U.S. patent application number 10/985640 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for beverage filling plant for filling beverage containers with a beverage having a device for the feeding and removal of beverage containers.
Invention is credited to Monzel, Alois.
Application Number | 20050121104 10/985640 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34428699 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050121104 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monzel, Alois |
June 9, 2005 |
Beverage filling plant for filling beverage containers with a
beverage having a device for the feeding and removal of beverage
containers
Abstract
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid
beverage filling material having a device for the feeding and
removal of containers, in particular for the feeding of upright
kegs, barrels, cans, bottles and similar containers from a conveyor
belt to a linear conveyor or revolving carousel turntable or also
for the return of said containers to a removal conveyor belt with a
star wheel, the star pockets of which or the arms of which can be
brought at least partly in contact with the container and which are
realized so that they can be adjusted to accommodate different
containers The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the
specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the
abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and
should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Inventors: |
Monzel, Alois; (Morstadt,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NILS H. LJUNGMAN & ASSOCIATES
P. O. BOX 130
GREENSBURG
PA
15601-0130
US
|
Family ID: |
34428699 |
Appl. No.: |
10/985640 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 2201/0244 20130101;
B65G 47/846 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/144 |
International
Class: |
B65B 001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2003 |
DE |
103 52 885.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A beverage container filling plant for filling beverage
containers, such as beverage bottles, beverage kegs, beverage
barrels, beverage drums, and beverage cans, with a liquid beverage,
said beverage container filling plant comprising: a rotatable
beverage container cleaning machine being configured and disposed
to clean empty beverage containers; a feed arrangement to supply
empty beverage containers to said beverage container cleaning
machine; a rotatable beverage container filling machine being
configured and disposed to fill empty beverage containers with
liquid beverage material; said beverage container filling machine
comprising a plurality of beverage container filling devices for
filling beverage containers with liquid beverage material; at least
one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of
liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured
and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said
beverage container filling machine to supply liquid beverage
material to said beverage container filling machine; a first
conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move empty
beverage containers from said beverage container cleaning machine
into said beverage container filling machine; said first conveyer
arrangement comprising: a first linear conveyor device to move
empty beverage containers from said beverage container cleaning
machine to said beverage container filling machine; a first output
star wheel structure to move empty beverage containers from said
beverage container cleaning machine to said first conveyor device;
and a first input star wheel structure to move empty beverage
containers from said first conveyor device into said beverage
container filling machine; a rotatable beverage container closing
machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled
beverage containers; a second conveyer arrangement being configured
and disposed to move filled beverage containers from said beverage
container filling machine into said beverage container closing
machine; said second conveyer arrangement comprising: a second
linear conveyor device to move filled beverage containers from said
beverage container filling machine to said beverage container
closing machine; a second output star wheel structure to move
filled beverage containers from said beverage container filling
machine to said second conveyor device; and a second input star
wheel structure to move filled beverage containers from said second
conveyor device into said beverage container closing machine; a
rotatable beverage container labeling machine being configured and
disposed to label filled, closed beverage containers; a third
conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled,
closed beverage containers from said beverage container closing
machine into said beverage container labeling machine; said third
conveyer arrangement comprising: a third linear conveyor device to
move filled, closed beverage containers from said beverage
container closing machine to said beverage container labeling
machine; a third output star wheel structure to move filled, closed
beverage containers from said beverage container closing machine to
said third conveyor device; and a third input star wheel structure
to move filled, closed beverage containers from said third conveyor
device into said beverage container labeling machine; each of said
star wheel structures comprises projecting star arms or prisms
being configured to be brought at least partly in contact with
beverage containers and to be adjusted to accommodate different
beverage containers; and said star arms or prisms being configured
to be driven independently and to be adjusted to accommodate
different beverage container diameters by adjustment of their
rotational position with reference to at least one of: the center
of the beverage container, the diameter of the cylindrical portion
of the beverage container, and the required position of the
beverage container in one of said beverage container filling,
closing, and labeling machines.
2. The beverage container filling plant according to claim 1,
characterized by the fact that the pushing and/or centering arms or
prisms of the star wheel and/or slide can be advanced or retracted
by the angle required to compensate for the offset of the center of
the respective different container diameters and/or can be brought
into the pushing position.
3. The beverage container filling plant according to claim 2,
characterized by the fact that the pushing and/or centering arms or
prisms of the star wheel move the center of the container onto the
center of the receiving plane of a linear conveyor or the support
plates of a revolving handling machine by advancing or retracting
the feeder speeds.
4. The beverage container filling plant according to claim 3,
characterized by the fact that the arms or prisms of the star wheel
move the centers of the containers at the correct intervals to the
center of the receiving or conveyor plane of a linear handling
machine.
5. The beverage container filling plant according to claim 4,
characterized by the fact that at least the inlet-side star wheel
is driven by its own motor and can be actuated and/or adjusted
separately.
