EP1123251B1 - Method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product and filling installation implementing said method - Google Patents

Method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product and filling installation implementing said method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1123251B1
EP1123251B1 EP99947563A EP99947563A EP1123251B1 EP 1123251 B1 EP1123251 B1 EP 1123251B1 EP 99947563 A EP99947563 A EP 99947563A EP 99947563 A EP99947563 A EP 99947563A EP 1123251 B1 EP1123251 B1 EP 1123251B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling
containers
flow rate
product
installation
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EP99947563A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1123251A1 (en
Inventor
Bernard Marchau
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Remy Equipment
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Remy Equipment
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    • 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
    • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
    • B67C3/287—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to flow control using predetermined or real-time calculated parameters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/26—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
    • B65B3/30—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled by volumetric measurement
    • 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
    • B67C3/007—Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery
    • 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
    • B67C3/023—Filling multiple liquids in a container
    • B67C3/026—Filling the liquids simultaneously
    • 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
    • B67C3/20—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus with provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of filling of containers with a product flowing in a filling installation comprising a reservoir of product and a filling unit for filling simultaneous of several containers and the detection of containers to fill.
  • a filling installation comprising a reservoir of product and a filling unit for filling simultaneous of several containers and the detection of containers to fill.
  • the problem underlying the technique of filling of containers is to deliver, in each container, a predetermined quantity (in volume, in weight, ...) of flowing product, in the shortest time (in other words with the highest filling speed high, or with the highest speed), and what that either the effective volume of the container and / or its characteristics geometric and dimensional and / or characteristics rheological of the packaged product.
  • a first difficulty is due to the need quickly ensure fine adjustment of the flow rate supplied by each filling spout: manual intervention is certainly possible in a filling plant under normal conditions, but must be excluded in installations specific (filling installations in sterile environment in which any manual intervention requires shutdown of the installation, then implementation a complete decontamination cycle before putting it back in road).
  • Another difficulty is the size of the losses load which vary according to the number of spouts filling actually in operation (the spouts being in principle gravity fed from a tank to constant level). These pressure drops vary in particular during the start-up phase and the stop phase of installation as filling spouts enter service, respectively are put out service, which leads to concomitant variations in flows in the nozzles which are in service.
  • the implementation of the method of the invention allows to meet the desired goals insofar as the debit management is fully automatic and does not require no manual intervention within the installation: this process can therefore find application in a particularly interesting in filling systems in a sterile environment.
  • the regulation can be done in a way very fast and the implementation, for this purpose, of means electronic devices operating in real time do not pose today no particular problem for the skilled person. It results from the exploitation of the process of the invention within an in-line filling plant, even if it is working at a high rate, is perfectly possible to manage the individual filling of the containers with a optimum flow both during transitional phases (start, stop) of the installation only during operation continuous to take account in particular of faults container feeding (container missing or poorly positioned under the spout).
  • valve proportional any valve proportionally adjustable will be called valve proportional.
  • the means of total actual product flow measurement include a flow meter for measuring relatively high flow rates which is arranged in series with the main proportional valve and, for the measurement of relatively low flow rates, a branch circuit on the main proportional valve which includes a flow meter for measuring low flow rates and a secondary proportional valve, means switch selectively commissioning the valve main and secondary valve according to the flow to be measured.
  • the means for measuring the actual flow rate of the product include a multiplicity of associated individual flowmeters respectively to the filling spouts and means summers determining the sum ⁇ qi of the individual debits qi detected.
  • the means specific to the invention find a preferred application in an installation in which the filling unit is arranged in the form of a carousel rotating with the filling spouts distributed peripherally, the filling of the containers is carried out on a predetermined angular sector of the circular path followed by the beaks, and more particularly still finds application in such an installation arranged for filling the containers in a sterile environment.
  • the flowing product (usually a liquid) is brought to a tank 1 in which a device known per se (not shown) keeps the product at a constant level.
  • a sampling conduit 2 brings the flowable product to a filling unit 3 which in practice is a unit filling line of the rotating carousel type or a analogous type.
  • the filling unit 3 is equipped with a multiplicity filling nozzles 4 to which are associated support means (by the neck and / or by the bottom) of containers 5.
  • valve 6 there is in the line 2 a valve 6 with proportional closure under the action of a proportional control member 7.
  • This control can be of any type (pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, ...), but it is here preferably of the type electric due to the means used in the context of the invention and which is discussed below.
  • the principle used to control the operation filling unit 3 using the valve proportional 6 consists of measuring and comparing share, the actual instantaneous flow of the product delivered to the unit filling 3 and, on the other hand, the theoretical flow instant to be supplied to filling unit 3 and to determine, from this comparison, a signal of valve control which regulates the actual instantaneous total flow delivered to filling unit 3 to do so coincide with the instantaneous theoretical flow.
  • a flow meter 8 which supplies an electrical signal S r representative of the instantaneous total actual flow rate of the product flowing in the duct 2 and delivered to the filling unit 3.
  • a device 10 enables the value of the theoretical flow q to be delivered to each container to be displayed.
  • a multiplier device 11 receiving the electrical signals representative of the quantities n and q , produces the product nxq which constitutes the signal S th representative of the instantaneous theoretical flow rate to be supplied to the filling unit 3.
  • the two signals S r and S th are then compared in a comparator device 12 which delivers on its output a control signal S r - S thr intended for the control member 7 to actuate the valve under conditions suitable for the instantaneous total actual flow coincides with the instantaneous theoretical flow.
  • the electronic means that are currently commonly available commercially (microprocessors) present the information processing capacity and the speed to perform the above functions so to obtain the desired regulation in real time.
  • the flowmeters may have ranges of not allowing them to cover both large flow measurements and small measurements we can consider, to extend the domain of operation of the installation of Figure 1, to have use the following assembly illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the flow meter 8 suitable for measuring large flows. Bypass on the proportional valve 6 are connected in series a flowmeter 14 suitable for measuring small flow rates and a secondary proportional valve 15.
  • a processor 13, associated with the comparator 12, ensures the selective opening and closing of the valves 6 and 15 according to the importance of the detected flow and selects the suitable signal from the two signals S r1 supplied by the flow meter 14 and S r2 supplied by the flow meter S r2 , so as to be able to ensure the desired regulation of the valve in service 6 or 15.
  • each filling spout 4 is equipped with an individual flow meter 17.

