EP2125600B1 - Method for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product under counterpressure and filling machine for carrying out this method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid product under counterpressure, with the use of a filling machine (1) which has a plurality of filling elements (5) on a rotor (3), a boiling vessel (15) which is common to the filling elements (5) and the interior space of which forms a liquid space (15.1) taken up by the liquid product and a gas space (15.2) above the product for an inert gas which is under pressure (filling pressure), and at least one return gas channel (29) common to all of the filling elements (5) or to a group of filling elements, wherein, before the filling operation, the interior space of the containers (2) is prestressed in each case via a controlled gas path (21, 24, 28) of each filling element with inert gas which comes from the gas space of the boiling vessel (15) and is at the filling pressure, and, during the filling operation, at least part of the inert gas is forced out of the containers into the at least one return gas channel (29) by the inflowing product.

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 12.

The filling of bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material, in particular with a carbonated filling material, for example with beer using back pressure with a Einkammerfüllsystem is known. The filling material is provided herebelow in a boiler which is common to a large number of filling elements of a filling machine and whose interior is subdivided into a liquid space occupied by the filling material and into an overlying gas space occupied by an inert gas. The inert gas is usually CO ₂ or CO ₂ gas. The entire kettle and its contents are under pressure.

Before the actual filling takes place each biasing each arranged in sealing position on the filling element container to the filling pressure with inert gas. At least partially, the inert gas contained in the gas space of the boiler, which is removed from the boiler for this purpose, is used as the clamping gas. During filling, the tensioning or inert gas displaced from the respective container by the inflowing filling material is partially transferred into a rotor-side return gas channel which is common to all filling elements of the filling machine, but in some cases also u.a. from an economic point of view, i. to reduce the inert gas consumption, also returned to the gas space of the boiler.

In order to increase the shelf life and quality of the filled filling material, it is also known to rinse the interior of the container in sealing position with the filling elements one or more times before inerting with inert gas, wherein before and / or after each rinsing an evacuation of the container takes place, by controlled connection of the respective container interior with a common for all filling elements rotor-side vacuum channel.

From the EP 1 216 952 A1 For example, such a filler is known, which has a common ring-like return gas channel for all filling elements, wherein during filling inert gas from the container (2) is displaced by the inflowing medium in this return gas channel.

Despite the evacuation and purging, however, a small proportion of air or oxygen also remains in the prestressed containers, so that not only inert gas or CO ₂ gas is returned to the gas space of the boiler during filling, but also a certain amount of air with it or oxygen. As a result, there is already in the boiler to absorb oxygen through the filling material, specifically at the interface between the filling material and the inert gas oxygen mixture above, which leads to an impairment of the durability and quality of the filled filling material.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and a filling machine, which avoids the oxygen absorption of the filling material in the boiler and the disadvantages associated with the lowest possible consumption of inert gas, in particular CO ₂ gas and thus at a most economical operation.

To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. A filling machine is the subject of claim 12.

The peculiarity of the invention is that at least one additional, serving as Gassenke gas channel is provided on the rotor of the filling machine, which communicates via a gas connection or -leitung with the gas space of the boiler and from the (additional gas channel) biasing the container with the inert gas is carried out under filling pressure.

During filling, a portion of the biasing or inert gas displaced from the containers is returned to this additional channel, which serves as the gas channel. The other part of the displaced bias gas enters the return gas channel. By the usual control of the filling elements or their gas paths is ensured even taking into account the gas exchange between the filling elements, the amount of inert gas returned to the common channel serving as a gas channel during filling is at most equal but preferably smaller than the amount of inert gas taken from this additional channel during pretensioning of the containers. Due to the fact that in the preferred embodiment the amount of gas withdrawn through the entirety of all filling valves for biasing is always greater than the amount of inert gas discharged into the additional gas channel during filling, there is always a lack of gas in the additional gas channel.

As a result, from the additional channel air or oxygen-containing inert gas does not reach the gas space of the boiler. It rather forms a gas flow from the gas space of the boiler in serving as Gassenke channel. To compensate for the gas deficit or to maintain the filling pressure in the gas space of the boiler inert gas is controlled supplied to this gas space.

