NZ241386A - Apparatus for continuously filling cartons with liquid and closing them - Google Patents

Description

o £ L 1 7 R R ; v.; vj yj * : WirSi ■>w p- . - • - «..„. $o6"£riW,Z-S/ BfeSfcU-bU'?-/. I \\\3 . p.,t I, ( • [V .' ' • . .. .Z8.MAR.^. . 12>«IQ Patents Form No. 5 \ \ i' ^ i-\\ < V \ r V. v<V (;ha;. ■r ' 'V ■ * i<c; f \ i NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 1A DEVICE FOR FILLING AND CLOSING PACKS FOR LIQUIDS J4iV/992 ? j v? i tc-Vi In ^l\ J WE, TETRA PAK HOLDINGS S.A.', a Swiss company of Avenue General-Guisan, 70, CH-1009 Pully, SWITZERLAND hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: " * (followed by page la) ' P*. 3 . • - - : i • la A Device for Filling and Closing Packs for Liquids The invention relates to a device ror filling and closing packs for liauids, wherein on the upper surface there is an opening, and wherein the upper surface can oe joined to a pouring device, the device having a) a first feed conveyor with a base for open, empty packs, b) conveyors for intermittently moving packs from a base position into individual intermediate positions and an end position. c) a filler station, d) a stoppering station and e) a carry off conveyor.

Devices already exist for filling and closing liquids packs like the aforementioned kind, wherein the entire upper surface of a pack is Injected during an initial stage, whereupon liquid is filled from the oppositely disposed side, still open, of the casing which is closed first of all on one side by the lid. ana the casing is then ciosea. With this, and with other known manufacturing machines, the process takes place along a conveyor device in a line. Thus, after an empty pacx has been supplied, a cover is welded onto it, and than a cover is welded onto the next pack likewise, and so on and so forth, whereupon one pack after another is filiea ana finally closed.

It is true that a variation to these manufacturing macnines has already been inplenented, with a plurality of nutually aajacent nanarel wheels being arranged on a common axis of rotation, so that four casings, for example, are provided simultaneously with a lid wnicn is injected thereon, whereupon the filling process ana the like take place in four lines instead of one. These manufacturing machines are very expensive, however, particularly since four injection machines have to be provided on the four mandrel wheels.

The aim of the invention is to create a filler- and stoppering device of the afore-mentioned kind which can process a high nuaiDer of packs reliably per unit of tine.

This prooiem is soivea according to the invention in that provided m tiie path movement tenma the feed conveyor 15 & transverse sliding conveyor, ana provided between tne feea conveyor ana tr.e carry off conveyor at a level beneath (followed by page 2) P . 6 2 the base are transverse conveyors and entrainment devices for Intermittently moving transportation boxes, and at a level above the transportation boxes is an intermediate conveyer, and characterised in that the filler- and stoppering station are arranged in the region of the transverse conveyors at a level above the transportation boxes.

In the case of the device according to the invention, three conveyance directions are of importance in understanding the following description. Of these conveyance directions, the longitudinal conveyance direction is that of the feed conveyor, and is also tensed the main conveyance direction. Extending transversely thereto is the transverse conveyance direction which is substantially vertical to the longitudinal conveyance direction. Both directions, namely the longitudinal conveyance direction anc the transverse conveyance direction, are disposed m the horizontal planes. In addition, a third direction is provided which extends vertically to the longitudinal- and transverse directions, this third direction being disposed in the vertical plane according to a preferred embodiment, of which particular consideration will be taken in that which follows. In the longitudinal direction of conveyance, the feed conveyor guides the open, empty packs into a base position. Thence a transverse sliding conveyor is responsible for pushing the row of at least two packs in the transverse direction of conveyance, i.e. transversely with respect to the first longitudinal conveyance direction.

A method is admittedly known in conveyance technology whereby machines are provided with a first conveyance direction which is vertical to a second one. However, the iaportant feature m the device according to the invention is the fact that a row of at least two pacKs, preferably even eight or ten (!) pocka. is processed in stages. For this reason, the device can clearly be described In terms of the way in which a row of packs is supplied in the longitudinal conveyance direction to a kind of distributor, wherein further conveyance is in the longitudinal and transverse directions by means of the afore-mentioned conveyor. The conveyor means preferaDly operate intermittently. The filler-and stoppering device according to the invention is particularly expedient for coupling downstream of a pack manufacturing machine, from which machine a row of packs issues by stroke movement. A manufacturing machine such as this can oe a neat shaping machine, far example. In the case of the present invention, a first row of pacKS is suppiiea longitudinally in a visible line into a base position. This row of pacxs. can. for example, be in one piece, i.e. - tins p. r o (J n 3 toeing necessitated by the manufacturing process in the heat-shaping machine -with one pack in the row being held onto the others. This is also the case with a row of. for example, ten packs. This integrated row is advantageous with respect to the filler- and stoppering device under consideration here because of the accurate adjustment made to the individual processing units above the worK pieces, i.e. above the packs, e.g. the adjustsents sade tc the openings in the upper surfaces. If these are a fixed distance inside a row of packs, correct gripping cf the work pieces by the work tools is better ensured.

