EP2100845B1 - Method and facility for filling drink containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The plant has stationary anchored and permanently rotating transport and filling system with a defined number of positions for individual beverage containers. A definite transfer point (22) is provided for holding and filling the beverage containers during revolution of the transport and filling system. A detection device (36) is also provided for identifying a beverage container that is not delivered from the rotating transport and filling system to the transfer point (26). An independent claim is included for a method for filling beverage containers.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for filling beverage containers with the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for filling beverage containers with the features of independent method claim 5, and as from DE 12 56 094 B known.

A transport and filling system is, for example, from the WO 2006/087088 A2 out. The disclosed there plant comprises arranged on columnar support housings rotating feed and discharge stars that define container transport paths. Feed and discharge stars communicate with at least one rotating filler carousel, on the outer periphery of which a plurality of container positions are arranged. During a circulation of the carousel between feed and discharge star the containers are filled by means of suitable Befüllorganen.

Such a filling element is, for example, from the EP 1 426 325 A1 out. The gripping devices on the feed and discharge star and / or on the filler carousel may be formed, for example, in the manner as described in the EP 0 939 044 A1 are described. These grippers are individually controllable, so that an exact transfer between the individual rotating transport wheels and possibly further transport devices is made possible.

If faults occur during handling of the containers, which can lead to collisions of the containers and thus possibly to damage to the system components, the system must be stopped in order to eliminate the malfunction. Larger systems lead to high rotating masses and high moment of inertia to relatively long stopping distances of the rotating parts. In order, for example, to be able to stop a very large filler carousel in good time, it has to be operated at a low rotational speed, which is undesirable in the interests of high filling performance.

Furthermore, the disclosure DE 12 56 094 B an installation and a method for filling beverage containers. The filling takes place with at least one stationary anchored and permanently circulating transport and filling system with a fixed number of positions for individual beverage containers, to take over empty beverage containers at a defined transfer point, for holding and filling the beverage containers during a circulation of the transport and filling system, and for the transfer of filled beverage containers at a defined transfer point, which is located near the transfer point. A detection device is used to detect a at the transfer point not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system beverage container. Upon detection of a transfer container not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system beverage container, the system is shut down.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant operable, as far as possible, for filling beverage containers with a circulating transport and filling system, as well as a corresponding method.

This object of the invention is achieved with the subject matter of the independent claim. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a plant for filling beverage containers, which has at least one stationary anchored and permanently circulating transport and filling system with a fixed number of positions for individual beverage containers. The transport and filling system has a defined transfer point to take over empty beverage containers, facilities for holding and filling the beverage containers during a circulation of the transport and filling system, and a defined transfer point for transferring filled beverage containers. The transfer point is located relatively close to the transfer point. The transport and filling system can be formed, in particular, by a starwheel rotating about a vertical axis, on whose outer circumference a multiplicity of holding devices for beverage containers, in particular bottles, are arranged. During a circulation of this transport and filling system or star wheel between the transfer point and the transfer point, the beverage containers or bottles are filled with a liquid or a drink. At the transfer point and at the transfer point are typically rotating bodies of smaller diameter, which provide for a positionally accurate supply of empty containers to the transport and filling system or its star wheel and a positionally accurate removal of filled containers and for transfer to other transport facilities. These rotating organs are often also designed as star wheels, wherein the supply of empty containers via a so-called. Inlet star and the removal of filled containers via a so-called. Each of the three stars rotating about vertical axes are arranged such that the circumferential circles of the inlet star and the outlet star defined by the position of the bottles each touch the circumferential circle of the larger star wheel of the transporting and filling system which is likewise defined by the position of the bottles. In this way, an exact transfer of beverage containers between the star wheels is possible. The smaller star wheels of the inlet star and the outlet star are relatively small spaced from each other, since a larger proportion of the filling of the large star wheel per revolution can be used, the closer the inlet and outlet stars are arranged to each other.

Such a transport system can, for example. In the in WO 2006/087088 A2 be configured described manner. The filling elements used in this system for filling the beverage containers or bottles can, for example. In the EP 1 426 325 A1 Filling device for plastic bottles correspond. The beverage containers or bottles can be held at the respective positions on the outer peripheries of the rotating starwheels, for example by means of controllable bottle grippers, as shown in the EP 0 939 044 A1 are disclosed.

