Device and method for venting, inflating and closing container

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for venting, inflating and closing a filled container, comprising: an apparatus (2) for venting and inflating, which is designed to remove air from the filled container and to replace the air with an inert gas in a continuous process; closing devices (3), which are arranged spatially separate from the devices (2) for venting and inflating, and which are designed to close the containers by means of respective lids; and a transport device (6); and a cover dispensing device (5), which is arranged spatially separate from the closure device (3) in the outlet (4) of the device (2) for venting and inflating and is designed to dispense a cover to each filled container, the transport device being designed to transport the container with the cover to the closure device (3). The invention also relates to a method for venting, inflating and closing filled containers.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for evacuating, filling with gas and closing filled containers in a packaging device. Background Art

[0002] Since the shelf life of many products, especially food products, is affected by oxygen and / or humidity, it is generally known to evacuate the packaging and then seal the packaging airtight. It is also known to carry out gas exchange, that is to say, first evacuate the container and then fill the container with an inert gas.

[0003] A device for evacuating, filling with gas and closing filled containers is known from US 2,578,815, in which the filled containers are conveyed to a rotary machine for carrying out gas exchange in a continuous process, and then the containers are conveyed to a closing device for closing. Here, the lid is placed on the container upstream of the rotary machine, and the gas exchange is carried out with the lid lifted.

[0004] However, due to the gas exchange being carried out with the lid placed on, contamination of the lid and / or the edge of the container can occur, which results in a lack of tightness when closing the container.

[0005] To avoid this, a device and a method for evacuating, filling with gas and then closing a container are known from DE 102018200291 A1, in which, with the lid not placed on, the open container is evacuated and filled with gas in a rotary machine with a plurality of chambers (in which open containers can be received respectively for gas exchange) in a continuous process. In the chambers, covering elements for the received open containers are respectively provided, wherein, for carrying out evacuation and / or filling with gas, the covering element can be placed sealingly on the container edge of the received open container, or can be inserted sealingly into the interior space of the received open container, and wherein the covering element has at least one opening for the passage of gas. The containers emerging from the rotary machine are conveyed to a seaming device and are closed there.

[0006] From the prior art (for example, DE 4234115 A1), a seaming device (English: Seamer) is known. Such a device generally includes a rotary machine with a plurality of identical positions, in which the containers are closed respectively with lids. The container and the lid are respectively conveyed to a position of the rotary machine. In this position, the container and the lid are deformed together at the edge side by means of seaming rollers, and the container is thus closed.

[0007] The structure of known hemming devices is extremely complex and it is difficult to access the individual components. Hemming devices are subject to high wear forces. However, due to the complexity of the hemming devices, the maintenance and / or cleaning work required regularly is associated with a high time consumption, especially when running the devices for packaging-sensitive products such as, for example, baby milk powder. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for evacuating, filling with gas and closing containers with reduced maintenance costs.

[0009] This object is achieved by the device according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 10.

[0010] According to a first aspect, a device for evacuating, filling with gas and closing a filled container is created, the device comprising: an instrument for evacuation and gas filling, which is configured to remove air from the filled container and replace the air with an inert gas in a continuous process; a closing instrument arranged spatially separated from the instrument for evacuation and gas filling, which is configured to close the container with a lid respectively; a lid dispensing instrument arranged spatially separated from the closing instrument in the outlet of the instrument for evacuation and gas filling, which is configured to dispense lids to the filled containers respectively; and a transport instrument, which is configured to transport the containers with lids to the closing instrument.

[0011] For the purposes of the present application, the following element is referred to as a lid, i.e., the element with which the container is closed after gas exchange. Depending on the application, the lid is a container lid arranged above the container in the subsequent use of the container, a container bottom arranged below in the subsequent use of the container or a container wall arranged on the side in the subsequent use. According to the design, the lid is made of a material with a relatively high inherent stiffness (e.g., made of metal) or a relatively flexible material (e.g., plastic film).

[0012] By functionally and spatially separating the lid dispensing instrument from the closing instrument, the complexity of the closing instrument can be significantly reduced.

