EP2928808B1 - Filling machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

A filling machine of this type is known ( EP 1 512 663 A1 ). The known filling machine consists, inter alia, of a rotor which can be driven circumferentially around a vertical machine axis and has a multiplicity of filling elements on the circumference of the rotor. At a coaxial with the machine axis arranged support ring a plurality of removable components are provided which are designed as bottleneck shots, but also as closing elements for closing the filling elements during cleaning and / or disinfection of the filling machine. By rotating the support ring relative to the rotor by means of a separate drive, the interchangeable components are controlled between a non-engagement position in which they are arranged between the filling elements and laterally thereof, and an engagement position in which the interchangeable component concerned is located below a filling element: The relative movement of the support ring with respect to the rotor is effected by an additional controllable drive, which is also designed for rotating the support ring in two different directions of rotation.

The invention has for its object to show a filling machine with a plurality of closure elements having support ring (Verschließelementetragring), which is characterized by a simplified and therefore also very reliable construction.

To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 is formed.

The main advantages of the filling machine according to the invention are u.a. in that an additional drive for the movement of the closing elements between their disengaged position and their engagement position is not required, the relative movement necessary for this is rather generated by the rotor or its drive, wherein the rotor preferably exclusively in one and the same direction of rotation, i. is moved in its normal direction of rotation.

Preferably, the Verschließelementetragring is formed with at least one fluid channel which is in communication with openings of the closing elements and can be docked to at least one outer provided on a machine frame fluid channel. This is a discharge or ggs. also a feeding of Cleaning and / or sterilization media (eg CIP / SIP media) without the need for a rotary feedthrough for these media possible.

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. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Füllmaschine zum Füllen von Behältern mit einem flüssigen Füllgut;

Fig. 2

in schematischer Teildarstellung einen Rotor der Füllmaschine der Figur 1 in Seitenansicht, zusammen mit einem mit dem Rotor nicht umlaufenden Maschinengestellt;

Fig. 3

den Rotor sowie das mit dem Rotor nicht umlaufende Maschinengestellt in perspektivischer Teildarstellung;

Fig. 4

einen Verschließelementetragring mit einer Vielzahl von Verschließelementen oder Spülkappen der Füllmaschine der Figur 1;

Fig. 5

in perspektivischer Teildarstellung, auch geschnitten, den Rotor sowie das Maschinengestell, entsprechend dem Detail I der Figur 3;

Fig. 6 und 7

in perspektivischer Teildarstellung, auch geschnitten, den Rotor sowie das Maschinengestell zusammen mit einer Blockier- und Andockvorrichtung in unterschiedlichen Betriebszuständen dieser Vorrichtung, entsprechend dem Detail II der Figur 3;

Fig. 8

in schematischer Darstellung und in den Positionen a und b zwei unterschiedliche Betriebszustände des Verschließelementetragrings bzw. der dortigen Verschließelemente.

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

Fig. 1

in a schematic representation and in plan view of a filling machine for filling containers with a liquid product;

Fig. 2

in a schematic partial view of a rotor of the filling machine of FIG. 1 in side view, together with a non-rotating to the rotor machine position;

Fig. 3

the rotor and the non-rotating with the rotor machine position in a perspective partial view;

Fig. 4

a Verschließelementetragring with a plurality of closing or Spülkappen the filling machine of FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 5

in a perspective partial view, also cut, the rotor and the machine frame, according to the detail I of the FIG. 3 ;

6 and 7

in a perspective partial view, also cut, the rotor and the machine frame together with a blocking and docking device in different operating states of this device, according to the detail II of FIG. 3 ;

Fig. 8

in a schematic representation and in the positions a and b two different operating states of the Verschließelementetragrings or the local closure elements.

The in the figures generally designated 1 filling machine rotating design is used to fill containers 2, for example in the form of bottles, with a liquid product. For this purpose, the filling machine 1 has a rotor 3, which is rotatable about a vertical machine axis MA in the direction of the arrow A and forms a multiplicity of filling positions 4 on its circumference. These each have a filling valve or filling element 5 and a container carrier 5.1 for hanging support of a container 2. The filling positions 4 or filling elements 5 are arranged with their axes oriented parallel to the machine axis MA at a constant pitch on a pitch circle TK about the machine axis MA. The filling elements 5 are provided on their underside at least each with a Füllgutabgabeöffnung. The containers 2 to be filled are fed to the filling positions 4 via a container inlet 6.1. The filled containers 2 are removed from the filling positions 4 at a container outlet.

