TREATMENT HEAD AND CONTAINER TREATMENT MACHINE HAVING A TREATMENT HEAD

Abstract

A treatment head for filling a container that has a valve arrangement having an external valve-part and a fastening region includes a housing, a plunger, first and second fluid-ducts, a seal, and a shielding section. The plunger is held so as to be displaced for opening said valve arrangement. The first fluid-duct feeds liquid into said container, and the second fluid-duct provides a path for discharging fluid from said container. The seal bears against the external valve-part. The shielding section shields at least the fastening region from fluid carried in the first fluid-duct.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus comprising a treatment head for filling a container that has a valve arrangement having an external valve-part and a fastening region, wherein said treatment head comprises a housing, a plunger, first and second fluid-ducts, a seal, and a shielding section, wherein said plunger is held so as to be displaced for opening said valve arrangement, wherein said first fluid-duct feeds liquid into said container, wherein said second fluid-duct provides a path for discharging fluid from said container, wherein said seal is configured to bear against said external valve-part, wherein said shielding section is configured to shield at least said fastening region from fluid carried in said first fluid-duct.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least a section of said shielding section forms a sheath.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said valve arrangement comprises a cup-like recessed region and at least one circumferential valve-wall section, wherein said cup-like recessed region is bounded by said at least one circumferential valve wall section, wherein said shielding section is configured to shield said at least one valve-wall section from said fluid carried in said first fluid duct.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said shielding section conforms to said cup-like recessed region.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, when said valve arrangement is opened, said shielding section shields said first fluid duct in sections radially outwards between a treatment-head housing section that surrounds said plunger at a distance and said external valve part.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said seal is provided on said shielding section.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said treatment head further comprises a seal section standing away from said seal, wherein said seal section forms said shielding section.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said treatment head further comprises a one-piece seal element, wherein said one-piece seal element forms said seal and said shielding section.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said shielding section is held non-displaceably on said treatment head.

25. The apparatus of claims 16, wherein said shielding section is held displaceably on said treatment head housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said shielding section is held on said plunger.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first fluid duct is formed in sections between said plunger and said shielding section when said valve arrangement is open.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, when said valve arrangement is open, said shielding section bears in a fluid-tight manner up against said external valve part by way of said seal, which is provided on said shielding section, and wherein, at a region lying at a distance away from said seal, said shielding section bears in a fluid-tight manner up against a treatment-head housing section in a fluid-tight manner.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said shielding section bears in a fluid-tight manner up against said external valve part by way of said seal when said valve arrangement is open, said seal having been provided on said shielding section, and wherein a treatment-head housing section and said shielding section connect to each other at a region lying at a distance away from said seal in a fluid-tight manner.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said shielding section defines a sheath that surrounds said at least a section of said plunger.

31. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a container-treatment machine for treating containers that have said valve arrangement, wherein said treatment head is a constituent of said container-treatment machine.

32. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a filling machine for filling containers that have said valve arrangement, wherein said treatment head is a constituent of said filling machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] The invention is explained in detail below through the use of different examples with reference to the figures, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a treatment head in position against a valve arrangement of a container in the closed position;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the treatment head of FIG. 1 in contact with a valve arrangement of a container in an open position; and

[0032] FIG. 3 shows another treatment head in position against a valve arrangement of a container in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a treatment head 1 having a treatment-head housing 3 that bears against a valve arrangement 2 of a container by way of a treatment-head housing-section 3.1, including for example in the form of a seal made from EPDM rubber. Usually, the container is a keg and a keg fitting forms the valve arrangement 2.

[0034] The illustrated valve arrangement 2 has cup-like recess region 9 bounded by at least one circumferential valve wall section 2.2, a first valve-body 2.3, and a second valve-body 2.4. When the valve arrangement 2 is closed, the first valve-body 2.3 lies sealed against an opening in the second valve-body 2.4. In addition, the second valve-body 2.4 lies sealed against a valve seat for a valve-arrangement section 2.1 that forms the second valve-body 2.4. As a result, the first and second valve-bodies 2.3, 2.4 seal the valve arrangement 2 in a fluid-tight manner.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the valve-arrangement section 2.1 is an annular element of the valve arrangement 2. The valve-arrangement section 2.1 forms an external valve part 2.5 by way of which the valve arrangement 2 fastens to a valve mounting-section 12 of the container. In some embodiments, the valve-arrangement section 2.1 is a conical section that lies radially inside on an annular or sheath-like external valve part 2.5.