Abstract

A method and an installation for controlling the filling of containers (5) with a flowable product in a filling installation has a product reservoir (1) and a filling unit (3) for simultaneously filling several containers (5). The method consists in: measuring the total real flow rate of product delivered by the filing unit (3) to the whole set of containers (5); detecting the number n of containers (5) being filled in the filling unit (3); displaying a theoretical flow rate q of the individual filling of the containers (5); comparing the total real flow rate measured and the theoretical flow rate n.q; and, correcting, if necessary, the total real flow rate to make it coincide with the theoretical flow rate. The operation of the installation is thereby adapted to the exact number of containers being actually filled simultaneously, with no significant variations of real individual filling flow rates.

Description

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine du remplissage de récipients avec un produit coulant dans une installation de remplissage comportant un réservoir de produit et une unité de remplissage permettant le remplissage simultané de plusieurs récipients et la détection des récipients à remplir. Une telle installation est décrite dans le document EP 0 082 990 A.The present invention relates to the field of filling of containers with a product flowing in a filling installation comprising a reservoir of product and a filling unit for filling simultaneous of several containers and the detection of containers to fill. Such an installation is described in document EP 0 082 990 A.

Le problème qui est à la base de la technique du remplissage de récipients est de délivrer, dans chaque récipient, une quantité prédéterminée (en volume, en poids,...) de produit coulant, dans le temps le plus bref (autrement dit avec la vitesse de remplissage la plus élevée, ou encore avec le débit le plus élevé), et cela quel que soit le volume effectif du récipient et/ou ses caractéristiques géométriques et dimensionnelles et/ou les caractéristiques rhéologiques du produit conditionné.The problem underlying the technique of filling of containers is to deliver, in each container, a predetermined quantity (in volume, in weight, ...) of flowing product, in the shortest time (in other words with the highest filling speed high, or with the highest speed), and what that either the effective volume of the container and / or its characteristics geometric and dimensional and / or characteristics rheological of the packaged product.

