CONTAINER TREATMENT DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container processing device, in particular a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding method for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid.

[0002] Container processing devices, in particular closing machines for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid, are known to those skilled in the art in a wide variety of designs. The present invention particularly relates to container processing machines in the beverage industry, which preferably have a capacity of more than 10,000 containers per hour, particularly preferably a capacity of 50,000 containers per hour.

[0003] Such closing machines are used, for example, in beverage bottling plants and are usually located in close proximity to a corresponding filling station or filling machine, directly connected to it, so that the freshly filled containers can be closed immediately after being filled with liquid.

[0004] In particular, such container processing devices of a rotating design are known, in which several container closing positions are formed on the circumference of a rotor driven in rotation about a vertical machine axis or central axis. Each container closing position is assigned a stamping device, which can also be understood as a closing tool or a closing stamp. Such container processing devices are also referred to as rotary machines.

[0005] The closing elements or closing tools of such closing devices are movable axially along a vertical closing element axis by means of a lifting and / or lowering movement between a raised and a lowered position. This axial lifting movement is also referred to as a feed stroke. This feed stroke is typically generated by lifting cams provided for controlling the height of the closing elements. Examples of closing machines with lifting cam-controlled closing elements are known from DE 10 2017 112 218 B3 or WO 2010 / 118806 A2.

[0006] Along such container treatment devices of a rotating design (rotary machines), 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 section, 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 section which is deflected several times.

[0007] It can also be provided that the adjacent transport elements of such a container handling device are a linearly conveying transport element and an adjacent transport element that conveys the containers in a rotating manner. Such transport elements are also implemented in a sealing machine of a rotating design. In particular, the containers of a sealing machine that are already filled with liquid but not yet sealed are conveyed by a linear conveyor onto a rotating rotor, on the circumference of which the container sealing positions are formed.

[0008] In the case of transport elements designed as linear conveyors, the containers are transported essentially in a straight line and essentially without changing their location height.

[0009] When containers are transferred, particularly within the closing machine from one transport element to another in the processing direction, a change in the curvature of the container's movement path often occurs, resulting in a change in the centripetal acceleration acting on the containers. At high container throughput (number of cans conveyed per unit of time), the respective container experiences a transverse jolt caused by strong acceleration forces, which can lead to the contents spilling out of the can mouth.

[0010] In the prior art, the still open cans are transferred linearly, in particular exclusively in a straight line, directly to a container carrier of a container closing position closing machine, and this already approximately at a linear speed which corresponds in magnitude to the circumferential speed of the center point of the container carrier of the closing machine.

[0011] Since high-performance can seamers, which usually have a diameter of approximately 1000 mm, rotate at a speed of up to 110 revolutions per minute, considerable centripetal acceleration is required so that the cans, which are not yet gas- or liquid-tight at this point, follow the circular rotational movements of the can seamer.

[0012] These large centripetal accelerations lead to spillage of the contents, particularly in cans with a large diameter and a correspondingly large free liquid level, and / or in cans with a small headspace. This spillage results in significant loss of contents and considerable contamination, which is highly undesirable in practice.

[0013] A capping machine with a rotary design for closing containers with crown caps is known from WO2018 / 166690 A1. The capping machine has a stationary central column extending along a vertical center axis of the capping machine and is equipped with at least one motor-driven rotating rotor. It includes several punching devices and a motor-driven rotating support ring with several container supports below the rotor.

[0014] Furthermore, DE 21 58 961 A1 discloses an automatic multi-purpose sealing machine for bulbous containers, in particular canning jars, which is provided with continuously operating feeding devices as well as laying and discharging devices for discharging the sealed containers.

[0015] The object of the invention is to provide a container treatment device, in particular a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid, which enables the containers to be transferred from the conveyor to the container closing position downstream in the transport direction with as little transverse pressure as possible.

[0016] This object is achieved by a container treatment device, in particular a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid according to the features of independent patent claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

[0017] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a container treatment device, in particular a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid along a container treatment path running in a treatment direction.

[0018] The container treatment device comprises at least one first conveyor and a rotor arranged downstream of the first conveyor along the container treatment line in the treatment direction. On the periphery of the rotor, several container closing stations are formed for closing the containers, each with a closing lid provided by a closing lid feed conveyor. The rotor is arranged circumferentially on a stationary central column extending along a vertical machine axis.

