WO2010000359A1

WO2010000359A1 - Filling element and filling machine for filling containers

Info

Publication number: WO2010000359A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/003836
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath
Original assignee: Khs Ag
Priority date: 2008-06-30
Filing date: 2009-05-29
Publication date: 2010-01-07
Also published as: DE102008030291A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling element (1) of a filling machine for filling containers (2) with a liquid bulk good, having a dispensing opening (7) for controlled dispensing of the bulk good formed on an underside of the filling element, and having a closure system (13) having at least one closure element (16) on a carrier (15) in sealing contact with the filling element (1) and/or with an external functional element (11) of the filling element for generating a flushing chamber (14) closed to the outside and enclosing at least the dispensing opening (7).

Description

Filling element and filling machine for filling containers

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 9.

It is known filling machines for the so-called CIP cleaning and / or - sterilization, i. for a cleaning and / or sterilization, in the Füllgut- or product spaces, flow channels and other, in particular with the contents coming into contact functional elements of the filling machine and the filling elements are flowed through by a liquid cleaning and / or sterilizing medium to design with a closure system, which closes the filling elements in the region of their dispensing opening with closure elements and in each case forms rinsing chambers through which the liquid cleaning and / or sterilizing medium flows during the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization. In the simplest case, the closing elements are sealing caps which are placed on the filling elements. Locking systems are also known, however, with closure elements formed on carriers which can be moved by moving the carriers provided on the rotor of the filling machine between a non-active starting position and a working position, in which the closing elements are attached tightly to the filling elements and form the respective washing compartment.

The object of the invention is to show a filling element which can be converted in a particularly simple manner from a normal state for the filling operation in a state for the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A filling machine is the subject of patent claim 9.

The filling element according to the invention is preferably such with a filling the filling level in each container and determining this reaching into the container probe. In order to allow the transfer of the filling element from the normal state into the state for the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, i. the case required closing the filling element in the region of its discharge opening to form the local Spülraumes to allow the probe is provided vertically movable, i. it is movable from a state in which it protrudes with its probe tip on the underside of the filling element or a centering tulip in a state in which it is raised so far that they with their probe tip within the filling element or within the formed by the closing element Dishwasher is located.

The filling element is preferably formed with a Zentrierglocke against which the closing element is sealed when activated Verschließsystem and in turn sealed by the closing element against the filling element or the discharge opening surrounding area of the filling element is applied and in the thus the washing compartment formed at least partially is. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

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

1 and 2 each in a simplified representation and partly in section, a filling element of a filling machine of rotating design, together with a closure system for a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization in the normal state, i. in an inactive state of the closure system (Figure 1) and in a state for CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, i. in an active state of the closure system (Figure 2);

3 shows an enlarged partial view of a closing system in a further embodiment of the invention;

In the figures, 1 is a filling element, which is provided with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a circumferentially about a vertical machine axis drivable rotor of a filling machine rotating type for filling bottles or similar containers 2 with a liquid product. Of the rotor, only a ring vessel 3 is shown in the figures, which serves to receive the liquid filling material and on the periphery of the filling elements 1 are attached.

Each filling element 1 is formed in a manner known to those skilled within a Füllelementgehäuses 4 with a liquid valve 5 having a liquid channel 6, on the one hand with the ring bowl 3 in conjunction and on the other hand at the bottom of the filling element 1, a discharge opening 7 for dispensing liquid filling material during filling at the respective arranged under the filling element 1 container serves. In Füllelementgehäuse 4 different gas paths are further formed, which are connected via provided in a control block 8 control valves according to the respective filling method with formed in the rotor and common to all filling elements 1 ring channels 9 and 10 respectively.

Each filling element 1 further has a centering tulip 11, which is movable by a limited amount in the vertical direction by cams and on the one hand for centering and holding and also for a tight abutment of the respective container 2 during the filling process on the filling element 1 in the region of the discharge opening 7 serves, as is also known to the skilled person. For this purpose, the centering tulip 11 is provided with at least one seal that ensures the sealing position of the respective container 2 on the filling element 1, or is designed as a seal in some areas. Each filling element 1 is further formed with a filling height determining probe 12 which protrudes during filling with a predetermined length through the discharge opening 7 on the underside of the respective filling element 1 and extends into each container to be filled 2, so that under With the help of the probe 12, the respective filling process is interrupted or the liquid valve 4 is closed as soon as the lower probe end 12.1 is immersed in the liquid level of the filling material rising during filling in the container 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, the probe 12 is height adjustable, i. designed so that it is axially displaceable in its probe axis (double arrow A), between an upper stroke position, in which the lower probe end 12.1 is received in the centering tulip 11, and lower stroke positions in which the probe 12 with its probe end 12.1 of each desired filling height according to the centering tulip 11 projects downward. In the illustrated embodiment, the probe 12 is formed by a tube which is open at its lower, the probe end 12.1 forming end and connected at its obere, also open end via a control or probe valve 12.2 with the interior of the ring vessel 3, namely, with a local gas space 3.1, which is formed in the only partially filled with the liquid product ring tank 3 above a occupied by the contents liquid space 3.2.

