Device and method for treating containers

Abstract

Device (1) for treating containers (B), comprising at least one treatment machine (M) of rotating design with at least one rotor (2) which can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA) and which has a plurality of treatment stations (5, 6) arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor (2) and distributed in a plurality of treatment circuits (3, 4), wherein the rotor (2) has at least one first outer treatment circuit (3) and a second inner treatment circuit (4) arranged concentrically thereto, wherein the device (1) comprises, for each treatment circuit (3, 4), respective associated transfer devices (7, 8, 9, 10) for feeding and removing the containers (B) to and from the respective treatment circuit (3, 4), characterized in that each treatment station (5, 6) of the treatment circuits (3, 4) has a container carrier (11, 12) which rotates with the rotor (2) and for receiving a container (B) in a suspended manner, and in that at least the container carriers (11) of the first,outer treatment circuit (3) are designed to be height-adjustable and can be raised from a transfer level (N1) provided for the container transfer to a transition level (N2) raised thereto during the rotational movement of the rotor (2) in a controlled manner in order to travel over the transfer devices (8, 10) belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit (4) without collision during the rotational movement of the rotor (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for treating containers, preferably plastic containers, such as PET bottles. In particular, the invention is directed to a device and a method for treating the containers using so-called "neck handling."

[0002] The invention relates, for example, to devices for container treatment in container treatment plants in the beverage industry, which can also be referred to as beverage filling plants or filling lines. In particular, the present invention is directed to container treatment devices or container treatment machines with high efficiency and productivity, which allow for treatment, especially filling, at high output.

[0003] Container processing systems of this type generally comprise several container processing machines with different functions, particularly those that interact in sequence, via which the necessary sequential process steps during filling are carried out. The core of such container processing systems often consists of machines for filling the containers, namely so-called filling machines or fillers, and subsequent machines for closing the containers, so-called closers. As is known, further, different container processing machines can be provided as additional system components, for example, arranged upstream of the filler or downstream of the closer. The present invention also relates to such devices.

[0004] Such container processing machines, especially filling machines, are usually rotating or rotary machines of a revolving design that rotate at high speeds due to their high performance. Container processing machines typically have a multitude of processing stations or positions arranged around the machine, particularly on a rotor, where the respective containers are held for the duration of the processing and moved along with the rotor during the processing.

[0005] Since the fundamental goal of production plants is to operate highly efficiently, there are also efforts to increase the efficiency of container processing devices in container processing and beverage filling plants. For example, it is known from the prior art to design rotating container processing machines with multiple rows to increase capacity and to provide the accompanying processing stations in several rows on a machine rotor. For example, DE 10 2005 032 175 A1 discloses such a multi-row container processing machine.

[0006] However, the increase in capacity in such multi-row container handling machines, known from the prior art, often comes at the expense of system flexibility, partly because these machines are not compatible with conventional container loading and unloading systems. Therefore, there is a continued need for container handling systems that can be operated in an improved manner with the desired high performance and greater efficiency.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a device for treating containers which allows for increased efficiency in container treatment with a structurally simple design.

[0008] This object is achieved by a device for treating containers according to the features of independent claim 1. Furthermore, a method according to the features of independent claim 16 is proposed to achieve this object. The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

[0009] The present invention provides a device for treating containers. The device comprises at least one treatment machine of a rotating design with at least one rotor that can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis and has a plurality of treatment stations arranged in multiple rows around the circumference of the rotor and distributed in several treatment circuits. The rotor has at least one first outer treatment circuit and a second inner treatment circuit arranged concentrically therewith. The device comprises, for each treatment circuit, respective, assigned transfer devices for feeding and removing the containers to and from the respective treatment circuit. According to the invention, each treatment station of the treatment circuits has a container carrier that rotates with the rotor and for receiving a container in a suspended manner.At least the container carriers of the first, outer treatment circuit are designed to be height-adjustable, in such a way that the container carriers of the first, outer treatment circuit can be raised in a controlled manner during the rotational movement of the rotor from a transfer level provided for the container transfer to a transition level raised therefor in order to travel over the transfer devices belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit without collision during the rotational movement of the rotor.

[0010] The transfer level in this case is understood to mean the height of the container carriers or a level or height level which corresponds to the level or height level at which the containers are fed into and fed from the rotor, namely to and from the treatment circuits, by means of the transfer devices. The transfer level can therefore also be referred to as the handover level and coincides with a substantially horizontal plane, in particular the takeover plane, which is defined by the container carriers when they are ready to receive the containers or to receive the containers from the transfer devices. Since the container carriers are designed to receive or carry the containers in a suspended manner, the said takeover plane is at the height of an upper region of the held or carried containers, in particular a neck section of the containers.of a container neck and cuts the carried containers in their neck section.

