CN111333006A

CN111333006A - Device and method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product

Info

Publication number: CN111333006A
Application number: CN201911241318.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 霍尔格·穆勒; 弗洛里恩·哈贝塞采尔; 约瑟夫·诺特
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2018-12-18
Filing date: 2019-12-06
Publication date: 2020-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-06
Also published as: SI3670434T1; EP3670434A1; CN111333006B; DE102018132732A1; EP3670434B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product, comprising: a treatment chamber (2) for the sealed accommodation of the container (120) to be filled, means for sealing the treatment chamber (2) and being movable relative to the treatment chamber (2) by means of a drive, and a pressure determination unit (7) for determining the pressure in the treatment chamber (2), wherein the pressure determination unit (7) is provided and configured to determine the pressure prevailing in the treatment chamber (2) by determining a manipulated variable of the drive (44), and to a corresponding method for filling the container (120) to be filled with a filling product.

Description

Device and method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product in a beverage filling system.

Background

Filling methods and devices for carrying out the filling methods are known, in which a container to be filled is sealed using a process chamber, a filling valve is connected to the mouth of the container to be filled, and the container interior of the container to be filled is flushed with a flushing gas to reduce the oxygen content. After flushing the container interior with the flushing gas, the container interior is then filled with the filling product. Prior to filling, depending on the filling method selected and depending on the filling product to be filled, it is also possible to perform a biasing or emptying of the container to be filled.

Simultaneously with, or before or after filling the inner space of the container with the filling product, the process chamber is brought to an overpressure and then the filling valve is removed from the mouth of the container which has been filled with the filling product. Due to the overpressure in the processing chamber, no spillage, splashing or foaming of the filled product, in particular of the carbonated product, occurs when the filling valve is removed from the mouth of the container filled with the filled product. The process chamber under overpressure is correspondingly in communication with the container interior space.

In a further processing step, the container closure is then applied to the container in the processing chamber still under overpressure and the container is closed accordingly. Subsequently, the overpressure present in the processing chamber is reduced substantially to ambient pressure, and the filled and closed container is then removed from the processing chamber. Such a device and method are known, for example, from EP2937310a 2.

The pressure level in the process chamber surrounding the container is recorded here using a pressure sensor, since the pressure, in particular the height of the overpressure present in the process chamber, is decisive for successful filling and closing. The pressure sensor in the process chamber means an additional built-in part that must be powered, read and placed. The pressure sensor must also be implemented hygienically so that it does not contaminate the filling product.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and a corresponding method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product.

This object is achieved by a device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

Accordingly, a device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product is proposed, comprising: a treatment chamber for sealingly receiving the container to be filled, a component sealing the treatment chamber and being movable relative to the treatment chamber by means of a drive, and a pressure determination unit for determining the pressure in the treatment chamber. According to the invention, the pressure determination unit is provided and configured to determine the pressure prevailing in the process chamber by determining a manipulated variable of the drive.

Since the pressure determination unit is provided and designed to determine the pressure prevailing in the process chamber by determining the manipulated variable of the drive, the pressure prevailing in the process chamber can be determined without additionally having to provide a pressure sensor in the process chamber for this purpose, which means an additional built-in component that has to be supplied with power, read and placed. The pressure sensor must furthermore be embodied in a hygienic manner so that it does not contaminate the filling product. Therefore, the proposed device may have a simplified structure and lower cleaning strength as compared to the conventional device.

Here, it is also applicable that the regulating variable is preferably proportional to the holding force of the drive for holding the component in the predetermined position. This is particularly the case when the component and its drive are in principle freely movable due to the pressure introduced or present in the process chamber and therefore the drive for holding the position of the component has to exert a holding force. The holding force is thus represented by the manipulated variable to be applied. The holding force to be applied increases with the pressure prevailing in the process chamber. In particular, when the determination of the manipulated variable of the drive is already provided for drive-technical reasons, for example for the purpose of controlling the drive, it can be the case that substantially no additional components are provided on the device, so that the pressure in the process chamber can be determined. In other words, a separate pressure sensor may be omitted.

In the present case, the terms "controller" and "control" include control and regulation in the sense of automation technology.

The pressure prevailing in the process chamber and measurable by means of the pressure determination unit is thus determined relative to the ambient pressure acting on the movable part outside the process chamber. In other words, the pressure determination unit determines the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure prevailing in the process chamber.

