CONTAINER TREATMENT DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container treatment device, in particular a filling machine for filling cans or similar containers with a liquid filling material. Container treatment devices, in particular filling machines for filling cans, in particular also for pressure filling cans with a liquid filling material, are

[0002] This is known to those skilled in the art in a variety of forms. Here, the cans are fed into the filling machine via a first conveyor designed as a container inlet, then transferred to a rotor located downstream of the rotor in the direction of treatment and rotating around a machine axis, and then discharged by a second conveyor, located downstream of the rotor in the direction of treatment and designed as a container outlet.

[0003] Along a container treatment line designed in this way, as is realized in a filling machine, a plurality of transport elements, each driven in rotation about a vertical machine axis, can be provided, which are connected to one another in terms of transport and form the container treatment line, so that a container, in particular a can, is conveyed by being passed on from a rotatingly driven transport element to a transport element adjoining it in the transport direction along a container treatment line which is deflected several times.

[0004] It can also be provided that the adjacent transport elements are a rotating transport element and an adjacent transport element that conveys the containers linearly. Such transport elements are also incorporated into the filling machine. In particular, the container outlet can be implemented in the form of a transfer star or linear conveyor, by means of which the filled, but still open, cans are conveyed to a closer, for example, a can sealer.

[0005] In transport elements designed as linear conveyors, the containers are transported essentially in a straight line or, alternatively, in a curved manner, and essentially without changing their height. Such transport elements designed as linear conveyors can also be arranged between two transport elements designed as rotary transport elements.

[0006] When the cans are transferred within the filling machine from one conveyor element to another in the direction of treatment, for example, a container outlet, a change in the curvature of the cans' movement path often occurs, resulting in a change in the centripetal acceleration acting on the cans. At high container throughput (number of cans conveyed per unit of time), the respective can experiences a transverse jolt caused by strong acceleration forces, which can lead to the contents spilling out of the can mouth.

[0007] In the prior art, the still-open cans are discharged linearly, in particular exclusively in a straight line, from the rotor of the filling machine at a tangential point at a container outlet and, for example, are conveyed further there, also in a linear manner. Due to the structural conditions of the dimensions of the container outlet, in particular its diameter, as well as the diameter of the rotor of the filling machine and the railing guide of the container outlet, a usable treatment angle is established on the rotor of the filling machine, which is predetermined by the respective dimensions of these components. This means a usable treatment arc length of the part-circular treatment area on the rotor of the filling machine, along which the containers can be treated at treatment positions.

[0008] A device for filling and closing containers, in particular wide-neck bottles, is known from DE 10 2005 042 275 A1. This device comprises a filler, from which the containers can be discharged essentially tangentially, and a closer designed as a linear closer.

[0009] From the document JP 2001 287794 A, another filling machine is known which conveys the container bits from the filling machine to a closing device downstream of the filling machine via a transition curve section.

[0010] The object of the invention is to provide a container treatment device, in particular a filling machine for filling cans or similar containers with a liquid filling material, which, compared to the prior art, enables a larger treatment angle and thus a longer container treatment path with otherwise constant external dimensions of the filling machine and a transport of the containers along the container treatment path with as little transverse pressure as possible.

[0011] The object is achieved by a container treatment device, in particular a filling machine for filling containers, in particular cans or similar containers, with a liquid filling material according to the features of independent patent claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

[0012] According to an essential aspect, the invention relates to a container treatment device, in particular a filling machine for filling cans or similar containers with a liquid filling material along a container treatment path running in a treatment direction.

[0013] The container treatment device comprises at least a first conveyor, a rotor arranged downstream of the first conveyor in the treatment direction with a plurality of treatment positions for treating the containers, and a second conveyor arranged downstream of the rotor in the treatment direction.

[0014] The first conveyor is designed as an inlet star, by means of which the containers to be treated are transferred to an inlet point on the rotor rotating around a machine axis.

[0015] The second conveyor, on the other hand, is designed as a linear conveyor, by means of which the containers treated at the several treatment positions of the rotor and still unsealed can be conveyed further.

[0016] Furthermore, between the inlet point and an outlet point of the rotating rotor, a part-circular treatment area with a predetermined treatment arc length is established, along which the plurality of treatment positions are formed.

[0017] In order to increase the treatment arc length of the partially circular treatment area, a receiving and transfer device which is at least partially curved is arranged upstream of the second conveyor for receiving the containers at the outlet point and transferring them to the second conveyor.

[0018] According to the invention, the receiving and transfer device of the container treatment device comprises a first, at least partially curved transport path section on which the respective container can be conveyed, as well as a second transport path section following in the treatment direction and having a straight line, on which the respective container can be conveyed further.