[0019] Furthermore, the first conveyor is designed as a linear conveyor, by means of which the still unsealed containers, standing with their container base on a transport plane, can be or are conveyed in the treatment direction. Thus, the containers continue to be transferred by the first conveyor to a corresponding container closing position of the rotor, which is motor-driven and rotates around the central column.

[0020] The container closing stations, which rotate around the central column, each have at least one lowering and lifting stamping device arranged on the rotor, as well as a container carrier provided below the stamping device. The container carrier, in turn, is provided with a rotating and lifting movement on a support ring that is motor-driven and rotates around the central column below the rotor.

[0021] According to the invention, a transfer element is provided between at least two adjacent container closing stations, which at least partially surrounds the respective container carrier and is designed to rotate, i.e., rotate, with the container closing stations. Furthermore, the transfer element forms a transfer plane on its upper side for the planar transfer of the upright containers from the transport plane to the transfer plane defined by the transfer element, in that the transfer plane forms a common plane with the transport plane.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one transfer element is provided to rotate synchronously with the container closing stations.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that an at least temporarily closed transport surface is formed between the first conveyor and the at least one transfer element, on which the containers with their respective container base can be continuously displaced from the first conveyor to the transfer element and from there to the height-adjustable container carrier.

[0024] According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one transfer element is designed as a transfer plate.

[0025] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one transfer element is arranged fixedly, but detachably, on the support ring.

[0026] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one transfer element forms a planar surface on its upper side, which spans the transfer plane and has such a low coefficient of friction that the containers can be displaced with their respective container base in a sliding manner on the transfer element.

[0027] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one overlay element has at least partially bevelled edges on the free edge region of the surface.

[0028] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that a transfer element completely enclosing the respective container carrier in the region of its support surface is provided between at least two adjacent container closing stations.

[0029] According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that transfer elements are provided between all container closing stations.

[0030] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, a transition curve section formed by guide rails between the first conveyor and the transfer of the containers to the respective container closing station can be designed as a clothoid section and / or a Bloss arc section, the course of which is selected to be clothoid-shaped or Bloss arc-shaped. Furthermore, polynomials and / or trigonometric curves with a similar course can be used for the transition curve section.

[0031] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the closure lid feed conveyor is designed to feed the closure lids individually before the respective transfer of a corresponding container to the associated container closing station.

[0032] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that above the movement path of the containers along the container treatment section, in particular at least above the transition curve section, at least one counterpressure element is provided, which presses against the closure lid placed on the container by the closure lid feed conveyor.

[0033] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one counterpressure element is designed to press the respective closure lid at its free edge regions.

[0034] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one counter-pressure element is designed as a counter-pressure bar which has sliding surfaces on its respective underside facing the closure lids.

[0035] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one counterpressure element is arranged in a stationary manner on the closing machine.

[0036] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid by means of the above-described closing machine of rotating design, in which the respective container is produced by positively connecting the closure lid to the container by mutual pressing, in that for the closing movement the container is lifted above the container carrier and / or the stamping device is lowered onto the container together with the closure lid.

[0037] The method is characterized in particular by the fact that the closure lid is placed on the container and at least partially pressed on before the container with its respective container base has been completely pushed onto the container closing station.

[0038] According to an advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the closure lid is pressed at least partially by means of the at least one counterpressure element.

[0039] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the closure lid is at least partially pressed onto the container before the respective container is pushed onto the respective container carrier of a corresponding container closing station with a maximum of 50%, preferably less than 25%, of its container base area. Particularly advantageously, the closure lid is at least partially pressed onto the container at a time before the respective container is pushed onto the respective container carrier of a corresponding container closing station with a maximum of 50%, preferably less than 25%, of its container base area.Particularly advantageously, the closure lid is at least partially pressed onto the container at a time when the container, including the attached closure lid, is still completely located with its container base on the conveyor arranged upstream of the corresponding container closing station in the direction of treatment.

[0040] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the pressing of the closure lid and the container against each other is preferably maintained by means of the counter-pressure elements until the associated stamping device is lowered onto the closure lid at the corresponding container treatment station and finally finally presses the respective closure lid against the container.

[0041] A "clothoid" in the sense of the invention is 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.

