DE10061401A1 - Method and appliance for filling containers comprise filler elements, liquid path, and control valves - Google Patents

Abstract

The interior of each container (5) is filled with liquid by means of filler elements (1). The container in a filling phase is filled with hot liquid via a liquid-path (7,9) controlled by a valve (8) in the liquid-path, with filler elements heated to a filler element temperature. In the case of interruption to the filling process, the liquid-path is subjected to a hot flow medium in the form of a hot gas and or steam, in a section following the liquid-valve for maintaining the filler element temperature controlled by control elements or control valves (23,29).

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling bottles, cans or the same container with a liquid filling material according to the preamble patent saying 1 and in particular to a method for hot, d. H. sterile or aseptic filling of contents, for example fruit and vegetable juices and / or other juice-based beverages. The invention further relates to a filling system or a filling machine for performing the method according to Preamble of claim 8.

Fruit and vegetable juices and drinks based on juices become Er aiming for the required durability, d. H. to prevent infestation by Microorganisms and a resulting rapid spoilage of the abge filled product, pasteurized in a heating system and in the still heated Zu stood in bottles or cans. Immediately afterwards, this is done Close while the drink is still hot. Of utmost importance here is that in no phase of the filling process the temperature of the product, even in close proximity to the wall of a container under a critical tempera door limit drops, at which sterile and aseptic filling, d. H. a killing the drink-damaging microorganisms, is still guaranteed.

As long as the filling process runs continuously on a filling machine, these are Requirements for a hygienic, in particular also germ-free Filling without problems by maintaining the temperature accordingly the filling material. The filling material flows with the filling machine Temperature too, which is set so that the filling elements, the Parts carrying the filling material as well as in the bottles set a temperature that in any case above the critical temperature mentioned above  limit is. To ensure this, the fla heated accordingly before entering the filling machine.

In practical operation of a filling machine, however, it happens regularly production interruptions or interruptions of the filling pro zesses. These interruptions are primarily due to lack of bottles Container inlet of the filling machine or through a backflow of bottles to the conveyors or aggregates following the filling machine Ren. To cool the beverage below the critical temperature limit avoid, it is already common for such a temporary interruption of the filling process to move the contents into a holding circuit, which then also includes the heater system. Although this heat retention circuit also includes the filling or ring channel provided on the rotor of the filling machine, to which the filling elements are connected, can not be prevented that these filling elements lying outside the holding circuit and their that Parts carrying the filling material, such as in particular the filling element housing and possibly the filling pipe cool below the critical temperature. For this reason, it has so far been one longer interruption of the filling process (more than 3 to 5 minutes) despite the Heat retention circuit for the filling material necessary that the in the first circulation of the Füllma After an interruption, the filled container is removed and discarded which means, among other things, additional production costs.

The object of the invention is to demonstrate a method and a filling machine, who avoid this disadvantage and also after a long, temporary Interruption of the filling process as soon as the first resumption of the Filling process a filling with a temperature above the critical tempera guarantee limit value and thus a sterile and sterile filling without that after an interruption filled containers are discharged and discarded Need to become.

To achieve this object are a method according to claim 1 and a filling machine designed according to claim 8.  

A particular advantage of the filling machine according to the invention is that a Safe, hygienic or aseptic and sterile filling of the filling material immediately bar after an interruption of the filling process with particularly simple means is realized, namely u. a. using filler elements that are constructive in correspond to essential, already proven filling elements and for use tion only need to be slightly modified in the invention.

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

Fig. 1 is a simplified illustration of a filling member of a filling machine of the type revolve, together with a partial view of a bottle, namely in a normal filling operation or process;

FIG. 2 shows the filling element of FIG. 1 when the filling process is temporarily interrupted and when the filling pipe is heated by steam;

Fig. 3 shows the filling element of Fig. 1 during the CIP cleaning.

