DE102021102669A1 - Device and method for filling a container with a filling product - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) and method for filling a container (100) with a filling product having a main component and at least one dosage component, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the device (1) having: at least one filling element (30) with a filling valve (35), which is set up to introduce the filling product into the container (100), and a filling product line (31) which is set up to supply the main component of the filling product to the filling valve (35); and a dosing device (50) which is set up to dose the at least one dosing component into the main component, as a result of which the filling product to be introduced into the container (100) is completed; wherein the dosing device (50) has a carrier transport path (52) which is set up to transport at least one dosing carrier (51) containing the dosing component to the corresponding filling element (30), and the filling element (30) has at least one docking point ( 54, 54') which is set up in such a way that the dosage carrier (51) can be docked onto the filling element (30) and brought into fluid connection with the filling element (30).

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling a container with a filling product comprising a main component and at least one dosage component, preferably in a beverage bottling plant.

State of the art

In order to mix and fill filling products consisting of several components, various technologies for dosing the individual components are known, which are briefly presented below.

For example, the desired components can be individually dosed and filled via separate dosing stations, such as from the U.S. 2008/0271809 A1 known. However, the use of separate dosing stations for a large number of components leads to a complex system design and process flow, since the filling of each container is divided into several separate dosing/filling stations at which the container has to be positioned for the respective dosing times. Although it is in principle possible to meter the several components into the containers at the same time and at a common filling station via separate lines and dispensing openings, this is limited by the size of the bottle or container mouth.

Alternatively, the components can be brought together in a common filling valve, see for example EP 0 775 668 A1 and WO 2009/114121 A1 . A component to be added to a base fluid is metered in front of the filling valve outlet, with the desired quantity being determined, for example, by volume measurement using a flow meter ( EP 0 775 668 A1 ) or by another volumetric dosing technology ( WO 2009/114121 A1 ), for example by means of a dosing piston and/or a diaphragm pump.

High dosing accuracy can be achieved by measuring with the help of a flow meter. This measures the volume to be dosed or the mass to be dosed and closes a shut-off valve in the dosing line when a threshold value is reached. Other volumetric dosing methods, such as using pumps or time/pressure filling, often have greater uncertainties and tend to be more sensitive to changes in the dosing medium, such as changes in pressure, temperature or composition. The result is frequent calibration, especially when changing the dosing medium. A gravimetric measurement of the dosages is hardly feasible due to the large differences between the dosage weight for very small quantities (µl) and the container weight.

The technologies presented above are characterized by the fact that the components are mixed at a late point in time, i.e. either during or just before filling. However, late mixing also comes with technical difficulties. Optimizing the filling process in terms of time is not readily possible, since the dosing process cannot be arbitrarily accelerated, for example using a flow meter. The time the container remains under the dosing point is directly proportional to the performance of the filling line. If there is a higher power requirement, either the dosing time and thus the dosing range must be reduced or a second parallel dosing line must be set up. The possible dosing range depends on the available dosing time and thus on the line performance.

In addition, the late mixing entails a not inconsiderable structural complexity. In the case of small container mouths, it is difficult to fill a moving container with a stationary dosing head. Therefore, either the dosing head must move with the container (e.g. as a rotary machine) or the container must remain stationary under the dosing head for the dosing and filling process, such as with a linear transfer machine. If a large number of different dosing components are to be available at the same time, both solutions are complex in terms of mechanical engineering due to the large number of filling points and/or dosing components on the filling valve, are costly and maintenance-intensive and require a lot of installation space.

Those dosing techniques that simultaneously determine the volume and convey the medium, for example by means of pumps or piston dosing devices, have the disadvantage that no feedback can be given to the controller about the volume actually introduced into the container. This applies equally to time/pressure fill. If a valve does not open or the line is blocked, this cannot be immediately recognized by the system. Since subsequent quality control of the filled container cannot be implemented, or can only be implemented with great effort, in the case of individualized filling with several components, feedback from the dosing system on the quantity actually dosed is desirable, if not absolutely necessary.

