EP2748102B1 - Filling machine and method for controlling a filling machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method according to the preamble of claim 3. Filling machines for filling containers with a liquid filling material are known in different designs and for different filling methods (for example pressure filling, pressureless filling, jet filling, etc.). In particular, filling machines of rotating design are also known, with a rotor which can be driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis, on the circumference of which a multiplicity of filling points each having a filling material discharge opening and a container carrier are formed for filling the containers.

Alone for hygienic reasons, especially to avoid bacterial contamination of the filling machine and ggs. Even in the case of a product change, it is necessary to clean and / or to disinfect or sterilize the filling machine and in particular also its components and / or flow paths leading to the contents, this cleaning and / or disinfection generally being carried out as CIP cleaning and / or CIP cleaning. Disinfection is carried out in a cleaning and / or disinfecting operation, namely using closure elements, for example in the form of Spülkappen or rinsing sleeves, with which the filling elements are at least liquid-tight in the region of their Füllgutabgabeöffnungen.

It is also known ( DE 10 2009 033 557 A1 ), that each filling element independently assigned and arranged on the rotor closing elements by pivoting about an axis oriented parallel to the machine axis between a parking position in which the closing element is during the filling operation to move to a working position in which the closing element below the filling element and pressed during the cleaning and / or disinfection operation of the filling machine in sealing position against the associated filling element pressed. For the movement of the closing elements an independent pneumatic drive is provided at each filling point, which is designed as a stroke-pivot drive, not only the pivoting of the closing elements between the parking position and the working position, but also for a stroke of the closing elements parallel to the machine axis for their pressing and Wiederentfernen against or from the respective filling element. This solution is structurally complex and expensive as well as prone to failure

Also known is a container treatment machine of rotating design ( DE 103 40 365 A1 ) with a plurality of treatment stations provided on the circumference of a rotor which can be driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis, each having a treatment head. Below the treatment heads, a support ring concentrically surrounding the machine axis is provided, on which a plurality of interchangeable component groups, each having a plurality of different interchangeable components, for adapting the treatment heads to different containers and / or operating modes of the container treatment machine are provided in succession in the circumferential direction. The interchangeable components, of which an interchangeable component in each interchangeable component group is also a closure element for a CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection of the treatment heads, are located below the treatment heads and move with the rotor rotating in a common trajectory with the treatment heads. By pivoting or twisting the support ring, the respectively desired removable component can be coupled to each treatment head. A certain disadvantage here is, inter alia, that the arrangement of the interchangeable components on the orbit of the treatment heads, ie at the same radial distance from the machine axis as the treatment heads, a minimum distance between adjacent treatment heads must be maintained, resulting in, among other things, restrictions in terms of design.

The JP H11 91877 A shows a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention is to show a filling machine with the filling elements or filling positions respectively associated closure elements, which allows (filling machine) moving the closing elements between their parking position and their working position with a simplified structural design and high reliability. To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 is formed.

According to one aspect of the invention, the filling machine according to the invention differs from the prior art in that a lifting cam is provided at each filling position, on which the respective pivoting arm pivots during pivoting the parking position slides into the working position, whereby the respective flushing sleeve is simultaneously raised with this pivoting in the direction of the machine axis MA.

Alternatively, when the pivot arm is moved through the bearing element, the lifting movement of the pivot arm is effected by means of an inclined plane disposed within the bearing element.

The filling machine can preferably have on the circulating transport element or rotor a separating or protective wall which extends within the movement path of the filling elements and shields the closing elements located in the parking position with respect to the filling elements or filling positions. To move the closing elements between their parking position and working position, the protective wall can be at least partially opened, specifically for releasing a movement space for the closing elements. In a preferred embodiment of the invention takes place during the movement of the closing elements between the parking position and the working position in addition a lifting movement of the closing elements parallel to the machine axis, which also preferred in this embodiment, the final sealing position between the moving into the working position closing elements and the filling elements only by lowering the Filling elements or a supporting part of the transport element or the rotor is made.

"Closure" are in the context of the invention, in particular Spülkappen or rinse sleeves, but also other, for example, plate-shaped closing elements with which at least a liquid-tight closure of the filling elements in the region of Füllgutabgabeöffnungen is possible, and in particular also to form a respective Füllgutabgabeöffnung enclosing, to the outside closed flow path for a cleaning and / or disinfecting medium used in CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection.

