Container-processing machine for processing containers

• US 9,695,029 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Clsserath, Ludwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US15/112,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0235 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 29/00 Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones mechanical projectors B65G31/00; screw or rotary spiral conveyors B65G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 37/00 Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes series of co-operating belt conveyor units B65G15/22; series of co-operating chain conveyor units B65G17/26; sequence control of combined conveyors B65G43/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/846 Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/242 engaging with bottle necks B67C3/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/244 Bottle lifting devices actuated by jacks, e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic B67C3/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/30 Filling of barrels or casks
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 7/0013 Synchronising
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 7/0046 Infeed and outfeed devices

Abstract

A container-processing machine includes a transfer star having container-engagement elements disposed along a periphery thereof. The transfer star moves containers past first or second sets of processing stations that are disposed along corresponding diametrically opposed arcuate processing paths.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a first container-processing machine for processing containers, said first container-processing machine comprising a transfer star, container-engagement elements, a container inlet, a container outlet, first processing stations, second processing stations, a first processing route, and a second processing route, wherein said container-engagement elements are disposed along a periphery of said transfer star, wherein said transfer star is driven to rotate about a machine axis in a direction selected from a first direction and a second direction, wherein said transfer star receives containers to be processed at said container inlet, wherein said transfer star discharges containers that have been processed at said container outlet, wherein said first processing stations are disposed along said first processing path, wherein said second processing stations are disposed along said second processing path, wherein selection of said first direction causes containers to traverse said first processing route, wherein selection of said second direction causes containers to traverse said second processing route, wherein said first processing stations differ from said second processing stations, and wherein said first and second processing routes are arcuate processing routes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer star rotates relative to a reference frame and said first and second processing stations are stationary relative to said reference frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first processing stations are configured to process a first type of container and said second processing stations are configured to process a second type of container.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first processing stations comprise filling stations configured to fill said first type of container and said second processing stations comprise filling stations configured to fill said second type of container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first processing stations further comprise closing stations configured to close said first type of container and said second processing stations further comprise closing stations configured to close said second type of container.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first processing stations comprise closing stations configured to close said first type of container and said second processing stations comprise closing stations configured to close said second type of container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container-engagement elements are configured to receive a first type of container and a second type of container.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second processing stations are held in said first container-processing machine in an exchangeable manner.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second processing stations comprise function modules held in said first container-processing machine in an exchangeable manner.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lift that lifts containers out of engagement with said transfer star.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a container carrier actuated by said lift, wherein said container carrier raises a container into an upper position and lowers said container into a lower position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said container carrier comprises a retainer for suspending a bottle from a neck ring thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said container carrier comprises a surface for supporting a base of a container.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said container carrier comprises a gripper for gripping a container.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container-engagement elements comprise pockets that are open in a radially outward direction of said transfer star.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container-engagement elements comprise grippers.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein pairs of adjacent ones of said container-engagement elements are separated by the same space.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of first processing stations comprises a first number of processing stations and said second processing stations comprises said first number of processing stations, and wherein said first number is greater than two.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transport band having a first segment and a second segment, wherein said container inlet comprises said first segment, wherein said container outlet comprises said second segment, wherein said transport band is conducted beneath said transfer star along a path that crosses said machine axis.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a PET bottle filler.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a glass bottle filler.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a keg filler.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a can filler.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a screw closer.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a crown cork fitter.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second processing stations comprises a sealing station.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second container-processing machine having the features of said first container-processing machine, said first and second container-processing machines being arranged in parallel in a conveying route.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first container-processing machine is a filling machine for filling said containers with liquid filling-material, and wherein said first and second processing stations comprise filling elements.

29. A method of processing containers, said method comprising selecting a selected arc from one of a first and second arc of a circle that surrounds a machine axis, aid first and second arcs being diametrically opposite each other, wherein containers moving along said first arc encounter first processing stations and containers moving along said second arc encounter second processing stations, wherein said first and second processing stations are configured for processing corresponding first and second types of container, and conveying said containers between a container inlet and a container outlet along said selected arc.