EP2794462B1 - Filling element and filling system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling system according to the preamble of claim 6.

A filling element with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known ( DE 22 46 176 A1 ). The known filling element designed as a metering valve has, in a fluid channel formed in a filling element housing, a first valve body which is part of a first fluid valve and which controls the delivery of a first filling material jet at a first discharge opening. In the first valve body, a second liquid channel with a second discharge opening discharge of a second Füllgutstrahls is formed. The second fluid channel communicates with the first fluid passage via another fluid valve and via channels that are slanted with respect to a filament axis and provided in the first valve body. A second, arranged in the first valve body valve body forms the further Flüssigkeitsvantil, with which the delivery of the second Füllgutstrahls is controllable. The known filling element serves to avoid at the beginning of filling a container a disturbance of the introduced into a container contents by a too sharp Füllgutstrahl. For this purpose, at the beginning of each filling process, initially only the further liquid valve designed as a fine-flow valve is opened.

Also known is a filling element ( DE 10 2006 017706 A1 ), which is suitable and intended either for free jet filling or for pressure filling of containers. In a Füllelementgehäuse a first liquid channel is formed, which opens at a first discharge opening and in which a first liquid valve is arranged with a valve body. The valve body is provided on a valve stem formed by a pipe piece. The pipe section forms a second liquid channel with a second discharge opening. Via an opening, the pipe section opens with its upper end into a liquid space, which communicates with the first liquid channel via a further liquid valve. The free jet filling of the container takes place via the second liquid channel and the second discharge opening with the first liquid channel closed. The pressure filling the container then arranged in sealing position on the filling element takes place when the second liquid channel is closed and the first liquid channel is open.

Also known are multiple valves for controlled delivery of different components of a filling material into containers via an outer annular first discharge opening and an inner branch discharge opening (US Pat. GB 2 451 251 A ). These known Mahrfachrrantile each comprise a äußerten, sleeve-like valve body, which forms between itself and a surrounding valve housing an annular fluid channel with the first discharge opening, and an inner valve body, which between them and the inner surface of the outer valve body, a second annular fluid channel with the second discharge opening forms. For opening and closing the discharge openings, the valve bodies are axially movable relative to the housing as well as relative to one another. Each fluid channel is connected separately from the other fluid channel with a submission providing the associated component.

Also known are metering valves ( DE 10 2010 006005 A1 ), in which the discharge of the filling material controlling liquid valve each having an outer and an inner valve body which are movable relative to each other and relative to a valve seat such that closed in an operating state, the metering valve by both valve body and in other operating states the metering valve respectively opened by both valve body or opened by a respective valve body and closed by the other valve body, namely, releasing different flow paths for the contents.

Filling elements are finally known ( JP 2007 069928 A ), mlt a arranged in a first, a first discharge port fluid channel valve body of a liquid valve. In the valve body, a second fluid channel is provided with a second discharge opening. Furthermore, the valve body is provided with a plurality of openings forming a sieve-like structure and opening into the second liquid channel, in such a manner that the first liquid channel is closed in a position of the valve body and a reduced flow path for the product through the openings and the second liquid channel consists of each to be filled container.

The object of the invention is to show a filling element which is suitable for free jet filling of containers and an optimal, especially clean filling with increased filling capacity (in the container filled product quantity per unit time) allows. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A filling system is the subject of patent claim 6.

The filling element according to the invention is, inter alia, designed such that at least during a part of the filling phase in which the respective container or its container interior are filled with the liquid product, the product flowing Füllgutstrom by merging at least two Follguttellströmen or Füllgutteilstrahlen is formed, namely by merging at least one outer, at least one first discharge opening first Füllgutteilstrahls and at least one inner, at least one second discharge opening output second Füllgutteilstrahls. The inner Füllgutteilstrahl forms a kind of guide or guide flow, with which connects the at least one outer Füllgutteilstrahl preferably before entering the respective container. Based on the Fülleiernentachse, in the direction of the filling material flows into the respective container, the at least one first discharge opening is offset radially outwardly relative to the at least one further discharge opening for the inner Füllgutteilstrahl, The filling element according to the invention is further characterized by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. In a preferred embodiment, the first discharge opening is annular or formed by an annular gap, so that also emerging from the first discharge opening Füllgutteilstrahl annular and the at least forming a further outlet opening exiting inner Füllgutteilstrahl enclosing.

Preferably, the at least one first discharge opening is designed so that the Füllgutteilstrahl exiting from this outlet opening is directed towards the Füllelementachse, i. with this an angle smaller than 90 °, which is opposite to the flow direction of the filling material, i. opens upwards.

