US20070163213A1

US20070163213A1 - Beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material and a method of operation thereof

Info

Publication number: US20070163213A1
Application number: US11/624,483
Authority: US
Inventors: Volker Till
Original assignee: KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
Current assignee: KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2007-01-18
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: DE102006002632A1; EP1810813A3; RU2007101948A; CN101003177A; EP1810813A2

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material and a method of operation thereof. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
This application relates to a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material and a method of operation thereof.
2. Background Information
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine, which is often a rotary filling machine, with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material.
Some beverage bottling plants may possibly comprise filling arrangements that receive a liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annular vessel, in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel may also be connected to at least one external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In some circumstances it may even be possible that a beverage bottling plant has two external supply reservoirs, each of which may be configured to store either the same liquid beverage product or different products. These reservoirs could possibly be connected to the toroidal or annular vessel by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or other arrangements. It is also possible that the external supply reservoirs could be in the form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers.
A wide variety of types of filling elements are used in filling machines in beverage bottling or container filling plants for dispensing a liquid product into bottles, cans or similar containers, including but not limited to filling processes that are carried out under counterpressure for the bottling of carbonated beverages. The apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material further comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the filling of the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling material reaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine.
After a filling process has been completed, the filled beverage bottles are transported or conveyed to a closing machine, which is often a rotary closing machine. A revolving or rotary machine comprises a rotor, which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station. A transporting or conveying arrangement can utilize transport star wheels as well as linear conveyors. A closing machine closes bottles by applying a closure, such as a screw-top cap or a bottle cork, to a corresponding bottle mouth. Closed bottles are then usually conveyed to an information adding arrangement, wherein information, such as a product name or a manufacturer's information or logo, is applied to a bottle. A closing station and information adding arrangement may be connected by a corresponding conveyer arrangement. Bottles are then sorted and packaged for shipment out of the plant.
Many beverage bottling plants may also possibly comprise a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station to which new, non-return and/or even return bottles are fed, prior to being filled, by a conveyer arrangement, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station, in the direction of travel, rinsed bottles are then transported to the beverage filling machine by a second conveyer arrangement that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that introduce bottles into the beverage filling machine.
It is a further possibility that a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can be controlled by a central control arrangement, which could be, for example, a computerized control system that monitors and controls the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
At least one existing process for the manufacture of plastic bottles, including PET bottles, uses a blowing method from preforms, or blanks, which are heated and formed into respective bottles by blowing in a blow mold. At least one process relates to plastic or PET bottles that are realized in the form of very thin-walled lightweight bottles that therefore have low mechanical stability on their bottle bodies and especially on their bottle body, which is generally cylindrical or approximately cylindrical, i.e. they are relatively soft. Thin-walled lightweight PET bottles of this type, which are generally used only once and the material or materials of which bottles, after use, are recycled to manufacture new bottles, have the advantage, among other things, that they are lightweight and require little material. As a result of their thin-walled construction, however, there is a risk that lightweight bottles of this type can be deformed when they are grasped by the hand in the middle of the bottle and/or that they will buckle in the middle of the bottle on account of the weight of the contents.

OBJECT OR OBJECTS

An object of at least one possible embodiment is to indicate a method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material. An additional object of at least one possible embodiment of the present application is to indicate a method for the manufacture of plastic bottles or similar containers which, while retaining the capability of employing an efficient and economical fabrication process, creates improved mechanical stability even for thin-walled containers.

SUMMARY

At least one possible embodiment of the present application teaches a method for manufacturing bottles or similar containers made of plastic, such as for manufacturing PET bottles, by possibly blowing a preform using a blow mold, wherein prior to a blowing process, a reinforcement or stabilizing element is introduced into a blow mold, and an element may be located between an inner or mold surface of a blow mold and an outer surface of a container that can be formed during blowing of a preform, and can be connected with a container by a fabrication process positively and/or non-positively.
A mechanical stabilization or reinforcement element can be a single-layer or multiple-layer flat material, for example, e.g. plastic and/or cardboard and/or multiple-layer paper. Other realizations of a reinforcement or stabilizing element are also conceivable.
In at least one possible embodiment, at least one reinforcement or stabilization element can be essentially held to a container by a positive and/or non-detachable and/or adhesive manner, and possibly by encircling the container in an area of the container to be stabilized with a ring or sleeve, so that the container may be in substantially firm contact by means of its outside surface against an inside surface of the reinforcement or stabilizing element and/or for example so that in the area where the reinforcement or stabilization element is provided, the container essentially has a waist area with a somewhat smaller diameter and/or has segments with a somewhat larger outside diameter above and/or below the reinforcement or stabilizing element, so that the reinforcement or stabilizing element is thereby secured to possibly prevent its axial displacement on the container. Other types of a positive and/or non-detachable and/or adhesive connection of the reinforcement or stabilizing element to the containers are also possible, including but not limited to those that are adapted to the type and shape of the reinforcement or stabilizing elements.
At least one possible embodiment of the present application also teaches that at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element can essentially be connected to the container by means of non-positive and/or even possibly detachable connection.
One advantage of at least one embodiment is that for the fabrication of the containers provided with the reinforcement or stabilizing elements, the blowing machines that are already being used by a manufacturer, for example by a beverage producer or a bottling plant, can essentially be used without modifications or at least without significant modifications, and essentially including also the control system for the blow molds.
Developments of at least one embodiment of the present application are described herein.
The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described further hereinbelow. When the word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” is used in this specification, the word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments of the invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”. By stating “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”, the Applicant does not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

