EP0290724A2 - Cup-filling device for luxury foods, especially for dairy products - Google Patents

Abstract

A conductive liquid is dosed with a vessel having an upper rim and with a dip tube having a lower end projecting down into the vessel below the rim thereof. The vessel is periodically overfilled with the liquid such that periodically the liquid overflows the rim. Immediately after each overfilling of the vessel, the liquid is aspirated from the vessel through the dip tube until the lower end of the dip tube is above the surface of the liquid in the vessel. The resistance between the dip tube and the liquid in the vessel is continuously monitored and an error signal is generated either when the detected resistance falls below a predetermined threshold corresponding generally to that of the liquid after the overfilling but before the aspirating or when the detected resistance is substantially above the threshold after the aspirating and before the next overfilling. The flow of liquid out of the vessel is impeded except over the rim and through the dip tube at least during the aspirating step.

Description

The invention relates to a cup filling machine, as has become known in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 by public prior use.

The known cup filling machine has a sterile agent station downstream of both the cup feed station and the lid feed station in the flow of conveyance. This sterile agent station is supplied with hydrogen peroxide via a metering device and an atomizing nozzle. It is important here that the hydrogen peroxide is fed to the sterile agent stations, which work in intervals with the cup filling unit, in an accurate and dosed amount.

Each metering device of the known cup filling machine has a circular cylindrical sight glass that is sealed between a cover flange and a bottom flange to form a sterile agent container. The hydrogen peroxide is fed through the bottom flange using a continuously operating sterile pump. In order to ensure a certain filling level of the hydrogen peroxide within the sterile agent container, an electrical filling level control known per se is provided. As an alternative or in addition to the electrical fill level control, there is the bottom of the sterile agent container penetrating and free standing on this drain pipe, the upper free drain opening is spaced from the sterile medium bottom.

As an overflow measuring container, a measuring cup is provided in the metering device of the known cup filling machine, which is arranged laterally projecting at the free lower end of a holding rod that can be moved up and down in the working cycle of the cup filling machine. This support rod immerses the measuring cup below the filling level of the hydrogen peroxide, scoops the sterile agent (for example in the manner of a ladle), and then returns the measuring cup vertically to its starting position above the level of the sterile agent. This is done in such a way that the suction tube is immersed in the sterile agent present in the measuring cup. The sterile agent dosed in this way is then sucked off within one working cycle and fed to the atomizing nozzle for transfer to the cups or the lids. This process is repeated with every work cycle.

Suction tube and overflow measuring cup of the sterile agent dosing device of the known cup filling plant each represent the electrode of a level control device. Level control devices of this type, such as those provided by the company Ing. Grad. Helmut Negele, Hauptstrasse 14, D-8941 Egg ad Günz , are manufactured under the name "Niveaugerät gnv-d", are known per se and do not form an object of this invention. The level control ensures, however, that an interfering signal that switches off the cup filler is generated in the event that either the sterile agent pump is not working or is not working properly, i.e. is not supplying sterile agent, or the suction of the sterile agent via the suction pipe is not working. In the first case, the Nieveau control device, which measures a resistance gap between the two electrodes, would measure a small resistance at a certain phase of the working cycle and in the other case a very large resistance in the absence of sterile agent in another phase of the working cycle, in any case but trigger an interference signal.

Although the sterile agent dosing device of the known cup filling machine described at the outset has proven itself many times in practice, a sterile agent dosing device with a much simpler construction is primarily desirable. In addition, such a sterile agent dosing device should also offer the possibility, with little additional effort, of quickly changing the dosing amount of sterile agent in adaptation to different container and lid sizes.

The resulting task was solved according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

In the sterile agent dosing device of the cup filling machine according to the invention, it is first of all essential that as long as a certain sterile agent dosing quantity is maintained unchanged, the suction pipe and overflow measuring container are in a defined, spatially fixed relative position to one another, and in total they are distanced from the bottom of the sterile agent container. In the working cycle of the cup filling machine, the sterile medium pump no longer conveys an excess quantity of sterile medium intermittently but rather intermittently through a sterile medium feed line into the overflow measuring container. This therefore overflows in any case, the excess amount pouring freely onto the bottom of the sterile agent container and being able to flow off unhindered via the sterile agent outlet provided there, so that there is no liquid filling in the sterile agent container itself. In the case of the sterile agent metering device according to the invention, in contrast to what is known at the beginning, sterile agents are no longer drawn from a sterile agent supply, so that the mechanical scoop drive is eliminated.