It has surprisingly been found that the Füllgutteilstrahlen generated by the inventive formation, which unite after exiting the filling element and preferably before entering the respective container to a common Füllgutstrahl, to a substantial increase in the filling capacity (measured in filling volume per unit time), for example to an increase of up to 20%. Of particular advantage is also that this increase in performance can be realized without it during the filling process to a foaming of the contents to a relevant extent, i. In particular, the filling process and / or the filling quality impairing scope comes.

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.

For the purposes of the invention, free-jet filling is to be understood as meaning a process in which the liquid product flows into the container to be filled in a free filling jet or filling material jet, the container with its container mouth or opening not resting against the filling element, but rather from the filling element or from is spaced there a Füllgutauslass.

Within the meaning of the invention, "containers" are, inter alia, bottles, cans, and also soft packagings, for example those produced from cardboard and / or plastic film and / or metal foil.

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

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Darstellung und im Schnitt ein Füllelement eines Füllsystems einer Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum Freistrahlfüllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut;

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung wie Figur 1, jedoch bei im Schnitt dargestellten Ventilstößel und Ventilkörper eines Flüssigkeitsventils des Füllelementes der Figur 1;

Fig. 3

in vergrößerter Teildarstellung und im Schnitt das Füllelement der Figuren 1 und 2 im Bereich der Füllelementunterseite bzw. im Bereich einer zentralen bzw. mittigen Abgabeöffnung und einer diese umschließenden ringförmigen Abgabeöffnung;

Fig. 4 - 6

Darstellung ähnlich den Figuren 1 - 3 bei einer weiteren Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Füllelementes.

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

Fig. 1

in a simplified representation and in section a filling element of a filling system of a filling machine of the rotary type for free jet filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product;

Fig. 2

a representation like FIG. 1 However, in the valve stem shown in section and valve body of a liquid valve of the filling of the FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 3

in an enlarged partial view and in section the filling element of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the region of the filling element underside or in the region of a central or central dispensing opening and an annular dispensing opening enclosing the same;

Fig. 4-6

Representation similar to the Figures 1 - 3 in a further embodiment of the filling element according to the invention.

In the Figures 1 - 3 1 is a filling element for the free jet filling of containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid filling material. The filling element 1 is provided together with a plurality of similar filling elements 1 on the circumference of a rotatable about a vertical axis of the machine rotor 3 of a filling system or a filling machine rotating design.

On the rotor 3 are not shown in the figures, common to all filling elements of the filling machine, the filling material bereitstellender Füllgutkessel, for example in the form of a ring boiler, as well as a common for all filling elements 1 annular channel. 4

The filling element 1 comprises a filling element housing 5, in which u.a. a Füllgut- or liquid channel 6 is formed, which is connected in its upper region via a product line 7 with control or liquid valve 8 with the common Füllgutkessel. In detail, the product line 7 led via an inlet opening 7.1 into the liquid channel 6, whose axis is horizontal or substantially horizontal, i. is oriented perpendicular to the filler element axis FA, so that the liquid product enters radially outward in the liquid channel 6 relative to the vertical machine axis in a flow direction.

In the liquid channel 6, a liquid valve 9 is provided, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment by a cooperating with a valve seat in the liquid channel 6 valve body 10, for opening and closing the liquid valve 9 in the direction of a vertical Füllelementachse FA from the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown, the liquid valve 9 occlusive position is movable upward into a position opening the liquid valve 9. For this purpose, the valve body 10 is provided on a tube 11 which is arranged coaxially with the filling element axis FA and acts as a valve tappet, which cooperates with an actuating device 12 with its upper end not shown in detail and sealed out of the liquid channel 6.

On the underside of the filling element 1 or in a there, open to this bottom annular space 13 of the liquid channel 6 forms a Füllelementachse FA annularly enclosing discharge opening 14, which is designed as an annular gap between the outer surface of the tube 11 and the inner surface of the liquid channel 6 and from which the tube 11 projects with its lower open tube end 11.1 into the annular space 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid valve 9 is in the flow direction of the liquid filling material through the liquid channel 6 at a relatively large axial distance from the discharge opening 14, ie in the dargstellten embodiment, the liquid channel 6 is divided by the liquid valve 9 into an upper and a lower portion , wherein both sections have approximately the same axial length.

How the particular Figures 2 and 3 show, the tube 11 and formed in the tube 11 further liquid channel 11.2 not only open at its lower end 11.1, but the other liquid channel 11.2 is also in the upper portion of the liquid channel 6, ie in that portion of the liquid channel open, the (section ) Based on the flow direction of the liquid filling material in front of the liquid valve 9 is located. The local opening of the tube 11 and the liquid channel 11.2 is for example generated by at least one transverse bore 15 which is oriented with its axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the Füllelementachse FA. Furthermore, the transverse bore 15 is arranged in the illustrated embodiment so that it is in the open liquid valve 9, ie with raised valve body 10 and tube 11, congruent or substantially congruent with the inlet opening 7.1 of the product line 7.

