Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, having a separating and compacting device

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, having a separating and compacting device for packing articles of all types with at least one circulating pair of drive elements, with at least one crossbar that is located on each pair of drive elements, with one controlled drive motor for each pair of drive elements, whereby the device is designed and constructed so that the separation and compacting of the articles are performed by the at least one pair of drive elements. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): 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.

1 . A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: 
 a rotatable bottle cleaning station;    said rotatable bottle cleaning station being configured to clean bottles comprising: 
 a bottle cleaning station carousel configured to transport bottles;  
 said beverage bottle cleaning station carousel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle cleaning station carousel is rotatable;  
 said bottle cleaning station carousel comprising receiving pockets for holding the necks of bottles;  
 a bottle cleaning station transfer starwheel being configured to transport bottles into said rotatable cleaning station;  
 said transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle cleaning station transfer starwheel is rotatable;  
   a storage apparatus being configured and disposed to store a liquid beverage filling material;    a rotatable 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 rotatable beverage filling machine 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 an 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 beverage filling machine carousel configured to transport bottles;  
 said beverage filling machine carousel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said beverage filling machine carousel is rotatable;  
 said beverage filling machine carousel comprising receiving pockets for holding the necks of bottles;  
 a beverage filling machine transfer starwheel configured to transport bottles into said beverage filling machine; and  
 said beverage filling machine transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said beverage filling machine transfer starwheel is rotatable;  
   a bottle closing station being configured and disposed to secure bottle caps to bottles to be closed and comprising: 
 a bottle closing station carousel configured to transport bottles;  
 said bottle closing station carousel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle closing station carousel is rotatable;  
 said closing station carousel comprising receiving pockets for holding the necks of bottles;  
 a bottle closing station transfer starwheel configured to transport bottles into said closing station;  
 said bottle closing station transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle closing station transfer starwheel is rotatable;  
   a bottle labeling station being configured and disposed to label closed, filled bottles comprising: 
 a frame structure having an axis disposed vertically;  
 a turntable structure being configured and disposed to rotate about said vertical axis of said frame structure, said turntable structure having a peripheral region;  
 a drive arrangement being configured and disposed to rotate said turntable structure about said vertical axis of said frame structure;  
 a plurality of support tables being configured to support and to rotate a bottle;  
 said support tables being disposed at said peripheral region of said turntable structure;  
 each support table having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis a support table is rotatable;  
 each support table comprising a drive arrangement being configured and disposed to rotate its corresponding support table about its vertical support table axis, to permit rotation of a bottle supported on a support table;  
 a labeling station transfer starwheel configured to transport bottles into said labeling station; and  
 said labeling station transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said labeling station transfer starwheel is rotatable;  
   a packing station configured and disposed to pack bottles into packs containing a plurality of bottles;    a device for the separation, synchronization and compacting of said packs comprising: 
 a first conveyor belt to feed packs from said labeling station;  
 a second conveyor belt configured and disposed to receive packs from said first conveyor belt;  
 a wedge mechanism configured and disposed to control movement of packs from said first conveyor belt to said second conveyor belt;  
 at least one circulating pair of drive elements comprising at least one crossbar;  
 said at least one crossbar being configured and disposed to be positioned to control movement of packs from said first conveyor belt to said second conveyor belt; and  
 a controlled drive motor for said at least one pair of drive elements to control the speed of movement of said at least one crossbar; and  
   a boxing station configured and disposed to box packs received from said separation, synchronization and compacting device.    
   
   
       2 - 41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E): 
 (A) located on the device are means that make possible a controlled sequence of movements, including different speeds, of the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) and/or of the at least one crossbar ( 2 );    (B) the device is designed and constructed so that the crossbars ( 2 ) that are located on different pairs of drive elements ( 1 ) one of: cannot pass one another and can pass one another;    (C) the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) are one of: chains and toothed belts;    (D) the device includes a hold-back wedge ( 7 ) that can move forward and backward; and    the device includes means that make it possible for the hold-back wedge ( 7 ) to execute forward and backward movements at different controlled speeds;    (E) the device includes an inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and a main conveyor ( 6 );    both the inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and the main conveyor ( 6 ) are each equipped with their own drive motor; and    the main conveyor  6  is realized in the form of a wide, one-piece conveyor belt that has an essentially uninterrupted surface.    
   
