Indian Patents. 278634:METHOD FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS AND CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE

Title of Invention	METHOD FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS AND CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE
Abstract	The invention relates to a method for handling containers, using a container handling machine of the rotary type,comprising at least one rotor which is driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis. The invention is characterized in that the containers are handled on the rotor in a plurality of tracks.

Full Text	Method for Handling Containers and Container Handling Machine The invention relates to a method according to the introductory part of patent claim 1 as well as to a container handling machine according to the introductory pan of patent claim 32. Under the term "containers" in the sense of this invention, one particularly refers to bottles, cans, tubes and other containers hat are suitable and/or used as packaging agents for filling substances of various kinds, particularly also for fluid and/or pasty filling substances. The term "handling" in the sense of this invention refers to all kinds of handling of containers, for example cleaning the containers in case of design of the handling machine as rinser, sterilising the containers if the handling machine is designed as sterilizer, filling the containers if the handling machine is designed as filling machine, labelling and/or imprinting the containers if the handling machine is designed as labelling machine, locking or sealing the containers if the machine is designed as sealing machine etc.; however, also other forms of handling are conceivable. While handling such packaging agents or containers., particularly for high capacities handling machines of rotary type are used namely machines with a continuous or even pulsed rotor driven to rotate around a vertical machine axis, on which handling of the containers takes place between a container inlet and the container outlet during the rotation movement of the rotor. In case of known handling machines, for this handling positions are formed on the circumference of the rotor distributed in equal angular distances around the vertical machine axis these handling positions, among other things, respectively have a container receiver for teceiving a container as well as other specific functional elements for handling. The containers are fed to the respective handling position or to the container receiver there at the container inlet formed by a transporting star. The handled containers are removed from the individual container receivers at a container outlet similarly formed by a transporting star, for any further application or handling/treatment. The handling takes place on an angular region of the rotation movement of the rotor between the container inlet and the container outlet. Due to design reasons as well as space requirements for feeding and removing the containers, this angular region is lesser than 360° and in case of already existing optimised conditions should lie in the range of approx. 330°. In case of high capacities as demanded of handling machines of the rotary type, this limited angular region of the rotation movement of the rotor available for handling results in extremely large rotor diameters, in order to allow an adequate handling time for a high capacity and hence a high rotor rotation speed. Thus for filling machines of higher capacity, rotor diameters in the range of 7.5 meters are not a rarity. In order to achieve a high capacity (high number of handled containers per unit of time) as reduced rotor rotation speed, we know of a container handling machine (WO 2006/011896), in which the handling stations are arranged on the rotor driven to rotate around the vertical machine axis in several tracks encompassing this machine axis in the form of circular rings with varying radial distance from the machine axis. The containers are fed to the handling machine at the container inlet: as multi-track container flow in such a way that to each track of the fed container flow a track is allocated on the rotor, i.e. the containers of each track of the fed container flow land on an own track of the rotor or on the container receivers rotating on this track. Analogously, the handled containers are removed from the tracks of the rotor as the container outlet and guided away for further application or handling in the form of a multi-track container flow. Handling of each container takes place thereby between the container inlet and the container outlet on an angular region of the rotation movement of the rotor, which (angular region) is lesser than 360°. Through simultaneous handling of large number of containers on several tracks of the rotor, although there is an improvement with respect to known machines, in which the container receivers or the handling stations are foreseen only on a single track on the rotor circumference, the multi-track feeding and removing of the containers calls for a cumbersome and even fault-prone design. It is the task of this invention to present a method which allows high capacities with reduced rotor diameter of the handling machine used, in a simplified design particularly also of the container inlet and the container outlet. To fulfil this task, a method according to patent claim 1 has been designed. A handling machine forms object of the patent claim 32. In this invention the containers are fed to the at least one container inlet in the form of a single track container flow and from there handed over to the container receivers passing by on the first track. In the same way the containers are removed from the container receivers passing by at the container outlet, one after the other in the form of a single track container flow, and preferably from those container receivers that pass by at the container outlet on the first track. During handling a track change takes place at least once on the rotating rotor for each container or for each container receiver with the container present there, so that each contaner does not land at the container outlet already after a rotor rotation by an angular range of lesser than 360°, e.g. 330°, but only after a rotation movement of the rotor that is significantly greater than this angular range, e.g. only after the rotation movement of the rotor by about 330° plus 360° or a multiple of 360°. Even with high capacity of the handling machine and hence a high rotor rotation speed, this would allow adequately long handling period and also with the advantage that guaranteed and safe feeding and/or removal of the containers can be retained as a single track container flow. Extensions of the invention form object of the sub-claims. The invention is explained in details below on the basis of figures of a design example. The following are shown: Fig.l In schematic depiction and in top view, a multi-track container handling machine of rotary type for handling bottles, cans or similar container; Fig.2 One of the container receiving units of the container handling machine shown in fig. 1 where the machine is designed as filling machine; Fig.3 A depiction like in fig. 2 with filling elements allocated to each container receiving unit and moving along with it in case of track change; Fig.4 A container receiving unit for overhead handling of bottles corresponding to another design form; Fig.5-7 Respectively in schematic partial depiction, further design forms of a multi-track container handling machine. The container handling machine generally designated as 1 in fig. 1 serves the purpose of handling containers 2 that are depicted a; cans in figures 1-3. The container handling machine 1, among other things, consists of a rotor 3 driven to rotate continuously or discontinuously or in a pulsed manner around a vertical machine axis as indicated by the arrow A in fig. 1; this rotor 3 has several container receiving units 4 in the region of its circumference distributed at equal angular distances around the vertical machine axis, and that too with respectively two container receivers 4.1 and 4.2. In the depicted design form these are designed as carry plates, on which the containers 2 are held in a suitable manner during handling standing on their container base, with their container axis oriented in vertical direction. Both the container receivers 4.1 and 4.2 o each container receiving unit 4 are respectively foreseen on a carrying element 5, in the depicted design form drawn on a vertical carrying element axis TA oriented parallel to the machine axis, lying diametrically opposite to one another and it the same radial distance from this axis. By means of a drive (not shown) each container receiving unit 4 or its carrying element 5 can be rotated or swung in a controlled manner around the axis TA, in such a way that with respect to the vertical machine axis in one end position of the swivel or rotation movement the container receivers 4.1 find themselves radially further outwards than the container receivers 4.2, and in the other end position of the swivel and rotation movement the container receivers 4.2 find themselves radially further outwards than the container receivers 4.1. Thus while the rotor 3 is rotating, those container receivers 4.1 or 4.2 that find themselves further outwards with respect to the vertical machine axis are moved on an outer path or track 6 and those container receivers 4.2 or 4.1 thai, find themselves further inwards with respect to the vertical machine axis are moved on an inner path or track 7, where both tracks 6 or 7 are designed circular and encompassing the vertical machine axis. The containers 2 to be handled are guided by a protractor 8 and handed over individually through a transporting star 9 forming the container inlet to a container receiver 4.1 or 4.2 moving past the transporting star 9 on the outer track 6. The handled containers 2 are removed by a transporting star 10 formin\\ the container outlet from the container receivers 4.1 or 4.2 moving past this transporting star on the outer track 6 and then forwarded to a protractor 11 for taking away the handled containers 2. In details, control of the container handling machine 1 takes place in such a way that each container 2 handed over with the transpon ing star 9 to a container receiver 4.1 lands at the transporting star 10 only after almost two rotations of the rotor 3, i.e. only after passing the transporting stretch formed by both tracks 6 and 7 and is then forwarded by to the protractor 11. A container 2 placed on the radially outside line container receiver 4.1 of an observed container receiving unit 4 while passing the transporting star 9 and moving with the rotating rotor 3 on the track 6 thus lands with its container receiver 4.1 finally at a changing position 12 that for example is siiuated in rotation direction A of the rotor 3 before the container outlet formed by the transporting star 10. At this changing position 12 a rotation or swinging of the container receiving unit 4 takes place by 180° around its axis TA, so that the container 2 moved till ihen with the container receiver 4.1 on the outer track 6 now starts moving along with its container receiver 4.1 on the inner track 7 and thus finds itself outside the angular range of the transporting star 10. While passing by the transporting star 10 the already handled container that is now arranged on the radially outer lying container receiver 4.2 of the observed container receiver unit 4 and is moved on the track 6, removed and ejected for forwarding to the protractor 11. With the further rotation movement of the rotor 3 the considered container receiver unit 4 again lands into the angular range of the transporting star 9, where then a fresh not yet handled container 2 can be placed on the outer lying container receiver 4.2. As soon as the observed container receiver unit 4 again lands at the changing position 12 with the rotation movement of the rotor 3, a fresh rotation or swinging of the observed container receiver unit 4 takes place by 180° arourd the axis TA, so that the container 2 on the container receiver 4.1 now again lying outside and moving on the track 6 is ejected by the transporting star 10 to the protractor 11. The containers 2 are guided through the protractor 3 as single track container flow, handed over by the transporting star 9 in the form of a single track container flow one after the other to the container receivers, removed by the transporting star 10 one after the other from the container receivers in the brm of a single track container flow and guided away through the protractor 11 as single track container flow. Handling of each container 2 thus takes place respectively on two tracks 6 and 7, i.e. on a path stretch that almost corresponds to two rotations of the rotor 3. In this way it is possible, with reduced diameter of the rotor 3 and hence reduced space requirement for the container handling machine 1, to achieve a high capacity (number of containers 2 processed per unit of time), and that too with a relatively simple design. Rotation or swinging of the container receiver units 4 around their axes TA takes place either compulsively controlled with the rotation movement of the rotor 3 through gears and/or curve controls or even through independent drives that can be controlled as desired with respect to rotation speed, rotation angle ar d rotation direction. If the container handling machine 1 is a filling machine, then as shown in fig. 2, several filling elements 13 are foreseen above trac ks 6 and 7 distributed around the vertical machine axis at equal angular distances in such a way that these filling elements 13 rotate with the rotor 3. In this design form, two rilling elements 13 are allocated to each container receiver unit 4, one filling element 13 above the track 6 and one filling element 13 above the track 7 in such a way that these filling elements 13 find themselves exactly above the container receivers 4.1 or 4.2 in the end positions of the swinging or rotation movement of the container receiver uni:s 4. The number of filling elements distributed on both tracks 6 and 7 is thus equal to the number of container receivers 4.1 and 4.2 of each container receiver unit multiplied by the number of these units. After handing over a container 2 to a container receiver 4.1 moving on the track 6, in a first filling phase a partial filling of this container 2 takes place with the filling element 13 allocated to the track 6. Before reaching the changing position 12 the filling process is interrupted. After the track change the filling process for the container 2 still on the container receiver 4.1 but now moving on track 7 is continued in second filling phase with the filling element 13 allocated to this track 7, till the changing position 12 is reached once again. After a fresh track change, after-filling of the container 2 moved along with the' container receiver 4.1 again on the track 6 can take place till reaching the transporting star 10. The quantity of fi ling substance introduced and measured in both the filling phases into the respective container is added up, so that the filling quantity required for after-filling for the containers 2 can be kept very precise. Filling of such containers 2 that are handed over by the transporting star 9 to the container receivers 4.2 takes place in an analogous