EP2847123B1 - Filling machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine according to the preamble of patent claim 1, and as shown in WO 2007/019590 A2 known.

Filling machines for filling of packaging materials, in particular bottles or similar containers, with a liquid product are known in numerous designs. In this case, it is also known, in particular, to provide flushing caps with a return channel for the medium used for rinsing, cleaning and / or disinfecting on the circulating transport element or rotor of the filling machine ( DE 10 2004 004 331 ). These flushing caps, one of which is associated with a filling element are by pivoting or extending from a starting position in which they are located during the filling outside the filling elements and the container to be filled, in a working position in which each flushing cap in sealing position against the associated filling element is brought and then forms an at least the dispensing opening of the filling element enclosing outwardly closed washing compartment or flushing channel during cleaning and / or disinfection, especially during a CIP cleaning and / or disinfection of the liquid and / or gas and / or vapor cleaning and / or sterilizing medium is flowed through. The arrangement of the Spülkappen the revolving transport element there is also a constructive freedom restricting very dense construction, which is not desirable in many cases.

Also known are filling machines of peripheral design for an antiseptic filling of packaging materials, such as bottles or other containers with a liquid product, especially for free jet filling. In order to avoid contamination of the filling material during filling, such filling machines have an insulator-forming housing (insulator) in which the filling positions and the packaging material to be filled at least move during the filling process. But such filling machines also require that regardless of the cleaning and / or sterilization of this closed with the rinsing caps filling elements and a treatment of the insulator space and all surfaces within this space with a cleaning and / or sterilization medium takes place, for example with a hot, vaporous medium, for example with water vapor. In this case, it must be avoided in particular that liquid cleaning medium or condensate of this medium collects in areas within the insulator space, for example by a lack of discharge. The problem here is, inter alia, that in many cases the drives for moving the Spülkappen between their starting position and working position are also located within the insulator space and form additional areas and angled areas where cleaning or sterilization medium or condensate can be deposited.

The object of the invention is to show a filling machine which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and allows high operational reliability a simplified structural design. To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 is formed.

"Packaging" are in the context of the invention, in particular containers, such as cans, bottles, tubes, Pourches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging, which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products.

"Free jet filling" in the sense of the invention is to be understood as meaning a process in which the liquid filling material flows into the filling material or container to be filled in a free filling jet, the packaging means with its packaging agent opening or opening not resting on the filling element, but instead of the filling element or filler . Is spaced from a local Füllgutauslass.

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 in schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum aseptischen Freistrahlfüllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut;
• Fig. 2 in schematischer Teildarstellung und im Schnitt eine der Füllpositionen der Füllmaschine der Figur 1, zusammen mit einer die Behälter beim Füllen aufnehmenden Einhausung (Isolator) während des Füllprozesses, bei einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Füllmaschine;
• Fig. 3 die Füllposition der Figur 2 während der Reinigung mit einem flüssigen und/oder gas- und/oder dampfförmigen Behandlungsmedium, z.B. während der CIP-Reinigung und/oder -Sterilisation bzw.;
• Fig. 4 eine Darstellung wie Figur 3 bei einer weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Füllmaschine;
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt entsprechend der Linie I - I der Figur 4;
• Fig. 6 und 7 Darstellungen ähnlich den Figuren 3 bzw. 4 bei weiteren Ausführungsformen der Erfindung.

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

• Fig. 1 in a schematic representation and in plan view of a filling machine of rotating design for aseptic free jet filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid filling material;
• Fig. 2 in a schematic partial view and in section one of the filling positions of the filling machine of FIG. 1 , together with an enclosure (insulator) receiving the containers during filling during the filling process, in one embodiment of the filling machine according to the invention;
• Fig. 3 the filling position of FIG. 2 during cleaning with a liquid and / or gas and / or vapor treatment medium, for example during CIP cleaning and / or sterilization;
• Fig. 4 a representation like FIG. 3 in a further embodiment of the filling machine according to the invention;
• Fig. 5 a section corresponding to the line I - I of FIG. 4 ;
• Fig. 6 and 7 Representations similar to the Figures 3 and 4 in further embodiments of the invention.