[0011] In the present device, the treatment circuits are preferably arranged at the same vertical height of the rotor and are therefore essentially on a common horizontal plane, so that the treatment level is the same for all treatment circuits. Accordingly, the treatment circuits have, for example, different diameters or radii. This can potentially mean that the number of treatment stations per treatment circuit can differ. It is also conceivable for the respective treatment circuits to have different pitches or pitch spacings, wherein pitch or pitch spacing is to be understood as a relative distance between the treatment stations, in particular between the container carriers gripping or carrying the containers, and essentially corresponds to an angular distance between the treatment stations belonging to a respective treatment circuit.Depending on the selected angular distance between the treatment stations, their number per treatment circle can be the same or different, even if the diameters or radii of the treatment circles differ.

[0012] In the present case, “container carriers for hanging up” the containers are understood to mean that each container carrier is designed such that it grips or holds the containers in an upper container section or region, so that a bottom of the container is free and the containers are preferably held without any base support. The container carriers are designed, for example, for hanging up bottle-like containers, in particular bottles, such as plastic bottles, for example PET bottles, wherein the container carriers grip the bottles in their neck region, in particular picking them up and holding them at the bottle neck. In particular, the container carriers for hanging up the containers are therefore designed for so-called neck handling.

[0013] The height-adjustable container supports are movable in their vertical height, i.e., their height can be adjusted by means of a movement or adjustment in the direction of the machine axis. In particular, the position of the container supports can only be changed in the vertical direction. This means that the container supports can only be changed in their vertical height by means of height adjustment or height movement. This means, in particular, that the respective position of the individual container supports is fixed and unchangeable with respect to the circumferential direction of the rotor. Likewise, the position of the individual container supports is fixed and unchangeable, particularly in the radial direction of the rotor.

[0014] "Transfer devices" preferably refer to devices that are particularly designed for neck handling and serve to supply and remove containers to and from the treatment circuits. The transfer devices can also be understood as transfer devices or transferring devices. For example, all transfer devices are arranged at the same height level, in particular at the transfer level. In this case, this also means that the corresponding holding or supporting elements of the transfer devices, which are intended to support the containers, are arranged on a common level corresponding to the receiving level, namely at the transfer level.

[0015] The device according to the invention offers the particular advantage of achieving higher performance with reduced machine complexity and space requirements. Furthermore, the device can be integrated into existing production lines with exceptional ease, as both the treatment machine and the transfer devices are highly compatible with existing machine components of conventional container treatment systems. Furthermore, the device according to the invention offers the advantage of increased flexibility, particularly increased system flexibility.

[0016] Each treatment circuit can be considered a treatment line or partial treatment line, whereby in the present device, each treatment line can be independently supplied or equipped with containers, which creates further special advantages because the treatment lines can produce both in parallel and separately / individually. A further advantage is that, due to the independence of the treatment lines, different treatments can be carried out in the respective treatment circuits, or, for example, different container sizes or formats can be treated simultaneously in a single device, namely one format in each treatment circuit.

[0017] Another advantage of the present device is that, compared to conventional container processing devices, more processing stations can be arranged and placed within the same footprint, i.e., the same area or space requirements within a plant's hall. This results in a capacity increase of more than 70% compared to conventional, single-row processing machines, for example.

[0018] The container carriers of the treatment stations are preferably formed by container grippers or container clamps, which are designed to hold a neck portion of the containers, in particular to support the containers by their neck ring. Each container carrier is thus preferably a so-called neck ring holder for neck handling of bottles, in particular PET bottles. In this way, the present device can be advantageously and easily integrated into beverage filling systems that operate according to the neck handling principle.

[0019] Furthermore, the device preferably provides a control device which is in particular communicatively connected to the container carriers, wherein each container carrier of the first, outer treatment circuit can be individually controlled by means of the control device and can thus be raised in a controlled manner from the transfer level to the raised transition level during the rotational movement.

[0020] The container carriers can be raised, for example, via a control cam, preferably via a stationary control cam. Alternatively, linear drives rotating with the rotor can be provided for raising / lowering the container carriers, with a separate linear drive being provided for individually controlled height adjustment for each container carrier of the first, outer treatment circuit. It is understood that corresponding, controllable lifting elements, for example, lifting cylinders, can be provided for lifting the container carriers. In particular, each container carrier is equipped with a lifting element or lifting cylinder and can thus be individually controlled in height.

[0021] For example, a rotation angle range can also be set at which the container carriers are raised, i.e. the container carriers can be raised in a controlled manner and kept in the raised state over an adjustable rotation angle range during the rotation of the rotor.

[0022] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the transfer devices for feeding and removing the containers are each designed as transfer stars. Separate transfer stars are provided for each treatment circuit, namely a separate first transfer star serving as the feed star and a separate second transfer star serving as the discharge star. Transfer stars are particularly suitable for neck handling and enable particularly efficient container transfer.

[0023] In these embodiments with transfer stars, the feed stars of the treatment circuits are particularly preferably arranged in an inlet area of ​​the treatment machine, and the discharge stars of the treatment circuits are arranged in an outlet area of ​​the treatment machine. Preferably, the inlet area and the outlet area together extend over at most one-third of the circumference of the rotor. In particular, in these embodiments, the feed star and the discharge star of the second, inner treatment circuit are arranged directly adjacent to each other with respect to the circumference of the rotor and between the feed star and the discharge star of the first outer treatment circuit.