The technical problems described above have led to a further development of the dosing / filling process, for example from the EP 2 272 790 A1 and DE 10 2009 049 583 A1 emerges. Here, the components of the filling product are dosed directly during filling by means of a flow meter and introduced together into the container to be filled, with a main component being displaced backwards by the component dosed during dosing. The displaced volume of the main component is determined by means of the flow meter, and thus the volume of the metered component is also known and can be controlled. During the subsequent filling of the filling product into the container, the main component is completely flushed out of the filling valve into the container together with the metered component, whereby the total filling quantity can be determined with the same flow meter at the same time. In the next filling cycle, the filling quantities and also the dosed component quantities can be redetermined.

What the dosing techniques described have in common is that the dosing components are fed to the filling valve via permanently installed lines. The limited number of lines limits the possible variants of fillable products. A flexible filling of individualized drinks is only possible within the framework of fixed individual components. The higher the desired flexibility of the system, the more complex the structure becomes due to additional dosing lines, rigid connections, sensors and the like. This also increases the maintenance and cleaning effort. Losses also occur when changing products, since lines and reservoirs have to be emptied beforehand.

Presentation of the invention

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device and an improved method for filling a container with a multi-component filling product, in particular to make filling with different filling products more flexible.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of the independent method claim. Advantageous developments follow from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The device and the method serve to fill a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant. The filling product is a multi-component filling product made up of at least two components, one of the components being referred to herein as the "main component" for linguistic differentiation. Any other components, not necessarily limited to liquids, are referred to as "dosage component(s)". In addition to filling the filling product, the device is set up for bringing the components together and optionally at least partially mixing them and in this respect takes over at least part of the manufacturing process of the filling product to be filled. The main component is preferably water (still or carbonated). The dosage component(s) may include syrup, pulp-containing liquids, pulp, flavors, fiber, and so forth.

The device comprises at least one filling member with a filling valve that is set up to introduce the filling product into the container and a filling product line that is set up to supply the main component of the filling product to the filling valve. As a rule, several filling elements are provided in order to be able to fill a continuous flow of containers. The filling product is introduced into the container via the filling valve; For this purpose, it can be designed, for example, as a pure shut-off valve that can only assume the two states open/closed, or as a proportional valve that allows volume flow control through continuous or gradual opening positions.

The device also has a dosing device which is set up to dose the at least one dosing component into the main component, as a result of which the filling product to be introduced into the container is completed. According to the invention, the dosing device comprises a carrier transport path which is set up to transport at least one dosing carrier, which contains the dosing component, to the corresponding filling element. The filling element in turn has at least one docking point which is set up together with the dosage carrier in such a way that the dosage carrier can be docked onto the filling element and brought into fluid connection with the filling element.

In this way, the dosage component from the dosage carrier is dosed into the main component. The dosage carrier thus refers to a transportable capsule, chamber or the like, via which the dosage component is transported to the corresponding filling element and dosed.

The device with a dosing device designed in this way is suitable for bottling a theoretically unlimited number of different filling products, without the mechanical engineering effort with increasing flexibility increases. In other words, the concept presented here decouples the flexibility of the filling system from the design effort. The bottling plant receives dosages contained in capsule-like dosage carriers, which it processes into the desired filling product during regular bottling operations. The device allows highly flexible, up to container-specific filling with high production output. At the same time, neither the maintenance nor the cleaning effort increase. Losses due to a product change are avoided or at least significantly reduced. The use of pre-portioned dosing carriers can also improve the dosing accuracy and thus the quality of the filling product and make it more uniform over one or more production cycles.

If designations such as "filling device", "container", "dosage carrier", "dosage shuttle" etc. are used in the singular, this is usually done for the sake of linguistic simplicity. The plural is included and often preferred unless expressly or technically excluded.

