EP3693333A1 - Device for treating a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating a container (120), preferably for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container (120) with a container closure (124), comprising a treatment chamber ( 2) for sealingly receiving the container (120) and a closing device (4) movable relative to the treatment chamber (2) for applying a container closure (124) to the container (120), the closing device (4) being set up and designed for this purpose, at least to be able to process two different types of container closures (124).

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device for treating a container, for example for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure.

State of the art

Filling methods and devices for carrying out a filling method are known in which a container to be filled is sealed with a treatment chamber, a filling valve is connected to the mouth of the container to be filled and the interior of the container to be filled is flushed with a flushing gas to reduce the oxygen content. After the interior of the container has been flushed with the flushing gas, the interior of the container is then filled with the filling product. Before filling, depending on the selected filling method and depending on the filling product to be filled, the container to be filled can also be pre-tensioned or evacuated.

Simultaneously with the filling of the interior of the container with the filling product, also before or afterwards, the treatment chamber is brought to an overpressure and then the filling valve is removed from the opening of the container already filled with the filling product. Due to the overpressure in the treatment chamber, when the filling valve is removed from the mouth of the container filled with the filling product, overflow, splashing out or foaming over, in particular of a carbonized filling product, is reduced or completely avoided. In this phase, the treatment chamber which is under excess pressure communicates with the interior of the container filled with the filling product.

In a next treatment step, a container closure is then applied to the container in the treatment chamber, which is still under excess pressure, and the container is closed accordingly. The overpressure present in the treatment chamber is then reduced essentially to ambient pressure and the filled and closed container is then removed from the treatment chamber. Such a device and such a method are for example from EP 2 937 310 A2 known.

Container closures for closing filled containers, for example filled beverage containers, can be provided, for example, in the form of crown corks or screw closures or roll-up closures or corks or stoppers. The containers to be closed with these types of container closures are correspondingly adapted to the container closures and in particular have a correspondingly developed mouth area which is designed for closure with the respective type of container closures. However, other types of container closures and thus containers to be closed can also be provided.

In order to switch from the treatment of one type of container to the treatment of another type of container, a conversion process is necessary, in particular to adapt or replace a container closure feed and the closing device for closing the container with a corresponding container closure. This can result in downtimes.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for treating a container, preferably for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure.

The object is achieved by a device for treating a container, preferably for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure, with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, a device for treating a container, preferably for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure, is proposed, comprising a treatment chamber for sealingly receiving the container and a closure device movable relative to the treatment chamber for applying a container closure on the container. According to the invention, the closing device is set up and designed to be able to process at least two different types of container closures.

Because the closing device is set up and designed to be able to process at least two different types of container closures, it is possible to process container closures of different types without converting a system having the device. The different types of container closures can either be applied to the same type of container or to different types of containers.

As a result, the downtimes required in a device constructed in this way, during which the device is upgraded or converted to process containers and container closures of a different type, can be shorter than with conventional systems, or any otherwise required downtimes can even be completely avoided.

Intervention by an operator to upgrade or convert the device for processing a different type of container closures can also be avoided and thus also possible damage to a clean room in which the device is arranged. This also makes it possible, as it were, to close containers with different types of container closure while the system is in operation, without having to undertake lengthy retrofitting with renewed sterilization of a clean room.

Different types of container closures are understood here to mean different types of container closures, for example crown corks or screw closures or roll-up closures or corks or stoppers. However, different types of container closures can also be differently dimensioned container closures of the same type - for example screw closures of different diameters. The containers to be closed with these types of container closures are correspondingly adapted to the container closures and in particular have a correspondingly developed mouth area which is designed for closure with the respective type of container closures.

Different types of container closures can also have essentially the same dimensions and differ only in their external design. For example, different types of container closures can have an essentially equally dimensioned screw thread for application to a container with complementary threads, the container closures nevertheless having different external dimensions or external structures, which accordingly require different designs and devices of the closure device in order to be able to accommodate the different external dimensions or To be able to grip screw caps provided with external structures and screw them onto the container. In such a design, for example, different types of container closures can be closed with a single type of container. These trainings are of course not limited to screw caps.