Thus, when the process chamber is, for example, pressurized with an overpressure bias gas, the pressure in the process chamber may be an overpressure relative to the ambient pressure. The pressure may for example be present at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 11 bar, i.e. a relative overpressure of 1 bar to 10 bar relative to the ambient pressure.

When the process chamber is connected, for example, to a vacuum line, by means of which the gases present in the process chamber are drawn off, the pressure in the process chamber can also be negative relative to the ambient pressure. The pressure in the treatment chamber can be present here, for example, at an absolute pressure of 0.1 bar to 0.9 bar, i.e. a relative underpressure relative to the ambient pressure of 0.1 bar to 0.9 bar.

In other words, when there is a negative pressure in the process chamber, forces directed inwards towards the process chamber act on the movable part, and when there is an overpressure, forces directed outwards from the process chamber act on the movable part. The pressure can thus be determined by the manipulated variable to be applied in order to exert the respectively oppositely directed holding forces.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a filling mechanism for sealingly applying to the container sealed using the treatment chamber and for introducing a filling product into the container.

According to another preferred embodiment, the device comprises a closing mechanism for applying a container closure to a filled container still within the process chamber,

according to another preferred embodiment, the device comprises a centering cap comprising a container receiving opening for sealingly receiving the container, and in particular the treatment chamber of the mouth region of the container.

According to another preferred embodiment, the device comprises lifting means for lifting and/or pressing the container against the container receiving opening of the treatment chamber.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous here if the components of the pressure determination unit comprise: a filling mechanism for sealingly applying to a container sealed using the process chamber and for introducing a filling product into the container; and/or a closure mechanism for applying a container closure to a filled container within a processing chamber; and/or a centering case comprising a container receiving opening for sealingly receiving a processing chamber of a container; and/or lifting means for lifting and/or pressing the container against the container receiving opening of the processing chamber.

In other words, the pressure determination unit may be associated with one or more components corresponding to one or more of the aforementioned components. The pressure determination can thus be carried out by means which are provided in the device for positioning, sealing, filling and/or closing the container, so that substantially no additional components are provided on the device.

Preferably, a controller is provided which is arranged to control the drive such that the component is held in a predetermined position at least during biasing of the sealed process chamber using the biasing gas, wherein at the predetermined position the component receiving opening of the process chamber is hermetically closed by the component. It can thereby be ensured that the pressure determination and the pressure generation and/or pressure maintenance in the processing chamber are not damaged or tampered with by movement of the component or an unsealed connection of the component and the component receiving opening.

The pressure determination unit is preferably arranged and configured to compare the measured regulating variable with values of a look-up table to determine the pressure, and/or to determine the pressure by means of a predetermined function in dependence on the measured regulating variable. Thereby, a reliable pressure determination can be achieved in a simple manner.

Additionally or alternatively, the determination based on the manipulated variable can also be performed by means of other algorithms or by means of artificial intelligence.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the drive comprises a linear motor, wherein the manipulated variable evaluated for determining the pressure corresponds to the current and/or the voltage supplied to the drive.

Linear motors are characterized by a particularly high setting accuracy in terms of holding force and positional accuracy, and also by a very high maximum rotational speed and acceleration. The adjustment accuracy can be achieved here, for example, by fine-tuning the current supplied to the linear motor. Accordingly, the pressure can also be determined by measuring the manipulated variable of the linear motor.

The linear motor may for example be constituted by a linear stator drive.

The linear motor may for example be constituted by a spindle drive, wherein the spindle motor acts on the spindle. The pitch of the spindle thread may for example have a pitch of 2-10 mm. Preferably, the spindle and the spindle nut of the spindle drive are designed such that a force exerted on the spindle nut in the axial direction causes the spindle to rotate.

Alternatively, the drive may for example comprise a pressure cylinder, preferably a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the regulating variable evaluated for determining the pressure in the process chamber corresponds to the regulating pressure supplied to the pressure cylinder.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a purge gas channel for introducing a purge gas into the container to be filled and/or a bias gas channel for introducing a bias gas into the process chamber, wherein the purge gas channel and/or the bias gas channel are preferably arranged in the filling mechanism.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product having the features of claim 7. Advantageous developments of the method emerge from the dependent claims as well as from the description and the drawings.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product is proposed, comprising the following steps: hermetically receiving a container to be filled in a process chamber; biasing the process chamber with a bias gas; and measuring the pressure in the process chamber. The method is characterized in that the pressure prevailing in the process chamber is determined by determining a manipulated variable of an actuator of a component which is movable relative to the process chamber.