In the figures, 1 is a filling machine of rotating design for the aseptic free-jet filling of containers 2 in the form of bottles with a liquid product. The filling machine 1 has, as such a circumferential design, a rotor 3 which can be driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis MA, is distributed around its circumference at uniform angular intervals about the machine axis MA and into which the same radial distance from the machine axis MA a plurality of filling positions 4 are formed. The packaging to be filled in the form of containers 2 are supplied via an outer conveyor 5 (arrow B) and transferred to a container inlet 6 each to a filling position 4. The filled containers 2 are removed at a container outlet 7 the filling positions 4 and fed via an outer conveyor 8 for further treatment (arrow C). At least on the angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor 3 between the container inlet 6 and the container outlet 7, the filling positions 4 and the container 2 provided on these move in an insulator or in an enclosure 9, whose volume is kept as small as possible.

The FIG. 2 shows one of the filling positions 4 as well as the housing 9 in more detail in an embodiment of the filling machine 1. Each filling position 4 includes, inter alia, a filling element 10, which is arranged on the circumference of the rotor 3 and the circumference of a rotor element 3.1, above this rotor element 3.1 such that only a filler neck 11 of the filling element 10 projects beyond the underside of the rotor element 3.1. The rotor element 3.1 is formed in the form of a circular disc in the illustrated embodiment and lies with its top and bottom in each case in a plane which is cut perpendicularly from the machine axis MA.

The filling element 10 is formed in the usual manner known to those skilled in the art, namely. with a liquid channel, not shown, which is connected to an upper end with a common for all filling elements 10 of the filling machine 1, provided on the rotor 3 and during filling with the filling material at least partially filled Füllgutkessel 12 and at the lower end of the Füllgutstutzens 11 in a discharge opening 13th (Füllgutauslass) opens, from which flows the liquid medium during filling the respective container 2 through its container opening in the free jet. In the interior of the liquid channel, a liquid valve is provided with which the amount of product introduced into the container 2 is controlled.

Each filling position 4 also has below the filler neck 11 to a container carrier 14, which in the illustrated embodiment at a the Machine axis MA concentrically enclosing circular cylindrical rotor element 3.2 is fixed and stands away from the relative to the machine axis MA radially outer side of this rotor element 3.2 radially to the machine axis. At the respective container carrier 14 of the container to be filled 2 is held with a formed below the container mouth flange hanging, in such a way that the axis of the container 2 is arranged coaxially or substantially coaxially with a parallel to the machine axis MA oriented Füllelementachse FA and the container mouth in the direction of the Füllelementachse FA is spaced from the lower end of the filler neck 11. At least during the filling process, which takes place on the angular region of the rotary movement of the rotor 3 between the container inlet 6 and the container outlet 7, the lower end of the filler neck 11, the container carrier 14 and held on this container 2 are housed in an insulator interior 15 of the housing 9 , which is acted upon (insulator interior) with a sterile gas and / or vapor medium, for example with sterile air, in such a way that in the insulator interior 15, a flow of the sterile vapor and / or gaseous medium, inter alia, in such a way that this medium exits the container inlet 6 and the container outlet 7, where the enclosure 9 is open or ends.

In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure 9 delimiting the insulator space 15 is formed by a housing part which is provided on the rotor 3 and encircling it and which consists essentially of the two rotor elements 3.1 and 3.2, and a housing part 16 which does not encircle the rotor Machine frame of the filling machine 1 is provided and which labyrinth seal overlapping connected to the relation to the machine axis MA radially outer region of the rotor element 3.1 or to the lower end of the rotor element 3.2. In the illustrated embodiment, the Einhausungselement consists essentially of a relative to the machine axis MA radially outer and the machine axis MA annularly enclosing housing element 16.1 with an upper, radially inwardly guided and the transition to the rotor element 3.1 forming annular portion 16.1.1 and from a to the lower end of the housing element 16 subsequent housing element 16.2. The latter forms the bottom of the insulator space 15, with an inclined bottom surface for discharging liquid ingredients. The bottom surface is inclined in this embodiment so that it falls radially outwardly with respect to the machine axis MA.

A special feature of the filling machine 1 is that the individual filling elements 10 are associated with such Spülkappen 17, which do not rotate with the rotor 3. In the in the Figures 1 - 3 1, each flushing cap 17 includes, inter alia, a hollow shaft 18, which is arranged with a part of its length in the insulator space 5, sealed at its lower end led out of the insulator space through the housing element 16.2 and there rotatable or pivotable about its parallel to the machine axis with a rotary coupling 19 MA arranged shaft axis WA is stored. At the upper, arranged in the insulator space 15 end of the shaft 18 is provided with a radially projecting arm 20 which forms a Spülkappenelement 21 with a Spülkappenöffnung 22 at its free end. The latter is connected via a discharge channel 23, which is partially formed in the arm 20 and partially in the shaft 18, with a fluid space 19.1 of the rotary joint 19 and via this fluid space 19.1 with a return line 24. It is understood that the channel 23 is open only at the Spülkappenöffnung 22 and at its exit into the liquid space 19.1.

