EP2246291B1 - Füllmaschine und Verfahren zur Desinfektion der Füllmaschine - Google Patents

Füllmaschine und Verfahren zur Desinfektion der Füllmaschine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2246291B1
EP2246291B1 EP20100159953 EP10159953A EP2246291B1 EP 2246291 B1 EP2246291 B1 EP 2246291B1 EP 20100159953 EP20100159953 EP 20100159953 EP 10159953 A EP10159953 A EP 10159953A EP 2246291 B1 EP2246291 B1 EP 2246291B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling machine
rinsing
container
valve assemblies
sanitising
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Active
Application number
EP20100159953
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2246291A1 (de
Inventor
Giovanni Mazzon
Stefano Stefanello
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Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
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Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
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Application filed by Gruppo Bertolaso SpA filed Critical Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
Priority to SI201030443T priority Critical patent/SI2246291T1/sl
Publication of EP2246291A1 publication Critical patent/EP2246291A1/de
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/001—Cleaning of filling devices
    • B67C3/002—Cleaning of filling devices using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads
    • B67C3/004—Cleaning of filling devices using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads permanently attached to the filling machine and movable between a rest and a working position

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a filling machine and to a method for sanitising said filling machine, according to the preamble of the relative main claims 1 and 12 respectively and known from EP 0 785 134 A2 .
  • the machine in question is advantageously intended to be used in industrial bottling plants to fill containers, and preferably bottles, with liquids in particular of the food and drink type such as wine, liquor, mineral water, oil, etc.
  • the machines in question can preferably be used within bottling lines comprising, typically, a rinsing machine, a capping/capsuling machine or also, in the part farthest downstream of the line, a labelling machine and a packaging machine.
  • Filling machines of food and drink products are usually provided, in a per sé totally conventional way, with a rotary carousel (or tower) carrying a plurality of valve assemblies mounted peripherally suitable for conveying the liquid contained in a cylindrical tank inside the containers to be filled. These, lifted by suitable support plates, are associated with the single valve assemblies to be filled up to the desired level during the operating stroke around the rotary carousel.
  • the filling machines are commonly classified as machines operating under slight depression, isobaric machines, machines operating under slight pressure, machines operating by gravity, etc.
  • so-called isobaric filling machines are mainly studied to fill containers with fizzy liquids, i.e. containing carbon dioxide, sparkling wines, champagne, etc. and work at pressures much higher than atmospheric pressure.
  • each valve assembly suitably fixed below the cylindrical tank, is equipped with a tubular pipe, which is intercepted by a shutter that adjusts the supply of alimentary liquid from the tank to the container below.
  • a compensation cannula is coaxially mounted through which the gas or the air present in the container is evacuated.
  • the supply of liquid into the container is controlled electronically through the actuation of actuators or else mechanically once the pressure in the container reaches the same pressure value as in the tank.
  • the air present therein goes out through the compensation cannula.
  • the lower part of such a cannula moreover, normally has the function of adjusting, for example hydraulically or through a probe, the maximum level of the alimentary liquid in the container.
  • filling machines need frequent sanitising operations, to be carried out even many times each day, for many reasons.
  • a first reason derives from the need to periodically carry out the cleaning of all of the parts of the machine, in particular the valve assemblies, which come into contact with the alimentary liquid to be bottled in order to keep the degree of concentration of microbes and bacteria in the bottled product within the limits permitted by the applicable national and international standards regarding contamination of foodstuffs.
  • the interruption for example, can be foreseen to carry out maintenance operations on the machine or else to suspend working activity.
  • a second reason is the need to change the product to be bottled and therefore clean the machine to avoid contamination between different liquids.
  • sanitising operations require that a sanitising fluid (mostly containing suitable liquid chemical products and/or steam) be run in all of the pipes where the liquid passes and where air or inert gas passes.
  • a sanitising fluid mostly containing suitable liquid chemical products and/or steam
  • This known sanitising method involves long manual operations to mount the rinsing containers below each valve assembly and does not allow the carrying out of sanitising treatments to be programmed automatically.
  • patent US 5,533,552 describes an isobaric filling machine equipped with a cylindrical casing (made from stainless steel), which extends from the bottom of the tank coaxially with respect to the rotation shaft of the rotary carousel and is arranged inside the valve assemblies.
  • a trolley is arranged supported by two guide shafts and carrying a mounted rinsing container.
  • Each trolley can be slidably moved through a pneumatic actuator, through an opening formed in the casing, between an operative position, that it takes up during the sanitising treatments and in which it is positioned with the rinsing container aligned below the centring cone of a corresponding valve assembly, and an inoperative position, that it takes up during the normal filling steps of the machine and in which it is positioned behind the casing closing the opening with a protective screen fixed to the front of the trolley.
  • the rinsing container is lifted from the trolley and brought to form a seal against the centring cone of the valve assembly, with an O-ring being foreseen arranged on the upper face of the rinsing container.
