WO2019002461A2

WO2019002461A2 - Device for the treatment of a container in a product filling system

Info

Publication number: WO2019002461A2
Application number: PCT/EP2018/067410
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rupert Meinzinger; Philippo RABAST; Josef Knott
Original assignee: Krones Ag
Priority date: 2017-06-28
Filing date: 2018-06-28
Publication date: 2019-01-03
Also published as: SI3645447T1; DE102017114382A1; EP3645447A2; EP3645447B1; WO2019002461A3; CN110799448B; CN110799448A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for treating a container in a product filling system, preferably for filling a container with a product to be filled and then closing the full container with a container closure, said device (100) comprising a treatment chamber (1) for receiving one container to be treated, and at least one treatment member which acts on the container that is to be treated and is received in the treatment chamber (1), the treatment chamber (1) having a first chamber portion (10) and a second chamber portion (12) which can pivot relative to the first chamber portion (10) about a swivel axis (14) in order for the treatment chamber (1) to be opened and closed.

Description

Device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for treating a container in a filling product filling plant, preferably for filling a container with a filling product and / or for closing a container filled with a filling product with a container closure in a beverage filling plant.

Technical background

In beverage filling plants, it is known to fill the container first in a

Filler carousel, on which a plurality of Füllorganen is arranged to fill with the filling product. Subsequently, the containers filled with the filling product are transported in the open state to a capping carousel, for example, with the interposition of at least one transport star, and closed on the capper carousel by means arranged there sealing members with a container closure.

At high plant performance and with increasing filling heights within the container, it can come in the transfer of filled, but not yet sealed container from the filler carousel to the capper carousel to a spilling over of the filling product, which can lead to contamination of the system and the outside of the container and uncontrolled levels in the then finally closed containers can result.

EP 965 524 A1 proposes a filling device in which a single container to be filled is sealed in a pressure-tight manner against the environment

Treatment chamber is received, is filled in this treatment chamber by means of a filling member with the filling product and is provided after filling with a container closure. In this way, at least those with the handover of a filled, but not yet sealed container from a filler carousel to a locker carousel disadvantages are overcome.

However, the embodiment proposed in EP 0 965 524 A1 requires a large installation space in the area of the bottle feed and bottle removal due to the large stroke of the sleeve of the treatment chamber, so that the treatment angle available for the actual treatment is reduced.

From DE 41 26 136 A, a filling element is known in which a treatment chamber is provided, in which the container to be treated is pushed in from below via a bottle plate with a large stroke.

From DE 195 38 023 A1 discloses a device for filling a bottle with a

carbonated beverage and for closing the bottle, in which a

Treatment chamber is sealed by an inserted from below into a ring seal bottle against the environment.

Presentation of the invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant.

This object is achieved by a device for treating a container in a

Füllproduktabfüllanlage solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the present description and the figures.

Accordingly, an apparatus for treating a container in a

Füllproduktabfüllanlage suggested, preferably for filling a container with a

Fill product and for the subsequent closing of the filled container with a

Container closure, wherein the device comprises a treatment chamber for at least partially receiving each of a container to be treated and at least one on the in the

Treatment chamber accommodated container acting treatment member comprises.

According to the invention, the treatment chamber has a first chamber part and a second chamber part Chamber part, wherein the second chamber part relative to the first chamber part to a

Swivel axis is pivotable to open the treatment chamber and close.

Characterized in that the treatment chamber has a respect to a first chamber part pivotable second chamber part, wherein the first and the second chamber part for opening and

Closing the treatment chamber are mutually pivotable, the device can be constructed overall more compact and efficient.

In particular, it is possible by this expression to reduce the height of the apparatus for treating a container over the prior art devices known and in particular the hub and the space required for its implementation space, which is required to open the treatment chamber and to close to introduce a container to be filled or perform a filled and sealed container from the treatment chamber to reduce.

Thus, upstream and / or downstream transport devices require no special structure. In other words, conventional transport devices, such as transport stars or other conveyors, which are provided for feeding the containers to be treated and for discharging the treated containers can be used, so that the

Füllproduktabfüllanlage can be constructed very efficiently and without the need for a redesign of the other aggregates of Füllfüllungabfüllanlage.

It is accordingly possible, the other units, which for the transport of

treated or the treated container are provided in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, and in particular an upstream feed star for supplying containers to be treated and / or a downstream Auslaufstern for discharging the treated container, easy to connect to the proposed device.

