Container treatment machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9873569-B1
Application number	US-201615205330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 8, 2016
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A container-treatment machine includes a frame, transport devices for conveying containers, and intermediate conveyors. Treatment stations, some of which are treatment modules, are arranged between the first and second transport-devices. The intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of the treatment stations. The intermediate conveyors extend transversely between the transport devices. Some of the treatment modules are held on the frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof.

First claim

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new, and secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus comprising treatment stations for treating containers, and a container-treatment machine to which said treatment stations are connected, said container-treatment machine comprising a frame, first and second parallel transport devices for conveying said containers, and intermediate conveyors, said intermediate conveyors comprising a first intermediate conveyor, wherein said treatment stations are arranged between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of said treatment stations, wherein said intermediate conveyors extend transversely between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said treatment stations comprise treatment modules that are held on said frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof, said treatment modules comprising a first treatment module, and wherein said containers are selected from the group consisting of large cans, small casks, and kegs with valve closures or fittings, wherein said container-treatment machine comprises central fluid lines, wherein said first treatment module comprises peripheral fluid lines, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a fluid interface between said central fluid lines and said peripheral fluid lines, wherein said fluid interface comprises first and second coupling flanges, wherein said first coupling flange is arranged on said frame at an operating position of said first treatment module, wherein said first coupling flange interacts with said second coupling flange, and wherein, as a result of said interaction, said central fluid lines and said peripheral fluid lines are connected to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first treatment module is associated with said intermediate conveyor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide rail, wherein said guide rail holds said first treatment module to said frame so that said first treatment module can be displaced.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and second coupling flanges interact when said first treatment module is moved to said operating position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first treatment module comprises a first arrangement and said frame comprises a second arrangement, wherein, when said first treatment module is in an operating position thereof, said first arrangement mates with said second arrangement, wherein said first arrangement is selected from the group consisting of first support structures and frame elements, and wherein said second arrangement is selected from the group consisting of second support structures and frame elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first, second, and third transport sections, said first and second transport sections being constituents of said first transport-device and said third transport section being a constituent of said second transport-device, wherein said first, second, and third transport sections, together with said intermediate conveyors, define a serpentine path that meanders through said container-treatment machine.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third transport-device, wherein said third transport-device is parallel to and adjacent to said first or second transport-devices, wherein said third transport-device is connected to said first intermediate conveyor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said third transport-device conveys in a direction contrary to that of at least one of said first and second transport-devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first intermediate conveyor conveys in a reversible direction such that during a first time interval said intermediate conveyor conveys in a first direction and during a second time interval said intermediate conveyor conveys in a second direction, wherein said first and second directions are opposite directions.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and second transport-devices comprise conveyor belts.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said treatment modules comprise a cleaning module and a filling module.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller and an electrical bus system that links said controller to said container-treatment machine for control thereof, wherein said container-treatment machine comprises a first connection element on said frame, wherein said first connection element interacts with a corresponding connection element of said first treatment module when said first treatment module is push-coupled onto said frame, wherein said first connection element and said corresponding connection element of said first treatment module contact each other no later than when the first treatment module has reached its operating position on said frame.

13. An apparatus comprising treatment stations for treating containers, and a container-treatment machine to which said treatment stations are connected, said container-treatment machine comprising a frame, first and second parallel transport devices for conveying said containers, and intermediate conveyors, said intermediate conveyors comprising a first intermediate conveyor, wherein said treatment stations are arranged between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of said treatment stations, wherein said intermediate conveyors extend transversely between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said treatment stations comprise treatment modules that are held on said frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof, said treatment modules comprising a first treatment module, and wherein said containers are selected from the group consisting of large cans, small casks, and kegs with valve closures or fittings, said apparatus further comprising first electrical lines, second electrical lines, a first electrical interface, and a second electrical interface, wherein said first electrical lines and said first electrical interface are constituents of said container-treatment machine, wherein said second electrical lines and said second electrical interface are constituents of said first treatment module, wherein, when said first treatment module is in an operating position thereof, said second electrical interface engages said first electrical interface thereby causing electrical connection between said first and second electrical lines.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a push-fit connection to engage said first treatment module and said frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a detent, wherein said detent secures said first treatment module to said frame at an operating position thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said first electrical interface and said second electrical interface are arranged to couple with each other when said first treatment module is moved into said operating position thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a controller and an electrical bus system that links said controller to said container-treatment machine for control thereof, wherein said container-treatment machine comprises a first connection element on said frame, wherein said first connection element interacts with a corresponding connection element of said first treatment module when said first treatment module is push-coupled onto said frame, wherein said first connection element and said corresponding connection eleme

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Frohlich Heinrich-Dieter
• Matheyka Thomas

Classifications

• B67C7/002

  General lay-out of bottle-handling machines · CPC title

• B65G2201/0235

  Containers · CPC title

• B08B9/0804

  Cleaning containers having tubular shape, e.g. casks, barrels, drums (B08B9/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• B67C3/22

  Details · CPC title

• B65G15/00

  Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration (having load-conveying surfaces formed by interconnected longitudinal links B65G17/06) · CPC title