GB2204306A

GB2204306A - Filling machine for filling containers

Info

Publication number: GB2204306A
Application number: GB08808901A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Siegmar Sindermann; Friedrich Rademacher
Original assignee: Holstein und Kappert GmbH; Holstein und Kappert Maschinenfabrik Phonix GmbH
Current assignee: Holstein und Kappert GmbH; Holstein und Kappert Maschinenfabrik Phonix GmbH
Priority date: 1987-04-16
Filing date: 1988-04-15
Publication date: 1988-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-15
Also published as: DE3713015C2; DE3713015A1; GB2204306B; DE8705632U1; GB8808901D0

Description

FILLING MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS The present invention relates to a

filling machine for filling containers such as bottles or the like comprising a rotary filling machine reservoir with filling v.alves mounted thereupon and centering sleeves for centering the bottles which undergo a slight compensatory lift in the axial direction of the filling head or the delivery support.

In known filling machines, in particular for the processing of plastics material bottles with supporting surfaces located in the region of the mouth, these bottles are lifted and pressed against the filling head without support from the floor or lower base support surface as a result of a projection at the mouth of the bottle being engaged, wherein slight axial displacement is conferred upon the centering sleeve in order to take up small differences in mouth height. A piston-cylinder like arrangement is used for this purpose, with the centering sleeve forming the inner piston and the cylinder housing attached to the filling machine itself. A spring located on the outer housing of the component is used to take up the difference in height.

The centering sleeve itself has an additional seal which is designed as an independent seal for the mouth of the bottle during the filling process. Such known piston-cylinder arrangements on the centering sleeves of filling machines have the disadvantage that they give rise to extensive sources of infection particularly from a biological point of view on account of the many recesses and slots, which cannot be satisfactorily eliminated even with intensive cleaning of the machine. In addition.to this such arrangements have the disadvantage that considerable spring force must be applied in order to press the bottle mouth against the centering sleeve, which reduces the pressure difference 2 occurring particularly in counterpressure filling.

-ion is to create slot-free An object uf tha invent passages for the liquid in the region of the outlet supporting a device of the type described in the introduction, particularly from the biological point of view, whereby the residual liquid which may adhere in this region can be satisfactorily drained. At the same time care must be taken to ensure that this slot-free passage provides the necessary pressure from the centering sleeve against the mouth of the bottle during the filling process.

According to the present invention there is provided a filling machine for filling containers such as bottles or the like including a rotary filling machine reservoir with filling valves located thereon together with centering sleeves for centering the bottles or the like which are capable of making a tlight compensatory movement in the axial direction of the filling head or the outlet support, characterised in that the lower part of the centering sleeve which can move axially with respect to the filling head incoporates or includes a flexible seal and the upper part of said seal is fixed or secured to the filling head whilst a membrane or diaphragm-like enlargement is located between the two points of attachment to function as a pressure difference chamber.

Furthermore it is proposed in the independent embodiment of the invention that when a bottle is pressed against it intermediate portions of the seal form two substantially parallel horizontal planes or surfaces some distance apart with the inner surfaces forming the pressure difference chamber and in the non-working condition, these planes or surfaces open in a V-shaped manner (inclined upwardly and downwardly) 3 towards the filling support or until in such a way that any residual fluid which collects can run off.

Finally it is intended to be within the scope of the invention that the seal is enlarged in the vicinity of its lower point of attachment and thus directly forms an independent sealing seat for a bottle mouth when pressed against it.

Furthermore, it is proposed that a bottle which is to be filled is held by its mouth and/or a surface provided for the purpose effectively without pressure and the only pressure for sealing the bottle off from the environment during the filling process is provided by the seal itself.

In accordance with one embodiment according to the invention both the disadvantages mentioned in the introduction are avoided or minimized and the embodiment has the advantage that the complete seal effectively meets all the requirements arising during the filling of such bottles. Thus an effectively slot-free passage for the liquid is ensured, the seal at the same time also providing a sealing seat for the mouth of the bottle and finally the requisite pressure during the filling prooess through the specially selected incorporation of a pressure difference chamber.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a cross-section through the filling region of a filling machine with the filling val ve illustrated; and 4 Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the slot-free seal.

