EP1215166A2 - Method and device for filling containers with a liquid product - Google Patents

Abstract

The interior of each container (5) is filled with liquid by means of filler elements (1). The container in a filling phase is filled with hot liquid via a liquid-path (7,9) controlled by a valve (8) in the liquid-path, with filler elements heated to a filler element temperature. In the case of interruption to the filling process, the liquid-path is subjected to a hot flow medium in the form of a hot gas and or steam, in a section following the liquid-valve for maintaining the filler element temperature controlled by control elements or control valves (23,29).

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling bottles, cans or the same container with a liquid filling material according to the preamble claim 1 and in particular to a method for hot, i.e. sterile or aseptic filling of contents, for example fruit and vegetable juices and / or other juice-based beverages. The invention further relates to a filling system or a filling machine for performing the method according to Preamble of claim 8.

Fruit and vegetable juices as well as beverages based on juices are attained the required durability, i.e. to prevent infestation by Microorganisms and a resulting rapid spoilage of the bottled Product pasteurized in a heating system and still heated bottled or canned. Immediately afterwards, this is done Close while the drink is still hot. Of utmost importance here is that in no phase of the filling process the temperature of the product, even in the immediate vicinity of the wall of a container below a critical temperature limit decreases, with a sterile and aseptic filling, i.e. a killing the drink-damaging microorganisms is still guaranteed.

As long as the filling process runs continuously on a filling machine, these are Requirements for a hygienic, in particular also germ-free Filling without problems by maintaining the temperature accordingly to comply with the contents. The filling material flows with the filling machine Temperature too, which is set so that the filling elements, the Parts carrying the filling material as well as in the bottles set a temperature that in any case above the critical temperature limit mentioned above lies. To ensure this, for example, the bottles heated accordingly before entering the filling machine.

In practical operation of a filling machine, however, there are regular temporary ones Production interruptions or interruptions in the filling process. These interruptions are primarily due to lack of bottles Container inlet of the filling machine or through a backflow of bottles attributable to the conveyors or aggregates following the filling machine. To cool the beverage below the critical temperature limit too avoid, it is already common for such a temporary interruption of the filling process to move the contents into a holding circuit, which then also includes the heater system. Although this heat retention circuit also includes the filling or ring channel provided on the rotor of the filling machine, to which the filling elements are connected, can not be prevented that these filling elements lying outside the holding circuit and their that Parts carrying the filling material, such as in particular the filling element housing and possibly the filling pipe cool below the critical temperature. For this reason, it has so far been one longer interruption of the filling process (more than 3 to 5 minutes) despite the Hot holding circuit for the filling material necessary that in the first round of the filling machine after an interruption filled containers are discharged and discarded which means, among other things, additional production costs.

The object of the invention is to demonstrate a method and a filling machine, who avoid this disadvantage and also after a long temporary Interruption of the filling process as soon as the first resumption of the Filling process a filling with a temperature above the critical temperature limit and thus ensure aseptic and sterile filling without that after an interruption filled containers are discharged and discarded Need to become

To achieve this object are a method according to claim 1 and a filling machine designed according to claim 8.

A particular advantage of the filling machine according to the invention is that a Safe, hygienic or aseptic and sterile filling of the filling material immediately after an interruption of the filling process with particularly simple means is implemented, i.a. using filler elements that are constructive in correspond to essential, already proven filling elements and for use need only be slightly modified in the invention.

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Darstellung ein Füllelement einer Füllmaschine umlaufen- der Bauart, zusammen mit einer Teildarstellung einer Flasche, und zwar bei einem normalen Füllbetrieb oder -prozeß;

Fig. 2

das Füllelement der Figur 1, bei einer vorübergehenden Unterbrechung des Füllprozesses und bei durch Dampf beheiztem Füllrohr;

Fig. 3

das Füllelement der Figur 1 während der CIP-Reinigung

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a simplified representation, a filling element of a filling machine of the circulating type, together with a partial representation of a bottle, specifically during a normal filling operation or process;

