DE102008032822A1 - Device for filling beverage i.e. beer, in container i.e. glass bottle, has sensor device provided in transportation path of containers between filling device and closing device and testing function of injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a transport device for transporting containers (10) i.e. glass bottle, filled with a beverage i.e. beer, and a closing device (8) arranged in the transport device after a filling device (2) for closing the containers with closures. An injection device (6) is provided between the filling device and the closing device and injects a fluid medium i.e. water, in the containers after filling the beverage. A sensor device (14) is provided in a transportation path (T) of the containers between the filling and closing devices and tests the function of the injection device. An independent claim is also included for a method for filling containers with fluids.

Description

The The present invention relates to a device for filling of drinks in containers. From the state of Technique is a variety of such dispensers known. It is also known that a container initially filled with a drink and then with a closure such as a crown cap or a screw cap is closed.

Especially in the automated bottling of beer in glass bottles, the beer without further pasteurization as a fresh food one It is said to have a shelf life of up to 12 months use so-called high-pressure injection (HDE). It will after filling the bottles in the filling machine a small amount of water, which is at a temperature of more than Is heated to 80 ° C or high purity water at high pressure injected through the still open bottle mouth into the beer. As a result, the beer foams up, leaving the foam after a short time Time exits the mouth and oxygen and possibly. introduced germs transported out of the bottle. Directly Subsequently, the closure, such as a crown cork applied.

From the DE 33 11 200 C1 For example, a device for treating bottles or the like is known. In this case, an injection nozzle is automatically reciprocated by means of a control device and a servomotor actuated by this depending on the respective transport speed, such that the injection nozzle is closer to the closing station at low transport speed than at high transport speed.

The DE 36 38 601 A1 describes a frothing device for displacing the residual volume from bottles. In this case, a nozzle device with a plurality of individual nozzles in the conveying direction of the conveying path is arranged consecutively fixed above the movement path of the containers.

The EP 0 723 928 B1 describes a method and apparatus for treating vessels. In this case, a fluid is also injected after filling and after this injection, a closure initially brought to the mouth of the vessel and held for a certain time in a position above the mouth, that the open mouth is covered by the closure, but by an annular Gap between the mouth and the closure gas can escape from the vessel and then the closure is sealingly attached to the vessel.

Should however, this high pressure injection due to a fault no or only insufficient injection or one Injection at the wrong time may cause the fluid and in particular beer by atmospheric oxygen or invading germs be contaminated and possibly the specified one Shelf life no longer reach.

From the DE 10 2004 054 859 is a foam control of a sealed bottle known. It is checked after closing the bottle, whether foam is present on an outer circumference of the bottle. However, this is problematic insofar as the detection of foam in a closed container does not imply immediate closure of a functioning HDE. Furthermore, in a dark glass detection is hardly possible and impossible in an opaque container. Furthermore, the injection quantity is not checked.

Of the The present invention is therefore based on the object such Failure to exclude injection and a proper function high-pressure injection (HDE) during operation to check every injection process. this will according to the invention by the objects achieved by claim 1 and claim 12. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A Inventive device for filling of drinks has a filling device, which fills a drink in containers. Furthermore, a transport device is provided, which the containers transported and one in a transport direction of the containers arranged after the filling device closing device for closing the containers with closures, between the filling device and the closing device an injection device is provided, which in the container after filling the drink in particular injects liquid medium.

According to the invention on the transport path of the containers between the filling device and the closing device provides a sensor device, which automatically checks the function of the injector or monitored.

It is possible that the injection device is monitored directly, for example, in which the liquid volume and the pressure of the substance injected into the containers is checked. However, the function of the injection device is preferably determined indirectly, ie via the foam emerging from the container. However, this indirect measurement is result-oriented, as well as the injector, the leakage of foam straight should cause and just this leakage of foam is checked.

Under An automated test is understood to mean that Function of the injector without human observation operations verifiable is.

Preferably is the sensor device on the mouths of the containers aligned. Preferably, the sensor device is at least partly above the mouth of the containers arranged. So it is, for example, possible, with a sensor such For example, a laser distance probe, an ultrasonic probe or a Camera the foam height a few millimeters before the closing process to eat. This procedure also provides for highly variable Production speed a reliable measurement.

at This embodiment observes the sensor device the mouth is preferred from above. Under an observation is not only the optical observation, about by means of a Camera, understood, but especially with the observation Distance measuring equipment.