manner. Obviously also other methods are possible, e.g. a pre-handling of the containers on the track 6 or on a partial length of this trat k and subsequent filling on the track 7 etc. Fig. 3 shows in a depiction like in fig. 2 a further design form, in which the filling elements 13 allocated to each containei receiver unit 4 are foreseen respectively above a container receiver 4.1 and 4.2 and are swung along with the container receiver unit 4 while swinging around the axis TA. Through flexible lines 14 (e.g. hose pipes) the filling elements 13 are connected to the annular tank 15 foreseen on the rotor 3 and containing the fluid filling substance. This design form, in which not only the container receivers 4.1 and 4.2 but also the other functional elements of each handling position are swivelled for changing the tracks 6 and 7 around the respective axis TA, has the advantage that handling each container 2 does not have to be stopped during track changing, i.e. there has to be no interruption at the changing position 12, but can be carried out continuously, so that the time available for the respective handling at a certain rotation speed of the rotor 3 gets significantly extended as compared to the design in fig. 2. Instead of joining the filling elements 13 with hoses 14, a rotary distributor can also be foreseen that joins each filling element 13 with the annular tank 15, whereby this rotary distributor can also simultaneously have control functions. Figure 4 shows very schematically and in a depiction similar to figures 2 and 3, a container receiver unit 4a of a machine for handling containers 2a in the form of bottles. Similar to the way described for the container receiver unit 4, the container receiver unit 4a is also arranged with several same container receiver units 4a on the circumference region of the rotor rotating around the vertical machine axis. Each container receiver unit 4a has two container receivers 4a. 1 and 4a.2 that are respectively formed by a swivel arm 16 with gripper on the carrier element 5a Each swivel arm 16 is designed in such a way that it grips the container to be handled it the region of the container opening or bottle opening, i.e. at the bottle neck and hold it tight. The swivel arms 16 can respectively be swivelled about a horizontal axis that is oriented tangential to the rotation direction A of the rotor 3. With the help of the swivel arms 15 the containers 2a can be swivelled from a normal position, in which the container opening lies above, into a handling or overhead position, in which the containers 2a are held with their container opening lying below, and that too with the container axis oriented in vertical direction. For handling the containers 2a are moved in their overhead position on the tracks 6 and 7, whereby during the handling again at leas: one track change takes place at the changing position 12, and that too by rotating or swivelling the container receiver units 4a or the carrier elements 5a about their carrier axis TA oriented parallel to the vertical machine axis. Handing over of each container 2a to a container receiver 4a. 1 or 4a.2 moving on the track 6 takes place at the container ink t in the normal position (with the container opening on top). In this normal position also handing over of each handled container 2a takes place at the container outlet. Handing of the containers 2a takes place in this design form under track change twice, as has been described above in connection with fig. 2. In this design form the containers 2a are fed to the machine or to the container inlet again as single track container flow. The handled containers 2a are individually removed one after the other at the container outlet from the rotor 3 or the container receivers 4a. 1 or 4a.2 and guided out of the machine as single track container flow. Fig. 1 - 4 relate to design forms, in which each container receiver unit 4 or 4a has two container receivers 4.1, 4.2 or 4a. 1 and 41.2. Obviously there is also the possibility of designing of container receiver units in such a way that for example more than two container receivers are foreseen staggered at the same radial distance about the receiver axis TA. Fig. 5 shows a version in which on the circumference region of the rotor 3 container receiver units 4b are foreseen which in their functioning correspond to the container receiver unit 4, however respectively have altogether four container receivers 4b. 1 - 4b.4. In this design form the individual container receiver units 4b are controlled in such a way that each container received by a container receiver 4b. 1 - 4b.4 is moved with the rotating rotor 3 on altogether four tracks, namely on the outer track 6, on the track 7 adjacent to the track 6 and lying further in wards, on a track 7.1 adjacent to track 7 and lying still further inwards, as well as once again on the track 7 till the respective container after changing tracks once again lands at the container outlet on track 6. The end positions of the swivel movement or rotation movement of the container receiver units 4b about their axes TA are selected ir such a manner that in each end position a container receiver finds itself on track 6, ar other container receiver finds itself on track 7.1 and two container receivers find themselves on track 7, i.e. in the situation depicted in fig. 6 the container receiver 4b. 1 finds itself on track 6, the container receiver 4b.3 on track 7.1 and both the container receivers 4b.2 and 4b.4 on track 7. For explaining the effectiveness we once again consider one container receiver unit 4b and it is assumed that the container rece iver 4.b 1 of this container receiver unit while passing by the container inlet (transporting star 9) finds itself on the outer lying track 6, i.e. one container is handed over to this container receiver 4b. 1 and subjected to the handling allocated to track 6. With the rotating rotor 3 this container receiver unit 4b then lands at the changing position 12, in which the container receiver unit 4b is swivelled about its axis TA by 90° for track changing, so that the container receiver 4b. 1 then finds itself on track 7 and that too on the advancing side of the container receiver unit 4b with respect to the rotation direction A of the rotor 3, and the container there is subjected to the handling allocated to track 7 as well as the advancing position If the considered container receiver unit 4b with the rotating rotor 3 once again lands at the changing position 12, then a further rotation of this container receiver unit 4b by 90° follows, so that the container situated on the container receiver 4b. 1 now moves on the inner lying track 7.1 and is subjected to the handling there. On once again reaching the switching position or changing position 12 a fresh rotation of the container receiver unit 4b by 90° takes place, so that the container receiver 4b. 1 and the container there again land on the track 7, however on the following side of the container receiver unit 4b with respect to the rotation direction A of the rotor 3, so that the container arranged on the container receiver 4b. 1 is subjected to the handling allocated to the track 7 as well as to the following position. This handling can be different from the handling at the advancing position. On passing the changing position 12 the next time once again a rotation of the container receiver unit 4b by 90° takes place, so that the container receiver 4b. 1 with its container because of the fresh track change again lands on track 6 and is ejected out of the machine on this track at the container outlet. Each container positioned on a container receiver 4b. 1 - 4b.3 of a container receiver unit 4b is thus moved during its handling on altogether four tracks, namely respectively once on track 6 and track 7.1 and twice on track 7, so that only after passing the changing position 12 four times the respective container is ejected out of the machine. In this way, even with small diameter of the rotor 3 once obtains an extremely long handling stretch and hence also with higher rotation speed of the rotor 3 and adequately long handling duration. It is obvious that even in this design form at every other container receiver 4b.2 - 4b.4 that while passing the container inlet formed by the transporting star 9 moves on the outer track 6, respectively one container is handed over that is moved on the different tracks 6, 7 and 7.1 in the same manner as described above for the container receiver 4b. 1 of the considered container receiver unit 4b. Fig. 6 shows a design form that only differs from the design form shown in fig. 5 mainly in that the control of the container receiver units designated there as 4b takes place in such a way that in each end position of the swivel movement or rotation movement of the container receiver units two container receivers, namely in the situations depicted in fig. 6 the container receivers 4b. 1 and 4b.4, find themselves on track 6 and two container receivers, namely the container receivers 4b.2 and 4b.3 depicted in fig. 6, find themselves on track 7. Each time while passing the changing position 12, for track changing a swivelling of each container receiver unit 4b takes place about the axis TA either by 90° or even by 180°. In the first case (swivelling by 90°) the corresponding machine is designed in such a way that handing over of a container to the container receiver as well as removal of a container from a container receiver is only possible if this container receiver is on track 6 and has a pre-given positioning with respect to the remaining container receivers of the respective container receiver unit 4b, e.g. the position of the container receiver 4b. 1 shown in fig. 6. In this version again each container arranged on a container receiver during handling, i.e. between handover to a container receiver and ejection out of the machine, moves on four tracks, namely first on track 6, then twice on track 7 and finally once again on track 6. In the second case (swivelling by 180°) the container receiver unit 4b are arranged on the circumference region of the rotor 3 in such a way that the container receivers 4b 1 - 4b4 on the outer track 6 have the same distance from one another, i.e. the distance between two container receivers of each container receiver unit situated on the outer track 6 also has the same distance that the successively following container receivers of adjacent container receiver unit 4b have from one another in rotation direction A of the rotor 3. At each container receiver that is moved past the container inlet formed by the transporting star 9 on track 6, respectively one contair er can be handed over. Analogously, out of all the container receivers moved past the container outlet on track 6 the respectively handled container can be removed and ejected. Handling of each container takes place on two tracks 6 and 7 with track changing twice, so that this version ultimately conforms tc the version shown in fig. 1, with the only difference that each container receiver unit 4b has not only two container receivers but altogether four container receivers 4b 1 - 4b4. Fig. 7 shows in schematic depiction, yet another possible design form of a machine with container receiver unit 4c on the circumference region of the rotor 3. Each container arrangement 4c has three container receivers 4c. 1, 4c.2 and 4c.3 that are respectively foreseen staggered by 120° about the receiving axis TA and at the same radial distance from this axis. The containers handled and arranged on the container receivers 4c. 1, 4c.2 and 4c.3 are moved during handling on three tracks 6, 7 and 7.1 by rotating each container receiver unit 4c thrice about the axis TA by respectively 120°. It is common to all described design forms that the containers 2 or 2a are fed as single track container flow in the container inlet and handed over there respectively in a single track container flow one after the other o the container receivers passing by the container handover on the outer track 6, and the handled containers are removed from the container receivers passing by the container outlet on the outer track 6 in the form of a single track container flow. Handing over the containers to the machine as well as guided away the containers out of the machine one can thus takes place with simple and proven agents, which very significantly contributes to the operation safety of the respective handling machine one. The container handling machines 1 can be designed for various handling purposes, for example also as rinser, sterilizer, sealer, labelling machine etc. The container receivers and also the functional elements use for handling can have different designs adapted to the particular purpose of application and/or to the respective type, shape and/or size of the containers. According to the invention it is also particularly foreseen that the container receiver can be designed as so called neck ring supports, so that the containers 2 after their handover the rotor 3 of the container handling machine do not stand on their container base, but are held at a collar designed below the container mouth. The expert knows such extensions and method procedures by the term "neck handling", so that a detailed description is being left out at this point. Besides, it is common to all design forms hat the container receivers 4.1,4.2, 4a. 1,4a.2, 4b. l _ 4b.4 or 4c. 1 - 4c.3 are designed in such a way that the containers 2 or 2a are held secured at these container receivers, particularly also against the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation movement of the rotor 3. The invention has been described above on the basis of a design example. It is obvious that numerous alterations and variations are possible without departing from the basic concept of the invention. Patent Claims 1. Method for handling containers (2,2a) by using a container handling machine (1) of rotary type with at least one rotor (3) driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, where handling of the containers (2, 2a) takes place on the rotor (3) and for this the containers are handed over to the rotor (3) one after the other at at least one container handover (9) and are moved along with it on at least a partial length of a first track (6) encompassing the vertical machine axis, and where the handled containers are removed from the rotor (3) at at least one container outlet (10), having the distinctive feature that during handling the containers (2, 2a) are moved by the rotating rotor (3) and taken through at least one track change on a partial length of at least another track (7, 7.1) encompassing the vertical machine axis. 2. Method as per claim 1, having the distinctive feature that the first track (6) and the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are foreseen at a different distance from the vertical machine axis. 3. Method as per claim 1 or 2, having the distinctive feature that the first track (6) has the greater distance from the vertical machine axis. 4. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the first track and/or the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are respectively designed as an arc encompassing the vertical machine axis. 5. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that during handling, at at least one pre-given angular position (12) of the rotation movement of the rotor (3) the at least one track change takes place. 6. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that during handling of each container (2, 2a) a track change takes place several times. 7. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) are moved during handling on two tracks (6, 7). 8. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that during handling the containers are moved on at least three tracks (6, 7, 7.1). 9. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the handled containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10) on the first track. 10. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that during handling the containers (2, 2a) are moved over and angular range of the rotating rotor (3) significantly greater than 360°. 11. Method as per claim 10, having the distinctive feature that during handling the containers (2, 2a) are moved on the first track (6) over an angular range lesser than 360° and on the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) by an angular range of 360° or almost 360°. 12. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) as single track container flow. 13. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10) as single track container flow. 14. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) are handed over at the at least one container handover (9) one after the other to container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) of the rotor (3) passing by on the first track (6) and after handling they are removed from the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1.- 4c.3) at the at least one container outlet (10), and the containers (2, 2a) are moved with the respective container receiver (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) at least on a partial length of the at least one additional track (7, 7.1). 15. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the at least one track change takes place by a movement of the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) with the containers (2, 2a) relative to the machine axis or to the rotor (3). 16. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -4c.3) are moved during rotation of the rotor (3) about the vertical machine axis at least once about a rotation or swivel axis (TA) oriented parallel to or almost parallel to the machine axis and radially staggered against the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a.l, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3), from at least a first position into a second position with a radial distance from the vertical machine axis that is different to the first position, and hereby respectively another container receiver lands at the first position. 17. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the movement of the container receivers while track changing takes place in such a way that each container receiver (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) moved out of the first track (6) is replaced by another container receivers. 18. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2: 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for track changing between the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7) and/or for track changing between two additional tracks (7, 7.1) are moved relative to the vertical machine axis or to the rotor (3) in such a way that this relative movement has at least one movement component running radial to the machine axis. 19. Method as per claim 18, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for track changing are respectively swivelled about an axis (TA) radially staggered opposite to the receiver and orier ted parallel or almost parallel to the vertical machine axis. 20. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2) are arranged standing on t:he container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2;4b.l-4b.4;4c.l.-4c.3). 21. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2a) are held suspended against the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2). 22. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that respectively at least two containei receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) form a container receiver anit (4, 4a, 4b, 4c), in which the container receivers are arranged at the same radial distance from a receiving axis (TA), and each container receiver (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) is rotated or swivelled about this receiving axis (TA) for track changing. 23. Method as per one of the previous claims. having the distinctive feature that each container receiver unit (4b, 4c) has at least three, preferably four container receivers. 24. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2), in addition to the movement effecting a track change, can be rotated or swivel ed about at least one axis, e.g. about an axis parallel or almost parallel to the machine axis and/or about an axis tangential or almost tangential to the rotation direction (A) of the rotor (3). 25. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) in an upright position with the respective container opening lying above and at the container handover (9) before handover or after handover to a container receiver (4a. 1, 4a.2) are brought into a position different from the upright position, e.g. into an overhead position, and the containers (2a) after handling at the container receivers (4a. 1,4a.2) or at the at least one container outlet (10) are brought back to their upright position. 26. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the handling machine (1) is a filling machine: for filling the containers (2) with a fluid filling substance. 27. Method as per claim 26, having the distinctive feature that the filling process is interrupted during at least one track change and continued after the track change. 28. Method as per claim 27, having the distinctive feature that the filling substance quantities introduced into the respective container (2) before the at least one track change and alter the at least one track change are added to an actual value, and by comparing wiih a rated value a remaining filling substance is determined that is then introduced nto the respective container (2) in a corrective filling phase. 29. Method as per claim 28, having the distinctive feature that the corrective filling phase takes place after another track change, preferably after a track change on to the first track. 30. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the handling machine (1) is designed as rinser for cleaning the containers (2). 31. Method as per claim 30, having the distinctive feature that on the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7, 7.1), a handling of the containers (2a) takes place with different fluid cleaning mediums, e.g. on the first track (6) or on a partial stretch of the first track (6) a pre-rinsing with water, preferably with re-used water, on another subsequent track (7) treatment with another treatment medium, preferably with a treatment medium containing water and at least one cleaning agent, as well as after another track change a final spraying for removing the treatment medium or residues of the treatment medium, e.g. with fresh water, whereby this final spraying takes place on the first track (6). 32. Container handling machine of rotary type for handling containers (2, 2a), with at least one rotor (3) driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, with container receivers (4.1,4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3), where the containers (2, 2a) to be handled are handed over one after the other at at least one container handover (9) to container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) passing by on a first track (6) encompassing the vertical machine axis, and the containers after handling are removed at at least one container outlet from the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c.l.-4c.3), having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1. 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for a track change can be moved relative to the vertical machine axis or to the rotor (3) in such a way that the containers (2, 2a) arranged on the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1 - 4c.3) are moved during handling with the rotating rotor (3) through at least one track change and respectively at least on a partial length of another track (7. 7.1) encompassing the vertical machine axis. 33. Container handling machine as per claim 32, having the distinctive feature that the first track (6) as well as the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are foreseen at a different distance from the vertical machine axis. 34. Container handling machine as per claim 32 or 33, having the distinctive feature that has the greater distance from the vertical machine axis. 35. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the first track and/or the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are respectively designed as an arc encompassing the vertical machine axis. 36. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 41.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be controlled in such a way that the track change during handling takes place at at least one pre-given angular position (12) of the rotation movement of the rotor (3). 37. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be controlled in such a way that during handling of each container (2, 2a) several track changes take place. 38. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be controlled in such a way that the containers (2, 2a) are moved on two tracks (6, 7) during handling. 39. Container handling machine as pur one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1. 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be controlled in such a way that the containers are moved on at least three tracks (6, 7, 7.1) during handling. 40. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be controlled in such a way that the handled containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10) on the first track (6). 41. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) during handling are moved over an angular range of the rotating rotor (3) significantly greater than 360°. 42. Container handling machine as per claim 41, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) during handling are moved on the first track (6) over an angular range lesser than 360° and on the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) over an angular range of 360° or almost 360°. 43. Container handling machi ne as pur one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) as single track container flow. 44. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10) as single track flow. 45. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) are moved during rotation of the rotor (3) about the vertical machine axis at least once about a rotation or swivel axis (TA) oriented parallel to or almost parallel to the machine axis and radially staggered against the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c.l. -4c.3), from at least a first position into a second position with a radial distance from the vertical machine axis that is different to the first position, and hereby respectively another container receiver lands at the first position. 46. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the movement of the container receivers while track changing takes place in such a way that each container receiver (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -4c.3) moved out of the first track (6) is replaced by another container receivers. 47. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for track changing between the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7) and/or for track changing between two additional tracks (7, 7.1) are moved relative to the vertical machine axis or to the rotor (3) in such a way that this relative movement has at least one movement component running radial to the machine axis. 48. Container handling machine as per claim 18, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1. 4.2; 4a.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -4c.3) for track changing are respectively swivelled about an axis (TA) radially staggered opposite to the receiver and oriented parallel or almost parallel to the vertical machine axis. 49. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4b 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1 - 4c.3) are designed for an upright arrangement of the containers (2). 50. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2) are designed for a suspended arrangement of the containers (2a). 51. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that respectively at least two container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) form a container receiver unit (4, 4a, 4b, 4c), in which the container receivers are arranged at the same radial distance from a receiving axis (TA), and each container receiver (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) is rotated or swivelled about this receiving axis (TA) for track changing. 52. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that each container receiver unit (4b,4c) has at least three, preferably four container receivers. 53. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2), in addition to the movement effecting a track change, can be rotated or swivelled about at least one axis, e.g. about an axis parallel or almost parallel to the machine axis and/or about an axis tangential or almost tangential to the rotation d rection (A) of the rotor (3). 54. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) in an upright position with the respective container opening lying above and at the container handover (9) before handover or after handover to a container receiver (4a. 1, 4a.2) are brought into a position different from the upright position, e.g. into an overhead position, and the containers (2a) after handling at the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2) or at the at least one container outlet (10) are brought back to their upright position. 55. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that it is a filling machine for filling the containers (2) with a fluid filling substance. 56. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that it is designed as rinser for cleaning the containers (2). 57. Container handling machine as per claim 56, having the distinctive feature that on the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7, 7.1), a handling of the containers (2a) takes place with different fluid cleaning mediums, e.g. on the first track (6) or on a partial stretch of the first track (6) a pre-rinsing with water, preferably with re-used water, on another subsequent track (7) treatment with another treatment medium, preferably with a treatment medium containing water and at least one cleaning agent, as well as after another track change a final spraying for removing the treatment medium or residues of the treatment medium, e.g. with fresh water, whereby this final spraying takes place on the first track (6). The invention relates to a method for handling containers, using a container handling machine of the rotary type,comprising at least one rotor which is driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis. The invention is characterized in that the containers are handled on the rotor in a plurality of tracks.

