Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material. 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.

1 . A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;
 said beverage bottling plant comprising:   a plurality of rotary machines, comprising at least a rotary beverage bottle filling machine and a rotary beverage bottle closing machine;   said beverage bottle filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;   said beverage bottle filling machine comprising:
 a rotatable rotor; 
 a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; 
 each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being mounted 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 bottles to be filled; 
 each of said plurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into bottles to be filled; 
 at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a liquid to be bottled; 
 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 beverage bottle filling machine conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into said beverage bottle filling machine; 
 said first beverage bottle filling machine conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; 
 a second beverage bottle filling machine conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beverage bottle filling machine; 
 said second beverage bottle filling machine conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; 
   at least one of said plurality of rotary machines comprising:
 a machine frame comprising a lower frame portion; 
 at least one support foot being connected to said lower frame portion to support said lower frame portion thereon; 
 a gear wheel being rotatably mounted inside said lower frame portion; 
 said gear wheel comprising a gear wheel hub disposed in a central portion of said gear wheel; 
 said gear wheel hub comprising a receiving opening; 
 a rotatable, elongated shaft being disposed vertically and being connected to said rotor; 
 said elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end disposed opposite said upper end; 
 at least a portion of said lower end being disposed in said receiving opening in said gear wheel hub and thus operatively connected to said gear wheel; 
 said gear wheel being rotatable to drive said shaft in rotation; 
 a disc structure being mounted on said upper end of said shaft; 
 said disc structure being connected to said rotor; 
 a bearing arrangement being mounted on said machine frame and being configured to permit rotation of said shaft; 
 said bearing arrangement comprising:
 a sleeve being configured and disposed to encircle at least a portion of said shaft; 
 said sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion; 
 an external bearing mount being disposed to encircle a portion of said lower portion of said sleeve, wherein a substantial portion of said sleeve extends vertically out of, above, and beyond said external bearing mount; 
 said sleeve being connected to and supported vertically by said external bearing mount; 
 said external bearing mount being connected to and supported by said lower frame portion of said machine frame; 
 an annular space being disposed between said sleeve and said shaft; 
 said annular space being configured to hold a lubricant material; 
 a lower gasket being configured and disposed to close the lower portion of said annular space; 
 an upper gasket being configured and disposed to close the upper portion of said annular space; 
 said upper gasket being configured and disposed to support at least a portion of said disc structure thereon; 
 at least two bearings being disposed in said annular space, between said shaft and said sleeve; 
 said at least two bearings comprising a lower bearing being disposed in the lower portion of said sleeve and an upper bearing being disposed in the upper portion of said sleeve; 
 said lower bearing being closer to said lower gasket than said upper bearing, and said upper bearing being closer to said upper gasket than said lower bearing; 
 said annular space extending from said lower bearing to said upper gasket; 
 said annular space being configured to permit movement of lubricant material from adjacent said lower bearing to adjacent said upper gasket; 
 a bearing arrangement lubrication system; 
 said bearing arrangement lubrication system comprising:
 a lower lubrication duct being disposed in the lower portion of said sleeve; 
 said lower lubrication duct comprising a vertical duct portion being disposed to run parallel to said shaft and a horizontal duct portion being disposed perpendicularly to said vertical duct portion and being disposed to operatively connect to said annular space; 
 said lower lubrication duct being disposed adjacent said lower bearing; 
 a lubricant inlet being disposed on the outer surface of said sleeve and being configured and disposed to permit a lubricant material to be introduced into said lower lubrication duct; 
 said lower lubrication duct being disposed to extend through said sleeve from said lubricant inlet to said lower bearing; 
 said lower lubrication duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of a lubricant material into said annular space; 
 an upper lubrication duct being disposed in the upper portion of said sleeve; 
 said upper lubrication duct being disposed perpendicularly to said annular space, and being disposed to operatively connect to said annular space; 
 a lubricant outlet being disposed on the outer surface of said sleeve and being configured and disposed to permit a lubricant material to exit said upper lubrication duct upon filling of said annular space; 
 said upper lubrication duct being disposed to extend through said sleeve from said lubricant outlet to said annular space; 
 a removable closing element being configured and disposed to seal said upper lubrication duct; 
 said upper lubrication duct extending from said removable closing element to said upper gasket; and 
 said removable closing element being configured to be removed from said lubricant outlet to permit the flow of air out of said upper lubrication duct upon the introduction of a lubricant material into said lubrication system, and then to be inserted into said lubricant outlet to seal said upper lubrication duct; 
 