   
       43 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein all of (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E): 
 (A) located on the device are means that make possible a controlled sequence of movements, including different speeds, of the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) and/or of the at least one crossbar ( 2 );    (B) the device is designed and constructed so that the crossbars ( 2 ) that are located on different pairs of drive elements ( 1 ) one of: cannot pass one another and can pass one another;    (C) the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) are one of: chains and toothed belts;    (D) the device includes a hold-back wedge ( 7 ) that can move forward and backward; and    the device includes means that make it possible for the hold-back wedge ( 7 ) to execute forward and backward movements at different controlled speeds;    (E) the device includes an inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and a main conveyor ( 6 );    both the inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and the main conveyor ( 6 ) are each equipped with their own drive motor; and    the main conveyor  6  is realized in the form of a wide, one-piece conveyor belt that has an essentially uninterrupted surface.    
   
   
       44 . A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a rotatable bottle cleaning station; said rotatable bottle cleaning station being configured to clean bottles comprising: a bottle cleaning station carousel configured to transport bottles; said beverage bottle cleaning station carousel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle cleaning station carousel is rotatable; said bottle cleaning station carousel comprising receiving pockets for holding the necks of bottles; a bottle cleaning station transfer starwheel being configured to transport bottles into said rotatable cleaning station; said transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle cleaning station transfer starwheel is rotatable; a storage apparatus being configured and disposed to store a liquid beverage filling material; a rotatable 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 rotatable beverage filling machine 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 an 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 beverage filling machine carousel configured to transport bottles; said beverage filling machine carousel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said beverage filling machine carousel is rotatable; said beverage filling machine carousel comprising receiving pockets for holding the necks of bottles; a beverage filling machine transfer starwheel configured to transport bottles into said beverage filling machine; and said beverage filling machine transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said beverage filling machine transfer starwheel is rotatable; a bottle closing station being configured and disposed to secure bottle caps to bottles to be closed and comprising: a bottle closing station carousel configured to transport bottles; said bottle closing station carousel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle closing station carousel is rotatable; said closing station carousel comprising receiving pockets for holding the necks of bottles; a bottle closing station transfer starwheel configured to transport bottles into said closing station; said bottle closing station transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said bottle closing station transfer starwheel is rotatable; a bottle labeling station being configured and disposed to label closed, filled bottles comprising: a frame structure having an axis disposed vertically; a turntable structure being configured and disposed to rotate about said vertical axis of said frame structure, said turntable structure having a peripheral region; a drive arrangement being configured and disposed to rotate said turntable structure about said vertical axis of said frame structure; a plurality of support tables being configured to support and to rotate a bottle; said support tables being disposed at said peripheral region of said turntable structure; each support table having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis a support table is rotatable; each support table comprising a drive arrangement being configured and disposed to rotate its corresponding support table about its vertical support table axis, to permit rotation of a bottle supported on a support table; a labeling station transfer starwheel configured to transport bottles into said labeling station; and said labeling station transfer starwheel having an axis disposed vertically about which vertical axis said labeling station transfer starwheel is rotatable; a packing station configured and disposed to pack bottles into packs containing a plurality of bottles; a device for the separation, synchronization and compacting of said packs comprising: a first conveyor belt to feed packs from said labeling station; a second conveyor belt configured and disposed to receive packs from said first conveyor belt; a wedge mechanism configured and disposed to control movement of packs from said first conveyor belt to said second conveyor belt; at least one circulating pair of drive elements comprising at least one crossbar; said at least one crossbar being configured and disposed to be positioned to control movement of packs from said first conveyor belt to said second conveyor belt; and a controlled drive motor for said at least one pair of drive elements to control the speed of movement of said at least one crossbar; and a boxing station configured and disposed to box packs received from said separation, synchronization and compacting device, said method comprising the steps of: 
 supplying beverage bottles to said bottle cleaning station;    cleaning beverage bottles;    transporting beverage bottles to said beverage filling machine;    filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;    transporting filled beverage bottles to said bottle closing station;    closing tops of filled beverage bottles;    transporting filled, closed beverage bottles to said bottle labeling station;    attaching labels onto filled, closed beverage bottles;    transporting filled, closed, labeled beverage bottles to said bottle packing station;    separating, synchronizing, and compacting said packs, wherein said step comprises: 
 arranging filled, closed, labeled bottles into groups of beverage bottles;  
 packing groups of beverage bottles into packs;  
 transporting packs on said first conveyor belt to said second conveyor belt;  
 controlling with said wedge mechanism and said at least one crossbar the movement of packs from said first conveyor belt to said second conveyor belt; and  
 controlling with said controlled drive motor the speed of movement of said at least one crossbar;  
   transporting said packs to said boxing station; and    boxing said packs into boxes.    
   
