EP2594524B1

EP2594524B1 - Machine for filling containers with liquids

Info

Publication number: EP2594524B1
Application number: EP12193712.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Stefanello; Giovanni Mazzon
Original assignee: Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
Current assignee: Gruppo Bertolaso SpA
Priority date: 2011-11-21
Filing date: 2012-11-21
Publication date: 2016-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-21
Also published as: EP2594524A1; ITPD20110366A1

Description

Field of application

The present invention refers to a machine for filling containers with liquids, according to the preamble of the main claim and as known from EP 1 995 208 A1 . Such machine applies to the field of industrial bottling plants and it is intended to be employed for filling containers, such as bottles, with liquids of alimentary type, such as wines, liquors, mineral waters, fruit juices etc.
Such machine is preferably employable within bottling lines typically comprising a rinsing machine, a capping/corking machine, a capper machine or also, in the most downstream part of the line, a labeling machine and a packaging machine.

State of the art

Filling machines of liquid alimentary products are conventionally provided with a fixed support frame on which a, rotary turntable is rotatably mounted, which supports a cylindrical tank in which a liquid to be bottled is contained. Below the tank, a plurality of valve assemblies are peripherally fixed, adapted to convey the liquid contained in the tank to the interior of underlying containers to be filled, such as bottles in particular.
Each container is raised by the corresponding support plate in order to be associated with the corresponding valve assembly and be filled up to the desired level during its operative travel around the rotary turntable.
For such purpose, each valve assembly comprises a supply duct in communication with the tank and intercepted by a shutter, which adjusts the inflow of the liquid from the tank to the underlying container.
More in detail, the supply duct is constituted by a fixed upper portion, rigidly connected to the tank of the filling machine, and by a lower movable portion, slidably and sealingly mounted on the fixed portion and movable to open and close the shutter.
Each valve assembly also comprises an air return tube which is arranged coaxially inside the supply duct, and it is adapted to hydraulically adjust the maximum level of the liquid in the container.
Each valve assembly also comprises a centering cone, which is arranged with its central hole aligned with the supply duct, and it is supported by two vertical rods slidably mounted on the valve assembly itself, in order to guide the lifting of the container with the head of the latter aligned with the supply duct of the valve assembly.
Operatively, each support plate of the containers is raised, for example by means of a hydraulic cylinder, in order to bring the corresponding container in abutment with its head on the centering cone; the latter is in turn raised by abutting against the lower movable portion of the supply duct, in a manner so as to move it upward and consequently open the shutter, allowing the supply of the liquid in the container. During the filling of the container, the air present in the latter is evacuated by means of the air return tube, until the liquid in the container reaches the open lower portion of the tube itself, interrupting the outflow of the air from the container and consequently the supply of the liquid in the container itself.
Each valve assembly also usually comprises a tubular body for level adjustment, which is externally screwed to the movable portion of the supply duct, and it can be manually actuated via screwing and unscrewing in order to adjust the length of a section of the air return tube projecting below the tubular adjustment body and which is intended to be inserted in the container to define the maximum level of liquid inside the latter.
The main drawback of the filling machine of the type briefly described above lies in the fact that it is not very versatile and cannot be employed for filling containers made of plastic, in particular PET.
Several drink production companies feel the need of being able to vary the type of production employing the same bottling plant, both for filling containers made of glass, and for filling containers made of plastic. The machine of known type briefly described above does not allow being employed for filling containers made of plastic, since the hydraulic cylinders for raising the support plates of the containers exert on the latter a considerable force in order to open the shutter, by making the movable portion of the supply duct slide upward. Such force, usually on the order of about 20 kg, if applied to a plastic container, would cause the crushing thereof when brought into abutment against the valve assembly, especially if the container is still hot and can therefore more easily soften.
In the beverage industry, the use of bottles made of plastic is increasingly widespread, such that there is a growing need to employ the same plant for filling containers made of glass and made of plastic.
A further drawback of the filling machine briefly described above is due to the fact that the mechanical opening of the shutter, by means of the thrust of the container on the movable portion of the supply duct, does not allow closing the shutter until the container is lowered by the support plate; it is therefore impossible to prevent the supply of the liquid in case of damaged or incorrectly-positioned containers, with a consequent considerable waste of liquid.
A further drawback of the filling machine of the above-described known type is due to the fact that the tubular body for adjusting the level of the liquid in the container can be moved, with respect to the movable portion of the tubular duct, a limited sliding range not greater than about 55 mm. Such limitation in the adjustment of the liquid level in the containers leads to a consequent limited field of use of the filling machine, which cannot function with all container formats.
In addition, the adjustment of the liquid level must be executed by manually operating on the tubular adjustment body of each single valve assembly of the filling machine, with consequent long production downtimes.
For the purpose of resolving several of the aforesaid drawbacks, filling machines were introduced in the market capable of operating both with containers made of glass and with containers made of plastic.
The latter filling machines of known type provide for arranging a fork on each support plate; such fork is fixed to the plate by means of rods with adjustable rods, and it is intended to grasp the plastic container at the projecting ring provided on the head of the container itself. In this manner, when the container is raised in order to be associated with the corresponding valve assembly, the force exerted by the hydraulic cylinders of the plates is transferred to the head of the container itself in order to prevent the crushing thereof.
Also the latter solution of known type reveals drawbacks in practice.
A first drawback is due to the fact that the rods that fix each fork to the corresponding support plate are relatively long and thin and are therefore subjected to being easily bent when the container is raised against the valve assembly, with the risk of not ensuring the suitable seal of the container head on the valve assembly.
A further drawback is due to the fact that it is necessary to manually adjust the height of the rods of the fork of each support plate with each format change of the containers to be filled, with consequent long production downtimes.
A further drawback of the latter filling machine briefly described above is due to the fact that the arrangement of a fork fixed to the corresponding support plate increases the structural complexity of the machine, with consequent high production costs. In addition, such machine involves long operations for passing from a production with containers made of PET to a production with containers made of glass, given that it is necessary for the latter to disassemble the rods and the forks from the plates. In addition, the latter machine of known type does not at all resolve the problems connected to the abovementioned liquid level.
Also known on the market are filling machines for bottles made of PET, such as those described in the Italian utility model application No. BO2003U000048 ( EP 1 471 032 A1 ). More in detail, the filling machine for PET bottles, described in the latter prior art document, comprises a rotary turntable bearing a plurality of valve assemblies mounted; each valve assembly is provided with a tap body inside of which a supply duct is obtained, terminating on the lower part with a discharge lip intercepted by a shutter in order to adjust the supply of the liquid to be bottled.
In addition, each valve assembly comprises a fork supported by two vertical rods slidably mounted on the tap body of the valve assembly, and intended to grasp the head of the containers at projecting ring thereof. Operatively, the fork of each valve assembly is moved to be vertically displaced between a lowered position for grasping or releasing the containers, and a raised position for bringing the container with the head in abutment on the discharge lip of the supply duct of the corresponding valve assembly, in order to allow the filling of the container itself. More in detail, the vertical movement of the fork of each valve assembly is actuated by a fixed cam, arranged around the filling machine above the valve assemblies.
Each valve assembly is provided with a roller cam follower fixed to the upper end of the support rods of the fork and susceptible to follow the shaped profile of the cam during the rotation of the turntable in order to control the raising and flowering of the fork.
In addition, each valve assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder connected to the rods of the fork and constantly actuated by a compressed air source to maintain the rods raised with the roller engaged with the shaped profile of the cam during the entire rotation of the turntable.
The main drawback of the latter filling machine of known type consists of the fact that it can only be used for filling PET bottles provided on the head with the projecting ring in order to be grasped by the fork of the valve assemblies.
A further drawback of the filling machine described in the document BO2003U000048 is related to the fact that the maximum level of the liquid in the container is defined by varying the height of the open lower end of the air return tube. This involves high structural complexity of the valve assembly, since it is necessary to arrange the air return tube slidably inserted in the shutter of the duct with annular seal gaskets interposed, the sealing gaskets being easily subjected to wear due to the relative sliding between the tube and the shutter.
In addition, the range of the tube height results extreinely limited, making the machine of known type described in BO2003U000048 not suitable for filling bottles with different format, material and height, with a consequent disadvantageous limitation in the use of the machine itself.

