Method and device for covering containers with a container lid
阅读说明:本技术 用容器盖盖住容器的方法和装置 (Method and device for covering containers with a container lid ) 是由 尤尔根·索尔纳 于 2020-04-02 设计创作,主要内容包括:一种用容器盖盖住容器的装置,例如在饮料装瓶设备(1)中,包括:隔离器(50),其用于在其内部提供限定气氛;封盖器(30),其用容器盖盖住容器,该封盖器(30)布置在隔离器(50)中;和盖生产装置(40),其用于由热熔体,例如塑料熔体来生产容器盖;盖生产装置(40)布置在隔离器(50)之外,并且盖生产装置(40)与隔离器(50)互连或经由盖输送通道(43)连接至隔离器(50),以将生产的容器盖送入封盖器(30)。(An apparatus for capping containers with container caps, for example in a beverage bottling plant (1), comprising: a separator (50) for providing a defined atmosphere within its interior; a capper (30) for capping the container with a cap, the capper (30) being disposed in the isolator (50); and a cap producing device (40) for producing a cap of a container from a hot melt, for example a plastic melt; the cap producing device (40) is arranged outside the isolator (50), and the cap producing device (40) is interconnected with the isolator (50) or connected to the isolator (50) via a cap conveying passage (43) to feed the produced container cap into the capper (30).)
1. An apparatus for capping a container with a container lid, for example in a beverage bottling plant (1), the apparatus comprising:
a separator (50) for providing a defined atmosphere within its interior;
a capper (30) for capping the container with a container lid, said capper (30) being arranged in said isolator (50); and
a cap producing device (40) for producing a cap of a container from a hot melt, for example a plastic melt;
the cap production device (40) is arranged outside the separator (50), and the cap production device (40) is interconnected with the separator (50) or connected to the separator (50) via a cap transfer channel (43) to feed a produced container cap into the capper (30).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means (60, 60') are provided for sterilizing said cap production means (40) with a sterilizing gas.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means (60, 60') for sterilizing the cap production apparatus (40) comprises one or more nozzles configured such that they direct the flow of sterilizing gas at least to a portion of the cap production apparatus (40).
4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the sterilizing gas comprises H2O2Preferably in the range of 100ppm to 200ppm, particularly preferably in the range of about 150 ppm.
5. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the means (60, 60') for sterilizing the cap production device (40) are configured to bring the cap production device (40) into contact, preferably continuously, with the sterilizing gas during production of the container caps.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the means (60, 60') for sterilizing the cap production apparatus (40) are configured to bring the cap production apparatus (40) into contact with the sterilizing gas outside the production of the container caps in terms of time.
7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a filler (20) for filling the container with a filling product is further comprised in the insulator (50).
8. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap production apparatus (40) is designed as a carousel machine.
9. Beverage bottling plant (1) comprising a filler (20) for filling containers with a beverage and a device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims for covering the filled containers with a container lid.
10. The beverage bottling plant (1) according to claim 9, wherein the filler (20) is arranged in the isolator (50).
11. The beverage bottling plant (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the pitch of the cap producing means (40) corresponds to the pitch of the cappers (30).
12. A method of capping a container with a container cap, for use in, for example, a beverage bottling plant (1), the method comprising:
creating a controlled atmosphere inside the separator (50);
-producing a container lid from a hot melt, preferably a plastic melt, in a lid production device (40), the lid production device (40) being arranged outside the isolator (50) and being interconnected with the isolator (50) or being connected to the isolator (50) via a lid transport channel (43); and
transporting the container lid to a capper (30) disposed in the isolator (50).
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cap production apparatus (40) is sterilized by contacting at least a portion thereof with a sterilizing gas.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sterilizing gas comprises H2O2Preferably in the range of 100ppm to 200ppm, particularly preferably about 150 ppm.
15. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the produced container lids are transferred to the capper (30) for capping containers with the container lids, preferably without passing through a sorting system and/or a device for sterilizing the container lids and/or a singulation device.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for capping containers with container caps, preferably in beverage bottling plants.
Background
Certain filled products essentially require aseptic bottling to ensure product safety and to ensure shelf life of the bottled filled product. Such aseptic bottling, low-bacteria or aseptic bottling, and related bottling equipment are also referred to as "aseptic bottling" and "aseptic bottling equipment", respectively.
