Classifications

• • 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
  • B67C3/24—Devices for supporting or handling bottles
  • B67C3/242—Devices for supporting or handling bottles engaging with bottle necks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
  • B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
  • B65G47/846—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
  • B65G47/847—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements the article-engaging elements being grippers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a filling unit for a filling machine for the filling of receptacles such as bottles, cans, containers, jars, vessels or the like.
• the present invention also relates to a filling machine for the filling of receptacles such as bottles, containers, cans, jars, vessels or the like.
• a filling machine for the filling of receptacles such as bottles, containers, cans, jars, vessels or the like.
• Typical filling machines for the filling of receptacles such as bottles, containers, cans or the like, in particular for the filling of the receptacles under aseptic conditions.
• Typical filling machines comprise a plurality of filling units configured to fill the receptacles with the pourable product and at least one conveying device carrying the filling units and configured to advance the filling units along an advancement path.
• the filling units retain respective receptacles when advancing along a first portion of the advancement path and are void of receptacles when advancing along a second portion of the advancement path.
• the filling of the receptacles occurs during advancement of the respective filling units along at least a section of the first portion.
• a typical filling machine of the rotary-type comprises a conveyor carousel defining the conveying device.
• the conveyor carousel peripherally carries the filling units and is configured to advance the filling units along the advancement path having a circular shape.
• a typical filling unit comprises:
• a filling valve configured to fill the respective receptacles during advancement of the filling unit along the first portion of the advancement path
• a gripping assembly configured to retain one respective receptacle during advancement of the filling unit along the first portion of the advancement path.
• each gripping assembly is configured to position the respective receptacle below the respective filling valve and in a vertical orientation.
• contact filling there are two main approaches of filling the receptacles, namely contact filling and non- contact filling.
• the gripping assembly and/or the filling valve are controlled such that a contact between the filling valve and the respective inlet opening of the receptacle and the filling valve is established.
• the non-contact filling approach a distance between the respective inlet opening of the receptacle and the filling valve is kept (i.e. the filling valve and the receptacle do not contact one another).
• a filling unit according to the independent claim 1 there is provided a filling unit according to the independent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the filling unit according to the present invention are specified in the respective claims being directly and/or indirectly dependent on the independent filling unit claim.
• a filling unit according to the present invention allows also for saving manufacturing cost for the filling unit or the filing machine which comprises the filling unit.
• a filling unit according to the present invention is configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 11 and 12.
• a filling machine according to the present invention is configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a filling machine according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;
• Figure 2 is a side view of a detail of the filling machine of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the filling machine of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further detail of the details of Figures 3 and 4, with parts removed for clarity;
• Figure 5 is a perspective and partially sectionized view of a further detail of the details of Figures 3 and 4, with parts removed for clarity.
• reference number 1 indicates as a whole a filling machine for the filling of receptacles, in particular for the filling of receptacles under controlled and/or aseptic conditions.
• the receptacles can be of any type including bottles 2, jars, vessels, containers, cans or the like, in particular being made of base components, like glass, paper or cardboard, plastics, aluminum, steel, and composites.
• the receptacles may be adapted to be filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, even more particular a liquid or a viscous pourable food product.
• bottles 2 adapted to be filled with any type of pourable food product such as carbonated liquids (e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer), non-carbonated liquids (including still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, wine, etc.) and beverages containing pulps.
• carbonated liquids e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer
• non-carbonated liquids including still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, wine, etc.
• beverages containing pulps e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer
• non-carbonated liquids including still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, wine, etc.
• each bottle 2 extends along a longitudinal axis A and comprises a pouring/inlet opening 3 allowing for the introduction and the outpouring of the pourable product respectively into and out of bottle 2.
• each bottle 2 also comprises a hollow main body 4 having a bottom portion 5 and a top portion 6 opposite to bottom portion 5 and carrying pouring/inlet opening 3.
• each top portion 6 is spaced apart from the respective bottom portion 5 along longitudinal axis A.
• filling machine 1 comprises:
• a conveyor carousel 9 rotatable around a central axis B, in particular having a vertical orientation, and configured to advance bottles 2 along a conveying path P, in particular being arc-shaped;
• filling units 10 are mounted to a peripheral portion of conveyor carousel 9 and are equally spaced apart around central axis B.
• conveyor carousel 9 is configured to advance filling units 10 along an advancement path Q, and in particular through a receiving station 11 and a release station 12 at which filling units 11 respectively receive and release bottles 2.