Starting froa the afore-described base position, the rows of packs are advanced by stroke oovement, or intensittently, in the so-called distributor in the longitudinal and transverse directions of conveyance. Whereas the transverse sliding conveyor and the carry off car.veycr engage at various heights on the pack or the row of packs ana displace them, different positions in height are distinguished according to the invention for the base. Beneath the base, that is tc say in a plunged position, there are transverse conveyors and entrainnent devices because these indirectly nove the transportation boxes and thus the packs standing ir. the transportation boxes; whilst the intermediate conveyors and preferaoly also the feed- ana carry off conveyors are provided above the level of the case, nore specifically at a level which is even above the transportation boxes. This design means that, according to the invention, the conveyors mentioned latterly which engage in pacKs aDove the upper edges of the transportation boxes have no influence over aovement of the transportation boxes and do not engage in then.

Also, a further height level is expedient which is disposed up above the conveyors and even up above the transportation boxes, even at a spacing above the upper surfaces of the pacKs wnich are to be transported, that is to say the levei for the filler- and stoppering station. It is to be appreciated that even when the conveyors and/or transportation boxes are filled with packs, they can be guided beneath the filler- ana stoppering station, and removed them therefrom, without engaging there. In order to engage with the filler- and stoppering station, some elements of the device accoroing to the invention engage with the worxpieces. in the above-described vertical direction of movement i.e. with the pacxs. as reaains to be described.

By way cf the device according to tr.e invention. :t is not cnly possible to reliably process e large r.unDer of pacxs per unit cf tiae. but aiso parts of the C\ J P.S ' r '\ k device are designed in very advantageous ways in various respects. The particular arrangement of the conveyance elements means that the cycles are staggered in such a way that packs in a pack manufacturing machine can be further processed in a ouch improved manner, e.g. the respective packs can be filled slowly, carefully transported and closed so that they are liquid-tight. By virtue of the special kind of conveyance and thus distribution of the rows being processed, the cycle tine available is ' increased. If the row of packs in question is supplied from the heat-shaping macnme every four seconds, for example, then this row of packs would have to he further processed in four second cycles. By way of the features according to the invention, it is possible to make optimum use of the four seconds available. A larger part of the time can be used, for example, for longer movement-, gluing- or filling processes. Shorter processing cycles are adequate for transfer processes across only short paths. With longer rows of packs, where there are ten packs in one row, for example, conveyance can be seen in the longitudinal direction of conveyance, thus in the longitudinal extent of the row. This is a slower process than conveyance of the row in tne transverse direction of conveyance, when the row only has to be displaced in the transverse Direction of conveyance through the approximate size cf its width, for example. Thus, with the preferred embodiment, where che pack manufacturing machine operates in a four second cycle, the entire cycle is divided up such that three seconds are taken up for conveying the row of packs in the longitudinal direction of conveyance or for the filling or closing processes, and the rest or intermediate amount of a second is taken up to move the respective row of packs in the transverse direction of conveyance.

By way of the afore-mentioned measures according to the invention it is thus possible to handle and manufacture a plurality of packs simultaneously in a plurality of processing stations, resulting in a high performance machine wherein a high number of packs can be processed reliably per unit of time. It is reliable, in particular, because sufficient time is available for filling and stoppering the individual packs.

It is also expedient according to the invention if the transportation boxes are each upwardly open containers of U-snapea cross-section, and in iengrh are equal to the longest row of packs to be conveyed. Processes using devices with a row of ten packs m one piece have alreaay given a satisfactorily high output, in sucn cases, the respective transportation cox is cf a length such that the afore-aentisnea ten packs, i.e. :r.e integrally formed row of paexs. is completely ? ijT* P. 3 6 accommodated ir. che transportation box. Expediently, the transportation box is open at the front and back longitudinally, as well as at the top. In this way. when the transportation box is stationary, the row of packs can be pushed in from one side, and later conveyed away in the other direction. This displacement of the rcw of packs into and out of the transportation boxes is carried out, to use the terminology of this specification, by the intermediate conveyor and by the carry off conveyor. Both are able to engage with the packs, without touching the transportation boxes. The transverse conveyors and entrainaent devices are controlled m such a way that at a given moment an empty transportation box is present in the operative region of the intermediate conveyor, and that simultaneously a full transportation box is present in che operative region of the carry off conveyor, so that when the two conveyors are switched on the one transportation box is loaded and the other is unloaded. When the transportation boxes move, one transportation box is empty at the end of eacr. cycle.

The invention is particularly advantageously further designed in such a way that two transverse conveyors are arranged behind each other in the direction of conveyance of the feed conveyor, the transverse conveyors each conveying in opposite directions and having between their end positions at least one intermediate position beneath the filler station or beneath the stoppering station. It is to be appreciated that the transverse conveyors convey in the transverse direction, so that in accordance with the afore-oentioned first feature, during movement, the first transverse conveyor conveys the respective transportation box to the left into at least one intermediate position, and then conveys it furtner into an end position, whilst the second transverse conveyor disposed behind it conveys the transportation box disposed in the region of the second transverse conveyor, preferably syncnronously, transversely to the right into an intermediate position, ana then into an end position to the. ngnt. The cycle time cf each transverse conveyor is one Becond. whilst the transportation boxes remain in the position of rest for three seconds before the next movement cycle of the transverse conveyor (one second long) begins. Therefore, three seconds are available both for the filler station and for the stoppering station - sufficient time for careful and successful processing.

