Apparatus and process for filling containers

Abstract

An apparatus for filling containers (B) with articles (P 2 ), has a filling station ( 6 ), a container conveyor ( 3 ) by means of which containers (B) which are to be filled are fed into the filling station ( 6 ), at least one article conveyor ( 2 ) for conveying the articles (P 2 ) into a region of the filling station ( 6 ), and at least one filling unit ( 7 ) by means of which a filling space of the containers (B) which are to be filled is filled with the fed articles (P 2 ) in the filling station ( 6 ). The apparatus has filling aids ( 4, 5 ), at least in the region of the filling station ( 6 ), for at least some of the containers (B), the filling aids deforming these containers (B) before they are filled in the filling station ( 6 ) or enlarging the filling openings thereof or forming filling guides for these containers (B). This easily allows containers (B) to be completely filled even if the containers (B) have been transported in the partially filled state.

1 . An apparatus for filling containers with articles, having a filling station, having a container conveyor by means of which containers which are to be filled are fed into the filling station, having at least one article conveyor for conveying the articles into a region of the filling station, and having at least one filling unit by means of which a filling space of the containers which are to be filled is filled with the fed articles in the filling station, wherein the apparatus has filling aids, at least in the region of the filling station, for at least some of the containers, the filling aids deforming these containers before they are filled in the filling station or enlarging the filling openings thereof or forming filling guides for these containers.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filling aids act in pairs on opposite sides of the container, and/or wherein the filling aids act symmetrically in respect to at least one axis of symmetry of these containers.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filling aids are deforming means which form the filling spaces of the containers by a pressing or spreading action.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filling aids have deforming surfaces for deforming the containers, the deforming surfaces being of curved design.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container conveyor has carry-along elements for accommodating and carrying along the containers which are to be filled, and wherein the carry-along elements are designed as filling aids for deforming the containers.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least some of the carry-along elements have a side wall for butting against a wall of the container which is to be filled, and wherein at least one surface of this side wall is of convex design.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each container which is to be filled can be clamped, for deformation purposes, between a first front carry-along element and a second, rear carry-along element.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein it has a feed conveyor by means of which the containers which are to be filled are fed onto the container conveyor, wherein the container conveyor has a curved region, and wherein a location at which the containers which are to be filled are transferred from the feed conveyor to the container conveyor is arranged in the curved region.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filling aids are guide plates which, in the filling station, cover over at least two opposite sides of each container and form filling guides.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filling aids have spreading elements, which enlarge the filling openings of the containers.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filling unit has a picker, in particular a Delta Robot.  
     
     
         12 . A process for filling containers with articles, in which containers which are to be filled are conveyed into a filling station by means of a container conveyor, articles are conveyed, by means of at least one article conveyor, into a region of the filling station and, there, are filled individually or in groups, by means of the filling unit, in filling spaces of the containers which are to be filled, wherein the containers which are to be filled, at least in the region of the filling station, are deformed or provided with filling aids which enlarge filling openings of these containers or form filling guides for these containers.  
     
     
         13 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the filling spaces of the containers which are to be filled are at least more or less elastically deformed.  
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the containers which are to be filled are conveyed to the filling station by means of carry-along elements on the container conveyor, wherein the containers are deformed by means of these carry-along elements, and wherein the containers which are to be filled are transferred to the container conveyor, and discharged therefrom, in a curved region of the same.  
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the containers which are to be filled have been partially filled as they arrive in the filling station, and wherein they are completely filled in the filling station.