EP2242715B1 - Method for filling containers with a filling material consisting of at least two components, filling station and filling machine for carrying out said method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling containers, such as bottles, cans or the like with a two-component filling material according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a filling point for controlled delivery of the contents in containers according to the preamble of claim 10 and to a plurality of such filling stations having filling machine according to the preamble 15th

Such an apparatus and method for filling containers with at least two different components has already been characterized by EP 1 243 546 A presented. To solve this technical problem, this document essentially proposes that the entire filling machine is initially filled with the first component. If it is now indicated via weight sensors that the desired amount of the first component is filled into the individual containers to be filled, then it is further provided to fill the entire filling machine with the second component in order then also to fill the desired quantity of the second component into the containers , This procedure is very time-consuming and causes forcibly large product losses, since with each change of the component contained in the filling machine. no longer required amount of the respective component must be completely discarded.

The object of the invention is to provide a method by which a problematic filling of containers with a consisting of at least two components contents is possible, especially with reproducible proportions of the components in the containers. To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. A filling station and a filling machine for carrying out the method are the subject matter of patent claims 10 and 15, respectively.

In the invention, the introduction of the components into the container takes place separately in each case so that contacting and / or mixing of these components takes place only in the respective container. The components in each filling cycle are preferably introduced one after the other into the respective container, so that the filling quantity assigned to each component, introduced into the respective container, can be precisely controlled or regulated and reproducible ratio can thus be determined, in particular also with regard to the proportions Volume fraction or ratio) of the components in the respective filled container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filling of each container is carried out with all components to be introduced into the respective container at one and the same filling or using one and the same filling element, and then using a filling element with a discharge opening for dispensing the filling (discharge opening ) is associated with at least one gas barrier. At the end of each filling cycle, the liquid channel or liquid chute channel section formed above the gas barrier in the filling element remains filled with the last-time component of each filling cycle, ie with the component introduced into a container at the end of the filling cycle. This last-time component then forms in the subsequent filling cycle the temporally first, ie the first to be introduced into the respective container component.

Filling cycle in the context of the invention is that cycle or filling sequence in which the individual components are introduced into the respective container, preferably in the initially empty and filled at the end of the filling cycle with the required capacity or with the required level container.

The particular advantages of the invention include u.a. in that the individual components are reproducibly introduced into the containers with high accuracy. Furthermore, in the invention, the possibility of equipping the filling elements used in the region of their discharge openings with gas locks, which are flowed through during filling of the product and allow the respective filling cycle without emptying the filling elements or their liquid channels and without the risk of dripping of the filling material to end.

In particular, by the presence of only one gas barrier, the opening cross-section of the container can be optimally used and yet almost no concessions regarding the determination (weight) and delimitation (mixing in the line) of different liquid phase must be accepted.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 in a simplified representation, a filling element together with a bottle designed as a container;

Fig. 2 in positions a) - d) in a schematic representation of a filling with the filling of the FIG. 1 and the container formed as a bottle in various steps of the filling process or a filling cycle;

Fig. 3 in positions a1) -c1) and a2) -c2), respectively, different steps of two successive filling cycles in a further embodiment of the method according to the invention;

In the Figures 1 - 3 1 is in each case a filling element which, together with a provided below this filling element container carrier 2 forms a filling, for example, part of a filling machine of rotating design and this with a plurality of similar filling points in the person skilled in the known manner on the circumference of a not shown to a vertical Maschlnenachse circumferentially rotatable rotor is provided. The filling element 1 is used to fill containers formed as bottles 3 in a free-jet filling process with a liquid product, which consists of two components A and B, which are first brought together or mixed in the respective bottle 3.

