Filling device, installation and method for filling, closing and packaging containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling device for filling a container with a multi-component filling product in a beverage filling installation, said filling device comprising: a main filler, which is designed to introduce a main component of the filling product into the container, said main filler being designed in a circular rotor structure, wherein the container to be filled is fed to a filler carousel and is filled with a main component of a filling product during transportation along a partial circle via a filling mechanism mounted at the outer circumference of the filler carousel; a secondary filler configured to introduce different secondary ingredients into the container; and a product determination device comprising a camera configured to determine at least one characteristic of the container prior to filling the container by the secondary filler wherein the secondary filler is configured to select and introduce one or more secondary ingredients into the container as a function of the container characteristic thus determined.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling device for filling containers with a multi-component filling product, preferably in a beverage filling facility, and to a facility and a method for filling, closing, and packaging containers. Background Art

[0002] It is known that beverage containers, such as bottles or cans, are formed into bundles after being filled with a filling product and after being closed. Thus, the containers can be bundled and packaged, for example, by means of a shrink film into bundles of four, six, or more containers, whereby the containers can be handled more simply as transport and / or sales units in commerce and in logistics. The bundles can be recombined for transport and can be stacked on top of each other or palletized.

[0003] In addition to combining the same products, it is possible to manufacture mixed bundles containing different types of beverage containers. To manufacture a mixed bundle, usually large quantities of bundles of the same product are manufactured and temporarily stored in a high-bay warehouse. Subsequently, the bundles are unstacked, unpacked in a sorting facility, and then repackaged together into a mixed bundle.

[0004] DE 10 2005 039 842 A1 describes a method for forming a mixed bundle from single-item bundles. EP 3 235 739 A1 describes a robot-assisted sorting facility for manufacturing mixed bundles.

[0005] In the new sorting of products, large storage areas and sorting areas as well as expensive sorting facilities are required. In addition, additional packaging waste is generated.

[0006] Regarding information about the contents of a container (especially in the case of beverage cans or cartons), it is usually printed on the outside of the container before filling. It follows therefrom that the order of the containers when supplied to the filler must match the loading of the filling mechanism. If the supply of the containers to the filler cannot be carried out without error, i.e., if, for example, it is determined by inspection that a container is missing or its label / design does not match the associated filling mechanism of a specific type, then this causes problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved filling device for filling containers with a multi-component filling product, as well as an improved facility for filling, closing, and packaging containers and an improved method.

[0008] The object is achieved by a filling device according to the invention, a facility according to the invention, and a method according to the invention. Advantageous refinements result from the following description of the invention and from the description of the preferred embodiments.

[0009] Particularly preferably, the filling device and installation are used in beverage filling, for example for filling water (non-carbonated or carbonated), beer, fruit juices, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, mixed drinks etc.

[0010] The container can be a bottle made of glass, PET, a can, a carton or a suitable container of other nature, which can be filled with a liquid filling product, in particular a beverage. Particularly preferably, the filling device and installation are configured for handling cans, for example cans having a metal share such as aluminium or tinplate.

[0011] The filling device serves to fill containers with a filling product. The filling product comprises at least two components, which are referred to herein as "main component" and "(a) secondary component(s)", without this implying any priority, quantitative relationship etc. The main component is preferably water (non-carbonated or carbonated). The secondary component(s) can for example comprise syrup, jam, fruit pieces, flavourings, additives or another suitable component, and the secondary component(s) determine(s) the final product by being metered together with the main component into the container.

[0012] The filling device has a main filler, which is configured to introduce the main component of the filling product into the container. The main filler is preferably designed in the form of a circular rotor, where the containers to be filled are fed to a filler turntable and are filled during transport along a partial circle via filling mechanisms mounted at the outer circumference of the filler turntable with the main component of the filling product.

[0013] The filling device also has a secondary filler, which is configured to introduce in principle different secondary components into the container. "Different secondary components" in particular means different types. Thus, the secondary filler can for example be selected from different flavourings, syrup types, additives etc. in order to determine the final product in this way. However, the expression "different secondary components" also includes for example different quantities of the same type, such that the final product can contain different concentrations of the secondary component(s).

[0014] The filling device also has a product determination device, which is configured to determine at least one characteristic of the container to be filled before filling the container by means of the secondary filler, where the secondary filler is configured to select one or more secondary components on the basis of the characteristic so determined and to introduce them into the container accordingly.

