EP0705788B1 - Method for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble Claim 1.

Process for filling liquid contents, in particular of drinks (especially beer) are known. Here is it is also common to put the respective container before the actual one Rinsing in a pre-treatment phase and / or to apply a vacuum, i.e. to evacuate, and / or with steam (superheated steam or saturated steam) to treat.

In order to ensure quality and durability, in particular in the case of oxygen-sensitive contents, it must be demanded that the air originally present in the container is removed or displaced as completely as possible during flushing and thus the proportion of air and thus oxygen in the flushed and pre-stressed container is as low as possible. Furthermore, it is also desired rational one to secure and cost-bottling the consumption of expensive inert gas which usually CO2 _-, but nitrogen (N ₂₎ may be is gas while keeping the entire filling operation as low as possible and also to prevent the consumption of inert gas, which must be released into the atmosphere as an emission gas.

The object of the invention is to demonstrate a method which these aforementioned, partially contradictory Brings demands in an optimal way in line with the lowest possible air and oxygen content in the pre-stressed containers to the lowest possible consumption Ensures inert gas when filling.

To solve this problem, a method according to the characterizing part of claim 1 is formed.

In the method according to the invention, the respective container in the pre-treatment phase exclusively using steam (water vapor), taking time successive rinsing takes place at least twice or further, with each rinse or before each introduction of the steam is evacuated into the interior of the container. Hereby is not just air and / or steam from each Container interior discharged, but also in particular ensured that a pressure in the container after evacuation prevails at which the evaporation temperature or saturated steam temperature well below the temperature of the at Treatment supplied steam is, for example in the Range between 40 and 60 ° C, preferably around 45 ° C. This will cause condensation or separation in the Containers when rinsing with steam, especially then avoided if the container or its wall a Has temperature that is significantly below the temperature of the introduced steam is. Preheating the containers Avoidance of condensation is not necessary.

At the end of the pretreatment phase and before pretensioning the The container is evacuated again. Is preferred each time the container is evacuated, about 90% of its total volume evacuated.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a double rinse, i.e. a double initiation of Steam, each with a previous evacuation and another following the second rinse Evacuation.

The container is then pre-stressed with inert gas, being in a preferred embodiment of the invention when prestressing a partial prestressing from the Return gas collection duct is made.

The method according to the invention ensures high concentrations of inert gas or small amounts of air and oxygen in the respective container during the actual Filling, with an extremely low consumption Inert gas, as this is only used for pre-tensioning. Due to the low consumption of inert gas, the Filling costs as well as the emissions of inert gas to the Significantly reduce atmosphere.

In the method according to the invention, the Rinsing the amount of steam introduced into the container precisely controlled, preferably time-controlled and independent on the respective output with which the filling system is operated becomes. In a filling machine having the filling system All-round design is thus the one in the container amount of steam introduced regardless of the speed and Performance of this machine.

Since any introduction of steam into the interior of the container Evacuation precedes is at the beginning of the initiation of the Water vapor into the interior of the container there exactly defined pressure available so that via a time function or control the amount of when flushing into the container introduced steam can be controlled very easily and precisely can.

The cost of the amount of steam required for rinsing is much lower than the cost of a corresponding one Amount of inert gas.

Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Darstellung und im Schnitt ein füllrohrloses Füllelement zum Abfüllen eines flüssigen Füllgutes in Flaschen unter Gegendruck;

Fig. 2

in Positionen a - f, die der eigentlichen Füllphase vorausgehenden Verfahrensschritte bei einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, und zwar zur Erläuterung der in diesen Verfahrensschritten aus der jeweiligen Flasche abgeführten Luft- und Gasmengen, sowie der der jeweiligen Flasche zugeführten Menge an Wasserdampf.

