ES2310086B1 - BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Bottle filling machine, comprising a plurality of pipes (1) and a plurality of devices (2) of bottle holder, vertically movable and mounted rotating shape around a central vertical axis (200). Further, The machine comprises, in a way associated to each of the bottle clamping devices (2), a device (5) of movable vessel between an operating position in which an element cup (51) coupled to the pipe to allow immersion washing of the pipe, and a non-operative position away from the pipe.

Each vessel device (5) is mounted of pivotable shape around a vertical axis (100), between a first position in which the vessel element (51) is vertically facing the spout, and a second position in which the vessel element (51) is not vertically facing the spout.

Description

Bottle filling machine.

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention is included in the field of bottle filling machines.

Background of the invention

Bottle filling machines are known that they comprise a tank or similar that contains a liquid with which it you must fill a plurality of bottles, and a series of pipes arranged in relation to the tank (normally, at the bottom of the cuba) and which are provided with opening and closing means, for allow or prevent the passage of the liquid contained in the tank through the corresponding spout. The pipes are usually distributed I agree with a circle.

A machine of this type usually also includes means of displacement of the bottles, called select, which hold the bottles and place them under the corresponding pipes. Therefore, these select are arranged so that they can move vertically, to get the coupling of the bottle with the corresponding spout during filling, as well as lowering the bottle for decoupling from the spout after filling.

A filling machine is usually set as a type of rotating carousel in which bottles, subject  by the select, they turn and dock under the respective pipes (which also rotate synchronously with the select), ascending and descending in a coordinated way. He Bottle filling occurs when it occupies its position upper, coupled to the spout, and then the bottle drops again to be able to be removed from the filling carousel.

Filling machines are generally used for filling bottles with different liquids, so that Sometimes it is necessary to perform a complete cleaning of the machine, for example, when the change of filling product is made. It is also usual to perform a complete cleaning of the machine when end of the day since the remains of the filling product that remain in the tank, pipes and pipes, are susceptible to deterioration, contaminating the product to fill in the day next.

Pipe cleaning can be done by immersion and / or sprinkling. Immersion cleaning is done generally using a type of cups or cups that are attached under the pipes, so that by passing a cleaning product through the pipe, the bowl is filled with the aforementioned cleaning product and internal and external cleaning occurs of the pipe. Examples of this type of filling machines with immersion pipe cleaning systems are described in ES-B-2131440, EP-A-1270498 and FR-A-2678920; the cups or glasses that fit the pipes in correspondence with the process of immersion cleaning have means for coupling to spout in the cleaning operation and for its withdrawal, without interfering  with the spout during filling operations.

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a filling machine of bottles, comprising:

a plurality of pipes or similar, configured to attach to bottles in order to fill the bottles with a liquid through said pipes;

a plurality of select or devices of bottle holder, each clamping device being mounted vertically scrollable so that it can move between a lower position further away from one of said pipes and a superior position closer to said spout so that a bottle held by the bottle holder can engage the spout, so that the bottle can be filled to through the pipe;

said fasteners being of swivel mounted bottles to perform a movement of  turn around a central vertical axis shared by the bottle clamping devices (i.e. the set of bottle clamping devices rotates around it central vertical axis);

the machine also comprising means of vertical displacement of bottle clamping devices configured to move the clamping devices of bottles vertically in sync with the movement of turn (this to couple the bottles to the pipes according to a determined sequence, synchronized with the turning movement);

the machine also comprising a plurality of glass devices (for cleaning) which, each one, comprises a movable vessel element between an operative position in the which is coupled to a corresponding pipe to allow washing by immersion of the pipe, and a non-operative position away from the spout, which allows the filling of bottles through the spout.

According to the invention, in correspondence with each of the bottle clamping devices is mounted one of said glass devices. Specifically, each vessel device is pivotally mounted around a vertical axis, between a first position in which the element of glass is vertically facing the spout, and a second position in which the vessel element is not vertically facing the spout.

