EP3670432A1 - Container holder for a free jet filler - Google Patents

Abstract

Container holder (10) and filling device for filling containers (1) with a filling product, preferably for free-jet filling of containers (1) with a beverage in a beverage filling system. The container holder (10) has: a holding section (11) which is set up to receive and hold a container (1); a main beam (16) attachable to the filler; and a compensation support (12) which is adjustable, preferably linearly displaceable, in a compensation direction (K) relative to the main support (16) and to which the holding section (11) is attached.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a container holder for a filling device for filling containers with a filling product, preferably for free-jet filling of containers with a beverage in a beverage filling system. The invention further relates to a filling device which is equipped with such container holders.

State of the art

In the case of free jet filling, the container to be filled is positioned below a filling element, which then introduces the liquid filling product essentially vertically downwards into the container mouth. The mouth of the container does not lie close to the filling element but is spaced apart by a certain vertical path so that the air displaced by the filling product can escape into the environment.

If the free jet filling is carried out in a rotary machine, in which the container and the associated filling element move on a circular trajectory during filling, the filling jet is deflected to the outside depending on the centrifugal force acting thereon. For this reason, the transport speed of the containers cannot be increased arbitrarily, because from a certain speed the deflection of the filling jet is so great that it no longer reliably hits the container mouth. In other words, the performance of a rotary machine is not only limited by the flow rate of the filling elements, but also or even mainly by the centrifugal forces acting on the filling jet.

A possible solution to the problem is to increase the performance of the rotary machine by making it larger overall, ie by providing it with a larger pitch circle and by equipping additional filling elements. However, this results in higher costs both in the purchase and in the operation of the system. The maintenance effort increases, as does the required installation or installation space.

The DE 10 2011 016 760 A1 proposes to move the filling element and the container to be filled so as to compensate for the deflection of the filling jet so that the filling jet essentially enters the container through the opening of the container.

A disadvantage of the compensation of the filling jet deflection by a relative adjustment of the container carrier and the filling element is that either the container carrier or the filling elements of the system have to be redesigned in a not inconsiderable way in order to be displaceable or tiltable relative to one another without impairing their functionality . If the compensation is carried out by adjusting the filling elements, it must be ensured that the filling behavior does not change as a result. If, on the other hand, the compensation is carried out by repositioning the container carrier, it must be ensured that the containers can still be securely gripped, held and handed over to subsequent stations. Retrofitting existing rotary machines is therefore not easily possible.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an improved container holder for a filling device for filling containers with a filling product and an improved filling device, in particular to simplify the retrofitting of an existing filling device with container holders which are set up to compensate for any filling beam deflection.

The object is achieved by a container holder with the features of claim 1 and a filling device with the features of claim 11. Advantageous further developments follow from the subclaims, the following illustration of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The container holder according to the invention is provided for a filling device for filling containers with a filling product. The container holder is particularly preferably used in free-jet fillers for filling drinks. The container holder has a holding section which is set up for receiving and holding a container, and a main carrier which can be attached to or attached to the filling device. The container holder also has a compensation carrier which is adjustable in a compensation direction relative to the main carrier and on which the holding section is attached.

The term "adjustable" means that the position and / or orientation of the compensation carrier can be varied, for example pivoted and / or displaced, relative to the main carrier. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the compensation carrier is arranged to be linearly displaceable relative to the main carrier. It should be pointed out that the compensation carrier and the holding section can be formed as separate components, integrally or in one piece.

Container holders of this construction can contribute to an increase in the performance of a filling device equipped therewith, since a deflection of the filling jet can be compensated for by the adjustability of the main carrier, and thus of the holding section. If there is a significant deflection of the filling jet, for example when the performance of the filling machine increases due to an increase in the speed of any filler carousel, the container holder can be brought into a compensation state. This applies in particular to the filling of comparatively small-volume containers, in which an increase in performance is less limited by the maximum flow rate of the filling elements, but rather by the speed of rotation of the filler carousel. Existing filling devices can be easily retrofitted with the improved container holders, since the connection to the existing fastening sections for conventional container holders is possible by means of the main carrier. Constructions regarding the inlet and outlet, the container transfer, the filling elements, etc. do not have to be changed fundamentally, but if necessary they have to be adapted.