At the bearing for the rotor 3 and not rotating with the rotor 3 machine frame 7 arranged with its axis coaxially with the machine axis MA annular Verschließelementetragring 8 rotatably supported about the machine axis MA. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing element support ring 8 is a tubular piece formed into the circular ring and is self-contained, which forms an annular fluid channel 9. Furthermore, the Verschließelementetragring 8 is in the illustrated embodiment with respect to the machine axis MA radially within the pitch circle TK of the filling elements 5 and is provided on its machine axis MA facing inner side with a plurality of bearing elements 10 which are distributed at equal angular intervals around the machine axis MA each on a Abutment 11 rest. This is in the illustrated embodiment, the machine axis MA concentrically enclosing and circumferentially executed and, for. formed by a circumferential, arranged concentrically with the machine axis MA ring. The Verschließelementetragring 8 is supported with its bearing elements 10 from the abutment 11, but is rotatable about the machine axis MA relative to the rotor 3 in the manner described in more detail below.

Relative to the machine axis MA lying radially outward, closing elements 12 are provided on the closing element retaining ring 8, which are eg closing plates or flushing caps and likewise on the pitch circle TK are arranged (for example, with its central axis) and that in the same pitch, which have the filling elements 5 of each other. The number of closing elements 12 is equal to the number of filling elements 5. By relative movement between the Verschließelementetragring 8 and the rotor 3 are the Verschließelelemente 12 between a non-engagement position in which they are each on the pitch circle TK between two filling elements 5 ( FIG. 8 , Position a), and an engagement or rinsing position in which each sealing element 12 is in sealing position with the underside of a filling element 5 ( FIG. 8 , Position b) and this tightly seals for a CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection of the filling machine 1 at its bottom or at the local Füllgutabgabeöffnung and at any other openings.

The Verschließelelemente 12, which are arranged with its upper side at the level of the underside of the filling elements 5 or slightly below this level and with its underside above the level of the container carrier 5.1 (container carrier level), in the illustrated embodiment, in each case at the free end of the Machine axis MA radially from the Verschließelementetragring 8 outwardly projecting support arm 13 is provided, which is fastened to the Verschließelementetragring 8 and in each of which on the upper side of the Verschließelelementes 12 open and in the common for all Verschließelelemente 12 fluid channel 9 opening channel 14 is formed.

During normal filling operation of the filling machine 1, in which the closing elements 12 are located between the filling elements 5 and thereby hinder neither the transfer of the container 2 to the filling elements 5, nor the decrease of the container 2 of the filling elements 5, nor the function of the filling elements 5 , the Verschließelementetragring 8 is moved with the rotating rotor 3. This is done in the simplest case by frictional engagement between the bearing elements 10 and the abutment 11, or by the fact that the bearing elements 10 engage with detents on counter-detents of the abutment 11, or by a controllable between the rotor 3 and the Verschließelementetragring 8 acting brake or blocking device.

A special feature of the filling machine 1 consists in that the relative movement between the rotor 3 and the Verschließelementetragring 8, which is required to the closing elements 12 from its disengaged state (for the filling operation) in the engaged state (for the CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection) and to move from the engaged state back to the disengaged state, carried out solely by the drive of the rotor 3, ie by the same drive which rotatably drives the rotor 3 during the filling operation. For this purpose, this drive - controlled starting from the stationary rotor 3 - actuated such that the rotor 3 performs a rotation step about the machine axis MA, which corresponds to half the pitch or an integral odd multiple of half the pitch of the filling elements 5. The rotor 3 rotates in the direction of rotation A, in which it also rotates during the filling operation. The closure element carrying ring 8 is blocked against co-rotation with the rotor 3, by at least one blocking and docking device 15, which preferably

is provided in the dead angle range of the rotational movement of the rotor 3 between the container outlet 6.2 and the container inlet 6.1.