In practice it is expedient, if, with each of the two transverse conveyors two mteraeaiate positions are arranged between the two end positions, wherein the filler and stoppering station is provided ir. the one mteraeoiate position, and ••nereir. pause times are provided ir. tr.e other intermediate position, partly for P . 10 6 hardening or for further processing operations which are not described here. If there are two intermediate positions, there are a total of four positions for each cf the two transverse carriers, namely the two end positions and the two intermediate positions.

According to the invention, it is also advantageous, if, arranged in the direction of conveyance of the feed conveyor, transversely to one another, are two entrainaent devices which respectively convey in opposite directions so as to bring the transportation boxes from one transverse conveyor to the other. In tins way. each transportation box can be moved along the line of a rectangle, e.g. first of ail transversely to the left, and then parallel to the longitudinal conveyance direction and straight on, and then from the second transverse conveyor back to the right, from the second entrainment device opposite the longitudinal direction of conveyance, to the front etc. This movement of the transportation boxes permits the rows of packs like those described here to be suitably received, prepared and carried off, and it is possible to use two less transportation boxes because positions of rest are provided for the two transverse carriers.

It is also favourable according to the invention if the transverse conveyors and entrainaent devices, and preferably also the transverse sliding conveyor and/or the carry off conveyor, have continuous belts which run around horizontally arranged axes. This is the simplest kind of conveyance device, and it haa been shown to be particularly expedient if the intermediate conveyor and Feed conveyor, and possibly also the carry off conveyor, have continuous belts which run around vertically arranged axes. in order to make particular savings on space, the row* of packs can thereoy be moved in a longitudinal direction of conveyance to which a plurality of transverse conveyor components are added in oraer to smoothly and carefully empty filled contents, and to be able to close the filled packs.

It is expedient according to the invention, if. provided beneath the contact surface of the transportation box are openings for receiving entrainaent member* arranged on the entrainment devices. The contact surface of the respective transportation box is disposed approximately at the level of the afore-mentioned base, ana the transportation box itself touches guides and/or entrainment devices *hicr. have to operate in stroke notion with the transverse conveyors without 'iisturcance cn either side. The entrainment memDers on the entrainaent devices 7 can therefore be short bars, which in length extend in the transverse direction of conveyance. It is therefore ensured that the transportation boxes are conveyed longitudinally through the entrainaent devices because the force introduced by the entrainaent aemoers is guided into the openings and thus the contact surface of the transportation boxes; whereas che transverse conveyors can operate without disturbance because they push the respective transportation boxes cut of the entrainaent members and hold them freely in the intermediate position(s) , before the transportation box is pushed by the entrainaent members of the entrainment device into the end position. It has already been mentioned hereinabove that the starting position, as viewed in the direction of movement of the transverse conveyor, must be empty when the transverse conveyor is at a stands till. Thus, when the entrainment devices are switched on, this empty position is filled, whereupon the transverse conveyors can be switched on when the entrainaent devices are at a standstill. Friction-free movement of the respective transportation box in the rectangular tractc is thus easily ensured.

The invention is also designed such that conveyors and entrainment devices are arranged within an aseptic space closed off by a housing with conduits. Depending cn the arrangement of the conduits, feed conveyors or carry off conveyors can be arranged at least partly outside the aseptic space. However, the ether conveyors, at least, are disposed completely inside the space which can be sealed from external air by a housing and which can then be sterilised. If. for example, the intention is to fill so-called H-milk in a dairy, which is transported and stored in aseptic packs, then it is possible to use the device according to the invention for use of these packs and the afore-mentioned product.

It is also advantageous, if, according to the invention, arranged adjacent to the stoppering station, at a distance therefrom is at least one roller with a wound up strip of pouring devices with a rotating axis arranged horizontally and in the direction of conveyance of the feed conveyor. In a row of packs to be processed, a corresponding numoer of rollers is disposed adjacent to one another on the rotating axis disposed m the direction of longitudinal conveyance, wnerem one tracK can be supposed as being parallel to the actual longitudinal conveyance devices, e.g. parallel to the feed- or carry off conveyors. A test maenme according to the device described here operates advantageously ana satisfactorily. :~or examole. ^ith a row of ten pacKs and thus also with ten rollers ana with ten coiiea stnrs cf pouring devices.

It is also expedient according to the invention if each filler device of the filler station has a vertically downwardly extending filler tube, and if arranged beneath and/cr adjacent to the standing rails in the region of the filler device is a lifting mechanism for lifting the row of packs up over the filler tubes. If the device according to the invention is used for the manufacture of Bilk packs, or if the liquid of the packs in question is Juice, or the like, care 8hou_i be taken that the filler material is rilled m foam-free manner. For this purpose, it is expedient if the pack is filled by the use of a filler tube in such a way that relative movement between the filler tube and the pack is controlled in such a way chat the open, bottom end of the filler tube is near the vertical bottom of the pack at the star: of the filling process, and takes into consideration the filling level during the filling process, and is brought up until the pack is full, and the flow of contents is stopped by the filler tube. Only then should the filler tube be withdrawn from the opening in the top of the pack. This is done, according to the invention, by means of the afore-descnbed lifting mechanism which lowers the pack. In this way, both the filler device and filler tube can be arranged so that they are stationary. This simplifies the design of the filler.

