EP4091984A1 - Closing device and closing apparatus for closing a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closing device (210) for closing a container (400) filled with a filling product with a container closure, preferably for closing a container (400) filled with a beverage with a container closure in a bottling plant, comprising a closure receptacle (266) for A receptacle for a container closure and an ejector unit (270) for ejecting a container closure held in the closure receptacle (266), the ejector unit (270) having a control unit (271) for controlling a position of the ejector unit (270) in a longitudinal direction (261) of the closing device ( 210) and a closure device (200) comprising such a closure device (210).

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a closing device for closing a container filled with a filling product with a container closure, for example for closing a container filled with a drink with a container closure in a bottling plant, and also relates to a closing device for closing a container filled with a filling product with a container closure , for example for closing a container filled with a drink with a container closure in a bottling plant.

State of the art

It is known to fill filling products, for example still drinks or carbonated drinks, into containers to be filled using a filling system and then to close the filled containers with a container closure. For this purpose, containers to be filled are fed to a filler, in which the containers are filled with the corresponding filling product, ie the beverage. The filled containers are then ejected from the filler and fed to a capper, in which the filled containers are sealed with a container cap.

Common bottling plants have fillers and cappers, each of which is designed as a rotary design. They therefore each comprise a carousel rotating about a horizontally oriented central axis of rotation, on the circumference of which a large number of treatment devices and container holders or container receptacles assigned to them are arranged. At least one transport star wheel is provided between the filler and the capper to transfer the containers.

With such bottling systems, challenges arise with increasing output, and consequently with increasing throughput of containers, particularly with regard to the transfer of filled and unsealed containers from the filler to the capper.

Due to the effect of centrifugal forces and in particular changes in centrifugal force on the container and the filling product inside, at high conveying speeds of the containers transported through the filling system, filling product or nitrogen filled into the neck area of an already filled and unsealed container can spill over.

In order to be able to meet the demand for ever greater outputs or throughputs, the transport stars arranged before, between and after the filler and the capper, as well as the carousels of the filler and the capper, are designed with ever larger diameters, which leads to ever larger and more expensive structures and accordingly higher costs for the production and during the operation of the bottling plants. Due to the ever-growing carousels, more and more accurate or more precise machines are required in order to be able to adequately treat the containers, especially in the case of containers without carrying rings, and to be able to convey them through the filling plant.

Accordingly, the transport starwheels arranged between the actual processing machines, in this case the filler and the capper, must be designed with a large diameter so that filled containers can be transferred from the filler to the capper without the filling product spilling. Filling systems with a high throughput are accordingly expensive and require a large amount of space.

In order to simplify the structure of bottling plants and thus reduce the space requirement and the costs for production and operation, it is known to arrange the filler and the capper directly one behind the other without transport starwheels being provided between them for transferring filled containers. In order to enable a direct transfer of filled containers from the filler to the capper in this embodiment, radially displaceable clamping devices are provided on the filler and/or on the capper. By shifting the clamps of the clamping device radially outwards, the container can be placed on a radius with respect to the axis of rotation of the filler or the capper, which is larger than the outer diameter of the carousel. In this way, the container can be handed over or taken over without the filler carousel and the capping carousel colliding.

It is also known to equip the closing device with an ejector unit which is set up to eject a container closure received in a closure receptacle of the closing device from the closure receptacle. This is necessary to prevent a cap holder from already holding a container cap when it is in a pick section of the capper's processing angle from a cap feeder new container closure is supplied. Here, the ejector unit is cam-controlled via the guide cam to specify a height position of the closing device in a designated area of the processing angle of the closing machine.

Presentation of the invention

Proceeding from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved filling system for filling a filling product into containers.

The object is achieved by a closing device for closing a container filled with a filling product with a container closure, preferably for closing a container filled with a beverage with a container closure in a bottling plant, with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

Accordingly, a closure device is proposed for closing a container filled with a filling product with a container closure, preferably for closing a container filled with a beverage with a container closure in a bottling plant, comprising a closure receptacle for receiving a container closure and an ejector unit for ejecting one in the closure receptacle held container closure. The sealing device is characterized in that the ejector unit has a control unit for controlling a position of the ejector unit in a longitudinal direction of the sealing device.

Because the ejector unit has a control unit for controlling a position of the ejector unit in a longitudinal direction of the closing device, the ejector unit or ejection of a container closure from the closure receptacle can take place or be triggered independently of a guide provided on a closer having the closing device. Accordingly, an ejection, in other words an actuation of the ejector unit, does not necessarily have to take place in a specific range of a processing angle of the capper specified by the guide, but can only be triggered when required.

The ejector unit is therefore only activated to eject a container closure when this is actually necessary, namely when, after a closure process carried out by the closure device, in which theoretically a The container closure received in the closure receptacle is applied to a filled container, the container closure has remained in the closure receptacle, for example because a container to be closed is missing in a container receptacle assigned to the closing device, or because the container closure has jammed in the closure receptacle.

Compared to conventional capping devices, wear and tear on the ejector unit, in particular its bearings and/or parts in the capping device that move relative to one another, can be significantly reduced in that, instead of cam-controlled, automatic triggering of the ejector unit at a specific point of the capper’s treatment angle, a needs-based triggering of the Ejector unit, controlled by the control unit, take place. Accordingly, the ejector unit is not triggered if this is not necessary. In the majority of the closing processes, the container closure is normally applied correctly to the container, so that after the closing process there is no container closure in the closure receptacle. Since the control unit only triggers as required, the components of the ejector unit that are subject to wear are significantly less stressed than cam-controlled, automatic triggering each time the corresponding section of the capper's treatment angle is passed through. In particular in the case of cappers or bottling plants which are intended for a high throughput of containers, maintenance intervals required with regard to the capping device can be increased compared to conventional cappers or bottling plants and maintenance effort and maintenance costs can be reduced.

In addition, the provision of the control unit allows a closure device having the closure device to be constructed more compactly, since the guide for specifying the height position of the closure device does not require a further lifting range in addition to a lifting range which is required in order for the closure device to close a container with a container closure Must have lifting range, which provides the triggering of the ejector of the closure device.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is designed to actively control the ejector unit. In contrast to a passive, cam-controlled triggering when passing through a predetermined section of the treatment angle of the capper, the ejector unit can only be activated or triggered by the active control when this is also necessary due to a container closure remaining in the closure receptacle.

