EP2917146B1 - Device for filling or emptying of a container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling or emptying a container with a particular intended for consumption liquid according to the preamble of claims 1 and 2.

For filling a container, in particular a bottle, with a liquid intended for consumption, in particular a beverage, a liquid-tight and gas-tight, balloon-like body can be used in relation to the liquid. This balloon-like body encloses a rod, which is arranged on a holder. The basic principle for filling the container is that the balloon-like body is first introduced into the container together with the rod. The balloon-like body is then inflated with air until it rests against the inner surface of the container. Thus, by the fully inflated balloon-like body completely fills the interior of the container, no air is in the container. Subsequently, the air is removed again from the balloon-like body. This creates between the balloon-like body and the inner surface of the container a gradually increasing space, which is filled with the liquid.

For emptying a container, in particular a bottle, which is filled with a liquid intended for consumption, in particular beverage and in particular with sparkling wine in the bottle fermentation, a liquid-tight and gas-tight, balloon-like body can be used with respect to the liquid. This balloon-like body encloses a rod, which is arranged on a holder. The basic principle for emptying the container is that the balloon-like body is first introduced into the container together with the rod. The balloon-like body is then inflated with air, so that the gradually increasing volume of the balloon-like body pushes the liquid out of the container until the balloon-like body rests against the inner surface of the container. Finally, when the fully inflated balloon-like body completely fills the interior of the container, all the liquid in the container has been conveyed out.

The problem with the practical use of this filling or emptying system is that the containers often have different distances between the upper opening of the container and the lower bottom of the container due to production. This phenomenon occurs, for example, in bottles which have an upwardly curved bottom. The height of this upward curved floor is usually different from bottle to bottle as a result of production. If the ground is too deep, the bar reaches with his lower end not quite down to the ground with the consequence that there forms a gap, which can not be filled by the balloon-like body. On the other hand, if the floor is too high, the bar as a whole is too long, so that the upper support of the bar can not properly seat on the opening of the container. Or if the insertion force of the rod in the container is too large, it can even cause damage.

• In der US 5,667,110 wird eine Vorrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff der Ansprüche 1 und 2 in einem Getränkeausgabesystern beschrieben, das in ein vollständig gefülltes Getränkebehältnis eingesetzt werden kann. Das Getränk kann ausgegeben werden, indem eine Blase, die gasbefüllbar ist, als Teil des Getränkeausgabesystems in das Behältnis eingesetzt wird und sukzessive mit Gas befüllt wird; das Verdrängungsvolumen der Blase drückt dabei das Getränk über eine Auslassleitung aus dem Behältnis. Die Gasbefüllung wird über ein im Aufsatz befindliches Ventilsystem gesteuert.

The following prior art is known in the art:

• In the US 5,667,110 a device according to the preamble of claims 1 and 2 is described in a beverage dispensing system, which can be used in a completely filled beverage container. The beverage can be dispensed by inserting a bladder, which is gas-fillable, into the container as part of the beverage dispensing system and successively filling it with gas; the displacement volume of the bubble presses the beverage via an outlet line from the container. The gas filling is controlled by a valve system located in the attachment.

Based on this, the object of the invention is therefore to create a device for filling or emptying a container with a liquid intended in particular for consumption, which can also be used in containers whose bottoms have different heights.

This object is achieved by the devices having the features of independent claims 1 and 2.

According to a first alternative, a device is provided for filling or emptying a container with a particular intended for consumption liquid, which can be used reliably even if the soils have different heights in the containers to be filled, so that according to the distance between the Opening of the container and the bottom of the container varies. The essence of the invention consists in the fact that the projecting into the interior of the container rod does not have a predetermined, constant length, but that the length of the rod is variable, so that the system can independently adjust to different heights. This ensures that, on the one hand after the inflation of the balloon-like body, the interior of the container is completely filled by this balloon-like body, and that on the other hand can occur in too high soils no damage, the holder always in the predetermined position on the opening of the Container sits. The automatic variability of the length of the rod thus has the advantage that trouble-free filling or emptying of containers is possible in a very safe and technically simple manner. The lower end of the balloon-like body is here on the set lower end of the rod, so that the Ablandsveränderung between the lower end of the rod and the support can be done by inflation of the balloon-like body or vice versa by draining the expansion medium.

