BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH A BEVERAGE, A CONTAINER FILLING PLANT FOR FILLING BOTTLES, CANS, BAGS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS WITH A LIQUID, AND A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS IN A CONTAINER FILLING PLANT

• US 20100101183A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: BEISEL, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,936,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/276
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/22 Details

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a beverage, a container filling plant for filling bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers with a liquid, and a container filling machine for filling containers in a container filling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Claims

1. A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a beverage;

said beverage bottling plant comprising;

a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beverage bottles to be filled to a bottle filling machine;

a bottle filling machine comprising;

a reservoir being configured and disposed to house a beverage;

a rotor being configured and disposed to rotate about a vertical rotational axis;

said rotor comprising at least one duct being configured and disposed to concentrically surround the vertical rotational axis and house at least one of;

a vacuum and a media not being a beverage;

a plurality of filling elements being disposed about the circumference of said rotor;

said plurality of filling elements being configured and disposed to fill bottles with a beverage;

a plurality of product lines being configured and disposed to permit the flow of a beverage from said reservoir to each of said plurality of filling elements;

each one of said plurality of product lines corresponding to each one of said plurality of filling elements;

a plurality of connecting sockets, each of said plurality of connecting sockets being configured and disposed to connect each one of said plurality of product lines to said reservoir;

a plurality of flow meters being configured and disposed to control the flow of a beverage through each one of said plurality of product lines as a function of the quantity of a beverage having flowed through each of said plurality of product lines;

each one of said plurality of flow meters corresponding to each one of said plurality of product lines and each one of said plurality of filling elements;

each one of said plurality of flow meters comprising;

a first portion being in contact with a beverage; and

a second portion not being in contact with a beverage;

a plurality of support elements being configured and disposed to support said reservoir and being connected to said rotor;

each one of said plurality of support elements comprising;

a first end being attached to said rotor;

a second end being attached to said reservoir; and

an elongated portion being disposed between said first end and said second end;

said rotor, said at least one duct not in contact with the beverage, second portions of said plurality of flow meters not in contact with the beverage, and said plurality of support elements not in contact with the beverage comprising a stainless steel substantially free of molybdenum and titanium, to minimize the cost of said bottle filling machine in said beverage bottling plant;

said reservoir, said plurality of product lines, said plurality of filling elements, said first portions of said plurality of flow meters, and said plurality of connecting sockets comprising a stainless steel with at least one of;

a sufficient amount of molybdenum and a sufficient amount of titanium, to minimize pitting of said stainless steel and minimize contamination of a beverage in said reservoir, said plurality of product lines, said plurality of filling elements, said first portions of said plurality of flow meters, and said plurality of connecting sockets;

a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles into said bottle filling machine; and

a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles out of said bottle filling machine;

a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled bottles from said bottle filling machine to a bottle closing machine;

said bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled bottles;

said bottle closing machine comprising;

a rotor;

a rotatable vertical machine column;

said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;

a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;

each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled bottles;

each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles;

a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled bottles into said bottle closing machine; and

a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed bottles out of said bottle closing machine;

a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled, closed bottles from said bottle closing machine to a bottle packaging machine;

said bottle packaging machine being configured and disposed to package filled, closed bottles;

said bottle packaging machine comprising;

a grouping arrangement being configured and disposed to group filled, closed bottles into groups;

a packaging arrangement being configured and disposed to package groups of filled, closed bottles; and

a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey packages of filled, closed bottles from said bottle packaging machine.

2. The container filling plant as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the pourable product bowl (6) is supported by means of a support structure on the rotor (1, 1b), and that the support structure is formed by a plurality of support elements (18, 22) which are distributed around the machine axis and are identical in terms of shape, volume and material;

all of the surfaces of the pourable product path between the pourable product bowl (6) and the dispensing opening that come into contact with the pourable product are fabricated from a material which is of a higher grade than the elements of the rotor or rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) that support the pourable product bowl (6) and the filling elements (3);

the support elements (18, 22) are realized with a small volume;

the pourable product bowl (6) and [the] lines (4) that connect said bowl with the filling elements (3) are manufactured exclusively from the higher-grade material on their surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product;

liquid ducts realized in the filling elements (3) and having the respective dispensing openings are manufactured exclusively from the higher-grade material at least on their surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product; and

at least some of the components that carry the pourable product are manufactured entirely of the higher-grade material.

