EP2444364B1 - Isobaric machine for filling contaniers with liquids - Google Patents

Isobaric machine for filling contaniers with liquids Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2444364B1
EP2444364B1 EP20110186593 EP11186593A EP2444364B1 EP 2444364 B1 EP2444364 B1 EP 2444364B1 EP 20110186593 EP20110186593 EP 20110186593 EP 11186593 A EP11186593 A EP 11186593A EP 2444364 B1 EP2444364 B1 EP 2444364B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tank
liquid
filling machine
isobaric
containers
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP20110186593
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2444364A1 (en
Inventor
Stefano Stefanello
Gianluca Stella
Giovanni Mazzon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
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Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
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Publication of EP2444364A1 publication Critical patent/EP2444364A1/en
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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
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • 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
    • B67C3/26—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
    • B67C3/2625—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened automatically when a given counter-pressure is obtained in the container to be filled
    • B67C3/2628—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened automatically when a given counter-pressure is obtained in the container to be filled and the filling operation stopping when the liquid rises to a level at which it closes a vent opening

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to an isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such a machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in DE 3 033 678 A1 .
  • the machine in question falls within the field of industrial bottling plants and it is intended to be used for filling containers, such as bottles, with pressurized liquids, in particular of the food type, such as for example gasified wines, sparkling wines, mineral water, etcetera.
  • isobaric machines are conventionally provided with a fixed support structure on which a rotary turntable (usually referred to in the in the sector as “turret”) is rotatably mounted, which supports a tank for containing the liquid to be bottled. Beneath the latter a plurality of filling valve units is peripherally fixed Operatively, the containers, during the travel thereof around the turntable, are moved in association to the single valve units to be filled up to the desired level.
  • each valve unit is provided with a supply conduit, which is intercepted by a valve (shutter), which regulates the inflow of liquid, for example wine, from the tank to the underlying container, generally consisting of a bottle, arranged coaxially beneath the valve unit.
  • the inflow of liquid in the container occurs during a provided filling step with the shutter open and in conditions of pressure equilibrium, i.e. after the pressure of the container reaches the same pressure of the tank having been sent in the container a gas preferably inert, usually nitrogen, to move it to the pressure of the tank, generally in the order of 5-8 bars.
  • a compensation cannula is coaxially mounted, through which the gas or air present in the container during the step for filling return.
  • the air present in the container is replaced by the liquid and rises back in the compensation cannula until it flows out in the tank from an opening directly communicating with the tank.
  • a self-levelling step is usually provided for, in which the liquid contained in the bottle, arranged above the desired level, is urged to rise through the compensation cannula due to an overpressure in the container obtained by means of a controlled flow of inert gas introduced into the same container through special control valves.
  • the container is thus returned to the ambient pressure through at least one degassing conduit and a relative control valve.
  • Some isobaric machines of the known type also provide for one or more preliminary steps for evacuating the air present in the bottle for reducing the presence of oxygen and thus the risk of oxidation of the beverage. Furthermore some isobaric machines of the known type provide for the cyclic movement of the compensation cannula before the degassing step to avoid the evacuation of the gas contained in the cannula passing through the liquid.
  • a first important drawback lies in the fact that the gas and/or the air contained in the container before the filling are transported from the compensation cannula into the tank.
  • the filling step can be preceded by an air pre-evacuation step and by a subsequent inert gas introducing step, a residual volume of air containing oxygen is however conveyed, through the compensation cannula, and thus from the latter up to inside the tank through a provided opening, thus modifying the atmosphere of gas in direct contact with the free surface of the liquid to be bottled and thus resulting in an unwanted oxidation of such liquid.
  • a second drawback lies in the fact that the quota part of the liquid that is discharged from the container during the aforementioned self-levelling step of the machine is also reintroduced into the tank through the same opening of the compensation cannula mentioned above.
  • any impurity or contamination, for example by microorganisms, present in each specific container may contaminate the liquid in the tank conveyed by the aforementioned quota part of liquid discharged from the container during the self-levelling step.