It has proven to be advantageous if the control unit includes a servomotor, a stepper motor, a pneumatic cylinder and/or a hydraulic cylinder for actively controlling the ejector unit.

The control unit can preferably be connected to a central controller of a capper. The control unit can then be constructed in a correspondingly simple manner, in particular if the central controller is designed to recognize the presence of a container closure in the closure receptacle and only supplies the result to the control unit and/or supplies the control unit with control commands.

Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be connected to a sensor unit, the sensor unit preferably being set up to transmit information by means of which the control unit can recognize whether a container closure is present or has remained in the closure receptacle.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the ejector unit is designed, preferably via the control unit, to provide or increase head pressure on a container closure accommodated in the closure receptacle at least during the application of the container closure to the container.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is designed to provide an ejection of a container closure located in the closure receptacle independently of the angular position of the closure device with respect to a processing angle of a closure device having the closure device.

It is preferably characterized in that the control unit is set up to selectively trigger an ejection.

It has proven to be advantageous if the control unit is set up to trigger ejection only when a container closure is present in the closure receptacle, the control unit preferably being set up to trigger ejection based on the receipt of information, preferably information that is in a the container receptacle assigned to the closing unit was not located in a treatment section, an item of information that is specified in a carried out by the closing device Closing process, a predetermined torque was not reached, and / or information that no torque was transmitted during the course of the closing process via the recorded container closure, wherein the control unit is preferably connected to a sensor unit for outputting information.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the closure device comprises an upper part and a lower part arranged pivotably on the upper part, the lower part being preferably pivotable by a predetermined angle β with respect to the longitudinal direction, the lower part having the closure receptacle. In particular, if the lower part is pivoted relative to the upper part via a guide for specifying a height position, the provision of the control unit can make the ejector unit independent of the guide.

The ejector unit preferably comprises an upper contact element arranged in the upper part, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the upper part via the control unit, and a lower ejector rod that can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the lower part, with the lower ejector rod preferably being pretensioned by means of a pretensioning element in a position pretensioned in the direction of the upper part is.

It has proven to be advantageous if the upper part has a holder for connection to a closer carousel and a lifting cylinder that can be displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the holder for raising and lowering the lower part, with the lower part being pivotably arranged on the lifting cylinder, the upper contact element then being in the lifting cylinder is arranged and the upper contact element is preferably movable via the control unit in the longitudinal direction relative to the lifting cylinder, the lower ejector rod preferably being prestressed by means of the prestressing element in a position prestressed in the direction of the lifting cylinder.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lower part is pivotably arranged on the lifting cylinder on a lower end face of the lifting cylinder, and/or the lower part is pivotably mounted on the upper part, preferably on the lifting cylinder, via a joint, the joint preferably having a pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction .

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lower ejector rod and the upper contact element can be disengaged, preferably by deflecting the lower part relative to the upper part, with an end face of the ejector rod pointing towards the contact element preferably being designed as a rounded portion and/or an end face of the contact element pointing towards the ejector rod is designed as a curve.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lower ejector rod and the upper contact element are permanently connected to one another, preferably via a joint, particularly preferably a ball joint or a cardan joint.

It can also be provided that the lower ejector rod and the upper contact element are designed and set up to touch each other permanently. To provide the permanent contact, a prestressing element, particularly preferably a spring, is preferably provided, which is set up and configured to provide a prestressing force, by which the lower ejector rod and the upper contact element are prestressed towards one another.

The above object is also achieved by a closure device for closing a container with a container closure, preferably for closing a container filled with a beverage with a container closure in a bottling plant for bottling beverages, with the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims, the description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, a closer for closing a container with a container closure is proposed, preferably for closing a container filled with a beverage with a container closure in a bottling plant for bottling beverages, comprising a closure carousel that can be rotated relative to a central axis of rotation, on the circumference of which a container receptacle for Picking up a container is arranged. The sealer is characterized in that the sealer carousel comprises a closing device assigned to the container receptacle for closing the container to be closed with a container closure according to one of the above embodiments.

Due to the fact that the capper carousel comprises a capping device according to one of the above embodiments, the advantages and effects described with regard to the capping device can also be achieved analogously by the capper.

According to a preferred embodiment, the axis of rotation of the capper is inclined to the vertical, with the axis of rotation of the capper preferably being inclined by a predetermined angle of inclination ϕ to the vertical, with the angle of inclination ϕ preferably being 0° - 30°, particularly preferably 1° - 20° and is very particularly preferably 15 °, the axis of rotation of the capper is preferably oriented such that the capper carousel with its top is inclined essentially away from a transfer section of the possible treatment angle of the capper, in which a filled container is transferred to the container receptacle.

Short description of the figures

Figur 1

schematisch eine Draufsicht einer Abfüllanlage zum Abfüllen von Getränken;

Figur 2

schematisch eine seitliche Schnittansicht durch die Abfüllanlage aus Figur 1;

Figur 3

schematisch eine seitliche Detailansicht der Abfüllanlage aus Figur 2;

Figur 4

schematisch eine weitere seitliche Detailansicht der Abfüllanlage aus Figur 2;

Figur 5

schematisch eine weitere seitliche Detailansicht der Abfüllanlage aus Figur 2;

Figur 6

schematisch eine weitere seitliche Detailansicht der Abfüllanlage aus Figur 2;

Figur 7

schematisch eine weitere seitliche Detailansicht der Abfüllanlage aus Figur 2;

Figur 8

schematisch eine seitliche Schnittansicht durch eine Verschließvorrichtung eines Verschließers der Abfüllanlage gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2;

Figur 9

schematisch eine weitere Schnittansicht der Verschließvorrichtung aus Figur 8;

Figur 10

schematisch eine Detailansicht aus Figur 8; und

Figur 11

schematisch eine Detailansicht aus Figur 9.

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

figure 1

schematically a plan view of a bottling plant for bottling beverages;

figure 2

schematically shows a side sectional view through the filling plant figure 1 ;

figure 3

schematically shows a detailed side view of the filling system figure 2 ;

figure 4

schematically shows another detailed side view of the filling system figure 2 ;

figure 5

schematically shows another detailed side view of the filling system figure 2 ;

figure 6

schematically shows another detailed side view of the filling system figure 2 ;

figure 7

schematically shows another detailed side view of the filling system figure 2 ;

figure 8

schematically shows a lateral sectional view through a closing device of a closing device of the bottling plant according to FIG figures 1 and 2 ;

figure 9

schematically shows a further sectional view of the closing device figure 8 ;

figure 10

schematically a detailed view figure 8 ; and

figure 11

schematically a detailed view figure 9 .