It has been shown that the aforementioned advantages are particularly effective if, according to a further preferred embodiment, one of the types of container closures is a crown cork closure and / or one of the types of container closures is a screw closure. It is then possible to process containers which can be closed with a crown cap and / or containers which can be closed with a screw cap one after the other without the need for time-consuming conversion with operator intervention.

Alternatively or additionally, one of the types of container closures can be a roll-up closure and / or one of the types of container closures can be a cork or a stopper.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the closure device has an attachment which is designed and designed both for applying a container closure of a first type to a container, preferably a first container type, and for applying a container closure of a second type to a container, preferably a second container type is set up. As a result, the device can process the container closures of both types without further modifications, so that any downtime or changeover times can be reduced to a minimum or even avoided entirely.

The closure device is preferably designed and set up to apply container closures both to a container of a first type and to a container of a second type.

A locking ring for a first type of container closures, for example for crown caps, is preferably arranged in the closing direction (stroke direction axially to the container) of the device behind a retaining ring for container closures of a second type, for example for screw closures. As a result, the container closure of the second type, preferably the screw closure, can be held and applied with the retaining ring. Furthermore, the container closure of the first type, preferably a crown cap, can be held on the closure device by a magnet and closed by the closure ring.

The closure device is preferably set up and designed so that when a container is closed with a closure of the first type, the closure device can move further over a container, in particular a bottle neck, than is the case with conventional crown cap closers.

Likewise, the closing device can be designed in such a way that when a container closure is taken over from a transfer unit, a closure ram of the closure device is designed to move out so far that, when taking over the container closure, it moves close enough to the container closure of the first type so that it is removed from the integrated Magnet can be held.

Alternatively or additionally, the retaining ring can be designed in such a way that, on the one hand, it can receive and hold the container closure of the second type and, on the other hand, it can close the container closure of the first type in the manner of a closure ring. A position of the sealing ram can preferably be adapted to the respective container closure.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the closing device has an exchangeable first attachment for applying a first type of container closures to a container, preferably a corresponding first container type, and has an exchangeable second attachment for applying a second type of container closures to a container, preferably a corresponding one second container type. This makes it possible to process container closure types which are geometrically different from one another, in particular very different, alternately by means of the closure device.

In order to be able to provide a reliable change of the attachments, the closing device can be designed and set up to be able to alternately bring the first attachment and the second attachment into a working position, according to a preferred one Further development, the closing device is designed and set up to carry out the change of the first and the second attachment essentially automatically.

More than two different attachments can also be provided in order to be able to process different container closure types.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the first attachment and the second attachment can be movably, preferably pivotably or displaceably, arranged on the closing device, which can result in a simple exchange of the attachments.

Alternatively or additionally, preferably outside the treatment chamber, an attachment magazine can be provided to hold attachments ready, the closing device preferably being movable into an exchange position in which an attachment can be exchanged by interacting with the attachment magazine. As a result, an attachment that is currently not required can be stored in a simple manner without having to provide installation space for this in the area of the working position of the currently used attachment of the locking device.

For exchanging two attachments, a preferably separate actuating unit can optionally be provided, which is preferably set up and designed to be able to automatically exchange two attachments, preferably when the closing device is positioned in a predetermined changing position of the changing position. This is particularly important if the device is arranged in an isolator of an aseptic filling plant.

The closing device can also be set up and designed as an alternative or in addition to this, so that two attachments can be exchanged manually by an operator.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous if the closing device is designed and set up to provide a rotary movement and / or a lifting movement of at least one component of an attachment. As a result, a screw cap can be screwed on and a crown cap can be closed.

A lifting movement of the closing device, preferably a closer ram of the closing device, is preferably provided by means of a lifting curve, with a compensation element for compensating for differently high closing forces in container closures of a first type and a second type on the closing device being particularly preferred and / or is provided for providing a required different stroke for container closures of a first type and a second type.

The compensation element is preferably designed with two different force levels. A first stage provides a different force compared to the second stage, for example a low force if the first stage is intended for processing screw caps and the second stage is intended for processing crown corks.