According to the present invention, a detection device is used to detect a beverage container not being transferred from the circulating transport and filling system at the transfer point. Since due to the slightly spaced inlet and outlet stars a not transferred from the transport and filling beverage container can already collide with a supplied to the same holding position empty beverage container, such beverage containers must be detected to detect and / or avoid such collisions due to a fault could not be delivered by the transport and filling system at the intended transfer point.

The detection device can, for example, comprise a mechanical button which can detect a beverage container still located immediately after the transfer point in the transport and filling system by scanning. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device may also comprise an optical detection device for detecting a beverage container still located immediately after the transfer point in the transport and filling system. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device may additionally comprise an acoustic detection device for detecting a beverage container still located immediately after the transfer point in the transport and filling system.

The detection device is coupled to an ejection device for the removal of beverage containers supplied to the transport and filling system. This ejection device is expediently assigned to a feed device for feeding empty beverage containers to the transport and filling system. It may in particular be assigned to the inlet star and / or combined with it. In order to be able to fulfill its purpose reliably, the ejection device can be located in the area of the feed device before the takeover point be arranged. The ejection device is arranged in this case at a defined position and spaced from the transfer point. In addition, it is synchronized with respect to their position with the detection device and the circulating transport and filling system.

Thus, the ejection device is synchronized with and coupled to the detection device such that at the transfer location a beverage container not removed from the transfer and filling system at the transfer location encounters a vacancy in a row of empty beverage containers supplied to the transfer location.

With the aid of the arrangement according to the invention, it is possible, with a recognized liquid container, which was not passed to the outlet star or another conveyor, but again in the direction of the inlet star or another feed device rotates, each empty container colliding with this container in the area eject the feeder or the inlet star before it can lead to a collision. The filled container, which still circulates at a certain position in the transport and filling system, thus encounters a vacancy, so that an already filled container rotates together with the empty, filled during their circulation other containers.

Optionally, the transport and filling system can be stopped after detecting a non-handed filled container, which due to the relatively large rotating masses and the associated moments of inertia typically requires at least a stopping distance of about half a revolution of the transport and filling system.

Preferably, the filling members are provided with sensor devices which detect an already filled bottle or an already filled container, so that a repeated filling process can be prevented.

The invention further relates to a method for filling beverage containers by means of at least one stationary anchored and permanently circulating transport and filling system having a fixed number of positions for individual beverage containers, the empty beverage containers are fed to a defined transfer point, during a cycle of transport - and filling system held and filled be removed at a defined transfer point from the transport and filling system. Typically, the transfer point is located near the transfer point. Furthermore, a at the transfer point not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system beverage container is detected.

The detection of a beverage container not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system can be effected in particular by mechanical means and / or by means of optical detection and / or by means of ultrasound-supported detection.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that, in the case of a recognized beverage container which has not been handed over by the circulating transport and filling system, a single one of a series of empty beverage containers supplied is ejected. The beverage container is expediently ejected in the region of a feed device for feeding empty beverage containers to the transport and filling system. The empty beverage container is ejected in the area of the feeder before the transfer point. In this case, the empty beverage container is ejected at a defined position and spaced from the transfer point. The empty beverage container is ejected in synchronization with the detection of the unfilled filled beverage container and with the circulating transport and filling system. It makes sense to couple the ejection process of an empty beverage container with the detection of a non-handed filled beverage container so that at the transfer point a not at the transfer point from the transport and filling remote beverage container to a blank in a series of supplied to the takeover empty beverage containers meets.