[0013] With the aid of the closing instrument, the container is closed, preferably hermetically sealed. However, in the design, it can be provided that the lid is fixed to the container when assigned to the container and / or in the transport section between the dispensing and closing instruments in order to prevent loss during transport.

[0014] In one design, the closing device is a conventional seaming device, but without the star wheel, the storage magazine or similar components for the conveyance of the cover piece provided in the conventional seaming device. The seaming device is particularly suitable for closing cans and other containers using cover pieces made of metal. Here, in the design, the cans are also made of metal. However, it is also known to close so-called cardboard packaging cans (Pappwickeldose, sometimes called paper composite cans) with the aid of a seaming device. In another design, the closing device is a sealing device with which plastic containers or cardboard containers are closed using cover pieces made of plastic or cardboard.

[0015] In a conventional seaming device, it is particularly known that, for the conveyance of the cover piece, a vertically standing storage magazine is provided. The storage magazine has to be changed manually, or in a semi-automatic embodiment, the storage magazine has to be pushed into position according to the specifications. In the case of servicing the rotor of the seaming device, the storage magazine has to be removed laboriously, or the storage magazine has to be designed to be movable. By functionally and spatially separating the cover piece dispensing device from the closing device, the necessity of possibly removing the storage magazine, which is designed as part of the cover piece dispensing device, for servicing the rotor of the seaming device is eliminated. Thus, servicing can be achieved with a significantly reduced time expenditure.

[0016] Compared to conventional systems, the retrofitting of the cover piece dispensing device and the closing device can also be carried out with a reduced time expenditure, for example when changing the specifications.

[0017] In a design, the device for exhaust and inflation is a device known from DE 102018200291A1, which has a covering element that is temporarily placed on the container for gas exchange. However, the invention is not limited to the combination with this device, and other designs of the device are conceivable. In particular, in one design, the device for exhaust and inflation is designed as a common structural unit with a filling device, as is known, for example, from the subsequently published DE 102022203817.7.

[0018] For sensitive products, such as baby milk powder for example, the transport device is preferably set up to convey the container with the cover piece to the closing device without air reaching the container. In other designs, a minimal amount of air ingress can be tolerated.

[0019] In one design, the cap dispensing device is configured to have a dispensing wheel with at least one receiving portion for the caps. The dispensing wheel allows for the continuous dispensing of individual caps to a handover position. Here, the movement of the dispensing wheel is synchronized with the movement of the container at the outlet of the device for evacuation and inflation. In order to hand over the caps at high process speeds, the dispensing wheel preferably has a plurality of receiving portions for the caps respectively. In the design, the at least one receiving portion has a suitable holding device so that the received caps are held at the receiving portion in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner during transportation to the container.

[0020] In one design, the outlet includes a linear conveying section, where the container is received from the device for evacuation and inflation by means of this linear conveying section (as presented, for example, in EP 0566173 A1).

[0021] In another design, the outlet includes a star wheel, where the movement of the dispensing wheel is synchronized with the movement of the star wheel. In one design, here the handover of the caps to the container is carried out by means of the star wheel during the movement of the container, where the container is transported by means of the star wheel at a defined spacing and at a defined speed.

[0022] In one design, the dispensing wheel is arranged vertically and can be driven in such a way that the dispensing wheel rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation arranged above the handover position of the cap to the container. With this arrangement, an optimal use of the structural space is feasible.

[0023] Here, in one design, the at least one receiving portion includes a piston adjustable in the radial direction of the dispensing wheel, where the piston can be driven in such a way that, in order to dispense the received cap to the container, the piston can be adjusted radially outwards at the handover position. Thereby, during the movement to the handover position, an undesired collision between the container and the cap can be prevented. At the same time, a reliable handover at the handover position is achieved, where a free fall of the cap in the direction of the container is avoided or at least reduced.

[0024] In order to achieve reliable movement of the piston without additional active setting elements at the dispensing wheel, in one design, a chute track is provided for the chute-controlled movement of the piston.

