EP3031774A1 - Filling valve for filling a container with a filling product - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling valve for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, having a product outlet opening (5) for dispensing a filling product into a container to be filled and with a in a first valve seat (7) sealingly receivable valve cone (3) for switching Filling product stream by moving the poppet (3) into the first valve seat (7) towards the product flow port (5) directed product flow, a second valve seat (8) for sealingly receiving the poppet (3) for switching the product flow by moving the product Poppet (3) is provided in the valve seat (8) opposite to the direction of the filling product flow.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a filling valve for filling a container to be filled with a filling product which is suitable for filling a plurality of product types, in particular high- and low-viscosity filling products.

State of the art

Filling valves, which are used in bottling plants for bottling beverages or other liquid foods, are known in different designs. These filling valves usually have a valve seat and a valve cone complementary thereto and received in the valve seat. If the valve plug is received in the valve seat, the valve cone and the valve seat form an annular seal and the valve is closed, so that the filling product can not flow through the valve. When the valve plug is lifted out of the valve seat, the valve is opened and the filling product can flow through the annular gap which forms between the valve seat and the valve cone. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the annular gap can be varied by a variation of the stroke of the valve cone relative to the valve seat with a corresponding geometric configuration of the valve seat and the valve plug, so that the volume flow flowing through the valve can be varied and in this way the filling speed can be adjusted. In the conventional filling valves, it is also known to switch the poppet only between the open and the closed position back and forth.

The filling valves are designed for specific filling products or product groups. It is demanding to fill filling products of different nature, such as different viscosity, exactly with one and the same filling valve, since the geometric configuration of the annular gap and the opening and closing character of the valve is optimized for a certain viscosity or a certain viscosity range of the respective filling product out.

This is especially true for the reduction, prevention or control of the wake of the filling valve after closing. In order to achieve an exact filling of a desired filling volume in a container to be filled, namely not only is crucial to fill an exact filling volume during the actual filling process, but it is also important to closely control even after closing the filling valve a wake of the filling product, to achieve a consistent filling result for all filled containers. If the caster, that is, the filling product still leaking after the filling valve has been closed, is not the same for every filling operation, different filling volumes result in the containers. Furthermore, a not exactly controlled after-run can also have a negative effect on the filling result to the extent that filling product can drip uncontrollably on the outside of the filled container or of a container still to be filled or on components of the filling device. For this purpose, for example, for certain filling products, a sieve is provided as a gas barrier in the product outlet to prevent dripping when closing the valve. For other filling products such a sieve is often not required. Whether with or without sieve, it is not always possible to reliably prevent or control dripping. This will be explained in more detail below:

The filling product may leak out of the filling valve until the valve cone bears sealingly against the valve seat. As a result, the region below the annular seal formed by the valve seat and the valve cone accommodated therein also remains filled with the product volume of the filling product until the filling product outlet is actually closed during the closing of the filling valve. Depending on the viscosity and surface tension of the filling product and depending on the geometry of the volume present below the ring seal, the filling product is held in this region until ambient air or the gas present in the filling system flows in. If this subsequent flow of the gas takes place, then a sudden emptying of the filling product volume takes place in the area below.

This tail can be controlled by the provision of a sieve as a gas barrier to avoid a subsequent flow of gas and the associated sudden emptying of the filling product volume below the filling valve. The retention force is generated here by the surface tension of the filling product. Thus, in the ideal case, dripping of the filling product is prevented. However, it may happen due to an increase in temperature at a standstill of production that the filling product volume expands. This volume change of the filling product inevitably leads to dripping, since the sieve can no longer completely retain the filling product. This is among other things an impurity connected to the underlying container or the bottle mouths. In addition, the filling of fiber or highly pulpy filling products using a sieve is difficult or even impossible.

A filling valve, which is provided for filling two different types of filling product in a container and this has two product outlets, goes out of the DE 10 2011 007 684 A1 out.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a filling valve for filling a container with liquid filling product, which provides an improved structure.

The object is achieved with a filling valve with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments follow from the subclaims, the following description of the invention and the description of preferred embodiments.

Accordingly, a filling valve for filling a container to be filled with a filling product is proposed, with a product outlet opening for dispensing a filling product in a container to be filled and with a valve seat in a first valve sealingly receivable valve cone for switching the Füllproduktstroms by moving the valve cone in the first valve seat in Direction of the directed to the product outlet opening Füllzeugstrom. According to the invention, a second valve seat is provided for sealingly receiving the valve cone for switching the filling product flow by moving the valve cone into the valve seat counter to the direction of the product flow of product.