Ces nécessités entraínent plusieurs difficultés, en particulier dans les installations de remplissage en continu de récipients en mouvement les uns à la suite des autres (installations de remplissage en ligne).These necessities lead to several difficulties, in particularly in continuous filling systems of containers moving one after the other (online filling facilities).

Une première difficulté tient à la nécessité d'assurer de façon rapide un réglage fin du débit fourni par chaque bec de remplissage : une intervention manuelle est certes possible dans une installation de remplisage sous conditions normale, mais doit être écartée dans des installations particulières (installations de remplissage en milieu stérile dans lesquelles toute intervention manuelle nécessite l'arrêt de l'installation, puis la mise en oeuvre d'un cycle complet de décontamination avant sa remise en route).A first difficulty is due to the need quickly ensure fine adjustment of the flow rate supplied by each filling spout: manual intervention is certainly possible in a filling plant under normal conditions, but must be excluded in installations specific (filling installations in sterile environment in which any manual intervention requires shutdown of the installation, then implementation a complete decontamination cycle before putting it back in road).

Une autre difficulté tient à l'importance des pertes de charge qui varient en fonction du nombre des becs de remplissage effectivement en fonctionnement (les becs étant en principe alimentés par gravité à partir d'un réservoir à niveau constant). Ces pertes de charge varient en particulier lors de la phase de démarrage et de la phase d'arrêt de l'installation au fur et à mesure que des becs de remplissage entrent en service, respectivement sont mis hors service, ce qui entraíne des variations concommitantes des débits dans les becs qui sont en service.Another difficulty is the size of the losses load which vary according to the number of spouts filling actually in operation (the spouts being in principle gravity fed from a tank to constant level). These pressure drops vary in particular during the start-up phase and the stop phase of installation as filling spouts enter service, respectively are put out service, which leads to concomitant variations in flows in the nozzles which are in service.

En outre, en cours de fonctionnement en continu de l'installation, il peut survenir un incident dans l'alimentation d'un ou plusieurs récipients (récipient absent ou mal positionné sous le bec). Selon l'aménagement technologique de l'installation, soit le bec correspondant délivre le produit qui est alors perdu (gaspillage en produit), soit le bec est inhibé et le débit des autres becs s'en trouve modifié.In addition, during continuous operation of installation, there may be an incident in the power supply one or more containers (container absent or incorrectly positioned under the spout). According to technological development of the installation, i.e. the corresponding spout delivers the product which is then lost (wasted product), i.e. nozzle is inhibited and the flow of other nozzles is thereby amended.

Il existe donc actuellement une demande pour un contrôle positif instantané, à distance (c'est-à-dire sans intervention manuelle au sein de l'installation), du débit effectif individuel de tous les becs de remplissage de l'installation, ce contrôle devant pouvoir être effectué d'une façon simple, aussi peu onéreuse que possible, et ne nécessitant pas un entretien excessif.There is therefore currently a demand for a instant, remote positive control (i.e. without manual intervention within the installation), flow individual strength of all filling spouts installation, this check must be able to be carried out in a simple way, as inexpensive as possible, and does not not requiring excessive maintenance.

A ces fins, selon un premier de ses aspects, l'invention propose un procédé pour contrôler le remplissage de récipients avec un produit coulant dans une installation de remplissage comportant un réservoir de produit et une unité de remplissage permettant le remplissage simultané de plusieurs récipients et la détection des récipients à remplir, lequel procédé, étant agencé conformément à l'invention, se caractérise en ce que :