Full Text

Method for Handling Containers and Container Handling Machine
The invention relates to a method according to the introductory part of patent claim 1 as
well as to a container handling machine according to the introductory pan of patent
claim 32.
Under the term "containers" in the sense of this invention, one particularly refers to
bottles, cans, tubes and other containers hat are suitable and/or used as packaging agents
for filling substances of various kinds, particularly also for fluid and/or pasty filling
substances.
The term "handling" in the sense of this invention refers to all kinds of handling of
containers, for example cleaning the containers in case of design of the handling machine
as rinser, sterilising the containers if the handling machine is designed as sterilizer, filling
the containers if the handling machine is designed as filling machine, labelling and/or
imprinting the containers if the handling machine is designed as labelling machine,
locking or sealing the containers if the machine is designed as sealing machine etc.;
however, also other forms of handling are conceivable.
While handling such packaging agents or containers., particularly for high capacities
handling machines of rotary type are used namely machines with a continuous or even
pulsed rotor driven to rotate around a vertical machine axis, on which handling of the
containers takes place between a container inlet and the container outlet during the
rotation movement of the rotor. In case of known handling machines, for this handling
positions are formed on the circumference of the rotor distributed in equal angular
distances around the vertical machine axis these handling positions, among other things,
respectively have a container receiver for teceiving a container as well as other specific
functional elements for handling. The containers are fed to the respective handling
position or to the container receiver there at the container inlet formed by a transporting
star. The handled containers are removed from the individual container receivers at a
container outlet similarly formed by a transporting star, for any further application or