In this case, the elements of the rod are freely movable with a possible telescopability (that is, for example, without an additional spring force). Or if the rod has a constant length, it is also freely longitudinally movably guided in the upper holder without, for example, the action of a spring force. Because the basic idea is that by the determination of the lower end of the balloon-like body at the lower end of the rod when inflating the balloon-like body automatically acts a force in the longitudinal direction of the rod, which extends this telescopically long or at the longitudinally displaceable mounting in the holder - Move deeper into the container until the bottom of the rod hits the bottom of the container. Ultimately, this means that virtually the balloon-like body acts as an adjusting element for changing the distance between the support for the rod and the lower end of the rod. When the air is released from the balloon-like body again, an effect in the reverse direction, d. H. the rod is retracted again.

According to a second alternative of the device according to the invention for filling or emptying a container with a particular intended for consumption liquid is disclosed that it has a rod arranged on a support, as well as a rod enveloping the liquid liquid-tight and gas-tight, balloon-like body. The rod is introduced with the balloon-like body in an opening of the container and fixed after the complete insertion of the holder on or in the opening of the container. After insertion, the balloon-like body is filled with an expansion medium and inflated so that it rests against the inner circumferential surface of the container. In this case, the distance between the lower end of the rod and the upper holder according to the invention is advantageous depending on the distance between the lower bottom and the upper opening of the container automatically variable, because the lower end of the balloon-like body is attached to the lower end of the rod and the rod in the initial position has a spring-loaded maximum distance between the lower end of the rod and the upper bracket. Upon impact of the lower end of the rod on the bottom of the container, the rod against the spring force back so that the distance between the lower end of the rod and the upper bracket decreases.

Now, when the rod is inserted into the container, at some point the lower end of the rod hits the bottom of the container. Until the final mounting of the holder on the opening of the container, the distance between the holder and the lower end of the rod shortens permanently, the lower end of the rod is permanently on the bottom of the container to the plant. Also in this embodiment, the lower end of the balloon-like body can be firmly connected to the lower end of the rod. The balloon-like body is thus fixed at its lowest point at the lower end of the rod. Under the "rod" is the entirety consisting of the actual rod and a possible extension element to understand.

According to a further embodiment, the rod may be telescopic. This means that the rod is designed in several parts, the rod elements telescopically pulled apart and - vice versa - can be moved together. By telescoping the length of the rod can be very easily change or the length of the rod changes independently during use. The telescoping is to be understood in the most general sense.

According to the above development, a sleeve is pushed onto the lower end of the rod. This sleeve thus defines the lower end of the rod. By moving the sleeve on the actual rod whose length changes.

An alternative to this suggests that the lower end of the rod is tubular, wherein a rod is guided in the interior of this lower pipe section. This means that in this embodiment, the rod protrudes from the lower end of the rod. Of course, the rod at the lower end may have a corresponding impact body.

As an alternative to the above-described telescoping of the rod, it can be guided longitudinally displaceable in its holder according to a further development. This means that it is assumed that a rod which has a constant length from its lower end to its upper end. However, by this bar is guided longitudinally movable in the holder, thereby the distance between the holder and the lower end of the rod can be changed. For example, if the distance to be reduced, the rod is pulled out of the holder. Conversely, as the distance increases, the rod is moved in the reverse direction.

Fig. 1a

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch ein Behältnis in Form einer Flasche nach dem Aufsetzen der Befüll- oder Entleervorrichtung, wobei die endgültige Position mit vollständigem Aufblähen des ballonartigen Körpers noch nicht erreicht ist;

Fig. 1b

eine Darstellung entsprechend der in Fig. 1a nach vollständigem Aufblähen des ballonartigen Körpers;

Fig. 1c

eine Darstellung entsprechend der in Fig. 1b, jedoch mit einer Flasche mit einem höheren Boden;

Fig. 2a und 2b

eine Darstellung entsprechend der in Fig. 1b und 1c mit niedrigerem und höherem Boden in einer zweiten Ausführungsform des Befüll- oder Entleersystems;

Fig. 3a und 3b

eine Darstellung entsprechend der in Fig. 1b und 1c mit niedrigerem und höherem Boden in einer dritten Ausführungsform des Befüll- oder Entleersystems.

