Description

A carousel for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a carousel 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 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

Carousel equipment of conventional design comprises a bed consisting of a single unit preassembled at the premises of the constructor and presenting a plurality of bays serving to accommodate respective carousels on which the containers are processed, that is to say, for example, sterilized, filled with a selected product and closed with a cap. Also mounted to the bed are devices for transferring the containers from one carousel to the next, as well as infeed and outfeed devices with relative motors, or a single motor, by which the containers are conveyed into and directed away from the train of carousels.

The prior art also embraces equipment wherein each carousel is equipped with a respective base frame housing the devices by which the relative carousel is set in motion. In greater detail, carousels of conventional type ^• appear as a revolving plate carrying a plurality of peripheral pedestals on which to stand the containers. The plate presents a peripheral outline of generally circular appearance and is keyed onto a respective rotating shaft emerging from the base frame and connected suitably to the motion-indueing devices housed in the frame.

In the case of carousels on which containers are filled, the plate carries a plurality of weighing devices associated each with a respective pedestal . Such devices are able to monitor the weight of the container continuously during the filling step.

Mounted above the revolving plate is a dispensing plate, keyed likewise to the shaft and rotatable as one with the revolving plate. The dispensing plate carries a plurality of filler nozzles from which a liquid or powder product is batched into the containers placed on the weighing devices .

In particular, each nozzle is positioned on the peripheral edge of the dispensing plate, above a relative weighing device, its operation interlocked to the selfsame weighing device in such a way that the flow of the product will be shut off when the container reaches a predetermined weight . Carousels of the prior art type described above

present significant drawbacks.

The drawbacks in question concern the structure of the revolving plate, which is required to support the aforementioned weighing devices and tends in general as a result to be very heavy and bulky.

In effect, the plate is solid steel, of thickness sufficient to guarantee high structural rigidity.

Furthermore, the plate in question is subject to appreciable wobble and vibration that disturb the reading of the container weight. For this reason, the plates commonly utilized consist in a flat disc of considerably large proportions, capable of damping vibrations. Consequently, the carousel as a whole is rendered cumbersome and heavy, creating problems with transport and installation of the equipment.

In addition, cleaning operations carried out on the carousels involve the use of a washing liquid that falls and collects on the revolving plate. This same liquid lingers on the flat top of the plate, creating damp patches that can cause metal parts of the disc to rust. When the plate is set in rotation, moreover, the cleansing liquid is flung outwards, wetting the areas around the carousel .

The object of the present invention is to provide a carousel 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 a carousel for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, equipped with a

revolving plate that is lightweight, and at the same time rigid, sturdy and stable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carousel for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, such as will enable the removal of any liquids deposited on the selfsame carousel during the course of washing operations.

Disclosure of the Invention

The stated object is realized, according to the present invention, in a carousel for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, comprising a support element presenting a plurality of peripheral stations serving to accommodate respective containers for processing, and rotatable about a respective vertical axis; means by which motion is induced in the support element; and at least one floor-standing base frame on which the carousel is mounted and in which the motion-inducing means are housed, characterized in that the support element presents an annular chamber internally. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

-figure 1 shows a carousel for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products, according to the present invention, viewed in a side elevation and partly in section;

-figure 2 is a constructional detail of the carousel in figure 1, viewed in a side elevation;

-figure 3 shows the constructional detail of figure 2 viewed in a side elevation and in section;

-figure 4 shows the constructional detail of figure 2 viewed in perspective and in section; -figure 5 shows a carousel for processing containers, viewed in perspective and with certain parts omitted better to illustrate others.

With reference to figure 1, numeral 1 denotes a carousel, considered in its entirety, for processing containers 2 filled with liquid or powder products, each presenting a neck 3 and a filler mouth 4 closed by fitting a cap.

In general, a carousel 1 of the type in question for processing containers 2, operated for example as a sterilizing, filling or capping unit, is furnished at least with a floor-standing base frame 5 that serves also to house motion-inducing means 6.

In the example of figure 1, the carousel 1 is used to fill the containers 2. Nonetheless, the feature to which the invention relates is applicable to any given carousel 1 utilized in equipment for processing containers 2 of the type in question, and accordingly, no limitation in scope is implied.

To advantage, the base frame 5 presents a hollow cylindrical body 7 and, extending upward from the body, a rotating shaft 8 that forms part of the motion-inducing means 6.

