EP1710158B1 - Method and device for handling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine for filling and sealing containers has a rail (1) along which the containers are passed at a uniform speed by a conveyor screw. They pass through a filling station (4) with individual outlets (10) which fit into each container. A filling unit (6) has hoses (8) which connect with inlets (9) to supply contents to the containers. The containers then pass to a second unit (14) which fits lids. An independent claim is included for a method for filling and sealing containers using the machine.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device by means of which containers can be treated during the movement.

An example of treating containers is the placement of container lids. In a known device of this type ( US 3,924,384 ), the containers are fed straight to a treatment station. The treatment station includes a turntable with individual receptacles, in each of which a container fits. This container is then moved along a circular arc and thereby provided with a lid.

Another device for treating containers, namely for filling, also contains a turntable with individual receptacles, which operates discontinuously ( DE 195 13 103 ).

Containers have to undergo different treatments. For example, a container must first be filled and only then sealed. In the known devices, the container is therefore initially moved straight up to the treatment station, where he strongly changes his direction in a turntable. If necessary, it must be changed in a second or third treatment station in turn in his direction. These abrupt changes in direction may be detrimental to the treatment of the containers. For example, a container filled with liquid may spill over in the event of a sudden change of direction.

It is already known a filling device according to the preamble of claim 1 for a powdered product ( US 4899790 ) in which containers are moved rectilinearly past a rectilinear series of hoppers. The containers are thereby transported obliquely upwards, so that they approach the funnels, and after filling, they are again moved obliquely downwards.

The invention is based on the object to provide a way to handle containers without excessive stress.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a device having the features of claim 1 and / or a method having the features of claim 19. Further developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

Thus, according to the teachings of the invention, the containers are moved along a linear treatment path that does not involve sudden changes in direction. The treatment station, which has at least one treatment device, moves it so that it follows the movement of the container. It thus moves at the same speed as the container so that it can perform the treatment of the container during its movement on the rectilinear path of movement. By arranging on a straight-line movement path, the treatment by the treatment device is sufficient time available. In a turntable to increase the treatment path of the diameter of the turntable must be increased with a corresponding space requirement. In a linear arrangement but only an extension in the linear direction needs to be done because the width of the closed path of travel for the treatment device is then not increased.

After treatment by the treatment device this is moved back along the closed path of movement, so that it can then subsequently perform a second treatment.

In order to make the movement of the treatment device in accordance with the movement of the container as simple as possible, according to the invention may be provided in a development that the path of movement of the treatment station for the treatment device has a section which is at least approximately parallel to the path of movement of the container during the treatment ,

Another possibility would be to separately control and move the treatment device as a function of the movement path with respect to the treatment station.

In particular, it may be provided that the movement path of the treatment device in plan view runs parallel to the treatment path of the container or the container. The parallelism in plan view has the background that, for example, when filling the container, the filling is done from above or from above can be particularly easy to perform. When lowering the treatment device or a part of the treatment device may also be an oblique course of the movement path of advantage.

It is also possible for the movement path of the treatment device to run parallel to the transport path of the containers from all directions.

It has already been mentioned that the treatment for which the device according to the invention can be used includes, for example, the filling of a container. Of course, it is conceivable to simply drop liquid or flowable material downwards. But it is particularly useful to lower the treatment device or a part of the treatment device so far that the delivery of the liquid or the flowable Guts takes place directly in the container. For example, it may be sufficient to lower a filling attachment of the treatment device and withdraw it later, while the larger part of the treatment device does not change its height. The same applies, for example, to a closing device with the aid of which a cover is put on and twisted while the drive for rotating the cover is not lowered.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the treatment station has a plurality of treatment devices which have a distance corresponding to the distance of the container on the movement path in the same direction from each other. During transport on the transport so the containers are all treated, for example, filled in order.

In particular, it can be provided that all treatment devices are identical in the treatment station, so take over the same activity.

It may be provided according to the invention in a development that the device has at least one further treatment station. These is then advantageously arranged behind the first treatment station. An arrangement would also be conceivable in which treatment devices of one treatment station intervene between the treatment devices of the other treatment station so that the two treatment stations operate on the same section of the transport path of the containers.

According to the invention, it can be provided that the further treatment station is provided for carrying out a different treatment of the containers than the first. It is conceivable, for example, that the containers at the first treatment station are additionally filled with a first product and at the second treatment station with a second product. Then the treatment devices at the treatment stations can be identical, even if they perform a different task.