• conveyor carousel 9 is configured to advance filling units 10 along a first portion Q1 and a second portion Q2 of advancement path Q when advancing respectively from receiving station 11 to release station 12 and from release station 12 to receiving station 11.
• each filling unit 10 is configured to retain one respective bottle 2 when advancing along first portion Q1 and to be void of the respective bottle 2 when advancing along second portion Q2.
• each filling unit 10 is configured to fill the respective bottle 2 during advancement along at least a section of first portion Q1.
• filling machine 1 also comprises an inlet conveyor 13 configured to deliver bottles 2, in particular empty bottles 2, to filling units 10 at receiving station 11 and an outlet conveyor 14 configured to receive bottles 2, in particular filled bottles 2, released from filling units 10 at release station 12.
• Each of the filling units can have one or more of the following features referred to the filling unit 10.
• Each of the filling units 10 can have all the following features referred to the filling unit 10.
• the filling unit 10 comprises a filling valve 16 for filling the bottle 2.
• the filling valve 16 is configured to fill the respective bottle 2 with the pourable product, in particular during advancement of the respective filling unit 10 along at least the section of first portion Q1.
• each filling valve 16 comprises a flow channel (not shown and known as such) for the pourable product extending along a longitudinal axis C, and in particular having a circular cross-section.
• Longitudinal axis C can be considered as an axis of the filling valve 16.
• the filling valve 16 comprises an outlet mouth 19, in particular coaxial to the flow channel, for allowing, in use, an outflow of the pourable product out of the flow channel (and therewith out of filling valve 16) and towards and into the bottle 2.
• the filling valve 16 also comprises a valve body (not shown and known as such) arranged within the respective flow channel so as to control the outflow of the pourable product out of the outlet mouth 19.
• the valve body is configured to at least open and close a fluidic connection between the flow channel and the outlet mouth 19.
• the filling valve 16 is configured to operate in non-contact mode; i.e. no contact between filling valve 16 and the bottle 2 is established during the filling of the bottle 2.
• the bottle 2 is, in use and during the filling of bottle 2, spaced apart from the filling valve 16, in particular the outlet mouth 19, so as to avoid the contact between bottle 2 and the filling valve 16, in particular the outlet mouth 19.
• contact mode indicates that a contact, in particular a sealing contact, between bottle 2 and the filling valve 2 is established. In this way, one seals the inner of bottles 2 from the outer environment during the filling of bottles 2.
• the filling unit 10 comprises a gripper 24 for gripping the bottle 2 so as to retain the bottle 2.
• the gripper 24 is configured to grip for example the neck of the bottle 2.
• the filling unit 10 defines a rotation axis F.
• the gripper 24 comprises a gripping element 23.
• the gripper 24 presents or has a longitudinal development extending from said rotation axis F to said gripping element 23.
• the longitudinal development of the gripper 24 extends along a longitudinal axis E which is transversal to the axis C of the filling valve 16.
• the filling unit 10 comprises a coupling assembly 22.
• the gripper 24 could be considered part of a gripping assembly 15.
• the filling unit 10 comprises the gripping assembly 15.
• the gripping assembly 15 is for retaining the bottle 2, in particular during advancement of the filling unit 10 along first portion Q1.
• the gripping assembly 15 comprises a coupling assembly 22 coupling and/or connecting gripping assembly 15 to conveyor carousel 9.
• the gripper 24 is hinged about the rotation axis F to the coupling assembly 22.
• the gripper 24 is preferably elongated along the longitudinal axis E.
• the gripper 24 extends along its respective longitudinal axis E, a first transversal axis G perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis E (and to the axis C of the filling valve 16) and a second transversal axis I perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis E and the respective first transversal axis G (and parallel to the axis C of the filling valve 16).
• the term elongated with regard to gripper 24 indicates that the respective extension of gripper 24 along longitudinal axis E is larger than, in particular at least twice as large as, even more particular at least four times as large as, the respective extensions along the respective first transversal axis G and the respective second transversal axis I. Furthermore, the respective extension along the first transversal axis G is larger than the second transversal axis I.
• each gripper 24 has a substantially two-dimensional structure.
• each gripper 24 comprises a first end portion 25 and a second end portion 26 opposite to the first end portion 25; even more particular, the first end portion
• the gripping element 23 is on the first end portion 25.