The at least one docking point and the corresponding dosage carrier are preferably set up in such a way that the dosage component can be introduced from the dosage carrier into the main component. Any dosing valves, sensors, control electronics and the like can be installed in the filling element, in the dosing carrier itself or distributed over both components. Furthermore, the device can be set up together with the filling element for the utilization of several dosage carriers at the same time in order to make the filling process even more flexible.

The at least one docking point preferably comprises a docking point on the side of the filling product line, which is arranged on the filling product line. In this way, the dosage component can be introduced directly into the flow of the main component, as a result of which immediate mixing takes place. According to a particularly preferred embodiment variant, the filling product line-side docking point and the dosage carrier are set up in this case such that the dosage carrier is flushed through by the main component flowing through the filling product line, whereby the dosage component is absorbed by the main component.

It should be noted that the terms "initiate" and "dosing" are not used interchangeably. While the introduction of the dosage component into the main component includes transporting the dosage component (e.g. along a line section, through an opening, a valve, etc.) in order to get to the main component and be mixed into it, the dosing can - as in the above embodiment variant - Can also be achieved in that the main component flushes the dosage carrier with the dosage component contained therein.

At least one of the docking points is preferably a valve-side docking point which is arranged on the filling valve. In this way, the carrier transport path and the docking process can be mechanically simplified. Furthermore, the filling product is finished immediately before it is introduced into the container.

The filling valve preferably has a filling valve housing, the interior of which defines a product storage section into which the product line opens, with the valve-side docking point being arranged on the filling valve housing, so that the dosage component can be introduced from the dosage carrier into the product storage section. In this way, the carrier transport path and the docking process can be further simplified in terms of mechanical engineering.

The filling valve preferably has a valve seat and a displaceable valve cone, the valve cone being able to be brought into sealing contact with the valve seat for a closed state of the filling element and removable from the valve seat for an open state. In this case, the valve-side docking point is preferably arranged above or upstream of the valve seat, viewed in the flow direction of the filling product when the filling product is introduced into the container. The dosing component(s) are therefore metered in above the valve in the product storage section, and the filling product is introduced into the container in finished form.

The dosing device preferably has at least one dosing shuttle which is set up to receive the dosing carrier and to transport it along the carrier transport path to the docking point. In other words, the dosage carriers can either be transported directly over and through the carrier transport path, or alternatively dosage shuttles can be provided accordingly, which can pick up, transport and, if necessary, deliver the dosage carriers. The dosing shuttle is preferably set up, after the dosing carrier has been docked at the corresponding docking point, to pick up a used, in particular empty, dosing carrier and transport it away. In this way, the transport of the dosage carrier can be optimized. “Empty dosing carriers” are understood to mean both completely and partially emptied dosing carriers.

The device is preferably designed in a rotary design with a rotatable carousel leads, with several filling elements are arranged on the circumference of the carousel.

However, the device is not limited to a rotary design, since the dosing concept presented here may be easier to implement mechanically in the case of stationary filling elements, for example in the case of a linear indexing machine. Because the transport and docking of the dosage carriers are associated with less synchronization effort in the case of stationary filling elements.

In the case of the rotary design, the dosing device is preferably set up in such a way that the dosing shuttle transports a corresponding dosing carrier to a first transfer point on the carousel and transfers it to a corresponding filling element for docking. The dosing device is also preferably set up in such a way that the dosing shuttle picks up a used, in particular empty, dosing carrier at a second transfer point on the carousel and transports it away. The two transfer points P1 and P2 usually differ from each other.

