EP1173383B1 - Filling machine comprising advanced cleaning means - Google Patents

Abstract

A filling machine (38) includes at least one filling tube (22), whereby a product flows through the tube, which tube is placed opposite the opening of a receptacle (12) that is to be filled. The filling tube is accommodated in a fixed housing that is joined to a support (34) for the filling tube; the housing possesses an orifice (48) whereby the filling tube is placed opposite thereto and the housing also includes a moveable obturating flap (50) that closes the orifice and seals the housing when in a closed position. The machine includes structure that enables a cleaning agent to be circulated inside the housing.

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine comprising sophisticated means of cleaning.

The invention relates in particular to machines which allow fill hollow containers, such as bottles or jars, with a product, for example a food product.

Such machines generally have a rotating carousel which carries a series of filling spouts. The containers are engaged on the carousel at a given point in the circle that it describes, being arranged below a filling spout. Once the container is in place under the spout, the latter is supplied with product so that the product is spilled inside the container. When a desired degree of filling is reached, the nozzle supply is interrupted by an interposed valve in the spout supply circuit and the container is then released from the carousel, this of course before the carousel has completed a turn full.

The arrangement of multiple spouts on a carousel allows the machine to simultaneously fill several containers. This ensures the filling of a large number of containers in a given amount of time, despite the fact that filling is a operation which is relatively long. Indeed, it is particularly necessary to avoid the product does not foam too much, which could lead to filling only partial of the container or loss of product by overflow. A filling machine can thus include more than a hundred beaks.

Of course, the filling operation must be carried out in avoiding any contamination of the product. This is crucial when the product is a food product and even more so in the case of dairy products for example.

Also, the cleaning of the filling machine, in particular ensuring rigorous cleaning of all parts of the machine which are intended to be in contact with the product. However, it must also be ensured that the other parts of the machines that are near the product remain clean.

Cleaning can consist of removing all traces of the product, remove dust and other foreign bodies, or even eliminate biological or bacteriological contaminants. For the purposes of this patent, cleaning can therefore cover the concepts of washing, disinfection, decontamination or sterilization.

Cleaning is generally carried out using a cleaning agent liquid or gaseous cleaning that is circulated in the circuit taken by the product inside the machine.

To limit the consumption of cleaning agent, and especially for facilitate its recovery for possible recycling, we prefer to do circulate the agent within a closed circuit.

For this purpose, it is known to provide each nozzle of the machine with filling of a movable cup which, during a cleaning phase of the machine, is brought into position on the corresponding spout. The cup for example fits tightly on the spout filling and it is connected to an agent evacuation circuit cleaning. The cup then occupies substantially the place of the container under the filling spout. Thus, it is possible to inject the agent cleaning in the nozzle supply circuit so that it ensures cleaning the inside of the spout, the valve and the circuit.

However, these known devices do not ensure the cleaning only of the internal part of the filling spout which is in contact direct with the product. Parties immediately nearby, such as the external surfaces of the spout are not reached by the cleaning.

However, if impurities accumulate in the vicinity of the spout, they are for example likely to come off when filling and come into contact with the product, or even fall into the container. It is therefore necessary to provide means which allow effective cleaning external parts of the beak.

Furthermore, when the machine has a carousel provided with a large number of spouts, it is interesting to provide a structure mobile which allows to set up all the means of cleaning corresponding to each spout. In the known device previously described, the cups are carried by a mobile structure which moves between a retracted position and a service position. This movement takes place in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the carousel, the structure retracting downwards.

However, given this direction of travel, the latter must be done on a relatively large run to fully clear the volume necessary for the passage of the containers when the machine is in service. The amplitude of this displacement and the mass of the structure of support of the cups therefore require the provision of actuators which are themselves bulky and heavy. So the whole structure and actuation means presents itself as a particularly whole bulky that is difficult to integrate into the machine.

In addition, the weight and size of the assembly make it impossible to mount on the carousel. We are therefore led to mount this together directly on the fixed frame of the machine, which implies that the cups cannot follow the rotational movement of the carousel. The cleaning phase can only be done if the carousel is stopped.

This has a double disadvantage. On the one hand, then provide specific means of angular indexing of the carousel to ensure that when the support structure of the cups is brought to its cleaning position, each nozzle is exactly in correspondence with one of the cups. On the other hand, cleaning does not can be performed during the rotation of the carousel, some parts of the power circuit may not be perfectly cleaned. Thus, the circuit generally comprises a rotating distributor which allows to transmit the product which is stored in a fixed tank to each of the spouts carried by the carousel. Cleaning done at stopping, it is difficult to guarantee a perfect cleaning of the dispenser.