This has the consequence that by the direction opposite to the flow direction closing direction of the valve plug a flow direction opposite closing movement takes place, whereby a negative pressure in the region between the product outlet opening and the first valve seat can be generated during the closing process, at least shortly before the application of the valve cone with the valve seat. Thus, the present under the valve seat or the region of the ring seal filling product is sucked back. A dripping, especially in highly viscous filling products, is reduced or even completely prevented by just this sucking back at the end of the filling process. The filling product may vary depending on the Rücksaugvolumen between even slightly expand the filling operations without a drop forming at the product outlet opening.

Due to the closing movement of the valve cone in the flow direction of the filling product, closing of the filling valve is preferably achieved for low-viscosity filling products. The first valve seat is preferably arranged close to the product outlet opening, so that leakage of low-viscosity filling products, which leak out in any case, can be ensured.

Due to these two embodiments, the filling valve is suitable for filling different product types, in particular low-viscosity and high-viscosity filling products. With the valve cone closing forwards against the first valve seat, ie in the direction of product flow, droplet formation can preferably be kept low in the case of low-viscosity filling products. Highly viscous filling products are preferably filled with valve cone closing backwards, ie against the flow of the filling product, against the second valve seat. Compared to conventional filling valves, the structure of the combined filling valve is not complicated or only insignificant, so that the above-mentioned combination is realized with simple design means, cost and low maintenance.

By sucking back and thus reduced tendency to drip even with highly viscous filling products can be achieved that can be dispensed with a sieve or a gas barrier to prevent dripping. This makes it possible to fill with the proposed filling valve and fibrous and pulp-containing filling products.

This results in a filling valve, which is particularly versatile and by means of which a wide range of filling products with good quality of the filling process - especially with respect to the tendency to drip - can be filled, namely low-viscosity fillers on high-viscosity fillers to fiber and pulp-containing filling products.

Preferably, the valve cone is movably arranged between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. In this case, the valve cone is particularly preferably provided movably between three working positions. The three working positions are referred to as first closing position, second closing position and filling position. In the first closed position, the valve cone is sealingly received in the first valve seat, that is to say the valve cone is in contact with the first valve seat in such a way that it forms a ring seal therewith, the flow path is closed and no filling product can flow through the product outlet sleeve to the product outlet opening. In the second closed position, the valve cone is received in the second valve seat, that is, the valve cone is in contact with the second valve seat so as to form a ring seal therewith, the flow path is closed and no filling product can flow to the product outlet opening. The first valve seat is preferably closer to the product outlet opening than the second valve seat.

The third working position is the filling position in which the flow path between the valve cone and the product outlet sleeve is opened, through which the filling product can thus flow into the container to be filled. Preferably, the filling position, seen along the stroke of the valve cone, between the two closing positions. On the other hand, the order of the three working positions in the general form of the valve is open and can be suitably selected.

To form the annular seals, the valve cone preferably has, on its surface facing the first valve seat, a contour complementary to the first valve seat and a contour complementary to the second valve seat on its surface facing the second valve seat. In this case, the contour complementary to the first valve seat and / or the second valve seat is particularly preferably formed by a sealing body, preferably by a sealing body made of an elastomer or thermoplastic.

Depending on the filling product or product combination, the product outlet opening can be designed in different cross sections.

The valve cone is preferably accommodated displaceably in a product outlet sleeve, wherein an annular gap is formed between the product outlet sleeve and the valve cone, which forms the flow channel through which the filling product flows to the product outlet opening. Preferably, the product outlet sleeve and the valve cone are cylindrical in the broadest sense. It should be noted at this point explicitly that the product outlet sleeve must not be provided in one piece or in one piece. This also applies analogously to other components of the valve.

The tendency to drip or product accumulation at the valve cone tends to be lower in the case of low-viscosity filling products than in the case of highly viscous filling products, since low-viscosity liquids emerge as a gush from the filling valve. For that reason, for such Fill products closing in the forward direction, that is in the flow direction, and also take place closer to the product outlet opening. By simultaneously closing the valve cone against the flow direction is provided for switching filling operations for high-viscosity filling products, a simple and elegant construction of the filling valve is possible.

