WO2019002464A2

WO2019002464A2 - Device for treating a container in a filling product filling system

Info

Publication number: WO2019002464A2
Application number: PCT/EP2018/067413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josef Knott; Rupert Meinzinger
Original assignee: Krones Ag
Priority date: 2017-06-28
Filing date: 2018-06-28
Publication date: 2019-01-03
Also published as: DE102017114387A1; WO2019002464A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating a container (140) in a filling product filling system, comprising a filling member (2) which has a filling product outlet (22) for filling the container (140) with a filling product and a filling valve (20) for controlling the filling product stream through the filling product outlet (22), and comprising a closure member (3) for closing the container (140) filled with the filling product, wherein the filling member (2) is movable from a filling position for filling the container (140) into a parking position for enabling a closure stroke of the closure member (3).

Description

Device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant, for example for filling the container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container, preferably for filling a

Beverage container with a drink in a beverage bottling plant and for subsequent closure of the container. Technical background

It is known to fill in beverage filling the container to be filled in a filler carousel with the respective filling product. For this purpose, the container to be filled the

Supplied filler carousel, each assigned to a Füllerkarussell arranged filling member and filled with the respective filling product, then discharged from the Füllerkarussell and fed to a Verschließerkarussell for closing with a container closure. In this process of transferring the already filled but not yet sealed container from the filler carousel to the capper carousel, it can come at a spill of the respective filling products, especially at high performance of Beverage bottling plant and high filling heights of the filling in the container, so that contamination of the system and / or the outside of the filled containers may take place with the filling product.

EP 965 524 A1 proposes a filling device in which a single container to be filled is sealed in a pressure-tight manner against the environment

Treatment chamber is received, is filled in this treatment chamber by means of a filling member with the filling product and is provided after filling with a container closure. In this way, at least the disadvantages associated with transferring a filled but not yet closed container from a filler carousel to a capping carousel can be overcome. Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object to provide an apparatus for treating a container in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, which provides a further improved structure.

This object is achieved by a device for treating a container in a

Füllproduktabfüllanlage solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the present figures.

Accordingly, an apparatus for treating a container in a

Filling product filling plant proposed, comprising a filling member which a Füllproduktauslauf for filling the container with a filling product and a filling valve for influencing the

Fill product stream through the Füllproduktauslauf, and further comprising

Closing member for closing the container filled with the filling product. According to the invention, the filling member is movable from a filling position for filling the container into a parking position for releasing a closing stroke of the closing member.

Characterized in that the filling member is movable from a filling position for filling the container to be filled in a parking position, it is achieved that the entire filling member, in particular with its filling product outlet and the filling valve, is moved from the filling position to the parking position. This eliminates a movement of the filling valve outlet relative to the filling valve itself. The mechanical structure of the filling member can be made correspondingly more reliable and hygienic, as can be dispensed with movable connections between filling valve outlet and filling valve. In particular, may be known from the prior art

Pivoting the Füllventilauslaufs be dispensed relative to the filling valve, so that a pivotal connection between the filling valve and the Füllproduktauslauf can be avoided. This can then be dispensed with the respective seals for sealing the Füllproduktstroms, so that a simpler and more hygienic structure can be achieved with an improved cleanability of the filling product contacting parts of the filling member.

A more hygienic training can also be achieved in particular in that in the areas in contact with the filling product on a pivotable connection between the filling valve and the Füllproduktauslauf can be dispensed with, so that overall the cleanability of the

Device can be improved over the known devices.

The filling valve of the filling member serves to influence the filling product flow through the

Füllproduktauslauf and according to control or regulate the Füllproduktstroms to achieve a filling of the container with the desired Füllproduktvolumen, with the desired filling level and / or with the desired filling weight.

Particularly preferably, the filling element can be pivoted, moved or moved linearly for movement between the filling position and the parking position. By the movement of the filling element from the parking position into the filling position or from the filling position in the

Parking position can - in addition to the above-mentioned positive effects regarding the hygienic design of the device and the more robust structure - in addition, the

Space requirement to be reduced in the circumferential direction. This is achieved in particular with a linear movement or a displacement.

For example, when the device is mounted on a treatment carousel, a plurality of devices are typically disposed around the circumference of the treatment carousel. It plays a role for the possible capacity and performance of the treatment carousel how wide the respective device builds, so in particular how wide the extension of each device in the circumferential direction of the Behandlungskarussels. By the formation of the filling member such that it can move linearly from the filling position into the parking position or vice versa, it is possible for the movement of the filling member to extend in a radial direction in a treatment carousel. Compared to a pivoting movement, as is known from the prior art, there is correspondingly a reduction of the installation space in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel, so that the individual devices can be arranged closer together and thus either the treatment carousel can be made more compact at a given power or For a given size of the treatment carousel, the performance can be increased.