Presentation of the invention

In this context, the problem underlying the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks revealed by the art known up to now, by providing a machine for filling containers with liquids capable of operating both with containers made of glass and with containers made of plastic.
Further object of the present finding is to provide a machine for filling containers with liquids capable of operating in a versatile manner with the variation of the shape and height of the containers to be filled, in turn also selectable as a function of the temperature of the liquid to be bottled.
Further object of the present finding is to provide a machine for filling containers with liquids that is structurally simple and inexpensive to produce.
Further object of the present finding is to provide a machine for filling containers with liquids which allows carrying out a very wide adjustment of the level of the liquid in the container.
Further object of the present finding is to provide an operatively entirely efficient and reliable machine for filling containers with liquids.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the finding, according to the aforesaid objects, can be clearly found in the contents of the claims indicated below and the advantages of the same will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent several merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

figure 1 shows a general perspective view of the filling machine, object of the present invention, in accordance with a first embodiment relative to a filling machine of the low vacuum type;
figure 2 shows a partial sectional view of the filling machine illustrated in figure 1, in which the filling machine is arranged to operate with containers made of glass;
figure 3 shows a perspective view of a detail of the filling machine illustrated in figure 2 relative to one of the valve assemblies;
figure 4 shows a partial sectional view of the filling machine illustrated in figure 1, in which the filling machine is arranged to operate with containers made of plastic;
figure 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of the filling machine illustrated in figure 4 relative to one of the valve assemblies, with several parts removed in order to better illustrate others;
figure 6 shows a side section view of the valve assembly illustrated in figure 5;
figure 7 illustrates a detail of the valve assembly of the filling machine of the present invention illustrated in figure 6, relative to a stop assembly intended to intercept the ascending movement of the container in order to determine the maximum level of the liquid in the container itself;
figure 8 illustrates a partial sectional view of the filling machine, object of the present invention, in accordance with a second embodiment relative to a filling machine of isobaric type.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the attached drawings, one embodiment of the filling machine, object of the present invention, was indicated in its entirety with 1.
Below, two preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, relative to a filling machine of low vacuum type (illustrated in the examples of figures 1 - 7) and to a filling machine of isobaric type (illustrated in the embodiment of figure 8); it is nevertheless intended that the technical solutions, object of the present invention, are advantageously applicable also to other types of filling machines, such as to gravity machines, etc.
The filling machine 1 is conventionally inserted inside a bottling plant downstream of a rinsing machine and upstream of a capping/corking machine. The containers 2 to be filled are transferred from one machine to the other by means of conveyor lines, such as conveyor belts 3', 3", conveyor starwheels 4', 4", augers 5, etc. More in detail, the filling machine 1 of the present invention is provided with an inlet station 6, at which it receives (by means of a first conveyor starwheel 4') the containers 2 to be filled brought by a first conveyor belt 3' upstream; the machine 1 is also provided with an outlet station 7, at which it releases (by means of a second conveyor starwheel 4") the filled containers 2 to a second conveyor belt 3" downstream, adapted to convey such filled containers 2 to the capping/corking machine.
With reference to the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the filling machine 1 comprises a support frame 8, set on the ground, on which a rotary turntable 9 is rotatably mounted, adapted to rotate around its vertical central rotation shaft 10. The rotary turntable 9 is provided with a tank 11, preferably annular-shaped, in which a liquid to be bottled in the containers 2 is contained.
The filling machine 1 also comprises a plurality of valve assemblies 12, which are arranged peripherally with respect to the rotary turntable 9 and beneath the tank 11, and are hydraulically connected to the latter in order to transfer the liquid to the underlying containers 2 to be filled, generally constituted by bottles made of glass or PET.
More in detail, each valve assembly 12 comprises a support structure 13 fixed to the rotary turntable 9, and a supply duct 14 fixed to the support structure 13 and hydraulically connected to the tank 11 for the inflow of the liquid from the latter to the containers 2 to be filled.
Otherwise, the supply duct 14 can be directly fixed below the tank 11.
Advantageously, the supply duct 14 comprises an upper section 14' sealingly connected to the tank 11 through an opening 15 obtained on the bottom 11' of the latter, and a lower section 14", preferably constituted by a small tube fixed to the upper section 14', e.g. by means of first screws 16, and intended to be at least partially inserted in the container 2 during the step of filling the latter, as described in detail below.
Each valve assembly 12 also comprises an air return tube 17 mounted, preferably in a coaxial manner, within the supply duct 14, and provided with an openable end portion 17' adapted to hydraulically adjust the maximum level of the liquid in the container 2.
Each valve assembly 12 comprises a shutter 18 placed to intercept the supply duct 14 and movable with respect to the latter in order to adjust the inflow of the liquid to be bottled in the containers 2, as will be described in detail below.
Each valve assembly 12 also comprises a guide device 19, which is susceptible of sliding with respect to the supply duct 14, being preferably slidably mounted on the support structure 13 of the valve assembly 12 itself through the plates 49, 54 (better detailed below). The guide device 19 is also provided with an engagement portion 20 susceptible of receiving in engagement the head 2' of the container 2 to be filled. The guide device 19 is movable between a lowered position, in which its engagement body 20 is arranged below the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17, in order to engage with or disengage from the container 2 (respectively at the inlet 6 and outlet 7 station of the filling machine 1), and a raised position, in which the engagement body 20 is arranged above the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17, in order to hydraulically connect the container 2 with the supply duct 14.