In this way, placing the glass device in the first position, it is enough to make an approach vertical between the glass device and the spout, to position the spout in the glass element and thus be able to proceed to clean the spout By immersion. This causes the carousel's own turn of the machine can be used to place the glass device on the spout. In this way, placing the glass device in the first or in the second position, the machine can be placed in a mode of immersion cleaning and in a filling mode, respectively. For that, it is enough to rotate the glass device around the mentioned vertical axis, something that can be done taking advantage of the rotation of the filling carousel around the axis vertical center Also, to change the glass device between one position and another, it is enough to use actuators that are position in the way of glass devices when said Devices revolve around the central axis.

In this way, the invention involves a form simple and reliable to place a bottle filling machine in a dive cleaning mode, while not required additional pneumatic displacement devices, etc.

Bottle clamping devices can be mounted vertically scrollable along corresponding shaft elements, and vessel devices they can be mounted vertically scrollable and pivotable around the same axis elements. This represents a simple and economical way of carrying out the invention, using common structural elements for mounting several components.

The glass devices can be mounted mechanically associated with the clamping devices of bottles, so that each glass device moves vertically together with the corresponding device bottle holder In this way, mechanisms are not required additional actuators (such as pneumatic elements) to place the glass element on the pipe, etc.

Vertical displacement means can comprise at least one cam element with a surface of guided set to determine the vertical offset of bottle clamping devices synchronously with the turning movement around the central vertical axis.

The vertical displacement means may also comprise at least one elastic element (for example, a spring or spring) associated with each bottle clamping device, to exert a force on the bottle clamping device towards the guiding surface of the cam element In this way, it is achieved that the bottle clamping devices follow the vertical position determined by the guiding surface of the cam. The elastic element can, for example, push the corresponding bottle clamping device upwards, against the guiding surface of the
cam.

Each bottle holder can be provided with at least one wheel that is in contact with said guiding surface of the cam element and rolling on the same.

The machine can also comprise means of actuation to move the vessel device angularly around the vertical axis, between its first position and its second position. These means of action may comprise at least one first actuator (for example, an arm activated by a relay or similar) scrollable between a first position where you cannot come into contact with the glass device, and a second position where it comes into contact with the vessel device, during a rotating movement of the glass device around of the central vertical axis, so that when the first actuator is in said second position, the first actuator displaces the vessel device from its second position to its first position when the vessel device moves around the axis central vertical In this way, you can easily place the machine in a cleaning mode. The glass device may have a part configured to contact the first actuator when said first actuator is in its second position.

The machine can comprise a number of first actuators less than the number of vessel devices, since that the same first actuator can act on a plurality of such glass devices, as these devices rotate around the central vertical axis.

The first actuator can be mounted between the vertical axis around which the pivotable is mounted vessel device, and the central vertical axis.

Similarly, the means of action can  comprise at least a second actuator configured to shift the glass device from its first position to its second position, when the vessel device moves around the axis central vertical The glass device may have a part configured to contact the second actuator when the glass device is in its first position, when the vessel device moves around the vertical axis central.

The vessel device may comprise an arm  elongate that holds the glass element.

The vessel element may have a hole (for  example, a central hole) configured to be sealed by the spout when the vessel device is coupled to the spout and that allows liquid to escape from the vessel element when said hole is not blocked by the spout.

The vessel device may comprise a junction element configured to allow the union of the element glass to an axis, so that it can pivot around the axis.

The vessel device may be mounted on the same vertical axis as the bottle clamping device and above the bottle holder, so that accompany the bottle holder in its movement vertical.

The pipes can be arranged to turn around the central vertical axis synchronously with the bottle clamping devices and synchronously with The glass devices.

Description of the figures

To complement the description and in order to  help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment practice thereof, is accompanied as an integral part of the description, a set of figures in which with illustrative character and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows an overview schematic sectional elevation of the filling machine bottles according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows an overview schematic section, elevation, of a machine detail.