The dosing device preferably comprises one or more linear motors which are set up to transport the one or more dosing carriers directly or via corresponding dosing shuttles along the carrier transport path. The carrier transport path is based, for example, on linear stator technology or planar motor technology. However, other transport systems, such as conveyor belts, transfer stars, transport chains, etc., can also be used.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method which is based on a device according to one of the embodiment variants presented above and has: supplying the main component via the filling product line to the filling valve of the at least one filling element; transporting the at least one dosage carrier along the carrier transport path to the filling element; Docking the dosage carrier to the at least one docking point of the filling element; dosing the dosage component of the dosage carrier into the main component, thereby completing the filling product to be introduced into the container; and introducing the fill product into the container.

The definition of the process or method steps does not necessarily imply a sequence or order. The supply of the main component and the transport of the dosing carrier, docking and dosing can take place simultaneously or with a time overlap.

The filling element and the dosing device can be operationally decoupled at least partially.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described in relation to the device apply analogously to the method.

The dosing carrier is preferably designed for exactly one filling, whereby the dosing carrier is completely emptied after the dosing component has been metered into the main component or with the exception of a technically required remainder (both cases are subsumed under the term “emptied”). In this way, micro-dosages are implemented that enable container-specific filling without this maximum flexibility having a negative impact on the mechanical engineering complexity.

Alternatively, the dosage carrier can be designed for several fillings, so that several containers are filled with the dosage component of one and the same dosage carrier. In this way, depending on the application, an optimal compromise can be achieved between highly flexible filling and high production output.

According to one embodiment variant, several dosage carriers can dock onto the filling element one after the other and introduce the respective dosage components, which preferably differ from one another, into the main component before the filling product finished in this way is introduced into the container. In this way, the space for possible filling products to be filled can be further increased without the flexibility having a negative effect on the mechanical engineering complexity.

For the reasons mentioned above, the method preferably also has: Picking up the dosage carrier by the at least one dosage shuttle; transporting the dosage shuttle along the carrier transport path to the filling element; wherein after the docking of the dosage carrier at the docking point of the filling element, the dosage shuttle preferably picks up and transports away a used, preferably emptied, dosage carrier.

For the reasons mentioned above, the method preferably also has: transporting the dosage shuttle with the dosage carrier on it along the carrier transport path to a first transfer point on the carousel; and picking up a used, preferably empty, dosage carrier from the dosage shuttle at a second transfer point on the carousel and transporting the dosage carrier away by the dosage shuttle.

Further advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented on their own or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, insofar as the features do not contradict one another. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

character list

• 1 eine schematische Schnittansicht, die einen Ausschnitt einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts in einen zu befüllenden Behälter darstellt, umfassend ein Füllorgan und einen angedockten Dosageträger;
• 2a eine schematische Ansicht eines Füllorgans mit angedocktem Dosageträger gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;
• 2b eine schematische Ansicht eines Füllorgans mit angedocktem Dosageträger gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;
• 3 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung mit einer beispielhaften Wegführung der Dosageträger.

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

• 1 a schematic sectional view showing a section of a device for filling a filling product into a container to be filled, comprising a filling member and a docked dosage carrier;
• 2a a schematic view of a filling element with a docked dosage carrier according to a further embodiment;
• 2 B a schematic view of a filling element with a docked dosage carrier according to a further embodiment;
• 3 a schematic top view of the device with an exemplary routing of the dosage carrier.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are provided with identical reference symbols in the figures, and a repeated description of these elements is sometimes dispensed with in order to avoid redundancy.

the 1 shows a section of a device 1 for filling a container 100 (cf. 2a and 2 B ) with a filling product.

The device 1 is used for filling multi-component filling products made from at least two components, one of the components being referred to herein as the “main component” for linguistic differentiation. Any other components, not necessarily limited to liquids, are referred to as "dosage component(s)". In addition to filling the filling product, the device 1 is set up for bringing together and optionally at least partially mixing the components and in this respect takes over at least part of the manufacturing process of the filling product to be filled. The main component is preferably water (still or carbonated). The dosage component(s) may include syrup, pulp-containing liquids, pulp, flavors, fiber, and so forth.

