WO2009103424A1

WO2009103424A1 - Filling machine and method for filling containers

Info

Publication number: WO2009103424A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/000779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volker Till; Lothar Wilhelm; Hartmut Evers; Thomas Stienen
Original assignee: Khs Ag
Priority date: 2008-02-19
Filing date: 2009-02-05
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: DE102008010080B4; DE102008010080A1; EP2254824B1; EP2254824A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling machine for filling containers (2) with a filling material, comprising a rotor (3) that can be rotatably driven about a vertical machine axis (MA), several filling sites (7) that are embodied on the periphery of the rotor (3), said containers that are to be filled (2) being guided to filling points respectively via a container intake device (10) and the filled containers (2) are removed from said points on a container outlet device (14). Said invention is characterised in that said filling machine (1) is embodied in an off-floor manner or an essentially off-floor manner, at least below the filling sites (7) or below the displacement path on which the filling sites (7) displace when the rotor (3) rotates.

Description

Filling machine and method for filling containers

The invention relates to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method according to the preamble of claim 16.

Filling machines for filling containers, such as bottles, cans, etc. are known in different designs. In particular, filling machines of rotating design are also known, in which a plurality of filling points are formed on the circumference of a rotor driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis, at which the filling of the containers takes place during the rotational movement of the rotor between a container inlet and a container outlet. The object of the invention is to show a filling machine rotating design that allows high accessibility for maintenance and cleaning purposes. To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 is formed. A method is the subject of claim 16.

A special feature of the filling machine according to the invention is that it below the filling points or below the movement path on which the provided on the rotating transport element, such as rotor fillers are driven with driven transport element, floor or substantially free of ground formed.

[0005] In the sense of the invention, "soil-free" means, at least below the filling stations, no or substantially no further elements of the filling machine, in particular no planar elements or components, to which falling or dripping liquids adhere and thereby Rather, the space below the filling machine is optimally accessible at least below the filling points and their trajectory for cleaning and maintenance purposes.This also gives the possibility of the space below the filling points and the ground there, for example, a hall in which the filling machine is set up to keep clean and germ-free, for example, by automatic or technical cleaning, for example, in the form that this floor is washed away regularly and without interrupting the production or the filling process.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling points having circumferentially drivable transport element (rotor) of the filling machine to a holding and Support frame with a central storage cantilevered, ie without ground-based central storage, so that there is a particularly open design with free accessibility for easy cleaning and disinfection of the filling machine and the space under this machine.

The filling machine according to the invention is particularly suitable for filling hygienically very difficult media or products or microbiologically sensitive media or products, such. of milk, milk products, milk and / or protein products or microbiologically sensitive drinks. The filling machine according to the invention is particularly suitable for filling products in liquid or pasty form.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1 in perspective and in a view from above a trained as a filling device for filling bottles with a liquid product.

Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective view of the filling machine of Figure 1 in a view from below.

Fig. 3 in a representation like Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the filling machine according to the invention.

The filling machine generally designated 1 in the figures is used to fill containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid filling material, for example with hygienically very difficult media or products or with microbiologically sensitive media or products, such as e.g. Milk, milk products, dairy and / or protein products or microbiologically sensitive drinks.

The filling machine 1 comprises, inter alia, a rotor 3 which is rotatable about a vertical machine axis MA in the direction of the arrow A and which in the illustrated embodiment has the shape of a spoke wheel, with a recess, inter alia. On the outer rotor element 4 are distributed at equal angular intervals around the machine axis MA filling stations 7, each with a filling element 8 and a arranged under the filling element container carrier 9, with which the respective bottle to be filled 2 is raised during the filling process against the associated filling element 8.

10 with a container or bottle inlet is referred to, which consists in a known manner from a Einteilschnecke 11 and a transport star 12 and via the supplied via an outer conveyor 13 in the direction of arrow B empty bottles 2 each individually to a filling point 7 are handed over.

14 with a container or bottle outlet is referred to, which consists in a known manner from a transport star 15 and on the filled, removed from the respective filling 7 bottles 2 to an outer conveyor 16 for discharging the filled bottles in the direction of the arrow C will be forwarded.

The filling machine 1 is carried out in the region of their container inlet 10 and Behälterauslaufs 14 each pre-table, in such a way that is provided for the container inlet 10 and the container outlet 14 respectively only a central base 10.1 and 14.1 for vertical load support, otherwise the space below the container inlet and the container outlet 14 is easily accessible without obstruction by functional elements, not only for repair and maintenance purposes, but especially for cleaning and disinfection purposes. The transport stars 11 and 15 are each designed so that in them the bottles 2 are held by suitable means, for example by clamping.