In particular, it can be provided that at least one treatment device of the second treatment station is constructed differently than the treatment device of the first treatment station, so that it can take on a different task.

The treatment device in the treatment station should treat a container during the movement. It is necessary that it follows its movement. It is possible that the treatment device orients itself at the position of the respective container to be treated itself and thereby determines its position. However, it is particularly useful, in order to enable a simple construction of the device, that the transport device conveys the containers with a defined position, that is to say in particular has a conveyor with a defined position of the containers. The defined position of the containers can be achieved in that the conveyor has receptacles that have a specific Occupy position and in which the containers are received without possibility of deviation.

An example of such a conveyor is a screw conveyor in which the containers are held in the turns of the screw. Calculating conveyors can also be designed so that they allow a precisely defined position of the containers.

For the movement of the at least one or more treatment devices, the treatment station can have a transmission device guided around at least two deflection rollers, for example one or two chains, belts or the like running parallel to one another.

It is also possible that the treatment station has a rail guide for the at least one treatment device, so that the device is pushed or driven along the rails.

The rotating gear means can serve to move the treatment device along the rail guide, so take over only the drive.

However, it is also possible that the treatment device is attached directly to the chain so that it not only takes over the drive, but also the guidance of the treatment device.

According to the invention, the control device for activating the treatment device can cooperate with a slide guide or the like, which can be attached to the rail guide, for example.

Another possibility is that the control device has a servomotor, for example, for each treatment device has its own servo motor.

The containers are transported in a rectilinear continuous motion. Over a certain portion of this transport path, at least one treatment device is moved at the same speed and in each case opposite to a container. During the movement, the container is treated by the treatment device. After completion of the treatment, the treatment device is guided along a circumferential path of movement back to a location where it is placed over another container, which it can then treat again.

Figur 1

schematisch eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung mit zwei Behandlungsstationen;

Figur 2

die Draufsicht auf eine Behandlungsstation und

Figur 3

vereinfacht eine Möglichkeit der Bewegung eines Behandlungsgeräts während der Behandlung eines zugeordneten Behälters.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and abstract, the wording of which is incorporated by reference into the content of the description, the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawing. Hereby show:

FIG. 1

schematically a side view of an apparatus according to the invention with two treatment stations;

FIG. 2

the top view of a treatment station and

FIG. 3

facilitates a possibility of movement of a treatment device during the treatment of an associated container.

FIG. 1 shows in a very schematic view of how a device according to the invention is constructed and should work. As an example, the filling and closing of containers is shown.

A rail 1 is intended to represent a transport path for a plurality of containers 2. The containers are in FIG. 1 moved from left to right with the help of, for example, a screw conveyor with a constant distance. Since the drive of the screw conveyor with its speed and the gear ratios are known, the position of each container 2 can be determined. The rail passes on a device or even partially under this, as it turns out FIG. 2 will still arise. The schematically illustrated apparatus includes a machine base 3 with drives, controls and the like. Above the container 2, a first treatment station 4 is arranged, which is mounted for example by means of stands 5 to the device. The treatment station 4 contains a reservoir 6 with the material to be filled, which passes from this reservoir 6 via manifolds 7 to 8 connections for hoses. The connections for hoses are connected via the aforementioned hoses with connection piece 9 of individual treatment devices. Out of the treatment devices discharge nozzle 10 out down, from which the material to be filled can get into the container 2.

How to get the FIG. 1 can already be seen, above each container 2 below the treatment station 4, a dispensing nozzle 10 is arranged aligned. The lower edge in the dispensing nozzle 10 approaches progressively from left to right the containers and penetrates into this. In the area of the right end of the treatment station 4, the dispensing nozzles 10 are pulled out of the containers 2 again. However, it can be seen that each container 2 within the area in the treatment station 4 is assigned a dispensing nozzle 10.