[0019] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the respective container, after leaving the outlet point, can initially be conveyed on the first transport section along the container treatment section in the treatment direction by means of the receiving and transfer device and the respective container can be transferred to the second transport section immediately after leaving the first transport section and can there be conveyed further in a straight line along the container treatment section in the treatment direction by means of the second conveyor.

[0020] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that, by means of the curved receiving and transfer device, an angle is set between the inlet point and the outlet point which is smaller than an angle between the inlet point and the tangential outlet point of an exclusively straight-line second conveyor.

[0021] According to the invention, the first transport path section has a plurality of transition curve sections whose direction of curvature in the treatment direction is different from one another, in particular curved to the left in the first transition curve section, curved to the right in the second transition curve section and curved to the left in the third transition curve section.

[0022] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the first transport path section has an adjustable curved path in the region of its multiple transition curve sections, which is designed to be adjustable in a motor-controlled and / or regulated manner, in particular, by means of at least one adjusting device.

[0023] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the containers are guided during their transport at least along the first transport route section in a lane delimited on both sides by guide rails which predetermine the curved path of the at least one transitional curve section.

[0024] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the guide rails of the first transport section in the transition area to the second transport section are aligned with the guide rails of the second conveyor in the treatment direction.

[0025] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that at least one transition curve section of the first transport path section is designed as a clothoid section and / or a bare curve section.

[0026] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that at least one transition curve section of the first transport path section is designed as a curve that was generated via polynomials.

[0027] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that at least one transition curve section of the first transport path section is designed as a curve that was generated using trigonometric functions.

[0028] A "clothoid" in the sense of the invention is understood to be a curve whose curvature increases continuously and linearly. The product of the curve radius and the arc length of the curve is a constant. In other words, the curvature at any point on the curve is proportional to the length of its arc up to that point.

[0029] For the purposes of the invention, "container" means any container, in particular bottles, cans, cups, etc., made of metal, glass and / or plastic, preferably PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

[0030] The expression "essentially" or "approximately" means, in the sense of the invention, deviations from the respective exact value by a maximum of + / - 10%, preferably by a maximum of + / - 5%, and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

[0031] Further developments, advantages, and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally part of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them. The content of the claims is also incorporated into the description.

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows, by way of example and in a schematic plan view, a partially illustrated filling machine for filling cans or similar containers with liquid filling material; Fig. 2 shows, by way of example and in a simplified representation, a block diagram of the filling machine according to Figure 1 .

[0033] Identical reference numerals are used in the figures for identical or similarly 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.

[0034] The Fig. 1 The container treatment device, generally designated 1, is designed as a filling machine and is used in particular for pressure filling containers 2 in the form of cans with a liquid filling material, for example with beer or soft drinks, along a container treatment section BS running in a treatment direction A.

[0035] The filling machine 1 is designed as such a rotating design with a rotor 3, only partially shown, which is driven to rotate in a direction of rotation B about a vertical machine axis MA during filling operation and has a plurality of treatment positions BP on its circumference, which are provided at equal or approximately equal angular intervals distributed completely around the machine axis MA in the region of the outer circumference of the rotor 3 (wherein only a few treatment positions BP are shown as examples in the figures). The treatment, in particular the filling of the containers 2 with liquid filling material, can take place at the treatment positions BP.

[0036] The container treatment device according to the invention comprises at least a first conveyor 5, the rotor 3 arranged downstream of the first conveyor 5 in the treatment direction A with the several treatment positions BP for treating the containers 2, and a second conveyor 6 arranged downstream of the rotor 3 in the treatment direction A.

[0037] In more detail, the containers 2 to be filled are transferred via the first conveyor 5, designed as a container inlet, to a preferably tangential inlet point EP on the rotor 3 rotating about a machine axis MA. In particular, the first conveyor 5 is designed as an inlet star rotating in the direction of rotation C. Thus, the direction of rotation C of the first conveyor 5 is opposite to the direction of rotation B of the rotor 3. Furthermore, the second conveyor 6 is designed as a linear conveyor, by means of which the containers 2 treated at the multiple treatment positions BP of the rotor 3 and still unsealed can be conveyed further.

[0038] Between the inlet point EP and a preferably tangential outlet point AP of the rotating rotor 3, a part-circular treatment area with a predetermined treatment arc length is established, along which the plurality of treatment positions BP are formed.