Optionally, it can be provided that the transport and filling system is stopped when a non-transferred filled beverage container is detected.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that in a detection of a non-transferred filled beverage container, the transport and filling system continues to operate and is ejected during each round at occupied by the unfilled filled beverage container takeover position, an empty beverage container instead of a takeover of the transport and filling system. An advantageous embodiment may be that in an expected number of cycles of the transport and filling system before a regular inspection and / or cleaning stop the transport and filling system continues to operate. In this variant, therefore, an immediate stop of the system is dispensed with, which can be useful in particular in an imminent regular stop the system. The filled bottle still in the transport and filling system can, if necessary, rotate several times in this process variant, if a transfer should not succeed even on the next passing of the transfer unit. The respective container position must be kept free when feeding the empty containers, in order to avoid a collision. This can be ensured by means of the inventive detection of the unfilled filled container and the coupled therewith ejection of the corresponding with this position on the transport and filling system container in the feed, ie even before the transfer point to the rotating transport and filling system.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer Anlage zum Befüllen von Flaschen.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht der Anlage gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 zeigt in einer weiteren Seitenansicht ein Füllorgan zur Befüllung einer Flasche.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer mit Detektionseinrichtung und Auswerfer ausgestatteten Variante der Anlage gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 5 zeigt in einer Seitenansicht einen Auswerfer zum Ausstoßen einer Flasche aus einem Einlaufstern.
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine Seitenansicht auf eine mittels Greifer am Einlauf- oder Auslaufstern gehaltene Flasche.
  Die schematischen Darstellungen der Figuren 1 bis 6 verdeutlichen in verschiedenen Ansichten ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Anlage zur Abfüllung von Getränkebehältern in Gestalt von Flaschen.
  Die schematische Draufsicht der Fig. 1 zeigt wesentliche Komponenten einer derartigen Anlage 10 zur Abfüllung von Flaschen 12, die ein stationär verankertes und permanent um eine vertikale Achse 14 umlaufendes Transport- und Füllsystem 16 in Gestalt eines sog. Füllerkarussells 18 mit einer Vielzahl von Positionen 20 für einzelne Flaschen 12 aufweist. Das Füllerkarussell 18 weist eine definierte Übernahmestelle 22 zur Übernahme leerer Flaschen 12 von einem, ebenfalls um eine horizontale Achse rotierenden sog. Einlaufstern 24 auf. Die Umfangskreise des Füllerkarussells 18 und des Einlaufsterns 24 berühren sich tangential, so dass die Flaschen 12 nahtlos vom in Pfeilrichtung (d.h. im Uhrzeigersinn) rotierenden Einlaufstern 24 an das nach links (d.h. entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn) rotierende Sternrad 18 übergeben werden können. Am Füllerkarussell 18 sind Einrichtungen zum Halten und Befüllen der Flaschen 12 während eines Umlaufs vorgesehen. In Nähe des Einlaufsterns 24 befindet sich eine definierte Übergabestelle 26 zur Übergabe befüllter Flaschen 12 an einen sog. Auslaufstern 28. Der Auslaufstern 28 rotiert um eine vertikale Achse in Pfeilrichtung (d.h. im Uhrzeigersinn) und damit gleichsinnig zum Einlaufstern 24. Auch der Auslaufstern 28 berührt das Füllerkarussell 18 tangential, so dass die Flaschen 12 wiederum nahtlos an der Übergabestelle 26 vom Auslaufstern 28 übernommen und zu weiteren Handhabungs- und/oder Fördereinrichtungen übergeben werden können.
  Während eines Umlaufs dieses Füllerkarussells 18 zwischen der Übernahmestelle 22 und der Übergabestelle 26 werden die Flaschen 12 mittels eines Füllorgans 30 (Fig. 3) mit einem Getränk befüllt.
  Die kleineren Sternräder des Einlaufsterns 24 und des Auslaufsterns 28 sind relativ gering voneinander beabstandet, da ein umso größerer Anteil der Befüllorgane des großen Sternrads des Füllerkarussells 18 je Umlauf verwendet werden kann, je enger die Einlauf- und Auslaufsterne 24, 28 zueinander angeordnet sind. Im Idealfall können der Einlaufstern 24 und der Auslaufstern 28 so nah zueinander angeordnet werden, dass sich die aneinander vorbei streichenden Flaschen 12 gerade nicht berühren. Je geringer der Abstand y zwischen Einlaufstern 24 und Auslaufstern 28 gewählt ist, desto größer ist der sog. Füllwinkel x.