In the in the Figures 2 and 3 1, the shafts 18 are arranged such that the axes WA are offset radially outward relative to the filler element axes FA relative to the machine axis MA. The Spülkappen 17 are provided with its axis WA at the same angular intervals or in the same pitch around the machine axis MA distributed as the filling elements 10, so that with the exception of the container inlet 6 and the container outlet 7 each filling element 10, a flushing cap 17 is assigned. At the container inlet 6 and the container outlet 7, the rinsing caps 17 are missing in order to allow a radial feeding and removal of the container 2 there.

By acting on the lower, led out of the insulator space 15 end of the respective shaft 18 drive is this about its axis WA by an angle of 90 ° or about 90 ° between a starting position, in the filling operation, the arms 20 and the Spülkappenelemente 21st outside the trajectory of the circulating filling elements 10, container carrier 14 and container 2 are arranged, and a working position pivotally, in which the arms 20 are located with their Spülkappenelementen 21 each below a filler neck 11. By a feed movement in the Füllelementachse FA the relevant flushing cap can be brought into sealing position on the filler neck 10, so that the Spülkappenöffnung 22 close to the discharge opening 13 of the respective filling element 10 connects, for example, with the cooperation of a seal. This feeding for the tight connection of the Spülkappen 17 to the filling elements 10 is carried out by lifting the Spülkappen 17 and / or by lowering the rotor 3 in the direction of the machine axis MA. The cleaning and / or sterilization medium flowing through the liquid channel or other channels of the filling elements 10 during the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, as well as other steam and / or gaseous cleaning and / or sterilizing medium as well as any condensate which may accumulate, pass through the channels 23 of the Spülkappen 17 derived in the return channel 24. The return channel 24 can be provided jointly for all rinsing caps 17 or in each case for a group of several rinsing caps 17, specifically when the fluid space 19.1 is designed as a ring channel common to all rinsing caps 17 or a group of such rinsing caps.

Both the drive for pivoting the Spülkappen 17 and the drive for delivering the Spülkappen 17 to the filler neck 11 and the removal of the Spülkappen 17 of the filler neck 11 are located outside of the enclosure 9 and the insulator space 15th

In order to detect all filling elements 10 in the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization as well as in the treatment with another vapor and / or gaseous medium, it is in the in the Figures 2 and 3 In the embodiment shown, it is necessary to carry out the respective treatment in at least two steps, wherein the rotor 3 is rotated between the treatment steps so far that during the second treatment step those filling elements 10 are located on a flushing cap 17, which happens to be in the preceding treatment step at the container inlet 6 and at the Container outlet 7 were where the Spülkappen 17 missing. It is understood that the cleaning, in particular also the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization takes place in each case standing rotor 3 and this in such a Rotary position is that the Spülkappen 17 can be arranged under a filler neck 11 each.

The FIG. 4 shows in a representation similar FIG. 3 an embodiment that differs from the embodiment of the Figures 2 and 3 only differs in that the shafts 18 are arranged with their axes WA relative to the machine axis MA radially within the movement path on which the filling elements 10 rotate with their Füllelementachsen FA during the filling operation. In order to enable this and in particular also the pivoting of the rinsing caps 17 between the starting position and the working position, the container carriers 14a corresponding to the container carriers 14 are corresponding to FIG FIG. 5 designed elbow-like.

More in detail, the container carrier 14a are formed such that their attachment to the rotor element 3.1 and its cooperating with the containers 2 for holding portion offset relative to the rotational direction A of the rotor 3 by an angular amount against each other, thereby pivoting the arms 20 with their Spülkappenelementen 21 under the filler neck 11 is made possible. In detail, each angle-like container carrier 14 is held at the free end of a leg via a bolt 25 on the rotor element 3.1.

Overall, a corresponding container support 14a and a corresponding flushing cap 17a in the FIG. 5 shown in more detail.

The FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the filling positions 4, which differs from the filling positions of FIGS. 2 to 5 differs in that the container support 14b are pivotally mounted about a container support axis BA parallel to the machine axis MA on a shaft 26, namely pivotally between a working position in which the respective container support 14b is below the filler neck 11, and a non-use position in which the container carrier 14b laterally from the filler neck 11, that is offset relative to this relative to the machine axis MA radially inwardly. In this embodiment, instead of the flushing caps 17, flushing caps 17b are provided whose shafts 18 are arranged with their axis at the same radial distance from the machine axis MA as the filling element axes FA, so that during cleaning and / or sterilization, in particular also during the CIP process. Cleaning and / or sterilization Each filling element 10 with its filling element axis FA is arranged coaxially with the axis of a flushing cap 17b or its shaft 18. At the upper end of each shaft 18 is performed directly with the Spülkappenöffnung 22 forming Spülkappenelement 21. The shafts 18 are axially displaceable (double arrow D) and sealed by the housing element 16.2 performed. The lower end of the channel 23 of each shaft 18 opens into a fluid channel 27, to which in turn the return line 24, for example in the form of a flexible conduit for discharging the cleaning and / or sterilization medium is connected. The fluid channel 27 is preferably a common annular channel common to all the flushing caps 17b on a circumferential support ring 28 concentrically surrounding the machine axis MA and cooperating with a lifting device 29 for lifting and lowering all the flushing caps 17b. The lifting device 29 is formed for example by at least one lifting cylinder.

The cleaning and / or disinfecting the filling elements 10 takes place in this embodiment in the form that with stopped rotor 3 and with their Füllelementachsen FA co-axial with the axes of the Spülbappen 17b arranged filling elements 10, the container carrier 14b pivoted into its non-use position and then with the lifting device 29 all scavenging caps 17b as far retracted or raised in the insulator space 15 that they sealed with their Spülkappenelementen 21, ie in sealing position against a filler neck 11 abut. The cleaning and / or sterilizing medium flowing through the filling elements 10 is in turn discharged via the channels 23 and the fluid channel 27 and the return 24. After cleaning and / or sterilizing, the flushing caps 17b are moved back to their lower starting position with a large stroke, so that they are below the movement path with their flushing cap element 21, on which the containers 2 suspended from the container supports 14b rotate during filling operation. Before receiving the filling operation, of course, the container carrier 17b are in turn pivoted back into their working position.

The FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the Spülkappen 17c on the housing element 16.1 for delivery to the filler neck 11 of the filling elements 10 and for removing these filler neck 11 relative to the machine axis MA radially displaceable (double arrow E) are. It can also be of particular advantage if the rinsing caps 17c can additionally be lifted and lowered in the direction of the filling element axis FA (double arrow F).

The invention has been described above in various embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope defined by the following claims. Thus, for example, it is possible to provide a closure for the flushing caps, which closes the flushing cap opening 22 during the filling operation. In the FIG. 4 such a closure 30 is shown. In this embodiment, for example, the housing part 16 is then formed with a further, inner, the machine axis MA concentrically enclosing annular housing element 16.3, on which the closures 30 are held. The rotor element 3.2 can then be carried out correspondingly shortened.

All embodiments have in common that the Spülkappen 17, 17a - 17c are not provided on the rotating rotor 3 or on elements of this rotor, but on a not rotating with the rotor element of the filling machine, namely in the illustrated embodiment of the housing part 16th

All embodiments also have in common that when using an enclosure 9 enclosing an insulator space 9, all actuators or their elements for advancing and removing the flushing caps 17, 17a-17c are arranged on the filling elements 10 or of the filling elements 10 outside of the insulator space 15 are. This offers, inter alia, the additional advantage that in the necessary cleaning of the insulator space, the number of there, to be cleaned and / or sterilized elements is greatly reduced and in particular areas can be avoided, where, for example, in a cleaning and / or Sterilization of the isolator chamber 15 in an undesirable and impairing the cleaning and / or sterilization quality way could collect cleaning and / or sterilization medium and / or from the cleaning and / or sterilization medium separating condensate.

All embodiments also have in common that for the removal of the cleaning and / or sterilization medium, in particular also in the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization no aseptic or structurally complicated rotary connection between the rotor 3 and the machine frame of the filling machine 1 not rotating with the rotor is required, but the discharge of the cleaning and / or sterilization medium in the manner described above over the not provided on the rotor 3 flushing caps 17, 17a - 17c takes place.