The filling of the container 2 is carried out with the filling elements 1 according to the so-called "Trinox method", in which the during filling of the liquid product from each with an inert gas, such as CO2 gas biased container 2 displaced inert gas over the Probe 12 is returned to the gas space 3.1 and the filling process is automatically terminated when the probe end 12.1 is immersed in the level of contents in the respective container 2. Subsequently, by applying the not occupied by the contents residual volume of the container 2 with an inert gas slightly higher pressure Filling material from the container interior is pressed into the probe 12 until the probe end 12.1 has been emptied out of the filling material level and thus the exact fill level has been reached.

Another embodiment of the probe 12 is conceivable, for example, as an electrical probe with one or more but the respective filling height determining probe contacts.

For a cleaning and / or sterilization of the filling machine, in particular also coming into contact with the liquid filling elements and areas of this filling machine and in particular also the ring vessel 3, the liquid channels 6 and arranged in these channels functional elements, the discharge openings. 7 , the centering tulips 11, the gas or return gas channels within the filling elements 1 and the probes 12 at least in the region of their probe ends 12.1 and a possibly existing probe channel, etc. is assigned to each filling element 1, a closure system, which generally designated in Figures 1 and 2 with 13 is.

During the normal filling operation, the closure system 13 is in an initial state or deactivated state, as shown in FIG. 1 is shown. For a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, the closure system 13 is activated such that the respective centering tulip 11 bears in a sealed manner against the associated filling element 1 in a region surrounding the dispensing opening 7 and is tightly sealed on its underside facing away from the filling element 1. As a result, an outwardly closed wash compartment 14 is formed within the respective centering tulip 11, in which not only the discharge opening 7, but also existing return gas channels, ie in the formation of the probe 12 as probe tube of the probe channel or else in the filling 1 formed gas or return gas channels open, so that the washing compartment 14 and other formed in the respective filling element 1 flow paths, in particular with open valves can be traversed by a liquid cleaning and / or sterilization medium.

Each closure system 13 each consists of a carrier 15, which is designed as a plate in the illustrated embodiment. On the carrier 15 is a disc or piston-like, circular-cylindrical on its peripheral surface formed closing element 16 is provided, which is arranged axially displaceable in an open at the top of the carrier 15, but otherwise closed cylinder opening 17 in a vertical axis (double arrow B).

Each carrier 15 is movably provided on a provided on the rotor or on the ring bowl 2 of the filling machine holder and guide means 18, namely in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 radially displaceable to the machine axis (double arrow C), so that the carrier 15, including its region having the closure element 16, in the inactive state of the closure system 13 is laterally offset from the associated filling element 1 or the centering tulip 11 of this filling element, radially inwardly offset with respect to the vertical machine axis, and in the activated state is arranged with the closing element 16 below the corresponding filling element 1 and the associated centering tulip 11.

For pressing the centering tulip 11 against the filling element 1 and for closing the interior of the centering tulip 11 or to form the outwardly closed Spülraumes 14, the cylinder opening 17 is below the Verschließelementes 16 with a pressure medium, preferably with a gas and / or vaporous pressure medium, for example, acted upon by compressed air. For this purpose, a channel 19 opening into the cylinder opening 17 is formed in the interior of the carrier 15, which is controlled via a control valve 20 connected to a pressure medium supplying source 21 or a pressure medium leading line. The closing element 16 thus forms the piston of a pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangement.

Moving the carrier 15 from the non-activated state of Verschließsystems 13 corresponding home or rest position corresponding to the activated state of Verschließsystems working position, for example, manually on a provided on each carrier 15 handle 15.1 or automatically or by motor actuators or cams. For the necessary stability, the carrier 15 is supported in its working position with a relative to the vertical axis of the machine radially outer region of a provided on the respective filling element 1 support member 22 from.

To prepare the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization of the carrier 15 is thus moved from its initial position and the working position, with raised centering tulip 11 so that it can not block the movement of the carrier 15. If the closing element 16 is below the centering tulip 11, the closing element 16 is pressed against the centering tulip 11 by opening the control valve 20 and pressurizing the cylinder opening 17 with the pressure medium and pressing against the filling element. The respective probe 12 is in its upper stroke position, so that the probe end 12.1 is received in the washing compartment 14. After the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, the cylinder chamber 17 is first relieved of load via the associated control valve 20 when the centering tulip 11 is raised, and then the carrier 15 is moved back into its starting position.