For the purposes of the invention, "containers" are in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging materials which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

Fig. 1 - 3

jeweils in schematischer Darstellung eine Füllmaschine zum Füllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen in unterschiedlichen Betriebszuständen;

Fig. 4 und 5

jeweils in schematischer Draufsicht einige der Verschließelemente der Füllmaschine der Figuren 1 - 3, zusammen mit ihren Schwenkträgern oder -armen und einem Steuerring in der Parkposition bzw. in der Arbeitsposition der Verschließelemente;

Fig. 6

in einer vereinfachten schematischen Seitenansicht eines der Verschließelemente zusammen mit seinem Schwenkträger- oder -arm, und die

Fig. 7 und 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung, bei welcher die Hubbewegung des Schwenkarms 12 mittels einer im Lagerelement 17 angeordneten schiefen Ebene 18 erfolgt.

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

Fig. 1-3

in each case a schematic representation of a filling machine for filling containers in the form of bottles in different operating states;

4 and 5

each in a schematic plan view of some of the closing elements of the filling machine of Figures 1 - 3 , together with their pivot supports or arms and a control ring in the parking position or in the working position of the closing elements;

Fig. 6

in a simplified schematic side view of one of the closing elements together with its Schwenkträger- or -arm, and the

FIGS. 7 and 8

a further embodiment of the present invention, in which the lifting movement of the pivot arm 12 by means of an arranged in the bearing element 17 inclined plane 18 takes place.

The filling machine of the type generally designated 1 in the figures serves for filling containers 2 in the form of bottles with a liquid filling material. For this purpose, the filling machine 1 on the circumference of a vertical machine axis MA circumferentially drivable rotor 3 a plurality of filling positions 4, which are supplied to the container 2 to be filled at a container inlet and the filled container 2 are removed at a container outlet. The filling of the container takes place on the angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor 3 between the container inlet and the container outlet.

Each filling position 4 consists in the illustrated embodiment essentially of a provided at a lower, the machine axis MA rotatably driven rotor part 3.1 container carrier 5 and from a provided on an upper around the machine axis MA rotatably driven rotor part 3.2 provided filling element 6 for controlled feeding, for example filling level-controlled and / or filling quantity-controlled and / or volume-controlled feeding of the contents in the respective provided at the filling position 4 container 2. The filling elements 6 are provided on the circumference of a ring vessel 7, which essentially forms the upper rotor part 3.2 and during the filling operation is partially filled with the liquid contents, namely for the formation of an upper gas space and a lower liquid space. The latter is connected to the filling elements 6 in connection. The container carrier 5 are executed in the illustrated embodiment as a container plate or bottle plate on which stand up with their container axis parallel to the machine axis MA oriented container with its bottom.

The filling machine 1 is suitable for processing containers 2 of different sizes or heights. For this purpose, the rotor upper part 3.2 is adjustable relative to the container base 3.1 in the direction of the machine axis MA, specifically via a plurality of telescopically formed support columns 8.

The filling machine 1 further comprises an annular separating or protective wall 9 concentrically enclosing the machine axis MA, which is held on the underside of the upper rotor part 3.2 or of the annular bowl 7 and is lowered downwards over this lower side, i. stands away in the direction of the rotor part 3.1. The protective wall 9, which is offset radially inwards relative to the filling positions 4 and thus in particular a contamination (eg by contents and / or shards of burst containers 2) of the enclosed by the protective wall 9 inner region of the filling machine 1 and the rotor 3 and the prevents local components is designed so that their relative to the machine axis MA axial length, inter alia Also changeable to adapt to the different settings of the filling machine.

The FIG. 1 shows in the left view, the setting of the filling machine for the processing of containers 2 with the smallest height, wherein the rotor part 3.2 is in the lowest position, and in the right view, the setting of the filling machine 1 for processing the container 2 with the maximum Height, with accordingly the rotor part 3.2 is in the uppermost position.

