EP3702319A1 - Dispositif et procédé pour garantir une pression intérieure de récipient à travers une pression multiple de l'espace de tête - Google Patents

Dispositif et procédé pour garantir une pression intérieure de récipient à travers une pression multiple de l'espace de tête Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3702319A1
EP3702319A1 EP20158725.0A EP20158725A EP3702319A1 EP 3702319 A1 EP3702319 A1 EP 3702319A1 EP 20158725 A EP20158725 A EP 20158725A EP 3702319 A1 EP3702319 A1 EP 3702319A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
plastic container
medium
pressure
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP20158725.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
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EP3702319B1 (fr
Inventor
Jochen Hirdina
Ludovic LAINE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3702319A1 publication Critical patent/EP3702319A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3702319B1 publication Critical patent/EP3702319B1/fr
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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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/08—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzle being adapted to pierce the container or wrapper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/225—Means for filling simultaneously, e.g. in a rotary filling apparatus or multiple rows of containers
    • 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
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0006—Conveying; Synchronising
    • B67C7/004—Conveying; Synchronising the containers travelling along a circular path
    • B67C7/0046—Infeed and outfeed devices
    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C2003/226—Additional process steps or apparatuses related to filling with hot liquids, e.g. after-treatment
    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C2003/227—Additional apparatus related to blow-moulding of the containers, e.g. a complete production line forming filled containers from preforms
    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C2003/228—Aseptic features
    • 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
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0006—Conveying; Synchronising
    • B67C2007/006—Devices particularly adapted for container filling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device and a method for ensuring an internal pressure in the container by repeatedly applying pressure to the head space of a container.
  • the present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device and a method which overcomes the disadvantages known from the prior art.
  • this object is achieved by the method according to patent claim 1.
  • the device according to claim 7 solves this problem.
  • An essential aspect of the invention is therefore a method for filling and closing a thin-walled plastic container, in particular a PET bottle, a plastic container being produced from a preform by a blow molding process, and the plastic container being filled with a flowable medium and in particular a liquid, as well as a Exchange medium is introduced into the plastic container, whereby an at least partial displacement of the previously contained medium takes place with the formation of an increased internal container pressure and the plastic container is at least partially closed.
  • a wall of the container closure or between a wall of the plastic container and a wall of the container closure at least one opening is made and through this or via an opening in the interior of the container Plastic container a predetermined internal container pressure is set by supplying and / or removing a gaseous medium.
  • a method is preferred in which the plastic container is first filled with a flowable one and in which an exchange medium is introduced into the plastic container in a further step.
  • This method offers the possibility of exchanging the medium contained in the headspace of the container after the container has been filled and thus protecting the contents, for example, from oxygen or contamination with foreign bodies and / or bacteria. Furthermore, by introducing the exchange medium with an overpressure, it can be ensured that after the container is closed, the container withstands external pressures due to the increased internal pressure, such as the pressure from gripping elements or the pressure when the containers are stacked.
  • the method offers the possibility of setting the pressure more precisely in step e). If, for example, in step c) the medium previously located in the headspace is expelled by the introduction of liquid nitrogen, the resulting internal container pressure can be influenced by many factors which make it difficult to set a defined internal container pressure. Due to the enormous increase in volume during the transition to the gas phase, even small changes in the volume of liquid nitrogen introduced can have very large effects on the resulting internal pressure in the container. In addition, the temperature of the contents, for example due to the shortened time required for complete evaporation, and the time between the introduction of the exchange medium and the closing, can have an influence on the resulting internal pressure of the container.
  • the resulting internal pressure in the container could be too low or - for example due to larger amounts of nitrogen that evaporates only after the closure - be so high that there is a risk of the container bursting. It is also conceivable that at increased pressure an oversaturation of liquid filling material occurs in the gaseous exchange medium and this emerges suddenly when the container is opened with foam formation and / or expulsion of the filling material. Setting a predetermined internal pressure in the container in step e) can overcome this problem.
  • the supply and / or discharge of a gaseous medium makes it possible to adapt the previously set internal container pressure to the requirements of the subsequent container treatment steps and thus, for example, to ensure safe transport and / or stackability and to prevent bursting due to excessive internal container pressure.
  • the flowable medium is advantageously a drink, which is further preferably heated.