With another advantageous embodiaent of the invention, the stoppering station has conveyance Deans for the pouring devices which are to be placed on the filled packs, which pouring devices have a continuous belt with outwardly projecting, springy clamping receivers, wherein it Mas strippers which are novaole vertically ana in the region of the empty belt of the continuous belt which is movable close above che packs, ana vertically movable sliders are provided to push the pouring device onto the clamping receivers. The pouring devices can be placed and fixed in the hole of the upper surface of the pack in other ways as well. However, a preferred embodiment has the feature described hereinabove.

The pack which is to be processed here is in the fora of a four-walled structure, in the horizontally disposed fiat upper surface of which there is an opening thrcugn which the filler tube of the filler device passes, so that after the filling process the pack is not closea in the region of its opening. In the stoppering station, the opening is covered by pouring devices Demg supplied, placed cn the pack and stuck there. The pouring device can clearly be designed in various ways. The mam thing of importance is that a Btopper is contained for seaiingiy stoppering tne pack. The pouring device can also be a bottom part srovicea witr. a nole ana it can nave a stepper pivotally connected thereto, which P. 13 9 closes che hole so that It is liquid-tight. Thus, the whole unit of bottoa part and stopper can be termed as the afore-mentioned pouring; device.

A strip of pouring devices placed in succession behind one another can be coiled around a roller in various ways, ana held so that it is mounted in the device according tc the invention on the aDcve-descnfced rotating axis. The strip of pouring devices is thus supplied transversely-to the longitudinal direction of conveyance.

With another embodiment of che device according to the invention which has already been successfully tested by che inventors che pouring devices are brought by a continuous belt above the row of packs unci! a pouring device is present on a clasping device ir. the correct position above each pack ir. a row. Then -when the continuous belt is. of course, still at a standstill, and also the packs - on actuation of the strippers all pouring devices are pressed onto the respective holes of the filled packs. The packs are thus closed. To have a device which operates sensibly and with a high output, the stoppering station sust Se of a correspondingly high output. To this end, the strip of pouring devices is guided intermittently over the holes in the upper surfaces of the pacics. and with one embodiaent the pack is pressed from underneath onto the pounr.g device, and with the ocner emDOdisent sliding members operating from beneath m the upward direction substantially vertically pusn the pouring devices ontc a clamping receiver of a continuous strip which projects downwardly. ir the pouring devices are supplied in strip fora they clearly have to be separated. This is done by the use of a blade. With one particular embodiaent, che individualised pouring devices are pressed onto the claapmg receivers. The strippers then become operative and they can be designed very simply as rails extending over the whole row of pacKs or along the continuous belt close above the upper surfaces of the rows of pacKs.

It is also advantageous according to the invention if the stoppering station has two processing stations arranged in the transverse extent behind each other, of wiu.cn the first is provided to position the pouring device by means of the second conveyor, che cianping receiver ana the stripper, and of which the sacond is provided for arranging the pouring device wnich is to be placed in the opening m cr.e upper surface cf the pacx. ^nerem this second processing position haa inctner lifting secnanisa for cne row of caocs. p. 1 **■ With another embodiment, noc described here, the pouring devices have to be inserted and then firmly welded. If, thus, according: to the invention, two lnteraediate positions are provided in che region of the transverse conveyors, then it is also possible to provide sealing means in the second lnteraediate position. With another embodiment it is expedient to fixedly glue the pouring device. The second intermediate position can then be used in the region of the transverse conveyor for hardening because additional time is available. The lifting oecnanisn described as expedient because 1; can be used either to lift the packs onto the pouring devices in the case of the gluing process, and to engage the edge of the upper surface with the pouring device: or it can be used for che purpose of sealing, subsequent tc the lifting process, with the other en0vu_u2e.nl.

The afore-described device is particularly suitable for use when packs are being canufacturea, wnerein the packs consist entirely of plastics material, including the pouring device which is put on in the stoppering station. The packs can, for example, be formed in a heat-shaping machine by deep-drawing from two open shells which are welded together to produce the pack, wherein only the hole is left open in the upper surface of the pack. The hole is used to fill the pack, and the hole is then closed in the above-described way.

The afore-mentioned use is particularly advantageous for a plastics material which ~s deep-drawable and which is preferaDly a thermoplastics material, e.g. polypropylene. PVC can also be used as the plastics material, wherein poiyprcpene is widely known as polypropylene in the art. The pack which can be closed with the device according to the invention thus consists of parts and materials which can be recycled properly and which can decompose easily (in contrast to composite materials such as paper with plastics material). With a particularly preferable embodiment, according to the invention the plastics material e.g. the polypropene can also be filled, wherein the fillers can be chalk, mica. talc, gypsum or the like. Practice has shown that filling degrees of up to 70% are favourable, preferably 60>. it has been shown that these kinds of filled plastics materials can decompose easily, on the one nand, easily and by the use of methods, and that they can be reworked or recycled and also that the properties of the plastics material are not lost, so that these kinds of filled plastics materials are. m particular, deep-crawaole and also capable of sealing. 11 The concept of the invention is thus concerned with the use of a filler and stoppering device of the kind mentioned in che introduction for manufacturing packs which are made entirely of deep-crawable plastics materials which, including the stopper, can seal and which are filled in the way described hereinabove.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows the plan view of a filler and stoppering device of a preferred embodiment, wherein the longitudinal conveyance direction is that of the feed conveyor to the right and is oriented to the left, where the carry off conveyor can be seen to the left.