In particular, such motion-inducing means 6 consist in a motor (not illustrated in the drawings) coupled to the aforementioned shaft 8, which is disposed

vertically and coincides with a respective vertical axis X of rotation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carousel 1 is equipped further with a tank 5a mounted to the base frame 5, substantially concave in shape and serving to collect any cleaning liquids that may be directed onto the carousel 1.

The carousel 1 also presents a support element 9 located above the tank 5a and affording a plurality of peripheral stations 10 in which to accommodate the containers 2.

More exactly, the support element 9 is keyed to the shaft 8 above the base frame 5, rotatable thus about the aforementioned vertical axis X, and presents a substantially disc-like form aligned concentrically on the selfsame axis X.

In greater detail, the support element 9 presents a top panel 11 and a bottom panel 12, distanced one from another so as to create an annular chamber 13. The two panels 11 and 12 are substantially of laminar construction, presenting respective convex outer surfaces 11a and 12a and concave inner surfaces lib and 12b, the latter delimiting the aforementioned annular chamber 13. As illustrated to advantage in figure 3, the top panel 11 also presents a circular inner edge 14 offered in fluid-tight contact to the shaft 8 and an outer or peripheral edge 15, likewise circular, remote from the inner edge 14. Similarly to the top panel 11, the bottom panel 12 presents a circular

inner edge 16 offered in fluid-tight contact to the shaft 8 and a outer or peripheral edge 17, likewise circular, remote from the inner edge 16.

Still in figure 3, it will be seen that the inner edges 14 and 16 of the panels 11 and 12 are set apart one from the other and occupy parallel horizontal planes; conversely, the outer edges 15 and 17 occupy a common horizontal plane and are associated with an annular support 18 of which more will be said in due course.

Importantly, the top panel 11 is angled downward from the inner edge 14 toward the outer edge 15 so that any cleaning liquids deposited on the panel 11 will drain off unaided. In addition, the top panel 11 presents a connecting portion 19 of curved sectional profile located at the respective outer edge 15.

The connecting portion 19 consists in a peripheral portion of the top panel 11, bent downward and presenting an edge that is one and the same as the aforementioned outer edge 15. Accordingly, any liquid falling on the outer surface 11a of the top panel 11 will run across the selfsame surface 11a and over the connecting portion 19, dropping ultimately below the support element 9. To advantage, the cleaning liquid is collected in the tank 5a beneath the element 9.

Likewise advantageously, the bottom panel 12 is angled downward from the respective outer edge 17 toward the inner edge 16. With this arrangement, the support element 9 and

the relative annular chamber 13 combine to present a substantially rhomboid appearance when viewed in cross section (figure 3) .

The annular support 18 takes the form of an annular plate 20 presenting a flat top surface 20a disposed within a respective horizontal plane and, on the side opposite, a bottom surface 20b parallel to the top surface 20a. The top surface 20a is located internally of the annular chamber 13, facing the inner surface lib of the top panel 11, whilst the bottom surface 20b is located externally of the chamber 13.

The annular plate 20 also presents a circular outer lip 20c associated with the outer edge 15 of the top panel 11, and a circular inner lip 20d associated with the outer edge 17 of the bottom panel 12.

In addition, the annular support 18 is furnished with a plurality of through holes 18a arranged around its entire circumferential length, each coinciding with a respective peripheral station 10.

The top panel 11 also presents a lowered portion 21 at the relative inner edge 14, establishing a blind cavity 21a of substantially circular shape.

More exactly, the lowered portion 21 coincides with a depression formed in a central part of the top panel 11, identifiable as a substantially annular vertical side wall 22 concentric with the vertical axis X aforementioned, and a bottom wall 23 disposed transversely to the side wall 22 and occupying a respective horizontal plane.

As illustrated to better effect in figure 4 and figure 5, the bottom wall 23 coincides with the inner edge 14 of the top panel 11 and presents a plurality of through holes 23a arranged around its entire circumferential length.

Preferably, as illustrated in figure 3, the support element 9 can be equipped with a casing portion 33 located above the lowered portion 21 and serving to cover the aforementioned cavity 21a. In particular, the casing portion 33 consists in a substantially frustoconical top presenting a circular bottom end 33a fitted to the top surface 11a of the top panel 11, and a top end 33b, likewise circular, associated with the shaft 8. With this arrangement, the cavity 21a and part of the shaft 8 are covered by the casing portion 33.