In addition to the suction effect, which results due to the backward movement of the valve cone relative to the product outlet opening, the filling valve preferably has an additional suction device, by the closing operation in the first closed position and / or the second closed position, a further or stronger negative pressure is generated. Whether the negative pressure induced by the closing movement is sufficient to prevent droplet formation depends on the filling products used, the time during which no filling product is supplied in the product cycle, and other parameters, in particular geometric details of the valve and the materials used or the surface finish of product-contacting surfaces. In order to make the filling valve even more universal in this regard, an additional suction device may be provided. This can be designed active or passive. For example, a suction channel can be provided, through which the filling product and / or the atmosphere in the filling valve or parts thereof is sucked in before and / or at and / or after the closing time.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the suction by means of the suction device is passive, such that the suction device has a cylindrical portion on the valve cone and a hollow cylindrical portion on the product outlet sleeve. It is understood that the terms "cylindrical" and "hollow cylindrical" are to be understood generally and are not limited to circular cylindrical geometries. The cylindrical portion on the poppet, also referred to as the suction portion, and the hollow cylindrical portion on the product outlet sleeve are provided relative to each other so that the cylindrical portion enters the hollow cylindrical portion during the closing operation and correspondingly exerts a piston action on the underlying filling product. This creates a fairly significant negative pressure in the product outlet sleeve or parts thereof. This effect is particularly useful when the closing direction is that closing direction which is directed against the flow direction of the filling product; that is, in a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical portion on the poppet travels to the first closed position in the hollow cylindrical portion on the product discharge sleeve during the closing operation. It is important that the cylindrical section at the beginning of the closing process completely or at least partially outside the hollow cylindrical portion or the radii of both portions are provided so that at the beginning of the closing operation, a large flow cross-section is present, which gradually decreases during the closing operation and optimally at the end of the closing operation is substantially zero. In this sense, a directed delay of the closing process takes place.

In order to vary the filling product flow flowing out of the product outlet opening, the valve cone is preferably infinitely positionable in its position between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. Such stepless adjustability is particularly advantageous if the valve cone and the product outlet sleeve are designed so relative to each other that not only closing and opening of the flow path can be effected with the displacement of the valve cone, but also the cross section of the flow path is adjustable. As a result, the flow rate of the filling product can be adjusted. In addition, for the same purpose, the cross section of the product outlet sleeve can be provided changeable.

Preferably, the valve plug is driven pneumatically and / or electrically and / or mechanically. It is important that the drive works reliably and requires little maintenance. Optionally, a return spring may be provided, whereby the active drive takes place only in one direction, while the return of the valve is automatically carried out in an initial position by means of the spring.

Preferably, no sieve is provided in the flow path. Due to the fact that no more sieve is needed, it is also possible to fill fibrous or highly pulpy filling products.

The above-described filling valves and their modifications allow the filling of various types of products, especially high-viscosity and low-viscosity filling products. Preferably, low-viscosity fillers are filled with the forward-closing poppet, since the formation of droplets or product accumulation can be kept low on the poppet. High-viscosity fill products are preferably filled with the reverse-closing valve cone. Dripping of highly viscous filling products can be prevented by sucking back at the end of the filling process. The filling product may even expand somewhat between the filling operations without droplets forming at the product outlet opening. The fact that you can dispense with a sieve, the product space hygienic and thus low-maintenance and be designed to be cleaner. It is also possible to fill fibrous and highly pulpy filling products.

The filling product which can be filled with the valves described comprises both low-viscosity and high-viscosity and pasty liquids, as well as multiphase liquids and those with particles. Beverages of all kinds are included as well as yoghurt, jam, jelly and other liquid foods.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

einen Querschnitt durch einen unteren Bereich eines Füllventils in einem vorwärts geschlossenen Zustand,

Figur 2

das Füllventil der Figur 1 in einem Füllzustand, und

Figur 3

das Füllventil der Figur 1 in einem rückwärts geschlossenen Zustand.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

FIG. 1

a cross section through a lower portion of a filling valve in a closed state,

FIG. 2

the filling valve of FIG. 1 in a state of filling, and

FIG. 3

the filling valve of FIG. 1 in a reverse closed state.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

That in the FIG. 1 shown filling valve is shown in cross-section and has a bottom piece 1 of the filling valve, a product outlet sleeve 2 and a poppet 3. The in the broadest sense cylindrical poppet 3 is located in a cavity of the product outlet sleeve 2 and forms with this an annular gap 4 through which the filling product flows with open valve position to the product outlet opening 5. The annular gap 4 thus forms the flow path for the filling product through the filling valve.