Embodiments of a device according to the invention for filling or emptying a container with a particular intended for consumption liquid are described below with reference to the drawings. In these shows:

Fig. 1a

a schematic sectional view through a container in the form of a bottle after placing the filling or emptying device, wherein the final position is not reached with complete inflation of the balloon-like body;

Fig. 1b

a representation according to the in Fig. 1a after complete inflation of the balloon-like body;

Fig. 1c

a representation according to the in Fig. 1b but with a bottle with a higher bottom;

Fig. 2a and 2b

a representation according to the in Fig. 1b and 1c lower and higher floor in a second embodiment of the filling or emptying system;

Fig. 3a and 3b

a representation according to the in Fig. 1b and 1c lower and higher floor in a third embodiment of the filling or emptying system.

A container 1 in the form of a bottle has a lower bottom 2 and an upper opening 3. The bottom 2 is curved upwards.

This container 1 should be filled with a liquid, namely a drink. Alternatively, there is already a liquid in the container 1, which is to be emptied from the container 1.

• Zum Befüllen des Behältnisses 1 ist eine Befüllvorrichtung vorgesehen. Diese besteht zunächst aus einer oberen Halterung 4, welche auf die Öffnung 3 des Behältnisses 1 aufgesetzt wird. An dieser Halterung 4 ist ein Stab 5 angeordnet, welcher nach unten ragt. Schließlich ist ein ballonartiger Körper 6 vorgesehen, welcher über den Stab 5 gezogen ist und mit seinem oberen Ende ebenfalls an der Halterung 4 festgelegt ist und mit seinem unteren Ende am unteren Ende des Stabes 5 befestigt ist.

Hereinafter, the case of filling the container 1 will first be shown and described:

• For filling the container 1, a filling device is provided. This consists initially of an upper bracket 4, which is placed on the opening 3 of the container 1. At this holder 4, a rod 5 is arranged, which projects downwards. Finally, a balloon-like body 6 is provided, which is pulled over the rod 5 and is also fixed with its upper end to the holder 4 and is secured at its lower end to the lower end of the rod 5.

The peculiarity of this system is that on the lower end of the rod 5, a sleeve 7 is pushed. At the lower end of this on the rod 5 freely displaceable sleeve 7, the lower end of the balloon-like body 6 is fixed.

• Nachdem die Befüllvorrichtung mit ihrem Stab 5 und dem ballonartigen Körper 6 von oben durch die Öffnung 3 hindurch in das Behältnis 1 eingeführt worden ist, so daß die Halterung 4 auf der Öffnung 3 des Behältnisses 1 in der vorgeschriebenen Position zu liegen kommt, wird der ballonartige Körper 6 mit Luft gefüllt und entsprechend aufgebläht. Die Zuführung der Luft kann dabei über den - dann rohrförmig ausgebildeten - Stab 5 über entsprechende Öffnungen oder über die Halterung 4 erfolgen. Die Situation vor dem vollständigen aufblähen des ballonartigen Körpers 6 ist in Fig. 1 a dargestellt.

The mode of operation for filling the container 1 is as follows:

• After the filling has been introduced with its rod 5 and the balloon-like body 6 from above through the opening 3 into the container 1, so that the holder 4 comes to rest on the opening 3 of the container 1 in the prescribed position, the balloon-like Body 6 filled with air and inflated accordingly. The supply of air can be done via the - then tubular - rod 5 via corresponding openings or on the holder 4. The situation before the full inflation of the balloon-like body 6 is in Fig. 1 a shown.