  • on mesure le débit réel total de produit délivré par l'unité de remplissage à l'ensemble des récipients,
  • on détecte le nombre n de récipients en cours de remplissage dans l'unité de remplissage,
  • on affiche un débit théorique q de remplissage individuel des récipients,
  • on compare le débit réel total mesuré et le débit théorique n.q, et
  • on effectue, s'il y a lieu, une correction du débit réel total pour l'amener en coïncidence avec le débit théorique,
ce grâce à quoi il est possible d'adapter le fonctionnement de l'installation de remplissage au nombre exact de récipients effectivement remplis simultanément, sans variations sensibles des débits individuels réels de remplissage.For these purposes, according to a first of its aspects, the invention provides a method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product in a filling installation comprising a product reservoir and a filling unit allowing the simultaneous filling of several containers and the detection of the containers to be filled, which method, being arranged in accordance with the invention, is characterized in that:
  • the total actual flow rate of product delivered by the filling unit to all the containers is measured,
  • the number n of containers being filled in the filling unit is detected,
  • a theoretical flow q of individual filling of the containers is displayed,
  • comparing the total actual measured flow and the theoretical flow nq, and
  • a correction is made, if necessary, of the total real flow rate to bring it into coincidence with the theoretical flow rate,
this makes it possible to adapt the operation of the filling installation to the exact number of containers actually filled simultaneously, without appreciable variations in the actual individual filling rates.

La mise en oeuvre du procédé de l'invention permet de satisfaire aux buts recherchés dans la mesure où la gestion des débits est entièrement automatique et n'exige aucune intervention manuelle au sein de l'installation : ce procédé peut donc trouver application d'une façon particulièrement intéressante dans les installations de remplissage en milieu stérile.The implementation of the method of the invention allows to meet the desired goals insofar as the debit management is fully automatic and does not require no manual intervention within the installation: this process can therefore find application in a particularly interesting in filling systems in a sterile environment.

En outre, la régulation peut s'effectuer de façon très rapide et la mise en oeuvre, à cette fin, de moyens électroniques fonctionnant en temps réel ne pose aujourd'hui aucun problème particulier pour l'homme de métier. Il en résulte que l'exploitation du procédé de l'invention au sein d'une installation de remplissage en ligne, même fonctionnant à une cadence élevée, est parfaitement envisageable pour gérer le remplissage individuel des récipients avec un débit optimum aussi bien pendant les phases transitionnelles (démarrage, arrêt) de l'installation qu'en cours de fonctionnement continu pour tenir compte notamment des défauts d'alimentation en récipients (récipient absent ou mal positionné sous le bec).In addition, the regulation can be done in a way very fast and the implementation, for this purpose, of means electronic devices operating in real time do not pose today no particular problem for the skilled person. It results from the exploitation of the process of the invention within an in-line filling plant, even if it is working at a high rate, is perfectly possible to manage the individual filling of the containers with a optimum flow both during transitional phases (start, stop) of the installation only during operation continuous to take account in particular of faults container feeding (container missing or poorly positioned under the spout).

Selon un second de ses aspects, l'invention propose une installation de remplissage de récipients avec un produit coulant comportant un réservoir de produit et une unité de remplissage équipée d'une multiplicité de becs de remplissage permettant le remplissage simultané de plusieurs récipients et d'un dispositif de détection des récipients à remplir, laquelle installation étant agencée conformément à l'invention, se caractérise en ce qu'elle comprend :

  • une vanne réglable de façon proportionnelle, insérée dans le conduit d'alimentation entre l'unité de remplissage et le réservoir de produit,
  • des moyens de mesure du débit réel total du produit circulant effectivement dans l'unité de remplissage,
  • des moyens capteurs propres à déterminer le nombre n de récipients en cours de remplissage dans l'unité de remplissage,
  • des moyens d'affichage du débit théorique g de remplissage individuel des récipients,
  • des moyens de calcul pour déterminer le débit théorique global n.q du produit à fournir à l'unité de remplissage, et
  • des moyens comparateurs recevant et comparant les informations de débit réel total mesuré par les moyens de mesure et de débit théorique calculé par les moyens de calcul, lesdits moyens comparateurs ayant une sortie de commande raccordée à une commande de la vanne de réglage du débit de produit fourni à l'unité de remplissage.
According to a second of its aspects, the invention provides an installation for filling containers with a flowable product comprising a product reservoir and a filling unit equipped with a multiplicity of filling spouts allowing the simultaneous filling of several containers and a device for detecting receptacles to be filled, which installation being arranged in accordance with the invention, is characterized in that it comprises:
  • a proportional valve, inserted in the supply line between the filling unit and the product tank,
  • means for measuring the total actual flow rate of the product actually circulating in the filling unit,
  • sensor means suitable for determining the number n of containers being filled in the filling unit,
  • means for displaying the theoretical flow rate g for individual filling of the containers,
  • calculation means for determining the overall theoretical flow rate nq of the product to be supplied to the filling unit, and
  • comparator means receiving and comparing the information of total actual flow measured by the measurement means and of theoretical flow calculated by the calculation means, said comparator means having a control output connected to a control of the product flow control valve supplied to the filling unit.