3. The container filling plant as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the higher-grade material is a high-grade steel such as stainless steel, for example, preferably stainless steel in Class 1.4404 or 1.4571;

at least the rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) that supports the filling elements (3) and the pourable product bowl (6) and/or the support structure that supports the pourable product bowl (6) on the rotor or rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) are realized using a material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product;

on the rotor at least one ring duct (15, 16, 20) for a gas or vapor medium and/or vacuum is realized, and that this at least one ring duct (14, 15, 20, 24) is realized using a material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product;

the one material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product is steel, such as a steel of grade 1.4301, for example;

said container filling machine comprises means (4.4, 5) that allow a compensation of the lengths of the pourable product paths caused by temperature variations;

each pourable product path is formed at least party by a pourable product line (4) that is connected to a connection pipe (5) of the pourable product bowl (6), and that the respective product line (4) is held in the connection socket (5) so that the connection is sealed for length equalization, although it can be displaced axially; and

the support elements (18) are made of an Invar material.

4. A container filling plant for filling at least one of:

bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers with a liquid;

said container filling plant comprising;

a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers to be filled to a filling machine;

a filling machine comprising;

a reservoir being configured and disposed to house a liquid;

a rotor being configured and disposed to rotate about a vertical rotational axis;

said rotor comprising at least one duct being configured and disposed to concentrically surround the vertical rotational axis and house at least one of;

a vacuum and a media not being a liquid to be filled in a bottle, can, bag, or similar container;

a plurality of filling elements being disposed about the circumference of said rotor;

said plurality of filling elements being configured and disposed to fill bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers with a liquid;

a plurality of product lines being configured and disposed to permit the flow of a liquid from said reservoir to each of said plurality of filling elements;

each one of said plurality of product lines corresponding to each one of said plurality of filling elements;

a plurality of connecting sockets, each of said plurality of connecting sockets being configured and disposed to connect each one of said plurality of product lines to said reservoir;

a plurality of flow meters being configured and disposed to control the flow of a liquid through each one of said plurality of product lines as a function of the quantity of a liquid having flowed through each of said plurality of product lines;

each one of said plurality of flow meters corresponding to

each one of said plurality of product lines and each one of said plurality of filling elements;

each one of said plurality of flow meters comprising;

a first portion being in contact with a liquid; and

a second portion not being in contact with a liquid;

a plurality of support elements being configured and disposed to support said reservoir and being connected to said rotor;

each one of said plurality of support elements comprising;

a first end being attached to said rotor;

a second end being attached to said reservoir; and

an elongated portion being disposed between said first end and said second end;

said rotor, said at least one duct not in contact with the liquid, second portions of said plurality of flow meters not in contact with the liquid, and said plurality of support elements not in contact with the liquid comprising a stainless steel substantially free of molybdenum and titanium, to minimize the cost of said filling machine in said container filling plant;

said reservoir, said plurality of product lines, said plurality of filling elements, said first portions of said plurality of flow meters, and said plurality of connecting sockets comprising a stainless steel with at least one of;

a sufficient amount of molybdenum and a sufficient amount of titanium, to minimize pitting of said stainless steel and minimize contamination of a liquid in said reservoir, said plurality of product lines, said plurality of filling elements, said first portions of said plurality of flow meters, and said plurality of connecting sockets;

a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers into said filling machine; and

a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers out of said filling machine;

a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers from said filling machine to a closing machine;

said closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers;

said closing machine comprising;

a rotor;

a rotatable vertical machine column;

said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;

a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;

each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers;

each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers;

a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers into said closing machine; and

a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers out of said closing machine;

a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled, closed bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers from said closing machine to a packaging machine;

said packaging machine being configured and disposed to package filled, closed bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers;

said packaging machine comprising;

a grouping arrangement being configured and disposed to group filled, closed bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers into groups;

a packaging arrangement being configured and disposed to package groups of filled, closed bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers; and

a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey packages of filled, closed bottles, cans, bags, or similar containers from said packaging machine.

5. The container filling plant as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the pourable product bowl (6) is supported by means of a support structure on the rotor (1, 1b), and that the support structure is formed by a plurality of support elements (18, 22) which are distributed around the machine axis and are identical in terms of shape, volume and material;

all of the surfaces of the pourable product path between the pourable product bowl (6) and the dispensing opening that come into contact with the pourable product are fabricated from a material which is of a higher grade than the elements of the rotor or rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) that support the pourable product bowl (6) and the filling elements (3);

the support elements (18, 22) are realized with a small volume;

the pourable product bowl (6) and [the] lines (4) that connect said bowl with the filling elements (3) are manufactured exclusively from the higher-grade material on their surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product;

liquid ducts realized in the filling elements (3) and having the respective dispensing openings are manufactured exclusively from the higher-grade material at least on their surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product; and

at least some of the components that carry the pourable product are manufactured entirely of the higher-grade material.

