U.S. patent application number 14/473009 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for method and device for filling large containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is KRONES AG. Invention is credited to Stefan Poeschl.
Application Number | 20150059292 14/473009 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51421952 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150059292 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Poeschl; Stefan |
March 5, 2015 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING LARGE CONTAINERS
Abstract
A method for production of drink containers includes the steps
of providing a compressed container, exposing the compressed
container to a gaseous medium to expand this, wherein preferably
during expansion a wall thickness of the container does not change
by more than 10%, and filling of the expanded container with the
fluid.
Inventors: |
Poeschl; Stefan; (Sinzing,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KRONES AG |
Neutraubling |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
51421952 |
Appl. No.: |
14/473009 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/457 ;
53/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 43/36 20130101;
B67C 2003/227 20130101; B67C 7/00 20130101; B67C 3/02 20130101;
B65B 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/457 ;
53/564 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/36 20060101
B65B043/36; B65B 3/02 20060101 B65B003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2013 |
DE |
10 2013 109 377.9 |
Claims
1. A method for production of drink containers comprising the
steps: provision of a compressed container, exposure of the
compressed container to a gaseous medium to expand this, wherein
preferably during expansion a wall thickness of the container does
not change by more than 10%, filling of the expanded container with
the fluid.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the container is then
unfolded by exposure to the gaseous medium.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a cross section of at
least one portion of the container remains unchanged during
expansion.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the container is
compressed in a compression process before expansion.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the container is a
container produced by a blow-moulding process.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compressed
container is expanded by a gas selected from a group of gases
containing nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the container is
evacuated before exposure to the gaseous medium.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein before exposure to the
gaseous medium, a closing element for closing the container is
removed from a mouth of the container.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the container is filled
with a fluid after expansion.
10. A device for production of containers filled with fluids, with
an expansion device which is suitable and intended for expanding
containers, produced by a forming process and then compressed, by
exposure to a gaseous medium, and with a filling device arranged
downstream of the expansion device in a transport direction of the
containers, which fills the expanded containers with a fluid.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for
filling containers, in particular plastic containers and in
particular large plastic containers. Such large plastic containers
are known from the prior art. These can be used for example in
tapping systems for drawing off large quantities of drinks. Various
methods and devices for filling such large containers are known
from the prior art. In particular, because of the relatively high
volume of these containers and the filling weight, the transport of
such containers often constitutes a problem.
[0002] Therefore a method and a device are proposed which, in
particular when applied to large containers, allow simplified and
economic production. This is achieved according to the invention by
a method and a device according to the independent claims.
Advantageous embodiments and refinements are the subject of the
subclaims.
[0003] In a method according to the invention for producing drinks
containers, first a compressed container is provided. This
compressed container is then exposed to a gaseous medium in order
to be expanded, wherein preferably during expansion a wall
thickness of the container does not change by more than 10%.
Finally this expanded container is filled with a fluid.
[0004] It is pointed out that the process of expansion with gaseous
medium is not a blow-moulding process in which, as known from the
prior art, plastic preforms are expanded into plastic containers,
but this is a process in which a container already produced but
compressed is expanded and in particular unfolded.
[0005] In the internal prior art of the applicant, a method is
known in which this expansion of the compressed container takes
place using the actual fluid to be filled.
[0006] By deviation from this it is now proposed that first the
container is filled with a gas for expansion and then only later
filled with a fluid.
[0007] In addition it is also still possible to fit a carrier
element to the container and/or a label.
[0008] Preferably the drinks containers are plastic containers, but
an application to other materials such as in particular aluminium
barrels would be conceivable.
[0009] Preferably the container is unfolded by exposure to a
gaseous medium. It would be possible for the container to be
compressed by a folding process in a preceding step, and then as
described here unfolded by exposure to the gaseous medium.
[0010] In a preferred method, the container is unfolded along a
preferably peripheral folding edge. Advantageously, in a compressed
state the container has only one such peripheral folding edge.
[0011] In a further advantageous method, a cross-section of at
least one portion of the container remains unchanged during
expansion. This can for example be a cross-section in the region of
the container floor into which another region of the container is
folded, for example a mouth region of the container.