 
   said beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles;   said beverage bottle closing machine comprising:
 a rotatable 
 rotor; 
 a plurality of closing devices disposed on the periphery of said rotor; 
 each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled bottles; 
 each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on bottles upon bottles being filled; 
 a first beverage bottle closing machine conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles into said beverage bottle closing machine; 
 said first beverage bottle closing machine conveyor arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; 
 a second beverage bottle closing machine conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles out of said beverage bottle closing machine; and 
 said second beverage bottle closing machine conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure. 
   
   
   
       2 . A container filling plant for filling containers with liquid beverage material, said container filling plant comprising:
 a plurality of rotary machines, comprising at least a container filling machine and a container closing machine;   said container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill containers with liquid beverage material;   said container filling machine comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a plurality of container filling elements for filling containers with liquid beverage material; 
 each of said plurality of container filling elements being mounted on the periphery of said rotor; 
 each of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled; 
 each of said plurality of container filling elements being configured and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into containers to be filled; 
 at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold a liquid for filling; 
 at least one supply channel being configured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir to said container filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said container filling machine; 
 a first container filling machine conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers into said container filling machine; 
 a second container filling machine conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container filling machine; 
   at least one of said plurality of rotary machines comprising:
 a machine frame; 
 at least one support foot being connected to said machine frame to support said machine frame thereon; 
 a drive mechanism being disposed inside said machine frame; 
 said drive mechanism comprising a receiving opening; 
 a rotatable, elongated shaft being disposed vertically and being connected to said rotor; 
 said elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end disposed opposite said upper end; 
 at least a portion of said lower end being disposed in said receiving opening in said gear wheel hub and thus operatively connected to said gear wheel; 
 said drive mechanism being configured and disposed to drive said shaft in rotation; 
 said upper end of said shaft being connected to said rotor to rotate said rotor; 
 a bearing arrangement being supported by said machine frame and being configured to permit rotation of said shaft; 
 said bearing arrangement comprising: 
 a sleeve being configured and disposed to envelop at least a portion of said shaft;
 said sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion; 
 said lower portion of said sleeve being connected to and supported vertically by said machine frame; 
 an annular space being disposed between said sleeve and said shaft; 
 said annular space being configured to hold a lubricant material; 
 a first gasket being configured and disposed to close a first portion of said annular space; 
 a second gasket being configured and disposed to close a second portion of said annular space; 
 at least two bearings being disposed in said annular space, between said shaft and said sleeve; 
 said at least two bearings comprising a first bearing being disposed in said lower portion of said sleeve and a second bearing being disposed in said upper portion of said sleeve; 
 said first bearing being closer to said first gasket than said second bearing, and said second bearing being closer to said second gasket than said first bearing; 
 said annular space extending from said first bearing to said second gasket; 
 said annular space being configured to permit movement of lubricant material from adjacent said first bearing to adjacent said second gasket; 
 a bearing arrangement lubrication system; 
 said bearing arrangement lubrication system comprising:
 a first lubrication duct being disposed in said lower portion of said sleeve; 
 said first lubrication duct comprising a first duct portion being disposed to run parallel to said shaft and a second duct portion being disposed transverse to said first duct portion and being disposed to operatively connect to said annular space; 
 said first lubrication duct being disposed adjacent said first bearing; 
 said first lubrication duct extending from said lubricant inlet to said first bearing; 
 a lubricant inlet being configured and disposed to permit a lubricant material to be introduced into said first lubrication duct; 
 said first lubrication duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of a lubricant material into said annular space; 
 a second lubrication duct being disposed in said upper portion of said sleeve; 
 said second lubrication duct being disposed transverse to said annular space, and being disposed to operatively connect to said annular space; 
 said second lubrication duct extending from said removable closing element to said second gasket; 
 a removable closing element being configured and disposed to seal said second lubrication duct; and 
 said removable closing element being configured to be removed to permit the flow of air out of said second lubrication duct upon the introduction of a lubricant material into said lubrication system, and then to be inserted to seal said upper lubrication duct; 
 
 
   said container filling plant further comprising a container closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers;   said container closing machine comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a plurality of closing devices being disposed on said rotor; 
 each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled containers; 
 each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on containers upon containers being filled; 
 a first container closing machine conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers into said container closing machine; and 
 a second container closing machine conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container closing machine. 
   