Flg. 1

in schematischer Funktionsdarstellung eine Draufsicht auf die mit einem Verschließer kombinierte Füllmaschine;

Fig. 2

in vereinfachter Darstellung ein Füllelement einer Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum Füllen von Flaschen oder dergleichen Behälter mit einem flüssigen Füllgut unter Gegendruck.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Flg. 1

in a schematic functional representation of a plan view of the combined with a capper filling machine;

Fig. 2

in a simplified representation of a filling element of a filling machine of the rotary type for filling bottles or the like containers with a liquid product under counter pressure.

In the figures, 1 is a filling machine for filling containers formed as bottles 2 with a CO ₂ -containing liquid product, such as beer. The filling machine 1 has for this purpose in a known manner on the circumference of a rotor axis 3 rotatably driven around a vertical machine axis (arrow A) distributed at regular Winkelabständen a plurality of filling stations 4, each of a filling tube 5 in the embodiment shown Füllrohrlosen and one below this filling element 5 arranged bottle or container carrier 6 in the form of a controlled by a lifting device up and down movable bottle plate exist.

As in FIG. 1 shown schematically, the bottles to be filled 2 of the filling machine 1 are supplied as a container stream 2.1 upright via a conveyor 7 and reach each individually via a container inlet 8 to one of the filling positions 4, in which the respective bottle 2 oriented with its bottle axis in the vertical direction the initially lowered container carrier 6 stands up. After lifting the respective bottle 2 with the container carrier 6 in sealing position against the filling element 5, the filling process is initiated. The filled bottles 2 pass via an outlet or a transfer star 9 to the Verschlleßer 10. The filled and sealed bottles 2 are discharged via a machine outlet 11 to the feed dog 7.

• W1: Evakuieren bzw. Vorevakuieren der Flaschen 2,
• W2: erstes CO₂-Spülen der Flaschen 2,
• W3: Evakuieren der Flaschen 2,
• W4: zweites CO₂-Spülen der Flaschen 2,
• W5: Evakuieren bzw. Endevakuieren der Flaschen 2,
• W6: Teilvorspannen der Flaschen 2 mit CO₂,
• W7: Vorspannen der Flaschen 2 mit CO₂,
• W8: Füllen der Flaschen 2 unter Gegendruck (Fülldruck),
• W9: Brems- und Korrekturfüllen der Flaschen 2,
• W10: Füllende, Vorentlasten und Beruhigen,
• W11: Restentlasten.

The filling process carried out during the rotary movement (arrow A) of the rotor 3 at each filling position 4 consists in accordance with FIG FIG. 2 from a multitude of successive process steps, each in the in the FIG. 2 W1 - W11 1 designated angular ranges of the rotational movement of the rotor 3, namely:

• W1: evacuating or pre-evacuating the bottles 2,
• W2: first CO ₂ rinsing of the bottles 2,
• W3: evacuate the bottles 2,
• W4: second CO ₂ rinsing of the bottles 2,
• W5: evacuating or end evacuating the bottles 2,
• W6: partially biasing the bottles 2 with CO ₂ ,
• W7: biasing the bottles 2 with CO ₂ ,
• W8: filling bottles 2 under counter pressure (filling pressure),
• W9: Brake and correction filling of the bottles 2,
• W10: filling, relieving and calming,
• W11: residual loads.

In principle, it is also possible to carry out the filling process in a simplified form, for example in the form that the second CO ₂ rinsing (angular range W 4) and the subsequent evacuation (angular range W 5) are dispensed with, ie after the first CO ₂ -Rinse (angle range W2) and the subsequent Evaculeren (angle range W3) already follow the Tellvorspannen (angle range W6) with the subsequent biasing (angle range W7).

Each filling element 5 consists of a housing 12 fixed to the circumference of the rotor 3, in which, inter alia, a fluid channel 13 is formed, which is provided with its in the FIG. 2 Upper end via a fluid connection or line 14 with a common for all filling elements 5 of the filling machine 1 boiler 15 is in communication, as in FIG. 2 shown. At least during the filling operation, the boiler 15 is partially filled via its supply connection 15.3 with the liquid contents, so that the interior of the vessel 15 forms a lower, occupied by the liquid filling Tell- or liquid space 15.1 and an overlying part - or gas space 15.2, the from inert gas or CO ₂ gas under pressure (filling pressure) is occupied, which is supplied to the gas space 15.2 controlled via a CO ₂ gas supply line 16 with control valve 16.1.