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are provided with identical reference symbols in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is sometimes dispensed with in order to avoid redundancies.

In figure 1 1 is a schematic plan view of a filling system 100 for filling a filling product into containers to be filled and for subsequently sealing the filled containers with a container closure.

The filling system 100 comprises a filler 300 in a rotary design and a sealer 200 in a rotary design downstream of the filler 300 in the conveying direction 101 of the containers then filled and to be sealed, as well as an infeed starwheel 110 upstream of the filler 300 in the conveying direction 100, from which the containers to be filled to the filler 300 to be transferred. Furthermore, an outfeed conveyor 120 is provided, to which filled and closed containers are transferred from the sealer 200 and are removed by means of the outfeed conveyor 120 .

The filler 300 comprises a filler carousel 304 which can be rotated relative to a preferably vertically oriented central axis of rotation 306 and on the circumference of which a plurality of filling devices 310 for filling a container with a filling product, in this case a beverage, are arranged at regular intervals from one another.

As an alternative to the vertical orientation of the axis of rotation 306, it can also be angled relative to the vertical, preferably at an angle of between 0° and 15°.

Each filling device 310 is assigned a container holder (not shown here) which is arranged underneath it as viewed in the direction of gravity and in which the container to be filled is held for filling and positioned with respect to the filling device 310 .

The filler 300 includes a transfer section 301 of the available processing angle, in which containers to be filled are successively transferred from the infeed star wheel 110 to the container holders. A filling section 302 of the available processing angle, in which the containers to be filled are filled by the respective filling device 310 , is located downstream of the transfer section 301 in the conveying direction 101 . Following the filling section, a transfer section 303 of the available processing angle is provided, in which filled containers are transferred to the closer 200 .

The capper 200 comprises a capper carousel 201, which can be rotated relative to a central axis of rotation 202, and on the circumference of which a plurality of capping devices 210 are regularly spaced apart from one another for capping a filled product to be capped Containers with a container closure, in this case a rotary closure, a roll-on closure or a push-on closure, are arranged.

Each closing device 210 is assigned a container receptacle (not shown here), in which a filled container is held during transport through the closing device 200.

The container receptacles of the capper 200 and/or the container holders of the filler 300 can, for example, comprise a passive clamp and/or a spike plate and/or have an active clamp that can be actively opened and closed. The container receptacles can be designed for neck handling, ie holding the container to be held by a neck area, and/or for base handling, ie for holding the container to be held by its bottom and/or stomach area.

The capper 200 includes a transfer section 204 of the available processing angle, in which filled containers to be capped are successively transferred from the filler 300 to the container receptacles of the capper 200 . Downstream of the transfer section 204 in the conveying direction 101 is a treatment section 205 in which the containers are provided with a container closure by the respective closure device 210 . The treatment section 205 is followed by a transfer section 206 in which filled and closed containers are transferred to the outfeed conveyor 120 .

Seen in the conveying direction 101 , a picking section 207 is provided between the transfer section 206 and the receiving section 204 , in which the closing devices 210 each receive a container closure fed from a closure supply 203 .

The filler 300 and the capper 200 are arranged at a specified distance from one another, so that a partial circle 307 of the filler 300, on which the containers to be filled are transported with their central axis or longitudinal axis, and a partial circle 208 of the closer 200, on which Containers are transported with their central axis or longitudinal axis touch or affect. Accordingly, the filled containers are directly transferred from the filler 300 to the closer 200 without any transfer devices such as transfer stars or transfer stars being provided between the filler 300 and the closer 200 .

In the present case, the predetermined distance mentioned relates to a distance extending along a horizontal connection direction 130 which extends between the axis of rotation 306 of the filler and a vertically oriented central axis 227 of the capper 200 . The specified specified distance therefore corresponds to a distance between the axis of rotation 306 and the vertical central axis 227.

The division of the closing carousel 201 preferably corresponds to the division of the filler carousel 304. "Division" is understood to mean the distance between two adjacent container holders or container receptacles in the circumferential direction with respect to the respective axis of rotation 306, 202.

The axis of rotation 202 of the closing carousel 201 and correspondingly the closing carousel 201 is inclined in relation to the vertical, thus the vertical center axis 227 extending in the gravitational direction, in the present case by a predetermined angle of inclination φ. Correspondingly, the capping carousel 201 is inclined with respect to the vertical axis of rotation 306 of the filler 300 . In the present case, the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 is oriented in such a way that the upper side of the closer carousel 201 is inclined essentially away from the filler 300 or points away from it.

The axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 is preferably oriented in such a way that the angle of inclination ϕ has a vertical angle component ϕS, which includes the vertical center axis 227 with a projection of the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 onto a plane ϕ oriented perpendicular to the connection direction 130, and an angle component ϕP , which includes the vertical center axis 227 with a projection of the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 onto a plane formed by the connection direction 130 and the center axis 227 .

Preferably, the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200, as is the case here, is oriented in such a way that the top of the capper carousel 201 is inclined in a direction which is tangential to the conveying direction 101 at the transfer point 209 of the containers from the filler 300 to the capper 200, the transfer point 209 corresponds to an intersection of the pitch circle 208 and the connection direction 130.

In the present case, the angle of inclination φ is 15°, but it can optionally also have a different amount; the angle of inclination is preferably 0°-30°, particularly preferably 1°-20°.

The vertical angular component φS is presently 1.5°, but it can optionally also have a different amount, preferably in a range from 0°-10°, particularly preferably from 0°-3° and very particularly preferably from 1°-3° .

The parallel angular component φP is presently 15°, but it can optionally also have a different amount, preferably in a range from 0°-30°, particularly preferably from 0°-20° and very particularly preferably from 1°-20°.