[0015] In other words, the product determination device identifies which container type should be operated by the sub-filler. Thus, in general, it is possible to identify the design of the container, such as the imprint of the container (label, code, graphic shape, trademark, etc.) and / or shape and / or material, etc. According to the container type determined by the product determination device, a product matching the container type is manufactured in the sub-filler by introducing the corresponding (multiple) sub-components into the container in the desired amounts. For this purpose, the product determination device preferably includes an optical reading device, in particular a camera.

[0016] By individually determining the final product by the sub-filler container outside the main filler, it is possible to fill the containers within a batch with different products. The decision regarding the final product is made by the product determination device. In this way, the overall facility efficiency can be increased.

[0017] In addition, the time-consuming sorting of the containers before the filling device can be omitted, because the final product is not determined according to the presetting of the filler, but the filling device can respond to the provided container stream, even if different types of containers are more or less randomly distributed therein. The order of the containers when provided to the filler can be and is allowed to be changed, without resulting in incorrect filling and thus waste products.

[0018] Preferably, the sub-filler has a metering device, which has a plurality of metering mechanisms configured to introduce each one sub-component, in particular a type, into the container. In the metering device, it can be finally determined which product is to be manufactured in the container. The metering device determines the final type separately, i.e., not in the original filler (main filler).

[0019] The sub-filler is preferably arranged behind (downstream) the main filler when viewed in the conveying direction of the container. However, the order in which the main component and the (multiple) sub-components are introduced into the container can be changed. In other words, the main filler can be behind the sub-filler. However, the first-mentioned order is preferred in order to determine the final product as late as possible.

[0020] Preferably, the sub-filler has a transport device configured to transport the container to the main filler or from the main filler to a closing device for closing the container by means of each one container closure. The transport device is preferably configured to transport the container along a straight track. For this purpose, the transport device preferably includes a conveyor belt and / or a transport chain.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the metering device is mounted at the transport device such that the metering device introduces the (multiple) sub-components into the container during the transport of the container by the transport device. Thus, the sub-filler including the transport device and the metering device is used to transport the container to the main filler or from the main filler to the closing device and is used synergistically for the final manufacture of the product in the container.

[0022] Preferably, the transport device and the metering device include or form a plurality of parallel transfer / metering channels, wherein the flow from the plurality of containers divides onto the plurality of transfer / metering channels before the metering device, whereby the plurality of containers can be filled with the secondary components in parallel. After metering, the containers can be reunited onto the transport path again.

[0023] The above object is also achieved by a facility preferably for filling, closing and packaging containers in a beverage filling facility. The facility has: a filling device for filling containers with a multi-component filling product according to one of the above-described embodiment variants; a closing device configured to close the containers filled with the filling product with container closures, wherein the closing device is preferably configured in a circular rotor configuration, wherein the containers to be closed are fed to a closing turntable and are closed with one container closure each during transport along a partial circle via closing mechanisms mounted at the outer circumference of the closing turntable; and a packaging device configured to assemble the filled and closed containers into a bundled package.

[0024] The features, technical effects, advantages and examples described with respect to the filling device similarly apply to the facility.

[0025] The packaging device is in particular configured to assemble the filled and closed containers into a mixed bundled package.

[0026] Thus, a container stream with different types of containers can be fed directly to the closing device and the packaging device, where the containers can be immediately packaged into a mixed bundled package. The costly sorting facility and the large storage area for manufacturing the mixed bundled package are omitted.

[0027] Thus, the containers pass through different stations (filling, closing and packaging) and are transported along the transport direction there. The transport can be effected along a circular track by a processing turntable and / or a transport star and / or along a linear track and / or along another suitable track by a belt, a chain, etc. The transport direction is not necessarily to be understood as a straight path, but generally denotes an oriented track along which the containers move during processing. The terms defining the process sequence, such as "front", "rear", "downstream", "upstream" relate in this case to the transport direction of the containers.

[0028] Preferably, the packaging device includes: a bundling device configured to assemble and package containers into bundles; a plurality of parallel transfer channels configured to supply containers to the bundling device along parallel paths; and a distribution system configured to distribute containers onto the transfer channels. In this way, the packaging device can sort different mixed bundles during the running process. In this case, the transfer channels are preferably operated by the distribution system item by item, that is, one type for each transfer channel.