  • an exchange medium is first introduced into the plastic container and the plastic container is filled with the flowable medium after the exchange medium has been introduced.
  • the container is preferably rinsed with the exchange medium before it is filled with the flowable medium.
  • an exchange medium is first introduced into the plastic container, then the plastic container is filled with the flowable medium and then a gaseous medium is introduced into or removed from the plastic container to set the internal pressure of the container , wherein the container is closed during and / or after this setting of the container internal pressure.
  • the gaseous medium is preferably nitrogen.
  • the gaseous medium and in particular the nitrogen are introduced into the plastic container shortly before it is closed.
  • an introduction device such as for example a nozzle, is preferably arranged to the side of the mouth of the plastic container, which continuously sprays nitrogen in the direction of the mouth.
  • the plastic container is particularly preferably closed at least temporarily during the spraying with the nitrogen.
  • the exchange medium is nitrogen, preferably liquid nitrogen.
  • nitrogen is largely inert. This means that reactions with the product are largely excluded.
  • the solubility of nitrogen in aqueous solutions is limited. Therefore - at least if the fill level is known - the required amount of nitrogen to expel the medium (e.g. air) that was previously in the headspace can be determined quite precisely.
  • Nitrogen is gaseous at room temperature, so that high flow velocities can be achieved, which is advantageous for the complete expulsion of the medium previously located in the headspace.
  • the use of liquid nitrogen has proven to be particularly advantageous.
  • the exchange medium and in particular the nitrogen can be fed in continuously or preferably not continuously, for example by a so-called droppler.
  • a variant of the method is therefore preferred in which the increased internal pressure in the container is generated by the increase in the volume of nitrogen during the transition from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
  • the increased internal pressure in the container is generated by the increase in the volume of nitrogen during the transition from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
  • the preferably aqueous product which usually has temperatures between 268 K (-5 ° C, even aqueous solutions can be flowable at temperatures below 0 ° C due to the dissolved substances, which enables liquid filling below 0 ° C in particular with sensitive substances such as drugs) and 383 K (110 ° C) shows that the nitrogen suddenly changes its physical state and changes into the gas phase.
  • the speed of the transition into the gas phase is essentially influenced by a gas cushion that forms between the filling material and the liquid nitrogen and serves as thermal insulation between the liquid nitrogen and the filling material.
  • the gas escapes from the gas cushion, it is a dynamic and volatile insulation that is constantly being re-formed by the nitrogen that changes its physical state, until there is no longer any liquid nitrogen.
  • the delay achieved in the change in the state of aggregation enables the container to be closed before the nitrogen has completely transitioned into the gas phase and thus enables an overpressure to build up inside the container.
  • the flowable medium (in particular at the time of transfer into the plastic container) has a temperature above ambient temperature, preferably in the range of 40-110 ° C., more preferably in the range of 50-100 ° C., particularly preferably in the range of 60 - 90 ° C.
  • a temperature above ambient temperature preferably in the range of 40-110 ° C., more preferably in the range of 50-100 ° C., particularly preferably in the range of 60 - 90 ° C.
  • an increased internal pressure in the container has proven to be advantageous, since in this way the loss in volume that occurs when the filling substance is cooled can be compensated for.
  • goods to be filled hot are often sterile and must be protected from contamination with foreign substances.
  • the present method offers the possibility of preventing foreign substances from flowing into the interior of the container.
  • the present method offers not only the provision of the compensating volume for the temperature-dependent change in density (and thus the resulting change in volume) of the filling goods, but also the prevention of contamination, for example by bacteria.
  • the predetermined internal pressure of the container is set by supplying and / or removing the gaseous medium.
  • the predetermined internal pressure of the container is set by supplying and / or removing the gaseous medium.
  • the inflow of air and thus oxygen would also be conceivable, which could react with substances in the filling material and, for example, could inactivate aromas and / or dyes due to their oxidation.
  • the predetermined internal pressure of the container is set by supplying and / or removing the gaseous medium, at least partially after cooling has ended.
  • the predetermined internal pressure in the container is set by supplying and / or removing the gaseous medium during and after the cooling of the filling material. In this way, during cooling, the pressure below a minimum internal pressure can be guaranteed and a defined internal pressure can also be set after cooling.