  • Patent applicationDE 4005000 discloses a filling machine comprising a rotary bearing turntable mounted on a plurality of valve units, each of which is provided with a supply conduit connected to a tank of the liquid to be bottled, and intercepted by a shutter which can be actuated by a pneumatic cylinder arranged within the tank for regulating the inflow of liquid into a container to be filled. Furthermore, each valve unit is provided with a compensation cannula mounted within the supply conduit and connected at the upper end thereof to the interior of the pneumatic cylinder of the shutter.
  • the interior of the pneumatic cylinder is connected, by means of the actuation of a control valve, with the interior of the tank for conveying in the latter the air coming from the container through the compensation cannula.
  • patent EP 1995208 discloses a filling machine in which, during the container filling step, the compensation cannula of each valve unit is connected, by means of a special control valve, with an evacuation circuit for conveying the air coming from the container outside the tank.
  • the main drawback of the filling machine described in patent EP 1995208 is due to the fact that the compensation cannula should be connected to the evacuation circuit by means of flexible rubber ducts, with the aim of allowing the movement of the cannula for regulating the maximum level of liquid in the container.
  • a filling machine comprising a turntable carrying mounted an annular-shaped tank for containing a liquid to be bottled, and a plurality of valve units each provided with a supply conduit hydraulically connected to the tank for the inflow of the liquid to containers to be filled, and with a compensation cannula adapted to transport the air and a liquid fraction coming from the container during the container filling step , is also known from the patent applicationDE 3033678.
  • annular chamber is obtained connected to the upper end of the compensation cannula of the valve units for receiving the air and the liquid fraction coming from the containers, and connected to the exterior by means of a vent valve.
  • the annular chamber is connected with the interior of the tank by means of a return conduit for returning the aforementioned liquid fraction in the tank.
  • the main drawback of the filling machine described in DE 3033678 lies in the fact that the compensation cannula is rigidly fixed to the cover of the tank, and thus it is not possible to vary the height of the compensation cannula for regulating the maximum level of the liquid in the container.
  • This fixed position of the compensation cannula implies a consequent limited field of use of the filling machine, which may not operate with all the container sizes.
  • Machines for the containment of containers with liquids of an entirely different type i.e. not of the isobaric type, and in particular of the gravity type or slight vacuum type, which provide for discharging outside the tank both the gas coming from the containers during the filling step and the liquid in excess extracted from the containers during the self-levelling step, are known.
  • a further object of the present finding is that of providing an isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids, capable of allowing to evacuate the gas from the containers during the filling and self-levelling steps without contaminating the liquid contained in the tank of the machine.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is that of providing an isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids, capable of subjecting the tank and the conduits of the machine to relatively high pressures without any risk of gas leakage, upon the variation of the level quota of the liquid in the containers.
  • a further object of the present finding is that of providing an isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids, capable of allowing evacuating the quota part of liquid contained in the containers beyond the predefined level quota without contaminating the liquid contained in the machine tank.
  • a further object of the present finding is that of providing an isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids, which is easy to construct and operatively entirely reliable.
  • an isobaric machine for filling containers with liquids which comprises a support structure; a rotary turntable rotatably mounted on said support structure; a first tank for the pressurised containment of a liquid, in particular gassed liquid, to be bottled in containers, supported by the rotary turntable; a plurality of valve units mounted peripherally on the rotary turntable, hydraulically connected to the first tank and each comprising: a supply conduit, for the inflow of the liquid from the first tank to the containers to be bottled, interception means associated to the supply conduit and adapted to regulate the inflow of liquid in the containers; a compensation cannula which is coaxially mounted within the supply conduit, is provided with an open lower end intended to be inserted into the containers for hydraulically regulating the maximum level of the liquid in the containers, and is susceptible to transport a gaseous fluid or a fraction of the bottled liquid, coming from the containers, during a container filling and/or self-levelling step; said compensation cannula being hydraulically
  • Such isobaric filling machine is particularly characterized in that the second tank is mounted on the first tank spaced therefrom, with the compensation cannula being fixed to the second tank and arranged traversing the first tank; said isobaric filling machine further comprising regulation means mechanically connected to the second tank, actuatable to move the latter with respect to the first tank, transporting the compensation cannula through said first tank with the open lower end between different level heights.
  • a support structure on which a rotary turntable or turret 2 is rotatably mounted, peripherally carrying mounted a plurality of valve units 3 for filling containers 4 with a liquid, in particular gassed liquid.