According to a preferred embodiment, the compensation element is pre-tensioned in a first stage with a spring and can be pre-tensioned for the second stage with a reinforcement unit, which preferably has a pneumatic unit or a hydraulic unit, compared to the first stage.

The lifting curve can also optionally be equipped with a switchable element, preferably at at least one of the transfer points of the various container closures, in order to be able to selectively approach the respective transfer points or not to be able to selectively approach them.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the closing device has an active lifting unit, which preferably comprises a servo drive, a hydraulic drive and / or a pneumatic drive. As a result, a stroke position of the closing device, in particular the working attachment of the closing device, can be actively controlled / regulated.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the treatment chamber has a receiving opening for receiving the closing device, the receiving opening being sealable by the closing device, the closing device preferably being movable into a treatment position in which an attachment of the closing device is arranged in the interior of the treatment chamber and in a transfer position can be moved in which the attachment is arranged outside the treatment chamber and in which a container closure can be fed to the attachment.

In order to be able to feed a container closure to the closure device, a container closure feed, preferably a feed channel, for feeding in container closures can be provided outside the treatment chamber, with a container closure feed preferably being provided for each type of container closures, the closure device preferably for each type of container closure in a separate transfer position can be moved.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a filling element for sealing application to a container sealed with the treatment chamber and for introducing a filling product into the container, and / or a flushing gas channel for introducing a flushing gas into the container to be filled, and / or a tensioning gas channel for introducing a tension gas into the treatment chamber.

The object described above is also achieved by a method for treating a container having the features of claim 11.

Correspondingly, a method for treating a container, preferably for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure, is proposed, comprising the sealing reception of the container in a treatment chamber and the application of a container closure to the filled container by means of a Closing device that is moved relative to the treatment chamber. According to the invention, the closing device automatically processes one of at least two different types of container closures for closing the container.

The advantages and effects already described above for the device are achieved by the method.

The closure device is preferably provided with one of at least two different attachments in order to process the selected type of container closures.

Before closing, the container, which is accommodated in a sealed manner in the treatment chamber, is preferably filled with a filling product.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

schematisch ein Füllerkarussell einer Getränkeabfüllanlage mit einem Zuführstern und einem Auslaufstern und mehreren Vorrichtungen zum Befüllen und Verschließen von zu befüllenden Getränkebehältern;

Figur 2

eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen und Verschließen eines Behälters, wobei ein Füllorgan abdichtend auf die in einer Behandlungskammer aufgenommenen Mündung des zu befüllenden Behälters aufgesetzt ist;

Figur 3

eine schematische Detaildarstellung der in Figur 2 gezeigten Vorrichtung, wobei das Füllorgan zurückgezogen ist und eine Verschließvorrichtung zum Aufbringen eines Behälterverschlusses auf die immer noch in der Behandlungskammer angeordneten Mündung des mit dem Füllprodukt befüllten Behälters abgesenkt ist;

Figur 4

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 2 und 3, wobei sowohl das Füllorgan als auch die Verschließvorrichtung zurückgezogen sind und der mit dem Behälterverschluss versehene Behälter aus der Behandlungskammer entfernt ist;

Figur 5

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer Vorrichtung, wobei auch ein Aufsatzmagazin zum Tauschen unterschiedlicher Aufsätze für die Verschließvorrichtung zum Verschließen unterschiedlicher Behälter mit unterschiedlichen Typen von Behälterverschlüssen vorgesehen ist;

Figur 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Aufsatzmagazins, in welchem unterschiedliche Aufsätze zum Aufbringen unterschiedlicher Typen von Behälterverschlüssen angeordnet sind;

Figur 7

eine schematische Darstellung des Wechselns unterschiedlicher Aufsätze an dem Verschließerstempel; und

Figur 8

eine schematische Darstellung der Aufnahme eines alternativen Aufsatzes durch die Verschließvorrichtung.