The device 1 according to the embodiment of 1 is realized in a rotary design and for this purpose comprises a carousel 10 which is rotatably mounted relative to a stationary plant part not shown in detail and can be set in rotation by a drive also not shown. However, the device 1 is not limited to a rotary design, for example it can also be designed as a linear (cycle) machine.

A plurality of filling stations, each with a filling element 30, are arranged on the circumference of the carousel 10, as a result of which the device 1 can fill a continuous stream of containers 100.

Below the filling elements 30 there are container receptacles 40, assigned according to the filling elements 30, for receiving and transporting the containers 100 to be filled.

The container receptacles 40 each include a retaining clip 41 for holding the container 100 to be filled in the neck area, approximately below a neck ring 101 (cf. 2a and 2 B ) of the container 100. In this regard, so-called “neck handling” is also spoken of. "Neck handling" is used in particular when filling plastic containers in the form of PET bottles. In an alternative not shown in the figures, the container 100 to be filled can also be held or supported in its bottom area, for example by a guide plate on which the container 100 stands. This is also referred to as so-called "base handling". The "base handling" is used in particular in the case of filling glass bottles and cans. In an alternative, also not shown in the figures, the container 100 to be filled can also be held and/or supported and transported in the area of the container or bottle belly or in another suitable way. With a suitable design of the container handling and the filling elements, it is even possible to process bottles and cans made of different materials and with different nominal volumes either selectively or together.

During the filling process, the container mouth 102 (cf. 2a and 2 B ) are in pressure-tight contact with the filling element 30, as a result of which the filling process can be carried out as a counter-pressure process or vacuum process. However the filling element 30 can also be designed as a free-jet valve, so that the filling product is filled into the mouth 102 of the container 100 after bridging a free-jet area.

The filling elements 30 are each connected via a product line 31 to a filling product reservoir (not shown). The filling product reservoir, designed for example as a central tank or ring tank, holds the main component of the filling product, as a result of which the filling elements 30 can be supplied with the main component of the filling product via the product line 31 . The product line 31 can conceptually be assigned to the filling element 30 in full or in part.

The filling elements 30 each have an elongate, hollow-cylindrical filling valve housing 32, the main extent of which defines a longitudinal direction. When installed, the longitudinal direction essentially coincides with the direction of gravity.

In the upper area of the filling element 30 the product line 31 opens into a product storage section 33 which is essentially defined by the interior of the filling valve housing 32 . Further connections, supply lines, discharge lines and the like can be located in the upper area of the filling element 30 , for example to supply a process gas (purge gas, tensioning gas etc.) and/or to remove any gas from the container 100 .

Preferably, the product storing portion 33 includes a cylindrical portion 33a located in the upper part of the product storing portion 33 and a tapered portion 33b located in the lower part of the product storing portion 33 . The tapering area 33b tapers conically downwards, viewed in the direction of gravity.

The spatial designations “above”, “below”, “above”, “beneath” etc. are clearly determined by the intended assembly and use of the device 1, in particular the filling elements 30.

The filling element 30 also has a valve rod 34 which extends centrally and longitudinally through the filling valve housing 32 . The valve rod 34 is connected at the upper end to a valve actuator (not shown in the figures) which is arranged to raise and lower the valve rod 34 and thus a valve plug 36 located at the lower end. The valve cone 36 is essentially arranged in the tapering area 33b of the product storage section 33 . The valve actuator may include a biasing means (e.g., a coil spring) configured to bias the poppet 36 toward a position, such as the closed position.

The valve cone 36 can now be lowered via the valve actuator into a valve seat 37 on the housing side and lifted out of it in such a way that a product outlet 38 of the filling element 30 is thereby closed/opened. From the product outlet 38, the filling product reaches the container 100 placed below it.

