EP1449768B1 - Method for filling liquid or loose goods in a container - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for decanting a minimal quantity of a liquid or flowable medium (1) into a container (2) comprises determining the quantity of the decanted medium and ending the decanting by closing a valve (6) as soon as the quantity reaches the end value. The medium is decanted into a first container in several steps. In the first step the decanting is interrupted by closing the valve to determine the last runnings of the medium occurring during closing of the valve. In the next step the decanting is continued by opening the valve. The end value for completing the decanting step is established taking into account the last runnings of the medium determined in the previous step.

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling a minimum amount of a liquid or pourable medium in a container, wherein the amount of the filled medium is detected and the filling is completed by closing a valve as soon as the amount of the filled medium has reached a final value.

In the production and distribution of liquid or pourable media, such as beverages, the filling of these media in containers, such as bottles, has a high economic importance. For filling the medium is typically namely a large filling device used, such as a carousel bottle filler, the z. B. has 150 filling stations and thus can fill 150 bottles at the same time. Such a carousel bottle filler can fill up to 70,000 bottles with a volume of one liter per hour with one drink. This means a Fehlbefüllung to only 5 ml per bottle that per hour 350 1, per day about 850 1 and per month about 250,000 1 drink too much is filled. A high accuracy in the filling is therefore of considerable interest for cost reasons.

In bottling devices known from the prior art, the filling of media into containers is typically as follows: From a storage container, a container is filled through a valve, wherein the amount of the medium dispensed into the container, ie typically the volume or mass of the medium, is measured by means of a mass or volumendurchflußmeßeinrichtung. When the quantity of medium which has been detected in this way and has reached the container has reached a predetermined value, hereinafter referred to as final value, the valve is closed and the filling process is ended.

However, the closing of the valve takes a finite period of time, so that it still comes after reaching the predetermined value for the amount of medium dispensed into the container in a further delivery of the medium into the container; there is a so-called caster. This Caster is also due to the fact that the valve as a mechanical component and a valve controlling valve control device have response and dead times. As a result, therefore, that the amount of medium dispensed into the container is above the final value at which the filling operation is terminated by closing the valve.

The problem described above has already been addressed in the prior art by empirically taking into account the caster resulting from the finite closing time of the valve (cf. DE 197 01 001 A1 ).

The problem described above is also often encountered in the filling process known from the prior art in that with each filling of a container, the caster is measured and compared with the minimum quantity to be filled into the container. The difference between the measured filled quantity and the minimum quantity, given by the after-run, is subtracted from the set quantity by successive fillings of further containers in a stepwise manner, that is always only to a certain percentage or by a moving averaging, from the follow-up values of several successive measurements. Thus, the amount actually filled in the respective container approaches the minimum quantity over several consecutive bottlings from above. An immediate complete compensation in the second filling with the measured at the first filling caster is not possible, since such a kind of compensation would be unstable oscillatory.

In particular, during the commissioning of the filling device, such as when switching to a new medium, after cleaning or after a change in the volume of containers to be filled, the initially filled quantities are very inaccurate, so that the tolerances for the quantities filled in the containers frequently be crossed, be exceeded, be passed. With a large carousel bottle filler with 150 filling stations, each time the filler is put into operation, up to 1,000 incorrectly filled and thus sometimes unsaleable containers can be achieved.

Accordingly, it is the object of the invention to provide such a method for filling a liquid or pourable medium into a container, in which the accuracy of the filling, in particular during the start-up of the filling device used for the filling method, is improved.

The previously derived and indicated object is inventively achieved in that the filling of the medium is carried out in a first container in several filling steps by the filling is interrupted by closing the valve in a first filling step to take place during the closing of the valve wake of the medium and, in a subsequent filling step, the filling is continued by opening the valve, the final value for terminating the subsequent filling step being determined taking into account a run-on of the medium determined in a preceding filling step when closing the valve.

According to the invention, it is thus provided that, in particular when starting the filling device used for the filling process, the filling of the medium into the first container does not take place in a continuous step, but in at least two separate steps, filling the first container at least once by closing the first container Valve is interrupted, so that while the caster can be determined. The determined in this way caster can then be used already during the filling of the first container to already set the final value to complete the filling of the first container so that a filling of the container is achieved within the allowable tolerances.

In principle, it is possible to use the method according to the invention with only two different filling steps for filling the container. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the first filling step is followed by a plurality of subsequent filling steps, wherein the respective end value for terminating a subsequent filling step is determined taking into account the determined in the respective previous filling step when closing the valve wake of the medium. By means of a correspondingly large number of filling steps subsequent to the first filling step, a plurality of follow-up values and, in particular, such a large number of follow-up values can be determined that, in any case, a sufficient effect on the final value for terminating the last filling step for filling the container can be achieved. to achieve a filling within the specified tolerances.