In particular, when the guide device 19 of each valve assembly 12 is in lowered position, the container 2 engaged thereto is arranged with the head 2' beneath the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17, which therefore is outside the container 2 so as not to interfere with the latter in the steps of engagement or disengagement of the container 2 with the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19. When the guide device 19 is in raised position, the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17 is inserted in the container 2 in order to define the maximum level of the liquid inside the latter.
The filling machine 1 of the present invention comprises a plurality of support plates 21 mounted on the rotary turntable 9, each positioned beneath the corresponding valve assembly 12, and susceptible of receiving in abutment the corresponding container 2 in order to convey it around the rotary turntable 9 from the inlet station 6 to the outlet station 7 of the filling machine 1.
The filling machine 1 further comprises first actuation means 22 that can be actuated in order to raise the support plates 21 for the purpose of associating the containers 2 rested on the latter with the corresponding valve assemblies 12. More in detail, the first actuation means 22 can be actuated to vertically move each support plate 21 between a lower position, in which the support plate 21 supports the corresponding container 2 disengaged from the engagement body 20 of the device 19, arranged in the lowered position, for guiding the corresponding valve assembly 12, and an upper position, in which the support plate 21 supports the corresponding container 2 engaged with the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 arranged in the raised position.
In accordance with the idea underlying the present invention, each valve assembly 12 of the filling machine 1 comprises second actuation means 23, advantageously fixed to the support structure 13 of the valve assembly 12 itself, and actuatable to move the guide device 19 between its lowered position, in which the engagement body 20 is susceptible to be engaged with the head 2' of the container 2 to be filled, and the raised position, in which the engagement body 21 raises the container 2 in order to hydraulically connect it to the supply duct 14 of the corresponding valve assembly 12.
According to the invention, moreover, the filling machine 1 comprises a logic control unit, for example provided with a PLC, adapted to control the actuation of the first actuation means 22 and the second actuation means 23.
By actuating the first actuation means 22, the support plates 21 are moved between their lower position and their upper position, in order to associate the containers 2 rested on the support plates 21 with the corresponding valve assemblies 12, with the head 2' of the container 2 engaged with the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 in raised position.
By actuating the second actuation means 23, the guide devices 19 of the valve assemblies 12 are moved between the lowered position and the raised position, in order to associate the containers 2, engaged with the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19, with the corresponding valve assemblies 12.
In case of containers 2 made in PET, the logic control unit can simultaneously control the raising of the container 2 through the lifting of the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 (by means of the second actuation means 23), and the raising of the support plate 21 (by means of the first actuation means 22) following the bottom of the container 2 and slightly resting or slightly spaced from the latter to allow such bottom of the container 2 to be rested on the support plate 21, in case of its longitudinal expansion or deformation, also without it being compressed against the engagement body 20.
Otherwise, the logic control unit can selectively control the first and the second actuation means 22 and 23 (either one or the other) in order to allow the filling machine 1 to selectively operate on the containers 2 made of glass or on the containers 2 made of plastic (in particular made of PET) not subject to being deformed.
More in detail, when the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 is set to operate on glass containers 2, the latter are transported in their operative travel around the rotary turntable 9 above the support plates 21, and the logic control unit actuates the first actuation means 22 to raise the support plates 21 themselves for associating the containers 2 with the corresponding valve assemblies 12.
When the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 is set to operate on containers 2 made of plastic, the latter are transported in their operative travel around the rotary turntable 9 retained at their head 2' by the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 of the corresponding valve assemblies 12, and the logic control unit actuates the second actuation means 23 to raise the corresponding guide device 19 in order to associate the container 2 retained thereby with the corresponding valve assembly 12.
According to the invention, moreover, each valve assembly 12 comprises third actuation means 24 mechanically connected to the shutter 18 and actuatable to move the latter in order to move it between an open position, in which the shutter 18 is spaced from the supply duct 14 allowing the passage of the liquid towards the container 2, and a closed position, in which the shutter 18 is in contact with the supply duct 14 obstructing the passage of the liquid.
The aforesaid third actuation means 24 are entirely free with respect to the movement of the support plates 21 and/or of the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 such that they can be actuated following the lifting of the container 2, whether made of glass and raised by the first actuation means 22, or made of plastic and raised by the second actuation means 23.
Advantageously, the actuation of the third actuation means 24 is controlled by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1, in order to open the shutter 18 in a controlled manner when the guide device 19 of the corresponding valve assembly 12 is arranged in its raised position with the corresponding container 2 hydraulically connected to the supply duct 14 of the corresponding valve assembly 12.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in figures 1 - 7 and relative to a filling machine of low vacuum type, the shutter 18 is advantageously fixed to the air return tube 17. The latter is mechanically connected to the third actuation means 24 that can be actuated to axially move the tube 17 in order to move the shutter 18 between its open position and its closed position.