  Bereits aus der Fig. 1 wird deutlich, dass bei Teilkreisen TK des Füllerkarussells 18 von mehreren Metern sehr hohe Massen bewegt werden, so dass bei einer Abbremsung des Füllerkarussells 18 hohe Massenträgheitsmomente wirken, die für einen verzögerten Bremsvorgang verantwortlich sind. Sollte eine Störung bei der Übergabestelle 26 auftreten und eine befüllte Flasche 12 nicht übergeben werden können, so kann nur ein sehr langsam laufendes Füllerkarussell 18 rechtzeitig vor Erreichen der Übernahmestelle 22 des Einlaufsterns 24 zum Stillstand gebracht werden. Bei den üblicherweise relativ schnell drehenden Füllerkarussellen 18 bekannter Anlagen 10 führt eine nicht an den Auslaufstern 28 übergebene Flasche 12 zu einer Kollision mit einer leeren Flasche 12, die vom Einlaufstern 24 an die entsprechende Position 20 übergeben werden soll.
  Derartige Fehlfunktionen können bspw. an einem Füllorgan 30 (vgl. Fig. 2) dadurch ausgelöst werden, dass die Flasche 12 durch eine von oben aufgesetzte Anpressglocke 32 (vgl. Fig. 3) an der Übergabestelle 26 blockiert wird. Weiterhin können Funktionsstörungen an einem Greifer 34 und/oder dessen Betätigungsmechanik am Auslaufstern 28 auftreten, so dass die Flasche 12 an der Übergabestelle 26 nicht aus dem Füllerkarussell 18 genommen werden kann. Schließlich kann eine Flasche 12 auch an ihrem Tragring (nicht dargestellt) beschädigt sein, so dass eine ordnungsgemäße Übergabe an den Auslaufstern 28 verhindert wird. Solche Funktionsstörungen führen zu einer Kollision von Flaschen 12 an der Übernahmestelle 22 des Einlaufsterns 24 und können zu einer Beschädigung der Mechanik am Füllorgan 30 und/oder am Einlaufstern 24 führen, wodurch diese unter Umständen derart beschädigt werden können, dass die Produktion unterbrochen werden muss.
  Gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung dient eine Detektionseinrichtung 36 der Erkennung einer an der Übergabestelle 26 nicht vom umlaufenden Transport- und Füllsystem des Füllerkarussells 18 übergebenen Flasche 12 (vgl. Fig. 2). Die Detektionseinrichtung 36 kann bspw. einen mechanischen Taster umfassen, der einen unmittelbar nach der Übergabestelle 26 noch im Transport- und Füllsystem befindlichen Getränkebehälter durch Abtasten erkennen kann. Wahlweise oder zusätzlich kann die Detektionseinrichtung 36 auch eine optische Erfassungseinrichtung und/oder eine Ultraschallsensorik o. dgl. zur Erkennung einer unmittelbar nach der Übergabestelle 26 noch im Füllerkarussell 18 befindlichen Flasche 12 umfassen.
  Die Detektionseinrichtung 36 ist mit einer Ausstoßeinrichtung in Form eines Auswerfers 38 zur Entfernung einzelner Flaschen 12 im Einlaufstern 24 gekoppelt (vgl. Fig. 5). Der Auswerfer 38 ist an einer definierten Position und beabstandet von der Übernahmestelle 22 angeordnet. Er ist zudem hinsichtlich seiner Position mit der Detektionseinrichtung 36 und den rotierenden Rädern 18, 24 und 28 synchronisiert. Wird durch die unmittelbar nach dem Übergabepunkt 26 am Füllerkarussell 18 angeordnete Detektionseinrichtung 36 eine nicht an den Auslaufstern 28 übergebene Flasche 12 an der Position "1" erkannt, wird dieses Signal durch die Maschinensteuerung verarbeitet und etwas zeitversetzt der Auswerfer 38 am Einlaufstern 24 aktiviert, wobei gleichzeitig der entsprechende Greifer 34 geöffnet werden kann. Es wird dabei die Flasche e1 an der Position e2 fallen gelassen (vgl. Fig. 4), wodurch eine Kollision der Behälter 1/e1 am Übernahmepunkt 22 vermieden werden kann. In der beschriebenen Weise wird der Auswerfer 38 so betätigt, dass an der Übernahmestelle 22 eine nicht an der Übergabestelle 26 vom Füllerkarussell 18 entfernte Flasche 12 auf eine Leerstelle in der Reihe der mittels des Einlaufsterns 24 zur Übernahmestelle 22 zugeführten leeren Flaschen 12 trifft.
  Wahlweise kann das Füllerkarussell 18 nach Erkennen einer nicht übergebenen befüllten Flasche 12 angehalten werden, was aufgrund der relativ großen rotierenden Massen und der damit verbundenen Massenträgheitsmomente typischerweise mindestens einen Anhalteweg von ca. einer halben Umdrehung des Füllerkarussells 18 bedingt. Normalerweise sind die Füllorgane 30 mit Sensoreinrichtungen versehen, die eine bereits befüllte Flasche 12 erkennen, so dass ein nochmaliger Befüllvorgang unterbunden werden kann.
