EP0737644B1 - Bottling device for liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

In the filling device the overflow pipe (19,7) has in the floor region of the suction container a run-up (20) from the stopper (3), and an adjacent run-out (21) to the storage container (6). The suction container (5) and the portion container (17,22) are arranged on a common stand (2) above the storage container. The stand is made as a suction pipe (11) between the pressure reduction unit (31) and the suction container.

Description

The invention relates to a filling device for in from storage containers Portion containers liquids to be dosed according to the generic term of claim 1.

Bottle filling machines are considered industrial machines for high Number of pieces known in various ways, e.g. Filling machines for commercial beverages, where on a carousel or in Matrix arrangement of a large number of bottles simultaneously or shortly after each other with a corresponding filler plug automatic opening of the inflow line and termination of the filling process known when the predetermined liquid level is reached.

Such machines are not suitable for small portioning companies, e.g. Winegrowers or distributors for various types of liquids, e.g. Chemical laboratories. Filling systems are preferred there, where the Portion containers to be filled in small batch sizes with fast if necessary changing liquids.

Two versions of such a filling device are known from the Polish utility model 45 791 and 45 793. One or more bottles are pushed under a filler plug against the pressure of a coil spring and then sealed by the filler plug and filled standing on a support bar. For filling, a tube is pushed into the bottle neck by the spring, which tube is connected on the other hand to a storage container. A second pipe leads from the fill plug to a suction tank. The suction container is arranged above the storage container with the liquid to be filled, the storage container in turn resting on a frame. The bottle filling arrangement itself is arranged on a stand of this frame, specifically above the storage container at approximately the level of the suction container. The suction tank has a drain line or a drain valve to the storage tank. In principle, the suction container forms an empty chamber, which is connected to the filler plugs by means of the second pipes, which serve as an overflow line, and is connected to a vacuum pump by means of a suction line. The overflow lines are led into the suction tank from above, while the drain line is arranged on the underside, which is closed by a flap-like valve at negative pressure in the suction tank and opens at normal pressure due to the liquid or gravity flowing into the suction tank and the liquid into the Allows the reservoir to run back. During the filling of the bottles, the suction pump is constantly in operation and when the desired filling level is reached, the further amount of liquid delivered flows over an overflow line to the suction tank.
An operator must therefore be constantly careful and replace the filled bottle with a new one, otherwise the bottle will only be rinsed and the suction container filled.

With a similar design, the system for the bottle change temporarily stopped as soon as the operator reaches the maximum level in the Glass suction container recognizes and then all fill plugs at the same time again equipped.

In an embodiment according to the Polish utility model 49073 becomes when the liquid level in the suction tank rises Float valve switched, which connects the suction line to the vacuum pump closes. At this moment there is no longer any negative pressure in the Suction container, so that the amount of liquid accumulated there Storage tank flows back.

These designs have a number of disadvantages. The filler plug with the e.g. Juice glued. The insertion of the bottles requires a certain amount Hand force to vertically compress the coil spring, whereby only then can the bottle be sealed tightly with the filler plug is guaranteed if the coil spring is guided and centered exactly thus the filler plug can be placed plane-parallel on the bottle. Conditionally due to the cleaning requirements in the area of This can be done directly with the food technology It is difficult to clean the bottle area in contact with the bottle opening. This applies in the same way to the coupled suction and storage containers, which are also to be cleaned from time to time. The arrangement of the Check valves for the suction line and the flap check valve creates a cleaning problem and gives cause for concern possible malfunction when closing the suction line or the dimensioning restoring force of the flap for the drain line. After filling some bottles are set in the suction tank ambient pressure, so that only after a certain time the vacuum pump is able to get one to initiate a new filling process. More serious, however, is that it is unnecessary a lot of liquid is circulated.

From US-A-2 809 677 a generic filling device is known, with which liquids can be dosed from storage containers into portion containers. The portion container is connected to a suction line from a storage container via a filler plug, and the compressed gas flow or the overflow line is discharged centrally from the portion container through the filler plug and connected to a suction container. This suction container can drain entrained liquid via a valve protruding into the storage container. The vacuum is generated by a vacuum pump, which switches on the return gas flow or the overflow line via a control valve and, on the other hand, acts on a servo motor that actuates the filler plug.
The system becomes relatively complex due to the valve control of the suction container as well as the control valve in the vacuum line and the servo motor, and a larger amount of the liquid obviously has to be returned to the storage container via the suction container. The large number of components and the complex control valve can make the device expensive and maintenance-intensive. The filling process is started by switching the valve and when the filling process is finished, the control valve is actuated again. The operator must also operate the control valve in addition to changing the bottle.
The filler plug for the opening of the container to be filled has a housing with a circular feed to the container for a filling line coupled to it and a central overflow line, the end of which is shaped like a plug. Above this plug is an inlet opening in the overflow line. If the filling flow is interrupted, the stopper closes the delivery line by lifting the servomotor. A servo motor serves six filling plugs so that the filling of the majority of the bottles begins and ends at the same time.

