EP2150485B1 - Method and apparatus for the production of packaging units or packages - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of providing liquid-filled kegs and a manufacturing apparatus for performing the method of providing liquid-filled kegs, which method includes filling open plastic keg bodies with liquid, applying a disposable keg fitting, and releasing the neck of the filled, closed keg.

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device according to the preamble of claim 15.

Are known as disposable container for drinks, especially for mineral or table water, large-volume plastic containers that are produced by blow molding of plastic or PET preforms or preforms and filled with the liquid contents. For example, these containers have a volume of 10-20 I.

Both the WO 01/00502 as well as the DE 199 28 325 disclose generic filling processes and devices for carrying out these processes.

The object of the invention is to provide a method by which such containers in a particularly simple manner, can also be realized.

To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. An apparatus for carrying out the method is the subject of claim 15.

The process according to the invention is preferably carried out in a plant in which the container (also referred to as PET keg) produced from a plastic, preferably made of PET, is produced by blow-molding the containers using plastic preforms immediately before their use. For the method according to the invention then different variants arise with respect to the sequence of the individual method steps, namely:

version 1

Blowing the containers, feeding the prepared containers to a filling machine, filling the containers with the liquid contents and then providing and fitting the fittings to the containers in the filling machine and connecting the fittings and the containers in the filling machine.

Variant 2

Blowing the containers, feeding the prepared containers to a filling machine, filling the containers with the liquid contents, providing and fitting the fittings to the containers in the filling machine and then connecting the fittings and the containers in a separate station or machine following the filling machine ,

Variant 3

Blowing the containers, feeding the prepared containers to a filling machine, filling the containers with the liquid contents, and then providing and fitting the fittings to the containers and connecting the fittings and the containers in a separate station or machine following the filling machine.

The fittings are preferably designed as disposable fittings, namely consisting of a to be connected to the respective container by screwing, pressing or latching fitting body made of plastic and with a made for example stainless steel fitting valve insert, the Fittigs are preferably designed so that they cover the container or a local container neck cap-like only on the outer surface and the locking takes place on the container only on the outer surface.

Regardless of the particular embodiment of the method according to the invention and of the time sequence of the individual process steps, the filling of the container with the liquid product is always done before placing and connecting the fittings with the containers.

The procedure of the invention, in which initially the filling of the container with the liquid product and only then placing and connecting the fittings with the containers, ie the closing of the filled container with the fittings, has the advantage that the fittings only for Delivery of the liquid filling material must be formed, thereby a simplified construction of the fittings is possible, but in particular a filling of the container using the entire cross-section of the container mouth is possible, whereby a filling with high performance can be achieved (number of filled containers per unit time). In particular, when mounting or pimpling the fittings, the containers are preferably kept suspended, for example on a container neck or at a local flange, whereby the mounting or pressing of the fittings even with thin wall thickness of the container allows, or at least significantly simplified.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

Fig. 1

in Teildarstellung ein Behälter (PET-Keg) im Bereich der Kegmündung, zusammen mit einem an der Kegmündung vorgesehenen Einweg-Fitting, teilweise geschnit- ten;

Fig. 2

in einem schematischen Blockdiagramm eine Anlage zum Formen, Füllen und an- schließenden Verschließen der PET-Kegs mit jeweils einem Kegfitting;

Fig. 3 - 6

einen Behälter in einer Darstellung ähnlich Figur 1, und zwar in verschiednen Pha- sen der Behandlung.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a partial view of a container (PET keg) in the area of the keg mouth, together with a disposable fitting provided at the keg mouth, partially cut;

Fig. 2

in a schematic block diagram, a system for forming, filling and then closing the PET kegs, each with a Kegfitting;

Fig. 3 - 6

a container in a representation similar FIG. 1 at different stages of treatment.

In the figures, 1 is a large-volume container, which is made by blow molding of a plastic material, for example made of PET, and for example as a disposable container with a volume of 10 to 20 I. The with a liquid contents, such as mineral water, bottled water, beer or the like. Beverage-filled container 1 is in the area of his in the FIG. 1 upper and formed on a container neck 2 container mouth 2.1 sealed by a disposable fitting 3. The fitting 3 consists in the illustrated embodiment of plastic with a fitting valve insert 4 made of stainless steel and is sealed using a sealing ring 5 permanently held by pressing or latching on a flange 2.2 formed on the container neck 2.