Figures 3-10.- Show schematic perspective views of some of the components of the machine, in different phases of machine operation.

Figures 11-15.- Show different views of a glass device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 12 in a view in  longitudinal section of the vessel device of figure 11. The Figure 15 shows an exploded view of the device glass.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a machine  bottle filler comprising a bowl 9 at the bottom of which is located a plurality of pipes 1, through which you can fill bottles 10. The pipes can be conventional, by example, pipes that open by pushing a part of the pipe towards Up with the top of a bottle.

On the other hand, the machine comprises a plurality of select bottles or devices 2 for holding bottles, which  they hold the bottles they receive through carousels of Conventional 300 power (since these are elements Conventional in this type of machines, it is not necessary describe them in more detail).

Both the tank (with its filling pipes 1) and the select or 2 bottle clamping devices are rotatably mounted around a central vertical axis 200 of the filling machine, as it is also conventional in This type of systems. The bottle clamping devices 2 are configured to scroll vertically synchronized with the turning movement around the vertical axis central 200, to receive bottles in a lower position, move them to a higher position in which they attach to the pipes for filling, and again to the position lower to be delivered to a feeding carousels that they remove the full bottles, something that is also conventional in this type of machines so it is not necessary to describe these elements in more detail.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the vertical movement of the clamping devices 2 of bottles are achieved by a spring 4 that pushes the bottles holding devices 2 upwards, and an element of cam 3 with a guiding surface against which it supports a wheel 22 that is part of the bottle holder 2. In this way, when the bottle clamping devices 2 they rotate around the central vertical axis 200, the wheels 22 of the devices 2 roll on the guiding surface of the element cam 3, so that the vertical displacement of the bottle holding devices 2 - and with them the bottles 10 attached to such devices- is developed in accordance with the guiding surface profile. In this way, when turning the bottle clamping devices 2 around the vertical axis central 200, these devices perform a vertical movement between its lower position and its upper position. In position upper, the pipes are introduced in the bottles and It produces the filling, in a conventional way.

In Figure 1 you can also see how, superimposed on the bottle holder 2 and around of the same shaft element 21 to which said device is coupled 2 bottle holder, there is a glass device 5 with a bowl or vessel element 51 intended to engage the part bottom of the spout 1 when cleaning is going to occur spout immersion This glass element 51 will then be filled with a liquid, which produces the cleaning of the pipe, both internal as externally.

In Figure 2 it can be best seen how said vessel device 5 comprises a vessel element 51 configured to receive spout 1, as well as an element of junction 54 by which it is coupled to shaft element 21 vertical along which device 2 moves bottle holder The connecting element 54 may be configured to anchor the vessel device 5 in the device 2 bottle holders, but with the possibility of pivoting around the vertical axis element 21. In Figure 2 also you can see how the wheel 22 contacts the guiding surface of the cam element 3.

In this way, as you can understand from figure 3, for example, both the device bottle holder 2 as the vessel device 5 can move in the direction of the longitudinal axis 100 of the element of axis 21, but the vessel device 5 can additionally pivot about said axis 100 or axis element 21, between two positions, namely:

- a first position (not illustrated in the Figure 3) in which the vessel element 51 is vertically facing pipe 1; Y

- a second position (the one illustrated in the Figure 3) in which the vessel element 51 is not vertically facing the spout 1.

In this way, when the glass device 5 is in its second position (see figure 3), the machine can operate filling the bottles, according to the sequence illustrated in Figures 4 (in which you can see the select or device 2 clamping in its lower position) and 5 (illustrating the bottle holder 2 pushed into position upper, by spring 4 and according to the profile of guided by cam 3, not illustrated in this figure). In figure 5 You can see how the spout 1 is inserted in the bottle, so that the bottle can be filled.