[0024] In these advantageous design variants, only a single lifting process is required for each container carrier per rotation of the rotor in order to pass over both the feed star and the discharge star without collision.

[0025] Advantageously, the transfer devices are designed in such a way that for all treatment circuits the supply and removal of the containers takes place at the transfer level intended for the container transfer and thus at the same height.

[0026] Preferably, an active treatment rotation angle range of the second, inner treatment circle is greater than an active treatment rotation angle range of the first, outer treatment circle.

[0027] The “active treatment rotation angle range” in this case is understood to mean in particular the range that lies on a movement path of the containers around the circumference of the rotor during its rotation between the associated transfer units, namely the range that extends from the inlet on the associated feed star to the outlet on the associated discharge star. The respective active treatment rotation angle ranges of the outer and inner treatment circuits can differ. For example, the active treatment rotation angle range on the inner treatment circuit can extend over at least 300°, preferably over at least 320°, for example over 329°. The active treatment rotation angle range on the outer treatment circuit can correspondingly extend over a smaller active treatment rotation angle range relative to the inner treatment circuit, for example over at least 270°, preferably over at least 280°, for example over 288°.

[0028] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one further treatment circuit is provided in addition to the first, outer, and second, inner treatment circuits, wherein the further treatment circuit, in particular each further treatment circuit, is assigned its own transfer devices for supplying and removing the containers. This advantageously further increases efficiency, and the treatment circuits, namely treatment lines, can be used particularly flexibly, either individually or in various combinations, in the treatment or production process.

[0029] Preferably, the rotor of the treatment machine comprises a plurality of rotor elements, each with associated treatment stations, wherein one of the rotor elements with its treatment stations forms the first, outer treatment circuit, and another of the rotor elements forms the second, inner treatment circuit. The rotor elements are particularly designed for independent operation, such that the treatment circuits can be operated independently of one another. The possibility of independent operation particularly advantageously increases the flexibility of the device and its applicability to a wide variety of treatments and process sequences.

[0030] In these preferred embodiments with multiple rotor elements, separate drive units are preferably provided for the rotating drive of the multiple rotor elements, wherein the rotor elements are in particular rotatable in opposite directions to one another. The rotation of the rotor elements can thus take place in opposite directions of rotation, in particular at respective rotational speeds that can be the same or different from one another. Alternatively, the multiple rotor elements designed for independent operation can also be rotatable in the same direction of rotation, in particular in the same direction of rotation, for example, at the same rotational speed or at different rotational speeds. Furthermore, alternatively, a common drive unit can also be provided for the multiple rotor elements.

[0031] Particularly preferably, the treatment stations of at least one rotor element are different from the treatment stations of the remaining rotor elements, so that the rotor elements are designed for different container treatments. This advantageously allows several different container treatments to be carried out with a single device, further increasing the efficiency and flexibility of the device. Furthermore, this advantageously allows different treatments to be carried out in a single system with the smallest possible space requirement and a small footprint.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container supports of the second, inner treatment circuit are also designed to be height-adjustable in a controlled manner; in particular, in the case of embodiments with more than two treatment circuits, all container supports of all treatment circuits can be designed to be height-adjustable in a controlled manner.

[0033] Preferably, at least one of the treatment circuits is a filling circuit, the treatment stations of which are designed as filling stations for filling the containers with a liquid filling material. Preferably, at least one closing device is also provided downstream of the filling circuit. In these embodiments, each of the filling stations preferably comprises a filling device, which in this case can also be referred to as a filling element or filling valve.

[0034] In these preferred embodiments, the filler circuit can particularly preferably be designed for free jet filling or pressure filling.

[0035] Advantages also arise from the fact that the container carriers on the rotor are designed to be movable in a controlled manner such that the suspended containers can be delivered to a treatment element of the respective treatment station by means of the container carriers via a delivery movement and can be brought into contact and / or sealing position with the treatment element. In particular in the case of a treatment circuit designed as a filling circuit, for example, the container carriers can be moved towards the filling element or filling element via the delivery movement and can preferably be pressed against it, which advantageously enables pressure filling. Alternatively or additionally, however, it can also be provided that the filling element or filling element can be delivered in a vertical direction and can thus be brought into a sealing position against a container mouth.

[0036] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a blow molding device, in particular a stretch blow molding machine, arranged upstream of the treatment machine for producing the containers from preforms, as well as a distribution device arranged between the blow molding device and the treatment machine for distributing the containers coming from the blow molding device to the first and second treatment circuits, in particular to the transfer devices of the first and second treatment circuits. In this preferred embodiment, a block-type solution can advantageously be implemented.

[0037] With the present device, as described above in various exemplary embodiments, it is advantageously possible for each container to pass through only one treatment circuit or for each container to pass through two or more treatment circuits. For example, each container can first pass through one treatment circuit and then, for example, in the opposite direction of rotation, the other or a further treatment circuit, with the containers being transferred from one treatment circuit to the next.