[0039] In particular, the second conveyor 6, designed as a container outlet, can be designed, at least in sections, as a linear conveyor, which conveys the already filled but still unsealed cans 2 after leaving the rotor 3 along the container treatment section BS in the treatment direction A. The cans 2 can then be conveyed to a closer (not shown in detail), in particular a can closer, and there tightly sealed in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Within the scope of a blocking of the container treatment device, the closer can be designed as part or component of the filling system and thus of the filling machine 1.

[0040] In particular, when the cans 2 are passed on after leaving the outlet point AP of the rotor 3 of the filling machine 1 to the second conveyor 6 following in the transport direction A, there is a change in the curvature in the movement path of the cans 2 and thus a change in the centripetal acceleration acting on the cans 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the usable treatment arc length of the part-circular treatment area on the rotor of the filling machine is determined by the angle a between the inlet point EP and the run-up point AP.

[0042] The following applies: The smaller the angle a is, the larger the usable container treatment angle and thus the usable treatment arc length of the part-circular treatment area, which is calculated from the formula: 360 ° − Winkel a can be calculated.

[0043] In the present exemplary embodiment, in order to increase the usable treatment arc length of the part-circular treatment area, an at least partially curved receiving and transfer device 50 for receiving the containers 2 at the outlet point AP and transferring them to the second conveyor 6 is provided upstream of the second conveyor 6.

[0044] In other words, the receiving and transfer device 50, which is at least partially curved in shape, is provided between the outlet point AP and the second conveyor 6. Alternatively, however, it can be provided that the second conveyor 6 has the receiving and transfer device 50, which is at least partially curved, i.e., that it is designed as part or component of the second conveyor 6.

[0045] Thus, after leaving the outlet point AP, the container 2 is first conveyed on a first curved transport section TSA1 along the container treatment section BS in the treatment direction A by means of the receiving and transfer device 50, before the same container 2 is transferred to a straight-line second transport section TSA2 immediately after leaving the curved section and is conveyed there further in a straight line along the container treatment section BS in the transport direction A by means of the second conveyor 6.

[0046] As can be seen in particular from the Figure 2As can be seen, the inventive provision of the curved receiving and transfer device 50 results in an angle a between the inlet point EP and the outlet point AP, which is smaller than an angle b between the inlet point EP and the tangential outlet point APS according to the prior art, i.e. a rectilinear second conveyor 6', which takes over the containers 2 directly from the outlet point APS and transports them exclusively in a linear manner along the container treatment section BS. The angle b is thus established between the inlet point EP and the tangential outlet point APS according to the prior art, in which an exclusively rectilinear second conveyor 6 takes over the containers 2 directly from the rotor 3 and also conveys them further in a straight line in the treatment direction A along the container treatment section BS.

[0047] For a better understanding, Figure 2defined: R1 = a + b = c = pitch circle of the rotor 3 R2 = d = pitch circle of the first conveyor designed as an inlet star 5 R2* = envelope curve = ac = connecting line of the machine axis MA with the inlet point EP b + a = connecting line of the machine axis MA with the outlet point APS State of the art

[0048] From this, the angle b can be determined as follows: b = adjacent side = R1 - a = R1 - R2* c + d = hypotenuse = R1 + R2 R2* = R2 + diameter of the containers 2 + width of the guide on the inlet star 5 + width of the guide on the second conveyor 6 Winkel b = arccos R 1 − R 2 * / R 1 + R 2

[0049] In particular, this also makes it clear that the structural conditions, in particular the diameter R2 of the first conveyor 5, the diameter of the containers 2 as well as the width of the guide on the inlet star 5 and the width of the guide on the second conveyor 6 determine the envelope curve R2* and thus the position of the outlet point APS according to the state of the art, which must necessarily be designed as a tangential outlet point at the radius R1 of the rotor 3.

[0050] By means of the curved receiving and transfer device 50 provided according to the invention, the outlet point AP can be shifted in the direction of the inlet point EP with respect to the direction of rotation B of the rotor 3 and thus the usable treatment arc length of the part-circular treatment area of ​​the rotor 3 can be increased by the angle amount Δ c, which is calculated from the angle b - (minus) angle a, whereby the angle amount Δ c thus indicates the additional treatment angle on the rotor 3

[0051] In other words, the curved receiving and transfer device 50 provided according to the invention increases the usable container treatment angle for the treatment arc length of the part-circular treatment area of ​​the rotor 3 from 360° - (minus) angle b to 360° - (minus) angle a.

[0052] The receiving and transfer device 50 according to the invention is designed to be curved in such a way that a container treatment angle of 360° - angle a is established between the inlet point EP and the tangential outlet point AP, which is larger than a container treatment angle of 360° - angle b established between the inlet point EP and the tangential outlet point APS of an exclusively straight-line second conveyor 6'.