Preferably, a Füllventilaktuator is provided by means of which the filling member is movable from the filling position in the parking position. By means of the actuator, an exact control of the position of the filling member can be achieved, so that a precise and efficient treatment process can be achieved. Preferably, a treatment chamber for receiving a respective container to be treated is provided, and the filling member is provided for filling the container received in the treatment chamber and the closing member is for closing the in the

Treatment chamber accommodated, provided with the filling product container provided. Through the treatment chamber, it is possible to provide for each container predetermined pressure conditions, regardless of the pressure conditions under which other containers are treated. Thus, a controlled treatment and especially a controlled filling and subsequent closing of the respective container can be achieved in an efficient manner.

In this way, further, a chamber filler can be provided in a compact manner, in which certain in the treatment chamber depending on the phase of the filling process

Pressure conditions and / or a specific gas composition or atmosphere can be provided.

For example, by loading the treatment chamber with a vacuum or a negative pressure after the initial introduction of the still empty container to be filled into the treatment chamber and the gas-tight seal with respect to the environment, it is initially possible to essentially receive the treatment chamber itself and the container received therein evacuate. Thereafter, it is possible to apply the container to be filled together with the treatment chamber with a predetermined gas atmosphere in order to provide a corresponding filling atmosphere.

The gas atmosphere may be provided, for example, by an inert gas to allow for oxygenated beverages to be bottled under an inert atmosphere. Thereafter, by moving the filling member from the parking position to the filling position and then actuating the filling valve, the container can be filled with the desired filling product. After completion of the filling, the filling element and thus the filling product outlet can be removed again from the container and moved from the filling position to the parking position.

Then then the closure member can apply the appropriate closure to the container, whereby the filling and closing process is completed. Subsequently, the gas can then be withdrawn from the container chamber or the container chamber can be brought to the ambient pressure, be opened and the filled and closed Remove container from the container chamber to the container chamber for the renewed

To prepare for picking up an empty container to be filled.

In an alternative method, after the evacuation of the treatment chamber and the container, the filling element can first be moved from the parking position into the filling position and connected in a gas-tight manner to the mouth of the container. Subsequently, after actuation of the filling element in the provided with vacuum, the container to be filled, the filling product can be filled directly. The vacuum in the container is replaced by the filling product. The vacuum in the treatment chamber around the container to be filled or filled around, however, initially remains. Due to the negative pressure in the container, an accelerated or sudden filling of the container with the filling product is made possible accordingly. The vacuum present in the exterior of the container maintains the structural integrity of the container to be filled. In other words, the pressure inside the container is always either equal to or greater than the ambient pressure, so that a "imploding" of the container in the treatment chamber can not occur.

After completion of the filling process, after the vacuum inside the container is largely replaced with filling product, before the removal of the filling member and before moving the Füllorgans from the filling position in the parking position, the treatment chamber with the therein now filled container received therein, always is still connected gas-tight with the filling member, are acted upon by an overpressure, for example, with the pressure, with which the filling member was introduced into the interior of the container. When filling the container with a C0 ₂ -containing filling product, this is preferably the C0 ₂ pressure which is present in a filling product reservoir in which the filling product was present in the container to be filled prior to filling, for example in a central boiler or ring kettle of a beverage filling device , By applying the treatment chamber to the pressure and, for example C0 ₂ at this pressure can be prevented that the C0 ₂ is located in the container filled filling product release abruptly but rather is achieved, which is suppressed debonding of the C0 ₂ in the filling product , Accordingly, a foaming of the filling product does not take place after the release of the filling member from the then filled container, since the C0 ₂ pressure in the treatment chamber then substantially corresponds to the C0 ₂ pressure in the interior of the filled container. In this way, foaming or foaming can be avoided. Instead of pressurized C0 ₂ , the treatment chamber can also be acted upon by pressurized gas under a high pressure in order to reduce or completely prevent the occurrence of overblowing or debinding of dissolved gas in the filling product.

The filling member can now be moved from the filling position to the parking position and the container can be closed, wherein in the treatment chamber is still the increased pressure, ie in particular the generated by the introduction of C0 ₂ or compressed gas pressure in the treatment chamber, which foaming or Foaming or dispensing of dissolved gas in the filling product prevents, so that a clean closing of the filled container is made possible.

After the pressure-tight closure of the container with the container closure, the pressure in the treatment chamber can then be relieved to the ambient pressure, wherein preferably the gas which is discharged from the treatment chamber can be at least partially reused. The treatment chamber is then opened, the filled and sealed container removed and placed another, to be filled container in the treatment chamber.

