EP0626340A1 - A valve filler group for container filler machines - Google Patents

A valve filler group for container filler machines Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0626340A1
EP0626340A1 EP94830131A EP94830131A EP0626340A1 EP 0626340 A1 EP0626340 A1 EP 0626340A1 EP 94830131 A EP94830131 A EP 94830131A EP 94830131 A EP94830131 A EP 94830131A EP 0626340 A1 EP0626340 A1 EP 0626340A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
pipe
liquid flow
container
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94830131A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Yvon Van Neste
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procomac SpA
Original Assignee
Procomac SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procomac SpA filed Critical Procomac SpA
Publication of EP0626340A1 publication Critical patent/EP0626340A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
    • B67C3/2625—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened automatically when a given counter-pressure is obtained in the container to be filled
    • B67C3/2628—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened automatically when a given counter-pressure is obtained in the container to be filled and the filling operation stopping when the liquid rises to a level at which it closes a vent opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
    • B67C3/2625—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened automatically when a given counter-pressure is obtained in the container to be filled
    • B67C3/2631—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened automatically when a given counter-pressure is obtained in the container to be filled and the filling operation stopping when probes, e.g. electrical or optical probes, sense the wanted liquid level

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a valve filler group for container filler machines.
  • Isobarometric machines are well-known having filler valve groups provided with two coaxial pipes, one for the liquid and another for the gas (normally carbon dioxide or oxygen), both usually kept closed by the internal filler tank pressure, which is greater than the elastic spring force acting in favour of opening.
  • gas normally carbon dioxide or oxygen
  • a mechanical positioner opens the gas valve and brings the container to the same pressure as the gaseous phase of the filler tank, known as the isobarometric phase. Once equality of pressure has been reached, the liquid valve spontaneously opens following the spring action and the filling operation begins, the air in the container exiting through a return pipe.
  • the filling operation stops hydraulically when the liquid level in the container touches the lower end of the return pipe.
  • the liquid valve stays mechanically open up until it contacts with a command moving a mechanical positioner which in its turn closes both the liquid valve and the gas valve. Subsequently the pressure inside the container is expelled into the atmosphere through a small snift valve.
  • Delay in closure of the liquid valve, when the closure is hydraulic, can be significantly long, especially when the filler slows or stops, because the air closed in the container tends to invade the liquid valve, causing changes in filler levels, and the liquid also tends to rise internally of the return pipe up to a level which is equal to that of the tank level, obeying the principle of communicating chambers.
  • air barriers have been used, such as for example a syphon passage or a metal net: in traditional filler machines, to solve the problem of liquid flow-back, the liquid is usually blown out of the return pipe when the valve group is between the exit star conveyor and the entry star conveyor, that is at the end of each filling operation and before the next.
  • valve groups need to operate at rather a high pressure (about half a bar).
  • the principal aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a filler valve group which is simple to construct and which affords considerable filler level precision, as it requires only a low pressure level to function.
  • a further aim is to guarantee mechanical closure of the liquid valve at the same time as the hydraulic closure which occurs when the desired level has been reached, independently of the machine rotation speed.
  • a still further aim is to regulate the filler delivery according to the shape of the containers to be filled, as well as providing a way to release the air in the containers through a different channel to the liquid-contacting return pipe.
  • the filler valve group of the invention comprises a device permitting the mechanical closure of the liquid pipe at the same time as the hydraulic closure caused by the liquid reaching a predetermined level, whereat the liquid contacts the air return pipe.
  • 1 denotes a liquid flow pipe containing a coaxial gas pipe 9 terminating below a return pipe 19 destined to penetrate inside an empty container 10 and, with its lower end, define the desired level which the liquid will reach.
  • the container 10 filling operation begins when a hermetic couple has been obtained between the container 10 and a gasket 15 of a centring element 11, of known type, which is associated to the valve group.
  • the gas pipe 9 is externally provided with a swelling functioning as an obturator 12 for the liquid flow pipe 1.
  • the gas pipe 9 and the obturator 12 are normally kept forced upwards against a gasket 13 solid to the liquid flow pipe 1 so as to close it due to the effect of the different extensions of two surfaces on which the pressure present in the liquid flow pipe 1 is exerted.
  • the liquid passage is opened and the filling operation begins, during which the air expelled from the container 10 keeps chamber 16 and not chamber 2 under pressure, as the button of the valve 5 is released at the end of the opening skate: the air flow, before reaching the channel 4, is choked in the passage through a calibrated orifice 6 made in a stem 7 of the valve group.
  • connection membrane 3 together with the chamber 16 and the special configuration of the upper zone of the valve group, constitutee an activation device of the obturator 12 of the liquid pipe, causing its mechanical closure independently of the filler rotation speed, at the same time as causing the hydraulic closure of the pipe due to the liquid reaching a preestablished level in the container 10.
  • the connection membrane 3, according to a further embodiment of the invention could be substituted by a piston with a slidable gasket inside the liquid flow pipe 1 above the washer 8.
  • each stem position corresponds to a particular filling speed. This can be useful when, for example, containers are being filled with gassy liquids, where the filling speed must be lower to avoid a build-up of froth.
  • the orifice is the of same diameter as a pipe 18 connecting it with the channel 4.
  • the obturator 12 stays open and it is not possible to fill a channel 20 with the liquid for the contemporaneous opening of all of the filler valve groups.
  • the passage between the channel and the channel 2 (not illustrated) is closed by a valve (not illustrated)
  • the channel 2 is pressurised, causing the obturator 12 to close, the channel 20 is filled with the liquid and the passage between the channel 20 and the channel 2 is closed.
  • the filler valve group of the invention is applicable both in conjunction with gassy and still liquids.
  • the pressure of channels 2 and 20 is typical of gassy liquids.
  • 21 denotes a level sensor for the presence of liquid and also able to break the electric circuit formed between the sensor and a metal element 22 fixed below the pipe 9.
  • the metal element 22 is bell-shaped, but it could be conformed with two metal bars or tongues.
  • the circuit breaker signal activates a solenoid valve 24 wich increases the air flow section towards the channel 4 and causes the closure of the liquid flow pipe.
  • the embodiment of figure 3 is particularly suited to filling containers with gassy liquids, since the sensor 21 is sensitive to the presence of liquid but not froth, so that precision of level reading is guaranteed.
  • the valve group is easy to clean in both flow directions, and is operative even in functioning environment pressures of 0.1 bar or less, which permits the filling of even very light plastic containers, or even square containers; that is, containers which are quite flimsy and unresistant to high pressures.

