DE102010028499B4 - Combined filling and gassing device - Google Patents

Abstract

Combined filling and gassing device, comprising - a combined needle arrangement (20) with a filling needle (2) for supplying a filling material and a gassing needle (3) for supplying a gas, - the filling needle (2) being passed through the gassing needle (3). , and- wherein the fumigation needle (3) has a gas connection (4) arranged on one side of the fumigation needle (3), the combined filling and fumigation device having a plurality of combined needle arrangements (20) and a needle holder (8) for holding the combined needle arrangements ( 20), wherein the needle holder (8) comprises at least one distribution channel (10) for supplying gas to the fumigation needles (3), characterized in that the fumigation needle (3) has an outlet (14) for supplying gas which passes through the Gas connection (4) was supplied to a next gassing needle (3).

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a combined filling and gassing device which is used when filling containers.

Such filling and gassing devices are used, for example, in the pharmaceutical sector when filling containers with an active ingredient. Individual filling needles and gassing needles can be used, each of which has its own hose connection to supply filling material or a protective gas. Filling and gassing devices are, for example, in WO 2008/119 494 A1 , DE 3 224 544 A1 , DE 11 86 768 A , US 6,112,780 A , DE 198 08 236 A1 , DE 22 57 449 A and US 1,737,677 A described. Since several containers are often filled next to each other at the same time, a complex collection of filling hoses and gas hoses results. A corresponding installation space must be provided on the filling machine.

Disclosure of the invention

The filling and gassing device combined according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has the advantage of a simple and compact structure. Furthermore, according to the invention, gas supply to the gassing needle can be simplified. This is achieved according to the invention in that the combined needle arrangement is provided with a filling needle and a gassing needle. The filling needle is passed through the gassing needle and the gassing needle has a gas connection on one side for supplying gas. This makes it possible to unbundle the feed lines, and a simplified structure is possible, particularly in the feed areas of the combined filling and gassing device. A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that a connection between the filling needle and the gassing needle is now possible without tools, for example by means of a plug connection or a clamp connection. This also has advantages in terms of cleaning the device. In addition, the device includes a large number of filling needles and a large number of gassing needles as well as a needle holder which holds the large number of filling and gassing needles. The needle holder includes at least one gas distribution channel to supply the gas to the fumigation needles. By using the gas distribution channel, a compact and simple gas distribution to the individual gassing needles can take place. The needle holder particularly preferably has only a single common gas connection. This means that all gassing needles can be supplied with gas via the common gas connection on the needle holder, so that a tangle of hoses can be avoided by using the distribution channel in the needle holder.

The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

The gas connection is preferably arranged perpendicular to a central axis of the gassing needle or the needle arrangement. This makes it possible to easily unbundle supply lines to the filling and gassing device.

According to the invention, the fumigation needle comprises an outlet connection in order to forward supplied gas. The fumigation needle thus comprises a gas connection through which gas is supplied and can be delivered to a needle tip, as well as an outlet connection through which the supplied gas can be passed on. This makes it possible to arrange a large number of gassing needles next to each other, which can be connected in series, for example.

More preferably, each gas connection of the gassing needles is directly connected to the distribution channel. This ensures short flow paths for the gas.

For a particularly compact structure, the gassing needles are arranged alternately on both sides of the distribution channel.

The distribution channel preferably comprises a plurality of individual channel sections, the individual channel sections connecting adjacent fumigation needles to one another. This makes a particularly compact structure with a short channel length possible. The individual channel sections particularly preferably lie on a common straight line and a length of the individual channel sections is minimized between the gassing needles in order to achieve a compact overall length. The gas is then passed alternately through individual channel sections and the gassing needle to the subsequent channel section and to the adjacent gassing needle.

The device preferably comprises exactly a single gas connection.

More preferably, the filling needle has a connection area for a non-positive and/or positive connection to the gassing needle. This allows for a solution that can be solved quickly and easily. Connection to be connected between filling needle and gassing needle can be achieved. The connection area on the filling needle can, for example, be a cylindrical area onto which a correspondingly designed area of the gassing needle is pushed and then clamps on this cylindrical area.

The combined filling and gassing device according to the invention is preferably used for filling containers in the pharmaceutical sector, in particular for filling with liquids that must be filled under protective gas or must have protective gas in the filled container. For quick filling, a large number of filling and gassing needles are preferably used next to each other.

drawing

• 1 eine kombinierte Füll- und Begasungsnadel für eine Vorrichtung gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Füll- und Begasungsvorrichtung gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 3 eine Draufsicht der Vorrichtung von 2,
• 4 eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, und
• 5 eine schematische Schnittansicht einer kombinierten Füll- und Begasungsnadel gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing is:

• 1 a combined filling and gassing needle for a device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• 2 a perspective view of a filling and gassing device according to the first exemplary embodiment,
• 3 a top view of the device from 2 ,
• 4 a schematic sectional view of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention, and
• 5 a schematic sectional view of a combined filling and gassing needle according to the second exemplary embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Below is with reference to the 1 until 3 a combined filling and gassing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention is described in detail.