• the gripper 24 is hinged to the respective coupling assembly 22 at the respective second end portion 26.
• the gripper 24 comprises a main portion 27 extending along the respective longitudinal axis E and an auxiliary portion 28 fixed to and transversally protruding away from the respective main portion 27 and being hinged to the respective coupling assembly 22.
• each main portion 27 presents a plate like configuration.
• each second end portion 26 comprises the respective auxiliary portion 28.
• each coupling assembly 22 comprises:
• auxiliary portion 28 (and the respective elongated support structure 24 as a hole) is/are rotatable around the respective pin 30.
• the 24, in particular the main portion 27, has a slot 31 extending along the respective longitudinal axis E and the first transversal axis G.
• the gripping element 23 comprises a pair of gripping fingers configured to cooperate with one another so as to grip the respective bottle 2.
• the filling unit 10 comprises an actuator 35.
• the actuator comprises an actuation element 36.
• the actuator 35 could be considered as part of an actuation assembly 17.
• the filling unit 10 comprises the actuation assembly 17.
• the filling unit 10 comprises a magnetic coupling between the actuation element 36 and the gripper 24.
• the actuator 35 is configured to cause a movement of the actuation element 36 between a first position of the actuation element 36 with respect to the filling valve 16 and a second position of the actuation element 36 with respect to the filling valve 16. In figures 2, 3, 4 the actuation element 36 adopts the second position.
• the filling unit 10 is configured to guide the movement of the actuation element 36.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that, in normal operating condition of the filling unit 10 and by means of the magnetic coupling, the first position of the actuation element 36 corresponds to a first position of the gripper 24 with respect to the filling valve 16.
• the first position of the gripper 24 in turn corresponds to a first position of the gripped bottle 2 with respect to the filling valve 16.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that, in normal operating condition of the filling unit 10 and by means of the magnetic coupling, the second position of the actuation element 36 corresponds to a second position of the gripper 24 with respect to the filling valve 16.
• the second position of the gripper 24 in turn corresponds to a second position of the gripped bottle 2 with respect to the filling valve 16.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that, in normal operating condition of the filling unit 10 and by means of the magnetic coupling, the movement of the actuation element 36 corresponds to a movement of the gripper 24 with respect to the filling valve 16.
• the movement of the gripper 24 comprises at least a rotational component.
• the gripper 24 In normal operating condition of the filling unit 10, the gripper 24 is dragged by the movement of the actuation element 36, so that the movement of the gripper 24 is caused by the movement of the actuation element 36.
• Said rotational component is such that the first position of the gripper 24 and/or of the gripped bottle 2 corresponds to a first lateral inclination of the gripped bottle 2 with respect to the filling valve 16, and the second position of the gripper 24 and/or of the gripped bottle 2 corresponds to a second lateral inclination of the gripped bottle 2 with respect to the filling valve 16.
• lateral inclination it is to be intended an orientation component of the bottle 2 which can be varied by a rotational motion of the bottle 2 around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A of the bottle 2.
• the second lateral inclination is different from said first lateral inclination.
• Said inclination can be considered an angle between the direction of the longitudinal axis A of the bottle 2 and the longitudinal axis C of the filling valve 16, in a plane on which the longitudinal axis C of the filling valve 16 lies.
• the second inclination and the first inclination of the bottle are such that the inlet opening 3 of the bottle 2 is more facing towards the central axis B of the carousel 9 when the bottle 2 adopts the respective second position than when it adopts the respective first position.
• the first position of the gripper 24 and/or of the bottle 2 can be considered as a no filling position and the second position of the gripper 24 and/or of the bottle 2 can be considered as a filling position.
• the filling unit 10 is configured to at least minimize or avoid the risk of wasting pourable product due to centrifugal forces correlated to the rotation of a rotating conveyor carousel 9 on which the filling unit 10 is transported during the filling.
• Said rotational component is about said rotation axis
• the magnetic coupling is positioned so that to define a lever arm with respect to said rotation axis F.
• Said rotation axis F is transversal or orthogonal to a plane where the axis C of the valve 16 lies.
• the movement of the gripper 24 comprises at least a translational component.
• Said translational component is such that the first position of the gripper 24 and/or of the gripped bottle 2 corresponds to a first distance between the gripped bottle 2 and the filling valve 16 and the second position of the gripper 24 and/or of the gripped bottle 2 corresponds to a second distance between the gripped bottle 2 and the filling valve 16.With distance it is to be intended the relative position along the axis C of the filling valve 16 between the inlet opening 3 of the bottle 2 and the outlet mouth 19 of the filling valve 16.
