Title of Invention

FILLING MACHINES FOR CONTAINERS LIKE BOTTLES, CANS AND THE EQUIVALENT.

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling machine for filling of liquids in containers like bottles, cans, cardboard containers, comprising a lifting device disposed at a rotor for lifting of the containers towards a plurality of filling openings, the lifting device comprising a plurality of vertical lifting rods, movable against a spring force a holding device in the form of a gripping device, and a support and a centering area arranged at a tower area for the container mouth and / or their neck collar, above the filling opening, a piston / cylinder assembly (32) capable of moving the lifting device is disposed on a prefill valve (3), whose cylinder space (33) capable of moving the lifting device is disposed on a prefill valve (3), whose cylinder space (33) is configured as a through passage (34, 35) for supplying and / or draining out a pressure media like rinsing gas, stress and pre stress gas, inert gas sterilization media from a filling bottle (5).

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a filling machine for containers, like bottles, cans and the equivalent, as for example of filling machine for the filling of liquids in bottles with prefill valves assembled at a rotor and lifting equipments allocated to these for the raising of the bottles towards the delivery openings. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION In particular in the filling of drinks existing under prestress pressure like as for example mineral water, beer of other carbonized liquids, lifting equipments are input whose lifting cylinders are developed with standing or rather support disks. Standing on these, the bottles if necessary are raised under input of corresponding centering tulip shaped item towards the delivery openings of the prefill valve - and after completion of the filling process are lowered, released :rom the filling machine and supplied to a sealing machine. On ground of the drink material remaining under pressure, in order to avoid an excessive frothing a corresponding counter pressure is to be built up in the bottles to be filled. For this purpose, the bottles before the actual filling process if required are prestressed under preconnection of further measures like prevacuum forming, rinsing with a sterilizing medium and the equivalent, and admitted with the pressure prevailing in the filling machine vat under use of the carbon dioxide or any other inert gas available there. Known designs show contact equipments which engage the containers in suitable way - as for example with a disk from the floor of the container in order to press the container in required way against the filling unit. The pressing force is Drought up in the known designs from thrust piston assemblies which as for example exist under the bottle disk or also can be planned in hanging assembly in filling units. The pressure changing of the thrust piston assemblies with a pressure gas from a separate pressure gas source is common to the known designs, which has an adjustable and during the working stroke constant pressure. The contact force is thus constant during the work cycle of the filling unit. In the known designs the thrust piston assemblies are continuously pressure charged, act on therefore as per the principle of a gas spring. The contact equipment is lowered and lifted with guiding cams or the equivalent against the piston pressure. The contact force is selected so high through suitable selection of the pressure of the pressure gas out of safety assemblies charging the thrust piston assemblies that in all drinks to be filled at the installation, which can show different carbonizing pressure always sufficient pressing force is available in order to avoid blow-off or rather escaping of gas or liquid at the container edge. Out of this, there results however the disadvantage that the pressing force is too high, that is to say, higher than required. The level of contact force influences however at different locations of the filling equipments, the wear of parts like as for example of the sealing rings or of the items of the contact equipment. A too high sealing force is also disadvantageous. Thus, a not-insignificant pressure is exerted at the control surface against the prefill valve including on the bottle itself. Such a pressure causes on the glass bottles either nil or only an insignificant disadvantages. On the other hand, it behaves otherwise in the plastic bottles, which get in to application more frequently at which the gripping pressure between the prefill valves and free standing disks causes a non-acceptable and undesired casing - and out line deformation. In order to avoid this disadvantage, lifting equipments are adapted which have gripping device assembled at the carrier rods or back up faces for support of the neck collars assembled at plastic bottles or atleast other common containers in mouth areas. A filling machine of this type as for example is known from the DE 2164070 Al. The carrier rods are assembled therein with the allocated support faces as independent component with a cam roller below the outlet passage of the prefill valve. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Proceeding from a such a known carrier rod-lifting equipments, an object of the invention is to propose a simplified constructive development which is practically part of the treatment tops of a such container treatment machine and is to be included in the treatment process for guiding the medium and pressure admission. Another object of the invention is to propose a piston / cylinder assembly capable of moving the lifting equipment in the contacting state in the container treatment machine of the type mentioned at the entry that above the filling openings in and/or at the prefill valve. The cylinder space is developed as through -or entry passage for the pressure media like rinsing gas, stress - and prestress gas, inert gas, sterilization media to be supplied to -and/or to be drained off from the filing container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, there is provided an extremely simple, compact and standing with the prefill valve in a uniform function, a lifting equipment. Therein at least all pressure charged process steps can be utilized immediately for direct activation of the lifting equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention is explained further with the help of the following drawings: - Figure 1 in schematic representation and plan view of a filling machine of rotating design for the purpose of filing of a liquid filing material in bottles. Figure 2 a block diagram of a filling object of the filling machine as per Figure 1 together with an associated control. Figure 3 the lifting equipment as per the invention, disposed above a treatment of a filling plant in the form of a filling object with raised bottle and Figures 4 and 5 the lifting equipment on a prefill valve as pre Figure 3 in the prestress and filling phase. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is described with help of a filling machine with volume filling. It can however also be adapted in any other filling machine or in a bottle treatment machine. The filling machine represented in Figure 1 is one for a counter pressure filling, as for example for the filing of soft drinks, beer, mineral water and the equivalent and comprises mainly a rotor 1 circulating around a vertical machine axle in direction of the arrow A, at whose circumference a multiple number of filling locations 2 is formed, which comprise in each case (Figure - 2), a filling object 3 and a bottle carrier 4 movable up - and away from a lifting means. In Figure 1, all filling locations 2 between a bottle inlet and a bottle outlet of the filling machine with a bottle (PET-bottle) manufactured in each case out of plastic are represented. The bottles 5 to be filled are supplied to the filling machine by a transparent device 6, brought on the required machine by means of a single piece worm 7 or other wise and given over an entry star position 8 in each case to a filling location of the rotor 1. The filled bottles 5 are taken from an exit star position 9 and as for example are supplied to a sealing device (not shown). Each filling object comprises a liquid passage 11 developed in a housing 10 of this filling object, which exists in combination with it's one end over a flow volume meter 12 or otherwise with a circular tank 13 forming a part of the rotor 1 for liquid filling material. The liquid passage 11 forms with it's other end, a feed opening disposed at lower side of the housing 10 through which the liquid filling material then flows in to the respective bottles 5, when a liquid valve 14 arranged in the liquid passage 11 is opened. Each filling additionally comprises an operating means 15 for control of the liquid valve 14 or rather for control of a valve body of this liquid valve. The operating means 15 is preferably a pneumatic operating means which is activated by means of at least one electro magnetic control valve 16 from a control device 17. Further more each filling object 3 comprises for example, a probe 18 determining filling level, which is configured as a conductance probe which transmits a probe signal when during filling of a bottle 5, the meniscus of the filling material in the bottle 5, arranged at the filling 3, has reached specified height level, the probe 18 being submerged in the liquid filling material. The electronic control device 17, which is preferably by a microprocessor supported device having three inputs 19, 20 and 21. The input 19 is connected to the signal outlet of the flow meter 12, the input 20 is connected to the probe 18 and the input 21 is connected to a coordinating common electronic control (coordinating processor) for all the filling locations of the filling machine, and as the control device 17 of the remaining filling locations 2 or the filling units 3. The control device 17 of each filling unit 3 comprises an outlet 23, over which the control valve 16 allocated individually to each filling unit 3 is activated. The working way of the filling machine or of each filling location 2 is described as under: - After the respective bottle 5 from the inlet star position 8 has been given over to a filling location 2, first a volume filling of the bottle 5 with the liquid filling material takes place in a specified angle area of rotation movement of the rotor 1 as per a prestress of the clinging bottle 5 in the filling phase under counter pressure with it's mouth 5' close towards the respective filling unit 3 that means at the start of this filling phase the liquid valve 14 is opened. The volume filling then finishes through closing of the liquid valve 14 when in the bottle planned at the respective filling location 2 specified volume of the liquid filling material sets in. The volume filling is controlled on the basis of the quantity signal delivered from the flow meter. This signal comprises as for example a pulse series in which the number of pulses per time is a measure for the flow - or the volume amount of the liquid filling material, which in the respective time unit has flown through the flow meter 12. Once this aimed filling volume has been reached, then through the control device 17, the control valve 16 is activated in such a way through the operating unit 15 a closing of the liquid valve 14 takes place. Over the central control 22, the desired value for all filling locations 2, or rather their control devices 17 can be fed jointly and in fact over the signal line 24. After the followed volume filling, likewise under counter pressure in further clinging bottle 5 with it's mouth 5' close towards the filling unit 3, a refilling can take place by means of the probe, with which it is ensured that the meniscus of the liquid filling material in the bottles 5 is located on a same level. Otherwise the usual pressure release of the respective bottle 5 follows. The precedingly described execution and working way of a container treatment machine in the shape of a filling machine are known in different executions or can be changed from design point of view in any solution