EP0269507B1 - Method and plant for filling receptacles with a mixture of at least two pasty or liquid products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of filling containers with a mixture of at least two pastry and / or liquid products, method according to which a basic product is withdrawn from a first storage tank and transported step by step in a general supply line connected to the withdrawal outlet of said first storage tank, an additive product is withdrawn from a second storage tank in a proportion determined relative to the portions or doses withdrawn from the basic product, the product is mixed additive with the basic product and this mixture of products is passed through a volumetric dosing-dispenser which is provided with ejection nozzles, has an inlet valve and an ejection valve, and the inlet of which is connected to the general supply line and by means of which exact quantities of this mixture are metered before ejecting them through said nozzles into at least one container .

Such a process is known in the packaging industry for dairy products, in particular for mixing yogurts with jam or fruit or for flavored gelled milks. In this case, the basic product is withdrawn from the first storage tank using a first pump delivering in a main pipe and the additive product is withdrawn from the second storage tank using a second pump before to be added to the main pipe immediately upstream of the mixer, the outlet of which is connected to a buffer tank in which a pneumatic overpressure is maintained on the product mixture and in which two level sensors are provided which regulate the supply of this buffer tank between a minimum level of mixing and a maximum level, the mixture of products being transferred under pressure to the various metering chambers of a metering device known for example by French patent 2,067,983, before being expelled in quantities dosed in the containers correspondents through the nozzles of a distributor known, for example, also by said French patent 2,067,983.

According to this known method, the minimum level probe in the buffer tank triggers the starting of the two pumps for supplying the basic product and the additive product respectively and the maximum level probe controls the stopping of said pumps which both work continuously during the buffer tank filling cycle. This way of proceeding has several drawbacks. Indeed, the first pump frequently damages the basic product, especially when it comes to yogurt. In addition, it is very difficult to precisely adjust the ratio D1 / D2 of the flow rates D1 and D2 of the first pump and of the second pump respectively especially when the flow rate D2 of the second pump is quite low compared to that D1 of the first pump. Furthermore, after having been mixed in the mixer, the two mixed products can partially separate in the buffer tank due to their different densities. Thus arrives at the dispenser a mixture of products which, once dosed and transferred in portions to the containers, has variable and imprecise proportions in basic product and in additive product, from one container to another.

In addition, this known method, because it involves long pipes between the first storage tank and the buffer tank and the fact that the volume of the latter is quite large, does not allow the nature of the mixture to be changed quickly without loss of a significant amount of the first mixture when switching to a second mixture of products.

According to another proposal, the basic product is stored in a tank, the additive product is introduced in portions into the supply line, upstream of a mixer, and the mixture is introduced into a metering chamber of the metering-distributor. of products which, at the outlet of the dispenser-distributor, contains, in each of the doses dispensed, a portion of additive product more or less identical to that introduced at the same time into said general supply line downstream of the mixer.

• Le dosage exact du produit additif, de façon à obtenir dans les récipients toujours la même quantité précise de produit additif et par conséquent aussi la même quantité de produit de base, pose des problèmes, notamment lorsque les produits additifs sont des produits sucrés tels que de la confiture, du sirop ou de petits morceaux de fruits dans un sirop, etc... En effet, dès qu'un produit sucré est mis en contact avec de l'air, ce qui arrive fréquemment en raison de l'intervalle qui existe entre le piston de dosage et la chambre de dosage et qui permet à l'air de pénétrer dans la chamber de dosage et d'agir sur le produit additif, le sucre de celui-ci se cristallise sous l'effet de l'oxygène notamment dans l'intervalle précité. Les cristaux de sucre finissent par gêner le fonctionnement du doseur et finalement par le bloquer.
• La présence d'un mélangeur dans la conduite générale d'alimentation allant du réservoir de stockage pour le produit de base au doseur-distributeur dudit produit de base ainsi que la disposition du point d'injection du produit additif dans la conduite générale d'alimentation en amont du mélangeur ne permettent pas la réalisation d'un ensemble compact doseur-distributeur et récipient de stockage du produit de base.

Although this proposal already has some improvement, it is not yet perfect for several reasons:

• The exact dosage of the additive product, so as to obtain in the containers always the same precise quantity of additive product and therefore also the same quantity of base product, poses problems, especially when the additive products are sweet products such as jam, syrup or small pieces of fruit in a syrup, etc ... Indeed, as soon as a sweet product is brought into contact with air, which happens frequently due to the interval that exists between the metering piston and the metering chamber and which allows air to enter the metering chamber and act on the additive product, the sugar thereof crystallizes under the effect of oxygen in particular in the aforementioned interval. The sugar crystals end up hampering the functioning of the dispenser and finally blocking it.
• The presence of a mixer in the general supply line going from the storage tank for the basic product to the metering-dispenser of said basic product as well as the arrangement of the injection point of the additive product in the general supply line upstream of the mixer do not allow the production of a compact metering-dispenser and storage container for the basic product.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to propose a method of the type initially mentioned which makes it possible to convey and dose the products to be mixed and the mixture of products with care and precision and to go from a mixture of products to another without significant loss of the first mixture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filling method of the type initially mentioned, which makes it possible to reduce the risks of sugar crystallization in the metering device of the additive product and preferably also a significant reduction in the volume of the supply line. general between the basic product storage tank and the latter's metering-dispenser.

These aims are achieved within the framework of the aforementioned process because an atmosphere, if necessary sterile, under overpressure is established in the two storage tanks above the products to prevent the entry of a polluted gas into said said tanks and push the basic product into the supply line, the additive product is introduced into the basic product in determined portions having regard to the doses drawn off from said basic product so that when a portion of the additive product in the basic product, a dose of the product mixture containing a portion of additive product identical to that which has just been introduced into said basic product is produced in the dispenser-dispenser, and, starting from the doser- dispenser and through at least one ejection nozzle thereof, is sent to a corresponding container each dose of mixture of products containing constant and precise proportions of each desdi ts products, the additive product being dosed in another volumetric dispenser while protecting it against any oxidation by ambient air.

Thanks to this design, any harmful kneading of the basic product and the separation by decantation of the products from the mixture as well as the instability of the proportions of each of the products contained in a dose of the mixture of products are avoided. In addition, fragile products retain their initial structure, as is the case for example with stirred yogurts which would otherwise lose their creamy structure. Furthermore, the mixers can be omitted between the storage tank for the basic product and the dispenser-dispenser, and the additive product is prevented from crystallizing.

The invention also relates to an installation for filling containers with a mixture of at least two pasty and / or liquid products, of the type comprising a first storage tank for a basic product, at least one other storage tank for a product. additive, a metering-dispenser of a mixture of a portion of basic product and a portion of additive product and comprising at least one metering chamber having a metering piston provided with a control rod, a distribution chamber connected to the metering chamber, a nozzle ejection valve, an intake valve provided upstream of the metering chamber and an ejection valve provided downstream of the distribution chamber and upstream of the ejection nozzle, a general supply line connecting the outlet of the first reservoir at the inlet of the metering-dispenser, and at least one volumetric metering unit comprising a metering cavity having a metering piston provided with a control rod, and capable of being connected, on the one hand, to the outlet from the other storage tank for the additive product and, on the other hand, to an injection point located on the transport path of the basic product between the outlet of the first storage tank and the ejection valve of the metering device -distributor.

Such an installation has a certain number of drawbacks residing in particular in the fact that the supply line comprises a pump which destroys the structure of the fragile basic products, that a buffer tank provided between the outlet of the mixer and the inlet of the dispenser-dispenser increases the volume of the product mixture and prevents its rapid replacement by another product mixture, and further promotes separation by decantation of the products constituting the mixture.

In this known installation, there are problems of crystallization of sugar in the dispenser for liquid or pastry sweet additive products or containing pieces of fruit in syrup. In addition, the presence of elements such as a mixer in the general supply line for the basic product and a buffer tank provide the product mixture with an additional volume upstream of the dispenser-distributor, which does not allow obtaining a compact assembly also leads to losses in product mixture when the composition of the product mixture is modified.

