Patent Publication Number: US-2009223168-A1

Title: Equipment for Processing Containers Filled with Liquid or Powder Products

Description:
This application is the national phase of international application PCT/IB2007/001265 filed May 16, 2007 which designated the U.S. and that international application was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English. This application claims priority to Italian Patent application number B02006A 000376, filed May 17, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products. 
     The invention finds application advantageously in the art field of carousel type equipment used for sterilizing, filling and closing containers with a capped neck in which a variety of different substances can be packaged, for example liquid food products such as milk or fruit juices, and non-food products such as mineral lubricating oils, detergents, etc. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The prior art embraces items of equipment comprising a carousel embodied as a rotating platform designed to support containers for processing and mounted on a fixed, floor-standing base frame; the frame generally will house respective drive components by which the platform is set in rotation about a vertical axis. 
     Also forming part of the carousel is a frame, positioned above the platform and joined to the selfsame platform by way of a respective drive shaft. 
     The frame and the platform are caused by the shaft to rotate as one about the vertical axis. 
     The frame carries a plurality of capping and/or filling assemblies arranged around its peripheral edge and operating on respective containers positioned beneath. 
     Thus, when the platform and frame are set in rotation, the containers are engaged by the aforementioned assemblies and closed with a cap, in the case of a capping carousel, or filled with a product in the case of a filling carousel. 
     The carousel also comprises a device serving to induce vertical motion, by which the frame can be positioned closer to or farther from the platform; thus, the height of the frame relative to the platform is adjustable according to the size of container being processed. 
     Conventional units of the type outlined above are washed down periodically so as to remove any splashes or spills of the liquid or powder products with which the containers for processing are filled. During the course of feeding and/or filling operations, in effect, part of the liquid or powder product can escape from the respective containers and foul the surfaces of the carousel. 
     At the end of a given production run, accordingly, nozzles are activated to direct a washing liquid onto the carousel, especially onto those areas where the splashes or spills are most heavily concentrated. 
     To avoid wetting the area around the equipment, the carousel is housed generally within a protective structure consisting in a side wall, or guard, and a collection tank attached to the underside of the platform. 
     In this way, the washing liquid is kept in by the side wall, which rises to the full height of the carousel, then collected in the tank and channelled away to a waste pipe. 
     Nonetheless, the top edge of the side wall is effectively detached from the frame and positioned at a height only a short distance above the carousel, with the result that an opening, hence a passage, is created around the frame. 
     Consequently, splashes of washing liquid can still fly beyond the wall or guard by way of the aforementioned opening, wetting the area outside the guard and the top surface of the frame. 
     In this situation, it will be appreciated that there are components housed on top of the frame, controlling the operation of the capping and/or filling assemblies, which should not be exposed to liquid products of any kind as contact with liquids could result in damage. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, such as will be unaffected by the drawbacks mentioned above. 
     In particular, the object of the invention is to provide equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, embodied in such a way as to prevent the escape of washing liquids directed at the carousel. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The stated object is realized in equipment according to the present invention for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, comprising: a carousel designed to accommodate respective containers for processing; motion-inducing means by which the carousel is set in rotation about a respective vertical axis; and a containing element placed around the carousel, characterized in that it further comprises a covering element associated with the top of the carousel, combining with the containing element to create a chamber internally of which the carousel is housed. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates equipment according to the present invention for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, viewed in a side elevation and partly in section; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail of the equipment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , viewed in a side elevation and partly in section, and illustrated in a first possible embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a detail of the equipment, viewed in a side elevation and partly in section, illustrated in a second possible embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail of the equipment, viewed in a side elevation and partly in section, illustrated in a third possible embodiment. 
     
    
    
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , numeral  1  denotes equipment, in its entirety, for processing containers  2  filled with liquid or powder products, each presenting a neck  3  and a filler mouth  4  closable by fitting a cap. 
     In general, such equipment  1  comprises at least one carousel  5  for processing containers  2 , operated for example as a sterilizing, filling or capping unit, designed to accommodate and process respective containers  2  while rotating about a vertical axis “X”. 
