EP2788274B1 - Filler element and filling system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling element for filling containers with a liquid product according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and to a filling system according to the preamble of claim 9.

Filling elements for filling containers, in particular for filling bottles with a liquid product, such as beverage, are known in different designs. In this case, it is also known, in particular, to provide an element which determines the filling level of the filling material in the filled container (hereinafter "filling height-determining element"), for example in the form of a rod-shaped probe with at least one electrical probe contact or in the form of a return gas tube. In this case, it is also known to set the fill level reached in the respective container at the end of the filling process by an axial adjustment of the filling height-determining element which reaches into the container during filling with a first end. The filling height-determining element is guided through the filling element housing of the filling element and protrudes with a length remote from the first end at a housing passage region from the filling element housing.

In order to prevent ingress of dirt and / or germs on the housing passage area in the process side of the filling element, ie in the filling and / or process gas and / or vacuum leading areas of the filling element in particular when adjusting the filling height-determining element, is also known (US Pat. DE 10 2009 009 339 A1 ), then to provide a shelter in the passage area in the filling element.

This protective space is acted upon during the filling operation, for example, with the pressure of an inert gas, separated by at least one seal of process gas and / or filling material leading areas and so that it at least in the filling mode of the filling element on the housing passage area on the housing side subsequent length of the filling height-determining element which corresponds to the adjustment range of this element.

• dass der das füllhöhebestimmende Element umschließe Ringraum als Schutzraum genutzt und daher als Gasraum oder Gaskanal für die Durchleitung von Medium nicht zur Verfügung steht, also eventuell zusätzliche Fluidwege im Füllelement vorgesehen werden müssen,
• dass die den Schutzraum von der Prozessseite trennende Ringdichtung durch ihre exponierte Anordnung in hohen Maße die Gefahr einer Beschädigung, beispielsweise der Gefahr einer Beschädigung durch Glassplitter geplatzter Behälter oder Flaschen ausgesetzt ist, und
• dass es bei einer CIP-Reinigung und/oder -Sterilisation, bei der der Schutzraum und das füllhöhebestimmende Element ebenfalls gereinigt und/oder sterilisiert werden, nicht möglich ist, zugleich auch einen während des Füllbetriebes in den Schutzraum hineinreichenden Teil des füllhöhebestimmenden Elementes zu reinigen und/oder zu sterilisieren, da sich dieser zum Zeitpunkt der Reinigung und/oder -Sterilisation außerhalb des Füllelementes befinden.

A disadvantage of this known filling element, that this shelter is formed by the interior of a tube which projects beyond the discharge opening of the Füllelementgehäuse, and that at the lower end of the filling height determining element enclosing tube the protective space from the process side separating sealing element in the form of a solid Ring seal is provided. In filling mode, the filling height-determining element is passed under sealing of the shelter through the ring seal. In a cleaning and / or sterilization mode, the filling height-determining element is moved back with its first end into the filling element housing so far that the protective space at the ring seal is open. This results in considerable disadvantages, in particular to the effect that

• that the annular space enclosing the filling height-determining element is used as a protective space and therefore is not available as a gas space or gas channel for the passage of medium, so that possibly additional fluid paths must be provided in the filling element,
• that the ring seal separating the protective space from the process side is exposed to a high degree of risk of damage, for example the risk of damage by glass splinters of burst containers or bottles, due to its exposed arrangement, and
• that it is not possible in a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, in which the shelter and the Füllhöhebestimmende element also cleaned and / or sterilized, at the same time also during the filling operation in reaching into the shelter reaching part of the Füllhöhebestimmenden element and / or to sterilize, since these are at the time of cleaning and / or sterilization outside of the filling element.

The object of the invention is to show a filling element which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and in particular enables optimal cleaning and / or disinfection and / or sterilization of the level determining element with high reliability. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A filling system is the subject of patent claim 9.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

For the purposes of the invention, "containers" are in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging materials which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

Fig. 1 - 3

jeweils in vereinfachter Darstellung ein Füllelement eines Füllsystems bzw. einer Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum füllhöhengesteuerten Füllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut, und zwar in unterschiedlichen Betriebszuständen,

Fig. 4 und 5

Details der Figuren 1 und 2.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1-3

each in a simplified representation of a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine of rotating design for filling level controlled filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product, in different operating conditions,

4 and 5

Details of FIGS. 1 and 2 ,

In the figures, 1 is a filling element for filling level controlled filling of containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid product. The filling element 1, which in the FIGS. 1 and 2 each in a filling mode and in the FIG. 3 is shown in a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization mode, is provided together with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a rotatable around a vertical machine axis rotor 3 of a filling system or a filling machine. Also located on the rotor 3 are a ring bowl 4 common to all filling elements 1 of the filling machine for providing the liquid filling material and two ring channels 5 and 6.