Fig. 2

the filling element of Figure 1, with a temporary interruption of the filling process and with steam-heated filling tube;

Fig. 3

the filling element of Figure 1 during the CIP cleaning

The filling element, generally designated 1 in the figures, is part of a otherwise not shown filling machine rotating design and is together with a multitude of similar filling elements at regular angular intervals provided on the circumference of a rotor 2. In this rotor 2 are at the illustrated embodiment, a first ring channel 3 and a second ring channel 4 formed, each concentric with the vertical rotor or machine axis enclose and of which during the usual filling process the ring channel 3 the filling material to be filled into the bottles 5 leads and the ring channel 4 is an unpressurized, channel open to the atmosphere. The filling machine is especially used for sterile or aseptic filling of a pasteurized product, in particular beverages, such as fruit and vegetable juices or other beverages, the basis of which is such Juices are, in the hot state, such that in any case up to that immediately the filling then closing the bottles 5, the temperature of the contents and also the respective bottle 5 which guarantees the sterility of the contents Temperature does not fall below.

In detail, the filling element 1 has a liquid channel 7 in a housing 6 on, in which the liquid valve generally designated 8 with associated Valve seat 8 'is arranged and with its related to the flow direction of the filling material when filling in the upper end for all filling elements 1 of the filling machine common ring channel 3 opens and with its other end in the channel 9 one protruding downwards over the housing 6 and at the bottom End of open filling tube 10 continues.

To actuate the liquid valve 8, i.e. for controlled opening and also Closing this valve is an actuation unit on the top of the housing 6 11 provided with a pneumatic lifting cylinder 13 in a housing the piston 13 'and a lower cylinder chamber 14 and also a limiting cylinder 15 with the piston 15 'and with an upper cylinder space 16, which has its minimum volume in the state shown in the figures. A compression spring 17 is provided between the two pistons 13 and 15, the piston 13 and thus also via the piston rod or the plunger 18th connected to the piston 13 liquid valve or its closing body in the Prestressed closed position.

The cylinder spaces 14 and 15 are connected to a pneumatic control circuit 19, of the two individually controllable control or solenoid valves 20 and 21 in the cylinder rooms 14 or 16 leading pneumatic lines 20 'or 21' and which in turn is connected to a compressed air source 22. The pneumatic valves or control valves 20 and 21 are provided individually for each filling element 1 and individually controllable.

Each filling element 1 also has one in addition to the actuating element 11 Pneumatic control cylinder or a pneumatically actuated diaphragm control valve 23, whose control input is also connected to the pneumatic control circuit 19 is and can be controlled via the associated solenoid valves 20 and 21. The Control valve 23 is provided in a gas path 24 partially formed in housing 6, that with a first section 24 'in the liquid channel 7 in the direction of flow of the filling material behind the liquid valve 8 or its valve seat 8 'and with a second section 24 "opens into the ring channel 4 Housing 6 and partially provided in one on the underside of this housing Another gas path is approximately in the manner of a tulip-shaped housing extension 25 26 provided, with its upper end in the section 24 "and with its lower end in the interior 25 'of the extension open towards the underside of the filling element 25 opens. A check valve 27 is provided in the gas path 26, which is designed so that there is a flow through the gas path 26 only from the interior 25 in the section 24 "or in the adjacent ring channel 4, blocks for a flow in the opposite direction.

A filling process is, for example, with the filling machine having the filling elements 1 possible with the process phases or steps specified below, the control valve 23 is basically in the closed state, unless the open state for a specific filling phase below Control valve is specified:

1. Slow filling

After the respective bottle 5 via a bottle inlet in the by the respective Filling element 1 and the associated bottle carrier, not shown Filled in position and over the bottle carrier to the filling element 1 is raised so far that the filling tube 10 through the bottle mouth 5 'in the Inserted inside the bottle 5 and the bottle with its mouth 5 'in the interior 25 'is received, the liquid valve 8 is opened with a partial stroke. For this purpose, both the limiting cylinder 15 and the lifting cylinder 13 activated by appropriate control of the valves 20 and 21 so that the contents then by a reduced one defined by the activated limiting cylinder 15 Opening gap of the liquid valve 8 and with a resulting reduced Flow rate flows into the bottle 5 and there soft and without Foam development hits the bottom of the bottle.