     By way purely of example, the accompanying drawings provide a detailed illustration of a carousel used for filling containers  2  with liquid or powder products, introduced through the mouth  4  of each one. Nonetheless, the feature to which the invention relates is applicable to any given carousel forming part of the equipment  1 . 
     The carousel  5  is equipped with motion-inducing means  6 , by which it is set in rotation about the aforementioned axis “X”. 
     In greater detail, the carousel  5  comprises a platform  7  presenting a plurality of peripheral stations  8  serving to accommodate single respective containers  2 . The platform  7  appears as a disc mounted on a floor-standing base  9  that supports the entire carousel  5 . 
     The floor-standing base  9 , which is of substantially box-like appearance, houses a motor forming part of the aforementioned motion-inducing means  6  and presenting a shaft  10  aligned longitudinally on the vertical axis “X” of rotation 
     The shaft  10  is associated with the platform  7 , and with an upper frame  11  positioned at the topmost end of the selfsame shaft  10 , above the platform  7 . Both the platform  7  and the frame  11  are thus set in rotation as one about the vertical axis “X”. 
     The carousel is equipped with a plurality of filling and/or capping devices  12  mounted to the periphery of the frame  11 . More exactly, the devices  12  illustrated in the example of the drawings are filling devices  12  only, given that the carousel  5  is a filling carousel, as already intimated. The devices  12  in question are not described and illustrated in detail, being familiar in embodiment. 
     Each device  12  is positioned in alignment with a respective peripheral station  8 , so that the container  2  placed thereon can be filled with a liquid or powder product during the synchronous rotation of the platform  7  and the frame  11 . 
     The product is delivered to the carousel by suitable connecting pipes  12   a  positioned on the frame  11  and supplying each of the devices  12  attached to the frame  11 . 
     It will be seen also that the carousel  5  shown in  FIG. 1  presents a plurality of supporting and weighing devices  13 , each positioned to coincide with a relative station  8 . The devices  13  in question, likewise conventional and therefore not described in detail, are designed advantageously to weigh the containers  2  during the filling operation. 
     The carousel  5  also comprises means  5   a  of inducing vertical motion, associated with the platform  7  and the frame  11  and serving to move the frame  11  along the vertical axis “X” toward or away from the platform  7 . 
     Such means  5   a  are embodied to advantage as a set of cylinders interposed between the frame  11  and the platform  7 , through the agency of which the height of the frame  11  can be adjusted according to the size of container  2  being handled. 
     The equipment  1  further comprises a containing element  14  internally of which the carousel  5  is housed. 
     More precisely, the containing element  14  comprises a bottom wall  15  extending around the carousel  5  and presenting a peripheral rim  15   a  that compasses the transverse dimension of the carousel  5 . 
     In particular, the bottom wall  15  is associated with the floor-standing base  9  aforementioned, and presents a substantially concave geometry such as will favour the collection of a washing liquid directed onto the platform  7  and the frame  11 . 
     The containing element  14  also presents a side wall  16  issuing from the peripheral rim  15   a  of the bottom wall  15 . 
     The side wall  16  extends around the carousel  5 , terminating uppermost in a top edge  16   a  remote from the peripheral rim  15   a , and presents a planar vertical inner surface  17  directed toward the carousel  5 . 
     The equipment  1  further comprises a covering element  18  associated with the top of the carousel  5  and combining with the containing element  14  to create a chamber  19  internally of which the carousel  5  is enclosed. 
     The covering  18  element presents a first extremity  18   a  associated with the frame  11  and a second extremity  18   b , remote from the first extremity  18   a , slidably engaging the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16  in such a way that the platform  7  and the lower part of the frame  11  remain enclosed internally of the chamber  19 . 
     More exactly, and referring to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the covering element  18  comprises a panel  20  of substantially annular geometry that presents a flat bottom face  21  positioned internally of the chamber  19  and directed toward the bottom wall  15 . The bottom face  21  presents a peripheral portion  22  coinciding with the aforementioned first extremity  18   a  of the element  18 , at which the panel  20  presents an internal circular edge. 