In the case of the cup filling machine according to the invention, it has also been found that the metering volume is always constant, while in the case of the known, due to the mechanical scooping movement - with improper maintenance - vibrations occur can occur, which lead to a partial spillage of the sterile from the scoop, that is to say a small amount.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sterile agent supply line is a vertical, in particular free-standing cylindrical riser pipe, to which each overflow measuring container is directly connected to conduct liquid. According to the invention, the overflow measuring container can be connected in two fundamentally different ways:

In a first embodiment, the vertically arranged cylindrical riser pipe has a cylindrical axial extension coaxial with it and directed upwards, which at the same time forms the overflow measuring container. This axial extension is thus filled via the sterile medium pump, which in each working cycle supplies an excess metering quantity, whereupon the suction pipe, which is constantly in the relative position in the axial extension, sucks off as sterile medium until the suction flow is broken off. The metering volume can be changed in a simple manner by either reducing or increasing the immersion depth of the suction tube in the axial extension.

The second basic embodiment of the invention is that the vertical riser is orthogonal to its cylinder Telachse has upper free end face, which is followed by an inclined in the direction of the bottom of the sterile agent bottom drain surface, which in each case delimits the filling opening of at least one overflow measuring container. This embodiment according to the invention permits a plurality of overflow measuring containers in the form of cup-shaped depressions which are offset with respect to one another in the circumferential angle and which can have either the same or different metering volumes. In the event that the same dosing volume is available, a separate suction pipe can be assigned to each overflow measuring container. In special cases, this can be expedient in the case of cup filling machines which have a plurality of cup webs which extend in the conveying direction and which operate in a double step. In the event that the metering volumes of the overflow measuring containers arranged in the inclined outlet surface are different, there is the possibility of a rapid metering volume changeover. Namely, the riser pipe, including its inclined drain surface at the end, is guided downward from the suction pipe, the riser pipe is rotated by a certain circumferential angle around its longitudinal central axis, and then the measuring container (cup-shaped depression) with the desired dosing volume is placed in the immersion position with the suction pipe.

Further embodiments according to the invention result from the remaining subclaims.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Becherfüllwerks,
• Fig. 2 eine erste Ausführungsform einer Dosier­vorrichtung,
• Fig. 3 eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Dosiervorrichtung und
• Fig. 4 einen lediglich schematisch dargestell­ten wesentlichen Bereich einer dritten Ausfüh­rungsform.

Preferred exemplary embodiments according to the invention are shown in more detail in the drawings, in which:

• 1 is a schematic side view of a cup filling machine,
• 2 shows a first embodiment of a metering device,
• Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a metering device and
• Fig. 4 shows an only schematically shown essential area of a third embodiment.

The cup filler in Fig. 1 is generally designated by the reference number 10. A revolving conveyor chain K with an upper tower O and a lower run U runs over chain stars 11 and 12. The conveyor chain K has cell boards 13 shown schematically in FIG. 1, which are provided with cup receptacles 14 for cup-shaped containers (e.g. plastic cups) 15. The direction of conveyance of the cups 15 received in the upper run O is denoted by x.

In the direction x of the conveying flow, the work stations of the cup filling machine 10 are as follows:

16 provides the cup rod feed, 17 the cup feed station, 18 the sensor for missing or double cups, 19 the cup disinfection (sterile agent station), for example using hydrogen peroxide, 20 the main dispenser, 21 the lid placement station with lid disinfection (i.e. another sterile agent Station), 22 the sealing station, 23 the printing unit for applying the expiry date, 24 the tightness control station and finally 25 the cup removal station.

The cup filling machine 10 works as a double-step machine, i.e. with double feed, which means that each work station is occupied twice. The feed occurs intermittently in cycles. Accordingly, the higher the working frequency, the shorter the cycle time in which each work station must begin and end the work assigned to it. This also applies to the sterile agent stations of the cup filling unit 10, which achieves a work rate of approximately 33600 cups / h.

The liquid sterile metering devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are each designated by the reference number 26.

In all embodiments, identical or essentially analog components are always provided with the same reference number.

A sterile agent container 27 has a sight glass 28, the two end faces between a container bottom 29 and a container lid 30 are clamped in a sealing manner. The container base 29 consists of an electrically insulating material, in particular plastic, while the container cover 30 consists of an electrically conductive material, in particular stainless steel. The function of the sterile dosing device according to FIG. 2 is now as follows:

A sterile medium feed channel (eg for hydrogen peroxide) 31 is acted upon by a sterile medium feed pump, which works intermittently in cycles. So if a certain dosing volume is required, the sterile pump pumps an excess amount in one go, such that it overflows over the free cutting edge 32 of a circular cylindrical tubular extension 33, so that the excess amount flows out to the container bottom 29 and there via a discharge path 57, 58 can be fed to a sterile agent supply container (not shown) for further use. Accordingly, liquid sterile medium can never accumulate inside the sterile medium container 27, that is to say within the sight glass 28, so that the free, cutting-shaped end edge 32 is always distanced from excess liquid, and also from the container bottom surface 34. This ensures that the excess amount flows freely over the edge 32. A ventilation duct in the cover 30 bears the reference number 59.