[0025] In one design, the lid dispensing device is connected to the magazine by means of a transport section, where, for example, the lids can be continuously conveyed to the lid dispensing device by means of a conveyor belt. In other designs, the lid dispensing device has a magazine arranged above the axis of rotation of the dispensing wheel in the receiving position, where the dispensing wheel and the magazine are configured such that the at least one receiving part of the dispensing wheel can receive lids from the magazine at the receiving position. Here, in one design, it is provided that, in order to receive the lids, the piston of the receiving part is adjusted radially outwards in the direction of the magazine.

[0026] In one design, after being transferred to the container, the lid is placed on the container in such a way that air infiltration into the container is prevented or the infiltration of air is limited to an acceptable level for the product. In other designs, the outlet, the lid dispensing device and the closing device are encapsulated in a common housing that is isolated from the surroundings, where an inert gas atmosphere exists in the housing.

[0027] In other designs, the transport device has an inflation system that is configured to apply a low-turbulence displacement flow along at least a partial section of the transport path. Such an inflation system is also referred to as a laminar flow system. In the inflation system, a preferably vertically directed inert flow prevents air from infiltrating into the container. In one design, the inflation system includes a U-shaped wall part that houses the head region of the container. In other designs, only a plate-shaped wall part arranged above the transport section is provided.

[0028] In one design, the transport device is configured to change the spacing of the containers between the outlet and the closing device, where the transport device particularly has a screw conveyor. In one design, the screw conveyor also serves as a transport element for the containers. In other designs, an additional transport element, such as a conveyor belt, is provided for transportation, where the screw conveyor is only used to change the spacing of the containers. Here, in one design, in order to change the spacing during transportation by means of the conveyor belt, the containers are moved relative to the conveyor belt by means of the screw conveyor. Since the lids are dispensed at the outlet, the dispensing is independent of the container spacing required on the closing device side (also referred to as the distance (Stich) or the English Pitch). Therefore, it is possible to retrofit the device to a closing device with a changed pitch without changing the lid dispensing device. Additionally, it is conceivable to provide two closing devices with different required distances.

[0029] In one design, the cover can be held at the container with sufficient reliability during transportation by means of a displacement flow. In other designs, the transportation device has a mechanical guiding system which is configured to limit and / or prevent the movement of the cover relative to the container during transportation. In one design, the guiding system is arranged spaced apart from the cover placed on the container here, such that the guiding system does not contact the optimally placed cover, and the guiding element prevents further relative movement and / or aligns the cover with the container only when there is an offset between the container and the cover. In one design, the wall part of the inflation system serves as the mechanical guiding system. In other designs, the mechanical guiding system is arranged in the U-shaped wall part of the inflation system.

[0030] In one design, the device for exhaust and inflation includes a linear transportation section along which the container moves for gas exchange. For good space utilization, in other designs, the device for exhaust and inflation has a rotary machine with a vertical axis of rotation and N positions distributed on the circumference of the rotary machine. Here, gas exchange can be achieved in a continuous process.

[0031] According to a second aspect, a method for exhausting, inflating, and closing a filled container is provided, wherein air is removed from the filled container and replaced with an inert gas in a continuous process by means of a device for exhaust and inflation, wherein the container is closed with a cover by means of a closing device arranged spatially separated from the device for exhaust and inflation, and wherein a cover is distributed to each filled container by means of a cover distribution device arranged at the outlet of the device for exhaust and inflation, and the container with the cover is transported to the closing device.

[0032] Preferably, the transportation of the container with the placed cover is carried out without air reaching the container. Description of the Drawings

[0033] Other advantages and aspects of the present invention result from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, which will be illustrated below with reference to the drawings. Here schematically:

[0034] Figure 1 A top view shows a device for exhausting, inflating, and closing a container, which device includes a rotary machine;

[0035] Figure 2 A partially cut-away side view shows the cover distribution device; and

[0036] Figure 3 Shown separately is the Figure 2 distribution wheel of the cover distribution device according to Detailed implementation mode

[0037] Figure 1 Schematically shown in a top view is a device 1 for exhausting air, inflating, and closing a container that is not visible in Figure 1 The device 1 is, for example, part of a packaging device for food and / or other products, especially for milk powder.