Figure 2 snows a side view of tne device, looking from the bottom to the top in Figure 1, Figure $ is a sectional view approximately along the line III-III in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a similar sectional view to Figure 3- but along the line IV-IV in Figure 2, Figure 5 snows another similar sectional view along the line V-V in Figure Figure 6 shows an illustration m a perspective view of the path of movement of the row of packs.

Figures show illustrations of another emoodiment for placing the pouring 7 & g devices in the holes in the upper surfaces of a pacK, wherein Figure 7 shows the separating blade and the slider.

Figure 8 shows an illustration cf three successive processing positions. wnerem, from the right to the ieft are shown, firstly, the filling position, then the position where the pouring device is put on, and P. 16 fc"S» *] 12 then, to the left, the position for welding, with this particular embodiment..

Figures shew broken away vertical cross-sectional views and plan views of 9 to 11 a pouring device which can be arranged on a cylindrical casing like upwardly projecting edge with holes on the upper surface of a pack. Figure 9 in the closed condition. Figure 10 freer above and Figure 11 in the open condition in a cross-sectional view, like that in Figure 9. and Figure 12 finally shows the perspective view of a pack which is made entirely of plastics material and which has a pouring device placed thereon, but opened.

A row of, for example, ten connected packs 6 placed on a bar-like base 2 issues from a deep-drawing and shaping device 1 which is only shown schematically in Figures 1 to 3 and 6. As shown in Figures X and 2, the row of packs 8 is then withdrawn in the direction of the arrow 4 by the feed conveyor 3 in the fom of a transportation belt with direction-changing wheels mounted about vertical axes. A stamping device 5 consisting of two pairs of planetary rollers arranged from each other at a spacing equal to the height of a pack, stamps out the triangle 7 (above) and 7' (below/ in the pack 8 shown in Figure 12. during movement in the direction of the arrow 4. The row of packs 8 thus moves to the left into Position I and stops there. It is to be appreciated that both the feed conveyor 2 and also the other conveyors and entrainment devices are driven in stroke notion intermittently, in such a way that e.g. the row of packs 8 which is taken from the bottom of the deep-arawing and shaping device 1 moves forward to Position I and is stopped in that position.

If processing is aseptic, then the entire stenle space is closed off by a sealed housing 9. A conduit is provided at 10, through which the row of packs 6 pasB wnen they move into the housing $. The atmosphere in the aseptic housing 9 is sterile ana there is & slight overpressure in comparison with the external aUaubiJUtsrc;.

In Position I. the packs c wmcn are at a standstill in the stationary row can unaergo any processing operation. _n the case of an aseptic treatment, for ^xaaDis. "i^ey "re supplied with «;as so that the inside cf the pack 8 is F" . 1 r' 13 sterilised; or other processing operations take place. In Position I, the standstill tine of the row of packs 8 is three seconds.

The row of packs 8 is then moved in the direction of the arrow 11 transversely upwards, into Position II in Figure 1. This is done by way of the transverse slicing conveyor which is not shown nor described in greater detail here, sines conventional carriers can be used for this movement. Transfer from Position I to Position II takes place within the space of a second.

The so-called intermediate conveyor is, in turn, a continuous belt with direction-changing rollers on vertical axes, anc it is labelled 12 here. It rotates in the direction of the curved arrow 13. ana is likewise controlled ih sucn a way that it is driver, discontinuous!}'. When it moves, the row of packs is then movea from Position II an Figure 1, to the left, into Position III. In that position, a previously empty transportation box 14 is now filled. The arrangement of gripping devices of the intermediate conveyor 12 is depicted as radially spaced apart fingers, and the construction of the feed conveyor 3 and also of the carry off conveyor 25 are the same. With respect to the gripping engagement height, it can be imagined from looking at Figure 3, that the gripping fingers engage over the upper edge of the transportation boxes 14, so that rows of paacs 8 can be introduced into, or removed from, che transportation boxes 14, without the gripping fingers themselves toucr.ing and engaging with the transportation boxes.

In Position III, the row of packs 8 remains in the transportation container 14 for three seconds. This container is made of a plastics material, for exaaple. ana has good sliding properties and good stability properties. It has also taken three seconds for the row of packs 8 to move from Position II into Position III. During the three seconds that the row of packs remains in Position III, no processing operations are carried cut in this so-called first intermediate position. With a further development to the machine, appropriate manipulations can be carried out to the packs here. The transportation box disposed in the first intermediate Position III is thus provided with a row of packs 6 and is then pusned down into the Position IV in the transverse direction of conveyance 15 by the first transverse conveyor. This is che second intermediate position in wnich the first transverse conveyor stops after movement lasting one second.