The annular chamber 13 houses a plurality of communicating ducts 24 arranged radially around the entire angular expanse of the selfsame chamber 13. In particular, each communicating duct 24 presents a rigid tubular portion 24a extending longitudinally and in a substantially horizontal plane between a first end 24b and a second end 24c.

The first end 24b of the duct 24 is associated with a respective hole 23a in the bottom wall 23 of the lowered portion, and the second and 24c is associated with one of the holes 18a in the annular support 18.

To advantage, as discernible in figure 4, the first end 24b and second end 24c consist in respective radiused connecting segments of tube, or bends.

The support element 9 further comprises delivery- means 27 serving to direct a gas into the annular chamber 13 at a pressure higher than the pressure externally of the selfsame chamber 13. Accordingly, any cleaning liquid that infiltrates the equipment can always be kept out of the chamber 13. Moreover, the pressure of the gas helps to increase the rigidity of the support element 9 as a whole.

The support element 9 also presents a plurality of pedestal components 25 on which to stand the single containers 2, associated with the bottom surface 20b of the annular plate 20 and projecting radially from the element 9.

In the example of figure 1 and figure 5, each pedestal component 25 takes the form of a weighing device 25a, conventional in embodiment and therefore not described in detail .

Each weighing device 25a is associated with the bottom surface 20b of the annular plate 20 at a point coinciding with a relative hole 18a, so as to allow the passage of an electrical connection component 26 through the selfsame hole 18a.

The electrical connection component 26 is routed along a respective communicating duct 24 and serves to connect the weighing device 25a with a processing logic unit neither illustrated nor described in detail .

Thus, the weight of the container 2 standing on the pedestal is monitored continuously by the weighing device 25a, a signal representing the weight is

relayed to the processing unit, and the unit controls the level to which the container 2 is filled.

Also forming part of the carousel 1 is a rotary- dispensing plate 28, positioned above the support element 9 and associated likewise with the shaft 8 in such a way that the plate 28 and the element 9 can be made to rotate about the vertical axis X as one.

Like the support element 9, the rotary plate 28 is disc-like and presents a substantially rhomboid cross section, so that cleaning liquid will run off into the aforementioned tank 5a.

The rotary dispensing plate 28 carries a plurality of filler nozzles 29 from which a liquid or powder product is delivered, each located above a relative weighing device 25a so as to fill a container 2 placed beneath.

The plate 28 is also capable of vertical movement toward and away from the support element 9 and thus adaptable to any type of container 2 More exactly, the carousel 1 is equipped with at least one linear actuator 30 projecting from the top panel 11 of the support element 9 and connected to the dispensing plate 28.

A preferred embodiment of the carousel 1, as shown in figure 1, will be equipped with a plurality of linear actuators 30, advantageously four, equispaced one from another and consisting each in a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 30a.

Each such cylinder 30a presents a first cylindrical end 31a associated with the underside of the

dispensing plate 28, and a second cylindrical end 31b slidable relative to the first end 31a and housed at least partly in the annular chamber 13 (figure 3) .

The second end 31b of the cylinder 30a is carried by a respective reinforcing bracket 32 of laminar construction, housed within the annular chamber 13 and occupying a plane normal to the surfaces of the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12.

Each cylinder 30a is thus supported by a respective bracket 32, of which one side edge 32a is attached to the shaft 8.

Advantageously, each bracket 32 presents a substantially trapezoidal outline and is associated by way of a top edge 32b, disposed transversely to the side edge 32a, with the inner surface lib of the top panel 11.

With an arrangement of this type, the brackets 32 and the ducts 24 combine to function as stiffening ribs giving greater rigidity to the support element 9 as a whole.

It will be observed that the structure of a support element 9 as described above might also be utilized for conveyor carousels Ia of the type illustrated schematically in figure 1. The element 9 in question is especially lightweight by virtue of being hollow, a factor instrumental in overcoming problems associated with the transport and erection of one or more carousels 1 and Ia making up a system for processing containers 2. In addition, given the pitched configuration of the

top panel 11 and bottom panel 12, cleaning liquids falling on the support element 9 will run off into the tank 5a beneath, keeping the element 9 dry.

Finally, and importantly, the disc-like structure of the support element 9 affords notable stability, ensuring that there will be no unwanted vibrations transmitted to the weighing devices 25a when the carousel is set in rotation.