6. The beverage container filling plant according to claim 5,
characterized by the fact that this motor can be actuated both
synchronously as well as relatively synchronously and/or step-wise
in relation to the movement of the work stations of the handling
machine.
7. The beverage container filling plant according to claim 6,
wherein: the star arms and/or prisms can be brought synchronized in
terms of angle or position with the center axes of the receiving
plate of the carousel turntable or of the linear handling position;
a guide element that steers the containers into the centered
position with respect to the center of the support plates or
receiving plane is provided in the transfer area; the position of
the guide element can be set automatically as a function of the
size of the container to be processed; the transfer star wheel has
the same speed as the transferring conveyor element and the support
plate or conveyor has the same speed as the receiving conveyor
element and vice-versa, not later than at the transfer point; the
faces or guide arms are realized in the shape of a prism to
accommodate containers of different sizes; the center axis of the
prism coincides or can be made to coincide with the center of the
receiving plane; and the prism is mounted so that it can be pushed
or moved by a motor on the face or on the guide arm to adjust to
different center positions.
8. Device for the feeding and removal of containers, in particular
for the feeding of upright barrels, cans, bottles and similar
containers from a conveyor belt to a linear conveyor or revolving
carousel turntable or also for the return of said containers to a
removal conveyor belt with a star wheel, the star pockets of which
or the arms of which can be brought at least partly in contact with
the container and which are realized so that they can be adjusted
to accommodate different containers, characterized by the fact that
the pushing and/or centering arms or prisms (2, 2', 8) of the star
wheel (1) can be driven independently, and their rotational
position can be adjusted to the different container diameter by
rotational adjustment with reference to the center of the
container, to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the
container and to the required position of the container (4) in the
machine.
9. Device as recited in the introduction to claim 8, characterized
by the fact that the pushing and/or centering arms or prisms (2,
2', 8) of the star wheel and/or slide can be advanced or retracted
by the angle required to compensate for the offset of the center of
the respective different container diameters and/or can be brought
into the pushing position.
10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized by the fact that
the pushing and/or centering arms or prisms (2, 2', 8) of the star
wheel move the center of the container onto the center of the
receiving plane of a linear conveyor or the support plates of a
revolving handling machine by advancing or retracting the feeder
speeds.
11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized by the fact that
the arms or prisms (2, 2', 8) of the star wheel move the centers of
the containers at the correct intervals to the center of the
receiving or conveyor plane of a linear handling machine.
12. Device as claimed in claim 11, characterized by the fact that
at least the inlet-side star wheel is driven by its own motor (5)
and can be actuated and/or adjusted separately.
13. Device as claimed in claim 12, characterized by the fact that
this motor (5) can be actuated both synchronously as well as
relatively synchronously and/or step-wise in relation to the
movement of the work stations of the handling machine.
14. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized by the fact that
the star arms and/or prisms (2, 2', 8) can be brought synchronized
in terms of angle or position with the center axes (9) of the
receiving plate of the carousel turntable (10) or of the linear
handling position.
15. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized by the fact that a
guide element (6) that steers the containers (4) into the centered
position with respect to the center of the support plates or
receiving plane is provided in the transfer area.
16. Device as claimed in claim 15, characterized by the fact that
the position of the guide element (6) can be set automatically as a
function of the size of the container to be processed.
17. Device as claimed in claim 16, characterized by the fact that
the transfer star wheel has the same speed as the transferring
conveyor element and the support plate or conveyor has the same
speed as the receiving conveyor element and vice-versa, not later
than at the transfer point.
18. Device as claimed in claim 17, characterized by the fact that
the faces or guide arms (2) are realized in the shape of a prism
(8) to accommodate containers (4) of different sizes.
19. Device as claimed in claim 18, characterized by the fact that
the center axis (9) of the prism coincides or can be made to
coincide with the center of the receiving plane.
20. Device as claimed in claim 19, characterized by the fact that
the prism (8) is mounted so that it can be pushed or moved by a
motor on the face or on the guide arm (2, 2') to adjust to
different center positions.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present application relates to a beverage filling plant
for filling beverage containers with a beverage having a device for
the feeding and removal of kegs, barrels, drums, casks, cans and
similar containers from a conveyor belt to a linear conveyor or
revolving carousel turntable as well as for the return of said
containers to a removal conveyor belt with a star wheel as
described herein below.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] A beverage filling plant for filling beverage containers
with a beverage can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine
with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage
filling position having a beverage filling device for filling
beverage containers with a liquid beverage. The filling devices may
have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of
liquid beverage into the interior of beverage containers to a
substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage. The apparatus
designed to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage
further comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the
filling of the beverage containers upon the liquid beverage
reaching the predetermined level in the beverage containers.