• the second distance is different from said first distance.
• the second distance is lower than the first distance.
• the bottle 2 is inclined such that the respective bottom portion 5 is arranged radially more outwards with respect to the respective top portion 6 (in other words, the respective top portion 6 is radially closer to central axis B than the respective bottom portion 5), than when being controlled into the respective first position, to avoid spilling of product due to centrifugal forces.
• the inlet opening 3 is positioned closer to the respective filling valve 16, in particular the outlet mouth 19, when, in use, the gripper 24 being controlled into the second position than when being controlled into the respective first position.
• the gripper 24 is configured to approach and to withdraw the bottle 2, in particular the respective pouring/inlet opening 3, to and from the respective outlet mouth 19 when the gripper 24 is controlled respectively from the respective first position to the respective second position and from the respective second position to the respective first position.
• the axial distance along axis C of the filling valve 16 between inlet opening 3 of bottle 2 and outlet mouth 19, in particular with respect to the axis C of the filling valve 16, is larger with the gripper 24 being controlled into the respective first position than with the gripper being controlled into the respective second position.
• the rotation axis F is the axis of said rotational component of the movement of the gripper 24.
• the actuator 35 is configured so that said movement of the actuation element 36 comprises at least a translational component which is transversal to said longitudinal development of the gripper 24. In this way the magnetic coupling can be efficiently exploited to move the gripper 24 between the respective first position and the respective second position.
• the filling unit 10 comprises a cam follower 42.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that the cam follower 42 can be subjected to a movement between a respective first position with respect to the filling valve 16 and a respective second position with respect to the filling valve 16.
• the filling unit 10 is configured to guide the movement of the cam follower 42.
• the filling unit comprises a mechanical coupling between the cam follower 42 and the gripper 24.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that, by means of the mechanical coupling, the first position of the cam follower 42 corresponds to the first position of the gripper 24.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that, by means of the mechanical coupling, the second position of the cam follower 42 corresponds to the second position of the gripper 24.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that, by means of the mechanical coupling, the movement of the cam follower 42 corresponds to said movement of the gripper 24.
• the movement of the actuation element 36 corresponds to said movement of the cam follower 42.
• the filling unit 10 can cooperate with a guiding cam 41 of the filling machine 1, to guarantee a smooth transfer of a filled bottle 2 at release station 12 even in the case of a malfunction of the actuator 35.
• a malfunction of the actuator 35 can be considered a situation in which the actuation element 36 is blocked in the second position, so that also the gripper 24 is blocked in the respective second position, with also the gripped bottle 2 blocked in the respective second position.
• This malfunction can be considered as an accidental blockage of the actuator 35 with the actuation element 36 adopting the second position.
• the machine 1 is configured so that the guiding cam 41, by means of the rotation of the carousel 9 and in the case of accidental blockage of the actuator 35 with the actuation element 36 adopting the second position, exerts a decoupling action on the cam follower 42.
• This decoupling action is to be intended an action which is transmitted to the above mentioned magnetic coupling between gripper 24 and actuation element 36 through the mechanical coupling between the cam follower 42 and the gripper 24.
• This decoupling action overcomes the magnetic coupling between actuation element 36 and gripper 24, so as to allow and cause the movement of the cam follower 42 in the direction from the respective second position to the respective first position, therefore also the corresponding movement of the gripper 24 from the respective second position to the respective first position, and therefore also the corresponding movement of the bottle 2 from the respective second position to the respective first position.
• the bottle 2 can be forced in the first position although the actuator 35 is blocked in the second position of the actuation element 36.
• the gripper 24 is dragged by the movement of the cam follower 42 from the respective second position to the respective first position, so that the movement of the gripper 24 from the respective second position to the respective first position is caused by the corresponding movement of the cam follower 42, which in turn is caused by the contact with the guiding cam 41.
• the cam mechanism 40 defined by the guiding cam 41 and the cam follower 42, to force the gripper 24 in the respective first position, has to overcome the magnetic coupling and not the higher force opposed by the blocked actuator 35. In this way the cam mechanism can be simpler and/or less robust, so as to save manufacturing cost for the filling unit 10 and/or for the machine 1.