The generally designated 1 in the figures filling element is part of an otherwise not shown filling machine revolving design and is provided together with a variety of similar filling elements in each angular intervals at the circumference of a rotor 2 . In the embodiment shown, a first ring channel 3 and a second ring channel 4 are formed in this rotor 2 , each concentrically enclosing the vertical rotor or machine axis and from which the ring channel 3 guides the filling material to be filled into the bottles 5 during the usual filling process and the ring channel 4 is an unpressurized channel open to the atmosphere. The filling machine is used specifically for sterile or aseptic filling of a pasteurized product, in particular beverages such as fruit and vegetable juices or other beverages, the basis of which are such juices, in the hot state in such a way that in any case up to the point of filling Subsequent closing of the bottles 5, the temperature of the filling material and also the respective bottle 5 does not fall below the temperature limit value guaranteeing the sterility of the filling material.

Specifically, the filling element 1 has a liquid channel 7 in a housing 6 , in which the liquid valve, generally designated 8 , with the associated valve seat 8 'is arranged and which, with respect to the direction of flow of the filling material, has the upper end in the filling elements for all filling elements 1 the Füllma machine common ring channel 3 opens and continues with its other end in the channel 9 of a protruding down over the housing 6 and open at the lower end filling tube 10 .

To actuate the liquid valve 8 , ie for controlled opening and closing of this valve, an actuating unit 11 is provided on the upper side of the housing 6 , which has a pneumatic lifting cylinder 13 with the piston 13 'and a lower cylinder chamber 14 and also a limiter in a housing tongue cylinder 15 with the piston 15 'and with an upper cylinder space 16 , which has its minimum volume in the state shown in the figures. A compression spring 17 is provided between the two pistons 13 and 15 and biases the piston 13 and thus also the liquid valve or its closing body connected to the piston 13 via the piston rod or the plunger 18 into the closed position.

The cylinder spaces 14 and 15 are connected to a pneumatic control circuit 19 , which has two individually controllable control or solenoid valves 20 and 21 in to the cylinder spaces 14 and 16 leading pneumatic lines 20 'and 21 ' and in turn to one Compressed air source 22 is connected. The pneumatic valves or control valves 20 and 21 are provided individually for each filling element 1 and can be controlled individually.

Each filling element 1 also has, in addition to the actuating element 11, a pneumatic control cylinder or a pneumatically actuated diaphragm control valve 23 , the control input of which is also connected to the pneumatic control circuit 19 and can be controlled via the associated solenoid valves 20 and 21 . The control valve 23 is seen in a partially formed in the housing 6 gas path 24 from which a second portion 24 'in a first section 24' in the liquid channel 7 in Strö the direction of flow of the filling material behind the liquid valve 8 or its valve seat 8 'and the annular channel 4. Partially in the housing 6 and partly in an approximately tulip-like housing extension 25 provided on the underside of this housing, a further gas path 26 is provided, which has its upper end in the section 24 ″ and its lower end in the Filling element underside open interior 25 'of the extension 25 opens. In the gas path 26 , a check valve 27 is provided, which is designed such that it allows a flow through the gas path 26 only from the interior 25 into the section 24 "or into the adjacent ring channel 4 , but for a flow in the opposite direction locks.

With the filling machine having the filling elements 1 , for example, a filling process with the process phases or steps specified below is possible, the control valve 23 being basically in the closed state, unless the open state of this control valve is specified below for a specific filling phase:

1. Slow filling

After the respective bottle 5 via a bottle infeed into the filling position formed by the respective filling element 1 and the associated bottle carrier, not shown, and the bottle carrier to the filling element 1 is raised so far that the filling tube 10 through the bottle mouth 5 'into the interior the bottle 5 is inserted and the bottle with its mouth 5 'is received in the interior 25 ', the liquid valve 8 is opened with a partial stroke. For this purpose, both the limiting cylinder 15 and the lifting cylinder 13 are activated by appropriate control of the valves 20 and 21 , so that the filling well then by a defined by the activated limiting cylinder 15 , reduced th opening gap of the liquid valve 8 and with a resultant, re-reduced flow rate flows into the bottle 5 and hits the bottle base there softly and without foam development.

This low-turbulence, slow filling phase is maintained until the rising level of the filling material exceeds the lower end of the filling tube 10 . This slow filling phase is time-controlled, using a time that z. B. for the respective filling material and / or the respective bottles 5 is stored in a control device of the filling machine.

During this slow filling, but also in all other phases of the filling process, the respective bottle 5 is not in the sealing position with the filling element 1 ; rather, the air displaced by the inflowing filling material from the bottle can directly pass through the ring opening formed between the bottle mouth 5 'and the filling tube into the interior 25 ' and escape from this into the atmosphere.

2. Fill break

After the slow filling, the liquid valve 8 is closed and thus the filling process is briefly interrupted so that air or gas bubbles which are in the filling material can rise to the surface of the filling material.

3. Quick fill

If the limiting cylinder 15 is not activated, the lifting cylinder 13 is activated again, so that the full flow cross section of the liquid valve 8 is released and, when the filling tube 10 is immersed in the filling material, a rapid, bubble-free filling of the generally uncritical, cylindrical middle part of the bottle 5 can take place , This quick filling also takes place with a time specification, ie after a given time has elapsed, the quick filling is transferred to the subsequent braking and correction fill.

4. Brake and correction fill

In the narrowing bottle neck is switched back to the lower Füllge speed of slow filling. For this purpose, the limita- tion cylinder 15 is activated, which, due to the larger area of its piston 15 ', pushes the lifting cylinder 13 back into the limited lifting position, so that the liquid valve 8 which is opened further has only the reduced opening gap or flow cross-section. The product level can now rise slowly and with a smooth surface appearance to the level probe 28 integrated in the filling tube. As soon as the filling material reaches this probe 28 , an electrical circuit is closed and thereby also the deactivation of the lifting cylinder 13 and thus the closing of the liquid valve 8 , whereby the closing of the liquid valve 8 takes place after the probe signal is present, for example with a time delay, in order to achieve a filling level correction ,

5. Empty the filling pipe

After the braking and correction filling has ended, the respective bottle 5 is lowered with the bottle carrier. At the same time, the control valve 23 is opened, so that via the channel sections 24 'and 24 "a connection between the filling tube channel 9 and the atmosphere-related ring channel 4 is made and thus the filling material located in the filling tube channel 9 in the Fla cal 5th can drain, in particular no residues of filling material remain in the filling pipe channel 9 and in section 24 '.

As shown, the section 24 'in the vicinity of the valve seat 8 ' of the liquid valve opens into the liquid channel 7 . As is further shown, the channel section 24 'extends obliquely upwards from the liquid channel 7 to a level, on which the valve seat 8 ' is also located, or to a somewhat higher level. When the filling pipe 10 is emptied, the section 24 'is also emptied in any case. The described course of section 24 'also prevents ver that 10 filling material can flow into the control valve 23 when the filling tube is emptied.

6. Keep the filling elements and filling pipes hot with steam

During the normal operation of the filling machine described above, the filling elements 1 or their parts which guide the filling material (housing 6 and filling tube 10 ) remain at a temperature which guarantees the sterility of the filled filling material.

If, however, the filling process or filling sequence is interrupted, for example due to a lack of bottles at the inlet of the filling machine or due to a backflow of bottles after the filling machine, the contents inside the filling machine go into a heating circuit, which also includes the ring channel 3 , but which also includes the filling elements 1 and their filling tubes 10 do not provide sufficient heat and thus cannot prevent these elements from cooling.

In order to remedy this situation, a control valve 29, which is provided jointly for all filling elements 1 , opens for supplying water vapor to the ring channel 4 and simultaneously closes this ring channel to the atmosphere, so that a water vapor pressure of, for example, 0 is present in the ring channel 4 , 5 to 1.0 bar.

At a predetermined or freely selectable angle of the rotational movement of the rotor 2 , for example in the angle of the rotary movement of the rotor 2 formed between the bottle outlet and the bottle inlet, is then on each filling element 1 , on which there is no bottle 5 , with the liquid closed keitsventil 8, the control valve 23 is opened is controlled, as in Fig. 2 Darge, so that then the hot water vapor to the liquid channel 7 flows through behind the liquid valve 8 and the filling pipe 10 and the pipe at the lower end of the padding 10 escapes. This results in the heating of the filling element 1 and the filling tube 10 in such a way that even with a long interruption of the actual filling process, the filling elements 1 and their filling tubes 10 are kept at a temperature above half the critical temperature limit value until the filling process can be resumed. The check valve 27 prevents the steam from flowing out via the channel 26 directly into the space 25 ′, ie the steam flow is thus only forced through the respective filling pipes 10 .