[0005] Devices of this type are used in container handling
machines, for example. The containers are fed upright and in the
correctly oriented position to the handling machine on a conveyor
belt, whereby the container inlet and outlet are each in the form
of a star wheel. The inlet star wheel conveys the containers to the
carousel turntable of the machine and the outlet star wheel removes
the handled containers from the machine and transports them back
onto the removal conveyor belt that runs past said machine.
[0006] However, devices of this type can also be used for other
cylindrical containers and other machines, for example bottling and
labeling machines, inspection and test machines, drum filling
machines etc. It is thereby customary to provide a specific set of
star wheels for each container diameter.
[0007] In the prior art, devices of this type have two coaxial star
wheels that are non-rotationally connected to each other, whereby
one arm forms a rear stop for the containers to be guided, and
located between these two star wheels is a central, coaxial star
wheel, of which the arms facing the one, above mentioned arm form a
front stop for the containers, and means are provided to rotate the
center star wheel with respect to the star wheel pair by such an
angle that the device can be adapted to accommodate containers with
different diameters.
OBJECT OR OBJECTS
[0008] On the basis of the prior art as described above, the object
of the present application is to create a suitable feeding and/or
removal device for different containers in which there is
essentially no need for adjustable or convertible star parts or
star pocket levels that can be rotated in relation to each
other.
SUMMARY
[0009] This task is accomplished by a device for the feeding and
removal of containers, in particular for the feeding of upright
barrels, cans, bottles and similar containers from a conveyor belt
to a linear conveyor or revolving carousel turntable or also for
the return of said containers to a removal conveyor belt with a
star wheel, the star pockets of which or the arms of which can be
brought at least partly in contact with the container and which are
realized so that they can be adjusted to accommodate different
containers, in which the pushing and/or centering arms or faces of
the star wheel can be driven independently and can be adjusted in
their rotational position to accommodate different container
diameters by a rotational adjustment to the current container
cylinder diameter, with reference to the container midpoint, and to
the corresponding position in the machine.
[0010] In one independent configuration of an embodiment, the
pushing and/or centering arms of the star wheel can be advanced or
retracted, or moved forward or moved backward, by the partial
amount of the center offset of the respective different container
diameters and/or can be brought into the pushing position.
[0011] With this configuration taught by the present application,
it is possible to achieve any desired relative position adjustment
and thus an individual adaptation to different container diameters
with an independent drive of the star wheel, without the need for
mechanical or other adjustments to the feeder and/or discharge star
wheel. The conversion is made by setting the device to the current
container size to be processed, whereby the arms of the star wheel
or the star wheel itself are positioned automatically by means of
synchronous motors, servo motors, stepper motors or other suitable
drive motors and the corresponding actuation and/or control modules
such as, for example, rotary encoders, control cards, PCs, software
etc., thereby ensuring a correct positioning of the containers in
the desired transfer position.
[0012] The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention
will be described further hereinbelow. When the word "invention" or
"embodiment of the invention" is used in this specification, the
word "invention" or "embodiment of the invention" includes
"inventions" or "embodiments of the invention", that is the plural
of "invention" or "embodiment of the invention". By stating
"invention" or "embodiment of the invention", the Applicant does
not in any way admit that the present application does not include
more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and
maintains that this application may include more than one
patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant
hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include
more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than
one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and
non-obvious one with respect to the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Possible embodiments are described in greater detail below
with reference to a simplified exemplary embodiment for the
transfer of a container into a handling machine. Analogous
considerations apply to the conditions and sequences of operations
in the transfer of such a container from the handling machine to
the discharge-side conveyor for the removal of the container.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a linear handling machine;
[0015] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a container filling
plant in accordance with one possible embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 1B shows an illustration of a beverage container
handling machine according to one possible embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 1C shows the linear handling machine of FIG. 1 with
additional detail;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a transfer star in a prismatic realization;
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a transfer star mechanism according to at least
one possible embodiment; and
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a transfer star mechanism according to at least
one possible embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one
embodiment example of a system for filling beverage containers,
specifically, an embodiment of a beverage bottling plant 100 for
filling bottles B with liquid beverage filling material, in
accordance with one embodiment, or in which system or plant could
possibly be utilized at least one aspect, or several an aspects, of
the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0022] FIG. 1A shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101,
to which the containers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction
of travel as is indicated by the arrow A1, by means of a conveyer
line or conveyer arrangement to feed bottles to rinsing arrangement
103, and downstream of rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101,
in the direction of travel as is indicated by the arrow A1, the
rinsed bottles B are transported to a beverage filling machine 105
by means of a conveyer line or conveyer arrangement 104 to pass
bottles to filling machine that is formed, for example, by a
starwheel conveyer or a plurality of starwheels of a conveyer
arrangement. The conveyer arrangement 104 to pass bottles to
filling machine may possibly comprise a starwheel conveying
structure that introduces bottles B to the filling machine 105.