[0029] The above object is also achieved by a method preferably used in a beverage filling facility for filling, closing, and packaging containers. The method includes: introducing a main component of a filling product and at least one auxiliary component into the container, wherein at least one container characteristic of the container to be filled is determined before introducing the auxiliary component and one or more auxiliary components are selected according to the determined container characteristics and introduced into the corresponding containers; closing the containers filled with the filling product with respective container closures; and combining and packaging the filled and closed containers into bundles, preferably mixed bundles.

[0030] The features, technical effects, advantages, and embodiments described with respect to the filling device and facility similarly apply to the method.

[0031] Further advantages and features of the present invention are visible from the following description of the preferred embodiments. As long as the features described herein are not contradictory, the features can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features described above. The following description of the preferred embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings herein. Description of the Drawings

[0032] Preferred further embodiments of the present invention are elaborated in detail by the following description of the drawings. Shown herein are:

[0033] Figure 1 A facility for filling, closing, and packaging containers is schematically shown; and

[0034] Figure 2 A facility for filling, closing, and packaging containers according to another embodiment is schematically shown. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0035] Next, the preferred embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. Herein, the same, similar, or identically acting elements are provided with the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the repeated description of these elements is partially omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0036] Figure 1 A facility 1 for filling, closing, and packaging containers 100 is schematically shown.

[0037] The container 100 passes through different stations (in particular filling, closing and packaging) and is transported thereby in the transport direction F. The transport can be effected along a circular path by means of a processing turntable and / or a transport star and / or along a linear track and / or along a further suitable track by means of a belt, a chain etc. The transport direction F is not necessarily to be understood as a straight path, but generally as a directed track along which the container 100 moves during processing.

[0038] The installation 1 comprises a filling device 10 for filling the container 100 with a multi-component filling product. Particularly preferably, the installation 1 is used in beverage filling, in which case the filling device 10 is configured for filling beverages such as water (non-carbonated or carbonated), beer, fruit juices, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, mixed drinks etc.

[0039] The container 100 can be a bottle made of glass, PET, a can, a carton or a suitable container 100 of other nature, which can be filled with a liquid filling product, in particular a beverage. Particularly preferably, the installation 1 is configured for processing cans, for example cans having a metal share such as aluminium or tinplate.

[0040] The installation 1 further comprises a closing device 20, which is configured for closing the container 100 filled with the filling product with a container closure. The container closure can be a crown cap, a screw closure, a cork, a can lid or other suitable closure for closing the filled container 100 in a leak-proof manner.

[0041] The installation 1 further comprises a packaging device 30, which is configured for assembling the filled and closed containers 100 into a bundled pack, preferably a mixed bundled pack, i.e. a bundled pack having containers 100 of different product types.

[0042] The filling device 10 comprises a main filler 12, which is configured for introducing the main component of the filling product, preferably water (non-carbonated or carbonated), into the container 100. The main filler 12 is preferably configured in the form of a circular rotor, where the container 100 to be filled is fed to a filler turntable and is filled with the filling product during transport along a partial circle via filling mechanisms mounted at the outer circumference of the filler turntable.

[0043] In addition to the main component, the filling product comprises at least one further component, which is referred to herein as a secondary component. The secondary component can comprise syrup, jam, fruit pieces, flavourings, additives or one or more further suitable components, and the secondary component, together with the main component, determines the final product by being metered into the container 100. The determination of the final product takes place as late as possible in the process.

[0044] For this purpose, the filling device 10 includes a secondary filler 14 which, according to the current embodiment, is observed behind the main filler 12 in the conveying direction F. However, the order in which the main component and the (multiple) secondary components are introduced into the container 100 can be changed. In other words, the main filler 12 can be behind the secondary filler 14. However, the order shown in Figure 1 is preferred in order to determine the final product as late as possible.

[0045] The filling device 10 is suitable for rapid and flexible format changes, especially when different filling products are based on a common carrier medium (main component) and different secondary components.

[0046] The secondary filler 14 according to the current embodiment includes a transport device 15 which is configured to transport the container 100 from the main filler 12 to the closing device 20. The transport device 15 is preferably configured to transport the container 100 along a straight track, preferably by means of a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain.