Thus, it is also possible to transfer the container to be treated earlier to the device and to remove the treated container later, so that the available treatment angle, within which a treatment of the respective container to be treated is made, can be increased, so that the plant can be made more compact at a given throughput or can achieve a higher throughput for a given plant size. The required closing or opening time of the treatment chamber can also be reduced by the pivotable arrangement of the second chamber part relative to the first chamber part with respect to the known from the prior art embodiments, in which either a sleeve over a wide stroke must be raised or lowered, or in which the container itself to seal the respective

Treatment chamber is used and must be raised or lowered accordingly over a wide stroke. In the proposed device, on the other hand, the container need not be raised or lowered, but may remain at its supply or discharge level. This is especially beneficial if in the rest

Füllproduktabfüllanlage be promoted to the container to be treated at a constant level, for example, when holding the container to be treated below a neck ring (so-called neck handling).

The treatment chamber and thus the treatment chamber forming the first chamber part and the second chamber part may be dimensioned so that the container to be treated can be completely absorbed in the treatment chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment chamber is dimensioned so that the largest container to be treated with the device can be completely accommodated in the treatment chamber. Smaller to be treated with the device container can also completely in the corresponding

Treatment chamber to be recorded.

In an alternative embodiment, the treatment chamber may be dimensioned so that only a part of the container to be treated can be accommodated in the container chamber.

For example, the treatment chamber can receive the mouth region of the container and seal against the environment. This results in a situation in which the container to be treated is accommodated with a partial area in the treatment chamber, but a different partial area of the container is then arranged outside the treatment chamber. The container interior is but preferably in fluid communication with the

Treatment chamber, so that the treatment of the container interior of the

Treatment chamber can be carried out from.

Preferably, the first chamber part and the second chamber part are geometrically divided so that the released by the pivoting of the second chamber part opening of the treatment chamber as easy as possible access for the containers and the transport devices in the Treatment chamber results. In a preferred embodiment, the first chamber part and the second chamber part each form substantially one half of the treatment chamber.

Preferably, the pivot axis about which the second chamber part is pivoted relative to the first chamber part, aligned horizontally and is particularly preferably in the lower region of

Treatment chamber arranged. In this case, an orientation of the treatment chamber is used, in which the container to be treated is aligned with its container mouth upwards. Particularly preferably, the pivot axis is also perpendicular to the radius of a

Treatment carousel, on the circumference of the device is arranged aligned. This results in that the second chamber part can pivot to open the treatment chamber to the outside. In an arrangement of the pivot axis in the lower region of

Treatment chamber and perpendicular to the radius, the second chamber part also pivots downward and radially outward. Thus, the space under the treatment chamber is not required to allow an opening of the treatment chamber, so that there is a compact and efficient design.

Furthermore, when the second chamber part is swiveled outwards, the treatment chamber is freely accessible, so that the supply of containers to be treated and the discharge of treated containers are substantially unhindered and, for example, by a tangential container guide and / or the guiding of the containers by means of a transport star can be reached. The second chamber part is preferably by means of a pivoting drive relative to the first

Pivoting part pivotally, wherein the pivot drive particularly preferably has an actuator for actively pivoting the second chamber part relative to the first chamber part and / or a roller guide with a guide roller, which is guided on a roller guide.

Particularly preferably, the actuator presses the guide roller on the roller guide, wherein the actuator is preferably a pneumatic cylinder, which is particularly preferably permanently supplied with compressed air from a ring line.

By providing the pivot drive, active actuation of the opening and closing of the treatment chamber can be achieved to provide a particularly efficient To achieve procedural control. In one embodiment, in which the opening and closing of the treatment chamber is performed via the actuator, a roller guide is preferably provided to serve as an emergency guide in case of failure of the actuator, so that collisions between parts of the system can be avoided.

By using a roller guide for opening and closing a particularly simple system structure can be achieved in which an individual control of actuators is not necessary. Pressing the roller to the roller guide by means of the actuator, preferably by means of a permanently biased in the pressing direction actuator in the form of a

Pneumatic cylinder, results in a safe and control technology easy to achieve operation of the opening and closing of the treatment chamber.

In a preferred development, the first chamber part can be sealed off from the second chamber part via a switchable seal.

By using a switchable seal, the closing forces that have to be used to close the treatment chamber can be kept small and it can still be achieved by switching the switchable seal in the closed state of the treatment chamber, a pressure and gas-tight sealing of the treatment chamber. Thus, the structure of, for example, a rotary actuator can be kept simple and the seal takes place only after the actual closing of the treatment chamber. Accordingly, the rotary actuator does not have to compress a seal for sealing the treatment chamber, but merely has to move the dead weight of the second chamber part from the open position into the closing position.

