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Method of filling kegs with a liquid beverage in a keg filling plant

  • US 7,779,874 B2
  • Filed: 10/14/2008
  • Issued: 08/24/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of cleaning and filling kegs with liquid beverage in a liquid beverage keg filling plant, said liquid beverage keg filling plant comprising:

  • a liquid beverage keg cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean empty liquid beverage kegs;

    a feed arrangement to supply empty liquid beverage kegs to said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine;

    a rotatable liquid beverage keg filling machine being configured and disposed to fill empty liquid beverage kegs with liquid beverage material;

    said liquid beverage keg filling machine comprising a plurality of liquid beverage keg filling devices for filling liquid beverage kegs with liquid beverage material;

    at least one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of liquid beverage material;

    at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said liquid beverage keg filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    a first linear conveyor device being configured and disposed to move empty liquid beverage kegs from said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine to said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    an input star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move empty liquid beverage kegs from said linear conveyor device into said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    a second linear conveyor device being configured and disposed to move empty liquid beverage kegs from said liquid beverage keg filling machine to another keg handling station;

    an output star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled liquid beverage kegs out of said liquid beverage keg filling machine onto said second linear conveyor device;

    each of said star wheel structures comprises;

    a central, elongated body being configured and disposed to rotate about a central vertical axis;

    a plurality of pairs of adjacent star arms being disposed to project from said elongated body transversely to said central vertical axis;

    each of said star arms being configured to be brought into contact with liquid beverage kegs;

    each of said pairs of star arms comprising a first star arm and a second star arm; and

    said first star arm being configured to be individually adjusted and moved independently of said second star arm to adjust the angle between said first and second star arms to receive and transfer different liquid beverage keg diameters by adjustment of its rotational position with reference to at least one of;

    the center of the liquid beverage keg, the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the liquid beverage keg, and the required position of the liquid beverage keg in said liquid beverage keg filling machines;

    said method comprising the steps of;

    performing a first run of cleaning and filling liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter, said first run comprising the steps of;

    feeding empty liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter with said feed arrangement into said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine;

    cleaning liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter with said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine;

    moving liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter with said linear conveyor device from said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine to said input star wheel structure;

    rotationally adjusting and moving each of said first star arms of said input star wheel structure individually and independently of their corresponding second star arms to increase or decrease the angle between said pairs of first and second star arms to permit the receipt and transfer of kegs of a first size and diameter into said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    moving liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter with said input star wheel structure from said linear conveyor device into said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    supplying liquid beverage material from said at least one storage unit through said at least one supply line to said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    filling liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter in said liquid beverage keg filling machine with liquid beverage material;

    rotationally adjusting and moving each of said first star arms of said output star wheel structure individually and independently of their corresponding second star arms to increase or decrease the angle between said pairs of first and second star arms to permit the receipt and transfer of kegs of a first size and diameter out of said liquid beverage keg filling machine; and

    moving filled liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter with said output star wheel structure out of said liquid beverage keg filling machine onto said second linear conveyor device; and

    performing a second run of cleaning and filling liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter which is different from said first size and diameter, said second run comprising the steps of;

    feeding empty liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter with said feed arrangement into said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine;

    cleaning liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter with said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine;

    moving liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter with said linear conveyor device from said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine to said input star wheel structure;

    rotationally adjusting and moving each of said first star arms of said input star wheel structure individually and independently of their corresponding second star arms to increase or decrease the angle between said pairs of first and second star arms to permit the receipt and transfer of kegs of a second size and diameter into said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    moving liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter with said input star wheel structure from said linear conveyor device into said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    supplying liquid beverage material from said at least one storage unit through said at least one supply line to said liquid beverage keg filling machine;

    filling liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter in said liquid beverage keg filling machine with liquid beverage material;

    rotationally adjusting and moving each of said first star arms of said output star wheel structure individually and independently of their corresponding second star arms to increase or decrease the angle between said pairs of first and second star arms to permit the receipt and transfer of kegs of a second size and diameter out of said liquid beverage keg filling machine; and

    moving filled liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter with said output star wheel structure out of said liquid beverage keg filling machine onto said second linear conveyor device.

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