  • the isobaric filling machine 1 can be inserted within a bottling plant, which comprises in a per se entirely conventional manner usually a rinsing machine and at least one capping machine respectively mounted upstream and downstream of the isobaric filling machine 1 to which the latter is operatively connected by means of augers 101, starwheels and pockets 102 or conveyor belts for transporting the containers 4.
  • Each valve unit 3 is provided with a support structure 5 intended to be sealingly peripherally fixed beneath a first tank 6 of the isobaric filling machine 1.
  • the first tank 6 contains a liquid, advantageously gassed, at a pressure higher than the atmospheric one and generally of about 5-8 bar (0,5 - 0,8 MPa) for maintaining the gas dissolved in the liquid.
  • the first tank 6 is connected with a source 80 for supplying pressurized gas, generally constituted by an inert gas such as nitrogen.
  • a first rotary distributor 70 allows to connect the first tank 6, which rotates together with the rotary turntable 2, with the source 80 for the fixed supply of pressurized gas.
  • each valve unit 3 Within the support structure 5 of each valve unit 3 a supply conduit 11 is provided for placing the first tank 6 hydraulically in communication with the underlying container 4.
  • the aforementioned supply conduit 11 conveys, during a step for filling of the container 4, the liquid contained in the first tank 6 to the container 4 upon reaching the pressure equilibrium.
  • the supply conduit 11 terminates - at the lower part - after a narrowing 12 with a spout 13, in which around the supply conduit 11, in a per se known manner, a plurality of passage holes is peripherally obtained which put the interior of the container 4 in communication with an enabling valve 7 i.e. with degassing valves 8, 9 provided mounted on the support structure 5.
  • centring cone 14 On the lower face of the spout 13 a centring cone 14 is intended to end up sealingly within which the port of the container 4, raised by special plates (not represented), is engaged for coupling with a respective valve unit 3 and thus receiving the liquid to be bottled during the operative travel thereof around the rotary turntable 2.
  • the supply conduit 11 extends upwards to the internal of the first tank 6 through a first opening 15 obtained on the bottom 16 thereof, with a conveyance section fixed to the bottom 16 and provided with large side openings for the inflow of the liquid from the first tank 6.
  • a mechanical filter is positioned for avoiding the introduction of possible foreign bodies into the valve units 3.
  • interception means are arranged advantageously obtained with a shutter 18 concentrically mounted in the supply conduit 11 and susceptible to provide sealing, by means of a widened portion 19 thereof, on the interior surface of the narrowing 12 of the supply conduit 11.
  • the shutter 18 is moved by means of special means described hereinafter, between an opening position, in which it allows the passage of the liquid towards the container 4, and a closing position, in which it obstructs the passage of the liquid towards the container 4.
  • the isobaric filling machine 1 requires, for filling the containers 4, providing a condition of pressure equilibrium between the first tank 6 and the containers 4 in advance.
  • each container 4 is put in communication by means of a first control valve 24 with an isobaric circuit for pressurised gas, in particular inert gas such as nitrogen, adapted to bring the container 4 to the same pressure of the first tank 6.
  • pressurised gas in particular inert gas such as nitrogen
  • the gas is made to directly flow from the first tank 6 i.e. from a special conduit connected to the source 80 for supplying pressurized gas.
  • the shutter 18 is moved in opening position, and starts the step for filling with the liquid which flows from the first tank 6 to the container 4, the two now being in pressure equilibrium.
  • a compensation cannula 26 is provided for allowing the return of the air, i.e. of the gas, contained in the container 4 and which is replaced by the liquid which flows to the internal thereof during the aforementioned filling step.
  • each valve unit 3 is actually provided with a compensation cannula 26, which is mounted coaxially within the supply conduit 11, advantageously traversing the shutter 18 obtaining sealing on the latter, and it is provided with an open lower end 29 intended to be inserted within the container 4 for hydraulically regulating the maximum level of the liquid in the container 4.
  • the compensation cannula 26 allows, during the step for filling of the container 4, to evacuate the air contained within the latter so as to avoid the forming of a counterpressure which opposes the descent of the liquid, as well as the, as indicated hereinafter, to evacuate a liquid fraction in excess during a subsequent step of self-levelling of the liquid in the container 4.