Landscapes

  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
EP94830131A 1993-05-25 1994-03-22 A valve filler group for container filler machines Withdrawn EP0626340A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITPR930024 1993-05-25
IT93PR000024A IT1265531B1 (it) 1993-05-25 1993-05-25 Gruppo valvola di riempimento,in macchina riempitrice di contenitori con liquidi.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0626340A1 true EP0626340A1 (en) 1994-11-30

Family

ID=11395811

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94830131A Withdrawn EP0626340A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1994-03-22 A valve filler group for container filler machines

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0626340A1 (it)
IT (1) IT1265531B1 (it)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115339672A (zh) * 2022-07-26 2022-11-15 枣庄市亚太石榴酒有限公司 一种用于石榴酒生产的灌装装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE245594C (it) *
US1779739A (en) * 1926-04-12 1930-10-28 Liquid Carbonic Co Filling machine
FR2075635A5 (it) * 1970-01-17 1971-10-08 Seitz Werke Gmbh
FR2322091A1 (fr) * 1975-08-29 1977-03-25 Pont A Mousson Dispositif de remplissage automatique et isobarometrique de bouteilles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE245594C (it) *
US1779739A (en) * 1926-04-12 1930-10-28 Liquid Carbonic Co Filling machine
FR2075635A5 (it) * 1970-01-17 1971-10-08 Seitz Werke Gmbh
FR2322091A1 (fr) * 1975-08-29 1977-03-25 Pont A Mousson Dispositif de remplissage automatique et isobarometrique de bouteilles

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115339672A (zh) * 2022-07-26 2022-11-15 枣庄市亚太石榴酒有限公司 一种用于石榴酒生产的灌装装置
CN115339672B (zh) * 2022-07-26 2024-01-30 枣庄市亚太石榴酒有限公司 一种用于石榴酒生产的灌装装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1265531B1 (it) 1996-11-22
ITPR930024A1 (it) 1994-11-25
ITPR930024A0 (it) 1993-05-25

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