Particularly preferably, the switchable seal on a safety device, which prevents switching of the switchable seal when the treatment chamber is open and preferably comprises a pressure medium supply, which is interrupted when the treatment chamber is open. In this way it can be avoided that the switchable seal is damaged by an incorrect operation of the switchable seal with the treatment chamber open, for example, in that the respective sealing element is pushed out of its sealing groove, because the respective opposite sealing surface is missing. Preferably, a seal for gas-tight sealing of the treatment chamber from the environment in its closed state is provided on the first and / or the second chamber part. The seal is preferably one which can be moved or expanded by being charged with a pressure medium. By providing this switchable seal can be achieved accordingly, that a rapid opening and closing of the treatment chamber is made possible because the concerns of the two chamber parts can take place together without the resistance, which would bring the deformation of a seal, overcome got to. Accordingly, the two chamber parts can be quickly applied to each other and locked together, and only then the switchable seal is switched, while the two chamber halves are already locked together or are in the locked position. Accordingly, the

Actuating device for pivoting the first chamber part relative to the second chamber part are designed small dimensions, so that both space and energy can be saved during operation here.

Particularly preferred is a safety device is provided, which allows a switching of the switchable seal only when the first chamber part and the second chamber part are in the closed position. For this purpose, for example, a valve is provided such that the possibility of pressurizing the switchable seal with a pressure medium is made possible only when the first chamber part is in a predetermined relative position to the second chamber part. Alternatively or additionally, the

Safety device should also be set up so that a loading of the switchable seal with the switching medium can take place only when the first chamber part is locked to the second chamber part in the closed position.

In a further preferred embodiment, an orifice seal is provided, by means of which a container mouth of the container to be treated with respect to the

Treatment chamber can be sealed, the mouth seal is preferably a switchable seal.

By providing the mouth seal further treatment steps on the container can be made possible. For example, can be achieved by sealing the container mouth opposite the treatment chamber, that in the interior of the container to be treated, a different atmosphere or a different pressure is provided, as on the Outside of the container. Furthermore, different zones can be provided and, for example, a different atmosphere or a different pressure can be provided in the mouth region of the container than in the region of the container body. By means of the mouth seal, an embodiment of the device can be provided, in which the container to be treated is not completely received in the treatment chamber, but the treatment chamber is sealed with the mouth region of the container.

In an alternative, the mouth seal may also be provided within the treatment chamber, so that the container can be completely accommodated within the treatment chamber despite the sealing by means of the mouth seal.

Thus, for example, on the outside of the container body, a negative pressure can be provided and in the mouth region a C0 ₂ atmosphere, for example, at a

thin-walled container to allow closure of the container with a container closure under a C0 ₂ atmosphere in a full expansion of the container.

By providing the orifice seal as a switchable seal closing the treatment chamber and / or enclosing the container mouth can be achieved first with a low actuation force and only then by switching the seal a full

Sealing can be achieved. Furthermore, by providing a switchable seal sealing of container mouths of different diameters or larger manufacturing tolerances can be achieved without the particularly high closing forces would be necessary. Particularly preferably, the mouth seal has an orifice sealing element, which has a varying cross section and preferably a lip, by means of which it can be applied to an opposite sealing surface. Thus, even with tolerance-related or production-related fluctuations in the diameter or cross-section of the

Tank mouth to be achieved a seal, especially between the

Muzzle sealing element and the opposite sealing surface can be achieved.

Preferably, in this orifice seal for sealing the container mouth, a safety device is provided such that switching of the switchable seal can only be performed when the treatment chamber is closed and according to the first chamber part is arranged relative to the second chamber part in a predetermined closing position. Here again, it is important that the closing force for closing the chamber and for receiving the mouth region of the container to be filled by the use of the switchable seal can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is achieved by the safety device that inadvertent switching, for example by a faulty switching command or other system failure, the unintentional expulsion of the sealing element of the switchable seal from their respective recording or sealing groove by the application of the pressure medium, without the corresponding opposite sealing surface is present, is avoided.

Accordingly, the operation of the device can be made particularly secure and a malfunction of the switchable seal or even a threading of the switchable seal from their respective receiving groove can be avoided. Preferably, a locking device is provided for locking the treatment chamber, which can be actuated via a control cam, and which can be positively locked to lock the treatment chamber.

By the locking device, the treatment chamber can be kept locked during the treatment of the respective container and any pressures and forces which

For example, be caused by the treatment of the treatment chamber with a gas or compressed air, can be intercepted by the locking device.

In order to be able to use the treatment chamber for the treatment of containers of different volumes and thereby achieve an efficient use of compressed gases, a volume reduction device is preferably provided for reducing the volume of the treatment chamber, which preferably has a volume reduction element with one on the first

Chamber part arranged first part and arranged on the second chamber part second part comprises. Thus, the volume of the treatment chamber can be adapted to the respective container size and the consumption of gases and compressed air can be reduced accordingly. In order to achieve efficient cleaning of the treatment chamber, a cleaning channel extends from the first chamber part into the second chamber part and from there into the treatment chamber and preferably flows into the lower part of the treatment chamber. Preferably acting in the treatment chamber on the container treatment member as a filling member for filling each one received in the treatment chamber container with a filling product and / or as a closing member for closing a in the

Treatment chamber accommodated, filled with a filling container formed, preferably a filling member and a closure member are arranged in the treatment chamber and each act on the container successively.