  • each valve unit 3 of the isobaric filling machine 1 preferably comprises a second valve 25 for controlling a vacuum circuit intended to suction all the air from the container 4, as soon as the latter is carried by the support plate with the centring cone 14 sealed on the spout 13 of the supply conduit 11.
  • the enabling valve 7, is arranged in proximity of the container 4, and it is always subjected in advance to the action of the various operative fluids so as to avoid having to wait for the time required to bring a long section of the conduit of the selected operative circuit to pressurization, before obtaining the desired result in the container 4.
  • the filling step is performed as described.
  • the self-levelling step is performed, during which a flow of inert gas, controlled by a third control valve 42 of a self-levelling circuit, is insufflated within the container 4 for determining the rising in the compensation cannula 26 of the liquid fraction (and foam) arranged over the desired level i.e. over the open lower end 29 of the same compensation cannula 26.
  • the third valve 42 for controlling the self-levelling circuit is connected to the source 80 for supplying pressurized gas and to the container 4 through the passage holes obtained in the spout 13 around the supply conduit 11.
  • the aforementioned passage holes put the interior of the container 4 in communication with the enabling valve 7 which, in turn, is in communication with the third valve 42 for controlling the self-levelling circuit.
  • the enabling valve 7 is in communication with the three control valves 24, 25 and 42 of the isobaric circuit, for the vacuum and self-levelling by means of a common conduit 90 indicated in figure 5 in two orthogonal sections that slide parallel to the walls of the first tank 6.
  • the aforementioned passage holes of the spout 13 are in communication with one or more of the degassing valves 8, 9 for controllably reducing the pressure in the container 4 up to the atmospheric pressure.
  • the compensation cannula 26 is preferably obtained in two sections, one of which is lower 26' intended to be inserted with the open lower end 29 thereof in the containers 4, and an upper 26" one carrying slidingly externally associated a control rod 41 of the shutter 18.
  • the compensation cannula 26 is hydraulically insulated from the first tank 6, and it is connected - at the upper part - to a second tank 60, preferably toroidally or cylindrically-shaped, and separate from the first tank 6.
  • the second tank 60 is in turn connected to the exterior by means of a vent valve 62 for the evacuation of the gaseous fluid coming from the containers 4.
  • vent valve 62 is adapted to evacuate the gaseous fluid transported from the compensation cannula 26 in the second tank 60, in particular during the self-levelling step described above.
  • Balancing means for balancing the pressures between the two tanks 6, 60 are also provided.
  • the balancing means comprise a conduit 61, for balancing the pressures, mounted astride between the two tanks 6, 60 for physically joining them to each other and thus instantaneously bringing the pressures in equilibrium therewithin.
  • the conduit 61 for balancing the pressures between the two tanks 6, 60 is interposed between a first hole obtained on the cover 6' of the first tank 6 and a second hole obtained on the cover 60' of the second tank 60 to connect them.
  • the balancing means may differently provide for at least one first pressure transducer, associated to the first tank 6, and at least one second pressure transducer, associated to the second tank 60, the transducers detecting the pressure on the whole of the respective tanks 6, 60 and controlling the achievement of an equal pressure value therewithin.
  • the transducers can control the supply of gas (usually inert) in the two tanks 6, 60 i.e., alternatively or additionally, they can control the release of the gas from the respective tanks 6, 60 in the air.
  • the number of pressure transducers and the positioning thereof in the tanks 6, 60 (or in conduits connected to the tanks 6, 60) may vary depending on the dimensions of the machine or the specific project choice adopted for controlling the pressures.
  • the second tank 60 is mounted on the first tank 6 spaced therefrom, with the compensation cannula 26 fixed to the second tank 60 and arranged traversing the first tank 6.
  • the isobaric filling machine 1 subject of the invention also comprises regulation means 95 mechanically connected to the second tank 60, actuatable to move the latter with respect to the first tank 6, transporting the compensation cannula 26 through the first tank 6 with the open lower end 29 between different level heights.
  • the regulation means 95 are adapted to controllably regulate the second tank 60 between different heights, corresponding to different level heights of the open lower end 29 of the compensation cannula 26, the heights defining corresponding different maximum levels of liquid in the container 4.
  • the compensation cannula 26 slides through the first opening 15 obtained on the bottom 16 of the first tank 6 and through a second opening 20 obtained on the cover 6' of the first tank 6 and preferably aligned to the first opening 15.