The invention is explained below with reference to the figures using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a simplified representation and in section, a filler-less filling element for filling a liquid filling material into bottles under counterpressure;

Fig. 2

in positions a - f, the process steps preceding the actual filling phase in one embodiment of the method according to the invention, specifically to explain the air and gas quantities discharged from the respective bottle in these process steps, and the amount of water vapor supplied to the respective bottle.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a filling element, which together with a variety of similar filling elements around the circumference a vertical machine axis rotating rotor 2 one Filling machine circumferential design is provided. On rotor 2 is also a common for all filling elements 1, the vertical machine axis also concentrically enclosing Ring bowl 3 provided for receiving and Feeding the liquid filling material to the individual filling elements 1 serves. The ring bowl 3 is up to a predetermined Level N filled with this product, in such a way that above the level N or that of the liquid filling material occupied liquid space 4, a gas space 5 is formed is. The ring bowl 3 or its liquid space 4 is on a line, not shown, for supplying the liquid Filling material connected. Furthermore, the gas space 5 is over a line, also not shown, to a source for an inert compressed gas (preferably CO2 gas) connected in such a way that in the operation of the filling machine the gas space 5 one predetermined constant overpressure (filling pressure P1).

On rotor 2 there is also one for all filling elements common return gas collection channel 6 provided in the manner described in more detail below to record of the displaced from these when filling the bottles 7 CO2 gas serves and in which a predetermined overpressure P2 is set. Based on an atmospheric pressure the filling pressure P1, for example 2 bar overpressure and the pressure P2 in the return gas collecting duct 6 about 1 bar overpressure.

Finally, on rotor 2 there is also one for all filling elements 1 common vacuum channel 8 is provided, which over a line, not shown, with a vacuum source is connected and, for example, a negative pressure P3 of 0.9 bar, in turn based on atmospheric pressure.

Each filling element 1 has a housing 9, in which a Liquid channel 10 is formed, one end of which an opening 11 in connection with the liquid space 4 stands. The other end of the liquid channel 10 forms the bottom of the filling element 1 or the housing 9 a annular discharge opening 12 for the liquid filling, which a return gas pipe 13 'concentrically forming a return gas duct 13 encloses. The return gas duct 13 is part of the gas path when salting, evacuating, pretensioning, etc., as follows is still described.

In the above over the bottom of the filling element 1 and at its lower end open return gas pipe 13 'is in the probe 14 determining the fill level is usually arranged, in such a way that this probe with its the End having probe contact 15 via the return gas pipe 13 ' protrudes downwards and with its axis coaxially with the Axis of the return gas pipe 13 'or with the vertical filler axis FA is arranged.

In the liquid channel 10 that is further in the usual way Liquid valve 16 is provided, which has a valve body 17, which in the illustrated embodiment is made in one piece with the return gas pipe 13 'and around a predetermined stroke in the direction of the filling element axis FA between a raised, the liquid valve 16 opening position shown in FIG. 1 and a lowered one, which closes the liquid valve 16 Position is movable, namely by a pneumatic Actuator 18.

On the underside of the filling element 1 or the housing 9 a centering tulip 19 is also provided, against which or whose seal 20 the respective bottle 7 with its bottle mouth 7 'lies tight when filling and which in turn is tight bears against the underside of the housing 9, so that at Filling element 1 attached bottle 7 the interior of this Bottle sealed to the outside via the discharge opening 12 with the liquid channel 10 is connected. At the Filling element 1 attached bottle 7 also reach the return gas pipe 13 'and the probe 14 through the bottle mouth 7' in the inside of the bottle 7.

Each filling element 1 also has a control valve device, which in the illustrated embodiment of four individually controllable valves 21, 22, 23 and 35 exists, which is designed as a pneumatically actuated valve and are connected as follows:

Valve 21 :

On the input side via a channel 24 to a room 25 and on the output side via a channel 26 to the vacuum channel 8.

The space 25 stands with the top end of the annular, trained within the return gas tube 13 'and the probe 14 surrounding return gas channel 13 in connection.

Valve 22:

On the input side via channel sections 28 and 29 and the channel 24 with the room 25 and on the output side via a channel 30 the return gas collecting duct 6.

Valve 23:

On the input side via channel 29 and channel 24 with room 25 and on the output side via a partially in the housing 9 and Channel 31 partially formed in the rotor 2 or ring bowl 3 with the gas space 5.