  Alternativ zu einem Anhaltevorgang kann auch vorgesehen sein, dass bei einer Detektion einer nicht übergebenen befüllten Flasche 12 das Füllerkarussell 18 weiterbetrieben und bei jedem Umlauf an der von der nicht übergebenen befüllten Flasche 12 besetzten Übernahmeposition eine leere Flasche anstelle einer Übernahme vom Füllerkarussell 18 ausgestoßen wird. So kann es bspw. sinnvoll sein, bei einer zu erwartenden Anzahl von Umläufen des Füllerkarussells 18 vor einem turnusmäßigen Inspektions- und/oder Reinigungsstopp das Karusell 18 weiterlaufen zu lassen. Bei dieser Variante wird somit auf ein sofortiges Anhalten der Anlage verzichtet, was insbesondere bei einem unmittelbar bevorstehenden turnusmäßigen Anhalten der Anlage zu Reinigungs- und/oder Wartungszwecken sinnvoll sein kann. Die noch im Füllerkarussell 18 befindliche befüllte Flasche 12 kann bei dieser Verfahrensvariante ggf. mehrfach rotieren, falls eine Übergabe auch bei dem nächsten Passieren der Übergabestellte 26 nicht gelingen sollte. Die jeweilige Behälterposition muss bei der Zuführung der leeren Flaschen 12 jeweils freigehalten werden, um eine Kollision zu vermeiden. Dies kann mittels einer Detektion der nicht übergebenen befüllten Flasche 12 und der damit gekoppelten Ausstoßung der mit dieser Position am Füllerkarussell 18 korrespondierenden Flasche 12 im Zuführbereich, d.h. noch vor der Übergabestelle 22 zum rotierenden Füllerkarussell 18 gewährleistet werden.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as a non-restrictive example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same components in principle have the same reference numerals and will not be explained several times.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a system for filling bottles.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of the system according to Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 3 shows in a further side view of a filling member for filling a bottle.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a equipped with detection device and ejector variant of the system according to Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 5 shows a side view of an ejector for ejecting a bottle from an inlet star.
• Fig. 6 shows a side view of a held by means of gripper on the inlet or outlet starter bottle.
  The schematic representations of FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate in various views an embodiment of an inventive system for filling beverage containers in the form of bottles.
  The schematic plan view of Fig. 1 shows essential components of such a system 10 for filling bottles 12, which has a stationary anchored and permanently circulating about a vertical axis 14 transport and filling system 16 in the form of a so-called. Füllerkarussells 18 with a plurality of positions 20 for individual bottles 12. The filler carousel 18 has a defined transfer point 22 for taking over empty bottles 12 from a so-called infeed star 24, which likewise rotates about a horizontal axis. The peripheral circles of the filler carousel 18 and the inlet star 24 touch tangentially so that the bottles 12 can be transferred seamlessly from the star wheel 24 rotating in the direction of the arrow (ie clockwise) to the star wheel 18 rotating to the left (ie counterclockwise). On Füllerkarussell 18 means for holding and filling the bottles 12 are provided during a cycle. In the vicinity of the inlet star 24 is a defined transfer point 26 for transferring filled bottles 12 to a so-called. Auslaufstern 28. The outlet star 28 rotates about a vertical axis in the arrow direction (ie clockwise) and thus in the same direction to the inlet star 24. The outlet star 28 touches the filler carousel 18 tangentially, so that the bottles 12 can in turn be taken over seamlessly at the transfer point 26 from the outlet star 28 and transferred to further handling and / or conveying devices.
  During a circulation of this Füllerkarussells 18 between the transfer point 22 and the transfer point 26, the bottles 12 by means of a filling member 30 (FIGS. Fig. 3 ) filled with a drink.
  The smaller star wheels of the inlet star 24 and the outlet star 28 are relatively small spaced from each other, since the greater the proportion of Befüllorgane the large star wheel of the filler carousel 18 per revolution can be used, the narrower the inlet and outlet stars 24, 28 are arranged to each other. Ideally, the inlet star 24 and the outlet star 28 can be arranged so close to each other that the bottles passing each other 12 just do not touch. The smaller the distance y between the inlet star 24 and the outlet star 28, the greater the so-called filling angle x.
  Already from the Fig. 1 It is clear that at partial circuits TK of the filler carousel 18 of several meters very high masses are moved, so that when braking the Füllerkarussells 18 high moment of inertia act, which are responsible for a delayed braking. Should a fault occur at the transfer point 26 and a filled bottle 12 can not be handed over, so only a very slowly running Füllerkarussell 18 can be brought to a standstill in good time before reaching the transfer point 22 of the inlet star 24. In the usually relatively fast rotating Füllerkarussellen 18 of known systems 10 performs a non-handed to the spout 28 bottle 12 to a collision with an empty bottle 12, which is to be passed from the inlet star 24 to the corresponding position 20.
