DE102018130652A1 - Device and method for filling a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling a container (100) to be filled with a filling product, preferably for filling a bottle with a still drink, comprising a filling product reservoir (4) and a filling valve connected to the filling product line (5) (2) for introducing the filling product into the container (100) to be filled, a filter (7) for filtering the filling product being arranged in the filling product line (5).

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a bottle with a still filling product such as still water.

State of the art

When filling containers with a filling product and in particular when filling still water into appropriate sales packaging, such as in bottles, it is known to sterilize the filling product, and in particular the still water, before the actual filling into the sales packaging.

In order to retain and / or kill viruses and / or bacteria and / or other germs, it is known to treat the filling product, in particular still water, for example by ultrafiltration and / or by ozonization, in order to prepare the filling product for filling in this way . The filling product prepared in this way is then transferred to the actual filling device - for example a rotary filler - there, transferred into the corresponding filler product reservoir, which can be designed, for example, as a central tank or as a ring bowl of the rotary filler, and then from there in a manner known per se Filling elements filled in the sales packaging to be filled.

In order to provide the filter, in particular an ultrafiltration system, before the filling product is transferred to the actual filler, an installation space or a storage space next to the actual filling device is required, which can have a disruptive effect in the system area, particularly when a particularly compact system structure is required.

Furthermore, the integrity of the filter membranes during ultrafiltration cannot easily be determined during operation. Leakage of the membranes during ultrafiltration can rather only be determined by a dedicated test, for example by exposure to a test gas.

When ozone is used to ozonize the filling product and to correspondingly kill viruses and / or bacteria, undesirable reaction products can occur as a result of the decomposition of the ozone. For example, the radicals present can convert bromide to bromate, which may result in the predetermined limit values being exceeded. Furthermore, the corresponding limit values (MAK value) for the ozone load must be observed on the filling device and in its surroundings, and it must be avoided that an increased ozone value is formed in the area of the filling.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for filling containers with a filling product, in particular for filling still water into beverage containers, which enable a more efficient construction and operation.

The object is achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims, the attached figures and the present description.

Accordingly, a device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, preferably for filling a bottle with a still drink, comprising a filling product reservoir and a filling valve connected to the filling product line for introducing the filling product into the container to be filled is proposed. According to the invention, a filter for filtering the filling product is arranged in the filling product line.

The fact that a filter for filtering the filling product is arranged in the filling product line between the filling product reservoir and the filling valve enables a particularly compact structure of the device to be achieved.

In particular, a separate filter element can thereby be provided in front of each of the individual filling elements in such a way that all filters are arranged essentially directly in front of the respective filling valves or between the filling product reservoir and the respective filling valves and thus are arranged on the filler carousel in the case of a rotary filler. In other words, when installed in a rotary filler, the filters are arranged on the filler carousel and rotate together with the filler valves.

The filling product line directs the filling product from the filling product reservoir, which can be provided, for example, in the form of a central tank or ring tank of a rotary filler used in common for all filling valves, to the individual filling valve. In other words, each filling valve has its own filling product line, which connects the filling valve to the common filling product reservoir. It is thus proposed that a separate filter is arranged in each individual filling product line between the filling product reservoir and the filling valve.

This means that there is no need for an adjacent filter in front of the filling product reservoir. The restrictions and problems resulting from the provision of an ultrafiltration system and / or an ozonization system can also be avoided by the proposed structure.

The filter can preferably be arranged between the filling product reservoir and a proportional valve and / or a flow meter.

In a preferred development, the filling product reservoir is arranged on a carousel of a rotary filler and is particularly preferably provided in the form of a central boiler or an annular bowl, wherein a plurality of filling valves are preferably provided on the rotary filler, which are connected to the common filling product reservoir via individual filling product lines, whereby a filter is arranged in each fill product line.

The filter can preferably comprise a filter membrane, particularly preferably a fiber membrane and particularly preferably with a flow of 100-140 I / m 2 / h.

The filter membrane is preferably designed, dimensioned and set up such that a pressure drop or a differential pressure across the filter is, for example, in a range from 0.05-0.8 bar. In this way, efficient filling can be achieved.

Furthermore, the pressure drop can also be detected simply and reliably, so that the integrity of the filter membrane of each filter can be monitored using a differential pressure meter.

The filter or the filter membrane can be provided, for example, in the form of a hollow fiber filter, the filter fibers then being able to be arranged correspondingly along the longitudinal extent of the filling product line.