In the region of the product outlet opening 5, ie its lower portion, the valve cone 3 has a sealing contour 6, which is received in the closed state in a corresponding complementary contour of a lower valve seat 7, which together form a ring seal in this way, so that no filling product the annular gap 4 can flow to the product outlet opening 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring seal is formed metallic and the corresponding metallic contour of the valve plug 3 is received directly in the metallic valve seat 7.

The sealing of the filling valve takes place in this case in "forward direction", that is, the valve cone 3 lowers into the lower valve seat 7 along the flow direction of the filling product. In other words, in order to seal the filling valve at the lower valve seat 7, the valve plug 3 moves in the direction of the product flow in order to assume a first closed state.

Out FIG. 3 It can be seen that the filling valve can still assume a second closed state. In this second closed state, the valve cone 3 is sealingly received in an upper valve seat 8 with a sealing disk 9 made of an elastomer provided on its upper region. The upper valve seat 8 is formed in the illustrated embodiment in the bottom piece 1.

Sealing disk 9 and upper valve seat 8 cooperate in a direction opposite to the product flow, that is, the closed state at the upper valve seat 8 is reached when the valve cone 3 is moved back to the upper valve seat 8 until the sealing disk 9 is acted upon. In this way, a ring seal between the elastomeric sealing disc 9 is provided to the metallic valve seat 8, by means of which the sealing takes place. In other words, in this case, the seal is made in the "backward direction ", that is, the valve plug 3 closes against the direction of the product flow.

That in the FIGS. 1 and 3 The filling valve shown thus combines a forward closing valve and a reverse closing valve, wherein the valve in the FIG. 1 is in a first closed position while the valve is in the FIG. 3 located in a second closed position.

The drive of the valve cone 3 is in the FIGS. 1 to 3 not explicitly shown, but may for example be performed pneumatically, electrically or in other ways. The adjustment of the Position of the valve plug 3 can be made stepless, stepped or only between an open and closed positions. In addition, the cross section of the product outlet sleeve 2 itself can be provided changeable or the product outlet sleeve 2 is exchangeable to specify different dimensions of the annular gap 4 formed between the valve cone 3 and the product outlet sleeve 2.

In the present embodiment, the drive comprises a return spring (not shown), which returns the valve plug 3 in the non-driven state in an open position. In this case, a drive (not shown) is provided, which can move the valve cone 3 in two opposite directions, ie in the direction of the two valve seats 7, 8. Alternatively, it is possible that the return spring, the valve cone 3 in the upper valve seat 8 sealingly returns. Furthermore, it is alternatively possible that the return spring, the valve cone 3 in the lower valve seat 7 sealingly returns.

From the figures it can be seen that the valve cone 3 does not have to be formed in one piece. This also applies to the product outlet sleeve 2, which, as in the present case, a part (the lower portion) of the bottom piece 1 mitumzufasst.

The annular gap 4 has an upper portion 10 which has an approximately constant cross-section over a certain distance. In this upper portion 10 of the annular gap 4 moves in the backward movement, that is, during the closing operation in the second closed position, a corresponding portion 11 of the valve cone 3, which is referred to as a suction section, a. The term "suction portion " is used because, by entering into the upper portion 10 of the annular gap 4, a negative pressure in the lower region of the annular gap 4, that is in the region which faces the product outlet opening 5 is generated. Thus, when the filling valve is closed in the second closing position, the filling product still present in the annular gap 4 is sucked upwards below the valve seat formed by the elastomeric sealing disk 9 and the upper valve seat 8. As a result, the dripping tendency of the valve when closing in the reverse direction can be significantly reduced.

This effect can be depending on the viscosity and surface tension of the filled filling product by a corresponding adjustment of the cross section and cross-sectional profile of the annular gap. 4 optimize, which in turn can be varied over a correspondingly over the selection of the product outlet sleeve 2.

That in the FIGS. 1 to 3 filling valve shown thus realized a combination of the backward-closing filling valve, such as high-viscosity filling products, and the forward-closing filling valve, such as low-viscosity filling products. The filling valve dispenses with a sieve, since the dripping tendency inherent in filling highly viscous filling products can be reduced by the negative pressure generated during reverse closing. Thus, by the proposed filling valve and fibrous or highly pulpy filling products can be filled.