The filling member preferably comprises a seal, which is a gas-tight seal of the

Mouth region of the container to be filled with the filling product leading areas of the filling member allows. This makes it possible to provide a pressure differing from the pressure existing in the treatment chamber in the interior of the container. In this way, it is also possible to provide a different atmosphere or a different gas composition inside the container to be filled, as in the

Treatment chamber.

Preferably, the seal is supported by a lifting mechanism, by means of which the container can be pressed against the filling member, or the filling member can be pressed against the container, or filling member and container both can each perform a relative movement to each other, by means of which a pressing of the container to the Filling member or its seal and a release of this connection is made possible.

In order to provide in the interior of the container to be filled an atmosphere, a pressure and / or a gas composition, which is different from the pressure or the Varying atmosphere or the gas composition in the treatment chamber, the filling member in addition to the actual filling product leading paths on a gas channel, by means of which a gas can be introduced under pressure into the container to be filled when the filling member is arranged in the Befüllposition, or even if Filling organ is arranged in the parking position. The introduction of the gas via the gas channel provided in the filling element in the parking position takes place in the treatment chamber. The introduction of the gas through the gas channel of the filling member in the filling position takes place in the interior of the container to be filled.

The gas channel of the filling member, by means of which the interior of the container can be acted upon independently of the environment and in particular independent of the provided in a treatment chamber atmosphere with gas, is preferably connected via a flexible Teflon line with a gas supply. Accordingly, without the use of seals between moving parts, the motion or the stroke of the filling member can be moved from the filling position to the parking position here as well.

Preferably, a container receptacle is further provided in which the container to be filled and sealed can be received, wherein the container receptacle is particularly preferably received in the treatment chamber. Particularly preferably, the

Container receiving a device for supporting the torque when screwing a container closure on the container, preferably a spike plate. This can be achieved that the container can be both filled and closed without changing its container receptacle. By providing a support for the torque can also be achieved that the container is already provided during filling in a container receptacle, which subsequently without changing the container receptacle and without further application

Holding devices allows closure with a screw cap.

Preferably, the container receptacle on a lifting device, which serves for pressing the mouth of the container to the filling product outlet of the filling member, preferably to a

Seal of filling product spout. Thus, by means of the lifting device, a sealing of the container interior can be achieved at Füllproduktauslauf, so that a pressurization of the container interior with a different pressure and / or a different atmosphere than the environment, is possible. By using the lifting device can on a lifting or Lowering the filling member are dispensed for pressing against the mouth of the container, so that the mechanical structure of the filling member remains simple.

Preferably, the filling member is connected to a filling product reservoir via a flexible conduit

Communication, wherein the flexible conduit is preferably a Teflon conduit. By using a flexible conduit can be dispensed with further seals between moving parts for transferring the filling product from the Füllproduktreservoir to the moving between the filling position and the parking position filling member. Further preferably, the filling member has a gas channel, via which a clamping gas, which is preferably supplied via a flexible conduit to the filling member, the interior of the container pressed to the filling product outlet or the interior of the treatment chamber can be supplied. Thus, a biasing of the container with a biasing gas or pressurizing the container or the headspace of the container after filling can be achieved in a simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling member is movable in a Füllorganbewegungsrichtung between the filling position and the parking position and the Füllproduktauslauf is arranged at an angle to the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung. By providing an angle between the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung can be provided in principle regardless of the necessity of pressing the Füllproduktauslaufs on the mouth of the container. Thus, the geometric design of the device is independent of the feed direction of the container. The above object is further achieved by a Füllproduktabfüllanlage with the features of claim 1 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent

Claims, the description and the figures.

Accordingly, a Füllproduktabfüllanlage with a treatment carousel and at least two arranged on the circumference of the treatment carousel, the above-described devices proposed.

Due to the compact design of the devices, the treatment carousel can be constructed particularly efficiently. The treatment carousel preferably forms a carousel plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and the filling members are each movable in a filling member movement direction between the filling position and the parking position, wherein the filling members on the

Treatment carousel are arranged, that the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung is arranged at an angle to the carousel plane, preferably at an angle of 10 ° to 80 ° to the carousel plane obliquely upward.

The angle can be adjusted depending on the requirements, preferably in a range between 10 ° and 80 °. About the selection and expression of the angle can be given by the filling member to be applied to the container contact pressure. On the selection and expression of the angle and the space requirement of the entire device can be influenced - especially in the radial direction of the device.

In a particularly preferred variant of the angle is set to about 45 °, whereby a particularly good balance between contact pressure and space requirement is achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment, the angle is formed at approximately 30 °.