[0036] The treatment head 1 includes a plunger 4 that is held in the treatment-head housing 3 such that an actuator 10 can displace it along a treatment head longitudinal axis LA. The actuator 10 displaces the plunger 4 from a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1, to an extended position, as shown in FIG. 2. On its front free-end, which faces the valve arrangement 2, the plunger 4 is formed in such a way that when its free end pushes into the valve arrangement 2, both the first valve-body 2.3 and the second valve-body 2.4 lift off their respective valve seats, thereby opening two separate fluid-paths in the valve arrangement 2.

[0037] The treatment head 1 includes first and second fluid-ducts 5, 6. The first fluid-duct 5 provides a way to feed liquid product into the container. The second fluid-duct 6 provides a path for either drawing return gas from the container during filling or carrying away a cleaning or rinsing fluid after a cleaning or rinsing process. In the illustrated embodiment, the first fluid-duct 5 is configured peripherally about the plunger 4, while the second fluid-duct 6 runs, in some sections at least, inside the plunger 4.

[0038] In some embodiments, the treatment head 1 also has a third fluid duct 11 for introducing a propellant gas or gaseous medium into the container's interior, thus generating a positive pressure to pre-tension the drink. This pre-tensioning permits the drink to be drawn off by, for example, a tap system. Alternatively, the third fluid duct 11 can be one that draws off splashed liquid so as to effectively prevent contamination from splashing liquid when detaching the keg from the treatment head 1.

[0039] The treatment head 1 also has a seal 7. In some embodiments, the seal 7 is on the plunger 4. In other embodiments, the seal 7 is on the treatment-head housing 3. When a container is positioned on the treatment head 1, or when the plunger 4 is advanced against a contact section provided on the valve arrangement 2, the contact section being provided, for example, on an external valve part 2.5 and formed by a step in the external valve part 2.5, the seal 7 comes into contact and seals off the first fluid-duct 5 peripherally from the exterior.

[0040] The valve arrangement 2 that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is introduced into a flange-like valve mounting-section 12 of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, a circlip 13 holds the valve arrangement 2 on a valve mounting-section 12. Some valve arrangements 2 and/or keg fittings have a male thread on their outer periphery by way of which the keg fitting can be screwed into a female thread provided in valve mounting-section 12.

[0041] A shielding section 8 prevents ingress of fluid into the fastening region 14 between the outer wall of the valve arrangement 2 and the valve mounting-section 12, or in the region of the circlip 13. The shielding section 8 separates or shields at least the first fluid-duct 5 from the fastening region.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the shielding section 8 is a sheath that surrounds the outside of the plunger 4 at a distance away from it. The shielding section 8 can be arranged, for example, as a tube-like sleeve on the plunger 4. In such cases, the shielding section 8 is guided with the plunger 4 in the treatment-head housing 3 so as to be displaceable. The longitudinal axis of the shielding section 8 is preferably aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis LA of the plunger 4. The seal 7, which is preferably annular, is provided at the frontal end face of the shielding section 8, i.e. the end that faces the valve arrangement 2.

[0043] The shielding section 8 can be formed from any inherently stable material, such as steel or plastic, or also from a flexible material, for example an elastomer.

[0044] In some embodiments, the shielding section 8 and the seal 7 are integral with each other. In some such cases, a single sealing collar forms both the seal 7 and the shielding section 8.

[0045] Alternatively, the shielding section 8 can be part of the plunger 4 and the seal 7 can be disposed on the shielding section 8. In some embodiments, the shielding section 8 forms a sheath around the plunger 4. In other embodiments, the shielding section 8 and the plunger 4 form one piece.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the treatment head 1 and the valve arrangement 2 with the plunger 4 having been positioned in an advanced position so that the valve arrangement 2 is opened. The forward free end of plunger 4 is stepped such that the first valve-body 2.3 and the second valve-body 2.4 are lifted off their respective valve seats. This simultaneously forms an opened and a further duct. The opened duct connects to the first fluid-duct 5 for the feeding of the liquid product. The further duct connects to the second fluid-duct 6 for discharging return gas and/or cleaning or rinsing fluid

[0047] As the plunger 4 pushes forward, it displaces the shielding section 8 that is disposed on it. It does so in such a way that the shielding section shields a fastening region 14 in a fluid tight manner. This fastening region 14 is one in which the valve arrangement 2 is attached to the containers' valve mounting-section 12, for example by way of the external valve part 2.5.