In particular, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in figure 6, the shutter 18 actuated by the third actuation means 24 is preferably constituted by an interception body that projects around the air return tube 17, and it is peripherally provided with a first annular gasket 18' which, when the shutter 18 is in closed position, is intended to abut on an annular projection 25 inside the upper section 14' of the supply duct 14.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in figure 8 and relative to a filling machine of isobaric type, the air return tube 17 is slidably mounted within the shutter 18, which is substantially tubular-shaped and it is provided with an enlarged portion, tapered-shaped, peripherally provided with an abutment gasket adapted to abut against a narrowing of the supply duct 14 when the shutter 18 itself is brought into closed position. More in detail, preferably, the shutter 18 is connected by means of mechanical transmission heads, such as rods or pipes, to the third actuation means 24 adapted to axially move the shutter for actuating the closing and opening thereof.
Otherwise, the actuation of the shutter 18 in opening and closing can be controlled by a spring susceptible to act on the shutter 18 itself as a function of the pressures present in the tank 11 and in the container 2, in a manner per se known to the man skilled in the art.
Advantageously, according to the present invention, the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 comprises a gripper provided with two gripping arms movable between a release position, in which the gripping arms are spaced from each other to receive or release the container 2 to be filled, and a retention position, in which the gripping arms are close to retain the container 2 between them. The aforesaid gripper of the engagement body 20 is capable of grasping both the containers 2 made of glass and the containers 2 made of plastic.
Advantageously, the engagement body 20 comprises a support portion 61, and selectively comprises a centering cone 26 or a fork portion 27 mounted on the support portion 61 respectively for guiding the container 2 made of glass or for gripping the container 2 made of plastic.
More in detail, the centering cone 26 of the engagement body is intended to receive - in abutment - the head 2' of the container 2 made of glass raised by the corresponding support plate 21 following the actuation of the first actuation means 22, in order to guide the ascent of the container 2 made of glass with its head 2' aligned with the supply duct 14 and the air return tube 17 of the corresponding valve assembly 12.
The fork portion 27 of the engagement body 20 is intended to grasp the container 2 made of plastic by acting on the projecting ring 2" arranged at the head 2' of the container 2 made of plastic itself, in order to transport the latter in its operative travel around the rotary turntable 9. In addition, the fork portion 27 of the engagement body 20 is adapted to raise the container 2 made of plastic in order to associate it with the corresponding valve assembly 12, following the actuation of the second actuation means 23 to move the guide device 19 between the lowered position and the raised position.
In accordance with a particularly advantageous characteristic of the present invention, each valve assembly 12 of the filling machine 1 comprises a stop assembly 28 positioned above the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17, and adapted to intercept the engagement body 20 in the aforesaid raised position in order to stop the raising thereof, with the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17 inserted in the container 2 for determining the maximum liquid level in the container 2 itself. In addition, adjusting means 29 mechanically connected to the stop assembly 28, and adapted to vertically move the latter in a controlled manner between different heights, corresponding to different predetermined amounts of the maximum level of liquid in the container 2 are provided.
Advantageously, the position of the stop assembly 28 at the aforesaid different heights (corresponding in substance to different distances of the stop assembly 28 from the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17) determines the length of the tube section 17, and preferably also of the second lower section 14" of the supply duct 14, which enters into the container 2 when it is filled with the liquid to be bottled. Such position of the stop assembly 28, therefore, determines the distance of the end portion 17' of the air return tube 17 from the base of the container 2, and therefore the maximum level that the liquid can reach in the container 2 itself.
Advantageously, the adjusting means 29, which determine the position of the stop assembly 28, comprise an adjusting ring 30 fixed to the stop assembly 28 of each valve assembly 12 of the filling machine 1, and at least one motor (not illustrated) operatively connected to such adjusting ring 30, preferably by means of a worm screw mechanism. Such motor can be actuated by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 to vertically move the adjusting ring 30 in order to simultaneously adjust the height of the stop assemblies 28 of all the valve assemblies 12 of the filling machine 1, thus allowing the simple and quick adjustment of the maximum liquid level in the containers 2.
Preferably, the height of the adjusting ring 30 is established in the step of setting the filling machine 1, by means of the logic control unit which is adapted to control the actuation of the aforesaid motor of the adjusting means 29.
Advantageously, the stop assembly 28 of each valve assembly 12 is provided with its own through hole 31 traversed by the lower section 14" of the supply duct 14 and by the air return tube 17, in order to prevent the latter from interfering with the vertical movement of the stop assembly 28 itself.
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in figure 7, the stop assembly 28 of each valve assembly 12 comprises a support portion 32, preferably constituted by a metal plate, and rigidly fixed to the adjusting ring 30, in particular by means of a second screw 33.
Advantageously, the stop assembly 28 of each valve assembly 12 also comprises an interception portion 34, preferably annular-shaped, fixed to the support portion 32, and provided with an inner surface 35 defining the aforesaid through hole 31 traversed by the lower section 14" of the supply duct 14. Advantageously, the inner surface 35 of the interception portion 34 is arranged in a sealing relationship with the outer surface of the lower section 14" of the supply duct 14 by means of sealing means 36 preferably fixed on the inner surface 35 of the interception portion 34. Preferably, the aforesaid sealing means 36 comprise a second annular gasket 36' inserted in an annular groove 37 obtained on the inner surface 35 of the interception portion 34 of the stop assembly 28.
Still with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figure 7, the interception portion 34 of the stop assembly 28 of each valve assembly 12 is provided with an abutment surface 38 directed towards the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19, and intended to intercept the engagement body 20 itself when the guide device 19 is brought into its raised position by the second actuation means 23.
In particular, the interception portion 34 of the stop assembly 28 is provided on its abutment surface 38 with a first abutment gasket 39, preferably annular-shaped, which, with the guide device 19 in raised position, is intended to receive in abutment the head 2' of the container 2 retained by the gripper of the engagement body 20.
