

While the container B in the downward direction z the holding arms 16 approaches, the two correspond to each other complementary sub-plates P1 and P2, which with their adjacent Edge areas form a parting line T, via plate vertical movement means, each symbolized by a double arrow and designated 21, raised in the upward direction y while doing so on the secondary centering pin 15 to against the undersides of the Holding arms 16 pushed so that the operating state according to FIG. 2 results.

When the parting line T is closed, the two sub-plates form P1 and P2 with mutually open substantially semicircular recesses 22 each together a container receptacle 23, which in position (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is the neck area H of each container B to enclose safely.

The operating phase according to FIG. 2 is followed by the operating phase according to Fig. 3. Not shown, each marked with a double arrow Horizontal moving means 24 have meanwhile become horizontal Level the left arm 16 in direction a and the right arm 16 moved in direction b together with the partial plates P1 and P2.

In this way, the two semicircular recesses 22 of the two partial plates P1 and P2 are so far apart from one another, that a vertical suction cup 25 grips the respective container bottom 26 and the container B on the two semicircular recesses 22 Move as far down in the downward direction z 4 until the neck region H is at the level of the two semicircular recesses 22 is located.

The left holding arm 16 then moves in the direction b right and the right holding arm 16 in direction a to the left until the Parting line T closed and the container receptacle 23 its nominal size has reached with which it safely reaches the neck region H of the container B. encloses. The vertical suction device 25 can then continue in the downward direction z be moved down to a ready position.

Then both sub-plates P1, P2 are moved by the plate vertical moving means 21 in the downward direction z from the secondary Centering pin 15 down to the primary centering pin 12 after moved down. Then the container B can in the conveying direction z next work station away from the two holding arms in direction x clocked further and the two holding arms 16 can be unoccupied Container receptacles 23 are driven under, so that in turn Output operating phase according to FIG. 1 results.

In addition, it should be mentioned that the two partial plates P1, P2 transverse to the conveying direction x several container receptacles 23, for example form a series of 10 container receptacles 23. In the direction of conveyance x form container receptacles 23 arranged one behind the other Lanes, in the latter example 10 lanes.

Claims (7)

1. Device for filling bottles (B) and other containers with foodstuffs and luxury foods, such as dairy and fatty products ranging from highly fluid ones to ones in paste form, juices, mineral waters or the like, said device having at least one conveyer means (10) which is guided in an endlessly revolving manner over deflecting regions, in particular deflecting wheels, and has carrying elements (P1, P2) which are disposed with their longitudinal axes transverse to the direction of conveyance (x) and each possess at least one row, which is disposed transversely to the direction of conveyance (x), of container receptacles (23) which, in addition, form lines disposed in the direction of conveyance (x) and successively run through working stations which are aligned with them, such as a container infeed station, at least one product-filling station, a lid-applying station, a lid-closing station and also a container removal station; wherein the carrying elements (P1, P2) are elongated plates which have clearances (22) which form the container receptacles (23); wherein each plate (P1, P2) is divided up, by a separating line (T) which is disposed substantially transversely to the direction of conveyance (x) and parts said container receptacles (23), into two complementary partial plates (P1, P2) which are held at an interval, with respect to the direction of conveyance (x), and so as to be independently detachable from one another via primary centring elements (12) on the conveying means (10); wherein, when the separating line (T) is open, the containers (B) are fed to the container receptacles (23) or removed from the latter and, when the separating line (T) is closed, said containers are held in the container receptacles (23) and moved in the vertical direction (y, z); and wherein the complementary partial plates (P1, P2) are lifted off from the primary centring elements (12) via means (21) for moving said plates vertically, and are pushed onto secondary centring elements (15), characterised in that at least one arrangement (16, 15) with secondary centring elements (15), which serve to receive and centre a partial plate (P1) in each case, can be distanced from the corresponding complementary partial plate (P2) for the purpose of expanding container receptacles (23).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that two arrangements (16, 15) with secondary centring elements (15), of which each arrangement (16, 15) serves to receive a complementary partial plate (P1, P2), can be distanced from one another for the purpose of expanding the container receptacles (23).
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the distancing movement of the arrangements (16, 15) having the secondary centring elements (15) extends uniformly in a manner symmetrical with respect to a plane disposed transversely to the direction of conveyance (x) of the device at the separating line (T).
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the primary centring elements (12) and the secondary centring elements (15) are aligned with one another in the vertical direction (y, z) in each case and form, with their free end regions that point towards one another, a centring cone (14, 15) in each case.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the centring cones of the primary (12) and secondary (15) centring elements form truncated cones (14, 18) of identical dimensions, which are each adjoined by a circular cylindrical section (13, 17).
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that means (25) for moving the containers vertically are associated with at least one row of containers.
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the means (25) for moving the containers vertically are provided with grippers or suction devices by means of which the containers (B) can be grasped at their bottom face (26) in each case.

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