In order to make aseptic bottling possible, the handling of the containers to be filled (for example blowing, rinsing, transporting, filling and capping) is carried out at least partially in a clean room (also referred to as "isolator"), depending on the application. In a clean room, a controlled atmosphere is provided, for example by means of filters and/or gas supplies, to provide a sterile or at least sufficiently low bacterial and low particle atmosphere that meets the requirements of a specific product.
After the lids are manufactured, they are usually first stored and transported in a transport container as bulk goods. For further processing, the caps must be separated and sorted in a complicated manner. The machines required for this are complex in construction and are maintenance and resource intensive. During storage, transport and singulation of the lids, they are exposed to environmental conditions, which may lead to contamination of the lids. In particular, microbial bacteria can deposit on the cap, which must then be complexly removed or killed by the sterilization process. A lid sterilizer suitable for this purpose adds to the structural complexity of the capping machine and is energy and cost intensive. In addition, wear may occur between the lids as they are handled, for example during sorting and transport. Such wear particles and any other foreign bodies may be carried along and thus enter the container to be filled.
In order to cap the container under aseptic conditions, it is known to clean and optionally sterilize the cap prior to applying the cap to the filled container. After the sterilization step, the caps are applied under sterile conditions in an isolator onto the respective containers to be capped.
Disclosure of Invention
The object of the present invention is to propose an improved device and an improved method for capping containers with container caps, in particular in beverage bottling plants.
This object is achieved by a device having the features of the invention, a beverage bottling plant having the features of the invention and a method having the features of the invention. The following description and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments according to the present invention result in advantageous further developments.
Accordingly, a device is proposed for covering a container with a container lid, for example in a beverage bottling plant. The apparatus includes an isolator for providing a defined atmosphere within the isolator, and a capper for capping the container with a container lid, the capper being disposed within the isolator. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a cap production apparatus for producing a cap of a container from a hot melt, for example a plastic melt. In addition, a cap producing device is arranged outside the separator, and the cap producing device is interconnected with the separator or connected to the separator via a cap conveying passage to feed the produced container cap to the capper.
Since the container lids are co-sterilized by the production process and since this condition is maintained close to the isolator (interconnect or lid transfer channel) or, more precisely, since there is no exposure to contamination, it is not necessary to re-sterilize the container lids before closing them. Thanks to the proposed arrangement, the container lid remains always clean and sterile.
Furthermore, the container lid does not have to be stored and therefore any transport means, such as transport boxes, are omitted. If the container lids are individually formed and produced in a carousel having the same pitch as the cappers, the container lids do not have to be singulated and/or sorted and/or aligned again; in contrast, the produced caps can be fed directly from the cap production device in the correct alignment and with the correct pitch, with a consequent reduction in the mechanical constructive complexity of the beverage bottling plant equipped with the device according to the invention. Thus, means for transporting the cover, the sorting system, the sensor, such as a camera, etc., can be omitted. A lid inspection unit for detecting production defects, contamination, etc. can be easily integrated in the lid production device, in particular in the preferred carousel machine.
If the container lids are immediately transferred to the capper for capping the containers, the pitch of the capper preferably corresponds to the pitch of the lid production apparatus, i.e. the cycle rate is matched, as a result of which the individual container lids can be assigned to the respective containers without any problem being applied thereto. Similarly, the orientation (i.e., alignment) of the container lid is preferably maintained from production until application.
The raw materials are preferably heated in the cap production apparatus to form a melt, especially using temperatures that do not require additional sterilization of the raw materials and the container caps produced therefrom. Thus, the melt used to produce the container lid is preferably hot to the extent that substantially no microbial (spore and/or vegetative) bacteria can survive the process, and thus the container lid is substantially sterile after being formed in the lid forming unit.
Preferably, there is provided an apparatus for sterilizing a cap producing apparatus, the apparatus being configured to contact the cap producing apparatus with a sterilizing gas. This includes full and partial contact of the cap production apparatus, in particular the cap forming unit. The sterility obtained by the production of the container lid can thus be achieved and maintained in a particularly reliable manner. If there is a lid transport channel through which the container lid is transported from the lid forming unit into the isolator, it is particularly preferred to apply the sterilization gas to the lid transport channel.
