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Turnkey supplier presents innovative filling and palletizing concept

With its electronically controlled, volumetric Innofill DRV filling system, KHS is presenting a world first as demanded by the market. Today, innovative filling technology for PET bottles is in demand worldwide. Although designed especially to bottle carbonated beverages in PET bottles, the Innofill DRV is also designed to bottle non-carbonated beverages exceptionally gently. This filling system additionally offers maximum flexibility when it comes to processing different bottle sizes and shapes. Ranging from the 0.1-liter to the 5-liter PET bottle, this filler is able to process all bottle types effortlessly.

The key characteristics of the Innofill DRV: As a filling system for carbonated beverages, it requires only two pneumatic cylinders per filling valve. These pneumatic cylinders control the entire filling process – including lifting the bottle and sealing the mouth against the filling valve. Using only two switching functions is made possible by transmitting the counter-pressure to the neck ring holder by means of an aseptic-compliant expansion bellows. This means that the force of the counter-pressure is also used to press the PET bottle against the filling valve. This method completely eliminates the necessity of using the bottle lifting elements required in conventional filling systems. The force of pressure exerted on the PET bottles is regulated automatically according to the filling pressure. If the user decides to use the Innofill DRV to bottle both carbonated soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages, all that is needed is to equip the filling valves with an additional pneumatic cylinder.

The Innofill DRV also offers the very specific advantages provided by filling using a swirler. In addition to eliminating spreading elements protruding into the bottle, a further plus is using swirler to ensure a high level of flexibility in filling. This makes it possible to fill a widest variety of bottle shapes and sizes without any need for reconfiguration. The Innofill DRV is equipped with aseptic membrane and sealing technology inside the filling valves as well as the channels and passages that conduct product and sterile gas.

Another further key feature of the Innofill DRV pertains to the design of the ring vessel. A tubular ring vessel is used here instead of the rectangular ring bowl normally used in the past. The advantage: there are no edges or corners to hamper quick and easy cleaning. Moreover, its relatively thin-walled design reduces significantly the energy required to sterilize ring vessel. Since the heating and cooling phases are shorter, the line availability is increased accordingly.

The Innofill DRF filler on exhibit at the Brau Beviale is blocked with an Innoclean FR-ZM two-channel rinser with modern servo technology used to connect the drives. The Innofill DRV filler/capper block can optionally be combined with a stretch blow molder or a rinser.

In the field of packaging technology, KHS will be presenting its new Innopal LH. This machine is a solution intended for the entry and medium performance range that has been designed above all for carton processing.

The Innopal LH is able to palletize up to 1500 packs or up to 150 layers per hour and is equally well prepared to process wrap-around packs, tray packs, as well as multi-packs. This palletizer represents a compact-design palletizing concept with the focus on calculated simplicity. The base version is oriented towards manual supply and removal of pallets to and from the machine and palletizing only column layer patterns. A pallet segment can optionally be integrated in the palletizing system in order to connect a fully automatic pallet supply, a slip-sheet inserter and magazine, as well as a pack turning facility upstream of the palletizer to create interlocked layer formations.

The Innopal LH uses a row pusher to push each carton layer into formation. At the same time, the row pusher is able to act as a layer limit stop thereby enabling it to set up layer formations and palletize simultaneously.

The Innopal LH operates with cutting-edge control technology, which means short cycle times and high performance coupled with adherence to the so very essential positioning accuracy.

Cog belts are used to drive the pusher plate and the row pusher of the Innopal LH while flat belts handle the lifting motion of the pallet lift. In addition to reduced maintenance effort, the cog belt and flat belt drives handle materials gently, are wear resistant, and virtually noiseless. These advantages also incorporate high and long machine availability.

The Innopal LH is so compact that it can be easily installed in a room only three meters high. The control cabinet permanently attached to the machine not only contributes to the industry’s demand for compact design but also ensures rapid startup of the Innopal LH.

All in all, the new Innopal LH is a world first designed to meet the requirements of the beverage, food, and non-food branches of industry. High machine availability, ease of operation, low servicing effort, compact and market-oriented design, and quick machine startup in addition to an outstanding price-performance ratio more than clearly speak for themselves.