The holding section preferably comprises two clamping arms which are pivotally mounted on the compensation carrier and / or are made of a flexible material. Here, the clamping arms are preferably biased into a compressed preferred position. In this way, a container can only be clamped into the holding section by slight pressure, by slightly pushing the clamping arms apart and, in the holding state, exerting sufficient pressure on the container to hold it. To generate the pretension, a retaining spring can be provided, which is arranged between the clamping arms and attached to them so that they are pressed or pulled into the preferred position.

The container holder preferably has one or more guide elements, the compensation carrier being displaceable along the compensation direction, guided by the guide elements. In this way, the function to compensate for a filler beam deflection can be implemented in a technically simple and reliable manner. The Guide elements are preferably attached to the main carrier. In the case of a rotary machine, the compensation direction corresponds to the radial direction of the filler carousel or at least has a non-vanishing vector component in this direction.

The compensation carrier is preferably from a normal state in which the mouth of a container held therein is located substantially centrally below the outlet of an associated filling element of the filling device, in at least one compensation state in which the opening of the container is displaced relative to the outlet of the filling element, and vice versa adjustable. The state of compensation thus denotes a decentralized mounting of the container relative to the outlet of the filling element. In this way, a deflection of the filling jet due to centrifugal force is compensated for. It should be pointed out that, of course, several compensation states can be provided in order to be able to compensate for different degrees of filling beam deflection. In particular, a continuous transition from the normal state to a maximum compensation state and vice versa can be realized.

Since the container holder can also be converted into the normal state defined above, it can also be used in a conventional filling device without compensation or in the case of a sufficiently low output, in which there is no or only insignificant filling beam deflection. This can be the case, for example, when filling comparatively large containers, such as 2 liter bottles, when the performance of the filling system is primarily limited by the volume throughput of the filling element.

The compensation carrier is preferably prestressed in one of the states, for example the compensation state, as a result of which any means for actively adjusting the compensation carrier only have to operate in one direction, while the compensation carrier automatically returns to the initial state. A mechanically simple and reliable realization of such a pretension can be accomplished by means of one or more compensation springs. One end of such a compensation spring can, for example, be attached to the compensation carrier, while the other end is attached to the guide element or main carrier.

The container holder preferably has a locking device which is set up to fix the compensation carrier in the normal state and / or the compensation state. This primarily means a fixation or locking relative to the main beam. In this way, the condition in question is safely maintained. If the container holder can be fixed in the normal state, it can be easily and reliably between one Normal operation without compensation and a compensating operation can be switched. The locking device can preferably be switched under program control in order to avoid manual operator intervention.

A mechanically simple and reliable realization of the locking device can take place by means of at least one hook which is pivotably attached to the main carrier and / or compensation carrier and can be brought into engagement with and detachable from a counterpart on the other carrier.

The container holder preferably has one or more stops, preferably adjustable, for defining the normal state and / or a compensation state. In particular, the end position, i.e. the maximum compensation state, defined by a stop, whereby a reliable and consistent positioning of the compensation carrier is realized.

The container holder preferably has an adjusting section which is set up to adjust the position of the compensation carrier. The positioning section can do the positioning, i.e. Change the position or state of the compensation carrier by mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic or other means. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the positioning takes place mechanically in that the adjusting section comprises a roller which is set up to interact with a curve segment of the filling device. In this way, the transition from the normal state to the compensation state and vice versa takes place particularly reliably, in a structurally simple and easily retrofittable manner.

The above object is further achieved by a filling device with one or more container holders according to the described variants. The filling device is designed to move containers by means of the container holders during the filling with a filling product along a trajectory which is curved at least in sections. A centrifugal force deflection can occur in the curved sections, which can be compensated for by the container holders according to the invention.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described in relation to the container holder apply analogously to the filling device.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the filling device is a rotary machine with a filler carousel, which has the container holders and transports them along a circle segment during the filling of the containers, the compensation direction in this case corresponding to the radial direction of the filler carousel or at least a non-vanishing vector component in this direction having.