  • the sanitising liquid is injected into the tank and conveyed inside the valve assemblies until it reaches the rinsing containers below, from which it then goes back into the tank through the compensation cannula.
  • each rinsing container is lowered so that the trolley can then pull back behind the casing.
  • a first drawback is linked to the fact that such a filling machine allows only the inner surface of the centring cone to be sanitised, whereas its outer surface, which can also get dirty, is never washed by the sanitising liquid.
  • a further drawback derives from the fact that the gasket of the rinsing container against the centring cone is unable to withstand the high pressures at which the sanitising fluid is injected inside the valve assembly, which are necessary in order to obtain adequate sanitisation of the filling machine.
  • the sanitising liquid especially after many hours of operation when the gaskets are no longer new, tends to come out from the valve assemblies with losses that as well as fouling the machine also constitute a waste of sanitising liquid.
  • the main purpose of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the current prior art by providing a filling machine capable of carrying out sanitising operations in a totally automatic way.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is able to carry out sanitising operations that allow the outer surface of the centring cones of the valve assemblies to also be washed.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that allows the sanitising operations to be carried out without losses of sanitising fluid from the valve assemblies.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is able to carry out the sanitisation of the valve assemblies through a fluid in countercurrent to improve the washing thereof.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that allows the parts of the centring cone able to come into sealed relationship with the mouth of the container for filling to be easily replaced.
  • a rotary isobaric filling machine that is intended for bottling containers through fizzy fluids, generally used in the food and drink industry, like for example beverages with added carbon dioxide, sparkling wines, beer, mineral water, etc.
  • the filling machine 1 is conventionally inserted inside a bottling plant downstream of a rinsing machine and upstream of a capping machine.
  • the containers to be filled are transferred from one machine to the other through transportation lines, like for example conveyor belts, starwheels with recesses, Archimedean screws, etc.
  • the filling machine 1 comprises a support structure 2, resting on the ground, on which a rotary carousel 3 is rotatably mounted.
  • the latter is equipped with a vertical central rotation shaft 45 that supports a horizontal support disc 38.
  • the latter has columns 37 fixed to it that support a tank 4 containing the liquid to be bottled at a suitable pressure so as to prevent the gas dissolved in the liquid from being lost.
  • a plurality of valve assemblies 5 are mounted on the rotary carousel 3 peripherally under the tank 4 and are hydraulically connected to the latter to transfer the liquid to containers 7 to be filled below, generally consisting of glass or PET bottles. These are transported around the filling machine 1, in a per sé conventional way, by support means consisting, for example, of a plurality of plates 10 that rotate in synchrony with the valve assemblies 5 and are suitable for transferring the containers 7 from an entry recess 39 to an exit recess 40 (see figures 1 and 2 ).
  • each valve assembly 5 comprises a metal body or tap 44 in which a tubular pipe 6 is formed, which places the tank 4 in hydraulic communication with the container 7 to be filled below.
  • interception means 8 consisting for example of a shutter 12, which is mounted coaxially in the same tubular pipe 6 and can be moved between an open position, in which it is away from the inner wall of the tubular pipe 6 allowing the liquid to pass towards the container 7, and a closed position, in which it is in contact with the inner wall of the tubular pipe 6 blocking the passage of the liquid.
  • the shutter 12 is controlled to close through, for example, a pneumatic actuator, and is controlled to open through, for example, a return spring preloaded to push it into its open position when the container 7 reaches the same pressure as the tank 4.
  • the interception means 8, therefore, adjust the supply of liquid from the tank 4 to each container 7 that rotates in synchrony with the corresponding valve assembly 5.
  • the tubular pipe 6 ends with one or more dispensing openings 41 formed on a lower wall 16 of the tap 44, which is able to enter into sealed relationship with a centring cone 9 aligned with the same tubular pipe 6.
  • a centring cone 9 is connected to the valve assembly 5 through a horizontal support bracket 42 fixed to a pair of vertical shafts 43 slidably mounted on the same valve assembly 5 to allow the centring cone 9 to move between a lower position, in which it is away from the tap 44 (see figure 4 ), and an upper position, in which it is sealed on the tap 44 (see figures 2 and 5 ).
  • Each valve assembly 5 is also equipped with a compensation cannula 68 for the return of air, mounted concentrically to the tubular pipe 6 and intercepted by a mechanical valve, preferably also associated with a pneumatic valve, to control the pressure equilibrium between the container 7 and the tank 4.
  • a compensation cannula 68 for the return of air, mounted concentrically to the tubular pipe 6 and intercepted by a mechanical valve, preferably also associated with a pneumatic valve, to control the pressure equilibrium between the container 7 and the tank 4.
  • a compensation cannula 68 during the operation of the filling machine 1, is able to pass through the centring cone 9 to insert inside the container 7 below.
  • Each valve assembly 5 is conventionally equipped with foreseen control valves to adjust specific steps of the filling process of the containers 7, like for example, in the example case described of an isobaric machine: the pre-evacuation, pressurisation, self-levelling and degassing step.