  • the preset internal pressure of the container can be set continuously by supplying and / or removing the gaseous medium or it can be carried out several times. Continuous control and adjustment of the internal pressure of the container to a target pressure by supplying or removing the gaseous medium is particularly useful when the product is cooled rapidly.
  • any control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container is understood as a discontinuous control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container which at least one control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container takes place offset in time and / or in terms of location to a previous control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container.
  • the accesses to the inside of the container for the respective control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container can be different.
  • the container closure is preferably a screw closure which is screwed in particular onto an external thread of the container.
  • screwing the container closure onto the container not yet completely is understood to mean that, for example, a rotary closure is screwed onto a thread of the container to a certain extent, but is not yet tightly closed.
  • the container closure is already screwed tightly and thus sealingly onto the mouth of the container, which thus preferably corresponds to a complete closing of the container with the container closure.
  • the at least one opening provided in a section of a wall of the plastic container or a wall of the container closure surrounding the head space of the container is advantageously produced by piercing said container wall or a wall of the container closure, for example with a needle-like body.
  • This needle-like body or this needle can preferably have a diameter which is smaller than 4 mm, preferably smaller than 3 mm and particularly preferably smaller than 2 mm. It is also possible that the needle itself is heated in order to pierce the container wall or the closure. In this way, the material of the container can also be melted locally during the piercing.
  • a temperature of the needle is greater than 60 ° C., preferably greater than 70 ° C., preferably greater than 80 ° C. and particularly preferably greater than 90 ° C.
  • the closure is slightly opened after recooling (under defined ambient conditions, e.g. in a chamber) so that a communication link is established between the environment and the interior of the container. This can be done, for example, by slightly unscrewing the closure. An at least partial reduction in the overpressure can thus take place.
  • This opening process can preferably take place in such a way that a tamper-evident band does not tear off and the closure can be turned back normally.
  • the discontinuous control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container it is also advisable to provide one or more further treatments of the container between the controls and / or adjustments of the internal pressure of the container.
  • the first control and / or adjustment of the internal pressure of the container ensures an internal pressure of the container which enables the container to be labeled (for example, by ensuring sufficient container rigidity).
  • treatments such as setting a predetermined division between containers following one another on the transport path, sealing, grouping, placing in beverage crates or others are conceivable.
  • the internal pressure of the container could be different after the respective adjustments and be coordinated with the respective following process steps. For example, after the first control and / or adjustment of the internal container pressure, a higher internal container pressure could be applied, which makes labeling easier and the internal container pressure can only be reduced further after a second control and / or adjustment of the internal container pressure.
  • a variant of the method is preferred in which the supply and / or discharge of a gaseous medium sets an internal pressure in the container which is in the range of 1.05-5 bar, preferably 1.05-2 bar, more preferably 1.1-1 , 5 bar, particularly preferably 1.1-1.5 bar.
  • These details relate to the absolute pressure.
  • the respective container is sufficiently stable to be able to handle it safely and, for example, to label it.
  • the internal pressure in the container is below a critical value at which the container could burst or deform.
  • the method preferably offers the possibility of setting the internal pressure of the container so that there are no restrictions with regard to the container geometry.
  • the opening is closed by supplying and / or removing a gaseous medium. This can be done, for example, by gluing or fusing.
  • An ultrasonic source can also be used for fusing
  • the containers are transported during their manufacture and / or during filling and / or during the supply of the gaseous medium.
  • the containers are advantageously transported at least in sections along an arcuate path.
  • the containers are transported at least in sections through a clean room.
  • This clean room is preferably sealed off or separated from a (non-sterile) environment by means of at least one wall.
  • at least one section of the wall is relatively movable with respect to another section of the wall, one of the wall sections following the movement of the container along the transport path at least in sections.
  • the containers are sterilized. It is thus possible for the containers to be sterilized immediately after they have been manufactured. However, it would also be possible for the plastic preforms to be closed before the forming process Plastic bottles are sterilized. This also makes it possible for the actual reshaping process for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic bottles to take place under sterile conditions.
  • This sterilization can take place, for example, by means of a sterilization medium such as hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid, but also by means of radiation, for example electron beams.
  • the sterilization is an optional process step. This applies in particular to those products in which sterility is achieved by heating the liquid to be filled.