A solution has already been proposed in WO-A-95/33675 which describes a machine conforming to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention therefore aims to propose a new design a filling machine which incorporates cleaning means to ensure cleaning of the internal and external parts of the spout filling, these means having to be at the same time simple, reliable, little bulky and easy to implement, even in the case of a machine with many spouts.

• le volet d'obturation est commandé par des moyens d'actionnement entre sa position fermée et une position ouverte dans laquelle l'orifice du carter est dégagé ;
• les moyens d'actionnement du volet comportent un vérin à pression de fluide à double action ;
• le carter est de forme tubulaire, l'orifice étant aménagé dans une paroi latérale du carter, et le volet d'obturation comporte un manchon tubulaire qui coulisse sur le carter selon l'axe de ce dernier.

For this purpose, the invention provides a filling machine of the type comprising at least one filling spout through which a product flows, the spout being intended to be brought opposite the opening of a container to be filled, characterized in that the filling spout is enclosed in a fixed casing integral with a frame which supports the spout, the casing comprising a passage orifice opposite which the spout is arranged, and the casing comprising a movable shutter which , in a closed position, closes the orifice and closes the casing in a leaktight manner, and in that the machine comprises means for circulating, inside the casing, a cleaning agent; machine characterized in that:

• the shutter is controlled by actuating means between its closed position and an open position in which the orifice of the casing is released;
• the shutter actuating means comprise a double-acting fluid pressure cylinder;
• the casing is tubular in shape, the orifice being arranged in a side wall of the casing, and the shutter comprises a tubular sleeve which slides on the casing along the axis of the latter.

• à une extrémité axiale arrière, le volet comporte une collerette radiale qui coulisse de manière étanche dans une chambre délimitée, radialement, entre deux parois cylindriques, et, axialement, entre deux parois radiales, la paroi radiale avant étant pourvue d'une ouverture annulaire au travers de laquelle le manchon du volet coulisse de manière étanche ;
• la collerette sépare de manière étanche deux parties de la chambre dont chacune peut être reliée sélectivement à une source de fluide sous pression pour provoquer le déplacement du volet entre ses positions ouverte ou fermée ;
• le volet est agencé radialement à l'extérieur du carter ;
• le carter s'étend selon une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à la direction d'écoulement du produit ;
• l'agent de nettoyage est introduit dans le carter par le bec de remplissage ;
• l'agent de nettoyage est évacué au travers d'un port auxiliaire qui débouche à l'intérieur du carter ;
• le port auxiliaire est agencé au niveau d'un point bas du carter ;
• en cours de remplissage, un gaz stérile est injecté dans le carter et s'évacue au travers de l'orifice du carter en entourant l'écoulement du produit entre le bec de remplissage et le récipient ;
• le gaz stérile est injecté dans le carter au travers du port auxiliaire ;
• l'alimentation du bec de remplissage est commandée par une vanne qui est déportée par rapport au bec, la vanne étant reliée au bec par une conduite d'alimentation ;
• la vanne est agencée en dessous du bec de remplissage ;
• la vanne est agencée sensiblement en dessous du récipient à remplir, ce dernier étant lui-même agencé en dessous du bec de remplissage ;
• le bec est porté par un carrousel rotatif, et le carter fixe est solidaire du carrousel ; et
• la machine comporte plusieurs becs de remplissage dont chacun est enfermé dans un carter fixe pourvu d'un obturateur mobile permettant de fermer le carter de manière étanche.

According to other preferred characteristics of the invention:

• at a rear axial end, the flap comprises a radial flange which slides in a sealed manner in a chamber delimited, radially, between two cylindrical walls, and, axially, between two radial walls, the front radial wall being provided with an annular opening at the through which the flap sleeve slides in leaktight fashion;
• the collar sealingly separates two parts of the chamber, each of which can be selectively connected to a source of pressurized fluid to cause the shutter to move between its open or closed positions;
• the flap is arranged radially outside the casing;
• the housing extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the product;
• the cleaning agent is introduced into the casing through the filling spout;
• the cleaning agent is discharged through an auxiliary port which opens inside the housing;
• the auxiliary port is arranged at a low point of the casing;
• during filling, a sterile gas is injected into the casing and is evacuated through the orifice of the casing, surrounding the flow of the product between the filling spout and the container;
• sterile gas is injected into the housing through the auxiliary port;
• the supply of the filling spout is controlled by a valve which is offset relative to the spout, the valve being connected to the spout by a supply line;
• the valve is arranged below the filling spout;
• the valve is arranged substantially below the container to be filled, the latter itself being arranged below the filling spout;
• the spout is carried by a rotating carousel, and the fixed casing is integral with the carousel; and
• the machine comprises several filling spouts each of which is enclosed in a fixed casing provided with a movable shutter making it possible to close the casing in a sealed manner.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe axiale illustrant une partie d'un carrousel d'une machine de remplissage conçue selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail de la figure 1 montrant plus particulièrement le carter de nettoyage d'un bec de remplissage ainsi qu'un volet d'obturation et ses moyens d'actionnement, le volet étant illustré en position ouverte ;
• la figure 3 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 2 dans laquelle le volet est illustré en position d'obturation ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en coupe par un plan horizontal perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation du carrousel dans lesquelles on a plus particulièrement illustré les moyens d'actionnement du volet mobile, ce dernier étant représenté respectivement en position ouverte et en position d'obturation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, as well as in the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view in axial section illustrating a part of a carousel of a filling machine designed according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a detail view of Figure 1 showing more particularly the cleaning housing of a filling spout and a shutter and its actuating means, the shutter being illustrated in the open position;
• Figure 3 is a view identical to that of Figure 2 in which the flap is illustrated in the closed position;
• Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views through a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the carousel in which we have more particularly illustrated the actuating means of the movable flap, the latter being shown respectively in the open position and in position shutter.

Illustrated in Figure 1 schematically and partially a filling machine 10 intended to ensure the filling of containers, such as bottles 12, with a liquid, for example a flat liquid such as water. Of course, the invention can be applied when filling any type of container with any type of product.

Machine 10 is a rotary machine which includes a carousel 14 rotatably mounted relative to a fixed frame 16, around an axis A1 which, for convenience, will be called vertical.

The carousel 14 has a series of filling stations 18 which are angularly spread evenly around the axis A1 but only one of which is illustrated in the figures. Each filling station 18 is able to fill a bottle 12. It includes effect in particular a device 20 for supporting the bottle 12, a spout filling 22 through which the product intended to fill the bottle, and a supply circuit which is interposed between the spout 22 and a rotating distributor 24 of the machine 10.

The supply circuit includes a supply line having two upstream 26 and downstream 28 sections between which we have arranged a valve 30 which makes it possible to control the flow of product in the circuit and therefore the distribution of the product in the container.

The rotating distributor 24 is arranged in the lower part of the carousel 14, radially at the center of it. It has a fixed part on which are connected supply pipes (not shown) which are fixed relative to the frame 16 and which in particular make it possible to supply the carousel in product, and moreover, as it will appear later, cleaning agent and pressurized air.

The distributor 24 also comprises a rotating part 32 on which are connected pipes including the supply line 26, 28. The two parts of the rotary distributor 24 include means for communication that selectively connect the pipes fixed supply to the corresponding carousel lines.

Each filling station 18 has a vertical column hollow 34 which is fixed by its lower end on a plate horizontal 36 and which carries, at its upper end, the spout filling, which extends outwards, substantially along a radius with respect to the axis A1.

The valve 30 is arranged below the plate 36, substantially at the vertical of the associated filling spout 22, so that the downstream section 28 of the supply line extends through a bore 40 of the tray 36 and inside the column 34.

According to the invention, the column 34 carries, at its end upper, a casing 38 in which the spout of the filling 22, this in order to allow a simple cleaning of the spout.

As can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 5, the end part of the downstream section 28 of the supply pipe extends in a radial plane with respect to the axis A1, so that the casing is fixed protruding radially outward from column 34. The casing 38 has a base 42 which is fixed to the column 34 and which is extended radially outwards by a tubular wall of revolution 44 of radial axis A2. Wall 44 is closed at its end external radial by an end wall 46 which is for example constituted by a plug screwed tightly onto the wall 44.

The end part of the supply line 28 crosses the base 42 sealingly to open into the closed space delimited by the tubular wall 44. The filling spout 22 is curved down to find itself opposite an orifice 48 arranged in the wall 44, this orifice 48 itself being opposite the opening of filling of the bottle 12 when the latter is in place on its support 20.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the casing 38 comprises a movable flap 50 which makes it possible to close the orifice 48 so that the housing delimits a perfectly closed and sealed space in which the spout 22 is locked up.

The flap 50 consists of a tubular sleeve 52 of revolution which is slidably mounted on the tubular wall 44, outside of the latter. The flap 50 can thus move between an open position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, in which it is moved back so as to release the orifice 48, and a closed position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, in which it is advanced so as to cover the orifice 48.