This results in a particularly efficient treatment of the container, so that after receiving the container in the treatment chamber first filling the container and then closing the container can be achieved.

The treatment carried out in the treatment chamber of the container can - in addition to the just-mentioned treatment steps of filling and / or closing - also include other or alternative treatment steps such as cleaning the container with a cleaning medium, rinsing the container with a flushing medium, disinfecting the container with a disinfecting medium, pressurizing the container with a defined gas to form a defined atmosphere within the container or rinsing the container with a purge gas. However, the treatment of the container in the treatment chamber is not limited to the treatment methods and treatment steps mentioned here. Preferably, a plurality of the above-described devices around the circumference of a

Treatment carousel disposed around a Füllproduktabfüllanlage around to allow a continuous treatment of a stream of containers.

Brief description of the figures

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing: Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an apparatus for treating a

Container in a Füllproduktabfüllanlage, wherein a closed treatment chamber is shown for receiving the respective container to be treated;

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view through the closed treatment chamber of Figure 1, wherein a first chamber part and a second chamber part in a

located against each other closed position;

Figure 3 is a schematic, perspective view of the treatment chamber of Figures 1 and 2, wherein the treatment chamber is open and the second chamber part is pivoted relative to the first chamber part in an open position;

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the opened treatment chamber of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of a treatment chamber in another

Execution with arranged on the treatment chamber filling member for filling a received in the treatment chamber to be filled container with a filling product and a closing member for subsequent closure of the in the

Treatment chamber recorded and filled with the filling container with a container closure;

Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of a detail in which the locking of

Treatment chamber is shown in one embodiment;

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the locking of the treatment chamber according to Figure 6 in an open position;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the locking of the treatment chamber of Figures 6 and 7 in a locked position;

Figure 9 is a schematic, partial perspective view of a lower portion of

Treatment chamber, in which a sealing groove and a cleaning channel are shown; FIG. 10 shows the partial section of the device shown in FIG. 9 at a different viewing angle;

Figure 1 1 is a schematic sectional view through a arranged in the edge region of the first chamber part sealing groove with a switched seal for sealing the first chamber part relative to the second chamber part;

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of the circuit of a switchable seal in two

different switching states;

13 shows schematic sectional views of further possible sealing profiles of the switchable seal;

Figure 14 is a schematic representation of a safety circuit for a switchable seal between the first and the second chamber part;

Figure 15 is a schematic representation of a switchable seal between the first and the second chamber part and a switchable orifice seal for sealing the

Treatment chamber opposite a container mouth;

Figure 16 is a schematic plan view of a switchable orifice seal for sealing the mouth region of a container to be filled;

Figure 17 is a schematic partial view of the mouth seal of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a schematic sectional view of a treatment chamber with a

Volume reduction device for reducing the volume of the treatment chamber for use of the treatment chamber with different container sizes; and

Figure 19 is a schematic sectional view through a portion of the device, in which the transition of a cleaning hole is shown in the lower region of the treatment chamber. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show a treatment chamber 1 of a device 100 for treating a container in a filling product filling plant. In the treatment chamber 1 of the device 100 can be used as treatment in particular filling a container to be filled with a filling product and / or closing the filled container with a

Container closure be performed. In the embodiment shown, it is provided that initially a filling of the container received in the treatment chamber 1 is carried out with a filling product and then the container filled with the filling product is provided with a container closure, without the container being removed from the treatment chamber 1.

In other words, a filling of the container with the filling product and a closing of the filled container takes place successively in the treatment chamber 1. In a variant, however, only a filling or closing of the container in the treatment chamber 1 can be made.

The treatment chamber 1 has a first chamber part 10 and a second chamber part 12. The second chamber part 12 is pivotable relative to the first chamber part 10 about a pivot axis 14 in order to open and close the treatment chamber 1. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the treatment chamber 1 is correspondingly shown in an open position, in which the second chamber part 12 is pivoted about the pivot axis 14 with respect to the first chamber part 10 and correspondingly opens the interior 16 of the treatment chamber 1. In the open position of the treatment chamber 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the second chamber part 12 is pivoted into the open position with respect to the first chamber part 10, a container to be filled can be introduced into the treatment chamber 1

or an already filled and / or sealed container from the

Treatment chamber 1 are removed. In its closed position, the treatment chamber 1 is sealed relative to the environment substantially gas-tight, so that in the treatment chamber 1, a relation to the environment different atmosphere and / or a relation to the environment different pressure can be established.

In the embodiments shown, the first chamber part 10 is a substantially fixed chamber part, which for example via a connection 1 10 at a

Treatment carousel a Füllproduktabfüllanlage can be connected. To one

continuous treatment of a stream of containers to be treated in one

Filling product filling system are usually a variety of

Treatment chambers 1 and thus a plurality of devices for treating containers 100 around the circumference of a treatment carousel, not shown here, the Füllproduktabfüllanlage around arranged. The device 100 runs along with the

Carousel around, for example, the continuous production of one

Fill product filled and closed with a container closure containers to allow.

In order to introduce the containers 100 to be filled into the interior 16 of the treatment chamber 1, a feed device (not shown here) is provided, for example in the form of a feed star, by means of which the containers to be filled can be transferred to the device 100 when the treatment chamber 1 is open. After the transfer of the container, the treatment chamber 1 is closed and the container can be subjected to the intended treatment in the treatment chamber - for example, a filling and closing.

After the treatment of the respective container has been carried out in the closed treatment chamber 1 and / or completed, in particular by filling the container with a filling product and then closing the container with a

Container closure, the treatment chamber 1 is opened by the pivoting of the second chamber part 12 relative to the first chamber part 10 about the pivot axis 14 around again. The filled container provided with the container closure can then be dispensed from the device 100 by means of an outlet device, for example in the form of an outlet star, and transferred to a subsequent treatment device, for example to a labeler or a packaging device. In order to allow a filling of the container to be filled in the treatment chamber 1, a Füllorganaufnahme 120 is provided in the first chamber part 10, through which a filling member can be attached to the device 100, that the filling member with a in the interior 16 of the treatment chamber 1 recorded container and in particular with the container mouth can communicate to fill the filling product in the interior of the container can. The filling member, which is received in the Füllorganaufnahme 120, is preferably designed so that it can be moved to fill the container to be filled in a treatment position with its Füllproduktauslass over the mouth of the container to be filled, and then again after completion of the filling process a parking position can be withdrawn. The retraction of the filling member in a parking position allows a further treatment member, for example one below

Closing member described to reach the container mouth undisturbed and without collisions with the filling member or other treatment organ, so that the other

Treatment organ can also act on the container.

Accordingly, a Verschließorganaufnahme 130 is provided in the first chamber part 10, in which a closure member can be introduced, by means of which the filled container can be sealed within the treatment chamber 1 with a container closure. The closure member, which is received in the Verschließorganaufnahme 130, is also preferably designed so that it is between a treatment position and a

Parking position can be moved back and forth in order to be able to act in the treatment position on the container and to let act in the park position another treatment organ such as the filling member on the container. This can be achieved by a correspondingly controlled advancing or retracting both the filling member and the Verschließorgans successive filling of the container received in the treatment chamber 1 and a subsequent closing of the then filled with the filling container with a container closure, without that through the filling member filled, but not yet sealed container would have to be handed over to another treatment carousel. Furthermore, the container may remain stationary in the treatment chamber or at least be moved only along its container axis to a raising and lowering in the

Treatment chamber 1 recorded container with respect to the respective treatment organ to allow. A basic schematic representation of the arrangement of the filling member 2, which is received in a Füllorganaufnahme 120 of the first chamber part 10, and a schematically shown Verschließorgans 132 which is received in the Verschließorganaufnahme 130 of the first chamber part 10 is shown schematically in Figure 5.

The pivoting of the second chamber part 12 about the pivot axis 14 with respect to the first chamber part 10 is achieved by a pivot drive 2. The rotary actuator 2 is formed in the embodiment shown by an actuator in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 20 which acts on the second chamber part 12 via a pivot lever 22. By actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 20, a pivoting of the second chamber part 12 relative to the first chamber part 10 can be achieved accordingly, and thus an opening and closing of the treatment chamber 1 for transferring containers.

The pivoting lever 22 may be configured as a toggle lever to provide an efficient closure with a high closing force at a relatively low operating force to allow a sealing closing of the second chamber part 12 relative to the first chamber part 10. Furthermore, when using a toggle lever by overstretching the toggle lever, a locking of the treatment chamber 1 in the closed state at a high closing force can be achieved without an actuator would have to exert a permanent force.

The rotary actuator also has an emergency guide 24, which has a roller 240 connected to the pivoting lever 22 and a roller guide 242. The roller guide 242 is stationarily arranged on the treatment device, such that the treatment carousel rotates with its rotating part relative to the roller guide 242. Accordingly, as the device 100 circulates around the treatment device, the roller 240 may correspondingly retract the contour of the roller guide 242 by the rotation of the treatment carousel.

