Classifications

• • 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
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
  • B67C3/282—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to filling level control
  • B67C3/283—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to filling level control using pressure sensing means
• • 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
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
  • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
  • B67C3/2617—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation
  • B67C3/262—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation and the filling operation stopping when the liquid rises to a level at which it closes a vent opening
• • 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
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
  • B67C3/282—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to filling level control
  • B67C3/284—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to filling level control using non-liquid contact sensing means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method of filling a container with a pourable product, and to a filling valve for filling a container with a pourable product.
• the present invention relates to a filling method and valve for filling a container with a pourable food product, e.g. a carbonated pourable food product such as beer or mineral water.
• a pourable food product e.g. a carbonated pourable food product such as beer or mineral water.
• Filling machines comprising a filling station, which is fed at the input with empty containers, and supplies at the output containers filled with the pourable food product.
• the filling station substantially comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about an axis of rotation; a tank containing the pourable food product; and a number of filling valves connected fluidically to the tank and fitted to the conveyor, radially outwards of the axis of rotation of the conveyor.
• the conveyor comprises a number of container supports for positioning the mouths of the containers beneath the respective valves, and for moving the containers along an arc-shaped path about the axis of rotation and integrally with the respective valves .
• Each filling valve substantially comprises a fastening body for attachment to the conveyor and defining a filling chamber connected fluidically to the tank; and a filling head that moves to and from the fastening body in a respective direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveyor, to move to and from the relative container.
• Each filling head comprises a stopper movable inside the chamber between a closed position cutting off flow of the pourable food product to the mouth of the relative container, and an open position connecting the chamber fluidically to the mouth to allow flow of the food product into the container .
• Each filling valve also comprises a probe, e.g. an inductive probe, for determining the level of the pourable food product, and which projects inside the container once the container is positioned beneath the relative filling valve.
• a probe e.g. an inductive probe
• each container When filling containers with a carbonated pourable food product, each container is first pressurized to the same pressure as the pourable food product during the filling process. More specifically, the container is pressurized by feeding a fluid, e.g. carbon dioxide, into it, with the filling head stopper in the closed position. The stopper of the relative filling valve is then moved to the open position, and the container is filled. Filling comprises a fast first step and a slow second step immediately after the first step. The first filling step terminates when the pourable food product level reaches the height of the probe.
• a fluid e.g. carbon dioxide
• the slow second filling step starts upon the pourable food product level reaching the probe, and continues as long as necessary to fill the container with a given amount of pourable food product.
• each container is depressurized so the pressure above the pourable food product level equals atmospheric pressure. Depressurization is performed by removing the carbon dioxide used to pressurize the container.
• a drawback of filling valves of the type described above is that, given the position of the probe projecting inside the container, explosion of or damage to the container during the filling process may easily result in damage to the probe, thus resulting in stoppage of the filling machine.
• the present invention there is provided a filling method as claimed in Claim 1.
• the present invention also relates to a filling valve as claimed in Claim 10.
• Figures 1 to 6 show sections of a first embodiment of a filling valve in accordance with the invention, in successive operating positions;
• Figure 7 shows a section of a second embodiment of a filling valve in accordance with the invention.
• BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1 to 6, number 1 indicates a filling valve designed to form part of a filling station of a filling machine for filling containers 2 with a pourable product.
• the pourable product is a carbonated pourable food product, non-limiting examples of which are beer or mineral water.
• Non-limiting examples of the material of which containers 2 are made are glass, plastic or cardboard.
• the filling station is_ supplied with empty containers 2, and fills containers 2 with the pourable food product.
• the filling station substantially comprises: a first tank 3 containing the pourable food product (shown by bubbles in Figures 1 to 6) , and a fluid, e.g. carbon dioxide, (shown by a uniform background in Figures 1 to 6) by which to pressurize containers 2 before they are filled;