Dans la suite de la description, toute vanne réglable de façon proportionnelle sera appelée vanne proportionnelle.In the following description, any valve proportionally adjustable will be called valve proportional.

Dans un mode de réalisation possible, les moyens de mesure du débit réel total du produit comprennent un débitmètre pour la mesure des débits relativement élevés qui est disposé en série avec la vanne proportionnelle principale et, pour la mesure de débits relativement faibles, un circuit en dérivation sur la vanne proportionnelle principale qui comprend un débitmètre pour la mesure de faibles débits et une vanne proportionnelle secondaire, des moyens de commande mettant en service sélectivement la vanne principale et la vanne secondaire selon le débit à mesurer.In one possible embodiment, the means of total actual product flow measurement include a flow meter for measuring relatively high flow rates which is arranged in series with the main proportional valve and, for the measurement of relatively low flow rates, a branch circuit on the main proportional valve which includes a flow meter for measuring low flow rates and a secondary proportional valve, means switch selectively commissioning the valve main and secondary valve according to the flow to be measured.

Dans encore un autre mode de réalisation possible, les moyens de mesure du débit réel du produit comprennent une multiplicité de débitmètres individuels associés respectivement aux becs de remplissage et des moyens sommateurs déterminant la somme Σqi des débits individuels qi détectés.In yet another possible embodiment, the means for measuring the actual flow rate of the product include a multiplicity of associated individual flowmeters respectively to the filling spouts and means summers determining the sum Σqi of the individual debits qi detected.

Les moyens propres à l'invention trouvent une application préférée dans une installation dans laquelle l'unité de remplissage est agencée sous forme d'un carrousel tournant avec les becs de remplissage répartis périphériquement, le remplissage des récipients s'effectuant sur un secteur angulaire prédéterminé de la trajectoire circulaire suivie par les becs, et plus particulièrement encore elle trouve application dans une telle installation agencée pour un remplissage des récipients en milieu stérile.The means specific to the invention find a preferred application in an installation in which the filling unit is arranged in the form of a carousel rotating with the filling spouts distributed peripherally, the filling of the containers is carried out on a predetermined angular sector of the circular path followed by the beaks, and more particularly still finds application in such an installation arranged for filling the containers in a sterile environment.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description détaillée qui suit de certains modes de réalisation donnés uniquement à titre d'exemples non limitatifs. Dans cette description, on se réfère au dessin annexé sur lequel :

  • la figure 1 est un schéma illustrant l'agencement d'un premier mode de réalisation d'une installation conforme à l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est un schéma d'une variante de réalisation d'une partie de l'installation de la figure 1 ; et
  • la figure 3 est un schéma de l'agencement d'un autre mode de réalisation d'une installation conforme à l'invention.
The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows of certain embodiments given solely by way of nonlimiting examples. In this description, reference is made to the appended drawing in which:
  • Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a first embodiment of an installation according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of part of the installation of Figure 1; and
  • Figure 3 is a diagram of the arrangement of another embodiment of an installation according to the invention.

En se référant tout d'abord à la figure 1, le produit coulant (en général un liquide) est amené à un réservoir 1 dans lequel un dispositif connu en soi (non montré) assure le maintien du produit à un niveau constant.Referring first to Figure 1, the flowing product (usually a liquid) is brought to a tank 1 in which a device known per se (not shown) keeps the product at a constant level.

Un conduit de prélèvement 2 amène le produit coulant à une unité de remplissage 3 qui en pratique est une unité de remplissage en ligne du type caroussel tournant ou d'un type analogue.A sampling conduit 2 brings the flowable product to a filling unit 3 which in practice is a unit filling line of the rotating carousel type or a analogous type.