handling/treatment. The handling takes place on an angular region of the rotation
movement of the rotor between the container inlet and the container outlet. Due to design
reasons as well as space requirements for feeding and removing the containers, this
angular region is lesser than 360° and in case of already existing optimised conditions
should lie in the range of approx. 330°.
In case of high capacities as demanded of handling machines of the rotary type, this
limited angular region of the rotation movement of the rotor available for handling results
in extremely large rotor diameters, in order to allow an adequate handling time for a high
capacity and hence a high rotor rotation speed. Thus for filling machines of higher
capacity, rotor diameters in the range of 7.5 meters are not a rarity.
In order to achieve a high capacity (high number of handled containers per unit of time)
as reduced rotor rotation speed, we know of a container handling machine (WO
2006/011896), in which the handling stations are arranged on the rotor driven to rotate
around the vertical machine axis in several tracks encompassing this machine axis in the
form of circular rings with varying radial distance from the machine axis. The containers
are fed to the handling machine at the container inlet: as multi-track container flow in
such a way that to each track of the fed container flow a track is allocated on the rotor,
i.e. the containers of each track of the fed container flow land on an own track of the rotor
or on the container receivers rotating on this track. Analogously, the handled containers
are removed from the tracks of the rotor as the container outlet and guided away for
further application or handling in the form of a multi-track container flow. Handling of
each container takes place thereby between the container inlet and the container outlet on
an angular region of the rotation movement of the rotor, which (angular region) is lesser
than 360°. Through simultaneous handling of large number of containers on several
tracks of the rotor, although there is an improvement with respect to known machines, in
which the container receivers or the handling stations are foreseen only on a single track
on the rotor circumference, the multi-track feeding and removing of the containers calls
for a cumbersome and even fault-prone design.

It is the task of this invention to present a method which allows high capacities with
reduced rotor diameter of the handling machine used, in a simplified design particularly
also of the container inlet and the container outlet.
To fulfil this task, a method according to patent claim 1 has been designed. A handling
machine forms object of the patent claim 32.
In this invention the containers are fed to the at least one container inlet in the form of a
single track container flow and from there handed over to the container receivers passing
by on the first track. In the same way the containers are removed from the container
receivers passing by at the container outlet, one after the other in the form of a single
track container flow, and preferably from those container receivers that pass by at the
container outlet on the first track. During handling a track change takes place at least
once on the rotating rotor for each container or for each container receiver with the
container present there, so that each contaner does not land at the container outlet
already after a rotor rotation by an angular range of lesser than 360°, e.g. 330°, but only
after a rotation movement of the rotor that is significantly greater than this angular range,
e.g. only after the rotation movement of the rotor by about 330° plus 360° or a multiple of
360°. Even with high capacity of the handling machine and hence a high rotor rotation
speed, this would allow adequately long handling period and also with the advantage that
guaranteed and safe feeding and/or removal of the containers can be retained as a single
track container flow.
Extensions of the invention form object of the sub-claims. The invention is explained in
details below on the basis of figures of a design example. The following are shown:
Fig.l In schematic depiction and in top view, a multi-track container handling machine
of rotary type for handling bottles, cans or similar container;
Fig.2 One of the container receiving units of the container handling machine shown in
fig. 1 where the machine is designed as filling machine;

Fig.3 A depiction like in fig. 2 with filling elements allocated to each container
receiving unit and moving along with it in case of track change;
Fig.4 A container receiving unit for overhead handling of bottles corresponding to
another design form;
Fig.5-7 Respectively in schematic partial depiction, further design forms of a multi-track
container handling machine.
The container handling machine generally designated as 1 in fig. 1 serves the purpose of
handling containers 2 that are depicted a; cans in figures 1-3. The container handling
machine 1, among other things, consists of a rotor 3 driven to rotate continuously or
discontinuously or in a pulsed manner around a vertical machine axis as indicated by the
arrow A in fig. 1; this rotor 3 has several container receiving units 4 in the region of its
circumference distributed at equal angular distances around the vertical machine axis, and
that too with respectively two container receivers 4.1 and 4.2. In the depicted design
form these are designed as carry plates, on which the containers 2 are held in a suitable
manner during handling standing on their container base, with their container axis
oriented in vertical direction.
Both the container receivers 4.1 and 4.2 o each container receiving unit 4 are
respectively foreseen on a carrying element 5, in the depicted design form drawn on a
vertical carrying element axis TA oriented parallel to the machine axis, lying
diametrically opposite to one another and it the same radial distance from this axis. By
means of a drive (not shown) each container receiving unit 4 or its carrying element 5 can
be rotated or swung in a controlled manner around the axis TA, in such a way that with
respect to the vertical machine axis in one end position of the swivel or rotation
movement the container receivers 4.1 find themselves radially further outwards than the
container receivers 4.2, and in the other end position of the swivel and rotation movement
the container receivers 4.2 find themselves radially further outwards than the container
receivers 4.1.

Thus while the rotor 3 is rotating, those container receivers 4.1 or 4.2 that find themselves
further outwards with respect to the vertical machine axis are moved on an outer path or
track 6 and those container receivers 4.2 or 4.1 thai, find themselves further inwards with
respect to the vertical machine axis are moved on an inner path or track 7, where both
tracks 6 or 7 are designed circular and encompassing the vertical machine axis.
The containers 2 to be handled are guided by a protractor 8 and handed over individually
through a transporting star 9 forming the container inlet to a container receiver 4.1 or 4.2
moving past the transporting star 9 on the outer track 6. The handled containers 2 are
removed by a transporting star 10 formin\\ the container outlet from the container
receivers 4.1 or 4.2 moving past this transporting star on the outer track 6 and then
forwarded to a protractor 11 for taking away the handled containers 2.
In details, control of the container handling machine 1 takes place in such a way that each
container 2 handed over with the transpon ing star 9 to a container receiver 4.1 lands at
the transporting star 10 only after almost two rotations of the rotor 3, i.e. only after
passing the transporting stretch formed by both tracks 6 and 7 and is then forwarded by to
the protractor 11.
A container 2 placed on the radially outside line container receiver 4.1 of an observed
container receiving unit 4 while passing the transporting star 9 and moving with the
rotating rotor 3 on the track 6 thus lands with its container receiver 4.1 finally at a
changing position 12 that for example is siiuated in rotation direction A of the rotor 3
before the container outlet formed by the transporting star 10. At this changing position
12 a rotation or swinging of the container receiving unit 4 takes place by 180° around its
axis TA, so that the container 2 moved till ihen with the container receiver 4.1 on the
outer track 6 now starts moving along with its container receiver 4.1 on the inner track 7
and thus finds itself outside the angular range of the transporting star 10. While passing
by the transporting star 10 the already handled container that is now arranged on the
radially outer lying container receiver 4.2 of the observed container receiver unit 4 and is
moved on the track 6, removed and ejected for forwarding to the protractor 11.