The protective wall 9 is formed in two parts in the illustrated embodiment, consisting of the two, each made of a metallic sheet, for example made of sheet steel, the machine axis MA concentrically enclosing annular wall elements 9.1 and 9.2. Of these, the wall element 9.1 is held on the underside of the rotor part 3.2. The wall element 9.2 is displaceable in the direction of the machine axis MA relative to the wall element 9.1. Furthermore, non-illustrated, for example, between the wall elements 9.1 and 9.2 acting means are provided, these wall elements both in a first state of the protective wall 9, in which this according to the left illustration of FIG. 1 has its minimum axial height and the two wall elements 9.1 and 9.2 are directly adjacent to each other, and in a second in the FIG. 1 locked state on the right and / or hold, in which the protective wall 9 has its maximum axial height and for this purpose connect the wall elements 9.1 and 9.2 in the direction of the machine axis MA together.

The return of the protective wall 2 from its second state to the first state takes place, for example, by lowering the rotor part 3.2. For this purpose, at least one stop 10 is provided on the lower rotor part 3.1, for example in the form of a machine axis MA concentrically enclosing ring. Against this stop 10 comes when lowering the upper rotor part 3.2, the wall element 9.2 with its lower edge to the plant, whereby it is inserted into the wall element 9.1 and after the complete lowering of the rotor part 3.2, the protective wall 9 is in its first state.

In the illustrated embodiment, the filling elements 6 are each provided with a probe-like, over the Füllelementunterseite wegstehende and with its axis coaxially with a Füllelementachse FA or parallel to the machine axis MA oriented functional element 6.1. This functional element 6.1, which, for example, a filling height determining probe and / or a gas or return gas tube and / or a Trinox tube, i. a tube which serves to introduce a controlled foaming of the contents in the headspace of the filled container 2 for a displacement of oxygen from this headspace, extends into the respective container 2 during the filling process.

For CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, each filling element 6 is assigned a closure element in the form of a flushing cap or flushing sleeve 11. During the filling operation, these flushing sleeves 11 are in a parking position within the space enclosed by the protective wall 9. For the CIP cleaning and / or disinfection, the rinsing sleeves 11 are moved into their working position, in such a way that each rinsing sleeve 11, the associated filling element 6 on its underside and in particular in the region of the local Füllgutabgabeöffnung tightly closes and also receives the functional element 6.1 like this in the FIG. 3 is shown.

The transfer of the purging sleeves from their in the FIG. 1 as well as in the FIG. 2 Parking position shown in the left in the FIG. 2 right or in the FIG. 3 shown working position in the illustrated embodiment by pivoting about one axis parallel to the machine axis MA and by simultaneously raising the purging sleeves 11 in the axial direction parallel to the machine axis MA.

The flushing sleeves 11 are each attached to one end of a pivot support in the form of a cranked pivot arm 12, which is mounted by means of a hinge pin 13 on the lower rotor part 3.1 about the axis parallel to the machine axis MA and at the same time in the direction of the machine axis MA on the bolt 13 slidably is guided.

For the joint pivoting of all purging sleeves 11 and their pivot arms 12, a control or pivot ring 14 is provided, which is arranged concentrically to the machine axis MA and for pivoting the purging sleeves 11 and the pivot arms 12 is rotatable about the machine axis MA by a predetermined angle like this in the FIGS. 4 and 5 indicated by the double arrow A. The pivot ring 14 is provided for example with a plurality of control slots, in each of which a bolt-shaped carrier 15 of each pivot arm 12 engages, in such a way that the rotational movement A of the pivot ring 14 causes the required pivotal movement of all pivot arms 12.

In the in the Figures 1 - 5 embodiment shown with its axis also oriented parallel to the machine axis MA bolt-like carrier 15 is provided on the flushing sleeve 11 remote end of the respective pivot arm 12. The mounting of the pivot arm 12 on the bolt 13 is located between the two ends of the pivot arm 12 and that at a distance from the purging sleeve 11, which is substantially greater than the distance from the driver 15th

At each filling position 4 a stroke curve 16 is provided according to the invention, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment of an inclined surface with an imaginary, oriented perpendicular to the machine axis MA plane an acute angle, ie an angle smaller than 90 ° and includes on the respective Swivel arm 12 slides during pivoting from the parking position to the working position, whereby the respective flushing sleeve 11 is raised at the same time in the direction of the machine axis MA with this pivoting. In the working position is the respective Flushing sleeve 11 is arranged coaxially with the axis FA of the associated filling element 6.