During the filling operation of the annular channel 4 is partially filled with the liquid contents, so that in the ring vessel 4, a lower liquid space 4.1 and overlying a gas space 4.2 are formed, the latter, for example, with an inert gas (eg CO2 gas) and especially with a pressure filling the bottle 2 with the inert gas is filled under filling pressure.

The annular channels 5 and 6 may have different functions depending on the filling method, for example, the annular channel 5 for guiding the inert gas under pressure for flushing and / or biasing the respective provided in sealing position on the filling elements 1 bottle 2 during pressure filling and the annular channel 6 as a discharge channel, such as this is known in principle to the person skilled in the art.

The filling element 1 comprises a Füllelementgehäuse 7, in which inter alia a Füllgut- or liquid channel 8 is formed, which is connected in its upper region via a product line 9 with the liquid space 4.1 of the annular bowl 4. On the underside of the housing 7, the liquid channel 8 forms an annular discharge opening 10, via which the liquid contents of the bottle 2 flows during filling, which rests tightly against the filling element 1 with its bottle mouth via a seal of a centering cone 11 in the region of the discharge opening 10, that is, in sealing position with the filling element 1, specifically lifted by the filling element 1 associated container carrier or bottle plate 12. In the liquid channel is provided in the flow direction of the contents before the discharge opening 10, a liquid valve 13 with a valve body 14 which is provided with a valve surface in Liquid channel 8 cooperates and is arranged on a coaxial with a vertical Füllelementachse FA and acting as a valve tappet gas pipe 15 which projects through the discharge opening 10 on the underside of the filling element 1 and extends into the relevant bottle 2 during filling , In the FIGS. 1 and 2 , which respectively show the final state of the filling process, the liquid valve 13 is shown in the closed state. For the controlled opening and closing of the liquid valve 13, a pneumatic actuator 16 acting on the gas pipe 15 is provided, which is accommodated in an interior of the housing 7 which is separate from the liquid channel 8 and sealed against the liquid channel 8.

The filling element 1 further comprises a coaxially arranged with the Füllelementachse FA, open at both ends and from the gas pipe 15 at a distance enclosed return gas pipe 17, which also extends as fill level determining element with its end 17.1 during the filling operation in the upper region or headspace of the bottle 2 and projects beyond the lower, open end of the gas pipe 15.

The return gas pipe 17 is passed through the Füllelementgehäuse 7, protrudes with an upper length over the top of this housing and is held with the local, also open end 17.2 on a support arm 18 of an adjustment 19, with which the return gas pipe is axially movable, namely in the manner described in more detail below each from an upper output or stroke position down for the setting of different filling heights during the filling mode of the filling element 1 in a Einstellhub H1 and for moving the return gas pipe 17 in a cleaning and / or sterilization position, ie for converting the filling element 1 into the cleaning and / or sterilization mode in an enlarged opening stroke H2.

The upper end 17.2 of the return gas pipe is connected via a likewise provided on the support arm 18 control valve 20 and a flexible line 20 to the gas space 4.2 of the ring boiler 4.

In order to avoid penetration of dirt and / or germs into critical areas or into the process side of the filling element 1 during the axial adjustment of the return gas pipe 17, ie during the adjustment of the filling level to which the bottles 2 are respectively filled with the liquid filling material , the return gas pipe 17 is guided before its exit at the top of the housing 7 by a formed in the housing 7 protective or lock chamber 22 which is formed in the illustrated embodiment, a circular cylindrical concentric to Füllelementachse FA and with respect to the Füllelementachse FA has an axial length at least equal to the maximum adjustment stroke H1 by which the return gas tube 17 is moved between the "maximum fill level" setting and the "minimum fill level" setting.

At the top of the housing 7, the return gas pipe 17 is guided out of the housing 7 or out of the lock chamber 22 by a fixed seal 23. The seal 23 forms the upper housing passage region for the return gas pipe 17. Furthermore, a gasket 24 enclosing this tube and moving piston-like with it is provided on the return gas pipe 17, which rests sealed against the return gas pipe 17 and against the circular cylindrical inner surface of the protective space 22 and the shelter 22 closes at its lower side facing away from the seal 23 during the normal filling operation or when filling element 1 is in filling mode, in which (filling mode) the protective space 22 is preferably acted upon by a pressurized inert gas from the annular channel 5. In detail, the protective space 22, the axial length of which changes with the adjustment stroke H1, is formed in the illustrated embodiment in an upper, circular cylindrical portion 25.1 of a housing recess 25. At a subsequent to the section 25.1 in the direction of the underside of the filling element 1 section 25.2, the housing recess 25 has an expanded cross-section. The section 25.2 forms a gas space into which the upper open end of the gas pipe 15 or between the inner surface of the gas pipe 15 and the outer surface of the return gas pipe 17 formed annular gas channel opens. The section 25.1 and thus also the shelter 22 have an axial length which is greater than the maximum Einstellhub H1 of the return gas pipe 17 between the setting "maximum level" ( FIG. 1 ) and "minimum fill level" ( FIG. 2 ).

