EP1655264A2 - Filling machine of the rotary type - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has circulating propellable rotor (4), around vertical machine axis (MA), fitted with boiler (14) which has boiler base (15) for admission of filling material and several filling element (18) fitted around vertical machine axis. Filling element and its port is fitted in raised condition over boiler base and oriented on machine axis, radially in front of boiler.

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine of continuous design for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product.

A filling machine (DE 30 43 200) is known for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material, in which the rotor rotatable about a vertical machine axis consists of two rotor elements for adaptation to different bottle heights, namely forming a base for the bottles to the vertical machine axis circumferentially driven turntable (first rotor element) and a second rotor element, which is adjustable in height for this adjustment in the direction of the machine axis and on which the boiler for the liquid product and the filling elements are provided.

A disadvantage of known filling machines is, inter alia, that they usually allow an adaptation to different container heights, but always make an adaptation or readjustment of existing for the controlled lifting movement of the filling elements control or lifting curves or replacement of these lift curves required for this adjustment.

The object of the invention is to show a filling machine, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages with a simple structural design and allows a simplified operation, in particular a gentle filling and / or an adaptation to different container sizes without additional effort.

To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 or 3 is formed.

According to one aspect of the invention, the lifting control for moving the filling elements to the respective container to be filled (before the introduction of the Filling operation) and for the moving away of the filling element after the filling process designed so that each filling element is in the raised position above the bottom of the boiler, so when empty filling the filling machine, the liquid contents from the raised filling elements in the boiler and from there on the lowered Filling elements can flow, as well as a liquid cleaning medium when cleaning the filling machine.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the stroke control means for controlling the controlled lifting movement of the filling elements in adapting the filling machine to different container heights, i. in the height adjustment of the second rotor element mitbewegbar with this, so that the height adjustment has no effect on the controlled lifting movement, so in the height adjustment no additional adjustment of the control means, such as the control and lifting curves is required.

• ➢ dass am zweiten Rotorelement auch der Kessel vorgesehen ist, und/oder
• ➢ dass das zweite Rotorelement mit dem ersten Rotorelement für die Drehbewegung um die Maschinenachse antriebsmäßig verbunden ist, und/oder
• ➢ dass das erste Rotorelement ein beispielsweise ringförmiger Drehtisch ist, der an einem Maschinengestell drehbar gelagert ist, und/oder
• ➢ dass die Steuermittel für das gesteuerte Auf- und Abbewegen der Füllelemente am Lagerträger vorgesehen sind und/oder
• ➢ Verstellmittel zum Verstellen des Lagerträgers vorgesehen sind, wobei die Verstellmittel beispielsweise von wenigstens einer Verstell- oder Gewindespindel gebildet sind, die für das Verstellen manuell oder motorisch betätigbar ist, und/oder
• ➢ dass zur Lagerung des zweiten Rotorelementes dieses mit einem Spurlagergehäuse an einer achsgleich mit der Maschinenachse angeordneten und am Maschinenrahmen vorgesehenen Spurlagersäule drehbar und axial verschiebbar gelagert ist und das Spurlagergehäuse zugleich drehbar am Lagerträger gelagert ist,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass sich der Lagerträger im Maschinenrahmen unterhalb des ersten Rotorelementes befindet,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass ein motorischer Antrieb für den Rotor (4) vorgesehen ist, wobei dieser Antrieb direkt auf das erste Rotorelement oder das zweite Rotorelement einwirkt,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass die Steuermittel für das gesteuerte Auf- und Abbewegen der Füllelemente von jeweils wenigstens einer jedem Füllelement zugeordneten und mit diesem verbundenen Hubstange und einer mit dem Rotor nicht mitdrehenden Hub- oder Steuerkurve gebildet sind, mit der die Hubstangen jeweils mit einem Steuerelement, beispielsweise mit einer Steuer- oder Hubrolle zusammenwirken,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass die wenigstens eine Steuer- oder Hubkurve mit dem Lagerträger höhenverstellbar ist,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass die wenigstens eine Steuer- oder Hubkurve an dem Lagerträger vorgesehen ist,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass der Flüssigkeitskanal jedes Füllelementes über den füllelementseitigen Anschluss und über eine zumindest auf einer Teillänge flexible Leitung mit dem Kessel im Bereich des Kesselbodens verbunden ist,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass bei Ausbildung der Füllmaschine als Einkammer-Füllmaschine mit einem im Kessel gebildeten Flüssigkeitsraum und mit einem im Kessel gebildeten Gasraum die Füllelemente jeweils ein über ihre Unterseite bzw. über die dortige Flüssigkeitsöffnung vorstehendes, am unteren Ende offenes und einen Rückgaskanal bildendes Rückgasrohr aufweisen, und dass der Rückgaskanal jedes Füllelementes über eine zumindest auf einer Teillänge flexible Leitung mit dem Gasraum in Verbindung steht,
  und/oder
• ➢ dass wenigstens eine an den Kessel (14) führende Leitung für das Füllgut oder für Gas oder Luft vorgesehen ist, wobei die Leitung zumindest an einer in den Kessel mündenden Teillänge zusammen mit dem zweiten Rotorelement höhenverstellbar ist.