Preferably, with the guide device 19 in raised position, the abutment gasket 39 of the stop assembly 28 is also susceptible of receiving in abutment the centering cone 26 of the engagement body 20 with the head 2' of the glass container 2 engaged, or the head 2' of the plastic container 2 retained by the fork portion 27 of the engagement body 20.
Advantageously, the stop assembly 28 of the valve assemblies 12 of the filling machine 1 according to the present invention can be vertically moved in a wide travel range, in particular equal to about 90 mm, thus allowing the adjustment of desired maximum liquid level in the container 2 upon the variation of the height and size of all the formats of containers available in the market.
Advantageously, the first actuation means 22 actuatable by the logic control unit to move the support plates 21 for associating the containers 2 rested thereon with the corresponding valve assemblies 12, preferably comprise a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 40 fixed to the rotary turntable 9, each connected to the corresponding support plate 21 to be moved.
More in detail, with reference to figure 2, each first hydraulic cylinder 40 comprises a first jacket 41 fixed to the corresponding support plate 21 by means of a preferably horizontal connection arm 42, and a first piston 43 slidably and sealingly inserted in the first jacket 41 and fixed to the rotary turntable 9 preferably by means of a vertical connection rod 44.
Advantageously, the actuation of each first hydraulic cylinder 40 is controlled by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 by introducing - into the hydraulic cylinder 40 itself - compressed air coming from a compressed air source (not illustrated) of the filling machine 1. Preferably, such compressed air source is connected to the first hydraulic cylinders 40 by means of corresponding fist connection ducts intercepted by corresponding first control valves (not illustrated) actuated by the logic control unit in order to control the insertion of the compressed air in the first hydraulic cylinders 40 themselves.
Operatively, each support plate 21, following the rotation of the rotary turntable 9, is brought into its lower position at the inlet station 6 of the filling machine 1 in order to receive in abutment the containers 2 to be filled coming from the first conveyor belt 3' upstream of the filling machine 1 itself. The logic control unit controls, by means of the first control valves, the insertion of compressed air in the first hydraulic cylinders 40 in order to actuate the latter to bring the support plates 21 into the upper position, by associating the containers 2 rested thereon with the corresponding valve assemblies 12.
More in detail, each container 2, after the raising of the support plate 21 into the upper position, is brought with its head 2' in abutment on the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 of the corresponding valve assembly 12, bringing the engagement body 20 itself from its lowered position to the raised position in abutment against the stop assembly 28 of the valve assembly 12.
As said above, the engagement body 20 can selectively comprise the centering cone 26 or the fork portion 27.
In the case of filling containers 2 made of glass, the engagement body 20 advantageously comprises the centering cone 26, which guides the lifting of the container 2 with the head 2' aligned with the supply duct 14 and the air return tube 17 of the corresponding valve assembly 12, thus allowing the insertion of the air return tube 17 in the container 2.
Advantageously, the centering cone 26 of the engagement body 20 is provided with a lower surface 45, preferably concave, adapted to receive in abutment the head 2' of the container 2 raised by the corresponding support plate 21 after the actuation of the first actuation means 22. Preferably, the centering cone 26 is provided on its lower surface 45 with a second abutment gasket 46, preferably annular-shaped, adapted to receive in abutment the head 2' of the container 2 raised by the corresponding support plate 21.
In addition, the centering cone 26 of the engagement body 20 is provided with an upper surface 47, preferably flat, turned in the opposite direction with respect to the lower surface 45, and susceptible to enter into a sealing relationship with the stop assembly 28 when the guide device 19 is in the raised position, in a manner so as to sealingly connect the interior of the container 2 with the supply duct 14 of the valve assembly 12.
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the support structure 13 of each valve assembly 12 of the filling machine 1 comprises an upper plate 48, preferably bracket-shaped, fixed to the bottom 11' of the tank 11, preferably by means of fixing screws 90, and bearing the supply duct 14. Preferably, with reference to figures 5 and 6, the support structure 13 also comprises a lower plate 49 fixed to the upper section 14' of the supply duct 14, and from the lower plate 49, the lower section 14" of the supply duct 14 itself is extended downward.
Advantageously, the guide device 19 of each valve assembly 12 comprises an annular body 50 slidably arranged around the corresponding supply duct 14 and at least one substantially vertical sliding rod 51, which is fixed at a first end 51' thereof (upper end) to the annular body 50 and it carried the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 itself mounted at a second end 51" thereof (lower end).
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the guide device 19 comprises multiple sliding rods 51 (in particular three), which are slidably inserted in corresponding first through holes 52 obtained on the lower plate 49 of the support structure 13, and are fixed to the annular body 50 of the guide device 19 at their first end 51' preferably by means of third screws 53.
Advantageously, the annular body 50 of the guide device 19 is extended around the upper section 14' of the supply duct 14 of the corresponding valve assembly 12, and is positioned between the upper plate 48 of the support structure 13 and an abutment plate 54 of the same support structure 13 arranged on the lower part of the upper plate 48 and spaced from the latter, and preferably intended to receive in abutment the annular body 50 of the guide device 19 in lowered position. In particular, such abutment plate 54 is arranged between the upper plate 48 and the lower plate 49 of the support structure 13 of the corresponding valve assembly 12, and it is rigidly fixed to the upper plate 48 by means of first vertical support rods 55, preferably inserted in second through holes 56 of the annular body 50 of the guide device 19. In particular, the abutment plate 54 is also rigidly fixed to the lower plate 49 of the support structure 13 by means of second vertical support rods 57.
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the second actuation means 23 of each valve assembly 12, which can be actuated to vertically move the guide device 19, comprise a second hydraulic cylinder 58 that can be actuated by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 to abut on the annular body 50 of the guide device 19 in order to move the latter between the lowered position and the raised position.