The heating of the filling elements 1 in the event of an interruption due to a fault naturally follows with the filling machine or rotor 2 still rotating, at least in the event of a longer fault the filling machine ne is increasingly run empty in order to cool the liquid filling material in those still present in the machine Avoid bottles 5 below the critical temperature limit. The application of the water vapor then takes place - controlled by the respective control valve 23 on each filling element 1 - in the given angular range between the container outlet and the container inlet. It is also possible, however, to initiate the heating whenever there is no bottle 5 on the filling element 1 in question in the event of a fault-related interruption, the heating or keeping warm with the steam being ended before the end of the filling process to the relevant one Filling element 1 reaches a bottle 5 again.

The water vapor in the ring channel 4 also heats the z. B. made of steel, the rotor 2 and thus causes heat transfer to the product in the Ringka channel 3 , that is, the steam in the ring channel 4 supports the keeping of the contents in the heat holding circuit, with overheating of the contents in the ring channel 3 by the product circulation in this channel and is prevented in the holding circuit.

6. CIP cleaning

For the CIP cleaning, a flushing cap 30 is placed on each filling element 1 according to FIG. 3, which receives the respective filling tube 10 in a flushing space 31 which is sealed off from the outside. In a first step of the CIP cleaning, the cleaning agents flow through the ring channel 3 , the open liquid channels 7 of the filling elements 1 and thereby past the liquid valves 8 and their valve seats 8 ', through the filling tube channel 9 of each filling tube 10 and then through the washing chamber 31 on the outside of the filling pipe 10 over through the gas path 26 with the open check valve 27 into the ring channel 4 , from which chem the cleaning agents are then derived. In a second step of the CIP cleaning, the cleaning agents are supplied via the ring channel 4 and flow through the section 24 ", through the opened control valve 23 and from section 24 'into the liquid channel 7 and then past the respective open liquid valve 8 the ring channel 3 , from which the cleaning agents are removed.

The above description has shown that the filling element 1, despite a simple construction, enables reliable filling of a pasteurized product at a high temperature which guarantees sterility and in particular also enables the temperature required for sterility even with a longer interruption of the normal filling process or filling process to maintain. The design according to the invention also allows optimal CIP cleaning of the filling elements.

The invention has been described above using an exemplary embodiment. It goes without saying that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea on which the invention is based. It is thus possible to provide another, hot medium for keeping the filling elements 1 warm instead of water vapor, for example hot air, a hot inert gas or hot water.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filler

2

rotor

3

.

4

annular channel

5

bottle

5

'' Bottle mouth

6

filling element

7

liquid channel

8th

liquid valve

8th

'' Valve seat

9

Füllrohrkanal

10

filling pipe

11

actuator

12

casing

13

lifting cylinder

13

' Piston

14

cylinder space

15

restricting cylinder

15

' Piston

16

cylinder space

17

compression spring

18

Piston rod or tappet

19

Pneumatic control circuit

20

.

21

control valve

22

Compressed air source

23

Drain cylinder or control valve

24

channel

24

'

24

"Canal section

25

housing extension

25

' Inner space

26

channel

27

check valve

28

sensor

29

Control-valve device

30

flushing cap

31

Wash cabinet

Claims (18)