On the outer rotor member 4 are two for all filling stations 7 and their filling elements 8 common ring boiler 17 and 18 are provided, of which at least one ring bowl is filled with a liquid filling material during operation of the filling machine 1.

The two ring bowls 17 and 18 are concentric with each other and arranged concentrically to the axis MA, the ring bowl 17 enclosing the ring bowl 18. Both ring boilers 17 and 18 are connected to each other via suitable means, for example via webs and are part of the outer annular rotor element 4, together with a below the outer Ringkes- Sels 17 provided ring 19, to which in particular the container carrier 9 and whose guides are mounted and which is connected to the overlying ring boiler 17 in a suitable manner.

By the ring boiler 17 and 18 with its tubular cross-section, the required high stability is achieved for the rotor 3 despite a reduced mass weight. On the rotor 3, other functional elements are provided, for example, a plurality of control means 20 for controlling the filling elements, etc.

A special feature of the filling machine 1 is that the rotor 3 with its inner, scar-like rotor element 5 with a central storage, i. is rotatably mounted on a central guide and / or storage column 21 about the vertical machine axis MA, with a bearing assembly using a plurality of bearings (radial bearings and thrust bearings), whose diameter is substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the rotor 3. By this central storage of the Rotor 3 on the guiding and / or storage column 21 is the usual and very expensive ball slewing compound for storage of the rotor 3 avoided in filling machines rotating design. In particular, the central bearing of the rotor 3 on the guiding and / or bearing column 21, however, results in substantial advantages in terms of cleaning and hygiene, since, except for the space occupied by the guiding and / or bearing column 21, the entire space below the rotor 3 is at least largely free accessible, not only for repair and maintenance, but also for cleaning purposes.

The guide and / or storage column 21 is available with a conically widening column foot 22 on the ground and is there to align the filling machine 1 with a plurality of height-adjustable feet 23.

At the column foot 22 is a radially away from the guide and / bearing column 21 wegstehender, substantially triangular support frame 24 which is arranged with its arranged in a common horizontal or substantially horizontal plane rod-like frame members or struts 24.1, the supports 10.1 and 14.1 and thus also the container inlet 10 and the container outlet 14 with the guide and / storage column 21 connects.

The guiding and / or bearing column 21 protrudes with a column section 25 over the scar-like rotor element 5 or over the central bearing of the rotor 3. On the column portion 25, a circular disk-shaped plate 26 is attached, which is part of the outer support and support frame 27. The latter consists of several, ie in the illustrated embodiment of six each made of a tubular profile made of stainless steel bow-shaped frame members 28, in each case with a shorter bracket section 28.1, a longer bracket section 28.2 and these yoke sections connecting yoke sections 28.3.

The frame members 28 are provided at uniform angular intervals about the machine axis MA and with their yoke portions 28.1, 28.2 and the yoke portion 28.3 lying in a plane radially to the machine axis MA such that each bracket member 28, the rotor 3 and the outer rotor element 4 engages over at a distance, the bracket sections 28.1 brought from above to the plate 26 and connected with their free ends in a suitable manner, such as welding to the top of this plate, while the bracket sections 28.2 relative to the machine axis MA radially outboard with its free end stand on height-adjustable feet 29 on the ground or surface. About ring segments 30, which also made of tubular profile made of stainless steel and complement each other to a machine axis MA concentric enclosing ring structure, the individual frame members 28 are connected to the bracket sections 28.1 together. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring segments 30 are arranged in a plane which corresponds approximately to the level of the top of the ring bowls 17 and 18.

On the connecting plate 26 of the holding and supporting frame 27, for example, further functional elements are mounted, e.g. a drive 31 for generating the rotational movement of the rotor 3rd

By the formation of the support wheel 27 with the existing of a tubular profile elements 28, it is also possible, all supply and / or control lines leading from the outside into the center of the filling machine 1, in one or more frame members 28 be laid so that exposed cables or cables as well as cable glands and brackets are avoided.

A significant advantage of the filling machine 1 is that the functional elements of this filling machine 1, but in particular also the space below the rotor and below the container inlet 10 and the container outlet 14, are at least largely freely accessible and, in particular, below the filling points 7 at most, with the exception of the struts 24.1 of the supporting and connecting frame 24, no further components are arranged. This results in optimum accessibility for cleaning and / or maintenance purposes. Especially the bottom below the filling machine thus very easy to clean, even technically or automatically, ie the floor can be washed away, for example regularly and without interrupting the production. Due to the lack of components or assemblies below the filling points is also achieved that any falling or dripping liquids do not adhere to components and can form there, for example, seed or areas for microbial contamination. Despite the much smaller diameter compared to the diameter of the rotor 3, which the column foot 22 has, despite the fact that the guide and / or storage column 21 rests only on the ground and is not anchored in the ground, and despite the ground clearance and avoiding components and assemblies below the filling points, the filling machine 1 by the support and support frame 27 on the required stability and stability.