Advantageously, each second hydraulic cylinder 58 is positioned below the annular body 50 of the guide device 19, and it is actuated to push the annular body 50 upward in order to bring the guide device 19 in its raised position.
In particular, the second hydraulic cylinder 58 of each valve assembly 12 comprises a second jacket 59 fixed to the support structure 13 of the valve assembly 12, preferably to the lower plate 49, and a second piston 60 slidably housed in the second jacket 59 and susceptible to abut on the annular body 50 of the guide device 19 when compressed air is inserted inside the second jacket 59 coming from the compressed air source of the filling machine 1.
More in detail, the compressed air source is connected to the second hydraulic cylinder 58 of each valve assembly 12 by means of a corresponding second connection duct 84 intercepted by a second control valve (not illustrated) controlled by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 in order to insert compressed air in the second hydraulic cylinder 58.
Operatively, following the rotation of the rotary turntable 9, each valve assembly 12 is brought to the inlet station 6 of the filling machine 1 with the guide device 19 in lowered position, in a manner such that the engagement body 20 of the latter receives the head 2' of the containers 2 to be filled coming from the first conveyor belt 3 upstream of the filling machine 1. The logic control unit controls, by means of the second control valve, the introduction of compressed air in the second hydraulic cylinder 58 in order to actuate the latter to bring the guide device 19 into the raised position, for associating the container 2 with the corresponding valve assembly 12. More in detail, each container 2, following the lifting of the guide device 19 into the raised position, is brought with its head 2' in abutment on the stop assembly 28 of the corresponding valve assembly 12, preferably at the first abutment gasket 39 of the latter, in order to sealingly connect the interior of the container 2 with the supply duct 14 of the corresponding valve assembly 12.
The engagement body 20, advantageously comprising the fork portion 27, retains the container 2 by acting in abutment from below on the projecting ring 2", with which the containers 2 made of plastic are provided at their head 2'. Advantageously, the support portion 61 of the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19, on which the centering cone 26 or the fork portion 27 is selectively mounted, is fixed to the second lower end 51" of the sliding rods 51, and it is provided with an open seat in which the centering cone 26 or the fork portion 27 is selectively housed.
In particular, the support portion 61 is substantially horseshoe-shaped, with two lateral arms 65 each advantageously provided on the inner side thereof with a first flat surface intended to be selectively coupled with a corresponding second flat surface of the centering cone 26 or with a corresponding third flat surface of the fork portion 27, in order to prevent the rotation of the latter in the open seat of the support portion 61 itself.
Preferably, the support portion 61 of the engagement body is fixed to the second end 51" of the sliding rods 51 by means of fourth screws 63 inserted in corresponding third through holes 64 obtained on the support portion 61 itself.
Advantageously, the centering cone 26 and the fork portion 27 of the engagement body 20 are equipped with fixing means 62 adapted to fix them in a removable manner to the support portion 61 of the engagement body 20 itself.
Preferably, such coupling means 62 comprise at least one flexible coupling tooth (not illustrated) snap-insertable in a corresponding coupling seat (not illustrated) obtained on the support portion 61 of the engagement body 20.
Advantageously, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in figures 1-7, the third actuation means 24 of each valve assembly 12, actuatable to move the air return tube 17 to open and close the shutter 18, comprise a third hydraulic cylinder 66 provided with a third outer jacket 67 slidably mounted around the supply duct 14 of the valve assembly 12, and an inner cylinder 68 arranged inside the supply duct 14, fixed to the air return tube 17, and fixed to the third jacket 67 by means of at least one transverse connection pin 69 inserted through at least one corresponding longitudinal groove 70 obtained on the supply duct 14.
More in detail, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in figure 6, the third jacket 67 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 is slidably mounted around the upper section 14' of the supply duct 14 of the corresponding valve assembly 12, and it is movable between two end stop positions, including a first end stop position in which the third jacket 67 abuts with its upper end 67' on an abutment portion 71 externally projecting from the supply duct 14, and a second end stop position, in which the third jacket 67 abuts with its lower end 67" on the lower plate 49 of the support structure 13 of the valve assembly 12.
Preferably, the third hydraulic cylinder 66 is provided with a return spring 72 compressed between the lower plate 49 of the support structure 13 of the valve assembly 12 and a shoulder 73 of the third jacket 67, and adapted to push the latter upward into the first end stop position.
Between the third jacket 67 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 and the supply duct 14, a sealed chamber 74 is advantageously defined, the chamber being laterally delimited by the external surface of the supply duct 14 and the inner surface of the third jacket 67, and it is delimited respectively on the lower and upper part by a first and a second insulation gasket 75, 76 arranged between the supply duct 14 and the third jacket 67 itself.
The aforesaid sealed chamber 74 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 is connected to the compressed air source of the filling machine 1 by means of a third connection duct 77 intercepted by a third control valve (not illustrated) controlled by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 to introduce (or not introduce) compressed air into the sealed chamber 74 itself.
Operatively, when the sealed chamber 74 is not fed with compressed air, the return spring 72 pushes the third jacket 67 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 into the first end stop position in which it brings, by means of the inner cylinder 67 fixed to the air return tube 17, the shutter 18 into closed position in abutment on the annular projection 25 of the supply duct 14 of the corresponding valve assembly 12. When the logic control unit, by means of the third control valve, enables the inlet of compressed air in the sealed chamber 74, the pressure developed by the air in the sealed chamber 74 itself overcomes the force exerted by the return spring 72, pushing the third jacket 67 into the second end stop position in abutment on the lower plate 49 of the support structure 13 of the valve assembly 12, in order to bring the shutter 18 into open position.
Preferably, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in figure 6, the third jacket 67 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 is fixed to the inner cylinder 67 inserted in the supply duct 14 by means of two connection pins 69 passing through two corresponding longitudinal openings 70 of the supply duct 14.