[0012] In a further advantageous method, the container is
compressed by a compression process before expansion.
[0013] In contrast to methods from the prior art, it is proposed
here that first a plastic container is produced, in particular by a
blowing process, and then this container is compressed again. Only
in a further method step is the container expanded again, in
particular by exposure to a gaseous medium. In this way it can be
achieved that a filling plant can function without corresponding
blow-moulding machines. In other words, the container is first
brought into a produced but compressed form at a manufacturer's
plant, and then expanded by the expansion process (in a filling
plant). In this case the filling plant requires only devices such
as for example filling machines and an expansion device to expand
the container.
[0014] It would also be possible to use the containers multiple
times. In this case the step of producing the container can be
omitted and replaced by provision of the container. Such a
container could be compressed and then unfolded again several
times.
[0015] In a preferred method, the container is rolled up for
compression so that a mouth region of the container lies inside
another region of the container. Here the container can be crushed
in its longitudinal direction using dies such that a specific
region of the container, in particular an upper region, is pushed
or rolled into the lower region. Advantageously such compression or
rolling of the plastic pre-container takes place along a preferably
peripheral folding edge.
[0016] In a further preferred method, the container is compressed
or rolled together such that it can be stacked with further
compressed or rolled containers produced in the same way.
Preferably however a container is produced here which can be
stacked as a whole with a plurality of similar containers.
[0017] Another foldable container is described in the as yet
unpublished DE 10 2012 101 868.5, the disclosure of which--in
particular on pages 7 to 9--fully forms part of the disclosure
content of the present application by reference.
[0018] Such a container--in particular a plastic container--which
can be filled with a fluid has a mouth, a floor region and a base
body formed integrally with the mouth and floor region. In folded
state of the container, the base body is bent through a predefined
bending angle about a predefined peripheral folding edge of the
base body such that the mouth of the container is arranged closer
to the floor region than the peripheral folding edge. According to
the invention, a relative position (and/or distance) of the folding
edge in relation to the floor region of the container can be
changed during expansion of the container. Advantageously a
relative position of the folding edge in relation to the mouth of
the container can be changed during expansion of the container.
[0019] Thus a foldable container is proposed which in particular is
folded such that the mouth region lies close to the floor region of
the container. Thus advantageously the base body itself is folded
up with at least one folding edge and preferably precisely one
folding edge. Advantageously the container is a plastic container.
In addition however another foldable material can be used.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, an outer surface of the base body
lies peripherally, at least in portions, opposite an inner surface
of the base body, in particular in a radial direction of the
container. In this way in folded state of the container, a very
effective inner volume reduction is achieved.
[0021] Preferably the outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the
container, at least in portions, have a distance apart which is
<0.2 cm. Advantageously this is a peripheral distance and
particularly preferably a distance in a radial direction of the
container.
[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment, a wall thickness of
the base body is substantially constant at least in portions (and
particularly preferably in the entire region of the base body). It
is thus proposed here that it is not a thin-walled region which is
laid on another region for folding of the container, but preferably
a wall region with substantially constant wall thickness is folded.
Said folding edge advantageously is moveable during the expansion
process. It is therefore not a constant folding edge proposed about
which the folding process is performed, but a moveable folding
region which also migrates during expansion of the container.
[0023] Finally from the as yet unpublished prior art of the
applicant, namely the above-mentioned DE 10 2012 101 868.5, an
apparatus and a method are also known by means of which a container
is filled with a fluid and can also be expanded. The subject of
this disclosure, in particular the description of the individual
method steps and the associated container on pages 2 to 5, is also
made the subject of the present application by reference.
[0024] In a method for filling a container with a fluid, the
container is filled via a mouth of the container and an inner
volume of the container expands during the filling. The inner
volume of the subsequently filled container is at least double
(preferably at least three times, preferably at least five times
and particularly preferably at least ten times) the volume of the
unfilled container.
[0025] It is therefore proposed that the container is expanded
before the filling process, here by exposure to the gaseous medium.
The container is thus inflated immediately before the filling
process.