It is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the invention that the final value is set for completion of the last filling step for filling the container, taking into account the minimum amount of the medium and the determined in the previous filling step when closing the valve caster of the medium. On the other hand, according to a preferred development of the invention, provision may also be made for the final value for the completion of the last filling step for filling the container, taking into account the minimum quantity of the medium and a plurality, preferably all, of the medium in the preceding filling steps when closing the valve is determined. In this case, it can be provided, in particular, that the after-runs of the medium determined in the preceding filling steps when the valve is closed are subjected to an averaging to determine the final value for the termination of the last filling step.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that after filling of the first container, the filling of a further container takes place in a single filling step, the final value for completion of the single filling step for filling the other container, taking into account the minimum amount of the medium and at the filling of the first container determined caster value is determined. Instead of, as in the prior art, to achieve a sufficient number of follow-up values only after the successive filling of multiple containers, namely, a sufficient number of follow-up values already exist after filling the first container, so that subsequently filled further containers in a continuous filling process can be. In fact, to determine the final value, such a follow-up value is used which was determined during the filling of the first container.

wobei N der Nachlauf und x die Anzahl der Abfüllungen ist, bei denen die Nachlaufwerte zur Festlegung des Endwertes verwendet werden.According to a preferred development of the invention, it can be provided in the above-described procedure, in particular, that, to determine the final value for terminating the single filling step for filling the further container, the after-run values determined during the filling of the first container are subjected to an averaging. In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, that the filling of the first container is followed by a plurality of individual fillings of further containers, wherein the respective end value for the termination of such filling is determined taking into account the minimum quantity of the medium and a follow-up value determined with a preceding filling. Finally, provision may be made in particular for the final value E _n to be determined as follows in the nth step: $$e_n=e_{n-1}-\underset{i=n-x}{\overset{n-1}{\Sigma }}\frac{N_i}{x}.$$

where N is the caster and x is the number of bottlings where the caster values are used to determine the final value.

Fig. 1

schematisch ein Abfüllverfahren gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung mittels einer entsprechenden Abfüllvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

schematisch den Ablauf eines herkömmlichen Abfüllverfahrens,

Fig. 3

schematisch den Ablauf eines Verfahrens gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung im Vergleich mit einem herkömmlichen Verfahren und

Fig. 4

eine Auftragung der Füllmengen bei aufeinanderfolgenden Abfüllungen mit herkömmlicher Nachlaufkorrektur bzw. gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

In particular, there are a multitude of possibilities for designing and developing the method according to the invention. For this purpose, reference is made to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

1 schematically shows a filling method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention by means of a corresponding filling device,

Fig. 2

schematically the course of a conventional filling method,

Fig. 3

schematically the flow of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in comparison with a conventional method and

Fig. 4

a plot of the quantities in successive fillings with conventional tracking correction or according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Out Fig. 1 schematically the filling of a medium 1 in a container 2 by means of a filling device 3 is shown. The medium 1 may be a liquid or a pourable medium, in the present case it is a beverage. The filling device 3 has a reservoir 4 and a flow meter 5 and a valve 6. When the valve 6 is open, the medium 1 is filled into the container 2.

The control of the valve 6, namely the opening or closing of the valve 6, by means of a valve control unit 7. The valve control unit 7 is also connected to the flow meter 5, so that a control of the valve 6 in response to the means of the flow meter 5 detected bottled amount of the medium 1 is made possible.

In the flow meter 5, it may be z. Example, to a mass flow meter or a volume flow meter, such as a magnetic induction flowmeter or Ultraschalldurchflußmeßgerät act. The flow measuring device 5 transmits the flow rate detected by it to the valve control unit 7, according to the presently illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of scaled pulses, namely one pulse for each detected predetermined unit of quantity. Alternatively, the transmission of the detected by the flow meter 5 flow rate to the valve control unit 7 z. B. also possible in the form of a digitized signal via a bus interface.

The valve control unit 7 integrates the flow rate detected by the flow measuring device 5 and transmitted to it. This integrated flow rate represents at any time the amount that has been filled from the reservoir 4 through the flow meter 5 and the valve 6 into the container 2.

Out Fig. 2 is now shown schematically the filling of the medium 1 in the container 2 according to a conventional method to explain the associated with the finite closing time of the valve 6 caster problem: At time t ₀ , the valve 6 is opened by means of the valve control unit 7. How out Fig. 2 As can be seen, the flow shown in the diagram Gray increases almost immediately to a constant, here standardized to 1 value.