The filter preferably comprises filter membrane elements, by means of which unwanted germs, unwanted bacteria, unwanted viruses and / or other unwanted particles can be removed from the filling product, it being possible to work at a high differential pressure when using a high area performance of the membranes, at the same time also the size of the membranes in the individual filling valve can be reduced.

The high possible differential pressure can also make it possible to reliably monitor the integrity of the membrane by means of a corresponding differential pressure measurement.

Furthermore, the state of the membranes can be monitored by measuring the flow rate in conjunction with a known setting position, for example of a proportional valve, and thus a possible breakthrough of the membranes and a possible clogging by the particles, germs, substances, viruses, etc. formed can be determined.

Correspondingly, sensors already present in the area of the filling valve, by means of which a flow rate, a pressure and a predetermined setting position of a proportional valve can be monitored, also simultaneously provide the possibility of monitoring the integrity of the filter arranged between the filling product reservoir and the actual filling element.

A central controller can preferably be provided for monitoring the integrity of each filter and in particular a membrane of the filter, the central controller preferably being designed and set up to take into account the integrity of each filter, taking into account the degree of opening of the proportional valve and / or filling valve associated with the filter and the like To determine the fill level of the fill product reservoir.

A backwashing device can preferably be provided for backwashing a filter with filtered fill product, the backwashing device preferably comprising a flushing line and / or flushing caps. By means of such a backwashing device, a filter arranged in the filling product line can be backwashed periodically, cyclically or, if necessary, with filling product already filtered through other filters, in order in this way to clean the filter.

A backwash liquid is preferably used for backwashing, which was produced by a filter arranged on a further fill product line. In other words, in a rotary filler, for example, in which a plurality of filling valves and filters assigned to them are provided, each of which is individually connected to a common filling product reservoir via its own filling product lines, some of these filters can be used to provide a cleaned rinsing liquid. The rinsing liquid is filtered by filtering the filling product into the individual filling product lines. This rinsing liquid is then used for backwashing in another part of the filter or in succession in only one of the filters.

In order to carry out such backwashing in a simple manner, a flushing line is preferably provided, or a cross-connection can be established in another way between the individual filler product lines, which, by means of corresponding valve circuits, enables backwashing of a filter by means of filler product cleaned by another filter. The circuit can also enable the filling product to be backwashed through several of the filters.

In other words, a rinsing medium is produced over part of the filter membranes of the filter, which can then be used for backwashing other filters. In this way, the filter membranes of all filling valves can be washed back gradually and thus cleaned.

In addition to the use of a flushing line connecting several or all of the filling product lines, backwashing can also be achieved by using filling valve caps, two filling valves being able to be connected to one another, for example, by means of a combination cap, in which case the one filling valve outputs a flushing medium filtered by the upstream filters, which of the rinsing cap is then passed to the second filling valve for backwashing, in order to then backwash in this.

Correspondingly, by providing the filters in the individual filling product lines of the filling valves, both a reduction in the overall space of the filling system can be achieved, a reliable diagnosis of the integrity of each of the filter devices can be achieved, and a simplified cleaning of the membranes of the filters in the filler can be achieved .

Furthermore, a simplified control of the filling system can also be achieved in that all steps of filling, monitoring the filters and rinsing the filling elements can be carried out by a common control.

The above object is further achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product with the features of claim 7. Advantageous further developments of the method result from the subclaims, the present description and the figures.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product is proposed, preferably for filling a bottle with a still drink, comprising introducing the filling product from a filling product reservoir into the container to be filled via a filling valve connected to the filling product line. According to the invention, the filling product is filtered through a filter arranged in the filling product line before it is introduced into the container to be filled.

The method has the advantageous effects already described above.

Figure list

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt;
• 2 eine schematische Detaildarstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen mindestens eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt beim Rückspülen einer Filtermembran; und
• 3 eine weitere schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen mehrerer Behälter mit einem Füllprodukt beim Rückspülen einer Filtermembran in einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product;
• 2nd a schematic detailed view of a device for filling at least one container with a filling product when backwashing a filter membrane; and
• 3rd a further schematic representation of a device for filling several containers with a filling product when backwashing a filter membrane in a further embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

1 schematically shows a device 1 for filling a container 100 with a filling product.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the device comprises 1 a filling valve 2nd , which is provided here in the form of a free jet valve. The filling valve designed as a free steel valve 2nd gives over a valve mouth 20th a filling product so that after bridging a free jet area into a mouth 110 of the container to be filled with the filling product 100 is filled. Such filling valves 2nd in the form of free jet valves are known, for example, for filling still fill products and in particular for filling still water.