At least one possible embodiment of the present application is explained in greater detail below on the basis of one exemplary embodiment that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of what may be a typical system for filling containers;
FIG. 1B is a block diagram which shows an additional possible variation of the arrangement of components shown in FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic drawing of a plastic bottle manufactured using the blowing method as describe herein;
FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate various steps in the method for the manufacture of the bottle illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2D shows an additional embodiment example of a method for the manufacture of a bottle;
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate additional variants for the positive and/or non-detachable and/or adhesive connection and fastening of a stabilizing or reinforcement element to the bottle.
FIG. 3C shows a symbolically illustrated variant for the non-positive and/or possibly detachable fastening of a stabilizing or reinforcement element to the bottle.
FIGS. 3D-3F are additional illustrations of the possible embodiments of stabilizing or reinforcement elements shown in FIGS. 3A-3C.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of what may be a typical system for filling containers, specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles B with at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein.
FIG. 1A shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101, to which the containers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow A1, by a first conveyer arrangement 103, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101, in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow A1, the rinsed bottles B are transported to a beverage filling machine 105 by a second conveyer arrangement 104 that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that introduce bottles B into the beverage filling machine 105.
The beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or rotary design, with a rotor 105′, which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. The rotor 105′ is designed to receive and hold the bottles B for filling at a plurality of filling positions 113 located about the periphery of the rotor 105′. At each of the filling positions 103 is located a filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve. The filling arrangements 114 are designed to introduce a predetermined volume or amount of liquid beverage into the interior of the bottles B to a predetermined or desired level.
The filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annular vessel 117, in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel 117 is a component, for example, of the revolving rotor 105′. The toroidal vessel 117 can be connected by means of a rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation. The toroidal vessel 117 is also connected to at least one external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, there are two external supply reservoirs 123 and 124, each of which is configured to store either the same liquid beverage product or different products. These reservoirs 123, 124 are connected to the toroidal or annular vessel 117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121 and 122. The external supply reservoirs 123, 124 could be in the form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers, in at least one possible embodiment.
As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible embodiment there could be a second toroidal or annular vessel which contains a second product. In this case, each filling arrangement 114 could be connected by separate connections to each of the two toroidal vessels and have two individually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in each bottle B, the first product or the second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.
Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105, in the direction of travel of the bottles B, there can be a beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 which closes or caps the bottles B. The beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 can be connected by a third conveyer arrangement 107 to a beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station 108. The third conveyor arrangement may be formed, for example, by a plurality of starwheels, or may also include a linear conveyor device.
In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit, device, or module, for applying labels to bottles B. In the embodiment shown, the labeling arrangement 108 is connected by a starwheel conveyer structure to three output conveyer arrangements: a first output conveyer arrangement 109, a second output conveyer arrangement 110, and a third output conveyer arrangement 111, all of which convey filled, closed, and labeled bottles B to different locations.
The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a first type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 123. The second output conveyer arrangement 110, in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 124. The third output conveyer arrangement 111, in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled bottles B. To further explain, the labeling arrangement 108 can comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the bottles B to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or aligned on the bottles B. The third output conveyer arrangement 111 removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as determined by the inspecting device.
The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central control arrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized control system that monitors and controls the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
FIG. 1B shows a possible variation of the arrangement of essentially main components of one possible embodiment example of what may be a typical system for filling containers as shown in FIG. 1A. Additionally, FIG. 1B shows a bottle forming arrangement 228 preceding the filling station 105. In at least one possible embodiment, the beverage bottling plant is shown to also have a packaging station 303 located downstream from the labeling arrangement 108 in the beverage bottling plant.
In other possible embodiments, an inspection station can be located in the beverage bottling plant downstream from the bottle forming arrangement 228, in which the newly-formed bottles can be inspected prior to being filled at the beverage filling machine 105. In at least one possible embodiment example, a conveyor arrangement designed to convey bottles B from the bottle forming arrangement 228 to the beverage filling machine 105, can pass an inspection station, comprising an output conveyor arrangement. The output conveyer arrangement can convey incorrectly formed or damaged bottles B. The inspection arrangement can comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring device that inspects or monitors the appearance of the bottles B to determine if the bottles have been correctly formed. The output conveyer arrangement removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly formed as determined by the inspecting device.
In the figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a thin-walled, or lightweight, PET bottle manufactured from plastic using a blowing method, with a mouth area 1.1 that has a bottle mouth, with an adjacent shoulder area 1.2 that has a substantially widening cross section, with a bottle body or body area 1.3 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is essentially cylindrical, and with a generally structured bottle bottom 1.4.
In the body area 1.3, the bottle 1 is essentially encircled by a sleeve 2, which is in substantially close contact with its inner surface against the outer surface of the body area 1.3 and essentially acts as a reinforcement or stabilizing element to substantially mechanically stabilize the bottle 1 in the body area 1.3. The sleeve 2, which in the illustrated embodiment essentially extends over almost the entire axial length of the body area 1.3, is possibly fabricated from an relatively flat material that is appropriate for the desired stabilization, such as cardboard or paperboard, possibly in the form of a paperboard tube, or possibly even from a single-layer or multiple-layer paper, and essentially using the technology of existing methods for the manufacture of sleeves or tubes made of paperboard or cardboard, such as by possibly winding.