   
       45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the sequence of motion of the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) and/or of the at least one crossbar ( 2 ) includes different speeds during a single work cycle.  
   
   
       46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein one of: 
 the at least one crossbar ( 2 ) first holds the article group to be separated back in relation to the main conveyor  6 , then is moved forward at an increased speed, after it reaches the previously separated article group synchronizes the article group with the working speed of the device and then pushes this article group through a compacting unit; and    the at least one crossbar ( 2 ), after the separation of an article group, is first moved at a speed similar to that of the main conveyor ( 6 ), is then moved forward at a higher speed, and is then moved farther at a speed similar to that of the main conveyor ( 6 ).    
   
   
       47 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein: 
 the device can be adjusted to changing formats and/or changing article sizes, with an unchanging number of transverse rows, simply by changing the control parameters inside the control program and or the control system of the device; and    the relevant control parameters for each format and/or article size can be stored and retrieved as required.    
   
   
       48 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the hold-back wedge ( 7 ) executes a forward movement and a backward movement.  
   
   
       49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein: 
 the inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and the main conveyor ( 6 ) are each operated at their own speeds which are independent of each other; and    the hold-back wedge ( 7 ) executes the forward movement at a first speed and the backward movement at a second speed;    said first speed being one of: different from said second speed and the same as said second speed.    
   
   
       50 . A separating, synchronization and compacting device for packing articles of all types, such as packages, containers, bottles, cans, boxes, and bags, with at least one circulating pair of drive elements ( 1 ), with at least one crossbar ( 2 ) that is located on each pair of drive elements ( 1 ), with one controlled drive motor ( 3 ) for each pair of drive elements ( 1 ), characterized by the fact that the device is designed and constructed so that the separation, synchronization and compacting of the articles are performed by the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ).  
   
   
       51 . The device according to  claim 50 , wherein located on the device are means that make possible a controlled sequence of movements, including different speeds, of the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) and/or of the at least one crossbar ( 2 ).  
   
   
       52 . The device according to  claim 51 , wherein the device is designed and constructed so that the crossbars ( 2 ) that are located on different pairs of drive elements ( 1 ) cannot pass one another.  
   
   
       53 . The device according to  claim 52 , wherein the device is designed and constructed so that the crossbars ( 2 ) that are located on different pairs of drive elements ( 1 ) can pass one another.  
   
   
       54 . The device according to  claim 53 , wherein the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) are chains.  
   
   
       55 . The device according to  claim 54 , wherein the at least one pair of drive elements ( 1 ) are toothed belts.  
   
   
       56 . The device according to  claim 55 , wherein the device includes a hold-back wedge ( 7 ) that can move forward and backward.  
   
   
       57 . The device according to  claim 56 , wherein the device includes means that make it possible for the hold-back wedge ( 7 ) to execute forward and backward movements at different controlled speeds.  
   
   
       58 . The device according to  claim 57 , wherein the device includes an inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and a main conveyor ( 6 ).  
   
   
       59 . The device according to  claim 58 , wherein both the inlet conveyor ( 5 ) and the main conveyor ( 6 ) are each equipped with their own drive motor.  
   
   
       60 . The device according to  claim 59 , wherein the main conveyor  6  is realized in the form of a wide, one-piece conveyor belt that has an essentially uninterrupted surface.