Preferably, the means for sterilizing the cap production device comprise one or more nozzles configured such that they direct a flow of sterilizing gas at least to a part of the cap production device, preferably the cap forming unit. Thus, the sterility of the container lid obtained by its production is maintained in an efficient manner by killing any externally immersed bacteria, as a result of which the sterile container lid is not contaminated.
Preferably, the sterilizing gas comprises H2O2For example, in a concentration range of 100ppm to 200ppm, particularly preferably about 150 ppm. At these concentrations, the gas is non-corrosive and can therefore be discharged to the cap production plant without problems, in particular in a continuous manner.
Preferably, the means for sterilizing the cap production device is configured to bring the cap production device into contact, preferably continuously, with the sterilizing gas during production of the container cap, as a result of which the sterility obtained by the generation of the container cap is reliably maintained also when, for example, the cap production device is located outside the isolator.
Preferably, the means for sterilizing the cap production device are configured to bring the cap production device into contact (in terms of time) with the sterilizing gas outside the production of the container caps, i.e. for example before start-up or during a normal interruption of operation. Here, "normal operation" refers to an operating state of the cap production apparatus, in which the apparatus produces and transports away the container caps, for example to the cappers of the beverage bottling plant. In this embodiment, the cap production device is sterilized outside of normal operation, and then during normal operation, is preferably covered with sterile air from the isolator, as a result of which a continuous active contact to the device for sterilizing the cap production device can be dispensed with, thus enabling energy and resources to be saved.
The isolator preferably further comprises a closure for covering the container with a container lid. The isolator may comprise an air lock and an internal pressure of sterile or clean air and/or other gases, which is increased compared to the external environment, to ensure that no contaminants can penetrate the isolator from the outside by directing the air flow outwards. By means of the isolator, the sterility of the container lid can be maintained after production without the need for separate subsequent sterilization.
Preferably, the lid production device is designed as a carousel machine. In this case, since the caps are formed individually and are already present at the pitch required by the cappers during production, they can be immediately transferred to a possible capper without having to be singulated and/or sorted again.
Furthermore, the above object is achieved by a beverage bottling plant comprising a filler for filling a container with a beverage and means for covering the filled container with a container lid according to any one of the variants described above.
The technical effects, advantages and embodiments described above with respect to the container lid production and sterilization apparatus are applicable to beverage bottling plants with modifications.
Thus, due to the sterilization of the cap production device, the mechanical constructional complexity of the beverage bottling plant may be reduced for the reasons described above. Devices for transporting the covers, the sorting system, the sensors, such as cameras, etc., can be omitted.
The cap producing device can be sterilized outside of normal operation and then be covered with sterile air from the isolator during normal operation, as a result of which a continuous active contact to the device for sterilizing the cap producing device can be dispensed with, so that energy and resources can be saved.
Furthermore, the above object is achieved by a method configured to close a container to be capped with a container lid. The method comprises the following steps: creating a sterile or low-bacteria atmosphere in the clean room of the isolator; producing the container caps from a hot melt, preferably a plastic melt, in a cap forming unit of the cap production device, the cap forming unit being arranged outside the insulator and interconnected therewith or connected to the insulator by a cap conveying channel transporting the container caps into the insulator; and transporting the container lid into the isolator.
The above technical effects, advantages and embodiments regarding the container lid production and sterilization apparatus and the beverage bottling plant are adapted to the method with modifications.
Furthermore, the method comprises sterilizing the cap production device by contacting at least a part of the cap production device with a sterilizing gas, as a result of which the sterility obtained by the production of the container caps can be achieved and maintained in a particularly reliable manner. If there is a lid transport channel through which the container lid is transported from the lid forming unit into the isolator, it is particularly preferred to apply the sterilizing gas to the lid transport channel.
Preferably, the sterilizing gas comprises H2O2For example, in a concentration range of 100ppm to 200ppm, particularly preferably about 150 ppm. At these concentrations, the gas is non-corrosive and can therefore be discharged to the cap production plant without problems, in particular in a continuous manner.
Preferably, the cap production apparatus is contacted with the sterilizing gas during production of the container cap, preferably continuously. Alternatively or additionally, for the reasons described above, the cap production apparatus may be contacted (in terms of time) with the sterilizing gas outside the production of the container caps.