In addition, different flow paths are additionally formed in the housing 5 of the filling element 1, which flow paths can be controlled by control valves 16 and 17 which are closed in the non-activated state, such as such. a flow path through which the upper portion of the liquid channel 6 can be connected by activating or opening the control valve 16 with the annular channel 4, and another flow path, via the activating or opening of the control valve 17, the annular space 13 with the annular channel 4 or but by activating or opening both control valves 17, the annular channel 4 can be connected to both the annular space 13 and the liquid channel 6. About the controlled flow paths or the control valves 16 and 17 u.a. in closed with a closure or with a flushing cap 18 annular space 13 and with open liquid valves 8 and 9 intensive CIP cleaning and / or sterilization of the filling elements 1 of the filling machine possible.

In normal filling operation, the control valves 16 and 17 are closed. The bottle 2 to be filled is held with its axis of the bottle coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA and with its mouth of the bottle 2.1 at a distance below the discharge opening 14, with its mouth flange 2.2 hanging on a each filling element 1 associated container carrier 19th

The filling of the respective bottle 2 is preferably carried out such that at the beginning of the filling process, ie in a Schnellfüllphase both liquid valve 8 and 9 are opened, so that the liquid product on the one hand via the lower, open and also a discharge opening 11.3 forming pipe end 11.1 as a central Füllgutteilstrahl 20 and on the other hand via the annular discharge opening 14 as the Füllgutteilstrahl 20 enclosing annular Füllgutteilstrahl 21 is discharged at the bottom of the filling element, as shown in the FIG. 3 indicated by the arrows there. Both Füllgutteilstrahlen 20 and 21 combine to form a common Füllgutstrahl, which then flows in the direction of the Füllelementachse FA in the respective bottle 2.

It has surprisingly been found that by the combination of the central, emerging from the lower tube end 11.1 Füllgutteilstrahls 20 and exiting the discharge opening 14 annular Füllgutteilstrahls 21, which combines with the Füllgutteilstrahl 20 before entering the bottle 2 and with this entrained, at high filling capacity, a clean filling of the bottles 2 can be achieved, without foaming and without the risk of splashing of contents despite the resulting from the rotation of the rotor 3 and the Füllgutteilstrahlen 20 and 21 and the unified, common Füllgutstrahl acting centrifugal forces.

At the end of the fast fill phase, for example, for slow fill, i. for a filling with a reduced Füllgutstrom one of the two liquid valves 8 and 9, and preferably the liquid valve 9 is closed. After reaching the desired filling quantity, the liquid valve still open during the slow filling is closed, for example the liquid valve 8, so that the filling process is completed after the closing of both liquid valves 8 and 9 and the bottle 2 filled with the desired filling quantity of the filling element 1 or the container carrier 19 can be removed.

The FIGS. 4 to 6 show as a further embodiment, a filling element 1a, which differs from the filling element 1 essentially only in that in the tube 11 coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA a rod 22 is disposed at the embodiment shown slightly protrudes with its lower end over the lower end 11.1 of the tube 11. Between the inner surface of the tube 11 and the outer surface of the rod 22, the additional liquid channel 11.2 is formed which is annular and in turn through the transverse bore 15 to the liquid channel 6 is open and at the lower end of the tube 11.1 forms an annular discharge opening 11.3. The other construction as well as the operation of the filling element 1a are identical to the structure and operation of the filling element 1. By the annular liquid channel 11.2 formed by rod 22 with annular discharge opening 11.3 is a still further improved flow behavior of the liquid filling material at the outlet at the bottom of the Tube 11 and thus achieved a further improvement of the respective bottle 2 flowing during the rapid filling phase Füllgutstrahles.

For controlling the amount of product introduced into the respective bottle 2 via the two discharge openings 14 and 11.3, for example, a flow meter 23 (preferably a magneto-inductive flow meter) individually provided in the product line 8 for each filling element 1 or 1a is used and / or a container carrier 19 is formed Weighing device for detecting the current weight of the local area 2.

The invention described above is suitable in a very special way for the filling of juices which contain fruit fibers and / or fruit cells, wherein the length of these fruit fibers can be up to 25 mm. This particular suitability for the filling of such products is based on the fact that the filling valve according to the invention contains no built-in parts, which would hinder the passage of solids through the filling valve.