Preferably the sensor device is closer to the closing device arranged as the injector. That way, one becomes sufficient time is provided within which Foam can form after the injection process and this foam too the container can escape before a detection takes place.

Preferably is a distance between the closing device and the sensor device is less than 200 mm, preferably less than 100 mm and more preferably less than 50 mm. This will find the review the foaming shortly before closing the containers instead of. In a further preferred embodiment alternatively or additionally a sensor system is provided, which checks whether actually a sufficient amount of water or also injected water with sufficient pressure through the nozzle becomes. Furthermore, it would also be possible a sensor provide, which the actual water jet after Exits the nozzle checks, for example. On optical or acoustic way.

Also in this case, the sensor is between the filling device and the closing device arranged and here in particular coupled to the injector. Preferably, however, is the Sensor device between the injector and the closing device intended.

in the Timing of the investigation will initially, as above mentioned, a particular thinner and more sterile Water jet injected into the product causing this irritation causes a foaming. Furthermore, the foam formed increases and as soon as it reaches beyond the mouth of the bottle has risen, the bottle can be corked, since then no Air is more oxygenated in the headspace of the bottle. at Another preferred embodiment is the sensor device designed so that they one from the mouth of the container leaking substance detected. These are as above mentioned, in particular to escape from the mouth foam.

at Another advantageous embodiment is at the sensor device to a distance measuring device which For example, measures the distance of the container and, if foaming occurs the distance to the exiting foam. By a preferred Arrangement of the sensor device directly to the closing device can the foam height substantially at the moment of closure be determined.

at a further advantageous embodiment, the Sensor device on at least two sensor elements, which the Watch mouth from different directions.

at A further advantageous embodiment is the sensor device a reading that indicates the presence of a characteristic of the container. In order to it is decided whether the container leaked foam is or not and in this way can be a proper one Foaming and thus to a proper Displacing air and germs are closed.

Preferably the device has a closed loop using of the at least one measured value controls the injector. in principle it is possible to adjust the injection pressure at the HDE depending to regulate the transport speed of the containers. The shorter time between injection and closing at high speeds it can by a higher Injection pressure and the resulting higher foaming be compensated.

However, this approach has proven in part to be inadequate, especially because the foaming behavior depends on other factors such as the product temperature and the pressure relief process at the end of the filling. With a preferably analogous measurement of the foam height shortly before the capper, particularly preferably combined with a suitable averaging of the measured values, the optimum injection pressure for the HDE in a preferably closed control loop can be applied to the optimal height of the head of foam be adjusted.

Besides It would also be possible to use the preferred analogue measured values the foaming height for the preventive maintenance of the To use filling valves of the individual filling stations. For this purpose, the measured values of each individual filling station are preferred in particular as a distribution function (for example in the Art of a histogram). From characteristic statistical Values, such as averages and standard deviations you can see how well each station performs the pressure relief.

Advantageous the device has a display device such as a display, on each in a suitable representation the situation with the highest, the lowest and the most scattering Foam heights is displayed.

Preferably the device has a discharge device, which containers as a function of one determined by the sensor device Derives measured value.

If a malfunction of the high-pressure injection at a certain Bottle is detected, this bottle is preferred automatically off discharged from the production flow. Preferably, the device a memory device in which the from the sensor device output measured values can be stored. This way it is possible to have one Detect malfunction statistically and according to a defined Number of, for example, n malfunctions (n> = 1) within a window of m (m> = n; m> = 1) to trigger an alarm and interrupt production. This is preferably a processor the plant a statistic about improperly performed Injections.

at a further advantageous embodiment, the Device on a further sensor device, which in the transport direction the containers after the closing device is arranged and the mouths of the containers observed. This may be, for example, a further optical control device act, with a further preferred optical control of the foam in the sealed bottle directly below the crown cork or the closure takes place.

The The present invention is further directed to a method of filling of containers with drinks, where by means of a filling device the drink in the containers are filled and the containers then by means of a closing device be closed with a closure and being between the Filling device and the closing device a particular liquid substance in the containers is injected. Furthermore, the containers are by means of a transport device on a predetermined transport path transported.

According to the invention by means of a measuring process between the filling the liquid in the container and closing the containers, automates the injection checked the liquid substance.