In a further development of the invention, various measures are possible, which may be provided individually or in combination with at least one further measure, namely

• ➢ that the boiler is also provided on the second rotor element, and / or
• ➢ that the second rotor element is drivingly connected to the first rotor element for the rotational movement about the machine axis, and / or
• ➢ that the first rotor element is an example annular rotary table, which is rotatably mounted on a machine frame, and / or
• ➢ that the control means are provided for the controlled moving up and down of the filling elements on the bearing carrier and / or
• ➢ Adjustment means are provided for adjusting the bearing support, wherein the adjusting means, for example, of at least one adjustment or Threaded spindle are formed, which is operated manually or by motor for adjusting, and / or
• ➢ that for storage of the second rotor element of this with a thrust bearing housing on a coaxially arranged with the machine axis and provided on the machine frame track bearing column is rotatably and axially displaceably mounted and the thrust bearing housing is also rotatably mounted on the bearing carrier,
  and or
• ➢ that the bearing carrier is located in the machine frame below the first rotor element,
  and or
• ➢ that a motor drive for the rotor (4) is provided, wherein this drive acts directly on the first rotor element or the second rotor element,
  and or
• ➢ that the control means for the controlled moving up and down of the filling of each at least one filling element associated and associated with this lifting rod and not rotatable with the rotor lifting or control cam are formed, with the lifting rods each with a control, for example with co-operate with a control or lifting roller,
  and or
• ➢ that the at least one control or lifting curve is height-adjustable with the bearing carrier,
  and or
• ➢ that the at least one control or lifting cam is provided on the bearing carrier,
  and or
• ➢ that the liquid channel of each filling element via the filling element side connection and a flexible at least over a partial length line with the Boiler is connected in the area of the boiler bottom,
  and or
• ➢ that when the filling machine is designed as a single-chamber filling machine with a liquid space formed in the boiler and with a gas space formed in the boiler, each of the filling elements has a return gas pipe projecting over its lower side or via the liquid opening, open at the lower end and forming a return gas channel, and that the return gas channel of each filling element is connected to the gas space via a flexible line, at least over part of its length,
  and or
• ➢ that at least one to the boiler (14) leading line for the contents or for gas or air is provided, wherein the line is at least at an opening into the boiler partial length together with the second rotor element height adjustable.

• Fig. 1 in vereinfachter Darstellung und im Vertikalschnitt eine Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart gemäß der Erfindung;
• Fig. 2 in Schnittdarstellung eines der Füllelemente der Füllmaschine der Fig. 1.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

• Fig. 1 in a simplified representation and in vertical section a filling machine of rotating design according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of one of the filling elements of the filling machine of FIG. 1. FIG.

