EP2344410B1 - Closing device for containers having a sterile space - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for closing containers. Such devices have been known for a long time from the prior art. In manufacturing plants for the manufacture of beverage containers, it is customary to fill these containers with a drink and then to close with a closure, such as a screw cap or a bottle cap.

In this case, special conditions occur in many areas, for example in the filling of juices. So it is necessary that the entire treatment of the container and also its closure is to be performed within a sterile or clean room. In some cases, a longitudinal movement of a closure head relative to a longitudinal direction of the containers is also required for the closing process. Since it is normally not desirable here, all elements that are required for such a longitudinal movement to install inside the sterile room, as this would run counter to sterility, it is anxious to install as many drive elements outside the sterile room. However, due to the lifting conditions of the closing element required for a closer, the situation arises that the non-sterile machine parts located outside of the sterile room or below a carrying ring protrude into the sterile area or into the sterile room inside move. In this way, germs can enter the sterile area.

Various devices are known from the prior art in order to achieve a separation between sterile and unsterile spaces even with such movable elements. Thus, a water lock or a vapor barrier is partially provided to effect such a seal. However, these sealants are due to the large stroke or by the thermal component load only limited use or difficult to implement.

From the WO 2004/065283 a machine for the aseptic treatment of containers and a device according to the preambles of claims 1 and 14 and a method according to the preamble of claim 15 is known. This has a water lock in order to separate a rotatable part relative to a stationary area sterile.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device of containers, which is also able to handle relatively strong strokes of a Verschließelementes. This is inventively achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A device according to the invention for closing containers with closures has a closure head which attaches the closures to the containers, this closure head being movable relative to the containers in a first type of movement and arranged within a sterile space. Furthermore, the device has a first movement device for generating a movement of the closure head, wherein said first movement device is at least partially disposed outside of the sterile room.

According to the invention, the sterile space is bounded by at least one first wall and has an annular channel into which this first wall protrudes, wherein the annular channel is movable relative to the first wall and can be filled with a liquid medium and wherein the first movement device is at least partially within the first Channel is arranged.

By the device according to the invention it is achieved that drive elements for generating the movement, for example, a lifting or a rotary movement outside the clean room can be arranged and yet a sealed transition into the interior of the sterile room is possible. The movement device can be a device which generates a specific movement, such as a lifting movement or a rotational movement. More preferably, however, it is a movement transmission device which transmits a movement generated in particular outside the sterile room to a moving element within the sterile room and in particular exceeds a sterile room boundary of the sterile room.

The mentioned annular channel forms, together with the wall, a so-called water lock, which seals the non-sterile area with respect to the sterile area. According to the invention, it is proposed that this water lock or this annular channel is also used to carry out the movement device and, more precisely, that the annular channel is also used in order to seal the movement device tightly from the non-sterile area to reach the sterile area. Thus, the channel also serves the purpose of introducing said moving means from the non-sterile area to the sterile area.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a first drive device for driving the closure head, wherein this drive device is arranged outside the sterile room and coupled to the movement device. The drive device may be, for example, an electric motor, but it would also be possible for the drive device to be designed in the form of a guide curve which causes a lifting movement of the movement device and thus also of the closure head.

It is thus proposed to arrange corresponding drive devices, such as servomotors or magnetic or hysteresis clutches, outside the sterile room, and particularly preferably to provide corresponding lifting curves and rollers or other elements which accomplish a lifting movement outside the sterile room. The actual lifting movement is separated in this way by means of the water lock to the sterile room. Instead of a water lock but could also be provided a bellows or a membrane for separation.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure head is movable relative to the container in a second movement type different from the first, and a second movement device for generating this second movement is arranged outside the sterile room. At the second Movement can again be a lifting movement, a pivoting movement, a rotational movement and the like. Preferably, the first type of movement is a lifting movement and the second type of movement is a rotary movement, so that the closure head is displaceable both in the longitudinal direction of the container and rotatable to attach closures to the containers.

Thus, it is preferably proposed to arrange as few parts as possible inside the sterile room and more precisely to generate the lifting movement and the rotational movement required for closing bottles in combination outside the sterile room.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device has a further movement device, which transmits a movement of the drive element to the closure head. Thus, it is possible, for example, to decouple the lifting movement and the rotational movement and bring about a coupling only in the interior of the sterile room. Thus, it is advantageously proposed to separate the lifting movement and the rotational movement from one another and to guide them separately through the sterile room boundary and to couple them together only within the sterile room. As a result, a rotational movement can be aseptically guided into the sterile room with the aid of the water lock or with the aid of suction. As mentioned, the corresponding lifting movement is also guided via the water lock or a bellows or bellows or a membrane in the sterile room. Inside the sterile room, the two components of the movement are combined and thereby fulfill the function of attaching the container closures on containers.

