US 6,918,417 B2 · Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and an easily cleaned lifting device in a beverage bottling plant

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and an easily cleaned lifting device in a beverage bottling plant. 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.

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said beverage bottling plant comprising:

a filling machine being configured to fill empty bottles with liquid beverage filling material;
a conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move empty bottles to said filling machine;
said filling machine comprising a rotor having a peripheral portion;
said filling machine defining a vertical axis about which said rotor is configured to rotate;
said beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling positions disposed about said peripheral portion of said rotor;
each beverage filling position comprising a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material;
each filling device comprising apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material;
said apparatus being configured to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material comprising apparatus being configured to terminate the filling of beverage bottles upon liquid beverage filling material reaching said substantially predetermined level in bottles;
each filling position comprising a support configured and disposed to maintain a bottle in a predetermined position for filling a by a corresponding filling device;
each filling position comprising an arrangement to seal a bottle for filling a bottle with an effervescent beverage;
apparatus being configured to raise and to lower said bottle support and a bottle supported thereby;
said lifting apparatus being configured to raise and lower said bottle support comprising:
a rod having an exterior, a first, lower, end and a second, upper, end remote from said lower end;
said lower end of said rod being secured to said rotor of said filling machine;
a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having an outer wall and an inner wall disposed about the longitudinal cylinder axis and forming a cylinder interior;
said inner cylinder wall being configured and disposed to slide about said rod to permit up-and-down movement of said cylinder about said rod;
said cylinder having a first, upper, end and a second, lower, end remote from said upper end of said cylinder;
said bottle support being secured to said upper end of said cylinder to permit raising and lowering of said bottle support and a bottle supported thereby;
a collar secured to said lower end of said cylinder;
a first, upper, stop structure secured to said rotor of said filling machine adjacent said upper end of said rod;
said cylinder outer wall being configured to slide within said upper stop structure;
a second, lower, stop structure operatively connected to said upper stop structure and being configured and disposed to slide on said outer cylinder wall;
a spring disposed between said upper stop structure and said lower stop structure and being configured to be compressed between said upper stop structure and said lower stop structure;
said rod comprising at least one first longitudinal passage configured to permit passage of a pressure medium from said lower end of said rod into said cylinder;
said cylinder being configured to be raised by a first, lower, pressure of a pressure medium passing through said first longitudinal passage of said rod and thus raising said bottle support and a bottle supported thereby to a first, lower, position being a position in which a bottle is disposed remote from said seal arrangement which lower position is configured for filling of a bottle with a still beverage;
said cylinder being configured to be raised by a second pressure, being a pressure higher than the first pressure, of a pressure medium passing through said first longitudinal passage of said rod and thus raising said bottle support and a bottle supported thereby to a second, higher, position being a position in which a bottle is sealed to said sealing arrangement which higher position is configured for filling of a bottle with an effervescent beverage;
said collar being configured to be disposed against said lower stop structure to maintain said bottle support and a bottle supported thereby in the lower position upon the lower pressure being applied in said cylinder;
said spring being configured and disposed to be compressed between said upper stop structure and said lower stop structure by said collar upon the higher pressure being applied in said cylinder to permit raising of said bottle support and a bottle supported thereby to the higher position;
and
a seal arrangement disposed about said rod and being configured to sealingly engage said inner wall of said cylinder;
said rod comprising at least one second longitudinal passage disposed adjacent said first longitudinal passage and being configured to permit passage of at least one of:
a cleaning medium to clean said rod and said inner cylinder wall;
and
a cooling medium to cool said cylinder and said rod;
and
a lubricating medium to lubricate said rod and said inner cylinder wall;
said first longitudinal passage comprising an inlet;
said second longitudinal passage comprising an inlet;
a fitting being configured and disposed to connect said inlet of said first longitudinal passage to a source of pressure medium and also to connect said inlet of said second longitudinal passage to a source of at least one of:
a cleaning medium;
and
a cooling medium;
and
a lubricating medium;
at least one passage configured to connect said second longitudinal passage to said exterior of said rod and to said interior of said cylinder for the supply of at least one of:
a cleaning medium;
and
a cooling medium;
and
a lubricating medium;
into said cylinder;
said filling machine further comprising:
a first valving arrangement being configured and disposed to introduce a pressure medium through said fitting, and through said first longitudinal passage, and into said cylinder;
a second valving arrangement being configured and disposed to introduce at least one of:
a cleaning medium;
and
a cooling medium;
and
a lubricating medium;
through said fitting, and through said second longitudinal passage and said connecting passage, and into said cylinder;
and
a control arrangement being configured and disposed to control introduction of a pressure medium into said cylinder during operating cycles of said filling machine and to control introduction of at least one of:
a cleaning medium;
and
a cooling medium;
and
a lubricating medium;
into said cylinder during servicing cycles of said filling machine.

65 more elements

Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and an easily cleaned lifting device in a beverage bottling plant

Life of this patent

Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and an easily cleaned lifting device in a beverage bottling plant

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20