The in the figures generally designated 1 filling machine rotating design is used to fill bottles 2 or the like. Container with a liquid product, eg drink, for example with wine. The filling machine 1, which in the illustrated embodiment is a filling tube-less single-chamber vacuum filling machine, comprises, inter alia, a machine frame 3 with which the machine rests on a substrate and on which a rotor 4 is rotatably mounted about a vertical machine axis MA. This rotor 4 consists inter alia of a turntable 5, which on its outer circumference with a bearing ring 6 at the top of the machine frame 3 about the machine axis MA is rotatably mounted. At the top of the turntable forms 5 standing surfaces on which the bottles 2 standing upright, ie with their bottle axis in the vertical direction and thus parallel to the axis MA oriented with each stand up their bottom of the bottle. In the illustrated embodiment, the footprints are formed by the top of a ring 7 surrounding the axis MA concentrically.

Below the bearing ring 6, the turntable 5 is provided with an outer toothing 8, via which the turntable 5 is driven in rotation by a drive 9 about the axis MA. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive 9 comprises a housed inside the machine frame 3 and at the edge region of this frame geared motor 10 which is drivingly connected via a vertically oriented shaft 11 with a gear transmission arrangement 12 which then interacts with the external toothing 8 of the turntable 5 ,

The rotor 4 further comprises an inner, with its axis coaxially arranged with the axis MA and formed in the illustrated embodiment as a hollow cylinder, columnar second rotor element 13, which forms a boiler 14 with boiler bottom 15 with its upper portion. During the filling process, the interior of the boiler 14 is e.g. Level controlled to a predetermined level N, filled with the liquid contents, so that in the boiler 14 a u.a. also through the bottom 15 limited liquid space 14.1 and above give a gas space 14.2. In the liquid space 14.1 opens a supply line 16 for supplying the liquid filling material, below the level N. In the gas space 14.2 opens a vacuum line 17, which is connected to a suitable vacuum source.

The rotor 4 further comprises a plurality of filling elements 18 which are provided at uniform angular intervals around the axis MA and about the rotor element 13 and which are located in the vertical direction respectively over the standing surfaces formed by the ring 7. Each filling element 18 is attached to an outer end of a longitudinal extent with its radially oriented to the axis MA boom 19, which in turn with its inner end on upper end of a lifting rod 20 is held. The individual lifting rods 20, which are each oriented with their longitudinal axis parallel to the axis MA and have a radial distance from the axis MA, which is smaller than the distance of the associated filling element 18, are in the direction of the axis MA up and down by a predetermined stroke movable. For this purpose, the lifting rods 20 are guided, on the one hand in the vicinity of its upper end respectively at an upper bearing 21, which is provided on a common for all bearings 21, the axis MA concentrically enclosing and held on the rotor element 13 support ring 22, and at the bottom End at a guide rod 23, on which the lower end of each lifting rod 20 is held axially displaceable and secure against rotation. For this purpose, each guide rod 23 has, for example, a cross section deviating from the circular shape on which the lifting rod 20 is guided with a matched sliding guide or guide opening. The individual guide rods 23 are held on a lower connected to the rotor member and this flange-like projecting support ring 24. Other possibilities for a rotation-safe guidance of the lifting rods are conceivable, for example, the leadership of each lifting rod on two guide rods.

Rotatably mounted about the axis MA, the inner rotor element 13 using a tracking bearing column 25 and a thrust bearing housing 26, and indeed on a bearing carrier 27. The bearing carrier 27, the track bearing column 25 and the thrust bearing housing 26 are located within the machine frame 3 and below the Turntable 5. The track bearing column 25, which is arranged coaxially with the axis MA, is connected at its lower end fixed to the machine frame 3. The bearing carrier 27 and the bearing on this bearing support 27 rotor element 13 with the lifting rods 20 and filling elements 18 is adjustable in height to adjust the filling machine 1 to different bottle heights, i. adjustable in the vertical direction, wherein in this height adjustment, the thrust bearing housing 26 slides axially on the track bearing column 25.

The height adjustment of the bearing carrier 27 takes place in the illustrated embodiment via a threaded spindle 28, with its axis parallel to the axis MA is oriented, with respect to the track bearing column 25 and the thrust bearing housing 26 is radially offset and engages with its thread in a nut thread in the bearing bracket 27. The spindle 28 is rotatable, but axially non-displaceably mounted in the machine frame 3 in such a way that on the spindle and the vertical load of the bearing support 27 and the elements mounted on this bearing support elements via the spindle 28 on the machine frame 3 can be transmitted. With an externally accessible on the machine frame crank 29 and a bevel gear 30, the spindle 28 is rotatable for manual height adjustment. It goes without saying that, if necessary, several spindles 28 which can be actuated via a common drive train can also be provided for the height adjustment, if necessary. It is further understood that the height adjustment can also be done by motor.