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

Figure 1

schematically a filler carousel of a beverage filling plant with a feed star and a discharge star and several devices for filling and closing of beverage containers to be filled;

Figure 2

a schematic sectional view of a device for filling and closing a container, wherein a filling member is sealingly placed on the mouth of the container to be filled, which is received in a treatment chamber;

Figure 3

a schematic detailed representation of the in Figure 2 shown device, wherein the filling member is withdrawn and a closing device for applying a container closure is lowered to the still arranged in the treatment chamber mouth of the filled container with the filling product;

Figure 4

a schematic sectional view of the device from FIG Figures 2 and 3rd wherein both the filling member and the closing device are withdrawn and the container provided with the container closure is removed from the treatment chamber;

Figure 5

a schematic sectional view of a device, with an attachment magazine for exchanging different attachments for the closing device for closing different containers with different types of container closures is provided;

Figure 6

a schematic representation of an attachment magazine, in which different attachments are arranged for applying different types of container closures;

Figure 7

a schematic representation of the changing of different attachments on the closer die; and

Figure 8

a schematic representation of the inclusion of an alternative attachment by the closing device.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

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

In Figure 1 A beverage filling system 100 is shown schematically in which a plurality of devices 1 for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container with a container closure are arranged uniformly around the circumference of a treatment carousel 101, wherein in Figure 1 some of the plurality of devices 1 are indicated by way of example. The devices 1 accordingly revolve around the axis of rotation 102 of the treatment carousel 101 in order to accordingly provide continuous processing and in particular continuous filling and continuous closing of continuously supplied containers 120 to be filled. A flow of filled and closed containers 120 is produced.

The containers 120 to be filled and closed are fed to the devices 1 on the treatment carousel 101 via an inlet star 103. In this case, each device 1, when it passes the inlet star 103, is given an individual container 120 so that it can be filled and closed by the device 1.

The filled and closed containers 120 are transferred from the devices 1 to an outlet star 104.

Downstream of the inlet star 103, viewed in the transport direction of the containers 120, two container closure feeds 105, 106 are arranged offset from one another. One of the container closure feeds is designed as a crown cap feed 105 and the other of the container closure feeds is designed as a screw cap feed 106.

The devices 1 are provided here by way of example in the beverage filling system 100, a beverage being filled into a beverage bottle to be filled and the beverage bottle being closed with a container closure after it has been filled with the beverage. However, systems for filling other filling products, for example from the food sector, the pharmaceutical sector, the hygiene sector or the mineral oil sector, are also being considered.

In the Figures 2 to 4 Different sections, detailed representations and states of a device 1 for filling a container 120 with a filling product and for subsequently closing the container 120 filled with the filling product with a container closure 124 are shown schematically.

The device 1 comprises a treatment chamber 2, a filling member 3 and a closing device 4, which are described in detail below.

The treatment chamber 2 is used to provide predetermined pressure conditions and / or a predetermined atmosphere for the container 120 to be filled or its interior space when the mouth 122 of the container 120 to be filled is in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

The filling element 3 is used to fill the interior of the container 120 to be filled with a predetermined amount of filling product in a manner known per se.

The closing device 4 is used to finally close the container 120 filled with the filling product with a container closure 124.

The treatment chamber 2 of the respective device 1 is provided to accommodate at least part of the container 120 to be filled in a sealing manner. For this purpose, the treatment chamber 2 has a container receiving opening 20 at its lower end, through which the container 120 to be filled can be pushed into the treatment chamber 2 with its container mouth 122 first.

By inserting the container 120 to be filled with its container mouth 122 into the treatment chamber 2, the container receiving opening 20 is closed gas-tight from the environment, for example by means of a switchable seal 60, so that the container receiving opening 20 of the treatment chamber 2 is gas-tight from the environment when the container 120 is pushed in is completed.

The container 120 is thus accommodated in a sealing manner with the treatment chamber 2. In an alternative embodiment, not only a part of the container 120 - as in the embodiment shown, the mouth region - but the entire container 120 can be accommodated in the treatment chamber 2.

The treatment chamber 2 also has a receiving opening 22 at its upper end. The closing device 4 or an attachment 40 of the closing device 4 can act through the receiving opening 22 on the container mouth 122 of a then filled container 120 in order to apply a container closure 124. By lowering the closing device 4 and a closer flange 42 of the closing device 4, the receiving opening 22 can be closed off in a gas-tight manner from the environment.