  • each valve assembly 5 comprises an intercept valve of a vacuum circuit intended to take in all of the air from the container 7 during the pre-evacuation step, an intercept valve of an isobaric circuit intended to bring the container to the pressure of the tank 4 making the air of the tank 4 itself, or rather an inert gas, flow in during the pressurisation step of the container 7, an intercept valve of a self-levelling circuit intended to blow an inert gas in the container 7 during the self-levelling step.
  • Such intercept valves place the respective circuits in communication with the container 7 through a further poppet valve 71 mounted in common with the different circuits on the tap 44.
  • the poppet valve 71 connects such circuits to an auxiliary pipe 72 that is formed on the tap 44 and extends inside it until it passes through its lower wall 16.
  • degassing valves 84 to evacuate the air or the gas in overpressure in the container once it has been filled with the liquid to be bottled.
  • the filling machine 1 object of the present invention also comprises a plurality of rinsing containers 13 of a sanitising fluid, each of which can be operatively and mechanically associated with one of the valve assemblies 5 during the foreseen sanitising treatment.
  • first actuator means 76 are foreseen to move each rinsing container 13 between an inoperative position, in which the rinsing container 13 is moved into a position withdrawn outside of the working bulk of the valve assemblies 5, and an operative position, in which the rinsing container 13 is vertically aligned below a corresponding valve assembly 5.
  • the first actuator means 76 advantageously comprise first pneumatic cylinders 96 that determine the rotation of a crown gear 97, engaged with a plurality of pinions 46 arranged peripherally on the rotary carousel 3. As illustrated in detail in figure 4 , each pinion 46 is fixed around a vertical pin 47 rotatably mounted on the support disc 38 of the rotary carousel 3. A substantially horizontal deviation arm 48 is fixed at a first end 49 thereof to the pin 47 and at its second end 50 to one of the rinsing containers 13.
  • the pinions 46 in groups of pinions arranged in succession along contiguous arcs of circumference of the carousel.
  • the pinions of each group are rotatably engaged with each other by gear wheels arranged between the pinions and are set in rotation by a corresponding pneumatic cylinder 96, which acts with the end of its stem on a toothed sector engaged with the pinion of a group to simultaneously set all of the pinions of the same group in rotation.
  • moving means 11 are foreseen, mechanically connected to the rotary carousel 3 to adjust the vertical position of the valve assemblies 5.
  • moving means 11 are preferably obtained with mechanical actuators (comprising, for example, trapezium-shaped threaded screws) connected to the support columns 37 of the tank 4 of the filling machine 1 to vertically move the tank 4 and simultaneously all of the valve assemblies 5 fixed peripherally onto it.
  • the moving means 11 are suitable for moving the valve assemblies 5 between at least one raised position, in which the valve assemblies 5 are separated from the rinsing containers 13 below, and at least one lowered position, in which the tap 44 of each valve assembly 5 is in sealed relationship with the corresponding rinsing container 13, brought into operative position by the first actuator means 76.
  • each rinsing container 13 comprises a first tubular body 51 fixed vertically to the second end of the arm 48 and closed at the bottom by a bottom 52 equipped with one or more draining holes 53.
  • a second vertical tubular body 54 is mounted concentrically inside the first tubular body 51 and can slide vertically with respect to it.
  • Such a second tubular body 54 is equipped with an open upper end 55, projecting on top from the first tubular body 51 with a cup 56 intended to go into abutment against the centring cone 9 of the valve assembly 5.
  • the lower end 57 of the second tubular body 54 also open, remains inside the first tubular body 51 and is kept raised with respect to the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 by elastic means 58.
  • Such elastic means 58 consist, for example, of a helical compression spring mounted concentrically around the second tubular body 54 between its cup 56 and a shoulder of the first tubular body 51. Developing from the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 there is a projecting portion 59 that extends towards the lower end 57 of the second tubular body 54, in which it is able to insert to fit. On the inner surface of the second tubular body 54, at its lower end 57, a first gasket 60 is annularly arranged.
  • the projecting portion 59 of the bottom 52 is able to enter into sealed relationship with the first gasket 60 when, during the sanitising treatment, the second tubular body 54 is moved by the valve assembly 5 against the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 overcoming the force exerted by the elastic means 5 8 (as will be explained in detail hereafter with reference to the method of operation of the machine).
  • the centring cone 9 of each valve assembly 5 comprises a substantially cylindrical outer body 14, fixed to the support bracket 42, which is equipped with an upper portion 15, able to enter into sealed relationship with the tap 44, and with a lower portion 17, able to enter into sealed relationship with the rinsing container 13 when the latter is in operative position.
  • the centring cone 9 comprises an inner body 18 slidably mounted through guide means inside the outer body 14. Such an inner body 18 is able to enter into sealed relationship with the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 and is equipped with a lower concavity 21, at which it is able to enter into sealed relationship with the mouth 20 of the container 7 to be filled.