The container to be filled 100 is via a container holder 200 which, for example, in the case of filling Plastic containers in the form of PET bottles hold a bracket 210 for holding the container to be filled 100 in the neck area - for example below a neck ring of the container, not shown here 100 - Has during the filling on the filling valve 2nd held. There is also a so-called "neck handling" of the container to be filled 100 spoken.

In an alternative not shown in the figures, the container to be filled can 100 can also be held or supported in its base area - for example by a guide plate on which the glass bottle to be filled stands. This is also referred to as “base handling” of the container to be filled.

In an alternative, also not shown in the figures, the container to be filled can 100 can also be held in the area of the bottle belly or held and / or supported and transported in another known and suitable manner.

That through from the filling valve 2nd and especially from the valve opening 20th emerging filling product is via an upstream proportional valve 3rd in that its flow varies that one in the tank 100 inflowing flow of the filling product an efficient and exact filling of the container to be filled 100 achieved with the filling product.

Under a proportional valve 3rd is understood, for example, one in which an annular gap through which the respective filling product flows can be varied in its dimensions such that the proportional valve 3rd flowing product flow can also be varied. The switching position of the proportional valve 3rd , for example the currently switched dimension of the annular gap, is known and reproducibly achievable - for example by using a stepper motor to drive the proportional valve 3rd .

The proportional valve 3rd makes it possible to achieve a variation of the filling product flow over the actual filling process, so that an overflow of the filling product can be avoided and at the same time the desired filling height or the desired filling volume in the container 100 can be reached.

The filling product is placed in the containers to be filled before the actual filling 100 in the device 1 in a filling product reservoir 4th temporarily stored, the filling product reservoir 4th is shown here in the form of a central boiler of a rotary filler. In an alternative embodiment, the filling product reservoir 4th for example, also in the form of a ring bowl, a flushing line or a distributor feed.

In the filling product reservoir 4th the filling product is filled up to a certain filling level and can then be carried out from there via a filling product line 5 , which has a first line section 50 , a second line section 52 , a third line section 54 and a fourth line section 56 has to the fill valve 2nd flow and from there into the container to be filled 100 be introduced.

In the 1 shown device 1 shows only one filling valve 2nd that with the filling product reservoir 4th connected is.

In the device 1 but can do a variety of filling valves 2nd be provided, which is then the common filling product reservoir 4th are arranged around so as to form a rotary filler. The rotary filler rotates around a schematically shown axis of rotation R around the containers to be filled during rotation 100 to fill and transport them at the same time.

Correspondingly, there are usually a large number of filling valves on the circumference of a rotary filler 2nd provided, for example, more than 50 filling valves, so that an efficient filling of a stream supplied to the rotary filler at containers to be filled 100 can be achieved with the filling product. By means of the device 1 can then correspond to a variety of containers to be filled 100 be filled with the filling product.

In addition to the proportional valve 3rd A flow meter is also used to control or regulate the filling product flow 6 provided by means of which the filling product line 5 flowing product can be measured in terms of its volume flow.

Using the flow meter 6 can also determine how much filling product is already in the container 100 was introduced so that after reaching a desired filling product level in the container to be filled 100 the filling process by closing the proportional valve 3rd or can be ended by closing a switching valve, not shown here.

The fill product flows accordingly from the fill product reservoir 4th through the first section 50 the filling product line 5 through and then meets one in the fill product line 5 arranged filter 7 which correspondingly between a first section 50 the filling product line 5 and a second section 52 the filling product line 5 is arranged. The filling product flows through the filter accordingly 7 so that in the filter 7 cleaning of the filling product directly before the filling product is filled into the container to be filled 100 can be reached.

The filter 7 is accordingly between the fill product reservoir 4th and the filling valve 2nd and in the exemplary embodiment shown between the filling product reservoir 4th and the flow meter 6 arranged. After the filter 7 is another section of the filling product line accordingly 5 in the form of the second section 52 the filling product line 5 arranged.

In an apprenticeship in which a variety of filling valves 2nd For example, a rotary filler on the circumference of the rotating filler carousel of the rotary filler is provided for each filling valve 2nd its own filter 7 in the respective, individually from the common filling product reservoir 4th outgoing filling product line 5 arranged. The individual filters 7 are thus also arranged on the rotating filler carousel and rotate together with the fill valves 2nd .

In other words, every filter is 7 almost directly at the filling valve assigned to it 2nd arranged.