Prefers the mouths of the containers are between injecting the substance and closing the containers detected by a sensor device, said sensor device It also determines whether a substance escapes from the mouths to automate in this way the function of the injector to consider.

Advantageous is by means of a sensor device by an injection caused foam formation, or tested, to what extent this foaming has occurred. At another preferred methods are the mouths of the containers between injecting the substance and sealing the containers inspected by means of a sensor device or observed which sensor device on the orifices the containers, and which states that whether a substance emerges from the mouths.

Generally According to the invention, the function of the injector automated, whereby, as mentioned above, Also possible would be the flow of the substance from the injector and also to check its pressure. Preferably, however, the mouths of the containers even observed and the emerging from the containers Foam tested. Also could be several measurement methods be applied side by side, for example, the injection device both directly and indirectly via foaming being checked.

at Another advantageous method is a position of the containers tested with regard to the injector. On In this way it is possible to determine if the injection process takes place in a path window, which is a defined number at path increments after a bottle trigger. The path increments are typically provided by an incremental encoder on a bottle conveyor or carousel to which the bottles are moving synchronously become. The bottle trigger is typically carried out by means of a light barrier through which the bottle is moved.

Preferably, the sensor unit inspects tion the containers at a time that is less than 150 ms, preferably less than 100 ms, preferably less than 70 ms and preferably less than 50 ms before closing the containers. Preferably, the inspection is also carried out at least 200 ms after the injection, preferably at least 300 ms after the injection and more preferably at least 400 ms after the injection. In this way, it is ensured that the inspection of the containers takes place at a time that is always sufficient, regardless of a working speed of the entire system, to allow a rising of the foam.

By the preferred inspection of the presence of beer foam or the foam height at the moment of closing can It can be assumed that the air value inside the container okay. However, as mentioned above, this is not only dependent on the high-pressure injection.

Some Beers, for example, some top-fermented beers foam strong enough even without high-pressure injection, depending on Temperature and pressure relief at the end of the filling process.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the accompanying drawings:
Show:

1 a highly schematic representation of a device according to the invention;

2 a schematic representation of a device according to the invention;

3 a representation of the course of a beer foam formation;

4 two illustrations for illustrating an arrangement of a sensor device; and

5 a further illustration to illustrate a sensor device.

1 shows a highly schematic representation of a device according to the invention 1 , This device 1 has a filling device 2 on which a liquid medium, in particular beer, in containers 10 fills. These containers 10 be guided with a transport device along a transport path T. After the filling device 2 is an injector 6 provided, which is a liquid medium, in particular but not exclusively, water in the containers 10 , more precisely in the mouths 10a the containers injected.

By this injection it comes within the containers 10 especially in the head region of the same for foaming.

The reference number 14 refers to a sensor device, which is directed here to the mouths of the containers to the foaming and thus the proper operation of the injector 6 to check. After the sensor device 14 is a closing device 8th provided, which the containers 10 closes with closures. At this closing device 8th can still another sensor device 26 connect, which checks if foam has occurred around the mouth of the container.

It would also be possible that the sensor device 14 and the further sensor device 26 within the closing device 8th are arranged. The reference D1 indicates the distance between the injector 6 and the sensor device 14 which, as mentioned above, is chosen so that the containers 10 during their transport along the transport path T, sufficient time remains for foaming.

2 shows a further schematic representation of a device according to the invention. The reference number 12 refers to a transport device in its entirety, which consists of several subunits 12a - 12e composed. Be specific about a feeder 12a such as a transport star the containers 10 another subunit 12b the transport device 12 fed. This subunit 12b is part of a filling device 2 , which serves to fill the containers with the drink.

To this subunit 12b closes another unit of treble 12c This is also a transport carousel or a transport star. In the area of this subunit 12c is the injector 6 provided, which fills water in the containers. Following this injector 6 closes the sensor device 14 which checks whether foaming has taken place inside the containers.

The reference number 12d refers to a further subunit of the transport device 12 which is part of the closing device 8th to close the containers. The reference number 12e denotes a further subunit in the form of a discharge device such as, for example, an outlet star.

3 shows a schematic representation for illustrating the foaming. In a temporal stage I becomes a jet of water 9 in an estuary 10a of the container and on the drink, like the beer 5 , applied. By this injection causes the formation of foam 7 as illustrated in Section II. This foam 7 rises inside the estuary 10a of the container 10 high (see Section III) and finally protrudes over the mouth of the mouth 10a out and forms in this way a foam crown 7a , Oxygen and germs are displaced from the container in particular by this emergence.