  • the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9 is provided with a top wall 19 on which a first through opening 61 is formed, which allows the compensation cannula 68 to pass and defines an edge suitable for making the seal with the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 at the dispensing opening 41 of the tubular pipe 6 through a second gasket 62.
  • the same second gasket 62, or else another distinct gasket fixed to the wall of the inner body 18, is foreseen for sealing with the mouth 20 of the container 7.
  • the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9 wraps around the side of the inner body 18 and is provided, on its upper portion 15, with a second opening 73 that is concentric with respect to the first opening 61 of the same inner body 18, and, in its lower portion 17, with a third opening 78 aligned with the second opening 73.
  • the second opening 73 formed on the upper portion 15 has slightly larger dimensions than those of the top wall 19 of the inner body 18 so as to allow the latter to fit through it, coming out on top.
  • the outer body 14 is provided, at the third opening 78 of the lower portion 17, with a tubular profile 30 able to insert inside the rinsing container 13, when the latter is in operative position laterally entering into sealed relationship with the cup 56 of the same rinsing container 13 through sealing means 31.
  • sealing means 31 comprise a third ring-shaped gasket 64 mounted in an annular recess 65 formed on the inner surface of the cup 56 of the second tubular body 54.
  • the tubular profile 30 has a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cup 56 so that it can insert inside it adhering with its outer side surface 63 to the third gasket 64 thus creating a radially sealed relationship between the centring cone 9 and the rinsing container 13, as illustrated in detail in figure 9 .
  • the sealing means 31 are mounted on the outer side surface 63 of the tubular profile 30 of the outer body 14 and are suitable for sticking to the inner surface of the cup 56 in order to create an equivalent radially sealed relationship.
  • the sliding axial coupling between the cup 56 of the second tubular body 54 and the lower portion 17 of the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9 can be obtained by inserting the cup 56 in the lower portion 17 of the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9.
  • the tubular profile 30 of the outer body 14 is limited on top by a projection 32, in particular annular, able to go into abutment against the upper edge of the cup 56 when the valve assembly 5 descends onto the cup 56 itself compacting the centring cone 9 between tap 44 and cup 56.
  • a projection 32 in particular annular
  • the vertical shafts 43 that support the centring cone 9 slide with respect to the tap 44 until the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 goes into abutment against the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14.
  • a fourth gasket 70 is also foreseen on the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9 intended to form a seal with the tap 44.
  • the fourth gasket 70 makes a radially sealed relationship on the inner surface of a stepped seat 77 formed under the tap 44.
  • the outer body 14, the inner body 18 and the rinsing container 13 define a closed chamber 27 into which the sanitising liquid coming out from the valve assembly 5 flows during the sanitising treatment.
  • the guide means for the sliding of the two bodies 14 and 18 of the centring cone 9 comprise a guide 22, which is defined between two limit switches 23 and 25, which are arranged on the inner surface of the outer body 14 and define the movement of the inner body 18 receiving at least one projecting element 24 of the latter in abutment.
  • the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 acts upon the upper limit switch 23 of the outer body 14 to raise the latter, when the container 7 to be filled is transported towards the valve assembly 5.
  • the lower limit switch 25 of the guide 22, preferably consisting of a Seger cone inserted in a suitable seat formed in the outer body 14, is able to receive the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 to stop its falling movement in the absence of the container 7.
  • the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 is obtained with an annular fifth gasket 83 inserted in a seat formed on the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.
  • a fifth gasket whilst being elastic is able to go into abutment against the lower limit switch 23 and upper limit switch 25 of the guide 22 (during the sanitising treatment or the filling operations, respectively) without significant deformations or else remaining constrained inside the same guide 22 without the possibility of going past the limit switches.
  • a gasket 83 as projecting element 24 allows the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9 to be easily extracted from the outer body 14 to replace it with another one without having to dismount any other part of the filling machine 1. Such a replacement operation may be necessary, in addition to for normal maintenance, also to use an inner body with a different configuration and to thus adapt the filling machine 1 to operate with containers 7 having the mouth with different dimensions.
  • the step of replacing the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9 simply requires that the latter be extracted from the outer body 14 overcoming the holding force of the lower limit switch 25 on the fifth gasket 83 until the inner body 18 passes through the third opening 78 of the outer body 14, and then it is foreseen to insert a new inner body 18 through the same third opening 78 overcoming in the opposite direction the interference of the fifth gasket 83 with the lower limit switch 25.
  • the inner surface of the tubular profile 30 of the outer body 14 is shaped with a frusto-conical shape progressively narrowing towards the top to gradually compress the fifth gasket 83 of the inner body 18 during the insertion thereof in the outer body 14.
  • the fifth gasket 83 by elastically deforming, has gone past the lower limit switch 25, it re-expands inside the guide 22 forcing the inner body to slide inside it between the two limit switches 23 and 25.
  • the lower limit switch 25 of the guide 22 is bevelled to facilitate the operation of extracting the inner body 18 from the outer body 14.