  Such malfunctions can, for example, on a filling member 30 (see. Fig. 2 ) are triggered by the fact that the bottle 12 by a pressing bell 32 attached from above (see. Fig. 3 ) is blocked at the transfer point 26. Furthermore, malfunctions can occur on a gripper 34 and / or its actuating mechanism on the outlet star 28, so that the bottle 12 can not be taken out of the filler carousel 18 at the transfer point 26. Finally, a bottle 12 may also be damaged on its support ring (not shown), so that a proper transfer to the outlet star 28 is prevented. Such malfunctions lead to a collision of bottles 12 at the transfer point 22 of the infeed star 24 and can lead to damage of the mechanism on the filling member 30 and / or on the inlet star 24, which may under certain circumstances be damaged in such a way that production must be interrupted.
  According to the present invention, a detection device 36 is used to detect a bottle 12 which has not been transferred from the circulating transport and filling system of the filler carousel 18 at the transfer point 26 (cf. Fig. 2 ). The detection device 36 may, for example, comprise a mechanical button which can detect a beverage container still located immediately after the transfer point 26 in the transport and filling system by scanning. Optionally or additionally, the detection device 36 may also comprise an optical detection device and / or an ultrasonic sensor or the like for detecting a bottle 12 still located immediately after the transfer point 26 in the filler carousel 18.
  The detection device 36 is coupled to an ejection device in the form of an ejector 38 for the removal of individual bottles 12 in the inlet star 24 (cf. Fig. 5 ). The ejector 38 is arranged at a defined position and spaced from the transfer point 22. It is also synchronized with respect to its position with the detection device 36 and the rotating wheels 18, 24 and 28. Is arranged by the immediately after the transfer point 26 on the filler carousel 18 Detection device 36 detected a non-handed to the outlet starter 28 bottle 12 at the position "1", this signal is processed by the machine control and slightly delayed the ejector 38 is activated on the inlet star 24, at the same time the corresponding gripper 34 can be opened. The bottle e1 is dropped at position e2 (cf. Fig. 4 ), whereby a collision of the container 1 / e1 at the takeover point 22 can be avoided. In the manner described, the ejector 38 is actuated so that at the transfer point 22 a not removed at the transfer point 26 from the filler carousel 18 bottle 12 to a blank in the series of means of the inlet star 24 to the transfer point 22 supplied empty bottles 12 strikes.
  Optionally, the filler carousel 18 may be stopped upon detection of a non-transferred filled bottle 12, which due to the relatively large rotating masses and the associated moments of inertia typically requires at least a stopping distance of about one-half turn of the filler carousel 18. Normally, the filling elements 30 are provided with sensor devices which detect an already filled bottle 12, so that a renewed filling process can be prevented.
  As an alternative to a stopping process, it may also be provided that, when a filled bottle 12 is not handed over, the filler carousel 18 continues to operate and an empty bottle is ejected from the filler carousel 18 instead of being taken over by the filler carousel 18 during each revolution at the transfer position occupied by the unfilled filled bottle 12. Thus, it may be useful, for example, to continue the carousel 18 for an expected number of revolutions of the filler carousel 18 before a regular inspection and / or cleaning stop. In this variant, therefore, an immediate stop of the system is dispensed with, which may be useful in particular in an imminent regular stop the system for cleaning and / or maintenance purposes. The filled bottle 12 still located in the filler carousel 18 may optionally rotate several times in this variant of the method, if a transfer should not succeed even at the next pass of the transfer unit 26. The respective container position must be kept free when feeding the empty bottles 12 in order to avoid a collision. This can be done by means of a detection of the unfilled filled bottle 12 and the coupled with the ejection This position on the filler carousel 18 corresponding bottle 12 in the feed, ie even before the transfer point 22 to the rotating Füllerkarussell 18 guaranteed.

