EP3529202A1 - Procédé et dispositif de réalisation de récipients à boire, comprenant un refroidissement adiabatique et un apport de gaz - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif de réalisation de récipients à boire, comprenant un refroidissement adiabatique et un apport de gaz

Info

Publication number
EP3529202A1
EP3529202A1 EP17787166.2A EP17787166A EP3529202A1 EP 3529202 A1 EP3529202 A1 EP 3529202A1 EP 17787166 A EP17787166 A EP 17787166A EP 3529202 A1 EP3529202 A1 EP 3529202A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
containers
liquid
closure
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP17787166.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3529202B1 (fr
Inventor
Wolfgang Roidl
Jochen Hirdina
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Krones AG filed Critical Krones AG
Publication of EP3529202A1 publication Critical patent/EP3529202A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3529202B1 publication Critical patent/EP3529202B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/006—Adding fluids for preventing deformation of filled and closed containers or wrappers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C2003/226—Additional process steps or apparatuses related to filling with hot liquids, e.g. after-treatment

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing beverage containers and to a device for producing a pressure equalization in containers.
  • Such methods and devices have been known for a long time from the prior art. It is also known in particular that certain drinks, such as ice tea, are filled hot. However, such H discloseab Heilllclar are associated with certain difficulties. For example, when hot-filling drinks in plastic bottles, these bottles may contract after bottling due to the falling internal pressure.
  • the prior art seeks to counteract this fact with certain container designs, such as designs that are capable of absorbing fluctuating pressures.
  • containers in particular PET containers, at least partially hydraulically.
  • hot medium is used for molding
  • PET tends to deform under the effect of temperature, the so-called memory effect
  • the negative pressure arising in the container as a result of the cooling of the medium can be withstood for this purpose, so-called panel bottles being used in the prior art
  • the panels have precisely the property of deforming the product in the wrong "defined” and thus not affect the overall appearance of the container by undefined changes or deformations.
  • a disadvantage of these methods is the difficult determinability of the final filling level and the complicated handling of the bottles, since the bottoms have to be shaped very accurately and must be carefully re-shaped even with a corresponding own machine.
  • the present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a method and a device are available, which in particular facilitate a H enjoyedab hydrollvorgang.
  • the fact should be taken into account that the drinks are first filled in a heated state and then the containers are closed and then cooled.
  • a plastic container is produced by a blow molding process in a first method step. Subsequently, the plastic container is filled with a flowable medium and in particular with a liquid. In a further method step, at least partial closing of the container filled with the liquid takes place with a container closure. Become under liquids Also liquids with a certain proportion of gas understood, for example, because of their high temperature strong steaming liquids.
  • a gaseous medium is fed into the interior of the container via at least one opening (at least one section of the container or peripheral wall of the container closure).
  • the opening is formed by a gap between the container closure and the container, such as when the container has not been completely closed.
  • the opening is a hole in the wall of the container or in the peripheral wall of the container closure.
  • the plastic container is produced by a blowing process and in particular a stretch blow molding process. It is possible that first the plastic preforms are heated and the plastic preforms are entered in the heated state in a blow mold. Within the blow mold, the plastic preforms are expanded to the plastic containers and in particular plastic bottles.
  • blow molds advantageously have both side parts and a bottom part. These side parts and the bottom part together form a cavity within which the plastic preform is expanded by being exposed to a medium and in particular compressed air to form a plastic bottle.
  • the said side parts and / or the bottom part of the blow mold are also heated.
  • the blowing process takes place at a predetermined temperature of the blow molding.
  • the bottom part of the blow mold can be heated to a temperature of at least 50 ° C., preferably of at least 60 ° C., preferably of at least 70 ° C., and preferably of at least 80 ° C.
  • This heating of the bottom part can be achieved by means of flowing through a region of the bottom part of the water.
  • the said side parts of the blow mold are heated.
  • a heating to at least 80 ° C., preferably to at least 90 ° C., preferably to at least 100 ° C., preferably to at least 120 ° C. and particularly preferably to at least 130 ° C., is advantageously carried out. In this case, this heating can be achieved, for example, by means of a flowing, flowable medium, for example by flowing oil through it.
  • the said side parts of the blow mold are advantageously also arranged on side member carriers.
  • these side sub-carriers are heated to a certain temperature, for example to a temperature of more than 30 ° C, preferably more than 40 ° C, preferably of more than 50 ° C.
  • said opening is located in a wall of the plastic container or a peripheral wall of the container closure.
  • the gaseous medium it would also be possible for the gaseous medium to be supplied via an opening or a gap which exists between the container or its mouth on the one hand and the container closure on the other.
  • the container closure it would be possible for the container closure not initially to be completely screwed onto the container, but for the gaseous medium to be initially supplied via the said gap.