The sleeve 2 is essentially secured to the bottle 1 on one hand substantially as a result of the fact that the body area 1.3 is in relatively firm contact against the inside of the sleeve 2, and on the other hand in the illustrated embodiment substantially as a result of the fact that the body area 1.3 has a somewhat slightly narrower waist in the vicinity of the sleeve 2, so that the sleeve 2 is consequently additionally substantially secured to the bottle 1 to essentially prevent it from possibly unintentionally slipping downward.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, in at least one possible embodiment, the sleeve can be held to the bottle 1 positively and/or in a substantially non-detachable and/or adhesive manner because the sleeve 2, on its inside, has elements that essentially mesh evenly with the blown bottle, and thus possibly prevent a relative displacement between the sleeve 2 and the bottle 1 in the axial direction. These elements can essentially be, for example, elevations that have a substantially triangular or semi-circular cross section, as in FIG. 3A, which essentially at least partly fill up or run through the inner jacket of the sleeve 2. FIG. 3D shows the exterior surface of bottle 1 with recessed channels 1 c essentially mating and fitting together with substantially angular ridge projections 1 r of the interior surface of sleeve 2. These elements can also possibly be substantially cone-shaped elements, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, which extend in a substantially punctiform manner from the inner jacket of the sleeve 2. FIG. 3E shows the exterior surface of bottle 1 having essentially cone-shaped recesses 1 s mating and fitting together with essentially cone-shaped projections 1 p on the interior surface of the sleeve 2.
However, these elements holding the sleeve 2 to the bottle 1 can also possibly be holes or depressions located on the inside of the sleeve 2. With these elements, too, the meshing described above between the sleeve 2 and the bottle 1 essentially occurs during the blowing process.
As a result of the method described above, the external shape of the bottle 1 can be essentially designed without significant restrictions, and there is essentially no need for the bottle diameter to be enlarged substantially above or below the sleeve 2.
The sleeve 2 is possibly also used essentially as a label, and for this purpose can possibly have printing on its outside surface and/or possibly a graphic and/or possibly even a color design.
At least one possible embodiment of the present application also teaches that there can also possibly be printing on the inside of the sleeve 2, or that the inside of the sleeve can essentially be designed in almost any desired fashion. This method makes it possible, for example, to essentially observe the information or illustrations possibly presented on the inside of the sleeve 2 through a hole in the sleeve 2 that can be located substantially diametrically opposite the information or illustrations, as a result of which the consumer is generally encouraged to spend more time with the product, which according to the prevailing theory has a generally positive effect on the sale of the product.
The sleeve 2 is essentially applied to the bottle 1 during its manufacture. FIGS. 2A-2C show schematically one of the blow molds 3 of a blowing machine, for example a blowing machine that essentially employs a rotary construction, which possibly has a plurality of such blow molds 3 on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blow mold is essentially realized in three parts, and comprises two mold parts 3.1 and 3.2, which during the manufacture substantially mold with their interior mold surfaces the mouth area 1.1, the shoulder area 1.2 and the body area 1.3 of the respective bottle 1, as well as a blow mold bottom 3.3 which, during the manufacture of the respective bottle 1, essentially molds the bottle bottom 1.4. The mouth area 1.1 could be prefabricated or formed in the blow mold 3 during the manufacture of the bottle 1. When the blow mold 3 is closed, the two mold parts 3.1 and 3.2 as well as the bottom 3.3 essentially form a mold cavity which, during the manufacture of the bottle 1, is substantially closed by the blow head 4 that essentially forms the blow nozzle with the prepared, heated preform 5 which extends into the mold cavity. The mold parts 3.1 and 3.2 are shown to be moved by actuators 3.1 a and 3.2 a respectively in FIG. 2D. In at least one possible embodiment, these actuators 3.1 a and 3.2 a are controlled by the central control arrangement 112. The blow mold bottom 3.3 and the blow head 4 can be moved by guide and control means (not shown) in a substantially vertical direction, as indicated by the double arrow A and B in FIG. 2. FIG. 2D shows that in at least one possible embodiment of the present application the blow mold bottom 3.3 can be moved by an actuator 3.3 a. This actuator 3.3 a is also shown to be controlled by the central control arrangement 112 in at least one possible embodiment of the present application.
In detail, the manufacture of the individual bottle is basically performed as described below. At a sleeve delivery point on the blow mold bottom 3.3, which has been lowered and moved at some distance away from the blow mold 3, a prepared sleeve 2 is stood substantially upright, i.e. is essentially set up with its sleeve axis oriented in a substantially vertical direction. FIG. 2D shows in at least one possible embodiment a sleeve positioning device 2 a places the sleeve 2 on the blow mold bottom 3.3. In at least one possible embodiment, the sleeve positioning device 2 a is controlled by the central control arrangement 112. Then the sleeve 2 located on the blow mold bottom 3.3 is introduced from below into the mold cavity when the blow mold 3 is substantially closed, and is lifted approximately to the level of the body area 1.3 to be molded of the bottle 1 to be manufactured. By means of appropriate retaining or fixing means, for example possibly by suction or vacuum nozzles 6 on the inside surface of at least one mold part 3.1 and/or 3.2, the sleeve 2 positioned in this manner is substantially fixed in position in the mold cavity. In at least one possible embodiment, these suction or vacuum nozzles 6 receive suction from a vacuum or suction pump 6 a, as shown in FIG. 2D. The blow mold bottom 3.3 is moved back downward to approximately the level of the bottle bottom 1.4 to be molded.
The blow mold is finally closed with the lowering of the blow head 4 provided with the preform 5. FIG. 2D shows that in at least one possible embodiment of the present application, the blow head 4 can be moved by means of an actuator 4 a, which is controlled by the central control arrangement 112. By feeding in the blowing air via the blow head 4, and with the application of heat or warming, the bottle 1 provided with the sleeve 2 on its body area 1.3 is molded from the PET preform 5. An air supply 4 b feeds the blow head 4 with the necessary air for the formation of the bottles 1 in FIG. 2D. This air supply 4 b is also controlled by the central control arrangement 112 in at least on possible embodiment of the present application. For the unmolding of the bottle 1, the blow mold 3 is opened, i.e. the two mold parts 3.1 and 3.2 are essentially moved or pivoted apart, the blow mold bottom 3 is lowered, and the molded bottle is removed from its neck ring, for example, so that the bottle can then be removed without any substantial interfering contours or possibly even any other interference from the blow mold 3. A sleeve 2 for the next bottle 1 is then approximately positioned on the lowered blow mold bottom 3 at the sleeve delivery point.
In at least one possible embodiment example, instead of or in addition to the vacuum or suction nozzles 6, other possible means, e.g. mechanical means, can also be provided to hold the sleeve 2 or another reinforcement or stabilizing element in the mold cavity of the closed blow mold 3 at approximately the level of the bottle area to be reinforced or stabilized.
At least one possible embodiment of the present application was explained above on the basis of at least one exemplary embodiment. It goes without saying that modifications and variants can be incorporated without thereby going beyond the teaching of the invention. Developments of at least one possible embodiment of the present application are described herein.
For example, it is possible, instead of the cardboard or paperboard sleeves 2, to also provide other possible reinforcement or stabilizing elements, which are then either substantially positively or non-positively connected with the bottle 1 during the molding or even blowing process. In at least one such embodiment, possible reinforcement or stabilizing elements that essentially completely surround the bottles 1 in the area to be reinforced and/or—with an appropriate realization and/or selection of material and/or of the reinforcement or stabilizing elements—surround the bottles 1 only partly, e.g. in a hook-like fashion.
At least one possible embodiment of the present application also teaches that a reinforcement or stabilizing element can also be non-positively attached to the bottle, whereby the connection can be either exclusively non-positive or a combination of non-positive and positive.