In a further advantageous embodiment, therefore, the first movement device and the second movement device are separated from each other. However, it would also be possible to accomplish the rotational movement, for example, by an electric motor and to lift and lower this electric motor in its entirety, so that, for example, only a rotatable and displaceable moving device is provided, which provides the containers with closures. In a further preferred embodiment, at least one movement type is a rotary movement and in a further advantageous embodiment at least one movement type is a lifting movement, in particular in a longitudinal direction of the containers.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device also has a second drive device for driving the closure head, wherein the second drive device is arranged outside the sterile room. Thus, the first drive device may be a lift curve and the second drive device may be an electric motor that generates the rotational movement.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a driving wheel is provided in the interior of the sterile room, the rotational movement of which is coupled to at least one drive device and a wheel driven by this driving wheel, wherein the driven wheel is displaceable relative to the driving wheel in the direction of the axis of rotation of the driven wheel. Preferably, the driven and the driving wheels are each gears. By this displacement, the lifting movement of the closure head can be coupled to the rotational movement.

Preferably, the driving wheel is a long wheel, i. a wheel which is considerably longer in the direction of its axis of rotation than the driven wheel. However, the driven wheel could correspondingly also be such a long wheel.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a second movement device, which transmits a movement of the second drive device to the driving gear, wherein preferably also the second movement device extends through the annular channel. Preferably, at least one of the drive devices is designed as an electric motor.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the (first) movement device extends at least partially within a hollow body, wherein said hollow body is disposed within said channel. This is preferably a cylindrical body with a particularly preferred circular cross-section. This hollow body is preferably fixedly arranged on the said channel and completely surrounded by separation media. However, this separating medium can be, for example, water or sterile or sterilizing or disinfecting liquids.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a cylindrical body projecting into the channel is arranged on the movement device and completely surrounds the movement device in the circumferential direction. Preferably, this cylindrical body also completely surrounds the above-mentioned hollow body in the circumferential direction. Preferably, this body is always in the liquid arranged, that is independent of any stroke position of the movement device. In this way, an advantageous sealing of the two elements, ie the movement device and the hollow body against each other can be achieved.

The present invention is further directed to an apparatus for closing containers with closures, comprising a closure head which attaches the closures to the containers, said closure head being movable relative to the closures in a first mode of movement and disposed within a sterile room. Furthermore, the device has a first movement device for generating a movement of the closure head in the first movement, said first movement device is at least partially disposed outside of the sterile room.

According to the invention, the sterile space is delimited by at least one first wall and the device has a container which can be filled with a liquid medium and the first movement device is arranged at least in sections within the container.

In this device according to the invention, the above-mentioned principle is generalized insofar as the container is not necessarily a water lock for sealing a rotary movement, but a container is provided, which serves specifically for sealing the movement in said movement and in particular a lifting movement , In this case, the movement device is preferably completely surrounded by the liquid medium, but does not touch this medium directly.

Furthermore, a cylindrical body is also preferably provided here, within which the movement device extends, and furthermore, a sealing element or a further hollow body is preferably also provided on the movement device, which is permanently, i. regardless of a stroke position of the moving device always immersed in the liquid medium.

In the context of the present application, the above embodiments are described only for devices for closing containers, but it should be noted that the illustrated invention is also applicable to other types of installations which have a sterile room and have to handle lifting movements. The Applicant therefore reserves the right to claim the present invention for other types of equipment for treating containers.

The present invention is further directed to a method for closing containers with closures, wherein for this purpose the containers are passed through a sterile room and closing by means of a closure head and the closure head is moved to close the containers in a first movement and movement in This first movement is generated by a first movement device, which is at least partially outside the sterile room and preferably at least partially disposed within the sterile room. In particular, this movement device is moved relative to the sterile room.

According to the invention, the sterile space is delimited by at least one first wall and has an annular channel into which this first wall protrudes, wherein the annular channel is moved relative to the first wall and filled with a liquid medium and wherein the first movement device at least partially within the first Channel is moved.

In this case, the containers are preferably moved inside the sterile room and particularly preferably along a substantially circular path.

