Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/30—Filling of barrels or casks

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an adapter according to the preamble of claim 4.
• KEGs Large-volume containers in the form of KEGs are in particular also known for receiving beverages, for example beer, and consist essentially of a KEG interior enclosing, for example barrel-like and made of a metallic material, e.g. Steel or stainless steel, manufactured KEG body with a KEG fitting received in a KEG body opening. This is done by treating the respective KEG, in particular also cleaning, disinfecting and / or rinsing the KEG interior, filling the KEG with the respective liquid contents and removing the liquid contents from the KEG interior.
• a KEG interior enclosing for example barrel-like and made of a metallic material, e.g. Steel or stainless steel, manufactured KEG body with a KEG fitting received in a KEG body opening.
• the KEG fitting forms two connection or media paths which can be closed in each case by spring-loaded valve means and accessible on the outside of the KEG fitting and opening into the KEG interior, specifically a channel formed in the center of the KEG fitting continues in the KEG interior riser, which extends into the immediate vicinity of the KEG fitting opposite bottom of the KEG body, and a ring channel whose cross-sectional area in the open state is significantly greater than the cross-sectional area of the opened central channel and the riser.
• the treatment (disinfecting, cleaning, rinsing, filling, etc.) as well as the transport of these KEGs made of metal takes place in the usual treatment plants or machines overhead, ie in such a way that the KEGs with their KEG fitting down are arranged pointing and pressed for treatment with the underlying KEG fitting on the respective treatment head with a relatively large contact pressure.
• device or system-side contact pressure means for example pneumatic cylinders, are provided which act with the required contact pressure on the side of the respective KEG which is at the top during the treatment.
• the contact pressure which is chosen sufficiently large for a tight connection of the KEG fitting with the treatment head is about transfer the wall of the KEG body, which is possible with KEG made of metal (steel or stainless steel) without any problems.
• the overhead arrangement of the KEGs in the treatment has the advantage that the respective liquid medium via the open annular channel with the larger cross-sectional area in the KEG interior to flow and in this case from the KEG interior displaced vapor or gaseous medium, such as air, can be removed via the riser, so that a large volume flow of the liquid medium in the KEG interior and thus for example by filling a high filling speed can be achieved by the large cross-sectional area.
• KEGs plastic KEGs
• KEG bodies produced, for example, by blowing or stretch blow molding from a preform are thin-walled and made of plastic, for example PET, in one piece with a KEG device.
• KEG throat forming the body opening, into which (KEG body opening) the KEG fitting is tightly inserted.
• These plastic KEGs are very advantageously suitable as disposable packaging for liquid products, in particular for drinks, for example for beer, but have the disadvantage that, because of the very low mechanical strength of the thin-walled KEG body produced from plastic, a treatment, in particular filling in the conventional form is not possible in principle. For this reason, plastic KEGs are currently overhead with their KEG fitting, i. not arranged overhead and treated at the KEG neck or at a local neck ring treated or filled.
• the reduced cross-sectional area of the riser tube results in a considerable extension of the treatment or filling time or a considerable reduction in the filling speed.
• Filling the plastic KEGs with KEG fittings pointing upwards over the open annular channel of the KEG fitting having the significantly larger cross-sectional area is, for one thing, out of the question because this leads to undesirable foaming of a carbonated product (eg. B. of beer) in the KEG interior would lead, and because an escape of the gas and / or vapor medium (eg air) displaced during filling from the KEG interior would not be possible anyway via the rising pipe submerged in the filling material.
• the treatment or filling of the plastic KEGs with upwardly pointing KEG fitting furthermore also has the very decisive disadvantage that existing treatment or filling systems or machines designed for the overhead treatment can not be used, but instead considerable investment costs for new suitable machines and plants are necessary.
• the object of the invention is to provide a method which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and allows a treatment and in particular a filling of plastic KEGs with reduced treatment or filling time.
• a method according to claim 1 is formed.
• An adapter for use in this method is the subject of claim 4.
• KEGs whose KEG body is mechanically low, especially plastic KEGs and thereby especially those whose KEG body is made by blow molding of preforms (preforms), in turn overhead, ie with the KEG fitting facing down, and to the usual equipment and machinery specially developed for this type of treatment or for the treatment of metal KEGs.
• the advantages of the invention include u.a. This means that even with KEGs with a mechanically only slightly loadable KEG body, short treatment times and, in particular, short filling times or high filling speeds can be achieved, namely by virtue of the fact that the liquid medium, for example the filling material, again via the open annular channel of the respective KEG fittings are introduced into the KEG interior and the gas and / or vapor medium (eg air) displaced from the interior of the KEG is discharged via the riser. Investments in new or additional machinery and equipment, especially for the treatment of KEGs with a mechanically low loadable KEG body are not required.
• the respective KEG at least during the treatment period, in particular during the duration of filling is added to or in an adapter that allows the KEG with the KEG fitting oriented down safely and without damage by a To lead system and press against the respective treatment or filling head, with the necessary contact force acting on the adapter and is transmitted from this only on the KEG neck or on the local neck ring, while the KEG body is kept free of mechanical stress ,
• the respective KEG is fixed to its KEG neck or to a neck ring formed there.
• the adapter is preferably designed to fully accommodate and / or conform to the dimensions of the standardized KEGs made of metal, such as slender KEGs having a diameter of 240 mm and a length of 580 mm.