[0038] For example, both or more treatment circuits can be designed as filling circuits, enabling two- or multi-stage filling. It is understood that if the treatment circuits are designed differently, i.e., if the individual treatment circuits have different treatment stations, different, consecutive treatments can also be carried out in the successively passed through treatment circuits, so that several stages of the entire treatment process take place in the multiple treatment circuits. For example, one or more stationary treatment stations, in particular a labeling or inspection station, can be provided adjacent to the outer and / or inner treatment circuit.

[0039] The present invention also provides a method for treating containers. The method for treating the containers is carried out by means of a treatment machine of a rotating design, wherein the treatment machine is equipped with a rotatingly driven rotor and treatment stations arranged around the rotor in at least one first, outer treatment circuit and a second, inner treatment circuit concentric therewith. In the method, the containers are fed to the treatment circuits for treatment by means of respective transfer devices assigned to the treatment circuits and, for this purpose, transferred at a transfer level provided for the container transfer to respective container carriers rotating with the rotor for hanging reception of the containers. The containers are then removed again after the treatment, which takes place on a partial circle during the rotational movement of the rotor.According to the invention, at least the container carriers of the first, outer treatment circuit are moved in a controlled manner in height during the rotational movement of the rotor and are raised from the transfer level to a transition level which is higher thereto, so that during the rotational movement of the rotor the transfer devices belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit are traversed by the container carriers of the first, outer treatment circuit without collision.

[0040] The method according to the invention preferably utilizes the above-described treatment machine or the above-described device comprising the treatment machine. All of the above-mentioned features and advantages of the device according to the invention, in particular also its preferred embodiments, can also relate to the method.

[0041] Preferably, the container carriers of the first, outer treatment circuit are lowered again in a controlled manner to the transfer level after passing over the transfer devices belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit and are thus made available for receiving the containers at the transfer level.

[0042] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a roughly schematic overview of a variant of a device for treating containers in plan view; Fig. 2 shows a roughly schematic and highly simplified representation of a section of the device according to Fig. 1 in the inlet area, namely in the area of ​​a second transfer point of the second, inner treatment circuit; Fig. 3 shows a roughly schematic and highly simplified representation of a section of the device according to Fig. 1 in the inlet area, namely in the area of ​​a first transfer point of the first, outer treatment circuit; Fig. 4 shows, by way of example and using a simplified graphic diagram, the height adjustment of the container carriers during one revolution of the rotor and Fig. 5 to 8 each show, on the basis of a roughly schematic overview in plan view, further embodiments of the device for treating containers;

[0043] Identical reference numerals are used in the figures for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. Furthermore, the invention is shown in the figures only as a schematic view to explain its operation. In particular, the representations in the figures serve only to explain the basic principle of the invention. For reasons of clarity, all components of the device have been omitted.

[0044] Fig. 1 shows, based on a roughly schematic and highly simplified overview in plan view, a variant of a device 1 for treating containers B, in particular bottles, such as plastic bottles, in particular PET bottles. Fig. The device 1 sketched by way of example in Figure 1 comprises a rotating treatment machine M with a rotor 2 that can be driven to rotate around a vertical machine axis MA or rotate in a direction of rotation R. A plurality of treatment stations 5, 6 are provided on the rotor 2 of the treatment machine M, which are arranged distributed around the circumference of the rotor in two treatment circuits 3, 4. In the example shown, the rotor 2 comprises a first outer treatment circuit 3 with its treatment stations 5 and a second, inner treatment circuit 4 with its treatment stations 6 arranged concentrically thereto.

[0045] Solely for reasons of simplified presentation and clarity, the Fig. 1 only shows a very small number of the plurality of treatment stations 5, 6 of the first and second treatment circuits 3, 4, each with a container B accommodated. It is understood that this is only a simplified graphic representation, but in reality the treatment stations 5, 6 are provided all around the circumference of the rotor 2 and are evenly distributed over its entire circumference.

[0046] In the example shown, the Fig. 1, the treatment machine M is a filling machine, which can also be referred to as a filler. In the exemplary filler, both treatment circuits 3, 4 are formed by respective filler circuits, whose treatment stations 5, 6 are in turn each designed as filling stations for filling the containers B with a liquid filling material, in particular with a beverage, and for this purpose each have a filling element as a treatment element, which can also be referred to as a filling element or filling valve.

[0047] For each of the treatment circuits 3, 4, the device 1 comprises respective transfer devices 7, 8, 9, 10 assigned to the treatment circuits 3, 4 for supplying and removing the containers B to and from the respective treatment circuit 3, 4. The transfer devices 7, 8, 9, 10 for supplying and removing the containers B are shown in the example of Fig. 1 are each designed as transfer stars, with separate transfer stars being provided for each treatment circuit 3, 4. Namely, the first, outer treatment circuit 3 is assigned its own first transfer star, serving as the feed star 7, and a separate second transfer star, serving as the discharge guide star 9. Similarly, the second, inner treatment circuit 4 is assigned its own first transfer star, serving as the feed star 8, and a separate second transfer star, serving as the discharge guide star 10.