The invention has been explained above exclusively with an example of free-jet filling. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to all counterpressure filling methods. The necessary use of a corresponding filling valve is obvious to the person skilled in the art, the necessary measures are familiar to him, so that it is possible to dispense with a detailed representation of a corresponding exemplary embodiment at this point.

Furthermore, the invention has been described above exclusively by way of example for neck handling containers, that is to say containers which are held at least during a section of the production process on a neck ring mounted below the mouth. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to those containers which do not have a neck ring and thus stand up on their container bottom during the production process. The measure necessary for this purpose, namely to form the container carrier not as a receiving element for the neck ring of a container, but as a stand plate for receiving the container bottom has long been known to the skilled person since in the art container filling machines are known both in Halsring- and in floor design , The measures required for this modification are familiar to him, so that at this point can be dispensed with a detailed representation of a corresponding embodiment. In the context of the present invention, therefore, depending on the application, the term container carrier is understood to mean either a neck ring receptacle or else a container pedestal.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filling Machine

2

container

3

rotor

3.1, 3.2

rotor member

4

filling position

5

external transporter

6

container inlet

7

container outlet

8th

external transporter

9

Enclosure or insulator

10

filler

11

filling

12

Füllgutkessel

13

discharge opening

14, 14a, 14b

container carrier

15

isolator room

16

casing part

16.1, 16.2, 16.3

case element

16.1.1

section

17, 17a - 17c

flushing cap

18

wave

19

rotary joint

19.1

fluid channel

20

poor

21

Spülkappenelement

22

Spülkappenöffnung

23

channel

24

returns

25

bolt

26

wave

27

fluid channel

28

carrier

29

lifting device

30

shutter

A

Direction of rotation of the rotor

B, C

Transport direction of the conveyors 5 and 8

D

Stroke of the flushing caps 17b

E, F

Stroke of the flushing caps 17c

FA

filling element

MA

machine axis

WA

Axis of the shaft 18

Claims (10)

1. Filling machine, in particular for the aseptic filling of packaging means (2), for example, bottles or similar containers, with a fluid filling product, with a drivable transport element (3) circulating about at least one machine axis (MA) and with a plurality of filling positions (4) arranged at the transport element (3) with, in each case, at least one filling element (10) forming a discharge opening (13) for the filling product, and with a container carrier (14, 14a), as well as flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) arranged at the filling positions (4), which can be moved between a starting position, in which they are arranged outside the movement space of the filling elements (10) and the packaging means (2) located at these elements during the filling operation, and a working position, and specifically for forming a sealing position of the respective flushing cap (17, 17a-17c) against the filling element (10) in the working position, and for forming a flushing and/or cleaning path, enclosing at least one discharge opening (13) of the filling element (10), wherein the flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) are provided at a part (16) of the filling machine (1) which does not circulate with the transport element (3), characterised in that the filling machine (1) is configured with a housing (9), delimiting an isolator space (15), in which the filling elements (4) and the packaging means (2) are accommodated at least during the filling, wherein the flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) are provided at a housing part (16) which is not circulating with the transport element (3), wherein the drives for the movement and/or placement of the flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) are located between their starting position and working position outside the housing and the isolator space (15).
2. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims [sic], characterized in that the flushing caps (17, 17a), for the movement between their starting position and the working position, can be pivoted about at least one pivot axis (WA), for example about a pivot axis (WA) oriented parallel to the at least one machine axis (MA), and/or by movement in an axis parallel to the machine axis (MA) or a filling element axis (FA) of the respective filling element (10).
3. Filling machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the pivot axis (WA) of the flushing caps (17, 17a) is located outside or inside a motion path on which the filling elements (10) circulate with their filling element axes (FA).
4. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flushing caps (17c) are capable of linear movement at least in one direction.
5. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the placement of the flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) into the sealing position at the filling elements (10) is effected by relative movement between the filling elements (10) and the flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) in an axial direction parallel or essentially parallel to the filling element axis (FA) or pivot axis (WA).
6. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flushing caps (17, 17a-17c) are configured in each case with a return channel (23) for the cleaning and/or sterilisation medium.
7. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (9) comprises the housing part (16) which does not circulate with the transport element, and a housing part (3.1, 3.2) which does circulate with the transport element (3), and that the transition between these housing parts is formed by the housing parts overlapping at that point.
8. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by closures (30) for closing the flushing caps (17a) in their starting position.
9. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is configured for free-jet filling.
10. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is configured for a filling under counter-pressure.

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