Between the flow meter 6 and the proportional valve 3rd is a third section 54 the filling product line 5 arranged.

Behind the proportional valve 3rd is a fourth section 56 the filling product line 5 arranged, which is the proportional valve 3rd and the fill valve 2nd connects in such a way that the filling product through the filling valve 2nd through and out of its outlet opening 20th out into the estuary 110 of the container to be filled 100 can occur.

The filter 7 serves, for example, particles, viruses, bacteria, germs, fungi, etc. from the fill product reservoir 4th to the fill valve 2nd filter out the flowing fill product. This is particularly important when the device 1 for filling the container to be filled 100 with the filling product is a device for filling still water into containers.

The upstream arrangement of another filter in front of the filling product reservoir 4th can be avoided accordingly or such a filter can be very simple and compact. In particular, the arrangement of an ultrafiltration filter and / or ozonization in front of the filling product reservoir 4th can be dispensed with, since the removal of particles, viruses, bacteria, germs, fungi, etc. by the directly in front of the filling valve 2nd arranged filter 7 is achieved.

The integrity of the filter 7 and in particular the integrity of the filter membrane of the filter 7 can be monitored, for example, by the fact that due to the fill level of the fill product in the fill product reservoir 4th and the known switching position of the proportional valve 3rd through the filter 7 expected fill product flow with that actually from the flow meter 6 measured fill product flow in the fill product line 5 is compared. The expected fill product flow is based on the assumption of an intact filter membrane of the filter 7 predetermined.

The current fill level of the fill product in the fill product reservoir 4th can for example by means of a level probe 152 be measured.

The evaluation of the fill level in the fill product reservoir 4th , the fill product flow in the fill product line 5 via the flow meter 6 and the current switching position of the proportional valve 3rd is by means of a central control 150 performed.

Is that from the flow meter 6 measured fill product flow higher than that based on the fill level of the fill product in the fill product reservoir 4th and the opening position of the proportional valve 3rd expected flow, it can be assumed that the filter 7 or whose membrane has a defect, for example a crack. In such a case the flow resistance is the membrane of the filter 7 reduced and the fill product flow is increased. Such a defect in the filter 7 As a result, reliable filtering of the filling product is no longer guaranteed.

If such a defect of the filter 7 recognized, for example, by the central controller 150 a corresponding warning message is issued. Furthermore, to avoid improperly filled containers 100 in a preferred development of the device 1 the use of the individual filling valve 20th suspended or blocked for the relevant production cycle.

Is that through the flow meter 6 in the filling product line 5 measured fill product flow, however, lower than it is based on the fill level in the fill product reservoir 4th and the opening position of the proportional valve 3rd was to be expected, it can be assumed that the filter 7 or the corresponding filter membrane is clogged and accordingly an efficient flow can no longer be achieved.

Also in such a case, which potentially leads to an inadequate flow of the filling product through the filling product line 5 into the filling valve 2nd leads and thus carries the risk that the container to be filled 100 can no longer be filled with the filling product up to the desired filling level or the desired filling volume, for example by means of the central control 150 a corresponding warning message is issued. Furthermore, the use of the filling valve can also be used as a further safety measure 2nd prevented or blocked.

In 2nd is a schematic of a device 1 for filling several containers 100 shown with a filling product, with several filling valves 2nd are provided, each of which introduces the filling product into the container to be filled 100 enable. The multiple filling valves 2nd can, for example, be provided on the circumference of a rotary filler in order to efficiently and efficiently generate a constant flow of containers to be filled 100 to be filled with filling product.

In the in 2nd The embodiment shown is schematically a backwashing device for backwashing the filter 7 shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the backflushing device has a flushing line 8th on which with the fill product line 5 and in particular a section 56 the filling product line is connected.

The flush line 8th can also be provided in the form of a ring line, which all filling valves 2nd connects with each other.

The flush line 8th is with every individual filling product line 5 via a flush valve 80 connected.

In the embodiment shown, the three are on the in the 2nd shown left side arranged combinations of filling valves 2nd and filtering 7 together with their respective flush valves 80 switched so that fill product from the fill product reservoir, not shown here, through the respective filter 7 through and through the switched flush valves 80 into the flushing line 8th can occur.

To prevent the filter from entering 7 flowing product into the flushing line 8th via the respective flush valve 80 to reach and in the flush line 8th The mouths can be able to build up pressure 20th the filling organs 2nd for example be closed with caps.