Due to the inclination of the closing carousel 201 away from the filler 300, the closing devices 210, which are arranged in the middle to upper area of the closing carousel 201, are pivoted away from the filler 300 in the transfer area 204. Thus, the closing devices 210 are at least partially pivoted out of a collision area 140 with respect to the components of the filler 300, in particular the filling devices 310. The collision area 140 is in figure 1 indicated by the intersection of the collision diameter 240 of the closing carousel 201 indicated by dashed lines with the collision diameter 330 of the filler carousel 304 indicated by dashed lines. The collision diameters 240, 330 each correspond to a partial circle, which indicates the maximum radial extent of the filler carousel 304 or the closing carousel 201.

As in terms of Figures 2 to 4 explained in more detail further below, the closing devices 210 are at least partially inwardly pivotable in relation to the axis of rotation 202 of the closing device 200, at least in the transfer area 204. In this case, the closing devices 210 are preferably pivoted inwards in such a way that they are always arranged completely outside of the collision area 140 .

A dropper device 250 for introducing nitrogen into the respective container openings is arranged in the conveying direction 101 at the rear area of the takeover section 204, in order in this way to displace atmospheric oxygen from the top area of the filled container and/or to provide overpressure in the container after sealing to provide sealed container ready to achieve in this way a stabilization of the container due to an increased internal pressure.

figure 2 shows a schematic side sectional view through the filling system 100 figure 1 .

It can be seen here that the closing devices 210 have an upper part 211 which is connected to the closing carousel 201 and an upper part which is arranged on the upper part 211 such that it can be pivoted in relation to the upper part 211 Have base 212. In the present case, the lower part 212 is connected to the upper part 211 by means of a joint 213 , the joint 213 providing a pivot axis 214 oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation 202 and perpendicular to the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 202 .

The upper part 211 comprises, for example, a lifting cylinder for raising and lowering the lower part 212 and/or a drive for rotating the lower part when a screw cap or roll-on cap is to be applied. The lower part 212 comprises, for example, a closure receptacle for receiving the respective container closure to be applied to the already filled container that is now to be closed. The structure of preferred closure devices 210 is described, for example, in figure 8 further shown and described.

The lower part 212 of the in figure 2 Closing device 210 shown on the left is pivoted in relation to the axis of rotation 202 by a predetermined angle β in the direction of the axis of rotation 202 of the closing device 200 . This swiveling of the lower parts 212 of the closing devices 210 radially inward has the effect that the lower parts 212 in the transfer section 204 move out of the collision area 140 (see figure 1 ) are pivoted and there is no collision with the filling devices 310.

The angle β can have the same amount as the angle of inclination φ. However, it can also be selected differently, as long as freedom from collision with the filling devices 310 is guaranteed.

To specify a height position of the individual closing devices 210, a guide 215 is provided, which comprises a guide rail 217 that is rotationally fixed to the carrier 222 together with the closing carousel 201 and is height-adjustable and a guide element 216 of each closing device 210 that engages with it, as shown in FIG figure 2 shown on the left side of capper 200 by way of example.

The closing device 200 comprises a base frame 220 with a carriage 221 which can be moved towards and away from the filler 300 in the direction of the connection direction 130 via a linear bearing indicated by the reference number 223 . The distance between the closing carousel 201 and the filler 300 can be adjusted via the linear bearing 223 .

The capper 200 also includes a carrier 222 which is arranged on the carriage 221 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis 228 by means of a pivot bearing 224 . The angle of inclination φ can be adjusted by the pivot bearing 224 .

The capper carousel 201 and a guide rail 236 described in more detail below are arranged so that they can be adjusted in height relative to the carrier 222 by means of a height adjustment device 225 in the direction of the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200 .

The sealer 200 may further include an azimuth bearing 226 indicated by the reference numeral 226 for adjusting an angular position of the carrier 222 about the vertical central axis 227 relative to the connection direction 130 . Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the capper comprises a second pivot bearing, which preferably has a horizontal (second) pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to the pivot axis 228 of the (first) pivot bearing 224 .

In the optional case that no azimuth bearing is provided, the horizontal pivot axis 228 is preferably oriented perpendicularly to the connection sight 130 .

Preferably, a locking unit, not shown here, for locking pivot bearing 224 and/or a locking unit, not shown here, for locking linear bearing 223, and/or a locking unit, not shown here, for locking height adjustment 225, and/or a locking unit, not shown here, for locking azimuth bearing 226 or the second pivot bearing provided.

Alternatively or additionally, pivot bearing 224 and/or linear bearing 223 and/or height adjustment 225 and/or azimuth bearing 226 or the second pivot bearing can each have a drive unit (not shown here), preferably a motorized drive unit, preferably comprising a spindle drive, and/or a include a manually operable drive unit, preferably comprising a spindle, for adjusting the current position.

By providing the pivot bearing 224, the linear bearing 223 and the height adjustment 225, and optionally also the azimuth bearing 226 or the second pivot bearing, a transfer of a container 400 from the filler 300 to the closer 200 can preferably be continuously adjusted, preferably by a corresponding adjustment of the angle of inclination ϕ via the pivot bearing 224, the height position of the capper carousel 201 or the upper part of the capper 200 via the height adjustment 225 and/or the distance or the displacement of the capper 200 via the linear bearing 223. The bottling system 100 and its components can accordingly be adjusted when processing is changed of containers of a first type or size to the processing of Containers of a different type or size to the position specifications of the closer 200 resulting from the respective container, its type and size with regard to the filler 300 and/or with regard to an optimal treatment of the containers, for example a centrifugal force-optimized alignment of the containers during the Transport through the filler 300 and / or the capper 200 can be set exactly. As a result, the filling system 100 is particularly variable.

As already to figure 1 described above, the capper carousel 201 is pivoted away from the filler by the predetermined angle of inclination φ relative to the vertical or relative to the vertical central axis 227 .

The container holder 320 is arranged pivotably on the filler carousel 304 . The container holder 304 has a clamp 321 for holding a container 400 in its neck region 402, which is arranged on the filler carousel 304 so that it can pivot via a joint 320 about a horizontal pivot axis 326 oriented perpendicularly to the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 306 of the filler 300. The container holder 320 is guided by means of a guide 323 in order to specify the position of the clamp 321 . In the present case, a guide element 324, which is connected to the clamp 321 and is optionally designed as a guide roller, engages with a guide rail 325 arranged on the base frame 305 of the filler 300.

Alternatively, the guide 323 for setting the position of the container holder 320 can also comprise at least one of a servomotor, hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder, magnetically operated unit and/or electrically operated unit for specifying the position of the container holder 320 (not shown here).

