WO2006035290A1

WO2006035290A1 - Device and method for emptying containers containing liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2006035290A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/002857
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pavel Berounsky; Ing. Ladislav Chladek
Original assignee: Inbev S.A.
Priority date: 2004-09-27
Filing date: 2005-09-27
Publication date: 2006-04-06
Also published as: CZ2004999A3; CZ295908B6; EP1828046A1

Abstract

Incorrectly filled containers are disposed in a holder, the containers are raised and the heads of the withdrawing devices are airtightly pressed against the necks of the bottles. Then hollow needles, extending almost tot he bottom of the respective bottles are introduced and a supply line sterile compressed air to the liquid in the bottles, such that the pressure propels the liquid via the needles out of the bottles.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMPTYING CONTAINERS CONTAINING LIQUID

Area of Technology:

The invention relates to a method of processing incorrectly filled containers containing a beverage; and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

State of the Art:

In the filling of beverage containers, for various reasons situations can develop in which a container containing a beverage cannot be distributed for sale. Containers may be incorrectly filled, e.g. the amount of beverage in the container may not be sufficient to meet requirements, the container itself may not comply with some requirement ("may not be properly adjusted or equipped"), any of a broad range of other deficiencies may be discovered, or the container containing a beverage may be returned to the manufacturer from the distribution channels; etc. The term "incorrectly filled container" should be understood to refer to any circumstance of this or a similar nature, and for the purposes of the present Specification and Claims the term will be employed interchangeably with the term "defective container". In all such circumstances, a beverage product is beset with a problem which may be deemed in the same class as an incorrectly filled container. In a manufacturing or bottling plant, frequently such containers are manually opened and the contents are disposed of as waste, or they may be poured [manually] through funnels or channel devices or the like, into a collecting tank, prior to reprocessing. Such a method has a number of drawbacks, among which is the fact that it is very tedious; further that the reuse of a beverage [so recovered] is accompanied by an elevated risk of contamination; and, further, pouring out of the beverage results in losses. Consequently, overall, the solution of the problem according to the state of the art is uneconomical.

Essence of the Invention :

The above-described drawbacks of the state of the art are avoided by a method of processing "incorrectly filled containers" containing a beverage, according to which method: ~ at least one incorrectly filled container is positioned below an operating head which head, for each such filled container [processed at a given time], is comprised of:

• an insertable implement;

• a supply line for pressurized gas; and

• a withdrawing tube to withdraw beverage [which has been expelled] from the container which container has been acted upon by (or via) said insertable implement;

~ the insertable implement is inserted into the container, and the container is placed in fluid communication with the pressurized gas supply line;

— the insertable implement and the supply line are sealed with respect to [sic ~ does not say "in common with"] the interior of the container, such that when pressurized gas is supplied through the supply line into the container an overpressure is developed inside said container, whereby the beverage is expelled from the container through (or via) the insertable implement, and into the withdrawing tube.

It is advantageous if, after the removal of the beverage from the container, the insertable implement is withdrawn from the container, and the supply line is disconnected from the container, to allow further handling of the now emptied container.

The inventive apparatus for processing of "incorrectly filled containers" containing a beverage is comprised of:

~ a processing head, which processing head has, for each container [of a plurality of containers to be processed generally simultaneously],

• an insertable implement which is to be inserted into the container which container has been positioned below the insertable implement;

— a supply line for pressurized gas, which supply line is intended to be placed in fluid communication with the container, whereby pressurized gas can be supplied to said container;

— a withdrawing tube or the like, intended to withdraw the beverage from the container which container has been acted upon through or via the insertable implement; and

— sealing means, intended to create a sealed system of fluid communication between, on one hand, the insertable implement and the supply line, and on the other hand, the interior of the container, after the insertable implement has been inserted into the container; and intended to connect the supply line with the container [(also in said sealed system)], such that, during the supplying of pressurized gas to the container via the supply line, the contents of the container are withdrawn via the withdrawing tube.