[0048] The transfer stars 7, 8, 9, 10 are designed in such a way that for both treatment circuits 3, 4 the supply and removal of the containers B takes place at a transfer level N1 (in Fig. 1 not visible, see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) and thus at the same altitude. As can be seen from the Fig. 1, a respective diameter of the feed and discharge stars 8, 10 of the second, inner treatment circuit 4 is enlarged compared to a respective diameter of the feed and discharge stars 7, 9 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3.

[0049] The feed stars 7, 8 of the treatment circuits 3, 4 are arranged in an inlet area 15 of the filling machine M and the discharge stars 9, 10 of the treatment circuits 3, 4 are arranged in an outlet area 16 of the filling machine M. Relative to the circumference of the rotor 2, in particular to an imaginary circle or circumferential line of the rotor 2, the inlet and outlet areas 15, 16 of the filling machine M are arranged adjacent to one another and preferably extend within a region of a third of a circle or quarter of a circle, in particular along or within a section of the rotor circumference with a center angle of less than 120°. In the example of the Fig. 1, the adjacent inlet and outlet areas 15, 16 occupy a section of the rotor circumference with a center angle of approximately 80° to 90°.

[0050] The feed starwheel 8 and the discharge starwheel 10 of the second, inner treatment circuit 4 are directly adjacent to each other with respect to the circumference of the rotor 2 and are arranged between the feed starwheel 7 and the discharge starwheel 9 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3. A respective imaginary circumferential line or circular path of the feed starwheel 8 and the discharge starwheel 10 intersects with the imaginary circumferential line or circular path of the rotor 2, namely with the circumferential line or circular path of the first, outer treatment circuit 3. In other words, the feed starwheel 7 and the discharge starwheel 9 overlap with the first, outer treatment circuit 3.

[0051] The treatment of the containers B takes place in the device 1 in a so-called “neck handling”, in which the containers B are held hanging for transport and treatment or during transport and treatment and for this purpose are held in their neck area, in particular via a neck ring 24 (cf. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) known flange section in the neck area, and are held hanging in this way.

[0052] For this purpose, each of the treatment stations 5, 6 of the two treatment circuits 3, 4 has a container carrier 11, 12 rotating with the rotor 2 (in Fig. 1 not visible, see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) for the suspended reception of a container B. The container carriers 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 as well as the container carriers 12 of the second inner treatment circuit 4 are formed, for example, by container grippers or container clamps, which are designed to hold the neck section of the containers B, in particular to hold the containers B at their neck ring 24 in neck handling.

[0053] At least the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 are designed to be height-adjustable and can be raised from the transfer level N1 provided for the container transfer to a higher transition level N2 during the rotational movement of the rotor 2 in the direction of rotation R in order to travel over the transfer devices 8, 10 belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit 4 without collision during the rotational movement of the rotor.

[0054] The controlled lifting of the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3, carried out to avoid collisions, takes place within the inlet and outlet areas 15, 16 of the filling machine M, in particular at least in the area or section in which the transfer starwheels 8, 10 of the second, inner treatment circuit 4 are located. Relative to the rotational movement of the rotor 2, the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 can thus be raised over a specific, preferably adjustable, rotation angle range ω during the rotational movement, wherein the rotation angle range ω, in which the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 are raised to the transition level N2, is selected at least such that the projected, imaginary intersection surfaces between the transfer starwheels 8, 10 and the first, outer treatment circuit 3 lie entirely within the rotation angle range ω.

[0055] With reference also to the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the controlled lifting of the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 to avoid collisions is explained in more detail.

[0056] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each show in a roughly schematic and highly simplified representation a respective section of the device 1 according to Fig. 1 in the inlet area 15 of the filling machine M. Fig. 2 the condition in the area of ​​a transfer point for the transfer of the containers B to the second, inner treatment circuit 4, which transfer point is also understood as the takeover point 13 of the second, inner treatment circuit 4. Fig. 3 in turn shows the state in the area of ​​a transfer point for the transfer of the containers B to the first, outer treatment circuit 3, which transfer point is also understood as the takeover point 17 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3.

[0057] As the Fig. 2, the feed star 8 of the second, inner treatment circuit 4 for transferring the containers B to the second, inner treatment circuit 4 is arranged below the rotor 2, overlapping therewith, such that the containers B can be transferred at the transfer level N1 by correspondingly provided support or holding elements of the feed star 8 to the container carriers 12 of the second, inner treatment circuit 4. The feed star 8 and the containers B held suspended by the support or holding elements of the feed star 8 are thus moved or guided in the overlap area below the first, outer treatment circuit 3.

[0058] To ensure this collision-free operation, the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 are raised to the transition level N2 in this overlapping area by means of a height adjustment movement Vh, which can also be referred to as an adjustment movement or lifting movement. In this raised position of the container carriers 11, the containers B suspended from the feed star 8 can pass unhindered beneath the container carriers 11.

[0059] The Fig. 3 shows the state of a transfer of containers B from the feed star 7 to the first, outer treatment circuit 3. In this transfer area, which lies outside the rotation angle range ω for traveling over the transfer stars 8, 10, the container carriers 11 of the first, outer treatment circuit 3 are lowered again by means of a lowering movement starting from the transition level N2 to the transfer level N1, in which the transfer of the containers B from the feed star 7 to the container carriers 11 takes place.