The container holders 320 or their clamps 321 are preferably oriented essentially horizontally in the transfer area 301 in a receiving position. In other words, the container holders 320 or their clamps 321 in the transfer region 301 are preferably oriented in such a way that the central axis or longitudinal axis 405 of the containers 400 received by the clamps 321 is transferred vertically, i.e. parallel to the acceleration due to gravity and thus also parallel to the axis of rotation 306 of the filler 300 will.

In order to prevent a container 400 held in the container holder 320 from slipping out of the container holder 320 due to centrifugal force at high rotational speeds, the container holder 320 or its clamp 321 can be moved upwards via the joint 222 be pivoted so that the container 400 held in the clamp 321 pivots with its base 404 in relation to the axis of rotation 306 radially outward. This makes it possible to reduce or even completely eliminate a moment acting between container 400 and clamp 321 due to centrifugal force. In addition, it can be prevented in this way that the liquid level of the filling product and/or nitrogen that has dripped into the container opening 401 is oriented obliquely to the container opening 401 due to centrifugal force in such a way that filling product spills over and/or nitrogen escapes from the container opening 401.

By specifying the orientation of the containers individually adapted to the respective type or the size of the container to be treated, high system performance or a high throughput of treated containers can be achieved compared to conventional filling systems despite the reduction in the size of the filler and/or capper.

The deflection of the container 400 can be predetermined by the guide 323 in a cam-controlled manner, so that the containers 400 are held in the intended orientation even if they are underfilled, overfilled or in the event of start-up processes.

The guide rail 325 can comprise a complete circumferential curve or one or more curve segments.

Alternatively, each container holder 320 can be assigned its own drive. This has the advantage of being able to adapt the container holder 320 individually to the filling process. In this way, particularly when filler 300 starts up or stops, an angular position of container holder 320 can be specified individually in order to determine, for example, depending on the rotational speed of filler carousel 304, the orientation of containers 400 with regard to any deflection of the containers caused by centrifugal force and/or with regard to a jet deflection caused by centrifugal force of the filling device 310 into the container 400 discharged filling product jet.

Alternatively, the container holder 320 can be designed to be freely pivotable at least over a section of the filling section 302 in such a way that the clamp 321 undergoes pivoting due to centrifugal force.

In the case of filling carbonated products, it can be provided that the containers 400 are pivoted from the horizontal during filling by pivoting the container holders 320, with a filling valve of the filling device 310 also being arranged at an angle or a base piece of the filling valve having a correspondingly inclined position contact surface.

Furthermore, it can be provided, at least in a partial area of the filling section 302 , that the containers 400 are pivoted radially inwards with their bottom 404 , thus pivoting with their bottom 404 in the direction of the axis of rotation 306 .

In order to achieve a proper transfer of the filled containers 400 from the filler carousel 304 to the capping carousel 201, the containers 400 are held in the transfer area 303 with respect to their longitudinal axis 405 parallel to the orientation of the container receptacles 230 of the capping carousel 201.

In the present case, the clamp 231 of each container receptacle 230 in the transfer section 204 is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 . In other words, the container receptacle 230 in the transfer section 204 is inclined by the angle of inclination φ to the direction of gravity or the vertical, and therefore to the vertical central axis 227 . Correspondingly, the containers 400 are oriented with their longitudinal axis 405 essentially parallel to the axis of rotation 202 .

According to this embodiment, the container receptacles 230 also have an orientation perpendicular to the axis of rotation 202 of the closure device 200 in the following treatment section 205 . The containers 400 are therefore oriented with their longitudinal axis 405 essentially parallel to the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200, so that the closing device 210, which is arranged in the direction of the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200, in each case above the container receptacle 230 and therefore above the container 400, is parallel to the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200 oriented base 212 as in figure 2 shown on the right side of the capper 200, can apply a container cap (not shown) to the container opening 401 by lowering controlled via the guide 215.

Alternatively, the container receptacles 230 in the treatment section 205, controlled by the curve of the guide 234, can also have an orientation that deviates from the above-described vertical orientation to the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200, so that the containers 400 can have an orientation that is parallel to the axis of rotation 202 of the Capper 200 have different orientation. Then the closing devices 210 likewise this orientation deviating from the parallel alignment to the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200 .

Unlike in figure 2 As shown, the guide 234 can also be arranged in the area of the upper side of the sealer 200 and hung down to the container receptacle 230 instead of being arranged in a lower area of the upper part of the sealer 200 . For example, the guide 234 can be arranged radially inside the guide 215 and can preferably be connected to the container receptacle 230 via a linkage.

In the transfer section 206, as in figure 2 shown on the right-hand side of the capper 200, the container receptacles 230 are pivoted outwards from their orientation perpendicular to the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200 by the angle of inclination φ into an orientation perpendicular to the vertical, so that the longitudinal axis 405 of the containers 400 is oriented parallel to the vertical . As a result, the containers 400 can be transferred flatly with their bottom 404 onto the linear outfeed belt 120 without an unstable transfer and conveyance of the containers 400 occurring due to an abrupt change in inclination of the containers 400 occurring during the transfer.

Optionally, the container receptacles 230 in the transfer section 206 can be pivoted radially inwards out of the horizontal orientation assumed for the transfer to the conveyor belt 120 when the container 400 being held is transferred to the outfeed conveyor 120 as soon as the bottom 404 of the container 400 to be transferred comes into contact with the conveyor belt 120 has come, for example in the in figure 2 orientation shown on the left on the capper 200 perpendicular to the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200 in order to facilitate release of the held container 400 to the outfeed belt 120. For example, any spike plate provided on the container receptacle 230 can be disengaged from the container 400 placed on the conveyor belt 120 or from a carrying ring of the container 400 (not shown here).

According to a preferred embodiment, outfeed conveyor 120 can be configured to be vertically adjustable, i.e. adjustable parallel to the direction of gravity, and/or horizontally displaceable, i.e. adjustable perpendicular to the direction of gravity, in order to be able to follow a change in the orientation and position of capper 200 and always in transfer section 206 to be arranged in a predetermined position to the container receptacles 230.

As mentioned above, the axis of rotation 306 of the filler 300 can also be designed to be inclined relative to the vertical. This may be advantageous with regard to an improved transfer of filled containers 400 to the sealer 200. The inclined position of the axis of rotation 306 with respect to the vertical can be realized by a mechanism corresponding to that of the capper 200, for example comprising a correspondingly designed pivot bearing.