With the further rotation movement of the rotor 3 the considered container receiver unit 4
again lands into the angular range of the transporting star 9, where then a fresh not yet
handled container 2 can be placed on the outer lying container receiver 4.2. As soon as
the observed container receiver unit 4 again lands at the changing position 12 with the
rotation movement of the rotor 3, a fresh rotation or swinging of the observed container
receiver unit 4 takes place by 180° arourd the axis TA, so that the container 2 on the
container receiver 4.1 now again lying outside and moving on the track 6 is ejected by the
transporting star 10 to the protractor 11.
The containers 2 are guided through the protractor 3 as single track container flow,
handed over by the transporting star 9 in the form of a single track container flow one
after the other to the container receivers, removed by the transporting star 10 one after the
other from the container receivers in the brm of a single track container flow and guided
away through the protractor 11 as single track container flow.
Handling of each container 2 thus takes place respectively on two tracks 6 and 7, i.e. on a
path stretch that almost corresponds to two rotations of the rotor 3. In this way it is
possible, with reduced diameter of the rotor 3 and hence reduced space requirement for
the container handling machine 1, to achieve a high capacity (number of containers 2
processed per unit of time), and that too with a relatively simple design. Rotation or
swinging of the container receiver units 4 around their axes TA takes place either
compulsively controlled with the rotation movement of the rotor 3 through gears and/or
curve controls or even through independent drives that can be controlled as desired with
respect to rotation speed, rotation angle ar d rotation direction.
If the container handling machine 1 is a filling machine, then as shown in fig. 2, several
filling elements 13 are foreseen above trac ks 6 and 7 distributed around the vertical
machine axis at equal angular distances in such a way that these filling elements 13 rotate
with the rotor 3. In this design form, two rilling elements 13 are allocated to each
container receiver unit 4, one filling element 13 above the track 6 and one filling element
13 above the track 7 in such a way that these filling elements 13 find themselves exactly

above the container receivers 4.1 or 4.2 in the end positions of the swinging or rotation
movement of the container receiver uni:s 4. The number of filling elements distributed
on both tracks 6 and 7 is thus equal to the number of container receivers 4.1 and 4.2 of
each container receiver unit multiplied by the number of these units.
After handing over a container 2 to a container receiver 4.1 moving on the track 6, in a
first filling phase a partial filling of this container 2 takes place with the filling element
13 allocated to the track 6. Before reaching the changing position 12 the filling process is
interrupted. After the track change the filling process for the container 2 still on the
container receiver 4.1 but now moving on track 7 is continued in second filling phase
with the filling element 13 allocated to this track 7, till the changing position 12 is
reached once again. After a fresh track change, after-filling of the container 2 moved
along with the' container receiver 4.1 again on the track 6 can take place till reaching the
transporting star 10. The quantity of fi ling substance introduced and measured in both
the filling phases into the respective container is added up, so that the filling quantity
required for after-filling for the containers 2 can be kept very precise. Filling of such
containers 2 that are handed over by the transporting star 9 to the container receivers 4.2
takes place in an analogous manner.
Obviously also other methods are possible, e.g. a pre-handling of the containers on the
track 6 or on a partial length of this trat k and subsequent filling on the track 7 etc.
Fig. 3 shows in a depiction like in fig. 2 a further design form, in which the filling
elements 13 allocated to each containei receiver unit 4 are foreseen respectively above a
container receiver 4.1 and 4.2 and are swung along with the container receiver unit 4
while swinging around the axis TA. Through flexible lines 14 (e.g. hose pipes) the filling
elements 13 are connected to the annular tank 15 foreseen on the rotor 3 and containing
the fluid filling substance.
This design form, in which not only the container receivers 4.1 and 4.2 but also the other
functional elements of each handling position are swivelled for changing the tracks 6 and

7 around the respective axis TA, has the advantage that handling each container 2 does
not have to be stopped during track changing, i.e. there has to be no interruption at the
changing position 12, but can be carried out continuously, so that the time available for
the respective handling at a certain rotation speed of the rotor 3 gets significantly
extended as compared to the design in fig. 2. Instead of joining the filling elements 13
with hoses 14, a rotary distributor can also be foreseen that joins each filling element 13
with the annular tank 15, whereby this rotary distributor can also simultaneously have
control functions.
Figure 4 shows very schematically and in a depiction similar to figures 2 and 3, a
container receiver unit 4a of a machine for handling containers 2a in the form of bottles.
Similar to the way described for the container receiver unit 4, the container receiver unit
4a is also arranged with several same container receiver units 4a on the circumference
region of the rotor rotating around the vertical machine axis. Each container receiver unit
4a has two container receivers 4a. 1 and 4a.2 that are respectively formed by a swivel arm
16 with gripper on the carrier element 5a Each swivel arm 16 is designed in such a way
that it grips the container to be handled it the region of the container opening or bottle
opening, i.e. at the bottle neck and hold it tight. The swivel arms 16 can respectively be
swivelled about a horizontal axis that is oriented tangential to the rotation direction A of
the rotor 3. With the help of the swivel arms 15 the containers 2a can be swivelled from a
normal position, in which the container opening lies above, into a handling or overhead
position, in which the containers 2a are held with their container opening lying below,
and that too with the container axis oriented in vertical direction.
For handling the containers 2a are moved in their overhead position on the tracks 6 and 7,
whereby during the handling again at leas: one track change takes place at the changing
position 12, and that too by rotating or swivelling the container receiver units 4a or the
carrier elements 5a about their carrier axis TA oriented parallel to the vertical machine
axis. Handing over of each container 2a to a container receiver 4a. 1 or 4a.2 moving on
the track 6 takes place at the container ink t in the normal position (with the container
opening on top). In this normal position also handing over of each handled container 2a

takes place at the container outlet. Handing of the containers 2a takes place in this design
form under track change twice, as has been described above in connection with fig. 2. In
this design form the containers 2a are fed to the machine or to the container inlet again as
single track container flow. The handled containers 2a are individually removed one
after the other at the container outlet from the rotor 3 or the container receivers 4a. 1 or
4a.2 and guided out of the machine as single track container flow.
Fig. 1 - 4 relate to design forms, in which each container receiver unit 4 or 4a has two
container receivers 4.1, 4.2 or 4a. 1 and 41.2. Obviously there is also the possibility of
designing of container receiver units in such a way that for example more than two
container receivers are foreseen staggered at the same radial distance about the receiver
axis TA.
Fig. 5 shows a version in which on the circumference region of the rotor 3 container
receiver units 4b are foreseen which in their functioning correspond to the container
receiver unit 4, however respectively have altogether four container receivers 4b. 1 - 4b.4.
In this design form the individual container receiver units 4b are controlled in such a way
that each container received by a container receiver 4b. 1 - 4b.4 is moved with the
rotating rotor 3 on altogether four tracks, namely on the outer track 6, on the track 7
adjacent to the track 6 and lying further in wards, on a track 7.1 adjacent to track 7 and
lying still further inwards, as well as once again on the track 7 till the respective container
after changing tracks once again lands at the container outlet on track 6.
The end positions of the swivel movement or rotation movement of the container receiver
units 4b about their axes TA are selected ir such a manner that in each end position a
container receiver finds itself on track 6, ar other container receiver finds itself on track
7.1 and two container receivers find themselves on track 7, i.e. in the situation depicted in
fig. 6 the container receiver 4b. 1 finds itself on track 6, the container receiver 4b.3 on
track 7.1 and both the container receivers 4b.2 and 4b.4 on track 7.

For explaining the effectiveness we once again consider one container receiver unit 4b
and it is assumed that the container rece iver 4.b 1 of this container receiver unit while
passing by the container inlet (transporting star 9) finds itself on the outer lying track 6,
i.e. one container is handed over to this container receiver 4b. 1 and subjected to the
handling allocated to track 6.
With the rotating rotor 3 this container receiver unit 4b then lands at the changing
position 12, in which the container receiver unit 4b is swivelled about its axis TA by 90°
for track changing, so that the container receiver 4b. 1 then finds itself on track 7 and that
too on the advancing side of the container receiver unit 4b with respect to the rotation
direction A of the rotor 3, and the container there is subjected to the handling allocated to
track 7 as well as the advancing position
If the considered container receiver unit 4b with the rotating rotor 3 once again lands at
the changing position 12, then a further rotation of this container receiver unit 4b by 90°
follows, so that the container situated on the container receiver 4b. 1 now moves on the
inner lying track 7.1 and is subjected to the handling there. On once again reaching the
switching position or changing position 12 a fresh rotation of the container receiver unit
4b by 90° takes place, so that the container receiver 4b. 1 and the container there again
land on the track 7, however on the following side of the container receiver unit 4b with
respect to the rotation direction A of the rotor 3, so that the container arranged on the
container receiver 4b. 1 is subjected to the handling allocated to the track 7 as well as to
the following position. This handling can be different from the handling at the advancing
position.
On passing the changing position 12 the next time once again a rotation of the container
receiver unit 4b by 90° takes place, so that the container receiver 4b. 1 with its container
because of the fresh track change again lands on track 6 and is ejected out of the machine
on this track at the container outlet.