Therefore, the invention is based on the problem, the devices according to the state of the art for manually operated Filling devices for small batch sizes or quickly changing ones Improve types of fluids and the handling and function of the To optimize the machine.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by the filling device specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are in the subclaims detected.

The novel filling device, for liquids to be dosed from storage containers into portioning containers, comprises filling and overflow lines similar to the prior art, which are provided on the one hand with appropriate filling plugs on the portion container for tightly closing its filling opening and on the other hand are immersed in the liquid of the storage container. A suction tank is integrated into the overflow line, to which a pressure-lowering device, e.g. a gas pump or vacuum pump or other suction device known per se with a corresponding suction line, is permanently connected in the upper area, and on the other hand, preferably in the bottom area, there is an inlet line for overflow quantities resulting from the bottle filling and has a drain line to the reservoir. The three types of containers, namely storage containers, portion containers and suction containers, are found in this sequence at staggered height levels and are connected to each other by communicating tubes.
The suction container has a separating bell, which on the one hand separates the mouth of the suction line against incoming and outgoing liquids in the suction chamber of the suction container, which is under suction, and on the other hand, because the separation device is gas-permeable, both the suction chamber and the collecting chamber and the pipes connected to it remain connected to the pressure reduction device, as a result of which there is negative pressure or at least suction in the entire system.

The pressure reduction device in combination with the communicating tubes is designed so that there is a negative pressure in the system that is able to lift the liquid to be filled in the overflow line from the portion container or in its return connection from the suction container to the storage container so that the Column below the collecting chamber of the suction container, which sits at the highest point of the filling device, comes to a standstill during the filling process of the portion containers, for example bottles or cans. Only when the containers to be filled have the desired liquid level and are removed from the filling device, can the liquid in the overflow line on the inlet path to the collecting chamber be sucked into the collecting chamber by the negative pressure in the suction container and from there runs back via the return line into the storage container . Since air with ambient pressure enters the suction container at this moment after the overflow line has been emptied, the vacuum in the filling line, which leads directly from the storage container to the filling plug, breaks off briefly and this empties into the storage container. After inserting a new portion container, the filling process starts again without the need to switch the pump or any valves.
The suction effect remains in the return line of the collecting chamber reservoir and the functionality of the system can be seen from the constant liquid level in this line. The column height of the liquid also serves as a corresponding pressure indicator.

The suction container is connected to the filling line via an overflow line happens in the bottom area with an inlet to the collecting chamber and a drain in the direction as close as possible Storage container. This may result in an overflow pipe into the Liquid entering the drainage chamber drain off directly without the There is a risk that excess liquid in the suction line to the pressure sink device. For this purpose it is the collecting chamber of the suction chamber separating bell designed so that liquid entering the concave Side of the bell hits and flows back towards the drain line.

In a further developed variant, the filling plug or the supplied filling line has a valve, preferably an automatic check valve, which prevents the contents currently in the filling line from flowing back into the portion container. As a result, the filling is started immediately after replacing a filled storage container with an empty container.
During normal operation with the device, only a few drops of liquid get into the collecting chamber.

The device according to the invention can also be used to convey gas-evolving liquids, for example containing carbon dioxide, which, for example, are also to be partially degassed.
Dispersions which can separate by circulation according to the methods according to the prior art can also be easily filled or portioned with this device. This means that the device can not only be used to fill small containers, but also wherever a vacuum can be generated in the system to be filled, for example at petrol stations for oil changes or in chemical processes where a container has to be refilled. Overfilling must be prevented by the position of the mouth of the overflow line, so that toxic or aggressive liquids can also be filled.

The filler plug has a centrally arranged one Overflow line and a preferably side feed for one Fill line, which ends in the fill plug in a check valve, behind which the liquid in one, the overflow line at least partially enclosing channel can reach. This channel opens below one seal the container to be filled as airtight as possible a ring opening or in side outlets, for example in front of one Baffle-like lock. This will direct the liquid to the Wall of the container neck rinsed, from which you then without vortex formation can drain off. The liquid is soothed immediately and cannot foam.

The suction container and the portion container can be on the same Stands can be arranged above the storage container for Cleaning purposes can be easily dismantled.