In the interior of the housing 7 further controlled gas paths with control valves 26 and 27 are provided, via which the protective space 22 is preferably constantly acted upon at least during the normal filling operation with a pressurized inert gas from the annular channel 5 and the u.a. the section 25.2 or the corresponding gas space can be controlled via the control valve 26 connected to the annular channel 5 or via the control valve 27 with the annular channel 6.

With the filling element 1 or with the filling system formed by these filling elements, different filling methods are possible, for example a "normal" pressure filling of the bottles 2.

In this filling process, the liquid product flows with the liquid valve 13 open to the interior of the held in sealing position on the filling element 1 and biased with the inert gas bottle 2 to. At least at the end of the respective filling phase, when the control valve 20 is open, the inert gas displaced by the filling material from the bottle 2 is passed via the return gas pipe 17, the opened control valve 20 and the line 21 into the gas space 4.2 of the ring bowl. When the liquid valve 13 is still open, the inflow of the filling material into the bottle 2 is ended when the lower, open end 17.1 of the return gas pipe 17 is immersed in the filling material level of the filling material which has reached the bottle 2 and an equilibrium state between the height of the filling material level in the ring bowl 4 and the filling gas column forming in the return gas pipe 17 has been set. The level of the lower end 17.1 thus determines the filling level of the filling material in the respective bottle 2. After closing the liquid valve 13 and the control valve 20 and after relieving the headspace of the bottle 2, which is not occupied by the filling material, it is lowered from the filling element 1 by lowering decreased.

The respective desired filling level is set at the beginning of the filling operation by axial adjustment of the return gas pipe 17 (setting stroke H1), specifically for all filling elements 1.

In addition to this "normal" pressure filling, a so-called Trinox filling process is possible with the filling elements 1, in which in turn the return gas pipe 17 or its end 17.1 determine the filling level.

In this Trinox process, there is a deliberate overfilling of each biased and in sealing position on the filling element 1 arranged bottle 2, ie a filling beyond the desired filling level, namely with the liquid valve open 13 and closed control valve 20, which during filling by the inflowing Fill material from the interior of the bottle 2 displaced inert gas, for example via the gas channel formed between the gas pipe 15 and the return gas pipe 17 into the section 25.2 and from there via the open control valve 26 into the annular channel 5 is displaced. After closing the liquid valve 13, the headspace of the bottle 2, which is not occupied by the filling material, is pressurized, for example via the still open Control valve 26. Opening the control valve 20 via the return gas pipe 17, the open control valve 20 and the line 21 contents from the overfilled bottle 2 in the ring boiler 4 as long as returned until the lower end 17.1 of the return gas pipe 17 is outside of the contents in the bottle 2 is located. After closing the control valve 20 and after relieving the headspace of the filled bottle 2, for example via the open control valve 27, the bottle 2 is withdrawn from the filling element. Also in this Trinox filling method, the respective desired filling level is set by the axial adjustment of the return gas pipe 17 (setting stroke H1), specifically on all filling elements 1 of the filling machine.

To the housing recess 25 and thus in any case the protective space 22 forming portion 25.1 of this housing recess and the return gas pipe 17 at least on its recorded during the filling operation in the filling element 1 length to clean and / or sterilize, the return gas pipe 17 is from its upper stroke position in the opening stroke H2 so far moved axially down that the seal 24 is located in the section 25.2 and the shelter 22 is opened to the section 25.2 out.

The cleaning and / or sterilization of the housing recess 25 and the return gas pipe 17 take place within the framework of a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization of the filling machine, to whose filling elements 1 a respective flushing cap 28 is attached. In the interior of the flushing cap 28, which is closed towards the outside, not only the annular discharge opening 10 enclosing the gas tube 15 opens, but also the lower, open end of the gas tube 15 and the lower open end 17.1 of the return gas tube 17. The return gas tube 17 is taken during the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization in a space traversed by the cleaning and / or sterilization medium, which is formed inter alia by the housing recess 25 and by the gas tube 15 and the flushing cap 28, over a continuous length , which is in any case greater than the length at which the return gas tube 17 extends through the Füllelementgehäuse 7 during the filling operation and protrudes beyond the bottom of this housing, so during the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization an optimal cleaning and / or disinfection of the return gas pipe 17 is ensured at all critical areas.

