Apparatus for producing pet bulk receptacles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10106389-B2
Application number	US-201414151263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2014
Priority date	Feb 3, 2009
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for producing plastic containers filled with liquids, wherein the plastic containers are closed with a keg fitting and filled with liquid, includes a connection device for connecting a plastic container with a keg fitting. The connection device is configured to move the plastic container relative to the keg fitting. The apparatus includes at least one cleaning device configured to clean at least an area of the keg fitting during at least one of relative movement of the keg fitting with regard to the plastic container and connection of the keg fitting with the plastic container. The cleaning device is configured to supply a cleaning medium to the keg fitting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a connection device for connecting a container with a keg fitting, the connection device being configured to move the container relative to the keg fitting; and
a cleaning device configured to clean at least an area of the keg fitting during at least one of a relative movement of the keg fitting with regard to the container and a connection of the keg fitting with the container, the cleaning device being configured to supply a cleaning medium to the keg fitting in a longitudinal direction relative to the container, wherein the cleaning device is configured such that the cleaning medium supplied to the keg fitting is also supplied to a head space of the container through an internal space of the keg fitting.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection device is configured to move the keg fitting relative to the container in the longitudinal direction.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the connection device comprises a gripping device for gripping the keg fitting.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the gripping device is configured such that the keg fitting is grasped in an area above an opening of the container.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device comprises a supply line for supplying the cleaning medium to the keg fitting.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is configured to supply a gaseous medium.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the keg fitting comprises a pipe.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises several treatment stations for a corresponding number of the containers arranged next to each other in a loop configuration.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection device is a lifting unit for inserting the keg fitting into the container.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the lifting unit comprises a cam controlled roller, a pneumatic means, or a linear drive.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising an additional connection device for connecting the keg fitting to the lifting unit.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the keg fitting comprises a first valve body which is slidable in the longitudinal direction.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a metal sheet pocket in which the keg fitting is suspended.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein a lifting unit comprises a guidance rod configured to guide the metal sheet pocket in the longitudinal direction.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a holding device configured to hold a punch and is movable in the longitudinal direction, wherein the cleaning medium is supplied to the keg fitting by the punch.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a holding element configured to hold the keg fitting and is movable in the longitudinal direction.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection device comprises a clamp system having a gripping clamp configured to engage a corresponding recess of the keg fitting for supplying the keg fitting to the container.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is configured to supply the cleaning medium to a top portion of the keg fitting.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the keg fitting is configured to receive the cleaning medium at the top portion of the keg fitting and communicate the cleaning medium through a channel in the keg fitting to exit the keg fitting at a bottom portion of the keg fitting.

20. An apparatus comprising,
a connection device for connecting a container with a keg fitting, the connection device being configured to move the container relative to the keg fitting; and
a cleaning device configured to clean at least an area of the keg fitting during at least one of a relative movement of the keg fitting with regard to the container and a connection of the keg fitting with the container, the cleaning device being configured to supply a cleaning medium to the keg fitting in a longitudinal direction relative to the container, wherein the cleaning medium is supplied to an interior of the container by directing the cleaning medium in the longitudinal direction through an opening of the keg fitting.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Meinzinger Rupert

Classifications

• B67C3/30 Primary

  Filling of barrels or casks · CPC title

• B67C7/00

  Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations · CPC title

• B67C7/0086

  Sterilisation being restricted to the area of application of the closure · CPC title