Title of Invention

CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE

Abstract

This invention relates to a container handling machine (1) such as a filling machine, rinsing machine or closing machine for the handling of containers that are accommodated at a neck ring that is integrally moulded at their mouth region, said container handling machine having a rotating rotor (2), at which are disposed handling locations for the containers (6)1 at least one inlet star (4), at least one outlet star and/or at least one transfer star and accommodating pockets (5) that are disposed at the rotor (2) and/or stars. The handling locations are disposed at a reference diameter that is smaller than the rotor (2) related reference diameter of the transfer point of the containers (6) between rotor (2) and inlet stars and/or outlet stars (4) and/or transfer stars.

Full Text

The invention refers to container treatment machines which are fitted with pick-up bins. The container treatment machines fitted with pick up bins introduced in the frame work of this application are planned in the first place for the treatment of containers made out of plastic as for example PET, like for example bottles which have a, so called neck ring. Further, the application of introduced pick up bins is of course also planned for all further suitable container types and likewise for further ancillary and / or supplementary packages like as for example in-and outlet stars, allocated to container treatment machines. Container treatment machines are as for example filling machines, sealing machines, rinser and the equivalent. In higher capacity, they are designed in rotating components, in doing so the treatment locations picking the container are assembled at the circumference of a so called rotary and while circulating carry along the containers during the treatment. The plastic containers provided with a neck ring, when they are empty or are located within the treatment machine , are then as rule handled and / or transported through so called neck handling. The supply of containers to the treatment machines takes place as a rule through known devices for air transport of such type containers. Inside the treatment machines the transport takes place with the help of transfer or transport stars, which are specially developed for the handling of containers provided with a neck ring. The transfer of containers from the air transport, in which the containers are transported in disordely condition without fixed division, to the transfer- or transport stars, which transport the containers in orderly condition and with fixed division, takes place under the use of known entry - or division worms, which isolate the containers standing in batch supported by the air transport, bring on division and followingly supply to an entry or transport star. The next step represents the transfer of containers from an inlet star to the rotary of a treatment machine. The required constructive designs for the solution of this assignment are determined in strong measure through the type of arresting of the container during the circulation with the rotary of the treatment machine. In case the containers as for example are arrested through grab which grip at the mouth area of these containers or rather at the neck ring, then as a rule the transfer- or entry stars show also corresponding grab, in doing so the transfer of containers from the inlet star to the rotary takes place mainly in the apparent contact points of both the pitch circles. Therein the release through the inlet star and the arresting through the rotary, are so tuned to each other from time and space point of view that the transfer takes place certainly quickly and flawlessly. In case the containers are arrested through grab which grip at the body of the containers, then the inlet stars do not show usual way any grab items but the so called star bins which first guide the containers safely with the assistance of external guidances and followingly transfer to the grab. In the first place the large number of necessary components and the high manufacture and maintenance costs connected with it are disadvantageous to the above introduced devices. In particular in the cold aseptic filling up, gaining always larger marked share, there results for such type devices a further main disadvantage, which exists therein that a greater expense must be incurred in order to hold such devices sterile in the running operation. For solution of the problem further patent right applications as for example DE 10340365.5 and DE 1036618.6 have been made available by the applicant, which in the first place deal with cold asceptic container treatment machines, and therein specially with the reduction of the number of components and reduction of necessary clean spaces. A further problem of such type, cold aseptic container treatment machines exists in the sterile air consumption and the cost connected with it. Among others also the above mentioned patent right applications of the applicant deal with the solution of this problem. In the frame work of this and further applications already many problems were solved. Mainly the sterile air loss remained till now non dealt which arise........................................... in known designs at the separating location between the circulating rotary of the container treatment machine or the allocated stars and the stationary inhousing. Known designs follow mainly the state of the art represented in the Figure 1. Therein at the in-and outlet stars, as well as in the rotary of the container treatment machines pick up bins are planned, which pick up the containers in doing so the containers are picked up at the piece of their neck, which is located below the neck ring. In known designs the pick up bins as a rule are designed in such a way that they can cover or pick