[0060] In Fig. 4, the height adjustment or height displacement of the container supports 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 in the course of one revolution of the rotor 2 during its rotational movement is schematically shown using a simplified graphic diagram.

[0061] One in the Fig. 4 The rotational position designated α-0, which can also be understood as the starting position or zero position of a respective revolution, is defined in the example as the start and end position of a full revolution of the rotor and can therefore also be designated as an angular position 0° or 360°. The rotational position α-0 is in the example of the Fig. 4 is located between the inlet area 15 and the outlet area 16 of the filler M and is thus located approximately centrally within the rotation angle range ω, in which the container carriers 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 are raised to the transition level N2 in order to travel over the transfer stars 8, 10 without collision. Each container carrier 11 is located in the rotation position α-0 on the raised transition level N2, as can be seen from the graphic representation of the Fig. 4.

[0062] When the rotor 2 rotates in the direction of rotation R, the container carriers 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 are lowered to the transfer level N1 at the rotational position α-1 located in the inlet area 15, at which the container carriers 11 have already crossed the transfer star 8, where they can pick up the containers B at the transfer point or takeover point 13. At the same height, namely at the transfer level N1, the container carriers 11 with the containers B suspended from them are moved further over the active treatment rotation angle range and the containers B are treated during this time.

[0063] After the containers B have been transferred from the container carriers 11 to the transfer star 9 at a transfer point serving as the transfer point of the first, outer treatment circuit 3, the container carriers 11 of the first outer treatment circuit 3 are raised to the transition level N2 in the outlet area 16 at the rotation position α-2 in order to drive over or cross the transfer stars 8, 10 without collision.

[0064] The container carriers 12 of the second inner treatment circuit 4 are located, for example, at the transfer level N1 over the entire rotation of the rotor 2 and can, for example, also be designed as rigid, i.e., height-non-adjustable, container carriers 12. At the rotational position α-1, the container carriers 12 of the second inner treatment circuit 4 are already loaded and each have a container B suspended therefrom. Correspondingly, the container carriers 12 of the second inner treatment circuit 4 are free or empty at the rotational position α-2, since the containers B are transferred to the transfer star 9 before the rotational position α-2 in the direction of rotation R, namely at the transfer point of the first, outer treatment circuit 3.

[0065] The Fig. 5 to 8 each show further embodiments of the present device 1 using roughly schematic and highly simplified overview representations in plan view.

[0066] In the version according to Fig. 5, the rotor 2 of the treatment machine M, designed as a filling machine, comprises two rotor elements 2a, 2b, each with associated treatment stations 5, 6, wherein the rotor elements 2a, 2b are designed in particular for independent operation. Each of the rotor elements 2a, 2b forms a treatment circuit 3, 4, namely the rotor element 2a forms the first outer treatment circuit 3, and the rotor element 2b, arranged concentrically to the rotor element 2a, forms the second inner treatment circuit 3.

[0067] In the example of Fig. 5, a separate drive unit (not shown in the figure) is provided for each rotor element 2a, 2b for its rotating drive, so that the two rotor elements 2a, 2b and thus, of course, also the two treatment circuits 3, 4, can be driven and operated independently of each other. The rotor elements 2a, 2b and the treatment circuits 3, 4 are in the example according to Fig. 5 are rotatable in opposite directions to each other or rotate in opposite directions to each other. The rotor element 2a rotates in a rotation direction R1 around the machine axis MA, and the rotor element 2b rotates in an opposite rotation direction R2, i.e., the containers B treated in the first outer treatment circuit 3 and those treated in the second inner treatment circuit 4 encounter each other during their rotation around the machine axis MA.

[0068] At the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, in particular, both treatment circuits 3, 4 are each designed as a filler circuit and are accordingly equipped with filling stations as treatment stations 5, 6. The device 1 is designed for a two-stage filling process in which the containers B pass through both treatment circuits 3, 4 for their filling and are filled, for example, in the first treatment circuit 3 with a first filling material component or with a first filling material quantity and are then filled in the second treatment circuit 4 with a second filling material component or a second filling material quantity.

[0069] For this operating mode, the containers B must be transferred from the first treatment circuit 3 to the second treatment circuit 4 after their respective treatment, which is why in the device 1 according to Fig. 5 additional transport elements, in particular transport stars 14, 14' for transferring or redirecting and / or distributing the containers B in the desired manner are provided. As can be seen from the Fig. 5, in such an embodiment the relative arrangement of the transfer stars 7, 8, 9, 10 to each other can deviate from the arrangement as shown for the example according to Fig. 1. Compared to the version of the Fig. 1 are in the device 1 of the Fig. 5 the transfer stars 8, 10 of the second inner treatment circle 4 are essentially swapped positions with each other.