Advantageously, ~ the insertable implement is a needle;

— the operating head bears at least one pressing head unit which bears (or is comprised of):

• said needle; and

• a cooperating surface which comes to be engaged against the upper surface of the container at the mouth of said container when said container is disposed below the pressing head; and

— each combination of a pressing head and the corresponding container which container is held in place under said pressing head is subjected to relative movement between:

• an engaged position, in which the upper surface of the container at the location of the mouth of said container is placed in hermetically tight contact with the cooperating surface of the pressing head; and

• a retracted (disengaged) position, in which the [said] upper surface and [said] engaging surface are moved apart; wherewith, in order to remove the beverage from the container,

— [the apparatus] is brought into the [aforesaid] engaged position in which the container is in engaged status, and the needle (11) is inserted into the container through the mouth of the container; and

— the pressurized gas supply line influences the interior space of the container [e.g. exposes said interior space to the pressurized gas], through the [said] mouth of the container.

Advantageously, the operating head is controllably movable between:

— a lower position, in which the pressing head and the corresponding container are in an engaged status; and

~ an upper position, in which the pressing head (10) and the corresponding container are in a disengaged status.

The mouth of the container may be provided with a closure (plug or the like), so that the upper surface of the container at the location of the mouth of said container is in [i.e. comes to be in] an engaged status in hermetically tight contact with the engaging surface of the pressing head; and, in order to remove the beverage from the container, the needle is passed through the mouth of the container wherewith said needle penetrates through the closure, and the pressurized gas line influences said interior space of the container [e.g. exposes said interior space to the pressurized gas], through said mouth.

In one of the possible preferred embodiments of the apparatus, the apparatus is comprised of: ~ an apparatus frame;

— one or more plates having [e.g. bearing] movable pressing heads, which heads are [each] provided with:

• [respective] replaceable needles which extend almost to the bottom of the [respective] containers; and

• a centering mechanism for guiding the needles;

— a lifting mechanism;

~ a supply line for pressurized gas; ~ tubes or the like for withdrawing the beverage; and ~ a control system.

The apparatus may further be comprised of: -- a device for

holding in place one or more incorrectly filled containers; and ~ an incoming conveyor belt and an exiting conveyor belt, for conveying of the containers.

According to a particular embodiment of the apparatus, the incorrectly filled container(s) (which may be present as a group of containers, in a carrier), which container(s) may also be defective, are disposed in a holding device, the containers are raised and the pressing heads are pressed against the raised containers, wherewith each head has a needle the length of which is chosen such that the needle [when inserted] will extend almost to the bottom of the corresponding container, and then the supply line supplying sterile compressed gas is opened, which [gas] expels the beverage from the container through the needle and the pressing head and the [withdrawing] tube, wherewith the beverage is passed into a collecting tank, prior to reprocessing. According to a particular embodiment of the apparatus, the inventive apparatus enables repressurization [sic] of the beverage from a single container or from a plurality of containers simultaneously. After all of the containers have been emptied, the lifting mechanism causes the [pressing] head(s) to disengage, and the carrier with the now emptied containers is moved away (or if no such carrier then the individual now emptied containers are moved away).

According to [another] embodiment of the apparatus, a defective container (or a plurality of or group of defective containers (e.g. on a carrier)) is placed in the apparatus, and after the containers are emptied it is removed automatically or manually, with the use of an exiting conveyor belt.

In order to expel a beverage from an incorrectly filled container, a pressurized sterile gas is employed, which gas may be, e.g., a sterile form of: air, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen, or a mixture of these. The lifting mechanism employed may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, a crank-operated [generally reciprocally moving] shaft, or another [suitable] powered or manual mechanism. The pressing head with a needle implement may have a seal means (e.g. packing) or a plurality of (possibly cooperating) seal means.

If required, means of cleaning of the inventive apparatus may be provided. According to a particular embodiment, one or more cleaning and/or sanitizing devices are provided. When the [pressing] head and needle have been re-engaged [in the presence of a suitable such device], a sanitizing solution may be applied, with the aid of the pressurized gas supply line, wherewith the needle and the withdrawing tube for withdrawing the beverage are connected so as to deliver [the spent sanitizing solution] to a sanitizing station and thence to disposal (outflow of effluent). After the described passages have been washed with a sanitizing agent they are rinsed with uncontaminated drinking water, to which possibly a disinfecting agent has been added. The sanitization of the inventive apparatus may also be accomplished by applying a sanitizing agent to the apparatus in a reverse manner (back-flush), wherewith the sanitizing material fed is introduced at the beverage withdrawing tube and passes through the needle, the [other passageways in the] head [(pressing head)], and further backward through the pressurized air supply line. Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings:

Some exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow, with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a pressing head of an apparatus with two plates; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a pressing head of an apparatus with a single plate.