In other words, in the carousel plane of the treatment carousel, the filling member radially and obliquely upward or obliquely downward from the parking position in the

Befüllposition or be movable from the filling position in the parking position. In this way, a particularly compact design of the treatment carousel can be achieved and the device which makes it possible to allow both a filling of the container to be filled as well as a subsequent closing of the filled container on the treatment carousel, can accordingly with an efficient arrangement and a high Number of devices are arranged around the circumference of the treatment carousel around.

Particularly preferably, the filling members are arranged so that the Füllorganbewegungsrichtungen are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane, and preferably adjacent Füllorgane are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane.

This ensures that the filling organs even closer together around the circumference of the

Treatment roundabout can be arranged around and according to a particularly efficient construction of the Füllproduktabfüllanlage can be achieved. Brief description of the figures

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

Figure 1 is a schematic, partially sectioned view of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container, wherein the device is arranged on a treatment carousel of a filling product filling plant;

Figure 2 is a schematic, sectional view of an apparatus for filling a container and for subsequently closing the filled container in another

Embodiment wherein the filling member is positioned in a filling position;

Figure 3 is a schematic, perspective view of the device of Figure 2, in which a retaining clip for holding a container to be treated is clearly visible;

Figure 4 is a schematic, sectional view of a detail view of Figures 2 and 3, wherein the filling member is arranged in a parking position and releases a Verschließhub for the closing member;

Figure 5 is a schematic, sectional view of the device of Figures 2 to 4, wherein the filling member is positioned in a filling position;

Figure 6 is a schematic, sectional view of the device of Figures 2 to 5, wherein a container to be filled is brought to the located in the filling position filling member;

Figure 7 is a schematic, sectional view of an apparatus for filling a

Container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container in a further embodiment, in which the filling member is radially and obliquely upwardly movable and the filling member is positioned in this representation in the park position; Figure 8 is a schematic, sectional view of the device of Figure 7, wherein the filling member is positioned in a filling position;

Figure 9 is a schematic, sectional view of the device of Figures 7 and 8, wherein the container to be filled is pressed against the positioned in the filling position filling member; and

Figure 10 is a schematic, perspective, partially cutaway view of a spike plate. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a schematic representation of a device 1 for filling a container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container with a container closure in a first exemplary embodiment.

The filling product is shown in a schematic here in the form of a ring boiler

Füllprodukter provided 100 and introduced via a filling member 2, which comprises a filling valve 20 and a Füllproduktauslauf 22, in a schematically shown in Figure 6, to be filled container 140. Furthermore, a closure member 3 is provided, by means of which a container closure 300 can be applied to the then filled with the filling product container 140.

The filling member 2 is shown in a filling position in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, but it can in the direction of schematically indicated by the reference numeral F arrow indicating the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung, from the filling position shown in Figure 1 in a

Park position are moved to make the container closure receptacle 30, which can be lowered and raised along a Veschließorganbewegungsrichtung indicated by the arrow V. By lowering and raising the container closure receptacle 30, a container closure can then be applied to the filled container. The filling of the container with the filling product by means of the filling member 2 and the closing of the filled container by means of Veschließorgans 3 can be performed due to these movement possibilities of the filling member 2 and the closing member 3 to the container 140 without the container 140 with respect to the defined by the treatment carousel Level (which extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel) would have to be moved. In other words, at least the position of the mouth 142 of the container 140 remains the same upon filling and closing and at most moves along the axis defined by the container 140, which also extends through the mouth.

Accordingly, the filling member 2, which comprises at least the filling product outlet 22 for introducing the filling product into the container 140 and the filling valve 20, which serves to control the filling product supply from the filling product reservoir 100 to the filling product outlet 22, can be moved in the direction of the filling member moving direction F. to be moved from a parking position to a filling position and from the filling position back to the parking position. In this way, the Füllproduktauslauf 22 in the filling position with the mouth 142 of the

Container 140 are brought into line so that filling product can flow into the container 140. After filling the container with the filling product, the filling member 2 can then be withdrawn again in Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F in the park position to

Movement space for the subsequent closing process by means of the closing member 3 free to give.

For its part, the closing member 3 can be moved from a parking position in which it is shown in FIG. 1 into a closing position along the closing member movement direction V in order to apply a container closure 300 accommodated in a container closure receptacle 30 to a container 140 filled with the filling product Close the mouth 142.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, both the filling product outlet 22 and the container closure receptacle 30 are arranged in a treatment chamber 4, in which the container 140 to be filled is also at least partially accommodated. Depending on

In the embodiment of the treatment chamber 4, the container 140 can either be completely accommodated or only one neck region of the container 140 in the treatment chamber 4 can be accommodated

taken and the rest of the container 140 is disposed outside the treatment chamber 4. In both variants, but at least the mouth 142 of the container 140 in the Treatment chamber 4 arranged to fill the respective container 140 and a