[0047] A metering device 16 is installed between the main filler 12 and the closing device 20, which preferably has a plurality of metering mechanisms 16a for metering the (multiple) secondary components into the container 100. In the metering device 16 it can finally be determined: which product is to be manufactured and subsequently conveyed to the closing device 20 and the packaging device 30.

[0048] In the container 100, especially a can or a beverage carton, the contents are associated with the appearance of the container 100, such as decoration (graphic design, color, coding, etc.), shape, material, etc. Different types of containers 100, such as 200 cans for product A, 200 cans for product B, etc. are conveyed to the filling device 10. Here, different types of containers 100 can be mixed at the boundary, for example when the empty containers 100 are unstacked, separated, cleaned, optionally inspected and marked with the best before date before the filling device 10.

[0049] Via a product determination device 17, such as a camera, it is now recognized which container type enters the metering device 16. Thus, in general, the design of the container 100 can be recognized, such as the imprint, shape, material, etc. of the container 100. Depending on the container type determined by the product determination device 17, a product matching the container type is manufactured in the secondary filler 14 in such a way that the corresponding metering mechanism 16a or the corresponding metering mechanisms 16a introduce the (multiple) secondary components into the container 100.

[0050] Thus, the secondary filler 14 including the transport device 15 and the metering device 16 serves to transport the container 100 from the main filler 12 to the closing device 20 and is used synergistically for the final manufacture of the product in the container 100.

[0051] According toFigure 1 In an embodiment, (multiple) sub-components, i.e., different flavorings, jams, syrups, fruit pieces, etc., are metered between the main filler 12 and the closing device 20. Alternatively, the sub-filler 14 can be arranged in front of the main filler 12. In this case, the transport device 15 is configured to transport the container 100 to the main filler 12.

[0052] It is feasible that after the product determination device 17 has identified the inclusions with respect to container characteristics such as design, coding on the container 100, etc., two or more sub-components are metered per container 100.

[0053] The closing device 20 is preferably configured in the form of a circular rotor, wherein the containers 100 to be closed are fed to a closing turntable and are closed with one container closure each by a closing mechanism mounted at the outer circumference of the closing turntable during transport along a partial circle.

[0054] The filled and closed containers 100 are subsequently fed to the packaging device 30. This is carried out, for example, by means of another transport device 31. The transport device 31 is preferably configured to transport the container 100 along a straight track, preferably by means of a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain.

[0055] A buffer can be installed between the closing device 20 and the packaging device 30 in order to compensate for different processing speeds.

[0056] The container 100 is then preferably singly brought by the dispensing system 32 of the packaging device 30 onto the transfer channel 33 to the bundling device 34, which bundles the containers 100 into a bundled package.

[0057] The packaging device 30 does not have to be directly connected to the closing device 20. Thus, for example, inspections, labeling, cleaning, buffering, etc. of the container 100 can be carried out between the closing and the packaging of the container 100.

[0058] Figure 2 Schematically shown is a facility 1 for filling, closing and packaging containers 100 according to another embodiment.

[0059] In Figure 2 the case, the container stream is divided into a plurality of transfer / metering channels 18 before the closing device 20, in particular in the metering device 16, whereby the containers 100 can be metered in parallel. After metering, the containers 100 can be brought together again on the transport path. Alternatively, one closing device 20 can be provided per transfer / metering channel 18.

[0060] By individually determining the final product by means of the secondary filler 14 containers outside the main filler 12, it is possible to fill the containers 100 within a batch with different products. The decision regarding the final product is made by the product determination device 17. The overall facility efficiency can be increased in this way.

[0061] In addition, the sorting of the containers 100 that is costly before the filling device 10 can be dispensed with, because the final product is not determined according to a preset of the filler, but rather the filling device 10 can in particular react to the provided container stream by means of the external secondary filler 14, even if different types of containers 100 are more or less randomly distributed therein. The order in which the containers 100 are provided to the filler can be and is allowed to be changed, without this resulting in incorrect filling and thus waste products.

[0062] Containers 100 of different types appear successively at the packaging device 30, where they can immediately be packaged into mixed bundles. The sorting facilities that are costly for manufacturing the mixed bundles are dispensed with, and large storage areas are also dispensed with.