Exemplary Embodiments of the Invention:

Fig. 1 illustrates an illustrative exemplary embodiment of the inventive apparatus. The automatically operating apparatus according to Fig. 1 enables simultaneous emptying of a plurality of defective containers which have been set aside while being conveyed on a conveyor belt.

The apparatus is comprised of a frame 1, an incoming conveyor belt 2 for carriers 3 which contain "defective" containers (e.g. bottles) 4 which have beverages in them, a holding device 5, an exiting conveyor belt 6, and a lifting mechanism 7 which serves to move the operating head 40. The operating head 40 is comprised of an upper plate 9, a lower plate 8, a pressing head 10 attached to said lower plate, a plurality of implements which are insertable [into the beverage containers] and which in the present example are needles (or narrow hollow tubes) 11. Said needles have supply tubes 12' for supplying a propelling gas [i.e. pressurized gas] to them, withdrawing tubes 14' for withdrawal of the beverage from the individual containers 4, and sealing means to provide closed communication of the supply tubes 12' and needles 11 with the interior of the containers 4 when the needles 11 are inserted in the respective containers 4 and [in particular] for connection of the supply tubes 12' with the containers such that when the pressurized gas is supplied to the containers 4 through the supply tubes 12' the contents of the containers are withdrawn through the withdrawing tubes 14'. In the embodiment of the pressing head 10 illustrated in Fig. 2, the sealing means are in the form of: ~ lower seals 19, [disposed at] the internal surface of the respective throughgoing opening

(bore) of the pressing head 10 [lit., "pressing seal 10"]; and ~ middle seals (packings) 27; which [lower seals and middle seals] provide a closed space (communicating pathway), which

(pathway) will be described further hereinbelow.

The lifting mechanism 7 serves to move the operating head 40, and thereby to move the lower plate 8 and upper plate 9, between a lower position and an upper position. In the lower position, each combination of a pressing head 10 and a corresponding container 4 which is held in place under said pressing head 10 is in a communicating state in which the engaging surface 50 of each pressing head 10 is engaged against the top end surface 60 of the corresponding container 4 at the location of the mouth of said container, such engagement being in hermetically tight contact. [When the operating head 40] is in its upper position, the [hitherto] engaging surface 50 and top end surface 60 are moved apart, hi this connection, it should be mentioned that the containers 4 cannot permissibly be opened except under seal. [It is noteworthy that] the apparatus can also be operated with the containers 4 sealed by closures (plugs or bottle caps or the like). In such an instance, the upper surface 60 [of the container] will constitute a part of the upper surface of the closure, against which the engaging surface 50 is engaged; by a suitable choice of materials and possibly a suitable choice of the shape of the [end] region of the needles 11 (both tasks routinely accomplished by a person skilled in the art), and suitable adaptation of the strength of the structure of the apparatus, one can readily achieve penetration of the needles 11 through the closures.

The [lower] plate 8 serves to hold the pressing heads 10 and to guide the needles 11. The apparatus is further comprised of a [main] supply tube 12 for the propelling gas which tube has suitable flexibility, a valve 13 effective on said supply tube, a [main] withdrawing tube 14 which also has suitable flexibility, and a control unit 15 which (simultaneously) controls the lifting mechanism 7, the lower plate 8 and upper plate 9, and the valve 13 which opens or closes [i.e. controls the communicating opening in] the [main] pressurized gas supply tube 12. The exiting conveyor belt 6 is employed to remove emptied containers.

