U.S. patent application number 13/581330 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for container-filling and weight-related dosing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to INDEX-6, LTD.. Invention is credited to Evgeni Ivanov Minchev, Petar Georgiev Spasov.
Application Number | 20120318405 13/581330 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43720168 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120318405 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spasov; Petar Georgiev ; et
al. |
December 20, 2012 |
CONTAINER-FILLING AND WEIGHT-RELATED DOSING DEVICE
Abstract
The intended use of this device is for filling and weight
related dosing of containers with a cylindrical neck and a ring
around the neck. The device consists of connected gripping device
(7) and closed type drawing mechanism (3). With one variation
realization, the gripping device (7) consists of two jaws (8)
moving in a horizontal plane, mounted onto a supporting plate (10)
and interconnected by means of a spring (H). The changeable fixing
element (13) is mounted between the middle sections of the two
movable jaws (8), attached onto the supporting plate (10). A
protrusion (14) is shaped at the front end of the changeable fixing
element (13), pressing part of the upper surface of the ring (6) on
the cylindrical neck (5) of the container (4). A round area (15) is
shaped at the front end of the supporting plate (10), used for
supporting and pressing part of the lower surface of the ring (6)
on the cylindrical neck (5).
Inventors: |
Spasov; Petar Georgiev;
(Plovdiv, BG) ; Minchev; Evgeni Ivanov; (Plovdiv,
BG) |
Assignee: |
INDEX-6, LTD.
Plovdiv
BG
|
Family ID: |
43720168 |
Appl. No.: |
13/581330 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
December 3, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/BG2010/000026 |
371 Date: |
August 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/83 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 47/847 20130101;
B67C 3/202 20130101; B67C 3/242 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/83 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/28 20060101
B65B003/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2010 |
BG |
110607 |
Claims
1. Container filling and weight-related dosing device for
containers with cylindrical neck and ring around the neck,
consisting of connected gripping device and mechanism for container
drawing during the process of container filling, where the gripping
device comprises two jaws moving in a horizontal plane, mounted on
the supporting plate and connected between by means of a spring,
which jaws form a round opening at their front end for gripping the
neck of the container, which device is characterized by the fact
that the spring (11) of the gripping device (7) is concurrently
connected to the rear ends of both movable jaws (8), which are
mounted onto the supporting plate (10) so that they grip the
cylindrical neck (5) of the container (4) above the ring (6), and
the rear end of the supporting plate (10) is connected to the
drawing mechanism (3), which is closed, air-tight type, and a
changeable fixing element (13) is mounted between the middle parts
of the two movable jaws (8), touching them, connected onto the
supporting plate (10), which fixing element has a protrusion (14)
formed at its front end, allowing part of the upper surface of the
ring (6) on the cylindrical neck (5) of the container (4) to be
pressed, and the supporting plate (10) has a round area (15)
shaped, supporting and pressing part of the lower surface of the
ring (6) on the cylindrical neck (5) of the container (4).
2. A device, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that
the two movable jaws (8) of the gripping device (7) are mounted
onto the supporting plate (10) so that they grip the cylindrical
neck (5) of the container (4) under the ring (6), and the
changeable fixing element (13) is positioned in a horizontal plane,
parallel to and above the horizontal plane of the movable jaws (8)
so that the protrusion (14) of the changeable fixing element (13)
presses part of the upper surface of the ring (6) on the
cylindrical neck (5) against the movable jaws (8).
3. A device, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact
that the changeable fixing element (13), positioned between the two
movable jaws (8), is shaped so that the diameter of the circle
formed by the front ends of the movable jaws (8) is smaller than
the diameter of the cylindrical neck (5) of the container (4).
4. A device, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact
that the changeable fixing element (13) constitutes a body which
has a protrusion (14) shaped at its front end, allowing part of the
upper surface of the ring (6) on the cylindrical neck (5) of the
container (4) to be pressed.
5. A device, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact
that the changeable fixing element (13) consists of a bearing body
(17) mounted to the supporting plate (10), with the fixing element
(18) being attached to the bearing body (17) by means of a swivel
joint under spring pressure, at the front end of which is shaped
the protrusion (14) allowing for part of the upper surface of the
ring (6) on the cylindrical neck (5) of the container (4) to be
pressed.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention constitutes a container-filling and
weight-related dosing device which can find application in machines
and equipment, mainly in the food industry, intended for automated
filling of fluids into containers with cylindrical ringed
necks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There exists a device for filling and measuring the weight
of containers with cylindrical neck and a ring around the neck,
consisting of connected gripping device and container weight
measuring mechanism which measures the quantity of container
content (EP NO 1 025 424 B1). The gripping device consists of two
jaws that move in a horizontal plane, connected with a spring and
mounted on a supporting console plate. The console plate is
connected with a tensometric sensor for receiving weight
measurements from the weight measuring mechanism, which is a box
consisting of hollow parts, fitted with a pipe and a protective
sleeve.
