METHOD FOR FILLING A BOTTLE IN A FILLING LINE

Abstract

A method for filling a bottle in a filling line, with a product, preferably a washing or cleaning agent. Wherein, in a filling method step the product is filled into the bottle through a bottle neck. In a subsequent closing method step, a closure is put on the bottle neck, wherein before the closing a curable sealant in liquid or flowable form is applied to the bottle neck, in which the sealant is not yet fully cured at the time of closing.

Claims

1. A method for filling a bottle in a bottling line with a product, the product being filled into the bottle through a bottle neck in a method step of filling and a cap being placed onto the bottle neck in a subsequent method step of capping, comprising a step wherein a curable sealant in liquid or flowable form is applied onto the bottle neck before the capping step, wherein the curable sealant is not yet fully cured at the time of capping.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the curable sealant is applied between the filling step and the capping step.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the curable sealant is a hot-melt adhesive.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bottle neck comprises an external thread onto which the cap comprising an internal thread is screwed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the curable sealant is applied onto an end surface and/or a lateral surface of the bottle neck.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the curable sealant is applied using an application roller.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the curable sealant is sprayed on in the form of a bead.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application weight of the curable sealant per bottle is less than 0.5 g.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time between the end of the filling step and the start of the capping step is less than 2 seconds.

10. The method for filling a bottle in a bottling line according to claim 1, with a washing or cleaning agent, the product being filled into the bottle through a bottle neck in a method step of filling and a cap being placed onto the bottle neck in a subsequent method step of capping, wherein a curable sealant in liquid or flowable form is applied onto the bottle neck before the capping step, wherein the curable sealant is not yet fully cured at the time of capping.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention shall be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 schematically shows individual method steps in a bottling line for filling a bottle; and

[0018] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through a bottle neck comprising an external thread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 schematically shows three successive method steps for filling a bottle in a bottling line with a product which may for example be a washing agent. In method step 10 the bottle is filled with the washing agent. Method step 10 of filling is to be considered completed when the bottle is completely filled in one embodiment, or filled with at least 80% of the desired amount of washing agent. Following method step 10 is method step 20, in which a sealant is applied onto the bottle neck. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the bottle neck, which is denoted by reference numeral 2 here. The method step 30 of capping follows method step 20. In this method step 30, a cap is placed onto the bottle neck. Placing the cap onto the bottle neck may involve a plurality of sub steps, such as screwing the cap onto the bottle neck. In the bottling line, all the method steps 10, 20 and 30 are carried out in a fully automated manner.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of a bottle or washing agent bottle 1 that is known per se. The bottle 1 comprises the aforementioned bottle neck 2, which defines an opening 3 in the bottle 1. The bottle neck 2 is in this case substantially rotationally symmetrical with respect to a central axis 4. An external thread 6 is provided on a lateral surface 5 of the bottle neck 2, onto which external thread a cap (not shown) comprising an internal thread can be screwed.

[0021] The sealant may be applied onto the bottle neck at various points. For example, the sealant may be applied onto an annular end surface 7 of the bottle neck. An application roller may be used for this purpose, said roller passing over the entire end surface 7. In this way, the entire end surface 7 can be wetted. When the cap has been screwed on and is in a closed position, the end surface can rest against a corresponding mating surface of the cap. By means of the film of sealant on the end surface 7, the space between the end surface 7 and the mating surface can be completely sealed.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, the sealant may be applied onto the lateral surface 5, for example onto the individual turns of the external thread 6 or onto the regions between the turns of the external thread 6. Preferably, the amount of sealant to be applied is kept small, preferably in the range of from 0.05 to 0.15 g.

[0023] The internal diameter Di of the bottle neck 2 may be from 10 to 100 mm. Preferably, the internal diameter Di ranges from 20 to 60 mm. The minor diameter DK may be from 2 to 10 mm (preferably from 3 to 8 mm) greater than the internal diameter Di. The thread diameter DG may be from 4 to 12 mm (preferably from 5 to 10 mm) greater than the internal diameter Di. The height of the bottle neck 2, which corresponds to the distance between the annular end surface 7 and a lower terminal edge 8, may be between 3 and 20 mm, preferably between 5 and 15 mm. In one embodiment, the internal diameter Di, the minor diameter DK, the thread diameter DG and the height of the bottle neck are 48.5 mm, 51.7 mm, 53.5 mm and 13.5 mm, respectively.

[0024] The capacity of the washing agent bottle (only shown in part) is intended to be from 1 to 5 liters.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0025] 1 bottle [0026] 2 bottle neck [0027] 3 opening [0028] 4 central axis [0029] 5 lateral surface [0030] 6 external thread [0031] 7 end surface [0032] 8 lower terminal edge [0033] 10 method step of filling [0034] 20 method step of applying sealant [0035] 30 method step of capping