  • the container closure is preferably a screw cap, which is screwed onto an external thread of the container, in particular.
  • the pressure is already built up in the container during the closing process.
  • the product has not yet cooled during the closing process, so that the pressure to be established in the bottle is significantly above atmospheric pressure, in order then to find the desired pressure conditions in the container during recooling.
  • the closure after re-cooling (under defined environmental conditions, eg in a chamber) is slightly opened, so that a communication connection between the environment and container interior is made. This can be done for example by a slight opening of the closure. Thus, a reduction of the negative pressure can take place.
  • This opening process can preferably be such that a guarantee strip does not break off and the closure can be turned back to normal.
  • the gas is a sterile and / or inert gas. Most preferably, the gas is nitrogen (N2).
  • the containers are transported during their production and / or during filling and / or during the feeding of the gaseous medium.
  • the containers are at least partially transported along a circular arc-shaped path.
  • the containers are at least partially transported through a clean room.
  • a clean room This means that the method steps described here, in particular also the step of supplying the gaseous medium, take place under clean-room conditions or under sterile conditions.
  • This clean room is preferably sealed or separated by means of at least one wall in relation to an (unsterile) environment.
  • the containers are sterilized. So it is possible that the containers are sterilized directly after their production. However, it would also be possible that already the plastic preforms are sterilized before the forming process to plastic bottles. Thus, it is also possible that already takes place the actual forming process for forming plastic preforms into plastic bottles under sterile conditions.
  • This sterilization can be done for example by means of a sterilization medium such as hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid but also by means of radiation, for example electron radiation. It should be noted, however, that sterilization is an optional process step. This applies in particular to those products in which sterility is achieved by heating the liquid to be filled.
  • said opening is introduced into a wall of the container or a portion of the wall of the container (or into a portion of the peripheral wall of the container closure).
  • this opening is introduced after the blow molding process.
  • this introduction of the opening takes place after closing the container with a container closure and in particular after filling the container.
  • the opening can also be already be present in the closure, for example, the closure have already been made with such an opening.
  • the said container wall is pierced, for example with a needle-like body.
  • this needle-like body or needle can have a diameter which is smaller than 4 mm, preferably smaller than 3 mm and particularly preferably smaller than 2 mm. It is also possible that the needle itself is heated to pierce the container wall. In this way, the material of the container can be melted locally during piercing.
  • a temperature of the needle (at least in that section which contacts the wall of the container) to be greater than 60.degree. C., preferably greater than 70.degree. C., preferably greater than 80.degree. C. and particularly preferably greater than 90.degree C.
  • the container is filled with a heated liquid.
  • this liquid to be filled at a temperature of more than 40 ° C, preferably of more than 50 ° C, preferably more than 60 ° C and more preferably more than 70 ° C.
  • the liquid preferably has a temperature of less than 110 ° C., preferably less than 100 ° C., and more preferably less than 95 ° C. More preferably, a temperature of the liquid is between 82 ° C and 92 ° C. This is preferably also the filling temperature.
  • an at least partial closure of the container is understood to mean that a screw cap, for example, is screwed to a certain extent onto a thread of the container, but not yet sealed tight.
  • the container closure is already fixed and thus screwed sealingly against the mouth of the container, which thus preferably corresponds to complete closure of the container with the container closure.
  • the heated liquid is a beverage.
  • the container filled with the liquid and preferably also closed is cooled.
  • the container is cooled back to a temperature which is below the filling temperature.
  • cooling takes place below a temperature of 70 ° C., preferably below a temperature of 60 ° C., more preferably below a temperature of 50 ° C and more preferably below a temperature of 45 ° C.
  • the supply of the gaseous medium takes place during or after said cooling. In this way, resulting pressure changes can be compensated again.
  • containers without overpressure-resistant floors can be used.
  • This cooling of the container can be carried out at different times or in different steps of the entire process. So it is possible that the cooling takes place before the supply of the gaseous medium.
  • the container is first filled with a heated liquid, then sealed, then recooled and finally the gas supply takes place.
  • the plastic containers produced should be pressure stable (as in the case of petaloid bottoms).
  • the containers need not be pressure stable and may, for example, have normal still bottoms or juice bottoms. In these cases, the negative pressure can be reduced after a certain time.
  • the container wall or the peripheral wall of the container closure is preferably pierced for this purpose so as to be able to introduce the gaseous medium.
  • the container wall is pierced in an upper half of the container and in particular an upper third of the container (or introduced at this point, the opening).
  • the term of the upper half is related to a longitudinal direction of the container, which extends from a bottom of the container to the mouth of the container.