[0038] The device 1 includes an instrument 2 for exhausting air and inflating. By means of this instrument, air is removed from the already filled container in a continuous process and replaced by an inert gas.

[0039] In addition, the device 1 includes a closing instrument 3 arranged spatially separated from the instrument 2 for exhausting air and inflating, a lid dispensing instrument 5 arranged at the outlet 4 of the instrument 2 for exhausting air and inflating, and a transport instrument 6.

[0040] By means of the instrument 2 for exhausting air and inflating, air is removed from the filled container in a continuous process and replaced by an inert gas (especially N2) or a mixed gas (such as N2 and CO2). The presented instrument 2 for exhausting air and inflating has a rotary machine 21 with a vertical axis of rotation 22 and a plurality of, in the presented embodiment 32, positions 20 evenly distributed on the circumference. The rotary machine 22 allows the continuous execution of the process, in which different process steps can be carried out in a manner distributed on the circumference of the rotary machine 21. In one design, the container is transported to the rotary machine 21 in an unfilled state, where filling, exhausting air, and inflating are carried out in the rotary machine. In other designs, the container is transported in a filled state, where only the exhausting air and inflating of the filled container are carried out in the rotary machine 21.

[0041] In the presented embodiment, a star wheel 24 is provided for loading the instrument 2. However, other loading instruments can also be envisaged.

[0042] In the presented embodiment, the outlet 4 also includes a star wheel 40 that rotates synchronously with the rotary machine 2. An inflation system 41 is provided at the outlet 4 to apply a low-turbulence displacement flow to the open container along the transport path in the outlet 4.

[0043] In the outlet 4, lids are respectively dispensed to the containers by means of the lid dispensing instrument 5. Immediately afterwards, the containers with the dispensed lids placed on them can be transported to the closing instrument 3 by means of the transport instrument 6.

[0044] The transport device 6 has an inflation system 60 which is set up to apply a low-turbulence displacement flow at least in sections along a transport path of the transport device 6. The inflation system 60 includes, for example, a U-shaped channel covering the head region of the container, with outflow openings provided at the covering surface of the channel through which an inert gas is conveyed.

[0045] In one design, the channel of the inflation system 60 also serves as a mechanical guiding system in order to prevent the lid from shifting relative to the container or bouncing off the container during conveyance by means of the transport device 6.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport device 6 has a conveyor belt 61 for transporting the container and a screw conveyor 62, by means of which the spacing of the containers can be changed between the outlet 4 and the closing device 3.

[0047] For example, the closing device 3 is a crimping device by means of which the container is hermetically closed by deformation using the placed-on lid.

[0048] In Figure 2 the lid dispensing device 5 is presented in a side view together with the container 7 and the lid 70. The container 7 and the lid 70 are only shown schematically, and the figure does not reflect the dimensional relationships.

[0049] The lid dispensing device 5 includes a dispensing wheel 50 presented separately in Figure 3 which has a plurality of, in the illustrated embodiment 8, receptacles 51 for the lids 70 respectively, where in Figure 2 only one lid 70 in the receiving position of the lid 70 to the container 7 is shown.

[0050] The movement of the dispensing wheel 50 is synchronized with the movement of the star wheel 40 of the outlet 4 (see Figure 1 ), so that the container 7 and the lid 70 are simultaneously conveyed to the receiving position 45 respectively.

[0051] As can be seen in Figure 2 the dispensing wheel 50 is arranged vertically and rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation 500 arranged above the handover position 45 of the lid 70 to the container 7.

[0052] To avoid a collision of the cover part 70 with the container 7 when approaching the container 7, in the presented embodiment, the receiving parts 51 each have a piston 510 that can be adjusted in the radial direction of the dispensing wheel 50. The pistons 510 can each be driven such that, in order to dispense the received cover parts 70 to the container 7, at the handover position 45, the pistons 510 are adjusted radially outwards. In the presented embodiment, for this purpose, a chute track 52 is provided for the chute-controlled movement of the pistons 510. The presentation of the chute track 52 is only schematic, and a person skilled in the art can appropriately design the chute track 52 according to the application situation in order to achieve the desired movement of the pistons 510 for handing over the cover parts 70 to the container 7, wherein a free fall of the cover parts 70 during handover is avoided or at least reduced.