Close the mouth 142 of the container 140 to allow a container closure within the same treatment chamber 4. The container 140 to be filled is in the embodiment shown in a

Container receptacle 5 held, in which case the container receptacle 5 receives the container 140 to be filled at a neck ring 144. The container receptacle 5 has in the shown

Embodiment, a spike plate 50, which on its upper side, as seen for example particularly well in Figure 10, individual elevations and in particular spikes, which from below into the neck ring 144 of the recorded in the container receptacle 5

Dig container 140 in order to support the torque which is applied by the closure member 3 to the then filled container 140 when applying a screw cap or a roll-up closure. Accordingly, a secure application of the container closure 300 to one with the

Filling product filled container 140 can be achieved and in particular a screwing a screw on a corresponding external thread 146 of a container filled with filling product 140. The treatment chamber 4 is preferably closed to the environment gas-tight, this both in the full receptacle of the container 140, as well as in only a partial inclusion of the container 140 applies. The treatment chamber 4 is preferably designed so that it can be acted upon with a pressure and / or an atmosphere which is independent of the pressure and / or the atmosphere in the vicinity of the treatment chamber 4.

A treatment process to be carried out with the device 1 from FIG. 1 sees

Accordingly, that in the treatment chamber 4, a container to be filled 140 is held in the container receptacle 5. The container 140 may, for example, via a

Feeding device - are supplied to the device 1 and directly into the container receptacle 5 - for example in the form of a feed star.

For this purpose, a wall 40, the container chamber defining sleeve 40 by means of a

Lifting device 42 are lowered, so that the container receptacle 5 is freely accessible and the to be filled container 140 can be passed to the container receptacle 5 accordingly. After the container 140 to be filled is received in the container receptacle 5, the sleeve is pushed back upwards via the lifting device 42 in order to seal off the treatment chamber 4 from the environment in a gastight manner. In this embodiment, according to the container 140 is completely received in the treatment chamber 4.

In a preferred treatment method, the treatment chamber 4 is now evacuated, and thus the container 140 received in the container receptacle 5 is also evacuated. As soon as the interior of the treatment chamber 4 is at the desired negative pressure, the container to be filled held in the container receptacle 5 is pressed against the filling product outlet 22 of the filling element 2 located in the filling position. The pressing can be achieved either by lowering the Füllproduktauslaufs 22, by lifting the container 140 or by a combination of the two movements. By pressing the mouth 142 to the filling product outlet 22, a gas-tight seal of the container interior of the container to be filled 140 relative to the environment and in particular with respect to the

Treatment chamber 4 can be achieved. In other words, in this way in the treatment chamber 4 and in the interior of the container 140 different pressures and different atmospheres can be provided.

By opening the filling valve 20, the filling product stored in the filling product reservoir 100 can now be directed into the interior of the container 140 to be filled. Since there is a negative pressure and in particular a vacuum in the interior of the container 140, the filling due to the pressure conditions can be done relatively quickly and it takes place in particular a sudden filling. Since in the opposite to the container interior gas-tight

Treatment chamber 4 is still a negative pressure or a vacuum, the pressure which acts on the walls of the container to be filled 140 during the filling process, always an outwardly directed pressure. In other words, the pressure in the interior of the container 140 to be filled in this embodiment of the method is always the same or higher than the pressure acting on the outside of the container 140 to be filled.

Via a supply line 44, which is provided in the lower region of the treatment chamber 4, the interior of the treatment chamber 4 is now in a further treatment step to a increased pressure brought, for example, to a high pressure, which corresponds for example to the present in the headspace of Füllproduktreservoirs 100 C0 ₂ pressure.

Accordingly, the internal pressure in the container now filled with the filling product and the pressure in the treatment chamber 4 surrounding the filled container are equalized or the same. At this time, the filling product spout 22 may be released from the mouth 142 of the filled container and the filling member 2 may be moved to the park position along the filling member moving direction F. This allows the closure member 3, the

Container closure receptacle 30, in which a container closure 300 is added to lower the mouth 142 of the filled container and to close the container accordingly. It can by the closing member 3, for example, a present as a molding

Plastic screw cap on an external thread 146 of the filled container 140 are applied. Since in the interior of the filled container 140 and in the treatment chamber 4, the same pressure or a substantially equalized pressure, it comes when loosening the

Füllproduktauslaufes 22 from the mouth 142 of the container 140 is not a strong

Foaming or dispensing of dissolved gases in the filling product, but a possibly resulting Füllproduktschaum is pushed back by the pressure present in the treatment chamber 4 in the filled container 140. Accordingly, a

Closing the filled container 140 can be achieved without leaking product from the mouth 142 of the still open container 140 exits. Accordingly, a hygienic sealing can be achieved. After the filled container 140 is now sealed by the application of the container closure gas-tight, the pressure in the interior of the treatment chamber 4 on

Relaxed ambient pressure and then the treatment chamber 4 are opened to remove the filled and sealed container 140 and to prepare the treatment chamber 4 for receiving a further container to be treated 140.