The conversion of the filling machine 1 from the operating state "filling" to the operating state "CIP cleaning and / or sterilization" is carried out, for example, so that after emptying the filling machine 1, ie when there are no more containers 2 at the filling positions 4, the upper rotor part 3.2 is lowered into the lowest position, whereby the collapse of the wall elements 9.1 and 9.2, the protective wall 1 is transferred in its first state. In immediately adjacent and interlocked wall elements 9.1, the upper rotor part 3.2 is moved back to an upper position, so then in the FIG. 2 state shown left is reached. Thereafter, all rinse sleeves 11 are pivoted by pivoting the pivot ring 14 in its working position and thereby raised, as shown in the FIG. 2 is shown on the right. It is understood that the pivoting and lifting movement of the purging sleeves 11 and the pivot arms 12 and the axial length having the protective wall 9 in its first state, are adapted to each other, that the purging sleeves 11 and the pivot arms 12 in this pivoting and Hubbewegung not strike against the lower edge of the protective wall 9, but always have a sufficient distance from the protective wall 9. Even when located in the working position rinsing sleeves 11, the protective wall 9 is spaced from the pivot arms 12.

After the positioning of the rinsing sleeves 11 in their working position, in which the rinsing sleeves 11 are initially axially spaced from the filling elements 6 and in particular also from their probe elements 6.1 and the respective pivot arm is supported on the lifting cam 16, the upper rotor part 3.2 is lowered, so that finally all the filling elements 6 abut with their underside sealed against a rinsing sleeve 11 and the probe-like functional elements 6.1 of the respective rinsing sleeve 11 are added. After the CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection has been carried out, the rinsing sleeves 11 are returned to their parking position, first by lifting the upper rotor part 3.2 and then by pivoting and lowering.

In the parking position, the purging sleeves 11 are accommodated within a space enclosed by the protective wall 9 or its imaginary extension. In the working position, the purging sleeves 11 are located outside of this space with respect to the machine axis MA.

It has been assumed above that the lifting or lowering of the rinse sleeves 11 when moving or pivoting between the parking position and the working position by lifting curves 16 takes place. Other designs are possible, for example according to the FIG. 6 in that the pivot arms 12 are mounted on a bearing element 17, which in turn can be raised and lowered in the direction of the machine axis MA, as indicated in this figure by the double arrow B. The bearing element 17 is then preferably a common for all locking elements or purging sleeves 11 and for all pivot arms 12 ring-like, the machine axis MA concentrically enclosing bearing element.

In the in the FIGS. 7 and 8th illustrated embodiment, the lifting movement of the pivot arm according to the present invention by means of a, within the bearing element 17th
arranged inclined plane 18 causes. Geometrically adapted to this inclined plane 18, for example, the front end of the pivot arm 12 is formed in a, to the inclined plane 18 matching angle and is preferably also on the inclined plane 18.

If now the flushing sleeve 11 are moved from its initial position to its working position, the pivot ring 14 moves from its initial position to the bearing element 17, wherein the pivot arm 12 is moved through the bearing element 12 therethrough. The movement of the swivel arm 12 results from the shortening of the length of the swivel arm 12 between the swivel ring 14 and the bearing element 17 from the initial length L1 to the final length L2.

Like from the Fig. 7 can be seen, the pivot arm 12 is in its initial position at least partially on the inclined plane 18, so that the pivot arm 12 is raised by its movement relative to the pivot arm 12 and thus also relative to the inclined plane 18.

Due to the geometric dimensions of the entire device and the movements of the pivot ring 14, the pivot arm 12 is thus a total of lifted, lengthwise shifted relative to the bearing element 17 and additionally rotated with its vertical axis about the axis of rotation of the bearing element 17. It is irrelevant in the sense of the present invention, in which order the individual movements take place, and which size the individual partial movements have.