The oblique position of the closer 200 with respect to its axis of rotation 202 and/or the oblique position of the filler 300 with respect to its axis of rotation 306 can alternatively be realized by arranging feet of different lengths on the closer 200 or filler 300.

figure 3 FIG. 12 schematically shows a detailed side view of the filling system 100 figure 2 , In contrast to the embodiment according to here figure 2 the container receptacle 230 in the transfer section 204 is deflected outwards by a predetermined deflection angle α relative to the axis of rotation 202 of the capper 200 . Correspondingly, the bottom 404 of the container 400 is pivoted radially outwards from the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 in comparison to its position when the container 400 is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 . The longitudinal axis 405 of the container 400 thus encloses an angle with the vertical which corresponds to the sum of the angle of inclination φ and the angle of deflection α. This embodiment can be particularly advantageous when the diameters of the pitch circles 208, 307 differ greatly and/or at a particularly high conveying speed. The additional deflection of the container 400 during the transfer can be used to prevent the filling product and/or nitrogen above it from spilling out of the container 400 at high conveying speeds due to a change in centrifugal force acting on the liquid filling product in the container 400.

In figure 4 1 is a further detailed side view of the filling system 100 schematically figure 2 shown, with the container receptacle 230 in the transfer section 204 being deflected inwards relative to the axis of rotation 202 by a predetermined deflection angle α with respect to an orientation perpendicular to the axis of rotation 202 . Correspondingly, the bottom 404 of the container is pivoted radially inwards from the axis of rotation 202 in comparison to its position when the container 400 is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation 202 . The longitudinal axis 405 of the container 400 therefore encloses an angle γ with the vertical, which angle corresponds to the amount of a difference between the angle of inclination φ and the angle of deflection α.

In figure 5 1 is a further detailed side view of the filling system 100 schematically figure 2 shown, in which case the container receptacle 230 in the transfer section 204 relative to the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 is deflected inwards by a deflection angle α with the amount of the angle of inclination φ. Accordingly, compared to its position when the container 400 is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200, the base 404 is pivoted radially inwards from the axis of rotation 202 of the closer 200 into an orientation perpendicular to the vertical, the container axis 405 is therefore essentially parallel to the vertical oriented.

In this embodiment, the articulated connection of the container holder 320 to the filler carousel 304 can be dispensed with. In other words, the clamp 321 can also be arranged on the filler carousel 304 with a fixed orientation perpendicular to the axis of rotation 306 of the filler 300 and the joint 322 and the guide 323 can be dispensed with.

In figure 6 1 is a further detailed side view of the filling system 100 schematically figure 2 shown, in which case the container receptacle 230 is rigidly attached to the closure carousel 201. Consequently, the orientation of the clamp 231 and the support 232 is always perpendicular to the axis of rotation 202. The container receptacle 320 must therefore be deflected downwards in the transfer section 303 by the angle of inclination φ so that the longitudinal axis 405 is oriented essentially parallel to the axis of rotation 202 and the container receptacle 230 den to be transferred container 400 can properly accommodate.

In figure 7 1 is a further detailed side view of the filling system 100 schematically figure 2 shown, with both the container holder 320 being arranged rigidly on the filler carousel 304 and the container receptacle 230 being rigidly arranged on the closing carousel 201 in this embodiment.

figure 8 shows a schematic side sectional view through the closing device 210 for closing a container 400 with a container closure, as for example in the closure 200 according to FIG figures 1 and 2 can be used.

Closing device 210 comprises a bracket 262 and a lifting cylinder 261 that can be displaced in a longitudinal direction 261 relative to bracket 262. A height position H of lifting cylinder 260 relative to bracket 262 is determined here by guide element 235, which is arranged on lifting cylinder 260 and is in the form of a guide roller , given in cooperation with the guide rail 236.

The holder 262 and the lifting cylinder 260 together form the upper part 211 of the closing device 210 .

When the closing device 210 is installed on the closing device 200, the lower part 212 is pivotably mounted on the lifting cylinder 260 via the joint 213 on the end side of the upper part 211 facing the container receptacle 230, correspondingly on the lower end side of the lifting cylinder 260.

The pivot axis formed by the joint 213 is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 261 and perpendicular to the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal direction 261 .

Furthermore, a pretensioning unit 268 for pretensioning the lower part 212 in a predetermined position relative to the lifting cylinder 260 is provided between the lifting cylinder 260 and the lower part 212 . The pretensioning unit 268 is designed in the present case in the form of a spring return unit which, via spring force, moves the lower part 212 into the in figure 8 shown position, in which the base extends in the longitudinal direction 261 biases. In this position, a gear wheel 264 arranged on the lower part is in engagement with a spur gear 265 of a drive unit 263 arranged on the holder 262 for driving the lower part, in this case for specifying a rotational movement about the longitudinal direction 261 for a closure receptacle 266 arranged at the free lower end of the lower part 212 .

A flexible sealing element, configured here as a trapezoidal bellows 280, is arranged on the lower part 212, which extends from the lower part 212 to an annular seal 281, by means of which a seal can be provided to a treatment room wall, for example a wall of a clean room. In the present case, the cross section of the seal 281 is optionally oval. Alternatively, in addition to an oval cross section, it can also have an elliptical or slot-like cross section. The seal 281 is designed in such a way that the lower part 212 can be pivoted via the joint 123 at least between the in figure 8 shown position of the lower part 212 aligned along the longitudinal direction 261 and the position of the lower part 212 pivoted by the angle β, as in FIG figure 9 shown, without the base 212 colliding with the seal 281.

The bellows 280 preferably has a substantially oval, elliptical or slot-like cross section and tapers from the seal 281 in the direction of the connection of the bellows 280 to the lower part 212. In the present case, the bellows 280 comprises an elastomer, preferably a cleaning medium against the filling product and/or sterilization medium, particularly preferably against hot water, steam, detergents, caustic soda and/or caustic potash, silicone oils and silicone fats, and/or at least some polar solvents, durable elastomer, most preferably EPDM or silicone.

Here, seal 281 comprises a static seal, preferably in the form of an O-ring.

Optionally, the seal 281 can include a rotary bearing, preferably a plain bearing or a roller bearing, preferably a ball bearing.

In the embodiment in figure 8 between the bellows 280 and the lower part 212 there is a pivot bearing (not shown here) sealed by means of a seal (not shown). This allows the lower part 212 to rotate relative to the bellows 280 .

When the lower part 212 rotates, the bellows 280 is designed to transmit friction that occurs in the pivot bearing as a result of the rotation, and to be able to absorb the moments of inertia that occur during the rotation or changes in the rotation, without being twisted in the direction of the rotation. For this purpose, the bellows preferably has a predetermined wall thickness, which is matched to the mechanical properties of the material and the dimensions, in particular the length and the radial extent, of the bellows 280.

Here, the bellows 280 is made by vacuum forming. Alternatively, other manufacturing processes can also be used.

The bellows 280 is designed to be able to compensate for a maximum possible stroke of the lower part 212 in relation to the connection of the seal 281 to the treatment room wall.

The closing device 210 also includes an ejection unit 270 for ejecting a container closure held in the closure receptacle 266 . Alternatively or additionally, a head pressure on a container closure can be provided or increased by means of the ejector unit 270 during the application of the container closure to the container.

The ejector unit 270 has a control unit 271 for controlling a position of the ejector unit 270 in the longitudinal direction 261 . Control unit 271 preferably includes a servomotor, a stepper motor, a pneumatic cylinder and/or a hydraulic cylinder for actively controlling ejector unit 270.

The control unit 271 is preferably set up to provide an ejection of a container closure located in the closure receptacle 266 independently of the angular position of the closure device 210 with respect to the axis of rotation 202 . Consequently, the control unit 271 is set up to be able to carry out an ejection at any point over the circumference of the closing carousel 201 . The control unit 271 can preferably be or is connected to a central controller (not shown) of the closer 200 .

The control unit 271 is preferably set up to trigger ejection only when a container closure is present in the closure receptacle 266, preferably downstream of the treatment section 205 and/or the transfer section 206 as seen in the conveying direction, but preferably upstream of the picking section.

In the present case, the control unit is optionally set up to trigger an ejection if the control unit 271 receives information that there is no container 400 in the container receptacle 230 assigned to the closing unit 210 or was in the treatment section 205, and/or if the control unit 271 receives information that a predetermined torque was not reached during a predetermined closing process carried out by the closing device 210, or receives information that no torque was transmitted via the received container closure during the course of the closing process.

The ejector unit 270 comprises an upper contact element 272 which is arranged in the lifting cylinder 260 and which can be moved in the longitudinal direction 261 relative to the lifting cylinder 260 via the control unit 271 .

The ejector unit 270 also includes a lower ejector rod 273 which can be displaced in the lower part 212 in its longitudinal direction 261 and which in the present case is pretensioned by means of a pretensioning element 275 in a position which is pretensioned in the direction of the lifting cylinder 260 .

As described above, a height position H with regard to the holder 211 and therefore with regard to the closing carousel 201 can be changed. In figure 8 the lifting cylinder 260 has a first height position H1, in which a stop pin 268 arranged on the holder 262 touches a stop element 269 of the lower part 212, essentially without exerting a force on the stop element 269.

figure 9 FIG. 12 schematically shows a further sectional view of the closing device 210 figure 8 , in which case the lower part 212 is pivoted about the pivot axis 214 by the angle β from the longitudinal direction 261. In order to provide the pivoting through the angle β, the lifting cylinder 260 is lifted via the guide element 216 to a height position H2 which is higher by a predetermined height difference ΔH than the first height position H1 according to figure 8 , in which the stop pin 268 and the stop element 269 touch.

Since the stop bolt 268 is fixedly arranged on the holder 262, it accordingly has a fixed height level. By raising the lifting cylinder 260 beyond the first height position H1, the stop bolt 268 presses on the stop element 269 and prevents the stop element 269 from being able to follow the movement of the lifting cylinder 260. Accordingly, the lower part pivots about the pivot axis 214 against the bias of the bias unit 267.

The height difference ΔH is specified in such a way that the lower part 212 is deflected by the angle β.

Due to the deflection of the lower part 212 by the angle β, the gear wheel 264, according to this embodiment, disengages from the spur gear 265. The spur gear 265 has a tooth width such that the spur gear 265 and the gear wheel 264 can be displaced axially relative to one another without that the teeth of gear 264 and spur gear 265 disengage. Alternatively, the closing device 210 can also be designed in such a way that the gear 264 and the spur gear 265 in the position deflected by the angle β from the longitudinal direction 261 according to figure 9 do not disengage, but remain engaged.

In the present case, the lower ejector rod 273 and the upper contact element 272 are disengaged by the deflection of the lower part 212 by the angle β. Alternatively, the lower ejector rod 273 and the upper contact member 272 may remain permanently connected, preferably via a joint, more preferably a ball joint or universal joint (not shown).

the Figures 10 and 11 are schematic detail views of the figures 8 and 9 in the area of the connection between lifting cylinder 260 and lower part 212.

In the position of the lower part 212 along the longitudinal direction 261, as in FIG figure 10 shown, the upper contact element 272 is in contact with the end face of the lower ejector rod 273, the end face of the ejector rod 273 being designed as a rounded portion 274. This can prevent the lower ejector rod 273 and the upper contact element 272 from jamming or jamming when the lower part 212 is pivoted relative to the lifting cylinder 260 about the pivot axis 214 .

The height position H1 of the lift cylinder 260 is in figure 10 indicated again on the side of the stop bolt 268.

In figure 11 the lifting cylinder 260 is raised by the height difference ΔH to the second height position H2. As already described above, stop bolt 268 prevents stop element 269, which is arranged on the opposite side of joint 213 with respect to central longitudinal direction 261, and therefore the central longitudinal axis of lifting cylinder 260, from being able to follow the lifting of lifting cylinder 260 . Accordingly, the lower part 212 is deflected about the pivot axis 214 until the lower part 212 is held pivoted by the angle β, when the lifting cylinder 260 assumes the second vertical position H2.