The present invention also aims to remedy these disadvantages and to propose an installation in which the length of the connecting pipes between the point of ejection of the product mixture and the places of storage of the basic product is reduced as much as possible, while ensuring mixing and metering of the products with care and precision and without the possibility of sugar crystallization.

• l'extrémité supérieure des réservoirs de stockage est raccordée à une source de gaz sous pression,
• la soupape d'admission dans la chambre de dosage du doseur-distributeur est prévue à l'une des extrémités de la conduite générale d'alimentation,
• à l'endroit du piston doseur de l'autre doseur volumétrique, le produit additif est séparé de l'air ambiant par une cloison déformable, et
• le piston du doseur volumétrique et le piston du doseur-distributeur sont raccordés à des unités de commande actionnées cycliquement et en opposition de phases, de telle sorte que le piston du doseur volumétrique éjecte une dose du produit additif pendant que le piston du doseur-distributeur effectue sa course d'aspiration.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention because

• the upper end of the storage tanks is connected to a source of pressurized gas,
• the inlet valve in the metering chamber of the metering-distributor is provided at one end of the general supply line,
• at the place of the metering piston of the other volumetric metering unit, the additive product is separated from the ambient air by a deformable partition, and
• the volumetric metering piston and the metering-distributor piston are connected to cyclically actuated control units in phase opposition, so that the volumetric metering piston ejects a dose of the additive product while the metering-distributor piston performs its suction stroke.

It is noted that thanks to the invention are removed several elements which until now were a source of complication and which prevented an effective operation of the installation, and in particular a rapid change and without significant loss of the composition of the mixture of products.

In accordance with the process according to the invention, the additive product is introduced into the base product only during the suction stroke of the dispenser-dispenser and the base product is directly led from its storage tank to the dispenser-dispenser corresponding. The additive product contained in the other volumetric dispenser is advantageously protected against any oxidation by ambient air by permanently covering the rear or upper face of the piston of said dispenser volumetric with the basic product. It is also possible to protect the additive product contained in the other volumetric metering device against any oxidation by ambient air using a membrane or non-elastic bellows sealingly surrounding the additive product, the part of the piston and of the piston rod in contact with said ambient air. When it is desired to change the mixture of products, the composition of the mixture of products is modified by injecting into the base product another additive product different from the first additive product.

It is advantageous to use between the bottom of the first storage tank for the basic product and the inlet to the metering-dispenser, a single valve which establishes a cyclic connection between said first tank and the general pipe. The additive product is injected into the base product downstream of the intake valve and upstream of the metering-distributor ejection valve, either for example in the base product contained in the general line, or for example in the basic product contained in the dispenser-dispenser.

Advantageously, the metering piston of the volumetric metering unit and the metering piston of the metering unit-distributor are connected together by a mechanical transmission, so as to execute their suction and discharge strokes in phase opposition. The deformable partition separating the additive product contained in the volumetric metering device from the ambient air is constituted either by a flexible non-elastic membrane delimiting one side of the metering cavity, the metering piston being located on one side and the additive product being located on the other side of said membrane, that is, by a deformable non-elastic bellows secured on the one hand, to the metering piston and on the other hand, to the metering body, surrounding the lower end part of the piston rod and capable of being raised to enter the dosing cavity.

It is advantageous that the volumetric metering device comprises a metering body which is fixed to the bottom of the first storage tank for the basic product, and has at least one metering cavity receiving without significant lateral play the metering piston, opening by its upper end in the bottom of said first tank and comprising, at its lower end, a bushel of a three-way tap capable of connecting said metering cavity, either to the storage tank for the additive product, or to the injection point of said additive product in the basic product, and that the deformable partition separating from the ambient air the additive product contained in said volumetric metering device is constituted by the basic product contained in said first tank and covering the upper face of the metering piston and a part of the latter's control rod. The inlet valve provided on the general supply line can act as both the outlet valve of the first storage tank for the basic product, and the inlet valve in the metering chamber of the metering-dispenser and may be provided at the upstream end of the general supply line and in the bottom of the first storage tank. The metering-dispenser advantageously comprises in a vertical cylindrical enclosure the upper end of which is integral with the bottom of the first storage container and opens into the latter, from top to bottom, the metering chamber, the distribution chamber, the pressure valve. ejection, and the ejection nozzle. In this case, the downstream end of the general supply line opens into said vertical cylindrical enclosure at the junction of the upper metering chamber and the lower distribution chamber. The outlet of the volumetric dispenser opens, either downstream of the metering-distributor inlet valve, or in the general supply line, or in a connecting line between the metering chamber and the distribution chamber of said metering-distributor .

The bottom of the first storage tank for the basic product can advantageously consist of a bottom block in which are provided at least one housing for the metering-distributor inlet valve, at least one housing for the upper part of the cylindrical enclosure of said metering-distributor and at least one channel forming at least part of the general supply line. In this case in particular, the volumetric metering device for the additive product has a body which is fixed to a lateral face of the bottom block of the first storage tank, comprises a metering cavity in which the metering piston separating said cavity moves in leaktight manner and a upper chamber, and part of the control rod of said piston, part disposed in this upper chamber and surrounded by a bellows tightly fixed, on the one hand, on the rear face of said piston and, on the other hand, on the metering body at the place where the latter is crossed by said control rod.

The volumetric metering device has a connection valve by means of which its dosing cavity can be connected alternately to the outlet of the storage tank for the additive product or to the injection point of the additive product in the basic product. The alternative connection valve and the metering-distributor inlet valve are preferably combined into a single valve type valve capable of establishing a connection between the lower chamber of the metering cavity and the storage tank for the additive product and simultaneously interrupting the connection, on the one hand, between the storage tank for the basic product and the metering-dispenser and, on the other hand, between said dosing cavity and the injection point of the additive product in the basic product, that is to establish a connection, on the one hand, between the storage tank for the basic product and the metering-dispenser and, on the other hand, between said dosing cavity and the point injecting the additive product into the base product, and simultaneously interrupting the connection between the lower chamber of the metering cavity and the storage tank for said additive product.

In this case in particular, the upper chamber of the metering cavity of the volumetric dispenser is permanently connected to the storage tank for the additive product and is capable of being connected to the lower chamber thereof by means of a bypass conduit and the connecting valve interposed in said bypass conduit. The piston of the volumetric dispenser and the bellows are preferably made in one piece by cutting from a block of synthetic material. The distribution chamber can end, at its lower end, by a frustoconical body provided with a vertical cylindrical bore receiving in leaktight manner a movable shutter rod which forms with the latter the ejection valve, crosses coaxially the enclosure vertical cylindrical, penetrates tightly into the storage tank for the basic product and is capable of being retracted towards the inside of the distribution chamber to free the passage of the ejection nozzle, constituted by said bore of said body frustoconical. The movable shutter rod can also be designed so as to partially exit downwards from the vertical cylindrical enclosure, and comprise in its lower part situated at the level of the distribution chamber when it occupies its high position, a channel of ejection opening laterally, at each of its ends, on the outer face of said rod by at least one lateral orifice. In this case, the movable rod acts, on the one hand, as an ejection valve, and, on the other hand, as an ejection nozzle, and is movable between, on the one hand, a low position in which it penetrates to the bottom of a container to be filled and in which the upper lateral orifice is still in the dispensing chamber while its lower lateral orifice is below the cylindrical bore of said frustoconical body and, on the other hand, a high position in which the lower lateral orifice of the rod is inside said randomization and is closed vis-à-vis the outside.

In the case where the closure rod does not come down from the enclosure of the metering-distributor, it may have, at the level of the distribution chamber, stirring members. When the metering-dispenser comprises a closure rod, it can also have an annular metering piston which slides in leaktight fashion in the metering chamber both along the closure rod and the internal face of the enclosure. cylindrical which opens into the bottom of the tank for the basic product.

This design makes it possible to produce a very compact filling installation and to be able to dispense with a metering-dispenser with multiple nozzles as many mixtures of different products as there are nozzles, or else to quickly change the composition of the mixture for a given nozzle. of products and this without significant loss in products.