[0042] For the purposes of the invention, "container" means any container, in particular bottles, cans, cups, etc., each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, preferably PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

[0043] The expression "essentially" or "approximately" means, in the sense of the invention, deviations from the exact value by + / - 10%, preferably by + / - 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

[0044] Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention will also become apparent from the following description of embodiments and from the figures.

[0045] 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, an embodiment of a partially illustrated closing machine according to the invention for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid; Fig. 2 shows, by way of example and in a roughly schematic side view, an embodiment of a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers with a closure lid; Fig. 3 shows, by way of example and in a schematic plan view, the transfer elements provided between the container closing stations on a closing machine; and Fig. 4 shows, by way of example and as a schematic block diagram, a lifting container carrier with a closure lid placed on the can in different closing phases.

[0046] 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 in a schematic view to explain its operation. In particular, the illustrations in the figures serve only to explain the basic principle of the invention. For the sake of clarity, all components of the sealing machine have been omitted.

[0047] The Fig. 1 The container treatment device, generally designated 1, is designed as a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers 2 with a closure lid 21 along a container treatment section BR running in a treatment direction A.

[0048] In Figure 1A specific embodiment of a closing machine 1 according to the invention is shown merely by way of example, wherein for reasons of clarity only a few components of the entire closing machine 1, namely components that are relevant for the description of the present invention, are explicitly explained and Figure 1 are provided with reference numerals. For reasons of clarity, further components and elements of the sealing machine 1 that are not particularly important in connection with the invention will not be discussed in detail here.

[0049] Typically, a filling machine (not shown in detail in the figures) for filling the containers 2 with a liquid filling material is provided in close proximity upstream of such a closing machine 1 in a treatment direction A of the container treatment line BR. The containers 2 filled by the filling machine are then conveyed to the closing machine 1 via transport devices, for example conveyor belts, and there, they are taken over by a first conveyor 5, which is or can be part or component of the closing machine 1.

[0050] The first conveyor 5 is designed as a linear conveyor, by means of which the still unsealed, i.e. upwardly open, containers 2, which are standing with their container base 2.1 on a transport plane TE, can be conveyed along the container treatment section BR in the treatment direction A. The first conveyor 5 is therefore designed to transport or convey the containers 2 with their container base 2.1 standing on the transport plane TE in a treatment direction A. For example, the first conveyor 5 can be designed as an endless conveyor, in particular as a mat conveyor, hinged belt conveyor, or chain conveyor.

[0051] The containers 2 are transferred from the first conveyor 5 to a corresponding container closing station BS of the closing machine 1, which is motor-driven and rotates around the central column 4. After passing through the container closing stations BS of the closing machine 1, i.e. after the individual containers 2 have been closed with a closure lid 21 each in the manner explained in more detail below, the containers 2 then closed in this way are taken over at the output side of the closing machine 1 by a further transfer element, not shown, which is provided downstream of the closing machine 1 in the transport direction A, for example an outlet star, and transported away in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

[0052] The transport element downstream of the closing machine 1 can be designed as part or component of the container treatment line BR. In any case, the container treatment line BR is formed by the first conveyor 5 and the rotor 3 downstream in the treatment direction A.

[0053] In more detail, the closing device 1 comprises the stationary central column 4 extending along a vertical central axis MA, on which at least one motor-driven rotor 3 is provided, which rotates in a direction of rotation indicated by the rounded arrow. On the circumference of the rotor 3, a plurality of container closing stations BS, BS' are formed or arranged, of which Figure 2 For the sake of clarity, only two are shown.

[0054] The multiple container closing stations BS are designed to close the containers 2, each with a closure lid 21 provided by a closure lid feed conveyor 20. The closure lid feed conveyor 20 can be designed, in particular, as a starwheel feed conveyor for individually feeding the respective closure lid 21 while the containers 2 are still being transported on the first conveyor 5. In particular, the closure lid feed conveyor 20 is designed to individually feed the closure lids 21 before a corresponding container 2 is transferred to the container treatment station BS. To push the closure lids 21 onto the still-open can 2, the closure lid feed conveyor 20 can have a pushing device 22 for the closure lids 21, which can be designed, for example, as a ramp or an actively driven pushing element.

[0055] The container closing stations BS, which rotate around the central column 4, i.e., rotate with it, each have at least one lowering and lifting stamping device 6 arranged on the rotor 3, as well as a container carrier 8 provided below the stamping device 6. The respective container carrier 8, in turn, is provided or arranged on a support ring 7 that can be rotated and lifted by a motor and rotates around the central column 4.

