EP3166882A1

EP3166882A1 - Filling system for filling bottles or similar containers

Info

Publication number: EP3166882A1
Application number: EP15728492.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Niehr; Jürgen Franz Vorwerk
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2014-07-09
Filing date: 2015-06-09
Publication date: 2017-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-09
Also published as: EP3166882B1; US20170210608A1; WO2016005122A1; US10173880B2; DE102014109589A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling system for filling containers (2), having a multiplicity of filling elements (3), each with a contents channel (5) with a contents outlet (7), which is provided in a filling-element housing (4) and via which, during the filling operation, the liquid contents flow in a controlled manner through a liquid valve (8) to the respective container (2) arranged, by way of its container opening (2.1), beneath the contents outlet, having vertically displaceable container carriers (9), which are assigned to the respective filling elements (3) and are intended for retaining the respective container (2) and establishing at least one indirect sealing position of said container in relation to the filling element (3), and having rinsing caps (10), which are to be arranged on the contents outlets (7) and are intended for cleaning and/or sterilising the filling elements (3). The invention is distinguished in that each filling element (3) is assigned an extension piece (12), which can be arranged in a sealing position on the contents outlet (7) and has a contents through-passage (12.3), and this therefore results, when the extension piece (12) is arranged on the contents outlet (7), in the contents channel (5) of the filling element (3) being lengthened.

Description

Filling system for filling bottles or similar containers

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

Filling or filling systems for filling containers are known in different designs. In particular, filling systems are known in which a filling of the container with a liquid product takes place under pressure (pressure filling). In this case, the container with its container mouth is pressed against a sealing element provided on the filling element so that the latter is in sealing position against the container. Subsequently, the filling of the container takes place while maintaining the sealing position.

It is also known to use scavenging caps or CIP (Cleaning In Place) caps to sterilize or rinse the fillers. These flushing caps are arranged below the filling element at the Füllgutauslauf in sealing position to close the Füllgutauslauf and thus make the cleaning of the Füllgutauslaufs itself or the Füllgutkanals in the filling element. For the sterilization of the filling elements it is known that either hot water or water in the vapor phase, i. to use hot steam.

A disadvantage of filling systems with CIP caps, which are designed in particular for steam sterilization, is that due to their large overall height, a relatively large stroke length is set by which the container to be filled has to be raised or lowered.

The object of the invention is to show a filling system which is designed optimized with respect to the stroke of the container to be filled. To solve this problem, a filling system according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

The invention relates to a filling system for filling containers. The filling system has a multiplicity of filling elements which, for example, are attached to a current, in particular continuously or intermittently driven rotor are held. The filling elements each have a Füllelementgehäuse in which a Füllgutkanal is provided. The filling channel has on the one hand an inlet for the contents to be filled, which is connected to a Füllgutkessel. On the other hand, the filling material channel has a filling material outlet, via which the liquid filling material exits from the filling element housing during filling. The filling of the filling material is controlled by a liquid valve, so that the respective arranged with its container mouth below the Füllgutauslauf the filling element container feeds a defined amount.

The filling system furthermore has container carriers, which are associated with the respective filling elements and can be moved in the vertical direction, for holding and producing at least one indirect sealing layer of the respective container relative to the filling element. Indirect sealing means in the sense of the invention that between the container interior and the product outlet a fluid-tight connection is made via an intermediate element, i. the container is not directly in sealing position on the filling element but indirectly via this intermediate element.

It is also essential that pressure caps (CIP caps) for cleaning and / or sterilizing the filling elements are provided on the Füllgutausläufen to make a CIP cleaning or sterilization of the filling can, the Spülkappen are arranged on a support ring, or form integral elements of a support ring. Because the support ring or the support element can not be pivoted away in contrast to individual rinsing caps, the containers or bottles (mouth) to be lifted would have to be passed through the support ring or corresponding recesses, which would be complicated and prone to failure. The basic idea now is that the support ring or the support element is formed as a part of the filling valve as a lower valve portion or channel, so that the support ring or the support element forms a combined CIP and Füllkanalring.

Each filling element is thus assigned to a Füllgutauslauf in sealing position can be arranged extension piece having a Füllgutdurchlass, so that at am Füllgutauslauf arranged extension piece results in an extension of the Füllgutkanals the filling element.