The device 1 with the filling member 2, the closing member 3 and the treatment chamber 4 is preferably arranged in a treatment carousel 120, wherein the device 1 is arranged in the region of the outer circumference of the treatment carousel 120. In the figures, only a single device 1 is shown. In a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, however, are typically a Variety of devices 1 arranged around the circumference of the treatment carousel 120 around a continuous production of filled with a filling product and with a

Container closure to provide sealed containers. In a filling product filling plant, a stream of filled and closed containers is produced in this way.

The filling member 2 and in particular also the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F of the filling member 2 extend in the embodiment shown in the radial direction R of the

Treatment carousel 120. By the extension of the filling member 2 and the

Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F of the filling member 2 in the radial direction R can be achieved that a plurality of devices 1 directly adjacent to each other around the circumference of

Treatment carousel 120 can be arranged around without additional space in the circumferential direction would be required for pivoting a Füllproduktauslaufes. In other words, a particularly compact and efficient form of arrangement of a plurality of devices 1 on the treatment carousel 120 is possible in this way.

The interior of the treatment chamber 4 is connected via a supply line for pressurized gas 44 corresponding to a compressed gas reservoir in order to put the interior of the treatment chamber 4 under pressure after the actual filling has been completed. Furthermore, a supply line for vacuum 46 or for negative pressure is provided by means of which the treatment chamber 4 can be at least partially evacuated before the filling process begins.

In Figure 2, the filling member 2 is shown concretely, which has a filling valve 20. The filling valve 20 includes a Füllventilkegel 200 and a Füllventilsitz 210, in which the Füllventilkegel 20 can be lowered sealingly. Directly to the end of the filling valve seat 210 in the embodiment shown, the Füllproduktauslauf 22 connects.

The Füllventilkegel 20 is connected via a rod 220 with an actuator 230, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a pneumatic actuator. The actuator 230 may be actuated to lower the fill plug 20 into the fill valve seat 210 or lift it out of the fill valve seat 210. If the Füllventilkegel 200 lifted out of the Füllventilsitz 210, so is a fluid connection between the Füllproduktreservoir 100 and the Füllproduktauslauf 22 prepared to allow a corresponding filling of the container 140 with the filling product.

The filling member 2 is movable via a Füllventilaktuator 6 along the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F. The Füllventilaktuator 6 is in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a

Cylinder chamber 60 is provided, in which a piston 62 is provided. over

Pneumatic connections 64, the piston 62 is correspondingly movable in the cylinder chamber 60 back and forth. The Füllventilaktuator 6 is correspondingly a double-acting pneumatic actuator, by means of which the filling member 2 in the filling position shown in Figure 2 or in a

For example, shown in Figure 4 parking position can be moved.

The filling product reservoir 100 is guided by a flexible filling product line 70, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a flexible Teflon line. Accordingly, in a reciprocating movement of the filling member 2 by actuation of the Füllorganaktuators 6 along the

Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F flexible conduit 70 for the filling product are easily moved back and forth, without this would be an additional seal or against each other moving parts would be needed. It is thus possible to achieve a structurally and hygienically advantageous transfer of the filling product from the filling product reservoir 100 to the filling member 2. The filling member 2 is arranged displaceably through a recess 480 of the lid 48 of the treatment chamber 4. Thus, the cylinder chamber 60 of the Füllventilaktuators 6 is also firmly connected to the lid 48.

A linear seal 240 seals the filling member 2 against the cover 48 and in particular with respect to the treatment chamber 4, so that the treatment chamber 4 is formed gas-tight relative to the environment during the passage of the filling member 2.

The actuator 230 of the filling element 2 can be actuated via a pneumatic connection 234. In the embodiment shown, a valve block 8 is further provided, by means of which the interior of the treatment chamber 4 can be acted upon with gases or with vacuum. The closing member 3 is also shown schematically, wherein the container closure receptacle 30 for receiving a container closure, which is then to be applied to the mouth of the container filled with the filling product, is clearly visible. In Füllproduktauslauf 22, a seal 24 is provided by means of which a to the

Füllproduktauslauf 22 pressed, to be filled container 140 gas-tight against the

Interior of the treatment chamber 4 and can be sealed gas-tight relative to the environment. The pressing of the container mouth can be achieved, as indicated schematically in Figure 3, via a lifting device 52 of the container receptacle 5, by means of which a lifting

or lowering the container receptacle 5 relative to the filling product outlet 22 of the filling member 2 is made possible. Via a flexible conduit 72 for the C0 ₂ feed additionally C0 ₂ can be introduced via the filling product outlet 22 in the interior of the container to be filled. In this way, it is possible to first evacuate the container accommodated in the interior of the treatment chamber 4 by evacuating the treatment chamber 4 during the process

Container interior via the mouth still communicating with the treatment chamber 4 in communication.