In order to avoid an undesired rotation of the bearing support 27 about the axis MA, with respect to this axis radially offset on the machine frame 3 with its axis oriented parallel to the axis MA guide column 31 is provided on which the bearing support 27 is additionally guided.

To mitzubewegen the rotor element 13 with the turntable 5, but at the same time to make the height adjustment of the rotor element 13 relative to the machine frame 3 and thus with respect to the machine frame 3 rotatable, but not height adjustable turntable 5, transmission means 32 are provided which the rotor element 13 with connect the turntable for the rotational movement, but allow the height adjustment.

In the illustrated embodiment, these transmission means 32 are formed by at least one guide rod 33 which is oriented with its axis parallel to the axis MA and is held at its lower end fixed to the turntable 5. On this guide rod 33, a guide element 34 connected to the rotor element 13 is guided in an axially displaceable manner. Other designs are conceivable for these transmission means 32.

For the controlled up and down movement or lifting movement of the lifting rods 20 and held on these filling elements 18 is a control or lifting cam 35 which is provided on the bearing support 27 and the control or lifting rollers 36 at the lower ends of the lifting rods 20th cooperate in such a way that a rising portion of the non-rotating with the rotor 4 control cam 35, the respective lifting rod 20, for example raised against its own weight and the weight of the filling element 18 and lowered in the sloping region of the lifting cam 35 by its own weight and the weight of the filling element 18.

The individual filling elements 18 are each connected via two flexible lines 37 and 38 to the boiler, via the line 37 to the liquid space 14 and via the line 38 to the gas space 14.2. The line 37 opens into the liquid space 14.1 approximately at the level of the bottom 15th

On the bearing support 27 an additional with its axis oriented in the vertical direction of the lifting rod 39 is fixed with its lower end, which is guided above the machine frame 3 in a column 40. The upper, protruding from the column 40 end of the lifting rod 39 is provided with a bearing or support 41, on which the two lines 16 and 17 are held, so that they are moved in the height adjustment with.

The design of the filling elements 18 is shown in detail in Fig. 2. Each filling element 18 consists of a housing 42, in which a liquid channel 43 is formed, which is connected at its one end to the conduit 37 and at the other end to a discharge opening formed on the underside of the respective housing 42 opens with liquid valve 44. The dispensing opening is surrounded by an annular seal 45, against the respective bottle 2 when filling with the edge 2.1 of its bottle opening tightly, and pressed by the weight of the filling element 18 and the associated lifting rod 20, possibly also supported by spring means, not shown, which bias the respective lifting rod 20 and the associated filling element 18 in the lower position.

The liquid valve 44 is formed by a valve body 46, which closes the discharge opening in the illustration of FIG. 2 and for this purpose bears tightly against a valve seat 47 formed by the edge of the discharge opening under the action of a pressure or closing spring, not shown. To open the liquid valve 44 and the discharge opening of the valve body 46 is moved in the direction of the Füllelementachse FA in the vertical direction down, so that the liquid product then with the liquid valve open 44 from the liquid passage 43 between the valve body 46 and the valve seat 47 formed annular gap respective bottle 2 can flow to the inner wall.

The valve body 46 is provided on a return gas pipe 48 which is arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA, with a portion 48.1 projecting over the valve body 46 down and open at the lower end. The upper end of the return gas pipe 48, not shown in FIG. 2, is connected to the line 38. Further, the return gas pipe 48 in the housing 42 for opening and closing the liquid valve 44 is axially displaceable, controlled by a control device, not shown, for example, a mechanical, electromagnetic or pneumatic control device which is operated synchronously with the circulation of the rotor 4.