Valve 35:

On the input side via a connection 36 with a steam source common to all filling elements 1, which in the embodiment shown is formed by a steam channel 37, the saturated steam or superheated steam with a temperature of approx. 120-135 ° C. at an overpressure P4 of about 1.0 - 2.0 bar leads, and
on the output side via a channel section 38 with the space 25.

A channel 32 is also in the housing 9 of each filling element 1 provided the output of valve 22 with the input of valve 23, i.e. the channel 30 with the channel 29 and thus connects the return gas collecting duct 6 with the space 25 and in the in series a ball or check valve 33 and a throttle 34 are arranged, namely the check valve 33 such that it closes when the pressure in room 25 below the Pressure P2 of the return gas collecting duct 6 is.

Since the pressure P4 in the steam channel 37 is lower than the pressure P2 in the return gas collection channel 6, this check valve has the Advantage that the treatment described in more detail below the respective bottle 7 with the steam is possible, without that for separating the return gas collecting duct 6 from Bottle 7 interior and for preventing intrusion of steam in the return gas collection channel 6 another controlled valve is necessary. The formation of the control valve device the filling element is therefore essential simplified.

1. Evacuate the bottle 7

The respective bottle 7 is filled by each filling element 1 assigned lifting member, of which only the Bottle plate 39 is reproduced in the usual way raised from below to the filling element 1 and with it Bottle mouth 7 'in sealing position with the filling element 1 brought. Then the valve 21 is replaced by the electronic Control device 40 opened, whereby via the channels 24 and 26, the room 25, the return gas duct 13 and the open Valve 21 connects the interior of the bottle 7 and the vacuum channel 8 for evacuating the bottle 7 becomes. The check valve 33 is located here in the closed position, since the pressure in room 25 clearly is below the pressure P2 of the return gas collecting duct 6.

This process step, which in FIG. 2 in position a is reproduced, is in time and / or by the choice of Vacuum P3 in the vacuum channel 8 controlled so that about a 90% vacuum is obtained in the respective bottle 7, i.e. only about 10% of what was originally in the bottle Air volume remained in this.

If bottle 7 is a 1.0 l bottle with a total volume of 1030 ml, so are at the end this process step about 103 ml of air in the Bottle 7, i.e. 927 ml of air were removed.

2. First rinse the bottle with steam from the steam channel

After expiry of an electronic control device 40 Freely selectable evacuation time, the valve 21 is again closed. This opens at the same time or afterwards Valve 35, through which a connection between the Steam channel 37 and the space 25 is made so that steam via the return gas pipe 13 ′ protruding into the bottle 7 flows into the interior of the bottle 7, for a first rinsing this interior with saturated steam. About the Control electronics 40 is the opening time of the valve 35 so preselected or controlled that such an amount of steam in the bottle is inserted, which is about a quarter of the Total volume of the bottle, i.e. corresponds to about 250 ml.

The flushing time can be varied by the control device 40 be, so that any amount of steam can be enlarged is possible with this first rinse.

Since the respective bottle 7 before rinsing with steam in the previous process step was evacuated and in the Bottle 7 thus has a negative pressure at the start of rinsing prevails at which the evaporation temperature of water or the saturated steam temperature is around 45 ° C, at Rinse any condensation in the bottle 7 completely or at least effectively prevented to a disturbing degree.

The check valve 33 is also in this method step due to the pressure difference between the Pressure P2 of the return gas collecting duct 6 and the pressure in Interior of bottle 7 closed. To do this reliably reach, the pressure P2 is greater than the pressure P4 im Steam channel 37.

This first rinse of the bottle is in position b Fig. 2 reproduced.

3. Second evacuation of the bottle

After the first rinsing time, the valve 35 becomes again closed. The valve 21 is opened immediately thereafter and thus a connection of the interior of the bottle 7 with the vacuum channel. So there is another Evacuation of the bottle 7 via the return gas duct 13 90% vacuum, i.e. it will be according to the illustration position c of Fig. 2 from the bottle about 177 ml of steam and 73 ml of residual air removed, so that in the bottle about 73 ml of steam and 30 ml of air remain.

