EP1081091B1 - Filling machine with vacuum generating means - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine in the preamble of claim 1 Art.

In the case of generic filling machines, several, for example 80, filling elements are provided circumferentially spaced with a rotor. The filling elements are each designed with devices for the sealed pressing of the containers and have an outlet for the beverage to be filled that can be switched by a liquid valve. The drinks can be supplied via separate lines or, for example, also via a ring kettle on which the filling elements are arranged. Switchable gas feeds, for example to the gas space of a storage boiler, are possible with suitable valves in order to apply suitable gas such as CO ₂ to the containers.

Filling machines of the generic type have filling elements which can be subjected to vacuum, where the outlet below the liquid valve at the appropriate time Vacuum is released to remove air from the already sealed to remove the container to be filled. It will be effective the disturbing amount of oxygen in the filled beverage is reduced.

In the case of generic filling machines known in the prior art (see e.g. EP-A-0 308 721), the device is for stationary vacuum generation outside the rotor and via lines through a rotating union in the axis of the rotor to the Filling elements connected, for example via a rotating around the rotor Ring line to which the filling elements are individually connected. The vacuum supply device is usually used as a rotating vacuum pump or as Water ring pump trained.

The disadvantage of this known vacuum supply is especially the long ones Lines between the filling elements and the device. Because of the cable length very large cross sections are required because of vacuum supplies suffer very much from cable cross-sections that are too narrow. There have to be compromises be closed, so that either extremely large pipes must be laid or the vacuum supply is bad. It is usually oversized Vacuum pumps worked.

The object of the present invention is the vacuum supply to improve a generic filling machine.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

According to the vacuum supply device is arranged on the rotor. in close proximity to the filling organs. The required vacuum lines are therefore shorter and can also be used with smaller cable cross-sections ensure an adequate vacuum supply. The vacuum supply The device works according to the invention according to the compressed air ejector principle Compressed air supply to the ejectors. Here is the introduction of compressed air over longer lines from outside of the rotor without any problems, because with sufficient Pressure even small wire cross sections are sufficient. In this invention The vacuum generation principle must be in contrast to the device Usually used vacuum pumps supplied with electrical current or water the medium compressed air is supplied, e.g. also about the Rotary distributor arranged axially on the rotor is much easier to transport is. The compressed air required can easily be on site on the rotor be generated. Compared to water ring pumps, there is the advantage that Supply medium does not have to be returned, but on site at the ejector can be blown off without affecting the operation of the filling machine becomes. In addition, compressed air ejectors are inexpensive and are maintenance-free.

The features of claim 2 are advantageously provided. It can be an ejector For example, supply a vacuum ring line to which all filling elements are connected Switching valves are connected. Several ejectors can also be provided be, which each supply several filling elements via vacuum distribution lines. For example, 4 ejectors can each supply one sector of the rotor.

Alternatively, the features of claim 3 are advantageously provided. There Compressed air ejectors are very small and inexpensive, any filling device can be provided with its own ejector. Only a compressed air supply e.g. be provided with a circumferential ring line. The vacuum line between Ejector and the outlet of the filling element can be extremely short and train with little resistance.

The features of claim 4 are advantageously provided. The filling organs, which have a relatively complicated structure anyway, can easily can be expanded with an installed or attached ejector.

The features of claim 5 are advantageously provided. With this the Ejector can be separated from the compressed air. It can be the vacuum supply can be switched in the required manner, or the ejector can be switched off when no vacuum is needed.

The features of claim 6 are advantageously provided. With a vacuum switching valve The vacuum can turn on and off between the ejector and the outlet be switched off, e.g. even when the ejector is constantly pressurized with compressed air.

The switching valves mentioned can be electrically, in the usual way, via compressed air or operated mechanically, e.g. in the usual way depending on Circumference angle of the filling element by switching stops arranged circumferentially or switching curves.

Fig. 1

einen stark schematisierten Achsschnitt durch eine Füllmaschine mit Ringkessel, an der Stelle eines Füllorganes mit Druckluft-Ejektor,

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Schnitt des in Fig. 1 dargestellten Druckluft-Ejektors,

Fig. 3

eine verkleinerte Teildarstellung der Konstruktion der Fig. 1 im Schnitt nach Linie 3-3 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 3 einer anderen Ausführungform der Vakuumversorgung und

Fig. 5

einen Axialschnitt eines Füllorganes gemäß Fig. 1 in alternativer, integrierter Bauweise.

The invention is shown schematically, for example, in the drawings.
Show it:

Fig. 1

a highly schematic axial section through a filling machine with ring bowl, in the place of a filling element with compressed air ejector,

Fig. 2

2 shows an enlarged section of the compressed air ejector shown in FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a reduced partial representation of the construction of FIG. 1 in section along line 3-3 in FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

a representation of FIG. 3 another embodiment of the vacuum supply and

Fig. 5

an axial section of a filling element according to FIG. 1 in an alternative, integrated design.

Fig. 1 shows an axis section highly schematically a filling machine of essentially conventional design. A rotor 2, which is rotatably driven and supported about an axis 1 by means not shown, has on its periphery an annular bowl 3, in which the beverage 4 to be filled, for example beer, and above it gas 5, for example CO _2, is below the level shown. From a rotary feedthrough 6 arranged in the axis 1, the ring bowl 3 is supplied with beverage 7 and gas 8 with a line.

A number of filling elements are circumferentially spaced in the bottom of the ring bowl 3 9 arranged, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The filling element 9 has A liquid valve 10 in the usual, highly schematic construction on, which sits at the lower end of a gas pipe 11, the upper end of one Gas valve 12 is controlled. On the gas valve 12 and on which the liquid valve load-bearing gas pipe 11 attack adjustable lifting devices from the outside, for example at the level of the two dashed lines. The lifting devices can, for example, with rotary unions through the peripheral wall of the Ring bowl 3 be driven in the usual way.