In normal operation, however, the control of the second chamber part 12 is preferably carried out exclusively via the pneumatic cylinder 20 and the guide roller 240 is usually not in normal operation with the roller guide 242 in contact, both to avoid the frictional resistance and to reduce the associated vibration and noise components , The emergency guide 24 is rather only intended that in case of failure of the pneumatic system or its control or other defects in the control of the

However, a reliable opening of the second chamber part 12 relative to the first chamber part 10 is achieved to prevent collisions of the second chamber part 12 with other equipment components - for example, a feeder or an outlet device for the container or completely exclude.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the pivot axis 14, around which the first chamber part 10 is pivoted relative to the second chamber part 12, arranged in the lower region of the treatment chamber 1, such that the fixed, first chamber part 10 with the arranged in the upper region Füllorganaufnahmen 120th and Verschließorganaufnahmen 130 is completely unaffected by the Verschwenkvorgang. Furthermore, by this

Arrangement achieved that a container receptacle 140, which is shown for example in Figure 5, and which is also located in the upper region of the treatment chamber 1, remains accessible as long as possible during the pivoting of the second chamber part 12 relative to the first chamber part 10.

The pivot axis 14 is preferably arranged horizontally, so that the second chamber part 12 folds outward. In an arrangement of the pivot axis 14 perpendicular to a radius of a treatment carousel pivoting in the radial direction can be further outwardly achieved, so that the released from the unfolded second chamber part 12 opening of the treatment chamber 1 allows easy feeding and removal of containers and in particular a allows tangential feeding and removal of containers. The treatment chamber 1 is further closable by means of a locking device 3, wherein, as shown schematically for example in Figures 6 to 8, the

Locking device 3 has a locking pin 30 which a

Locking lever 32 which is actuated by a switching element 34 during circulation of the device 100 and in particular the treatment chamber 1 so that a locking of the treatment chamber 1 and in particular of the first chamber part 10 relative to the second chamber part 12 is achieved.

For this purpose, the locking bolt 30 has a locking element 36, which in a first switching position, which is shown for example in FIG Locking receptacle 38 can be introduced and in a second switching position, which is shown for example in Figure 8, the locking member 36 relative to the

Lock receptacle 38 is rotated so that a positive locking is formed. In order to achieve a gas and pressure-tight training of the treatment chamber 1 and in particular to close the interior 16 of the treatment chamber 1 with respect to the environment pressure-tight, a switchable seal 4 is preferably provided, which

is provided for example in the first stationary chamber part 10. The switchable seal 4 is, as shown for example in Figures 9 and 10, in a sealing groove 40, in the first chamber part 10 and in particular in its edge region, which in the closed

State of the treatment chamber 1 the second chamber part 12 is opposite, introduced. The sealing groove 40 receives a sealing element 42, which is switchable by a

Pressure medium is introduced into the cavity formed between the sealing element 42 and the sealing groove 40 and thereby the sealing element 42 is pushed out of the sealing groove 40.

This is shown schematically in Figure 11, from which both the sealing groove 40, which is provided in the edge region of the first chamber part 10, and the sealing element 42, which in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 1 in the form of an elastomeric cord in the relaxed state is formed circular cross-section, to see. Via a pressure medium channel 44, the pressure medium can accordingly be introduced into the pressure space 440 formed between the sealing groove 40 and the sealing element 42 so that the sealing element 42 wishes to move out of the sealing groove 40. Accordingly, the sealing element 42 is pressed against an opposing surface, for example a surface of the second chamber part 12, for example an edge region of the second chamber part 12, by means of the sealing means.

The pressure which must be applied by means of the sealant in the pressure chamber 440 in order to achieve a tight seal, can be significantly lower than the pressure which is to be sealed perpendicularly thereto.

In Figure 12, another geometry of this switchable seal 4 is shown, wherein the

Sealing element 42 in this embodiment has a rectangular cross-section which has a width which substantially corresponds to the width of the sealing groove 40. Due to this geometry occur when applying this sealing element 42 with the perpendicular to the Pressing force directed pressure force, which is exerted by a present in the interior of the treatment chamber 1 pressure on the sealing element 42, no forces on which the

Sealing element 42 would press out of its sealing position. On the other hand, when using a sealing element 42 having a circular cross section, forces acting against the pressing direction of the sealing element 42 can act on the sealing element 42, which require an increase in the pressure of the pressure medium in the pressure chamber 440 in order to maintain the seal. In Figure 13 further possible geometries for sealing elements 42 are shown, which in the

Sealing groove 40 can be introduced and which can be used for sealing the second chamber part 12 relative to the first chamber part 10.

In order to prevent the pressure chamber 440 of the switchable seal 4 is subjected to a pressure medium as long as the corresponding counter surface, against which the sealing element 42 is to be pressed, is not positioned opposite and accordingly there is a risk that the sealing element 42 upon application of the pressure medium is pushed out of the sealing groove 40, a safety device 46 is provided, which is shown schematically in Figure 14.

In other words, a safety device 46 is provided, by means of which it can be prevented that the sealing element 42 of the switchable seal 4 is pressed out of the sealing groove 40 when the treatment chamber 1 is still open and corresponding to the first chamber part 10 and the second chamber part 12 not yet abut each other.

