US 11,993,502 B2Granted

Device and method for treating containers

AssigneeKHS GmbH

InventorsAlexander Danelski, Jan Leyendecker, Thomas Niehr

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Abstract

In an apparatus for treating containers with a medium, the containers are transported cyclically in groups. A linear holding device has a plurality of container holders for holding the containers in a suspended state. A treatment device has a plurality of outlet heads that are connected to a supply line for the medium via respective branch lines. The outlet heads are moved together as a group in the vertical direction. Each outlet head has an outlet line for discharging the medium into the containers. For the purpose of treating the container, the outlet line is introduced into the container, which is held in a suspended state in the container mount. Each outlet head is assigned a controllable restraining mechanism. A controller communicates with the restraining mechanism to control a restraining element to hold back the outlet line of a respective outlet head in a restraining position as required.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for treating containers with a medium, wherein the containers are transported in groups along a conveying path in cyclic operation, the apparatus comprising:

at least one linear holding device with a plurality of container mounts for a suspended holding of the containers;
at least one treatment station having at least one treatment device with a supply line for the medium, and a plurality of outlet heads connected to said supply line by way of respective branch lines;
a drive unit configured to move said outlet heads in common as a group in a vertical direction;
each of said outlet heads having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and an outlet line, extending along the longitudinal axis and connected to said supply line by way of said branch line, for dispensing the medium into the containers;
wherein, for treating the container, said outlet line is configured to be introduced, at least partly, into the container that is being held suspended in said container mount;
a controllable restraining mechanism assigned to each of said outlet heads and a controller in communicating connection with said restraining mechanism;
and
said controllable restraining mechanism including a restraining element and being configured to selectively, and as required, hold back said outlet line of a respective said outlet head in a restraining position.

5 more elements

A method of treating containers that are transported in groups along a conveying path in cyclic operation with a medium, the method comprising:

providing a treatment device with a supply line for the medium and a plurality of outlet heads connected by branch lines to the supply line;
holding the containers suspended by a linear holding device with a plurality of container mounts in an ordered container group with a predetermined number of containers and positioning the containers in a treatment station of an apparatus beneath the treatment device, wherein an outlet head is assigned to each container of the container group;
moving the outlet heads downwards as a group together by a corresponding drive unit with a lowering stroke movement in the vertical direction, and thereby bringing the outlet heads close to the respectively assigned containers, in such a way that an outlet line provided at each outlet head and connected by the branch line to the supply line, is introduced, for dispensing the medium by way of a respective container mouth, at least partially into the assigned container;
and
selectively, if required, holding back the outlet line of a respective outlet head in a restraining position by a restraint mechanism under control of a controller.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/778,513Filed 11 Nov 2020
Priority: DE 10 2019 131 494.121 Nov 2019
Published: US 2023/0002209 A15 Jan 2023
Granted: 28 May 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B67C 7/0033
The containers travelling along a linear path: the operation being performed batch-wise
A61L 2/22
Using chemical substances: phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols
B67C 7/0073
Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations: sterilising, aseptic filling and…
A61L 2103/23
Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation: containers other than laboratory or medical, e.g. bottles or mail