4 shows a first representation for illustrating a sensor device 14 , It can be seen that this sensor device is arranged such that one of the sensor device 14 outgoing direction beam S obliquely from above onto the mouth 10a of the container. However, it would also be possible that the beam S, as shown in the right-hand panel, along the transport direction or horizontally, but slightly above the mouth 10a , runs. This is the sensor device 14 arranged at a suitable angle, wherein the measuring beam S can extend transversely or longitudinally to the transport direction.

5 illustrates another arrangement of the sensor device 14 , In this case, the sensor device is arranged above the mouth and the measuring beam S extends in this embodiment transversely to the transport direction. A sensor device in a certain position measures the foam height at different production rates and transport speeds. From production output and an estimated foam raising speed, the foam hood 7a be predicted and controlled. Preferably, at least two sensor devices measure 14 in different places and at different times the evolution of foam height. In this way, the foam height can be predicted in particular even with different production rates and transport speeds. As a sensor device, a laser distance sensor is particularly preferably used, but it would also be a capacitive or acoustic measurement of foam formation 7a possible.

All Features disclosed in the application documents are considered to be essential to the invention as far as they are individually or in combination the prior art are new.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 3311200 C1 [0003]
• - DE 3638601 A1 [0004]
• - EP 0723928 B1 [0005]
• - DE 102004054859 [0007]

Claims (17)

Contraption ( 1 ) for filling drinks, with a filling device ( 2 ) containing a drink in containers ( 10 ), with a transport device ( 12 ), which transports the containers, with one in a transport direction after the filling device ( 2 ) arranged closing device ( 8th ) for closing the containers ( 10 ) with closures, wherein between the filling device ( 2 ) and the closing device ( 8th ) an injection device ( 6 ) is provided, which in the container after filling the drink injects a particular liquid medium, characterized in that on the transport path of the containers ( 10 ) between the filling device ( 2 ) and the closing device ( 8th ) a sensor device ( 14 ), which automates the function of the injection device ( 6 ) checks. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) on the mouths ( 10a ) of the containers ( 10 ) is aligned Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) closer to the closing device ( 8th ) than at the injection device ( 6 ) is arranged. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) is designed such that one of the mouth ( 10a ) of the container ( 10 ) leaking substance detected. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) is designed such that it the injection device ( 6 ) is monitored immediately. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance between the closing device ( 8th ) and the sensor device ( 14 ) is less than 200 mm, preferably less than 100 mm and more preferably less than 50 mm. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) has a distance measuring device. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) above the mouths ( 10a ) of the containers ( 10 ) is arranged. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) comprises a sensor element selected from a group of sensor elements comprising laser proximity probes, ultrasonic probes, cameras, combinations thereof, and the like. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) outputs a reading that is indicative of the presence of a substance exiting the container. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) has a control circuit which, using the at least one measured value, controls the injection device ( 6 ) regulates. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) has a discharge device, which containers ( 10 ) depending on one of the sensor device ( 14 ) derives the output measured value. Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims 11-12, characterized in that the device has a memory device in which the measured values output by the sensor device can be stored, Contraption ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) another sensor device ( 26 ), which in the transport direction of the containers ( 10 ) after the closing device ( 8th ) and the mouths ( 10a ) of the containers ( 10 ). Method for filling containers ( 10 ) with liquids, wherein by means of a filling device ( 2 ) the drink into the containers ( 10 ) is filled and then the containers by means of a closing device ( 8th ) are closed with a closure and wherein between the filling device ( 2 ) and the closing device a particular liquid substance in the containers ( 10 ) and the containers ( 10 ) by means of a transport device ( 12 ) are transported on a predetermined transport path, characterized in that by means of a measuring operation, which takes place between the filling of the liquid into the containers and the closing of the containers, the injection of the liquid substance is automatically checked. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that by means of a sensor device ( 14 ) a foaming caused by the injection is checked. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 15-16, characterized in that the sensor device ( 14 ) the containers ( 10 ) is inspected at a time less than 150 ms, preferably less than 100 ms, preferably less than 70 ms and preferably less than 50 ms before the containers are closed ( 10 ) lies.