[0070] It is understood that in a Fig. 5, a treatment machine M that is different from a filling machine can also be provided, and that the individual treatment circuits 3, 4 can of course also differ in their respective functions, in particular such that, for example, different treatments can be carried out in the individual treatment circuits 3, 4. Of course, it is alternatively also possible for the containers B to first be fed to the second, inner treatment circuit 4 for their treatment and to be treated there first, and then subsequently transferred to the first outer treatment circuit 3 for treatment there.

[0071] Fig. 6 shows, for example, an embodiment of the device 1 in which the containers B are first fed via the feed star 8 to the second, inner treatment circuit 4, designed as a filler circuit, and are filled there during the circulating rotational movement in the direction of rotation R2. The containers B are then transferred via the discharge star 10 and a further transport star 14 to a closer 18, which in turn feeds the closed containers B via the feed star 7 to the first, outer treatment circuit 3 and moves them in the opposite direction of rotation R1. Adjacent to the first, outer treatment circuit 3, further stationary treatment devices 19 are provided, for example labeling units and / or inspection devices, past which the containers B are guided during the circulation on the first, outer treatment circuit 3 and are subjected to the corresponding treatment (e.g. labeling or inspection).

[0072] Fig. Figure 7 illustrates a variant in which both treatment circuits 3, 4 are designed as filling circuits and have the same direction of rotation R, and in which each container B passes through only one of the treatment circuits 3, 4 for filling with filling material. After filling on one of the treatment circuits 3, 4, the filled containers B are transferred via the respective transfer stars 9, 10 associated with the treatment circuits 3, 4 to a closing machine 18, which is also designed as a double-row closure machine and has an outer and inner closing circuit. Instead of such a double-row closure machine 18, it would be possible to use two separate closing machines, each with only one closing circuit, for closing the containers B.In such a case, one of the two closing machines would be used to close the containers B coming from the outer treatment circuit 3 and the other closing machine would be used to close the containers B coming from the inner treatment circuit 4.

[0073] The containers B filled in the first, outer filler circuit 3 are thus fed to the outer sealer circuit via the transfer star 9 and sealed there. Similarly, the containers B filled in the second, inner filler circuit 4 are fed to the inner sealer circuit via the transfer star 10 and sealed there.

[0074] A further variant of the device 1 forms a blocked system and is in the Fig.8. The device 1 here comprises, upstream of the treatment machine M, which is again designed as a filler, a blow molding machine 20 for producing the containers B from preforms by stretch blow molding. The preforms are fed to the blow molding machine 20 by means of a feed 23. Downstream of the blow molding machine 20, between the blow molding machine 20 and the treatment machine M, there is a distribution system with at least one distribution star 21 and transfer stars 22, 22', via which the finished containers B are fed or allocated to the feed stars 7, 8 of the treatment machine M after stretch blow molding, from where they are transferred to the two treatment circuits 3, 4 of the treatment machine M.Optionally, in the case of the blocked system, a labelling machine for labelling the containers B to be filled can be provided between the blow moulding machine 20 and the treatment machine M designed as a filler, in particular upstream of said distribution system. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 rotors 2a, 2b rotor elements 3, 4 treatment circles 5, 6 treatment stations 7, 8 Transfer devices, feed stars 9, 10 Transfer devices, discharge stars 11, 12 container carriers 13 Transfer point 14, 14' transport stars 15 Inlet area 16 Run-off area 17 Transfer point 18 sealing machine 19 inpatient treatment facilities 20 blow molding machine 21 distribution star 22, 22' transfer stars 23 Feed 24 Neckring B container M treatment machine MA machine axis N1 transfer level N2 transition level R, R1, R2 direction of rotation Vh height travel movement α-0, α-1, α-2 rotation positions ω rotation angle range