  • the compensation cannula 26 is slidably inserted in the shutter 18, which is in turn slidably inserted in the first opening 15 of the bottom 16 of the first tank 6 to allow the movement of the shutter 18 between the open and closed position previously described.
  • the compensation cannula 26 is slidably inserted in the control rod 41 of the shutter 18, the rod 41 is in turn slidably inserted in the second opening 20 of the cover 6' of the first tank 6, preferably having interposed a first sealing gasket 21 between the control rod 41 and the edge of the second opening 20 to prevent any leakage of the pressurised gas contained in the first tank 6.
  • the compensation cannula 26 of each valve unit 3 is provided with an open upper end 39 hydraulically connected to the second tank 60 by means of a fitting conduit 64, connected to a third hole obtained on the cover 60' of the second tank 60.
  • an extraction conduit 63 is provided, which is derived from the bottom 60" of the second tank 60 and it is connected to the first tank 6 by means of a conveyance section 63', for pouring the liquid fraction contained in the second tank 60 within the first tank 6, as described in detail hereinafter.
  • the conveyance section 63' of the extraction conduit 63 is vertically positioned and it is arranged traversing the cover 6' of the first tank 6.
  • Such extraction conduit 63 optionally allows to pour the liquid fraction contained in the second tank 60 within the first tank 6.
  • the extraction conduit 63 is intercepted by at least one first interception valve 65, adapted to selectively close or open the communication of the second tank 60 towards the first tank 6.
  • the compensation cannula 26 also usually conveys part of the foam of the liquid to be bottled i.e. simultaneously gas and liquid contained in the containers 4, it is possible to discharge the gaseous phase through the vent valve 62 and instead reintroduce the liquid phase in the first tank 6 thus recycling the liquid fraction that had been extracted from containers 4 to take them to the desired filling level.
  • the fraction does not return into the first tank 6, in that potentially susceptible of contaminating the entire content thereof (for example should a container 4 be contaminated by a microbial load), it is possible to convey such liquid fraction contained in the second tank 60 no longer in the first tank 6 but externally to the rotary turntable 2.
  • the extraction conduit 63 is connected to a system 66 for the treatment of the aforementioned liquid fraction, and it is intercepted by at least one second interception valve 67 adapted to selectively close or open the communication of the second tank 60 towards the system 66.
  • the same system 66 is maintained in pressure equilibrium with the first tank 6 and with the second tank 60.
  • the system 66 comprises a second rotary distributor 68 connected to the extraction conduit 63 and to an accumulation tank 69.
  • the liquid may be advantageously treated by the latter, for example through filtration means (not illustrated), before being reintroduced into the first tank 6.
  • the aforementioned compensation cannula 26 is cyclically moved to slide within the shutter 18 between a raised position, in which it allows to correctly obtain the degassing step, and a lowered position in which it is inserted with the lower section 26' thereof within the container 4 with the open lower end 29 arranged at the aforementioned predefined height level for defining the level of the liquid within of the container 4.
  • first actuator means 30 operate on the compensation cannula 26, and more precisely on the upper section 26" thereof, moving it at each cycle for filling a container 4, between the aforementioned raised position, adapted to allow to correctly perform the degassing, and lowered position, adapted to determine the predefined liquid level in the container 4.
  • a levelling of the liquid at such height occurs by insufflating inert gas within the container 4 through the third control valve 42 of the self-levelling circuit, and the ensuing passage of liquid through the compensation cannula 26 up to reaching the interior of the second tank 60.
  • the compensation cannula 26 is usually in raised position and it is moved down, in the lowered position, for the aforementioned compensation step aimed at defining the predefined level of liquid in the container 4.
  • the compensation cannula 26 be raised, for example preferably by 15 mm, on the surface of the liquid. Actually, were the compensation cannula 26 to touch the surface of the liquid, the pressurized gas would remain therein hence causing, during the degassing step, strong perturbations of the liquid with pressure surge which should instead be avoided.
  • the regulation of the predefined level of liquid in the containers 4 is obtained by actuating the aforementioned regulation means 95 to move the second tank 60 with respect to the first tank 6 to move the compensation cannula 26 between different heights.