Another advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that any stagnation of product (s) is avoided both in the dispenser for the additive product, in that for the mixture of products and in the multi-function valve, namely , inlet valve for the metering-dispenser and alternating connection valve on the one hand, between the storage tank for the additive product or the upper chamber of the metering unit for the additive product and the lower chamber of said metering unit, and on the other hand part, between the lower chamber or outlet of said metering device and the point of injection of the additive product into the base product.

• . la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'installation de remplissage et de dosage,
• . la figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'installation de remplissage et de dosage,
• . la figure 3 est une vue schématique en élévation d'un troisième mode de réalisation de l'installation de remplissage et de dosage ;
• . la figure 4 est une vue schématique d'un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'installation de remplissage et de dosage ;
• . la figure 5 est une vue schématique d'un cinquième mode de réalisation de l'installation de remplissage et de dosage conforme à l'invention,
• . la figure 6 est une vue en élévation d'une coupe transversale à travers un sixième mode de réalisation de l'installation de remplissage de récipients avec un mélange d'au moins deux produits ;
• . la figure 7 est une vue agrandie en coupe verticale du doseur pour le produit additif et de la soupape d'admission du doseur-distributeur suivant le plan VII-VII de la figure 8, cette vue se distinguant de celle représentée à la figure 6 du fait que la tige du doseur est faiblement inclinée par rapport à la verticale pour être plus près du réservoir de stockage pour le produit de base sans être gênée par ledit réservoir, la soupape de liaison alternative étant en une position dans laquelle les deux extrémités de la cavité de dosage sont reliées l'une à l'autre ;
• . la figure 8 est une vue en plan suivant un plan déterminé par la ligne brisée VIII-VIII de la figure 7, la position de la soupape de liaison étant celle de la figure 7 ;
• . la figure 9 est une vue agrandie d'une coupe verticale à travers le doseur pour le produit additif suivant un plan parallèle à celui de la figure 7, et déterminé par la ligne IX-IX de la figure 10, la soupape de liaison alternative étant en une position dans laquelle la chambre inférieure du doseur est reliée au point d'injection dans le produit de base ;
• . la figure 10 est une vue en plan du doseur suivant la ligne brisée X-X de la figure 9 ;
• . la figure 11 est une coupe verticale à travers le piston et le soufflet du doseur pour le produit additif ; et
• . la figure 12 est une vue schématique, partiellement en coupe, d'un septième mode de réalisation de l'installation analogue à ceux des figures 3 et 4.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of several embodiments, description made with reference to the drawings in which:

• . FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the filling and dosing installation,
• . FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the filling and dosing installation,
• . Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of a third embodiment of the filling and metering installation;
• . Figure 4 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the filling and metering installation;
• . FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of the filling and metering installation according to the invention,
• . Figure 6 is an elevational view of a cross section through a sixth embodiment of the installation for filling containers with a mixture of at least two products;
• . FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in vertical section of the dispenser for the additive product and of the intake valve of the dispenser-dispenser according to the plane VII-VII of FIG. 8, this view being distinguished from that represented in FIG. 6 of the fact that the metering rod is slightly inclined relative to the vertical in order to be closer to the storage tank for the basic product without being obstructed by said tank, the alternative connecting valve being in a position in which the two ends of the metering cavity are connected to each other;
• . Figure 8 is a plan view along a plane determined by the broken line VIII-VIII of Figure 7, the position of the connecting valve being that of Figure 7;
• . Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a vertical section through the dispenser for the additive product along a plane parallel to that of Figure 7, and determined by the line IX-IX of Figure 10, the alternative connecting valve being in a position in which the lower chamber of the metering unit is connected to the point of injection into the basic product;
• . Figure 10 is a plan view of the metering device along the broken line XX of Figure 9;
• . FIG. 11 is a vertical section through the piston and the bellows of the dispenser for the additive product; and
• . FIG. 12 is a schematic view, partially in section, of a seventh embodiment of the installation similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the installation for filling the containers with a metered mixture of products comprises a first storage tank 1 containing a basic product or white product 2 such as a white yogurt, whether or not stirred or a fresh cottage cheese or a milk to be gelled, a general supply line 3 which connects the outlet 4 of the first reservoir 1 to the inlet 5 of a metering-dispenser 6 via a valve for example from the membrane type 7 of which the control chamber 8 is connected alternately by means of a conduit 9, either to a source of compressed air, or to a source of vacuum. The installation further comprises at least a second storage tank 10 which contains an additive product 11 such as jam or an aromatic essence and the outlet 12 of which is connected via a short secondary pipe 13 to a volumetric metering device 14, the outlet of which is connected to an injection point 15 of the additive product into the base product 2 on its path between the outlet 4 of the storage tank 1 and an ejection valve of the dosing-dispenser 6. As can be see it in FIG. 1, this injection point 15 can be in the general line 3, or, according to FIG. 3, at the inlet of the metering chamber 16 of the metering-dispenser 6, or else elsewhere, as will see it further. This metering chamber 16 can at the same time serve as a mixing chamber for the base product 2 which enters there as soon as the intake valve 7 is open and for the additive product 11 which is pushed directly into said metering chamber 16 to through the conduit 17 provided between the injection point 15, such as said chamber 16 and the outlet of the volumetric metering device 14 (see for example Figure 3). The first storage tank 1 is connected, by means of a conduit 19 fixed at its upper end, to a gas source, preferably sterile, under pressure and comprises, if necessary, a minimum level probe 18a and a maximum level probe 18b which, for example, controls the supply of this reservoir 1 with the base product 2 through a connector 19a.

The outlet of the metering-dispenser 6 which will be described later, consists of at least one ejection nozzle 20, and preferably several, through which the metered quantities of the mixture of products are introduced into corresponding containers 21.

To be able to quickly modify the composition of the product mixture, it is advantageous to combine with the volumetric dispenser 14 or any technically equivalent device, at least one additional storage tank 10ʹ which contains a additive product 11ʹ of a different nature or aroma or taste than that of the first additive product 11. In order to avoid untimely mixing between the additive products 11 and 11ʹ, a stop valve S, Sʹ is interposed between the outlet of each of the two tanks 10 and 10ʹ and the inlet of the volumetric metering device 14.

In FIG. 1, there is shown in parallel to a first mixing and dosing line connected to the outlet 4 of the first storage tank 1 for the basic product 2, a second mixing and dosing line comprising the same elements as the first line, namely a general pipe 3a, a metering-dispenser 6a, a second storage tank 10a for an additive product 11a, etc. This second line being identical to the first, the same elements of the latter are designated with the same references as those of the first line but supplemented with the letter "a".

Instead of having in an installation all the elements in duplicate, with the exception of the first storage tank 1, one can also provide that a single dispenser-dispenser 6 is supplied with several different mixtures of products. Thus the metering-dispenser 6 could comprise two rows of six metering chambers 16 which are supplied four by four by three different mixtures of products.

We find in this example, a general supply line 3 connected to the outlet 4 of the first storage tank 1 for a basic product 2, and from which are derived in parallel three bypass lines each associated with at least a second tank storage 10 or 10a each containing a different additive product 11 or 11a, to a volumetric dispenser 14 delivering the corresponding additive product into the bypass line upstream of the mixer, and to a group of four dosing chambers 16 of the dispenser-dispenser 6 As in the previous example, each volumetric dispenser 14 can be associated with an additional reservoir 10ʹ or 10ʹa containing yet another additive product 11ʹ or 11ʹa. Of course, the different lines also include the shut-off valves and check valve necessary to prevent inadvertent mixing between products. As in the previous example, the commissioning and stopping of each dispenser 14 are controlled at the start and at the end of the suction stroke of the dispenser-dispenser 6 so that these volumetric dispensers 14 do not inject into the bypass line a determined quantity of the additive product only during the suction stroke of the doser-distributor pistons 6.

In other words, any volumetric dispenser 14, whether of a known type or not, is put into service intermittently so that it expels a metered quantity or portion of the additive product 11 towards the injection point 15 of the latter in the basic product 2, point such as the metering chamber 16, only during the suction stroke of the piston 22 of the metering-dispenser 6.