Each container positioned on a container receiver 4b. 1 - 4b.3 of a container receiver unit
4b is thus moved during its handling on altogether four tracks, namely respectively once
on track 6 and track 7.1 and twice on track 7, so that only after passing the changing
position 12 four times the respective container is ejected out of the machine. In this way,
even with small diameter of the rotor 3 once obtains an extremely long handling stretch
and hence also with higher rotation speed of the rotor 3 and adequately long handling
duration.
It is obvious that even in this design form at every other container receiver 4b.2 - 4b.4
that while passing the container inlet formed by the transporting star 9 moves on the outer
track 6, respectively one container is handed over that is moved on the different tracks 6,
7 and 7.1 in the same manner as described above for the container receiver 4b. 1 of the
considered container receiver unit 4b.
Fig. 6 shows a design form that only differs from the design form shown in fig. 5 mainly
in that the control of the container receiver units designated there as 4b takes place in
such a way that in each end position of the swivel movement or rotation movement of the
container receiver units two container receivers, namely in the situations depicted in fig.
6 the container receivers 4b. 1 and 4b.4, find themselves on track 6 and two container
receivers, namely the container receivers 4b.2 and 4b.3 depicted in fig. 6, find themselves
on track 7. Each time while passing the changing position 12, for track changing a
swivelling of each container receiver unit 4b takes place about the axis TA either by 90°
or even by 180°.
In the first case (swivelling by 90°) the corresponding machine is designed in such a way
that handing over of a container to the container receiver as well as removal of a
container from a container receiver is only possible if this container receiver is on track 6
and has a pre-given positioning with respect to the remaining container receivers of the
respective container receiver unit 4b, e.g. the position of the container receiver 4b. 1
shown in fig. 6. In this version again each container arranged on a container receiver
during handling, i.e. between handover to a container receiver and ejection out of the

machine, moves on four tracks, namely first on track 6, then twice on track 7 and finally
once again on track 6.
In the second case (swivelling by 180°) the container receiver unit 4b are arranged on the
circumference region of the rotor 3 in such a way that the container receivers 4b 1 - 4b4
on the outer track 6 have the same distance from one another, i.e. the distance between
two container receivers of each container receiver unit situated on the outer track 6 also
has the same distance that the successively following container receivers of adjacent
container receiver unit 4b have from one another in rotation direction A of the rotor 3. At
each container receiver that is moved past the container inlet formed by the transporting
star 9 on track 6, respectively one contair er can be handed over. Analogously, out of all
the container receivers moved past the container outlet on track 6 the respectively
handled container can be removed and ejected.
Handling of each container takes place on two tracks 6 and 7 with track changing twice,
so that this version ultimately conforms tc the version shown in fig. 1, with the only
difference that each container receiver unit 4b has not only two container receivers but
altogether four container receivers 4b 1 - 4b4.
Fig. 7 shows in schematic depiction, yet another possible design form of a machine with
container receiver unit 4c on the circumference region of the rotor 3. Each container
arrangement 4c has three container receivers 4c. 1, 4c.2 and 4c.3 that are respectively
foreseen staggered by 120° about the receiving axis TA and at the same radial distance
from this axis.
The containers handled and arranged on the container receivers 4c. 1, 4c.2 and 4c.3 are
moved during handling on three tracks 6, 7 and 7.1 by rotating each container receiver
unit 4c thrice about the axis TA by respectively 120°.
It is common to all described design forms that the containers 2 or 2a are fed as single
track container flow in the container inlet and handed over there respectively in a single

track container flow one after the other o the container receivers passing by the container
handover on the outer track 6, and the handled containers are removed from the container
receivers passing by the container outlet on the outer track 6 in the form of a single track
container flow. Handing over the containers to the machine as well as guided away the
containers out of the machine one can thus takes place with simple and proven agents,
which very significantly contributes to the operation safety of the respective handling
machine one.
The container handling machines 1 can be designed for various handling purposes, for
example also as rinser, sterilizer, sealer, labelling machine etc. The container receivers
and also the functional elements use for handling can have different designs adapted to
the particular purpose of application and/or to the respective type, shape and/or size of
the containers.
According to the invention it is also particularly foreseen that the container receiver can
be designed as so called neck ring supports, so that the containers 2 after their handover
the rotor 3 of the container handling machine do not stand on their container base, but are
held at a collar designed below the container mouth. The expert knows such extensions
and method procedures by the term "neck handling", so that a detailed description is
being left out at this point.
Besides, it is common to all design forms hat the container receivers 4.1,4.2, 4a. 1,4a.2,
4b. l _ 4b.4 or 4c. 1 - 4c.3 are designed in such a way that the containers 2 or 2a are held
secured at these container receivers, particularly also against the centrifugal forces
generated by the rotation movement of the rotor 3.
The invention has been described above on the basis of a design example. It is obvious
that numerous alterations and variations are possible without departing from the basic
concept of the invention.

Patent Claims
1. Method for handling containers (2,2a) by using a container handling machine (1)
of rotary type with at least one rotor (3) driven to rotate about a vertical machine
axis, where handling of the containers (2, 2a) takes place on the rotor (3) and for
this the containers are handed over to the rotor (3) one after the other at at least
one container handover (9) and are moved along with it on at least a partial length
of a first track (6) encompassing the vertical machine axis, and where the handled
containers are removed from the rotor (3) at at least one container outlet (10),
having the distinctive feature that
during handling the containers (2, 2a) are moved by the rotating rotor (3) and
taken through at least one track change on a partial length of at least another track
(7, 7.1) encompassing the vertical machine axis.
2. Method as per claim 1,
having the distinctive feature that
the first track (6) and the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are foreseen at a
different distance from the vertical machine axis.
3. Method as per claim 1 or 2,
having the distinctive feature that
the first track (6) has the greater distance from the vertical machine axis.
4. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the first track and/or the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are respectively
designed as an arc encompassing the vertical machine axis.

5. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
during handling, at at least one pre-given angular position (12) of the rotation
movement of the rotor (3) the at least one track change takes place.
6. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
during handling of each container (2, 2a) a track change takes place several times.
7. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) are moved during handling on two tracks (6, 7).
8. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
during handling the containers are moved on at least three tracks (6, 7, 7.1).
9. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the handled containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10)
on the first track.
10. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
during handling the containers (2, 2a) are moved over and angular range of the
rotating rotor (3) significantly greater than 360°.

11. Method as per claim 10,
having the distinctive feature that
during handling the containers (2, 2a) are moved on the first track (6) over an
angular range lesser than 360° and on the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) by
an angular range of 360° or almost 360°.
12. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) as single
track container flow.
13. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10) as single
track container flow.
14. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) are handed over at the at least one container handover (9)
one after the other to container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -
4c.3) of the rotor (3) passing by on the first track (6) and after handling they are
removed from the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1.-
4c.3) at the at least one container outlet (10), and the containers (2, 2a) are moved
with the respective container receiver (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -
4c.3) at least on a partial length of the at least one additional track (7, 7.1).
15. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the at least one track change takes place by a movement of the container receivers
(4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) with the containers (2, 2a) relative
to the machine axis or to the rotor (3).

16. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -4c.3) are moved
during rotation of the rotor (3) about the vertical machine axis at least once about
a rotation or swivel axis (TA) oriented parallel to or almost parallel to the
machine axis and radially staggered against the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a.l,
4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3), from at least a first position into a second position
with a radial distance from the vertical machine axis that is different to the first
position, and hereby respectively another container receiver lands at the first
position.
17. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the movement of the container receivers while track changing takes place in such
a way that each container receiver (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3)
moved out of the first track (6) is replaced by another container receivers.
18. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2: 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for track
changing between the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7) and/or for
track changing between two additional tracks (7, 7.1) are moved relative to the
vertical machine axis or to the rotor (3) in such a way that this relative movement
has at least one movement component running radial to the machine axis.