This ensures that despite the provision of rinsing caps that can be placed under the Füllgutausläufen for CIP cleaning or sterilization, only a small lifting movement of the container is required to bring the container in filling position relative to the filling element.

According to one embodiment, the extension piece at the end of the Füllgutdurchlasses facing away from the filling element on a sealing element or a sealing portion for placing a container in sealing position on the extension piece. Thus, a fluid-tight extension of the filling material channel of the filling element is achieved by the extension piece, to which the container can be pressed in sealing position, so that a pressure filling of the container is achieved ben with reduced lifting movement.

According to one embodiment, the Füllgutdurchlass is formed tapered at the end facing away from the filling element. Thus, the extension piece forms a cross-section of the Füllgutdurchlasses along the Füllgutweges rejuvenating element, which in particular allows for free jet filling an optimized Füllgutzuführung. Thus, the filling system can be used both for pressure filling and for free-jet filling.

The sealing element or the sealing section preferably forms a conically-tapering filling-material passage section. Thus, the sealing element or the sealing portion fulfills a dual function, namely the sealing element or the sealing portion allows for an arrangement of the container in sealing position relative to the extension piece, on the other hand enables the sealing element or the sealing portion in a free-jet filling an optimized Füllgutzuführung into the container.

In one exemplary embodiment, the extension pieces and the flushing caps are held by a support element which can be rotated relative to the filling elements. This tradi- In particular, it may be formed by a ring in which receptacles for the expansion pieces and the flushing caps are provided. The ring allows thus in a first rotational position, in which the Spülkappen are arranged under the Füllgutausläufen, simultaneous closure of Füllgutausläufe for cleaning and sterilization purposes, on the other hand in a second rotational position, a simultaneous arrangement of the expansion pieces under the Füllgutausläufen order to one To allow filling of the filling material through the expansion pieces therethrough. For example, the extension pieces and the Spülkappen are each arranged alternately and in a gap to each other.

Preferably, the flushing caps and the extension pieces on the upper side, the filling elements facing sealing elements or sealing portions, which are arranged in a common plane. As a result, the flushing caps or the expansion pieces can be arranged in a fluid-tight manner relative to the respective filler element housing solely by rotating the support element. It is not necessary to lift the flushing caps and the expansion pieces to their fluid-tight arrangement on the Füllelementgehäusen. This achieves a simplified structure of the filling system.

In one exemplary embodiment, the flushing caps and the extension pieces are designed to be equal in height or substantially equal in height. The extension pieces thus substantially fill the space that is necessary for an arrangement of the flushing caps under the respective filling element or Füllgutauslauf. Thereby, the stroke is shortened by the height of the extension piece or compensated by the Spülkappen clearance under the filling elements by extending the Füllgutkanals means of extension pieces.

According to one embodiment, the flushing caps are designed for use in steam sterilization of the filling elements. The flushing caps can each have, for example, cup-shaped collecting areas, which are designed to receive condensate formed during steam sterilization. This ensures that the condensate is discharged downwards via the filling material spout. can occur and thus does not hinder the sterilization process, especially in the area of Füllgutauslaufs.

Preferably, the Spülkappen have a Spülkappenhöhe of at least 20mm, preferably at least 30mm. Flushing caps with such Spülkappenhöhe are particularly suitable for use in a steam sterilization and ensure adequate drainage for the condensate.

According to a further embodiment, the rinsing caps for discharging condensate formed in the steam sterilization are interconnected by a ring line. As a result, the condensate dripping from the filling element can reach the opening provided therein via the flushing caps and the ring line and be discharged in a suitable manner via this opening. Pressure filling in the sense of the invention is generally to be understood as meaning a filling process in which the respective container to be filled rests in a sealing position against the filling element and, as a rule, before the actual filling phase, i. is biased before opening the liquid valve via at least one controlled, formed in the filling gas path with a pressurized gas clamping gas (inert gas or CO2 gas), which then during filling of the inflowing the container contents increasingly as return gas from the container interior is displaced, and also via at least one controlled gas path formed in the filling element. This preload phase can be more

Preceding treatment phases, for example, an evacuation and / or flushing of the container interior with an inert gas, eg. B. CO2 gas, etc., and also via the gas paths formed in the filling element.