[0023] Downstream of the filling machine 105, in the direction of
travel of the bottles B, there can preferably be a closing
arrangement or closing station 106 which closes the bottles B.
[0024] The closing arrangement or closing station 106 can, for
example, be connected directly to a labeling arrangement or
labeling station 108 having at least one labeling unit, device, or
module for first product, each unit having a head, such as, for
example, by means of a conveyer arrangement 107 to pass bottles to
labeling arrangement that may be formed, for example, by a
plurality of starwheels of a conveyer arrangement.
[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the labeling arrangement or
labeling station 108 having at least one labeling unit, device, or
module for first product, each unit having a head has, for example,
three outputs, namely one output formed by a conveyer arrangement
109 to convey first product bottles for bottles B that are filled
with a first product. The first product may possibly be provided by
a first product mixer 123 that is connected to the filling machine
105, for example, through a conduit for first product 121, and
bottles B that are filled with a predetermined volume of liquid
beverage filling material, that is, the first product, are then
labeled by a labeling module in the labeling arrangement or
labeling station 108 having at least one labeling unit, device, or
module for first product, each unit having a head, corresponding to
this first product delivered from first product mixer 123 to the
beverage filling machine 105 and thence to the corresponding
bottles B.
[0026] A second output that is formed by a conveyer arrangement 110
to convey second product bottles is provided for those bottles B
that are filled with a second product. The second product may
emanate from a second product mixer 124 that is connected, for
example, through a conduit for second product 122 to the filling
machine 105, and these bottles B filled with a predetermined volume
of liquid beverage filling material comprising the second product
are then correspondingly labeled by a labeling module in the
labeling arrangement or labeling station 108 having at least one
labeling unit, device, or module for first product, each unit
having a head, corresponding to this second product.
[0027] A third output, for example, formed by a conveyer
arrangement 111 to convey incorrectly labeled bottles, removes any
bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as may have been
determined by an inspecting device or an inspecting station, or an
inspecting module 128 that may possibly form a part of the labeling
arrangement or labeling station 108 having at least one labeling
unit, device, or module for first product, each unit having a
head.
[0028] In FIG. 1A item 112 is a central control arrangement or,
expressed differently, a controller with a computer to process
algorithms, which controls the operation of the above-referenced
system or plant.
[0029] The beverage filling machine 105 is preferably of the
revolving design, with a rotor 105', which revolves around a
vertical machine axis. The rotor 105' is designed to handle the
bottles B by the neck. A filling arrangement 114 having at least
one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve, comprises an
apparatus configured to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid
beverage filling material into the interior of bottles B to a
predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material.
Furthermore, the filling device or apparatus comprises an apparatus
configured to terminate the filling of bottles upon liquid beverage
filling material reaching the predetermined level in bottles B. In
other words, the filling arrangements 114 having at least one
filling device, element, apparatus, or valve, are configured and
disposed to provide a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling
material from the source thereof, such as, product mixers 123 and
124, into the bottles B.
[0030] The toroidal vessel 117 is a component, for example, of the
revolving rotor 105'. The toroidal vessel 117 can be connected by
means of a rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation, and
by means of the conduit for first product 121 to the external
reservoir or first product mixer 123 to supply the product.
[0031] As well as the more typical filling machines having one
toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible
embodiment a filling machine could possibly be utilized wherein
each filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling device,
element, apparatus, or valve is preferably connected by means of
two connections to a toroidal vessel 117 which contains a first
product, say by means of a first connection, for example, the
conduit for first product 121, and to a second toroidal vessel
which contains a second product, say by means of the second
connection, for example, the conduit for second product 122. In
this case, each filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling
device, element, apparatus, or valve can also preferably have, at
the connections, two individually-controllable fluid or control
valves, so that in each bottle B which is delivered at the inlet of
the filling machine 105 to a filling position 113, the first
product or the second product can be filled by means of an
appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.
[0032] It will be understood that while a two-product assembly or
system of a bottling plant is illustrated in FIG. 1A, the
disclosure is equally applicable to single-product installations,
or other commensurate embodiments.
[0033] FIG. 1B shows a beverage container handling machine
according to one possible embodiment. In the embodiment shown,
beverage containers 204, such as kegs or barrels, are moved along a
linear conveyor belt or similar device 211 in direction of movement
D.sub.2 to an input star wheel arrangement 201. The conveyor belt
211 is provided with guide elements 206 that can engage beverage
containers 204 to center them or position them so they are properly
oriented with respect to the input star wheel 201. The input star
wheel 201 receives the beverage containers 204 in its pockets or
arms. The input star wheel 201 then rotates to move the beverage
containers 204 into a corresponding position in a rotary carousel
213 of a container handling station 210, which can be a filling
station for filling the beverage containers 204 with a beverage, or
other such machines as labeling machines or inspection and test
machines. The rotary carousel 213 rotates counterclockwise in the
direction D.sub.1 as the beverage containers 204 are filled,
labeled, or inspected according to the type of station in which the
containers 204 are located. The beverage containers 204 are rotated
around and into an output star wheel 212, which, in at least one
embodiment, can be identical to the input star wheel. The output
star wheel 212 guides the beverage containers 204 onto the linear
conveyor belt 211, which in turn transports the containers to
another section of the plant.