4. Second rinse the bottle with steam

After expiry of the freely selectable via the control electronics 40 Time for the second evacuation, the valve 21 is closed. Analogous to method step 2, opening the Valves 35 in turn saturated steam from the steam channel 37 the return gas duct 13 is blown into the bottle 7, specifically in turn controlled an amount of steam that is about a quarter corresponds to the total volume of the bottle, i.e. about 250 ml. Here, too, the input is controlled Steam amount by controlling the opening time of the valve 35. By extending the opening or rinsing time, the introduced amount of steam changed, for example, increased will.

This second rinse also has the advantage that by evacuating the saturated steam temperature beforehand is very low, so condensation is avoided.

At the end of this process step, which is shown in position d of FIG. 2, in the selected example there are approximately 323 ml of steam and only 30 ml of residual air in the bottle 7.
Further flushing and evacuation processes of this type can follow.

5. Third evacuation of the bottle

For the initiation of this process step, which is also called End evacuation of the bottle 7 can be called that Valve 35 closed again. The valve 21 is again opened, which again connects the interior of the Bottle 7 with the vacuum channel 8 is made and a Evacuate the bottle 7 via the return gas pipe 13 ' about 90% vacuum takes place. This step is in 2 shown in position e.

In the selected example, about 21.1 ml of residual air and 228.8 ml of steam are removed from bottle 7 in this process step, so that 94.2 ml of steam and a negligible amount of residual air, namely 8.8 ml of residual air, then remain there ie prktisch all the air out of the respective bottle 7 without the use of CO2 _- gas has been displaced, wherein all of the air as well as the entire vapor are extracted from the bottle 7 via the vacuum channel. 8

6. biasing the bottle with CO2 _- gas from the return gas collecting duct

The valve 21 is closed in a time-controlled manner. Simultaneously or immediately thereafter, the valve 22 is opened, thus establishing an unthrottled connection between the return gas collection channel 6 and the interior of the bottle 7, specifically via the open valve 22, the channels 30, 28 and 29, the space 25 and the return gas channel 13. the interior of the bottle 7 is compared with the CO2 _- biased gas from the return gas collecting channel on the local pressure P2. Thus, for this partial biasing only the displaced during the filling of the respective bottle 7 CO2 _- Gas used, that is, the CO2 emitted during filling 6 to the return gas collecting channel _- gas quantity is thus recovered for the process.

7. biasing the bottle with CO2 _- gas from the gas space of the ring bowl

The valve 22 is closed in a time-controlled manner by the control device 40. Then the control valve 23 is opened, thus establishing an unthrottled connection between the interior of the bottle 7 and the gas space 5, via the channels 31 and 24, the space 5, the return gas channel 13 and the opened valve 23. The interior of the bottle 7 is compared with the CO2 _-, biased gas from the gas space 5, which also has a high concentration of CO2, and that is on the adjusted in the gas space 5 filling pressure P1, for example, an overpressure of 2.5 bar.

In position f of FIG. 2, the prestressing of the respective bottle for process steps 6 and 7 is shown. The CO2 _-. Amount of gas that was supplied at the end of biasing the bottle 7 is approximately 3596 ml The remaining vapor, which was located at the beginning of step 6 in the bottle 7, is eliminated by cooling as condensate, wherein the amount of this Condensate is negligibly small.

During the prestressing from the gas space 5, the check valve 33 opens, so that a throttled connection to the return gas collecting duct 6 results via this valve and the throttle 34. The here over flowing during pretensioning amount of CO2 _- but gas can be neglected, especially since this CO2 _- gas from the return gas collecting duct 6 again for the partial tempering (step 6) is used.

8. Slow filling

At the end of the prestressing, the connection between the bottle 7 and the gas space 5 is interrupted by closing the valve 23. Immediately afterwards, the liquid valve 16 is opened. Because of the existing pressure difference between the interior of the bottle 7 and the return gas collecting duct 6, the ball valve 33 remains open. The throttle 34 provides a throttling of the displaced from the bottle 7 via the return gas passage 13 into the return gas collecting duct 6 CO2 _- Gas flow, and thus for a gentle and slow Anfüllgeschwindigkeit. The filling speed actually achieved here results from the effective cross section of the throttle 34 and from the pressure difference between the pressures P1 and P2. These parameters can be set depending on the sensitivity of the product to be filled. The duration of the filling phase is controlled by the control electronics 40 and is limited, for example, to a few 100 ms. Slow filling is not necessary for insensitive products.

