Machine and method for producing filled containers

Abstract

A device for producing filled containers has a transport device which is configured for transporting containers which are filled with a liquid and are closed by a closure. Furthermore, the apparatus has a penetration device which is configured for producing an opening in at least one region of the closure and/or of the container, and an application device, which applies a flowable and in particular gaseous medium to the interior of the container through this opening (or feeds the gaseous medium to this interior). Furthermore, the apparatus has a closing device which closes the opening again.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing filled containers with a transport device which is configured for transporting containers which are filled with a liquid and closed by a closure, with a penetration device which is configured to produce an opening in at least one region of the closure and/or of the container, with an application device which is configured to apply a flowable and in particular gaseous medium to an interior of the container through the opening, and with a closing device which is configured to close the opening, wherein the apparatus has at least one cleaning and/or sterilising device, which is configured for cleaning and/or sterilising at least one device of the application device, and wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising device is configured to apply a flowable cleaning medium to devices of the application device, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising device is active in a cleaning mode, which differs from an operating mode, in which the containers themselves are processed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device has at least one feed conduit configured to feed the medium to the interior of the container and the sterilising device is configured for flushing the feed conduit with a cleaning and/or sterilising medium.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising device has at least one stationary feeding device for a cleaning and/or sterilising medium.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device is arranged on the transport device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a distribution device configured to distribute at least one flowable medium from a stationary feeding device to a plurality of application devices.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a stationary supply device configured to supply the flowable medium.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus has a selection device configured to enable selective feeding of the application device with the flowable medium or the cleaning and/or sterilising medium.

8. A method for producing containers which are filled with liquids and closed, wherein containers filled with a liquid and closed by a closure are transported by a transport device, and an opening is produced in at least one region of the closure and/or of the container by a penetration device, and wherein in a first operating mode a flowable and in particular gaseous medium is applied to an interior of the container through the opening by an application device, and then the opening is closed again by a closing device, wherein in a second operating mode at least one device of the application device is cleaned and/or sterilised by a cleaning and/or sterilising medium, and wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising device is configured to apply a flowable cleaning medium to devices of the application device, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising device is active in a cleaning mode, which differs from an operating mode, in which the containers themselves are processed.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilisation takes place by a flowable cleaning and/or sterilising medium.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising medium is provided by a stationary feeding device.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising medium is provided by a stationary feeding device.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus has a sterile room inside which the containers are at least partially transported.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein an inspection device is provided, which facilitates thermal monitoring of the welding point.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of feed conduits for the flowable medium are cleaned with the cleaning and/or sterilising medium.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning and/or sterilising medium is provided via the same route as the flowable medium which is applied to the containers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and embodiments are apparent from the appended drawings.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIGS. 1a-1h show schematic representations of a device according to the invention for illustration of a method to be carried out;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a representation of a device according to the invention in a schematic representation

(5) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the representation shown in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a further side view of the machine shown in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a wiring diagram for illustration of a method according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 6 shows a rough schematic representation of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1a shows a schematic representation of a apparatus 1 according to the invention for processing containers. Only a closure 12 of the container is illustrated here. The apparatus according to the invention has a penetration device 6 which is configured here as a needle and which is intended to pierce a predetermined region of the closure 12. Here this penetration device 6 is arranged movably on a driving device and thus in FIG. 1a it can be advanced in a vertical direction towards the closure and can pierce it.

(10) The reference sign 104 designates a guiding device which serves here for guiding the penetration device 6. The reference 102 roughly designates a guide cylinder, inside which the penetration device 6 is movable with its driving device 8.

(11) The reference 19 designates a further driving device, which overall is likewise movable in the vertical direction relative to a housing 18. At the same time a pressure can be introduced into the container by the application device 8. The reference 4 designates a closing device which is intended to close the container closure again after the piercing and the filling with the gas.

(12) In one embodiment this closing device can have an ultrasound generating device 42. This can be applied to the closure and can heat it locally by oscillations so much that melting of the (plastic) material of the closure 12.

(13) The reference 300 designates quite schematically an inspection device which is suitable and intended to inspect devices of the apparatus 1 and/or also to inspect a work result, for instance a drilled hole. In this case it is possible that such inspection devices are arranged stationary and the apparatus shown in FIG. 1a moves past them.

(14) However, it would also be conceivable that the inspection device is arranged stationary relative to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1a, for example on the transport device (not shown), on which the apparatus itself is also arranged.

(15) The reference 302 designates quite schematically a monitoring device which monitors the process described above, for instance by monitoring pressures, temperatures or other process parameters.

(16) In the situation shown in FIG. 1b no element of the machine is advanced towards the container closure, so that in this way the beginning of a corresponding method is marked.

(17) In the representation shown in FIG. 1c, first of all the closing device, for instance a temperature regulating element, is advanced towards the closure, for example in order to melt it or to soften it. However, this method step is optional.