With the construction according to the invention, the movement path of the rinsing sleeves 11 when moving between the parking position and the working position is in particular designed by the combination of the pivoting movement and the lifting movement such that the rinsing sleeves 11 even in the processing of the container with the lowest height even under the upper rotor part 3.2 Find space, and designed such that the lower edge of the protective wall 9 does not rest on the pivot arms 12 during CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection, and designed so that the protruding probe-like elements 6.1 of the filling elements 6 completely absorbed in the respective rinsing sleeve can be and in this case a liquid-tight connection between the purging sleeve 11 and the filling element 6 can be made.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible. Thus, it is also possible in particular to swap the position of the pivot axis and the driver 15 on the pivot arms 12, in such a way that the driver 15 is provided between the two ends of the respective pivot arm 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filling Machine

2

container

3

rotor

3.1, 3.2

rotor part

4

filling position

5

container carrier

6

filler

6.1

probe-like functional element

7

ring bowl

8th

support column

9

bulkhead

9.1, 9.2

wall element

10

attack

11

irrigation sleeve

12

Swivel carrier or swivel arm

13

Swivel and guide pins

14

swivel

15

takeaway

16

stroke curve

17

bearing element

18

Inclined plane

A

Pivoting movement of the pivot ring 14

B

Lifting movement of the bearing element 17th

FA

filling element

MA

machine axis

Claims (5)

1. Filling machine for filling containers (2) with a liquid filling product, including a plurality of filling positions (4) on a transport element which can be driven such as to circulate, for example, a rotor driven such as to circulate around a vertical machine axis (MA), wherein the transport element comprises a rotor with a lower rotor part (3.1), and wherein each filling position comprises at least one filling element (6), a container carrier (5) and a closure element, for example, in the form of a flushing cap or flushing sleeve (11), with said closure element (11) being moved, by pivoting around at least one axis parallel to the machine axis (MA), between a parked position and a working position, and said closure element (11) is in each case secured to one end of a pivoting carrier in the form of an offset pivot arm (12), which is mounted by means of a joint bolt (13) on the lower rotor part (3.1) such as to pivot around the axis parallel to the machine axis (MA) as well as, simultaneously, also being moved at the bolt (13) in a guided manner in the direction of the machine axis (MA), wherein each closure element can be moved by means of a drive (14, 15) between the parked position within the movement path of the filling elements (6) and the working position, in which the respective closure element (11) is arranged coaxially and below its allocated filling element (6), wherein a common actuator drive (14, 15) is provided for all the closure elements (11) of the filling machine (1), wherein, for the pivoting in common of all the closure elements (11) and their pivot arms (12) respectively, a control ring or pivot ring (14) is provided, which is arranged concentrically to the machine axis (MA) and can be rotated by a predetermined angle around the machine axis (MA) for the pivoting of the closure elements (11) and the pivot arms (12) respectively,

   a) characterised in that at each filling position (4) a lift curve (16) is provided, on which the respective pivot arm (12) slides out of the parked position into the working position during pivoting, as a result of which the respective flushing sleeve (11) is raised with this pivot arm (12) simultaneously also in the direction of the machine axis (MA), or

   b) that the pivot arm (12) is mounted on a bearing element (17),

   wherein, when the pivot ring (14) moves out of its initial position onto the bearing element (17) in such a way that the pivot arm is moved away through the bearing element (17), the lift movement of the pivot arm (12) is incurred by means of an oblique plane (18) inside the bearing element (17).
2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterised by a protective wall (9) extending along the movement path of the filling elements (6) and arranged inside this movement path preferably at the transport element or rotor (3), wherein the axial height which the protective wall (9) exhibits in the direction of the at least one machine axis (MA) can be reduced for the clearance of a movement space in which the closure elements (11) are moved between the parking position and the working position.
3. Method for controlling a filling machine configured according to any one of the preceding claims and of which the rotor (3) consists of a lower rotor part (3.1), preferably comprising the container carrier (5), and an upper rotor part (3.2) comprising the filling elements (6), which is provided on the lower rotor part (3.1) such as to be height-adjustable in the direction of the machine axis (MA), characterised in that the movement of the closure elements (11) between their parking position and their working position takes place with the upper rotor part (3.2) raised.
4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that the liquid-tight closure of the filling elements (6) with the associated closure elements (11) takes place by the lowering of the filling elements (6) onto the closure elements (11) in their working position, and specifically by the lowering of the upper rotor (3.2).
5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that, with the configuration of the filling machine (1) with a protective wall (9), the said wall is brought into a state with reduced axial height before the movement of the closure elements (11).

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