[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the device for the feeding and
removal of containers comprises a rotating star wheel 1 with
receptacle pockets, arms 2 or prisms 8 in or against which the
outer cylindrical surface 3 of a container is located during the
transfer. The star pockets or arms 2 are preferably located in
pairs on different levels with a corresponding space in between,
and are operated by their own drive device 5 which is independent
of the machine drive system. For this purpose, synchronous motors,
stepper motors, servo motors and other suitable motors can be used,
which can be driven and actuated so that they are synchronized in
terms of speed or position and/or angle.
[0035] Because the device is driven by at least one drive motor of
its own, and is not mechanically connected with the drive and/or
rotational movements of the container handling machine itself,
means such as a rotary encoder or position transmitter etc. are
provided that guarantee a positioning of the containers at the
correct interval, as well as a correct drive for the device, even
after operational interruptions and/or a power failure.
[0036] The working position or pushing position of the arms or
prisms can be automatically adjusted to the different container
diameters by a rotational adjustment with reference to the
container diameter at its midpoint and the desired position of the
container on the support plate of a revolving carousel, on a linear
conveyor or in the handling position in the machine. The revolving
movement of the star wheel or of the arms 2 or prisms 8 can be
accelerated continuously, discontinuously, step-wise in different
steps and also delayed, whereby preferably at the moment of the
transfer, the speed at which the container 4 is moving and the
speed of the conveyor speed or the speed of revolution of the
handling machine are identical. Between the pushing or centering
arms 2 or prisms 8, which are located at the desired interval, for
example, there are guide elements 6 that can be moved into a
corresponding terminal position depending on the container
diameter. If the container 4 is not in the correct center position
in relation to the revolving support plate or to the desired
handling position, these guide elements steer the containers 4 into
the required position. Said guide elements can be omitted with
containers 4 that are moved forward in a centering track or on
conveyor devices that have lateral guides, and downstream
prism-shaped guides 8. Depending on the speed of rotation of the
guide elements 2, additional pressure or guide elements 7 can be
provided to fix the containers 4 in position. In the exemplary
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the face or guide arm 2' is
equipped with a prism 8. In this configuration, containers with
different diameters can always be transferred in a centered
position. In practice, the center axis 9 of the prism coincides
with the center of the receiving plane, the receptacle support
plate etc. or can be made to coincide with it. The prism 8 can be
moved on the face or the guide arm 2 to adjust to different center
positions, or it can also be mounted so that it can be moved by
means of a motor. When a prism 8 is used, all the guide arms or
faces 2, 2' are advantageously equipped with such a prism.
[0037] FIG. 1C shows the linear handling machine of FIG. 1 with a
control system 300 operatively connected to the rotating star wheel
1. The control system 300 can comprise a computer control system to
control the movement and operation of the rotating star wheel
1.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a transfer star mechanism 301 according to at
least one possible embodiment for moving beverage containers to or
from a conveyor system or container handling system in a beverage
container handling plant. In this embodiment, the transfer star
mechanism 301 comprises an upper group of star arms 302 and a lower
group of star arms 302. These arms 302 are in pairs and project
like spokes from a center column 305 which comprises at least one
drive mechanism for movement of the star arms 302. A computerized
control system 320 is operatively connected to the transfer star
device 301 to control the movement of the transfer star device 301
and/or the star arms 302. In the embodiment shown, there are four
pairs of star arms 302 (only three pairs are visible), but it
should be understood that it is within the scope of this
application for embodiments of the transfer star mechanism 301 to
have more or less than four pairs of star arms 302.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a transfer star mechanism 301 according to at
least one possible embodiment. The embodiment shown is similar to
that shown in FIG. 3, but with only one set of star arms 302.
[0040] In other possible embodiments, the arms of the transfer star
device can be adjusted in a variety of ways as to their position
and movement, as described herein. These various adjustment methods
or structures can be used either individually or in any combination
thereof to achieve an adjustable transfer star device to handle
containers of various sizes and/or shapes and/or dimensions, in
accordance with at least one possible embodiment.
[0041] In one possible embodiment, the speed or rate of rotation of
the transfer star device can be adjusted according to the size of
the containers to be transferred. The arms can be accelerated,
decelerated, started and stopped, or otherwise moved in a
non-constant, intermittent manner, according to the size of the
containers to be transferred. This speed or movement adjustment can
be accomplished by a drive device incorporating servo or stepper
motors or other suitable motors. A computer program can control the
operation of the transfer star device. The speed of rotation of the
transfer star device can also be adjusted with respect to the speed
of rotation of a corresponding rotary container handling station,
such as a rotary filling machine, and/or the speed of movement of a
corresponding conveyor belt or other similar conveyor
structure.