  • the container wall is pierced in an upper half of the container and in particular an upper third of the container (or the opening is made at this point).
  • the term “upper half” refers to a longitudinal direction of the container which extends from a bottom of the container to the mouth of the container.
  • the container wall is advantageously pierced in an upper quarter, particularly preferably in an upper fifth, based on the longitudinal direction. It is particularly preferable for the container wall to be pierced in a head or shoulder area of the container or in an area in the immediate vicinity of a support ring of the container, for example below or above said support ring.
  • the wall it would also be possible for the wall to be pierced at a different point, for example the circumferential wall, for example when the containers are transported lying down.
  • One advantage of this method is that the circumferential wall can then be pierced, which is generally thinner than the wall in the region of the mouth of the container.
  • a container turner can be used for this purpose. It would be possible here for the container to be rotated and thereby preferably to sterilize the container closure (with the hot product).
  • This embodiment results in a device in which the container comes to rest and can be pierced on the side wall (and in particular an area in which there is no liquid when lying down).
  • the opening is preferably made in a region of the container in which, when the container is standing, no liquid is present at the time of penetration. In this way, the liquid can be prevented from escaping through the opening.
  • the opening through which the gaseous medium was supplied to the container is closed or sealed again after the gaseous medium has been supplied or removed.
  • This closing or sealing of the opening can take place in different ways.
  • the term sealing is used in the following. This sealing is advantageously carried out by means of a method which is selected from a group of methods which includes melting a section of the container wall, melting a section of a peripheral wall of the container closure, or relative rotation of the container closure with respect to the container.
  • an “external melting point” is applied, which preferably consists of a material that differs from the material of the container wall.
  • both the production of the opening and the sealing of the opening take place under clean room conditions and / or the formation of the intermediate space existing between an opening and the container closure within a clean room.
  • These processes advantageously take place while the containers are moving and, in particular, while the containers are being transported in their transport direction.
  • a chamber can also be provided, which in particular surrounds the opening in the container wall and by means of which the gaseous medium enters the container is introduced. This chamber does not necessarily have to be able to accommodate the entire container.
  • the "clean room” (which is formed by this chamber) can be reduced and, on the other hand, it can also be pressurized so that no separate gas supply device is required in the container, but the gas “automatically” after the Penetration or partial opening occurs in the container.
  • closure or sealing of the container (or the opening) is checked by means of an inspection device.
  • an inspection device For example, a particularly optical inspection can be carried out to determine whether said opening has been closed. This inspection is preferably carried out without contact and particularly preferably optically.
  • Another essential aspect of the invention is a device for filling and closing a thin-walled plastic container, in particular a PET bottle.
  • a device comprises a blow molding device for producing a plastic container from a preform and a filling device for filling the plastic container with a flowable medium and in particular a liquid.
  • a closer is provided for at least partially closing the plastic container with a container closure and at least one transport device for transporting the plastic container along a transport direction on a transport path from one of the above-mentioned treatment devices to a downstream treatment device.
  • an exchange media introduction device is arranged on the transport path along the transport direction downstream and / or upstream of the filling device, through which an exchange medium can be introduced into the plastic container, with the previously contained medium being at least partially displaceable with the formation of an increased internal container pressure .
  • a device for example a container internal pressure setting device or an opening generating device, is preferably arranged on the transport path along the transport direction downstream and / or upstream of the closer, by means of which through an opening which is arranged or created in at least one section of a wall of the plastic container or a wall of the container closure surrounding the head space of the container, or via an intermediate space existing between an opening of the plastic container and the container closure, in the interior of the container
  • the internal pressure of the container is adjustable by supplying and / or removing a gaseous medium. This opening can be used to set the pressure inside the container.
  • an exchange medium into the plastic container by means of an exchange medium introduction device, this being done either before or after the plastic container is filled with the flowable medium.
  • the gaseous medium can be introduced to set the internal pressure of the container, preferably before and / or during and / or after the container is closed.
  • the exchange media introduction device is in fluid connection with a nitrogen reservoir, from which nitrogen, preferably liquid nitrogen, can be dispensed into the plastic container in a metered manner.
  • the device is therefore suitable and intended to be able to handle liquid nitrogen and to be able to deliver it into the interior of the container, preferably in precisely dosed quantities.