3 shows a filling machine 1a, which differs from the filling machine 1 essentially only in that the central support of the rotor 3 and the guiding and / or storage column 21 and thus the entire construction of the filling machine 1a on the Holding and supporting frame 27 is suspended, ie the central guide and / or storage column 21 is not supported on the ground. Since the column foot 22 is missing in this embodiment, the support and connection frame 24 is not provided, but instead of this frame are struts 23 present that connect the feet 10.1 and 14.1 each with each other and with adjacent bracket sections 28.2.

Above, it was assumed that the filling machine 1 or 1a is used to fill bottles 2 with a liquid product. Of course, the filling machine can also be used for filling containers with other products, for example with pasty or creamy products.

The invention has been described above by embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a filling machine

2 bottle

3 rotor

4, 5 rotor element

6 spoke-like rotor sections

7 filling point

8 filling element

9 container carriers

10 container inlet

10.1 Stand

11 transport star

12 one-piece screw

13 outer conveyor

14 container outlet

14.1 pedestal

15 transport star

16 outer conveyor

17, 18 ring kettles

19 support ring

20 control device

21 Guide and / or storage column

22 pedestal

23 height-adjustable foot elements

24 supporting or connecting frame

24.1 Frame element or strut

25 column section

26 plate

27 support and support frame

28 bow-shaped frame element

28.1, 28.2 bracket section

28.3 yoke section

29 height-adjustable foot element 30 ring segment

31 drive

A direction of rotation of the rotor 3

B Transport direction of the outer conveyor 13

C transport direction of the outer conveyor 16

MA vertical machine axis

Claims

claims

1. Filling machine for filling containers (2) with a filling material, with a about a vertical machine axis (MA) circumferentially drivable rotor (3) and with a plurality of circumferentially of the rotor (3) formed filling points (7) to which the container to be filled (2) each supplied via a container inlet (10) and from which the filled container (2) are removed at a container outlet (14), characterized in that the filling machine (1) at least below the filling points (7) or below the movement path on which the filling points (7) move when the rotor (3) rotates, is designed to be free of ground or essentially free of ground.

2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterized by a central bearing of the rotor (3), for example on a central guide and / or storage column (21).

3. Filling machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotor (3) Ü hanging over the central storage or guide and / or storage column (21), i. is held without additional supporting and / or upright storage or support.

4. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed in the region of the container inlet (10) and / or Behälterauslaufs (14) without soil or substantially free of ground.

5. Filling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the container inlet (10) and / or the container outlet (14) or its functional elements, for example at least one transport star (11) of the container inlet (10) and / or at least one transport star (15) of the container outlet (14) via a rod or strut (24.1) with the central guide and / or storage column (21) and / or connected to each other.

6. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central guide and / or bearing column (21) on a column section (22) for placement on a substrate or floor has an outer diameter which is significantly smaller than the diameter of the circular Path of movement on which the filling points (7) move when the rotor (3) rotates.

7. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a supporting or supporting frame (27) for the rotor (3) or a rotor bearing and / or for the guiding and / or bearing column (21).

8. Filling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the central guide and / or bearing column (21) is designed for supporting on a ground or ground, and that the holding and supporting frame for additional stabilization and / or support of the central management and / or storage column (21) is used.

9. Filling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotor (3) or its central storage and / or the central guide and / or storage column (21) hanging, i. without additional supporting and / or standing support on the support and support frame (27) are suspended.

10. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding and supporting frame (27) is designed to overlap the rotor (3) at its upper side.

11. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding and supporting frame (27) on a rotor (3) surrounding area supporting feet (28.2 / 29) for placement on a floor or ground forms.

12. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding and supporting frame (27) comprises a plurality of the rotor (3) cross-bracket members (28) with inner bracket sections (28.1) with the rotor bearing and / or with the Guide and / or bearing column (21) are connected and with radially outer bracket sections (28.2) feet of the support and support frame (27) form.

13. Filling machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the frame elements (28) are arranged in planes radially or substantially radially to the machine axis (MA).

14. Filling machine according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by the bracket elements (28) to the holding and supporting frame (27) connecting frame members or

segments (30).

15. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (3) spoked wheel-like with at least one outer annular rotor element (4) and with an inner, scar-like rotor element (5) is designed for rotor bearing.

16. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by its design for filling containers (2) with fluid or pasty media.

17. A method for filling containers, such as bottles (2) with a fluid or pasty medium or filling material, characterized by the use of a filling machine according to one of the preceding claims.