to be taken from the state of the art. As per the execution examples represented in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the holding equipments as per the invention are developed as centering areas supporting a neck collar 25 of a bottle 5 and are fixed at lifting rods 26 moving high. The lifting rods 26 are held in guides 27 of the filling unit 3 and are pressed by means of pressure springs 28 with a guide roll 29 towards a control cam 30 which causes a movement directed downward of the lifting unit through the clinging guide roll 29. In this lower position as shown in Figure 3 the bottle 5 are given over to the centering area. After take over of a supported bottle 5 and leaving the control cam area, the bottles reach towards a delivery opening 31 of the filling unit 3 and are clamped only with contact force of the spring 28 against these. With start of the filling process, the actual main pressing starts. For this a piston / cylinder assembly 32 is located above the filling opening 31 at the prefill valve body according to the shown execution example as per Figures 3, 4 and 5. Purposefully as represented, a cylinder space 33 is arranged as part of the prefill valve 3 and is used as a pressure or entry passage 34, 35 for the pressure media for example rinsing gas, prestress gas, stress gas inert gas, sterilization media and the equivalent to be supplied to and / or to be drained off from the filling bottles. A piston 36 is combined with a lifting roller bearing assembly 37 or its carrier 38 and is movable relative to the lifting unit 3 fixed to the rotor. Through the automatic admission of the cylinder space 33 with the respective process pressure gas or the equivalent, always the optimum contact pressure for the bottle mouth 5' towards exit passage or rather the filling opening is ensured. In the usual CIP-cleaning of such filling machines, corresponding deflector - or rinsing heads can be admitted by the holding devices, in doing so the rinsing media or rather the rinsing pressure serves the purpose of pressing of the rinsing head. The piston 36 can also be executed as correspondingly developed membrane. We Claim 1. A filling machine for filling of liquids in containers like bottles, cans, cardboard containers, comprising a lifting device disposed at a rotor for lifting of the containers towards a plurality of filling openings, the lifting device comprising a plurality of vertical lifting rods, movable against a spring force a holding device in the form of a gripping device, and a support and a centering area arranged at a lower area for the container mouth and / or their neck collar, characterized in that, above the filling opening, a piston / cylinder assembly (32) capable of moving the lifting device is disposed on a prefill valve (3), whose cylinder space (33) capable of moving the lifting device is disposed on a prefill valve (3), whose cylinder space (33) is configured as a through passage (34, 35) for supplying and / or draining out a pressure media like rinsing gas, stress and pre stress gas, inert gas sterilization media from a filling bottle (5). 2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder space (33) is arranged in and / or at the prefill valve / prefill valve body (3) and wherein a piston (36) is combined with a lifting roller bearing means (37) and a carrier (38). 3. The machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the piston (36) is disposed in and / or at the prefill valve body (3) and wherein a housing (33) of the cylinder (36) with the lifting roller bearing means (37) of the carrier (38). 4. The machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the piston / cylinder assembly (32) is directly combined with vertically movable lifting rods (26). 5. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rinsing container is pressable against the lower prefill valve area with the gripping device, including the support and centering areas for the container neck (5'). 6. The machine as claimed in previous claims, wherein a feeder line for a rinsing and/or sterilization medium is connected or connectable with the cylinder space. 7. The machine as claimed in previous claims wherein the piston (36) comprises a membrane corresponding to the cylinder space (33). The invention relates to a filling machine for filling of liquids in containers like bottles, cans, cardboard containers, comprising a lifting device disposed at a rotor for lifting of the containers towards a plurality of filling openings, the lifting device comprising a plurality of vertical lifting rods, movable against a spring force a holding device in the form of a gripping device, and a support and a centering area arranged at a tower area for the container mouth and / or their neck collar, above the filling opening, a piston / cylinder assembly (32) capable of moving the lifting device is disposed on a prefill valve (3), whose cylinder space (33) capable of moving the lifting device is disposed on a prefill valve (3), whose cylinder space (33) is configured as a through passage (34, 35) for supplying and / or draining out a pressure media like rinsing gas, stress and pre stress gas, inert gas sterilization media from a filling bottle (5).

Documents:

00660-kol-2004-abstract.pdf

00660-kol-2004-claims.pdf

00660-kol-2004-correspondence.pdf

00660-kol-2004-description(complete).pdf

00660-kol-2004-form 2.pdf

00660-kol-2004-form-1.pdf

00660-kol-2004-form-18.pdf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

600-KOL-2004-(22-01-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

600-KOL-2004-(22-01-2013)-PA.pdf

600-KOL-2004-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

600-KOL-2004-FORM 15.pdf

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

600-KOL-2004-FORM 27.pdf

600-kol-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

600-kol-2004-granted-claims.pdf

600-kol-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

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

600-kol-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

600-kol-2004-granted-specification.pdf

600-KOL-2004-PA.pdf