  • the nitrogen can preferably be released from the nitrogen reservoir into the head space of the filled plastic container.
  • the container internal pressure setting device has at least one valve which can be at least temporarily brought into fluid connection via the opening with the head space of the filled plastic container and which is preferably adjustable, by means of which an internal pressure of the plastic container is preselectable.
  • the flow of the exchange medium can be controlled, preferably in a metered manner.
  • a temperature control device preferably a cooling device
  • a cooling device is arranged on the transport path along the transport direction downstream of the exchange media introduction device and upstream of the container internal pressure setting device, by means of which the plastic container, preferably including the flowable medium it contains, is brought to a target temperature in the range of 4 -70 ° C, preferably 10-50 ° C, particularly preferably 20-30 ° C can be brought.
  • a cooling device can accelerate the cooling of hot filled goods and thus accelerate the change in volume of the filled goods which occurs during cooling.
  • the temperature control device has nozzles by means of which a cooling medium, for example water, can be applied to the containers.
  • a cooling medium for example water
  • the device has a penetration device on the transport path along the transport direction downstream of a temperature control device and upstream of the container internal pressure setting device, which is suitable and intended to pierce at least a section of the wall of the container or at least a section of the peripheral wall of the container closure.
  • a closure device which is designed such that it attaches the closure to the container in two steps, for example only with a few turns initially ensures that the closure is held on the container, but between its mouth and the container closure an intermediate space is formed through which the gaseous medium advances or is deductible.
  • the closing device could then be set up to fix the closure on the container in a sealing manner only at a later point in time.
  • a closure treatment device which, after the closure of the container, again slightly opens the same, for example by rotating the closure with respect to the container in order to form an intermediate space arranged between its mouth and the container closure through which the gaseous Medium is supplied or discharged.
  • the device has at least one sealing device which is suitable and intended to close or seal the opening through which the gaseous medium can be supplied or removed from the container.
  • this closing device can be, for example, a fusing device which fuses the section of the container in which the opening was created again.
  • the closing device it would also be possible for the closing device to be the device which attaches the container closure to the container.
  • the bottle capper could initially only partially screw a cap onto the container or not yet close it completely. This closing process could only be completed in a subsequent step. In general, this process could be carried out in the same closure device that closes the containers with closures or in a separate device.
  • the device has a clean room, within which the containers are transported at least temporarily.
  • This clean room can at least enclose the area within which the exchange medium and / or the gaseous medium can be supplied to or removed from the interior of the container.
  • the clean room is formed by a standing housing, but it would also be possible that the clean room only surrounds the transport path of the containers in a channel-like manner, at least one wall of the clean room preferably being relatively movable with respect to at least one other wall of the clean room and at least section-wise follows the transport movement of the containers.
  • the reshaping device to reshape the plastic preforms into plastic bottles within a clean room.
  • at least one Chamber is provided, within which the exchange medium and / or the gaseous medium can be fed to the containers. This chamber could, for example, be designed as a hollow cylinder in which the containers are located.
  • the penetration device and / or the exchange media introduction device and / or the container internal pressure setting device is integrated into an area of the closing device which provides the containers with closures.
  • this penetration device could be integrated into a gripping or holding device which holds the containers during the filling process.
  • This gripping device could preferably have a holding element which prevents rotation of the plastic bottle with respect to its longitudinal direction.
  • This element could, for example, be designed as a so-called spike plate, which absorbs the closer torque.
  • the container internal pressure setting device has a pressure control device and / or a pressure regulating device which is suitable and intended to control and / or regulate the pressure by means of which the gaseous medium is brought into or out of the containers.
  • a sensor device could be provided which is suitable and intended to determine the respective pressure of the gas within the container and / or the pressure with which the gas is supplied to the container.
  • a control and / or regulating device is therefore preferably provided on the device side, which controls and / or regulates the pressure by means of which the gas is supplied to the container and / or under which the gas is subsequently located in the container.
  • this pressure control device can be used in all of the methods and devices described here, that is to say also in variants in which there is no penetration of the containers in the closing device or which is penetration-free.
  • the transport path runs along a circular segment at least in the area of the exchange media introduction device.
