EP2813462B1 - Device and method for filling a container with a filling product - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling plant.

State of the art

For filling carbonated drinks in containers in a beverage filling plant, it is known to press the respective container with their container mouths to a filling member so that a gas-tight seal of the container is formed with the filling member to escape the necessary backpressure during filling carbonated drinks building up clamping gas to prevent.

For pressing the container or the container mouths to the respective filling member for gas-tight sealing, it is known to guide the respective containers on a lifting plate and lift the container by means of this lifting plate and thereby press the container mouths to the overlying filling member. For this purpose, a relative movement of the container to be filled relative to the overlying filling member is necessary and it is a lifting plate per container with the corresponding lifting devices needed. The provision of such lifting elements requires a fairly massive construction of the entire filler in order to remove the forces occurring.

In a known variant, lifting elements are installed in a plane above the container mouths of the container to be filled, so that here above the container to be filled further components are provided on which, for example, a condensation is possible, and thus require a higher effort for sanitation, there For example, condensation can drip into open containers.

In an alternative is from the DE 20 2006 001 234 U1 the concept of a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1, in which the sealing of the container to be filled via a movable centering bell is performed, such that the centering is lowered onto the container to be filled and in this way a gas-tight seal can be achieved. After completion of the filling the centering bell is raised again accordingly. The return of the centering bell is achieved either by a compression spring or by the bias of a pressure pad.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for filling containers, which allow a reliable long-term operation.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a carbonated beverage in a beverage filling plant, is proposed, comprising a drive for applying a sealing sleeve to a container mouth of the container to be filled, the drive comprising a piston, which separating a working chamber from a biasing chamber which is acted upon to return the piston with a biasing pressure. According to the invention, a pressure compensation device is provided between the preload chamber and the working chamber, wherein the pressure compensating device for holding a predetermined preload pressure range in the preload chamber, preferably between an upper and a lower limit is formed.

By providing a pressure compensating device for holding a predetermined biasing pressure region in the biasing chamber, the biasing chamber can always be maintained in a predetermined pressure range. In this way, a defined range of pressure in the preload chamber, preferably between an upper and lower limit, can be achieved. So it can be ensured that the pressure in the preload chamber is always so great that a reliable return of the sealing sleeve is achieved in the starting position. By the predetermined biasing pressure range in the biasing chamber can also be guaranteed be that a complete pressing of the sealing sleeve is always achieved at the respective container mouth with a predetermined contact pressure and so a reliable seal, for example when filling the container with a carbonated beverage is achieved. The known from the prior art uncontrolled increase in pressure in the biasing chamber due to a pumping effect or due to leaks between the cylinder chamber and piston is thus avoided. This accordingly avoids that the preload pressure present in the preload chamber becomes too high and then would stand in the way of a secure pressing on of the sealing sleeve by the counterforce caused thereby.

Furthermore, the pressure compensation device comprises a first check valve and a second check valve, wherein the first check valve and the second check valve allow opposing flow rates between the biasing chamber and the working chamber. By the counter-flow rates of the predetermined biasing pressure range can be maintained because either an excess pressure from the working chamber can flow into the biasing chamber to raise a too low pressure in the biasing chamber. Or it may be an overpressure from the biasing chamber are discharged into the working chamber, if an excessively high pressure should have formed in the biasing chamber. In this case, the first check valve is preferably biased so that the preload chamber is acted upon by an overpressure, preferably an overpressure relative to the ventilated working chamber. Preferably, the second check valve is biased so that a pressure exceeding the preload pressure range is reduced from the biasing chamber.

Preferably, a first check valve is provided which allows a volume flow from the working chamber into the biasing chamber and due to the biasing force of the check valve allows a lower pressure in the biasing chamber, as it is present in the working chamber. Furthermore, a second check valve is preferably provided, which allows a volume flow from the biasing chamber into the working chamber, wherein the second check valve has a biasing force such that the pressure in the biasing chamber is lowered at a vented working chamber to a predetermined initial level. In other words, such an excessive pressure buildup in the biasing chamber is avoided, for example due to a pumping effect and / or leaks.

By the bias of the first check valve, a biasing pressure is preferably caused in the biasing chamber, which corresponds to the lower limit of the biasing pressure range. By the bias of the second check valve is preferred Biasing pressure in the biasing chamber caused, which corresponds to the upper limit of the biasing pressure range. The respective pressures always refer to the position of the piston in the initial state, ie with vented working chamber.

Particularly preferably, the pressure compensation device is designed so that it forms a biasing pressure range in the biasing chamber, which allows a return of the piston to the starting position, so that the sealing sleeve is also moved to the starting position.