  • the force necessary to extract the inner body 18 must in any case be greater than that exerted by the sanitising liquid during the sanitising operations.
  • the inner body 18 remains resting on the lower limit switch 25 of the outer body 14.
  • a gap 28 remains defined closed on top by the tap 44, suitable for allowing the entire outer surface 29 of the inner body 18 to be cleaned.
  • the gap 28 and the chamber 27, defined between the centring cone 9 and the rinsing container, are in fluid communication with each other through one or more passages 26 formed on the centring cone 9.
  • the passages 26 are, for example, obtained by making holes or millings on the inner body 18 or else on the outer body 14 or on both. Otherwise, such passages 26 are formed by shaping the inner body 18 and/or the outer body 14 with recesses that define a continuous channel between the chamber 27 and the gap 28.
  • the passages 26 comprise first grooves 79 formed (vertically) on the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14, to allow the sanitising liquid to flow up to the projecting element 24, and through holes 81 formed on the inner body 18 with opening positioned above the projecting element 24 to allow the sanitising liquid to bypass the seal between the projecting element 24 and the lower limit switch 25 and thus flow up to the lower concavity 21 of the inner body 18 thus reaching the inner chamber 27.
  • the passages 26 are formed on the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9, in particular between many projecting elements 24.
  • the sanitising liquid can reach, and thus sterilise, the entire outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.
  • the latter as known, can easily suffer from fouling, for example, with dust or residues of alimentary liquid deposited on the centring cone 9 during the filling operations of the containers 7.
  • the filling machine 1 comprises separating casings 33 positioned at the sides of the valve assemblies 5 and equipped with at least one mobile first portion 35, slidably mounted on the rotary carousel 3 and able to be actuated to move by second actuator means 36 between an extended position, protecting the valve assemblies 5 during the normal filling steps, and a withdrawn position to allow the rinsing containers 13 to be moved between the inoperative position and the operative position.
  • the mobile first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 comprises a cylindrical plate that extends around the carousel 3 of the filling machine 1 and is usefully formed from many sectors fixed together without solution of continuity.
  • Substantially vertical dividing panels extend radially from such a cylindrical plate towards the periphery of the filling machine 1 to separate each valve assembly 5 from the adjacent one during the filling steps of the containers 7.
  • the separating casings 33 preferably comprise a second fixed portion, fixedly connected to the rotary carousel 3 and intended to protect the parts of the filling machine 1 arranged below the rinsing recipients 13, in particular when the first portion 35 is in the extended position.
  • the second portion of the separating casings 33 is fixed to the support disc 38 of the carousel 3 rotating as a unit with it.
  • the first portion 35 is slidably inserted in a vertical track fixedly connected to the fixed second portion.
  • the separating casings 33 comprise a third portion fixed at the bottom to the tap 44 of the valve assembly 5 to protect the centring cone 9 and at least the neck of the container 7 from possible explosions of containers arranged at the adjacent valve assemblies 5.
  • the second actuator means 36 for moving the mobile first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 comprise second pneumatic cylinders mounted on the filling machine 1.
  • the second pneumatic cylinders are mounted vertically along the periphery of the carousel 3 and are connected together by a horizontal joining ring to move as a unit with respect to one another.
  • the second cylinders are elongated to bring the first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 into the extended position (see figure 2 ) or else they are shorted to bring it into the withdrawn position (see figure 4 ).
  • the second pneumatic cylinders are suitable for lifting the first portion 35 of the casing for a predetermined stroke (for example 200 mm) up to the vertical position of the taps 44 or else at least up to the lower edge of the third portion of the separating casings 33 fixed at the bottom to each tap 44.
  • valve assemblies 5 are arranged at an operative height established based on the height of the containers 7 to be filled.
  • the compensation cannula 68 during the lifting of the container 7, penetrates inside the mouth 20 of the latter until it reaches the desired depth to define the fill level of the liquid to be bottled.
  • the shutter 12 of the interception means 11 of the tap 44 is opened to allow the liquid to flow into the container 7 through the tubular pipe 6.
  • the air present in it comes out through the compensation cannula 68.
  • the flow thereof is stopped through the closing of the shutter 12.
  • the container 7 is put back in the initial vertical position through the lowering of the corresponding plate 10. Consequently, the inner body 18 and the outer body 14 descend to the vertical position permitted by a stop block mounted on the vertical shafts 43. The inner body 18 descends further with respect to the outer body 14 until it rests with its projecting element 24 on the lower limit switch 25 of the outer body 14.
  • the separating casings 33 associated with each valve assembly 5 are kept in extended position to protect the same valve assemblies 5, for example, from fragments of glass generated by the possible explosion of a container 7.
  • the sanitising treatment of the filling machine 1 initially foresees to actuate the moving means 11 to bring the valve assemblies 5 in raised limit switch position through the lifting of the tank 4 according to the arrow A of figure 3 .