[0026] Advantageously therefore, during this expansion process no
stretching--or at least no significant stretching--of the wall
and/or material of the plastic container takes place, but in
particular merely an unfolding. Preferably therefore the container
to be filled, as well as its mouth, already has its definitive form
in at least one region of the container, preferably in a floor
region.
[0027] Thus it is possible in particular that the container
produced by the expansion process is folded such that its inner
volume is reduced. In folded state, preferably a predefined wall
portion and in particular a peripheral wall portion lies next to a
further predefined wall portion, and in particular a further
peripheral wall portion. Advantageously, in folded state of the
container these wall portions touch at least in portions and
preferably along a peripheral surface.
[0028] In a further advantageous method, the container is folded or
rolled up such that the volume ratio between the plastic preform
and volume-reduced container is less than 1:2, preferably 1:1.5,
and particularly preferably less than 1:1. Advantageously a volume
ratio between the plastic preform and the unrolled container is
1:50 in the case of a 20-litre container.
[0029] Preferably on said crushing or folding process, a crushing
of the material also takes place which is preferably permanent.
Preferably this deformation is also present after filling under
pressure.
[0030] Advantageously the container is formed in cold state and in
particular without the action of heat. This can mean that for
example after forming into plastic containers, the plastic preforms
are cooled before they are compressed or folded. It may however
also suffice not to heat the plastic containers further.
[0031] In a further preferred method, a container closure is
applied to the container after production. In contrast to the
method known from the prior art, the closure is applied before the
container is filled with a fluid. Here it is possible that the
closure is applied to the container before it is compressed, but it
would however also be possible for the closure to be applied to the
container after it has been compressed.
[0032] It would be possible for a valve closure to be arranged
before or after compression, but the possibility exists of applying
the closure only after the filling process. In this case a valve
closure could be used but also a standard screw closure which is
then preferably punctured on drainage of the container.
[0033] Thus for example for closing, a valve closure can be used
which allows the escape of air during compression. This is
preferably a valve closure through which filling can take place and
particularly preferably a valve closure through which drainage can
also take place.
[0034] Here it is possible that this closure is applied immediately
after the blowing process. Also a screw closure can be used which
is preferably applied only after the filling process.
[0035] In a further method step it would be conceivable for the
container to be filled through this closure. Advantageously this
closure can have a valve device which allows filling and draining
of the container. For draining the container, preferably a region
of the container and in particular said closure can be
punctured.
[0036] In a further advantageous method, a container closure is
applied to the container before it is compressed. This process
offers the advantage of making it easier to apply the closure to
the produced but as yet uncompressed container, since in this case
the mouth is more easily accessible than in a compressed container.
Advantageously in this case a closure is used which allows a gas
escape, in particular for the purpose of compression of the
container.
[0037] In a further preferred method, a plurality of plastic
containers is produced and these plastic containers are compiled in
a compressed state into a container assembly. Preferably these
containers are stacked in each other. The compressed containers can
be stacked on their heads, i.e. inverted so that the opening is at
the bottom. In a further preferred method, these container
assemblies can also be palletised. Preferably the containers are
assembled for transport purposes. It is possible that the container
assemblies are transported from a production site to a usage site.
The containers could be produced by a production company and also
palletised or assembled, then transported to a filler and here
filled with a drink. The advantage of this procedure is that the
containers can be transported in very compact state.
[0038] In a further preferred method, after production of the
container, a carrier element is arranged thereon. This can for
example be a carrying handle. As stated above, the containers
concerned are very large or have a high weight in filled state.
Therefore it is preferred to arrange a carrier element, such as in
particular a carrying handle, on these containers. It is possible
to arrange this carrier element on the container immediately after
its production. It would however also be conceivable for the
carrier element to be arranged on the container during its
formation or blow-moulding. Advantageously the carrier element is
arranged on a mouth portion of the container.
[0039] Furthermore it would however also be conceivable for the
carrier element to be arranged on a container which is in a folded
state. Furthermore it is also possible for the carrier element to
be arranged on the container before or after its closure.
Advantageously the carrier element can be placed or pushed onto a
mouth of the container.
[0040] The as yet unpublished patent application no. 10 2013 102
748 also describes such a carrier element and a method for
attaching this to the container. The subject of this disclosure, in
particular pages 4 to 10, is hereby made the subject of the present
application in full by reference.
[0041] The carrier element may be used for carrying moveable
bodies. The carrier element is advantageously, at least in
portions, designed flexibly and has a fixing portion with which,
for at least part of the time, it can be attached to a body and in
particular to the container. This fixing portion preferably has an
opening through which at least one portion of the container can be
guided, and at least one first handle portion connected to the
fixing portion and having an opening through which a region of a
human hand can be guided. This opening is preferably delimited by
several edge regions, wherein a holding element, flexible in
relation to an edge region, is arranged on at least this one edge
region and extends in the direction of the opening.
[0042] Advantageously the carrier element is formed integrally, and
particularly preferably made from plastic. Advantageously at least
one region of the carrier element is flexible so it can be bent
through an angle of more than 30.degree., preferably more than
60.degree.. Furthermore also preferably the holding element can be
bent in relation to the edge region on which it is arranged, and
preferably as stated above through an angle of at least 30.degree.,
preferably at least 60.degree., preferably at least 90.degree.,
preferably at least 120.degree..
[0043] Advantageously the several edge regions form a closed
periphery. Advantageously these are edge regions running
rectilinearly at least in portions. Advantageously the opening has
a rectangular cross-section.
[0044] In a further advantageous embodiment, the carrier element
has a material thickness in the region of the handle portion which
is between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm.
[0045] In a further advantageous embodiment, a plurality of
protrusions is arranged on the fixing portion, which point to the
body when fixed on this body.
[0046] Advantageously the carrier element is detachable from the
container which it has to carry. In this way the carrier element
can be arranged on the body solely for the purpose of carrying and
then detached from this again.
[0047] Preferably the carrier element is flexible such that on
folding of the container on which it is arranged, it adapts to the
deformations of the container at least in portions. Thus for
example on folding of the container, the carrier element can lie at
a mouth region of the container. In this way it is also possible
for several folded containers to be placed inside each other, in
particular for transport purposes, wherein the carrier element can
also be attached to the individual containers in this state.
[0048] In a further advantageous embodiment, the container assembly
is transported to a filling device. In particular the container
assembly can be transported from a production plant to a filling
plant.
[0049] In a further advantageous method, the container is labelled
after compression. Here it is possible for the container to be
labelled in compressed state, but it would however also be possible
for the container to be labelled before it is assembled with a
plurality of further containers into a container assembly. It would
however also be conceivable for the container to be labelled only
after transport, for example in a filler plant. In this way the
variability is increased for the filling plant. Preferably however
the container is labelled before filling.
[0050] In this embodiment preferably the label is arranged on a
lower part region of the container. Instead of labelling it would
however also be possible for the container to be printed, or for
markings to be burned on or similar, in particular by means of a
laser. Also other markings can be applied to the container which
for example are characteristic of a filling date, a production
date, an expiry date or similar.
[0051] In a further preferred method, a plastic preform is produced
and from this plastic preform the plastic container is produced by
a blowing process. Advantageously the plastic preform is produced
by a stretch-blowing process. It is preferably possible for the
plastic container to be produced directly after production of the
plastic preform.
[0052] Advantageously for this a machine or device is used which is
arranged immediately upstream of the forming device for forming the
plastic preforms into plastic containers.
[0053] Preferably therefore the container is compressed by a
compression process before expansion.
[0054] In a further advantageous method, as stated above the
container is produced by a blow-moulding process. Thus the
container is first produced by a blow-moulding process, then
compressed and finally expanded again.
[0055] In a further advantageous method, the compressed container
is expanded by means of a gas selected from a group of gases
containing nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
[0056] Thus in particular it is proposed here that the containers
are unfolded or unrolled not during filling but before, in
particular by means of CO.sub.2 or optionally nitrogen (N.sub.2).
In the case of a phased machine, this can take place immediately
before the latter. In this case the open containers or vessels
could be delivered directly to the next working step. In this case
the containers are then filled completely (100%) with CO.sub.2 and
need then only be flushed minimally or not at all. In large plants
this can take place semi-automatically, for example in a dry part,
from which the containers (optionally closed) can be transported to
a filling device for example via air transport or a transport
device such as a conveyor belt or conveyor chain.
[0057] There a closure can be removed and the container filled. In
addition it is also conceivable for a closure to be reused after
removal. A container could be inflated before filling with CO.sub.2
and preferably also pre-tensioned, which can take place in
particular directly in a filling station.
[0058] Before inflation however, in the embodiments described here
the rolled container can also be exposed to a vacuum.
[0059] In other words, the container is evacuated preferably before
exposure to the gaseous medium. This can take place for the purpose
of fully removing air from the container, in order in this way to
increase the conservability of a drink which is filled later.
[0060] Preferably before exposure to the gaseous medium, a closing
element for closing the container is removed from the container
mouth. Thus it is conceivable that first the container is formed
and then compressed, and in this compressed state a closure is
applied to the compressed container. Also it would be possible for
a closure to be applied to the container before it is
compressed.
[0061] The advantage of the embodiment described here, in
particular for small filling plants or breweries, is that the
process of unrolling with CO.sub.2 can take place in a dry
environment before the actual filling station. Thus filling can
take place in a clean environment. Also for a high-power filler for
large vessels, the filler and the container handling are simplified
in that the complex mechanism required for unrolling is located
upstream. The advantage of reducing the CO.sub.2 consumption is
retained since the container is not flushed but merely inflated
once with CO.sub.2.
[0062] The present invention is furthermore directed at an
apparatus for producing containers filled with fluids. This
apparatus has an expansion device which is suitable and intended
for expanding containers, already produced by a forming process and
then compressed, by exposure to a gaseous medium. Furthermore a
filling device is provided downstream of the expansion device in a
transport direction of the containers, which fills the expanded
containers with a fluid. Advantageously therefore a transport
device is also provided which transports the containers through the
expansion device during expansion.
[0063] Preferably a transport device is also provided which
transports the containers from the expansion device to a filling
device.
[0064] In a further advantageous embodiment it is also conceivable
that gas expelled again from the container during the filling
process, for example CO.sub.2, can be reused for expansion of a
further container. Thus for example a reservoir for the gaseous
medium can be provided from which the containers are expanded.
[0065] In a further advantageous embodiment, a complete plant also
has a container production apparatus which is in particular a
blow-moulding machine. Advantageously a compression device is also
provided which for example compresses the containers produced by
the blow-moulding process. In addition a container assembly device
can be provided which compiles a plurality of compressed containers
into a group, for example stacking them in each other.
[0066] Further advantages and embodiments arise from the enclosed
drawing which shows:
[0067] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic sequence of a method according to the
invention and an apparatus according to the invention; and
[0068] FIG. 2 a further depiction of a pallet with containers.
[0069] FIG. 1 shows a typical sequence of a method according to the
invention. It is however pointed out that individual method steps
may also be carried out in a different order, and furthermore that
individual method steps such as arranging a handle on the container
are optional.
[0070] As part of the method according to the invention, first
plastic preforms 5 are produced with a preform production device
22. The arrows below the individual elements illustrate the process
sequence. For example this plastic preform 5 can be produced in a
company, e.g. a converter. In a further method step the plastic
preform 5 is inflated into a plastic container 10, wherein a
forming apparatus 2 is used for this. This forming apparatus 2 is
in particular but not exclusively a blow-moulding machine, such as
a stretch-blowing machine.
[0071] In a further method step, a closure 44 is arranged on the
container, for example screwed on. This is in particular a closure
having a valve. To this end a closing device 3 is provided which
fits the closure to the container, for example screwing it to the
container (could also be pressed on).
[0072] In a further method step, a carrier element 42, for example
a carrying handle, is arranged on the container. This can then for
example be pushed over the existing closure. Reference numeral 24
designates an apparatus which can for example attach the carrying
handle to the container.
[0073] In a further method step, the container is compressed under
control and in particular rolled up. Reference numeral 4 designates
the corresponding apparatus for achieving this rolling or
compression process. In contrast to methods known from the prior
art, an empty container is thus here compressed under control.
[0074] In a further method step, a container assembly 50 is formed
from a plurality of compressed containers. For this an
assembly-forming device 6 is provided. Furthermore the container
assemblies thus formed are palletised, wherein for example a pallet
can contain 500 to 560 containers (the capacity can in fact be
higher but restrictions may result due to the 40'
container/semitrailer height). To this end, a palletiser 8 can be
provided. Containers can be palletised with their feet downwards,
but also with their feet upwards i.e. lying on a fold ring. The
containers need not however stand on a pallet, they can also be
packed and dispatched in a box with cover and film inside etc.
[0075] Then the palletised containers are transported by means of a
transport means 15, here shown as a truck, to a further company for
example a filling plant.
[0076] At the filling plant first the pallets 52 are depalletised,
whereby a depalletising apparatus 26 is provided (can also be done
manually). In addition the container assemblies formed in this way
can be separated, more precisely the containers from these
container assemblies can be separated, which can take place via a
separation device 27 (can also be done manually). It would also be
possible here for the closure to be removed from the containers in
the following step.
[0077] In a further method step, the containers are expanded or
unfolded, wherein an expansion device 36 is used. This preferably
exposes the containers to a gas such as in particular carbon
dioxide or nitrogen.
[0078] In a further method step, the containers are labelled using
a labelling apparatus 28. Here for example the containers as stated
above can be labelled in a lower half region of the containers,
i.e. in a half region close to the floor. Since however at this
time the containers have already been re-expanded, in principle
their entire outer surface can be used for labelling.
[0079] In addition however there is the possibility of labelling
only after filling, and applying a sleeve label.
[0080] In a further method step the containers are filled.
Reference numeral 12 designates a corresponding filling device. In
a further method step it would still be possible to remove gas or
oxygen from the head space of the containers in that, for example
by means of a pressurization device, other gases such as nitrogen
could be supplied after filling. In this way the conservability of
the filled product inside the container can be extended.
[0081] The filled containers are closed by means of a closing
device 14.
[0082] By means of a further apparatus, a second closing device,
for example a hygiene or safety cover, can (but need not) be
applied to the container or closure 44 of the container.
Alternatively, the application of a blister packing is conceivable,
containing a single-use drink line. This blister packing seals the
opening of the closure and can also serve as a hygiene or safety
cover.
[0083] With a further palletising device 32, the now filled
containers are re-palletised onto a pallet 56 (i.e. strapped or
film-wrapped) and finally by means of a further transport device 34
(here again a truck), they can brought to the individual
customers.
[0084] It would however also be possible for the method depicted
here to be carried out with re-usable containers, i.e. for example
the above-mentioned step of production of the plastic container,
for example by a blow-moulding process, does not take place but an
existing container is rolled up a second time.
[0085] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a pallet with
containers 10. Here in addition to the carrier element a receiver
element 18 or receiver device is arranged on the containers 10.
This receiver element 18 forms a receiving chamber (not shown) in
which further elements such as a (single use) tapping line and
similar can be accommodated. The receiver element can have an
opening via which a closure of the container 10 can be pushed or
pressed on.
[0086] The applicant reserves the right to claim as essential to
the invention all features disclosed in the application documents
where novel individually or in combination in relation to the prior
art.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0087] 2 Forming apparatus
[0088] 3 Closing device
[0089] 4 Compression apparatus
[0090] 5 Plastic preform
[0091] 6 Assembly-forming device
[0092] 8 Palletiser
[0093] 10 Plastic container
[0094] 12 Filling device
[0095] 14 Closing device
[0096] 15 Transport means
[0097] 18 Receiver element
[0098] 22 Preform production device
[0099] 24 Device for application of a carrying handle
[0100] 26 Depalletising apparatus
[0101] 27 Separation device
[0102] 28 Labelling apparatus
[0103] 32 Palletising device
[0104] 34 Transport device
[0105] 36 Expansion device for expanding the compressed
containers
[0106] 42 Carrier element
[0107] 44 Closure
[0108] 50 Container assembly
[0109] 52 Pallets
[0110] 56 Pallet
[0111] 58 Carrier
* * * * *