Preferably, the produced container lid is transported to a capper to cover the container with the container lid. According to a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the container lids are not passed through a sorting system and/or a device for sterilizing the container lids and/or a singulation device, since these can be dispensed with in the case that the sterility of the container lids is maintained due to the co-sterilization of the production process and due to the sterilization of the lid production device, in particular when the device is designed as a carousel machine.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. These features may be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features described above, if they are not contradictory. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments is given with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Drawings
More particularly, further preferred embodiments of the invention will be illustrated by the following description of the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for producing, filling and capping containers;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for producing, filling and capping containers according to another exemplary embodiment; and
fig. 3 is a schematic view of an apparatus for producing, filling and capping containers according to another exemplary embodiment.
Detailed Description
Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, elements that are the same, similar or function in the same manner have the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions of the elements are partially omitted to avoid overlapping.
Fig. 1 to 3 are schematic views of a beverage bottling plant 1, in particular a plant for producing, filling and capping containers, according to various exemplary embodiments.
The beverage bottling plant 1 comprises: an
The beverage bottling plant 1 therefore comprises a plurality of stations, which pass in succession from the production of the containers, the filling of the containers to the capping of the containers. For this purpose, the containers or their preforms (preparation stage of the containers before blow molding or stretch blow molding) are transported along the transport path F by the transport starwheels, thus being transferred from one transport starwheel to the next. For the sake of clarity, the preforms, containers, container lids and holders/clamps provided for this purpose on the transport starwheel are not shown in fig. 1 to 3. The transport star wheels can be used for transport only or can be equipped with processing units depending on the station.
It should be noted that the stations shown herein are merely exemplary. For example, the beverage bottling plant 1 may be equipped with additional or alternative processing stations, such as labelling devices, cleaning devices, etc. Similarly, the stations may be omitted, for example, the
The
A
After the blow-
In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the
After blow molding and after entering the
Thereafter, the container is capped in the
Meanwhile, in a separate running track, the container caps are produced in the
The
The
Preferably, the
Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2, the formed container lids are delivered to the
The melt used to produce the container caps is hot to the point where substantially no microbial bacteria (e.g., spores or vegetative bacteria) can survive the process, and thus the container caps are substantially sterile after being formed in the
The container lid, which is co-sterilized by its production, continues to remain sterile due to the direct transfer into the controlled atmosphere of the
Further assurance of the sterility of the container lid can be obtained by contacting the
To this end, the beverage bottling plant 1 according to the exemplary embodiment in fig. 1 and 2 comprises means 60 for sterilizing the cap producing device, which are also referred to herein as "cap producing sterilizing means". The cap producing and sterilizing
Therefore, any bacteria that have penetrated into the
The conveyance path of the container lid from the
According to this exemplary embodiment, the continuously occurring contacting of the
The group of structures comprising the
According to another exemplary embodiment depicted in fig. 3, the
The sterilization of the
If the cap producing and sterilizing device is arranged in the isolator, this is herein referred to as "internal cap producing and sterilizing device" 60', otherwise referred to as "external cap producing and sterilizing device" 60.
Thus, in contrast to the embodiments in fig. 1 and 2, in the embodiment of fig. 3 no special contact of the
Since the container lids are sterilized in conjunction with the production process and this sterility is maintained until they are applied to the containers to be capped, it is not necessary to re-sterilize the container lids before the application of the container lids by the
Since the container lids are formed separately, they are already separated during the production process, especially in a carousel-type machine, and immediately transported to the
If the container lids are transferred to the
Where applicable, all individual features described in the exemplary embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other without departing from the scope of the invention.
List of reference numerals:
1 beverage bottling plant
2 Container lid production and sterilization device
10 container production device
11 preform production unit
12 blow molding unit
13 Sterilization Unit
Device for filling containers (filler)
Device for covering container with cover (closing device) 30
40 lid apparatus for producing
41 cover forming unit
42 plastic reservoir
43 cover conveying channel
50 isolator
51 air lock
60 (external) device for sterilizing cap producing device (cap producing and sterilizing device)
60' internal device for sterilizing cap producing device (cap producing and sterilizing device)
F direction of conveyance
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