The axial extension 33 forms the upper free end region of an essentially likewise circular-cylindrical sterile medium riser tube 35. The longitudinal central axes of the riser tube 35 and the axial extension 33 coincide with the vertical L.

If the discontinuously operating sterile medium pump has now conveyed its excess quantity for one work cycle, the sterile medium liquid level within the axial extension 33 closes off with its cutting edge end edge 32. Now the sterile agent located within the axial extension 33 is sucked off by means of a two-substance nozzle 36 and a compressed air valve 39 via the suction tube (ejector tube), which is designated overall by 37. The suction pipe 37 dips vertically from above with an amount a and coaxially with L into the axial extension 33. Sterile agent is now sucked off until the sterile agent suction flow inevitably breaks off at the lower end edge 38 of the suction pipe 37. With this, the predetermined metered amount is discharged, which is passed on to the atomizer nozzle (identified as 36 in total) (two-substance nozzle) and from there to the cups or lids to be treated in the cup disinfection 19 or in the lid placement station 21 (FIG. 1) .

We change the dosing volume as follows:

A partial area of the outer tube of the riser pipe is held in the tank bottom 29 by means of a thread engagement G. The amount a relevant for the dosing volume can now be easily reduced or increased by screw adjustment.

To seal against fluid loss, G-rings 40 are provided in the outer tube surface below the threaded engagement.

A so-called "level device gnv-d" is used to monitor the function of the sterile agent dosing device 26, as is done in the present case by the company Ing. Grad. Helmut Negele, Hauptstrasse 14, D-8941 Egg a.d. Günz, is delivered. This control device is designated purely schematically at 41. The leveling device 41 is electrically connected via an electrical line 42 to a sliding contact pin 43, which contacts the outer circumferential surface of the riser pipe 35 made of conductive material (stainless steel) within an annular groove 44. The end edge 32 thus forms a first electrode. In addition, the control device 41 is electrically conductively connected to the electrically conductive suction pipe 37 via a second line 45, so that its lower end edge 38 forms the second electrode.

If, for example, no sterile agent is aspirated above 37 when the axial extension 33 is full, a low electrical resistance (the sterile agent, e.g. Hydrogen peroxide is electrically conductive). In this case, the signal lamp 46 of the control device 41 lights up and the cup filling machine 10 is switched off.

On the other hand, it can happen that the sterile pump does not deliver. In this case, the axial extension 33 would not be filled at the beginning of the suction phase, so that the control device 41 would practically measure an infinitely large electrical resistance between 32 and 38. This would in turn cause the signal lamp 46 to light up and the cup filling unit 10 to be switched off.

Basically, with regard to all the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be noted that the spatial relative position between the respective overflow measuring container (e.g. axial extension 33) and the suction pipe 37 is unchanged for the respectively set metering volume. The spatial relative position is only changed if the dosing volume is to be changed.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 basically has the same construction and operating mode (also with regard to the control device 41) as the embodiment according to FIG. 2.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 is, however, different in comparison to FIG. 2 in that the riser pipe 35 also has at its upper free end an upper free end face or end edge 32 that is orthogonal to its cylinder central axis (perpendicular L). However, this end edge 32 is flush with a drain surface 47, which extends inclined in the direction of the bottom of the sterile medium container 29 and which receives the inlet opening of cup-like depressions 48, 49 of different sizes. These cup-like depressions 48, 49 accordingly form the overflow measuring container for the sterile agent. A plurality of cup-shaped depressions in the manner of the depressions 48, 49 are here arranged approximately like a turret with the same radial distance from L in the drainage surface 47, which forms part of an approximately mushroom-shaped body 50. The drainage surface 47 represents a truncated cone. The body 50 is rotationally symmetrical.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, the suction pipe 37 is cranked outwards. The lower region of the suction pipe 37 with its lower end edge 38 plunges into the receiving volume of the corresponding cup-shaped depression, in the present case in FIG. 49. The sterile agent suction process is otherwise the same as that described in connection with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2.

The riser pipe 35 is according to FIG. 2 in its axial area passing through the container bottom 29 non-threaded, rotatable and axially adjustable. If the cup-shaped recess 48 is to be put into alignment with the riser pipe 37 with a larger dosing volume, the riser pipe 35 is pulled off axially in the direction z by means of a handle 51 arranged at the end and rotated around L until the one previously located in the locking hole 52 spring-loaded locking ball 53 is aligned with the diametrically opposite locking hole 54, whereupon the riser 35 is moved back against the direction z. This backward movement is supported by a helical compression spring 55, which is supported on the underside on the container bottom 34 and on the top side on a support flange 56 on the riser tube side.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, in contrast to FIG. 3, essentially only the mushroom-shaped body 50 is shown in another embodiment. The sterile agent container 27 is otherwise designed in the same way as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, with the difference, however, that two or more suction pipes 37 are provided according to FIG. 4. Each suction pipe 37 is provided with its own electrical connection (shown schematically in each case), which in each case leads via a separate line 45 ′ or 45 41 to the control device 41, since the filling monitoring in the cup-shaped depressions 48, 49 is to be carried out separately for the following reasons: 4 is intended, if possible to supply each row of cups of a multi-lane cup filling machine separately with sterile agent. For this reason, the volumes of the cup-shaped depressions 48, 49 within the mushroom-shaped body 50 are each of the same size. Each metered amount within the recesses 48, 49 must therefore be monitored separately.