[0042] In another possible embodiment, the transfer arms can be
adjusted individually to create different-sized angles and thus
different-sized star pockets for receiving and transferring
containers of various sizes. The individual arms can be moved by
motors and controlled by a computerized control system. In another
possible embodiment, the transfer star device can have an upper and
lower set of star arms. The upper or lower set can be rotationally
adjusted with respect to the other one of the upper or lower set
that is non-rotational in order to create star pockets of different
sizes to handle containers of different sizes. In at least one
other possible embodiment, the star arms could be extended and
retracted in a telescoping manner to increase or decrease the
length of the star arms as desired.
[0043] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of containers, in
particular for the feeding of upright barrels, cans, bottles and
similar containers from a conveyor belt to a linear conveyor or
revolving carousel turntable or also for the return of said
containers to a removal conveyor belt with a star wheel, the star
pockets of which or the arms of which can be brought at least
partly in contact with the container and which are realized so that
they can be adjusted to accommodate different containers,
characterized by the fact that the pushing and/or centering arms or
prisms of the star wheel can be driven independently, and their
rotational position can be adjusted to the different container
diameter by rotational adjustment with reference to the center of
the container, to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the
container and to the required position of the container in the
machine.
[0044] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the pushing and/or
centering arms or prisms of the star wheel and/or slide can be
advanced or retracted by the angle required to compensate for the
offset of the center of the respective different container
diameters and/or can be brought into the pushing position.
[0045] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the pushing and/or
centering arms or prisms of the star wheel move the center of the
container onto the center of the receiving plane of a linear
conveyor or the support plates of a revolving handling machine by
advancing or retracting the feeder speeds.
[0046] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the arms or prisms of
the star wheel move the centers of the containers at the correct
intervals to the center of the receiving or conveyor plane of a
linear handling machine.
[0047] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that at least the inlet-side
star wheel is driven by its own motor and can be actuated and/or
adjusted separately.
[0048] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that this motor can be
actuated both synchronously as well as relatively synchronously
and/or step-wise in relation to the movement of the work stations
of the handling machine.
[0049] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the star arms and/or
prisms can be brought synchronized in terms of angle or position
with the center axes of the receiving plate of the carousel
turntable or of the linear handling position.
[0050] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that a guide element that
steers the containers into the centered position with respect to
the center of the support plates or receiving plane is provided in
the transfer area.
[0051] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the position of the
guide element can be set automatically as a function of the size of
the container to be processed.
[0052] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the transfer star wheel
has the same speed as the transferring conveyor element and the
support plate or conveyor has the same speed as the receiving
conveyor element and vice-versa, not later than at the transfer
point.
[0053] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the faces or guide arms
are realized in the shape of a prism to accommodate containers of
different sizes.
[0054] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the center axis of the
prism coincides or can be made to coincide with the center of the
receiving plane.
[0055] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a device for the feeding and removal of
containers, characterized by the fact that the prism is mounted so
that it can be pushed or moved by a motor on the face or on the
guide arm to adjust to different center positions.
[0056] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles
with a liquid beverage filling material having a device for the
feeding and removal of containers, in particular for the feeding of
upright barrels, cans, bottles and similar containers from a
conveyor belt to a linear conveyor or revolving carousel turntable
or also for the return of said containers to a removal conveyor
belt with a star wheel, the star pockets of which or the arms of
which can be brought at least partly in contact with the container
and which are realized so that they can be adjusted to accommodate
different containers, whereby the pushing and/or centering arms or
prisms of the star wheel can be driven independently, and their
rotational position can be adjusted to the different container
diameter by rotational adjustment with reference to the center of
the container, to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the
container and to the required position of the container in the
machine.