The rear end of the sleeve 52 has the shape of a collar 54 which slides tightly inside an annular chamber delimited around the tubular wall 44 by a tubular shell 56 of axis A2 which surrounds the rear end of the wall 44. The collar 54 plays thus the role of a piston which delimits in the chamber two front parts 58 and rear 60. The respective volume of these two parts 58, 60 is therefore variable depending on the position of the flange, and therefore the position flap 50, along axis A2.

Also, by imposing in one or other of the parts 58, 60 of the fluid pressure chamber, the shutter 50 is forced to move to either of its open or shutter positions. In others terms, the flange 54 and the two parts 58, 60 of the chamber form a double action fluid pressure cylinder.

To do this, the base 42 of the casing 38 has two holes pressure fluid inlet, a first 62 of which is connected to the part front 58 of the chamber and the second 64 of which is connected to the rear part 60. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the first intake hole 62 actually communicates with a distribution gallery 66 which is arranged in the thickness of the shell 56 and which extends axially in parallel to the chamber to lead to the front of the hull in a annular groove 68 which is in communication with the front part 58 of the bedroom.

When the first intake hole 62 is connected to a source of pressurized fluid (not shown), the flap 50 is forced towards its open rear position in which the orifice 48 of the casing 38 is released. On the contrary, when the second intake hole 64 is connected to the source of fluid under pressure, the flap 50 is forced forward to its position shutter. During these movements, the tubular sleeve 52 of the flap 50 slides tightly through an annular opening delimited at the front end of the chamber between the shell 56 and the wall tubular 44. When the flap is in the open position, the sleeve 52 is almost completely received inside the room.

This shutter actuation device is particularly simple to implement since most of the machines filling already use pressurized fluid as energy source for various functions, so that the installation of the device does not requires the addition of power control solenoid valves inlet holes 62, 64. In general, the pressurized fluid which will be used is compressed air capable of being brought to the casing by the through the rotating distributor 24. However, the fluid can also come from a storage tank on board the carousel.

In addition, the presence of such an actuating device is particularly advantageous in that it does not require intervention human directly on the machine 10 to open or close the flap 50. Indeed, such intervention always remains a possible source of contamination.

When the machine has several nozzles, provision can be made for each filling station 18 is provided with its own solenoid valve shutter 50 control. The shutters 50 are actuated individually and can then optionally be shifted in time from one beak to another.

However, when the machine has a large number of filling spouts, the machine may include a solenoid valve single order for all spouts.

In both cases, the actuation of the flaps can, thanks to the invention, to be done simultaneously on all the nozzles in a very short time short. Advantageously the actuation of the flaps can be carried out even when the carousel is being rotated.

However, other actuation means can be provided automatic shutter than those described. The shutter could thus be controlled by an autonomous pneumatic, hydraulic cylinder or electromagnetic, or even by a set of cams.

Similarly, the movable flap which has been described is constituted by a sliding sleeve. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is may also plan to carry it out in any other form, for example in the form of an articulated flap.

When the casing 38 is closed by the flap 50, it is possible to organize inside of it a circulation of a cleaning agent allowing to clean not only the inside of the spout 22, but also outside of it. To do this, we for example circulate through of the intake pipe, of the valve 30 and of the spout 22, a liquid of cleaning which comes to fill the casing 38. The liquid is then evacuated from the casing through an auxiliary port 70 which is arranged in the base 42 and which opens inside the casing. Auxiliary port 70 is by example connected by an auxiliary pipe 72 and by the distributor 24 to a cleaning fluid recovery and recycling device, which helps limit consumption.

Preferably, the auxiliary port 70 is arranged so as to lead to a low point of the casing 38 to allow a as complete drainage of the cleaning liquid as possible auxiliary line 72.

Advantageously, to further improve the qualities of cleanliness of filling using such a machine, one can provide inject inside the casing 38, at the time of filling, a gas sterile such as sterile air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The gas sterile then fills the internal volume of the casing 38 and escapes through orifice 48 by surrounding the jet of product which is delivered by the nozzle of filling in the direction of the bottle 12. Thus, between the spout 22 and the bottle 12, the product is isolated by a sterile gas jacket and is not not exposed to possible surrounding pollution sources. Advantageously, the sterile gas can be introduced into the casing 38 at through the same auxiliary port 70 which is used for the evacuation of the cleaning during the machine cleaning phases.