The filling device preferably has a curve segment which, together with the adjusting sections of the container holders, is set up in such a way that in the area of the container transfer to the holding section and / or container delivery to a subsequent station, the compensation carrier through a curve of the curve segment which acts on the roller is brought to the normal state while the compensation carrier is in a compensation state during the filling.

A filling device equipped with compensation-capable container holders can have a control / logic which determines the correct compensation state, for example calculates and controls it as a function of the speed of rotation of the filler carousel. Such a control can also be set up to indicate whether the increase in performance due to the off-center filling prevents an enlargement of the filler pitch circle. The off-center filling can lead to an increase in the performance of the filling device.

Further advantages and features of the present invention are evident from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described there can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, provided that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments takes place with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1a

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Behälterhalterung, verriegelt im Normalzustand, d.h. in der zentralen Position ohne Kompensation der Füllstrahlablenkung;

Figur 1b

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Behälterhalterung der Figur 1a mit einem aufgenommenen Behälter und einem darüber angeordneten Füllorgan;

Figur 2

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Behälterhalterung der Figur 1a, entriegelt im Normalzustand;

Figur 3a

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Behälterhalterung der Figur 1a in einem Kompensationszustand, in dem der Behälter außermittig haltbar ist; und

Figur 3b

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Behälterhalterung der Figur 3a mit einem aufgenommenen Behälter und einem darüber angeordneten Füllorgan.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Show:

Figure 1a

a schematic plan view of a container holder, locked in the normal state, ie in the central position without compensation for the filling beam deflection;

Figure 1b

is a schematic side view of the container holder of the Figure 1a with a receptacle and a filling element arranged above it;

Figure 2

is a schematic plan view of the container holder of the Figure 1a , unlocked in normal state;

Figure 3a

is a schematic plan view of the container holder of the Figure 1a in a state of compensation in which the container is stable off-center; and

Figure 3b

is a schematic side view of the container holder of the Figure 3a with a container and a filling element arranged above it.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. The same, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

The Figure 1a shows a schematic plan view of a container holder 10. The container holder 10 is set up to hold a container 1 (cf. Figure 1b ), to keep it safe for filling and to hand it over to a subsequent station or transport facility after filling. The container 1 is at least during the filling by a filling element 2 (cf. Figure 1b ) along a trajectory that is curved at least in sections. The container 1 is preferably held by the container holder 10 at its mouth or in the region of the mouth. The container 1, for example a bottle to be filled with a drink, is thus preferably held hanging by the container holder 10. However, there is no restriction on the type of holder as long as the containers 1 can be picked up, held securely and released again. The container holder 10 is particularly preferably part of a rotary machine with a filler carousel, which has a plurality of container holders 10 at regular intervals and is transported along a circle segment, while one or more containers 1 are filled simultaneously by associated filling members 2.

The container holder 10 has a holding section 11 which, according to the present exemplary embodiment, comprises two clamping arms 11a, 11b which are attached to a carrier, which is referred to herein as a compensation carrier 12. The clamping arms 11a, 11b are preferably pivotally mounted on the compensation carrier 12, whereby they can be biased into a compressed preferred position by means of a retaining spring 13. That way a container 1 is clamped into the holding section 11 by slight pressure, in that the clamping arms 11a, 11b are pushed apart a little by the container 1 itself and exert sufficient pressure on the container 1 by the holding spring 13 to hold it. Alternatively, the clamping arms 11a, 11b can be made of a flexible material and thus have their own flexibility, so that a holding spring 13 can be dispensed with if necessary. It should also be pointed out that the holding section 11 can be realized in a different way. In the simplest case, the holding section 11 has only one recess into which the containers 1 are hung. The holding section 11 and the compensation carrier 12 can be designed as separate components, integrally or in one piece.

The compensation carrier 12 is adjustable so that the holding section 11 can be displaced by a certain amount. In the present exemplary embodiment, the compensation carrier 12 can be displaced along a compensation direction K by guide elements 14. In the case of a rotary machine, the compensation direction K corresponds to the radial direction of the filler carousel or at least has a non-vanishing vector component in this direction.

