Beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage, with an information adding arrangement for adding information relating to the beverage bottles, and a method of operating the beverage bottling plant

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage, with an information adding arrangement for adding information relating to the beverage bottles, and a method of operating the 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.

1 . A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a rotary beverage bottle filling machine, a rotary beverage bottle closing machine, and a rotary beverage bottle information adding machine; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beverage bottles to be filled to said beverage bottle filling machine; said beverage bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; said beverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements comprising a beverage bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine; a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle filling machine; a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled beverage bottles from said beverage bottle filling machine to said beverage bottle closing machine; said beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles; said beverage bottle closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a beverage bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine; a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle closing machine to said beverage bottle information adding machine; said beverage bottle information adding machine being configured and disposed to add information to filled, closed beverage bottles; said beverage bottle information adding machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle support structures being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; said beverage bottle support structures being configured to support and hold filled, closed beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles into said beverage bottle information adding machine; a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle information adding machine; a beverage bottle information adding device being configured and disposed to add information to a beverage bottle; and said beverage bottle information adding device comprising a shaping and forming arrangement for shaping and forming an information containing device to be placed on a beverage bottle, said method comprising the steps of: 
 moving empty beverage bottles to said beverage bottle filling machine;    filling empty beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material with said beverage bottle filling machine;    moving filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle closing machine;    closing filled beverage bottles with said beverage bottle closing machine;    moving filled, closed beverage bottles to said beverage bottle information adding machine;    shaping and forming said information containing devices with said shaping and forming arrangement in said beverage bottle information adding machine; and    adding information to beverage bottles with said beverage bottle information adding machine by placing said information containing devices on filled, closed beverage bottles.    
   
   
       2 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein one of (A) and (B) but not both of (A) and (B): 
 (A) said information containing devices contain information prior to said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices with said shaping and forming arrangement, and said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices comprises adding additional information to said information containing devices; and    (B) said information containing devices are blank prior to said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices with said shaping and forming arrangement, and said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices comprises adding all desired information to said information containing devices.    
   
   
       3 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 2 , wherein the information containing devices have information displayed in a plurality of colors.  
   
   
       4 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 3 , wherein said step of shaping and forming comprises forming information using an electronic actuation system and adding information using at least one information adding head.  
   
   
       5 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of: 
 (C) the printing unit produces the printed image as a function of print masks that are stored electronically or in the form of software in a control device;    (D) the printed image is modified at least party during a labeling process;    (E) the label primary material is printed line-by-line at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the label primary material, and specifically for example over its entire width or almost its entire width;    (F) the printing is done with a relative movement between the label primary material and the printing unit or at least one print head of this printing unit;    (G) the label primary material is moved relative to the printing unit and to the at least one print head located there;    (H) the at least one printing unit has at least one electrostatic print head with a plurality of individually actuated individual nozzles for the controlled dispensing of ink, and that the individual nozzles are located in at least one row, one behind another in a print head longitudinal axis;    (I) the relative movement between the at least one print head and the label primary material is at a right angle or perpendicular to the print head longitudinal axis;    (J) the label primary material during the printing is oriented horizontally or essentially horizontally;    (K) the at least one print head is located above the label primary material;    (L) at least two and preferably by at least three print heads;    (M) for the production of a multiple-color printed image, one color set of the multiple-printing is produced with each print head;    (N) the ink, after it has been applied to the label primary material is dried or set by the application of energy, for example in the form of heat and/or UV light;    (O) the label primary material is heated and/or statically charged before the printing;    (P) the use of a strip-format, e.g. self-adhesive label primary material from which labels are produced by separation;    (O) the printing of the label primary material takes place before the separation of labels;    (R) the use of a single-sheet format label primary material; and    (S) the use of a labeling machine that employs a rotary construction, in which beverage bottles to be printed are moved past the at least one labeling station on a driven rotor that rotates around a vertical machine axis.    
   