This results in a filling valve, which is particularly versatile and by means of which a wide range of filling products can be filled - from low-viscosity fillers over high-viscosity filling products to fiber and pulp-containing filling products.

The valve plug 3 can be moved into the above-mentioned two closing positions, that is, into the upper valve seat 8 and the lower valve seat 7. The part of the bottom piece 1, which forms the upper valve seat 8, still belongs to the product outlet sleeve 2. The seal in the two valve seats 7, 8 can be performed with different material combinations, for example metallic, by means of elastomers and / or by means of thermoplastics and / or combinations thereof , The two valve seats 7, 8 can of course be designed with different materials and different geometries, whereby the valve is optionally more universally applicable.

The following filling phases are in the FIGS. 1 to 3 shown: In FIG. 1 the poppet 3 is closed forward. The valve cone 3 is in this case in the lower position and is sealingly received in the lower valve seat 7. The sealing takes place via the lower valve seat 7, which is provided in or subsequent to the product outlet sleeve 2.

The FIG. 2 shows the valve plug 3 in filling position. Therein, the poppet 3 is in a middle position. The filling product flows outside the valve cone 3 over and correspondingly through the annular gap 4 formed between the valve cone 3 and the product outlet sleeve 2.

In FIG. 3 the poppet 3 is in a reverse closed position. The seal is made via the upper valve seat 8. By the backward stroke at the end of the filling process, the filling product is easily sucked back by a defined volume. This sucking back is achieved by a negative pressure or vacuum is generated in the annular gap 4 between the product outlet opening 5 and the upper valve seat 8. This negative pressure is generated by the fact that the suction portion 11 of the valve cone 3, before it is completely closed backwards, enters the defined upper portion 10 of the annular gap 4.

In an advantageous development, a different cross section of the annular gap 4 can be achieved by the interaction of the upper valve seat 8 or the annular gap 4 with the valve cone 3, depending on the stroke position of the valve cone 3. This results in that a variation of the stroke position of the valve cone 3, a variation of the product flow rate can be achieved in the container to be filled. This is of particular importance for the filling of low-viscosity filling products with a valve closing on the front, since here the filling product flow can be varied particularly effectively by the variation of the stroke position of the valve cone 3. For the variation of the stroke position of the valve cone 3, therefore, a corresponding drive, such as a drive controlled by a stepping motor, is particularly suitable for being able to approach certain stroke positions in a reproducible manner in order to achieve a given filling product flow.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

breech

2

Product outlet sleeve

3

shuttle

4

annular gap

5

Product outlet opening

6

sealing contour

7

Lower valve seat

8th

Upper valve seat

9

sealing washer

10

upper section of the annular gap

11

suction section

12

Return spring

Claims (9)

A filling valve for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, with a product outlet opening (5) for dispensing a filling product into a container to be filled and with a valve cone (3) sealingly receivable in a first valve seat (7) for switching the filling product flow by moving the valve cone (3) in the first valve seat (7) in the direction of the directed to the product outlet opening (5) Füllproduktstromstrom,
marked by
a second valve seat (8) for sealingly receiving the poppet (3) for switching the flow of filling product by moving the poppet (3) into the valve seat (8) against the direction of the flow of product filling. Filling valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve cone (3) between the first valve seat (7) and the second valve seat (8) is arranged to be movable. Filling valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve cone (3) on its the first valve seat (7) facing surface to the first valve seat (7) complementary contour for forming a first ring seal and at its second valve seat (8) facing surface has a second valve seat (8) complementary contour for forming a second annular seal. Filling valve according to claim 3, characterized in that the first valve seat (7) and / or the second valve seat (8) complementary contour by a sealing body (9) is formed, preferably by a sealing body (9) made of an elastomer or thermoplastic. Filling valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first valve seat (7) has a smaller distance from the product outlet opening (5) than the second valve seat (8). Filling valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a suction device (10, 11) is provided, which when moving the valve cone (3) in the first valve seat (7) and / or in the second valve seat (8) a negative pressure at least between the respective valve seat (7, 8) and the product outlet opening (5) produced. Filling valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve cone (3) for varying the from the product outlet opening (5) flowing Füllproduktstroms is continuously positioned in its position between the first valve seat (7) and the second valve seat (8). Filling valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve cone (3) is driven pneumatically and / or electrically and / or mechanically. Filling valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve cone (3) in a product outlet sleeve (2) is arranged, which is variable for adjusting different flow velocities of the filling product in its cross section and / or interchangeable.

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