These in the FIGS. 6 and 7 More specifically shown in detail and provided on the machine frame 7 blocking and docking device 15 includes, inter alia, a blocking ram 16, which is oriented parallel to the machine axis MA formed by a pipe section open at both ends with its axis. In bearing bushes 18.1 provided on the machine frame 7 lifting element 18 of the blocking ram 16 is axially between a Verschließelementetragring 8 non-blocking position ( FIG. 6 ) and a Verschließelementetragring 8 blocking position ( FIG. 7 ) axially movable, by the lifting element 18 or another actuator. The gap between the lifting element 18 and the blocking ram 16 is sealed by a bellows 17. In the locking element ring 8 blocking position ( Fig. 7 ) abuts against a counter-stop 19, which is provided on the Verschließelementetragring 19.

In the area of the counter-stop 19, the closing-element support ring 8 is furthermore provided with a fluid coupling 20, to which in the blocking position (FIG. FIG. 7 ) of the blocking ram 16, a tubular connecting piece 21 can be coupled, which is part of a, inter alia, in the blocking ram 16 formed further fluid channel 22. The connecting piece 21 is axially movable with respect to the axis of the blocking ram 16 between an upper position, in which a tight fluid connection between the fluid coupling 20 and the connecting element and thus with the fluid channel 22, and a lower position, in which the connecting piece 21st is spaced from the fluid coupling 20. During CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection, the channels 14, the common fluid channel 9 and the further, connected via the connector 21 outer fluid channel 22 form a flow path for draining or supplying the cleaning and / or disinfecting media used (CIP / SIP -Media).

The tight abutment of the closing elements 12 against the filling elements 5, if necessary achieved by wedge or inclined surfaces in the support areas, the example when turning the rotor 3 relative to the locked Verschließelementetragring 8 cause a slight lifting of this support ring and / or the closing elements 12.

After completion of the steaming, CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection is decoupled from the fluid coupling 20 connector 21, but still locked by the blocking and docking device 15 Verschließelementetragring 8, the rotor 3 by its drive in the direction of rotation A by one step further rotated, which corresponds to half the pitch or an integer odd multiple of half the pitch of the filling elements 5, so that then the Verschließelementetragring 8 and its Verschließelemente 12 are again in the disengaged position or in the disengaged state. Subsequently, the closing element 8 is released from the blocking and docking device 15 by lowering the blocking ram 16, so that the Verschließelementetragring 8 is then carried in the following filling operation again with the rotor 3 and rotates with this. As a result of the described procedure, there is no fixed allocation of the closing elements 12 to a respective filling element 5, but instead each closing element 12 can interact with each filling element 5, depending on the random rotational position of the rotor 3 relative to the closing element ring 8.

It is understood that for the transfer of the Verschließelementetragrings 8 from the non-engaged state in the engaged state, this is first rotated with the rotor 3 in a rotational position, in which the counter-stop 19 or at a plurality of provided on Verschließelementetragring 8 counter-attacks 19 a such counter-attack on the blocking and docking device 15 is located.

It is possible to provide, around the machine axis MA, a plurality of suitable locking and locking devices for controlled locking of the locking element grating 8 serving devices, resulting in locking or blocking with non-rotating elements, e.g. Supporting elements of the filling machine is brought. Such additional locking or blocking elements could make the fluid-conducting blocking and docking device 15 less massive.

The particular advantage of the invention is that the relative movement necessary for transferring the closing element trimming ring 8 between the disengaged state and the engaged state is exclusively generated by the drive of the rotor 3, wherein the rotor 3 is preferably rotated exclusively in its normal direction of rotation A. , So it is not a separate drive to Moving the Verschließelementetragrings 8 and the Verschließelemente 12 required. In particular, it is also not necessary to design the drive of the rotor 3 such that it would have to be driven for the transfer of the closing elements 12 between the disengaged position and the engaged position or vice versa in opposite directions of rotation.

It is furthermore advantageous that at least one blocking and docking device 15 also establishes a fluid connection between the individual closing elements 12 and the outer fluid channel 22 when the closing elements 12 are in the engaged state, namely for discharging or supplying them to the CIP Cleaning and / or CIP disinfection used media, such as steam and / or hot water.

Since the draining or feeding of the media for the CIP cleaning and / or CIP sterilization via the outer fluid channel 22, and this fluid channel is connected only when blocked Schließelementtragring 8 to the fluid channel 9, that is, only if the fluid channels 9 and 22 rotary feedthroughs are not required for the media used in CIP cleaning and / or CIP disinfection.