  • the container wall is pierced in an upper quarter, particularly preferably in an upper fifth relative to the longitudinal direction.
  • the piercing of the container wall takes place in a head or shoulder region of the container or in an area in the immediate vicinity of a supporting ring of the container, for example below or above the said th carrying rings.
  • the wall it would also be possible for the wall to be pierced at another location, for example the circumferential wall, for example when the containers are transported horizontally.
  • An advantage of this method is that then the peripheral wall can be pierced, which is usually thinner than the wall in the region of the mouth of the container.
  • a container turner can be used. It would be possible that the container is rotated and preferably thereby the container closure (with the hot product) is sterilized.
  • the opening is introduced into a region of the container in which no liquid is present when the container is stationary at the time of penetration. In this way, leakage of the liquid through the opening can be prevented.
  • the gaseous medium is preferably introduced into the head space of the container via said opening.
  • the gaseous medium is preferably introduced under a certain overpressure, in order to obtain preferably a residual pressure, ie.
  • a residual pressure within the container between 1, 1 and 2.5 bar, preferably between 1, 1 and 2.0 bar, preferably between 1, 1 and 1, 8 bar, preferably between 1, 1 and 1, 5 bar and more preferably between 1, 1 and 1.3 bar.
  • the opening provided in the receptacle is spaced from the mouth of the receptacle, and more preferably, a thread of the receptacle is closer to the mouth than said opening.
  • the opening, via which the gaseous medium was supplied to the container is closed or sealed again after the gaseous medium has been introduced.
  • This closing or sealing of the opening can be done in different ways.
  • the concept of sealing is used.
  • this sealing is performed by a method selected from a group of methods which includes melting a portion of the container wall, melting a portion of a peripheral wall of the container closure, or relative rotation of the container closure to the container.
  • the needle which pierces the container wall, to be warm and then to close the pierced area again.
  • a separate welding head which is pressed after the retraction of the needle on the hole to close the opening again.
  • an "external melting point” is applied, which preferably consists of a material which differs from the material of the container wall, this sealing being possible during or after closing the container with the container closure.
  • the container closure is preferably not initially screwed completely to the container mouth, so that gas can still enter. Only after the supply of this gas, the container closure is completely turned on the container.
  • the gas supply can also be carried out during a closing process.
  • a closure or sealing of the opening is particularly preferably carried out by processes such as fusing or welding of the container wall.
  • both the production of the opening and the sealing of the opening under clean room conditions and / or within a clean room are advantageously take place during a movement of the containers and in particular during a transport of the containers in their transport direction.
  • a chamber may be provided, which in particular surrounds the opening in the Be bachelorniswandung and by means of which the gaseous medium is introduced into the container. This chamber need not necessarily be able to accommodate the entire container.
  • the "clean room” (which is formed by this chamber) are reduced and on the other hand, this can also be placed under pressure, so it does not require its own gas supply device in the container, but the gas "automatically” after the Penetration or partial opening enters the container.
  • a closure or sealing of the container (or the opening) is checked by means of an inspection device.
  • an inspection device for example, a particular optical inspection can be carried out to determine whether the said opening has been closed.
  • this inspection is carried out without contact and particularly preferably optically.
  • the gaseous medium is supplied to the container in such a way that, after the gaseous medium has been supplied, there is a pressure within the container which is above an ambient pressure.
  • this overpressure can still be reduced by further cooling processes.
  • the opening of the container leads to the reduction of the negative pressure and the "ambient" or atmospheric pressure prevails.
  • “Atmospheric pressure” is sufficient if it is ensured that negative pressure will not be created by further recooling. However, there may also be a slight overpressure (over atmosphere).
  • the method can be envisaged such that, when treated with the gas, the container is introduced into a chamber with defined environmental conditions, e.g. filled with inert gas under certain pressure conditions. If a hole is now introduced into the container, the gas in the chamber flows into the container, without having to "pump" gas into the container via its own device.
  • a chamber with defined environmental conditions e.g. filled with inert gas under certain pressure conditions.
  • this method can be imagined as the closure in the (overpressure) chamber being slightly opened (but only to the extent that the guarantee band does not break off) and the negative pressure in the bottle is dissipated via the thread.
  • This variant has the advantage that the container does not have to be processed invasively.
  • the present invention is further directed to a method for producing liquid containers and in particular beverage containers.
  • a plastic container is at least partially reshaped by application of a liquid medium.
  • the plastic container is filled with a, preferably heated, liquid, in particular with the liquid used for forming.
  • an at least partial closure of the container filled with the liquid takes place with a container closure.
  • a tempering and, in particular, cooling of the container and / or the liquid in the container and, preferably via at least one opening introduced into at least one section of a wall of the plastic container or a peripheral wall of the container closure or via a between a mouth and the container closure existing gap, a supply of a gaseous medium in the interior of the container, in particular the headspace of the container.