FIG. 2 schematically represents a set of several metering-distributors 6 and metering units 14 for four different additive products 11, each of the metering-distributors 6 being connected to a common storage tank 1 for the basic product 2 and to one of the dosers 14 in identical number (for example twelve) to that of the dispenser-distributors 6 and connected in groups, for example, of three, or individually to the reservoir 10 containing an additive product of a different nature or aroma than additive products from other tanks.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the sealed storage tank 10 or 10ʹ of the additive product 11 or 11ʹ, the upper part of which is constantly connected to a source of gas, preferably sterile, under pressure, is associated with a metering device volumetric 14 which comprises a metering body 23 fixed to the bottom 24 of the storage tank 1 for the basic product 2. In this metering body 23 is provided at least one metering cavity 25 the lower part of which can be connected through the plug '' a three-way valve 26, which acts as an alternative connection valve, i.e. to the conduit 13 and to the reservoir storage 10 or 10ʹ for the additive product 11 or 11ʹ, either at the conduit 17 and at the injection point 15 of the additive product in the base product 2, point 17 constituted in this example by the metering chamber 16 of the metering-dispenser 6 A metering piston 27 is mounted in a sliding manner and without appreciable lateral play in the vertical cylindrical metering cavity 25 which opens into the bottom 24 of the reservoir 1. The upper part of the metering piston 27 can therefore, if necessary, enter the reservoir 1 and in any case is covered by the basic product 2 contained in said reservoir 1. This upper part of the metering piston 27 is integral with a control rod 28 arranged vertically in the reservoir 1 and connected to a control mechanism not shown and situated outside the reservoir 1, using a plate 29 and a connecting rod 30 sealingly passing through a sterile airlock 31.

The metering-dispenser 6 shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 3, 4 and 12 is described in French patent 2,067,983 and will only be described below within the limits of the requirements for the intelligence of the invention. This metering-distributor 6 comprises in particular, in its metering body 32, the lower metering chamber 16 which, on the one hand, is capable of being connected, through the diaphragm admission valve 7 pneumatically controlled for example, to the very short section of the general pipe 3 connected directly to the bottom of the tank 1, and which, on the other hand, is connected, at its outlet, by a connecting pipe 33, to a distribution chamber 34 and to the ejection nozzle 20 of the metering-dispenser 6, an ejection valve, for example 35, with a pneumatically controlled membrane, being capable of blocking the nozzle 20 which is placed above and, if necessary, in the container to be filled 21.

The upper side of the metering chamber 16 of the metering body 32 is delimited by a flexible non-elastic membrane 36 in the form of a skirt which surrounds the metering piston 22 provided in the upper chamber 60 of the metering unit 6 above the membrane 36. The upper chamber 60, permanently connected to a source of empty, is crossed tightly by a piston rod 37 whose upper end bears against a member of a control mechanism shown schematically in Figure 4. The movements of the metering pistons 22 and 27 of the metering-dispenser 6, d on the one hand, and of the volumetric metering device 14, on the other hand, are synchronized in phase opposition, so that the volumetric metering device 14 ejects its additive product 11 into the conduit 17 only during the upward stroke, it is i.e. suction of the piston 22 of the metering-distributor 6.

Of course, the metering chamber 25 of the volumetric metering device 14 is also connected cyclically, by means of the bushel of the three-way tap 26 or any other equivalent system of the valve, ie at the outlet of the reservoir 10 for the additive product 11, either to the conduit 17 going to the metering-distributor 6. During the ejection stroke of the piston 22 of the metering-distributor 6, the connections between the metering chamber 16 and, on the one hand, the general line 3 or the reservoir 1 and , on the other hand, the metering cavity 25 are interrupted by the intake valve 7 and the tap 26 respectively. On the other hand, the ejection valve 35 is open during the ejection stroke of the piston 22 of the metering-dispenser 6.

It will also be noted that, preferably, the two vertical movements, opposite in terms of their directions, of the two metering pistons 22 and 27 are perfectly synchronized with regard to their sinusoidal cyclic speeds. Due to the kinematic connection between the two pistons 22, 27, it is possible to achieve perfect, constant and precise proportionality between each dose of additive product and each dose of product mixture.

A variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 consists in the fact that the ejection conduit 17ʹ coming from the metering cavity 25 (see conduit 17ʹ in dashed lines) of the metering device 14 for the additive product 11 does not open into the metering chamber 16 of the metering-dispenser 6, but in the connecting duct 33 between the metering chamber 16 and the distribution chamber 34 of the metering-dispenser 6. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the additive product comprises pieces of fruit, for example, especially since, thanks to this variant, the metering of the additive product can be very near the ejection nozzle 20 of the dispenser-dispenser 6.

It should be noted that in order to accurately dose small amounts of additive product, it is always advantageous to use metering pistons 27 as shown in FIG. 3, that is to say pistons without membrane. When the quantity of the additive product to be dosed is greater, recourse may be had to a metering device known for example from French patent 2,067,983. Thus, according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, the volumetric metering device 14 for the additive product 11 has substantially the same structure as the metering part of the metering-dispenser 6. In fact, the piston 27 of the metering unit 14 is provided with a kind of membrane 55 which is flexible and non-elastic and which has the form of a semi-turned cap covering the front face and the lateral face of said piston 27 and is tightly fixed, around its periphery, to the metering body 23. Thus, the control rod 28 and the piston 27 are never in contact with the additive product 11 passing through the metering cavity 25 of the metering device 14 and the latter is kept perfectly sealed from the outside. The secondary conduit 13 connected to the outlet of the reservoir 10 for the additive product 11 opens into the metering cavity 25 through an inlet valve 26a for example of the type with a pneumatically controlled membrane and the outlet conduit 17 from said cavity 25 leads, according to the example of FIG. 4, into the general line 3 upstream of the metering-dispenser 6, and according to the example of FIG. 12, into the connecting duct 33 between the metering chamber 16 and the chamber distribution 34 of the metering-dispenser 6. This outlet duct 17 is provided with a check valve 26b opening in the direction of the general pipe 3 (FIG. 4) or of the connecting pipe 33 (FIG. 12) and closing in that of cavity 25. Of course, also in these embodiments, the pistons 22 and 27 of the metering-distributor 6 and of the metering unit 14 respectively are moved synchronously and in opposite directions so that when one, for example the piston 22, executes its upward stroke d suction, the other, for example the piston 27, performs its downward stroke of expulsion or discharge. Although, in FIGS. 4 and 12, the bottom 24 of the reservoir 1 is shown, for the convenience of the drawing, at a relatively great distance from the inlet valve 7 of the metering-dispenser 6 and the outlet duct 17 of the metering unit 14, said bottom 24 of the reservoir 1 is actually very close to these members 7, 17 in order to produce a very compact assembly.

The upper ends of the control rods 37 and 28 of the metering pistons 22 and 27 respectively cooperate with a control unit, these control units being actuated synchronously and in opposite phases and can be kinematically connected by a control mechanism 62 as shown schematically in Figure 4.

This control mechanism 62 comprises outside of a gearbox 63 driven by a motor, on each side face, a horizontal control bar 64, 65 against which bears, without being integral with it, the upper end of the corresponding piston rod 37 or 28 of the metering-distributor 6 and of the volumetric metering unit 14 respectively. The ends of each horizontal bar 64 or 65 are each associated with one of the rotary discs of a pair of discs 66 or 67.

The shafts 68 or 69 of each pair of discs 66 or 67 are arranged in a horizontal plane parallel to that of the control bars 64 or 65 whose ends are articulated, each on an eccentric support stud 70 or 71 of one of the two rotating discs associated with a bar 64 or 65 and driven in continuous rotation. Of course, the pins 70 or 71 associated with a control bar 64 or 65 are also arranged in the same horizontal planes.