[0053] It can be provided that the receiving and transfer device 50 for receiving the containers 2 from the tangential outlet point AP until the transfer to the straight-line second conveyor 6 provides the first, at least partially curved transport path section TSA1, which is formed from several transition curve sections ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3.

[0054] It can be provided that the direction of curvature of the transition curve sections ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 is different from one another.

[0055] When considering the first transport section TSA1 in the treatment direction A of the containers 2, the first transition curve section ÜKA1 in the embodiment shown is curved to the left, the second transition curve section ÜKA2 is curved to the right and the third transition curve section ÜKA2 is again curved to the left.

[0056] In this case, the first transport section TSA1 of the receiving and transfer device 50 in the region of the plurality of transition curve sections ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 can be designed as an adjustable curved track, which is designed to be adjustable in a motor-controlled and / or regulated manner, for example, by means of at least one adjustment device not shown in detail.

[0057] As particularly in the Figure 1As can be seen, the containers 2 are guided during their transport at least along the first transport section TSA1 in an aisle 12 which is delimited on both sides by guide railings 4 and which defines the curved path of the at least one transitional curved section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3. In more detail, an aisle 12 is formed between the outer and inner guide railings 4, in which aisle the containers 2 are guided at least along the first transport section TSA1 and thus along the at least one transitional curved section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 of the container treatment section TS. Preferably, the aisles 12 of the first transport section TSA1 are aligned with the guide railings 4' of the second conveyor 6 in the transition area to the second transport section TSA2, so that aligned aisles 12 and 12' respectively are formed.

[0058] In this case, the curved path of the at least one transition curve section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 predetermined by the guide rails 4 can be designed to be motor-adjustable by means of the at least one adjusting device.

[0059] In this case, the first transport section TSA1 can be provided with a first and second transition curve section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, each of which has a separately and independently adjustable curved path. In other words, in this embodiment, the first transport section TSA1 is divided into two transition curve sections ÜKA1, ÜKA2, each of which forms an independently adjustable curved path.

[0060] Furthermore, at least one transition curve section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 of the first transport section TSA1 is advantageously designed as a clothoid section KA1, KA2, KA3 and / or a bloss curve section, the course of which is selected to be clothoid-shaped or bloss curve-shaped.

[0061] In the embodiment shown, the first transport section TSA1 has the Figure 1 three clothoid sections KA1, KA2, KA3. The first transition curve section ÜKA1 is designed as clothoid section KA1, the second transition curve section ÜKA2 as clothoid section KA2, and the third transition curve section ÜKA3 as clothoid section KA3.

[0062] In the example shown, the Figure 1The second clothoid section KA2 directly adjoins the first clothoid section KA1, which in turn is directly adjoined by the third clothoid section KA3. The individual clothoid sections KA1, KA2, and KA3 are each connected via a turning point WP, at which a change in curvature occurs along the first transport section TSA1. This means that the curvature of the first transport section TSA1 changes, for example, from right-curved to left-curved at the turning point WP.

[0063] The clothoid segments KA1, KA2, and KA3 each originate at the inflection point WP, i.e., they have a radius of curvature R = ∞ there (hereinafter referred to as the clothoid radius). This means that the clothoid segments KA1, KA2, and KA3 merge into one another without curvature at the inflection point WP. In other words, the change in curvature, i.e., the direction of the curvature, occurs at the inflection point WP. The radius of curvature then increases with increasing arc length directed away from the respective origin or inflection point WP.

[0064] Alternatively to the Figure 2According to the course shown, the first transport section TSA1 can have a straight transport section between the transition curve sections ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3, which are designed as clothoid sections KA1, KA2, KA3. The shape of the first transport section TSA1 can thus be selected depending on the respective conditions, for example, the diameter of the conveyors 5 or the rotor 3.

[0065] In the previous explanations, a type of transition arch in the form of a clothoid or clothoid curve was described. Alternatively, and in an analogous application, another suitable transition arch with a kink-free, continuously increasing or decreasing curvature change can also be provided, in particular a transition arch in the form of a Bloss arch or Bloss arch segment. Combinations of a Bloss arch / Bloss arch segment and a clothoid or a clothoid segment are also conceivable in principle. Polynomials and trigonometric functions can also be used.

[0066] In this case, it can be provided that at least one transition curve section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 of the first transport section TSA1 is designed as a curve generated using polynomials. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least one transition curve section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 of the first transport section TSA1 is designed as a curve generated using trigonometric functions.

[0067] It can therefore be provided that at least one transition curve section ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3 of the first transport route section TSA1 is designed as a clothoid section and / or a bare curve section BA1, BA2, BA3.