[0057] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a beverage container filling plant for filling
beverage containers, such as beverage bottles, beverage kegs,
beverage barrels, beverage drums, and beverage cans, with a liquid
beverage, said beverage container filling plant comprising: a
rotatable beverage container cleaning machine being configured and
disposed to clean empty beverage containers; a feed arrangement to
supply empty beverage containers to said beverage container
cleaning machine; a rotatable beverage container filling machine
being configured and disposed to fill empty beverage containers
with liquid beverage material; said beverage container filling
machine comprising a plurality of beverage container filling
devices for filling beverage containers with liquid beverage
material; at least one storage unit being configured and disposed
to store a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply
line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one
storage unit to said beverage container filling machine to supply
liquid beverage material to said beverage container filling
machine; a first conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed
to move empty beverage containers from said beverage container
cleaning machine into said beverage container filling machine; said
first conveyer arrangement comprising: a first linear conveyor
device to move empty beverage containers from said beverage
container cleaning machine to said beverage container filling
machine; a first output star wheel structure to move empty beverage
containers from said beverage container cleaning machine to said
first conveyor device; and a first input star wheel structure to
move empty beverage containers from said first conveyor device into
said beverage container filling machine; a rotatable beverage
container closing machine being configured and disposed to close
tops of filled beverage containers; a second conveyer arrangement
being configured and disposed to move filled beverage containers
from said beverage container filling machine into said beverage
container closing machine; said second conveyer arrangement
comprising: a second linear conveyor device to move filled beverage
containers from said beverage container filling machine to said
beverage container closing machine; a second output star wheel
structure to move filled beverage containers from said beverage
container filling machine to said second conveyor device; and a
second input star wheel structure to move filled beverage
containers from said second conveyor device into said beverage
container closing machine; a rotatable beverage container labeling
machine being configured and disposed to label filled, closed
beverage containers; a third conveyer arrangement being configured
and disposed to move filled, closed beverage containers from said
beverage container closing machine into said beverage container
labeling machine; said third conveyer arrangement comprising: a
third linear conveyor device to move filled, closed beverage
containers from said beverage container closing machine to said
beverage container labeling machine; a third output star wheel
structure to move filled, closed beverage containers from said
beverage container closing machine to said third conveyor device;
and a third input star wheel structure to move filled, closed
beverage containers from said third conveyor device into said
beverage container labeling machine; each of said star wheel
structures comprises projecting star arms or prisms being
configured to be brought at least partly in contact with beverage
containers and to be adjusted to accommodate different beverage
containers; and said star arms or prisms being configured to be
driven independently and to be adjusted to accommodate different
beverage container diameters by adjustment of their rotational
position with reference to at least one of: the center of the
beverage container, the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the
beverage container, and the required position of the beverage
container in one of said beverage container filling, closing, and
labeling machines.
[0058] The components disclosed in the various publications,
disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used
in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as
equivalents thereof.
[0059] An example of a keg handling system and components thereof
that may be possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at
least one possible embodiment of the present application may
possibly be the INNOKEG CONTIKEG system manufactured by KHS Till
GmbH, located at Kapellenstrasse 47-49, D-65830 Kriftel, Federal
Republic of Germany. The INNOKEG CONTIKEG brochure, entitled
"Innokeg Contikeg High Speed Continuous Keg Cleaning and Filling
Machine," having publication number 30 1992-01-120/2 2 1100 O and
being published by KHS Till GmbH, is incorporated by reference as
if being set forth in its entirety herein. Other devices and
systems relating to the INNOKEG CONTIKEG system, which are also
manufactured by KHS Till GmbH, and components thereof that may be
possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one
possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be
VisuKeg 2000, which is the PC supported visualization program for
computerized handling and control of the Contikeg plant and for the
demonstration of the machine and plant processes.
[0060] Some examples of bottling systems that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. patents, all assigned to the Assignee herein,
namely: U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,285; U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,830; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,950,350; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,803; U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,547;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,518; U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,261; U.S. Pat. No.
5,062,917; U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,918; U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,123; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,078,826; U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,317; U.S. Pat. No.
5,110,402; U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,984; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,755; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,174,851; U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,053; U.S. Pat. No.
5,217,538; U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,005; U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,153; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,558,138; U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,500; U.S. Pat. No.
5,713,403; U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,113; U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,169; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,189,578; U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,946; U.S. Pat. No.
6,374,575; U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,054; U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,016; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,474,368; U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,238; U.S. Pat. No.
6,470,922; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,964.
[0061] The purpose of the statements about the technical field is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the technical field is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the technical field of this patent application.
However, the description of the technical field may not be
completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this
patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to
the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any
manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any
manner.
[0062] Some examples of stepping motors that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,774 issued to Andersen
et al. on Feb. 19, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,209 issued to Gerber
et al. on Apr. 16, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,061 issued to Fukuda
et al. on Jul. 23, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,663 issued to Aoun on
Jan. 21, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,923 to Ohnishi et al. on Apr.
15, 2003; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,193 issued to Tsai on Dec. 9,
2003.
[0063] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all
dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of
the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference
into this specification.
[0064] The background information is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background
information for this patent application. However, the background
information may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the background information are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0065] Some examples of sensors that may possibly be utilized or
possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the
present application may possibly be found in the following U.S.
patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,248 issued to Boelkins on May 16,
2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,593 issued to Kubisiak et al. on May 1,
2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,035 issued to Nyfors et al. on Oct. 15,
2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,851 issued to Yamagishi et al. on Jul. 1,
2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,638 issued to James et al. on Oct. 14,
2003; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,307 issued to McFarlane et al. on
Mar. 16, 2004.
[0066] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of
the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or
all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described
herein.