Because during the manufacturing process of bottles and containers manufactured using stretch blowing, there is an essentially unavoidable shrinking process of the bottles 1, including a shrinkage in terms of the diameter of the bottles, this method is advantageous, because in this manner a substantially solid seating of the sleeve 2 is achieved in spite of the possible shrinkage.
For this purpose, a reinforcement or stabilizing element may be elastically expanded before it is connected with the bottle so that subsequently, on account of its return to its essentially original shape, it is substantially in solid contact with the bottle, exerts a compression stress on the bottle and thus provides additional possible stabilization for the bottle, which possibly has a circular cross section.
To produce the elastic expansion, at least one possible embodiment teaches, for example, that elements can possibly be located inside the blow mold that pick up the reinforcement or stabilizing element in a first position and then move into a second position essentially farther apart from one another, whereby the elastic expansion is created.
To produce the non-positive connection, at least one possible embodiment of the present application also teaches that the reinforcement or stabilizing elements can be manufactured from a material that possibly reacts in a suitable fashion to the temperatures that essentially prevail during the blowing process, so that the desired annular compression stress is essentially generated. For example, stabilization elements can be used that shrink when heat is applied, or stabilization elements that contract and expand reversibly when exposed to heat. Likewise, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the inside of the sleeve 2 can be equipped with flexible or elastic elements that possibly compensate for the diameter reduction of the bottle 1 caused by the shrinkage and ensure a firm connection between the sleeve 2 and the bottle 1. These elements can be flat elements, for example, that may be made of an elastic foam, or they can particularly advantageously be made of folded paper. FIG. 3F shows shrinkage compensator disks 22 located on the interior of the sleeve 2 filling resulting shrinkage spaces 22 a effecting a secure connection between the sleeve 2 and the bottle 1.
It is also possible to introduce individual reinforcement or stabilizing elements from above into the opened or partly opened blow mold 3, although the introduction of sleeves 2 or other reinforcement or stabilizing elements described above offers the advantage that this introduction can take place simultaneously or partly simultaneously with the lowering of the blow head 4, and there are already means on the blow mold 3, namely the blow mold bottom 3.3 and its control means, that can be used for this purpose. On a blowing machine with a rotary construction, both the feed and positioning movements (the introduction of the reinforcement or stabilization element into the mold cavity and the lowering of the blow head 4 for the introduction of the preform 5 into the mold cavity) can take place in the same or at least substantially same angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor, so that a large angular area of the rotational movement of the rotor remains available or essentially available for the blowing process, and thereby eliminates a restriction on the capacity of a blowing machine that could be caused by the introduction of the sleeves 2 or other reinforcement or stabilization elements.
In at least one possible embodiment of the present application, a plastic bottle or similar container manufactured from a preform in a blow mold by blowing is provided on the outside surface of a container area to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element, which during the molding or blowing was connected with the container positively or non-positively.
At least one possible embodiment of the present application relates to a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage, with a method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers made of plastic, for the manufacture of PET bottles, by blowing a preform using a blow mold. This application also relates to a container, such as a bottle or similar container made of plastic, such as a PET bottle.
Developments, advantages and potential applications of at least one possible embodiment will become apparent on the basis of the description herein of the exemplary embodiments and of the accompanying drawing. All the characteristics described herein and/or illustrated are the object or objects of at least one possible embodiment of the present application, individually or in any possible combination, regardless of their placement in the present application.
One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers 1 made of plastic, such as for the manufacture of PET bottles, by blowing a preform 5 using a blow mold 3, characterized in that prior to the blowing process, a reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 is introduced into the blow mold, and that this element is located between an inner or mold surface of the blow mold 3 and the outer surface of the container 1 that is formed during the blowing of the preform 5, and is connected with the container 1 by the fabrication process positively and/or non-positively.
Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that for the blowing of the container 1, the preform 5 prepared on a blow head 4 or a blow nozzle is introduced into the mold cavity of the blow mold 3 from a first side, for example from the top, and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 is introduced into the mold cavity from a second side, for example from the bottom of the blow mold 3.
Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the introduction of the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 into the mold cavity of the blow mold 3 takes place simultaneously or approximately simultaneously with the introduction of the preform 5 into the mold cavity and/or the closing of the blow mold 3.
Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 is at least partly fixed and/or expanded in the blow mold, for example by vacuum or suction and/or mechanical fixing means.
A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the reinforcement or stabilizing element is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container 1 in the container area 1.3 to be stabilized, for example a sleeve 2 that is made of a flat material, e.g. plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.
Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is a grid-shaped, cage-like and/or hook-like element that at least partly surrounds the container 1 in the area 1.3 to be stabilized.
Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is elastically deformable.
Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has raised mold elements on its inner jacket surface.
A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has depressions on its inner jacket surface.
Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has at least one hole that penetrates its jacket surface.
Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has flexible elements on its inner jacket surface.
Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2, at least on its surface facing away from the container outside, is at least partly printed and/or contains a graphic and/or color design.
A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers, characterized by the manufacture of the containers 1 on a blowing machine that employs a rotary construction with a plurality of blow molds 3 provided on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.
Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a bottle or similar container 1 made of plastic, such as a PET bottle, manufactured in a blow mold by blowing from a preform 5, characterized in that the container 1 is provided on the outer surface of a container area 1.3 to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 which during the molding or blowing is connected with the container positively or non-positively.
Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the container, characterized in that the reinforcement or stabilizing element is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container 1 in the container area 1.3 to be stabilized, for example a sleeve 2 manufactured from a flat material, e.g. from plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.
Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the container, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is an element that at least partly surrounds the container 1 in the area 1.3 to be stabilized, for example a grid, cage or hook-like element.
A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the container, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 is at least partly printed and/or has a graphic and/or color design on its surface facing away from the outside of the container.
Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the container, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly printed and/or has a graphic and/or color design on its surface facing the inside of the container.
Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the container, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 has at least one hole which is located opposite the printing applied to the inside of the reinforcement or stabilizing element 2.
Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the container, characterized in that the container has a larger diameter, at least below the specified position of the lower end of the reinforcement or stabilizing element 2.
Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a beverage bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beverage bottles to said beverage bottle filling machine; a beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles; a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle closing machine; a beverage bottle packing machine being configured and disposed to pack closed, filled beverage bottles; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey closed, filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle packing machine; a beverage bottle forming machine being configured and disposed to form beverage bottles; a central control system being operatively connected to each of said machines to monitor and control the operation thereof; said beverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine; and a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle filling machine; said beverage bottle forming machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle forming arrangements for forming beverage bottles being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottle forming arrangements comprising: a mold being configured to mold blown, plastic material into a beverage bottle; said mold comprising two movable side portions disposed opposite one another and a movable bottom portion; said movable bottom portion being configured and disposed to insert a beverage bottle sleeve in between said two movable side portions; said two movable side portions being configured and disposed to hold a beverage bottle sleeve there between; a movable blower head being configured and disposed to insert a beverage bottle blank into said mold; and said movable blower head being configured and disposed to blow air into a beverage bottle blank to expand the blank against the interior of said mold to form a beverage bottle, and to press a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottle against the inner surface of a beverage bottle sleeve in said mold to connect the beverage bottle sleeve to the beverage bottle; and a star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle forming machine; said beverage bottle closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine; and a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine; said beverage bottle packing machine comprising: a sorting arrangement being configured and disposed to sort and group beverage bottles into groups; and a packaging arrangement being configured and disposed to package the groups of beverage bottles; said method comprising the steps of: moving beverage bottles to said filling machine; moving beverage bottles into said filling machine; filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material in said filling machine; moving filled beverage bottles out of said filling machine; moving filled beverage bottles to said closing machine; moving filled beverage bottles into said machine; closing filled beverage bottles with a closure in said closing machine; prior to filling beverage bottles in said filling machine, moving beverage bottle blanks into said beverage bottle forming machine; inserting with said blower heads beverage bottle blanks into said molds; inserting with said movable bottom portions beverage bottle sleeves into said molds; blowing air into beverage bottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to form beverage bottles and to press a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottles against the inner surfaces of the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connect the beverage bottle sleeves to the beverage bottles; moving beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle forming machine and to said beverage bottle filling machine; moving filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine; moving filled, closed beverage bottles to said packing machine; sorting filled, closed beverage bottles; grouping filled, closed, sorted beverage bottles; and packaging filled, closed, sorted, grouped beverage bottles in packages.
A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a container made by inserting with blower heads beverage bottle blanks into molds; inserting with movable bottom portions of said molds beverage bottle sleeves into said molds; blowing air into beverage bottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to form beverage bottles and to press a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottles against the inner surfaces of the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connect the beverage bottle sleeves to the beverage bottles; said container comprising plastic, in particular a PET bottle, wherein the container is provided on the outer surface of a container area to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element which during the molding or blowing is connected with the container positively or non-positively.
Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method of operating a container filling plant, said method comprising the steps of: moving containers to a filling machine; moving containers into said filling machine; filling containers with a liquid beverage material in said filling machine; moving filled containers out of said filling machine; moving filled containers to a closing machine; moving filled containers into said machine; closing filled containers with a closure in said closing machine; prior to filling containers in said filling machine, moving container blanks into a container forming machine; inserting container blanks into a mold in forming arrangements of said container forming machine; inserting container sleeves into said molds; blowing air into container blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to form containers and to press a portion of the outer surface of the containers against the inner surfaces of the container sleeves in said molds to connect the container sleeves to the containers; moving containers out of said container forming machine and to said container filling machine; moving filled, closed containers out of said container closing machine; moving filled, closed containers to a packing machine; sorting filled, closed containers; grouping filled, closed, sorted containers; and packaging filled, closed, sorted, grouped containers in packages.
Some examples of bottling and container handling systems and components thereof which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment, may possibly be found in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,477, entitled “Capping Machine for Capping and Closing Containers, and a Method for Closing Containers;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,368, entitled “Beverage Container Filling Machine, and Method for Filling Containers with a Liquid Filling Material in a Beverage Container Filling Machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,238, entitled “A Plant for Filling Beverage into Beverage Bottles Other Beverage Containers Having Apparatus for Replacing Remaining Air Volume in Filled Beverage Bottles or Other Beverage Containers;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,922, entitled “Apparatus for the Recovery of an Inert Gas;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,964, entitled “Method of Operating a Plant for Filling Bottles, Cans or the like Beverage Containers with a Beverage, and a Beverage Container Filling Machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,473, entitled “Bottling Plant and Method of Operating a Bottling Plant and a Bottling Plant with Sections for Stabilizing the Bottled Product;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,762, entitled “A Filling System with Post-dripping Prevention;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,877, entitled “Filling System for Still Beverages;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,841, entitled “Labeling Machine with a Sleeve Mechanism for Preparing and Applying Cylindrical Labels onto Beverage Bottles and Other Beverage Containers in a Beverage Container Filling Plant;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,219 entitled “Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material and a labelling station for labelling filled bottles and other