• the filling unit 10 is configured for cooperating with the guiding cam 41 of the filling machine 1 to reduce the manufacturing cost related to the cam mechanism 40 comprising the guiding cam 41 and the cam follower 42.
• the machine 1 is configured so that the guiding cam 41, in the case of accidental blockage of the actuator 35 with the actuation element 36 adopting the second position, exerts said decoupling action so that the displacement of the gripper 24 from the respective second position to the respective first position occurs after the filling of the receptacle by the filling unit 10 and prior to the filling unit 10 reaching the release station 12. In this way the filling unit 10 can release the bottle 2 at the releasing station 12 with the bottle 2 correctly positioned in the first position.
• the magnetic coupling between the gripper 24 and the actuation element 36 comprises a magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36 and a magnet 38 carried by the gripper 24.
• a magnet could be considered any kind of element, like a ferromagnetic element or similar, able to contribute to define the magnetic coupling.
• the gripper 24 defines a slot 31.
• the actuation element 36 is inserted at least partially trough said slot 31 transversally to the above mentioned longitudinal development of the gripper 24.
• said magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36 is inserted at least partially in said slot 31 to interact with said magnet 38 carried by the gripper 24, as to define said magnetic coupling.
• the magnetic coupling is very stable. It is to be considered in this connection that the decoupling action is an action that, when transmitted to the magnetic coupling, tends to move away from each other the magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36 and the magnet 38 carried by the gripper 24.
• the filling unit 10 is configured so that the actuation element 36 interacts with a region of the gripper 24 between the rotation axis F and the gripping element 23.
• the actuation element 36 is configured to interact with an intermediate portion of the gripper 24 interposed between the respective first end portion 25 and the respective second end portion 26.
• the magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36 and the magnet 38 carried by the gripper 24 are located side by side along a direction transversal to the longitudinal axis C of the filling valve 16. This allows to optimize the magnetic interaction while using a linear actuator as the actuator 35.
• the magnetic coupling could comprise two magnets 38 carried by the gripper 24.
• the two magnets 38 carried by the gripper 24 are arranged at opposite sides of said slot 31 to interact with said the magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36, so as to define the magnetic coupling.
• the magnetic coupling can comprise more than one magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36 and more than one magnet 38 carried by the gripper 24.
• the longitudinal axis E of the gripper 24 is in a first orientation and a second orientation distinct from the first orientation with the respective elongated gripper 24 being controlled into respectively the first position and the second position.
• the longitudinal axis E is preferably orthogonal to the respective longitudinal axis C of the filling valve 16 when being, in use, in the first orientation.
• the filling unit 10 defines a translational axis for said translational component of the movement of the gripper 24. Said translational axis can be for example parallel to the axis C of the filling valve 16.
• the axis of the filling valve 16 can be for example parallel to the central axis B of the conveyor 9.
• the actuator 35 can be a linear actuator.
• the actuation element can be a piston element 36 operatively coupled to the respective gripper 24 and configured to linearly move for controlling the respective gripper 24 between the respective first position and the respective second position.
• the actuation assembly 17, in particular the linear actuator 35, even more particular the piston element 36, are controlled such that the gripper 24 is kept into its second position during the filling of the respective bottle 2 with the pourable product, and in particular into its first position after filling of the respective bottle 2 and prior to reaching release station 12 and during advancement of the respective filling unit 10 along portion Q2.
• the filling unit 10 is mounted on carousel 9.
• the gripper 24 is, in use, controlled into the respective second or filling position so as to allow for a filling of bottle 2, and even more particular is controlled, in use, into the respective first or non filling position so as to allow for the feeding of the respective bottle 2 to the respective filling unit 10 at receiving station 11 and to allow for the release of the respective bottle 2 from the respective release station 12.
• the magnetic coupling can be considered part of magnetic and/or electromagnetic means which couple actuation assembly 17 to the gripper 24.
• the actuation element 36 can be a piston 36.
• At least one magnet carried by the gripper 24 interacts with at least one magnet carried by the actuation element 36.
• the gripper 24 carries at least two magnets 38, at least one magnet 37 carried by the actuation element 36 is interposed between said two magnets 38 carried by the gripper 24, to make the magnetic coupling balanced.
• any magnet carried by the gripper 24 will be referred to as a second magnet.
• any magnet carried by the actuation element 36 will be referred to as a first magnet.