In this embodiment, the first chamber part 10, which is provided fixed, provided with the schematically indicated in Figure 14 switchable seal 4, which a

Sealing element 42 which in turn is arranged in a sealing groove 40 and correspondingly forms a pressure chamber 440. The pressure medium can be supplied to the pressure chamber 440 via a pressure medium channel 44, wherein in the second chamber part 12 also a pressure medium channel 44 is provided. The pressure medium channel 44 of the first chamber part 10 opens into an opening 442 which sealingly with an opposite opening 444 in

Match is brought when the first and the second chamber part 10, 12 abut each other. Accordingly, the pressure medium channel 44 extends when closed Treatment chamber 1 from the first chamber part 10 in the second chamber part 12, when correspondingly the first chamber part 10 and the second chamber part 12 are locked together. The pressure channel 44 extends through the second chamber part 12 and can there via a corresponding nozzle-shaped connection 460, which can be brought into a receptacle 462 in the first chamber part 10 in gas-tight match when the first chamber part 10 is locked to the second chamber part 12, again be guided back into the first chamber part 10. Accordingly, there is a continuous pressure medium channel 44 only when the first

Chamber part 10 is locked to the second chamber part 12. If the first chamber part 10 and the second chamber part 12 are not locked together, then the pressure medium channel 44 is open and not connected to the pressure chamber 440 of the switchable seal 4.

In other words, in the safety device 46 of the second chamber part 12, which is pivotable relative to the first chamber part 10, serves as a safety device and thus as a switch for the connection of the pressure medium channel 44 with the pressure chamber 440th

Accordingly, it can be prevented that the pressure chamber 440 is acted upon with pressure medium when the treatment chamber 1 is not closed or the second chamber part 12 is not brought into contact with the first chamber part 10. This accidental destruction of the switchable seal 4 can be avoided.

There are other forms for the safety device 46 conceivable, for example in the form of a mechanically switchable valve, which prevents the supply of pressure medium into the pressure chamber 440, as long as the treatment chamber 1 is not closed and / or locked. The safety device is preferably mechanically designed to prevent the sealing element 42 is pressed out of the sealing groove 40 in the event of failure of electronics or control devices.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of a sealing element 42 for the mutual sealing of the first chamber part 10 with respect to the second chamber part 12.

In addition to the sealing element for sealing the first chamber part 10 relative to the second chamber part 12, an orifice seal 5 is provided, by means of which the container mouth 162 of a container to be filled can be sealed against the treatment chamber 1. Thus, the container 160 may be completely received in the processing chamber 1, but for example, different pressures may be provided for the region within the container 160 and outside the container 160. In an alternative embodiment, the mouth seal 5 but also in the field of

Chamber parts 10, 12 may be provided, so that a sealing of the treatment chamber 1 also takes place via the mouth seal 5. In other words, a part of the container 160 is then arranged within the treatment chamber 1, for example the container mouth 162, and a part of the container 160 lies outside the treatment chamber 1.

The mouth seal 5 is preferably also designed as a switchable seal and preferably provided in the expression shown in Figure 16. Accordingly, the mouth seal 5 is inserted in a Mündungsdichtungsnut 50 and there are sealing elements 52 are provided. The

Sealing members 52 may be switched by applying the pressure space 500 formed between the sealing members 52 and the muzzle sealing groove 50.

In this case, the shape of the sealing element 52 shown in FIG. 17 is provided in a particular embodiment, in which the sealing of a sealing element 52 is provided on an opposing surface and in particular on an opposing further sealing element 52 via a lip 520 which protrudes from the remaining contour of the sealing element 52 is. The lip 520 extends correspondingly in the direction of the opposite surface or of the sealing element 52 such that when the sealing elements 52 or the pressure chamber 500 are acted upon by the pressure medium, a sealing engagement of the lip 520 takes place. Since the sealing element 52 due to the tolerances of the respective container mouths 162nd

can be achieved by the lip 520 in each case a sealing engagement of the sealing element 52 on the opposite surface is pressed far different from the Mündungsdichtungsnut 50. The lip 520 is used accordingly, a between two opposite sealing elements 52 or a sealing element 52 and a

opposite gap forming gap 522 at different gap widths to bridge sealingly. The different gap widths of the gap 522 result from the tolerances of the different container mouths 162 of each in the

Treatment chamber 1 recorded to be treated container. Due to the tolerances of the container mouths 162, furthermore, a slight rotation of the sealing element 52 around the lip 520, which serves as a fulcrum, continues, so that a reliable seal can be achieved even with such a rotation. The lip 520 can then still reliably provide a seal. This results in this way by the special geometric design of at least one of the sealing elements 52 with a lip 520 a reliable pressure-tight sealing of the container mouth 162 of the container to be filled from the environment.