Claims

[1] Device (1) for treating containers (B), comprising at least one treatment machine (M) of rotating design with at least one rotor (2) which can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA) and which has a plurality of treatment stations (5, 6) arranged in multiple rows on the circumference of the rotor (2) in a plurality of treatment circuits (3, 4), wherein the rotor (2) has at least one first outer treatment circuit (3) and a second inner treatment circuit (4) arranged concentrically thereto, wherein the device (1) comprises for each treatment circuit (3, 4) respective associated transfer devices (7, 8, 9, 10) for feeding and removing the containers (B) to and from the respective treatment circuit (3, 4), characterized bythat each treatment station (5, 6) of the treatment circuits (3, 4) has a container carrier (11, 12) which rotates with the rotor (2) and is used to hold a container (B) in a suspended manner, and that at least the container carriers (11) of the first, outer treatment circuit (3) are designed to be height-adjustable and, during the rotational movement of the rotor (2), can be raised in a controlled manner from a transfer level (N1) provided for the container transfer to a transition level (N2) which is higher than that in order to travel over the transfer devices (8, 10) belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit (4) without collision during the rotational movement of the rotor (2). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the container carriers (11, 12) of the treatment stations (5, 6) are formed by container grippers or container clamps which are designed to hold a neck section of the containers (B), in particular to hold the containers (B) on their neck ring (24). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that a control device is provided, wherein each container carrier (11) of the first, outer treatment circuit (3) can be controlled individually by means of the control device and can thus be raised in a controlled manner from the transfer level (N1) to the raised transition level (N2) during the rotational movement. [4] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transfer devices (7, 8, 9, 10) for feeding and removing the containers (B) are each designed as transfer stars, wherein separate transfer stars (7, 8, 9, 10) are provided for each treatment circuit (3, 4), namely a separate first transfer star serving as a feed star (7, 8) and a separate second transfer star serving as a discharge guide star (9, 10). [5] Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized byin that the feed star wheels (7, 8) of the treatment circuits (3, 4) are arranged in an inlet region (15) of the treatment machine (M) and the discharge star wheels (9, 10) of the treatment circuits (3, 4) are arranged in an outlet region (16) of the treatment machine (M), wherein the inlet region (15) and the outlet region (16) together preferably extend over at most one third of the circumference of the rotor (2) and wherein in particular the feed star wheel (8) and the discharge star wheel (10) of the second, inner treatment circuit (4) are arranged directly adjacent to one another with respect to the circumference of the rotor (2) and are arranged between the feed star wheel (7) and the discharge star wheel (9) of the first outer treatment circuit (3). [6] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the transfer devices (7, 8, 9, 10) are designed in such a way that for all treatment circuits (3, 4) the supply and removal of the containers (B) takes place at the transfer level (N1) provided for the container transfer and thus at the same height. [7] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an active treatment rotation angle range of the second, inner treatment circuit (4) is greater than an active treatment rotation angle range of the first, outer treatment circuit (3). [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in addition to the first, outer and the second, inner treatment circuit (3, 4), at least one further treatment circuit is provided, each further treatment circuit being assigned its own transfer devices for supplying and removing the containers (B). [9] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the rotor (2) of the treatment machine (M) comprises a plurality of rotor elements (2a, 2b) each with associated treatment stations (5, 6), wherein one of the rotor elements (2a) with its treatment stations (5) forms the first, outer treatment circuit (3) and another of the rotor elements (2b) forms the second, inner treatment circuit (4) with its treatment stations (6), and wherein the rotor elements (2a, 2b) are designed in particular for independent operation, such that the treatment circuits (3, 4) can be operated independently of one another. [10] Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized by that separate drive units are provided for the rotating drive of the plurality of rotor elements (2a, 2b), wherein the rotor elements (2a, 2b) are preferably rotatable in opposite directions to one another. [11] Device (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized bythat the treatment stations (5, 6) of at least one rotor element (2a, 2b) are different from the treatment stations (5, 6) of the remaining rotor elements (2a, 2b), so that the rotor elements (2a, 2b) are designed for different container treatments. [12] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the container supports (11, 12) of all treatment circuits (3, 4) are designed to be height-adjustable in a controlled manner. [13] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the treatment circuits (3, 4) is a filling circuit, the treatment stations (5, 6) of which are designed as filling stations for filling the containers (B) with a liquid filling material, wherein preferably at least one closing device (18) is also provided downstream of the filling circuit. [14] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the container carriers (11, 12) on the rotor (2) are designed to be movable in a controlled manner such that the suspended containers (B) can be delivered to a treatment element of the respective treatment station (5, 6) by means of the container carriers (11, 12) via a delivery movement and can be brought into contact and / or sealing position with the treatment element. [15] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising a blow-molding machine (20), in particular a stretch blow-molding machine, arranged upstream of the treatment machine (M) for producing the containers (B) from preforms and a distribution device arranged between the blow-molding machine (20) and the treatment machine (M) for distributing the containers (B) coming from the blow-molding machine (20) to the first and second treatment circuits (3, 4), in particular to the transfer devices (7, 8) of the first and second treatment circuits (3, 4). [16] Method for treating containers (B) by means of a treatment machine (M) of rotating design with a rotatingly driven rotor (2) and treatment stations (5, 6) arranged around the circumference of the rotor in at least one first, outer treatment circuit (3) and a second, inner treatment circuit (4) concentric therewith, wherein in the method the containers (B) are fed to the treatment circuits (3, 4) for treatment by means of respective transfer devices (7, 8) assigned to the treatment circuits (3, 4) and, for this purpose, are transferred at a transfer level (N1) provided for the container transfer to respective container carriers (11, 12) rotating with the rotor (2) for suspended reception of the containers (B), and wherein the containers (B) are removed again after the treatment taking place on a partial circle during the rotational movement of the rotor (2), characterized bythat at least the container carriers (11) of the first, outer treatment circuit (3) are moved in a controlled manner in height during the rotational movement of the rotor (2) and are raised from the transfer level (N1) to a transition level (N2) which is higher thereto, so that during the rotational movement of the rotor (2) the transfer devices (8, 10) belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit (4) are passed over by the container carriers (11) of the first, outer treatment circuit (3) without collision. [17] Method according to claim 16, characterized by that the container carriers (11) of the first, outer treatment circuit (3) are lowered again in a controlled manner to the transfer level (N1) after passing over the transfer devices (8, 10) belonging to the second, inner treatment circuit (4) and are thus made available for receiving the containers (B) at the transfer level (N1).

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