  • a (hot) hydraulic container forming an adjoining pressure equalization in the container by a gas supply from the outside.
  • the method can be equipped with all features described in connection with the above method individually or in combination and vice versa.
  • an at least partial hydraulic deformation of the container which is filled thereby and / or subsequently with warm liquid, which is preferably that from the deformation process, is proposed.
  • the container is closed.
  • the product is cooled in an (subsequent) further process step and preferably subsequently, but it is also conceivable that gas is introduced into the head space of the container during the cooling step.
  • At least partial reshaping is understood here to mean in particular a permanent deformation of at least one region of the container (at ambient temperature).
  • the liquid used for (at least partial) shaping or shaping of the container is not drained or removed again from the container. It is also conceivable that after the formation of the container, the same liquid is supplied further, preferably until a predetermined level and / or a predetermined filling volume is reached. In a further advantageous embodiment, the liquid used for (at least partial) shaping is heated, or warm and / or hot liquid. According to the Applicant, this offers the advantage of better process stability.
  • the temperature of this liquid is in a range between 45 C and 1 10 ° C, preferably between 50 ° C and 95 ° C, more preferably between 60 ° C and 90 ° C and most preferably between 70 ° C and 88 ° C.
  • the medium is used for shaping, which remains later in the container.
  • the container is preferably closed immediately after the formation.
  • At least one forming step or forming step or forming step of the container (at least) a liquid (as a molding liquid) is used, which preferably does not correspond to the final product and which preferably does not remain in the container.
  • a liquid as a molding liquid
  • the shaping agent or the molding liquid or a liquid used for forming is drained or removed from the container in a further method step.
  • the container preferably rotated by a predetermined angle, and preferably disinfected or sterilized in a further process step (at least) the container closure.
  • the tempering of the liquid in the container is preferably a cooling of the liquid present in the container. This tempering process or cooling process preferably takes place indirectly via tempering or cooling of the container.
  • the tempering or cooling of the liquid in the container takes place actively and / or passively.
  • a passive (cooling) can take place, for example, by transporting the container for a specific time t or a predetermined period of time in a transport path. It is also conceivable passive cooling (by the ambient air) of the container by lingering of the container for a predetermined period of time in a range with (compared to the liquid temperature cooler) ambient air.
  • the temperature of the ambient air can the usual ambient temperature in this environment (and not be cooled down).
  • An active cooling can be done for example in a so-called recooler.
  • This embodiment is advantageous because the cooling energy can be recovered more easily than with passive cooling. In a further method step, therefore, preference is given to recovering at least some of the released cooling energy, and preferably to recycle it as a consequence of the device.
  • This embodiment also has the advantage that (in comparison to a passive cooling), the process time in the active cooling significantly shortened.
  • Cooling of the container and / or the liquid in the container does not necessarily take place (necessarily) up to the ambient temperature.
  • the Applicant has found that cooling the container and / or the liquid in the container to (maximum) 40 ° C, preferably to a temperature in the range between 30 ° C and 38 ° C may well be sufficient.
  • the supply of a gaseous medium in the interior of the container can be done by making a penetration of the container, introduction of the gaseous medium and subsequent reclosure of the penetration point and / or by deformation of at least a portion of the container (or certain / predetermined areas of the container) and Initiation of the gaseous medium done.
  • a deformation of at least one region of the container is made in the interior of the container.
  • the already closed container is at least in the region of the closure in a sealed chamber is added or a sealed chamber is supplied.
  • the chamber may contain the entire container or even a part or section thereof.
  • an overpressure is then preferably constructed, preferably in such a way that the container deforms in the region of the bottle mouth, so that a communication connection is created from the chamber via the threaded region of the container to the interior of the container. It may preferably be necessary to easily open the closure of the container, preferably without destroying or damaging a tamper-evident band of the closure. zugt then close the container in the interior, in particular the head space, the container and then close the container again.
  • a penetration of the container is made or the container is provided with an opening.
  • the gaseous medium is preferably introduced through the penetration point or the opening into the interior of the container, in particular into the free space.
  • the opening or penetration point can be introduced both into the closure and into the container. If the penetration point or the opening is introduced into the container, the penetration point or the opening in the region of the mouth of the container and / or in the region of the side wall (preferably in the labeling region) and / or in the region of the bottom wall is conceivable.
  • an (active) closure of the pentration site or the opening takes place.
  • a closure can be effected by the use of an external closure element such as a sealing plug and / or by welding the penetration point or the opening.
  • Welding at least one penetration point or opening provided for supplying gaseous medium and preferably all penetration points or (one) feeding gaseous medium openings can be carried out individually or in combination with one or more features described above or below with respect to welding a penetration point.