FIG. 18 shows a further embodiment of the device 100 in which a volume reduction device 6 in the form of an insert, which can be inserted into both the first chamber part 10 and the second chamber part 12, is provided in the interior 16 of the treatment chamber 1 Volume of the interior 16 of the treatment chamber 1 to reduce. This is important if containers to be filled, which have a smaller volume, are to be filled in order in this way compressed gas, which in the interior 16 of the

Treatment chamber 1 is to be introduced, save.

The volume reduction device 6 is preferably formed at least in two parts, wherein the first part 60 is inserted into the fixed first chamber part 10 and the second part 62 is inserted into the second, pivotable chamber part 12. Accordingly, the two parts 60, 62 of the volume reduction device 6 can be operated as if the

Device 100 and the treatment chamber 1 would be operated without the volume reduction device 6. In other words, the first part 62 pivots the

Volume reduction device 6 and the other part 60 of the volume reduction device 6 remains stationary.

FIG. 19 also shows the connection of a cleaning channel 7, which is guided in a first region 70 in the stationary, first chamber part 10 and in a second region 72 in the pivotable second chamber part 12. By means of the cleaning channel 7, during cleaning of the device 100 a cleaning medium or a cleaning agent are introduced into the interior 16 of the treatment chamber, such that also the entire interior of the treatment chamber 1 can be rinsed and cleaned. Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 treatment chamber

10 first chamber part

12 second chamber part

14 pivot axis

16 interior

100 device

1 10 connection

120 filling organ recording

122 filling element

130 closing organ recording

132 Closing device

140 container receptacle

160 containers

162 container mouth

2 swivel drive

20 pneumatic cylinders

22 swivel lever

24 emergency lead

240 leadership role

242 roller guide

3 locking device

30 locking bolts

32 locking lever

34 switching element

36 locking element

38 locking receptacle

4 switchable seal

40 sealing groove

42 sealing element

44 pressure medium channel

46 safety device

440 pressure room 442 opening

444 opening

460 connection

5 muzzle seal

50 muzzle sealing groove

52 sealing element

500 pressure chamber

520 lip

522 gap

6 volume reduction device

60 first part

62 second part

7 cleaning channel

70 first area

72 second area

Claims

claims

A device (100) for treating a container in a filling product bottling plant,

preferably for filling a container with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container with a container closure, comprising a treatment chamber (1) for at least partially receiving one each

treating container and comprising at least one on the in the

Treatment chamber (1) accommodated container acting treatment member (122, 132), characterized in that the treatment chamber (1) has a first chamber part (10) and a second chamber part (12), wherein the second chamber part (12) relative to the first chamber part ( 10) about a pivot axis (14) is pivotable to open the treatment chamber (1) and close.

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (14) is aligned horizontally and preferably in the lower region of the treatment chamber (1) is arranged, preferably perpendicular to the radius of a treatment carousel, at the periphery of the device (100). is arranged.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second chamber part (12) by means of a pivot drive (2) relative to the first chamber part (10) is pivotable, wherein the pivot drive (2) preferably an actuator for

Pivoting of the second chamber part (12) relative to the first chamber part (10) and / or a roller guide with a guide roller (240) guided on a roller guide (242).

4. Device (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuator presses the guide roller (240) on the roller guide (242), wherein the actuator is preferably a pneumatic cylinder, which is particularly preferably permanently supplied with compressed air from a loop. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first chamber part (10) relative to the second chamber part (12) via a switchable seal (4) is sealable.

Device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the switchable seal (4) has a safety device (46), which when opened

Treatment chamber (1) prevents switching of the switchable seal (4) and preferably comprises a pressure medium supply, which is interrupted when the treatment chamber (1) is open.

Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an orifice seal (5) is provided, by means of which a container mouth (162) of the container relative to the treatment chamber (1) can be sealed, the mouth seal (5) preferably a switchable Seal is.

Device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the

Mouth seal (5) has a sealing element (52) which has a varying cross section and preferably a lip (520), by means of which it can be applied to an opposite sealing surface.

Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking device (3) is provided, which is controllable via a control cam, and which can be positively locked to close the treatment chamber (1).

Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a volume reduction device (6) for reducing the volume of the treatment chamber (1) is provided, which preferably a

Volume reduction element having a first part (60) arranged on the first chamber part (10) and a second part (62) arranged on the second chamber part (12).

Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cleaning channel (7) from the first chamber part (10) in the second Chamber part (12) and from there into the treatment chamber (1) and preferably in the lower part of the treatment chamber (1) opens into this.

Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the treatment chamber (1) acting on the container treatment member as filling member (122) for filling each one in the treatment chamber (1) recorded container with a filling product and / or as Closing member (132) for closing a in the treatment chamber (1) accommodated, filled with a filling container is formed, preferably a filling member (122) and a closure member (132) in the treatment chamber (1) successively each act on the container.