[0053] Furthermore, the presented cover part dispensing device 5 includes a magazine 56 arranged above the axis of rotation 500 of the dispensing wheel 50 in the receiving position 55. The dispensing wheel 50 and the magazine 56 are set up such that, at the receiving position 55, the cover parts 70 are received from the magazine 56 by means of the receiving parts 51. In the presented embodiment, for this purpose, the chute track 52 is designed such that the receiving parts 51 can each be adjusted radially outwards in the direction of the magazine 56 for receiving. A chute-controlled movement of the pistons 510 is provided.

[0054] The presented magazine 56 is arranged vertically and ensures a continuous material flow of the cover parts.

[0055] The cover part dispensing device 5 includes a housing part 57 covering the dispensing wheel 50. An inert gas atmosphere is present in the housing part 57.

Claims

1. An apparatus for evacuating, filling with gas and closing a filled container (7), the apparatus comprising: An instrument (2) for evacuation and gas filling, which is configured to remove air from the filled container (7) and replace the air with an inert gas in a continuous process; A closing instrument (3) spatially separated from the instrument (2) for evacuation and gas filling, which is configured to close the container (7) with a lid (70) respectively; And a transport instrument (6), characterized in that the device (1) comprises a lid dispensing instrument (5) spatially separated from the closing instrument (3) and arranged at the outlet (4) of the instrument (2) for evacuation and gas filling, which is configured to dispense lids (70) to the filled containers (7) respectively, wherein the transport instrument is configured to transport the container (7) with the lid (70) to the closing instrument (3).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that The lid dispensing instrument (5) has a dispensing wheel (50) with at least one receiving portion (51) for the lid (70), preferably with a plurality of receiving portions (51) for the lid (70) respectively, wherein preferably, the outlet (4) comprises a star wheel (40), and the movement of the dispensing wheel (50) is synchronized with the movement of the star wheel (40).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that The dispensing wheel (50) is arranged vertically and can be driven so that the dispensing wheel rotates around a horizontal rotation axis (500) arranged above the handover position (45) of the lid (70) to the container (7).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that The at least one receiving portion (51) includes a piston (510) adjustable in the radial direction of the dispensing wheel (50), wherein the piston (510) can be driven such that, in order to dispense the received lid to the container, the piston (510) can be adjusted radially outwards at the handover position (45), and in particular, a chute track (52) is provided for the chute-controlled movement of the piston (510).

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The lid dispensing instrument (5) has a magazine (56) arranged above the rotation axis (500) of the dispensing wheel (50) in the receiving position (55), wherein the dispensing wheel (50) and the magazine (56) are configured such that the at least one receiving portion (51) of the dispensing wheel (50) can receive the lid (70) from the magazine (56) respectively at the receiving position (55).

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The transport instrument (6) has an inflation system (60) configured to apply a low-turbulence displacement flow along at least a partial section of the transport path.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the transport means (6) is configured to change the spacing of the container between the outlet and the closing means, wherein the transport means (6) particularly has a screw conveyor.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the transport means (6) has a mechanical guiding system which is configured to limit and / or prevent the movement of the lid relative to the container during transportation.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, the means (2) for evacuation and filling has a swivel machine (21) with a vertical axis of rotation (22) and a number N of positions (20) distributed on the circumference of the swivel machine (21).

10. A method for evacuating, filling and closing a filled container (7), wherein, by means of the means (2) for evacuation and filling, air is removed from the filled container (7) and replaced by an inert gas in a continuous process, and wherein the container (7) is closed by means of a closing means (3) arranged spatially separated from the means (2) for evacuation and filling, respectively, with a lid (70), characterized in that a lid distribution means (5) arranged in the outlet (4) of the means (2) for evacuation and filling distributes lids (70) to the filled containers (7) respectively, and the containers (7) with lids (70) are conveyed to the closing means (3).

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