The liquid channel 13 of each filling element 5 also forms on the underside of this element a dispensing opening 17 with a seal 17.1 against which the respective bottle 2 is pressed against the mouth of the bottle in the sealing position through the container carrier 6 during the filling process. In the liquid channel 13, a liquid valve 18 is arranged, which controlled by an example pneumatically controlled actuator at the beginning of the filling (angular range W8) open and controlled at the end of the brake and Korrekturfüllens (angle range W9) closed, in the illustrated embodiment füllhöhengesteuert a probe 20 extending into the respective bottle 2 during the filling process.

In a valve tappet 18.1, which also forms the valve body 18.2 of the liquid valve 18 and is connected to the actuating element, a gas channel 21, which surrounds the probe 20 and which surrounds the probe 20, is formed, which is a common component of a plurality of controlled gas paths formed in the housing 12 ,

These have in the illustrated embodiment, three control valves 22, 23 and 24 which are closed in the non-activated state respectively. The control valves 22-23 are each connected on the output side to a common gas channel 25 communicating with the gas channel 21. Furthermore, in the housing 12 of each filling element 5 for forming the gas paths gas channels 26-28 are provided, of which the gas channel 26 the input of the control valve 22 with a rotor-side return gas channel 29, the gas channel 27, the input of the control valve 23 with a rotor-side vacuum channel 30 and the gas channel 28 connects the input of the control valve 24 with an additional rotor-side gas channel 31, which serves as Gassenke in the manner described in more detail below and represents a significant feature of the filling machine 1.

The return gas channel 29, the vacuum channel 30 and the additional channel 31 are each formed in the rotor 3 as annular channels which surround the vertical axis of the machine concentrically and are provided together for all filling elements 5 of the filling machine 1.

The additional gas channel 31 is connected via a pipe 32, which has a much smaller volume compared to the volume of the gas channel 31, constantly connected to the gas space 15.2.

According to the course of the filling process described above takes place after lifting the respective located at a filling position 4, to be filled bottle 2 in the sealing position against the filling element 5, an evacuation of the bottle interior. For this purpose, when the liquid valve 18 is closed, the control valve 23 is opened and thus the interior of the respective bottle 2 via the filling element side gas channels 21, 25 and 27 connected to the vacuum channel 30.

After this pre-evacuation, when the control valve 23 is closed again, the interior of the bottle is purged with inert gas or CO ₂ gas, namely from the rotor-side return gas channel 29 by opening the control valve 22, so that the interior of the relevant bottle 2 via the filling element-side gas channels 21, 25 and 26 is connected to this return gas channel 29. The inert gas purging from the return gas channel 29 is possible because in the return gas channel 29 by the gas exchange between the filling elements 5 sufficient CO ₂ gas is available under pressure, which from the bottles 2 during filling and braking and correction filling in the Return gas channel 29 is displaced.

After the CO ₂ rinsing takes place with the control valve 22 closed, a new evacuation of the bottle interior by opening the control valve 23. After this Step then, for example, the partial biasing (angle range W6) and the subsequent biasing (angle range W7) can be initiated. Preferably, however, a further CO ₂ flushing of the interior of the bottle from the return gas channel 29 by opening the control valve 22 and then closing at re-closed control valve 22, a further evacuation of the bottle interior by opening the control valve 23.

The partial biasing also takes place from the return gas channel 29 by opening the control valve 22, while the final biasing of the respective bottle interior to the pressure prevailing in the boiler 15 filling pressure but then from the additional channel 31 by opening the control valve 24.

For the subsequent filling, the liquid valve 18 is opened when the control valve 24 is open, so that the liquid product flows from the liquid space 15.1 via the liquid connection 14, the liquid channel 13 and the discharge opening 17 to the interior of the respective bottle 2. In this case, the CO ₂ gas displaced from the bottle 2 by the inflowing medium flows partly into the additional gas channel 31, but for the most part via the throttled gas connection 33 into the return gas channel 29.

For the filling stopping brake and corrective filling the control valves 24 is closed, so that the now displaced by the bottle 2 inflowing contents displaced CO ₂ gas exclusively via a likewise formed in the housing 12 of each filling element 5, throttled and provided with a check valve Gas connection 33 flows into the return gas channel 29. The brake and correction filling is terminated by closing the liquid valve 18. This is followed by pre-relieving, calming and residual relieving.