9. Quick fill

In order to achieve the highest possible performance when filling, becomes the non-critical, cylindrical central area the bottle 7 with high inflow or filling speed filled. For this, the valve 23 is opened so that over the return gas channel 13 and the open valve 23 an unthrottled gas path in the gas space 5 results, namely in addition to the gas path via the throttle 34, which is one Filling speed that is essentially determined by the static height difference between the level N of the product level in the ring bowl 3 and in the respective bottle 7 is determined. Via automatic control of level N the filling speed can meet the requirements of each Contents and / or the shape of the respective bottle 7 be adjusted.

The quick filling phase ends when the product level has reached the narrowing bottleneck, namely controlled by the probe 14 or by one at the lower end this probe provided probe contact 15. The rapid filling phase can also be time-controlled by the control electronics 40 are ended.

10. Brake and correction fill

After the rapid filling phase, the valve 23 turns again closed, so that the same filling speed as when filling slowly. After addressing the Probe 14 or one further towards the probe tip probe contact placed at the top is after a preselectable or set correction time the liquid valve 16 closed.

Sufficient remains during this braking and correction filling Time for the gas bubbles present in the product to reach the Product level can rise and thus in the following Relieve pressure does not contribute to unnecessary foam formation. With the correction time, a fill level correction is in the range up to 30 mm possible.

11. Preliminary relief and calming as well as residual relief

After closing the liquid valve 16, the Pressure inside the bottle over the open and still the ball valve 33 having gas path to the pressure P2 of Return gas collecting duct 6 from. The speed of this Pressure reduction can be accelerated by opening the valve 22 will.

At the level of the pressure P2 in the vicinity of the CO2 _- saturation pressure is, via a predetermined period of time a settling phase, can not ascend dissolved gas bubbles to the surface in the presence of the filling material, whereby the formation of foam in the bottle or the bottle neck is avoided.

After the calming phase, the residual relief takes place. Therefor the valve 22 is closed and the valve 21 by the Control electronics 40 opened briefly, for one Connection of the interior of the bottle to the vacuum channel 8. Through the control electronics 40, the opening time of the Valves 21 dimensioned so that immediately before pulling the bottle 7 from the filling element 1 inside the bottle there is a slight overpressure. The bottle 7 will then by lowering the bottle plate 39 in the usual way subtracted from the filling element 1.

The method described above has the advantage of extremely low CO2 _- consumption as well as the advantage of an economical use of steam.

The return gas displaced from the respective prestressed bottle 7 during the actual filling flows back into the return gas collecting duct 6 or into the gas space 5. This high concentration of CO2 containing CO2 _- gas is reused again on subsequent fills.

A consumption of CO2 _- gas is generated only during the final depressurization by the emitted into the vacuum channel 8 gas quantity. This amount of gas is extremely small, even if only because of the low volume, which in the final depressurization of CO2 _- is taken gas. The total amount of CO2 _- gas consumed when relieving the load, ie when filling, is 30 - 50 g per hectoliter of filling.

The amount of steam consumed when washing bottles 7 taking into account losses caused by Condensation occurs, about 113 g of bottled per hectoliter Product.

When rinsing the bottles (process steps 2 and 4) of course also killing drink-harmful ones Microorganisms on the inside of the bottle.

By used when flushing steam, CO2 can _- concentration in the bottle during filling are controlled, ie increasing the Dampfspülmenge also increases this CO2 _- concentration, because of the higher Spüleffektes.

As described above, the probe 14 preferably has at least two probe contacts 15 at different heights on so that the initiation and termination with these contacts of step 10 can be controlled.

The quantities or volumes given above in ml refer to each at ambient pressure.