The FIG. 2 shows in a very simplified representation and as a block or functional diagram of a system 6 for producing the container 1, for mounting a respective fitting 3 to each container 1 and then filling each container 1 with the liquid product via the local fitting 3 and the valve core 4th

In the FIG. 2 FIG. 7 is a blow molding machine which has a plurality of blow molds 9 on a rotor 8, which can be driven around a vertical machine axis and on which the individual containers 1 are respectively formed by stretch blow molding from preforms 10. The preforms 10 From a thermoplastic material, namely PET, the blow molding machine 7 and the local blow molds 9 are supplied individually and preferably preheated, via a conveyor line or conveyor rail 11. The container 1 produced by blow molding are from the blow molding machine 7 to a transport element 13th forwarded to which the container 1 is oriented with its container axis BA in the vertical direction and with the container mouth 2.1 above lying on a below the flange 2.2 also formed on the container neck 2 and over the container neck 2 radially outwardly stationary flange or neck ring 2.3 are suspended like this in the FIG. 1 is indicated with the two-part container carrier 14.

By suitable conveying means, for example using conveying air, the containers 1 are conveyed to a station 15 (arrow A), which is designed as a filling machine and in which the container 1 is still held at its container flange 2.3 hanging on a container carrier 14 with the liquid contents be filled. The filling takes place for example under counter pressure in such a way that the container 1 in this case with its container mouth 2.1 pressed against a filling element 16 abut, as shown in the FIG. 3 is shown very schematically. The station 15 forming filling machine is, for example, a linear filling machine or a filling machine of rotating design, with a plurality of each filling element 16 and an associated container carrier 14 having filling positions on the circumference of a vertical machine axis circumferentially driven rotor.

Each filled container 1 is then kept suspended with its flange 2.3 hanging on a container carrier 14 a station 17, in which a fitting 3 with a centering or transfer element 18 is placed on the container mouth 2.1 of each container. The fittings are fed to the station 17 via a conveyor line from a supply unit 19.

Each thus filled and then provided with a fitting container 1 then continues with its flange 2.3 on a container carrier 14 hanging on a station 20, in accordance with the Figures 5 and 6 the respective pre-assembled with the sealing ring 5 fitting 3 is permanently sealed by pressing on the container mouth 2.1. The pressing takes place with the aid of an annular closing and pressing tool 21, which is movable, for example, in the direction of the container axis BA and with which by lowering the respective fitting 3 is pressed so far on the container opening 2.1, that it finally the flange 2.2 on the outside of the container neck 2 positively engages behind, that is held by latching on the container neck 2 and the ring seal 5 seals the gap between the container neck 2 and the fitting 3. The closing and pressing tool 21 is preferably also designed as a centering tool to center the respective fitting 3 and fasten it with respect to the container axis BA to the container opening 2.1 by pressing.

The stations 17 and 20 are, for example, part of the filling machine forming the station 15, but preferably part of a machine following the filling machine. Furthermore, there is also the possibility that the station 17 is still part of the filling machine, but the station 20 is formed by a machine following the filling machine.

The filled containers 1 are fed via a conveyor 22 in the conveying direction of a further use and / or processing, for example a labeling machine.

In particular, when the fitting of the fittings 3 on the filled containers 1 and the subsequent compression of the fittings 3 in a stand-alone, following on the station 15 and the filling machine or machine followed, the latter is for example again designed as a rotating machine type, and admittedly with a rotor which can be driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis and with a multiplicity of working or pressing positions, each with one pressing tool on this rotor.

• dass die Behälter 1 erst unmittelbar vor ihrer Verwendung, nämlich unmittelbar vor dem Füllen mit dem flüssigen Füllgut durch Blasformen hergestellt werden,
• dass die Behälter 1 nach ihrer Herstellung während des gesamten Prozesses (Füllen der Behälter 1, Aufsetzen der Fittings 3 und Montage oder Fixieren der Fittings 3) ständig an ihrem Flansch 2.3 hängend gehalten sind, die Behälter also eine vorgegebene Orientierung aufweisen,
• dass vor dem Aufsetzen und Verbinden der Fittings 3 mit den Behältern 1 zunächst das Füllen der Behälter erfolgt, und
• dass das Verbinden der Fittings 3 mit den Behältern 1 jeweils durch Aufsetzen der Fittings auf die Behältermündungen 2.1 und durch anschließendes Verpressen erfolgt.