With reference to FIG. 4 (see also FIG. 3) it is particularly clear that the excess amount of the metering volume or the metering volume can flow up over the central region of the riser pipe 35 according to the arrow y, flow over the free end edge 32 and then correspondingly the arrows marked v can be distributed downward over the downwardly inclined drain surface 47 until the overflow depressions 48, 49 are filled in the manner shown. Thereafter, the excess of sterile agent can close freely down to the container bottom 34 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the container lid 30 is due to the different electrical leads 45; and 45˝ made of electrically insulating material (plastic).

Claims (14)

1. Cup filling machine for food and beverages, in particular for low-viscosity to pasty dairy and fat products or the like, with a cyclically circulating conveying means for the cups to be treated, ie to be supplied, to be filled, to be closed and to be conveyed away, in different work stations, whereby The cup feed station and possibly the lid feed station are each followed by a sterile agent station which has a liquid sterile metering device which, within a sterile agent container, has an overflow vessel, spaced above the bottom of the sterile agent container, as a sterile agent measuring container, into each of which a immerses a suction pipe guiding an atomizer nozzle, the overflow measuring container and the suction pipe each representing an electrode for a level control device, and wherein a sterile medium pump supplying an excess quantity is provided for loading the sterile medium container having a sterile medium outlet, characterized in that the sterile medium pump works intermittently in the working cycle of the cup filling machine (10) and the overflow measuring container (33; 48; 49) via a sterile agent supply line (31, 35), the suction pipe (37) and overflow measuring container (33; 48; 49) are arranged spatially fixed to each other for each specific sterile agent dosage quantity and that the sterile agent outlet (57, 58) bottom (at 34) of the sterile agent container (27) is arranged. 2. Cup filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the sterile supply line is a vertically arranged cylindrical riser pipe (35), to which each overflow measuring container (33; 48; 49) is directly connected in a liquid-conducting manner. 3. Cup filling machine according to claim 1 and according to claim 2, characterized in that the cylindrical riser pipe (35) passes through the bottom of the sterile medium container (29). 4. Cup filling machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cylindrical riser pipe (35) has a cylindrical axial extension (33) which is coaxial with it and which forms the overflow measuring container (33; 48; 49). 5. Cup filling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the overflow measuring container and the immersion suction tube (37) are arranged coaxially or parallel to one another and to change the dosing volume determining immersion depth (a) of the suction tube (37) in the overflow measurement container ( 33; 48; 49) are axially relatively adjustable and lockable. 6. Cup filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the riser pipe has an upper free end face (32) running orthogonally to its cylinder central axis (L), to which a drainage surface (47), which extends inclined in the direction of the bottom of the sterile agent container (34), adjoins the Filling opening at least one overflow measuring container (48; 49) bounded. 7. Bucket filling machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the inclined drainage surface (47) is designed as a rotationally symmetrical and coaxial to the riser-cylinder central axis (L), to the sterile medium container bottom (34) diverging truncated cone outer surface. 8. Cup filling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the lower edge of the truncated cone outer surface (at 47 and 50) is spaced from the sterile agent container bottom (34). 9. Cup filling machine according to one of claims 6-8, characterized in that the drainage surface (47) encloses the filling openings of a plurality of overflow measuring containers (48; 49). 10. Cup filling machine according to one of claims 6-9, characterized in that the preferably circular-cylindrical overflow measuring container (48; 49) are arranged with their central axes on the same circle around the cylinder central axis (L) of the riser pipe (35). 11. Cup filling machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the overflow measuring container (48; 49) have different metering volumes. 12. Cup filling machine according to one of claims 6-11, characterized in that a plurality of suction pipes (37) are present, each of which is assigned a measuring container (48; 49). 13. Cup filling machine according to one of claims 6-12, characterized in that at its free end the truncated cone-shaped surface (47) with a plurality of overflow measuring containers (48; 49) carrying riser pipe (35) rotatably adjustable the bottom of the sterile agent container (29) and penetrates sealingly axially. 14. Bucket filling machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the riser pipe (35) is rotatably adjustable in stages according to the circumferential angular spacing of the overflow measuring container (48; 49) about its central cylinder axis (L).

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