Furthermore, it is also possible to form the filling elements 18 in each case such that a housing part 46.1 forming the valve body 46, in which then, for example, the return gas pipe 48 is provided so as to be axially adjustable for setting the filling level,. 2 is connected to the boom 19 of the associated lifting rod 20 at its upper end, not shown in FIG. 2, while the valve housing 42 is axially displaceable axially or in the direction of the filling element axis (FA) against the abovementioned pressure or closing spring on the housing part 46.1 so that when lowering and placing a filling element 18 on a wrong 2, first the valve housing 42 comes with the ring seal 45 against the edge 2.1 of the bottle opening to rest and then on further down moving the lifting rod 20, leaving the valve housing 42, the liquid valve 44 opens.

In the upper region or at the connection 49, via which the liquid channel 43 is connected to the line 37, the liquid channel 43 forms a gas barrier 50, specifically in that there the flow path for the product entering via the connection 49 initially in a first section 50.1 in the vertical direction upwards and then subsequently in a second section 50.2 of the gas barrier 50 after a deflection through 360 ° in the vertical direction downwards. As FIG. 2 also shows, the lower closed end 50.1.1 of the section 50.1 lies level with the connection 49, so that when the filling machine 1 or the filling elements 18 are emptied there are no liquid or product residues left in the labyrinth forming the respective gas barrier 50 ,

To fill the bottles 2 with the liquid product, the bottles 2 are switched on with the filling machine 1, i. supplied with rotating rotor 4 via a conveyor 51 and passed to a bottle or container task, of which in Fig. 1 schematically only a transfer star 52 is shown, in each case one filling element 18 formed filling position, so that the relevant bottle 2 there gets up with her bottom on the ring 7. The star 52 is also driven via the gear assembly 12 in the illustrated embodiment. After the transfer of a bottle 2, the respective filling element is lowered by lowering the lifting rod 12 on the bottle 2 on a first angular range of rotation of the rotor 4, so that the filling element then bears sealed against the filling element with the annular seal 45. After opening the liquid valve 44, the liquid product flows under falling pressure from the liquid space 14.1 into the respective bottle 2. The case displaced from the bottle 2 gas or air volume enters the gas space 14.2 and is discharged from there via the line 17.

The inflow of the liquid filling material into the respective bottle 2 is terminated by the lower, open end of the return gas pipe 48 immersed in the filling level rising in the bottle 2 during filling and thus no further escape of air from the bottle 2 via the return gas pipe is possible. Also via the gas barrier 50, an air or gas flow into the boiler 14 is not possible. The gas barrier 50 has a sufficient axial length for this purpose.

At a predetermined angle of rotation of the rotor 4, the respective liquid valve 44 is forcibly closed by the aforementioned control means or by lifting the associated lifting rod 20, so that then the respective filling element 18 are removed by lifting the associated lifting rod 20 of the filled bottle 2 can and this at a container or bottle outlet, which has neither at least one of the transfer star 52 corresponding transfer star, is transferred to the feed dog 51 for forwarding to a capping machine.

A special feature of the filling machine 1 described is that the lifting or control cam 35 is located on the bearing carrier 27, the lifting or control cam 35 thus moved in the height adjustment for adaptation to different bottle sizes with the Lagerträger27 and the other provided on this bearing support functional elements is so that when adjusting the filling machine at different bottle heights only this height adjustment is necessary, but no further adaptation of the filling machine.

Another particularity of the filling machine 1 described is that the terminals 49 and the filling elements 18 and the liquid channel 43 formed in each filling element 18 over its entire length between the liquid valve at the discharge opening and the port 46 regardless of the height adjustment of the rotor element 13 and the associated with this functional elements, ie regardless of the adaptation of the filling machine 1 to different bottle heights above the level of the bottom 15 and with lowered filling element are below this level.