     The peripheral portion  22  rests on top of a rim  11   a  presented by the frame  11 , to which the aforementioned filling devices  12  are attached. To advantage, the equipment comprises first sealing means  23  interposed between the rim  11   a  and the peripheral portion  22  of the bottom face  21 , serving to prevent any passage of washing liquid between the frame  11  and the panel  20 . 
     Such first sealing means  23  include a flexible element  23   a , consisting advantageously of a flexible ring, associated permanently with the peripheral portion  22 . 
     Thus, as the carousel  5  rotates about its axis “X”, the rim  11   a  of the frame  11  slides against the flexible element  23   a  and maintains a hermetic sealing action. 
     The panel  20  is also associated with slide means  24  designed to allow its movement along the vertical axis “X”, relative to the side wall  16 , toward and away from the bottom wall  15 . 
     In particular, the slide means  24  are located at the second extremity  18   b  of the covering element  18  and comprise a plurality of guide rods  25  spaced apart one from the next, projecting from the top edge  16   a  of the side wall  16 . 
     The single rods  25  are substantially cylindrical, of circular cross section, each extending vertically along a respective longitudinal axis parallel to the axis “X” of the carousel. 
     The rods  25  also occupy respective through holes  26  afforded by the panel  20 , which is able thus to traverse the length of the rods  25 . 
     With this arrangement, accordingly, the panel  20  will be seen to lie a short distance above the side wall  16 . 
     The covering element  18  further comprises a lateral baffle  27  projecting from the bottom face  21  of the panel  20  and occupying the chamber  19 . The baffle  27  is located between the holes  26  and the peripheral portion  22  and presents a substantially cylindrical appearance, having a top edge  28  anchored to the bottom face  21  of the panel  20  and a bottom edge  29  furnished with second sealing means  30  offered to the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16 . The baffle  27  presents an outer surface  27   a  directed toward the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16  and the associated rods  25 , and an inner surface  27   b  directed toward the carousel  5 . 
     The second sealing means  30  comprise an annular support  31  attached to the bottom edge  29  of the baffle  27  and presenting a substantially square cross sectional profile that includes a vertical surface  31   a  directed toward the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16 . 
     The aforementioned vertical surface  31   a  affords a groove  32 , likewise annular, in which a flexible sealing element  33  is seated. The flexible element  33  takes the form of a ring seal, offered in fluid-tight contact to the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16 . Thus, when motion is induced in the frame  11  toward or away from the platform  7 , the panel  20  associated with the frame  11  is raised or lowered, and the same movement is induced in the lateral baffle  27 . Accordingly, the flexible element  33  is caused to slide against the inner surface  17 , assuring a hermetic sealing action in combination with the side wall  16 . 
     In the second embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the panel  20  remains at a height permanently below the top edge  16   a  of the side wall  16 . 
     With this solution, moreover, the slide means  24  comprise an annular projection  34  associated rigidly with the side wall  16  and extending transversely to the inner surface  17  of this same wall  16 . The annular projection  34  appears substantially rectangular in cross sectional profile and presents a top surface  34   a  directed toward the bottom face  21  of the panel  20 . 
     The slide means  24  further comprise a plurality of guide rods  25  as described above, spaced apart one from the next and projecting from the top surface  34   a  of the annular projection  34 . 
     As in the solution described previously, the rods  25  are disposed parallel to the main vertical axis “X” and occupy respective through holes  26  afforded by the panel  20 . 
     The top surface  34  of the annular projection  34  presents an annular slot  35  directed toward the bottom face  21  of the panel  20 . 
     Likewise in this instance, the lateral baffle  27  projects from the bottom face  21  of the panel  20  and occupies the chamber  19 . 
     In particular, the top edge  28  of the baffle  27  is anchored to the bottom face  21  of the panel  20 , whilst the bottom edge  29  is seated slidably in the aforementioned annular slot  35 . 
     To advantage, the baffle  27  is furnished with second sealing means  30  located between the selfsame baffle  27  and the annular projection  34 . 
