APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILLING CONTAINERS

Abstract

An apparatus for filling containers with a carrier on which a container to be filled can be placed and fixed, wherein the support is pivotable with respect to a pivot axis which extends at an angle other than 0° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the container to be filled, with a first filling device, in order to fill the container in a first pivoted position of the container with respect to the pivot axis via its mouth, and having a rinsing device in order to rinse the container in a second pivot position of the container with respect to the pivot axis through its mouth, in particular with a liquid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for filling containers with a carrier on which a container to be filled can be placed and fixed, wherein the carrier is pivotable with respect to a pivot axis which extends at an angle different from 0° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the container to be filled, with a first filling device in order to fill the container in a first pivot position of the container with respect to the pivot axis via its mouth.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a rinsing device configured for rinsing the container through its mouth in a second pivot position of the container with respect to the pivot axis.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fixing device for fixing the container to the carrier is arranged on the carrier.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fixing device comprises a fixing device selected from the group consisting of a a vacuum fixing device, a magnetic fixing device, gripping elements, mechanical elements, and combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a second fixing device for fixing the container to the carrier.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first filling device is arranged in such a way that the container is filled by this first filling device in a pivot position which deviates from a vertical orientation of the container.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rinsing device is arranged in such a way that the container can be rinsed by this rinsing device in a pivot position which deviates from a vertical orientation of the container.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a second filling device for filling the container in a second pivoted position of the container with respect to the pivot axis via its mouth.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an inspection device for inspecting the container.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a first arrangement area for arranging the container and a second arrangement area and the container can be selectively arranged at the first arrangement area or the second arrangement area.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filling speed at which the filling device fills the container is variable and/or adjustable.

13. A method for filling containers comprising the steps of: fixing a container to be filled to a carrier optionally pivoting the carrier with the container fixed thereto into a rinsing position and rinsing the container through its mouth with a rinsing liquid pivoting the carrier with the container fixed thereto into a filling position and filling the container through its mouth with a liquid.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the container is inspected.

Description

[0061] In the drawings:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a representation of the apparatus from FIG. 1 in a further treatment position;

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a representation of the apparatus from FIG. 1 in a further treatment position;

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a representation of a container for an apparatus according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a detailed representation of the container shown in FIG. 4; and

[0067] FIG. 6 shows a further illustration of an apparatus for filling containers in a further embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a representation of an apparatus 1 according to the invention for filling containers 10. This has a carrier which can be pivoted and/or rotated about a pivot axis S. This carrier has a fixing device, not shown in detail, for fixing a container 10. This carrier has a fixing device, not shown in detail, for fixing a container 10. The container 10 has a mouth 10a through which it can be filled and rinsed.

[0069] The reference sign 4 indicates a first filling device which can fill the container in a certain position. The reference sign 42 indicates a filling valve of this filling device 4. The reference sign 8 indicates a second filling device, which can also have a filling valve here. The reference sign 20 indicates a housing or a carrier on which the filling devices 4 and 8 as well as the carrier 2 are arranged.

[0070] The reference sign 6 indicates a rinsing device for rinsing the containers. The reference sign 62 indicates a rinsing valve or a rinsing lance which can allow a rinsing liquid to flow into the interior of the container. It would be possible for this rinsing lance to be extendable in order to be able to enter the interior of the container. It is also conceivable that the container is not only pivotable but also linearly displaceable in order to move a corresponding rinsing lance into the container.

[0071] The reference sign 12 indicates a collecting container for collecting rinsing liquid and, if necessary, also for collecting any liquid that may still be in the container.

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a representation of an apparatus according to the invention in a rinsing position. Here the container is deflected vertically downwards with the container mouth facing downwards. In this position, rinsing of the interior of the container is possible. FIG. 3 shows a further illustration in which the container is in a filling position, i.e. the container mouth is arranged below the first filling device 4.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a container with a bottom portion 10b. In the representation shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the container as a whole comprises an outer container 34 and an inner container 32. A ferromagnetic element 36, such as an iron plate/steel plate, may be disposed between these two containers 32 and 34. By means of this iron plate, the container can be temporarily fixed to the carrier shown in FIG. 1.

[0074] However, it would also be possible for the container to be attached to the carrier in another way, for example, it could be sucked in via suction devices both at its bottom and at its circumferential wall. In addition, it would be possible for the container to be placed in a ring or ring-segment-like structure, which is then at least slightly advanced onto the container. Such a holding ring could also have elastic means to hold the container securely. It should be noted that such a holding ring only needs to hold the weight of the container, as this is supported by the carrier itself during the actual filling process.

[0075] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of an apparatus for filling containers 10. Here, the carrier 2 has a first arrangement area B1 and a second arrangement area B2, at each of which the container 10 can be arranged. Preferably, the two arrangement areas B1, B2 also each have fixing means for fixing the container 10.

[0076] The two arrangement areas are at a different distance from the pivot axis S. Therefore, for example, a higher container can be placed on the arrangement area B1 and a less high container on the arrangement area B2. It would also be possible for the filling device 4 and/or the filling device 8 to be adjustable in the vertical direction or in the longitudinal direction of the container in order to enable adaptation to containers of different heights.

[0077] In addition, it would also be possible for the carrier 2 to have three or more arrangement areas.

[0078] Furthermore, it is possible that the carrier 2 has at least one arrangement area B1 or B2 and additionally the filling device 4 and/or the filling device 8 are adjustable in the vertical direction, respectively in the longitudinal direction of the container. Thus, at least two containers of different heights can be treated with at least one arrangement area B1 or B2.

[0079] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided they are individually or in combination new compared to the prior art. It is further pointed out that the individual figures also describe features which may be advantageous in themselves. The skilled person immediately recognises that a certain feature described in a figure can also be advantageous without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, the skilled person recognises that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual figures or in different figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0080] 1 apparatus
2 carrier
4 first filling device
6 rinsing device
8 second filling device
10 container
10a mouth
10b bottom area
12 collecting container
20 housing
32 inner container
34 outer container
36 ferromagnetic element
42 filling valve
62 rinsing valve or rinsing lance
S pivot axis
B1 first arrangement area
B2 second arrangement area