As a result, the filling machine 1, inter alia, the advantage that the boiler 14, but also serving to supply the liquid filling lines 37 via the filling elements 18 can be completely or almost completely emptied and that is because in the lowered state each filling element 18 with his Liquid channel is well below the level of the bottom 15 and is located in the Raised state is significantly above this level, so that in the boiler 14 existing contents can flow through the lowered and opened filling elements in the associated bottles 2 and emptied with raised filling these and their gas locks and the lines 37 in the boiler 14. This also allows a simplified cleaning of the filling machine. 1

By arranging the filling elements 18 around the rotor element 13 or around the vessel 14, even with a radial distance relative to the machine axis MA from the peripheral wall of the vessel, there is on the one hand the possibility described that the filling elements 18, but at least their connections 49 are in the raised state of the filling elements 18 above the level of the boiler bottom 15. Furthermore, there is the possibility of this case, with sufficiently large stroke for the filling elements 18, the drop height (vertical height difference between Füllgutspiegel in the boiler 14 and level of the open discharge opening when filling) to keep small, which u. a. a gentle filling, d. H. In particular, a filling without foaming at a tendency to foaming filling material and an aroma-friendly and alcohol losses avoiding filling is possible. Due to the low drop height, it is also possible to significantly reduce the negative pressure in the boiler 14, which u. a. contributes to the desired aroma-preserving and alcohol-avoiding filling.

By changing the level of Füllgutspiegels in the boiler 14, the drop height and thus the falling pressure during filling are still adjustable and adaptable to the respective contents.

The described design results in a reduced diameter for the boiler 14, with the advantage that the exposed surface formed in the vessel from the product level is relatively small and thus impairments of the contents due to this surface are reduced. Furthermore, results from the low boiler volume, a high throughput of the liquid filling material in the boiler, which also contributes to the preservation of the quality of the filled filling material.

All caused by the empty and filled bottles 2 and by the applied against the bottles 2 filling elements 18 associated lifting rods 20 loads or forces are absorbed by the rotor element or turntable 5 and of this or its storage (Lagering 6) directly to the machine frame 3, so that the bearing carrier 27 is relieved of these forces.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. So it was assumed above that the filling elements 18 are those without filling tube. Of course, filling elements can also be used with filling tube. Furthermore, the filling machine can also be designed for a non-pressurized filling.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filling Machine

2

bottle

2.1

bottle mouth

3

machine frame

4

rotor

5

turntable

6

bearing ring

7

Stand or ring

8th

external teeth

9

drive

10

gearmotor

11

wave

12

gearing

13

rotor member

14

boiler

14.1

liquid space

14.2

headspace

15

ground

16, 17

management

18

filler

19

boom

20

lifting rod

21

bearing element

22

Guide or support ring

23

guide rod

24

support ring

25

Step bearing column

26

Track bearing housing

27

bearing bracket

28

adjusting spindle

29

crank

30

bevel gear

31

guide column

32

transmission means

33

guide rod

34

guide element

35

stroke curve

36

Control or lifting rollers

37, 38

flexible line

39

additional lifting rod

40

guide column

41

carrier

42

filling element

43

liquid channel

44

Liquid valve at discharge opening (foot valve)

45

ring seal

46

valve body

46.1

housing part

47

valve seat

48

Return gas pipe

48.1

protruding length of the return gas pipe

49

connection

50

gas barrier

50.1

first section of the gas barrier

50.1.1

closed end

50.2

second section of the gas barrier

51

carrier

52

star

MA

vertical machine axis

FA

vertical filler axis

Claims (12)