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

Reference character list

100

bottling plant

101

conveying direction

110

inlet star

120

exit belt

130

Horizontal connection direction

140

collision area

200

capper

201

capper carousel

202

axis of rotation

203

shutter feeder

204

transfer section

205

treatment section

206

transfer section

207

pick section

208

pitch circle

209

transfer point

210

locking device

211

top

212

lower part

213

joint

214

pivot axis

215

fixture management

216

guide element

217

guide rail

220

base frame

221

Sleds

222

carrier

223

linear bearing

224

swivel bearing

225

height adjustment

226

azimuth bearing

227

Vertical central axis

228

Horizontal pivot axis

230

container pickup

231

bracket

232

Support for supporting the container at its belly area

233

joint

234

recording guide

235

guide element

236

guide rail

237

pivot axis

240

collision diameter

250

dropper device

260

lifting cylinder

261

longitudinal direction

262

bracket

263

drive unit

264

gear

265

spur gear

266

shutter pickup

267

reset unit

268

stop bolt

269

stop piece

270

ejector unit

271

control unit

272

Upper contact element

273

Lower ejector rod

274

rounding

280

bellows

281

seal

300

ink pen

301

transfer section

302

filling section

303

transfer section

304

filler carousel

305

base frame

306

axis of rotation

307

pitch circle

310

filling device

320

container holder

321

bracket

322

joint

323

guide

324

guide element

325

guide rail

326

pivot axis

330

collision diameter

400

container

401

container opening

402

neck area

403

abdominal area

404

floor

405

longitudinal axis

ϕ

tilt angle

ϕP

parallel angle component

ϕS

vertical angle component

a

deflection angle

β

angle

g

angle

H1

First altitude position

H2

Second height position

ΔH

elevation change

Claims (14)

Closing device (210) for closing a container (400) filled with a filling product with a container closure, preferably for closing a container (400) filled with a beverage with a container closure in a bottling plant, comprising a closure receptacle (266) for receiving a container closure and a Ejector unit (270) for ejecting a container closure held in the closure receptacle (266),
characterized in that
the ejector unit (270) has a control unit (271) for controlling a position of the ejector unit (270) in a longitudinal direction (261) of the closing device (210). Closing device (270) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control unit (271) is designed to actively control the ejector unit (270), the control unit (271) preferably having a servomotor, a stepper motor, a pneumatic cylinder and/or a hydraulic cylinder for active activation of the ejector unit (270), and/or that the control unit (271) can be connected to a central controller of a capper (200). Closing device (210) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ejector unit (270) is designed, preferably via the control unit (271), to apply head pressure to a container closure held in the closure receptacle (266) at least during the application of the container closure to the Provide or increase containers. Closing device (210) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (271) is set up to eject a container closure located in the closure receptacle (266) independently of the angular position of the closing device (210) with regard to a processing angle of the closing device (210 ) having capper (200) to provide. Closing device (210) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (271) is set up to selectively eject to trigger, the control unit (271) preferably being set up to trigger ejection only if a container closure is present in the closure receptacle (266), the control unit preferably being set up to trigger ejection based on the receipt of information, preferably information that there was no container (400) in a container receptacle (230) assigned to the closing unit (210) in a treatment section (205), information that a predetermined closing process carried out by the closing device (210) did not reach a predetermined torque, and/ or information that no torque was transmitted via the received container closure during the course of the closure process, the control unit (271) preferably being connected to a sensor unit for outputting information. Closing device (210) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing device (210) comprises an upper part (211) and a lower part (212) arranged pivotably on the upper part (211), the lower part (212) being in relation to the longitudinal direction (261) can preferably be pivoted through a predetermined angle (β), the lower part having the closure receptacle (266), the ejector unit (270) having an upper contact element (272) arranged in the upper part (211) which via the control unit (271) is movable in the longitudinal direction (261) relative to the upper part (211), and has a lower ejector rod (273) that can be displaced in the lower part (212) in the longitudinal direction (261) thereof, the lower ejector rod (273) preferably by means of a pretensioning element (275) in a position biased in the direction of the upper part (211). Closing device (210) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper part (211) has a holder (262) for connection to a closing carousel (201) and a lifting cylinder (261 ) for raising and lowering the lower part (212), the lower part (212) being arranged pivotably on the lifting cylinder (260), the upper contact element (272) being arranged in the lifting cylinder (260), the upper contact element (272) being preferred via the control unit (271) in the longitudinal direction (261) relative to the lifting cylinder (260), the lower ejector rod (273) preferably being pretensioned by means of the pretensioning element (275) in a position pretensioned in the direction of the lifting cylinder (260). Closing device (210) according to one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the lower part (212) is arranged on a lower end face of the lifting cylinder (260) so that it can pivot on the lifting cylinder (260), and/or the lower part (212) via a joint (213) is pivotably mounted on the upper part (211), preferably on the lifting cylinder (260), the joint (213) preferably having a pivot axis (214) oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (261). Closing device (210) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower ejector rod (273) and the upper contact element (272) can be disengaged, preferably by deflecting the lower part (212) relative to the upper part (211), with preference being an end face of the ejector rod (273) directed towards the contact element (272) is designed as a rounded portion (274) and/or an end face of the contact element (272) directed towards the ejector rod (273) is designed as a rounded portion (274). Closing device (210) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower ejector rod (273) and the upper contact element (272) are permanently connected to one another, preferably via a joint, particularly preferably a ball joint or a cardan joint. Closing device (210) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower ejector rod (273) and the upper contact element (272) are designed and set up to touch each other permanently. Closing device (210) according to Claim 11, characterized in that a prestressing element, preferably a spring, is provided to provide the permanent contact, which is set up and configured to provide a prestressing force by which the lower ejector rod (273) and the upper contact element (272) are biased towards each other. Closing machine (200) for closing a container (400) to be closed with a container closure, comprising a closing carousel (201) which can be rotated relative to a central axis of rotation (202) and on whose circumference a container receptacle (230) for receiving a container (400) is arranged ,
characterized in that
the closing carousel (201) comprises a closing device (210) assigned to the container receptacle (230) for closing the container (400) to be closed with a container closure according to one of the preceding claims. Sealer (200) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the axis of rotation (202) of the sealer (200) is inclined to the vertical, the axis of rotation (202) of the sealer (200) preferably being inclined by a predetermined angle (φ) to the vertical is inclined, the angle of inclination (φ) preferably being 0°-30°, particularly preferably 1°-20° and very particularly preferably 15°, the axis of rotation (202) of the closer (200) preferably being oriented in such a way that the closer carousel (201) with its upper side being inclined essentially away from a transfer section (204) of the possible treatment angle of the closer (200) in which a filled container (400) is transferred to the container receptacle (230).

Images