The advantages and effects mentioned above for the device can be achieved analogously since the pressure prevailing in the process chamber is determined by measuring a manipulated variable of an actuator of a component that is movable relative to the process chamber, wherein the manipulated variable is proportional to a holding force of the actuator for holding the component in a predetermined position.

The process chamber may also preferably be evacuated before the biasing in order to remove in this way to some extent the gas, typically air, present in the process chamber, so that by introducing the biasing gas for biasing the process chamber a defined atmosphere, for example an oxygen-depleted atmosphere, may be provided in the process chamber.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the drive is controlled in such a way that the component is held in a predetermined position at least during evacuation and/or biasing of the sealed process chamber with the bias gas, wherein at said predetermined position the component receiving opening of the process chamber is hermetically closed by the component.

Preferably, the measured regulating variable is compared with values of a look-up table to determine the pressure in the process chamber, and/or the pressure in the process chamber (2) is determined from the result of a predetermined function in dependence on the measured regulating variable, and/or the pressure is determined from the result of a predetermined function in dependence on the determined regulating variable. Alternatively or additionally, other algorithms or artificial intelligence may also be used.

According to one refinement, the drive comprises a linear motor, wherein the manipulated variable evaluated for determining the pressure in the process chamber corresponds to the current and/or voltage supplied to the drive.

Preferably, the filling means is sealingly applied to the container before the evacuation and/or biasing of the process chamber, wherein preferably, after the sealing of the filling means to the container, the container is flushed with a flushing gas introduced into the container through the flushing gas channel, wherein preferably, after flushing the container with the flushing gas, the container is preferably filled with the filling product.

Furthermore, it is proposed according to a further development that the filling means is removed from the container, preferably after the offset of the treatment chamber, and preferably after the filling of the container and the offset of the treatment chamber, wherein preferably after the removal of the filling means from the container, the container received in the treatment chamber is closed with the container closure by moving the closing means, wherein preferably after the closing of the container, the offset pressure prevailing in the treatment chamber is relieved and the container is removed from the treatment chamber.

Drawings

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail by the following description of the drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device for filling a container with a filling product and subsequently closing the container with a container closure, wherein: a processing chamber for accommodating the containers, a filling mechanism acting on the containers received in the processing chamber, and a closure element acting on the containers received in the processing chamber;

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the apparatus of fig. 1, wherein a closure element is guided through a mouth region of a filled container in order to apply a container closure onto the filled container;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the device of the preceding figures, wherein the closure element is retracted again into the initial position and the filled and closed container is guided out of the treatment chamber downwards;

fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product according to another embodiment; and

fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional detail of the device of fig. 4.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the same, similar or equivalent elements in different drawings are attached with the same reference numerals, and repeated description of these elements is partially omitted to avoid redundancy.

In the figures, different cross-sections, detailed illustrations and states of the device 1 for filling a container 120 with a filling product and subsequently closing the container 120 filled with the filling product with a container closure are schematically shown.

The apparatus 1 comprises a process chamber 2, a filling means 3 and a closing means 4, which will be described in detail below.

The treatment chamber 2 is used to provide the container 120 to be filled or its inner space with a predetermined pressure ratio and/or a predetermined atmosphere when the mouth 122 of the container 120 to be filled is in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

The filling means 3 serve to fill the interior space of the container 120 to be filled with a predetermined amount of filling product via the filling product channel 34 in a known manner.

The closing mechanism 4 serves to close the container 120 filled with the filling product with a container closure.

The device 1 can be provided, for example, in a beverage filling installation, in which a beverage is filled into a beverage bottle to be filled and, after filling with the beverage, the beverage bottle is closed with a container closure. However, other filling products can also be used, for example filling products from the food sector, the pharmaceutical sector, the hygiene sector or the mineral oil sector.

In such an apparatus, a plurality of the devices 1 shown are typically arranged around the circumference of a process turret. The device 1 correspondingly revolves about the axis of rotation of the process carousel in order to correspondingly provide a continuous process and in particular a continuous filling and a continuous closing of containers 120 to be filled, for example, of a continuous supply in a beverage filling plant. Here, a large number of filled and sealed containers 120 are produced.

The treatment chamber 2 of each device 1 is arranged to receive at least a portion of a container 120 to be filled. For this purpose, the treatment chamber 2 has a container receiving opening 20 at its lower end, through which container receiving opening 20 the containers 120 to be filled in each case can be moved forward with their container mouths 122 into the treatment chamber 2 in a container movement direction indicated by means of the arrow D.