[0048] The shielding section 8 has an axial length I such that, when the treatment head 1 couples to the container, and when the valve arrangement 2 opens as a result of the advancing plunger 4, fluid-tight connections form with the external valve part 2.5 and with the treatment-head housing 3. In particular, the fluid tight connection forms with the treatment-head housing section 3.1 that is formed by the free end of the shielding section 8 that faces away from the seal 7.

[0049] The treatment-head housing section 3.1 includes a sealing face that faces plunger 4 and that runs concentrically relative to its longitudinal axis LA. The sealing face, together with the shielding section 8, and in particular the outer peripheral surface of that the shielding section, effectively shields the fastening region 14 against fluid ingress. If the treatment-head housing-section 3.1 is made of an elastomer, the fluid-tight connection between the outside of the shielding section 8 and the treatment housing section 3.1 can be brought about by abutting the shielding section 8 against the treatment-head housing-section 3.1. Otherwise, abutting against a ring seal or a sealing lip can bring about the fluid-tight connection.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, the shielding section 8 can also seal the fastening region 14 from the first fluid-duct 5. In the region of the shielding section 8, the first fluid-duct 5 runs between the plunger's outer wall and the shielding section's inner wall. As a result, the shielding section 8 bounds the first fluid-duct 5 on the outside. This prevents fluid ingress into the fastening region 14. Meanwhile, the seal between the shielding section 8 and the treatment-head housing-section 3.1 and the valve arrangement 2 effectively prevents fluid carried by the first fluid-duct 5 from escaping outside in the direction of the fastening region 14.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a closed valve arrangement 2 mounted on a second embodiment of a treatment head 1. Only the differences between this treatment head 1 and the embodiment described above are presented below. Otherwise the statements made above also apply to this embodiment.

[0052] The main difference between the treatment head 1 in FIG. 3 and the embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 is that it is no longer the plunger 4 that holds the shielding section 8 and/or the seal 7. Instead, it is the treatment-head housing 3 that does so.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, a sheath-like shielding section 8 is held on the treatment-head housing-section 3.1. The treatment head housing section 3.1 can again be a section of the treatment-head housing 3 that forms a ring that surrounds the plunger 4. The figure shows a seal 7 on the end face of the shielding section 8 that faces away from the treatment-head housing 3. This seals the first fluid-duct 5 from the external valve part 2.5.

[0054] Regardless of the plunger's position, as soon as the container and the treatment head 1 make contact, the seal 7 forms a fluid-tight connection between the external valve part 2.5 and the treatment head 1. In addition, the shielding section 8 attaches to the treatment-head housing-section 3.1 in a way that achieves a fluid-tight connection between the shielding section 8 and the treatment housing section 3.1 on the side of the shielding section 8 that faces away from the seal 7. This prevents ingress of liquid product into the fastening region 14 during filling. As a result, the various intricate structures contained therein, which are difficult to clean, never come into contact with liquid product that may promote mold growth.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment, the shielding section 8 together with the seal 7 are held moveably on the treatment-head housing 3.

[0056] In some embodiments, it is useful to have a mechanism that extends the shielding section 8 out of the treatment-head housing 3 and towards the valve arrangement 2. Such a mechanism can be moved, for example, by advancing the plunger 4 towards the external valve part 2.5. This movement causes a fluid-tight connection by pressing the seal 7 against the external valve part 2.5, or a fluid-tight connection between the outside of the shielding section 8 and the treatment-head housing-section 3.1.

[0057] In some embodiments, one or more springs press the shielding section 8 and the seal 8 against the external valve part. This creates a spring-loaded fluid-tight connection between the external valve part 2.5 and the shielding section 8.