K. 1(3 14 If Figure 1 is studied, then three transportation boxes 14 are to be seen in the two left thirds of the housing 9. wherein the first transverse conveyor ia to be imagined as being disposed beneath the three right transportation boxes 14, and the left transverse conveyor is to be imagined as being disposed beneath the three left transportation boxes 14. The two direction-changing wheels of the first transverse conveyor are marked in Figure 2 beneath the level of the base 2 by the reference numeral 105, and that of the left or second transverse conveyor ia labelled 106. Since it is easy to imagine the design of the transverse conveyor with a continuous belt, the reference numerals 105 and 106 are also used to designate the first 105 ana "he second 106 transverse conveyors. Movement of the packs into Position IV is a very careful engageaent process because only the outer U-shaped transportation container 14 is held, and it is only soved through a small path into Position IV in the transverse direction of conveyance 15. for which one second is enough time for this to happen.

From Figure it can be seen that Position IV is that beneath the filler tubes 16 of a filler station, generally denoted by the reference numeral 17. In this Position IV it is possible to see in Figure 2 the way in which the packs 8, with their transportation containers 14, can be moved freely in every direction beneath the filler tubes 16. The lever 18 which can also be seen in Figure M can now begin to lift the transportation container 14, by way of cam controls or a cam. in a vertically upward direction. Therein, the transportation container 14 obviously remains in Position IV in Figure 1 with the packs 8. During rhis movement. the filler tubes lb plunge Li to the hole in the upper surface of the pack 8, so that the pack which embraces the filler tube 16 is pushed up over this until it reacnes a maximum upper position. The valves of the filler device 17 are then opened, and the filling process begins. The row of packs 8, together with the transportation container 14, is slowly lowered during the filling process. This happens by controlling the lever 18, and by way cf cams or cam controls iy. After the filling process has been completed, the row of packs 6 is disposed once again at the height shown in Figure 2. The upper surface of the pack is thus once again completely freed from the bottom end cf the filler tubes lb. The packs which are once again in Position IV are cuw cospletely filled, but they are still open. The filling process takes place within tne space of three seconds, i.e. the packs are lifted, filled and lowered.

P. 19 The filled row of packs is then transported in the transverse direction of conveyance in the direction of the arrow 15', in a downwards direction into Position V. One second is available for this to happen.

The next stage is conveyance of the row of packs 6 ir. the transportation box 14 ir. the longitudinal conveyance direction, parallel to the arrow into the Position VI, i.e. beneath a row of pouring devices which are supplied parallel to one another, transversely to the direction of conveyance 4, in the form of strips, aa can be seen clearly in Figure 1. Three seconds Is available for the packs to move into Position VI. That is a lot of time for a distance of 1 a between Positions V ana VI. Thus, the movement is precision-made which means that the liquid inside the packs cannot spill through the open hole.

With respect to Figure 2. the transportation container 14 Is disposed with the packs 8 beneath and in front of an elongate, rotatable receiving device 20, namely a receiving device for the pouring devices which are supplied in strip fora. e.g. ten next to one another, to Position VII. The strip of pouring devices thus moves over Position VI.

Within the space of a second, the transportation box 14 is pushed opposite to the direction of the arrow 15' into Position VII. This is shown in Figure 2. Disposed beneath the elongate and rotatable receiving device <20 ia a row of packs 8 at a standstill. Position VII is exactly vertically below the shaft of this elongate receiving device ZD, which is rotatable in stroke notion about its longitudinal axis.

Just as with the above-described filling process ir. Position IV. here too, in Position VII (also shown in Figure 2), push rods 21 and a similar cam movement, like in Position IV are used to lift the whole transportation box 14 with the filled upwardly open packs 3, and to push the pouring devices which sit on the mandrels 22 of the receiving device 20, and which are provided with a hot melt fibre. The following then happens within the space of three seconds: the transportation box 14. together with the packs 8. is lifted up; it remains for a short space of time in this position, so that the hot adhesive thread which is arrangea on the outside of the pouring device can coal on the edge of the upper surface ana be fixed there. The row of packs is then lowered back into zr.e previous position, as shown in Figure 2. Only then, if the pacxs 8 have thus P. 20 ^ / L* i % H i i V.; ij 16 arrived in the position shown in Figures i and 2, Position VII, are the aforementioned three seconds over.

The next transportation stage in the direction of the arrow 24 into Position VIII takes place within the space of one second by means of the second transverse conveyor 106.

The transportation box remains in Position VIII Tor three seconds. This is sufficient tiae for the packs 8 to be transported away or transported In the direction of the arrow 4, to the left ana out of the box. The conveyor belt 25 is siscilar to the intermediate conveyor 12 which likewise rotates in the direction of the curved arrow 13. The transportation container 11 comes to a standstill in Position VIII, whilst the row of packs 6 moves tc ths left through a separating device, generally designated by the reference numeral 26. This separating device moves synchronously with the carry off conveyor 25 and separates the packs 8 which are shown individually in the left end Position IX. The separating device 26 has blades which press on the hard companion layers, so that the hard edges blast the intermediately disposed relatively hard and brittle material.

Within the space of a further second, the transportation box 14 is moved out of Position VIII by means of the second transverse conveyor 106 upwards in the direction 24 into Position X.

After the space of one second, when the empty transportation box 14 has arrived in Position X, it does not remain there, i.e. it does not remain there at a standstill for three seconds, bu: it is moved within these three seconds to the right in the direction opposite to the direction of longitudinal conveyance, and into Position XI. It will be noted that in Figure 1 the Positions VI and XI are marxed by broken lines. This is an instantaneous photograph of the two transverse conveyors 105 ana 106 at a position where Lhe two places marked by broxen lines are empty. Thus, when the row of packs 8 is being taken from Position VIII by the carry off conveyor 25, the transportation box 11 is already being pushed into Position XI. The empty transportation box 14 is thus displaced in the space of three secondb.