All described embodiments are common,

• that the containers 1 are produced by blow molding only immediately prior to their use, namely immediately before filling with the liquid contents,
• that the containers 1 are kept suspended from their flange 2.3 after their production during the entire process (filling the container 1, placing the fittings 3 and mounting or fixing the fittings 3), ie the containers have a predetermined orientation,
• that before placing and connecting the fittings 3 with the containers 1, the first filling of the container takes place, and
• in that the connection of the fittings 3 to the containers 1 takes place in each case by placing the fittings on the container mouths 2.1 and by subsequent pressing.

Both during filling, and in particular when mounting or pressing the fittings 3, the container 1 are supported on the container neck 2 and the local flange 2.3, ie at one Container area, which has a higher strength even after blowing the container 1 by its greater wall thickness.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

container

2

container neck

2.1

container mouth

2.2, 2.3

Flange on the container neck

3

fitting

4

valve core

5

sealing ring

6

investment

7

blow molding machine

8th

rotor

9

blow

10

preform

11

supply unit

12

conveyor line

13

conveyor line

14

container carrier

15

Station for filling the containers 1

16

filler

17

Station for merging the container 1 and fittings 3

18

Centering or transfer element

19

supply unit

20

Station for permanent tight connection of fitting and container

21

crimping tool

22

conveyor line

A

Conveying or transport direction

BA

container axis

Claims (22)

1. Method for producing packaging units, each consisting of a container (1) sealed with a keg fitting (3) and filled with a liquid product, characterised by at least the following method steps in the following sequence:

   - supplying the respective container (1), made of plastic,

   - filling the container (1) with the liquid product,

   - provision and insertion of the respective fitting (3) in a container opening (2.1),
   and

   - creating a sealed connection between the container (1) and the fitting (3).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the respective container (1) is supported on a container neck (2) and/or on a container flange (2.3) while the fitting (3) is being inserted and connected.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the respective container (1) is designed as a disposable keg and/or the respective fitting (3) is designed as a disposable fitting (3).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that large-volume containers (1) are used as containers, for example those with a container volume of 10 - 20 litres.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supplying of the containers (1), the filling of the containers (1), the provision and attachment of the fittings (3) on the containers (1) and the connection of the fittings (3) to the containers (1) are carried out in a plant (6) in direct chronological succession.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the containers (1) are supplied by means of blow moulding of these containers.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling of the containers (1) takes place in each case in a filling machine (15).
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the provision and attachment of the fittings (3) onto the containers (1) also takes place within the filling machine (15).
9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the connection of the fittings (3) to the containers (1) also takes place within the filling machine (15).
10. Method according to one of claims 7 - 9, characterised in that the connection of the fittings (3) to the containers (1) takes place at a station (17, 20) or machine downstream of the filling machine.
11. Method according to one of claims 7 - 10, characterised in that the provision and attachment of the fittings (3) on the containers (1) and the connection of the fittings (3) to the containers (1) take place at a station (17, 20) or machine downstream of the filling machine.
12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection between the containers (1) and the fittings (3) is created by screwing the fittings onto the containers (1).
13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection of the fittings (3) to the containers (1) takes place by pressing and/or snapping the fittings (3) onto the containers (1).
14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the use of fittings (3) which overlap the containers (1) in the area of the container mouth exclusively on the outer surface of the container in the style of a cap and are exclusively locked or fixed onto the respective container on this outer surface of the container.
15. Device for producing packaging units each consisting of a container (1) sealed by a keg fitting (3) and filled with a liquid product, with at least one filling position with filling element (16), against which the container (1) to be filled, which is held on a container carrier (14), can be pressed, by relative movement between the filling element (16) and the container carrier (14), by its container mouth (2.1) for the filling process, characterised by at least one tool (21) at a position downstream of the filling position for creating the connection between the respective container (1) and the fitting (3) after the filling process.
16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the filling position is formed by a filling machine (15).
17. Device according to claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the tool (21) for creating the connection between the respective container (1) and the fitting (3) is part of a station (20) or machine downstream of the filling machine for the durable sealed connection of fitting (3) and container (1), preferably a machine of revolving design.
18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one tool (19) is designed as a press-on or pressing tool (19) for creating a connection between the fittings (3) and the containers (1) by pressing and/or snapping.
19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one tool is designed for a screw connection between the containers (1) and the fittings (3).
20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling machine is constructed in linear fashion.
21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling machine is designed as a filling machine of revolving design.
22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by means for the provision and attachment of the fittings (3) onto the containers (1) on the filling machine or on the station (17) or machine downstream of the filling machine (15).

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