Preferably, the aforesaid longitudinal openings 70 have an elongated shape in order to allow the sliding of the corresponding connection pins 69 therein during the movement of the third jacket 67 and the inner cylinder 68 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66.
Advantageously, the inner cylinder 67 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 is sealingly inserted in the supply duct 14 by means of a first and a second seal gasket 78, 79, preferably annular-shaped, interposed between the inner cylinder 67 and the supply duct 14.
In particular, the first seal gasket 78 is positioned in proximity to an upper face 80 of the inner cylinder 67 directed towards the tank 11, and the second seal gasket 79 is positioned in proximity to a lower face 81 of the inner cylinder 67 directed towards the shutter 18.
Preferably, the first seal gasket 78 of the inner cylinder 67 is positioned above the longitudinal openings 70 obtained on the supply duct 14, in a manner so as to prevent the liquid traversing the supply duct 14 from leaking through such longitudinal openings 70.
Advantageously, the inner cylinder 67 of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 is provided with multiple axial through openings 82 being extended between the upper face 80 and the lower face 81 of the inner cylinder 68, in a manner so as to allow the passage of the liquid to be bottled coming from the tank 11 towards the shutter 18. Preferably, the filling machine 1 of the present invention is equipped at each valve assembly 12 with a sensor (not illustrated) adapted to detect the presence of the container 2 associated with the valve assembly 12. Such sensor is connected to the logic control unit in order to send to the latter an enabling signal adapted to signal, to the logic control unit itself, the presence of the container 2, and consequently enable the latter to actuate the third actuation means 24 of the corresponding valve assembly 12 to open the shutter 18.
Advantageously, the opening and closing of the shutter 18 can be carried out by means of the third actuation means 24, regardless of the actuation of the first and second actuation means 22, 23. Thus, the same third actuation means 24 can be actuated by the logic control unit of the filling machine 1 to open and close the shutter 18, both when the first actuation means 22 are actuated to operate on containers 2 made of glass, and when the second actuation means 23 are actuated to operate on containers 2 made of plastic.
In addition, the actuation of the shutter 18 by means of the third actuation means 24 according to the invention eliminates the drawback of the machines of known type regarding constraining the opening of the shutter to the thrust exerted by the container on the supply duct in order to move its movable portion.
In particular, the first and the second actuation means 22, 23 can be actuated to exert on the containers 2 a slight force (e.g. less than about 15 kg) sufficient to ensure the seal between the head 2' of the container 2 and the abutment gaskets 39, 46 of the valve assembly 12, thus preventing any risk of damage of the containers 2, whether glass or plastic.
In addition, the arrangement of the third hydraulic cylinder 66 of the third actuation means 24 according to the invention advantageously allows actuating the shutter 18 without having to arrange movement devices that pass through the tank 11, with consequent structural simplification of the filling machine 1 of the present invention. In particular, the actuation of the shutter 18 does not require upwardly extending the air return tube 17 above the cover of the tank 11 in order to connect it to the movement devices, hence there is no need of making holes on the cover of the tank 11; in such a manner, any risk of contamination of the liquid contained in the tank 11 itself is avoided.
Advantageously, the filling machine 1 according to the present invention comprises a first fixed cam (not illustrated), positioned at the inlet station 6, and provided with a first profile shaped with progression increasing in the rotational direction of the rotary turntable 9, and susceptible of receiving in engagement a cam follower 83 fixed to the guide device 19 of each valve assembly 12, for gradually guiding in the ascent of the engagement body 20 of the guide device 19 from the lowered position to the raised position. This in particular allows limiting the lifting speed of the guide device 19, and hence of the container 2 engaged thereto, and in particular the speed with which the engagement body 20 intercepts the stop assembly 28, avoiding the possibility of damaging the container 2 or the engagement body 20 and the stop assembly 28 of the valve assembly 12.
In addition, the filling machine 1 comprises a second fixed cam (not illustrated), positioned at the outlet station 7 of the filling machine 1 itself, and provided with a second profile shaped with progression decreasing in the rotational direction of the rotary turntable 9, and susceptible of receiving in engagement the cam follower 83 of the guide device 19 of each valve assembly 12, for gradually guiding the descent of the engagement body 20, with the filled container 2 associated, from the raised position to the lowered position.
This in particular allows making the container 2 descend without the risk that the latter falls from the support plate 21, or without the risk that the container 2 is detached from the gripper or from the fork portion 27 of the engagement body 20. Operatively, when the filled container 2 is conveyed in its operative travel around the rotary turntable 9 at the outlet station 7, the second cam acts on the cam follower 83 to push the corresponding guide device 19 downward, overcoming the force exerted by the first hydraulic cylinders 40 of the first actuation means 22 which move the support plate 21 to engage the head 2' of the container 2 with the engagement body 20, or overcoming the force exerted by the second hydraulic cylinders 58 of the second actuation means 23 which act on the guide device 19. Advantageously, the first and the second hydraulic cylinders 40, 58 are respectively provided with a first and a second over-pressure valve, adapted to allow the outflow of the compressed air from the respective hydraulic cylinders 40, 58 when the pressure therein exceeds a specific threshold value, preferably equal to about 8 bars. Once the filled container 2 exits from the filling machine 1 (drawn by the second conveyor starwheel 4"), the first and/or the second hydraulic cylinders 40, 58 are disabled by the logic control unit, evacuating the compressed air therein. Such first or second hydraulic cylinders 40, 58 are newly actuated when, after the rotation of the turntable 9, they once again arrive at the first cam in the inlet station 6 of the filling machine 1.
Preferably, each first and second cam is respectively mounted on a first and second support framework (not illustrated), mounted on the support frame 8 of the filling machine 1, and actuatable by motor means to be moved in a controlled manner to different heights, as a function of the height of the containers 2 to be filled.
The invention thus conceived therefore attains the predetermined objects.