  • the present invention is further directed to an apparatus for producing containers filled with a liquid.
  • This device has a forming device, which transforms plastic preforms into plastic containers. Furthermore, the device has a downstream in a transport direction of the plastic containers of the forming device filling device, which fills the plastic containers with a liquid and in particular a drink.
  • This filling device is preferably suitable and intended to fill the container with a heated liquid.
  • a closing device is provided which at least partially closes the plastic containers filled with the liquid with container closures.
  • the device has a gas supply device, which supplies the containers during or after the closing operation, preferably after a recooling process, a gaseous medium, wherein the gas supply means is adapted and intended to supply the containers through the gaseous medium through an opening which in a Container wall, a peripheral wall of the container closure and / or a gap between an orifice of the container and the container closure is formed.
  • the device has a transport device, which transports the plastic containers along a predetermined transport path. It is possible that this transport device has arranged on a rotatable support gripper, which move the containers according to a circular transport path.
  • the forming device and / or the closing device and / or the filling device is designed as a transport device, so that the containers are transported during the forming process and / or during the filling process and / or during the closing operation.
  • the device has a cooling device arranged downstream of the filling device in the transport direction, which cools the containers filled with the liquid.
  • this cooling of the containers can be done for example by applying the same with water.
  • the device has a penetration device, which is suitable and intended to pierce at least a portion of the wall of the container and / or at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the container closure.
  • a penetration device which is suitable and intended to pierce at least a portion of the wall of the container and / or at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the container closure.
  • the opening is preferably produced, via which the container or the interior of the container said gaseous medium is supplied.
  • the closing device it would also be possible for the closing device to be designed in such a way that it attaches the closure to the container in two steps, for example at first only with a few turns, ensuring that the closure is held against the container so as to close the closure at a later time sealingly turn on the container.
  • a device which after closing the Container again performs a slight opening of the same, for example by turning the closure against the container in order to introduce the gaseous medium can.
  • the device has at least one sealing device which is suitable and intended to close or seal the opening through which the gaseous medium was supplied to the container.
  • this closing device can, for example, be a fusion device which reflows the section of the container in which the opening has been produced.
  • the closing device it would also be possible for the closing device to be the device which attaches the container closure to the container.
  • the bottle capper could first partially screw a closure onto the container or not completely close it. Only in a subsequent step could this closing process be completed. In general, this process could be carried out in the same capper which closes the containers with closures or else in a separate device.
  • the device has a clean room, within which the containers are transported at least temporarily.
  • This clean room can enclose at least the area within which the gaseous medium is supplied. It is possible that the clean room is formed by a stationary housing, but it would also be possible that the clean room surrounds only the channel-like transport path of the containers. It would also be possible that even the forming device transforms the plastic preforms within a clean room to Kunststofffla- see.
  • at least one chamber to be provided, within which the gaseous medium is supplied to the containers. This chamber could for example be designed as a hollow cylinder in which the containers are located.
  • the penetration device and / or the gas supply device is integrated in a region of the closure device which provides the containers with closures.
  • this penetration device could be integrated into a gripping or holding device which holds the containers during the filling process.
  • This gripping device could preferably have a holding element, which prevents rotation of the plastic bottle with respect to its longitudinal direction.
  • This element could for example be designed as a so-called spike plate, which receives the closing torque.
  • This receiving plate which is made very thin in the current state of the art, could be made significantly thicker in the context of the present invention and, for example, have a width of 3 to 5 cm. In this way it is possible that a penetration tool is integrated into this plate.
  • This penetration tool may, for example, be a needle which is suitable and intended for piercing the container wall.
  • Other elements, such as the closing element or sealing element, which closes the puncture opening again, or even a pressure supply device may be integrated in this spike plate.
  • the closing device it would also be conceivable for the closing device to be placed under predetermined conditions, in particular, but not exclusively, for a specific overpressure. In this case, it is possible that after piercing part of the ambient gas flows into the container. In this case could be dispensed with a separate supply of the gas, as this happens "automatically" due to the pressure equalization tendencies.
  • the device has a pressure control device and / or a pressure regulating device which is suitable and intended to control and / or regulate the pressure by means of which the gaseous medium is introduced into the containers.
  • a sensor device could be provided which is suitable and intended to determine the respective pressure of the gas within the container and / or the pressure with which the gas is supplied to the container.
  • a control and / or regulating device is preferably provided on the device side, which controls and / or regulates the pressure by means of which the gas is supplied to the container and / or under which the gas is subsequently located in the container.
  • this pressure control device can be used in all of the methods and devices described herein, including in variants at where no penetration of the containers takes place in the closing or which runs without penetration.