• a fluid e.g. carbon dioxide
• a second tank 4 for collecting at least part of the carbon dioxide used to pressurize containers 2; and - at least one filling valve 1 and one respective support 9 for containers 2, each support 9 being mechanically linked to a respective actuator 10 for moving the support 9 and hence the containers 2 to and from filling valves 1 along vertical axis .
• the filing valves 1 as well as the respective supports 9 and actuators 10 are fixed on a carousel conveyor that constitutes a part of the machine, which rotates about a vertical axis, and from which the filling valves 1 and the supports 9 project .
• filling valves 1 and supports 9 are borne by the carousel conveyor, so that filling valves 1 are rotated by the conveyor, and supports 9 are moved to and from filling valves 1 along respective vertical axes by respective actuators 10.
• the machine generally comprises only one tank 3 and one tank 4, which are annular, so that all the filling valves 1 comprised in the station can be connected to the first tank 3 and to the second tank 4.
• each container 2 comprises:
• body 8 is located between mouth 5 and bottom wall 7.
• Filling valve 1 substantially comprises a fastening body 11 for attachment to the conveyor (not shown) and stopper means 12 that slides to and from container 2 along an axis A inside fastening body 11.
• stopper means 12 comprises a stopper.
• fastening body 11 comprises an annular wall 13, of axis A, defining a cavity 17 connected fluidically to first tank 3.
• Wall 13 comprises a shoulder 15 facing axis A.
• shoulder 15 comprises a truncated-cone-shaped portion 18; a portion 19 radial with respect to axis A; and a cylindrical portion 20, of axis A, interposed between portions 18, 19.
• Portion 20 defines a circular opening 16 defining the bottom of cavity 17, and portion 18 tapers towards opening 16.
• portion 20 cooperates with an annular seal 21 designed to rest on mouth 5 of container 2.
• Stopper means 12 substantially comprise: - a top end portion 25, on which force is exerted along axis A by an actuator 24; - a tubular body 26 of axis A; and
• projection 28 comprises two walls 29, 30 sloping with respect to axis A and projecting from body 26 towards wall 13; and a cylindrical wall 31, of axis A, interposed between walls
• Wall 29 tapers towards end portion 25, and wall 30 tapers towards opening 16.
• Actuator 24 moves stopper means 12 between:
• Stopper means 12 also comprise a cylindrical body 37, of axis A, projecting from end portion 25 to container 2 and loosely through opening 16. More specifically, body 37 extends coaxially inside body 26. Body 37 defines a tubular conduit 32 that extends between an opening 33 and an opening 34 opposite opening 33 and formed in a lateral surface of tubular body 26. More specifically, opening 33 faces, and is connected fluidically to, the inside of container 2, when container 2 is in filling position with mouth 5 resting against seal 21 ( Figures 1-6).
• Conduit 32 comprises a cylindrical portion 35 of axis A; and a portion 36 radial with respect to axis A and connected to portion 35.
• Portion 35 extends partly inside tubular body 26 and partly inside end portion 25, and defines opening 33;
• portion 36 extends inside end portion 25, and defines opening 34;
• opening 34 is circular with an axis radial to axis A; and
• opening 33 is circular with an axis parallel to axis A.
• Stopper means 12 further comprise a tubular conduit
• conduit 40 extends through opening 16, and the axial distance between openings 33 and 16 is greater than the axial distance between openings 39 and 16. In other words, opening 33 is lower than opening 39 inside container 2.
• the stopper means 12 comprises two conduits 41, 42 radial with respect to axis A and each extending between a respective opening 43 , 44 in end portion 25, and a respective portion of an end 45, opposite opening 39, of conduit 40.
• Filling valve 1 comprises two flexible pipes 50, 51 made of flexible material and extending between openings 34, 43 in end portion 25 and respective conduits 57, 58 terminating in first tank 3.
• Filling valve 1 also comprises a flexible pipe 52 made of flexible material and extending between opening 44 and a conduit 59 terminating in second tank 4.
• Filling valve 1 also comprises two control valves
• control valves 53, 54 interposed between pipes 50, 51 and respective conduits 57, 58.
• Each of control valves 53, 54 is movable between an open position (shown in white in Figures 1 to 6) allowing carbon dioxide flow between first tank 3 and conduits 32, 41, and a closed position
• Filling valve 1 also comprises a control valve 55 interposed between pipe 52 and conduit 59, and which is movable between an open position (shown in white in
• Filling valve 1 therefore comprises a first flow line - defined by first tank 3 and cavity 17 connectable selectively by stopper means 12 to mouth 5 of container 2, and which serves to fill container 2 with the pourable food product.
• Filling valve 1 also comprises a second flow line - defined by conduits 32, 40, pipes 50, 51, control valves 53, 54, and conduits 57, 58 - along which travel the carbon dioxide flowing into container 2 to pressurize it before it is filled with the pourable food product, and at least part of the carbon dioxide issuing from container 2 when filling it.
• Filling valve 1 advantageously comprises sensor means 60 which interact with the carbon dioxide along the second flow line to measure a carbon dioxide parameter and determine when the pourable food product inside container 2 reaches a predetermined level. More specifically, sensor means 60 comprise a flow switch 61 associated with inside portion 36 of conduit 32.
