Container filling plant, such as a beverage bottling plant, for filling containers with a liquid beverage and for closing filled containers
First Claim
1. A container filling plant for filling containers with liquid, said container filling plant comprising:
- a rotary container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill containers with liquid;
a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey containers to be filled to said container filling machine;
said container filling machine comprising;
a rotatable carousel;
a vertical machine column;
said rotatable carousel being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said vertical machine column;
a plurality of container filling elements for filling containers with liquid being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel;
each of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled;
each of said plurality of container filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid into containers to be filled;
at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid; and
at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said container filling machine to supply liquid to said container filling machine;
a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move containers into said container filling machine;
a rotary container closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers;
a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container filling machine and into said container closing machine;
said container closing machine comprising;
a rotatable carousel;
a non-rotating central pillar;
said rotatable carousel being connected to said central pillar to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said central pillar;
said central pillar having a diameter being substantially smaller than an outer diameter of said rotatable carousel;
a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel;
each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled containers, said closures comprising at least one of;
screw tops and crown corks; and
each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled containers;
a third star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed containers out of said container closing machine; and
the weight of said closing machine being supported essentially only by said non-rotating central pillar.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Container filling plant, such as a beverage bottling plant, for filling containers with a liquid beverage and for closing filled containers. 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.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A container filling plant for filling containers with liquid, said container filling plant comprising:
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a rotary container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill containers with liquid; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey containers to be filled to said container filling machine; said container filling machine comprising; a rotatable carousel; a vertical machine column; said rotatable carousel being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said vertical machine column; a plurality of container filling elements for filling containers with liquid being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled; each of said plurality of container filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid into containers to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid; and at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said container filling machine to supply liquid to said container filling machine; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move containers into said container filling machine; a rotary container closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers; a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container filling machine and into said container closing machine; said container closing machine comprising; a rotatable carousel; a non-rotating central pillar; said rotatable carousel being connected to said central pillar to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said central pillar; said central pillar having a diameter being substantially smaller than an outer diameter of said rotatable carousel; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled containers, said closures comprising at least one of;
screw tops and crown corks; andeach of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled containers; a third star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed containers out of said container closing machine; and the weight of said closing machine being supported essentially only by said non-rotating central pillar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A container filling plant for filling containers with liquid, said container filling plant comprising:
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a rotary container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill containers with liquid; a first moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers to be filled into said container filling machine; said container filling machine comprising; a rotatable carousel; a vertical machine column; said rotatable carousel being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said vertical machine column; a plurality of container filling elements for filling containers with liquid being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled; and each of said plurality of container filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid into containers to be filled; a rotary container closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers; a second moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container filling machine and into said container closing machine; said container closing machine comprising; a rotatable carousel; a non-rotating central pillar; said rotatable carousel being connected to said central pillar to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said central pillar; said central pillar having a diameter being substantially smaller than an outer diameter of said rotatable carousel; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled containers, said closures comprising at least one of;
screw tops and crown corks; andeach of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled containers; a third moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed containers out of said container closing machine; and the weight of said closing machine being supported essentially only by said non-rotating central pillar. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A container filling plant for filling containers with liquid, said container filling plant comprising:
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a rotary container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill containers with liquid; a first moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers to be filled into said container filling machine; said container filling machine comprising; a rotatable carousel; a vertical machine column; said rotatable carousel being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said vertical machine column; a plurality of container filling elements for filling containers with liquid being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled; and each of said plurality of container filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid into containers to be filled; a rotary container closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers; a second moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container filling machine and into said container closing machine; said container closing machine comprising; a rotatable carousel; a non-rotating central pillar; said rotatable carousel being connected to said central pillar to permit rotation of said rotatable carousel about said central pillar; said central pillar having a diameter being substantially smaller than an outer diameter of said rotatable carousel; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled containers, said closures comprising at least one of;
screw tops and crown corks; andeach of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled containers; a third moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed containers out of said container closing machine; and the weight of said closing machine being supported by said non-rotating central pillar. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification