IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0865240
(2004-06-10)
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우선권정보 |
DE-103 26 618(2003-06-13) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
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대리인 / 주소 |
Nils H. Ljungman & Associates
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
There is now provided a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a beverage container filling machine, and a beverage container closing machine, wherein only the top portions of containers being processed are disposed in a chamber having rotatable walls an
There is now provided a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a beverage container filling machine, and a beverage container closing machine, wherein only the top portions of containers being processed are disposed in a chamber having rotatable walls and stationary walls. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §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.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a bottle cleaning station being configured and disposed to clean bottles with a cleaning fluid; said bottle cleaning station comprising a rotatable
What is claimed is: 1. A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a bottle cleaning station being configured and disposed to clean bottles with a cleaning fluid; said bottle cleaning station comprising a rotatable structure; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles into said rotatable bottle cleaning station; a storage apparatus being configured and disposed to store a liquid beverage filling material; a beverage filling machine being configured and disposed to fill empty bottles with liquid beverage filling material; a conduit arrangement being configured and disposed to supply liquid beverage filling material from said storage apparatus to said beverage filling machine; said beverage filling machine comprising a rotatable structure; said rotatable beverage filling machine also comprising a plurality of beverage filling stations, each beverage filling station comprising a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material; said filling devices comprising apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into interiors of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material and to terminate the filling of beverage bottles upon liquid beverage filling material reaching said substantially predetermined level in bottles; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move empty bottles from said rotatable bottle cleaning station into said rotatable beverage filling machine; a closing station being configured and disposed to secure bottle caps to bottles to be closed; said bottle closing station comprising a rotatable structure; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled bottles from said rotatable beverage filling machine into said rotatable closing station; said rotatable cleaning station comprising: a chamber being configured and disposed to confine the top of each bottle being processed and also being configured to dispose the lower portion of each bottle, having its top confined, outside said chamber; an arrangement being configured and disposed to provide a disinfecting environment in said chamber to disinfect solely the tops of the bottles being processed; and the top of each bottle including the mouth portion and at least a portion of the neck portion of each bottle being processed; said rotatable beverage filling machine comprising: a chamber being configured and disposed to confine the top of each bottle being processed and also being configured to dispose the lower portion of each bottle, having its top confined, outside said chamber; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to provide a disinfecting environment in said chamber to disinfect solely the tops of the bottles being processed; said conveyer arrangement for moving bottles from said rotatable bottle cleaning station into said rotatable beverage filling machine comprising: a chamber being configured and disposed to confine the top of each bottle being processed and also being configured to dispose the lower portion of each bottle, having its top confined, outside said chamber; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to provide a disinfecting environment in said chamber to disinfect solely the tops of the bottles being processed; said rotatable bottle closing station comprising: a chamber being configured and disposed to confine the top of each bottle being processed and also being configured to dispose the lower portion of each bottle, having its top confined, outside said chamber; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to provide a disinfecting environment in said chamber to disinfect solely the tops of the bottles being processed; said conveyer arrangement for moving filled bottles from said rotatable beverage filling machine into said rotatable bottle closing station comprising: a chamber being configured and disposed to confine the top of each bottle being processed and also being configured to dispose the lower portion of each bottle, having its top confined, outside said chamber; and said beverage bottling plant further comprising: a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles from said rotatable bottle closing station. 2. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said chambers comprises a vertical axis, a first set of wall components being configured and disposed to rotate about the vertical axis, and a second set of wall components being stationary and non-rotatable; and at least one of: said rotatable cleaning station, said rotatable beverage filling machine, said conveyer arrangement for moving bottles from said rotatable cleaning station into said rotatable beverage filling machine, said rotatable bottle closing station, and said conveyer arrangement for moving filled bottles between said rotatable beverage filling machine and said rotatable closing station comprises: supporting and holding arrangements being disposed in said at least one chamber, being disposed at a distance from one another, being configured to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and being configured to hold bottles being processed; said rotatable set of wall components comprises at least one rotatable wall; each said at least one rotatable wall comprising at least one of: a holder for holding the top of a bottle being processed, a support device for supporting the top of a bottle being processed, a centering device for centering the top of a bottle being processed, a first support arrangement for supporting said holder, a second support arrangement for supporting said support device, and a third support arrangement for supporting said centering device; at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device comprises a recess; said rotatable set of wall components comprises at least one bottom wall being configured and disposed to rotate about the vertical axis; said recess is disposed in said bottom wall; each one of said conveyer arrangements comprises a star wheel conveyer arrangement; each one of said star wheel conveyer arrangements forms at least a portion of its corresponding chamber bottom wall; and a stationary upper hood structure being configured and disposed to surround its corresponding star wheel conveyer arrangement. 3. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 2, wherein: each one of said star wheel conveyer arrangements comprises an input station and an output station; at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device is configured, at least at one of said input station and said output station, to be swung away from its corresponding input station and its corresponding output station; at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device comprises: an arrangement being configured and disposed to pivot a portion of at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device; an arrangement being configured and disposed to bias said pivotable arrangement in a first direction; said first set of rotatable wall components comprises a first rotatable wall; said second set of stationary wall components comprises a first stationary wall; a seal arrangement being disposed between said first rotatable wall and said first stationary wall; said at least one chamber comprises an arrangement being configured and disposed to introduce a disinfecting medium free of microorganisms at its corresponding conveyer input station; said at least one chamber comprises an arrangement being configured and disposed to remove a disinfecting medium at its corresponding conveyer output station; said at least one chamber being configured and disposed to permit rotational flow of a disinfecting medium in said at least one chamber; and said at least one chamber comprises at least one of: (a) and (b), wherein (a) and (b) comprise: (a) a structure having an opening; said opening being configured and disposed to permit introduction of the top of a bottle into said at least one chamber without play into said chamber and also being configured and disposed to permit positioning of the top of a bottle against its corresponding filling device of said beverage filling machine; and (b) a structure having an opening; said opening being configured and disposed to permit introduction of the top of a bottle into said at least one chamber with play into said chamber and also and also being configured and disposed to permit positioning of the top of a bottle against its corresponding filling device of said beverage filling machine. 4. In a container filling plant for filling containers with a liquid beverage filling material, said container filling plant comprising: a container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill empty containers with liquid beverage filling material; said beverage filling machine comprising a storage apparatus being configured and disposed to store a liquid beverage filling material and also comprising a plurality of beverage filling stations, each beverage filling station comprising a beverage filling device for filling containers with liquid beverage filling material; said filling devices comprising apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of containers; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move empty containers into said beverage filling machine; a closing station being configured and disposed to close top portions of containers; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled containers between said beverage filling machine and said closing station; at least one of: said beverage filling machine, said conveyer arrangement for moving containers into said beverage filling machine, said container closing station, and said conveyer arrangement for moving filled containers between said beverage filling machine and said closing station comprising; a chamber being configured and disposed to at least partially enclose solely the top portions of containers being processed; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to provide a disinfecting environment in said chamber to disinfect solely the top portions of containers being processed; at least one hood structure being configured and disposed to surround a corresponding conveyer arrangement; each one of said conveyer arrangements comprises a star wheel conveyer arrangement; each one of said star wheel conveyer arrangements forms at least a portion of its corresponding chamber bottom wall; and said at least one hood structure comprises a stationary upper hood structure. 5. In a container filling plant according to claim 4, wherein: said at least one chamber comprises a vertical axis, a first set of wall components being configured and disposed to rotate about the vertical axis, and a second set of wall components being stationary and non-rotatable; and at least one of: said beverage filling machine, said conveyer arrangement for moving containers into said beverage filling machine, said container closing station, and said conveyer arrangement for moving filled containers between said beverage filling machine and said closing station comprises: supporting and holding arrangements being disposed in said at least one chamber, being disposed at a distance from one another, being configured to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and being configured to hold containers being processed. 6. In a container filling plant according to claim 5, wherein: said rotatable set of wall components comprises at least one rotatable wall; and each said at least one rotatable wall comprising at least one of: a holder for holding the top portion of a container being processed, a support device for supporting the top portion of a container being processed, a centering device for centering the top portion of a container being processed, a first support arrangement for supporting said holder, a second support arrangement for supporting said support device, and a third support arrangement for supporting said centering device. 7. In a container filling plant according to claim 6, wherein: at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device comprises a recess; said rotatable set of wall components comprises at least one bottom wall being configured and disposed to rotate about the vertical axis; and said recess is disposed in said bottom wall. 8. In a container filling plant according to claim 7, wherein: each one of said star wheel conveyer arrangements comprises an input station and an output station; and at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device is configured, at least at one of said input station and said output station, to be swung away from its corresponding input station and its corresponding output station. 9. In a container filling plant according to claim 8, wherein: at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device comprises: an arrangement being configured and disposed to pivot a portion of at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to bias said pivotable arrangement in a first direction. 10. In a container filling plant according to claim 9, wherein: said first set of rotatable wall components comprises a first rotatable wall; said second set of stationary wall components comprises a first stationary wall; and a seal arrangement being disposed between said first rotatable wall and said first stationary wall. 11. In a container filling plant according to claim 10, wherein: said at least one chamber comprises an arrangement being configured and disposed to introduce a disinfecting medium free of microorganisms at its corresponding conveyer input station; said at least one chamber comprises an arrangement being configured and disposed to remove a disinfecting medium at its corresponding conveyer output station; said at least one chamber being configured and disposed to permit rotational flow of a disinfecting medium in said at least one chamber; said at least one chamber comprises at least one of: (a) and (b), wherein (a) and (b) comprise: (a) a structure having an opening; said opening being configured and disposed to permit introduction of the top of a container into said at least one chamber without play into said chamber and also being configured and disposed to permit positioning of the top of a container against its corresponding filling device of said beverage filling machine; and (b) a structure having an opening; said opening being configured and disposed to permit introduction of the top of a container into said at least one chamber with play into said chamber and also and also being configured and disposed to permit positioning of the top of a container against its corresponding filling device of said beverage filling machine. 12. A method of operating a container filling plant for filling containers, said container filling plant comprising: a filling machine being configured and disposed to fill empty containers with filling material; said filling machine comprising a plurality of filling stations, each said filling station comprising a filling device for filling containers with a filling material; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move empty containers into said filling machine; a closing station being configured and disposed to close top portions of containers; a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled containers between said filling machine and said closing station; at least one of: said filling machine, said conveyer arrangement for moving containers into said filling machine, said container closing station, and said conveyer arrangement for moving filled containers between said filling machine and said closing station comprising: a chamber being configured and disposed to at least partially enclose solely the top portions of containers being processed; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to provide a disinfecting environment in said chamber to disinfect solely the top portions of containers being processed; said at least one chamber comprises a vertical axis, and a first set of wall components being configured and disposed to rotate about the vertical axis, and also a second set of wall components being stationary and non-rotatable; at least one of: said filling machine, said conveyer arrangement for moving containers into said filling machine, said container closing station, and said conveyer arrangement for moving filled containers between said filling machine and said closing station comprises: supporting and holding arrangements being disposed in said at least one chamber, being disposed at a distance from one another, being configured to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and being configured to hold containers being processed; said rotatable set of wall components comprises at least one rotatable wall; each said at least one rotatable wall comprising at least one of: a holder for holding the top portion of a container being processed, a support device for supporting the top portion of a container being processed, a centering device for centering the top portion of a container being processed, a first support arrangement for supporting said holder, a second support arrangement for supporting said support device, and a third support arrangement for supporting said centering device; at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device comprises a recess; said rotatable set of wall components comprises at least one bottom wall being configured and disposed to rotate about the vertical axis; said recess is disposed in said bottom wall; each one of said conveyer arrangements comprises a star wheel conveyer arrangement; each one of said star wheel conveyer arrangements forms at least a portion of its corresponding chamber bottom wall; and a stationary upper hood structure being configured and disposed to surround its corresponding star wheel conveyer arrangement; said method comprising the steps of: introducing a disinfectant, with said arrangement for providing a disinfecting environment, into said at least one chamber to disinfect solely the top portions of containers being processed; moving disinfectant in at least a portion of said at least one chamber about the top portions of containers being processed; and rotating said first said of wall components of said at least one chamber about the vertical axis. 13. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 12, wherein: each one of said star wheel conveyer arrangements comprises an input station and an output station; at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device is configured, at least at one of said input station and said output station, to be swung away from its corresponding input station and its corresponding output station; at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device comprises: an arrangement being configured and disposed to pivot a portion of at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device; and an arrangement being configured and disposed to bias said pivotable arrangement in a first direction; comprising the step of: swinging away at least one of: said holder, said support device, and said centering device, from its corresponding input station and its corresponding output station. 14. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 13, wherein: said first set of rotatable wall components comprises a first rotatable wall; said second set of stationary wall components comprises a first stationary wall; and a seal arrangement being disposed between said first rotatable wall and said first stationary wall; comprising the step of: sealing said at least one chamber and minimizing leakage of a disinfecting medium from said at least one chamber with said seal arrangement. 15. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 14, wherein: said at least one chamber comprises an arrangement being configured and disposed to introduce a disinfecting medium free of microorganisms at its corresponding conveyer input station; said at least one chamber comprises an arrangement being configured and disposed to remove a disinfecting medium at its corresponding conveyer output station; and said at least one chamber being configured and disposed to permit rotational flow of a disinfecting medium in said at least one chamber; comprising the step of: moving a disinfecting medium rotationally in said at least one chamber. 16. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 15, wherein: said at least one chamber comprises at least one of: (a) and (b), wherein (a) and (b) comprise: (a) a structure having an opening; said opening being configured and disposed to permit introduction of the top of a container into said at least one chamber without play into said chamber and also being configured and disposed to permit positioning of the top of a container against its corresponding filling device of said filling machine; comprising the step of: introducing the top of a container without play into said at least one chamber; and (b) a structure having an opening; said opening being configured and disposed to permit introduction of the top of a container into said at least one chamber with play into said chamber and also and also being configured and disposed to permit positioning of the top of a container against its corresponding filling device of said filling machine; comprising the step of: introducing the top of a container with play into said at least one chamber.
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