containers;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,767, entitled “Beverage bottling plant and a conveyor arrangement for transporting packages;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,624, entitled “Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a container filling plant container information adding station, such as, a labeling station, configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and cans, and modules for labeling stations;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,025, entitled “Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Container Filling Lifting Device for Pressing Containers to Container Filling Machines;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,894, entitled “Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Container Filling Plant Container Information Adding Station, Such As, a Labeling Station Having a Sleeve Label Cutting Arrangement, Configured to Add Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and Cans;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,900, entitled “Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Cleaning Device for Cleaning Bottles in a Beverage Bottling Plant;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,417, entitled “A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and an Easily Cleaned Lifting Device in a Beverage Bottling Plant;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,938, entitled “A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Container Filling Plant Container Information Adding Station, Such As, a Labeling Station Having a Gripper Arrangement, Configured to Add Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and Cans;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,720, entitled “A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and Apparatus for Attaching Carrying Grips to Containers with Filled Bottles;” and U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,062 “Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, having a container handling machine with interchangeable receptacles for the container mouth.”
The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possible embodiments of the present application, as well as equivalents thereof.
The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the technical field is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the technical field of this patent application. However, the description of the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Some examples of filling machines that utilize electronic control devices to control various portions of a filling or bottling process and that may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,921 issued to Cartwright et al. on Apr. 18, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,511 issued to Ronge on Oct. 15, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,082 issued to Paasche et al. on Dec. 28, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,488 issued to Ruhl et al. on Apr. 12, 1994.
The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the application, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Jan. 18, 2007, having inventor Gyula VARHANIOVSKY, corresponding Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2006 002 633.0, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-151, and title “BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT FOR FILLING BEVERAGE BOTTLES HAVING A BOTTLE HANDLING STATION AND A METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF” is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.
The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.
The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the object or objects is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the object or objects of this patent application. However, the description of the object or objects may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Some examples of lifting devices that may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the following patent publications: U.S. Pat. No. 2,535,272 issued to Detrez on Dec. 26, 1950; U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,214 issued to Lippold on Jun. 16, 1953; German Utility Model No. DE-GM 1,923,261 issued on Sep. 9, 1965; German Laid Open Patent Application No. DE-OS 1,532,586 published on Oct. 2, 1969; British Patent No. 1,188,888 issued Apr. 22, 1970; German Laid Open Patent Application No. DE-OS 26 52 910 published on May 24, 1978; German Patent No. DE-PS 26 52 918 issued on Oct. 26, 1978; German Utility Model No. DE-GM 83 04 995 issued on Dec. 22, 1983; German Patent No. DE-PS 26 30 100 issued on Dec. 3, 1981; and German Laid Open Patent Application No. DE-OS 195 45 080 published on Jun. 5, 1997.
All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.
The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately summarize this patent application. However, portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patent applications, and other documents which are included in this application and which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of . . . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable in any one or more embodiments of the application.
The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published patent applications and other documents either incorporated by reference or not incorporated by reference.
The corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2006 002 632.2, filed on Jan. 19, 2006, having inventor Volker TILL, and DE-OS 10 2006 002 632.2 and DE-PS 10 2006 002 632.2 are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein for the purpose of correcting and explaining any possible misinterpretations of the English translation thereof. In addition, the published equivalents of the above corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, and other equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any of the documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.
Some examples of computer systems that may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,480 issued to Roach et al. on May 16, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,355 issued to Hyduke on Dec. 26, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,730 issued to Brown et al. on Jan. 2, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,094 issued to Roach et al. on Sep. 8, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,227 issued to Atkinson et al. on Mar. 9, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,462 issued to Moshovich on Jun. 6, 2000.
All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application.
Some examples of inspection devices and/or spectral analyzers, and components thereof, that may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,416 issued to Gross et al. on Jul. 23, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,906issued to Harhay on Mar. 21, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,499 issued to Kobayashi, et al. on Aug. 28, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,437 issued to Van Aken, et al. on Jun. 7, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,166 issued to Price on Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,222 issued to Alexay on Jun. 27, 1995; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,937,339 issued to Yamazaki on Aug. 30, 2005.
The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Some examples of bottling systems, which may be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present may be found in the following U.S. patents assigned to the Assignee herein, namely: U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,285; No. 4,944,830; No. 4,950,350; No. 4,976,803; No. 4,981,547; No. 5,004,518; No. 5,017,261; No. 5,062,917; No. 5,062,918; No. 5,075,123; No. 5,078,826; No. 5,087,317; No. 5,110,402; No. 5,129,984; No. 5,167,755; No. 5,174,851; No. 5,185,053; No. 5,217,538; No. 5,227,005; No. 5,413,153; No. 5,558,138; No. 5,634,500; No. 5,713,403; No. 6,276,113; No. 6,213,169; No. 6,189,578; No. 6,192,946; No. 6,374,575; No. 6,365,054; No. 6,619,016; No. 6,474,368; No. 6,494,238; No. 6,470,922; and No. 6,463,964.
The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.
Some examples of cameras or the like optical monitoring apparatus that may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,186 issued to Ringlien on Aug. 3, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,400 issued to Ringlien on Sep. 7, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,713 issued to Schwartz et al. on Nov. 29, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,446 issued to Gerber et al. on Aug. 15, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,295 issued to Buchmann et al. on Aug. 26, 1997; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,169 issued to Nodbryhn on Apr. 27, 1999.
The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of this patent application. However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):

