Filling machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9522818-B2
Application number	US-201314431897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2013
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A container-filling machine includes a rotor, a machine rack that doesn't move with the rotor, filling positions formed on the rotor, rinsing-cap elements used during CIP cleaning, each associated with a filling position, and a housing that isolates filling positions during aseptic filling. Each rinsing-cap element includes a rinsing cap at one end and a connection at the other. An outflow channel extends between the ends. The rinsing-cap element moves from a first position, in which it is outside a space occupied by a container being filling, and a second position, in which it lies sealed against a filling element. In the second position, the rinsing-cap element and the outflow channel connect to a fixed discharge on the machine rack. Each rinsing cap element moves between the first and second position by swiveling a swiveling element about an axis thereof between the two positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising a container-filling machine for filling a container with liquid filling,
said container-filling machine comprising a housing, a rotor that is drivable to rotate about a machine axis, a machine rack that does not move with said rotor, filling positions formed on said rotor,
said filling positions being disposed in said housing during aseptic filling for isolation thereof from the environment, each filling position comprising a dispensing opening, and rinsing-cap elements configured for use during CIP cleaning, each rinsing-cap element being associated with a corresponding one of said filling positions and comprising a swiveling element, a first end that comprises a rinsing cap, a second end that comprises a connection, and an outflow channel that connects to said rinsing cap at said first end, extends between said first and second ends, and is open at said second end, wherein each of said rinsing-cap elements is movable between a first position, in which said rinsing-cap element is disposed outside a space occupied by a container during filling thereof, and a second position, in which said rinsing-cap lies against a filling element in a sealed position in an area of a dispensing opening thereof, said second position being a working-and-rinsing position in which said rinsing-cap element and said outflow channel connect to a fixed discharge provided on said machine rack, and wherein each of said rinsing cap elements is movable between said first and second position by swiveling said swiveling element about a swivel-element axis thereof between said first and second positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each rinsing-cap element has an associated first coupling that is disposed on one of said machine rack and said rotor, wherein, during CIP cleaning, said first coupling connects said connector of said rinsing-cap element to a fixed discharge.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first coupling is coupled to said connector of said rinsing-cap element by swiveling said rinsing-cap element into said second position to make a flow connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said rinsing-cap element is permanently connected to said first coupling, wherein said rinsing-cap element is configured to swivel on said first coupling, wherein said rising-cap element swivels about said swivel-element axis, and wherein said swivel-element axis is vertical.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a collector channel formed on one of said rotor and said machine rack, wherein, in said second position, said collector channel, said first couplings and said outflow channels of said rinsing-cap elements are connected, and wherein said connector channel connects to a fixed discharge during CIP cleaning.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a ring enclosing said machine axis, wherein said first coupling is one of a plurality of first couplings, all of which are disposed on said ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a ring enclosing said machine axis, wherein said first coupling is one of a plurality of first couplings, all of which are formed by said ring.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising second couplings, wherein, during CIP cleaning, said second couplings connect said first couplings to said fixed discharge, wherein said second couplings swivel between an ineffective position and a working position, wherein, in said ineffective position, said second couplings are outside of a movement space of said first couplings that are moved with said rotor, and wherein in said working position, said second couplings are connected to said first couplings and to said fixed discharge.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a container carrier provided on said swiveling element, wherein said container carrier suspends said container.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rinsing-cap element comprises a pipe section, wherein said pipe section comprises said outflow channel, and wherein said rinsing cap and said connector are formed on opposite areas of a circumferential wall of said rinsing-cap element.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rinsing-cap elements are disposed to rotate with said rotor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rinsing-cap elements are disposed on said machine rack.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a container carrier provided on said swiveling element, wherein said container carrier suspends said container.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said swiveling element comprises a bolt.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said swiveling element comprises a rod.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said rinsing-cap elements is configured to swivel about said swivel axis such that in said second position, a longitudinal extension of said rinsing-cap element extends radially from said machine axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a container carrier, wherein said container carrier swivels with said rinsing-cap element, wherein said container carrier swivels between an effective position and an ineffective position, and wherein in said effective position, said container carrier holds a container.

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• CLüSSERATH LUDWIG
• Bruch Bernd

Classifications

• B67C2003/228

  Aseptic features · CPC title

• B67C3/004 Primary

  permanently attached to the filling machine and movable between a rest and a working position · CPC title

• B67C3/225

  Means for filling simultaneously, e.g. in a rotary filling apparatus or multiple rows of containers · CPC title

• B67C3/02

  Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus · CPC title

• B67C2003/2694

  by enclosing a set of containers in a chamber · CPC title