By providing a first and a second check valve, which allow opposing flow rates, it can be ensured on the one hand that when pressurizing the working chamber with compressed air, a volume flow into the biasing chamber takes place, which rises to the predetermined by the biasing force of the check valve pressure in the biasing chamber , It should be noted that then moved by the further relative increase in pressure in the working chamber relative to the biasing chamber, the piston in the direction of the biasing chamber, whereby the recorded gas in the biasing chamber is compressed and correspondingly increases the pressure in the biasing chamber. The pressure pad constructed in this way or the pressure built up in this way in the prestressing chamber serves to drive the sealing sleeve back into the starting position after the filling operation has ended.

The build up of the pressure in the working chamber and the movement of the piston in the direction of the biasing chamber serve to press the sealing sleeve onto a corresponding container mouth. The set via the first check valve or its biasing force in the biasing chamber is suitably sized so that a pressing of the sealing sleeve on the container mouth with a predetermined pressing force is possible, although in the biasing chamber, a pressure prevails, which the movement of the piston for applying the sealing sleeve counteracts. In other words, the adjustable via the first check valve pressure is adjusted so that a pressure cushion is built up in the biasing chamber, which is a complete resetting or retraction of the sealing sleeve in ventilated working chamber, preferably at vented to atmospheric pressure working chamber is enabled. Accordingly, when the sealing sleeve is completely set back, there must still be a certain overpressure in the preloading chamber in order to allow a safe return.

A hypothetical expression of the first check valve such that would prevail in the fully retracted position of the sealing sleeve ambient pressure in the biasing chamber, would cause the sealing sleeve due to the unavoidable friction of the piston to the cylinder chamber and the dead weight of the piston and the sealing sleeve not could be completely reset. Therefore, a slight overpressure in the biasing chamber, at least for overcoming the friction of the piston and the dead weight also in the starting position is particularly preferred.

The second check valve, which allows a volume flow from the biasing chamber into the working chamber, ensures that no pressure builds up in the biasing chamber over time, which exceeds an upper limit in the fully retracted position, that is, the home position. In other words, during venting of the working chamber, the pressure in the preload chamber is again released until only the pressure required to fully reset the sealing sleeve is present in the preload chamber. The second check valve can be designed accordingly so that it exhausts so far on the setting of the biasing force, the pressure from the biasing chamber until there is only a slight overpressure against the ambient atmosphere.

By way of example configured in this way pressure compensation device is also achieved that in the biasing chamber, there is always a pressure which allows the complete Aussteuern the sealing sleeve and thus a complete sealing of the container.

Thus, for each filling operation and correspondingly each lowering of the sealing sleeve for sealing a container opening for filling the container with a carbonated beverage and the subsequent retraction of the sealing sleeve to dispense the container again from the respective filling device, a defined initial pressure, clamping pressure and final pressure in the biasing chamber to reach.

Preferably, the sealing sleeve is magnetically coupled to the drive. Particularly preferred is a gas-tight separation between the piston and the sealing sleeve, such that the drive and the sealing sleeve are hygienically separated from each other.

In a further development, the pressure compensation device comprises at least one throttle check valve.

Due to the proposed embodiment of the biasing chamber can continue to dispense with the provision of a return spring, so that does not need to resort to susceptible parts. In other words, the predetermined preload pressure area serves to bias the plunger to the home position. On further biasing means can be waived accordingly.

In order to further reduce wear in the device, the sealing sleeve preferably has a sealing ring which has a larger diameter than a diameter predetermined by a gas-tight partition wall, wherein the sealing ring is preferably arranged concentrically to the sealing sleeve. Due to the occurring deformation a reliable seal is achieved. Particularly preferably, the sealing ring comprises a Teflon compound. In this way, excessive wear on the conventional seals can be avoided.

The above object is further achieved by a method for filling containers with the features of claim 12.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling plant, proposed, comprising applying a sealing sleeve to a container mouth of the container to be filled by actuation of a sealing sleeve coupled to the drive, which Piston comprises, which separates a working chamber of a biased for resetting the piston with a biasing pressure biasing chamber. According to the invention, the bias pressure in the biasing chamber is maintained by means of a pressure compensation device in a predetermined preload pressure range, preferably between an upper and lower limit.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch eine Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt; und

Figur 2

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch ein Füllorgan.

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

FIG. 1

a schematic sectional view through an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product; and

FIG. 2

a schematic sectional view through a filling member.