According to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in Fig. 1, the filling machine comprises a filling machine reservoir 1, which is not further illustrated, having a plurality of filling valves 2 (only one shown) attached thereto and each having a centering sleeve 3 arranged thereon which is used for centering and sealing the mouth 4 of a bottle 5. A spring 6 is located between filling valve 2 and centering sleeve 3 with the object of holding centering sleeve 3 effectively in its lower position without applying excessive pressure. The lower portion 7 of this centering sleeve encloses a flexible sleeve-like or tubular seal 8, the upper part 9 of which is held securely against filling valve 2. Between these two points of attachment the seal 8 forms a diaphragm or membrane-like enlargement 10 constructed as a pressure difference chamber. Particularly in the case of counterpressure filling, this pressure difference chamber fulfils the function of exerting a counterpressure on bottle mouth 4 as a result of the enlarged diameter in comparison with the diameter of the mouth 4 of the bottle with the difference in area acting there. In a lower part 7 the seal is enlarged, as may be seen from Fig. 2, and in this way directly forms the independent sealing seat 11 for the mouth of the bottle 5.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 shows bottle 5 in the pressed Position, and where the bottle has a collar 12 which serves as a support for a lifting device 13.

After executing the lifting operation to the filling head or filling machine, this lifting device is fixed or maintained in height in such a way that only a very small pressure which is produced by compression spring 6 acts by a very small amount on this or the mouth 4 of the bottle once this has moved against sealing seat 11. As soon as the filling process is initiated, a balanced pressure obtains in the system between the reservoir of the filling machine and the interior of the bottle. This pressure in the pressure difference chamber acts against the atmosphere and in this way presses seal seat 11 against the mouth 4 of the bottleso that this is satisfactorily sealed-off from the atmosphere. When the filling programme comes to an end, the lock is released and the bottle is lowered by means of lifting device 13. This lowering is also assisted over a certain distance by centering sleeve 3 which in its lower position reaches the terminal position illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus in the non-working condition of seal 8 the counterpressure chamber forms two planes or surfaces 15, 16 opening in a V-shape towards filling support 14 which permits any residual liquid therein to drain away satisfactorily. The V-shaped opening is so arranged that it is already present when the mouth of a bottle is located beneath seal seat 11, thus the residual fluid enters the bottle,and thus no liquid is sprayed out when a bottle is removed from the filling head.

In the pressed condition and when a bottle 5 is fitted as in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the seal forms two substantially parallel surfaces some distance apart in order to form the desired counterpressure chamber.

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Claims

1. A filling machine for filling containers such as I bottles or the like including a rotary filling machine reservoir with filling valves located thereon together with centering sleeves for centering the bottles or the like which are capable of making a slight compensatory movement in the axial direction of the filling head or the outlet support, characterised in that the lower part of the centering sleeve which can move axially with respect to the filling head incorporates or includes a flexible seal and the upper part of said seal is fixed or secured to the filling head whilst a membrane or diaphragam-like enlarge- ment is located between the two points of attachment to function as a pressure difference chamber.

is

2. A filling machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a portion of the seal lies in two spaced apart, substantially parallel hori-kan-tal planes when a bottle is pressed against the seal so that the inner surfaces of such forms the pressure difference chamber, and in which in the non-working position, these surfaces open to form a V-shape opening towards the filling support in such a way that any accumulated residual fluid drains away.

3. A filling machine as claimed in d1aim 1 or 2, in which the seal is enlarged in the region of its lower region of attachment and thus directly forms an independent sealing seat for the mouth of a bottle pressed against it.

4. A filling machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which a bottle which is to be filled is held almost without pressure against the bottle mouth or against a surface of the bottle provided for the purpose and the pressure sealing the bottle off from the environment during the filling process is provided by the seal itself.

I I

5. A filling machine for filling containers such as bottles substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66,71 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales' Branch, St Mar-V Cray. Orpington, Kent BRS 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques Itd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.

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