Free-jet filling in the sense of the invention is to be understood as a method in which the liquid product flows to the container to be filled in a free or vertical flow path in a free filling jet, whereby the container does not touch the filling element with its container mouth or opening but spaced from the filling element or from a local Füllgutauslauf is. A further feature of this method is also that the air displaced from the container during the filling process does not reach the filling element or a gas-conducting region or channel formed there, but flows freely into the environment.

Containers according to the invention are in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging materials which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products. The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

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 exemplary embodiments. Show it:

1 shows by way of example a filling system in a schematic lateral sectional illustration; and

Fig. 2 by way of example a support member for holding Spülkappen and extension pieces in a lateral sectional view. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a filling system for filling containers 2 with a liquid filling material. The filling material flows into the respective container 2 during the filling process via its container opening 2.1 in a product container. jet on a vertical flow path too. The filling system 1 may in particular be a combination filling system, which flows both to the free-standing filling of containers 2, in which the contents of the spaced apart from the filling element 3 container 2 in a free Füllgutstrahl, as well as for pressure filling, in which the container 2 in indirect sealing position on the filling element 3 is applied, is formed.

The filling system 1 comprises, for example, a multiplicity of similar filling elements 3 on the circumference of a rotor which can be driven circumferentially about a vertical machine axis. Each filling element 3 has in a Füllelementgehäuse 4 u. a. a Füllgutka- channel 5, which is connected in the upper region via a product line with a not shown and common to all filling elements 3 of the filling system 1 container or vessel for providing the liquid filling material. In the lower region of the Füllelementgehäuses 4 of the Füllgutkanal 5 forms a Füllgutauslauf 7, via which the contents of the Füllelementgehäuse 4 exits.

Within the Füllgutkanals 5 and based on the flow direction of the filling material before Füllgutauslauf 7, a liquid valve 8 is provided by means of which a controlled supply of contents to the respective container 2 is ensured. Each filling element 1 is associated with a container carrier 9, on which the respective container 2 to be filled is held suspended, for example. This can be done in particular by a neck ring gripper, which surrounds the container in the region of the container neck 2.2 below a flange or neck ring 2.3 formed there. The container carrier 9 is designed, in particular, in a direction parallel to the machine axis, ie adjustable in the vertical direction, in order to move the container 2 with respect to the filling element 3, which is preferably arranged rigidly on the rotor. This is provided in particular for the movement of the container 2 from a transfer position (lowered position) to a filling position (raised position). In addition or alone, a support plate or plate can be provided, whereupon the container stands up, wherein an improvement is that the support plate or plate is driven vertically displaceable, so that the respective container or a plurality of containers can be raised. The filling system 1 is also designed for cleaning and sterilization according to a CIP (Cleaning In Place) method. For this purpose, each filling element 3 is associated with at least one flushing cap 10, which is movable under the Füllgutauslauf 7 and sealingly connected to the Füllelementgehäuse 4 in the region of Füllgutauslaufs 7, so that the Füllelementgehäuse 4 is closed in the region of Füllgutauslaufs 7 by the flushing cap 10 fluid-tight. The rinsing caps 10 can be designed in particular for use in a superheated steam sterilization process in which the interior of the filling element is exposed to a hot, vaporous medium, in particular water vapor. In a superheated steam sterilization process, condensate is formed which, after draining into the flushing cap 10, is removed by an annular channel by means of which all the flushing caps 10 are connected to one another. In particular, the flushing caps 10 for this application have a height h which is at least 20 mm, preferably at least 30 mm, 35 mm or 40 mm. In hot steam sterilization condensate forms in Füllelementinneninnen, which runs down and collects in the flushing cap 10 and is derived from this. This condensate forms a temperature barrier, so that in the case of flushing caps 10 with insufficient depth (h <20 mm), in particular in the region of the product outlet 7, insufficient sterilization would take place. Therefore, in comparison to hot water sterilization, flushing caps 10 with a relatively large height (h> 20 mm) are necessary.