Then, in another variant of the method, the mouth 142 of the container 140 to be filled gas-tight pressed against the Füllproduktauslauf 22 and then pressurized the container interior via the flexible conduit 72 with C0 ₂ , in which case a corresponding control of the C0 ₂ -impressing be achieved via a valve 720 can. Accordingly, the interior of the container to be filled is already preloaded with C0 ₂ , before the filling valve 2 is opened, so the Füllventilkegel 200 is lifted out of the valve seat 210. In this way, it is possible to prevent the C0 ₂ bound in the filling product from being released during filling of the filling product into the interior of the container to be filled, and correspondingly reduce or even completely suppress the foaming tendency. In other words, by biasing the interior of the container to be filled with C0 _2, the Aufschäumneigung be reduced or completely suppressed. In a further alternative embodiment, the interior of the container to be filled may also be subjected to a vacuum when the filling product is filled, in which case a particularly rapid filling of the filling product into the container to be filled is achieved due to the strong pressure difference.

The spike plate 50 is formed in the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 6 in the form of a retaining clip, which is spring-biased. Accordingly, one in the

Container receptacle 5 inserted container securely held in the container clamp, the spikes of the spike plate 50 when applying the container closure according to the

Torque, which is introduced when screwing a container closure in the filled container, record or intercept, to allow a secure screwing the container closure.

In FIGS. 4 to 6, different steps of the respective filling process are shown, wherein in FIG. 4 the filling member 2 is withdrawn into the parking position and accordingly the closing member 3 could be actuated. In contrast, in Figure 5, the filling member 2 in the

Filling radially outward with respect to the treatment carousel 120 outwardly, so that a container can be pressed gas-tight by actuation of the lifting device 52 of the container receptacle 5 to the Füllproduktauslauf 22 and its seal 24, as shown for example in Figure 6.

In the figures 7 to 9, a device 1 is shown in a further embodiment, wherein the basic principle of providing a filling member 2, which together with his

Füllproduktauslauf and its filling valve 20 can be moved from a parking position to a filling position and from the filling position back to the parking position, the aforementioned

Embodiments corresponds.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9, however, is the

Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F of the filling member 2 not only radially in a carousel plane, which extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120, but also additionally oriented obliquely upwards. The angle shown in this embodiment is approximately at a 30 ° inclination to a carousel plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120. Depending on the requirements, however, the angle can be set in a larger range, for example in a range between 10 ° and 80 °. About the selection and expression of the angle can be given by the filling member 2 to be applied to the container contact pressure. On the selection and expression of the angle and the space requirement of the entire device 1 can be influenced - in particular in the radial direction of the device first

In a particularly preferred variant, the angle is set to about 45 °.

This also results in a tendency between the stroke direction of the rod 220 of the

Füllventilkegels 200 relative to the outlet direction of the Füllproduktauslaufes 22 in that also here an angle is maintained, which is smaller than 90 °. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, however, the outlet angle was about 90 °.

By the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9, a spatially even more advantageous embodiment of the filling member 2 in the treatment carousel 120 can be achieved, since a reduction of the required space in the circumferential direction of the treatment carousel space is achieved by the substantially radial arrangement of the filling member 2 and simultaneously obliquely upward with respect to a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis arranged carousel plane alignment also achieves a reduction of the length in the radial direction, so as to avoid a collision with other components of a treatment carousel 120.

In a further variant, adjacent devices 1 each having different angles with respect to the carousel plane defined perpendicular to the rotational axis of the treatment carousel 120 can be provided for aligning the filling element movement direction F and therefore also with respect to the alignment of the filling elements 2. In other words, a first filling member may, for example, be arranged at an angle of 20 ° relative to a carousel plane defined perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel 120 and a filling member arranged directly adjacent to the circumference of the treatment carousel 120 is arranged at an angle of 60 °. In this way, collisions between the filling members 2 in the interior of the treatment carousel 120 can be avoided and the apparatuses 1 can be arranged even closer to each other around the circumference of the treatment carousel 120 in order to achieve an even more compact construction with high performance. From a fluid dynamic point of view can be achieved by the reduced outlet angle at the Füllproduktauslauf 22 which is smaller than 90 °, and by the obliquely downwardly running arrangement that the filling product faster from the non-controlled portion downstream of the Füllventilsitzes 210 runs out, so that dripping reduced

or can be avoided.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9, the container receptacle 5 is further formed in the form of a lifting plate, which provides on its upper side a friction-increasing surface coating, for example by providing a rubber pad, in order in this way also when screwing container closures in the Container recorded torques.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, the container to be filled is a glass bottle to be closed off with a crown cap, for example a beer bottle, in which the closing element 3 is in the form of a crown corker, so that the taking up of torques is not necessary, but only a support of the forces against the Verschließorganbewegungsrichtung V.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the treatment chamber 4 is shown in FIG