Since the bottom 2 of the container 1 is relatively deep, due to the inflating movement of the balloon-like body 6, the sleeve 7 on the rod 5 is moved down until the lower end of the sleeve 7 impinges on the bottom 2. This situation is in Fig. 1b shown.

This means as a result that the balloon-like body 6 completely fills the interior of the container 1 and thus there is no gap in the container 1 between the balloon-like body 6 and the inner wall of the container 1, which is filled with air. Subsequently, the air is allowed to escape from the balloon-like body 6 again. The space created thereby within the container 1 fills with the liquid, without that this liquid has come into contact with any air. Finally, the balloon-like body 6 is pulled out of the container 1 again.

The Fig. 1c shows the situation of a container 1, the bottom 2 is higher than the bottom 2 in the embodiment of the Fig. 1 a and 1 b. This means that in this case of the higher bottom 2, the sleeve 7 is not moved so far along the rod 5 down as in the above-described embodiments. The sleeve 7 thus defines a length compensation between the upper opening 3 and the lower bottom 2 of the container 1 with respect to the length of the rod fifth

In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 7 is moved on its rod 5 due to the inflation movement of the balloon-like body 6. But it is also conceivable that between the rod 5 and the sleeve 7 a - not shown - spring is arranged, which the sleeve 7 moves in the maximum extendable position. This position defines the maximum length of the bar system.

If here the filling device with rod 5 and sleeve 7 and with the balloon-like body 6 inserted into the container 1, the lower end of the sleeve 7 comes in any case on the floor 2 to the plant. Contrary to the spring force while the sleeve 7 moves back again until the holder 4 comes to rest on the opening 3 of the container 1 properly. How far the sleeve 7 is moved back against the spring force depends on the height of the bottom 2. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1b with the relatively low bottom 2, the return movement of the sleeve 7 is less than in the embodiment in FIG Fig. 1c in which the bottom 2 is higher and thus the sleeve 7 is pushed back more.

• In dem Behältnis 1 befindet sich eine Flüssigkeit. Diese soll aus dem Behältnis 1 befördert werden. Zu diesem Zweck wird der ballonartige Körper 6 mit seinem Stab 5 eingeführt und mit Luft aufgebläht. Die Zuführung der Luft kann dabei über den - dann rohrförmig ausgebildeten - Stab 5 über entsprechende Öffnungen oder über die Halterung 4 erfolgen. Dadurch wird die im Behältnis 1 befindliche Flüssigkeit aus der oberen Öffnung 3 des Behältnisses 1 über entsprechende Ausführöffnungen in der Halterung 4 hinausgedrückt.

The situation for emptying the container 1 is as follows:

• In the container 1 is a liquid. This should be transported from the container 1. For this purpose, the balloon-like body 6 is inserted with its rod 5 and inflated with air. The supply of air can be done via the - then tubular - rod 5 via corresponding openings or on the holder 4. As a result, the liquid contained in the container 1 is pushed out of the upper opening 3 of the container 1 via corresponding outlets in the holder 4.

Again, when emptying the container 1, the situation may arise that the bottoms 2 of the containers 1 due to production have different heights. By length compensation by means of the sleeve 7 so that a safe emptying of containers 1 with different heights 2 is possible because the length of the rod 5 adapts. The constructive embodiments for moving the sleeve 7, as previously described in connection with the filling of the container 1, are provided here accordingly.

Another embodiment of the filling and emptying is in the Fig. 2a and 2b shown. The basic principle is the same as in the first embodiment in the Fig. 1a to 1c , except that instead of the sleeve 7, a small rod 8 is provided, which is guided in the lower tubular end of the rod 5. This rod 8 can also be guided freely in the rod 5, or between the rod 5 and the rod 8, a spring is arranged, which moves the rod 8 due to the spring force maximum. The basic operation corresponds to the operation of the first embodiment of the Fig. 1a to 1c ,

Yet another embodiment is in the Fig. 3a and 3b shown. In this embodiment, the rod 5 has a constant length and is not as in the embodiment of Fig. 1a to 1d through a sleeve or as in the embodiment of Fig. 2a and 2b Extendable by a rod 8. Rather, the upper end of the rod 5 is slidably mounted in the holder 4. This can be done - again - either by the balloon 5, the bar 5 is moved downwards until it hits the bottom 2 of the container 1, or between the holder 4 and the rod 5, a spring device is arranged, which moves in the initial position, the rod 5 at most down until it hits the bottom 2 of the container 1 and thereby moved back. Thus, this operation corresponds to the basic principle of the functioning, as in the context of embodiments of the Fig. 1a to 1c and 2a and 2b have been described.