Thus, by inserting the container 120 into the container receiving opening 20 and lowering the closing device 4 onto the receiving opening 22, the interior of the treatment chamber 2 is sealed gas-tight from the environment. Within the treatment chamber 2, a pressure that differs from the environment can accordingly be applied and / or an atmosphere or gas mixture or a gas can be provided in the treatment chamber 2 that differs from the ambient atmosphere.

In the treatment chamber 2, for example, by introducing an overpressure, a pressure different from the environment can be provided, which is achieved in the treatment chamber 2 and thus also in the interior of the container 120 to be filled, which is sealed gas-tight from the environment with the treatment chamber 2, if the container mouth 122 protrudes unsealed into the treatment chamber 2 and accordingly the interior of the container is in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

By charging the treatment chamber 2 with a gas or a gas mixture, for example by introducing CO ₂ or another inert gas via a tensioning gas channel 84 communicating with the treatment chamber 2, an atmosphere different from the surroundings can be provided in the treatment chamber 2.

A filling product outlet 30 of the filling member 3 is provided in the treatment chamber 2, by means of which the filling product to be filled can be filled into the interior of the container 120 to be filled. The filling element 3 has a filling product outlet seal 300 surrounding the filling product outlet 30, against which the mouth 122 of the container 120 can be pressed and by means of which a sealing connection between the interior of the container and the filling element 3 can be established.

In the interior of the container 120 to be filled, which is sealed gas-tight from the environment with the treatment chamber 2, essentially the same pressure and essentially the same atmosphere as in the treatment chamber 2 is provided when the container mouth 122 opens openly into the treatment chamber 2.

If, on the other hand, the container mouth 122 of the container 120 to be filled is sealed gas-tight with respect to the treatment chamber 2, for example by the fact that the container mouth 122 is sealed with the filling member 3, the filling element 3 in the treatment chamber 2 The pressure present and the atmosphere present in the treatment chamber 2 have no influence on the pressure present in the interior of the container 120 or the gas composition present in this.

The filling element 3 and thus also the filling product outlet 30 can be moved in the illustrated embodiment in the direction of the arrow F shown, which indicates the direction of movement of the filling element, in such a way that the filling product outlet 30 is arranged either in a treatment position above the container receiving opening 20 that a to The filling product flowing out through the filling product outlet 30 can be applied to the filling container 120 through its container mouth 122, or the filling element 3 and the filling product outlet 30 are moved into a retracted parking position such that the closing device 4 opens a container closure in a manner described below the then filled container 120 can apply.

The closing device 4 has an attachment 40, by means of which the actual container closure can be applied to the filled but not yet closed container 120 which is still received in the treatment chamber 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the attachment 40 is designed to apply a crown cap closure to the container 120 to be closed.

The attachment 40 can, however, as required and depending on the required container closure, in addition or alternatively, in addition to being designed as a crown cap closer, also as a screw closure for applying a screw closure provided as a molded part, as a roll-on or roll-on closure for rolling or rolling a container closure sleeve onto an external thread of a filled container, be designed as an attachment for applying stoppers, corks or in any other way to close the filled container 120.

As soon as the gas-tight seal between the filling product outlet 30 and the container 120 is established, the container 120 can be flushed with a flushing gas, for example CO ₂ , supplied via a flushing gas channel 80. A vacuum channel 88 can preferably also be provided, by means of which the container 120 is subjected to a negative pressure. In this way, a purge gas flow can sweep through the container 120 and in this way displace the remaining oxygen in the container 120. Or efficient purging of the container 120 can be achieved by alternately applying negative pressure and purging gas.

In the flushing gas channel 80 there is preferably an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar. The pressure present in the container 120 must accordingly be kept by switching the vacuum channel 88 at a pressure which is below the pressure present in the flushing gas channel 80 if the flushing gas is to be allowed to flow into the container 120.

A controller (not shown) is used to switch a purge gas valve 82 and a vacuum valve 89 so that the container 120 is purged with the purge gas in the manner described above and a predetermined purge gas concentration is accordingly achieved in the container 120. In this way, for example, a low-oxygen atmosphere can be achieved in the container 120.