Embodiment of such, which receives only the mouth 142 of the container 140 to be filled. The remaining part of the container 140 is not surrounded by the treatment chamber 4. Accordingly, in the region of the mouth 142 of the container 140, a corresponding atmosphere or a specific pressure regime can be provided in the treatment chamber 4, which means that after completion of the filling process of the container 140 to be filled, the filling product filled in the container does not foam over.

Accordingly, a quick and clean closing can be achieved immediately after completion of the filling process by the application of the closure member.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention. LIST OF REFERENCES

1 device

100 filling product reservoir 120 treatment carousel

140 containers

142 estuary

144 neck ring

146 external thread

2 filling element

20 filling valve

22 filling product outlet

24 seal

200 filling cone

210 filling valve seat

220 linkage

230 actuator

234 Pneumatic connection

240 line seal

3 closing organ

30 container closure

300 container closure

4 treatment chamber

40 sleeve

42 lifting device

44 Supply line compressed gas

46 supply line vacuum

48 lids

480 recess for filling element 5 container receptacle

50 spike plate

52 lifting device

6 filling valve actuator

60 cylinder chamber 62 pistons

70 flexible line for filling product

72 flexible cable for C0 ₂

720 valve to control the C0 ₂

8 valve block

F Filler movement direction

V Closing device movement direction

R radial direction

Claims

claims

A device (1) for treating a container (140) in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, comprising a filling member (2) having a Füllproduktauslauf (22) for filling the container (140) with a filling product and a filling valve (20) for influencing the Füllproduktstroms through the product outlet (22), and comprising

Closing member (3) for closing the filled with the filling product container (140), characterized in that the filling member (2) from a filling position for filling the container (140) in a parking position for releasing a Verschließhubs the closing member (3) is movable.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the filling member (2) from the parking position into the filling position comprises a pivoting and / or a displacement and / or a linear movement.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a

Füllventilaktuator (6) is provided, by means of which the filling member (2) from the filling position in the parking position is movable.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a treatment chamber (4) for receiving in each case a container to be treated (140) is provided, and the filling member (2) for filling the container received in the treatment chamber (140 ) is provided and the closure member (3) for

Closing the recorded in the treatment chamber, filled with the filling container is provided.

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a container receptacle (5) is provided, in which the container to be filled and sealed can be received, wherein the container receptacle (5) preferably in the treatment chamber (4). is included. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the container receptacle (5) has a device for supporting the torque when unscrewing a

Container closure (300) on the container (140), preferably a spike plate (50).

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container receptacle (5) has a lifting device (52) for pressing the mouth (142) of the container (140) against the filling product outlet (22) of the filling element (2), preferably to a seal (24) of the Füllproduktauslaufs (22).

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling member (2) via a flexible conduit (70) with a Füllproduktreservoir (100) is in communication, wherein the flexible conduit (70) is preferably a Teflon conduit.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling member (2) has a gas passage, via which a clamping gas, which is preferably supplied via a flexible conduit (72) to the filling member (2), the interior of the at Füllproduktauslauf (22) pressed container (140) or the interior of the treatment chamber (4) can be supplied.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling member (2) is displaced in a filling member moving direction (F) between the

Filling position and the parking position is movable and the Füllproduktauslauf (22) is arranged at an angle to the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung (F).

A filling product filling installation having a treatment carousel (120) and at least two devices (1) arranged on the circumference of the treatment carousel (120) according to one of the preceding claims.

Füllproduktabfüllanlage according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the treatment carousel (120) is a perpendicular to its axis of rotation

Carousel level forms and the filling organs (2) each in one

Füllorganbewegungsrichtung (F) between the filling position and the parking position are movable, wherein filling members (2) arranged on the treatment carousel (120) in that the filling member movement direction (F) is arranged at an angle to the carousel plane, preferably at an angle of 10 ° to 80 ° to the carousel plane.

Füllproduktabfüllanlage according to claim 12, characterized in that the filling members (2) are arranged so that the Füllorganbewegungsrichtungen (F) are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane, and preferably adjacent Füllorgane (2) are arranged at different angles to the carousel plane.