The annular gap formed by valve cone 36 and valve seat 37 can narrow towards the product outlet 38, which on the one hand leads to a uniform, well-defined twist, if desired, over the circumference and, on the other hand, is a determining factor for the flow rate. If the degree of narrowing, in particular the dimensions of the annular gap at the product outlet 38, can be adjusted, an integrated flow control up to complete blocking can thus be implemented.

The valve cone 36 and valve seat 37 are collectively referred to herein as the filling valve 35, with other components of the filling element 30, for example the filling valve housing 32 and/or the product storage section 33, in each case in sections or in full, the valve rod 34 with actuator, etc., under the designation "filling valve “ can be subsumed. Furthermore, the filling valve 35 can also be implemented in a different way, provided it is able to permit, stop or at least modify the filling product flow into the container 100 as required or in a controlled manner, i.e. to change the volume flow.

The filling element 30 can have means for generating a twist in the filling product while it is being introduced into the container 100 . For example, swirl bodies not shown in detail in the figures, such as guide vanes or swirl channels, can be provided in the area of the valve cone 36 . Alternatively, the filling element 30 can have a swirl chamber designed as an annular channel or torus.

The filling element 30 can be set up for so-called wall filling, in which the twisted filling product runs downwards in a spiral shape on the inner wall of the container. However, the filling element 30 can also be provided and set up for another filling process, for example as a free-jet valve, for a counter-pressure process, in which the product to be filled is introduced into a container 100 that is under overpressure, or for a vacuum process, in which the product to be filled is introduced into a container 100 that is under vacuum standing container 100 is initiated. Furthermore, the filling element 30 or its filling valve 35 can be used as a pure blocking valve, which only assumes the two states open/closed or as a proportional valve, which allows volume flow control through continuous or gradual opening positions. A flow meter 39 can be installed in the product line 31 for this purpose.

The device 1 also includes a dosing device 50 which is set up to mix one or more dosing components into the main component of the filling product. The dosing component is mixed in in the filling element 30, preferably in the product storage section 33 or in the filling product line 31.

For this purpose, the dosage components are contained in dosage carriers 51, which can be realized as capsules, reservoirs, chambers or the like. The dosage carriers 51 are set up so that they can dock onto a respective filling element 30 and interact with it in such a way that the corresponding dosage component is introduced into the main component and mixed with it. For this purpose, the filling elements 30 have one or more docking points 54, 54', which are set up to receive a corresponding dosage carrier 51 and establish a fluid connection with it. In other words, the dosage carrier 51 serves as a carrier of filling product ingredients (concentrates, powders, syrup, minerals, etc.) which together with the main component make up the finished filling product.

The dosage carrier 51 is transported via a carrier transport path 52 (cf. 3 ) to the corresponding filling element 30, for the sake of clarity in the 3 not shown, transported. The dosage carrier 51 can be taken from a reservoir or store, not shown in the figures, or it can be produced at another point on the production line and transported to the bottling plant. Preferably, the carrier transport path 52 relies on linear stator technology or planar motor technology to transport the dosage carriers 51. However, other transport systems, such as conveyor belts, transfer stars, transport chains, etc., can also be used to implement the carrier transport path 52 .

The dosage carriers 51 can either be transported directly over and through the carrier transport path 52, or alternatively dosage shuttles 53 can be provided which can pick up, transport and deliver the dosage carriers 51 . In the latter case, the dosage shuttle 53 transports a dosage carrier 51 to the corresponding docking point 54, 54' on the filling element 30 and then returns empty or picks up a used or emptied dosage carrier 51 in order to transport it back.

According to the embodiment of 3 a dosing shuttle 53 transports a corresponding dosing carrier 51 to a first transfer point P1 on the carousel 10 . The dosage shuttle 53 can then either drive back or pick up a used/emptied dosage carrier 51 at another transfer point P2. A dosage carrier 51 can complete several laps until it is completely empty, or alternatively only run one lap or a specific number of laps.

The dosage carrier 51 can thus be designed for exactly one filling, i.e. as a micro dosage for exactly one container 100, or also for several fillings.