[0056] Each container closing station BS, BS' has at least one stamping device 6, which can preferably be lowered and lifted in a controlled manner, and a container carrier 8 which can be rotated about a corresponding closing element axis VA and lifted along the closing element axis VA, i.e., in particular, moved up and down along the closing element axis VA. The stamping device 6 can extend lengthwise along a respective vertically oriented closing element axis VA. The stamping devices 6 can be moved axially between a raised and a lowered position, namely up and down in the vertical direction, by means of a controlled lifting and / or lowering movement as the rotor 3 rotates.

[0057] For the closing movement, i.e., the mutual pressing of container 2 and closure lid 21, for example, only the container 2 can be raised above the container carrier 8. Alternatively, the container 2 can be raised above the container carrier 8 and the stamping device 6 can be lowered simultaneously or with a time delay. Finally, the container 2 can also be held in position on the container carrier 8 and only the stamping device 6 can be lowered.

[0058] The stamping device 6 of the Figure 2 The container closing station BS shown assumes the raised position and that of the container closing station Figure 1 The container closing station BS' shown is in the lowered position. The axial stroke movement is also referred to as the feed stroke and provides height control for the stamping device 6.

[0059] For height control, i.e., the lifting and / or lowering movement, of the stamping devices 6, a lifting cam 11 can be provided, for example, by means of which the stamping devices 6 are positively guided around the central axis MA. For this purpose, the stamping devices 6, designed as closing elements, have a roller 12 on their upper side, namely at their upper end, which runs guided on a guide surface of the lifting cam 11, preferably mechanically positively guided between two guide surfaces. The roller 12 therefore interacts with the guide surfaces of the lifting cam 11 via its running surface.

[0060] The axial lifting and / or lowering movement of the stamping devices 6 along the closing element axis VA for their height control takes place during the rotation of the stamping devices 6 around the central axis MA due to the forced guidance between the rollers 12, 12' in the lifting curve 11 and can thus be designed in this exemplary embodiment as a lifting curve-controlled height adjustment or as a lifting curve height control.

[0061] The lifting curve 11 of the exemplary closing device 1 has a substantially L-shaped cross-section with a horizontal and a vertical leg, wherein the horizontally oriented leg forms or provides the guide surface. The vertical extent varies over the circumference of the lifting curve 11, in particular a length of the vertical leg, which has the shortest length in the container closing station BS shown and the greatest length in the container closing station BS'. An outer circumference 11.1 of the lifting curve 11 is defined by the approximately vertically oriented end face of the horizontally oriented leg, which also forms the outer, in particular radially outer, circumferential surface and therefore specifies the outer diameter of the lifting curve 11.

[0062] The container carrier 8 is arranged below the respective stamping device 6 and is preferably rotatably movable about the closing element axis VA and liftably movable along the closing element axis VA, i.e. in particular movable up and down along the closing element axis VA, on the support ring 7 which is motor-driven to rotate around the central column 4, as described in more detail in Figure 4 is indicated.

[0063] Preferably, the container carrier 8, with its support surface 8.1 for the container 2, is designed to be rotationally symmetrical to the closure element axis VA. Furthermore, the support surface 8.1 of the respective container carrier 8 advantageously has an outer diameter AD that is larger than the outer diameter of the upright container 2, in particular its associated container base 2.1.

[0064] According to the invention, a transfer element 10 is provided between at least two adjacent container closing stations BS, at least partially enclosing the respective container carrier 8. The at least one transfer element 10 is designed to rotate with the container closing stations BS, in particular to rotate synchronously with them. In particular, the at least one transfer element 10 is designed to rotate around the central column 4 and to rotate synchronously with the rotor 3.

[0065] The at least one transfer element 10 forms, on or with its upper side OS, a transfer plane ÜE for the planar transfer of the upright containers 2 from the transport plane TE to the transfer plane ÜE spanned by the upper side OS of the at least one transfer element 10, in that the transfer plane ÜE forms, or spans, a common plane GE with the transport plane TE. A closed, i.e. continuous, transport surface is therefore formed between the first conveyor 5 and the at least one transfer element 10, on which transport surface the containers 2 with their respective container base 2.1 can be continuously moved from the first conveyor 5 to the transfer element 10 and from there to the height-adjustable container carrier 8. In particular, the lifting container carrier 8 is also located with its support surface 2.1 in the common plane GE at the time the containers 2 are transferred.