Preferably, the Spülkappen 10 are held by an annular or disc-like support member 1 1 or are part of this support element 1 1, which extends below the filling elements 3. This support element 1 1 is movable, in particular in the circumferential direction rotatably arranged opposite the filling elements 3, so that the Spülkappen 10 of a deactivation position in which the Spülkappen 10 are moved away from the Füllgutausläufen 7, are movable into an active position in which the Füllgutausläufe 7 are each closed fluid-tight by the Spülkappen 10. As a result of the movement of the support element 11, all the filling elements 3 are simultaneously sealed fluid-tightly with the flushing caps 10 or these flushing caps 10 are moved laterally next to the filling elements 3 in order to allow filling material to be filled into the containers 2. The flushing caps 10 each have a sealing element or a sealing section 10.1 on their upper sides facing the filling elements 3. This sealing element or this sealing portion 10.1 is designed such that when moving the flushing cap 10 below the filling element 3, a fluid-tight closure of the filling element 3 is achieved at Füllgutauslauf 7. In other words, only the displacement of the flushing cap 10 causes the fluid-tight closure, wherein ideally no axial lifting movement of the flushing cap 10 parallel to Füllelementhochachse is required to produce the fluid-tight closure.

In order to use the filling system 1 both for free-jet filling, for example, still drinks (non-carbonated or low-carbon) but also for pressure filling and thereby in the pressure filling a relatively large stroke of the container to be filled 2 from the transfer position (lowered position) in the filling position ( raised position), each filling element 3 is assigned at least one or preferably exactly one extension piece 12. These extension pieces 12 are preferably also held by the support member 1 1 or part of the support element 1 1 and can be moved by this support member 1 1 of an active position in which the respective extension piece 12 is located directly below the Füllgutauslaufs 7, in a deactivation position at the expansion piece 12 comes to rest laterally next to the Füllgutauslauf 7 and offset to the filling element 3. This movement also takes place by rotation of the support element 1 1, so that all extension pieces 12 are simultaneously moved into the active position or the deactivation position.

The arrangement of the Spülkappen 10 and the extension pieces 12 on or in the support member 1 1 is particularly made such that the extension pieces 12 are offset from the Spülkappen 10, alternately or arranged on a gap, so that upon rotation of the support member depending on the Drehpositi - On a flushing cap 10 or an extension piece 12 are placed under the Füllgutauslauf 7. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the extension piece 12 has a substantially annular, in particular an annular cross-section. In particular, the extension piece 12 is of its extension piece upper side 12.1, which is provided adjacent the Füllgutauslauf 7, to the extension piece bottom side 12.2 out through a Füllgutdurchlass 12.3. On the extension piece upper side 12.1, a sealing element or sealing portion 12.4 is provided, by means of which a fluid-tight connection of the Füllgutkanals 5 with the extension piece 12, in particular the Füllgutdurchlass 12.3 of the extension piece 12 is reached. This fluid-tight connection is achieved in particular by exclusively rotating the support element 1 1 without lifting movement in the direction of the filling element vertical axis FHA. By the extension piece 12 so that the Füllgutauslauf 7 of the filling element 3 is moved by the height of the extension piece 12 down, so that in particular at a pressure filling, ie in an arrangement of the container 2 in sealing position, the stroke of the container 2 can be significantly shortened.

A sealing element or sealing section 12.5 is preferably also provided on the extension piece lower side 12.2 in order to be able to arrange a container 2 in a sealing position with respect to the extension piece 12. The sealing element or the sealing section 12.5 is in particular designed such that when the container opening 2.1 is pressed against the sealing element or the sealing section 12.5, a fluid-tight connection between the filling material passage 12.3 and the container interior is achieved.

Preferably, the Füllgutdurchlass 12.3 is formed conically tapered in Füllgutflussrichtung. This conical feed can be achieved, for example, by means of a sealing element or sealing section 12.5 which reduces the cross section of the filling material passage 12.3 in the direction of the product flow. Alternatively, the extension piece 12 may be tapered even in the wall region. As a result, improved filling can be achieved, in particular during free-jet filling.

The height H of the extension piece 12 is preferably adapted to the height h of the flushing cap 10. In particular, the height H of the extension piece 12 of the Height h of the flushing cap 10 correspond or at least substantially correspond. Preferably, the height H of the extension piece 12 is at least 20mm, preferably 30mm, 35mm or 40mm. This ensures that despite the relatively large height h of Spülkappen 10, the container 2 only by a small stroke, for example, a stroke between 5mm and 15mm, in particular 6mm, 8mm or 10mm must be raised in order to seal on the extension piece 12th to arrive and thus over this extension piece 12 fluid-tightly connected to the filling element 3.