Alternatively, in the filling product line 5 below the branch of the flushing line 8th a further shut-off valve - not shown here - can be provided to prevent the filling product from flowing out of the mouth 20th of the filling organ 2nd prevent during the cleaning process and flow into the flushing line 8th to force.

The rinsing line is correspondingly 8th with through the filters 7 cleaned filler product, and in this way provides in the rinsing line 8th a flushing medium ready.

From the flush line 8th can by the in 2nd filter shown on the right 7 then through the valve, which is also open 80 a backflow of the flushing medium in the form of that in the flushing line 8th present, cleaned filling product take place. In this way the filter is backwashed 7 with that through the other filters 7 filtered fill product instead.

So that the filter 7 , which has become clogged, for example, due to an excessive absorption of particles.

Further valves and branches, not shown here, allow the out of the filter 7 or particles or dirt residues removed from its filter membrane cannot be flushed back into the filling product reservoir, but can be branched off and discarded.

In 3rd A further exemplary embodiment of a possible backwashing device is shown, in which again the filling product reservoir is not shown. Through the filters 7 cleaned filling product is through the filling valve 2nd spent, with caps here 90 are provided, by means of which the mouths 20th the filling valves 2nd be closed.

The three filling valves shown on the left 20th are with caps 90 so closed that that's through the filters 7 purified filling product is derived in the direction of the arrow, whereas in that on the right side of the 3rd shown filling valve 2nd over its cap 90 this cleaned filling product, which acts here as a rinsing medium, is backwashed in the direction of the arrow in order to correspondingly backwash the filter 7 to reach.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention.

Reference symbol list

1

Device for filling a container with a filling product

100

container to be filled

110

muzzle

150

central control

152

Level probe

2nd

Filling valve

20th

muzzle

200

Container holder

210

Bracket

3rd

Proportional valve

4th

Filling product reservoir

5

Filling product line

50

first section of the filling product line

52

second section of the filling product line

54

third section of the filling product line

56

fourth section of the filling product line

6

Flow meter

7

filter

8th

Flushing line

80

Flush valve

90

Rinsing cap

R

Axis of rotation

Claims (10)

Device (1) for filling a container (100) to be filled with a filling product, preferably for filling a bottle with a still drink, comprising a filling product reservoir (4) and a filling valve (2) connected to it via a filling product line (5) for insertion of the filling product into the container (100) to be filled, characterized in that a filter (7) for filtering the filling product is arranged in the filling product line (5). Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the filter (7) comprises a filter membrane, preferably a fiber membrane, particularly preferably with a flow of 100-140 l / m2 / h. Device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2nd , characterized in that the filter (7) is arranged between the filling product reservoir (4) and a proportional valve (3) and / or a flow meter (6). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling product reservoir (4) is arranged on a carousel of a rotary filler and is preferably provided in the form of a central boiler or an annular bowl and preferably a plurality of filling valves (2) are provided on the rotary filler which are connected to the common filling product reservoir (4) via individual filling product lines (5), a filter (7) being arranged in each filling product line (5). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a central controller (150) for monitoring the integrity of each filter (7) and in particular a membrane of the filter (7) is provided, the central controller (150) preferably for this purpose is designed and set up to determine the integrity of each filter (7) taking into account the degree of opening of the proportional valve (3) and / or filling valve (2) assigned to the filter and the fill level of the filling product reservoir (4). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a backwashing device is provided for backwashing the filter (7) with filtered filling product, the backwashing device preferably comprising a flushing line (8) and / or flushing caps (90). Method for filling a container (100) to be filled with a filling product, preferably for filling a bottle with a still drink, comprising introducing the filling product from a filling product reservoir (4) via a filling valve (2) connected to the filling product line (5). into the container (100) to be filled, characterized in that the filling product is filtered through a filter (7) arranged in the filling product line (5) before being introduced into the container (100) to be filled. Procedure according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the introduction of the filling product is regulated or controlled by means of a proportional valve (3) and / or a flow meter (6). Method according to one of the Claims 7 or 8th , characterized in that a plurality of containers (100) to be filled are simultaneously filled with the filling product, the filling preferably being carried out by means of a plurality of filling valves (2) arranged on a carousel of a rotary filler. Method according to one of the Claims 7 to 9 , characterized in that the integrity of each filter (7) and in particular a membrane of the filter (7) is monitored, the integrity of each filter (7) taking into account the degree of opening of the proportional valve (3) and / or filling valve (2 ) and the fill level of the fill product reservoir (4) is determined.

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