Claims

Filling machine (1) for filling containers with liquids, which comprises:
- a support frame (8);

- a rotary turntable (9) rotatably mounted on said support frame (8), and provided with a tank (11) for containing a liquid to be bottled in containers (2);

- a plurality of valve assemblies (12) peripherally mounted on said rotary turntable (9), and each comprising:
- a supply duct (14) hydraulically connected to said tank (11) for the inflow of said liquid from said tank (11) to said containers (2) to be filled,

- an air return tube (17) mounted within said supply duct (14), and provided with an openable end portion (17') adapted to hydraulically adjust the maximum level of said liquid in said container (2),

- a guide device (19) for said container (2), which is susceptible of sliding relative to said supply duct (14), it is provided with an engagement body (20) susceptible of receiving in engagement the head (2') of said container (2) to be filled, and it is movable between a lowered position, in which said engagement body (20) is arranged substantially below the end portion (17') of said air return tube (17) in order to engage with or disengage from said container (2), and a raised position, in which said engagement body (20) is arranged above the end portion (17') of said air return tube (17) in order to insert the latter in said container (2),

- at least one shutter (18) arranged to intercept said supply duct (14) and movable with respect to said supply duct (14) in order to adjust the inflow of said liquid into said containers (2),

- third actuation means (24) mechanically connected to said shutter (18), and that can be actuated to axially move the latter in order to move said shutter (18) between an open position, in which it is spaced from said supply duct (14), allowing the passage of the liquid towards said container (2), and a closed position, in which said shutter (18) is in contact with said supply duct (14), obstructing the passage of the liquid;

- a plurality of support plates (21) mounted on said rotary turntable (9), each positioned below a corresponding of said valve assemblies (12) and susceptible of receiving in abutment a container (2) to be filled;

- first actuation means (22) that can be actuated to vertically move each said support plate (21) between a lower position, in which said support plate (21) supports said container (2) disengaged from the engagement body (20) of said guide device (19) arranged in said lowered position, and an upper position, in which said support plate (21) supports said container (2) engaged with the engagement body (20) of said guide device (19) arranged in said raised position;
said filling machine (1) being characterized in that each said valve assembly (12) also comprises:
- second actuation means (23) that can be actuated to act on said guide device (19) in order to move the latter between said lowered position and said raised position;

- at least one logic control unit adapted to control the actuation of said first actuation means (22) and said second actuation means (23), respectively in order to move said support plates (21) between said lower position and said upper position, and in order to move said guide devices (19) between said lowered position and said raised position.
Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said engagement body (20) comprises at least one gripper provided with two gripping arms movable between a release position, in which said gripping arms are spaced from each other to receive or release said container (2), and a retention position, in which said gripping arms are close to retain said container (2) between them.
Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said engagement body (20) comprises a support portion (61), and selectively comprises a centering cone (26) or a fork portion (27) mounted on said support portion (61) respectively for guiding a container (2) made of glass or for gripping a container (2) made of plastic.
Filling machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guide device (19) comprises an annular body (50) slidably arranged around said supply duct (14) and at least one substantially vertical sliding rod (51), which is fixed at a first end (51') thereof to said annular body (50) and has said engagement body (20) mounted at a second end (51") thereof;
said second actuation means (23) comprising at least one second hydraulic cylinder (58) that can be actuated by said logic control unit to abut on the annular body (50) of said guide device (59) in order to move the latter between said lowered position and said raised position.
Filling machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter (18) is fixed to said air return tube (17), and that said third actuation means (24) comprise a third hydraulic cylinder (66) comprising a third outer jacket (67) slidably mounted around said supply duct (14), and an inner cylinder (68) arranged inside said supply duct (14), fixed to said air return tube (17), and fixed to said third jacket (67) by means of at least one transverse connection pin, inserted in at least one corresponding longitudinal groove (70) obtained on said supply duct (14).
Filling machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each said valve assembly (12) comprises at least one stop assembly (28) positioned above the end portion (17') of said air return tube (17), and adapted to intercept the engagement body (20) of said guide device (19) in said first raised position in order to stop the raising thereof;
said filling machine (1) comprising adjusting means (29) mechanically connected to said stop assembly (28), and adapted to vertically move said stop assembly (28) in a controlled manner between different heights, corresponding to different predetermined amounts of the maximum level of liquid in said container (2).
Filling machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said adjusting means (29) comprise an adjusting ring (30) fixed to the stop assembly (28) of each valve assembly (12) of said filling machine (1), and at least one motor operatively connected to said adjusting ring (30), and that can be actuated to vertically move said stop assembly (29) to adjust the height thereof.
Filling machine (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said stop assembly (28) of each valve assembly (12) is provided with a through hole (31) traversed by a lower section (14") of said supply duct (14) being extended from a lower plate (49) of the support structure (13) of said valve assembly (12).
Filling machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said stop assembly (28) of each valve assembly (12) comprises an inner surface (35) defining said through hole (31), and provided in a sealing relationship with the lower section (14') of said supply duct (14) by means of sealing means (36) fixed on the inner surface (35) of said stop assembly (28).
Filling machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:
- at least one first fixed cam, positioned at an inlet station (6) of said filling machine (1), and provided with a first profile shaped with progression increasing in the rotational direction of said rotary turntable (9), and susceptible of receiving in engagement a cam follower (83) fixed to the guide device (19) of said valve assembly (12), for gradually guiding the ascent of said engagement body (20), with said container (2) associated, from said lowered position to said raised position;

- and at least one second fixed cam, positioned at an outlet station (7) of said filling machine (1), and provided with a second profile shaped with progression decreasing in the rotational direction of said rotary turntable (9), and susceptible of receiving in engagement said cam follower (83) fixed to the guide device (19) of said valve assembly (12), for gradually guiding the descent of said engagement body (20), with said container (2) associated, from said raised position to said lowered position.