MX2008007960A - Apparatus and method for orienting spheroidal containers and packaging beverages in spheroidal containers - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for orienting a spheroidal container (10) comprising a spheroidal body (12) and a neck portion (14) and the method for using the same, the apparatus comprising a container feeder (112), a channel (114) having a longitudinal gap (115) and arranged for receiving the spheroidal containers from the container feeder and operative to orient the spheroidal containers in an upside down orientation with the body (12) supported by the channel (114) and the neck portion (14) extending below the spheroidal body and into the longitudinal gap (115);and a twister (116) for receiving the spheroidal containers in the upside down orientation and inverting the spheroidal containers. An apparatus for packaging a beverage in a spheroidal container and the method for using the same, comprising the apparatus for orienting a spherical container and further comprising a filler for receiving the spheroidal containers and filling the spheroidal containers with the beverage, and a sealer for sealing the beverage in the spheroidal containers.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ORIENTING SPHERIDED CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING DRINKS IN SPHERIDED CONTAINERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for handling spheroid containers. In a particular embodiment, this invention relates to said apparatus that orients the spheroid containers during the transfer of mass production to filling lines in a packaged beverage manufacturing facility. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bottling plants typically comprise bottle feeding lines in which bottles are individually advanced in a single line. The bottles are fed to various parts of the plant to undergo washing, sterilization, filling and sealing processes. While various transport apparatuses are known to handle traditional bottles with a cylindrical shape, they are ineffective in handling spheroidal containers. A unique challenge of handling spheroid containers is that the spheroid vessel lacks longitudinal sides present in the cylindrical vessels. When a large number of spheroidal bottles are introduced to the bottling process in different orientations, the lack of longitudinal sides makes it more difficult to orient the spheroid container in the proper position for processing. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus for handling spheroidal containers in bottling plants. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention addresses the needs identified above by providing an apparatus for handling spheroidal containers in bottling plants. This apparatus is capable of transferring spheroid containers for mass production for filling lines in a packaged beverage manufacturing facility. More particularly, this invention comprises an apparatus for handling spheroid containers comprising a container feeder, a channel having a longitudinal space and. arranged to receive spheroidal containers from the container feeder and to arrange the spheroid containers in a head orientation, and a torcer to invert the spheroid containers from the upside down orientation to the upside down orientation. The container feeder controls the flow of spheroidal containers towards the channel. The channel operates to orient the spheroidal vessels in a head orientation with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body and into the longitudinal space. The torcer then inverts the spheroid vessels from the head orientation to the face-up orientation for further processing. In a particular embodiment, the channel further comprises a pair of rods rotatably mounted along respective sides of the channel space for coupling the spheroidal containers as the spheroidal containers face the channel. A rotating means rotates the rods in opposite directions, wherein both rods push up into the spheroidal containers to assist in the orientation of the spheroidal containers. In addition, according to another embodiment, this invention comprises an apparatus for packaging a beverage into spheroid containers comprising the above-described apparatus for handling the spheroid containers, and further comprising a filling for receiving the spheroid containers in the face-up orientation and filling the spheroid containers with the drink, and a sealant to seal the drink in the spheroidal containers. Still further, this invention encompasses the method for handling spheroid containers and the method for packaging a beverage in a spheroid container.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a modality of a spherical container. Figure 2 shows an elevation view of an apparatus for orienting spherical containers in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. Figure 3 shows a partial plan view of the embodiment in Figure 2 illustrating an apparatus for orienting spherical containers. Figure 4 shows a partial elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 2, illustrating an apparatus for orienting spherical containers. Figure 5 shows a partial perspective view of the embodiment in Figure 2 illustrating the entrance to the torcer. Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a beverage packaging system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As summarized above, this invention encompasses an apparatus for handling spheroidal containers in bottling plants. Said spheroidal containers are desirable for packing fluid products, such as beverages. The embodiments of this invention are described in detail below and are illustrated in Figures 1-6. The spheroidal containers may be introduced to volume processing with casual orientation of the spheroidal containers. A spheroid container 10, one embodiment of which is illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a structure similar to traditional bottles with the warning of a spherical body shape. The spheroid container 10 comprises a body portion 12 in the shape of a sphere and a neck portion 14 where there is an opening 16 through which the spheroid container 10 can be filled or emptied. Due to the difficulty of handling a spherical body portion 12, the spherical containers 10 require a novel process to properly orient the spheroid containers for processing. Apparatus 110 illustrated in Figures 2-5 addresses this need by orienting and feeding spheroid containers 10 for further processing. Although the spheroid container 10 has a body portion 12 in the shape of a sphere, the embodiments of this invention are capable of handling containers with spherical shapes other than a sphere, such as oblong, egg-shaped, and the like. As shown in Figures 2-5, the apparatus 110 comprises a container feeder 112, a channel 114 for orienting the spheroidal containers 10, and a torcer 116 for inverting the spheroidal containers 10. The