[0066] Preferably, the at least one transfer element 10 can be designed as a transfer plate and arranged on the support ring 7 with a fastening arm 10.1. The fastening arm 10.1 can extend in its longitudinal extent, for example, perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the transfer plane ÜE in the direction of the support ring 7.

[0067] According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one transfer element 10 is fixedly but detachably arranged on the support ring 7. In a further embodiment, the transfer element 10 can be formed integrally with the support ring 7.

[0068] In particular, the at least one over-thrust element 10 forms a planar, i.e., flat, surface 10.2 on its upper side OS, which defines the over-thrust plane ÜE. The over-thrust plane ÜE intersects the vertical machine axis MA preferably perpendicularly or approximately perpendicularly.

[0069] Advantageously, the surface 10.2 has a low coefficient of friction, so that the containers 2 with their respective container base 2.1 can be easily moved on the transfer element 10.

[0070] Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the at least one transfer element 10 has bevelled edges at the free ends of the surface 10.2, i.e. in the region of the outer circumference of the surface 10.2, which further simplifies the transfer of the containers 2 onto the transfer element 10.

[0071] Furthermore, a transfer element 10 that completely surrounds the respective container carrier 8 in the region of its support surface 8.1 can advantageously be provided between at least two adjacent container closing stations BS. The openings provided in the at least one transfer element 10 for the adjacent container carriers 8 have an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the outer geometry of the container carriers 8.

[0072] Particularly advantageous are the provision of transfer elements 10 between all, i.e. all, container closing stations BS.

[0073] To transfer the containers 2 from the first conveyor 5 to the container carrier 8, guide rails (not shown in detail in the figures) can be provided as lateral guides. By means of the guide rails, the containers 2 are guided during their transport at least along this transition curve section, which extends between the first conveyor 5 and the respective container carrier 8, in a lane delimited by guide rails on both sides. In more detail, the lane in which the containers 2 are guided at least along the transition curve section of the container treatment section BR is formed between the outer non-circulating guide rail and an inner circumferential guide rail. The containers 2 are preferably guided by means of the guide rails centrally onto the container carriers 8 and centrally below the raised stamping device 6 of an associated container treatment station BS.

[0074] Furthermore, the guide rails can be designed in such a way that they prevent the containers 2 from tipping over when being transferred on the transition curve section of the container treatment line BR.

[0075] Furthermore, the transition curve section formed by the guide rails between the first conveyor 5 and the transfer to the container treatment station BS is advantageously designed as a clothoid section and / or a bloss-arch section, the course of which is selected to be clothoid-shaped or bloss-arch-shaped.

[0076] Furthermore, the closing machine 1 has at least one counterpressure element 23 above the movement path of the containers 2 along the container treatment section BR, in particular at least above the transition curve section, which presses against the closure lid 21 placed on the container 2 by the closure lid feed conveyor 20.

[0077] Preferably, two counter elements 23 provided essentially parallel to one another are provided on both sides above the movement path of the containers 2 along the container treatment section BR, in particular at least on both sides above the transition curve section, which press on opposite sides against the closure lid 21 placed on the container 2 by the closure lid feed conveyor 20.

[0078] In particular, the counterpressure elements 23 are designed to press the respective closure lid 21 preferably at its free edge regions in order to keep the center of the closure lid 21 free for the subsequent action / engagement of the stamping device 6.

[0079] Preferably, the counter-pressure elements 23 are provided as counter-pressure strips which form sliding surfaces with a particularly low coefficient of sliding friction on their respective undersides facing the closure covers 21.

[0080] The counterpressure elements 23 can be arranged on the closing machine 1 in such a way that the counterpressure elements 23 are stationary, i.e., they do not rotate or co-rotate with the closer and / or the can feeder or the feed wheel. Alternatively or additionally, the counterpressure elements 23 can also be at least partially configured such that the counterpressure elements 23 move with the first conveyor 5 and / or rotate with the rotor 3.

[0081] Furthermore, the counterpressure elements 23 are advantageously designed to actively press / preload the respective closure lid 21 and the associated container 2 against each other before the combination of "closure lid 21 and associated container 2" circulate together at the container treatment station BS, such that a sealing position is achieved between the closure lid 21 and the container 2 such that sloshing out of the contents during acceleration of the container 2 is completely, or at least substantially, avoided.