Further advantages and embodiments will be apparent from the attached drawings:

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3

eine weitere Darstellung zur Veranschaulichung der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a device according to the invention a first embodiment;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in a second embodiment;

Fig. 3

another illustration to illustrate the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device 1 according to the invention for closing containers (not shown). This device 1 in this case has a central shaft 3, on which a carrier 5 is arranged. On this carrier in turn is a variety of Closure heads 2 are arranged, which close (not shown) containers with closures. In this case, these individual closure heads 2 are rotated together with the carrier 5 with respect to a rotation axis X and during this rotation, a closure of the containers is made. The individual closure heads 2 are constantly arranged within a sterile room 8.

The reference numeral 16 refers to a drive means which moves the shutter heads along the arrow P1, i. here up and down. This driving device 16 may here be designed as a lift curve, which in particular in the region N, i. outside the sterile room 8 is arranged. In order to seal the sterile room 8 with respect to the exterior space N, a so-called water lock is used here. This water lock has an annular channel 14 which is filled with a liquid 18. The reference numeral 12 refers to a fixed wall, which also delimits the sterile room 8. In this case, a portion 12a permanently protrudes into the liquid 18, so that in this way a seal between stationary and rotating parts of the device is achieved.

The drive device 16 transmits the lifting movement to a movement device 4, and the movement device 4 is in turn coupled to the closure head 2 arranged in the interior. It extends as if from Fig. 1 this movement device can be seen through the channel 14 and is thus arranged in sections within the sterile room 8 and partly outside thereof. The reference numeral 14a refers to an inner wall of the channel 14, the reference numeral 14b to a Bottom of the channel 14, which decreases obliquely here recognizably radially outwardly, and the reference numeral 14c on a (radial) outer wall of the channel. In particular, the outer wall may not only at its upper end, as in Fig. 1 shown, cylindrically leak, but also have a radially inwardly directed fold. This fold (not shown) can also be present twice or be executed as a curve, ie the end of the wall is directed substantially to the liquid level of the liquid 18. This advantageously prevents the fluid 18 from spilling out of the channel 14 into the sterile area 8 when the speed of rotation of the device 1 is reduced.

Furthermore, it is off Fig. 1 it can be seen that the movement device 4 is arranged radially inside the wall section 12a. By means of the procedure according to the invention, it is achieved that the same channel 14, which is used to seal the sterile room 8, is also used to seal the movement of the movement device 4, which projects from the outside into the sterile room 8.

The reference numeral 28 refers to a further drive device, which has an electric motor which ensures a rotational movement of the closure head 2. In this case, this electric motor is arranged radially inside the annular channel 14 here. In order to also seal the movement generated by the drive device 28, a sealing ring or the like could, for example, be used in the region of the movement device 22, for example an output shaft of the electric motor, in order to prevent the entry of soiling in the sterile room. It would also be possible to provide a gas extraction in this area.

In addition, however, it would also be possible to pass the movement device 22 through the annular channel 14, for example in FIG Fig. 1 to arrange behind or in front of the movement device 4.

The movement device 22 drives a drive wheel 32 which is designed here as a long wheel, which extends significantly further in the direction of the stroke movement P1 than a wheel 34 driven by it. This means that the driven wheel 34 is independent of a stroke position of the movement device 4 always engages in the driven gear 32.

The reference numeral 42 refers to a cylindrical body, which is here in the annular channel 14 and preferably fixedly disposed therein. Within this cylindrical body, the movement device 4 is guided, whereby also here a seal between the sterile room 8 and the area outside the sterile room 8 is achieved. On the moving means 4, another cylindrical body 44 is arranged, wherein a peripheral wall 44a of the cylindrical body 44 is always, i. protrudes into the liquid 18 regardless of a position of the moving element.

It should be noted here that the sterile room 8 would communicate with the area N outside the sterile room 8 via the hollow body 42. Due to the interaction of the cylindrical body 44, more precisely, the peripheral wall 44a arranged thereon, a seal via the liquid 18 is likewise achieved.

However, it would also be conceivable to arrange within the channel 14, a further liquid container, within which the peripheral walls 44a is movable. It would be too possible to move the moving element 4 outside of the annular channel, but also to provide a hollow body 42, which is arranged within a water container and in turn the peripheral wall 44a is movable. The Applicant therefore reserves the right to claim hereinafter also a seal in which a movement element 44 is guided within a liquid container.

It should be noted here that the movement to be sealed in the present case is not a transverse movement but a lifting movement that can take place within this water container. In an advantageous embodiment, for example, on the carrier a plurality of containers may be arranged, in each of which liquid is located and in these containers could continue each cylindrical body 44 of in Fig. 1 be shown kind arranged. It would also be possible to connect the containers mentioned together in the manner of communicating tubes.