   
   
       3 . The container filling plant according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first duct ends at a segment of the annular space formed between the at least one bearing and a first gasket. 
   
   
       4 . The container filling plant according to  claim 3 , comprising at least two bearings that are offset from each other in the axial direction of the shaft in the bearing sleeve or in the annular space. 
   
   
       5 . The container filling plant according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first duct ends in the annular space in a segment between the first gasket and the bearing that is downstream of said gasket in the axial direction, and that the means for ventilation are provided between the second gasket and the bearing immediately downstream of said gasket in the axial direction of the shaft. 
   
   
       6 . The container filling plant according to  claim 5 , wherein the means for the ventilation are formed by at least one closable second duct. 
   
   
       7 . The container filling plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the means for ventilation are provided on a level that is above, in the vertical direction, the level at which the at least one first duct empties into the annular space. 
   
   
       8 . The container filling plant according to  claim 7 , wherein the shaft is oriented with its axis in the vertical direction, and that the first duct empties into the annular space below the at least one bearing. 
   
   
       9 . The container filling plant according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one first duct extends with a partial segment in the bearing sleeve, preferably in the direction of the axis of the shaft. 
   
   
       10 . The container filling plant according to  claim 9 , comprising a retaining ring to hole the at least one bearing, whereby the at least one first duct extends with at least a partial segment in said ring and empties into the annular space at a ring interior surface that surrounds the shaft. 
   
   
       11 . The container filling plant according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one first duct empties at the outer surface of the bearing arrangement or of the bearing sleeve at a lubricant or filling opening. 
   
   
       12 . The container filling plant according to  claim 11 , wherein the lubricant or filling opening is formed by a grease nipple. 
   
   
       13 . The container filling plant according to  claim 12 , wherein a bearing mount is provided on the machine frame to hold the bearing sleeve over a portion of its length, and that the lubrication or filling opening is located on a segment of the bearing sleeve that projects out of the bearing mount. 
   
   
       14 . The container filling plant according to  claim 13 , wherein the annular space extends over the majority of the length of the shaft, for example at least 60% of the total length of the shaft. 
   
   
       15 . The container filling plant according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the annular space extends in the axial direction of the shaft over a length which is greater by a multiple than the diameter of the shaft, for example greater than the diameter of the shaft by a factor of 6 to 8; and   the annular space is an annular chamber.   
   