L'unité de remplissage 3 est équipée d'une multiplicité de becs de remplissage 4 auxquels sont associés des moyens de support (par le col et/ou par le fond) de récipients 5.The filling unit 3 is equipped with a multiplicity filling nozzles 4 to which are associated support means (by the neck and / or by the bottom) of containers 5.

L'agencement général d'une telle installation n'entre pas dans le cadre de la présente invention : il peut être quelconque, de tout type approprié à la fonction et aux performances recherchées.The general layout of such an installation does not fall within the scope of the present invention: it can be of any type, suitable for the function and performance sought.

Conformément à l'invention, on dispose dans la conduit 2 une vanne 6 à obturation proportionnelle sous l'action d'un organe 7 de commande proportionnelle. Cette commande peut être de tout type (pneumatique, hydraulique, mécaniques,...), mais elle est ici de préférence de type électrique en raison des moyens mis en oeuvre dans le cadre de l'invention et dont il est question plus loin.In accordance with the invention, there is in the line 2 a valve 6 with proportional closure under the action of a proportional control member 7. This control can be of any type (pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, ...), but it is here preferably of the type electric due to the means used in the context of the invention and which is discussed below.

Le principe mis en oeuvre pour contrôler le fonctionnement de l'unité de remplissage 3 à l'aide de la vanne proportionnelle 6 consiste à mesurer et à comparer, d'une part, le débit réel instantané du produit délivré à l'unité de remplissage 3 et, d'autre part, le débit théorique instantané devant être fourni à l'unité de remplissage 3 et à déterminer, à partir de cette comparaison, un signal de commande de la vanne qui régule le débit réel total instantané délivré à l'unité de remplissage 3 pour le faire coïncider avec le débit théorique instantané.The principle used to control the operation filling unit 3 using the valve proportional 6 consists of measuring and comparing share, the actual instantaneous flow of the product delivered to the unit filling 3 and, on the other hand, the theoretical flow instant to be supplied to filling unit 3 and to determine, from this comparison, a signal of valve control which regulates the actual instantaneous total flow delivered to filling unit 3 to do so coincide with the instantaneous theoretical flow.

A cette fin, on dispose également dans le conduit 2 un débitmètre 8 qui fournit un signal électrique Sr représentatif du débit réel total instantané du produit s'écoulant dans la conduite 2 et délivré à l'unité de remplissage 3.To this end, there is also in the duct 2 a flow meter 8 which supplies an electrical signal S r representative of the instantaneous total actual flow rate of the product flowing in the duct 2 and delivered to the filling unit 3.

Dans l'unité de remplissage 3 sont prévus des moyens 9 détectant le nombre n de récipients en cours de remplissage.In the filling unit 3 are provided means 9 detecting the number n of containers being filled.

Un dispositif 10 permet d'afficher la valeur du débit théorique q devant être délivré à chaque récipient.A device 10 enables the value of the theoretical flow q to be delivered to each container to be displayed.

Un dispositif multiplicateur 11, recevant les signaux électriques représentatifs des grandeurs n et q, élabore le produit n x q qui constitue le signal Sth représentatif du débit théorique instantané devant être fourni à l'unité de remplissage 3.A multiplier device 11, receiving the electrical signals representative of the quantities n and q , produces the product nxq which constitutes the signal S th representative of the instantaneous theoretical flow rate to be supplied to the filling unit 3.

Les deux signaux Sr et Sth sont alors comparés dans un dispositif comparateur 12 qui délivre sur sa sortie un signal de commande Sr - Sthr destiné à l'organe de commande 7 pour actionner la vanne dans des conditions propres à ce que le débit réel total instantané coïncide avec le débit théorique instantané.The two signals S r and S th are then compared in a comparator device 12 which delivers on its output a control signal S r - S thr intended for the control member 7 to actuate the valve under conditions suitable for the instantaneous total actual flow coincides with the instantaneous theoretical flow.