As already mentioned above there is the particular advantage through the use of the support element 1 1, which is designed as a combined CIP ring and Füllkanalring is that the use of CIP single caps per filling or filling valve can be omitted with the respective required drive and / or control means. This saves on the one hand a large number of moving components and on the other hand improves the overall process, since in the past comparable filling machines required one outflow / channel for each of the 50 to more than 100 individual pivotable flushing caps.

The process improvement results from this because the number of parts and channels to be cleaned, as mentioned above. was greatly reduced, because for all scavenging 10 only a common fluid drain is required and continue to achieve an extremely small space. The space reduction results from the fact that the vertical movement of the container must be only a few millimeters, on the one hand to bring the container mouths in sealing position to the valve outlet and on the other hand to release the support ring 1 1 for the movement in the circumferential direction again. In addition, the support ring 1 1 requires only a single drive or a coupling element with a small footprint, which can possibly be arranged in the blind spot of the rotary machine, i. in the angular range in which no container treatment takes place.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that a large number of changes or modifications are possible without thereby leaving the inventive concept underlying the invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 filling system

2 containers

2.1 Container opening

2.2 Container neck

2.3 neck ring

3 filling element

4 filler housing

5 filling channel

7 filling outlet

8 liquid valve

9 container carrier 10 rinse cap

10.1 sealing element sealing section

1 1 support element

12 extension piece

12.1 extension piece top 12.2 extension piece base

12.3 Feed passage

12.4 sealing element / sealing section

12.5 Sealing element / sealing section FHA Filling element vertical axis h Height

H height

Claims

claims

1 . Filling system for filling containers (2) comprising a plurality of filling elements (3), each having one in a Füllelementgehäuse (4) provided Füllgutkanal (5) with a Füllgutauslauf (7), via which the liquid contents controlled by a liquid valve during filling (8) the respective with its container opening (2.1) arranged below the Füllgutauslauf container (2) flows, with the respective filling elements (3) associated, movable in the vertical direction container carriers (9) for holding and producing at least one indirect sealing layer of the respective container ( 2) relative to the filling element (3), as well as to the Füllgutausläufen (7) to be arranged Spülkappen (10) for cleaning and / or sterilizing the filling elements (3), characterized in that each filling element (3) at Füllgutauslauf (7) in Assigned sealable disposable extension piece (12), which has a Füllgutdurchlass (12.3), so that at at the Füllgutauslauf (7) arranged extension piece (12) results in an extension of the Füllgutkanals (5) of the filling element (3).

2. Filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the expansion piece (12) on the filling element (3) facing away from the Füllgutdurchlasses (12.3) a sealing element or a sealing portion (12.5) for arranging a container (2) in sealing position the extension piece (12).

3. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked, that the Füllgutdurchlass (12.3) facing away from the filling element (3)

End is formed tapered.

4. Filling system according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing element or the sealing portion (12.5) forms a tapered Füllgutdurchlassab- section.

5. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion pieces (12) and the Spülkappen (10) by a relative to the filling elements (3) rotatable support member (1 1) are held, or that the extension pieces (12) and the rinsing caps (10) are integral elements of the support element (1 1).

6. Filling system according to claim 5, characterized in that the Spülkappen (10) and the extension pieces (12) upper side, the filling elements (3) facing sealing elements or sealing portions (12.4), which in arrangement of the extension pieces (12) and the Spülkappen ( 10) are arranged on the support element (1 1) in a common plane.

7. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Spülkappen (10) and the extension pieces (12) are equal in height o- formed substantially equal in height.

8. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Spülkappen (10) are designed for use in a steam sterilization of the filling elements (3).

9. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Spülkappen (10) have a Spülkappenhöhe (h) of at least 20mm, preferably at least 30mm.

10. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension pieces (12) have a Erweiterungsstückhöhe (H) of at least 20mm, preferably at least 30mm.

1 1. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rinsing caps (10) are connected to each other by a ring line for the discharge of condensate formed in the steam sterilization.