It shows Fig. 3a the situation with a lower ground 2 while Fig. 3b shows the situation with a higher floor 2, in which the rod 5 is not retracted so deep into the container 1, as he previously pushes on the higher floor 2.

As previously stated, the lower end of the balloon-like body 6 is fixed to the lower end of the rod 5. As a result, there is no risk that the rod 5 can pierce the balloon-like body 6. Because this case could quite well occur in a loose arrangement of the balloon-like body 6 on the rod 5. In the invention, however, is extended by the attachment of the balloon-like body 6 at the lower end of the rod 5 by the inflation of the balloon-like body 6 of this rod 5 controlled.

Bezuszeichenliste

1

container

2

ground

3

opening

4

bracket

5

Rod

6

balloon-like body

7

shell

8th

pole

Claims (6)

1. Device for filling or for emptying a container (1) with a liquid that is in particular intended for consumption,
   comprising a rod (5) arranged on a holder (4) as well as comprising a balloon-type body (6) that is enveloping the rod (5) and is liquid-tight relative to the liquid as well as gas-tight,
   wherein the rod with the balloon-type body (6) is insertable into an opening (3) of the container (1) and, after complete insertion, the holder (4) is secured on or in the opening (3) of the container (1), and wherein, after insertion, the balloon-type body (6) is fillable and inflatable with an expansion medium such
   that the balloon-type body (6) contacts the inner wall surface of the container (1), wherein
   the distance between the lower end of the rod (5) and the upper holder (4) is automatically changeable depending on the distance between the lower base (2) and the top opening (3) of the container 1, wherein the lower end of the balloon-type body (6) is attached to the lower end of the rod (5), characterized in that the distance change between the lower end of the rod (5) and the holder (4) is effected by inflation of the balloon-type body (6) as well as - in reverse - by discharging the expansion medium.
2. Device for filling or for emptying a container (1) with a liquid that is in particular intended for consumption,
   comprising a rod (5) arranged on a holder (4) as well as comprising a balloon-type body (6) that is enveloping the rod (5) and is liquid-tight relative to the liquid as well as gas-tight,
   wherein the rod with the balloon-type body (6) is insertable into an opening (3) of the container (1) and, after complete insertion, the holder (4) is secured on or in the opening (3) of the container (1), and wherein, after insertion, the balloon-type body (6) is fillable and inflatable with an expansion medium such
   that the balloon-type body (6) contacts the inner wall surface of the container (1), wherein
   the distance between the lower end of the rod (5) and the upper holder (4) is automatically changeable depending on the distance between the lower base (2) and the top opening (3) of the container 1, wherein the lower end of the balloon-type body (6) is attached to the lower end of the rod (5), and wherein the lower end of the balloon-type body (6) is attached to the lower end of the rod (5), characterized in that the rod (5) in the basic position has a spring-loaded maximum distance between the lower end of the rod (5) and the upper holder (4), and in that, upon contacting of the lower end of the rod (5) on the base (2) of the container (1), the rod (5) moves back against the spring force such
   that the distance between the lower end of the rod (5) and the upper holder (4) is reduced.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the rod (5) is designed to be telescoping.
4. Device according to claim 3,
   characterized in that
   a sleeve (7) is pushed onto the lower end of the rod (5).
5. Device according to claim 3,
   characterized in that
   the lower end of the rod (5) is embodied to be tubular and
   in that a bar (5) is guided to be longitudinally slidable in this tubular section.
6. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the rod (5) is longitudinally slidably guided within the holder.

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