By introducing the container 120 to be filled with its container mouth 122 into the treatment chamber 2, the container receiving opening 20 is closed off in a gas-tight manner from the environment, for example by means of the switchable seal 60, so that the container receiving opening 20 of the treatment chamber 2 is closed off in a gas-tight manner from the environment with the container 120 moved in.

Therefore, the container 120 is housed in a sealed manner with respect to the processing chamber 2. In an alternative embodiment, not only a part of the container 120, for example the mouth region in the embodiment shown, but also the entire container 120 can be accommodated in the process chamber 2.

The processing chamber 2 also has a sealer housing opening 22 at its upper end. The closure mechanism 4 or the closure element 40 of the closure mechanism 4 can act on the container mouth 122 of the filled container 120 by closing the receiving opening 22 in order to apply the container closure. By lowering the closure mechanism 4 and the closure flange 42 of the closure mechanism 4, the closure receiving opening 22 can be closed in an airtight manner from the environment.

A drive 44 is provided for moving the closing mechanism 4 in a predetermined direction of movement B indicated by means of arrow B, which closing mechanism 4 is a movable part of the apparatus 1 relative to the process chamber 2.

In the present preferred embodiment of the device 1, the drive 44 is arranged and configured to raise or lower the closing mechanism 4 in the direction of movement B. In this case, the position of the closing mechanism 4 is predetermined by means of the controller 9 by supplying a regulating variable to the drive 44 via the controller 9, which regulating variable accordingly causes the drive 44 to move the closing mechanism 4 to a predetermined position or to hold the closing mechanism 4 in a predetermined position.

The driver 44 may be a linear driver. For example, the driver 44 may be a linear stator driver. The drive 44 can also be a spindle drive, wherein the spindle and the spindle nut are designed such that the spindle rotates when a force is applied to the spindle nut in the axial direction. Thus, the internal space of the processing chamber 2 is hermetically closed from the environment by introducing the container 120 into the container receiving opening 20 and by lowering the closing mechanism 4 onto the sealer receiving opening 22. Within the treatment chamber 2, a pressure, in particular an overpressure or a negative pressure, which differs from the environment, can be applied accordingly, and/or an atmosphere or a gas mixture or a gas, which differs from the ambient atmosphere, can be provided in the treatment chamber 2.

In the treatment chamber 2, a pressure which differs with respect to the environment can be provided, for example, by introducing an overpressure, which pressure is reached in the treatment chamber 2 and thus also in the interior space of the container 120 to be filled which is hermetically closed with respect to the environment using the treatment chamber, when the container mouth 122 projects unsealed into the treatment chamber 2 and thus the container interior space communicates with the treatment chamber 2.

By applying a gas or gas mixture to the process chamber 2, for example by introducing CO via a purge gas channel 84 communicating with the process chamber 2₂Or other inert gas, may provide an atmosphere in the process chamber 2 that is different from ambient.

Preferably, the process chamber 2 is evacuated before the gas or gas mixture is applied to the process chamber 2 in order to provide a gas atmosphere in the process chamber 2 that is as defined as possible, for example, an atmosphere that is as oxygen-depleted as possible.

The device 1 further has a pressure determination unit 7, which pressure determination unit 7 is provided and configured to determine the pressure prevailing in the process chamber 2, in particular an overpressure or a negative pressure. The pressure determination unit 7 is provided and designed to determine the pressure prevailing in the process chamber 2 by determining a manipulated variable of the drive 42 of the closing mechanism 4.

The closing means 4 is here to some extent considered as a piston on which the pressure prevailing in the process chamber 2 acts. The regulating variable is therefore proportional to the holding force of the drive for holding the closing mechanism 4 in the predetermined position.

To this end, the drive 44 is controlled in such a way that the closure mechanism 4 is held in a predetermined position during the biasing of the sealed process chamber with the bias gas, wherein at the predetermined position the closure mechanism 4 hermetically closes the closure receiving opening 22 of the process chamber 2 with respect to the environment.

The pressure changes in the process chamber 2 act directly on the end face 46 of the closing element 4. Therefore, the force generated thereby acts on the closing mechanism 4 based on the pressure change inside the processing chamber 2. In order to prevent a change in the position of the closing mechanism 4, a corresponding retaining force must be provided by the drive 44.

In this embodiment, the driver 44 comprises a linear motor. The adjustment variable thus corresponds to the current and/or voltage supplied to the driver 44.

In an alternative embodiment, the drive 44 may also for example comprise a pressure cylinder, for example a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the regulating variable corresponds to the regulating pressure supplied to the pressure cylinder.