Another aspect of the present invention is to choose the diameter of the liquid channel in the pipe 11 so that the capillary forces and / or the surface tension of the filling material to be filled in conjunction with the selected diameter of the liquid channel leakage of the liquid channel after closing the liquid valves 8, 9 is safely prevented.

The leakage of the liquid channel could be safely prevented, for example, at a diameter of 6 mm in the filling of juice and a diameter of, for example, 8 to 9 mm in the filling of syrup.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the scope of the following claims. It has been assumed above that when filling both the discharge opening 14 and the further discharge opening 11.3 formed by the lower, open pipe end 11.1, ie with the Füllgutteilstrahlen 20 and 21, respectively, the same contents in the respective container or in the respective Bottle 2 is introduced. However, an embodiment of a filling element 1 or 1a not according to the invention would also be suitable for introducing at least two different components of a filling material into containers or bottles 2, wherein the components would already be at least partially mixed in the combined filling material stream flowing to the respective container. For this purpose, for example, the channel would be 11.2 separated from the liquid channel 6, ie the transverse bore 15 would not exist, and the channel 11.2 would be connected via a separate, a control or liquid valve containing product line with a boiler for providing a component of the contents. The liquid channel 6 would be connected via the product line 7, which would then not have the control valve 8, with a boiler for providing the further component of the filling material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a

filler

2

bottle

2.1

bottle mouth

2.2

Mündungsflansch

3

rotor

4

annular channel

5

filling element

6

liquid channel

7

product line

7.1

mouth

8, 9

liquid valve

10

valve body

11

pipe

11.1

pipe end

11.2

Liquid channel in the pipe 11

11.3

discharge opening

12

actuator

13

annulus

14

discharge opening

15

cross hole

16, 17

control valve

18

Closure or rinse cap

19

container carrier

20, 21

Füllgutteilstrahl

22

Rod

23

Flowmeter

FA

filling element

Claims (6)

1. Filling element for a filling system for fine jet filling of containers (2) with a liquid filling product, with at least one first liquid channel (6) in a filling element housing (5), through which the liquid filling product first flows during the filling, which forms a first discharge opening (14) for the discharge of the filling product in the form of a filling product jet (21), and with a liquid valve (9) arranged in the first liquid channel (6), which, for the controlled discharge of the filling product into the respective container (2) via the at least one first discharge opening (14), can be opened and closed in a controlled manner, and for this purpose comprises at least one valve body (10), movable between a closing position and an opening position, and wherein, in addition to the first liquid channel (6), at least one second liquid channel (11.2) is provided, which extends through the valve body (10), as well as at least one further discharge opening (11.3) for the discharge of an inner second filling product part jet, wherein the further discharge opening (11.3) is configured in such a way that, in normal filling operation, the second filling product part jet connects with the at least one first filling product part jet, to form a filling product jet flowing to the container (2) in the direction of a filling element axis (FA), and wherein the at least one first discharge opening (14), in relation to the filling element axis (FA), is offset radially outwards in relation to the at least one second discharge opening,
   characterised in that
   the at least one second discharge opening (11.3) is formed from an open end (11.1) of a tubular valve tappet (11), comprising the valve body (10), that the at least one second liquid channel (11.2) is in connection by means of at least one opening (15) with at least one section of the first liquid channel (6), said section being located in the flow direction of the filling product upstream of the first liquid valve (9), and that one further liquid valve (8) is provided in a connection (7) between the first liquid channel (6) and a tank providing the filling product or a component of the filling product, or between the first liquid channel (6) and the further liquid channel (11.2).
2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one first discharge opening (14) is configured in such a way that the first filling product jet (21) emerging from it is directed away towards the filling element axis (FA) and encloses an angle of less than 90° with the filling element axis (FA), and opens against the direction of flow of the filling product.
3. Filling element according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one first discharge opening (14) and/or the at least one second discharge opening (11.3) is configured as ring-shaped, surrounding the filling element axis (FA), or is formed from a plurality of individual openings, and specifically in an arrangement surrounding the filling element axis (FA) in the form of a ring.
4. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a further liquid valve (8) in a tank which provides the further liquid channel (11.2) directly with the filling product or a component of the filling product.
5. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one discharge opening (14) and the at least one second discharge opening (11.3) are offset axially in relation to the filling element axis (FA), and preferably in such a way that the at least one second discharge opening (11.1) is located on a lower level than the at least one first discharge opening (14).
6. Filling system for filling containers (2) with a liquid filling product, for example with a configuration of a filling machine of circulating type, with a plurality of filling elements (1, 1a), characterised in that the filling elements (1, 1a) are configured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

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