[0063] As long as applicable, all individual features shown in the respective embodiments can be combined with one another and / or replaced without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0064] List of reference numerals

[0065] 1 Facility for filling, closing, and packaging containers

[0066] 10 Filling device

[0067] 12 Main filler

[0068] 14 Secondary filler

[0069] 15 Transport device

[0070] 16 Dosage device

[0071] 16a Dosage mechanism

[0072] 17 Product determination device

[0073] 18 Transfer / dosage channel

[0074] 20 Closing device

[0075] 30 Packaging device

[0076] 31 Transport device

[0077] 32 Distribution system

[0078] 33 Transfer channel

[0079] 34 Packing device

[0080] 100 containers

[0081] F conveying direction

Claims

1. A filling device (10) preferably for filling containers (100) with a multi-component filling product in a beverage filling facility, wherein the filling device (10) has: A main filler (12) configured to introduce a main component of the filling product into the container (100), wherein the main filler (12) is preferably configured in a circular rotor structure, and the containers (100) to be filled are conveyed to a filler turntable and filled with the main component of the filling product along a partial circle during transportation via filling mechanisms mounted at the outer circumference of the filler turntable; A secondary filler (14) configured to introduce different secondary components into the container (100); And A product determination device (17) which preferably includes a camera and is configured to determine at least one characteristic of the container (100) before filling the container (100) with the secondary filler (14), wherein the secondary filler (14) is configured to select one or more secondary components according to the determined container characteristics and introduce them into the container (100).

2. The filling device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The product determination device (17) is configured to determine an imprint on the container (100) and / or the shape of the container (100) and / or the material characteristics of the container (100).

3. The filling device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The secondary filler (14) has a metering device (16), and the metering device has a plurality of metering mechanisms (16a) configured to introduce each one secondary component into the container (100).

4. The filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The secondary filler (14) has a transport device (15) configured to transport the container (100) to the main filler (12) or from the main filler (12) to a closing device (20) for closing the container with a respective container closure, wherein the transport device (15) is preferably configured to transport the container (100) along a linear track.

5. The filling device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The metering device (16) is mounted at the transport device (15) such that the metering device (16) introduces the secondary components into the container (100) during the transportation of the container (100) by the transport device (15).

6. The filling device (10) according to claim 3 and 4 or claim 5, characterized in that, The transport device (15) and the metering device (16) include a plurality of parallel transfer / metering channels (18), wherein the flow from a plurality of containers (100) is divided onto the plurality of transfer / metering channels (18) before the metering device (16), whereby a plurality of containers (100) can be filled with secondary components in parallel.

7. A facility (1) preferably for filling, closing and packaging containers (100) in a beverage filling facility, the facility having: A filling device (10) for filling the container (100) with a multi-component filling product according to any one of the above claims; Closing device (20), which is configured to close the container (100) filled with the filling product with a container closure, wherein the closing device (20) is preferably configured in the form of a circular rotor structure, and the container (100) to be closed is conveyed to a closing turntable and is closed with a respective container closure along a partial circle during the conveyance via a closing mechanism mounted at the outer circumference of the closing turntable; and Packaging device (30), which is configured to assemble the filled and closed containers (100) into a bundled package.

8. The facility (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The packaging device (30) is configured to assemble the filled and closed containers (100) into a mixed bundled package.

9. The installation (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The packaging device (30) comprises: a bundling device (34), which is configured to assemble the containers (100) into a bundled package; a plurality of parallel transfer channels (33), which are configured to convey the containers (100) along parallel paths to the bundling device (34); and a distribution system (32), which is configured to distribute the containers (100) onto the transfer channels (33), preferably singly.

10. A method for filling, closing and packaging containers (100), preferably in a beverage filling facility, the method comprising: introducing a main component and at least one secondary component of the filling product into the container (100), wherein at least one container characteristic of the container (100) to be filled is determined before introducing the secondary component and one or more secondary components are selected according to the so-determined container characteristics and introduced into the corresponding container (100); closing the container (100) filled with the filling product with a respective container closure; and combining and packaging the filled and closed containers (100) into a bundled package, preferably a mixed bundled package.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The method is carried out by means of a facility according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The main component of the filling product is water, and the secondary components comprise syrup and / or jam and / or fruit pieces and / or flavorings and / or additives.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The container (100) is a beverage can.

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