   
       6 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 (C) the printing unit produces the printed image as a function of print masks that are stored electronically or in the form of software in a control device;    (D) the printed image is modified at least party during a labeling process;    (E) the label primary material is printed line-by-line at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the label primary material, and specifically for example over its entire width or almost its entire width;    (F) the printing is done with a relative movement between the label primary material and the printing unit or at least one print head of this printing unit;    (G) the label primary material is moved relative to the printing unit and to the at least one print head located there;    (H) the at least one printing unit has at least one electrostatic print head with a plurality of individually actuated individual nozzles for the controlled dispensing of ink, and that the individual nozzles are located in at least one row, one behind another in a print head longitudinal axis;    (I) the relative movement between the at least one print head and the label primary material is at a right angle or perpendicular to the print head longitudinal axis;    (J) the label primary material during the printing is oriented horizontally or essentially horizontally;    (K) the at least one print head is located above the label primary material;    (L) at least two and preferably by at least three print heads;    (M) for the production of a multiple-color printed image, one color set of the multiple-printing is produced with each print head;    (N) the ink, after it has been applied to the label primary material is dried or set by the application of energy, for example in the form of heat and/or UV light;    (O) the label primary material is heated and/or statically charged before the printing;    (P) the use of a strip-format, e.g. self-adhesive label primary material from which labels are produced by separation;    (O) the printing of the label primary material takes place before the separation of labels;    (R) the use of a single-sheet format label primary material; and    (S) the use of a labeling machine that employs a rotary construction, in which beverage bottles to be printed are moved past the at least one labeling station on a driven rotor that rotates around a vertical machine axis.    
   
   
       7 . A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: 
 a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a rotary beverage bottle filling machine, a rotary beverage bottle closing machine, and a rotary beverage bottle information adding machine;    a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beverage bottles to be filled to said beverage bottle filling machine;    said beverage bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;    said beverage bottle filling machine comprising: 
 a rotor;  
 a rotatable vertical machine column;  
 said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;  
 a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;  
 each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements comprising a beverage bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled;  
 each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles to be filled;  
 at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material;  
 at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage bottle filling machine;  
 a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine;  
 a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle filling machine;  
   a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled beverage bottles from said beverage bottle filling machine to said beverage bottle closing machine;    said beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles;    said beverage bottle closing machine comprising: 
 a rotor;  
 a rotatable vertical machine column;  
 said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;  
 a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;  
 each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage bottles;  
 each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a beverage bottle carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled beverage bottles;  
 a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine;  
 a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine;  
   a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle closing machine to said beverage bottle information adding machine;    said beverage bottle information adding machine being configured and disposed to add information to filled, closed beverage bottles;    said beverage bottle information adding machine comprising: 
 a rotor;  
 a rotatable vertical machine column;  
 said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column;  
 a plurality of beverage bottle support structures being disposed on the periphery of said rotor;  
 said beverage bottle support structures being configured to support and hold filled, closed beverage bottles;  
 a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles into said beverage bottle information adding machine;  
 a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle information adding machine;  
 a beverage bottle information adding device being configured and disposed to add information to a beverage bottle; and  
 said beverage bottle information adding device comprising a shaping and forming arrangement for shaping and forming an information containing device to be placed on a beverage bottle.  
   
   
   
       8 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 7 , wherein said information adding device is configured to add multiple-color information.  
   
   
       9 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 8 , wherein said information adding device is configured to add information as a function of an electronic actuation system.  
   
   
       10 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 9 , wherein said information adding device adds the information as a function of information adding forms that are stored in a control device electronically or in the form of software.  
   
   
       11 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 10 , wherein said information adding device adds the information to the information containing devices line by line at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the information containing devices and over its entire width or almost its entire width.  
   