Continuous filling machine for filling bottles (2) or similar containers with a liquid filling material,
with a rotor (4) which can be driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis (MA),
with a boiler (14) provided on the rotor (4) with vessel bottom (15) for receiving the liquid filling material,
with a plurality of filling elements (18) distributed around the vertical machine axis (MA), each having a liquid channel (43) which has a liquid valve (44) and which has a filling element side connection (49) and a liquid connection (37) to the vessel (14) Compound stands and has a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid filling material in the respective container (2), as well
with control means (20, 35, 36) for controlled moving up and down of each filling element (18) relative to a container carrier (7) in a filling element axis (FA) parallel to the machine axis (MA),
wherein the filling elements (18) and their respective connection (49) are in the lowered state below the level of the boiler bottom (15)
characterized,
that the filling elements (18) and / or their connections (49) in the raised state above the level of the boiler bottom (15) and with respect to the machine axis (MA) radially in front of the boiler (14). Filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor (4) consists of a first rotor element (5), which is rotatably mounted about the vertical machine axis (MA) and which forms the respective filling element (18) associated container carrier (7), and consists of a second, likewise about the vertical machine axis (MA) on a bearing support (27) rotatably mounted rotor element (13) on which the filling elements (18) for the controlled up and Moving are provided and which is adapted to adapt the filling machine (1) to different container heights in the direction of the machine axis (MA) relative to the first rotor element (5), and that the control means (20, 35, 36) for the up and down movement of the Filling elements (18) with the bearing support (27) are height adjustable. Continuous filling machine for filling bottles (2) or similar containers with a liquid filling material,
with a rotor (4) which can be driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis (MA),
with a boiler (14) provided on the rotor (4) with vessel bottom (15) for receiving the liquid filling material,
with a plurality of filling elements (18) distributed around the vertical machine axis (MA), as well as
with control means (20, 35, 36) for controlled moving up and down of each filling element (18) relative to a container carrier (7) in a filling element axis (FA) parallel to the machine axis (MA),
wherein the rotor (4) consists of a first rotor element (5), which forms the container carrier (7) associated with the respective filling element (18), and of a second rotor element (13) rotatably mounted on a bearing carrier (27), on which the Filling elements (18) are provided and which for adjusting the filling machine (1) to different container heights in the direction of the machine axis (MA) relative to the first rotor element (5) is adjustable,
characterized,
in that the control means (20, 35, 36) for the up and down movement of the filling elements (18) with the bearing support (27) are height-adjustable. Filling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the filling elements (18) each have a liquid channel (43) which communicates with the boiler (14) via a filling element-side connection (49) and a liquid connection (37) and a discharge opening for delivery the liquid filling material in the respective container (2) forms, that the filling elements (18) and / or their Connections (4) are in the lowered state below the level of the boiler bottom (15) and in the raised state above the level of the boiler bottom (15), and that the filling elements are arranged radially in front of the boiler with respect to the machine axis (MA). Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
that the boiler (14) is also provided on the second rotor element (13),
and or
in that the second rotor element (13) is drivingly connected to the first rotor element (5) for rotational movement about the machine axis (MA),
and or
that the first rotor element is a for example annular turntable (5) which is mounted on a machine frame (3) is rotatably mounted,
and or
in that the control means (20, 35, 36) for the controlled up and down movement of the filling elements (18) are provided on the bearing carrier (27). Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by adjusting means (28) for adjusting the bearing carrier (27),
wherein, for example, the adjusting means of at least one adjusting or threaded spindle (28) are formed, which is manually or motor-operated for the adjustment. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in
that for storage of the second rotor element (13) this with a thrust bearing housing (26) arranged on a coaxial with the machine axis (MA) and on the machine frame (3) provided track bearing column (25) is rotatably and axially displaceably mounted and the thrust bearing housing (26) at the same time is rotatably mounted on the bearing carrier (27),
and or
in that the bearing carrier (27) is located in the machine frame (3) below the first rotor element (5). Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a motor drive (10, 11, 12) for the rotor (4), said drive acting directly on the first rotor element (5) or the second rotor element (13). Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means for the controlled raising and lowering of the filling elements (18) of at least one each filling element (18) associated with and associated with this lifting rod (20) and one with the rotor (4 ) not co-rotating lifting or control cam (36) are formed, with which the lifting rods (20) each cooperate with a control element, for example with a control or lifting roller (36),
wherein, for example, the at least one control or lifting cam (35) with the bearing carrier (27) is height-adjustable,
and or
wherein, for example, the at least one control or lifting cam (35) on the bearing support (27) is provided. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid channel (43) of each filling element (18) via the filling element side connection (49) and a flexible at least over a partial length line (37) with the boiler (14) in the region of the boiler bottom (15) is connected. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when forming the filling machine (1) as a single-chamber filling machine with a in the boiler (14) formed liquid space (14.1) and with a in the boiler (14) formed gas space (14.2), the filling elements ( 18) in each case one over its underside or over the local liquid opening projecting, at the lower end open and a return gas channel forming return gas pipe (48) and that the return gas channel of each filling element (18) is connected to the gas space (14.2) via a flexible line (38) which is flexible at least over part of its length. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one to the boiler (14) leading line (16, 17) for the medium or for gas or air, wherein the line (16, 17) at least one in the boiler (14) opening part length together with the second rotor element (13) is height adjustable.

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