[0003] In their front end, the jaws form a circle for gripping the
neck of the container. There is a protrusion on the upper surface
of the front end of each jaw on which rests the ring of the
container during operation.
[0004] The filling and weighing device itself is part of a filling
installation of the carousel type and it includes a rotating
platform with a typical filling system equipped with filling
nozzles and filling and weighing devices.
[0005] During operation of this device, containers are suspended
vertically by their ring on the jaws, the jaws being connected with
the weight measuring mechanism.
[0006] The existing device has certain shortcomings, some of which
are listed below: [0007] a complex structure with numerous
elements, which is a condition for inaccurate operation of the
weight measuring sensor; [0008] each container is gripped below its
supporting ring, relying solely on the force of the spring drawing
the two jaws together to provide the necessary stability of the
container during the filling operation and the rotation of the
carousel against the centrifugal forces, without any other fixation
of the container. This means that the springs used must be powerful
enough, which leads to a relatively fast wear of the elements
providing the free rotation of the two jaws and of the elements of
the container-feeding device and to occurrence of vibrations in the
process of receiving the container by the gripping device connected
with the weight measuring mechanism; [0009] on the other hand,
protective pipes and sleeves used with the existing device are
supposed to have a required clearance to ensure the accurate
operation of the weight measuring element. During the operation of
the filling machines and in the process of their cleaning, it is
possible that these clearances become congested by splashes of the
product being filled in or by the washing liquid, which is a
condition for inaccurate operation of the weight measuring element;
[0010] when operating with products that require a high level of
filling hygiene, the so called microbiologically sensitive
products, the automated cleaning of the device is obstructed by the
numerous elements and clearances, which is a condition for
contamination of the device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The purpose of the invention is to create a filling and
dosing device for containers with a cylindrical ringed neck with a
simplified structure, which would ensure stability of containers
during their filling and the rotation of the carousel, which would
not affect the accuracy of the tensometric sensor and would allow
the free permeation of washing liquids or part of the product being
filled in into the device.
[0012] This task is solved by means of a container-filling and
weight-related dosing device for containers with a cylindrical
ringed neck, which consists of connected gripping device and weight
measuring mechanism of a closed, air-tight type for weighing the
containers during the process of filling. The gripping device
consists of two jaws that move in a horizontal plane, mounted on a
supporting console plate and connected with a spring so that in
their front end the jaws form a circle for gripping the neck of the
container.
[0013] According to the design of the invention, the spring is
attached to the back ends of the two movable jaws of the gripping
device, which are mounted onto the supporting plate so that they
grip the cylindrical neck of the container above the ring during
the filling operation. The rear end of the supporting plate is
connected to the weighing mechanism, which is a closed type.
[0014] Between the middle sections of the two movable jaws is
installed and attached to them a changeable fixing element,
connected onto the supporting plate. A protrusion is formed at the
front end of the changeable fixing element, allowing for part of
the upper surface of the ring on the cylindrical neck of the
container to be pressed.
[0015] A rounded area is formed at the front end of the supporting
plate, supporting and pressing part of the lower surface of the
ring on the cylindrical neck of the container.
[0016] According to a variation of the realization of the gripping
device, the two movable jaws are mounted onto the supporting plate
so that they grip the cylindrical neck of the container below the
ring. With this solution the changeable fixing element is placed in
a horizontal plane, parallel to and above the horizontal plane of
the movable jaws so that the protrusion of the changeable fixing
element presses part of the upper surface of the ring on the
cylindrical neck of the container against the movable jaws.
[0017] The changeable fixing element, located between the two
moveable jaws, is shaped so that the diameter of the circle thus
formed by the two front parts of the movable jaws is smaller than
the diameter of the neck of the container.
[0018] With one variation of the realization, the changeable fixing
element constitutes a body, at the front end of which is shaped the
protrusion allowing for part of the upper surface of the ring on
the cylindrical neck of the container to be pressed.
[0019] With a second variation of the realization, the changeable
fixing element comprises a bearing body mounted to the supporting
plate, with the fixing element being attached to the bearing body
by means of a swivel joint under spring pressure. At the front end
of the fixing element is shaped the protrusion allowing for part of
the upper surface of the ring on the cylindrical neck of the
container to be pressed.
[0020] The proposed device has a simplified structure, allowing the
tensometric sensor to function with the required accuracy. This
structure provides stability of containers on the three
perpendicular axes--X, Y and Z during the process of filling and
carousel rotation. Furthermore, the structure of the device
provides a high level of cleanness, allowing it to be washed
without affecting the operation of the tensometric sensor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES ATTACHED
[0021] The attached figures show a model of the invention
where:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a carousel type filling installation, including
a rotating platform with a filling system. A number of filling and
weight-related dosing devices for containers with a cylindrical
neck are mounted onto the platform;
[0023] FIG. 2 presents a side view with a partial cross section of
the first variation of the gripping device of the filling and
weight-related dosing device for containers with a cylindrical
neck;
[0024] FIG. 3 presents a view from above of the variation in FIG.