(18) In the situation shown in FIG. 1d, the closing device is reset again.

(19) In the situation shown in FIG. 1e, first of all the element 102 is advanced towards the closure 12. In this way for example sterilisation of the closure 12 can be achieved for instance in that in the region in which the opening is to be produced the surrounding regions are sterilised, which can take place for example by UV light, as explained in greater detail below, or also by the effect of heat or also by a sterilising medium.

(20) In the situation shown in FIG. 1f a hole is pierced in the container closure by means of the penetration device 6. In the situation shown in FIG. 1g, the penetration device is retracted. Now on the closure 12 an opening or a hole 20 is produced. In the situation shown in FIG. 1h, this hole 20 is closed again. In this case, as mentioned above, this can take place by melting of the material, but a so no trade can also be used, which effects an even more favourable closing of the opening 20.

(21) FIG. 2 shows a representation of a machine according to the invention. In this case a housing 30 is provided, which for example can have a linear drive for a needle and also the sonotrode. The reference 4 in turn designates the closing device which, as shown in FIG. 2 is guided obliquely and thus can also be advanced obliquely towards the container (not shown). The reference numeral 32 designates a compressed air feed line which serves for actuation of the pneumatic drive.

(22) In the situation shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the compressed air feed line 32 a second connector 34 is also evident, which overall can effect the movement of the piston 36.

(23) The reference 6 in turn designates the penetration device and the reference 52 designates a temperature sensor which can for example monitor a temperature of the container closure.

(24) The reference 102 designates a sterilising device which is configured here as a pulsed UV lamp and which sterilises the region of the opening produced or to be produced.

(25) In the situation shown in FIG. 4 a valve block is provided which can serve for feeding of the gas, for example nitrogen. In addition, this valve block can also be sterilised by means of a sterilising gas. In addition a sterilisation by means of H.sub.2O.sub.2 is also possible.

(26) The reference numeral 104 designates a cooling device for cooling the UV lamp or generally the sterilising device. This may be for example a fluid cooling system.

(27) The reference 520 designates a pressure application chamber, in order to seal the region between the closure and the compressed air application and in order to apply the positive pressure to the container closure and thus also to the container (not shown).

(28) FIG. 5 shows an arrangement in the manner of a circuit diagram of a device according to the invention with a processing station. A container 10 is shown here to which the compressed air is applied. An application chamber 520 is also provided in turn, which here can be provided with pressures p1 and p2 by means of two compressed air lines. First of all a pressure Px can be supplied via a pressure reservoir 514 by means of a regulation stage 508 and a regulation unit 512 to a rotary distributor or selection device 430.

(29) This rotary distributor 430 distributes the compressed air to the individual containers or the individual application devices. The reference 500 designates the application device as a whole.

(30) The reference 510 designates a pressure reservoir, which is provided for storing a specific pressure, either the higher pressure p1 or the lower pressure p2.

(31) The reference 516 designates a regulating valve which is suitable for regulating the pressure P exiting from the reservoir onto the individual containers.

(32) In addition the cleaning function of the device is shown. Here again a reservoir 414 is provided, which for example can provide a cleaning agent such as steam. The reference 408 designates a valve which can effect the feeding of steam from a stationary feeding device 550 via a conduit 600 into the device 512, the rotary distributor 430, but also the individual conduits of the application device 500.

(33) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a device 1 according to the invention. A transport device 2 is provided here which can be designed for instance as a rotatable support. A plurality of processing stations 40 are provided on this support and, as mentioned above, the processing stations here can have the individual devices, such as the application device and the like.

(34) The reference 430 in turn designates a rotary distributor and the reference 510 quite schematically designates the reservoir which can serve for holding or for storing a pressure stage.

(35) The applicant reserves the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention in so far as they are individually or in combination novel over the prior art. Furthermore it is pointed out that features which may be advantageous per se have also been described in the individual drawings. The person skilled in the art recognises immediately that a specific feature described in a drawing may also be advantageous without foe incorporation of further features from this drawing. Furthermore the person skilled in the art recognises that advantages may also result from a combination of several features shown in individual drawings or in different drawings.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(36) 1 device/apparatus 2 transport device 4 closure device 6 penetration device 8 application device 10 container 12 closure 18 housing 19 driving device 20 hole 30 housing 32 compressed air supply 34 second connector 36 piston 40 processing stations 42 ultrasound generating device 52 temperature sensor 102 guide cylinder 102 element 102 sterilising device 104 guiding device 104 cooling device 408 valve 414 reservoir 430 rotary distributor 300 inspection device 302 monitoring device 500 application device 508 regulation stage 510 pressure reservoir 510 reservoir 512 regulating unit 514 pressure reservoir 516 regulating valve 520 pressure application chamber P1 higher pressure P2 lower pressure PX pressure