The filling product can then be introduced into the container 120, which is then rinsed. Before the filling product is introduced, in preferred embodiments, either a negative pressure can be provided in the container 120, into which the filling product, which is then pressurized relative thereto, is introduced, or the container 120 is preloaded with a tension gas to a pressure above the saturation pressure of the filling product and the filling product is introduced into the prestressed container 120.

Furthermore, when the treatment chamber 2 is sealed in a pressure-tight manner from the container 120 by the pressing of the filling element 3, the treatment chamber 2 is pre-tensioned with a tension gas via a tension gas line 84. The controller controls this loading of the treatment chamber 2 with the tensioning gas accordingly by switching a tensioning gas valve 86.

In order to efficiently achieve both the purging effect of the purging gas and the pretensioning effect of the tensioning gas, the purging gas channel 80 is preferably under an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar, preferably an absolute pressure of 1.4 bar to 1.9 bar, and the tensioning gas channel 84 under an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 11 bar, preferably an absolute pressure of 5 bar to 9 bar.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the purging gas channel 80 is under an absolute pressure of approximately 1.7 bar and the tensioning gas channel 84 is under an absolute pressure of approximately 7 bar.

In order to efficiently achieve both the purging effect of the purging gas and the pretensioning effect of the tensioning gas, the tensioning gas channel 84 is still under a higher pressure than the purging gas channel 80.

Once the desired preload pressure has been reached in the treatment chamber 2 and the container 120 is filled with the filling product, the filling element 3 can be lifted from the mouth 122 of the container 120. The interior of the container 120 and the filling product present therein are subjected to the pretensioning pressure of the treatment chamber 2 because the treatment chamber 2 is then in communication with the container 120. In this way, the foaming over of the filling product by the release of the gas bound in the filling product - for example CO ₂ - can be reduced or avoided when the filling element 3 is lifted off.

The filling element 3 is then withdrawn in the direction of movement of the filling element F and the closing device 4 - as in FIG Figure 3 shown schematically - lowered into a treatment position in order to apply a closure to the mouth 122 of the container 120 then filled. The container 120 or the container interior is in communication with the container treatment chamber 2, which in turn is under the pretensioning pressure.

After the container 120 has been closed, the treatment chamber 2 is relieved of pressure to a lower pressure in that the purge gas channel 80 is opened by means of the purge gas valve 82. Since the purging gas channel 80 is at a low pressure, for example in a preferred embodiment at an absolute pressure of 1.7 bar, the gas that is present in the treatment chamber 2 flows into the treatment chamber 2 at a high pressure, for example in this embodiment at an absolute pressure of 7 bar the purge gas channel 80 back when the purge gas valve 82 is opened. Correspondingly, depending on the pressure conditions, at least part of the tension gas present in the treatment chamber 2 will flow back into the flushing gas channel 80.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the treatment chamber 2 is in communication with the latter even when the filling element 3 is withdrawn, and in particular with the flushing gas channel 80 and the vacuum channel 88 via the filling product outlet 30.

Since, under certain pressure conditions, the treatment chamber 2 cannot be completely relieved to ambient pressure into the purge gas channel 80, the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 can be completely relieved to ambient pressure, for example by connecting the treatment chamber 2 to the vacuum channel 88.

In an alternative or in addition, the treatment chamber 2 can also or additionally be relieved of ambient pressure via a relief channel 800 which is in communication with the surroundings.

In a further alternative or in addition to one or both of the above-mentioned possibilities for relieving the treatment chamber 2, the pre-tensioning pressure remaining in the treatment chamber 2 can then be relieved of the pre-tensioning pressure of the treatment chamber 2 in the purge gas channel 80 by withdrawing the filling element 3 and / or the Closing device 4 from the treatment chamber 2 are further relieved, preferably to ambient pressure.

In this case, after the treatment chamber 2 has been relieved of pressure into the purge gas channel 80, the purge gas valve 82 is closed again and the attachment 40 is then moved out of the treatment chamber 2. The resulting increase in volume of the free volume in the treatment chamber 2 also relieves the preload pressure still present in the treatment chamber 2. This retraction can be carried out until the pressure is released to ambient pressure. The filled and closed container can then be removed from the treatment chamber 2.

