Equipment for Processing Containers Filled with Liquid or Powder Products

Abstract

Equipment (1) for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products comprises a carousel (5) conveying containers (2) for processing, a drive system (6) by which the carousel is set in rotation about a vertical axis (X); a containing element (14) placed around the carousel (5), and a covering element (18) associated with the top of the carousel (5), combining with the containing element (14) to create a fluid-tight chamber (19) internally of which the carousel (5) is housed in its entirety. The covering element (18) is in vertical direction slidably engaged with the side wall for height adjustment of an upper frame (11) according to the size of the container (2).

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 12a 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 5a 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 5a 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 15a 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 15a of the bottom wall 15.

The side wall 16 extends around the carousel 5, terminating uppermost in a top edge 16a remote from the peripheral rim 15a, 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 18a associated with the frame 11 and a second extremity 18b, remote from the first extremity 18a, 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 18a of the element 18, at which the panel 20 presents an internal circular edge.

The peripheral portion 22 rests on top of a rim 11a 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 11a 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 23a, 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 11a of the frame 11 slides against the flexible element 23a 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 18b of the covering element 18 and comprise a plurality of guide rods 25 spaced apart one from the next, projecting from the top edge 16a 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 27a directed toward the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16 and the associated rods 25, and an inner surface 27b 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 31a directed toward the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16.

The aforementioned vertical surface 31a 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 16a 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 34a 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 34a 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 34a of the annular projection 34 and offered to the inner surface 27b 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 34a, adjacent to the slot 35, and an outer edge engages in fluid-tight contact with the inner surface 27b of the baffle 27. Thus, when motion is induced in the panel 20, the inner surface 27b 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 35a 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 35a 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 12a, 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 41a and 41b 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 41a is positioned directly above the frame 11, whilst the other flank 41b 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 41b riding against the inner surface 17.

To advantage, in this embodiment, the flexible element 23a of the first sealing means 23 presents an angled portion 42 engaging the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 and the rim 11a 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.

Claims

1. Equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, comprising:

a carousel (5) designed to accommodate respective containers (2) for processing;

motion-inducing means (6) by which the carousel is set in rotation about a respective vertical axis (X); and,

a containing element (14) placed around the carousel (5),

characterized in that it further comprises a covering element (18) associated with the top of the carousel (5), combining with the containing element (14) to create a chamber (19) internally of which the carousel (5) is housed.

2. Equipment as in claim 1, wherein the containing element (14) comprises a side wall (16) presenting a substantially vertical planar inner surface (17) directed toward the carousel (5), and the covering element (18) is slidably engaged with the side wall (16).

3. Equipment as in claim 2, wherein the containing element (14) further comprises a bottom wall (15) extending around the carousel (5) and presenting a peripheral rim (15a) compassing the transverse dimension of the carousel (5), the side wall (16) issuing from the peripheral rim (15a) and presenting a top edge (16a) remote from the selfsame peripheral rim (15a).

4. Equipment as in claim 3, wherein the carousel (5) further comprises a platform (7) presenting a plurality of peripheral stations (8) serving to accommodate respective containers (2) for processing, and an upper frame (11) positioned above and associated with the platform (7), presenting a plurality of filling and/or capping devices (12) each positioned in alignment with a respective peripheral station (8) of the platform (7) and serving to fill the respective container (2) for processing with a product and/or to close the selfsame container (2) with a cap, the covering element (18) presenting a first extremity (18a) associated with the upper frame (11) and a second extremity (18b) opposite to the first extremity (18a), associated with the side wall (16).

5. Equipment as in claim 4, wherein the carousel (5) further comprises means (5a) of inducing vertical motion, associated with the platform (7) and with the frame (11), by which the frame (11) is traversed along the vertical axis (X) toward or away from the platform (7).

6. Equipment as in claim 5, wherein the covering element (18) comprises a panel (20) of substantially annular geometry, presenting a flat bottom face (21) positioned internally of the chamber (19), and a peripheral portion (22) coinciding with the first extremity (18a) of the selfsame element (18) and resting on a rim (11a) of the frame (11).

7. Equipment as in claim 6, further comprising first sealing means (23) interposed between the peripheral portion (22) of the bottom face (21) and the rim (11a) of the frame (11).