An outlet 13 is provided underneath the liquid valve 10 lower opening with an annular seal 14 a container 15, in the embodiment a bottle, can be pressed in a sealed manner by means not shown.

In the usual mode of operation of such filling machines, the rotor 2 runs around the axis 1 um. Empty containers are fed in at an angular position of the machine and pressed sealed under the filling elements 9. It then becomes a pretension opened the gas valve 12 and then by lifting the liquid valve 10 the filling process is initiated, with the drink 4 from the ring bowl 3 runs into the container 15. The usual return gas ducts e.g. with a connected to the gas pipe 11 and projecting down into the container 15 Return gas pipe may be provided.

There is air in an empty container 15 attached to the filling element 9. If this container is filled, the filled drink will be present in the air Oxygenated, which is harmful to most drinks. The Air which is displaced from the container 15 also flows into the gas space 5 of the ring bowl and contaminates the existing gas, so that this must be exchanged continuously. For these reasons, before the filling process begins the container 15 is evacuated.

For this purpose, a compressed air ejector 16 is assigned to the filling element 9 shown. The In one example, ejector is shown in section in FIG. 2. The ejector will Compressed air supplied via a line 17. The compressed air flows under acceleration through a constriction 18 into a suction chamber 19 and from there through a nozzle 20 to an outlet line 21. The suction chamber at high speed 19 air flowing through generates in a vacuum line connected to this 22 a vacuum.

1 shows, the ejector is via line 17 to a compressed air ring line 23 connected, which runs past all filling elements, to their ejectors 16 supply. The ring line 23 is connected to the rotary union 6 via a line 33 connected, through which it receives compressed air from the outside. In the ejector 16 with line 17 supplying compressed air, a compressed air valve 24 is provided, which for example, in the usual design with a plunger 25 when walking past one stationary stop is switchable.

The vacuum line 22 of the ejector 16 leads via a vacuum valve 26 with a plunger 27 to the outlet 13 and opens into this, through this and the opening of the container 15 to be able to evacuate the container. In a manner not shown the vacuum line 22 can also be connected indirectly to the outlet 13, e.g. via the gas pipe 11, and can also be extended with an in the return gas pipe protruding from the container immediately acts on the container.

If the filling element 9 shown rotates about the axis 1, then before Filling sector in an evacuation sector of the circumferential angle by appropriate Operation of the valves 24 and 26 concerned the evacuation of the container 15. The Evacuation is switched off and in particular the vacuum valve 26 is closed, before the filling process begins.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the construction of Fig. 1 in the example a filling machine with eight filling elements 9, each with an associated ejector 16, the compressed air ring line 23, the line 33 supplying this and the rotating union 6th

In an illustration corresponding to FIG. 3, an embodiment variant is shown in FIG. 4 shown, in which all filling elements are supplied with only two ejectors 16. As far as possible, the reference numerals of FIG. 3 are used. One sees, that the compressed air supply from the rotary union 6 via line 33 and a partial ring line 23 to the two ejectors 16 takes place. These are each vacuum side connected to a vacuum partial ring line 28, to train them for the purpose of vacuum guidance with a larger diameter is. At these partial ring lines 28 are the outlets of the filling elements shown 9 connected on the vacuum side.

In a further embodiment variant, not shown, starting from 4, only one ejector 16 may be provided, the 4 to a completely encircling ring line are connected. All filling organs are then from a single ejector supplied, which may also increase performance in the form of two or more ejectors connected in parallel can be formed.

Fig. 5 shows the filling element 9 shown in Fig. 1 with ejector 16 in one construction integrated design variant. Again, where possible, the Reference numerals of Fig. 1 used.

The filling element 9 is shown with the liquid valve 10 and the gas pipe 11. At its lower end, the outlet 13 sits with the ring seal 14 for Sealing the container 15, not shown.

The ejector 16 is mounted in a housing block 29 on the filling element 9. On the outside of the filling element are the compressed air valve 24 and the vacuum valve 26 attached. The line 17 for the compressed air supply of the ejector 16 is in the Provided inside the housing parts shown, as well as those to the ejector 16 and the interior of the outlet 13 connected vacuum line 22. Die Compressed air ring line 23 passes through the housing part 29 as well as another Ring line 30, the exhaust air instead of the outlet line 21 shown in Fig. 1 of the ejector 16 leads to a suitable outlet point.

Claims (6)

1. Filling machine for filling beverages (4) into containers including a rotor (2), which rotates about a vertical axis (1) and disposed on whose periphery are spaced filling elements (9), which are each constructed for the controlled filling of the beverage (4) through an outlet (13) into a container (15) held against it in a sealed manner, whereby each outlet (13) may be supplied with vacuum from a device (16), characterised in that the device (16) is arranged on the rotor (2) to move with it and, connected to compressed air (23, 33), is constructed to operate on the compressed air ejector principle.
2. Filling machine as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the device has at least one ejector (16), connected to which is a plurality of filling elements (9) (Fig. 4).
3. Filling machine as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the device has an individual ejector (16) for each filling element (9) (Fig. 1, Fig. 3).
4. Filling machine as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the ejectors (16) are structurally integrated into the filling elements (9) (Fig. 5).
5. Filling machine as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the ejector (16) has a compressed air switching valve (24) for its compressed air supply (17).
6. Filling machine as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the ejector (16) has a vacuum switching valve (26) between the ejector (16) and outlet (13).

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