It should be noted that the support pins 71 associated with the bar 65 cooperating with the piston rod 28 of the dispenser 14 for the additive product 11 are offset in rotation by an angle equal to 180 ° relative to the support studs 70 of the bar 64 cooperating with the piston rod 37 of the dispenser -distributor 6. Thus the piston 22 of the metering-distributor 6 is in the low position corresponding to the start of its so-called upward suction stroke while the piston 27 of the volumetric metering device 14 is in the high position corresponding to the start of its so-called downward stroke d 'ejection. Because the stroke of the piston 22 of the metering-distributor 6 is greater than that of the piston 27 of the volumetric metering unit 14, the distance between the support pins 70 and the axis of the corresponding rotation shaft 68 is greater than that between the support pins 71 and the corresponding shaft 69.

The embodiment shown in Figure 5 is a very compact version of the invention. In this case, both the dispenser 14 for the additive product 11 and the dispenser-dispenser 6 which here already receives a metered mixture of the base product 2 and the additive product 11 as well as the ejection nozzle 20 are integral with the bottom 24 of the storage tank 1 for the basic product 2, said bottom being here materialized by a kind of thick plate or block. The general supply line 3 is extremely short and comprises, at its upstream end, at the bottom block 24 of the storage tank 1, an intake valve 38 constituted for example by a horizontal drawer housed in a recess in the block of bottom 24 and cyclically establishing a connection between the reservoir 1 and the supply line 3 during the suction stroke of the metering-dispenser 6, this valve 38 acting as an inlet valve for the basic product 2 in the dosage 16.

This dispenser-distributor 6 integrates both, in a vertical cylindrical enclosure 39, fixed by its upper end in an appropriate housing of the bottom block 24, from top to bottom, the metering chamber 16, the distribution chamber 34, the ejection valve 35 and the ejector nozzle 20.

Next to the inlet valve 38 is arranged, also in the bottom block 24, the metering device 14 for the additive product 11, so that its dosing cavity 25 is connected through the three-way valve 26 and the conduit 17 extremely short to the main line 3 downstream of the intake valve 38 and upstream of the metering chamber 16. The piston 27 of the metering device 14 is constantly covered by the basic product 2, since the upper part of the cavity metering cylinder 25 opens onto the upper face of the bottom 24 of the tank 1 for the basic product 2. The lower or downstream end of the general pipe 3 which is very short opens into the vertical enclosure 39 at mid-height of that -this and at the junction of the upper metering chamber 16 and the lower distribution chamber 34 of the metering-distributor 6.

The ejection valve 35 is, in the case of the left dispenser-distributor 6, constituted by a vertical cylindrical bore 40 formed in the frustoconical body 41 forming both the lower end of the distribution chamber 34 and the nozzle ejection 20, and by a closure rod 42 sealingly penetrating said bore 40 and capable of being retracted towards the inside of the distribution chamber 34 to release the passage formed by bore 40. This rod obturation 42 passes coaxially through the cylindrical enclosure 39 and enters in a sealed manner in the tank 1 where it is connected by a linkage 43 to a control mechanism not shown. At the lower part, that is to say at the level of the distribution chamber 34, the closure rod 42 has stirring members 44 inclined outward and downward.

The metering piston 22 is in this case produced in the form of an annular piston sliding in leaktight manner in the metering chamber 16 both along the shutter rod 42 and the internal face of the enclosure 39, the upper face of said piston 22 being covered by the base product 2 because the enclosure 39 also opens into the bottom 24 of the reservoir 1. The piston annular 22 is connected, at its upper face, to a tubular control rod 37 which enters the reservoir 1 like the rod 28 of the piston 27 and is connected to a control mechanism which controls the suction stroke of the piston 22 during the ejection or downward stroke of the piston 27 for the additive product 11. The downward or ejection stroke of the piston 22 stops slightly above the mouth of the general line 3 in the enclosure 39 (see position of the piston 22 in dotted lines).

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 also constitutes a very compact version of the filling and dosing installation.

It should first be noted that for reasons of clarity, the dotted line on the left side of FIG. 6 is indicated, the general pipe 3 as if it were arranged behind the plane of FIG. 6; it is actually in front of this plane, as shown in Figure 8. In this particular case, the intake valve 7, the main line 3, the upper half of the metering-dispenser 6 and part of the connecting conduit between the volumetric metering device and the injection point 15 of the additive product in the base product 2 are provided in a block which constitutes the bottom 24 of the storage tank 1 for the base product.

As shown in the drawing, the installation comprises a storage tank 1 which contains a basic product 2 and which is here arranged transversely and above the path of the successive rows 45 of containers 21. In the bottom block 24 of this tank 1 is provided with at least one general supply line 3 and preferably there are as many general pipes 3 as there are metering-distributors 6, each general pipe 3 connecting an outlet 4 of the tank 1 to the inlet 5 of a metering-dispenser 6. In the bottom body 24 is formed a transverse housing 46 which has a bowl 46a of semi-cylindrical shape extended upward by parallel vertical walls 46b so as to open into the storage tank and delimit by their upper end the outlet opening 4 of the reservoir 1, and which receives a cylindrical body or slide 47 forming part of the intake valve 7 of the metering-dispenser 6. This intake valve 7 comprises, in this case, at the bottom of the bowl 46a at least one pair of distribution orifices 3a and 3b to which the upper or upstream end of the general pipe 3 is connected, these two distribution orifices 3a and 3b being separated from each other by a small partition 3c and intended to be connected through the cylindrical body 47, one (3a) at the bottom of the tank 1 and the other (3b) to the metering chamber 25 of the metering device 14 for the additive product. The body 47 produced as a horizontal drawer is capable of sealingly covering the dispensing orifices 3a and 3b and of moving axially and comprises for each general pipe 3 a vertical passage 48 capable of aligning with the orifice 3a and a bent passage 49 capable of coming to align with the orifice 3b and the axes of which are situated in the same vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the drawer 47 as the axis of the vertical passage 48.

The vertical part 49a of the bent passage 49 is juxtaposed with the vertical passage 48 and can lead to the bottom of the semi-cylindrical bowl 46a, either in the dispensing orifice 3b (Fig 9, 10) of the general pipe 3, or in the orifice 50a (FIG. 7, 8) of a conduit 50 which goes towards the lower chamber 25a of the metering cavity 25 of the metering device 14 for the additive product and which serves for said lower chamber 25a as an inlet conduit, the orifice 50a being situated next to orifice 3b on the path of horizontal displacement of the vertical part 49a of the bent passage 49, path parallel to the horizontal axis 53 of the cylindrical slide 47.

The horizontal part 49b of the bent passage 49 is disposed above the vertical part 49a of the latter and can lead, opposite the semi-cylindrical wall 46a, either into the orifice 51a (Fig 9, 10) of a conduit 51 which is connected to the lower chamber 25a of the metering cavity 25 of the volumetric metering device 14 for the additive product and which serves as a conduit for outlet in a similar manner to the conduit 17 or 17ʹ, or in the orifice 52a of a conduit 52 which is permanently connected to the outlet 13 of the reservoir (not shown) for the additive product in Figures 7, 8).

The transverse semi-cylindrical cup 46a of the transverse housing 46 therefore comprises, next to the dispensing orifice 3a, the dispensing orifice 3b which both simultaneously connect the general pipe 3, when the vertical passage 48 coincides with the orifice 3a and the bent passage 49 with the orifice 3b, on the one hand, to the reservoir 1 for the basic product 2 and, on the other hand, to the outlet duct 51 of the metering device 14 (right side of FIG. 6), the axes orifices 3a and 3b being located in the same vertical plane and perpendicular to the axis 53 of the semi-cylindrical bowl 46a and of the cylindrical slide 47 whose diameter is, apart from sliding play, identical to that of the bowl 46a or at the distance between the two vertical extension walls 46b of the transverse housing 46. It will easily be understood that in this embodiment, the point of injection 15 of the additive product 11 into the base product 2 is located in the general pipe 3, immediately t below the orifices 3a and 3b and their partition 3c, the vertical passage 48 and the bent passage 49 being in this case used as injection nozzles for the base product 2 and the additive product 11 respectively in the general conduct 3.