At the start of the operating procedure, the carrier 3 bearing the defective containers is conveyed in [(into the work station)] by the incoming conveyor belt 2, and is conveyed to the holding device 5, [whereupon] the control unit 15 lowers the lower plate 8 and upper plate 9, from the [abovementioned] upper position to the [abovementioned] lower position, which lower position is the operating position, in which operating position the pressing heads 10 are pressed against the upper rims of the mouths of the [respective] "defective" containers 4 containing the beverage, and the needles 11 are inserted into the containers 4, preferably to [an elevation] close to the bottom of each respective container 4, wherewith, by appropriate choice of the configuration of the end part of the respective needles 11, and appropriate choice of the force exerted on the needles, it is possible to adjust the apparatus such that the needles 11 are inserted [effectively] as far as the bottom of the containers 4. Then the control unit 15 opens the valve 13 of the [main] pressurized gas tube 12, whereby the beverage is forced out of the defective containers 4 and into the [main] withdrawing tube 14, from which [point] said beverage is sent to further processing. After the containers 4 are emptied [of their beverage content], the control unit 15 shuts off the pressurized gas tubes 12', and then causes the lower plate 8 and upper plate 9 to be raised to the upper position, wherewith the pressing head 10 with the needles 11 is raised up and away from the emptied containers 4, and the exiting conveyor belt 6 conveys the carrier 3 bearing the emptied containers 4 away from the inventive apparatus, for further handling.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of one of the possible embodiments of a head 10. The pressing head 10 is mounted on its (head 10's) exterior to the lower plate 8, which plate is acted upon [axially] by a lower spring 17 which is detained by a lower collar 18. On the lower part of the pressing head 10, the lower seals 19 are disposed, and a conical opening 20 is provided [(which conical opening is erroneously shown in Fig. 2 as a feature of the container 4 rather than as a feature of the pressing head 10)], to accommodate the defective container 4 when the pressing head 10 is applied against said container. In the upper region of the pressing head 10, flexible tubes are mounted, which comprise (or connect to) the pressurized gas supply line 12'; and a central seal (packing) 27 is provided. An "insertable implement", which in the embodiment illustrated is in the form of a hollow needle 11, is provided on the axis of the pressing head 10, which needle 11 in its upper part is terminated by [(connects to)] a flexible tube, here in the form of a withdrawing tube 14' for the beverage. Similarly [to the configuration at the lower plate 8], a hollow bushing structure 21 is mounted on its exterior to the upper plate 9, which bushing structure 21 is urged against the upper plate 9 by an upper spring 22 which is detained by an upper collar 23. In the interior of the hollow bushing structure 21, the central seal 27 [lit., "24"] is mounted which is pressed against the needle 11 through the intermediary of an intermediate washer 25 and an extension ring [sic] 26 on the upper bushing nut 28. At the topmost part of the needle 11, a flexible tube, the beverage withdrawal tube 14', is connected [to the needle]. After the pressing head 10 is engaged against the defective container 4, the upper spring 22 urges the hollow bushing structure 21 against a middle seal 24 [(not same as the "central seal" 27)]. Pressurized gas from the pressurized gas supply tube 12' flows in the [annular] space between the needle 11 and the [cylindrical] inner surface of the pressing head 10, and into the defective container 4 containing the beverage, and forces the beverage into the needle 11 and from there into the flexible withdrawing tube 14' for the beverage.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the pressing head 10, which operates with only one movable plate, the plate 8, acted on by a lifting mechanism 7. The pressing head 10 also has [(similarly to the pressing head of Fig. 2)] a lower seal 19 and a conically shaped opening 20 [(labeled correctly here in Fig. 3)] to allow the pressing head 10 to be applied over a defective container 4 containing a beverage [of interest], hi the middle region of the pressing head 10, a flexible tube is provided, in the form of the flexible supply tube 12' for supplying pressurized gas, and [(which tube 12' has)] a valve 13. hi the lower region of the pressing head 10 an insertable implement is provided, which in this embodiment is in the form of a hollow needle 11 which is mounted on its upper region in (and with the aid of) a seal (packing) 29. The seal 29 is acted upon by a conically shaped [sic] end member 30 with [(via)] the bushing nut 31. The conical [sic] end member 30 undergoes a transition to a tubular segment 32 which terminates at a screw joint 33 which [in turn] connects to a flexible tube, which in this embodiment is in the form of a flexible withdrawing tube 14' for withdrawing the beverage. The overall subassembly comprised of the conical [sic] end member 30, the tube 32, and the joint 33 is surrounded by a threaded bushing 35 which is threadedly engaged by a fixed insert piece 36 which is fixed to the plate 8. The subassembly is acted upon [axially] by a lower spring 17 [(sic ~ no upper spring appears, hence no need for the designation "lower")] [which presses] against the bushing nut 31. The lower spring 17 is detained from above by the threaded bushing 35 which is screwed into the fixed insert piece 36 which piece 36 is in turn fixed to the plate 8. When one wishes to replace the needle 11, e.g. due to damage or due to the desire to have a needle of a different length, the bushing nut 31 is loosened, whereby the seal (packing) 29 is released (relaxed), and the used needle 11 can be slid out from the seal 29. The new needle.11 can then be slid into the seal 29 and fixed by tightening (to some extent) the threaded bushing 31. When the plate 8 is moved down to its lower position, the pressing head 10 is applied over the upper rim of the defective container 4, and is sealed by the lower seal 19. The supply line 12' for supplying pressurized gas is opened, and the gas is forced into the internal enclosed space bordered [above] by the seal 29, [externally laterally] by the internal surface of the pressing head 10 and the seal 19, [internally laterally] by the outer surface of the needle 11, and [externally laterally] by the interior of the wall of the container 4, [and said gas is further forced] into the container, where the pressure acts on the surface of the beverage, whereby the beverage is expelled through the needle 11 and into the beverage withdrawing tube 14'. After the defective container 4 has been emptied, the pressurized gas supply line 12' is closed off by [closing of] the valve 13, and the plate 8 is raised [back] to its upper position by the lifting mechanism 7, the emptied container 4 is removed, and the apparatus is [now] ready for further operation.