As the time progresses, so does the quantity of medium 1 that has been filled into the container 2, as shown by the continuous, linearly rising line. At the time t ₁ , the quantity of medium 1 filled into the container 2 reaches the final value E of 100, which causes the valve control unit 7 to close the valve 6 by integrating the filled quantity of the medium 1 by means of the flow measuring device 5. This final value of 100 corresponds in this case also the minimum quantity; In the present case, therefore, at least a minimum quantity of 100 should be filled into the container 2, so that for the time being no termination of the filling takes place before this value is reached.

Until the valve 6 is closed, passes from the time t _1, a finite period of time, so that only at the later time t ₂ no more flow occurs. In this time of closing the valve 6, the flow remains as in Fig. 2 shown, approximately constant, so that it comes as a result to a filled into the container 2 amount of the medium 1, which is about the caster N above the final value E of 100, in which the valve has been driven by the valve control unit 7 to close.

As now out Fig. 3 it can be seen in the method shown below according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, in contrast to the above-described conventional method when filling the container 2 before reaching the minimum amount of to be filled into the container 2 medium 1, the pass multiple, in the present case three times at the times a , b and c, interrupted. These interruptions occurring before the end of the first filling operation are at the time of the Fig. 4 Extrapolated apparent application of each filled quantity at the first filling to a complete filling. In the interruption marked with a, which has been caused by a quarter of the end value of 1,000, ie at 250 by the valve control unit 7 by driving the valve 6, it has come to a filled amount of 255 until the valve 6 is fully closed. The caster has thus been 5, so that in a shutdown at a final value of 1,000 actually an amount of 1,005 would have been achieved.

With this knowledge about the wake of the valve 6 according to the presently illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve 6 at the interruptions b and c correspondingly earlier, namely driven at an extrapolated minimum value of 1,000, so that by appropriate determination of the final value to terminate the last Filling step such an early control of the valve 6 is achieved, which leads to an actually filled into the container 2 amount of the medium 1, which, as required above the minimum value of 1000 and within the tolerance of 2, ie below 1.002. By further application z. B. the already mentioned above formula for the final value E, the actually filled in the other filling operations in the respective container 2 amount of the medium 1 can be further reduced and approximated to the minimum value of 1,000.

In this context, it should also be noted that at a fixed predetermined number of interruptions during the first filling process, of course, the case may occur that the output in the first filling process in the container 2 amount of the medium 1 is above the tolerance limit of 1.002. The method according to the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention can then be further developed in such a way that interruptions also occur in the second filling operation in order to bring the actually filled quantity of the medium 1 into the tolerance range.

Claims (8)

1. Method for dispensing a minimum amount of a liquid or pourable medium (1) into a container (2), in the course of which, the amount of dispensed medium (1) is measured and the filling process is terminated by the closing of a valve (6) as soon as the amount of dispensed medium (1) has reached a final value, characterized in that dispensing the medium (1) into a first container (2) in a series of several dispensing steps where, in a first dispensing step, the valve (6) is closed to interrupt the filling process so as to allow the determination of the tailing of the medium (1) that occurs during the closing of the valve (6) and in a subsequent dispensing step, the valve (6) is opened to permit resumption of the filling process, with the final value for terminating the subsequent dispensing step being established in consideration of a tailing rate of the medium (1) that was determined in a preceding dispensing step during the closing of the valve (6).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a series with multiple subsequent dispensing steps follows the first dispensing step, wherein each respective final value for terminating a subsequent dispensing step is established in consideration of a tailing rate of the medium (1) determined in at least one of the preceding dispensing steps during the closing of the valve (6).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the final value for terminating a last dispensing step is established in consideration of the desired minimum amount of the medium (1) and of a tailing of the medium (1) determined in the preceding dispensing steps during the closing of the valve (6).
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the final value for terminating a last dispensing step is established in consideration of the desired minimum amount of the medium (1) and of several, and preferably all, of the tailings of the medium (1) determined in the preceding dispensing steps during the closing of the valve (6).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the tailings of the medium (1) determined in the preceding dispensing steps during the closing of the valve (6) undergo an averaging to establish the final value for terminating the last dispensing step.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that after the first container (2) has been filled, filling another container in one single dispensing step occurs, wherein the final value for terminating the single dispensing step for filling the additional container is established in consideration of the desired minimum amount of the medium (1) and of a tailing value determined during the filling of the first container (2).
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that averaging the tailing values determined during the filling of the first container (2) establishes the final value for terminating the single dispensing step in filling the additional container.
8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a series of single dispensing steps for further containers follows the filling of the first container (2), wherein the respective final value for terminating such a dispensing step is determined in consideration of the minimum amount of the medium (1) and of a tailing value determined during the filling of the first container (2).

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