  • a closer which at least partially closes the container is preferably also arranged in this circular segment.
  • the segment of a circle on which during the When the container is transported, the closure is greater than in the case of systems known from the prior art. This enables both the closing of the containers with the container closures and the feeding of the exchange medium into the container can be carried out on the same segment of a circle. It is further preferred that these two processes can be carried out essentially at the same time. Overall, this results in a more compact design option for the device, since in this way it is possible to dispense with two separate system parts, namely the exchange media introduction device and the closer.
  • the configuration described here with the exchange media introduction device in the area of the closer is not absolutely necessary. It is also possible for the exchange media introduction device to be arranged downstream of the sealer and for the exchange medium to be carried out in a later treatment step, for example in a separate unit, for example after (partial) opening of the container closure or a piercing of a wall of the container or its closure.
  • the exchange media introduction device could be arranged along a transport path that lies between the closer and another device, such as a temperature control device.
  • the internal pressure setting device in the container comprises a chamber which at least partially encloses the container. It is further preferably provided that a predetermined pressure is applied within this chamber and this pressure is transmitted into the interior of the container through the opening in the wall of the plastic container or the container closure or via an interspace between the mouth of the plastic container and the container closure. It is advantageous if the opening or the intermediate space are produced in the said chamber. It has proven to be particularly advantageous if penetration means are arranged in the region of the chamber. Optical penetration means, such as lasers, have proven to be particularly suitable.
  • a hole can be welded into the container wall within the chamber by means of a laser, which offers the advantage that mechanical elements such as the needles mentioned above can be dispensed with.
  • the opening could also be sealed using a laser. It is thus possible that the opening is welded into this chamber by means of a laser and the correct pressure is then established.
  • This procedure also has the advantage of high hygiene, since no mechanical components attack the container.
  • the opening is made in a wall of the container in the side wall or in the base.
  • the device preferably has a tilting device which tilts the container that has already been filled.
  • the container is tilted by about 90 ° and, for example, brought into a horizontal position so that the puncture can be made in the side wall.
  • penetration in the area of the later labeling area is particularly advantageous, since any visual impairments can already be covered by a label.
  • a penetration in the bottom area of the container is also conceivable, for example in the injection point.
  • the container is essentially unstretched and therefore amorphous. This applies in particular to a manufacturing process for stretch-blown containers, such as PET containers.
  • a relatively large amount of material is available in the area of the injection point, in order to subsequently melt the opening again.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the method for ensuring an internal pressure of the container by multiple pressurization of the head space.
  • a plastic container is blow molded is made from a preform.
  • This is then filled in a second method step 2 with a flowable medium and in particular a liquid.
  • the medium contained in the head space of the filled plastic container is exchanged by introducing an exchange medium with the formation of an increased internal pressure in the container.
  • This could be done, for example, by introducing liquid nitrogen, which evaporates on contact with the filling material and thus displaces the medium previously contained in the head space of the filled plastic container as a gas.
  • liquid nitrogen also has the advantage that the transition to the gas phase takes place at the contact surface with the filling material and a nitrogen flow is formed from there in the direction of the mouth, which also displaces the medium previously contained in the head space in this direction .
  • an exchange medium is introduced into the plastic container in a method step 2 and the plastic container is filled with a flowable medium and in particular a liquid in a method step 3, whereby the exchange medium contained in the plastic container is displaced with the formation of an increased internal pressure in the container .
  • the plastic container is at least partially closed in a subsequent step 4.
  • a variant of the method provides that at least one opening is made in at least one section of a wall of the plastic container or a wall of the container closure surrounding the head space of the container.
  • This step 5 is not absolutely necessary, provided that other measures ensure that there is an opening through which a gaseous medium can be supplied and / or removed in the subsequent step 6 to set the predetermined internal pressure in the container. This could be done, for example, by only partially closing the container in step 4, whereby a channel remains between the container and the closure through which a gas exchange is possible.
  • step 6 it is provided that through the opening introduced in step 5 or the space existing between a mouth and the container closure (which is also to be understood as an opening in the context of this invention) in the interior of the container, a predetermined internal container pressure by supplying and / or Removal of a gaseous medium is set.
  • a predetermined internal container pressure by supplying and / or Removal of a gaseous medium is set.