  • the second actuator means 36 carry the mobile first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 in withdrawn position, in which the upper edge 75 of the same first portion 35 is at a lower height with respect to the rinsing containers 13 to allow it to be subsequently moved.
  • the first pneumatic cylinders of the first actuator means 76 set in rotation the crown gear (or else, in accordance with a different embodiment described above, each cylinder sets in rotation a corresponding toothed sector engaged with a group of pinions) engaged with the pinions 46 of the arms 48.
  • Such a rotation takes place for an arc of circumference set by the limit switch extension of the first pneumatic cylinders.
  • the crown gear transmits the rotation to the pinions 46 making the arms 48 open.
  • the moving means 11 lower the valve assemblies 5 (according to the arrow B of figure 5 ) until the centring cone 9 is hermetically pressed against the cup 56 of the rinsing container 13.
  • the lower portion 17 of the outer body 14 enters with its tubular profile 30 in the cup 56 until the latter goes into abutment against the projection 32 of the outer body 14.
  • the outer side surface 63 of the tubular profile 30 in this way hermetically seals to the third gasket 64 positioned in the annular recess 65 generating a radially sealed relationship between the outer body 14 and the rinsing container 13.
  • the descent of the valve assembly 5 also brings the inner surface of the stepped seat 77 of the tap 44 to adhere on the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14 with the fourth gasket 70.
  • the descending thrust of the valve assembly 5 makes the second tubular body 54 of the rinsing container 13 slide downwards in the first tubular body 51, until the lower end 57 of the same second tubular body 54 goes into abutment against the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51.
  • Such a lower end 57 is then hermetically closed by the projecting portion 59 of the bottom 52 that adheres in sealed relationship with the first gasket 60. In this way, no liquid can come out from the bottom of the rinsing container 13.
  • the lowering of the valve assembly 5 also ensures that the compensation cannula 68 enters, through the centring cone 9, into the chamber 27 defined by the same centring cone 9 and by the rinsing container 13.
  • the inner body 18 has its projecting element 24 resting on the lower limit switch 25 of the outer body 14. As described earlier, in this position, in which the inner body 18 is perimetrally enclosed by the outer body 14, a gap 28 remains defined between the lower wall 16 of the tap 44, the outer body 14 and the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.
  • the subsequent washing step foresees supplying the sanitising liquid to one or more hydraulic circuits of the filling machine 1, which are connected through, for example, the opening of the poppet valve 71 to the auxiliary pipe 72.
  • the sanitising liquid coming from the auxiliary pipe 72 enters into the gap 28 through the second opening 73 of the outer body 14, also washing the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.
  • the sanitising liquid passes through the passages 26 formed on the centring cone 9 arriving in the chamber 27. From here it rises both through the tubular pipe 6 and through the compensation cannula 68 to enter into a hydraulic sanitising circuit that comprises the tank 4. In this way, an accurate washing and a microbicide and anti-contamination treatment is ensured both of all of the parts of the filling machine 1 able to come into contact with the alimentary liquid to be bottled, and of the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.
  • the poppet valve 71 of the sanitising circuit is closed interrupting the supply of sanitising liquid.
  • the moving means 11 lift the valve assemblies 5 from the rinsing containers 13 causing the extraction of the tubular profile 30 of the centring cone 9 from the cup 56 of the second tubular body 54.
  • the projecting portion 59 therefore, separates from the lower end 57 of the second tubular body 54 going past the first gasket 60 and allowing the sanitising liquid remaining inside the rinsing container 13 to be completely evacuated through the draining holes 53.
  • the first actuator means 76 bring the rinsing containers 13 back into their inoperative position.
  • the second actuator means 36 bring the first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 back in extended position and the moving means 11 bring the valve assemblies 5 back into their initial position to allow the filling operations to start up again.
  • the invention thus conceived therefore achieves the predetermined purposes.