Since the biasing of the bottles 2 from the additional gas channel 31 takes place and a large part of the CO ₂ gas amount, which is displaced from the respective bottle interior during filling and braking and Korrekturfüllens by the inflowing contents, enters the return gas channel 29, arises in the additional gas channel 31, but also in the boiler 15, a deficit of CO ₂ gas, which is controlled via the line 16 compensated. This means in particular that a permanent CO ₂ gas flow in the line 32 from the gas space 15.2 in the gas channel 31 is formed and thus during filling from the bottles 2 displaced and still shares in air or oxygen-containing CO ₂ gas possibly in the relatively large-volume gas channel 31, but can not pass through the line 32 into the gas space 15.2 of the boiler 15. This is an oxygen uptake at the interface between the liquid product and the CO ² atmosphere, ie at the interface between the liquid space 15.1 and the gas space 15.2 in the boiler 15 effectively prevented, whereby the oxygen content in the bottled 2 bottled contents significantly reduced, thereby significantly improving the shelf life and quality of the product.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the idea underlying the invention.

For example, e.g. provided to connect the additional channel 31 and / or the connecting line 32 by means of an additional, closable gas duct directly to the return gas channel 29. This procedure is e.g. then particularly advantageous when it comes to interruptions in the bottle supply to the filling machine, since it may happen in such a case that, resulting from the actual filling gas supply in the additional channel 31, arising from the rinsing and biasing gas demand exceeds, which could get into the boiler 15 excess gas. By the inventively proposed, e.g. In such a situation, superfluous gas from the additional channel 31 is passed directly into the return gas channel 29 by means of a controllable valve sealable gas path between additional channel 31 and the return gas channel 29, whereby a return flow of oxygen-containing gas into the vessel 15 is reliably avoided.

In the above description, reference has only been made to filling systems which flush the filling containers at least once before the actual filling in order to replace the oxygen-containing air contained in the container by an inert gas. Due to the large number of process steps required for this and the absolutely necessary technical effort, this application provides the highest technical requirements, which were solved by the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be used for filling systems which do without rinsing the containers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Filling and closing machine

2

bottle

2.1

container flow

3

Rotor of the actual filling machine

4

filling position

5

filler

6

container carrier

7

carrier

8th

Container or machine inlet

9

Spout or transfer star

10

Verschlieβer

11

machine outlet

12

Housing of the filling element. 5

13

liquid channel

14

fluid communication

15

boiler

15.1

liquid space

15.2

headspace

15.3

supply terminal

16

CO ₂ gas supply line

16.1

control valve

17

discharge opening

17.1

Seal at the discharge opening 17

18

liquid valve

18.1

tappet

18.2

valve body

20

probe

21

gas channel

22,23,24

control valve

25 - 28

gas channel

29

Return gas channel

30

vacuum channel

31

additional channel or gas tank

32

connecting line

33

throttled gas connection in the filling element 5

A

Direction of rotation of the rotor

B

Flow direction in the line 32nd

W1 - W11

Angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor 3

Claims (20)