   
       12 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of: 
 (A) said information adding machine comprises means for the production of a relative movement during the printing between the label primary material and the printing unit or at least one print head of this printing unit;    (B) said information adding machine comprises feed means with which the label primary material is moved relative to the printing unit or to the at least one print head located there;    (C) the at least one printing unit has at least one electrostatic print head with a plurality of individually actuated individual nozzles for the controlled dispensing of ink, and that the individual nozzles are arranged in at least one row, one behind another, in a print head longitudinal axis;    (D) the at least one print head is oriented with a pressure head longitudinal axis at a right angle or perpendicular to the feed movement of the label primary material;    (E) the label primary material is oriented during the printing horizontally or essentially horizontally;    (F) the at least one print head is located above the label primary material;    (G) said information adding machine comprises at least two and preferably at least three print heads;    (H) for the production of a multiple-color image one color set of the multiple-color printed image is produced with each print head;    (I) said information adding machine comprises means for the drying of the ink after the application to the label primary material by the effect of energy, for example by heating and/or UV light;    (J) said information adding machine comprises means for the heading and/or for the electrostatic charging of the label primary material before printing;    (K) said information adding machine is configured for the use of a strip-format, for example self-adhesive label primary material from which labels are produced by separation in a dispenser unit;    (L) said information adding machine is configured for the use of a single-sheet format label primary material; and    (M) said information adding machine comprises a labeling machine that employs a rotary construction in which beverage bottles to be labeled are moved past the at least one labeling station on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.    
   
   
       13 . The beverage bottling plant according to  claim 11 , wherein all of: 
 (A) said information adding machine comprises means for the production of a relative movement during the printing between the label primary material and the printing unit or at least one print head of this printing unit;    (B) said information adding machine comprises feed means with which the label primary material is moved relative to the printing unit or to the at least one print head located there;    (C) the at least one printing unit has at least one electrostatic print head with a plurality of individually actuated individual nozzles for the controlled dispensing of ink, and that the individual nozzles are arranged in at least one row, one behind another, in a print head longitudinal axis;    (D) the at least one print head is oriented with a pressure head longitudinal axis at a right angle or perpendicular to the feed movement of the label primary material;    (E) the label primary material is oriented during the printing horizontally or essentially horizontally;    (F) the at least one print head is located above the label primary material;    (G) said information adding machine comprises at least two and preferably at least three print heads;    (H) for the production of a multiple-color image one color set of the multiple-color printed image is produced with each print head;    (I) said information adding machine comprises means for the drying of the ink after the application to the label primary material by the effect of energy, for example by heating and/or UV light;    (J) said information adding machine comprises means for the heading and/or for the electrostatic charging of the label primary material before printing;    (K) said information adding machine is configured for the use of a strip-format, for example self-adhesive label primary material from which labels are produced by separation in a dispenser unit;    (L) said information adding machine is configured for the use of a single-sheet format label primary material; and    (M) said information adding machine comprises a labeling machine that employs a rotary construction in which beverage bottles to be labeled are moved past the at least one labeling station on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.    
   
   
       13 . A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a filling machine being configured and disposed to fill empty beverage bottles with a filling material; a first moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles to said filling machine; said filling machine comprising: a moving device being configured and disposed to accept beverage bottles from said first moving arrangement and to move beverage bottles within said filling machine; an apparatus being configured and disposed to hold beverage bottles during filling; and at least one filling device being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with a filling material upon the beverage bottles being within said filling machine; a closing machine being configured and disposed to close filled beverage bottles; a second moving arrangement being configured and disposed to accept filled beverage bottles from said moving device of said filling machine to move filled beverage bottles out of said filling machine; said second moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles from said filling machine to said closing machine; said closing machine comprising: a moving device being configured and disposed to accept filled beverage bottles from said second moving arrangement and to move filled beverage bottles within said closing machine; an apparatus being configured and disposed to hold filled beverage bottles during closing; and at least one closing device being configured and disposed to close filled beverage bottles upon the filled beverage bottles being within said closing machine; a third moving arrangement being configured and disposed to accept filled, closed beverage bottles from said closing machine to move filled beverage bottles out of said closing machine; said third moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles from said closing machine to said information adding machine; said information adding machine being configured and disposed to add information to filled, closed beverage bottles; said beverage bottle information adding machine comprising: a moving device being configured and disposed to accept filled, closed beverage bottles from said third moving arrangement and to move filled beverage bottles within said information adding machine; an apparatus being configured and disposed to hold filled, closed beverage bottles during adding of information; a beverage bottle information adding device being configured and disposed to add information to a beverage bottle; and said beverage bottle information adding device comprising a shaping and forming arrangement for shaping and forming an information containing device to be placed on a beverage bottle; 
 said method comprising the steps of: 
 filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material with said beverage bottle filling machine;  
 closing beverage bottles with said beverage bottle closing machine;  
 shaping and forming said information containing devices with said shaping and forming arrangement in said beverage bottle information adding machine; and  
 adding information to beverage bottles with said beverage bottle information adding machine by placing said information containing devices on beverage bottles.  
   