The intake valve 7 fulfills in this embodiment not only the function of an outlet valve of the storage tank 1 and an intake valve for the metering-dispenser 6, but also the function of a inlet valve and an outlet valve of the metering device 14 for the additive product so that the lower chamber 25a of the metering cavity 25 of this metering device 14 can be connected alternately either via the secondary line 13 to the storage tank of the additive product (Fig 7, 8) or to the metering-dispenser 6 via the general line 3 (Fig 9, 10).

The structure of the dispenser 14 for the additive product is designed so as to avoid any stagnation of product in the various conduits and chambers of said metering device. To this end, the metering cavity 25 comprises a cylindrical portion 25b in which the metering piston 27 moves in leaktight manner which is provided with a seal 27a and divides this metering cavity 25 into a lower chamber. 25a, the end part of which is widened with respect to the cylindrical part 25b, and in an upper chamber 25c, the end part of which also widens with respect to the cylindrical part 25b of the metering cavity 25. The upper chamber 25c is permanently connected to the storage tank for the additive product via the secondary pipe 13. Thus, the upper or rear face of the metering piston 27 is constantly covered by the additive product. The rear face of the piston 27 is integral with the control rod 28 which passes through the upper chamber 25c and the end part thereof widened in the passage chamber 54 before passing in leaktight manner to the outside through the metering body 23 which, in this case also is arranged either very close to the bottom block 24 of the storage tank 1 and, preferably, is integral and fixed on a lateral face of said bottom block 24. The part of the control rod 28 which is located in the upper chamber 25c and in the passage chamber 54 is surrounded by a bellows 55 whose maximum diameter is less than the diameter of the chamber 25c and which is arranged in said chambers 25c and 54 and fixed in a sealed manner, d on the one hand, on the upper or rear face of the metering piston 27 and, on the other hand, on the metering body 23 at the place where said rod 28 leaves said metering body 23. It is thus certain that the additive product being in the rooms 25c and 54 above or behind the piston 27 and around the control rod 28, that is to say the bellows 55, is separated from the ambient air and protected against any oxidation, crystallization or external pollution.

Advantageously, the conduit 52, permanently connected to the outlet of the storage tank 10 for the additive product 11 or to the secondary conduit 13 of said tank, opens into the passage 54 or upper end of the metering cavity 25 and constitutes, in cooperation with the bent passage of the drawer 47 in the appropriate position and with the inlet conduit 50, a bypass or bridging conduit by which the upper end of the metering cavity 25, that is to say the upper chamber 25c and the passage chamber 54 can be cyclically connected to the lower end of said cavity 25, that is to say to the lower chamber 25a of that which constitutes the real dosing chamber. This particular arrangement guarantees that the additive product cannot stagnate in the upper chamber 25c and is driven out of chambers 25c and 54 towards the lower chamber 25a through the bypass duct 49, 50, 52 (Fig 6 left side and Fig 7 and 8) at each recoil or upward stroke of the dosing piston 27. In this case, the cylindrical slide 47 is in the position in which the bent passage 49 connects the inlet duct 50 of the dosing device 14 to the conduit 52 going towards the reservoir of the additive product, while the vertical passage 48 is closed at its lower end by the wall of the semi-cylindrical bowl 46a (FIGS. 7 and 8).

It is easy to understand that this position of the cylindrical slide 47 corresponds to the closed position of the intake valve 7 so that as soon as the ejection valve 35 of the metering-distributor 6 is opened, a metered amount of the mixture of products ( base and additive) can be expelled from the latter and be introduced into a container 21 (see left side of FIG. 6) by the descent of the annular metering piston 22 along the closure rod 42 to above the mouth of the general pipe 3 in the vertical cylindrical enclosure 39 at the junction of the upper metering chamber 16 and the lower distribution chamber 34 delimited by said enclosure 39. In this case, the annular piston 22 reaches the position indicated for the dispenser-distributor 6 on the right of FIG. 6 while the closure rod 42 is still engaged in the container 21 (see dispenser-distributor 6 on the left side of FIG. 6) to allow the flow of the mixing of products through the lower channel ejection 56 formed in the lower part of the closure rod 42 and opening at its two ends on the cylindrical outer face thereof on the one hand, using oblique ejection orifices 57 connecting to outside the lower end of said channel 56 and directed downwards and outwards near the lower end of said rod 42 above an O-ring seal 58 integral with said end, and, d 'other hand, using upper radial holes 59 connecting to the outside, that is to say to the distribution chamber 34, the upper end of said channel 56 and arranged at such a location of said rod 42 that even in the extreme low position thereof, these bores 59 are located inside the distribution chamber 34 (see left side fig. 6). When the seal 58 is applied against the vertical cylindrical bore 40 formed in the frustoconical body 41 of the ejection valve 35 provided at the lower end of the distribution chamber 34, the ejection orifices 57 of said ejection valve 35 are closed (right side fig. 6) and the annular piston 22 can start its suction stroke upwards, from its low position, (fig 6 right side) to reach the high position (fig 6 left side) from where a new downward ejection stroke can take place. It should be noted that the lower end of the closure rod 42 which is movable vertically between a high position in which the ejection valve 35 is closed (metering-dispenser 6 on the right of FIG. 6) and a low position in which its lower end is engaged at the bottom of a container 21 (metering-dispenser 6 on the left of FIG. 6), plays not only a role as a shutter element of the ejection valve 35, but also the role ejection nozzle thanks to the ejection channel 56, to the ejection orifices 57 and to the upper radial holes 59. A similar arrangement is moreover indicated schematically on the shutter rod 42 of the dispenser-dispenser on the right of the figure 5.

Of course, as soon as the ejection valve is closed 35 and before the start of the upward or suction stroke of the annular piston 22 of the metering-distributor 6, the cylindrical slide 47 is pushed into its other extreme position (see FIG. 6, right side and FIGS. 9 and 10) in which is closed the inlet valve 52a of the volumetric metering device 14 and are open the outlet valve 51a of said volumetric metering unit 14 and the inlet valve 7 of the metering-dispenser 6. In this case, the vertical passage 48 of the valve drawer 47 intake 7 establishes communication between the storage tank 1 for the basic product and the general line 3 (or the inlet of the metering-dispenser 6) and the bent passage 49 of said drawer 47 connects the outlet of the metering unit 14 for the additive product (line 51) to the general line 3 (or the inlet of the metering chamber 16 of the metering-dispenser 6). Thus, the bent passage 49 of the slide valve 47 of the intake valve 7 constitutes, in cooperation with the orifices 50a, 52a or 51a, 3b, an alternative connection valve 26, on the one hand, between the storage tank for the additive product or the upper chamber 25c of the metering device 14 for the additive product and the lower chamber 25a of said metering device 14, and, on the other hand, between the lower chamber 25a of the metering cavity 25, or outlet duct 51 of said metering device 14 and the injection point 15 (general line 3) of the additive product into the base product 2. It is self-evident that the piston 27 of the metering device 14 performs its downward stroke for expelling the additive product while the annular piston 22 performs its upward suction stroke, the movements of these pistons 22, 27 being synchronous, but in opposite directions to each other.

During the downward stroke of the piston 27, a certain amount of the additive product 11 is sucked into the upper chamber 25c which increases as the said piston 27 descends during its delivery or expulsion stroke of the product 11 previously dosed in the lower chamber 25a.

During the upward stroke of the piston 27, which constitutes the suction stroke of the additive product 11 in the lower chamber 25a of the metering cavity 25, the amount of additive product 11 contained in the upper chamber 25c is expelled therefrom and sent, with another quantity of product 11 coming from the conduit 13, to the lower chamber 25a via the bypass conduit 49, 50, 52 (see fig 7 and 8). This prevents any stagnation of the additive product in one of the chambers of the metering cavity 25.