   
       16 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A container filling plant for filling containers, said container filling plant comprising:
 a plurality of rotary machines, comprising at least a container filling machine and a container closing machine;   said container filling machine being configured and disposed to fill containers;   said container filling machine comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a plurality of container filling elements for filling containers; 
 each of said plurality of container filling elements comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold containers to be filled; 
 a first container filling machine conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers into said container filling machine; 
 a second container filling machine conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container filling machine; 
   at least one of said plurality of rotary machines comprising:
 a machine frame; 
 at least one support foot being connected to said machine frame to support said machine frame thereon; 
 a drive mechanism being disposed inside said machine frame; 
 said drive mechanism comprising a receiving opening; 
 a rotatable, elongated shaft being disposed vertically and being connected to said rotor; 
 said elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end disposed opposite said upper end; 
 at least a portion of said lower end being disposed in said receiving opening in said driving mechanism and thus operatively connected to said driving mechanism; 
 said drive mechanism being configured and disposed to drive said shaft in rotation; 
 said upper end of said shaft being connected to said rotor to rotate said rotor; 
 a bearing arrangement being supported by said machine frame and being configured to permit rotation of said shaft; 
 said bearing arrangement comprising:
 a sleeve being configured and disposed to envelop at least a portion of said shaft; 
 said sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion; 
 said lower portion of said sleeve being connected to and supported vertically by said machine frame; 
 an annular space being disposed between said sleeve and said shaft; 
 said annular space being configured to hold a lubricant material; 
 a first gasket being configured and disposed to close a first portion of said annular space; 
 a second gasket being configured and disposed to close a second portion of said annular space; 
 at least two bearings being disposed in said annular space, between said shaft and said sleeve; 
 said at least two bearings comprising a first bearing being disposed in said lower portion of said sleeve and a second bearing being disposed in said upper portion of said sleeve; 
 said first bearing being closer to said first gasket than said second bearing, and said second bearing being closer to said second gasket than said first bearing; 
 said annular space extending from said first bearing to said second gasket; 
 said annular space being configured to permit movement of lubricant material from adjacent said first bearing to adjacent said second gasket; 
 a bearing arrangement lubrication system; 
 said bearing arrangement lubrication system comprising:
 a first lubrication duct being disposed in said lower portion of said sleeve; 
 said first lubrication duct comprising a first duct portion being disposed to run parallel to said shaft and a second duct portion being disposed transverse to said first duct portion and being disposed to operatively connect to said annular space; 
 said first lubrication duct being disposed adjacent said first bearing; 
 said first lubrication duct extending from said lubricant inlet to said first bearing; 
 a lubricant inlet being configured and disposed to permit a lubricant material to be introduced into said first lubrication duct; 
 said first lubrication duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of a lubricant material into said annular space; 
 a second lubrication duct being disposed in said upper portion of said sleeve; 
 said second lubrication duct being disposed transverse to said annular space, and being disposed to operatively connect to said annular space; 
 said second lubrication duct extending from said removable closing element to said second gasket; 
 a removable closing element being configured and disposed to seal said second lubrication duct; and 
 said removable closing element being configured to be removed to permit the flow of air out of said second lubrication duct upon the introduction of a lubricant material into said lubrication system, and then to be inserted to seal said upper lubrication duct; 
 
 
   said container filling plant further comprising a container closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled containers;   said container closing machine comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a plurality of closing devices being disposed on said rotor; 
 each of said plurality of closing devices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold filled containers; 
 each of said plurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to place closures on containers upon containers being filled; 
 a first container closing machine conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers into said container closing machine; and 
 a second container closing machine conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move containers out of said container closing machine. 
   
   
   
       22 . The container filling plant according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one first duct ends at a segment of the annular space formed between the at least one bearing and a first gasket;   said at least two bearings are offset from each other in the axial direction of the shaft in the bearing sleeve or in the annular space; and   the at least one first duct ends in the annular space in a segment between the first gasket and the bearing that is downstream of said gasket in the axial direction, and that the means for ventilation are provided between the second gasket and the bearing immediately downstream of said gasket in the axial direction of the shaft.   
   
   
       23 . The container filling plant according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 the means for the ventilation are formed by at least one closable second duct;   the means for ventilation are provided on a level that is above, in the vertical direction, the level at which the at least one first duct empties into the annular space; and   the shaft is oriented with its axis in the vertical direction, and that the first duct empties into the annular space below the at least one bearing.   
   
   
       24 . The container filling plant according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the at least one first duct extends with a partial segment in the bearing sleeve, preferably in the direction of the axis of the shaft;   a retaining ring to hole the at least one bearing, whereby the at least one first duct extends with at least a partial segment in said ring and empties into the annular space at a ring interior surface that surrounds the shaft; and   the at least one first duct empties at the outer surface of the bearing arrangement or of the bearing sleeve at a lubricant or filling opening.   
   
   
       25 . The container filling plant according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 the lubricant or filling opening is formed by a grease nipple;   a bearing mount is provided on the machine frame to hold the bearing sleeve over a portion of its length, and that the lubrication or filling opening is located on a segment of the bearing sleeve that projects out of the bearing mount;   the annular space extends over the majority of the length of the shaft, for example at least 60% of the total length of the shaft;   the annular space extends in the axial direction of the shaft over a length which is greater by a multiple than the diameter of the shaft, for example greater than the diameter of the shaft by a factor of 6 to 8; and   the annular space is an annular chamber.