Filling apparatus and method
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a filling apparatus having a filling device for filling packages with a hot filling, a sealing device for sealing the package, wherein the package has a package seal for opening the package and a swivelling arrangement for swivelling the package so that the package seal contacts the hot filling. Furthermore the invention relates to a filling method in which a hot filling is filled into a package that is sealed thereafter, wherein the package has a package seal and the package is swivelled so that the package seal contacts the hot filling.
1. A filling system comprising:
a filling mechanism for filling packages with a hot filling,
a sealing mechanism for sealing the package, wherein the package has a package seal; and
a rotating mechanism constructed and arranged to coordinately position the packages between a first position wherein the package seal is not in contact with the hot filling to a second position wherein the package seal contacts the hot filling, the rotating mechanism further comprising a bracket and a retaining device for retaining the packages in the second position, the retaining device being constructed and arranged to remove the package from the bracket;
wherein the packages are rotated by an angle of less than 160° from the first position to the second position.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is constructed and arranged to place a sealing cap on to the package, the sealing cap suitable for sealing the package.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the package comprises an opening located next to the package seal, wherein the sealing mechanism is constructed and arranged to seal the opening.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein package comprises foil material, wherein sealing the opening comprises welding the foil material of the package together.
5. The system according to claim 1 , the package comprising an opening, wherein the sealing mechanism is constructed and arranged to insert a package seal or a portion thereof into the opening of the package.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the filling mechanism is constructed and arranged to fill the package through the package seal.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the filling mechanism is constructed and arranged to fill the package through an opening proximate or at the position of the package seal.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining device comprises a conveyor belt.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second position comprises the first position rotated by at least 30°.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the a bracket is constructed and arranged to retain the packages in at least the first position.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket is located below the package when the package is in the second position.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second position comprises the first position rotated by one of 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 100°, 120°, 140°, or 150°.
13. A method of filling a hot filling into a package comprising:
inserting hot filling into a package, the package being in a first position;
closing the package;
wherein the package includes a package seal;
supporting the package via a bracket and positioning the package in a second position wherein the package seal contacts the hot filling;
wherein the packages are rotated via the bracket between the first and the second position by an angle less than 160°;
removing the package from the bracket via a retaining device; and
maintaining the package in the second position via a retaining device for a duration of time.
14. Method according to claim 13 , comprising sealing the package including placing a sealing cap on the package.
15. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the package comprises an opening proximate the package seal, the method further comprising closing the opening.
16. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the package includes an opening, the method further comprising sealing the package including inserting a package seal, in whole or in part, into the opening.
17. Method according to claim 16 , wherein inserting the hot filling comprises inserting the hot filling through a portion of the package seal.
18. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the package includes an opening proximate the package seal, wherein inserting the hot filling comprises inserting the hot filling through the opening.
19. Method according to claim 13 , further comprising conveying the package during the duration of time.
20. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the positioning the package comprises rotating the package by at least 30°.
21. Method according to claim 13 , wherein positioning the package in the second position includes supporting the package with the bracket.
22. Method according to claim 21 , comprising positioning a portion of the package below the bracket to contact a conveyor belt.
23. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the positioning the package comprises rotating the package by one of 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 100°, 120°, 140°, or 150 °.