Les moyens électroniques qui sont actuellement couramment disponibles dans le commerce (microprocesseurs) présentent la capacité de traitement de l'information et la rapidité propres à assurer les fonctions précitées de façon à obtenir la régulation souhaitée en temps réel.The electronic means that are currently commonly available commercially (microprocessors) present the information processing capacity and the speed to perform the above functions so to obtain the desired regulation in real time.

Les débitmètres pouvant présenter des plages de fonctionnement ne leur permettant pas de couvrir à la fois des mesures de grands débits et des mesures de petits débits, on peut envisager, pour étendre le domaine de fonctionnement de l'installation de la figure 1, d'avoir recours au montage suivant illustré à la figure 2.The flowmeters may have ranges of not allowing them to cover both large flow measurements and small measurements we can consider, to extend the domain of operation of the installation of Figure 1, to have use the following assembly illustrated in Figure 2.

Dans la conduite 2 et en série avec la vanne proportionnelle principale 6 est disposé le débitmètre 8 approprié à la mesure de gros débits. En dérivation sur la vanne proportionnelle 6 sont connectés en série un débitmètre 14 propre à la mesure de petits débits et une vanne proportionnelle secondaire 15. Un processeur 13, associé au comparateur 12, assure l'ouverture et la fermeture sélective des vannes 6 et 15 en fonction de l'importance du débit détecté et sélectionne le signal convenable parmi les deux signaux Sr1 fourni par le débitmètre 14 et Sr2 fourni par le débitmètre Sr2, de manière à être en mesure d'assurer la régulation souhaitée de la vanne en service 6 ou 15.In line 2 and in series with the main proportional valve 6 is arranged the flow meter 8 suitable for measuring large flows. Bypass on the proportional valve 6 are connected in series a flowmeter 14 suitable for measuring small flow rates and a secondary proportional valve 15. A processor 13, associated with the comparator 12, ensures the selective opening and closing of the valves 6 and 15 according to the importance of the detected flow and selects the suitable signal from the two signals S r1 supplied by the flow meter 14 and S r2 supplied by the flow meter S r2 , so as to be able to ensure the desired regulation of the valve in service 6 or 15.

Dans un autre mode de réalisation illustré à la figure 3, chaque bec de remplissage 4 est équipé d'un débitmètre individuel 17. Les informations qi mesurées par ces débitmètres sont sommées dans un dispositif sommateur 18 qui délivre un signal Sr = Σqi qui représente le débit réel total instantané délivré par l'unité de remplissage 3. Pour le reste, l'installation est agencée comme indiqué plus haut en regard de la figure 1.In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each filling spout 4 is equipped with an individual flow meter 17. The information qi measured by these flow meters is summed in a summing device 18 which delivers a signal S r = Σqi which represents the actual instantaneous total flow delivered by the filling unit 3. For the rest, the installation is arranged as indicated above with reference to FIG. 1.

Claims (7)