For filling, the respective bottle 3 is upright, i. with its bottle axis in the vertical direction and coaxially or substantially coaxially arranged with a Füllelementachse FA at the filling so that the bottle mouth 3.1 directly opposite a discharge opening 4 formed on the underside of the filling element 4 for the liquid product, in the illustrated free jet filling with Distance from this discharge opening 4. The bottle 3 stands with her bottle bottom 3.2 on the container support 2 and on a bottle plate forming electrical Weighinginrihtung 5, the measurement signal for controlling the filling element 1, ie for the mass-controlled delivery of the components A and B of the liquid filling material into the bottles 3 is used.

In a housing 6 of the filling element 1, a liquid channel 7 having the discharge opening 4 is formed, which is controlled by a respective separate control and actuating device 8 and 9 having liquid valves 10 and 11 with a channel 12 for supplying the component A (liquid valves 10). or with a channel 13 for supplying the component B (liquid valve 11) is connectable. The channel 12 is provided with a for all filling elements 1 of Filling machine together, the component A containing boiler connected. Similarly, the channel 13 is connected to a further, also common to all filling elements of the filling machine, component B containing boiler. In particular, in order to avoid emptying of the liquid channel 7 and dripping of the liquid filling material at the end of the respective filling cycle, a gas barrier 14 is arranged in the discharge opening 4, which in the simplest case of a sieve-like insert, but preferably consists of an insert, a variety of Has channels that are open at the liquid channel 7 and also at the bottom of the filling element 1 and are flowed through during the filling of the components A and B.

The aim is to bring together or mix the two components A and B only in each case to be filled bottle 3, so u.a. to avoid that a component, for example, the component A in an opened liquid valve 11 undesirably enters the channel 13 for the component B or vice versa. Et al For this reason, a mixing of the components in the liquid channel 7 is not desirable. In addition, the aim is to introduce the components A and B into the respective bottle 3 individually and temporally one after another in order to be able to control or regulate the filling quantity of each component A and B precisely.

In positions a) - d) of FIG. 2 1, each bottle 3 is initially filled by controlled opening and closing of the float valve 10 with the desired mixing ratio of the first subset of components A and then the complete amount of component B, and then the required remaining subset of component A is introduced into the bottle 3 , For this purpose, at the beginning of each filling cycle, the liquid valve 10 is opened with the control and actuating device 8 (position a of FIG. 2 ) and then closed again when the desired proportion of component A is reached. Following time, the liquid-ketts valve 11 with the control and actuating device 9 is opened to introduce the component B (position b of FIG. 2 ) and then closed again when the desired proportion of component B is reached. In this state, the bottle 2 is not completely filled. Time-connected, therefore, there is a residual filling, but with the component A by re-opening the liquid valve 10 with the control device 8 (position c of FIG. 2 ). As soon as the required total filling quantity is in the bottle 3 in this residual filling, the liquid valve 10 is closed again via the control device 8 (position d of FIG. 2 ), completing the filling cycle is and a new filling cycle for filling a further bottle 3 can be started.

With this in the FIG. 2 filling process shown is achieved that at the end of each filling cycle, the liquid channel 7 contains the component A, with which the filling of another bottle 3 and the respective subsequent filling cycle is started. In this way, in particular, the use of gas locks 14 to the filling elements 1 is possible and emptying of the liquid channel 7 is not required at the end of each filling cycle, but the liquid channel 7 above the gas barrier 14 with the contents, ie remain filled with the component A.

The FIG. 3 shows in a representation similar to the FIG. 2 in the positions a1) -c1) or a2) -c2), different method steps which are carried out in a further embodiment of the method according to the invention using the filling point formed by the filling element 1 and the container carrier 3 in two successive filling cycles.

In a first filling cycle, the filling of the relevant bottle 3 takes place starting with the component A, for which purpose the liquid valve 10 is opened via the control device 8 (position a1 of FIG FIG. 3 ). After reaching the predetermined amount for the component A, the liquid valve 10 is closed and then the liquid valve 11 is opened (position b1 of FIG. 3 ). After reaching the required total filling the filling cycle is terminated by closing the liquid valve 11 (position c1 of FIG. 3 ). The liquid channel 7 above the gas barrier 14 is then filled with the component B.