- A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
  Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention.
At Least Partial Nomenclature

1 Bottle
1.1 Mouth area of the bottle 1
1.2 Shoulder area of the bottle 1
1.3 Bottle body of the bottle 1
1.4 Bottle bottom
2 Sleeve or reinforcement or stabilizing element
3 Blow mold
3.1, 3.2 Mold part
3.3 Blow mold bottom
4 Blow head with blow nozzle
5 Preform made of plastic or PET
6 Vacuum nozzle
A Reciprocating movement of the mold bottom 3.3
B Vertical movement of the blow head 4

Claims

1. A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a beverage bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beverage bottles to said beverage bottle filling machine; a beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles; a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle closing machine; a beverage bottle packing machine being configured and disposed to pack closed, filled beverage bottles; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey closed, filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle packing machine; a beverage bottle forming machine being configured and disposed to form beverage bottles; a central control system being operatively connected to each of said machines to monitor and control the operation thereof; said beverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles to be filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine; and a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle filling machine; said beverage bottle forming machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle forming arrangements for forming beverage bottles being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottle forming arrangements comprising: a mold being configured to mold blown, plastic material into a beverage bottle; said mold comprising two movable side portions disposed opposite one another and a movable bottom portion; said movable bottom portion being configured and disposed to insert a beverage bottle sleeve in between said two movable side portions; said two movable side portions being configured and disposed to hold a beverage bottle sleeve there between; a movable blower head being configured and disposed to insert a beverage bottle blank into said mold; and said movable blower head being configured and disposed to blow air into a beverage bottle blank to expand the blank against the interior of said mold to form a beverage bottle, and to press a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottle against the inner surface of a beverage bottle sleeve in said mold to connect the beverage bottle sleeve to the beverage bottle; and a star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle forming machine; said beverage bottle closing machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine; and a second star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine; said beverage bottle packing machine comprising: a sorting arrangement being configured and disposed to sort and group beverage bottles into groups; and a packaging arrangement being configured and disposed to package the groups of beverage bottles; said method comprising the steps of:

moving beverage bottles to said filling machine;

moving beverage bottles into said filling machine;

filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material in said filling machine;

moving filled beverage bottles out of said filling machine;

moving filled beverage bottles to said closing machine;

moving filled beverage bottles into said machine;

closing filled beverage bottles with a closure in said closing machine;

prior to filling beverage bottles in said filling machine, moving beverage bottle blanks into said beverage bottle forming machine;

inserting with said blower heads beverage bottle blanks into said molds;

inserting with said movable bottom portions beverage bottle sleeves into said molds;

blowing air into beverage bottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to form beverage bottles and to press a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottles against the inner surfaces of the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connect the beverage bottle sleeves to the beverage bottles;

moving beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle forming machine and to said beverage bottle filling machine;

moving filled, closed beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine;

moving filled, closed beverage bottles to said packing machine;

sorting filled, closed beverage bottles;

grouping filled, closed, sorted beverage bottles; and

packaging filled, closed, sorted, grouped beverage bottles in packages.