This low turbulence, slow filling phase is maintained until the rising product level exceeds the lower end of the filling tube 10. This slow filling phase is time-controlled, using a time specification, e.g. for the respective filling goods and / or the respective bottles 5 in a control device of the filling machine is stored.

With this slow filling, but also with all other phases of the filling process the respective bottle 5 is not in the sealing position with the filling element 1, rather, the air displaced by the inflowing filling material from the bottle can directly via the ring opening formed between the bottle mouth 5 'and the filling tube in the interior 25 'and escape from this into the atmosphere.

2. Fill break

After the slow filling, the liquid valve 8 is closed and thus the filling process is briefly interrupted, so that air or gas bubbles in the Filled goods are located, can rise to the surface of the filled goods.

3. Quick fill

If the limiting cylinder 15 is not activated, the lifting cylinder 13 is activated again, so that the full flow cross section of the liquid valve 8 is released and with filling tube 10 immersed in the filling material, rapid, bubble-free filling of the generally uncritical, cylindrical middle part of the bottle 5 can. This quick filling also takes place with a time limit, i.e. after a predetermined Time is the quick filling in the subsequent brake and correction filling reconciled.

4. Brake and correction fill

In the narrowing bottle neck, the lower filling speed is restored of slow filling switched back. For this the limitation cylinder 15 activated, which due to the larger area of its piston 15 ' pushes the lifting cylinder 13 back into the limited lifting position, so that this continues opened liquid valve 8 only the reduced opening gap or Has flow cross-section. The product level can now be slow and smooth Rise surface image to the fill level probe 28 integrated in the fill pipe. As soon as If the filling material reaches this probe 28, an electrical circuit is closed and thereby also the deactivation of the lifting cylinder 13 and thus the closing of the liquid valve 8, wherein the closing of the liquid valve 8th after the probe signal is present, for example, with a time delay to achieve a level correction.

5. Empty the filling pipe

After the braking and correction filling has ended, the respective bottle 5 lowered with the bottle carrier. At the same time, the control valve 23 is opened so that via the channel sections 24 'and 24 "a connection between the filling tube channel 9 and the ring channel 4 connected to the atmosphere is produced and thus the filling material located in the filling pipe channel 9 is in the bottle 5 can drain, in particular no residues of filling material in the filling pipe channel 9 and remain in section 24 '.

As shown, the section 24 'opens in the vicinity of the valve seat 8' of the liquid valve into the liquid channel 7. As is also shown, the Channel section 24 'from the liquid channel 7 obliquely upwards to a level on which the valve seat 8 'is also located, or up to a slightly higher one Level. When the filling pipe 10 is emptied, the section is in any case also 24 'emptied. The course of section 24 ′ described also prevents that 10 filling material flow into the control valve 23 when emptying the filling pipe can.

6. Keep the filling elements and filling pipes hot with steam

Remain during the normal operation of the filling machine described above the filling elements 1 or their parts carrying the filling material (housing 6 and Filling tube 10) on a high guaranteeing the sterility of the filled product Temperature.

But if the filling process or filling process is interrupted, for example because of a Lack of bottles at the inlet of the filling machine or because of a bottle back-up after the filling machine, the filling material goes in inside the filling machine a holding circuit, which also includes the ring channel 3, but the Filling elements 1 and their filling tubes 10 do not provide sufficient heat and so that cooling of these elements cannot prevent.

In order to remedy this situation, one that is provided for all filling elements 1 opens Control or regulating valve 29 for supplying water vapor into the ring channel 4 and closes this ring channel to the atmosphere at the same time, so that a water vapor pressure of, for example, 0.5 to 1.0 bar is set in the ring channel 4.