In the 2a and 2 B two possible variants are shown, where and how the dosage carrier 51 can dock on the filling element 30.

In the embodiment of 2a the dosage carrier 51 docks to a docking point 54 ′ on the side of the filling product line, which is arranged on the filling product line 31 . The contents of the dosage carrier 51, ie the dosage component, can either be received directly from the main component, which flushes through the dosage carrier 51, or the dosage carrier 51 docks onto the filling product line 31 and doses the dosage component into the filling product line 31.

According to the embodiment of 2 B the dosage carrier 51 docks to a docking point 54 on the filling valve side, which is arranged on the filling valve 35 or filling valve housing 32 in order to meter the dosage component into the product storage section 33 .

Any dosing valves, sensors, control electronics and the like can be installed in the filling element 30 and/or in the dosing carrier 51 . Furthermore, the device 1 can be set up together with the filling elements 30 for the utilization of several dosage carriers 51 at the same time in order to make the filling process more flexible. Alternatively or additionally, several dosage carriers 51 can also dock one after the other for the production of the filling product, before the filling product produced in this way with several dosage components is introduced into one or more containers 100 .

The filling element 30 is therefore not supplied with one or more dosage components via dosage lines comprising corresponding connections, sensors and the like, but rather the delivery and introduction of the dosage component(s) takes place via capsule-like dosage carriers ger 51, which are delivered along and by means of a carrier transport path 52, dock onto the filling element 30 and, if necessary, are transported away by means of the carrier transport path 52 or in some other way.

The device 1 is thus suitable for filling a theoretically unlimited number of different filling products, without the outlay on mechanical engineering increasing with increasing flexibility. The bottling plant receives dosages, which it processes into the desired filling product during regular bottling operations. The device allows highly flexible, up to container-specific filling with high production output. At the same time, neither the maintenance nor the cleaning effort increase. Losses due to a product change are avoided or at least significantly reduced.

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

Reference List

1

Device for filling a container with a filling product

10

carousel

30

filling element

31

product line

32

filling valve body

33

Product Stock Section

33a

cylindrical area

33b

tapering area

34

valve stem

35

filling valve

36

poppet

37

valve seat

38

product phase-out

39

flow meter

40

container pickup

41

retaining clip

50

dosing device

51

dosage carrier

52

carrier transport path

53

dosage shuttle

54

Docking point on the filling valve side

54'

Docking point on the filling product line side

100

container

101

neck ring

102

container mouth

P1

First transfer point

p2

Second transfer point

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 2008/0271809 A1 [0003]
• EP 0775668 A1 [0004]
• WO 2009/114121 A1 [0004]
• EP 2272790 A1 [0009]
• DE 102009049583 A1 [0009]

Claims (15)