2. The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 1, wherein for the blowing of the beverage bottle, the blank prepared on a blow head or a blow nozzle is introduced into the mold cavity of the blow mold from a first side, for example from the top, and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is introduced into the mold cavity from a second side, for example from the bottom of the blow mold.

3. The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 2, wherein the introduction of the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element into the mold cavity of the blow mold takes place simultaneously or approximately simultaneously with the introduction of the blank into the mold cavity and/or the closing of the blow mold.

4. The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 3, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly fixed and/or expanded in the blow mold, for example by vacuum or suction and/or mechanical fixing means; and the reinforcement or stabilizing element is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the beverage bottle in the beverage bottle area to be stabilized, for example a sleeve that is made of a flat material, e.g. plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.

5. The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 4, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is a grid-shaped, cage-like and/or hook-like element that at least partly surrounds the beverage bottle in the area to be stabilized; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is elastically deformable; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has raised mold elements on its inner jacket surface.

6. The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 5, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has depressions on its inner jacket surface; and/or the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has at least one hole that penetrates its jacket surface; and the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has flexible elements on its inner jacket surface; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element, at least on its surface facing away from the beverage bottle outside, is at least partly printed and/or contains a graphic and/or color design; and the method further comprises the manufacture of the beverage bottles on a blowing machine that employs a rotary construction with a plurality of blow molds provided on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.

7. A container made by inserting with blower heads beverage bottle blanks into molds; inserting with movable bottom portions of said molds beverage bottle sleeves into said molds; blowing air into beverage bottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to form beverage bottles and to press a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottles against the inner surfaces of the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connect the beverage bottle sleeves to the beverage bottles; said container comprising plastic, in particular a PET bottle, wherein the container is provided on the outer surface of a container area to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element which during the molding or blowing is connected with the container positively or non-positively.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement or stabilizing element is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container in the container area to be stabilized, for example a sleeve manufactured from a flat material, e.g. from plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is an element that at least partly surrounds the container in the area to be stabilized, for example a grid, cage or hook-like element.

10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly printed and/or has a graphic and/or color design on its surface facing away from the outside of the container; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly printed and/or has a graphic and/or color design on its surface facing the inside of the container.

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has at least one hole which is located opposite the printing applied to the inside of the reinforcement or stabilizing element; and the container has a larger diameter, at least below the specified position of the lower end of the reinforcement or stabilizing element.

12. A method of operating a container filling plant, said method comprising the steps of:

moving containers to a filling machine;

moving containers into said filling machine;

filling containers with a liquid beverage material in said filling machine;

moving filled containers out of said filling machine;

moving filled containers to a closing machine;

moving filled containers into said machine;

closing filled containers with a closure in said closing machine;

prior to filling containers in said filling machine, moving container blanks into a container forming machine;

inserting container blanks into a mold in forming arrangements of said container forming machine;

inserting container sleeves into said molds;

blowing air into container blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to form containers and to press a portion of the outer surface of the containers against the inner surfaces of the container sleeves in said molds to connect the container sleeves to the containers;

moving containers out of said container forming machine and to said container filling machine;

moving filled, closed containers out of said container closing machine;

moving filled, closed containers to a packing machine;

sorting filled, closed containers;

grouping filled, closed, sorted containers; and

packaging filled, closed, sorted, grouped containers in packages.

13. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 12, wherein for the blowing of the container, the blank prepared on a blow head or a blow nozzle is introduced into the mold cavity of the blow mold from a first side, for example from the top, and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is introduced into the mold cavity from a second side, for example from the bottom of the blow mold.

14. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 13, wherein the introduction of the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element into the mold cavity of the blow mold takes place simultaneously or approximately simultaneously with the introduction of the blank into the mold cavity and/or the closing of the blow mold.

15. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly fixed and/or expanded in the blow mold, for example by vacuum or suction and/or mechanical fixing means.

16. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcement or stabilizing element is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container in the container area to be stabilized, for example a sleeve that is made of a flat material, e.g. plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.

17. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 16, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is a grid-shaped, cage-like and/or hook-like element that at least partly surrounds the container in the area to be stabilized.

18. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 17, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is elastically deformable; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has raised mold elements on its inner jacket surface.

19. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 18, wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has depressions on its inner jacket surface; and/or the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has at least one hole that penetrates its jacket surface.

20. The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 19, wherein the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has flexible elements on its inner jacket surface; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element, at least on its surface facing away from the container outside, is at least partly printed and/or contains a graphic and/or color design; and the method further comprises the manufacture of the containers on a blowing machine that employs a rotary construction with a plurality of blow molds provided on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.