  • This could for example be implemented in such a way that the container is arranged at least in sections, this section enclosing the opening, in a chamber in which the desired internal pressure of the container is applied.
  • the desired internal pressure in the container can also be set inside the container.
  • the active supply or removal of the gaseous medium could also be provided, for example via a hollow needle used in step 5 to create the opening.
  • a gaseous medium is introduced into the plastic container and, in a fifth method step 5, the container is closed at least temporarily while the gaseous medium is being introduced becomes.
  • step 6 is omitted.
  • a renewed, preferably partial opening of the closure could possibly be provided in order - for example after setting a target temperature of the filling material - to be able to set a desired pressure inside the container, preferably permanently.
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device 10 for ensuring an internal pressure in the container by multiple pressurization of the head space.
  • the method variant is shown as an example in which the plastic container is first filled, then an exchange medium is introduced into the plastic container and the container is then closed.
  • the device 10 comprises a blow molding device (not shown) which produces plastic containers 11 from preforms. These are fed to a filling device 14, where they are filled with a flowable medium and in particular a liquid.
  • the filling material can in particular be a drink. It is preferably a hot-filled product. Hot filling is particularly advantageous in the case of perishable or sterile filling goods, since in this way contamination with heat-sensitive germs can at least largely be avoided and at least a certain degree of sterility is guaranteed can be. It is therefore possible and in many cases also advantageous if at least some of the treatment devices 14, 18, 19, 22 of the device are arranged within a clean room (not shown).
  • the filling device 14 is preferably a rotating filling device which has a plurality of treatment devices 12, here filling elements, along the circumference of a carrying wheel 13, through which the filling material can be filled into one of the containers 11.
  • the filled containers 11 are then transferred, preferably by means of a transfer device 15, to an exchange media introducing device 18, which delivers an exchange medium into the head space of the filled plastic container.
  • the transfer device 15 is preferably designed as a transfer star and preferably has holding devices 16 which can preferably each receive a container 11.
  • the transfer device 15 also represents a transport device for transporting plastic containers 11 along a transport direction on a transport path.
  • the transfer device 15 can be designed so that it changes the division of the containers, i.e. changes the distance between two containers following one another along the transport path .
  • the containers 11 are also transported to the respective treatment devices 14, 18, 19, 22 during the individual treatment steps, so that the treatment devices 14, 18, 19, 22 are themselves transport directions.
  • the medium contained in the head space of the filled plastic container is at least partially exchanged by introducing an exchange medium with the formation of an increased internal container pressure.
  • at least one, preferably a plurality, exchange media introduction units 17 is arranged on the exchange media introduction device 18.
  • the exchange media introduction device 18 is also designed as a closer 18, so that the plastic container is also at least partially closed with a container closure on the same carrying wheel. Closing takes place in a sector of the Carrying wheel formed circular segment-shaped transport path, which follows the sector in which the exchange medium is introduced into the filled plastic container.
  • liquid nitrogen is provided. This evaporates when it comes into contact with the filling material and, due to its increased volume, drives the medium previously contained in the head space out of the container 11. Since the transition to the gas phase takes place primarily on the contact surface with the filling material, a gas cushion forms on the underside of the liquid nitrogen, which acts as an insulating layer and delays the evaporation of the nitrogen. This ensures that liquid nitrogen is available inside the container for some time. As long as liquid nitrogen is still present in the interior of the container, due to its progressive evaporation there is a continuous gas flow in the direction of the mouth, through which the medium previously contained in the headspace is expelled and contamination of the contents and the interior of the container from the outside is avoided.
  • the closure is preferably applied to the container by the closure device 18 during this phase.
  • the nitrogen which then evaporates can no longer flow out unhindered through the mouth, so that an overpressure is built up inside the container. If the container is only partially closed, the pressure can be slowly reduced through the remaining opening, but remains above the ambient pressure for a longer period of time, so that contamination from the inflow of foreign substances from the outside can still be avoided.
  • the overpressure remaining in the container 11 is necessary in order to avoid the ingress of germs during the temperature control in the temperature control device 19 that follows the exchange of the head space medium. Since the volume of the product usually decreases during the cooling process, the excess pressure in the head space can (over) compensate for this decrease in volume, so that the internal pressure of the container remains above the ambient pressure overall.