8. Equipment as in claim 7, wherein first sealing means (23) comprise a flexible element (23a) anchored permanently to the peripheral portion (22) of the bottom face (21), against which the rim (11a) of the frame (11) slides during the rotation of the carousel (5) about the vertical axis (X).

9. Equipment as in claim 8, comprising slide means (24) associated with the side wall (16) and with the panel (20), at the second extremity (18b) of the covering element (18), enabling movement of the panel (20) relative to the side wall (16) along the vertical axis (X), toward and away from the bottom wall (15).

10. Equipment as in claim 9, wherein slide means (24) comprise a plurality of guide rods (25) spaced apart one from the next and projecting from the top edge (16a) of the side wall (16), each extending longitudinally parallel to the vertical axis (X) and occupying a respective through hole (26) afforded by the panel (20).

11. Equipment as in claim 10, wherein the covering element (18) further comprises a lateral baffle (27) positioned internally of the chamber (19), projecting from the bottom face (21) of the panel (20) between the holes (26) and the peripheral portion (22), of which a cylindrical outer surface (27a) is directed toward the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and toward the guide rods (25), and a cylindrical inner surface (27b) is directed toward the carousel (5).

12. Equipment as in claim 11, wherein the lateral baffle (27) presents a top edge (28) anchored to the bottom face (21) of the panel (20), and a bottom edge (29), remote from the top edge (28), furnished with second sealing means (30) offered to the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16).

13. Equipment as in claim 12, wherein second sealing means (30) comprise an annular support (31) attached to the bottom edge (29) of the baffle (27), also a flexible sealing element (33) seated in a groove (32) afforded by the annular support (31), offered to the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and slidable against this same surface in a direction parallel to the vertical axis (X).

14. Equipment as in claim 9, wherein slide means (24) comprise an annular projection (34) associated rigidly with the side wall (16) and extending from the inner surface (17) of the selfsame wall (16), also a plurality of guide rods (25) spaced apart one from the next and projecting from a top surface (34a) of the annular projection (34) directed toward the bottom face (21) of the panel (20), each extending longitudinally parallel to the vertical axis (X) and occupying a respective through hole (26) afforded by the panel (20).

15. Equipment as in claim 14, wherein the covering element (18) further comprises a lateral baffle (27) positioned internally of the chamber (19), projecting from the bottom face (21) of the panel (20) between the holes (26) and the peripheral portion (22), of which a cylindrical outer surface (27a) is directed toward the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and toward the guide rods (25), and a cylindrical inner surface (27b) is directed toward the carousel (5).

16. Equipment as in claim 15, wherein the lateral baffle (27) presents a top edge (28) anchored to the bottom face (21) of the panel (20), and a bottom edge (29), remote from the top edge (28), slidable internally of an annular slot (35) afforded by the top surface (34a) of the annular projection (34) when the panel (20) is traversed along the vertical axis (X).

17. Equipment as in claim 16, wherein the lateral baffle (27) is furnished with second sealing means (30) located between the selfsame baffle (27) and the annular projection (34).

18. Equipment as in claim 17, wherein second sealing means (30) comprise a primary flexible element (36) associated with the top surface (34a) of the annular projection (34) and offered to the cylindrical inner surface (27b) of the baffle (27), also a secondary flexible element (37) secured to the bottom edge (29) of the lateral baffle (27) and offered to an inside wall (35a) of the annular slot (35).

19. Equipment as in claim 8, wherein the covering element (18) presents a tubular housing (38) of substantially annular shape encompassing an internal void (39) delimited by the panel (20) in combination with two cylindrical flanks (41a, 41b) issuing from relative opposite lateral extremities of the panel (20), and a top (40) positioned above the panel (20) and associated with the flanks (41a, 41b).

20. Equipment as in claim 19, wherein one of the two flanks (41a, 41b) is breasted with the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and slidable thus against the selfsame inner surface (17) when the covering element (18) is traversed along the vertical axis (X), relative to the side wall (16), toward or away from the bottom wall (15).

21. Equipment as in claim 20, further comprising second sealing means (30) interposed between the panel (20) and the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16).

22. Equipment as in claim 21, wherein second sealing means (30) comprise a flexible element (43) anchored to the bottom face (21) of the panel (20) at the second extremity (18b) of the covering element (18) and offered to the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16), in such a way as to slide against the selfsame inner surface (17) when the covering element (18) is traversed along the vertical axis (X).