1. A method for filling bottles, cans or the like container ( 5 ) with a liquid filling material using a filling machine with a plurality of filling elements ( 1 ), via which the interior of the respective container in a filling phase via a liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) the liquid filling material is filled in the hot state, specifically controlled by a liquid valve ( 8 ) seen in the liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) before and when the filling elements ( 1 ) are heated to a filling element temperature, characterized in that at least in the event of a fault-related interruption the filling process, the liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) at least in a section following the flow direction of the filling material when filling the liquid valve ( 8 ) to maintain the filling element temperature, controlled by control elements or control valves ( 23 , 29 ), with a hot flow Medium is applied. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a flow medium a hot gaseous and / or vaporous medium, for example water steam, is used. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that as a stream medium a hot, liquid medium, for example hot water, ver is applied. 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the filling process is interrupted, a gas channel ( 4 ) common to all filling elements ( 1 ) of the filling machine is connected to a source for the hot flow medium via control means ( 29 ). 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the common gas channel is in communication with the atmosphere and is blocked against the atmosphere in the event of an interruption of the filling process by the control means ( 29 ). 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a provided on each filling element ( 1 ) and individually controllable control valve ( 23 ) in the event of an interruption of the filling process and in the absence of a container ( 5 ) on the filling element for introducing the hot flow medium into the Liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) of this filling element ( 1 ) is opened. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a provided on each filling element ( 1 ) and individually controllable control valve ( 23 ) is opened when the filling process is interrupted in an angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor ( 2 ) provided for the opening , 8. Filling machine for filling bottles, cans or similar containers ( 5 ) with a liquid filling material, with several filling positions, each having a filling element ( 1 ), via which the interior of the container in a filling phase via a liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) is filled with the liquid filling material in the hot state, specifically controlled by a liquid valve ( 8 ) provided in the liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) and in the case of filling elements heated to a filling element temperature ( 1 ), characterized in that at least one is caused by a fault Interruption of the filling process of the liquid path ( 7 , 9 ) can be acted upon by a hot flow medium, at least in a section following the flow direction of the filling material when filling the liquid valve ( 8 ), in order to maintain the filling element temperature, controlled by control elements or Control valves ( 23 , 29 ). 9. Filling machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the flow medium a hot gaseous and / or vaporous medium, for example what steam, is. 10. Filling machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the flow medium is a hot, liquid medium, for example hot water. 11. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling elements ( 1 ) are those with a filling tube ( 10 ) which, with egg nem filling tube channel ( 9 ), form part of the fluid path which can be hit by the hot flow medium. 12. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each filling element ( 1 ) a first gas path ( 24 ) is formed, which has one end in the liquid path ( 7 ), based on the direction of flow of the filling material behind the liquid valve ( 8 ) opens and with its other end in a common for all filling elements ( 1 ) gas channel ( 4 ) that in the first gas path ( 24 ) a control valve, preferably a pneumatically actuated control valve ( 23 ) for controlled opening and blocking of the first Gas path ( 24 ) is provided, and that control means ( 29 ) are provided which connect the common gas channel ( 4 ) to a source for the hot flow medium when the filling process is interrupted. 13. Filling machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the common gas channel ( 4 ) via the control means ( 29 ) is connected to the atmosphere and that the control means ( 29 ) with an interruption of the filling process, the common gas channel ( 4 ) with respect to the atmosphere lock. 14. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arranged in the first gas path ( 24 ) of each filling element ( 1 ) control valve ( 23 ) can be controlled individually by a control device such that it opens when the filling process is interrupted when there is no container ( 5 ) on the filling element ( 1 ). 15. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control valve ( 23 ) in the first gas path ( 24 ) opens when the filling element ( 1 ) in question is in a predetermined angular range for this opening of the rotary movement of the rotor. 16. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the housing ( 6 ) of the filling elements ( 1 ) a second gas path ( 26 ) is formed, which is also at one end with the common gas channel ( 4 ) and the other end of which is open on the underside of the filling element ( 1 ) at an area ( 25 ') which, when the rinsing cap ( 30 ) is placed on the respective filling element ( 1 ) for cleaning the filling machine, is located within half of the rinsing cap ( 30 ) formed, closed to the outside washing compartment ( 31 ). 17. Filling machine according to claim 16, characterized in that in the second gas path ( 26 ) valve means, preferably check valve means ( 27 ), are provided which a flow through the second gas path ( 26 ) in the first gas path ( 24 ) or in the common Enable gas channel ( 4 ), but block flow in the opposite direction. 18. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second gas path ( 26 ) in a downwardly open interior ( 25 ') of a bell-shaped, the respective container ( 5 ) with its container mouth ( 5 ') when filling receiving portion ( 25 ) opens on a filling element underside ( 1 ).