The entrainment devices 27' 25 are tnus disposed beneath the Positions V ana VI ana x ana XI. 17 Froa Position XI. the empcy transportation box 14 is immediately returned to Position III and it remains there for three seconds, during which ring it ia loaded from the right with another row of packs 8.

Both the first entrainment device 27' and the second entrainaent device 28 extend over the entire length of the two transportation boxes 14 which are disposed behind one another, i.e. across Positions V and VI, and the device 28 extends over the Positions X and XI. These entrainaent devices 27' and 28 are disposed beneath the base 2. however, and they are thus beneath the contact surfaces of the transportation boxes. The entrainment members 29 which project from the empty belt of the continuous belt of the entrainment device 27' or 28 engage in recesses, not shown t cn ths upper surface or the transportation boxes 14. e.g. when the transportation box 14 is disposed in Position X. If the entrainaent device 28 then moves in the counter longitudinal direction of conveyance, thus in the direction opposite to the arrow 4, then the second entrainaent device 28 conveys the transportation box 14 in the direction of the arrow 27 to the right into Position XI. This transition happens within the space of three seconds.

Figure 4 shows the continuous belt of the first entrainaent device 27' to the right, and of the second entrainaent device 28 to the left with the entrainaent members 29.

Figure 4 shows Positions XI and V as the two end positions. The transportation box in is moved, in Position IV, so that it is directly beneath the filler tube 16. so that the filling process can begin. In Figure 4 it is also possible to see the cam 30 which is driven by the motor 31 and also a cam 32 which, by way of a lever 22. moves the push rod 18 in the direction of the double arrow 33 upwards and then back down later on.

Figure 5 differs from Figure ^, amongst other things. In that a roller 31 Is shown in Figure 5 with ten rollers disposed behind one another, as seen above in Figure 2. A strip 35 of pouring devices is wound around each roller. Accoraing to Figure 5. this strip is drawn up over a direction-changing roller 36'. Thereoetween is a heating ana deep-drawing device with compressed air far making the pouring devices. However, it is also possible to worK in other ways with the pouring devices wnich are already present. 18 The strip 35 of the pouring devices passes to a sterilising device 37 to the left in Figure 5. and is guided via guides 38 to the above-oentioned receiving device 20. With one particular embodiaent, hot welt threads are applied to the pouring devices using an adhesive applicator device 39.

Figure 5 shows the push rod 31 which is driven by a common motor 31 or also by individual motors for each unit and by means of a caa disc 10, so that it can be moved up and down by the lever 33'• Figures 7 and 8 show another embodiaent of a pouring device 101, 101a. With this second embodiment for applying and welding other types of pouring devices to the top surface of the pack 8, a second conveyor 30 oust be imagined which has a continuous belt 31 • on which belt clamping receivers 36 are disposed. In Figure 7 it is possible to see the axis 3^ of a direction-changing roller 35. The holding means of the pouring devices 101, 101a, to be described briefly with the aid of Figures 9 to 12, are for the clamping receivers 36. In Figure 12. the pack 8 is shown with the front two side wails 10 and 11 and also with the flat upper surface 102. This pack 8 was formed from two halves which were welded together along a peripheral seam 12, wherein an opening 103 with a peripheral edge 107 was formed in the upper surface 102. The pouring device which is generally labelled by the reference numeral 101 is welded, in this embodiment, to the edge 107 of the opening or of the hole 103 in the upper surface 102. The device consists of a bottom part 108 and a stopper 110 which Is Joined to the bottom part by a hinge 109. Figure 9 shows the pouring device 101 in the closed condition, which is also tc be seen in the plan view in Figure 10. After opening, the stopper 110 is opened up in the way shown in Figure 11, wherein the hole 103 of the pack 8 then communicates with the outside and tne pack can be emptied. This condition is also to be seen in perspective in Figure 12.

Althcugn nominal break lines ill and sealing seams 112 are opened m opening the pack, it is to be appreciated that the premanufactured separate pouring device iQil 2.S manufactured with unbroken lines 111. 112 in the closed condition shown in Figure 9, ana is stored. A ready tuaae pouring device 101 such as this which is to be placed in tne hole to close tne pack is shown in the plan view in Figure 10. A cup-shapeo recess 113 can oe seen, wnich. according to Figure 3, is pushed over t!".e cylindrical casing-nke clamping receiver 36 from the bottom to the top, in the direction of the arrow ~0. onto tr.e receiver *6. 1 Q -k ; A strip 35 of e.g. 2000 pouring devices 104 disposed behind one another is disposed on the coiled roller 51'. whilst another roller, not shown, is arranged behind it. This strip 35 is drawn off from the roller 51'. and after passing over the direction-changing roller 5^' arranged therebeneath (Figure 7), it is fed in the direction of the arrow 55 horizontally on the track 56'.. to a drivable separating blade 57' • When the frontmost pouring device 104 has reached the position 104a (Figure 7). che piston 59 of an air cylinder 60 is disposed in the bottom oscillating position, or it moves directly opposite to the arrow 50 in a downwards direction. This left pouring device 104 is then moved from the position 104a through a step to the left directly over a slider 6l which has a bottom blade at the end associated with the separating blade 57'. When the pouring device 104 is disposed in the position to the left of that of the device 104a. then the air cylinder 60 can be actuated, ana the piston 59 can be pushed up by the slider 6l in tne direction of the arrow 50, wherein, first of all ana on the one hand, the pouring device 104 disposed furthest to the left is separated from the strip 35. and individualised. It is then pushed up in the direction of the arrow 50 onto the clamping receiver 36 on the empty belt 58 of the continuous belt 31- The clamping receiver 36 is then pushed into the cup-shaped recess 113 of the pouring device 104, ana fixes this to the continuous belt 31- During a stroke movement lasting one second, one empty clamping receiver 36 is positioned above the air cylinder 60 with the separating blade 57 every second, and a clamping receiver 36 can be provided with a pouring device 104 every second.