  • the elements described here such as the needle device and / or the closure element for closing the Be schizophrenianiswandung could also be arranged in another area, such as against the said spike plate or against a gripping device which engages in particular a neck of the containers.
  • the penetration it would also be possible for the penetration to take place radially from the outside in the direction of the container center, in particular in a region of the container mouth. This can preferably be done (locally) in relation to a neckhandling gripper.
  • the closure located container is supplied from the outside and in particular to the neck region of the container. On the container and / or its support ring, for example, this tool can rest, in which case both an active and passive gripping and a simple concern is possible.
  • the respective operation that is, the piercing, the introduction of the gas, the closing and / or the welding can take place as described above.
  • the advantage of an arrangement of said units, for example the lancing device in the capper, leads to a saving of time in the overall process, since the closing process has to be carried out in each case.
  • the duration of the process of introducing the gas roughly matches the duration of the closing operation, so that these processes can also be well combined.
  • an enlarged compared to the prior art circle of the shutter ßers is chosen so as to be able to carry out both measures, that is, the closing of the containers with the container closures and the supply of the gas into the container, substantially simultaneously.
  • the idea of piercing described herein in one area of the gripper is not limited to the capper. It is also possible that this piercing is carried out in a later treatment step, for example in a separate unit after the capper or in a transport path which between the capper and another device, such as a Cooling unit, located.
  • this process of piercing is performed only after a recooling device.
  • the process of piercing is only after a recooler, integration into a "normal" neck handling line is beneficial, in which case the container does not require a pressure-resistant floor, which makes the container itself easier and lighter.
  • more design variants are available and it can also be achieved a high material savings.
  • One advantage of closing the pierced container is the use of a uniform "weldment material.” When welding a seal, it may be necessary to use the correct PET when applying an "external weld point.” For PET bottles, transparent PET can usually be used. Furthermore, if no additional material is required for this sealing or sealing, the advantage mentioned here is eliminated.
  • said penetration of Be Strukturniswandung is carried out by optical means, for example by means of a laser.
  • a hole can be welded into the container wall by means of a laser.
  • mechanical elements such as the above-mentioned needles
  • the sealing of the opening could possibly be carried out by means of a laser.
  • the feeding of the gaseous medium by means of the above-mentioned chamber can take place. So it is possible that within this chamber, the hole is welded by means of a laser and then sets the correct pressure. This procedure has the advantage of high hygiene, since no mechanical components on the container attack.
  • the puncture means such as a needle
  • the puncture means also serves to supply the gas, such as when this needle is designed as a hollow needle.
  • a supply of the gas into the container via a side wall of the closure is conceivable.
  • the closure is preferably not pierced from above, but over the peripheral wall. In this way, it is possible that the gas penetrates between the threads into the interior of the container. It is also possible that this hole is closed again after penetration.
  • To begin closing that is, the closing process by means of which the closure is mounted on the mouth and make one to two turns of the closure in the thread.
  • the space between the closure and the container is sealed off from the environment (since the thread already engages), but the sealing effect between the closure and the container has not yet been established.
  • the closing process is completed.
  • the tool is formed in container gripper or as a separate tool.
  • the hole can, as previously described, then be closed again.
  • a hole is provided in the closure or is also introduced, which is no longer closed. This may be possible inasmuch as the hole is placed so as to allow access to the interior of the bottle in the case of a half-screwed closure, while access is no longer possible when the closure is fully screwed on.
  • a sealing head is preferably provided which is slipped over the closure.
  • This sealing head in this case has a gas supply device, so that this gas can then - sealed from the environment - pass through the threads in the interior of the container.
  • This sealing head is preferably designed such that it completely surrounds the mouth of the container. It is also possible that the sealing head has sealing means which can achieve a seal against the wall of the container. For example, a circumferential sealing lip could be provided, which can be applied to a shoulder region of the container.
  • the use of a sealing head is particularly suitable in connection with a chamber within which the container is filled with the gaseous medium.
  • a ringverschffyerkopf can also be designed such that it perceives the sealing effect against the environment and also has the gas supply. In this way, only one tool is needed to perform the closing process and the air supply. It would also be conceivable, in particular, for a closing process to be started so that the closure does not lift off by supplying the gas. However, it would also be possible for the device to have a hold-down element for the closure, so that in this case the closing process does not yet have to be started when the supply of the gas begins.
  • the container is rotated, for example, is brought into a horizontal position, so that the puncture can be made in the side wall.
  • a penetration in the area of the later labeling area is particularly advantageous since any visual impairments can already be masked by a label.
  • a penetration in the bottom region of the container is conceivable, for example in the injection point.
  • the container is essentially unstretched and thus amorphous. This applies in particular to a production method for stretch-blown containers, such as PET containers.