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  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Füllmaschine (1), die Folgendes umfasst:
    - eine tragende Struktur (2);
    - ein Drehkarussell (3), das drehbar auf der genannten tragenden Struktur (2) montiert ist;
    - einen Tank (4) zum Aufnehmen einer in Flaschen abzufüllenden Flüssigkeit, die von dem genannten Drehkarussell (3) getragen wird;
    - mehrere Ventilgruppen (5), die hydraulisch an den genannten Tank (4) angeschlossen und im Verhältnis zu dem genannten Drehkarussell (3) peripher montiert sind; jede Ventilgruppe (5) enthält dabei:
    ○ einen Absperrhahn (44), der mit einer Rohrleitung (6) für den Zufluss der genannten Flüssigkeit aus dem genannten Tank (4) zu den zu füllenden Behältern ausgestattet ist und Absperrvorrichtungen (8), die mit der genannten Rohrleitung (6) verbunden und geeignet sind, den Zufluss der genannten Flüssigkeit in den genannten Behälter (7) zu regeln;
    ○ einen Zentrierkonus (9), der mit der genannten Rohrleitung (6) ausgerichtet ist;
    - Bewegungsvorrichtungen (11), die mechanisch mit dem genannten Drehkarussell (3) verbunden und geeignet sind, die vertikale Position der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) zu regeln;
    - mehrere Spülbehälter (13) einer Desinfektionsflüssigkeit, von denen jeder während der vorgesehenen Desinfektionsvorgänge operativ und mechanisch einer der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) zugeordnet werden kann;
    - erste Stellantriebvorrichtungen (76), die geeignet sind, die genannten Spülbehälter (13) jeweils zwischen einer nicht operativen Position, in der der genannte Spülbehälter (13) sich außerhalb des Arbeitsraums der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) befindet, und einer operativen Position, in der der genannten Spülbehälter (13) sich vertikal ausgerichtet unter einer der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) befindet, zu bewegen;
    dadurch charakterisiert, dass der genannten Zentrierkonus (9) Folgendes umfasst:
    - einen äußeren Körper (14), der von der genannten Ventilgruppe (5) getragen wird und mit einem oberen Teil (15) ausgestattet ist, der mit dem genannten Absperrhahn (44) in ein Abdichtungsverhältnis treten kann und mit einem unteren Teil (17) ausgestattet ist, der mit dem genannten Spülbehälter (13) in ein Abdichtungsverhältnis treten kann, wenn Letzterer sich in der genannten operativen Position befindet und die genannten Ventilgruppen (5) von den genannten Bewegungsvorrichtungen (11) in eine gesenkte Position auf den genannten Spülbehältern (13) gebracht werden;
    - einen inneren Körper (18), der gleitend im Inneren des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) montiert und an der höchsten Stelle mit einer Wand (19) ausgestattet ist, die mit der unteren Wand (16) des genannten Absperrhahns (44) in ein Abdichtungsverhältnis treten kann und mit einer unteren Konkavität (21) versehen ist, die mit der Mündung (20) des genannten Behälters (7) in ein Abdichtungsverhältnis treten kann.
  2. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannten Zentrierkonus (9) mit einem oder mehreren Durchgängen (26) versehen ist, die geeignet sind, eine Kammer (27), die mindestens zum Teil von der unteren Konkavität (21) des genannten inneren Körpers (18), dem genannten äußeren Körper (14) und dem genannten Spülbehälter (13) definiert wird und einer Aussparung (28), die mindestens zum Teil von der äußeren Fläche (29) des genannten inneren Körpers (18), des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) und der unteren Wand (16) des genannten Absperrhahns (44) definiert wird, zum Flüssigkeitsaustausch zu verbinden.
  3. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der untere Teil (17) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) mit einem Rohrprofil (30) ausgestattet ist, das in das Innere des genannten Spülbehälters (13) eintreten kann, wenn Letzterer sich in der genannten operativen Position befindet und in ein radiales Abdichtungsverhältnis mit den Abdichtungsvorrichtungen (31) treten kann, die auf dem genannten Spülbehälter (13) montiert sind.
  4. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte Absperrhahn (44) unten mit einem Stufensitz (77) ausgestattet ist, der geeignet ist, in ein radiales Abdichtungsverhältnis mit dem oberen Teil (15) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) zu treten, wenn die genannten Ventilgruppen (5) von den genannten Bewegungsvorrichtungen (11) in die genannte gesenkte Position auf den genannten Spülbehältern (13) gebracht werden.
  5. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch charakterisiert, dass der genannte Zentrierkonus (9) mit Gleitvorrichtungen zwischen dem genannten inneren Körper (18) und dem genannten äußeren Körper (14) ausgestattet ist, um das jeweilige Gleiten des genannten inneren Körpers (18) im Verhältnis zum genannten äußeren Körper (14) zu gestatten.
  6. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannten Gleitvorrichtungen mindestens einen oberen Endanschlag (23) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) umfassen, der mindestens einem vorstehenden Element (24) des genannten inneren Körpers (18) als Anschlag dienen kann, wenn der genannte zu füllende Behälter (7) von auf dem genannten Drehkarussell (3) montierten tragenden Vorrichtungen zur genannten Ventilgruppe (5) gebracht wird.
  7. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannten Gleitvorrichtungen mindestens einen unteren Endanschlag (25) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) umfassen, der sich vertikal im Verhältnis zu dem genannten oberen Endanschlag (23) im Abstand befindet; wobei der genannte untere Endanschlag (25) mindestens einem vorstehenden Element (24) des genannten inneren Körpers (18) als Auflage dienen kann, um die Senkbewegung des genannten inneren Körpers (18) im Verhältnis zum äußeren Körper (14) bei Abwesenheit des genannten Behälters (7) zu begrenzen.
  8. Füllmaschine (1) nach den Ansprüchen 6 und 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte mindestens eine vorstehende Element (24) mindestens eine fünfte, vorzugsweise ringförmige Dichtung (83) umfasst, die seitlich aus der Außenfläche (29) des genannten inneren Körpers (18) herausragt und elastisch verformbar ist, um den genannten unteren Endanschlag (25) zu überwinden und so das Ersetzen des genannten inneren Körpers (18) zu gestatten.