Position IV is shown to the right in Figure 8. in which position the pack 8 is disposed beneath the filler tube 16. To the left of it is Position IV' wherein the pouring devices are pushed by the clamping receivers 36 bv means of the stripper rails 62 into the edge 107 of the upper surface of the pack 8.

Welding of the pouring device is to be carried out in Position V' . A lifting mechanism, not shown in greater detail, is used to lift the pack 8 in the direction of the arrow 61. Heating jaws 68 are arranged on a guide rod 69 so that they can be moved in the direction of the arrow 70, ana they are responsible for pre-neatmg the plastics parts which are to be welded together before the necessary counter pressure is provided by heating jaws ana counter jaws which are actuated by an air cylinder 71. for the positioned pouring device 104 to be firmly welded to the edge 107 of the hole 103 in the upper surface 102.

After being lowered onto the base 2 in Position V' , the row of pocks is then filled and Firstly closed with the pouring devices 101 welded thereto, so that, like with the embodiment in Figure 1, they can be brought into the end Poaition IX by a carry off conveyor. 241386

Claims (15)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for filling and closing packs for liquids, each pack having an opening arranged in an upper surface thereof, and the upper surface can be joined to a pouring device, wherein the device for filling and closing the packs has a) a first feed conveyor with a base for open, empty packs, b) conveyers for intermittently moving the packs from a base position into individual intermediate positions and an end position, c) a filler station, d) a stoppering station and e) a carry off conveyor. characterised in that provided in the path of movement behind the feed conveyor is a transverse sliding conveyor, and provided between the feed conveyor and the carry off conveyor at a level beneath the base are transverse conveyors and entrainment devices for intermittently moving transportation boxes, and at a level above the transportation boxes is an intermediate conveyer, and characterised in that the filler and stoppering stations are arranged in the region of the transverse conveyors at a level above the transportation boxes.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the transportation boxes are each upwardly open containers of U-shaped cross-section, which are equal in length to the longest row of packs to be conveyed. »• 22 241386

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that two transverse conveyors are arranged one behind the other in the direction of conveyance of the feed conveyor the transverse conveyors each conveying in opposite directions and having between their end positions at least one intermediate position beneath the filler station or beneath the stoppering station.

4. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that arranged in the direction of conveyance of the feed conveyor, transversely to one another are two entrainment devices which respectively convey in opposite directions so as to bring the transportation boxes from one transverse conveyor to the other.

5. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the transverse conveyors and entrainment devices, and preferably also the transverse sliding conveyor and/or the carry off conveyor, have continuous belts which run around horizontally arranged axes.

6. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that provided beneath the contact surface of the transportation box are openings for receiving entrainment members arranged on the entrainment devices. /- r va

7. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, ^ characterised in that the conveyors and entrainment devices are arranged within an aseptic space closed off \ 0 •» ^ N by a housing with conduits. r*' I m ! 0 o u

8. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that arranged adjacent to the stoppering station at a distanced therefrom, is at least one roller with a wound up strip of pouring devices with a rotating axis arranged horizontally and in the direction of conveyance of the feed conveyor.

9. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that each filler device of the filler station has a vertically downwardly extending filler tube, and that arranged beneath and/or adjacent to the standing rails in the region of the filler device is a lifting mechanism for lifting the row of packs up over the filler tubes.

10. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the stoppering station has conveyance means for the pouring devices to be placed on the filled packs, which pouring devices have a continuous belt with outwardly projecting, springy clamping receivers characterised in that in the region of the empty belt of the continuous belt which is movable close above the packs it has strippers which are movable vertically, and that vertically movable sliders are provided to push the pouring device onto the clamping receivers.

11. A device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the stoppering station has two processing stations arranged in the transverse extent behind each other, of which the first is provided for positioning the pouring device by means of the second conveyor, the clamping receiy'fcs^g.n^ the ^trip^er^ and o^ which the second is provided for arranging the pouring device which is placed in the opening of the upper surface of the pack wherein this second processing position has another lifting mechanism for the row of packs. 24

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-11, substantially as herein described.

13. A device according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

14. A pack made entirely of plastics material, when manufactured using a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A pack of Claim 15 wherein the plastics material, which is deep-drawable and also capable of sealing, is preferably a plastics material filled up to 70%, wherein chalks and/or mica and/or talc and/or gypsum can be used as filler materials. u