  • a relatively large amount of material is available, in order subsequently to fuse the opening again.
  • a needle or something similar can be used to pierce again. Welding can for example be done by a separate welding punch or by the needle itself, the needle is then advantageously designed hot.
  • the present invention is further directed to an apparatus for treating plastic containers sealed with container closures and more particularly to pressure equalization in such containers.
  • This device has a penetration device, which is suitable and intended to introduce an opening in a wall of the container or in a peripheral wall of the container closure, and a gas supply device which is suitable and intended to supply the containers, the gaseous medium through this opening ,
  • the device has a sealing device which is suitable for closing the opening through which the gaseous medium has been supplied to the container.
  • the device has a movement device in order to deliver the penetration device to the container.
  • the sealing device has a melting device, which is suitable and intended to locally melt the material of the plastic container.
  • the device has a holding device, which is suitable and intended, the loading to hold. In particular, this is a gripping device, which engages the plastic container in a predetermined section thereof.
  • the device has a transport device which is suitable and intended to transport the container.
  • this transport device has a support rotatable about a predetermined axis of rotation.
  • the gas supply device preferably has a chamber into which the plastic container can be introduced.
  • the present invention is further directed to an apparatus for producing liquid containers and in particular beverage containers.
  • This device is suitable and intended to at least partially reshape a plastic container by applying it to a liquid medium (by an application device).
  • the device is furthermore suitable and intended to fill the plastic container with a preferably heated liquid, in particular with the liquid used for forming and (subsequently) at least partially seal the container filled with the liquid with a container closure.
  • the device is suitable for this and, after the at least partial closure of the container, to cool the container and / or the liquid in the container, in particular to temper it (by a cooling device) and / or the liquid present in the container cool and, preferably via at least one in at least a portion of a wall of the plastic container or a peripheral wall of the container closure introduced opening or via an existing between an orifice and the container closure gap, a supply of a gaseous medium in the interior of the container, in particular the headspace of the container make.
  • the device is preferably suitable and intended to carry out the method proposed above.
  • the device may be equipped with all features described in connection with the above-described devices and methods, individually or in combination, and vice versa. Further advantages and embodiments will be apparent from the attached drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 a - 1 c A schematic sequence of a method according to the invention
  • FIG. 2a - 2c three illustrations for illustrating a gas supply by a
  • Fig. 3 is an illustration for introducing a hole in a wall of the container
  • FIGs 1 a to 1 c show a schematic representation of a method according to the invention.
  • a plastic container 1 is first blown from a plastic preform 1 1. This is particularly preferably done by means of a blow molding machine.
  • This blow molding machine may preferably have a moving and in particular rotatable carrier on which a plurality of forming stations for forming plastic preforms to plastic containers and in particular plastic bottles is arranged.
  • FIG. 1 b shows an illustration of a filling process.
  • a filling device such as a filling channel 62 is provided, which fills the liquid into the container 1.
  • Figure 1 c shows schematically a piercing operation.
  • a penetration tool 54 such as a needle
  • the container 1 is inserted in the region of its mouth.
  • the reference numeral 14 refers to the opening created by this piercing process, which is designed in particular as a small hole.
  • the reference numeral 12 indicates the wall of the container 1.
  • the reference numeral 2 indicates a container closure, which is already attached to the container 1.
  • the opening 14 produced by the penetration device 54 preferably represents the only opening of the container 1, since the mouth of the container 1 is already closed by the Behaltnisver gleich 2.
  • the container 1 now a gas such as nitrogen can be supplied.
  • This supply can take place via the penetration tool 54 or via a further channel 52 which supplies the gas to the container via the opening 14 introduced by the penetration tool 54. It is also possible for a wall region 12, in which the said opening 14 is located, to be sealed from the environment by means of a sealant, thus producing a space surrounding the opening, to which the gaseous medium is then supplied under pressure, so that it flows from this space through the opening 14 into the interior of the container 1.
  • FIGS. 2 a to 2 c illustrate three procedures for introducing the gaseous medium via the container closure 2.
  • the closure 2 is pierced on its peripheral wall or laterally by the penetration tool 54.
  • the subsequently introduced gas can pass through the thread of the container into the interior of the container. This is conceivable in particular when the closure 2 is not yet completely screwed onto the mouth of the container, differently than shown in FIG. 2a.
  • the penetration tool 54 abuts both through the closure 2 and the underlying mouth of the container.
  • the container closure 2 there are a plurality of openings on the outer periphery of the container closure 2.
  • the container closure 2 can be pierced at opposite points.