Reference list

1

Filling element

2nd

rotor

3rd

Ring bowl

4th

Fluid space

5

Gas space

6

Return gas collecting duct

7

bottle

7 '

Bottle mouth

8th

Vacuum channel

9

casing

10th

Liquid channel

11

opening

12th

Delivery opening

13

Return gas pipe

13 '

Return gas duct

14

probe

15

Probe contact

16

Liquid valve

17th

Valve body

18th

Actuator

19th

Centering tulip

20th

poetry

21-23

Valve

24th

channel

25th

room

26

channel

28-32

channel

33

check valve

34

throttle

35

Valve

36

Connection

37

Steam channel

38

Canal section

39

Bottle plate

40

Control device

Claims (12)

1. Process for decanting a liquid product into bottles or similar containers (7) by use of a filling system, having at least one filling means (1), a fluid duct (10) forming a discharge opening (12) for the liquid product and provided with a fluid valve (16) as well as at least one gas path (13), during which (process) the particular container (7) which is in a sealing position with the filling means (1) is prepressurized with an inert gas, preferably CO2-gas, via the gas path in a pre-pressurization phase, which (gas) in a subsequent filling phase - during which the liquid product flows to the interior of the container via the discharge aperture (12) when the fluid valve (16) is open, is expelled at least temporarily via the gas path (13) to a return gas collecting main (6) and in a pre-treatment phase preceding the pre-pressurization phase the interior of the particular container is scavenged in order to expel the air and, pre-pressurized (evacuation of the container) and steam is injected into the container (7), characterised by the fact that the scavenging during the pre-treatment phase is carried out exclusively by the use of steam, and that at least a first scavenging is succeded by another scavenging during which the interior of the container (7) is evacuated and a pre-determined quantity of steam then injected into the interior of the container (7) regardless of the capacity the filling system is operated at, and that the last scavenging process is followed by another evacuation of the interior of the container (7),
2. Process as set forth in claim 1, characterised by a time-controlled injection of the steam.
3. Process as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact, that, for the evacuation via a first arrangement of control valves (21), the interior of the container (7) is connected (under time-control) with a source for the under-pressure, e. g. a vacuum duct (8)
4. Process as set forth in one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that, for the injection of a pre-selected quantity of steam during each scavenging via a second arrangement of control valves (35), the interior of the container (7) is connected (under time-control) with a source for the steam, preferably with a steam port (37).
5. Process as set forth in one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterised by the fact, that, during the pre-treatment phase, a first evacuation process with a subsequent injection of steam is followed by a second evacuation process with a subsequent second injection of steam which again is followed by a third evacuation process followed by a prepressurization of the containers (7) with inert-gas.
6. Process as set forth in one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterised by the fact that the underpressure of the underpressure source (8) as well as the duration of each evacuation of the container is selected in such a way that, at the end of the evacuation phase, there is a vacuum of approx. 0.5 - 0.95 bar in the container.
7. Process as set forth in one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterised by the fact that the underpressure of the underpressure source (8) as well as the duration of the respective evacuation phase of the contaienr (7) is selected in such a way that the container (7) is evacuated by 90 percent of its total volume.
8. Process as set forth in one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterised by the use of saturated steam of a temperature between approx. 111 and 155° C and with an overpressure of approx. 0.5 to 4.5 bar, preferably of a temperature between 120 to 130°C and with an excess pressure of approx. 1.0 to 2.5 bar.
9. Process as set forth in one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised by the fact, that the pre-pressurization of the interior of the container (7) is carried out at a steam pressure (P4) lower than the pressure in the return gas collecting main (6).
10. Process as set forth in one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised by the fact, that in the gas path, via which the inert gas is at least temporarily expelled to the return gas collecting main (6) during the filling phase, a check valve (33) is used which opens only when the pressure in the container is higher than the pressure in the return gas collecting main (6).
11. Process as set forth in one of the claims 1 to 10, characterised by the fact, that the underpressure of the underpressure source (8) and the duration of each evacuation is set that way that there is an underpressure in the interior of the container (7) after the evacuation, with an evaporation temperature of water or of the saturated steam of 40 to 60° C, preferably 45°C.
12. Process as set forth in one of the claims 1 to 11, characterised by the fact, that the pre-pressurization of the container (7) partly takes place on the return gas collecting main (6).

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