According to a development of the invention, the stand can be tubular Suction line between the pressure lowering device and the suction tank be formed or at least as a protective jacket for one Serve vacuum hose.

The suction container can advantageously be connected to several portion containers at the same time via overflow lines, but has only one central outlet from the collecting chamber.
The portioning containers can be arranged in rows on corresponding supports on the stand or frame. If a large number of portion containers, for example 6, 8 or 10, are to be filled at the same time, it makes sense that the portion containers are arranged on a circular support bar which is arranged as a ring around the stand, ie around the suction container. This support bar for the portion container can also be designed as a turntable, so that the operator can always bring a new bottle or a new portion container into the filling device at the same location and also remove the portion container at the same location.
With this manual filling device, however, care must be taken that a large number of filling plugs do not functionally suck air, for example if only one bottle has to be filled with twelve plugs.
Tests have shown that with this type of construction at least six stoppers should be used for filling. With a larger number of plugs, some of the overflow lines can be closed and then the device is still suitable for filling individual containers.

The stand or the suction line can be equipped with a largely gas-tight sleeve in which the suction container with complementary socket is inserted. This allows the Slightly remove and clean the suction container.

In a preferred embodiment, the filling plugs are pivotally attached to one end of a leaf spring designed as a holder, which is fixed to the stand at the other end. The free end of the leaf spring, for example a flat stainless steel strip or plastic strip, hangs a little in the rest position when there is no portion container due to its own weight or slight load due to the filler plug.
When positioning the portion container, it is pushed under the filler plug and the leaf spring is raised slightly until the portion container is placed on the support bar. Due to the restoring force of the leaf spring, the filling plug is pressed tightly against the filling opening of the portion container. The moment of resistance of the leaf spring is designed so that it is just sufficient to press the filler plug onto the portion container, on the other hand the spring force is not so great that the operator has to exert large forces. Since the leaf spring can be pivoted about its fixing point on the stand, no further guidance of this spring is required, as is customary in the prior art. A leaf spring is also easy to clean. Another advantage of the leaf spring is that containers can also be filled that are not clamped in the vertical direction, because the filling opening is arranged laterally or obliquely from above in the portion container. For this purpose, the leaf spring is only rotated by the required degree of angle in order to be able to ensure a tight closure of the container with the filler plugs even in such a position. By turning the leaf spring, its section modulus remains the same regardless of the position.

In contrast to the prior art, the inventive Filling device, in particular also for filling several Portion container at the same time, a single portion container in each case removed immediately after filling or even during filling and be replaced by an empty container during the filling process for the remaining containers. In the case of the invention The overflow and reflux quantities are essential to the filling device less than in the system according to the prior art, because none or only small amounts via overflow or drain lines, storage containers and fill lines circulate, but once sucked in and filled will.

With a device with six filling plugs, for example, 1200 commercial or 1800 half-liter bottles can be filled every hour, for example with wine. The cycle time in the first case is around 18 seconds, the pure filling time around 6 seconds.
The time is of course shorter for small perfume bottles or medicinal jars.
However, the filling time can also be changed by dimensioning the cross sections of the lines, which are generally in the form of hoses, or by adjusting the suction power or the vacuum by other measures.
Other parameters that influence the filling time or cycle time as well as overflow quantities are the height arrangement of the containers and the diameter ratio of the different suction and filling lines. By varying the parameters, consideration can also be given to the viscosity and / or surface tension of the substances to be transferred.

The storage container, this is only of secondary importance for the invention, with Level indicators and / or limiters may be provided.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht im Schnitt eines Ausführungsbeispieles mit einem Portionsbehälter;

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht einer Abfülleinrichtung für sechs Portionsbehälter;

Figur 3

eine Seitenansicht in Teilschnitt mit Funktionsdarstellung der Blattfeder;

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf eine Anordnung gemäß Figur 3, jedoch mit zwei Portionsbehältern;

Figur 5

eine vergrößerte Schnitt-Darstellung eines Füllstopfens in Funktion.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing with exemplary embodiments.
Show it.

Figure 1

a side view in section of an embodiment with a portion container;

Figure 2

a front view of a filling device for six portion containers;

Figure 3

a side view in partial section with functional representation of the leaf spring;

Figure 4

a plan view of an arrangement according to Figure 3, but with two portion containers;

Figure 5

an enlarged sectional view of a filler plug in operation.

In the following description are identical or equivalent Provide functional parts with the same reference numbers.