1 shows a schematic sectional view of a combined needle arrangement 20 with a filling needle 2 and a gassing needle 3. The filling needle 2 comprises a connection 2a, via which a filling material (arrow C) can be supplied, and an outlet 2b, via which the filling material is transferred into a container, not shown can be filled (arrow D). The direction of flow within the filling needle 2 is along a central axis XX. A gassing needle 3 is attached to a cylindrical connection area 6 of the filling needle 2. A non-positive fastening is provided here, so that the gassing needle 3 can be removed from the filling needle 2 by hand and without tools or can be attached to the filling needle 2. The gassing needle 3 includes a gas connection 4 through which gas is supplied (arrow A) and an outlet 24 from which the gas emerges at the tip of the filling needle 2 (arrow B). The outlet 2b of the filling needle protrudes beyond the outlet 24 of the gassing needle 3. A cavity 5 is formed between an outer circumference of the filling needle 2 and an inner circumference of the gassing needle 3, which is relatively large in the area of the gas connection 4 and then has a reduced cross section in the direction of the outlet 24. A centering element 7 is provided between the gassing needle 3 and the filling needle 2 in order to ensure a uniform flow of gas in the reduced cross section. The simple assembly and disassembly of the needles also enables simple and thorough cleaning of the components.

The combined filling and gassing device 1 further comprises, as shown in the 2 and 3 can be seen, a needle holder 8, in which a large number of combined needle arrangements 20, each comprising a filling needle and a gassing needle, are accommodated. Here, each connection 2a of the filling needles 2 is connected to a filling hose 21, whereby in 2 For clarity, only a filling hose is shown.

Like in particular 3 As can be seen, the multitude of combined needle arrangements 20 are arranged offset from one another in two rows. A common gas distribution channel 10 is provided in the needle holder 8. The gas distribution channel 10 is connected to the gas supply hose 9 at a single connection 11. How out 3 As can be seen, the gas distribution channel 10 branches, with the combined needle arrangements 20 each being arranged alternately on one of the sides of the gas distribution channel 10. Here, the combined needle arrangements 20 are arranged such that the gas connections 4 of the gassing needles are in flow connection with the gas distribution channel 10. This means that all gassing needles 3 can be supplied via a single, common gas connection. This also makes it possible for the filling hoses 21 to be plugged directly into the axial direction XX of the filling needles 2, without complications or confusion with gas supply hoses occurring.

How out 1 It can also be seen that the gas connection 4 of the gassing needle 3 is arranged at a 90° angle to the central axis XX. Here It should be noted that the gas connection 4 in this exemplary embodiment is formed by a hole in the wall of the gassing needle 3. Several holes can also be provided next to each other. For better flow to the bore, a taper is also provided in the outer circumference of the gassing needle 3 in the area of the bore 4.

A simple and compact structure can therefore be provided by the needle arrangement 20 combined according to the invention. The easy dismantling of the needle arrangement also enables the components to be cleaned easily. The supply of the protective gas can be carried out very easily. There is also no need to remove a gas hose to clean the combined needle assembly.

A second embodiment of the invention is in the 4 and 5 shown, with the same or functionally the same parts being designated with the same reference numerals as in the first exemplary embodiment.

In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, in the second exemplary embodiment all combined needle arrangements 20 are arranged in series on a straight line Y-Y. Here, a distribution channel 10 has a large number of individual channel sections 10 '. The individual channel sections 10' are each arranged between adjacent combined needle arrangements 20. Here, the gassing needle 3 has a gas connection 4, via which gas is supplied into the cavity 5 between the filling needle 2 and the gassing needle 3, and also a second outlet 14, via which the gas is passed on to the next channel section 10 '. This channel section 10 'is then again in connection with a gas connection 4 of an adjacent gassing needle 3. Thus, in this second exemplary embodiment, the gassing needles 3 are part of the distribution channel for distributing the gas, since the gas flows through the gassing needle 3 to the next gassing needles. Otherwise, this exemplary embodiment corresponds to the previous exemplary embodiment, so that reference can be made to the description given there.

In the exemplary embodiments described, the combined needle arrangement 2 is made up of two individual parts, namely the filling needle and the gassing needle. However, it should be noted that it is also possible for the needle assembly to be a one-piece component or for the needle assembly to be made up of two components, which can be provided via a non-detachable connection, i.e. a connection that would lead to the destruction of the device.

Claims (8)

Combined filling and gassing device, comprising - a combined needle arrangement (20) with a filling needle (2) for supplying a filling material and a gassing needle (3) for supplying a gas, - the filling needle (2) being passed through the gassing needle (3). , and - wherein the fumigation needle (3) has a gas connection (4) arranged on one side of the fumigation needle (3), the combined filling and fumigation device having a plurality of combined needle arrangements (20) and a needle holder (8) for holding the combined ones Needle arrangements (20), wherein the needle holder (8) comprises at least one distribution channel (10) to supply gas to the fumigation needles (3), characterized in that the fumigation needle (3) has an outlet (14) to supply gas, which was supplied through the gas connection (4) to a next gassing needle (3). Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the gas connection (4) is perpendicular to a central axis (XX) of the combined needle arrangement (20). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each gas connection (4) of the gassing needles (3) is connected directly to the distribution channel (10). Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the gassing needles (3) are arranged alternately on both sides of the distribution channel (10). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distribution channel comprises a plurality of individual channel sections (10') which connect adjacent gassing needles (3) with one another. Device according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the individual channel sections (10 ') lie on a common straight line (YY). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needle holder (8) has only a single, common gas connection (11). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling needle (2) has a connection area (6) for force has a positive and/or positive connection with the gassing needle (3).

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