     In greater detail, the second sealing means  30  comprise a primary flexible element  36  associated with the top surface  34   a  of the annular projection  34  and offered to the inner surface  27   b  of the baffle  27 . In practice, the primary flexible element  36  consists in a ring seal of which an inner edge is anchored to the top surface  34   a , adjacent to the slot  35 , and an outer edge engages in fluid-tight contact with the inner surface  27   b  of the baffle  27 . Thus, when motion is induced in the panel  20 , the inner surface  27   b  of the baffle  27  will slide against the primary flexible component  36 , maintaining a hermetic seal to disallow any infiltration of liquid. 
     The second sealing means  30  further comprise a secondary flexible element  37  secured to the bottom edge  29  of the lateral baffle  27  and offered to an inside wall  35   a  of the annular slot  35 . 
     The secondary flexible element  37  likewise consists in a ring of which an inner edge is anchored to the bottom edge  29  of the baffle, and an outer edge is breasted in fluid-tight contact with the inside wall  35   a  of the slot  35 . 
     Consequently, the secondary flexible element  37  engages in sliding contact internally of the slot  35 , maintaining a hermetic seal in similar fashion to the first example illustrated, and disallowing any infiltration of liquid by way of the rods  25 . 
     In the third embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the covering element  18  appears as a tubular housing  38  of annular shape, encompassing a relative internal void  39 . 
     The void  39  serves to house components of the frame  11  such as the aforementioned connecting pipes  12   a , or electrical cables needed for the operation of the filler device  12 . 
     More exactly, the tubular housing  38  incorporates the panel  20  already described, and a top  40 , positioned above the panel  20 , similarly presenting a flat and annular appearance. The top  40  and the panel  20  are connected one with another at the respective lateral extremities by way of two cylindrical flanks  41   a  and  41   b  issuing perpendicularly from the panel  20  and combining with the panel  20  and with the top  40  to delimit the void  39 . 
     It will be seen that one flank  41   a  is positioned directly above the frame  11 , whilst the other flank  41   b  is breasted with the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16 . Accordingly, when the frame  11  is cause to traverse along the main axis “X”, the tubular housing  38  will accompany the movement vertically, with the outer flank  41   b  riding against the inner surface  17 . 
     To advantage, in this embodiment, the flexible element  23   a  of the first sealing means  23  presents an angled portion  42  engaging the bottom face  21  of the panel  20  and the rim  11   a  of the frame  11 . The angled portion  42  extends transversely from the bottom face  21  toward the carousel  5  to ensure a better fluid-tight seal during the rotation of the frame  11 . 
     Again in this third embodiment, the second sealing means  30  consist in a flexible element  43  anchored to the bottom face  21  of the panel  20  and engaging the inner surface  17  of the side wall  16 . 
     The flexible element  43  extends transversely from the bottom face  21  toward the surface  17  of the side wall  16 , in such a way as will enable it to slide against the selfsame surface  17  when the frame  11  is traversed along the vertical axis “X”. 
     Likewise in this instance, the second sealing means  30  ensure a fluid-tight fit between the covering element  18  and the side wall  16 . 
     To advantage, when cleaning operations are carried out on the carousel  5 , the covering element  18  prevents any splash or spillage of washing liquid over the side wall  16 . 
     In effect, the panel  20  projecting sideways from the frame  11  combines with the side wall  16  and the bottom wall  15  to create the aforementioned chamber  19 , internally of which the carousel is housed hermetically. 
     Consequently, the washing liquid will always remains within the chamber  19 , and there is no risk of splashing or wetting the top part of the frame  11 , which remains outside the chamber  19  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     A further advantage of the invention is that the frame  11  can be moved toward and away from the platform  7  while maintaining a fluid-tight seal at the covering element  18  at all times. 
     In effect, by deploying the second sealing means  30  as described above, the covering element  18  can be traversed along the vertical axis “X” of the equipment while maintaining a fluid tight fit between the selfsame element  18  and the side wall  16 .