In the present example, where the drive 44 comprises a linear motor, the change or adaptation of the holding force is achieved by changing the current supplied to the linear motor. Therefore, the change in current required to maintain the predetermined position is proportional to the change in pressure in the sealed process chamber 2.

For determining the pressure in the process chamber 2, the measured manipulated variable can be compared with the values of a look-up table provided to the pressure determination unit 7.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the pressure determination unit 7 may be provided and configured to determine the pressure from the result of the predetermined function in dependence on the determined manipulated variable.

Alternatively and/or additionally, other algorithms or artificial intelligence may also be used to determine the pressure in the process chamber 2.

In other words, a function is provided in the pressure determination unit 7 which allows a regulating variable, here a current, to be converted into the pressure present in the process chamber 2 or the pressure change occurring therein or as a result of which the pressure present in the process chamber 2 or the pressure change occurring therein can be determined.

Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1, an expression can be made regarding the pressure present in the process chamber 2 on the basis of the ratio or relationship between the pressure in the process chamber 2 acting on the end face 46 of the closure mechanism 4 and the current consumption/current change required to maintain the predetermined position of the closure mechanism 4.

Alternatively or additionally, the pressure determination unit 7 may also comprise, in a similar manner to that described above, the following components, namely the filling means 3; a centering cap (not shown) which is lowerable relative to the process chamber 2 in the direction of the container 120, the centering cap comprising a container receiving opening 20 for sealingly receiving the container 120; or a lifting device (not shown) for lifting and/or pressing the container 120 against the container receiving opening 20, wherein the pressure determination in the process chamber 2 is carried out analogously to the method described above, based on the drives associated with the individual components or on the determination of the regulating variables thereof, respectively.

In the treatment chamber 2, a filling product outlet 30 of the filling means 3 is preferably provided, by means of which filling product outlet 30 the inner space of the container 120 to be filled with the filling product can be filled. The filling means 3 has a filling product outlet seal 300 which surrounds the filling product outlet 30, the mouth 122 of the container 120 being pressable onto this filling product outlet seal 300 and a sealing connection between the container interior and the filling means 3 being established by means of this filling product outlet seal 300.

In the inner space of the container 120 to be filled, which is hermetically closed with the process chamber 2 with respect to the environment, preferably substantially the same pressure and substantially the same atmosphere as in the process chamber 2 is provided when the container mouth 122 opens into the process chamber 2.

On the other hand, if the container mouth portion 122 of the container 120 to be filled is hermetically closed with respect to the processing chamber 2, for example, by sealing the container mouth portion 122 using the filling mechanism 3, the pressure existing in the processing chamber 2 and the atmosphere existing in the processing chamber 2 have no influence on the pressure existing in the internal space of the container 120 or the gas component existing in the internal space.

The filling mechanism 3 and thus also the filling product outlet 30 can be moved in the direction of the arrow F shown, which indicates the direction of movement of the filling mechanism, in the illustrated embodiment in such a way that the filling product outlet 30 is arranged above the container receiving opening 20 in the processing position in such a way that the container 120 to be filled can be applied with filling product flowing out through the filling product outlet 30 via its container mouth 122, or the filling mechanism 3 and the filling product outlet 30 are moved into a retracted parking position in such a way that the closure mechanism 4 can apply the container closure to the filled container 120 in the manner described below.

The closing means 4 has a closing element 40, by means of which closing element 40 the actual container closure can be applied to the filled, but not yet closed, container 120 still received in the treatment chamber 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure element 40 is configured to apply a closure of a metal bottle cap to the container 120 to be closed. However, the closure element 40 may be configured as desired and according to the desired container closure, and may be configured, in particular in addition to being configured as a metal cap closure, as: a screw closure for applying a screw closure provided as a moulding, a winding or crimping closure for winding or crimping a container closure sleeve onto an external thread of a filled container, a closure element for applying a plug, cork or in any other way for closing a filled container 120.

Once the hermetic seal between the fill product outlet 30 and the container 120 is now established, a purge gas, such as CO, supplied via the purge gas passage 80 may be used₂The container 120 is rinsed. Preferably, a vacuum channel 88 can be provided, by means of which vacuum channel 88 a negative pressure is applied to the container 120. In this way, the flow of purge gas may sweep through the container 120 and in this way expel the remaining oxygen in the container 120. Or effective flushing of the container 120 may be achieved by alternating application of negative pressure and flushing gas.

A pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar absolute is preferably present in the flushing gas channel 80. When the inflow of flushing gas into the container 120 is to be effected, the pressure prevailing in the container 120 must accordingly be maintained at a pressure, which is lower than the pressure prevailing in the flushing gas channel 80, by switching the vacuum channel 88.

The controller 9 is also preferably adapted to switch the purge gas valve 82 and the vacuum valve 89 such that the container 120 is purged with the purge gas in the manner previously described and thus a predetermined concentration of purge gas in the container 120 is achieved. Thus, an oxygen-depleted atmosphere may be achieved, for example, in the vessel 120.

The fill product may then be introduced into the rinsed container 120. Prior to introducing the filling product, in a preferred embodiment, a negative pressure can be provided in the container 120, and then the filling product under overpressure is introduced into the container 120, or the container 120 is biased with a biasing gas to a pressure above the saturation pressure of the filling product and the filling product is introduced into the biased container 120.

Further, when the processing chamber 2 is pressure-tightly sealed with respect to the container 120 by pressing the filling mechanism 3, the processing chamber 2 is biased with a bias gas by the bias gas line 84. The controller 9 preferably controls the application of the bias gas to the process chamber 2 in this manner by switching the bias gas valve 86. Before the bias gas is applied to the process chamber 2, the process chamber 2 can also be evacuated in a preferred embodiment to reduce the air present in the process chamber 2 in order to achieve a defined atmosphere by introducing the bias gas.

In order to effectively achieve the flushing action of the flushing gas and the biasing action of the biasing gas, the flushing gas channel 80 is preferably at an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 4 bar, preferably 1.4 to 1.9 bar, and the biasing gas channel 84 is at an absolute pressure of 2 to 11 bar, preferably 5 to 9 bar.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the flushing gas channel 80 is at an absolute pressure of about 1.7 bar and the biasing gas channel 84 is at an absolute pressure of about 7 bar.

In addition, to effectively achieve the flushing action of the flushing gas and the biasing action of the biasing gas, the biasing gas passage 84 is at a higher pressure than the flushing gas passage 80.

If the desired bias pressure is reached in the process chamber 2 and the container 120 is filled with the filling product, the filling mechanism 3 can be removed from the mouth 122 of the container 120. The inner space of the container 120 and the filling product present therein are then subjected to a biasing pressure of the process chamber 2 due to the communication of the process chamber 2 with the container 120. Thus, when the filling means 3 are taken away, by releasing the gas, e.g. CO, incorporated in the filling product₂Bubbling of the filled product can be reduced or avoided.

It is therefore essential for the quality of the filling process that, after the gas-tight connection between the filling means 3 and the container 120 has been broken down, the filling product is substantially not discharged from the container 120 or through its container mouth 122 as a result of the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 being set too low by mistake and the resulting pressure difference between the interior space of the container 120 and the treatment chamber 2.

Subsequently, the filling mechanism 3 is retracted in the filling mechanism movement direction F and, as schematically shown in fig. 2, the closure 4 is lowered to apply the closure onto the mouth 122 of the filled container 120. In this case, the container 120 or the container interior is always in communication with the container treatment chamber 2, which container treatment chamber 2 is in turn under a bias pressure. After closing the container 120, the process chamber 2 is preferably unloaded to a lower pressure by opening the purge gas channel 80 by means of the purge gas valve 82. Since the purge gas channel 80 is at a low pressure, for example in a preferred embodiment at an absolute pressure of 1.7 bar, the gas present in the process chamber 2 at a high pressure, for example in this embodiment at an absolute pressure of 7 bar, flows back into the purge gas channel 80 when the purge gas valve 82 is opened. Thus, depending on the pressure ratio, at least a portion of the bias gas present in the process chamber 2 flows back into the purge gas channel 80.

In the embodiment shown, the process chamber 2 is also optionally in communication with the filling means 3 retracted, and in particular also with the flushing gas channel 80 and the vacuum channel 88 via the filling product outlet 30.

Since the process chamber 2 cannot be completely relieved to ambient pressure and into the purge gas channel 80 in the case of a pressure ratio determination, a complete relief of the pressure in the process chamber 2 to ambient pressure can be achieved, for example, by connecting the process chamber 2 to the vacuum channel 88.

In an alternative or in addition, the unloading of the process chamber 2 to ambient pressure can also or additionally be effected via an unloading channel 800 which is in communication with the environment.