As already mentioned with regard to the dispenser-dispenser 6 on the left in FIG. 5, the closure rod 42 (FIG. 6, dispenser 6 on the right) can also be full over its entire length and, by its lower end, serve obturator to the vertical cylindrical bore 40 of the frustoconical body 41 of the ejection valve 35 provided at the lower end of the distribution chamber 34 of the metering-dispenser 6. In this case, the frustoconical body 41 provided with its cylindrical bore 40 fulfills the function of the fixed ejection nozzle 20. To open the ejection valve 35, it is then necessary to move the shutter rod 42 upward and to retract the lower end thereof inside the distribution chamber 34 in order to more or less free the vertical bore 40. In the zone of the distribution chamber 34, the closure rod 42 has, if necessary, stirring members 44 such as more or less oblique fins s.

According to an advantageous feature of the volumetric metering device 14, the metering piston 27 and the bellows 55 including its fixing flange 55a on the metering body 23 at the place of passage of the control rod 28 out of the passage chamber 54 and the upper chamber 25c are produced from the same block of synthetic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the bellows 55 made of the same material as the piston 27 by boring the block of material has a diameter slightly greater than that of the control rod 28, bore followed by a tapping of successive superimposed annular grooves 55b, the section of which along a radial plane is an isosceles triangle, the base of which rests against said rod 8 the apices or bottoms of these annular grooves being located on a cylindrical casing whose diameter is less than the diameter of the piston 25. On the outer side of the starting block are cut or threaded superimposed annular grooves 55c each interposed between two inner annular grooves 55b, the radial section of these outer grooves 55c also being in the form of an isosceles triangle, the base of which is situated on the cylindrical envelope imaginary surrounding the bellows 55, the wall 55d of cylindrical accordion shape alternately separates an internal groove 55b from an adjacent superimposed external groove 55c. The upper end of the bellows 55 ends with the fixing flange 55a which comprises a tubular part 55e connected to the upper end of the wall 55d of the bellows 55, and an annular fixing disc 55f, the inside diameter of the tubular part. of the fixing flange 55a being equal to the outside diameter of the control rod 28. The fixing flange 55a is tightly mounted on the metering body 23 and thus prevents any leakage of fluid from the outside to the inside and vice versa of the metering device 14. The lower end 28a of the control rod 28 is threaded and is screwed into a blind thread 27b of the piston 27. Of course, the profile of the internal grooves 55b and the external grooves 55c is not necessarily triangular with pointed vertices or bottoms; it is also possible to round more or less strongly the profile of these peaks or bottoms.

The operating mode of the installation is self-explanatory:
The basic product 2 flows by itself when it is sufficiently liquid or is pushed under the effect of the overpressure prevailing in the tank 1 in the main line 3 towards the metering-distributor 6 per volume unit corresponding to the volume of either a dose of base product 2 or a dose of the mixture of base products 2 and additive 11 aspirated during a suction stroke in chamber 16 of the metering-dispenser 6. During each step of advance of the product or mixture of products in the main line 3, which corresponds to the suction period of the metering-dispenser 6, is injected either in the main line 3, or in the metering chamber 16, or in the connecting duct 33, a quantity or portion of additive product 11 which is corresponding to the volume of additive product 11 contained in the volume of the mixture of products dosed in a chamber 16 of the dispenser-distributor 6, or is added to the volume of the base product 2 dosed in said chamber 16, the successive doses or portions of the additive product 11 being dosed in the dosing cavity 25 of the metering device 14. The base product 2 and the additive product 11 are mixed either in the general line 3, or in the metering chamber 16, or in the connection conduit 33, or even in the distribution chamber 34, before d '' be ejected in proportional mixture by the ejection nozzle 20.

Claims (29)

1. Process for filling recipients with a mixture of at least two pasty and/or liquid products, whereby a basic product (2) is drawn from a first storage tank (1) and conveyed step-by-step in a general supply conduit (3) connected to the draw-off outlet (4) of said first storage tank (1), an additive product (11) is drawn from a second storage tank (10) in a determined proportion with respect to the drawn-off portions or doses of the basic product (2), the additive product (11) is mixed with the basic product (2) and this mixture of products is passed into a volumetric metering/dispensing device (6) which is provided with ejection nozzles (20) and has an admission valve (7,38) and an ejection valve (35), and of which the inlet is connected to the general supply conduit (3) and by means of which exact quantities of this mixture are metered before being ejected through said nozzles (20) into at least one recipient (21), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: establishing in the two storage tanks (1,10), above the products (2,11), an atmosphere, if necessary sterile, in excess pressure in order to avoid the admission of a polluted gas in said tanks (1,10) and to drive the basic product (2) into the supply conduit (3), introducing into the basic product (2) the additive product (11) in determined portions having regard to the drawn-off doses of said basic product (2) so that, during introduction of a portion of additive product (11) in the basic product (2), a dose of the mixture of products is obtained in the metering/dispensing device (6) which dose contains a portion of additive product (11) identical to that which was just introduced in said basic product (2), and, from the metering/dispensing device (6) and through at least one ejection nozzle (20) thereof, sending into a corresponding recipient (21) each dose of mixture of products containing constant and precise proportions of each of said products (2,11), the additive product (11) being metered in another volumetric metering device (14) while being protected from any oxidation by the ambient air.
2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the additive product (1) is introduced into the basic product (2) solely during the suction stroke of the metering/dispensing device (6).
3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the basic product (2) is conducted directly from its storage tank (1) to the corresponding metering/dispensing device (6).
4. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the additive product (11) contained in the other volumetric metering device (14) is protected from any oxidation by the ambient air by permanently covering the rear or upper face of the piston (27) of said volumetric metering device (14) with the basic product (2).
5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the additive product (11) contained in the other volumetric metering device (14) is protected from any oxidation by the ambient air by means of a non-elastic membrane or gusset (55) surrounding, in tight manner with respect to the additive product (11), that part of the piston (27) and of the piston rod (28) in contact with said ambient air.
6. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition of the mixture of products is changed by injecting into the basic product (2) another additive product (11') different from the first additive product (11).
7. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the additive product (11) is injected into the basic product (2) downstream of the admission valve (7,38) and upstream of the ejection valve (35) of the metering/dispensing device (6).
8. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that a single valve (7,26,47) is used between the bottom (24) of the first tank (1) for storing the basic product (2) and the inlet into the metering/dispensing device, which valve establishes a cyclic connection between said first tank (1), the general conduit (3) or metering/dispensing device (6) for the additive product (11).
9. Process according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the additive product (11) is injected into the basic product (2) contained in the general conduit (3).
10. Process according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the additive product (11) is injected into the basic product (2) contained in the metering/dispensing device (6).
11. Installation for filling at least one recipient with a mixture of at least two pasty and/or liquid products, of the type comprising a first tank (1) for storing a basic product (2), at least one other tank (10,10',10a,10'a) for storing an additive product (11,11',11a,11'a), a device (6) for metering/dispensing a mixture of a portion of basic product (2) and a portion of additive product (11) and comprising at least one metering chamber (16) having a metering piston (22) provided with a control rod (37), a dispensing chamber (34) connected to the metering chamber (16), an ejection nozzle (20), an admission valve (7) provided upstream of the metering chamber (16) and an ejection valve (35) provided downstream of the dispensing chamber (34) and upstream of the ejection nozzle (20), a general supply conduit (3) connecting the outlet (4) of the first tank (1) to the inlet of the metering/dispensing device (6), and at least one volumetric metering device (14) comprising a metering cavity (25) presenting a metering piston (27) provided with a control rod (28), and capable of being connected, on the one hand, to the outlet of the other tank (10,10',10a,10'a) for storing the additive product (11,11',11a,11'a) and, on the other hand, to a point of injection (15) located on the path of transport of the basic product (2) between the outlet of the first storage tank (1) and the ejection valve (35) of the metering/dispensing device (6),
    characterized in that

    - the upper end of the storage tanks (1 and 10,10',10a,10'a) is connected to a source of gas under pressure,

    - the admission valve (7,38) in the metering chamber (16) of the metering/dispensing device (6) is provided at one of the ends of the general supply conduit (3),

    - at the metering piston (27) of the other volumetric metering device (14), the additive product (11,11',11a,11'a) is separated from the ambient air by a deformable partition (2,55), and