• each second magnet 38 protrudes away from the respective elongated gripper 24 (i.e. each second magnet 38 protrudes away from the respective elongated support structure into a downwards direction).
• each pair of second magnets 38 is arranged such that the respective gripper 24 is interposed between the respective pair of second magnets 38 and the respective conveyor carousel 9.
• each actuation assembly 17 comprises a plurality of housings 39, each one housing one respective first magnet 37 or one respective second magnet 38. In this way, it is possible to improve the cleaning properties of each actuation assemblies 17.
• the respective housing 39 housing the respective first magnet 37 is connected to the respective linear actuator 35, in particular the respective piston element 36, and even more particular extends through the respective slot 31.
• the respective housings 39 housing the respective second magnets 38 are mounted to the respective gripper 24, and even more particular protrude away from the respective gripper 24.
• each second magnet 38 is arranged such that the respective poles of first magnet 37 face opposing poles of the respective second magnets 38.
• filling machine 1 also comprises the cam mechanism 40 configured to control the gripper 24 into the respective first position, in particular after the filling of the respective bottle 2 has been terminated, and even more particular prior to the respective filling unit 10 reaching release station 12.
• cam mechanism 40 is configured as a safety mechanism in order to guarantee that the gripper 24 is controlled, in particular after the filling of the respective bottle 2 has been terminated, and in particular prior to the respective filling unit 10 reaching release station 12, into the respective first position in the case of blockage of the actuator 35 with actuation element 36 in the respective second position.
• the actuator 35 itself which moves the gripper 24 from the second position to the first position after the filling of the respective bottle 2 has been terminated, and in particular prior to the respective filling unit 10 reaching release station 12.
• cam mechanism 40 comprises a guiding cam 41 arranged adjacent to conveyor carousel 9.
• cam follower 42 is mounted to the respective second end portion 26 of the gripper 24.
• filling machine 1 fills bottles 2 with the pourable product, in particular during advancement of bottles 2 along conveying path P.
• the machine comprises a plurality of filling units angularly distributed around the central axis B
• each filling unit 10 even more particular the respective filling valve 16 fills one respective bottle 2 during advancement along at least a section of first portion Q1.
• inlet conveyor 13 feeds bottles 2 to be filled to receiving station 11, each filling unit 10 receives one respective bottle 2 at receiving station 11, retains the respective bottle 2 while filling unit 10 advances along portion Q1 and while the respective bottle 2 advances along conveying path P and delivers the respective filled bottle 2 to outlet conveyor 14 at release station 12.
• the gripper 24 of each filling unit 10 is controlled into the respective second position.
• the gripper 24 is controlled into the respective first position after the filling of the respective bottle 2, and in particular prior to the respective filling unit 10 reaching the release station 12.
• the respective actuation assembly 17 controls the respective gripper 22 so as to incline bottle 2 with respect to the axis C of the filling valve 16.
• the respective actuation assembly 17 controls the gripper 24 so as to incline, in particular to radially outwardly incline, the respective longitudinal axis A.
• each filling unit 10 is controlled into the respective first position.
• this shall guarantee to allow a transfer of bottles 2 to outlet conveyor 14 at release station 12.
• the actuation assembly 17 of each filling unit 10 actuates an angular movement of the respective gripper 24 about the respective hinge axis F so as to control the respective gripper 24 between the respective first position and the respective second position.
• each filling unit 10 in particular the respective linear actuator 35, even more particular the respective piston element 36, is coupled to the respective gripper 24 by magnetic interaction.
• the gripper 24 of each filling unit 10 angularly moves due to movement of the respective first magnet 37 and the interaction of the respective first magnet 37 with respect to the respective second magnets 38.
• cam mechanism 40 guarantees control of the respective gripper 24 into the respective first position.
• each actuation assembly 17 being configured to control the respective gripper 24 into the respective second position during the filling of the respective bottle 2, the orientation of the respective bottle
• a further advantage resides in relying on linear actuators 35 it is possible to easily optimize the orientation of the bottle 2 with respect to the respective longitudinal axis C.
• cam mechanism 40 guarantees a smooth transfer of a respective filled bottle 2 at release station 12 even in the case of a malfunction of the respective actuation assembly 17.

Landscapes

• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=69061382

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2019
  • 2019-12-30 WO PCT/EP2019/087139 patent/WO2021136580A1/en unknown
  • 2019-12-30 EP EP19829242.7A patent/EP4085020A1/de active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events