up the container neck only upto its maximum diameter, in rare individual cases also few millimetre over and above that. Since this type of pick up does not guarantee a secure guiding of the containers, in such cases external guidances are compellingly necessary. These are developed and assembled on ground of available constructive circumstances in such a way that they touch the container neck at the side lying opposite to the pick up bins and consequently press the containers in the pick up bins or rather arrest them there. Through this procedure there results between in-or outlet stars, rotaries and external guidances allocated to these components - which can also be developed as in housing or as com- ponents - a gap whose breadth corresponds to nearly the half of container neck diameter. In usual containers the relevant neck diameter amounts to as for example 29 or 32 mm, so that the breadth of the gap lies in the order of magnitude of 14 or even 16 mm, which has the result, that such type container treatment machines have a high sterile air consumption. It is the assignment and the target of the present invention to demonstrate a device which certainly avoids the above mentioned disadvantages. For this the present invention intro- duces a container treatment machine in-or outlet stars and transfer stars which are fitted with special pick up bins, in doing so the introduced devices are applicable specially for container treatment machines corresponding to the above mentioned applications but not exclusively for such type container treatment machines. Through the special design of the pick up bins, it is made possible to realise a gap width near zero. Likewise an overall advantageous reduction of the pitch circle diameter of the treatment location is achieved. Such type of devices has not become known so far as per the status of knowledge of the applicant. In the following the invention is explained closer with the help of execution examples rep- resented in the diagram. Individually shows the Figure 1 in two highly simplified general layout diagrams first a rotary of a container treatment machine with a circle belonging to the state of the art, an external guidance for the container built as inhousing, an inlet star and a second external guidance allocated to this inlet star, in doing so the width of the gap is clear. Further a like wise pick-up bin belonging to the state of the art is represented and the Figure 2 in a simplified plan view an inlet star and a container treatment machine, in doing so both are fitted with pick up bins designed as per the invention and the Figure 3 in a simplified representation a device as per invention, in doing so a design is shown in which the container neck is not fully picked up by the pick up bin 5. Further developments advantages and application possibilities of the invention result from the following description of execution examples and the diagram. Therein all described and/or diagrammatically represented features form itself or in any combination the object of the invention, independent of their summary in the claims or their reflection. At the same time the content of the claims is made a constituent of the description. The Figure 2 shows first a circle segment of the rotary 2 of a container treatment machine 1, in doing so it can deal with as for example a rinser or rather also with a sealer. In the represented execution example it deals with a filling machine of circulating design. The circulating part of the filling machine, the so called rotary 2 is executed ratable around the machine rotation axis 3. Through the inlet star 4 which is fitted with so called pick up bins 5, the containers 6 are supplied to the container treatment machine 1 in doing so an external guidance 7 supports or rather takes over the guidance of the containers 6 at least for a definite stretch section. It is planned to assemble an external guidance 7 likewise in the areas of rotary 2, where such one is necessary and/or useful. The present invention extends also on the design of the pick up bins 5 from rotary 2 and from transfer - and outlet stars. For the purpose of simplification, with regard to the pick up bins 5 from stars, followingly inlet stars 4 or stars are handle, in doing so they stand obviously on behalf of all relevant types of stars. Through it, that the pick up bins 5 are designed in specially advantageous way, it enables the present invention to reduce the gap dimension of gap 9 forming between external guidance 7 and rotary 2 or rather inlet star 4 to a minor variable amounting to only few millimetre or even only fraction of millimetre. The substantial reduction of the gap dimension is clear in particular in a comparison between the Figures 1 and 2. The design of the pick up bins 5 follows in such away, that the container neck of the container 6 to be transported or picked up through star or rotary is fully or at least rather almost fully is picked up by the pick bins 5. Through this procedure it is achieved that the outer most point of the container neck forms a point of the planned circumferential circle of inlet star 4 or rotary 2 or projects out 1/10 millimetre or rather also a few Vz millimeter over this planned circumferential circle. The position of the container neck determines decisively the breadth of the gap 9, in doing so it is attempted for the reduction of sterile air consumption, to achieve a smallest possible width of the gap 9. The smallest dimension to be realised results in the fully picked up container neck through the unavoidably appearing production - and container tolerances which must be considered in particular between circulating and non-moving machine components. The transition of the containers 6 from inlet star 4 to the rotary 2 takes place under assist- ance of carry over device 8. The transition happens first through