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 denoted by identical reference numerals and a repeated description of these elements will be omitted in the following description in part in order to avoid redundancies.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 is schematically shown a device 1 for filling a container with a filling product, in particular for filling a container with a carbonated beverage in a beverage filling plant. The beverage is dispensed via a schematically indicated product valve 2, which has a corresponding outlet sleeve 20, in a container, not shown, to be filled. As in FIG. 2 shown schematically, the product valve 2 on a valve body 22 for controlling the outflow or the outflow velocity, wherein the filling product then emerges from the mouth 24 substantially in the free jet.

A sealing sleeve 3 is provided, which is displaceable in the direction of arrow upwards and downwards, wherein the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown upper position of the sealing sleeve 3 is the starting position in which a new container to be filled under the device 1 can be brought. In a downwardly deflected position, the sealing sleeve 3 then serves, pressed against a container mouth to center the container to be filled both with respect to the mouth 24 of the outlet sleeve 20 of the product valve 2, as well as to provide a gas-tight seal. Thus, the container to be filled with a carbonated beverage can be preloaded with a biasing gas before filling product flows through the product valve 2 into the container. Due to the bias of the container excessive foaming during filling can be avoided. Furthermore, a sudden application of pressure to the container can be avoided, so that container defects, in particular container fractures, can be avoided. Furthermore, it is possible via the gas-tight seal by means of the sealing sleeve 3, to flush the container to be charged with the filling product, prior to filling with a gas, which may be important, for example, in oxygen-sensitive products. Here, it makes sense to rinse the container with CO _2, for example, so that the atmospheric oxygen is essentially displaced from the container volume.

After lowering the sealing sleeve 3 and pressing the sealing sleeve 3 to the container mouth, the container is either immediately preloaded with a clamping gas or biased after a Gasspülvorgang with the clamping gas, and then the product valve 2 is opened by lifting the valve body 22, so that the Fill product can leak. After completion of the filling process, for example, controlled by a volume sensor 28, the valve body 22 is lowered again, so that the product flow from the mouth 24 of the product valve 2 is interrupted. Thereafter, the pressurized, completely filled container can be relieved via a relief valve 40 and the sealing sleeve 3 can again in the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 be retracted shown starting position. Starting from this starting position again a new container can be driven under the sealing sleeve 3, and the process begins again.

The biasing, purging and / or relieving of the container with purge gas, bias gas and product gas may be achieved via a gas passage 4 communicating with a respective relief valve 40 and a biasing gas valve 42 which is in communication with the product spout simultaneously.

The sealing sleeve 3 is connected to a drive 5. The coupling between the sealing sleeve 3 and the drive 5 is magnetic. For this purpose, the sealing sleeve 3 has a first permanent magnet 30, which is arranged opposite a second permanent magnet 50 of the drive 5. The drive 5 is annularly arranged around the sealing sleeve 3 around and moves in a cylinder chamber 52, which is formed in the embodiment shown as an annular chamber. The drive 5 has a piston 54, which is also annular in the embodiment shown and which extends concentrically to the sealing sleeve 3. The piston 54 divides the cylinder space 52 into a prestressing chamber 56 and a working chamber 58.

The biasing chamber 56 is sealed by the piston 54 substantially gas-tight relative to the working chamber 58.

The working chamber 58 can be acted upon via a pneumatic channel 59 with compressed air or vented to ambient pressure. Upon loading the working chamber 58 with a pressure via the pneumatic line 59, the piston 54 is moved in the direction of the biasing chamber 56 so that the volume in the biasing chamber 56 is compressed. By the movement of the piston 54 in the direction of the biasing chamber 56 and in the FIGS. 1 and 2 down, at the same time the sealing sleeve 3 via the magnetic coupling, which is made via the two permanent magnets 30, 50, taken down, so that the sealing sleeve 3 can be pressed onto the container mouth.

By the magnetic coupling, a gas and liquid-tight partition wall 6 between the cylinder chamber 52 in the form of the annular chamber and the product space 62, in which the filling product and the clamping gas or the purge gas enters the container, are provided. This results in a hygienic division of the product areas and the drive areas, so that a simple sanitation can be made.

The piston 54, which divides the cylinder chamber 52 into the working chamber 58 and the biasing chamber 56 and is correspondingly provided with a seal 540, which allow a corresponding gas-tight seal, must meet no special hygienic requirements accordingly.

In order to allow the build-up of a biasing pressure in the biasing chamber 56 during the build-up of the pneumatic pressure in the working chamber 58, and thus to achieve a certain overpressure in the biasing chamber 56, which allows a reliable return of the piston 54 after completion of the filling operation in the starting position, a first check valve 70 is provided, which allows a volume flow from the working chamber 58 into the biasing chamber 56.