The Figures 1a and 1b show the container holder 10 in a normal state in which the mouth of a container 1 held therein is located substantially centrally under the outlet of an associated filling member 2 during filling. The normal state thus designates a position in which no compensation of any filling beam deflection takes place.

The container holder 10 can thus also be used in a conventional filling device without compensation or in the case of a sufficiently low output in which there is no or only insignificant deflection of the filling jet. This can be the case, for example, when filling comparatively large containers 1, such as 2 liter bottles, when the performance of the filling system is primarily limited by the volume throughput of the filling element 2.

In order to maintain the normal state safely, a locking device 15 is preferably provided which fixes the compensation carrier 12. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the locking device 15 comprises a hook 15a which is pivotably attached to a carrier, which is referred to herein as the main carrier 16. The hook 15a cooperates with a counterpart, for example provided or attached to the compensation carrier 12. The locking device 15 can additionally or alternatively be set up to lock one or more compensation states. The locking device 15 is preferably switchable under program control in order to avoid manual operator intervention. The Control of the locking device 15 is in the Figure 1 indicated by a pneumatic cylinder 17. Alternatively, the locking device 15 can be actuated by a rod switch, by an electric motor, hydraulically or in another way.

The main carrier 16 is provided for attaching the container holder 10 to a filling device, for example for attachment to corresponding receptacles of a filler carousel.

If there is a significant deflection of the filling jet, for example when the performance of the filling machine is increased by increasing the speed of the filler carousel, the container holder 10 can be released by releasing the locking device 15, as in FIG Figure 2 shown, are brought into a compensation state.

For this purpose, the compensation carrier 12 moves outwards along the guide elements 14, ie in the direction in which the filling jet is deflected, as a result of which the container 1 held by the container holder 10 is brought to a decentralized position. Ie the container mouth is offset from the outlet of the filling element 2, as it is from the Figure 3b emerges. In this way, the deflection of the filling jet due to centrifugal force is compensated for.

The transition between the normal state and the compensation state can be realized by a spring-controlled mechanism, as it is shown in the Figures 1a , 2nd and 3a emerges. It should be pointed out that, of course, several compensation states can be provided in order to be able to compensate for different degrees of filling beam deflection. In particular, a continuous transition from the normal state to a maximum compensation state according to the Figure 3a will be realized.

The spring-controlled mechanism according to the present exemplary embodiment comprises one or more compensation springs 18 which bias the compensation carrier 12 into the compensation state. In the simplest case, the compensation springs 18 are fastened on the compensation carrier 12 and in each case on an end section of a corresponding guide element 14. The holding section 11 is thus biased to an eccentric position below the filling member 2. The end position, ie the maximum state of compensation, can be defined by a stop 19, which is preferably adjustable. The stop 19 can be realized, for example, by two lock nuts, which each engage in a threaded section of the guide elements 14.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, an adjustment section 20 is located on the compensation carrier 12, which adjusts the position of the compensation carrier 12. For this purpose, the adjusting section 20 comprises, for example, a roller 20a, which is connected to a curve segment 3 (cf. Figure 2 ) the filling device interacts. In the area of the container transfer to the holding section 11 and / or the container delivery to a subsequent station, the compensation carrier 12 is pressed against the biasing action of the compensation springs 18 into the normal state below the filling element 2 by a curve of the curve segment 3, which acts on the roller 20a. According to this exemplary embodiment, the actuation of the compensation carrier 12 is realized by a combination of a curve control and a spring-controlled mechanism.

In this way, the transition between the normal state and the at least one compensation state can be implemented in a technically simple and reliable manner. However, it should be pointed out that the actuation of the compensation carrier 12 can also be implemented in another way, for example by means of a pressure damper, by electric motor, hydraulic, pneumatic, magnetic, etc.

Furthermore, the container holder 10 can have a support 21 behind the compensation carrier 12, which stabilizes the movable holding section 11 in the normal state when it is pressed into the normal state by the roller 20a. The support 21 thus serves as a stop on the normal state side, which mechanically defines and stabilizes the correct position of the compensation carrier 12 in the normal state. The support 21 can be fastened to the main support 16 in order to thereby ensure a minimum distance between the main support 16 and the compensation support 12.