• the adapters according to the invention can also have dimensions or dimensions such that they correspond to the dimensions of other conventional KEGs, these preferably corresponding to the usual DIN or EURO standards or dimensions known to the person skilled in the art.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a plastic, for example made of PET KEG.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a KEG adapter for receiving the
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of the underside or on the head piece of the adapter of
• 1 is an example designed as a disposable packaging KEG with a KEG body 2 made of plastic, which forms a KEG interior 3 for receiving a liquid filling material, for example for receiving a drink, for example, for receiving beer and in one piece in a known manner with a KEG jacket 2.1 and with upper and lower KEG panels 2.2 and 2.3, respectively.
• a KEG jacket 2.1 for example, made by blow molding, for example made of PET.
• the KEG body 2 is made in one piece with a KEG neck 4 forming the KEG body opening with a radially protruding neck ring 4.1.
• the KEG-fitting 5 which tightly closes the KEG interior 3 at the KEG body opening, is provided in a suitable manner, which has the training known to the person skilled in the art, in particular also with a central, with one Riser 6 connected channel 5.1, with an annular channel 5.2 and with spring-acting valve means which close the two channels in the non-actuated state tight.
• the riser 6 extends directly to the inner surface of the lower bottom 2.3.
• the KEG body 2 has a thin-walled design on the KEG sheath 2.1 and also on the upper and lower KEG bottom 2.2 or 2.3, and therefore is not mechanically or only slightly resilient, the KEG neck 4 and, in particular, also the neck ring 4.1 by appropriate material thickness a strength that is sufficient for the treatment of the KEGs 1, in particular for the necessary when filling the KEGs 1 pressing the KEG fitting 5 against a treatment or filling head.
• an adapter 7 is provided in which the respective KEG 1 during treatment or is fully absorbed during filling and that enables the beneficial overhead treatment of KEGs 1.
• These are oriented with their longitudinal extent in each case parallel to the axis A and provided offset by this axis at equal angular intervals against each other.
• the ring 9 forms the open top of the adapter 7, through which the respective KEG 1 can be introduced with its KEG neck 4 ahead in the adapter 7 and removed from this again.
• the ring 1 1 forms the underside or the standing or support surface of the adapter 7.
• the wall element 12 adjacent to the lower ring 1 forms an adapter base, which closes the adapter interior serving to hold the respective KEG 1 downwards, a support surface for the KEG-bottom forms 2.2 of the respective KEGs 1 and in the manner described below also for clamping or fixing the KEGs 1 in the adapter, by receiving on his neck ring 4.1.
• the ring 10 is provided for additional support of the longitudinal bars 13 and to increase the strength of the adapter 7 between the upper ring and the circular disk-shaped wall element 12. It is understood that the adapter 7 is designed so that the respective KEG 1 completely fits into the adapter 7 while the axial length of the adapter 7 (distance between the rings 9 and 11) is greater than the axial length of the KEG 1 ,
• the wall element 12 is formed with a plurality of openings, with a central opening 14 and with other, distributed around this central opening openings 15 at the edge region.
• the central opening 14 is designed so that the KEG 1 protrudes after its insertion into the adapter interior with its KEG neck 4, in particular with its neck ring 4.1 through the opening 14 on the lower ring 1 1 facing bottom of the wall element 12 and so that it can be locked or fixed on the neck ring 4.1 in the adapter 7 or on the wall element 12.
• two locking elements 16 and 17 are pivotally provided by means of joints 18 about axes parallel to the axis A at the bottom of the ring 1 1 facing bottom of the wall element.
• the two locking elements 16 and 17 are biased by compression springs 19 in an interlocking position in which they are connected to a section 16.1 or 17.1 in the adapter. 7 engage inserted KEG 1 on neck ring 4.1.
• a radially movable slide 20 which cooperates with 16 formed on the locking elements 16 and 17 control or inclined surfaces 16.2 and 17.2, the locking elements 16 and 17 against the action of the compression springs 19 from the locking position in a non-locking or the respective KEG or the neck ring 4.1 releasing position movable.
• the elements of the adapter 7 are corrosion-protected made of steel or stainless steel.
• the adapter 7 it is possible to treat, and in particular to fill and transport, the KEGs 1 in conventional machines and installations, namely overhead, i.e., in the conventional manner. with the respective KEG fitting 5 lying down and pressed in the treatment against the respective treatment or filling head.
• the respective KEG 1 is inserted in the manner described above in the adapter 7 and fixed with its neck ring 4.1 by the locking elements 16 and 17 on the wall element 12.
• the KEG accommodated in the adapter 7 is then moved via the existing transport elements of a conventional KEG treatment plant or machine to the treatment or filling position, where it is replaced by clamping elements acting on the upper side of the adapter 7, for example on the upper ring 9.
• the adapter 7 preferably corresponds in its external dimensions to conventional metal-made KEGs, for example slim KEGs with an outside diameter of 285 mm and a length of 580 mm, so that the respective adapter 7 with the KEG 1 accommodated therein without exchange of guide parts, etc . Can be driven by the treatment or filling plant concerned.
• a plurality of adapters 7 is preferably provided, which are connected to a KEG task for introducing the KEGs 1 are ready and are moved after treating or filling the respective KEGs 1 to a KEG decrease, from which each adapter 7 is then conveyed back after removal of the KEGs 1 to the KEG task.
• the adapter 7 are components or recordings of a transport system with which the KEGs are moved through the treatment or filling machine.
• the insertion of the respective KEG 1 into the adapter 7 takes place at the earliest after its manufacture, i. for example, after stretch blowing the bubble-shaped KEG body 2 and after joining the KEG fitting 5 to the KEG body.
• the insertion and removal of the KEGs 1 preferably takes place mechanically in a plant that processes or fills it.

Landscapes

• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=43568207

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Citations (4)

• 2010
  • 2010-11-16 EP EP10787273.1A patent/EP2509911B1/de active Active
  • 2010-11-16 WO PCT/EP2010/006979 patent/WO2011069595A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2010-11-16 PL PL10787273T patent/PL2509911T3/pl unknown

Patent Citations (4)

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