Since, as already mentioned, the centering tulips 11 are usually moved with rotating rotor controlled by cams up and down, is the transfer of the respective Verschließsystems 13 from the non-activated state to the activated state in preparation for CIP cleaning and / or - sterilization or vice versa from the activated state to the non-activated state after completion of CIP cleaning and / or sterilization only possible on such filling elements 1 of a filling machine, which at an angular position of the rotational movement of the rotor, for example, between a container outlet and a Container inlet of the filling machine are located on which the centering tulips 11 are raised. The transferring the Verschließsysteme 13 from the non-activated state to the activated state and vice versa so takes place at the filling elements 1 of a filling machine in groups under clocked further rotation of the rotor, wherein for each group of filling elements 1, a control valve 20 may be provided together.

If the centering tulips 11 of the filling elements 1 are formed so that they can be locked in their raised position, it is possible for the activation or deactivation of Verschließsysteme 13 first to move all the carrier 15 in its working position or in its initial position and a for all sealing systems 13 common valve 20 to pressurize or relieve the cylinder openings 17 of all Verschließsysteme 13 with the pressure medium.

3 shows a simplified representation of a closure system 13a, which differs from the closure system 13 essentially in that the closure element 16a is formed with a sleeve-like portion 23 of the interior 24 of which is open at the top of the closure element 16a, but otherwise is tightly closed. The coaxially arranged with the axis of the closing element 16a portion 23 is piston rod-like sealed led out of the cylinder opening 17. The closing element 16a offers the possibility of inserting the respective probe 12 during the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization in the interior 24, which is also traversed by the cleaning and / or sterilization medium, so that thereby a particularly intensive treatment also at least during filling in the respective container 2 reaching into the partial length of the respective probe 12 takes place on the inner and outer surfaces.

The invention has been described above by embodiments. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. For example, there is the possibility that each closure system 13 or 13a has an independent valve 20.

Above, it was assumed that the respective carrier 15 is displaceable radially between the starting position and the working position to the vertical machine axis. It is understood that other movements for the carrier 15 are possible, for example, a pivoting of the carrier 15 about a relative to the associated filling element 1 offset pivot axis, etc.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 filling element

2 containers

3 ring bowls

3.1 gas space

3.2 liquid space

4 filler housing

5 liquid valve

6 fluid channel

7 discharge opening

8 control block

9, 10 ring channel in the rotor

11. centering bell

12 probe

12.1 Probe end

12.2 Probe valve

13, 13a closure system

14 washing room

15 carrier 15.1 handle

16, 16a closing element

17 cylinder opening or cylinder space

18 holding and guiding device

19 channel

20 control valve

21 Source of pressure medium

22 support element

23 sleeve-like section

24 Interior of Section 23

A controlled lifting movement of the probe 12th

B lifting movement of the closing element 16 or 16a

C movement of the carrier 15 between the starting position and

working position

Claims

claims

1. filling element of a filling machine for filling containers (2) with a liquid filling material, having a discharge opening (7) formed on an underside of the filling element for the controlled delivery of the filling material and having a closing system with at least one closing element provided on a carrier (15) ( 16, 16a), which in an active state of the closure system (13, 13a) to produce a closed to the outside and at least the discharge opening (7) enclosing Spülraumes (14) in sealing position on the filling element (1) and / or on an outer Functional element (11) of the filling element (1) is located, characterized in that the closing element (16, 16a) is part of a piston-cylinder arrangement for pressing the Verschließelementes (16, 16a) against the filling element (1) or the functional element (11 ) with the pressure of a pressure medium, preferably with the pressure of a gaseous and / or vaporous pressure medium, eg can be acted upon with compressed air.

2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (16, 16 a) is the piston or part of the piston of the piston-cylinder arrangement.

3. Filling element according to claim 2, characterized in that the closing element (16) is formed circular disc-shaped.

4. Filling element according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the closing element has a sleeve-like portion (23) which extends away like a piston rod of the closing element (16a) and out of a cylinder opening (17) or the cylinder chamber of the piston-cylinder assembly is led out sealed ,

5. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (15) is slidably and / or pivotally provided.

6. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a probe (12) which is insertable for controlling the filling level in the respective container (2), and which is adjustable in height such that it is provided at closing element provided on the filling element (16, 16a) with its probe end (12.1) within the filling element (1) or the washing compartment (14) is received.

7. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional element is a centering tulip (11), against which the closing element (16, 16a) is pressed against when the closing system is activated (13, 13a) and in which the washing compartment (14) at least partially formed.

8. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe (12) is a probe tube and / or an electrical probe with at least one probe contact.

9. A filling machine of continuous design for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid product, with a plurality provided on a rotor filling elements (1), characterized in that the filling elements (1) are designed according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Filling machine according to claim 9, characterized in that for controlled actuation of the piston-cylinder arrangements of Verschließsysteme (13, 13a) with the pressure medium at least one control valve (20) is provided, for example, each one control valve individually for each filling element (1). and its closure system (13, 13a) or for a group of filling elements and their closure systems (13, 13a) or for all filling elements (1) and their closure systems (13, 13a) in common.