it, that the containers 6 are pressed by the continuously rotating inlet star 3 against the carry over device 8. Since the carry over device 8 is designed stationary and non-moving, the container 6 with progressing rotation of the rotary 2 and inlet star 4 is pushed out from the pick up bin 5 of theinlet star 4 and pushed inside the corresponding pick up bin 5 of the rotary 2. Through the extremely advantageous constructive design of the present invention the treat- ment stations located at the rotary 2, as for example rinsing heads, filling heads or even also the sealing heads - as usual till now - do not lie on the pitch circle diameter which goes through the (planned) contact point of inlet star 4 and rotary 2, but on an internal pitch circle diameter, which is clearly smaller. The realisable reduction of the pitch circle diameter of the treatment places amounts to about 2,1/2 container neck diameter. Through it, as for example the inhousings necessary in cold aseptic container treatment machines as a rule, otherwise mainly in unchanged dimension are additionally reduced, through which the sterile air requirement and the costs connected with the sterile mainte- nance during the running operation of such type installation can be reduced further. In a further design it is planned, to execute the pick up bins 5 in such way that the outer most point of the neck ring 10 of the container 6 picked up by rotary 2 or stars forms a point of the planned circumference circle by stars or rotary 2 or projects out a few 1/10 millimeter or rather also a few Vz millimeter over this planned circumference circle. The advantage of a such design lies in a further possible reduction of the pitch circle diameter of the treatment locations, in doing so indeed on ground of changed geometrical circumstances there arises an increased but yet always less sterile air consumption in comparison to the state of the art. WE CLAIM 1. Container handling machine (1) such as a filling machine, rinsing machine or closing machine for the handling of containers that are accommodated at a neck ring that is integrally moulded at their mouth region, said container handling machine having a rotating rotor (2), at which are disposed handling locations for the containers (6), at least one inlet star (4), at least one outlet star and/or at least one transfer star and accommodating pockets (5) that are disposed at the rotor (2) and/or stars, characterised in that the handling locations are disposed at a reference diameter that is smaller than the rotor (2) related reference diameter of the transfer point of the containers (6) between rotor (2) and inlet stars and/or outlet stars (4) and/or transfer stars. 2. Container handling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating pockets (5) are developed such that the said accommodating pockets accommodate the container neck completely. 3. Container handling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating pockets (5) are developed such that said accommodating pockets accommodate the container neck almost completely. 4. Container handling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating pockets (5) are developed such that said accommodating pockets accommodate the neck ring (10) completely. Container handling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating pockets (5) are developed such that said accommodating pockets accommodate the neck ring (10) almost completely. Container handling machine as claimed in one of preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein external guide means (7) are disposed at the container handling machine and/or the associated stars. Container handling machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the width of the gap between the external guide means (7) and the rotor (2) and/or the stars is only a few tenths of a millimeter in size. Container handling machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the width of the gap between the external guide means (7) and the rotor (2) and/or the stars is only a few halves of a millimeter in size. This invention relates to a container handling machine (1) such as a filling machine, rinsing machine or closing machine for the handling of containers that are accommodated at a neck ring that is integrally moulded at their mouth region, said container handling machine having a rotating rotor (2), at which are disposed handling locations for the containers (6)1 at least one inlet star (4), at least one outlet star and/or at least one transfer star and accommodating pockets (5) that are disposed at the rotor (2) and/or stars. The handling locations are disposed at a reference diameter that is smaller than the rotor (2) related reference diameter of the transfer point of the containers (6) between rotor (2) and inlet stars and/or outlet stars (4) and/or transfer stars.

Documents:

645-KOL-2004-(12-12-2011)-FORM-27.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(13-09-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(13-09-2011)-ENGLISH TRANSLATION.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(13-09-2011)-FORM 13-1.1.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(13-09-2011)-FORM 13.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(13-09-2011)-PA.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(16-12-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(16-12-2011)-OTHERS.pdf

645-KOL-2004-(16-12-2011)-PA-CERTIFIED COPIES.pdf

645-KOL-2004-FORM 27-1.1.pdf

645-KOL-2004-FORM 27.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-claims.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-examination report.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-form 26.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-priority document.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

645-kol-2004-granted-specification.pdf