A temporally following filling cycle for filling a further bottle 3 begins with the opening of the liquid valve 11 by the control device 9 for feeding the component B into the bottle 3 (position a2 of FIG FIG. 3 ). After introducing the required amount of component B, the liquid valve 11 is closed and then the liquid valve 10 for introducing the component A is opened (position b2 of FIG. 3 ). This filling cycle is terminated when the required total filling quantity is reached by closing the liquid valve 10 (position c2 of FIG FIG. 3 ), so that then in the liquid channel 7 above the vapor barrier 14, the component A is located, with which the next filling cycle for filling a further bottle 3 is started.

In the process of FIG. 3 So are the filling sequences or filling cycles by the respective filling element 1 controlling the central control device of Filling machine (filling computer) inverted while the individual process steps by appropriate control of the liquid valves 10 and 11, taking into account the signal supplied by the respective weighing device 5, the correct quantities assigned. Also in this method it is ensured that at the end of each filling cycle only or substantially only one of the two components A and B is located in the liquid channel 7 above the gas barrier 14, thus emptying the liquid channel 7 at the end of each filling cycle is not required.

Due to the fact that at the end of each filling cycle the respective liquid channel 7 contains only one component A or B, but by no means a mixture of these components, reproducible initial conditions result for each filling cycle, so that an exact control or regulation of the filling quantities introduced into the bottles Both components and thus an exact mixing ratio of these components in the bottles 3 is possible.

In all the above-described embodiments, the controlled closing of the liquid valves 10 and 11 takes place in each case depending on the introduced into the respective bottle 3 filling quantity by the supplied from the weighing device 5 measurement signal.

In order to allow an accurate measurement of each introduced filling quantity and in particular also the amount of the first introduced in the respective filling component with the respective weighing device 5, it is necessary in the above-described method, but at least useful that within each filling cycle after the introduction of the first component a filling break is inserted. Such a filling break would be analogous to this in the in the FIG. 2 shown method after closing the liquid valve 10 and before opening the liquid valve 11 is provided, ie immediately before the position c of FIG. 2 , In the in the FIG. 3 The illustrated method would be a filling pause in the first filling cycle after closing the liquid valve 10 and before opening the liquid valve 11, ie before the step of the position b1, and in the temporally following filling cycle after closing the liquid valve 11 and before opening the liquid valve 10th , ie provided before the step of the position b2.

The exact measurement of the introduced quantities makes it possible, for example, to perform a correction filling, for example, with the first or last introduced component. The exact measurement of the introduced filling quantities also makes it possible, for example, to carry out a correction of the filling quantities in the respectively subsequent filling cycle with the measured values of a filling cycle or to document the filling quantities actual values and their deviation from filling quantities, target values etc.

Especially in filling machines for filling containers in the form of bottles 3, the filling element 1 offers the advantage that in the filling element 1, the flow cross section of the discharge opening 4 adapted to the cross section of the bottle opening 3.1 can be as large as possible, so that for both components A and B. a discharge opening 4 with a large cross-section results.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide the two discharge openings 4.1 and 4.2, in particular also at the annular formation of the discharge opening 4.2 at different levels, for example, the discharge opening 4.1 set back, i. at a greater distance from the bottle opening 3.1 than the discharge opening 4.2.

Furthermore, in the case of the filling element 1, it is possible to make the dispensing opening adjustable in the direction of the filling element axis FA, in particular also in such a way that the respective gas barrier 14 is axially adjustable In which the dispensing opening 4 forming portion of the associated liquid channel 7 is arranged.