The inventive apparatus and inventive method are not constrained to the processing of a plurality of containers 4 simultaneously, but in general may be used for processing one or more containers; in particular, the apparatus is comprised of at least one insertable element, e.g. a needle 11, at least one supply line 12' for pressurized gas, and at least one withdrawing tube 14' for withdrawing the beverage which has been removed from [(forced out of)] the container 4 into which the insertable element has been inserted [lit., "the container 4 acted on by the insertable element"]. If the apparatus is employed to process only one container 4 at a time, then the apparatus will be comprised of only one insertable element, one supply line 12', and one withdrawing tube 14'. The insertable element is not necessarily a needle 11 , but in general may be an [(any suitable)] implement which can be inserted into the container and which in cooperation with the supply line 12' can operate in a sealed system which includes the interior of the container, such that, when pressurized gas is delivered into the container via the supply line 12', an overpressure develops in the container, whereby the beverage is expelled out of the container, through the said implement, and into the withdrawing tube 14'. It is clear from the preceding that such an insertable implement [(an insertable implement of the type envisioned by the invention)] may comprise a hollow tube or the like.

In accordance with the wording of the patent claims, the scope of the invention is not limited to the hereinabove described preferred embodiments. Numerous modifications may be deemed to be within said scope. E.g., instead of the described movable pressing head which is movable between an upper position and a lower position, the pressing head may be fixed (rather than movable), and the desired relative movement between the pressing head and the container may be achieved by movement of the container in the opposite direction [(upward)] against the pressing head; or a combination of the two movements may be employed. Likewise, as was mentioned [(Page 6)], the apparatus may be used with capped or otherwise sealed (rather than open) containers, wherewith the needle will be caused to penetrate through the cap, and the pressing head will be applied against the end surface of the cap. Similarly, a hermetic seal between the pressing head [and the container] may be achieved by numerous other possible configurations. According to one such variant, the needle may have a conical shape [(viz. frustoconical)] at a certain location, whereby when the needle is inserted into the container a hermetic joint is created between the exterior conical surface of the needle and the interior surface of the mouth of the container [(or of the cap on the container)]. In such a variant, the pressurized gas might be introduced, e.g., through a part of the internal space of the needle, while the beverage is withdrawn from the container through a different part of the internal space of said needle.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of processing "incorrectly filled containers" (4) containing a beverage; characterized in that:

— at least one incorrectly filled container (4) is positioned below an operating head (40) which head, for each such filled container (4) [processed at a given time], is comprised of:

• an insertable implement;

• a supply line (12') for pressurized gas; and

• a withdrawing tube (14') to withdraw beverage [which has been expelled] from the container (4) which container has been acted upon by (or via) said insertable implement;

~ the insertable implement is inserted into the container (4), and the container (4) is placed in fluid communication with the pressurized gas supply line (12');

~ the insertable implement and the supply line (12') are sealed with respect to [sic ~ does not say "in common with"] the interior of the container (4), such that when pressurized gas is supplied through the supply line (12') into the container (4) an overpressure is developed inside said container (4), whereby the beverage is expelled from the container (4) through (or via) the insertable implement, and into the withdrawing tube (14').

2. A method according to claim 1 ; characterized in that, after the removal of the beverage from the container (4), the insertable implement is withdrawn from the container (4), and the supply line (12') is disconnected from the container (4), to allow further handling of the now emptied container (4).

3. An apparatus for processing of incorrectly filled containers (4) containing a beverage; characterized in that said apparatus is comprised of:

— a processing head (40), which processing head has, for each container (4) [of a plurality of containers to be processed generally simultaneously],

• an insertable implement which is to be inserted into the container (4) which container has been positioned below the insertable implement;

~ a supply line (12') for pressurized gas, which supply line is intended to be placed in fluid communication with the container (4), whereby pressurized gas can be supplied to said container (4);

— a withdrawing tube or the like (14'), intended to withdraw the beverage from the container (4) which container has been acted upon through or via the insertable implement; and

— sealing means, intended to create a sealed system of fluid communication between, on one hand, the insertable implement and the supply line (12'), and on the other hand, the interior of the container (4) [(i.e. said sealed system comprising the insertable implement, the supply line (12'), and the interior of the container (4))], after the insertable implement has been inserted into the container (4), and intended to connect the supply line (12¹) with the container (4) [(also in said locally sealed system)], such that, during the supplying of pressurized gas to the container (4) via the supply line (12'), the contents of the container (4) are withdrawn via the withdrawing tube (14').

4. An apparatus according to claim 3; characterized in that:

~ the insertable implement is a needle (11);

~ the operating head (40) bears at least one pressing head unit (10) which bears (or is comprised of):

• said needle (11); and

• a cooperating surface (50) which comes to be engaged against the upper surface (60) of the container (4) at the mouth of said container when said container is disposed below the pressing head (10); and

~ each combination of a pressing head (10) and the corresponding container (4) which container is held in place under said pressing head (10) is subjected to relative movement between:

• an engaged position, in which the upper surface (60) of the container (4) at the location of the mouth of said container is placed in hermetically tight contact with the cooperating surface (50) of the pressing head (10); and

• a retracted (disengaged) position, in which the [said] upper surface (60) and [said] engaging surface (50) are moved apart; wherewith, in order to remove the beverage from the container (4),

— [the apparatus] is brought into the [aforesaid] engaged position in which the container (4) is in engaged status, and the needle (11) is inserted into the container (4) through the mouth of the container; and

-- the pressurized gas supply line (12') influences the interior space of the container (4) [e.g. exposes said interior space to the pressurized gas], through the [said] mouth of the container (4).

5. An apparatus according to claim 4; characterized in that the operating head (40) is controllably movable between:

~ a lower position, in which the pressing head (10) and the corresponding container (4) are in an engaged status; and

~ an upper position, in which the pressing head (10) and the corresponding container (4) are in a disengaged status.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 or 5; characterized in that the mouth of the container (4) has a closure (plug or the like), so that the upper surface (60) of the container at the location of the mouth of said container is a part of the end surface of the closure, which [end surface] is in [i.e. comes to be in] an engaged status in hermetically tight contact with the engaging surface (50) of the pressing head (10); and, in order to remove the beverage from the container (4), the needle (11) is passed through the mouth of the container (4) wherewith said needle penetrates through the closure (4), and the pressurized gas line (12') influences the interior space of the container (4) [e.g. exposes said interior space to the pressurized gas], through said mouth.