  • the gas is supplied between a container closure 2 and a carrier ring of the container, as shown by the arrow P1, and then passes completely through the said thread to the actual mouth of the container. Also in this embodiment, preferably during the supply of the gas, the closure 2 is not completely screwed to the mouth.
  • FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment in which the penetration tool 54 is introduced into a lateral wall of the container 12.
  • the container is preferably transported horizontally.
  • FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a device 40 according to the invention.
  • a forming device 42 is provided, which is suitable and intended for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers.
  • This forming device can have a heating device, such as a furnace, which is connected upstream of the actual forming device and serves to sufficiently heat the plastic preforms so that they can be blown into containers.
  • the reference numeral 44 denotes an optional sterilization device which sterilizes the plastic bottles produced by the forming device 42.
  • the reference numeral 46 denotes a filling device which introduces a gas into the produced container.
  • the reference numeral 50 denotes a closing device which closes the plastic containers.
  • the reference numeral 52 denotes a gas supply means which is adapted and intended to introduce the gas via the above-mentioned opening into the container.
  • This gas supply device 52 can at the same time also have the above-described penetration tool.
  • the reference numeral 48 denotes a cooling device which is suitable and intended to cool the hot-filled containers.
  • this gas supply device 52 can also be arranged at other positions of the entire device, for example also already in the region of the closing device 50, or else at other positions, in particular in front of the recooling device 48.
  • FIG. 5 shows a representation of a possible procedure for introducing gas into the container.
  • the penetration device 54 is again provided in the form of a needle, which pierces the wall of the plastic container 1.
  • Reference numeral 52 denotes the actual gas supply device, which introduces a gaseous medium into the container 1 via the hole produced by the penetration device 54.
  • the reference numeral 64 denotes the space that serves to supply the gas via the supply line 52. This space can temporarily against the container. 1 be sealed so as to be able to introduce the gaseous medium under slight overpressure in the container 1 can. This gas can be supplied to this space, which should finally reach the container via the opening 14.
  • this gas is the space 64 preferably supplied under an overpressure, so that it flows into the container 1 due to the pressure conditions.
  • the reference numeral 72 designates a corresponding sealing device, by means of which the space 64 is sealed from the environment. This sealing device 72 can simultaneously serve as a gripping element for the container 1.
  • the reference numeral 68 denotes a sealing device which reseals the hole created by the penetration device 54, for example by a melting process.
  • the two tools i. the penetration device 54 and the sealing device 68 are arranged one above the other.
  • these tools are arranged side by side or at an angle to each other.
  • the tools should only be arranged to be movable in such a way that it is ensured that precisely the point which was pierced is closed / sealed. In this plan view, as in FIGS. 1 c and 3, the opening 14 is again recognizable.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé de réalisation de récipients à liquide et notamment de récipients à boire, comportant les étapes qui consistent à : réaliser un récipient en plastique (1) par un processus de soufflage ; remplir le récipient en plastique (1) d'une substance fluide et notamment d'un liquide ; refermer au moins partiellement le récipient (1) rempli de liquide avec un élément de fermeture de récipient (2). Selon l'invention, la fermeture au moins partielle du récipient (1) est suivie de l'introduction dans l'espace intérieur du récipient (1) d'une substance gazeuse via au moins une ouverture (14) pratiquée dans au moins une section d'une paroi (12) du récipient en plastique (1) ou d'une paroi circonférentielle de l'élément de fermeture de récipient (2) ou via un espace intermédiaire formé entre une ouverture de récipient et l'élément de fermeture de récipient (2).
EP17787166.2A 2016-10-19 2017-10-19 Procédé et dispositif pour la production des recipients pour boissons avec refroidissement et alimentation en gaz Active EP3529202B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102016119890.0A DE102016119890A1 (de) 2016-10-19 2016-10-19 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Getränkebehältnissen mit Rückkühlung und Gaszufuhr
PCT/EP2017/076706 WO2018073341A1 (fr) 2016-10-19 2017-10-19 Procédé et dispositif de réalisation de récipients à boire, comprenant un refroidissement adiabatique et un apport de gaz

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3529202A1 true EP3529202A1 (fr) 2019-08-28
EP3529202B1 EP3529202B1 (fr) 2023-10-11

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US (1) US11225345B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP3529202B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN110139824B (fr)
DE (1) DE102016119890A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2018073341A1 (fr)

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DE102019104387A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen
DE102019104383A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen
DE102019104373A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen
DE102019104390A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen

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CN110139824B (zh) 2022-01-18
WO2018073341A1 (fr) 2018-04-26
CN110139824A (zh) 2019-08-16
EP3529202B1 (fr) 2023-10-11
DE102016119890A1 (de) 2018-04-19
US20190248524A1 (en) 2019-08-15
US11225345B2 (en) 2022-01-18

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