Figure 1 shows a filling device in section, for a filling of Fruit juice in bottles 17 is suitable. On a rack 1 below whose one suction pump 31 is arranged is a stand 33 for one Support bar 18 on which the bottles 17 to be filled are placed can be arranged. At the same time there is a stand 2 on the frame 1 arranged, which carries a reservoir 6 on a first platform a second height position fixed a leaf spring 4 at its free end a fill plug 3 is attached. Above these two levels is on the Top of the stand 2 of the suction container 5 is arranged, the sleeve 10th and suction nozzle 9 with the stand or extending in the stand Suction line 11 is coupled, the suction line 11 in permanent Active connection with the pump 31 and the suction chamber 13 of the Suction container 5 is. The lower part of the suction container forms one Collection chamber 14 and is from the suction chamber 13 through a Separating bell 12 divided, the one to the outer jacket of the container 5 gas-permeable annular gap 15 forms, so that also in the Collection chamber can form a negative pressure generated by the pump. An outlet 21 leads from the collecting chamber via a return hose 7 in the reservoir 6, the liquid level is indicated. Out a fill line 8 leads to the filling plug 3 and from the storage container this to the inlet 20 of the suction tank an overflow line 19, wherein the overflow line a pipe 16 for level limitation within the Bottle 17 added.

It is easy to see that when the pump is working, the entire system is under vacuum, so that liquid can get from the reservoir 6 through the filler plug into the bottle 17 via the filling line 8.
The bottle had previously been pushed against the resistance of the leaf spring 4 between the support bar 18 and the filler plug 3 in the position shown. The sucked-in liquid runs out of the hose 8 along the neck of the bottle 17 and fills it until the liquid level in the bottle has reached the mouth of the pipe 16 of the overflow line 19. Since the entire system is still under vacuum, the incoming liquid is sucked into the overflow line 19 to a position below the inlet 20 to the collecting chamber 14. At the same time, a liquid column, drawn as a vacuum indicator U, was drawn from the storage container in the drain hose 7 in the direction to the outlet connection 21 of the collecting chamber 14. Since the negative pressure is set such that further conveyance is not possible, the liquid level in the lines 19, 8 and 7 designed as hoses, as shown in FIG. 1, is maintained until the operator removes the bottle 17. At this moment, air is sucked into the system through the fill level tube 16 and the liquid located in the overflow line 19 reaches the collecting chamber 14 and from there via the outlet connection 21 and the return line 7 back into the storage container. The liquid column in the return line 7 remains at a constant level. The separating bell 12 prevents inflowing liquid from reaching the area of the suction chamber 13 and thus prevents the undesirable flooding of the suction line 11. With the insertion of a bottle, the process begins again.

The filling device described is characterized by a very simple Construction and a stable reliable function and enables thereby a constant filling of bottles without any Switching functions are required. The lines have no valves and the individual parts, such as suction tank, stand or suction pipe 11, and the flexible hose lines 7, 8 and 19 can be removed and are cleaned with common cleaning agents and methods.

FIG. 2 shows the entire system with a battery of six fill plugs, only one bottle 17 is shown on the support bar 18. It is easy to see that a single suction tank 5 with a corresponding Suction line to the pump, not shown here, is sufficient to Many overflow lines 19 to operate, but only the individual one shown bottle can be filled alone.

FIG. 3 shows a section AA according to FIG. 4 through a device with two bottles 27 to be filled, which rest on a support bar 28, which in turn is fastened to the stand 33 with the adjustment variations V. The stand rests on a table 22 shown and at the same time has the function of holding the bottle in the selected position. A leaf spring 24 is fastened to the stand 2 by means of a bush 26 and a locking means 25.
This stainless steel leaf spring is shown in different positions a, b and c. At the free end of the leaf spring, which is seated here in the filling position B, the filling plug 23 is held, in which the filling line 30 and an overflow line 29 end. If no bottle is in the filling position, the leaf spring has the dashed position A and is bent into position C by pushing the bottle under the filling plug 23. As soon as the bottle 27 rests on the support bar 28, the steel spring 24 returns to position B and in doing so presses the filler plug 23 onto the bottle 27 and this at the same time onto the support bar 28, so that the filling process can now begin and a vacuum in the bottle is built up.

Figure 4 shows an arrangement according to Figure 3 in plan view, however two leaf springs 24 which are locked on the common cross member 32 and held by stand 22. The reservoir and the The suction container and the vacuum pump are not in this case either shown, but can be arranged similarly as in Figures 1 and 2.