2;
[0025] FIG. 4 presents a cross section of the gripping device in
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 5 presents a side view with a partial cross section of
the second variation of the filling and weight-related dosing
device for containers with a cylindrical neck;
[0027] FIG. 6 presents a variation of the realization of the fixing
element.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0028] In compliance with the figures, the installation described
above is of the carousel type and it includes a rotating platform 1
of the type which is well known in practice, with a typical filling
system with filling nozzles 2 and a weighing mechanism 3--FIG. 1.
Containers 4 with a cylindrical neck 5 are supported in a vertical
position under filling nozzles 2--FIG. 2.
[0029] The filling and weight-related dosing device for containers
4 with a cylindrical neck 5 and a ring 6 around the cylindrical
neck 5 consists of connected gripping device 7 and drawing
mechanism 3 for containers 4 during the process of filling--FIG. 2,
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The gripping device 7 consists of two jaws 8,
movable in a horizontal plane. Jaws 8 are mounted onto the
supporting plate 10 by means of bolts 9. Bolts 9 also act as axes
of rotation of the movable jaws 8 in a horizontal plane. The rear
parts of the movable jaws 8 are connected by means of an elastic
element--in this case spring 11. At their front end the movable
jaws 8 form a circle for gripping the neck 5 of the container
4.
[0030] The rear end of the supporting plate 10 is mechanically
connected to the drawing mechanism 3 for the containers 4 by means
of fixing elements 12.
[0031] Between the middle sections of the two movable jaws 8 is
installed and attached to them by means of a bolt connection a
changeable fixing element 13, connected onto the supporting plate
10 in a fixed position. A protrusion 14 is formed at the front end
of the fixing element 13, allowing for part of the upper surface of
the ring 6 on the cylindrical neck 5 of the container 4 to be
pressed.
[0032] A rounded area 15 is also formed at the front end of the
supporting plate 10, supporting and pressing part of the lower
surface of the ring 6 on the cylindrical neck 5 of the container
4.
[0033] As was already mentioned above, the movable jaws 8 form a
circle at the front end for gripping the neck 5 of the container 4.
The diameter of the circle thus formed by the two front parts of
the movable jaws 8 is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical
neck 5 of the container 4.
[0034] The drawing mechanism 3 is a solid body with integrated
air-tight weight measuring element (tensometric sensor) and
processor, monitoring container filling and weighing. The drawing
mechanism 3 is connected to the control panel of the machine by
means of cables 16--FIG. 2.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a variation realization of the gripping device
7, where the movable jaws 8 grip the cylindrical neck 5 under the
ring 6. With this variation solution, the protrusion 14 of the
fixing element 13 presses part of the upper surface of the ring
6.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a variation realization of the fixing element
13, which can be used in any of the two cases described above, but
it is preferable for containers 4 whose cylindrical rings are
hollow, elastic and have thin walls of uneven thickness. This
fixing element 13 comprises bearing body 17 mounted to the
supporting plate 10. A fixing tip 18 is mounted to the bearing body
17 by means of universal joint 19. The fixing tip 18 is kept
pressed to the supporting plate 10 by a cylindrical spring 20. The
cylindrical spring 20 is mounted around axle 21 going through
opening 22, made in the fixing tip 18. The opening 22 allows the
vertical movement of fixing tip 18.
[0037] The principle of operation of the device is the following:
When the container 4 is fed to the jaws 8 by the feeding device,
which is not included in the attached figures, the side surface of
the cylindrical neck 5 of the container 4 touches the inner ends of
the movable jaws 8 and pushes them apart, overcoming the force of
the spring 11. After the cylindrical neck 5 of the container 4 has
entered the opening formed between the two movable jaws 8, the
latter center the container 4 so that the ring 6 is located between
the protrusion 14 of the fixing element 13 and the rounded area 15
of the supporting plate 10. In this way, when the carousel rotates
during the process of filling and weighing, the container 4 is
fixed in a stable position on the three perpendicular planes with
axes--X, Y and Z. This is a particularly important condition for
the accurate operation of the weighing mechanism 3 and the high
output rate of the entire installation.
[0038] With the second variation realization, as shown in FIG. 5,
the movable jaws 8 of the gripping device 7 grip the cylindrical
neck 5 of the container 4 under the ring 6. When the container 4 is
fixed, the protrusion 14 of the changeable fixing element 13
presses part of the upper surface of the ring 6 to the movable jaws
8.
[0039] With the variation solution of the changeable fixing element
13, as shown in FIG. 6, appropriate for use with containers whose
cylindrical rings are hollow, elastic and have thin walls of uneven
thickness, when the container is delivered from the feeding device
to the gripping device 7, the ring 6 overcomes the force of the
cylindrical spring 20 by lifting the fixing tip 18. During this
operation the ring 6 on the cylindrical neck 5 is positioned
between the fixing element 18 and the supporting plate 10, which is
effected by the force of the cylindrical spring 20.
* * * * *