6. The container filling plant as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the higher-grade material is a high-grade steel such as stainless steel, for example, preferably stainless steel in Class 1.4404 or 1.4571;

at least the rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) that supports the filling elements (3) and the pourable product bowl (6) and/or the support structure that supports the pourable product bowl (6) on the rotor or rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) are realized using a material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product;

on the rotor at least one ring duct (15, 16, 20) for a gas or vapor medium and/or vacuum is realized, and that this at least one ring duct (14, 15, 20, 24) is realized using a material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product;

the one material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product is steel, such as a steel of grade 1.4301, for example;

said container filling machine comprises means (4.4, 5) that allow a compensation of the lengths of the pourable product paths caused by temperature variations;

each pourable product path is formed at least party by a pourable product line (4) that is connected to a connection pipe (5) of the pourable product bowl (6), and that the respective product line (4) is held in the connection socket (5) so that the connection is sealed for length equalization, although it can be displaced axially; and

the support elements (18) are made of an Invar material.

7. A container filling machine for filling containers in a container filling plant, said container filling machine comprising:

a reservoir being configured and disposed to house a liquid;

a rotor being configured and disposed to rotate about a vertical rotational axis;

a plurality of filling elements being disposed about the circumference of said rotor;

said plurality of filling elements being configured and disposed to fill containers with a liquid;

a plurality of support elements being configured and disposed to support said reservoir and being connected to said rotor;

each one of said plurality of support elements comprising;

said rotor and said plurality of support elements comprising a stainless steel substantially free of molybdenum and titanium, to minimize the cost of said container filling machine in said container filling plant; and

said reservoir and said plurality of filling elements comprising a stainless steel with at least one of;

a sufficient amount of molybdenum and a sufficient amount of titanium, to minimize pitting of said stainless steel and minimize contamination of a liquid in said reservoir and said plurality of filling elements.

8. Filling machine as recited in claim 7, characterized in that the pourable product bowl (6) is supported by means of a support structure on the rotor (1, 1b), and that the support structure is formed by a plurality of support elements (18, 22) which are distributed around the machine axis and are identical in terms of shape, volume and material.

9. Filling machine as recited in claim 8, characterized in that all of the surfaces of the pourable product path between the pourable product bowl (6) and the dispensing opening that come into contact with the pourable product are fabricated from a material which is of a higher grade than the elements of the rotor or rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) that support the pourable product bowl (6) and the filling elements (3).

10. Filling machine as recited in claim 9, characterized in that the support elements (18, 22) are realized with a small volume.

11. Filling machine as recited in claim 10, characterized in that the pourable product bowl (6) and [the] lines (4) that connect said bowl with the filling elements (3) are manufactured exclusively from the higher-grade material on their surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product.

12. Filling machine as recited in claim 11, characterized in that liquid ducts realized in the filling elements (3) and having the respective dispensing openings are manufactured exclusively from the higher-grade material at least on their surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product.

13. Filling machine as recited in claim 12, characterized in that at least some of the components that carry the pourable product are manufactured entirely of the higher-grade material.

14. Filling machine as recited in claim 13, characterized in that the higher-grade material is a high-grade steel such as stainless steel, for example, preferably stainless steel in Class 1.4404 or 1.4571.

15. Filling machine as recited in claim 14, characterized in that at least the rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) that supports the filling elements (3) and the pourable product bowl (6) and/or the support structure that supports the pourable product bowl (6) on the rotor or rotor segment (1, 1a, 1b) are realized using a material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product.

16. Filling machine as recited in claim 15, characterized in that on the rotor at least one ring duct (15, 16, 20) for a gas or vapor medium and/or vacuum is realized, and that this at least one ring duct (14, 15, 20, 24) is realized using a material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product.

17. Filling machine as recited in claim 16, characterized in that the one material which is of a lower grade than the material of the surfaces that come into contact with the pourable product is steel, such as a steel of grade 1.4301, for example.

18. Filling machine as recited in claim 17, characterized by means (4.4, 5) that allow a compensation of the lengths of the pourable product paths caused by temperature variations.

19. Filling machine as recited in claim 18, characterized in that each pourable product path is formed at least party by a pourable product line (4) that is connected to a connection pipe (5) of the pourable product bowl (6), and that the respective product line (4) is held in the connection socket (5) so that the connection is sealed for length equalization, although it can be displaced axially.

20. Filling machine as recited in claim 19, characterized in that the support elements (18) are made of an Invar material.