[0067] Some examples of servo-motors that may possibly be utilized
or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of
the present application may possibly be found in the following U.S.
patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,434 issued to Zbikowski et al. on Sep.
27, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,538 issued to Andoh on Dec. 28, 1982;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,626 issued to Brouter on Nov. 5, 1985; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,760,699 issued to Jacobsen et al. on Aug. 2, 1988; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,076,568 issued to de Jong et al. on Dec. 31, 1991; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,025 issued to Yasui on Feb. 15, 2000.
[0068] The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the object or objects is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the object or objects of this patent
application. However, the description of the object or objects may
not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in
this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this
patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing
from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made
relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the
claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the
claims in any manner.
[0069] Some examples of bottling systems which may possibly be
utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may
possibly be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No.
6,684,602, entitled "Compact bottling machine;" U.S. Pat. No.
6,470,922, entitled "Bottling plant for bottling carbonated
beverages;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,150, entitled "Drive for bottling
machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,575, entitled "Bottling plant and
method of operating a bottling plant;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,946,
entitled "Bottling system;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,910, entitled
"Method and an apparatus for high-purity bottling of beverages;"
U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,985, entitled "Bottling machine with a set-up
table and a set-up table for a bottling machine and a set-up table
for a bottle handling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,322, entitled
"In-line bottling plant;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,899, entitled "Method
and an apparatus for sterile bottling of beverages;" U.S. Pat. No.
5,848,515, entitled "Continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant;" U.S.
Pat. No. 5,634,500, entitled "Method for bottling a liquid in
bottles or similar containers;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,402,
entitled "Bottling system with mass filling and capping
arrays."
[0070] All of the patents, patent applications and publications
recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
[0071] Some examples of starwheels which may possibly be utilized
or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly
be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,593,
entitled "Container handling starwheel;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,695,
entitled "Improved starwheel;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,112, entitled
"Odd-shaped container indexing starwheel;" and U.S. Pat. No.
4,084,686, entitled "Starwheel control in a system for conveying
containers."
[0072] The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this
patent application, to adequately summarize this patent
application. However, portions or all of the information contained
in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit
the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting
the claims in any manner.
[0073] Some examples of beverage bottling systems which may
possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. patents, and
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their
entirety herein: U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,238, entitled "Plant for
filling beverage into beverage bottles and other beverage
containers having apparatus for replacing remaining air volume in
filled beverage bottles or other beverage containers;" U.S. Pat.
No. 6,474,368, entitled "Beverage container filling machine, and
method for filling containers with a liquid filling material in a
beverage container filling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,922,
entitled "Bottling plant for bottling carbonated beverages;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,463,964, entitled "Method of operating a machine for
filling bottles, cans or the like beverage containers with a
beverage, and a beverage container filling machine;" U.S. Pat. No.
6,374,575, entitled "Bottling plant and method of operating a
bottling plant;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,054, entitled "Plant for
filling containers and a method for operating a plant for filling
containers," U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,946, entitled "Bottling system;"
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,578, entitled "Filling system and filling
element;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,985, entitled "Bottling machine with
a set-up table and a set-up table for a bottling machine and a
set-up table for a bottle handling machine;" U.S. Pat. No.
5,713,403, entitled "Method and system for filling containers with
a liquid filling product, and filling machine and labelling device
for use with this method or system," U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,500,
entitled "Method for bottling a liquid in bottles or similar
containers;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,153, entitled "Container
filling machine for filling open-top containers, and a filler valve
therefor."
[0074] It will be understood that the examples of patents,
published patent applications, and other documents which are
included in this application and which are referred to in
paragraphs which state "Some examples of . . . which may possibly
be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present
application . . . " may possibly not be used or useable in any one
or more embodiments of the application.
[0075] The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published
patent applications and other documents either incorporated by
reference or not incorporated by reference.
[0076] The corresponding foreign and international patent
publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany
Patent Application No. 103 52 885.7-22, filed on Nov. 10, 2003,
having inventor Alois MONZEL, and DE-OS 103 52 885.7-22 and DE-PS
103 52 885.7-22, as well as their published equivalents, and other
equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding
cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the
references and documents cited in any of the documents cited
herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications,
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their
entirety herein.
[0077] All of the references and documents, cited in any of the
documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if
set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited
herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include
all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited
anywhere in the present application.
[0078] The description of the embodiment or embodiments is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent
application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment
or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0079] The details in the patents, patent applications and
publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's
option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations
in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any
applied prior art.
[0080] The purpose of the title of this patent application is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the
general nature of this patent application. However, the title may
not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or
objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or
embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent
application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to
limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as
limiting the claims in any manner.
[0081] The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b):
[0082] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the
specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims.
[0083] Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are
not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0084] The embodiments of the invention described herein above in
the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as
limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided
details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
of the invention.
* * * * *