1. Method for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid product under counterpressure, using a filling machine (1) which comprises on a rotor (3) a plurality of filling elements (5), a boiling vessel (15) which is common to the filling elements (5) and the interior of which forms a fluid space (15.1) filled by the liquid product and a gas space (15.2) above the product for an inert gas under pressure (filling pressure), at least one return gas channel (29) common to all filling elements (5) or a group of filling elements (5), and an additional gas channel (31) common to all filling elements (5) or a group of filling elements (5), which gas channel (31) via at least one rotor-side gas connection (32) is connected to the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15), wherein before filling, the interior space of the containers (2) is prestressed via a controlled gas path (21, 24, 28) of each filling element (5) with the inert gas under filling pressure from the additional gas channel (31), and during filling the inert gas is displaced from the containers by the inflowing product via the controlled gas path (21, 14, 18) and a choked gas connection (33) into the at least one return gas channel (29), characterised in that the additional gas channel (31) has a volume which is greater than the volume of the rotor-side gas connection (32) connecting this gas channel with the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15), and that the proportion of the inert gas quantity displaced on filling into the return gas channel (29) is greater than an inert gas quantity also displaced on filling from the container interior space into the additional gas channel (31), so that taking into account a gas exchange between the filling elements (5), the quantity of inert gas extracted from the additional gas channel (31) on prestressing is greater than the gas quantity displaced under counterpressure into this additional gas channel from the containers (2) on filling.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that inert gas is supplied under control to the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15) to maintain the filling pressure.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the container (2) is prestressed exclusively from the additional gas channel (31) serving as a gas sink.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that on filling the containers (2), the inert gas is also displaced partly via a controlled gas path (21, 24, 28) of each filling element into the additional gas channel (31) serving as a gas sink.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that prestressing in each case is preceded by a partial prestressing of the containers (2) via a controlled gas path (21, 22, 26) of the respective filling element (5) from the return gas channel (29).
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that before prestressing or partial prestressing, in each case at least one flushing of the containers (2) with inert gas takes place via controlled gas paths (21, 22, 26) of the filling elements (5).
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the containers (2) are flushed with inert gas from the return gas channel (29).
8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that before and/or after flushing via controlled paths (21, 23, 27) of the filling elements (5), an evacuation takes place of the containers (2) in the sealed position with the respective filling element (5).
9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that CO₂ gas is used as an inert gas.
10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that under certain operating conditions, return gas can be conducted by means of a controlled gas path from the additional channel (31) to the return gas channel (29) or from the connecting line (32) to the return gas channel (29).
11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that before filing the container, at least a single evacuation or flushing of the container takes place.
12. Filling machine of circulating design for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with liquid product under counterpressure, with a boiling vessel (15) provided on a rotor (3) that can be driven circulating about a vertical machine axis, the interior of which boiling vessel (15) forms a fluid space (15.1) filled by liquid product and above the level of the liquid product a gas space (15.2) for an inert gas under pressure (filling pressure), with a plurality of filling elements (5) arranged on the periphery of the rotor (3), each with a fluid channel (13) in connection with the fluid space (15.1) of the boiling vessel (15) and forming a discharge opening (17), with controlled fluid valve (18), with at least one return gas channel (29) on the rotor (3) that is common to all filling elements (5) or a group of filling elements (5), with an additional gas channel (31) on the rotor (3) which is common to all filling elements (5) or a group of filling elements (5), and with controlled gas paths (21, 22, 26; 21, 23, 27; 21, 24, 28) which are formed in the filling elements (5) and via which at least one prestressing is possible of the respective container (2) to be filled and in the sealed position with a filling element (5) with the inert gas having the filling pressure from the additional gas channel (31) and a discharge is possible of the inert gas displaced from the containers (2) on filling at least partly to the return gas channel (29), wherein the additional gas channel (31) is connected via at least one gas connection (32) with the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15) and is connected with the controlled gas paths (21, 22, 26; 21, 23, 27; 21, 24, 28) causing the prestressing of the container (2) of the filling elements (5), characterised in that the additional gas channel (31) as a gas sink has a volume which is greater than the volume of the rotor-side gas connection (32) connecting this additional gas channel (31) with the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15) and the gas paths (21, 22, 26; 21, 23, 27; 21, 24, 28) can be controlled such that the proportion of inert gas quantity displaced on filling into the return gas channel (29) is greater than an inert gas quantity also displaced on filling from the container interior space into the additional gas channel (31), so that taking into account a gas exchange between the filling elements (5), the quantity of inert gas extracted from the additional gas channel (31) on prestressing is greater than the gas quantity displaced on filling under counterpressure into this additional gas channel (31) from the containers (2).
13. Filling machine according to claim 12, characterised in that the at least one additional gas channel (31) is permanently connected with the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15).
14. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims 12 or 13, characterised by means (16, 16.1) for controlled supply of inert gas to the gas space (15.2) of the boiling vessel (15) to maintain the filling pressure.
15. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims 12 to 14, characterised in that on the rotor (3) is provided at least one vacuum channel (30) which is common to all filling elements (5) or a group of filling elements (5), and to which are connected the filling elements (5) with at least one controlled gas path (21, 23, 27) formed in the filling elements (5).
16. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims 12 to 15, characterised in that all gas paths provided in the filling elements (5) have a common gas channel (21) which opens into the interior space of the container in the sealed position with the respective filling element (5).
17. Filling machine according to claim 14, characterised in that the discharge gas opening (17) of each filling element (5) is formed annular or partly annular surrounding a container-side opening of the gas channel (21) common to the gas paths.
18. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims 12 to 17, characterised in that the filling elements (5) are filling elements without filler pipe.
19. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims 12 to 18, characterised in that a controllable connecting line exists between the additional channel (31) and the return gas channel (29) and/or between the connecting line (32) and the return gas channel (29).
20. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims 12 to 19, characterised in that means are provided for evacuation and/or flushing of the containers.

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