According to one of the characteristics of the invention, the valve 30 which controls the circulation of the product in the supply line 26, 28 is offset from the filling spout. Indeed, the length of the downstream section 28 of the pipe which connects the valve 30 to the nozzle 22 can reach a length greater than one meter. This provision presents several advantages.

A first advantage lies in the possibility of arranging the valve 30 in a place where it is easily accessible to be able to ensure the maintenance. Indeed, in the machine described, it is located in the part external radial of the carousel, and not in the center of it, behind the spout 22, as is the case in previously known machines.

A second advantage is revealed particularly in the case of machines with a large number of spouts 22. Indeed, the space angle available for each filling station is limited. In arranging the valves 30 associated with each of these nozzles 22 on a circle large diameter, each valve has sufficient space to allow easy installation and so that the space is not an overly decisive criterion for the choice of technology used works for the valve.

In addition, the valve being offset away from the spouts, this allows free up a lot of space around these. It is thus possible to design fairings with relatively simple shapes that do not not turn into hard to clean dust traps.

Finally, the space thus gained at the filling spout allows to easily dispose around it the casing 38 which makes possible the simple and effective cleaning of the spout, the housing being able to be of dimension scaled down.

The machine which has just been described is designed so that the spout filling does not come into contact with the bottle 12 during filling. However, a person skilled in the art can easily, using his only general knowledge, transpose the teachings of the invention in the case of filling machines in which the spout comes into contact with the bottle, by vertical displacement of the bottle or of the beak.

Claims (17)

1. Filling machine of the type comprising at least one filling spout (22) through which a product is poured, the spout (22) being designed to be positioned in line with the opening of a container (12) that is to be filled, of the type in which the filling spout (22) is enclosed in a fixed housing (38) integral with a support (34) for the spout (22), the housing (38) comprising a through orifice in line with the spout (22), and the housing (38) comprising a moveable closure shutter (50) which, in a closed position, shuts the orifice (48) and closes the housing (38) in a sealed manner, and of the type in which the machine comprises means for circulating a cleaning agent around the inside of the housing (38),
   characterized in that the housing (38) is tubular in shape, the orifice (48) being formed in a side wall (44) of the housing (38), and in that the closure shutter (50) comprises a tubular sleeve (52) that slides along the housing (38) in the direction of the axis (A2) of the latter.
2. Filling machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the closure shutter (50) is driven by actuating means (58, 60, 54) between its closed position and an open position in which the orifice (48) of the housing (38) is uncovered.
3. Filling machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that the shutter actuating means comprise a double-acting fluid-pressure actuator.
4. Filling machine according to Claim 3, characterized in that, at a rear axial end, the shutter (50) comprises a radial collar (54) that slides leaktightly in a chamber defined, radially, between two cylindrical walls (44, 56), and, axially, between two radial walls, the front radial wall being provided with an annular opening through which the sleeve of the shutter slides leaktightly.
5. Filling machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the collar (54) separates in a sealed manner two parts (58, 60) of the chamber, each of which can be connected when required to a source of pressurized fluid in order to move the shutter (50) between its open and closed positions.
6. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the shutter (50) is fitted radially around the outside of the housing (38).
7. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the housing (38) extends in a direction essentially perpendicular to the direction in which the product is poured.
8. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the cleaning agent is introduced into the housing (38) through the filling spout (22).
9. Filling machine according to Claim 8, characterized in that the cleaning agent is evacuated through an auxiliary port (70) communicating with the interior of the housing (38).
10. Filling machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the auxiliary port (70) is situated at a low point of the housing.
11. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that, during filling, a sterile gas is injected into the housing (38) and evacuated through the orifice (48) of the housing (38), surrounding the product as it is poured between the filling spout (22) and the container (12).
12. Filling machine according to Claim 11 taken in combination with Claim 9 or Claim 10, characterized in that the sterile gas is injected into the housing (38) through the auxiliary port (70).
13. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the supply to the filling spout (22) is controlled by a valve (30) which is at some distance from the spout (22), the valve (30) being connected to the spout (22) by a supply line (28).
14. Filling machine according to Claim 13, characterized in that the valve (30) is situated below the filling spout (22).
15. Filling machine according to Claim 14, characterized in that the valve (30) is situated approximately below the container (12) that is to be filled, the latter itself being situated below the filling spout (22).
16. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the spout (22) is carried by a revolving carousel (14), and in that the fixed housing (38) is integral with the carousel (14).
17. Filling machine according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises two or more filling spouts (22), each enclosed in a fixed housing (38) provided with a moveable closing element (50) for closing the housing (38) in a sealed manner.

Images