    - the piston (27) of the volumetric metering device (14) and the piston (22) of the metering/dispensing device (6) are connected to control units (62) actuated cyclically and in phase opposition, with the result that the piston (27) of the volumetric metering device (14) ejects a dose of the additive product (11) while the piston (22) of the metering/dispensing device (6) effects its suction stroke.
12. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises, for each volumetric metering device (14) for additive product (11,11',11a,11'a), at least two storage tanks (10,10',10a,10'a) of which each contains a different additive product (11,11',11a,11'a), at least two connecting conduits (13,13',13a,13'a) provided between the inlet of the volumetric metering device (14) and the outlet of one or the other of the two storage tanks as well as at least two stop valves (S,S',Sa,S'a) of which each is mounted on one of said connecting conduits.
13. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the metering piston (27) of the volumetric metering device (14) and the metering piston (22) of the metering/dispensing device (6) are connected together by a mechanical transmission (62a, 71).
14. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the deformable partition separating from the ambient air the additive product (11) contained in the volumetric metering device (14) is constituted by a non-elastic flexible membrane (55) defining one side of the metering cavity (25), the metering piston (27) being located on one side and the additive product (11) being located on the other side of said membrane (55).
15. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the deformable partition separating from the ambient air the additive product (11) contained in the volumetric metering device (14) is constituted by a non-elastic deformable gusset (55) fast, on the one hand, with the metering piston (27) and, on the other hand, with the metering body (23), surrounding the lower end part of the piston rod (28) and capable of penetrating in the metering cavity (25).
16. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the volumetric metering device (14) comprises a metering body (23) which is fixed to the bottom (24) of the first storage tank (1) for the basic product (2), and has at least one metering cavity (25) receiving without notable lateral clearance the metering piston (27), issuing by its upper end into the bottom (24) of said first tank (1) and comprising, at its lower end, an alternate connection valve (26) capable of connecting said metering cavity (25) either to the tank (10) for storing the additive product (11) or to the point of injection (15) of said additive product (11) in the basic product (2), and that the deformable partition separating from the ambient air the additive product (11) contained in said volumetric metering device (14) is constituted by the basic product (2) contained in said first tank (2) and covering the upper face of the metering piston (27) and a part of the control rod (28) thereof.
17. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the admission valve (7,38) of the metering/dispensing device (6) provided on the general supply conduit (3) serves both as outlet valve of the first storage tank (1) for the basic product (2), and as admission valve in the metering chamber (16) of the metering/dispensing device (6).
18. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the admission valve (7,38) in the metering chamber (16) of the metering/dispensing device (6) is provided at the upstream end of the general supply conduit (3) and in the bottom of the first storage tank (1).
19. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the metering/dispensing device (6) comprises in a vertical cylindrical enclosure (39) of which the upper end is fast with the bottom (24) of the first storage tank (1) and issues thereinto, from top to bottom, the metering chamber (16), the dispensing chamber (34), the ejection valve (35) and the ejection nozzle (20) and that the downstream end of the general supply conduit (3) issues into said vertical cylindrical enclosure (39) at the junction of the upper metering chamber (16) and the lower dispensing chamber (34).
20. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the outlet of the volumetric metering device (14) issues into either the metering chamber (16) downstream of the admission valve (7,38) of the metering/dispensing device (6), or into the general supply conduit (3), or into a connecting conduit (33) between the metering chamber (16) and the dispensing chamber (34) of said metering/dispensing device (6).
21. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the bottom of the first tank (1) for storing the basic product (2) is constituted by a bottom block (24) in which are provided at least one housing (46) for the admission valve (7,38) of the metering/dispensing device (6), at least one housing for the upper part of the cylindrical enclosure (39) of said metering/dispensing device (6) and at least one channel forming at least a part of the general supply conduit (3).
22. Filling installation according to claims 11 and 21, characterized in that the volumetric metering device (14) for the additive product (11) presents a body (23) which is fixed on a lateral face of the bottom block (24) of the first storage tank (1), comprises a metering cavity (25) in which hermetically moves the metering piston (27) separating said cavity (25) into a lower chamber (25a) and an upper chamber (25c), and that part of the control rod (28) of said piston (27), part disposed in this upper chamber (25c), is surrounded by a gusset (55) hermetically fixed, on the one hand, on the rear face of said piston (27), and, on the other hand, on the metering body (23) at the point where the latter is traversed by said control rod (28).
23. Filling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the volumetric metering device (14) comprises an alternate connection valve (26) with the aid of which its metering cavity (25,25a) may be alternately connected to the outlet of the tank (10) for storing the additive product (11) or to the point of injection (15) of the additive product (11) in the basic product (2) and that said alternate connection valve (26) and the admission valve (7) of the metering/dispensing device (6) are joined to form one valve (7,26) of the slide (47) type capable, either of establishing a connection between the lower chamber (25a) of the metering cavity (25) and the tank (10) for storing the additive product (11) and simultaneously of interrupting the connection, on the one hand, between the tank (1) for storing the basic product (2) and the metering/dispensing device (6) and, on the other hand, between said metering cavity (25,25a) and the point of injection (15) of the additive product (11) in the basic product (2), or of establishing a connection, on the one hand, between the tank (1) for storing the basic product (2) and the metering/dispensing device (6) and, on the other hand, between said metering cavity (25,25a) and the point of injection (15) of the additive product (11) in the basic product (2) and simultaneously of interrupting the connection between the lower chamber (25a) of the metering cavity (25) and the tank (10) for storing said additive product (11).
24. Filling installation according to claim 23, characterized in that the upper chamber (25c) of the metering cavity (25) of the volumetric metering device (14) is permanently connected to the tank (10) for storing the additive product (11) and is capable of being connected to the lower chamber (25a) thereof (25) via a branch conduit (50,52) and the alternate connection valve (26) interposed in said branch conduit (50,52).
25. Filling installation according to one of claims 15 and 22, characterized in that the piston (27) of the volumetric metering device (14) and the gusset (55) are made in one piece by being cut out from a block of synthetic material.
26. Filling installation according to claim 19, characterized in that the dispensing chamber (34) terminates at its lower end in a truncated body (42) provided with a vertical cylindrical bore (40) receiving in hermetic manner a mobile obturation rod (42) which forms therewith the ejection valve (35), coaxially traverses the vertical cylindrical enclosure (39), penetrates hermetically in the storage tank (1) for the basic product (2) and is capable of being retracted inwardly of the dispensing chamber (34) to clear the passage of the ejection nozzle (35) constituted by said bore (40) of said truncated body (41).
27. Filling installation according to claim 19, characterized in that the dispensing chamber (34) terminates, at its lower end, in a truncated body (41) provided with a vertical cylindrical bore (40) hermetically receiving a mobile obturation rod (42) which coaxially traverses the vertical cylindrical enclosure (39), hermetically penetrates in the tank (1) for storing the basic product (2), comprises in its lower part located at the level of the dispensing chamber (34) when it occupies its high position, an ejection channel (56) opening laterally, at each of its ends, on the outer face of said rod (42) via at least one lateral orifice or bore (57,59) and that said mobile rod (42) serves, on the one hand, as ejection valve (35) in cooperation with said bore (40) and, on the other hand, as ejection nozzle (20), via the ejection channel (56) and its lateral orifices and bores (57) ,59) and is mobile between, on the one hand, a low position in which it penetrates to the bottom of a recipient to be filled (21) and in which the upper lateral bore (59) still lies in the dispensing chamber (34) while its lower lateral orifice (57) lies below the cylindrical bore (40) of said truncated body (41) and, on the other hand, a high position in which the lower lateral orifice (57) of the rod (42) lies inside said bore (40) and is obturated with respect to the outside.
28. Filling installation according to claim 26, characterized in that the obturation rod (42) presents stirring members (44) at the level of the dispensing chamber (34).
29. Filling installation according to one of claims 26 and 27, characterized in that the metering/dispensing device (6) comprises an annular metering piston (22) which hermetically slides in the metering chamber (16) both along the obturation rod (42) and the inner face of the cylindrical enclosure (39) which issues into the bottom (24) of the tank for storing the basic product (2).

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