The Verschließelementetragring 8 with its locking elements 12 and the guide means for this support ring and the blocking and docking device 15 have a simple structure, which ensures a reduced susceptibility or high reliability. Due to the simplified construction u.a. Also areas that avoided niches, undercuts, etc., where dirt and / or germs could settle. The gap between the blocking ram 16 and the housing of the lifting element 18 is sealed by a bellows 17. The filling machine 1 therefore meets the requirements for a sterile filling of contents.

The normal filling operation is not affected by the Verschließelementetragring 8 and the closing elements 12. The Verschließelementetragring 8 can expand freely when heated without affecting the filling elements 5 and there provided container carrier.

Upon return to the disengaged state, the channels 14 at the top of the closure members 12 and the fluid channel 9 are open at least at the fluid coupling 20 so that remnants of a liquid cleaning and / or sterilizing medium can drain off and avoid the aforementioned channels during normal filling operation a microbial completely dry.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filling Machine

2

container

3

rotor

4

filling position

5

infill

5.1

container carrier

6.1

container inlet

6.2

container outlet

7

machine frame

8th

Verschließelementetragring

9

fluid channel

10

bearing element

11

thrust bearing

12

closing

13

Beam

14

channel

15

Blocking and docking device

16

blocking tappet

16.1

Attacks

17

bearing bush

18

lifting

19

counterstop

20

fluid coupling

21

connecting element

22

outer fluid channel

A

Direction of rotation of the rotor 3

TK

pitch circle

MA

machine axis

Claims (8)

1. Filling machine for filling containers (2) with a filling material, comprising a rotor (3) which can be driven in rotation about a vertical machine axis (MA), with a plurality of filling elements (5) provided at the rotor (3) on a divided circle (TK) concentrically surrounding the machine axis (MA) and provided at equal modular spacings, with a closure element supporting ring (8) arranged coaxially with the machine axis (MA), with a plurality of closure elements (12) for closing the filling elements (5) on their undersides, comprising at least one filling product dispensing opening, during a cleaning and/or disinfection of the filling machine (1), wherein, by relative movement of the closure element supporting ring (8) and of the rotor (3), the closure elements (12) can be moved between a non-engaging state, in which the closure elements (12) are arranged in each case on a divided circle between the filling elements (5), and an engaging state, in which the closure elements (12) are located in each case on the underside of a filling element (5), characterised in that the filling machine is configured in such a way that the relative movement between the closure element supporting ring (8) and the rotor (3) can be generated by the drive of the rotor (3), wherein at least one blocking and docking device (15) is provided, with which a mutual rotation of the closure element supporting ring (8) with the rotor (3), for moving the closure elements (12) from their non-engaging state into the engaging state and back into the non-engaging state, can be blocked in a controlled manner.
2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of blocking and docking devices (15) are provided distributed around the machine axis (MA).
3. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure element supporting ring (8) is connected to the rotor (3) with drive effect by frictional grip and/or by spring-loaded latching and/or by at least one controllable coupling device.
4. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure element supporting ring (8) with at least one bearing element (10), which, related to the machine axis (MA), projects radially from the closure element supporting ring (8), lies on at least one counter-bearing (11) of the rotor (3), and that the counter bearing (11) is preferably ring-shaped and configure such as to surround the machine axis (MA).
5. Filling machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the closure element supporting ring (8) is formed with at least one fluid channel (9) or forms this, which is provided for the discharge or supply of fluids, such as condensate, cleaning and/or disinfection media, is in connection with openings at the closure elements (12), and that at least one of the blocking and docking devices (15) is provided, by means of which the fluid channel (9), with the closure element supporting ring (8) blocked, can be connected to a fluid channel (22), or which forms part of a fluid channel, which is provided at an element which does not circulate with the rotor (3) or at the machine frame (7), for discharging fluids such as condensate, cleaning and/or disinfection media.
6. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one blocking and docking device (15) is provided in the dead angle range of the rotational movement of the rotor (3) between a container outlet (6.2) and a container inlet (6.1).
7. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the number of closure elements (12) is the same as the number of the filling elements (5).
8. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure element supporting ring (8) is arranged inside the divided circle (TK) and/or the closure elements (12) are arranged on a level between the underside of the filling elements (5) and a container carrier level.

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