Moreover, when the glass device 5 it is in its first position, illustrated in figure 6, the element of glass 51 faces the pipe 1, and when the upward movement of the holding device 2 of bottles (pushed by spring 4 and according to the surface of guiding the cam element 3, not illustrated in figure 6), the vessel element 51 is coupled to the pipe 1, which is introduced into the vessel element 51, as schematically illustrated in the  Figure 7. Then, immersion cleaning can be performed, by passing the cleaning liquid through the pipe 1, so conventional. The cleaning liquid (or at least a part of said liquid) is housed in the vessel element 51, contributing to exterior cleaning of the bottom of the pipe 1.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a possible configuration of the first actuator used to move the glass device 5 from its second position to its first position. In these figures you can schematically see how a first actuator 6 (for example, a relay operated arm that can pivot around a vertical axis) is in a position in the that, when the bottle holder 2 and the vessel device 5 revolve around the central vertical axis 200, with the vessel device 5 in its second position with respect to the shaft 21 and spout 1, the first actuator 6 stops (see figure 8)  against a contact configuration 52 of the vessel device 5, swinging the glass device 5 until it reaches its first position, with the vessel element 51 vertically facing the pipe 1 (see figure 9). In figures 8 and 9 it has been illustrated how the first actuator 6 is located in correspondence with the cam element 3 (whose guiding surface 3a is illustrated schematically in figures 8 and 9). It is not necessary to have a first actuator 6 for each vessel device 2; in fact, it may be sufficient for the machine to have one or two of they.

Therefore, at the moment you want perform the cleaning of the pipes, it is enough to activate the first actuator 6, so that it goes out to the position where it can enter in contact with the vessel device 5, swinging it, of so that the vessel element 51 is vertically facing the corresponding spout 1. Then, by continuing to turn the system, the glass device 5 is rising, the glass element 51 is coupled on the pipe 1 as illustrated in figure 7, and it can be produce immersion cleaning (vessel element 51 can be configured to "open" the pipe just like a bottle). If the machine has only one first actuator, a turn 360 degree system may be enough to clean (a time) all the pipes. With two first actuators, all pipes could be cleaned (once) after a 180 degree turn of the carousel, etc.

Figure 10 schematically illustrates a second  actuator 7 which, depending on its position, may or may not interact with a part 53 of the vessel device 5; when the second actuator 7 is in the position that makes him come into contact with the glass device 5, the rotation of this glass device 5 around the central vertical axis 200 causes the return of the 5 cup device to its second position (turning around of axis 100), whereby the vessel element will no longer be faced the pipe. Now, the machine can operate again in mode Bottle filling

In this way, by controlling the actuators 6 and 7 (for example, electronically) it is possible to place the machine selectively in a bottle filling mode and in a way of cleaning pipes.

Figures 11-15 illustrate a possible configuration of the vessel device 5, comprising a main element 55 or elongate arm with one end 53 which represents the contact zone with the second actuator 7 and in proximity of which the vessel element 51 is located. In proximity of the other end of the main element 55 is present a hole through which axis 21 passes (not illustrated in these figures) to which the vessel device 5 is coupled by means of joining means 54, comprising two parts (541 and 542) which are can be coupled to each other to fix the device 5 to the shaft 21. The contact configuration is located at this other end 52 that will interact with the first actuator 6.

The vessel element 51 is configured from of two tubular elements 513 and 514, one of which (513) is enter through the other (514) and through the element main 55; inside the tubular elements is located an element 512 of elastic material with a hole intern 511 that will be closed by pipe 1 when the element of glass 51 is coupled on the spout 1.

In this text, the word "understand" and its variants (such as "understanding", etc.) should not be interpreted excluding, that is, they do not exclude the possibility that the described include other elements, steps etc.

On the other hand, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that have been described but encompasses also, for example, the variants that can be made by the average expert in the field (for example, in terms of choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within what follows from the claims.