The respective processes are activated via the control, which in turn switches the respective valves, for example the tensioning gas valve 86 and / or the purging gas valve 82 and / or the vacuum valve 89 and / or the relief valve 802.

After the treatment chamber 2 has been brought to ambient pressure, the container 120 which is then filled and closed with the container closure 124, as in FIG Figure 4 indicated schematically, can be removed from the treatment chamber 2.

When a container 120 to be filled, which is subsequently received in the treatment chamber 2 and is flushed again, the tensioning gas that has flowed back into the flushing gas channel 80 and which now functions as flushing gas is appropriately reused. The tensioning gas that has flowed back is temporarily stored in the flushing gas channel 80. The volume of the flushing gas channel 80 is designed accordingly and can be expanded, for example, by means of an interposed pressure accumulator.

Since the volume of the tension gas that has flowed back into the purging gas channel 80 may not be sufficient for the next purging process of a further container 120 to be filled, can fresh purge gas from a purge gas source 820 - for example a purge gas tank - are supplied. However, by using the tensioning gas that has flowed back into the flushing gas channel 80 as flushing gas, the consumption of fresh flushing gas can be reduced.

The purging gas channel 80 is preferably designed in such a way that the entire volume of the back-flowing clamping gas can be accommodated in the purging gas channel 80 without the back-flowing clamping gas entering the purging gas source 820 in order to exclude possible contamination here.

In the Figures 2 to 4 the attachment 40 is in a working position in which the attachment 40 can be used to close a container 120 with a container closure 124 of the "crown cap" type.

In Figure 5 is a device 1 of the beverage filling system 100 from Figure 1 , which is located at the level of the crown cap feeder 105, shown in a schematic side view.

In the present case, the closing device 4 is set up and designed to be able to process different types of container closures for closing different types of containers. One of the types of container closures can be a crown cap, another type of container closure can be a screw cap.

According to this preferred embodiment, the attachment 40 is designed in the sense of a first attachment for applying crown corks. The first attachment 40 is exchangeably fastened to a sealing ram 41 of the sealing device 4 in the working position.

The closing device 4 also has a second attachment 40 'which is designed accordingly for applying screw closures. The second attachment 40 ′ is stored in an attachment magazine 43. The sealing device 4, in particular the sealing ram 41, can be moved into an exchange position in which an attachment can be exchanged by interacting with the attachment magazine 43.

To exchange the attachments 40, 40 ', the closing device 4 is to be moved from the treatment position described above, in which the respectively active attachment 40, 40' is located inside the treatment chamber 2, into the exchange position, in which the attachment 40 to be exchanged is moved in the direction of movement B of the closing device 4 is positioned above the magazine 43 when viewed.

Thus, the attachment magazine 43 can be moved under the attachment 40 and the attachment 40 can then be transferred to the attachment magazine 43. The new attachment 40 ′ to be attached can then be fastened to the closing device 4 or to its closing ram 41.

In Figure 6 FIG. 3 is a schematic detailed view of the device 1 from FIG Figure 5 shown. In this view, the closing device 4 has been moved down from the exchange position in the direction of movement B onto the attachment magazine 43, so that the above-described depositing of the attachment 40 can take place.

In Figure 7 the closing device 4 is moved back into the exchange position, so that the attachment magazine 43 under the closer ram 41 can be moved further in a displacement direction V until the second attachment 40 ′ is arranged below the closer ram 41. Subsequently, the closer ram 41 can be moved back down onto the attachment magazine 43, and so the second attachment 40 ′ comes into engagement with the closer ram 41, as Figure 8 refer to.

In the Figure 8 The closure device 4 shown is now designed and set up for processing screw closures. After the top magazine 43 in the in Figure 5 is brought into the position shown, the closing device 4 can move back into the treatment chamber 2 and can be used to close containers 120 analogously to the manner described above, the containers 120 then having to be closed accordingly with screw caps.

For this purpose, a rotational movement of the closure device 4, which is deactivated when the crown cap is being closed, is activated so that the screw closures can be screwed onto the container 120.