A filling device equipped with container holders 10 capable of compensation can have a control / logic which determines and controls the correct compensation state. Such a control can also be set up to indicate whether the increase in performance due to the off-center filling prevents an enlargement of the filler pitch circle. The off-center filling can thus lead to an increase in the performance of the filling device, through skillful use or adaptation to the physical circumstances.

The container holders 10 set out herein can contribute to an increase in the performance of a filling device equipped with them without increasing the number of filling elements 2. This applies in particular to the filling of comparatively small-volume containers in which an increase in performance is less limited by the maximum flow rate of the filling elements 2. but rather by the speed of rotation of the filler carousel. Existing filling devices can be easily retrofitted with the container holders 10. Constructions regarding the inlet and outlet, the container handover, the filling elements 2 etc. do not have to be fundamentally changed, but if necessary adapted, although in many cases even an adjustment can be omitted. Furthermore, the container holders 10 allow compensation for lower powers to be deactivated.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention.

Reference symbol list

1

container

2nd

Filler

3rd

Curve segment

10th

Container holder

11

Holding section

11a

Clamp arm

11b

Clamp arm

12

Compensation carrier

13

Retaining spring

14

Guide element

15

Locking device

15a

hook

16

Main beam

17th

Pneumatic cylinder

18th

Compensation spring

19th

attack

20th

Control section

20a

role

21st

Support

K

Compensation direction

Claims (13)

Container holder (10) for a filling device for filling containers (1) with a filling product, preferably for free-jet filling of containers (1) with a drink in a beverage filling system, the container holder (10) having: a holding section (11) which is set up for receiving and holding a container (1); a main beam (16) attachable to the filler; and a compensation carrier (12) which is adjustable, preferably linearly displaceable, in a compensation direction (K) relative to the main carrier (16) and to which the holding section (11) is attached. Container holder (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding section (11) comprises two clamping arms (11a, 11b) which are pivotally mounted on the compensation carrier (12) and / or are made of a flexible material, the clamping arms (11a, 11b) are preferably biased into a compressed preferred position. Container holder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has one or more guide elements (14), the compensation carrier (12) being guided through the guide elements (14) along the compensation direction (K). Container holder (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation carrier (12) from a normal state in which the mouth of a container (1) held therein is located substantially centrally under the outlet of an associated filling element (2) of the filling device , in at least one compensation state, in which the mouth of the container (1) is offset relative to the outlet of the filling element (2), and vice versa is adjustable. Container holder (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the compensation carrier (12) is biased into one of the states, preferably the compensation state. Container holder (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that it has one or more compensation springs (18) which bias the compensation carrier (12) in the compensation state or the normal state. Container holder (10) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a locking device (15) which is set up to fix the compensation carrier (12) in the normal state and / or in a compensation state, the locking device ( 15) can preferably be switched under program control. Container holder (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking device (15) comprises at least one hook (15a) which is pivotally attached to the main carrier (16) and / or compensation carrier (12) and engages with a counterpart on the other carrier can be brought and detached therefrom. Container holder (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that it has one or more stops (19, 21), preferably adjustable, for defining the normal state and / or a compensation state. Container holder (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an actuating section (20) which is set up to adjust the position of the compensation carrier (12), the actuating section (20) comprising a roller (20a) which is set up to interact with a curve segment (3) of the filling device. Filling device with one or more container holders (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which is set up to move containers (1) by means of the container holders (10) during the filling with a filling product along a trajectory which is at least partially curved. Filling device according to claim 11, characterized in that it is a rotary machine with a filler carousel, which has the container holders (10) and transports them along a circle segment during the filling of the containers (1), the compensation direction (K) corresponding to the radial direction of the filler carousel or at least has a non-vanishing vector component in this direction. Filling device according to claim 11 or 12 with one or more container holders (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the filling device has a curved segment (3) which is set up together with the adjusting sections (20) of the container holders (10) so that in The area of the container transfer to the holding section (11) and / or container transfer to a subsequent station of the compensation carrier (12) is brought into the normal state by a curve of the curve segment (3) which acts on the roller (20a) while the compensation carrier is moving (12) is in the compensation state during the filling of the container (1).

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