Claims (19)

1. Bottle filling machine, which understands: a plurality of pipes (1) configured for coupled to bottles in order to fill the bottles with a liquid through said pipes; a plurality of clamping devices (2) of bottles, each device (2) holding bottles mounted vertically scrollable so that you can move between a lower position further away from one of said pipes (1) and a higher position closer to said pipe (1) so that a bottle (10) held by the device (2) bottle holder can be attached to the pipe (1), so that the bottle can be filled through the pipe; said devices (2) being held for swivel mounted bottles to perform a movement of turn around a central vertical axis (200) shared by the bottle clamping devices (2); the machine also comprising means of vertical displacement (3, 4) of the clamping devices (2) of bottles configured to move the devices clamping (2) of bottles vertically in synchronization with the turning movement; the machine also comprising a plurality of glass devices (5) each comprising an element cup (51) movable between an operating position in which is coupled to a corresponding pipe to allow washing by immersion of the pipe, and a non-operative position away from the pipe, in which it allows the filling of bottles through the pipe; characterized because in correspondence with each of the bottle holder (2) is mounted one of said  glass devices (5), and because each vessel device (5) is mounted of pivotable shape around a vertical axis (100), between a first position in which the vessel element (51) is vertically facing one of the pipes (1), and a second position in which the vessel element (51) is not vertically faced with said pipe (1). 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle clamping devices (2) are mounted vertically movable along corresponding shaft elements (21), and because the vessel devices (5) are mounted so vertically movable and pivotable around the same axis elements
(twenty-one). 3. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel devices (5) are mechanically mounted associated with the bottle clamping devices (2), so that each vessel device (5) moves vertically from jointly with the corresponding device (2) for holding bottles. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical displacement means comprise at least one cam element (3) with a guiding surface configured to determine the vertical displacement of the shape holding devices (2) of bottles. synchronized with the turning movement around the central vertical axis (200). 5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the vertical displacement means further comprise at least one elastic element (4) associated with each bottle clamping device (2), to exert a force on the clamping device (2) for bottles towards the guiding surface of the cam element (3). 6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic element (4) pushes the corresponding bottle securing device (2) upwards. Machine according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that each bottle securing device (2) is provided with at least one wheel (22) that is in contact with said guiding surface of the cam element (3). Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises actuation means (6, 7) for moving the vessel device (5) angularly around the vertical axis (100), between its first position and its second position. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said actuation means (6, 7) comprise at least a first actuator (6) movable between a first position in which it cannot come into contact with the vessel device (5) , and a second position in which it comes into contact with the vessel device (5), during a rotating movement of the vessel device (5) around the central vertical axis (200), so that, when the actuator (6) is in said second position, it moves the vessel device from its second position to its first position when the vessel device moves around the central vertical axis (200). Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the vessel device (5) has a part (52) configured to be able to come into contact with the first actuator (6) when said first actuator is in its second position. Machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a number of first actuators (6) lower than the number of vessel devices (5). 12. Machine according to any of claims 9-11, characterized in that the first actuator (6) is mounted between the vertical axis (100) around which the vessel device (5) is pivotably mounted, and the central vertical axis (200 ). 13. Machine according to any of claims 8-12, characterized in that said actuation means (6, 7) comprise at least a second actuator (7) configured to move the vessel device from its first position to its second position, when the vessel device moves around the central vertical axis (200). 14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the vessel device (5) has a part (53) configured to come into contact with the second actuator (7) when the vessel device is in its first position, when the device vessel moves around the central vertical axis (200). 15. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel device (5) comprises an elongated arm (55) that holds the vessel element (51). 16. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel element (51) has a hole (511) configured to be sealed by the pipe (1) when the vessel device (5) is coupled to the pipe and allows the liquid outlet from the vessel when said hole is not blocked by the pipe. 17. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel device (5) comprises a connecting element (54) configured to allow the attachment of the vessel element (51) to an axis (21), so that it can pivot around the axis. 18. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel device (5) is mounted on the same vertical axis (21) as the bottle holder (2) and above the device (2) bottles, so that it accompanies the device (2) for holding bottles in their vertical movement. 19. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipes are arranged to rotate around the central axis in a synchronized manner with the devices (2) for holding bottles and in a synchronized manner with the glass devices (5).