[0082] Preferably, the pressing of closure lid 21 and associated container 2 against each other begins immediately after the closure lid 21 has been placed on the container 2 and even more preferably at a time when the container 2, including the attached closure lid 21, is located completely with its container base 2.1 on the conveyor 5 arranged upstream of the corresponding container closing station BS, BS' in the treatment direction A. In other words, the closure lid 21 is placed on the container 2 and at least partially pressed against it before the container 2 reaches the effective range of the container closing station BS; BS'.

[0083] In more detail, it can be provided that the closure lid 21 is placed on the container 2 and at least partially pressed by means of the at least one counterpressure element 23 before the respective container 2 is pushed over with a maximum of 50%, preferably with less than 25%, of its container base area 2.1 onto the respective container carrier 8 of a corresponding container closing station BS, BS'.

[0084] Preferably, the pressing of closure lid 21 and container 2 against each other is effected by the at least one counterpressure element 23. The pressing of closure lid 21 and container 2 against each other is preferably maintained by means of the counterpressure elements 23 until an associated stamping device 6 is lowered onto the closure lid 21 at a corresponding container treatment station BS and finally finally presses the respective closure lid 21 against the container 2.

[0085] 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 as defined by the patent claims. List of reference symbols

[0086] 1Container handling device 2Container 2.1Container base 3Rotor 4Central column 5First conveyor 6Stamping device 7Support ring 8Container support 8.1Support surface 10Transfer element 10.1Fastening arm 10.2Surface 11Lifting curve 11.1Outer circumference 12, 12'Roller 20Closing lid feeder 21Closing lid 22Sliding device 23Counter pressure elements 24Guide ATreatment direction ADOuter diameter BRContainer treatment section BS, BS'Container closing station GECommon plane TETransport plane OSTop side VAClosing element axis ÜETransfer plane

Claims

1. Container handling device, in particular a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers (2) with a closure lid (21) along a container handling section (BR) running in a handling direction (A), comprising at least one first transporter (5), a rotor (3) located downstream of the first transporter (5) in the handling direction (A) along the container handling section (BR), at the circumference of which are formed several container closing stations (BS) for closing the containers (2) with a closure lid (21) provided in each case from a closure lid delivery conveyor (20), wherein the rotor (3) is arranged such as to circulate about a central column (4) which extends along a vertical machine axis (MA) and is fixed in position, wherein the container closing stations (BS) rotating about the central column (4) comprise in each case at least one punch device (6), arranged such as to move downwards and upwards at the rotor (3), as well as a container carrier (8) provided beneath the punch device (6), which is provided such as to move in rotation and rising upwards on a carrier rim (7), said rim being driven by means of a motor such as to circulate about the central column (4) beneath the rotor (3), characterised in that the first transporter (5) is configured as a linear conveyor, by means of which the containers (2), not yet closed and standing upright with their container bases (2.1) on a transport plane (TE), can be conveyed in the handling direction (A), and are transferred to a corresponding container closing station (BS) of the rotor (3) being driven by a motor such as to circulate about the central column (4), and that arranged between at least two adjacent container closing stations (BS) is a transfer thrust element (10), which encloses the respective container carrier (8) around at least part of its circumference and is provided such as to rotate together with the container closing station (BS), and wherein the transfer thrust element (10) forms on its upper side (OS) a transfer thrust plane (ÜE), for the planar thrust transfer of the upright container (2) from the transport plane (TE) onto the transfer thrust plane (ÜE) spanned by the transfer thrust element (10), inasmuch as the transfer thrust plane (ÜE) together with the transport plane (TE) spans a common plane (GE).

2. Container handling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one transfer thrust element (10) is provided such as to rotate in synchrony with the container closing stations (BS).

3. Container handling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one transport surface, which is closed from time to time, is formed between the first transporter (5) and the at least one transfer thrust element (10), on which the containers (2), with their respective container bases (2.1) can be steplessly displaced from the first transporter (5) onto the transfer thrust element (10), and from there onto the height-adjustable container carrier (8).

4. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one transfer thrust element (10) is configured as a transfer thrust plate.

5. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one transfer thrust element (10) is arranged at the carrier rim (7) in a secure but releasable manner.

6. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one transfer thrust element (10) forms on its upper side (OS) a planar surface (10.2), which spans the transfer thrust plane (ÜE) and exhibits a friction coefficient which is sufficiently low for the containers (2) to be able to be displaced with their respective container bases (2.1) sliding on the transfer thrust element (10).

7. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one transfer thrust element (10) comprises, at the free edge region of the surface (10.2), edges which are bevelled over at least part of their circumference.

8. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that between at least two adjacent container closing stations (BS) a transfer thrust element (10) is provided, which encloses the respective container carrier (8) in full circumference in the region of its contact surface (8.1).

9. Container handling device according to claim 8, characterised in that transfer thrust elements (10) are provided between all the container closing stations (BS).

10. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a transfer curve section, formed by guide rails, is formed between the first transporter (5) and the transfer of the containers (2) to the respective container closing station (BS) as a clothoid section and / or a Bloss curve section, the course of which is selected as clothoid-shaped or Bloss curve-shaped.

11. Container handling device according to claim 10, characterised in that the guide rails are configured in such a way that they prevent the tilting of the containers (2) during the transfer on the transfer curve section of the container handling section (BR).

12. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure lid delivery conveyor (20) is configured for the individual delivery of the closure lids (21) before the respective transfer of a corresponding container (2) to the associated container closing station (BS).

13. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that above the movement path of the containers (2), along the container handling section (BR), and in particular at least above the transfer curve section, at least one counter-pressure element (23) is provided, which presses against the closure lid (21) which is placed onto the container (2) by the closure lid delivery conveyor (20).

14. Container handling device according to claim 13, characterised in that the at least one counter-pressure element (23) is configured such as to press the respective closure lid (21) at its free edge regions.

15. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims 13-14, characterised in that the at least one counter-pressure element (23) is configured as a counter-pressure strip, which comprises sliding surfaces on its respective underside facing towards the closing lids (21).

16. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims 13-15, characterised in that the at least one counter-pressure element (23) is arranged in a fixed position on the closing machine (1).

17. Container handling device according to any one of the preceding claims 13-16, characterised in that the at least one counter-pressure element (23) and / or a guide element (24) is formed in such a way that an unwanted tipping of the cans is avoided at the raising of the cans with the container carrier (8).

18. Container handling device according to claim 17, characterised in that the at least one counter-pressure element (23) and / or the guide element (24) are formed in such a way that the cans are transferred in correct distribution and in a straight line onto the container carriers (8), wherein the guide elements are produced in clothoid shape or are produced by polynomials.

19. Method for closing cans or similar containers (2) with a closure lid (21) by means of a closing machine of circulating design according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 18, wherein the respective container (2) is produced by positive-fit connection of the closure lid (21) with the container (2) by mutual pressing, inasmuch as, for the closure movement of the containers (2), they are raised by means of the container carrier (8), and / or the punch device (6) is lowered onto the container (2) together with the closure lid (21) placed on it, wherein the closure lid (21) is placed on the container (2) and is at least partially pressed onto it before the container (2), with its respective container base (2.1) is transferred entirely onto the container closing station (BS, BS').

20. Method for closing cans or similar containers (2) according to claim 19, characterised in that the closure lid (21) is pressed on at least partially by means of the at least one counter-pressure element (23).

21. Method for closing cans or similar containers (2) according to any one of claims 19 or 20, characterised in that the closure lid (21) is at least partially pressed onto the container (2) before the respective container (2) is transferred with a maximum of 50%, preferably with less than 25%, of its container base surface (2.1) onto the respective container carrier (8) of a corresponding container closing station (BS, BS').

22. Method for closing cans or similar containers (2) according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterised in that the closure lid (21) is at least partially pressed onto the container (2) at a point of time at which the container (2), including the closure lid (21) placed on it, is still located entirely with its container base (2.1) on the transporter (5) arranged upstream on the corresponding container closing station (BS, BS') in the handling direction (A).

23. Method for closing cans or similar containers (2) according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterised in that the pressing against one another of the closing lid (21) and container (2) is preferably maintained by means of the counter-pressure elements (23) for as long as until, at the corresponding container handling station (BS), the associated punch device (6) is lowered onto the closure lid (21), and finally the respective closure lid (21) is pressed together with the container (2).