In another alternative or in addition to one or both of the above-described possibilities for unloading the process chamber 2, it is also possible to further unload the bias pressure remaining in the process chamber 2, preferably to ambient pressure, by retracting the filling means 3 and/or the closing means 4 from the process chamber 2 immediately after unloading the bias pressure of the process chamber 2 into the purge gas channel 80.

Here, after unloading the process chamber 2 into the purge gas channel 80, the purge gas valve 82 is closed again, and the closure element 40 is removed from the process chamber 2. The resulting volume expansion of the free volume in the process chamber 2 also leads to an unloading of the bias pressure still present in the process chamber 2. This retraction may be performed until unloaded to ambient pressure. The filled and closed container can then be removed from the treatment chamber 2.

The respective process is preferably controlled by the controller 9, which controller 9 switches the respective valve itself, for example the bias gas valve 86 and/or the flushing gas valve 82 and/or the vacuum valve 89 and/or the unloading valve 802.

After the process chamber 2 has reached ambient pressure, the filled and closed container 120 may be removed from the process chamber 2, as schematically shown in fig. 3.

When the container 120 to be filled, which is subsequently received in the process chamber 2, is re-flushed, the bias gas flowing back into the flushing gas channel 80 is accordingly used again, which serves only as flushing gas. Here, the returned bias gas is temporarily stored in the purge gas passage 80. The volume of the flushing gas channel 80 is designed accordingly and can be expanded, for example, by an intermediately switched pressure accumulator.

Since the volume of bias gas flowing back into the purge gas channel 80 may not be sufficient for the next purge process of another container 120 to be filled, fresh purge gas may be supplied from a purge gas source 820, such as a purge gas tank. However, by using the bias gas flowing back into the purge gas channel 80 as the purge gas, the consumption of fresh purge gas can be reduced.

In this case, the purge gas channel 80 is preferably designed such that the entire quantity of the flowing-back bias gas can be accommodated in the purge gas channel 80 without the flowing-back bias gas entering the purge gas source 820, in order to remove possible contaminants.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the device 1 according to another preferred embodiment. The cross-sectional detail of the device 1 can be seen from fig. 5. The device 1 corresponds substantially to the device shown in fig. 1 to 3, wherein the offset channel 84 is integrated into the filling means 3. Thus, it is no longer necessary to provide openings for separate bias channels in the process chamber 2 itself.

The offset channel 84 is formed in the filling means 3 in such a way that its outlet opening 85 can always communicate with the interior of the treatment chamber 2, in particular also at the position of the filling means 3 relative to the treatment chamber 2 shown in fig. 4 and 5.

The device 1 also has a pressure determination unit 7, which pressure determination unit 7 comprises the assembly of the closure mechanism 4 with its drive 44 and also the filling mechanism 3 with its pneumatically acting pressure cylinder 32, which pressure cylinder 32 is provided as a drive for moving the filling mechanism 3 in its longitudinal direction. In this case, as an adjustment link for the pressure cylinder 32, the holding force for holding the filling mechanism 3 at the predetermined position is measured using the pressure supplied to the pressure cylinder 32 for holding the predetermined position of the filling mechanism 3.

By this design it is achieved that the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 is determined, for example, via the closing means 4, when the closing means 4 is held in its predetermined position, as can be seen from fig. 1 and 3, and that, for example, the filling means 3 is moved and/or used for filling, and that, instead, the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 is determined via the filling means 3, when the filling means 3 is held in its predetermined position, as shown, for example, in fig. 4 and 5, and that, for example, the closing means 3 is moved and/or used to close the container 120 with the container closure 124.

Furthermore, the pressure can also be determined simultaneously by measuring the manipulated variable of the drive 44 and by measuring the manipulated variable of the pressure cylinder 32. Optionally, a comparison, averaging and/or control of the values can be performed here.

Where applicable, all individual features shown in the embodiments can be combined with each other and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Description of reference numerals:

1 apparatus

120 container

122 container mouth

124 container closure

2 treatment chamber

20 container receiving opening

22 closure receiving opening

3 filling mechanism

30 filling product outlet

300 fill product outlet seal

32 pressure cylinder

34 filling the product channel

4 sealing mechanism

40 closure element

42 closure flange

44 driver

46 end face

60 switchable seal

7 pressure determination unit

80 purge gas channel

82 flushing gas valve

84 bias gas channel

85 discharge opening

86 offset valve

88 vacuum channel

89 vacuum valve

800 unloading channel

802 unloading valve

820 flushing gas source

9 controller

Direction of motion B

D direction of container movement

Direction of motion of F-shaped filling mechanism

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product, comprising:

a treatment chamber (2) for sealingly receiving the container (120) to be filled,

a component which seals the process chamber (2) and is movable relative to the process chamber (2) by means of a drive (44), and

a pressure determination unit (7) for determining a pressure in the processing chamber (2),

characterized in that the pressure determination unit (7) is provided and configured to determine the pressure prevailing in the process chamber (2) by determining a manipulated variable of the drive (44).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable part comprises a filling means (3), the filling means (3) being intended to be sealingly applied to the container (120) sealed using the treatment chamber (2) and being intended to introduce a filling product into the container (120), and/or the movable part comprises a closing mechanism (4), the closing mechanism (4) being used for applying a container closure (124) into a filled container (120) within the processing chamber (2), and/or the movable member comprises a centering cup comprising a container receiving opening (20) for sealingly receiving the processing chamber (2) of the container (120), and/or the movable part comprises lifting means for lifting and/or pressing the container (120) against a container receiving opening (20) of the processing chamber (2).

3. An apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a controller (9) is provided, the controller (9) being arranged to control the driver (44) such that the component is held in a predetermined position at least during evacuation of the sealed process chamber (2) to underpressure and/or during biasing of the sealed process chamber (2) using a biasing gas.

4. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure determination unit (7) is arranged and configured to compare the measured regulating variable with values of a look-up table for determining the pressure in the processing chamber (2), and/or the pressure determination unit (7) is arranged and configured to determine the pressure in the processing chamber (2) from the result of a predetermined function in dependence on the measured regulating variable, and/or the pressure determination unit (7) is arranged and configured to determine the pressure in the processing chamber (2) by means of an algorithm or artificial intelligence.

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive (44) comprises a linear motor, wherein the regulating variable corresponds to the current and/or the voltage supplied to the drive (44), or in that the drive (44) comprises a pressure cylinder (32), preferably a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the regulating variable corresponds to the regulating pressure supplied to the pressure cylinder (32).

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) further comprises a flushing gas channel (80) for introducing flushing gas into the container (120) to be filled and/or comprises a vacuum channel for generating a negative pressure in the process chamber and/or a biasing gas channel (84) for introducing biasing gas into the process chamber (2), wherein the flushing gas channel (82) and/or the vacuum channel and/or the biasing gas channel (84) are preferably arranged in the filling means (3).

7. A method for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product, comprising the steps of:

-hermetically receiving the container to be filled (120) in a treatment chamber (2);

-evacuating the process chamber (2) to a negative pressure and/or biasing the process chamber (2) with a biasing gas; and

-determining the pressure in the process chamber (2),

characterized in that the pressure prevailing in the process chamber (2) is determined by measuring a manipulated variable of a drive (44) of a component which is movable relative to the process chamber (2) and seals the process chamber (2).

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the driver (44) is controlled such that the component is held in a predetermined position at least during evacuation and/or biasing of the sealed process chamber (2) with a biasing gas, wherein at the predetermined position a component receiving opening of the process chamber (2) is sealingly closed by the component.

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the measured regulating variable is compared with the values of a look-up table to determine the pressure in the process chamber (2), and/or the pressure in the process chamber (2) is measured from the result of a predetermined function in dependence on the measured regulating variable, and/or the pressure in the process chamber (2) is determined by an algorithm or artificial intelligence.

10. Device (1) according to one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the drive (44) comprises a linear motor, wherein the regulating variable corresponds to the current and/or the voltage supplied to the drive (44), or the drive comprises a pressure cylinder (32), preferably a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the regulating variable corresponds to the regulating pressure supplied to the pressure cylinder (32).

11. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the filling means (3) is sealingly applied to the container (120) before evacuating the process chamber (2) and/or before biasing the process chamber (2), wherein preferably after sealingly applying the filling means (3) to the container (120), the container (120) is flushed with a flushing gas introduced into the container through a flushing gas channel (80), wherein preferably after flushing the container (120) with a flushing gas, the container (120) is preferably filled with the filling product.

12. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the filling means (3) is removed from the container (120), preferably after biasing the treatment chamber (2), and preferably after filling the container (120) and biasing the treatment chamber (2), wherein preferably after removing the filling means (3) from the container (120), the container (120) received in the treatment chamber (2) is closed with a container closure by moving a closing means (4), wherein preferably after closing the container (120), the biasing pressure present in the treatment chamber (2) is unloaded and the container (120) is taken out of the treatment chamber (2).