container feeder 112 has two functions. First, the container feeder 112 prevents the accumulation of the spheroidal containers 10 in the channel 114 by preventing excessive flow of the spheroidal containers 10 from the channel 114. Second, the container feeder 112 assists in the placement of the spherical containers 10 allowing only a single line of spheroidal containers 10 to channel 114. The container feeder 112, which can molarize a hopper, comprises a chute 116 for feeding the spheroidal containers 10 to a funnel 118. Funnel 118 has an open top, base and closed sides, and a passageway to channel 114 at the base of funnel side 120, formed by a retainer member 119 spaced above the base of funnel 120 and channel 114. Channel 114 comprises side members 113 juxtaposed with a space 115 longitudinal between them. The channel 114 is arranged to receive the spheroidal containers 10 from the container feeder 112 and operates to orient the spheroidal containers 10 in an upside down orientation with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body and toward the spheroid body. 115 longitudinal space. The channel 114 further comprises a pair of rods 122, 124 rotatably mounted along the respective side members 113 adjacent the longitudinal space 115. The channel 114 further comprises a pair of rods 122, 124 rotatably mounted along the respective side members 113 adjacent the longitudinal space 115. The rods 122, 124 are separated by a distance D which is at least as large as the diameter of the neck portion 14 of the spherical container 10. The channel 114 further comprises a means for rotating the rods 122, 124, wherein the rods 122, 124 rotate in opposite directions at the same speed, pushing the spheroid containers 10 to orient the spheroidal containers 10 face down with the portion 14. neck of the 10 spheroid vessel between the rods 122124 and extending into the longitudinal space 115. Desirably, the right rod 122 rotates clockwise and the left rod 124 rotates in the left-hand direction. The rods 122, 124 are desirably slightly curved to assist in the placement of the spheroidal containers 10. Alternatively, means other than the rotating rods 122, 124 can be used to agitate the spheroidal containers 10 as they move along the channel 114 so that the spheroidal containers are eventually oriented in the head orientation and are not glued to the spherical vessels. another orientation. Said other agitation means may include a vibrator or ultrasonic device for vibrating the channel. The channel 114 feeds the spheroidal containers 10 face down to the torcer 116 for inversion. The vise 116 comprises a tube 126 with a helical opening 128 or slot extending longitudinally along the tube to receive the neck portion 14 of the spheroid container 10. The helical opening 128 is at least as large as the diameter of the neck portion 14 of the spherical container 10. The roller 116 rhematically moves the spherical containers 10 through the roller 116 and is slightly inclined as it extends away from the channel 114 to assist with the movement of the spherical containers 10 through the roller. As best shown in Figure 5, the longitudinal space 115 between the side members 113 of the channel 114 is aligned with the helical opening 128 of the torcer 116 at the entrance to the torcer to receive the neck portion 14 of the bespoke spheroid containers 10. that the spheroidal containers pass from the channel to the torcer. The helical aperture 128 is structured and arranged to invert the spheroidal containers 10 from the upside down orientation in the channel to an upside-down orientation as they move through the vise. In this way, at the outlet of the vise 116 the spherical bottles 10 are oriented face up for further processing such as, but not limited to, washing, sterilizing, filling, sealing, and / or labeling. The container feeder 112, the channel 114, and the roller 116 can be made with numerous materials. These materials are well known in the art and include stainless steel, aluminum, tin plate, painted steel and plastic. Desirably, the container feeder 112, the channel 114 and the torcer 116 are comprised of stainless steel because stainless steel is preferable in the food industry. The rods 122, 124 should comprise stainless steel because they are subjected to constant abrasion. Another embodiment of this invention, schematically illustrated in Figure 6, comprises an apparatus 210 for packaging a beverage into spheroidal containers. The apparatus 210, comprising the apparatus 110 described above for orienting spheroidal containers 10, comprises a container feeder 112, a cannon 114, and a torcer 116 for orienting the spheroidal containers 10 face up. The apparatus 210 further comprises a washing machine and sterilizer 212 for cleaning the bottles, a filler 214 for filling the spheroidal containers 10 with the beverage, and a sealant 216 for sealing the beverage in the spherical containers 10. The washer and sterilizer 212, the filling device 214 and the sealant 216 are not described in detail herein because their structure and function are well known to those skilled in the art. This invention also encompasses a method for orienting the spheroidal containers 10, the first method comprising the step of feeding the spheroidal containers 10 to a channel 114 having a longitudinal space 115 and orienting the spheroidal containers 10 in an upside down orientation with the body 12. supported by channel 114 and neck portion 14 extending below spheroidal body 12 into longitudinal space 115. The method further comprises the step of feeding the spheroidal containers 10 from the channel 114 to the twister 116 and twisting the spheroidal containers 10 in the twister 116 so that the spheroidal containers 10 are inverted upon exiting the twister 116. This invention further comprises a method to pack a drink in a spheroid 10 container, the method comprising the steps of the method described above for orienting the spheroid container 10 and further comprising the steps of washing and sterilizing the spheroidal containers 10, filling the spheroidal containers 10 with the beverage, and sealing the beverage in the spheroidal containers 10. It should be understood that the foregoing relates to particular embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS '1. An apparatus for orienting spheroidal containers comprising a spheroid body and a neck portion extending from the body, the apparatus comprising: a container feeder; a channel having a longitudinal space and arranged to receive the spheroidal containers from the container feeder and operative to orient the spheroid containers in an upside down orientation with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body and towards the longitudinal space; and a torcer to receive the spheroidal containers in the upward orientation and invert the spheroidal containers as the spheroidal containers move through the torcer.