   
   
       15 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim  14 , wherein one of (A) and (B) but not both of (A) and (B): 
 (A) said information containing devices contain information prior to said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices with said shaping and forming arrangement, and said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices comprises adding additional information to said information containing devices; and    (B) said information containing devices are blank prior to said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices with said shaping and forming arrangement, and said step of shaping and forming said information containing devices comprises adding all desired information to said information containing devices.    
   
   
       16 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 15 , wherein the information containing devices have information displayed in a plurality of colors.  
   
   
       17 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of shaping and forming comprises forming information using an electronic actuation system and adding information using at least one information adding head.  
   
   
       18 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 17 , wherein the printing unit produces the printed image as a function of print masks that are stored electronically or in the form of software in a control device.  
   
   
       19 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of: 
 (D) the printed image is modified at least party during a labeling process;    (E) the label primary material is printed line-by-line at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the label primary material, and specifically for example over its entire width or almost its entire width;    (F) the printing is done with a relative movement between the label primary material and the printing unit or at least one print head of this printing unit;    (G) the label primary material is moved relative to the printing unit and to the at least one print head located there;    (H) the at least one printing unit has at least one electrostatic print head with a plurality of individually actuated individual nozzles for the controlled dispensing of ink, and that the individual nozzles are located in at least one row, one behind another in a print head longitudinal axis;    (I) the relative movement between the at least one print head and the label primary material is at a right angle or perpendicular to the print head longitudinal axis;    (J) the label primary material during the printing is oriented horizontally or essentially horizontally;    (K) the at least one print head is located above the label primary material;    (L) at least two and preferably by at least three print heads;    (M) for the production of a multiple-color printed image, one color set of the multiple-printing is produced with each print head;    (N) the ink, after it has been applied to the label primary material is dried or set by the application of energy, for example in the form of heat and/or UV light;    (O) the label primary material is heated and/or statically charged before the printing;    (P) the use of a strip-format, e.g. self-adhesive label primary material from which labels are produced by separation;    (O) the printing of the label primary material takes place before the separation of labels;    (R) the use of a single-sheet format label primary material; and    (S) the use of a labeling machine that employs a rotary construction, in which beverage bottles to be printed are moved past the at least one labeling station on a driven rotor that rotates around a vertical machine axis.    
   
   
       20 . The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to  claim 18 , wherein all of: 
 (D) the printed image is modified at least party during a labeling process;    (E) the label primary material is printed line-by-line at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the label primary material, and specifically for example over its entire width or almost its entire width;    (F) the printing is done with a relative movement between the label primary material and the printing unit or at least one print head of this printing unit;    (G) the label primary material is moved relative to the printing unit and to the at least one print head located there;    (H) the at least one printing unit has at least one electrostatic print head with a plurality of individually actuated individual nozzles for the controlled dispensing of ink, and that the individual nozzles are located in at least one row, one behind another in a print head longitudinal axis;    (I) the relative movement between the at least one print head and the label primary material is at a right angle or perpendicular to the print head longitudinal axis;    (J) the label primary material during the printing is oriented horizontally or essentially horizontally;    (K) the at least one print head is located above the label primary material;    (L) at least two and preferably by at least three print heads;    (M) for the production of a multiple-color printed image, one color set of the multiple-printing is produced with each print head;    (N) the ink, after it has been applied to the label primary material is dried or set by the application of energy, for example in the form of heat and/or UV light;    (O) the label primary material is heated and/or statically charged before the printing;    (P) the use of a strip-format, e.g. self-adhesive label primary material from which labels are produced by separation;    (O) the printing of the label primary material takes place before the separation of labels;    (R) the use of a single-sheet format label primary material; and    (S) the use of a labeling machine that employs a rotary construction, in which beverage bottles to be printed are moved past the at least one labeling station on a driven rotor that rotates around a vertical machine axis.