Each filling element 1 is furthermore designed such that it can be cleaned, rinsed and / or disinfected, in particular also on the surfaces coming into contact with the filling material or the components A and B, with a gaseous, vaporous and / or liquid medium, for example also with water, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ), especially in a CIP process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filler

2

container carrier

3

bottle

3.1

bottle opening

3.2

bottle bottom

4

discharge opening

5

weighing

6

casing

7

liquid channel

8, 9

Control and actuator

10, 11

liquid valve

12, 13

channel

14

gas barrier

A, B

Component of the filling

FA

filling element

Claims (15)

1. Method for filling containers (3) with a filling material using at least one filling element (1), wherein the filling material consists of at least two different components (A, B), wherein the components (A, S) are introduced separately into the relevant container (3) by means of the at least one filling element (1), wherein the use of a filling element (1), which has a liquid channel (7) with a dispensing opening (4) to dispense the filling material into the relevant container (3), and wherein the liquid channel (7) is connected in a managed chronologically consecutive manner to channels or pipes (12, 13) to supply the components (A, B), characterised in that the filling of the relevant container (3) occurs using a filling element (1), the dispensing opening (4) of which is fitted with a gas lock (14), and in that the liquid channel (7) is filled at the end of each filling cycle with the component (A, B) with which a chronologically consecutive filling cycle starts.
2. Method according to claim 1 characterised in that the components (A, B) are each introduced into the relevant container (3) managed by volume and / or quantity.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the components (A, B) are each introduced into the relevant container (3) offset in time from one another.
4. Method according to claim 3 characterised in that after introducing a component (A, B) the introduction of the chronologically consecutive component (B, A) is initiated after a time delay.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the components (A, B) are introduced into the relevant container (3) chronologically one after another in a set order in each filling cycle, and in that in the relevant filling cycle chronologically consecutive to a filling cycle, this order is changed, for example reversed, such that the filling of the relevant container (3) in the chronologically consecutive filling cycle takes place with the chronologically last component of the previous filling cycle.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that in the chronologically consecutive filling cycles the components (A, B) are in each case introduced into the container concerned (3) in the same order, and in that each filling cycle ends with the chronologically first component.
7. Method according to claim 6 characterised in that at the end of each filling cycle, a residual filling occurs with the chronologically first component of this cycle.
8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that in each filling cycle all the components (A, B) are each introduced into the container concerned (3) with one and the same filling element (1, 1a).
9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling material has two different components (A, B).
10. Filling point to fill containers (3) with a filling material consisting of at least two different components (A, B), with at least one filling element (1) with a liquid channel (7) forming a dispensing opening (4), wherein the liquid channel (7) is connected to feeds (12, 13) in each case for a component (A, B) for the controlled dispensing of the components (A, B) by means of independently controllable liquid valves (10, 11), and to a control device for the individual control of the liquid valves (10, 11) characterised in that the control is carried out in such a way that at the end of each filling cycle the liquid channel (7) contains in each case the component (A, B) with which the filling of a container (3) starts in the chronologically consecutive filling cycle, and in that at least one gas lock (14) is allocated to the dispensing opening (4).
11. Filling point according to claim 10 characterised in that the control device for the control of the liquid valves (10, 11) is formed in such a way that each filling cycle ends with the component (A) which right at the start of this filling cycle was introduced into the container (3) as the first component.
12. Filling point according to claim 10 characterised in that the control device for the control of the liquid valves (10, 11) is formed in such a way that in each filling cycle the components are introduced into the relevant container (3) in a set order chronologically one after the other, this being in such a way that each filling cycle starts with a different component, which however is the component of the chronologically previous filling cycle.
13. Filling point according to any one of claims 10 to 12 characterised by means (5) for generating a control signal, depending on the filling quantity introduced into the relevant container (3), for controlling the liquid valves (10, 11).
14. Filling point according to any one of claims 10 to 13 characterised in that the filling element (1, 1 a) is formed for rinsing or cleaning, in particular also in the area of the liquid channel (7), the dispensing opening (4, 4.1, 4.2) and / or the gas lock (14).
15. Filling machine for filling containers (3) with a filling material consisting of at least two components (A, B) characterised in that it has, on a revolving transport element, for example a rotor, a number of filling points according to one of the previous claims 10 to 14.

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