  9. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, das jeder der genannten Spülbehälter (13) einen ersten Rohrkörper (51) umfasst, der mit den genannten ersten Stellantriebvorrichtungen (76) verbunden ist und einen zweiten Rohrkörper (54), der konzentrisch im Inneren des genannten ersten Rohrkörpers (51) montiert ist und vertikal zu diesem verschoben werden kann.
  10. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Rohrprofil (30) des genannten äußeren Körpers (13) oben von mindestens einem Vorsprung (32) begrenzt wird, der dem Rand einer Tasse (56) des genannten Spülbehälters (13) als Anschlag dienen kann.
  11. Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie Trennwände (33) umfasst, die auf dem genannten Drehkarussell (3) montiert sind, die mit mindestens einem ersten Teil (35) ausgestattet sind, der von zweiten Stellantriebvorrichtungen (36) betätigt werden können, um sich gleitend zwischen einer ausgefahrenen Position zum Schutz der genannten Ventilgruppen (5), wenn die genannten Spülbehälter (13) sich in der nicht operativen Position befinden, und einer zurückgezogenen Position zu verschieben, um den Wechsel der genannten Spülbehälter (13) zwischen der genannten nicht operativen Position und der genannten operativen Position zu gestatten.
  12. Verfahren zur Desinfektion einer Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 1, die Folgendes vorsieht:
    - eine Phase des Anhebens der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) mit den genannten Bewegungsvorrichtungen (11);
    - eine Phase des Bewegens der genannten Spülbehälter (13) mit den genannten ersten Stellantriebvorrichtungen (76), in der die genannten Spülbehälter (13) aus der genannten nicht operativen Position in die genannte operative Position gebracht werden;
    - eine Phase des Senkens der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) mit den genannten Bewegungsvorrichtungen (11), in der der Zentrierkonus (9) jeder Ventilgruppe in ein Abdichtungsverhältnis mit dem genannten Spülbehälter (13) tritt;
    - eine Waschphase, bei der die Desinfektionsflüssigkeit eines Desinfektionskreislaufs mindestens zwischen dem Tank (4) der genannten Füllmaschine (1), der Rohrleitung (6) der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) und den genannten Spülbehältern (13) zirkuliert;
    - eine Phase des Anhebens der genannten Ventilgruppen (5);
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in der genannten Senkphase der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) Folgendes geschieht:
    - Verbindung durch Abdichtungsverhältnis des unteren Teils (17) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) mit dem genannten Spülbehälter (13);
    - Verbindung durch Abdichtungsverhältnis des oberen Teils (15) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) mit dem Absperrhahn der genannten Ventilgruppe (5);
  13. Verfahren zur Desinfektion einer Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 6 und 12, bei der während der genannten Waschphase der innere Körper (18) des genannten Zentrierkonus (9) mit dem genannten vorstehenden Element (24) im Anschlag auf dem unteren Endanschlag (25) des genannten äußeren Körpers (14) aufliegt, um das Waschen auch der Außenfläche des genannten inneren Körpers (18) zu gestatten.
  14. Verfahren zur Desinfektion einer Füllmaschine (1) nach den Ansprüchen 11 und 12, bei dem der genannten Phase der Bewegung der genannten Spülbehälter (13) eine Phase des Verschiebens des ersten Teils (35) der genannten Trennwände (33) aus der genannten ausgefahrenen Position in die genannte zurückgezogene Position anhand der genannten zweiten Stellantriebvorrichtungen (36) vorausgeht.
  15. Verfahren zur Desinfektion einer Füllmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 9 und 12, bei dem während des Senkens der genannten Ventilgruppen (5) der Boden (52) des genannten ersten Rohrkörpers (51) abdichtend in den zweiten Ringkörper (54) eintritt und so eine geschlossene Kammer bildet.
EP20100159953 2009-04-30 2010-04-14 Füllmaschine und Verfahren zur Desinfektion der Füllmaschine Active EP2246291B1 (de)

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DE102011110840A1 (de) 2011-08-23 2013-02-28 Khs Gmbh Füllmaschine sowie Verfahren zum Steuern einer Füllmaschine
CN107214161B (zh) * 2017-05-31 2023-05-23 广州西力机械有限公司 一种瓶胚翻转清洁系统
CN116081239A (zh) * 2022-12-07 2023-05-09 湖北永进药业股份有限公司 一种全自动液体灌装机
CN117263124B (zh) * 2023-08-10 2024-05-10 中拓生物有限公司 一种具有消毒功能的生化试剂分装装置
CN118417247B (zh) * 2024-07-01 2024-09-20 杭州杭铨机电科技有限公司 高密封性汽车燃油制动硬管总成的超声波清洗设备及工艺

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CN111601769B (zh) * 2018-01-09 2021-11-16 Khs有限责任公司 填充设备

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SI2246291T1 (sl) 2014-01-31

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