At a predetermined or freely selectable angle of the rotary movement of the rotor 2, for example in the between the bottle outlet and the bottle inlet formed angle of rotation of the rotor 2, then at each Filling element 1, on which there is no bottle 5, with the liquid valve closed 8, the control valve 23 is opened in a controlled manner, as shown in FIG. 2 is so that the hot water vapor then the liquid channel 7 behind the Liquid valve 8 and the filling tube 10 flows through and at the lower end of the filling tube 10 exits. This results in heating of the filling element 1 and Filler tube 10 in such a way that even with a long interruption of the actual Filling sequence, the filling elements 1 and their filling tubes 10 at a temperature above of the critical temperature limit are maintained until resumption the filling process can take place. The check valve 27 prevents Outflow of the steam via the channel 26 directly into the room 25 ', i.e. the Steam flow is thus forced exclusively through the respective filling pipes 10.

The heating of the filling elements 1 takes place in the event of an interruption due to a fault of course if the filling machine continues to rotate or if it continues to do so rotating rotor 2, the filling machine at least in the event of a longer fault is increasingly emptied to cool the liquid contents in the machine still has bottles 5 below the critical temperature limit to avoid. The steam is then applied - controlled by the respective control valve 23 on each filling element 1 - in the predetermined Angular range between the container outlet and the container inlet. However, it is also possible to start heating whenever there is a failure-related interruption on the filling element 1 in question Bottle 5 is located, heating or keeping warm with the steam exits before after the interruption of the filling process the filling element 1 in question reaches a bottle 5 again.

The water vapor in the ring channel 4 also heats the e.g. made of steel Rotor 2 and thus causes heat transfer to the filling material in the ring channel 3, i.e. the steam in the ring channel 4 helps to keep the contents hot in the holding circuit, with overheating of the filling material in the ring channel 3 the circulation of the contents in this channel and in the holding circuit is prevented.

6. CIP cleaning

For the CIP cleaning, one is added to each filling element 1 according to FIG Rinsing cap 30 is placed, the respective filling tube 10 in an outward direction tightly sealed wash cabinet 31. In a first step of CIP cleaning the cleaning agents flow through the ring channel 3, the opened liquid channels 7 of the filling elements 1 and thereby on the liquid valves 8 and whose valve seats 8 'over, through the fill pipe 9 of each fill pipe 10 and then through the washing compartment 31 past the outside of the filling tube 10 through the Gas path 26 with the open check valve 27 into the ring channel 4, from which the cleaning agents are then drained off. In a second step the CIP cleaning the cleaning agents are supplied via the ring channel 4 and flow through the section 24 ", through the opened control valve 23 and the section 24 'into the liquid channel 7 and then at the respectively opened liquid valve 8 over into the ring channel 3, from which the cleaning agents are removed become.

The above description has shown that the filling element 1 despite a simple Training a reliable filling of a pasteurized product at a high, which guarantees sterility and it in particular also enables the temperature necessary for sterility even at a long interruption of the normal filling or filling process. The training according to the invention also allows optimal CIP cleaning the filling elements.

The invention has been described above using an exemplary embodiment. It it goes without saying that numerous changes and modifications are possible without that thereby leave the inventive idea on which the invention is based becomes. So it is possible to use another hot medium instead of water vapor to keep the filling elements 1 warm, for example hot air hot inert gas or hot water.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filler

2

rotor

3, 4

annular channel

5

bottle

5 '

bottle mouth

6

filling element

7

liquid channel

8th

liquid valve

8th'

valve seat

9

Füllrohrkanal

10

filling pipe

11

actuator

12

casing

13

lifting cylinder

13 '

piston

14

cylinder space

15

restricting cylinder

15 '

piston

16

cylinder space

17

compression spring

18

Piston rod or tappet

19

Pneumatic control circuit

20, 21

control valve

22

Compressed air source

23

Drain cylinder or control valve

24

channel

24 ', 24 "

channel section

25

housing extension

25 '

inner space

26

channel

27

check valve

28

sensor

29

Control-valve device

30

flushing cap

31

Wash cabinet

Claims (18)