• the term "flow switch" is intended here to mean a device for determining flow or not of a fluid inside a conduit .
• flow switch 61 detects the interruption in carbon dioxide flow inside portion 36, when the pourable food product, once container 2 is filled, flows back up along conduit 32 to a height Q with respect to a fixed reference, and with control valve 53 in the open position and control valves 54, 55 in the closed position ( Figure 4) .
• Height Q corresponds to the hydrostatic pressure of the pourable food product in first tank 3.
• the pourable food product flows back up along conduit 32 until it reaches height Q, at which the hydraulic head of the pourable food product in conduit 32 equals that of the pourable food product in first tank 3.
• the pourable food product is at the same height Q in first tank 3 and conduit 32.
• flow switch 61 may be replaced by a flow meter, i.e. a device for measuring carbon dioxide flow along portion 36.
• a flow meter i.e. a device for measuring carbon dioxide flow along portion 36.
• filling valve 1 Operation of filling valve 1 will be described as of the Figure 1 condition, in which mouth 5 of container 2 rests against seal 21, control valves 53, 54 are open, control valve 55 is closed, and stopper means 12 are in the closed position.
• control valves 54, 55 being closed, carbon dioxide is prevented from escaping from container 2 along conduits 40, 41 or 40, 42, and can only escape along conduit 32. More specifically, the pourable food product is caused to flow back up by the hydrostatic pressure of the pourable food product in first tank 3 , and therefore flows back up along conduit 32 to height Q, at which the hydraulic head of the pourable food product in conduit 32 equals that of the pourable food product in first tank 3. More specifically, when carbon dioxide pressure is the same in conduit 32 and first tank 3, the pourable food product is at the same height Q in first tank- 3 and conduit 32.
• Flow switch 61 detects the stoppage in carbon dioxide flow caused by the pourable food product reaching a given level in container 2 , and generates a signal to command actuator 24 to move stopper means 12 into the closed position after a given time interval from when flow switch 61 detects the pourable food product has reached height Q in conduit 32.
• the time interval is calculated to fill container 2 with a given amount of pourable food product.
• stopper means 12 is lowered into the closed position, control valve 54 is closed, and control valve 55 is opened to allow the carbon dioxide in conduits 40, 42 to escape into second tank 4 and complete decompression of container 2.
• filling valve 1 operates in exactly the same way, by the flow meter recording zero carbon dioxide flow along portion 36.
• Number 1' in Figure 7 indicates a filling valve in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
• Filling valve 1' is similar to filling valve 1, and is described below only as regards the differences between the two, and using the same reference numbers, where possible, for corresponding or equivalent parts of filling valves 1 and 1'.
• Filling valve 1' differs from filling valve 1 by sensor means 60' comprising, as opposed to flow switch 61, a pressure switch 61', which, instead of being associated with conduit 32, is associated with conduit 42, so that said pressure switch 61' can determine the variation in pressure in conduit 42 when the pourable food product level in container 2 reaches opening 33 of conduit 32.
• control valve 53 When the pourable food product level in container 2 is below opening 33 at the slow filling stage, control valve 53 is open, and control valves 54, 55 are closed ( Figure 3) .
• pressure switch 61' determines the difference between the first and second pressure value, and generates a signal to command actuator 24 to move stopper means 12 into the closed position after a given time interval from when flow switch 61' detects the difference in pressure.
• the time interval is calculated to fill container 2 with a given amount of pourable food product .
• pressure switch 61' is calibrated to determine a predetermined difference between the first and second pressure value, indicating the pourable food product has reached a given height inside conduit 32.
• filling valves 1, 1' provide for determining when the pourable food product reaches a given level inside container 2 by measuring, by means of a flow switch 61, a flow meter, or a pressure switch
• Filling valves 1, 1' therefore do not need a probe to determine the level of the pourable food product inside container 2.
• Filling valves 1, 1' therefore have no fragile parts exposed inside container 2, and which could be damaged in the event of container 2 bursting.
• flow switch 61 or the flow meter may be calibrated to determine a difference in flow along portion 36, indicating a height lower than height Q of the pourable food product along conduit 32.

Landscapes

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

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ID=41572429

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• 2009
  • 2009-05-11 WO PCT/IT2009/000207 patent/WO2010131271A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-05-11 EP EP09787727A patent/EP2429935A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-05-11 MX MX2011011914A patent/MX2011011914A/es active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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