  • the regulation means 95 raise the compensation cannula 26 of all the valve units 3 alongside the respective first actuator means 30 and an opening/closure valve 40, to be described hereinafter and which serve for opening and closing the open upper end 39 of the cannula 26.
  • the regulation means 95 operate preferably on a regulation ring 96 in particular fixed to the bottom 60" of the second tank 60, vertically moving the latter controllably between different heights corresponding to the different level heights of the open lower end 29 of the compensation cannula 26 of the valve units 3.
  • the regulation means 95 for moving the regulation ring 96 and thus for the regulation of the height of the compensation cannulae 26 of all the valve units 3, comprise one or more linear actuators 97 with trapezoidal screw operating on the regulation ring 96.
  • each linear actuator 97 is provided with a trapezoidal screw 98 which is engaged within the internally threaded through cavity of a toothed wheel 99 rotated by an actuation motor 100.
  • the two tanks 6, 60 can thus be moved one relative to the other following the actuation of the regulation means 95 for regulating the height of the compensation cannula 26.
  • the conveyance section 63' of the extraction conduit 63 is slidably sealingly inserted into a through hole 94 obtained on the cover 6' of the first tank 6.
  • the sealing between the cover 6' of the first tank 6 and the conveyance section 63' is obtained by means of a second sealing gasket 22 interposed between the conveyance section 63' and the edge of the through hole 94, to prevent any leakage of the pressurized gas contained in the first tank 6.
  • the conveyance section 63' of the extraction conduit 63 is made of rigid material, preferably metal.
  • the provision of the conveyance section 63' of the extraction conduit 63 according to the invention allows to avoid hydraulic connection with flexible conduits, which having to be pressurised, would lead to the risk of leakages in the isobaric machines.
  • the shutter 18 is preferably moved independently between the raised position and the lowered position by second actuator means 33 which operate on the control rod 41 mentioned previously.
  • the second actuator means 33 consist of a pneumatic cylinder, which is coaxially traversed by the upper section 26" of the compensation cannula 26 and determines - by actuating the control rods 41, according to preset operating steps controlled by a logic control unit - the ascent and the descent of the shutter 18.
  • each valve unit 3 also comprises an opening/closure valve 40, which is mounted on the open upper end 39 of the upper section 26" of the compensation cannula 26, and it is adapted to open and close such open upper end 39 according to preset operating steps.
  • the fitting conduit 64 which connects the second tank 60 to the compensation cannula 26, is laterally derived from the compensation cannula 26 preferably developing orthogonally to the latter, and it is intercepted by the opening/closure valve 40 at the open upper opening 39 of the compensation cannula 26.
  • the logic control unit of the isobaric filling machine 1 controls the closure of the supply conduit 11 by means of the shutter 18 which is made to descend by means of the second actuator means 33 and the descent of the compensation cannula 26 by means of the first actuator means 30 up to bringing the open lower end 29 thereof to the predefined height for defining the level of the liquid within the container 4.
  • the third control valve 42 of the self-levelling circuit is opened, which controls, through the enabling valve 7, the inflow of inert gas within the container 4 thus raising the liquid in the second tank 60 through the compensation cannula 26 up to the achievement of the predefined height level.
  • the logic control unit controls, through the opening/closure valve 40, the closure of the open upper end 39 of the compensation cannula 26, and through the first actuator means 30 the rising of the compensation cannula 26 in the raised position.
  • the logic control unit controls the sequential opening of the two degassing valves 8, 9 adapted to bring the pressure of the container 4 first to an intermediate pressure and then to the ambient pressure (i.e. directly to the ambient pressure without passing through an intermediate pressure).

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  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
EP20110186593 2010-10-25 2011-10-25 Isobaric machine for filling contaniers with liquids Active EP2444364B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITPD2010A000321A IT1402598B1 (it) 2010-10-25 2010-10-25 Macchina riempitrice isobarica di contenitori con liquidi.

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EP2444364A1 EP2444364A1 (en) 2012-04-25
EP2444364B1 true EP2444364B1 (en) 2013-07-17

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ES (1) ES2431516T3 (it)
IT (1) IT1402598B1 (it)

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ES2431516T3 (es) 2013-11-26
IT1402598B1 (it) 2013-09-13
ITPD20100321A1 (it) 2012-04-26

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