5 shows in an enlarged representation and in section a filling situation analogous to FIG. 1, but with a different filling plug 35. This is pressed onto the bottle 17 by means of a leaf spring 4, to which it is connected by a screw connection 40, so that the seal 34 closes the portion container opening airtight. The central overflow pipe 39, which is arranged in the housing 38, is part of the overflow line (not shown further) and ends in each case in connection pieces 41 for hoses. Inside the bottle, the level hose 36, with its length H, determines the maximum level of the liquid W in the bottle 17, since the air suction S is then interrupted as soon as the liquid level reaches the mouth of the hose 36.
The liquid W is sucked in via the filling line 8, passes the check valve 37, and flows through the annular channel 42 concentrically surrounding the overflow pipe 39 through the annular gap 43, here set to the filling gap width F, into the bottle 17. Preferably, the flow is set so that the Liquid W runs off the bottle wall in a vortex-free manner.
When the desired filling level is reached, the vacuum breaks down in the interior of the bottle and in the ring channel and thus closes the valve 37 in the filling line 8.

Reference list

1

frame

2nd

Stand

3rd

Filler plug

4th

Leaf spring

5

Suction tank

6

Storage container

7

Return of the overflow line

8th

Filling line

9

Support

10th

sleeve

11

Suction line

12th

Dividing bell

13

Suction chamber

14

Collecting chamber

15

Annular gap

16

Level limiting tube

17th

Portion container

18th

Support bar

19th

Overflow pipe

20th

Overflow line inlet

21

Overflow line drain

22

table

23

Filler plug

24th

Leaf spring

25th

Locking

26

rifle

27

Portion container

28

Support bar

29

Overflow pipe

30th

Filling line

31

pump

32

Querholm

33

support

34

poetry

35

Filler plug

36

Level hose

37

check valve

38

casing

39

Overflow pipe

40

Screw connection

41

Faceplate

42

Ring channel

43

Annular gap
a, b, c position of the leaf spring

F

Filling gap width

H

Level variation

S

Suction direction

U

Vacuum indicator

V

Adjustment variation

W

liquid

Claims (9)

1. Filling arrangement for liquids which are to be decanted into portion containers (17, 27) in measured doses from supply containers (6), including

   filling and overflow pipes (8, 30; 7, 16, 19, 29, 36, 39), which connect the containers and which, on the one hand, extend into the liquid in the supply container (6) and, on the other hand, terminate at the portion container (17, 27) in a filling stopper (3, 23, 35), which is suitable for the tight closure of the filler opening of said portion container,

   a pressure lowering means for generating a reduced pressure relative to the ambient pressure in

   a suction container, disposed at a level above the portion container,

   characterized in that the suction container (5) is divided into a suction chamber (13) with a direct, open permanent connection (2, 11) extending to the pressure lowering means (31) and a collecting chamber (14), which form a part of the overflow pipe (19, 29, 7), by means of a gas-permeable bell-shaped divider (12) which shields the permanent connection from the liquid.
2. Filling arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the overflow pipe (19, 29 and 7) has, in the bottom region of the suction container, an inlet (20) extending from the filling stopper (3, 23, 35) and an outlet (21) which is disposed adjacent said stopper and extends to the supply container (6).
3. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction container (5) and the portion containers (17, 27) are disposed on a common support structure (2) above the supply container (6).
4. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (2) is configured at least partially as a tubular suction pipe (11) between pressure lowering means (31) and suction container (5).
5. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each suction container (5) has associated therewith a plurality of portion containers (17, 27) with appropriate inlets (20), but only one outlet (21) of the overflow pipes, the portion containers (17, 27) being positionable on a supporting bar (18, 28), which is configured as a turntable.
6. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (2) or the suction pipe (11) is provided with a largely gastight sleeve (10), into which the suction container (5) is insertable by means of a complementary configured connecting piece (9).
7. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the filling operation, the portion containers (17, 27) are clamped between a fixed supporting bar (18, 28) and a filling stopper (3, 23), which is pivotably mounted on the free end of a leaf spring (4, 24), the leaf spring being secured on the support structure (2, 22) by means of its other end.
8. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leaf spring (4, 24) is so configured that it has its smallest moment of resistance to bending in the axial direction with the filling opening of the portion container (17, 27).
9. Filling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling stopper has a housing provided with a circular supply line leading to the container for a filling pipe, which surrounds a central overflow pipe provided with a filling level defining means, and a seal for the container opening, characterized in that the supply line (42) is closable by means of a non-return valve (37), which is actuatable by reduced pressure, and the supply line terminates in an open lateral slot (43) beneath the seal (34), but above the filling level defining means (36), in such a manner that the liquid (w) is directed towards the wall of the container (17).

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