2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprises juxtaposed lateral members with a longitudinal space between them, the channel arranged to receive the spheroidal containers from the container feeder and operative to orient the spheroidal containers in a face down orientation with the body supported by the lateral members and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body and through the space and wherein the torcer comprises a tube with a helical opening extending longitudinally along the tube to receive the portion neck of the spherical vessels in the downhole orientation so that the spheroidal vessels are reversed as the spherical vessels move through the vise.
3. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container feed comprises a hopper.
4. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hopper comprises a chute to receive the spheroidal containers and a funnel to feed the spheroidal containers from the chute to the channel.
5. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a pair of rods mounted rotatably along the respective side members adjacent to the space so that the rods engage the spheroidal vessels as the channel orients the spheroidal containers.
6. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for rotating the rods.
7. 7. Apparatus in accordance with the claim 6, wherein the rotating means rotates the rods in opposite directions and pushes the spheroid containers upwards.
8. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channel is inclined down from the container feeder to the torcer.
9. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the torcer is inclined downwards from the channel.
10. 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a retainer mounted above the channel to limit the passage of spheroid containers through the channel one at a time.
11. 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the torcer rheumatically moves the spheroidal containers through the torcer.
12. 12. An apparatus for packaging a beverage in spheroidal containers comprising a spheroid body and a neck portion extending from the body, the apparatus comprising: a container feeder; a channel having a longitudinal space and arranged to receive the spheroidal containers from the container feeder and operative to orient the spheroid containers in an upside down orientation with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body towards the longitudinal space; a torcer for receiving the spheroidal containers in the upside down orientation and inverting the spheroid containers as the spheroidal containers move through the torcer; a filling apparatus for receiving the spheroidal containers from the torcer and filling the spheroidal containers with the beverage; and a sealant to seal the beverage in the spheroidal containers.
13. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the channel comprises juxtaposed lateral members with a longitudinal space between them, the channel arranged to receive the spheroidal containers from the container feeder and operative to orient the spheroid containers in an orientation. upside down with the body supported by the lateral members and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body and through the space and wherein the torcer comprises a tube with a helical opening extending longitudinally along the tube to receive the neck portion of the spheroidal vessels in the downhole orientation so that the spheroidal vessels are inverted as the spheroidal vessels move through the torcerator and the spheroidal vessels are received by the filling apparatus with the neck portion extending towards up above the spheroid body to fill through is of the neck portions.
14. 14. Method for orienting spheroidal containers comprising a spheroid body and a neck portion extending from the body, the method comprising: feeding the spheroidal containers in a channel having a longitudinal space and orienting the spheroid containers in an orientation mouth below with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroid body towards the longitudinal space; feed the spheroidal containers in the upside down orientation to the torcer; and twisting the spheroidal containers in the torcer and inverting the spheroidal containers as the spherical vessels move through the torcer.
15. 15. Method according to claim 12, wherein the channel comprises juxtaposed lateral members with a longitudinal space between them, the step of orienting the spheroid containers in a downward orientation comprises supporting the body of the spheroidal containers with the members laterally so that the neck portion of the spheroidal containers extends below the spheroid body and through space, and the torcer comprises a tube with a helical opening extending longitudinally along the tube to receive the neck portion of the spheroid vessels in the downhole orientation so that the spheroid vessels are inverted as the spheroid vessels move through the vise.
16. 16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the channel comprises a pair of rods mounted rotatably along the respective lateral members adjacent to the longitudinal space and the step of orienting the spheroidal containers in the upside down orientation comprises rotate the rods and couple the spheroidal containers with the rotating rods.
17. 17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the rods rotate in opposite directions and push the spheroid containers upwards.
18. 18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the step of twisting the spheroidal containers comprises rheumatically moving the spheroidal containers through the torcer.
19. 19.- Method for packaging a beverage in spheroidal containers comprising a spheroid body and a neck portion extending from the body, the method comprising: feeding the spheroidal containers to a channel and orienting the spheroidal containers in an upside down orientation with the body supported by the channel and the neck portion extending below the spheroidal body, feeding the spheroidal vessels in the downward facing orientation to the torcer; and twisting the spheroidal containers in the torcer and inverting the spheroidal containers as the spheroidal containers move through the torcer; fill the spheroidal containers with the drink; and seal the drink in the spheroidal containers.
20. 20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the channel comprises juxtaposed lateral members with a longitudinal space between them, the step of orienting the spheroid containers in a downward orientation comprises supporting the body of the spheroidal containers with the members laterally so that the neck portion of the spheroidal containers extends below the spheroid body and through space, and the torcer comprises a tube with a helical opening extending longitudinally along the tube to receive the neck portion of the spheroid vessels in the downhole orientation so that the spheroid containers are reversed as the spheroidal vessels move through the torcerator and the spheroidal containers are received by the filling device with the neck portion extending upwards above the body spheroid to fill through the neck portion .