The first check valve 70 is biased by its corresponding biasing device into the closing device so that the introduced into the biasing chamber 56 pressure is lower than the pressure applied to the working chamber 58. Characterized in that the pneumatic pressure in the working chamber 58 is greater than the pneumatic pressure in the biasing chamber 56, by the switching of the pneumatic pressure on the working chamber 58, a movement of the piston 54 can be achieved downwards. This results in a downward movement of the sealing sleeve 3, such that the sealing sleeve 3 is pressed onto an opening of a container.

If the working chamber 58 is vented, so brought to ambient pressure, the piston 54 is due to the biasing pressure in the biasing chamber 56 in the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown driven back position.

In this process, it may happen that the bias pressure built up in the biasing chamber 56, which is necessary to return the piston 54 completely to its original position, increases over several process cycles. Such an increase in pressure can be done by, for example, small leaks occur in the seal 540 of the piston 54 relative to the cylinder chamber 52. However, if the biasing pressure in the biasing chamber 56 becomes too high, a reliable pressing of the sealing sleeve 3 at the respective container mouth can no longer be achieved, since the pressure applied to the working chamber 58 is then no longer sufficient to sufficiently build up the biasing pressure built up in the biasing chamber 56 to overcome.

Accordingly, in this embodiment shown, a second check valve 72 is provided, which allows a volume flow from the biasing chamber 56 into the working chamber 58. This second biasing valve 72 allows due to its bias after venting of the working chamber 58, the gas pressure present in the biasing chamber 56 so far that only a predetermined, for the complete return of the piston 54 necessary pressure in the biasing chamber 56 is present.

The first biasing valve 70 and the second biasing valve 72 are respectively formed as a pressure compensating device 7 so as to let opposite flow rates through. The respective biasing elements in the check valves 70, 72 are formed so that the pressure located in the biasing chamber 56 is always maintained in a predetermined Vorspanndruckbereich so that on the one hand, a reliable return to the starting position can be achieved, characterized in that also in the Starting position is a slight overpressure in the biasing chamber 56 relative to the ambient pressure. On the other hand, this biasing pressure in the preload chamber 56 but not so high that the force applied to the working chamber 58 pressure is no longer sufficient for complete pressing of the sealing sleeve 3.

In other words, the pressure compensating device 7 makes it possible to maintain the pressure in the biasing chamber 56 in a predetermined preload pressure range, which enables a reliable application of the sealing sleeve 3 to a mouth region for sealing, as well as a reliable reset of the sealing sleeve 3 in the starting position.

The sealing sleeve 3 is preferably designed so that it can be backwashed completely for cleaning. In particular, an upper sealing ring 32 is provided, which in the complete retracted position, as in the FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown, a Hinterspülkanal provides, which allows a complete backwashing. The upper sealing ring 32 is preferably designed so that it is slightly more extensive than the predetermined by the gas-tight partition wall 6 diameter. Accordingly, when lowering the sealing sleeve 3 down, the upper sealing ring 32 is brought into direct contact with the gas-tight partition wall 6 and thereby slightly deformed so that a fluid-tight sealing is achieved here. Accordingly, in the lowered position, in which a loading of the container takes place with span gas, purge gas and product, a complete seal can be achieved.

The sealing ring 32 preferably comprises a Teflon compound, so that the friction on the gas-tight partition wall 6 is minimized and, correspondingly, a secure resetting is made possible only on the basis of the prestressing pressure recorded in the pretensioning chamber 56.

The sealing sleeve 3 is further guided in the lower region by means of a guide ring 36, which also preferably comprises a Teflon compound material in order to provide a smooth running. The guide ring 36 is preferably also slightly compressed because it has a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the sealing sleeve 3. In this way, a secure sealing of the overall device can be achieved.

The in the FIGS. 1 and 2 Device 1 shown for filling a container is preferably accommodated in a rotary filler, so that a corresponding such filling member is provided at each position of the machine division. The device 1 is provided, for example, in the form of a filling element of a beverage filling plant, which can often be provided in a rotary filler in a beverage filling plant. Usually, a plurality of filling members are provided corresponding to the machine division of a rotary filler, wherein each individual filling member serves to fill a container arranged underneath and to be filled with the filling product.

About the proposed filling member, it is also possible to design a beverage bottling plant and in particular a filler so that it is intended both for filling with carbonated drinks, in which case the sealing sleeve 3 is always moved down to the container mouth of the container to be filled. But it is also possible to use the device 1 for jet filling, for example, non-carbonated drinks such as still waters. Accordingly, the apparatus shown is predestined for bottling mineral waters, both carbonated and non-carbonated Mineral waters can be filled with the same filling organ. When bottling non-carbonated mineral waters can be dispensed with a shutdown of the sealing sleeve 3 accordingly, so that the filling member works in principle as a free jet filler.