Device (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product having a main component and at least one dosage component, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the device (1) having: at least one filling element (30) with a filling valve (35) that is set up to introduce the filling product into the container (100), and a filling product line (31) that is set up to feed the main component of the filling product to the filling valve (35). ; and a dosing device (50) which is set up to dose the at least one dosing component into the main component, as a result of which the filling product to be introduced into the container (100) is completed; whereby the dosing device (50) has a carrier transport path (52) which is set up to transport at least one dosing carrier (51), which contains the dosing component, to the corresponding filling element (30), and the filling element (30) has at least one docking point (54, 54') which is set up in such a way that the dosage carrier (51) can be docked onto the filling element (30) and brought into fluid connection with the filling element (30). Device (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one docking point (54, 54') and the dosage carrier (51) are set up in such a way that the dosage component from the dosage carrier (51) can be introduced into the main component. Device (1) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one docking point (54', 54) comprises a filling product line-side docking point (54') which is arranged on the filling product line (31), the filling product line-side docking point (54') and the dosage carrier (51) preferably being so are set up such that the dosage carrier (51) is flushed through by the main component, as a result of which the dosage component is absorbed by the main component. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the docking points (54', 54) is a valve-side docking point (54) which is arranged on the filling valve (35). Device (1) after claim 4 , characterized in that the filling valve (35) has a filling valve housing (32), the interior of which defines a product holding section (33) into which the product line (31) opens, the valve-side docking point (54) being arranged on the filling valve housing (32) and is set up such that the dosage component from the dosage carrier (51) can be introduced into the product storage section (33). Device (1) after claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the filling valve (35) has a valve seat (37) and a displaceable valve cone (36), wherein the valve cone (36) can be brought into sealing contact with the valve seat (37) for a closed state of the filling element (30) and can be removed from the valve seat (37) for an open state, the valve-side docking point (54) preferably being arranged upstream of the valve seat (37), viewed in the flow direction of the filling product when the filling product is introduced into the container (100). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing device (50) has at least one dosing shuttle (53) which is set up to receive the dosing carrier (51) and move it along the carrier transport path (52) to the docking point (54 , 54'), the dosage shuttle (53) preferably being set up to pick up and transport away a used, preferably emptied, dosage carrier (51) after the dosage carrier (51) has been docked at the docking point (54, 54'). Device (1) after claim 7 , characterized in that it is designed in a rotary design with a rotatable carousel (10), with several filling elements (30) being arranged on the circumference of the carousel (10), with the dosing device (50) preferably being set up in such a way that the dosing shuttle (53 ) transports a corresponding dosing carrier (51) to a first transfer point (P1) on the carousel (10) and transfers it to a corresponding filling element (30) for docking, the dosing device (50) preferably also being set up in such a way that the dosing shuttle (53) picks up a used, preferably emptied, dosage carrier (51) at a second transfer point (P2) on the carousel (10) and transports it away. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing device (50) comprises one or more linear motors which are set up to transport the one or more dosing carriers (51) along the carrier transport path (52). Method for filling a container (100) with a filling product having a main component and at least one dosage component, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the method having: Providing a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; Supplying the main component via the filling product line (31) to the filling valve (35) of the at least one filling element (30); Transporting the at least one dosage carrier (51) along the carrier transport path (52) to the filling member (30); Docking the dosage carrier (51) at the at least one docking point (54, 54') of the filling member (30); metering the dosage component of the dosage carrier (51) into the main component, thereby completing the filling product to be introduced into the container (100); and introducing the filling product from the filling element (30) into the container (100). procedure after claim 10 , characterized in that the dosage carrier (51) is designed for exactly one filling, whereby the dosage carrier (51) is emptied into the main component after metering the dosage component. procedure after claim 10 , characterized in that the dosage carrier (51) is designed for several fillings, so that several containers (100) are filled with the dosage component of one and the same dosage carrier (51). Procedure according to one of Claims 10 until 12 , characterized in that several dosing carriers (51) dock onto the filling element (30) one after the other and meter the respective dosing components, which preferably differ from one another, into the main component before the filling product finished in this way is introduced into the container (100). Procedure according to one of Claims 10 until 13 , characterized in that a device according to claim 7 is provided and the method further comprises: picking up the dosage carrier (51) from the at least one dosage shuttle (53); Transporting the Dosageshuttles (53) along the carrier transport path (52) to the filling member (30); after the docking of the dosage carrier (51) at the docking point (54, 54'), the dosage shuttle (53) preferably picks up a used, preferably emptied, dosage carrier (51) and transports it away. procedure after Claim 14 , characterized in that a device according to claim 8 is provided and the method further comprises: transporting the Dosageshuttles (53) with recorded dosage carrier (51) along the carrier transport path (52) to a first transfer point (P1) on the carousel (10); and picking up a used, preferably empty, dosage carrier (51) from the dosage shuttle (53) at a second transfer point (P2) on the carousel (10) and transporting the dosage carrier (51) away by the dosage shuttle (53).

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