The advantage of in Fig. 1 However, the embodiment shown is that only one channel to be refilled is provided and thus can be used with relatively few state sensors or the like, which monitor a state level of the liquid 18.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. This device corresponds to the arrangement of the annular channel 14 of FIG Fig. 1 shown embodiment. An essential difference to the in Fig. 1 embodiment shown, however, is that only one movement device. 4 is provided, which transmits both a lifting movement and a rotational movement. Thus, it would be possible, for example, that a drive device such as a motor is provided outside of the sterile room 8, but which is also moved, for example, by a lifting movement along the double arrow P1. It would also be possible that a corresponding electric motor is held stationary and in each case a telescopic movement device is provided, which in turn transmits the lifting movement to the closure head 2.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the idea underlying the present invention. Accordingly, here a container 54 is provided with a bottom 54b. Within this container 54, a hollow cylinder 52 is provided, wherein this hollow cylinder 52 is liquid-tightly connected to the bottom 54b and is completely surrounded by liquid 18. On the movement device 4, in turn, a second cylindrical body 56 is arranged, which moves with the movement device 4. The movement in FIG. 3 is a lifting movement, but it would also be possible to seal a rotary movement. In this way, the sterile room 8 is always sealed from the outside area N independently of a position of the movement device 4.

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for closing containers with closure means with a closure head (2) which applies the closure means to the containers, wherein this closure head (2) is movable with respect to the closure means in a first manner of movement and is arranged inside a sterile space (8), with a first movement device (4) for producing a movement of the closure means in the first manner of movement, wherein this first movement device (4) is arranged at least in part outside the sterile space (8), characterized in that the sterile space (8) is bounded by at least one first wall (12) and the apparatus has an annular channel (14) into which this first wall (12) projects, wherein the annular channel (14) is movable with respect to the first wall (12) and is capable of being filled with a liquid medium and wherein the first movement device (4) is arranged at least locally inside the channel (14).
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus has a first drive device (16) for driving the closure head (2), wherein this drive device (16) is situated outside the sterile space (8) and is coupled to the movement device (4).
3. An apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure head (2) is movable with respect to the container in a second manner of movement different from the first manner of movement.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the apparatus has a second movement device (22) which transmits a movement of the drive element to the closure head.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the first movement device (4) and the second movement device (22) are separated from each other.
6. An apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one manner of movement is a rotary movement.
7. An apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one manner of movement is a lifting movement, in particular in a longitudinal direction of the containers.
8. An apparatus according to claims3 - 5, characterized in that the manners of movement are coupled in the interior of the sterile space.
9. An apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus has a second drive device (28) for driving the closure head (2), wherein the second drive device (28) is arranged outside the sterile space (8).
10. An apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a driving wheel (32), the rotary movement of which is coupled to at least one drive device (28), is provided in the interior of the steril space, as well as a wheel (34) driven by this driving wheel (32), wherein the driven wheel is displaceable with respect to the driving wheel (32) in the direction of the axis of rotation of the driven wheel.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the apparatus has a second movement device (22) which transmits a movement of the second drive device (28) to the driving toothed wheel (32), wherein it is also preferable for the second drive device (22) to extend through the annular channel (14).
12. An-apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement device (4) extends at least in part inside a hollow body (42), wherein this hollow body (42) is arranged inside the channel (14).
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a cylindrical body (44), which projects into the channel (14) and which completely surrounds the movement device (4) in the peripheral direction, is arranged on the movement device (4).
14. An apparatus for closing containers with closure means, with a closure head which moves the closure means to the containers, wherein this closure head is movable with respect to the closure means in a first manner of movement and is arranged inside a sterile space (8), with a first movement device (4) for producing a movement of the closure means in the first manner of movement, wherein this first movement device (4) is arranged at least in part outside the sterile space (8), characterized in that the sterile space (8) is bounded by at least one first wall (12) and the apparatus has a container which is capable of being filled with a liquid medium, and the first movement device (4) is arranged at least locally inside the container.
15. A method of closing containers with closure heads, wherein the containers are guided through a sterile space (8) and the closure is carried out with the aid of a closure head (2) and the closure head (2) is moved in a first manner of movement in order to close the containers and the movement in this first manner of movement is produced by a first movement device (4) which is arranged at least in part outside the sterile space (8), characterized in that the sterile space (8) is bounded by at least one first wall (12) and has an annular channel (14) into which this first wall (12) projects, wherein the annular channel (14) is moved with respect to the first wall (12) and is filled with a liquid medium and wherein the first movement device (4) is moved at least locally inside the channel (14).

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