19. Method as per claim 18,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for track
changing are respectively swivelled about an axis (TA) radially staggered
opposite to the receiver and orier ted parallel or almost parallel to the vertical
machine axis.
20. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2) are arranged standing on t:he container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1,
4a.2;4b.l-4b.4;4c.l.-4c.3).
21. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2a) are held suspended against the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2).
22. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
respectively at least two containei receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1.
- 4c.3) form a container receiver anit (4, 4a, 4b, 4c), in which the container
receivers are arranged at the same radial distance from a receiving axis (TA), and
each container receiver (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) is rotated or swivelled about this receiving
axis (TA) for track changing.
23. Method as per one of the previous claims.
having the distinctive feature that
each container receiver unit (4b, 4c) has at least three, preferably four container
receivers.
24. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2), in addition to the movement effecting a track

change, can be rotated or swivel ed about at least one axis, e.g. about an axis
parallel or almost parallel to the machine axis and/or about an axis tangential or
almost tangential to the rotation direction (A) of the rotor (3).
25. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) in an upright
position with the respective container opening lying above and at the container
handover (9) before handover or after handover to a container receiver (4a. 1,
4a.2) are brought into a position different from the upright position, e.g. into an
overhead position, and the containers (2a) after handling at the container receivers
(4a. 1,4a.2) or at the at least one container outlet (10) are brought back to their
upright position.
26. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the handling machine (1) is a filling machine: for filling the containers (2) with a
fluid filling substance.
27. Method as per claim 26,
having the distinctive feature that
the filling process is interrupted during at least one track change and continued
after the track change.
28. Method as per claim 27,
having the distinctive feature that
the filling substance quantities introduced into the respective container (2) before
the at least one track change and alter the at least one track change are added to an
actual value, and by comparing wiih a rated value a remaining filling substance is
determined that is then introduced nto the respective container (2) in a corrective
filling phase.

29. Method as per claim 28,
having the distinctive feature that
the corrective filling phase takes place after another track change, preferably after
a track change on to the first track.
30. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the handling machine (1) is designed as rinser for cleaning the containers (2).
31. Method as per claim 30,
having the distinctive feature that
on the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7, 7.1), a handling of the
containers (2a) takes place with different fluid cleaning mediums, e.g. on the first
track (6) or on a partial stretch of the first track (6) a pre-rinsing with water,
preferably with re-used water, on another subsequent track (7) treatment with
another treatment medium, preferably with a treatment medium containing water
and at least one cleaning agent, as well as after another track change a final
spraying for removing the treatment medium or residues of the treatment medium,
e.g. with fresh water, whereby this final spraying takes place on the first track (6).
32. Container handling machine of rotary type for handling containers (2, 2a), with at
least one rotor (3) driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, with container
receivers (4.1,4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3), where the containers (2,
2a) to be handled are handed over one after the other at at least one container
handover (9) to container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3)
passing by on a first track (6) encompassing the vertical machine axis, and the
containers after handling are removed at at least one container outlet from the
container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c.l.-4c.3),
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1. 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for a track

change can be moved relative to the vertical machine axis or to the rotor (3) in
such a way that the containers (2, 2a) arranged on the container receivers (4.1,
4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1 - 4c.3) are moved during handling with the
rotating rotor (3) through at least one track change and respectively at least on a
partial length of another track (7. 7.1) encompassing the vertical machine axis.
33. Container handling machine as per claim 32,
having the distinctive feature that
the first track (6) as well as the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are foreseen at
a different distance from the vertical machine axis.
34. Container handling machine as per claim 32 or 33,
having the distinctive feature that
has the greater distance from the vertical machine axis.
35. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the first track and/or the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) are respectively
designed as an arc encompassing the vertical machine axis.
36. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 41.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be
controlled in such a way that the track change during handling takes place at at
least one pre-given angular position (12) of the rotation movement of the rotor
(3).

37. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be
controlled in such a way that during handling of each container (2, 2a) several
track changes take place.
38. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be
controlled in such a way that the containers (2, 2a) are moved on two tracks (6, 7)
during handling.
39. Container handling machine as pur one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1. 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be
controlled in such a way that the containers are moved on at least three tracks (6,
7, 7.1) during handling.
40. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) can be
controlled in such a way that the handled containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at
least one container outlet (10) on the first track (6).
41. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) during handling are moved over an angular range of the
rotating rotor (3) significantly greater than 360°.

42. Container handling machine as per claim 41,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) during handling are moved on the first track (6) over an
angular range lesser than 360° and on the at least one additional track (7, 7.1) over
an angular range of 360° or almost 360°.
43. Container handling machi ne as pur one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) as single
track container flow.
44. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2, 2a) are removed at the at least one container outlet (10) as single
track flow.
45. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) are moved
during rotation of the rotor (3) about the vertical machine axis at least once about
a rotation or swivel axis (TA) oriented parallel to or almost parallel to the
machine axis and radially staggered against the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a.1,
4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c.l. -4c.3), from at least a first position into a second position
with a radial distance from the vertical machine axis that is different to the first
position, and hereby respectively another container receiver lands at the first
position.
46. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the movement of the container receivers while track changing takes place in such

a way that each container receiver (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -4c.3)
moved out of the first track (6) is replaced by another container receivers.
47. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1. - 4c.3) for track
changing between the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7) and/or for
track changing between two additional tracks (7, 7.1) are moved relative to the
vertical machine axis or to the rotor (3) in such a way that this relative movement
has at least one movement component running radial to the machine axis.
48. Container handling machine as per claim 18,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1. 4.2; 4a.1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1. -4c.3) for track
changing are respectively swivelled about an axis (TA) radially staggered
opposite to the receiver and oriented parallel or almost parallel to the vertical
machine axis.
49. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4b 1 - 4b.4; 4c. 1 - 4c.3) are designed for an
upright arrangement of the containers (2).
50. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2) are designed for a suspended arrangement of
the containers (2a).
51. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
respectively at least two container receivers (4.1, 4.2; 4a. 1, 4a.2; 4b. 1 -4b.4; 4c. 1.
- 4c.3) form a container receiver unit (4, 4a, 4b, 4c), in which the container

receivers are arranged at the same radial distance from a receiving axis (TA), and
each container receiver (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) is rotated or swivelled about this receiving
axis (TA) for track changing.
52. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
each container receiver unit (4b,4c) has at least three, preferably four container
receivers.
53. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the container receivers (4a. 1, 4a.2), in addition to the movement effecting a track
change, can be rotated or swivelled about at least one axis, e.g. about an axis
parallel or almost parallel to the machine axis and/or about an axis tangential or
almost tangential to the rotation d rection (A) of the rotor (3).
54. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (2a) are fed to the at least one container handover (9) in an upright
position with the respective container opening lying above and at the container
handover (9) before handover or after handover to a container receiver (4a. 1,
4a.2) are brought into a position different from the upright position, e.g. into an
overhead position, and the containers (2a) after handling at the container receivers
(4a. 1, 4a.2) or at the at least one container outlet (10) are brought back to their
upright position.
55. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
it is a filling machine for filling the containers (2) with a fluid filling substance.

56. Container handling machine as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
it is designed as rinser for cleaning the containers (2).
57. Container handling machine as per claim 56,
having the distinctive feature that
on the first and the at least one additional track (6, 7, 7.1), a handling of the
containers (2a) takes place with different fluid cleaning mediums, e.g. on the first
track (6) or on a partial stretch of the first track (6) a pre-rinsing with water,
preferably with re-used water, on another subsequent track (7) treatment with
another treatment medium, preferably with a treatment medium containing water
and at least one cleaning agent, as well as after another track change a final
spraying for removing the treatment medium or residues of the treatment medium,
e.g. with fresh water, whereby this final spraying takes place on the first track (6).

The invention relates to a method for handling containers, using a container handling machine of the rotary type,comprising at least one rotor which is driven to rotate about a vertical
machine axis. The invention is characterized in that the containers are handled on the rotor in a plurality of tracks.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=+nnkwBccqNkVw3AvbtJVLQ==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==

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Patent Number

278634

Indian Patent Application Number

14/KOLNP/2009

PG Journal Number

54/2016

Publication Date

30-Dec-2016

Grant Date

27-Dec-2016

Date of Filing

01-Jan-2009

Name of Patentee

KHS GMBH

Applicant Address

JUCHOSTRASSE 20, 44143 DORTMUND

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	TILL, VOLKER	FISCHBACHERWEG 30, 65719 HOFHEIM AM TAUNUS

PCT International Classification Number

B65G 29/00,B67C 7/00

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2007/005342

PCT International Filing date

2007-06-18

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	102006028266.3	2006-06-20	Germany