[0068] The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes or modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the patent claims. The content of the patent claims is incorporated into the description. List of reference symbols

[0069] 1Container treatment device 2Container 2.1Container interior 3Rotor 4, 4'Guide railing 5First conveyor 6, 6'Second conveyor 12,12'Aisle 50Reception and transfer facility ATreatment direction APOutlet point APSOutlet point of the exclusively straight-line conveyor BA1First bloss curve section BA2Second bloss curve section BSContainer treatment section BRotation direction of the rotor 3 BPContainer treatment position EPInlet point KA1, KA2First / second clothoid section TSA1First transport section TSA2Second transport section ÜKA1First transfer curve section ÜKA2Second transfer curve section ÜKA3Third transfer curve section MAMachine axis UCircumference WPTurning point

Claims

1. Container processing device (1), in particular a filling machine for filling cans or similar containers (2) with liquid contents along a container processing segment (BS) running in a processing direction (A), comprising at least one first transporter (5), a rotor (3) located downstream of the first transporter (5) in the processing direction (A), with several processing positions (BP) for processing the containers (2), and, located in turn downstream of the rotor (3) in the processing direction (A), a second transporter (6), wherein the first transporter (5) is configured as an inlet star, by means of which the containers (2) which are to be processed are transferred at an inlet point (EP) to the rotor (3) circulating about a machine axis (MA), wherein the second transporter (6) is configured as a linear conveyor, by means of which the containers (2) being processed at the several processing positions (BP) of the rotor (3) and still not closed can be further conveyed onwards, wherein a circular arc-shaped processing region is located between the inflow point (EP) and an outflow point (AP) of the circulating rotor (3), with a predetermined processing arc length (BL), along which the several processing positions (FP) are formed, wherein, in order to increase the processing arc length (BL) of the arc-shaped processing region, an at least partly curved receiving and transferring apparatus (50) is arranged upstream of the second transporter (6) for receiving the containers (2) at the outflow point (AP) and transferring them to the second transporter (6), wherein the at least one partly curved receiving and transferring apparatus (50) comprises a first at least partly curved transport segment section (TSA1), on which the respective containers (2) can be conveyed, as well as a second transport segment section (TSA2) following in the processing direction (A) and configured as straight, on which the respective container (2) can be further conveyed onwards, characterised in that the first transport segment section (TSA1) comprises several transfer curve sections (ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3), of which the curvature directions in the processing direction (A) differ from one another, in particular configured as left-curvature in the first transfer curve sections (ÜKA1), right-curvature in the second transfer curve sections (ÜKA2), and left-curvature again in the third transfer curve sections (ÜKA3).

2. Container processing device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving and transferring apparatus (50) connects the outflow point (AP) of the rotor (3) to the second transporter (6).

3. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the respective container (2), after leaving the outflow point (AP), can next be conveyed on the first transport segment section (TSA1) along the container processing segment (BS) in the processing direction (A) by means of the receiving and transferring apparatus (50), and the respective container (2) can be transferred onto the second transport segment section (TSA2) immediately after leaving the first transport segment section (TSA1), and there, in particular by means of the second transporter (6), can be conveyed further in a straight line in a linear direction the container processing segment (BS) in the processing direction (A).

4. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first transport segment section (TSA1) comprises an adjustable curve path in the region of its several transfer curve sections (ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3), which in particular is configured as adjustable, in particular by means of at least one adjustment device, in a manner controlled and / or regulated by means of a motor.

5. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the containers (2) are guided, at least along the first transport segment section (TSA1), in a channel (12) delimited on both sides by means of guide rails (4), which predetermines the curved path of the at least one transfer curve section (ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3).

6. Container processing device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that guide rails (4) of the first transport segment section (TSA1), in the transfer region to the second transport segment section (TSA2), run flush with the guide rails (4') of the second transporter (6) in the processing direction (A).

7. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one transfer curve section (ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3) of the first transport segment section (TSA1) is configured as a clothoid section (KA1, KA2, KA3) and / or a Bloss curve section (BA1, BA2, BA3).

8. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one transfer curve section (ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3) of the first transport segment section (TSA1) is configured as a curve, which was produced by polynomials.

9. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one transfer curve section (ÜKA1, ÜKA2, ÜKA3) of the first transport segment section (TSA1) is configured as a curve, which was produced by trigonometric functions.

10. Container processing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, by means of the curved receiving and transferring apparatus (50), an angle (a) is formed between the inflow point (EP) and the outflow point (AP), which is smaller than the angle (b) between the inflow point (EP) and the tangential outflow point (APS) of a second transporter (6') running in an exclusively straight line.