  1. Method of controlling the filling of containers (5) with a flow product in a filling installation comprising a product reservoir (1) and a filling unit (3) enabling several containers (5) to be filled simultaneously and containers to be filled to be detected,
    characterised in that:
    the total real flow rate of product delivered by the filling unit (3) to all the containers (5) is measured,
    the number n of containers (5) being filled within the filling unit (3) is detected,
    a theoretical individual filling rate q for the containers (5) is displayed,
    the measured total real flow rate and the theoretical flow rate n.q are compared and
    if necessary, the total real flow rate is corrected to bring it into line with the theoretical rate,
    whereby the operation of the filling installation can be adapted to the exact number of containers effectively being filled simultaneously, without any significant variations in the real individual filling rates.
  2. Installation for filling containers with a flowing product comprising a product reservoir (1) an a filling unit (3) provided with a plurality of filling nozzles (4) enabling several containers (5) to be filled simultaneously and with a device for detecting containers to be filled,
    characterised in that it comprises:
    a proportionately adjustable valve (6) inserted in the supply line (2) between the product reservoir (1) and the filling unit (3),
    means for measuring (8; 14; 17, 18) the total real flow rate of the product effectively circulating in the filling unit (3),
    sensor means (9) suitable for determining the number n of containers being filled within the filling unit (3),
    means (10) for displaying the theoretical individual filling rate q of the containers (5),
    computing means (11) for determining the global theoretical flow rate n.q of the product to be delivered to the filling unit (3), and
    comparator means (12) receiving and comparing the total real flow rate data measured by the computing means and theoretical flow rate data calculated by computing means, said comparator means having a control output connected to a control (7) for the valve (6) for proportionally regulating the product flow rate delivered to the filling unit (3).
  3. Installation as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the means for measuring the total real flow rate of the product comprise a flow meter (8) disposed in the pipe (2) conveying the product from the reservoir (1) to the filling unit (3).
  4. Installation as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that, in order to cover measuring of flow rates in a wider range, the means for measuring the total real product flow rate comprise a flow meter (8) for measuring relatively high flow rates which is disposed in series with the main proportional valve (6) and, in order to measure relatively low flow rates, a circuit bypassing the main proportional valve and comprising a flow meter (14) for measuring low flow rates and a secondary proportional valve (15), control means being provided in order to bring the main valve and the secondary valve selectively into service depending on the flow rate to be measured.
  5. Installation as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the means for measuring the total real product flow rate comprise a plurality of individual flow meters (17) co-operating respectively with the filling nozzles (4) and summing means (18) determining the sum Σqi of the individual flow rates qi detected.
  6. Installation as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the filling unit (3) is set up in the form of a rotating carousel with the filling nozzles (4) distributed around the periphery, the containers (5) being filled on a predetermined angular sector of the circular path followed by the nozzles.
  7. Installation as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that it is configured to enable containers to be filled in a sterile environment.
EP99947563A 1998-10-16 1999-10-13 Method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product and filling installation implementing said method Expired - Lifetime EP1123251B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9813008 1998-10-16
FR9813008A FR2784669B1 (en) 1998-10-16 1998-10-16 METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE FILLING OF CONTAINERS WITH A FLOWING PRODUCT AND FILLING INSTALLATION USING THE SAME
PCT/FR1999/002475 WO2000023373A1 (en) 1998-10-16 1999-10-13 Method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product and filling installation implementing said method

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1123251A1 EP1123251A1 (en) 2001-08-16
EP1123251B1 true EP1123251B1 (en) 2004-01-07

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EP99947563A Expired - Lifetime EP1123251B1 (en) 1998-10-16 1999-10-13 Method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product and filling installation implementing said method

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US (1) US6378575B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1123251B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3663131B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100411942B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1094894C (en)
AT (1) ATE257462T1 (en)
AU (1) AU757058B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9914533A (en)
CA (1) CA2346557C (en)
DE (1) DE69914094T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1123251T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2213386T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2784669B1 (en)
PT (1) PT1123251E (en)
WO (1) WO2000023373A1 (en)

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FR2838824B1 (en) * 2002-04-19 2005-02-04 Sogem Fl METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING A QUANTITY OF PRODUCT REPETITIVELY DEPOSITED BY A REMOVAL ACTUATOR, AND THE REMOVAL INSTALLATION EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE
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CN108990500B (en) * 2018-07-04 2022-02-11 银川沃尔森节水灌溉有限公司 Method, device and system for intelligently adding fertilizer to fertilizer dissolving tank in pipeline fertilizing system
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1123251A1 (en) 2001-08-16
ATE257462T1 (en) 2004-01-15
CA2346557A1 (en) 2000-04-27
CN1323275A (en) 2001-11-21
FR2784669B1 (en) 2001-01-05
WO2000023373A1 (en) 2000-04-27
ES2213386T3 (en) 2004-08-16
PT1123251E (en) 2004-05-31
DK1123251T3 (en) 2004-04-26
DE69914094T2 (en) 2004-10-21
JP3663131B2 (en) 2005-06-22
JP2002527313A (en) 2002-08-27
BR9914533A (en) 2001-07-03
KR20010080100A (en) 2001-08-22
CN1094894C (en) 2002-11-27
KR100411942B1 (en) 2003-12-18
AU757058B2 (en) 2003-01-30
CA2346557C (en) 2005-07-12
US6378575B1 (en) 2002-04-30
FR2784669A1 (en) 2000-04-21
DE69914094D1 (en) 2004-02-12
AU6096499A (en) 2000-05-08

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