Claims (10)

1. Installation (10) for filling beverage containers comprising at least one stationarily anchored and permanently circulating transport and filling system (16) with a fixed number of positions (20) for individual beverage containers, for receiving empty beverage containers at a defined receiving point (22), for holding and filling the beverage containers during a circulation cycle of the transport and filling system (16) and for transferring filled beverage containers at a defined transfer point (26), wherein the transfer point (26) is located in close proximity to the receiving point (22), said installation (10) comprising a detection device (36) for detecting a beverage container that was not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system (16) at the transfer point (26), said installation (10) being characterised in that, the detection device (36) is coupled with a discharge means (38) for removing beverage containers that are being fed to the transport and filling system (16), wherein the discharge means (38) is arranged at a defined position spaced apart from the receiving point (22) and synchronised, with regard to its position, with the detection device (36) and the circulating transport and filling system (16), and wherein the discharge means (38) is coupled with the detection device (36) in such a manner that a beverage container that was not removed from the transport and filling system (16) at the transfer point (26) comes to be aligned with an empty position at the receiving point (22) in a row of empty beverage containers being fed to the receiving point (22).
2. Installation according to claim 1 wherein the detection device (36) comprises a mechanical sensor for detecting a beverage container still located in the transport and filling station (16) immediately behind the transfer point (26).
3. Installation according to claim 1 wherein the detection device (36) comprises an optical and/or acoustic sensing device for detecting a beverage container still located in the transport and filling station (16) immediately behind the transfer point (26).
4. Installation according to claim 1 wherein the discharge means (38) of a feeding device for feeding empty beverage containers to the transport and filling system (16) is associated with the feeding device and/or arranged in the area of said feeding device before the receiving point (22).
5. Method for filling beverage containers by means of at least one stationarily anchored and permanently circulating transport and filling system (16) having a fixed number of positions (20) for individual beverage containers, said transport and filling system (16) being fed empty beverage containers at a defined receiving point (22), said beverage containers being held and filled during a circulation cycle of the transport and filling system (16) and said beverage containers being removed from the transport and filling system (16) at a defined transfer point (26), wherein the transfer point (26) is located in close proximity to the receiving point (22), wherein a beverage container that was not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system (16) at the transfer point (26) is detected, said method being characterised in that, on the detection of a beverage container that was not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system (16), an individual empty beverage container is ejected from a row of empty beverage containers that are being fed and wherein the empty beverage container is ejected in synchrony with the detection of the non-transferred, filled beverage container and with the circulating transport and filling system (16):

   - at a defined position and spaced apart from the receiving point (22) and/or

   - in the area of a feeding device located before the receiving point (22).
6. Method according to claim 5 wherein the detection of a beverage container that was not transferred from the circulating transport and filling system (16) is detected by mechanical means and/or optical sensor means and/or ultrasound-based sensor means.
7. Method according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the process of ejecting an empty beverage container is coupled with the detection of a non-transferred, filled beverage container in such a manner that a beverage container that was not removed from the transport and filling system (16) at the transfer point (26) comes to be aligned with an empty position at the receiving point (22) in a row of empty beverage containers being fed to the receiving point (22).
8. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 7 wherein the transport and filling system (16) is brought to a halt on the detection of a non-transferred, filled beverage container.
9. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 8 wherein the transport and filling system (16) continues to operate on detection of a non-transferred, filled beverage container and, rather than receiving a beverage container at the receiving point (22), an empty beverage container is ejected from the transport and filling system (16) during each circulation cycle in which the receiving point (22) is occupied by the non-transferred, filled beverage container.
10. Method according to claim 9 wherein the transport and filling system (16) continues to be operated for an expected number of circulation cycles of the transport and filling system (16) prior to a regularly scheduled inspection and/or cleaning stop.

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