In the direction of treatment on the treatment station 4 following a second treatment station 14 is arranged, which is intended in the example shown to provide the container 2 with a lid. To this Purpose, the processing station 14 includes a plurality of treatment devices with a shaft 15, which can be both lowered to approach the top of the container 2, as well as can be rotated to unscrew the lid, if it is screw cap.

now to Figure 2. Figure 2 shows even more simplified the mutual association of the container 2 and the treatment station. The containers 2 are transported on the rail 1 from left to right. They have a fixed mutual distance and are moved at a known speed, so that their position is known. Aligned with the same speed and the containers 2, the treatment devices 16 of the treatment station 4 are moved. The treatment stations 16 are attached in the illustrated schematic example to a rotating gear means 17, for example a chain 18. The chain 18 is guided around two guide wheels 19, both of which have the same diameter and rotate at the same speed. The speed of movement of the chain 18 is synchronized with the speed of movement of the containers 2 on the rail 1. This ensures that each treatment device 16, which is located on the in FIG. 2 lower strand of the chain 18 is always positioned directly above a container 2. The treatment device 10 can thus deliver, for example by opening its dispensing nozzle 10 liquid or flowable material in the container. There is a way available that corresponds to the length of the lower run of the chain 18. During this treatment, the container 2 remains in its continuous rectilinear motion without sudden changes of direction. Therefore, there can be no spill or other process that would be detrimental to the container or its contents.

FIG. 3 shows one way in which the lowering of the neck 10 of a treatment device 16 can be controlled. Behind the chain 18 may, for example, below the plane of the guide wheels 19, a link 20 may be arranged, which has a groove 21. In the groove 21, a connected to the dispensing nozzle 10 pin engage, which then causes a lowering of the nozzle 10 into the container 2 in further movement of the treatment device 16.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus for continuous handling of containers (2), with

   1.1 a transport device for moving the containers (2) along a straight handling path during the handling process,

   1.2 a handling station (4, 14), which

   1.2.1 features at least one handling device (16), which

   1.2.2 is movable along a closed-loop movement track such that

   1.3 it follows the movement of the containers (2) with the same speed as the latter,
   characterised by

   1.4 a control device for lowering and lifting a delivery nozzle (10) of a handling device (16) relative to the movement track of the containers (2).
2. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the movement track of the handling station (4) features a section that runs at least approximately parallel to the movement track of the containers (2) during the handling process.
3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein, in plan view, the movement track of the handling device (16) runs parallel to the handling track of the containers (2).
4. The device according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the handling station (4, 14) features several handling devices (16) that feature a distance apart corresponding to the distance apart of the containers (2) on the handling track in the same direction.
5. The device according to Claim 4, wherein all the handling devices (16) of a handling station (4, 14) are identical.
6. The device according to one of the preceding Claims, with an additional handling station (14).
7. The device according to Claim 6, wherein an additional handling station (14) is provided for carrying out a handling process that is different from the first handling station (4).
8. The device according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein at least one handling device (16) of the second handling station (14) is constructed different from the handling device (16) of the first handling station (4).
9. The device according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein die transport equipment features a conveyor system with a defined position of the containers (10).
10. The device according to Claim 9, wherein the conveyor is of a spiral type.
11. The device according to Claim 9, wherein the conveyor is of a rake type.
12. The device according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the processing station (4, 14) features a gearing device guided around at least two turn-around rollers (19).
13. The device according to Claim 12, wherein at least one handling device (16) is mounted on the revolving gearing device.
14. The device according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein the handling station (4, 14) features a rail guide for the handling device (16).
15. The device according to one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the handling device (16) is driven by the revolving gearing device.
16. The device according to one of Claims 4 to 15, wherein the control device acts together with a link guide or similar.
17. The device according to Claim 16, wherein the link guide is formed for the movement of a part of the handling device (16).
18. The device according to one of the Claims 4 to 15, wherein the control device features a servomotor, preferably a servomotor for each handling device (16).
19. The process for handling containers (2) in a continuous movement of said containers (2), wherein

    19.1 the containers (2) are transported along a straight movement track,

    19.2 at least one handling device (16) is moved at the same speed and along the same path as the containers (2),

    19.3 during the movement a container (2) is handled by a handling device (16) allocated to it and

    19.4 after the termination of the handling process the handling device (16) is moved back to the original point in a revolving motion along a closed-loop path, characterized in that

    19.5 a delivery nozzle (10) of a handling device (16) is lowered into the container (2) and subsequently lifted again relative to the movement track of the containers (2).
20. The process according to Claim 19 wherein the handling device (16) is moved parallel to the path of the containers (2) during the handling process.
21. The process according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein several handling devices (16) are moved simultaneously with a distance apart corresponding to the distance apart of the containers (2) in the same direction.
22. The process according to one of the Claims 19 to 20, wherein the same handling is carried out with all handling devices (16).
23. The process according to one of the Claims 19 to 20, wherein different handling processes are carried out with the handling devices (16).

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