In order to allow a safe even when the sealing sleeve 3 is not extended, a seal 38 between the sealing sleeve 3 and the outlet sleeve 20 is further provided, which in the retracted state, ie in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown starting position, the seal between the sealing sleeve 3 and the outlet sleeve 20 of the product valve 2 provides.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device for filling a container with a filling product

2

product valve

20

outlet sleeve

22

valve body

24

muzzle

28

volume sensor

3

sealing sleeve

30

permanent magnet

32

sealing ring

36

guide ring

38

seal

4

gas channel

40

relief valve

42

Span gas valve

5

drive

50

permanent magnet

52

cylinder space

54

piston

56

biasing chamber

58

working chamber

59

pneumatic channel

540

poetry

6

partition wall

7

Pressure-balancing device

70

first check valve

72

second check valve

Claims (12)

1. Device (1) for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a carbonated beverage in a beverages filling plant, comprising an actuator (5) for applying a sealing sleeve (3) onto a container opening of the container to be filled, wherein the actuator (5) comprises a piston (54) which separates an operating chamber (58) from a pre-tensioning chamber (56) that can be pressurised with a pre-tensioning pressure for resetting the piston (54), wherein
   a pressure equalisation device (7) is provided between the pre-tensioning chamber (56) and the operating chamber (58) wherein the pressure equalisation device (7) is designed to maintain a pre- determined pre-tensioning pressure range in the pre-tensioning chamber (56), preferably between an upper and a lower limit value,
   characterised in that
   the pressure equalisation device (7) comprises a first check valve (70) and a second check valve (72), wherein the first check valve (70) and the second check valve (72) allow volumetric flows in opposite directions between the pre-tensioning chamber (56) and the operating chamber (58).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first check valve (70) is pre-tensioned in such a way that the pre-tensioning chamber (56) is exposed to an overpressure compared with the vented operating chamber (58), wherein the first check valve (70) is pre-tensioned preferably in accordance with the lower limit value of the pre-tensioning pressure range.
3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second check valve (72) is pre-tensioned in such a way that a pressure in the pre-tensioning chamber (56) which exceeds the pre-tensioning range is reduced, wherein the second check valve (72) is preferably pre-tensioned in accordance with the upper limit value of the pre-tensioning range.
4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pressure equalisation device (7) is designed in such a way that it forms a pre-tensioning pressure range in the pre-tensioning chamber (56) which enables the piston (54) to be reset to the initial position and also allows reliable application of the sealing sleeve (3) onto a container opening.
5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the actuator (5) is separated from the sealing sleeve (3) by means of a gas-tight separating wall (6).
6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the pressure equalisation device (7) comprises at least one throttle check valve.
7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised that the actuator (5) can be magnetically coupled with the sealing sleeve (3), wherein the actuator (5) and the sealing sleeve (3) preferably each have permanent magnets (30, 50) for coupling.
8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing sleeve (3) has a sealing ring (32) which has a larger diameter than a diameter defined by a gas-tight separating wall (6), and wherein the sealing ring (32) is preferably arranged concentrically with regard to the sealing sleeve (3).
9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the sealing ring comprises a Teflon compound.
10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing sleeve (3) is arranged concentrically with regard to the piston (54) of the actuator (5) and both the actuator (5) and the sealing sleeve (3) have permanent magnets (30, 50), by means of which coupling between the actuator (5) and the sealing sleeve (3) is achieved.
11. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing sleeve (3) is arranged in a back-flushable manner and preferably a back-flushing channel is provided.
12. Method of filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverages filling plant, comprising the application of a sealing sleeve (3) on a container opening of the container to be filled through operating an actuator (5) which is coupled to the sealing sleeve (3) and which comprises a piston (54) which separates an operating chamber (58) from a pre-tensioning chamber (56) that can be pressurised with a pre-tensioning pressure for resetting the piston (54), wherein
    the pre-tensioning pressure in the pre-tensioning chamber (56) is maintained by means of a pressure equalisation device (7) in a pre-determined pre-tensioning pressure range, preferably between an upper and a lower limit value,
    characterised in that
    the pressure equalisation device (7) comprises a first check valve (70) and a second check valve (72), wherein the first check valve (70) and the second check valve (72) allow volumetric flows in opposite directions between the pre-tensioning chamber (56) and the operating chamber (58).

Images