Further advantages and special features of the filling element 1 include that the protective space 22 is arranged above the annular gap formed between the gas pipe 15 and the return gas pipe 17 for the adjustment of the return gas pipe 17, that this annular gap used as a gas path or gas channel for the process gas during normal filling operation can be, and that in particular the seal 24, the protective space 22 during the filling operation of the process side, ie separated in the illustrated embodiment of the gas space formed by the section 25.2, is housed protected in the interior of the filling element 1 and therefore, for example, can not be damaged by broken glass bottles 2.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the scope defined by the following claims. Thus, it has been assumed above that the return gas tube 17 is used as the filling height determining element. However, the advantages of the invention also exist in a filling element 1, in which the return gas pipe 17 is replaced by a rod-shaped probe with an electrical probe contact.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filler

2

bottle

3

rotor

4

ring bowl

4.1

liquid space

4.2

headspace

5, 6

annular channel

7

filling element

8th

liquid channel

9

product line

10

annular discharge opening

11

centering cone

12

bottle plates

13

liquid valve

14

valve body

15

gas pipe

16

actuator

17

Return gas pipe

17.1, 17.2

End of the return gas pipe

18

Beam

19

adjustment

20

control valve

21

management

22

shelter

23, 24

poetry

25

housing recess

25.1

section

25-2

room

26, 27

control valve

28

flushing cap

H1, H2

axial stroke of the return gas pipe

FA

filling element

Claims (9)

1. Filler element for filling containers (2) with a liquid product, with a liquid channel (8) formed in a filling element housing (7) through which the product can flow, with at least one liquid valve (13) in the liquid channel (8), with an outlet opening (10) following the liquid valve (13) in the direction of flow of the product for the discharge of the product into the respective container (2) when the liquid valve (13) is open, and with an element (17) which determines the filling height of the product in the container (2) and is guided through the filling element housing (7), which during filling extends into the container (2) with a first end (17.1) projecting over the outlet opening (10), and is guided out of the filling element housing (7) with a second end, remote from the first end, sealed at a housing passage region (23), and with a protection space (22) connecting directly to the housing passage region (23) for accommodating a length of the element (17) which determines the filling height, this length corresponding to an axial setting lift movement (H1), wherein the protection space (22) can be opened by an opening lift movement (H2) of the element (17) which determines the filling height, deviating from an adjustment lift movement, characterized in that the protection space (22) opens, by means of the axial opening lift movement (H2) of the element (17) which determines the filling height, into a space (25.2) formed in the filling element housing (7).
2. Filler element according to claim 1, characterised in that the element which determines the filling height is a return gas tube (17) or a rod-shaped probe with at least one probe contact at the first end.
3. Filler element according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by a gas tube (15) which surrounds the element (17) which determines the filling height with a spacing interval and preferably likewise projects over the discharge opening (10) out of the filling element housing (7), which forms a preferably ringshaped gas channel, surrounding the element which determines the filling height, which opens for example into a space (25.2) formed in the filling element housing (7), and that the protection space (22) is provided in the filling element housing (7) offset in relation to the gas tube (15) and the gas channel to the second end (17.2) of the element (17) which determines the filling height.
4. Filler element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the element (17) which determines the filling height can be moved in an opening lift movement (H2) in order to open the protection space (22), this movement being greater than the maximum setting lift movement (H1).
5. Filler element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the element (17) which determines the filling height can be moved, in order to open the protection space (22), in the direction of the underside of the filling element (1) which comprises the outlet opening (10).
6. Filler element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protection space (22) is formed by a cylindrical, preferably circular cylindrical section (25.1) of a housing aperture (25), that at least one sealing element (24) is provided at the element (17) which determines the filling height, separating the protection space (22) from a process side of the filling element (1) and, respectively, from regions of the filling element (1) which conduct process gas and/or filling product and/or vacuum, and that the sealing element (24) can be moved, with the element (17) which determines the filling height, in piston fashion in the section (25.1) of the housing aperture (25).
7. Filler element according to claim 6, characterised in that, connecting to the cylindrical section (25.1) forming the protection space (22), is at least one further section in the direction of the opening lift movement (H2), which forms the space (25.2) formed in the filling element housing (7) or is in connection with this.
8. Filler element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one flow path formed in the filling element housing (7), by means of which the protection space (22) can have an inert gas under pressure imposed on it during the filling, and by means of which, with the protection space (22) open, a cleaning and/or sterilization medium can be introduced or removed, specifically for cleaning and/or sterilization of the protection space (22) or the housing aperture (25) forming the protection space as well as the element (17) which determines the filling height.
9. Filling system, preferably in the form of a filling machine of circulating design, with a plurality of filling elements (1) at a transport element, for example at a circulating rotor (3), characterized in that the filling elements (1) are formed in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

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