Method for filling bottles, cans or similar containers (5) with a liquid filling material using a filling machine with several filling elements (1), via which the interior of the respective container in a filling phase via a liquid path (7, 9) with the liquid filling material is filled in the hot state, specifically controlled by a liquid valve (8) provided in the liquid path (7, 9) and when the filling elements (1) are heated to a filling element temperature, characterized in that at least in the event of an interruption in the filling process caused by a fault, the liquid path ( 7, 9) at least in a section following the flow direction of the filling material when filling the liquid valve (8) to maintain the filling element temperature, controlled by control elements or control valves (23, 29) with a hot flow medium. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a hot gaseous and / or vaporous medium, for example water vapor, is used as the flow medium. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a hot liquid medium, for example hot water, is used as the flow medium. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the filling process is interrupted, a gas channel (4) of the filling machine which is common to all filling elements (1) is connected via control means (29) to a source for the hot flow medium. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the common gas channel is connected to the atmosphere and is blocked from the atmosphere by the control means (29) if the filling process is interrupted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control valve (23) which is provided on each filling element (1) and can be controlled individually in the event of an interruption in the filling process and in the absence of a container (5) on the filling element for introducing the hot flow medium into the liquid path ( 7, 9) of this filling element (1) is opened. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control valve (23) which is provided on each filling element (1) and can be controlled individually is opened when the filling process is interrupted in an angular range of the rotating movement of the rotor (2) provided for opening. Filling machine for filling bottles, cans or the like container (5) with a liquid filling material, with several filling positions, each having a filling element (1), via which the interior of the container in a filling phase via a liquid path (7, 9) with the liquid filling material is filled in the hot state, specifically controlled by a liquid valve (8) provided in the liquid path (7, 9) and when filling elements (1) are heated to a filling element temperature, characterized in that at least in the event of an interruption in the filling process caused by a fault Liquid path (7, 9) can be acted upon with a hot flow medium, at least in a section following the direction of flow of the filling material when filling the liquid valve (8), in order to maintain the filling element temperature, controlled by control elements or control valves (23, 29). Filling machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the flow medium is a hot gaseous and / or vaporous medium, for example water vapor. Filling machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the flow medium is a hot liquid medium, for example hot water. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling elements (1) are those with a filling tube (10) which, with a filling tube channel (9), form part of the liquid path to which the hot flow medium can be applied. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each filling element (1) a first gas path (24) is formed, which ends at one end in the liquid path (7) in relation to the flow direction of the filling material behind the liquid valve (8) and with its other end into a gas channel (4) common to all filling elements (1), that in the first gas path (24) a control valve, preferably a pneumatically operated control valve (23) is provided for the controlled opening and blocking of the first gas path (24) , and that control means (29) are provided which connect the common gas channel (4) to a source for the hot flow medium when the filling process is interrupted. Filling machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the common gas channel (4) is connected to the atmosphere via the control means (29) and that the control means (29) block the common gas channel (4) from the atmosphere when the filling process is interrupted. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control valve (23) arranged in the first gas path (24) of each filling element (1) can be individually controlled by a control device in such a way that it opens when the filling process is interrupted when it is opened Filling element (1) is no container (5). Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control valve (23) opens in the first gas path (24) when the filling element (1) in question is in an angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor which is predetermined for this opening. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second gas path (26) is formed in the housing (6) of the filling elements (1), which is also connected at one end to the common gas channel (4) and the other end of which the underside of the filling element (1) is open at an area (25 ') which, when a rinsing cap (30) is placed on the respective filling element (1) for cleaning the filling machine, extends outward within the rinsing cap (30) formed by this rinsing cap (30) closed washroom (31) is located. Filling machine according to claim 16, characterized in that valve means, preferably non-return valve means (27) are provided in the second gas path (26), which flow through the second gas path (26) into the first gas path (24) or into the common gas channel (4) allow for a flow in the opposite direction but block. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second gas path (26) into a downwardly open interior (25 ') of a bell-shaped section (25) receiving the respective container (5) with its container mouth (5') during filling. opens at the bottom of a filling element (1).

Images