In order to be able to take over a new container closure from the respective container closure feed 105, 106, the closing device 4 must be lifted accordingly in the direction of movement B until the respective attachment 40, 40 ′ is positioned at the level of the respective container closure feed 105, 106.

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 list

1

contraption

100

Beverage bottling plant

101

Treatment carousel

102

Axis of rotation

103

Inlet star

104

Outlet star

105

Bottle cap feeding

106

Screw cap feed

120

container

122

Container mouth

2

Treatment chamber

20th

Container receiving opening

22nd

Receiving opening

3

Filler

30th

Filling product outlet

300

Filling product outlet seal

4th

Locking device

40

(first) essay

40 '

(second) essay

41

Sealer stamp

42

Closer flange

43

Attachment magazine

60

switchable seal

80

Purge gas channel

82

Purge gas valve

84

Tension gas duct

86

Clamping gas valve

88

Vacuum channel

89

Vacuum valve

800

Relief channel

802

Relief valve

820

Purge gas source

Claims (13)

Device (1) for treating a container (120), preferably for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container (120) with a container closure (124)
a treatment chamber (2) for sealingly receiving the container (120) and
a closure device (4) movable relative to the treatment chamber (2) for applying a container closure (124) to the container (120),
characterized in that
the closing device (4) is set up and designed to be able to process at least two different types of container closures (124). Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the types of container closures (124) is a crown cap and / or one of the types of container closures is a screw closure and / or one of the types of container closures is a roll-up closure and / or one of the types of container closures is a cork or stopper. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing device (4) has an attachment (40) which is designed both for applying a container closure (124) of a first type and for applying a container closure of a second type is set up. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing device (4) is designed and set up to apply container closures (124) both to a container (120) of a first type and to a container of a second type. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing device (4) has an exchangeable first attachment (40) for applying a first type of container closures (124) to a container (120), preferably of a corresponding first container type, and has an exchangeable second attachment (40 ') for applying a second type of container closures to a container (120), preferably of a corresponding second container type. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the closure device (4) is designed and set up to be able to alternately bring the first attachment (40) and the second attachment (40 ') into a working position. Device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first attachment (40) and the second attachment (40 ') are movable, preferably pivotable or displaceable, arranged on the closing device (4), and / or that preferably outside the treatment chamber (2) an attachment magazine (43) for holding attachments (40, 40 ') is provided, the closing device (4) being movable relative to the attachment magazine (43) into an exchange position in which an attachment exchange by interaction with the Attachment magazine (43) can be carried out. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment chamber (2) has a receiving opening (22) for receiving the closing device (4), the receiving opening (22) being sealingly closable by the closing device (4), wherein preferably the closing device (4) can be moved into a treatment position in which an attachment (40, 40 ') of the closing device (4) is arranged inside the treatment chamber (2), and can be moved into a transfer position in which the attachment (40 , 40 ') is arranged outside the treatment chamber (2) and in which a container closure can be fed to the attachment (40, 40'). Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a container closure feed (105, 106), preferably a feed channel, is provided outside the treatment chamber (2) for feeding in the container closures (124), preferably a container closure feed (105, 106) in each case. is provided for each type of container closure, the closure device (4) preferably being movable into a separate transfer position for each type of container closure (124). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filling member (3) is provided for sealing application to a container (120) sealed with the treatment chamber (2) and for introducing a filling product into the container (120), wherein a flushing gas channel (80) for introducing a flushing gas into the container (120) to be filled, and / or a tensioning gas channel (84) for introducing a tensioning gas into the treatment chamber (2) is provided. A method for treating a container (120), preferably for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product and for closing the filled container (120) with a container closure (124), comprising
the sealing reception of the container (120) in a treatment chamber (2) and the application of a container closure (124) to the filled container (120) by means of a closure device (4) which is moved relative to the treatment chamber (2),
characterized in that
the closing device (4) automatically processes one of at least two different types of container closures (124) for closing the container (120). Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the closing device (4) is provided with one of at least two different attachments (40, 40 ') in order to process the selected type of container closures (124). Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, before the closure, the container (120) accommodated in a sealed manner in the treatment chamber (2) is filled with a filling product.

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