  • the temperature control device 19 preferably has at least one delivery device 20 for a temperature control medium.
  • a plurality of these delivery devices 20 are preferably provided, which are arranged in the temperature control device 19 along the transport path and the containers during the transport of the containers through the temperature control device 19 apply the temperature control medium.
  • the temperature control device 19 is a cooling device, which particularly preferably applies cooling water to the containers to be cooled. If the containers are to be heated (for example in order to bring them back to a target temperature after cooling), radiation such as IR and / or microwave radiation could be used as the temperature control medium.
  • a container internal pressure adjustment device 22 is arranged on the transport path along the transport direction downstream of the closer 18 and in the present example also downstream of the temperature control device 19. After the at least partial closure and tempering, the containers are fed to this by means of a transfer device 21. Treatment devices 23 are provided in this container internal pressure setting device 22, which can grip and transport the container and also set a predetermined internal container pressure during transport through an opening by supplying and / or removing a gaseous medium. For this purpose, a reservoir of the gaseous medium (not shown) can be provided, from which the missing gas or into which excess gas from the head space of the container can be drawn off or supplied. For this purpose, the headspace of the container and the reservoir are at least temporarily in fluid connection.
  • the at least one opening is arranged at least in a section of a wall of the plastic container 11 or a wall of the container closure surrounding the head space of the container or is formed by an intermediate space existing between an opening of the plastic container 11 and the container closure. It can be introduced, for example, by means of a penetration device (not shown). This could be part of the treatment device 23 and thus of the container internal pressure setting device 22.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
EP20158725.0A 2019-02-21 2020-02-21 Dispositif et procédé pour garantir une pression intérieure de récipient à travers une pression multiple de l'espace de tête Active EP3702319B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102019104365.4A DE102019104365A1 (de) 2019-02-21 2019-02-21 Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Gewährleistung eines Behältnisinnendrucks durch mehrfache Druckbeaufschlagung des Kopfraums

Publications (2)

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EP3702319A1 true EP3702319A1 (fr) 2020-09-02
EP3702319B1 EP3702319B1 (fr) 2021-12-08

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Country Link
US (1) US20200270110A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP3702319B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN111591943A (fr)
DE (1) DE102019104365A1 (fr)

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DE102019220202A1 (de) 2019-12-19 2021-06-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Akkuvorrichtung für einen Akkupack einer Handwerkzeugmaschine

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2226179A2 (fr) 2009-03-06 2010-09-08 Krones AG Procédé et dispositif de fabrication et de remplissage de récipients de boissons à parois fines
WO2011062512A1 (fr) * 2009-11-18 2011-05-26 David Murray Melrose Procédé de fermeture hermétique par pression pour modification du volume d'expansion
US20160115008A1 (en) * 2014-10-24 2016-04-28 The Coca-Cola Company Containers and Processes for Filling Containers
DE102016119890A1 (de) * 2016-10-19 2018-04-19 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Getränkebehältnissen mit Rückkühlung und Gaszufuhr

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4601711B2 (ja) * 2009-04-08 2010-12-22 日清オイリオグループ株式会社 容器充填液状食品の製造方法
CN107428519B (zh) * 2015-03-18 2019-12-03 嘉士伯酿酒有限公司 用于将氮引入饮料的方法和***
US9643746B1 (en) * 2016-09-20 2017-05-09 Paul E. Lunn System and method of transferring matter through a sealed container

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2226179A2 (fr) 2009-03-06 2010-09-08 Krones AG Procédé et dispositif de fabrication et de remplissage de récipients de boissons à parois fines
WO2011062512A1 (fr) * 2009-11-18 2011-05-26 David Murray Melrose Procédé de fermeture hermétique par pression pour modification du volume d'expansion
US20160115008A1 (en) * 2014-10-24 2016-04-28 The Coca-Cola Company Containers and Processes for Filling Containers
DE102016119890A1 (de) * 2016-10-19 2018-04-19 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Getränkebehältnissen mit Rückkühlung und Gaszufuhr

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US20200270110A1 (en) 2020-08-27
CN111591943A (zh) 2020-08-28
EP3702319B1 (fr) 2021-12-08
DE102019104365A1 (de) 2020-08-27

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