EP2634133A1

EP2634133A1 - Filling device

Info

Publication number: EP2634133A1
Application number: EP13157324.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simone Campi
Original assignee: Sidel SpA
Current assignee: Sidel SpA
Priority date: 2012-02-28
Filing date: 2013-02-28
Publication date: 2013-09-04
Also published as: ITTO20120178A1

Abstract

There is disclosed a filling device (10, 10') for filling an article (2) with a pourable food product, comprising: a first duct connectable to a tank (7) and defining, on the opposite side of the tank (7), a pouring opening (13) of the pourable product; a shutter (14) displaceable in an open position in which it allows the pourable product to flow along the first duct (15) and towards the opening (13), and a closed position in which it prevents the pourable product from flowing along the first duct (15) and towards the opening (13); and an element (40) displaceable between a first position in which it fluid-tightly cooperates with a filling mouth (6a) of the article (4) during a filling step of the article (4) or with a closing element (44) of the opening (13) during a sanitising step of said filling device (10), and a second position in which it is spaced from the mouth (6a); the filling device (10, 10') comprises feeding means (45) for a pressurised fluid operable to create a pressure on a first surface (46) of the element (40) and displace it from at least one of the first and second position towards at least the other of the first and second position.

Description

The present invention relates to a filling device adapted to fill articles with a pourable product, for example a food product.
Filling devices adapted to fill articles with pourable products are for example known from DE-4243001 .
More precisely, these devices essentially comprise:

a duct having a first end mouth connected to a tank and a second end mouth opposite to the first end;
a shutter which is displaceable between an open position in which it allows the pourable product to reach the second mouth and a closed position in which it prevents the pourable product from reaching the second mouth; and
an element axially mobile with respect to the duct and provided, at an end thereof, with a gasket.

In particular, the shutter is arranged in an open position, during a filling step of the article and in a closed position, during the further operative steps of the filling device.
The mobile element is displaceable between a lowered position in which the gasket is in contact with a filling mouth of the article, and a lifted position, in which the gasket is axially spaced from the filling mouth of the article.
The mobile element is arranged in the lowered position at least during the step of filling the article with the pourable product.
In these conditions, a so-called contact filling is performed, i.e. the pourable product flows, with the shutter in the open position, from the tank to the inside of the article, without coming into contact with the external environment.
More precisely, during filling, the pourable product, passes through the second mouth of the duct and flows within the element until it reaches the filling mouth of the article.
On the other side, when the filling element is arranged in the lifted position, the article can be moved towards or away from the filling device.
In order to allow the outflow of the air contained within the article, the filling device comprises a return duct having an opening facing the filing mouth of the article.
The filling device shown in patent application DE-4243001 further comprises a cam cooperating with a cam follower roller borne by the mobile element.
The cam is in particular profiled so as to move the mobile element between the lifted and lowered positions.
There follows that the handling law of the mobile element between the lifted and lowered positions is determined by the shape of the cam.
The need is felt in the sector to provide a filling device which is particularly flexible as regards the handling law of the mobile element between the lifted and lowered position.
The filling devices of the known and above disclosed type, in virtue of the presence of the cam and of the cam follower roller, tend to create dirty areas above the filling mouth of the article.
The need is felt to maintain this area above the container as clean as possible, so as to maintain the product poured inside the article as sterile as possible.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling device, which allows to simply and cost-effectively meet at least one of the above said needs and allows at the same time to fill in a more controllable and uniform manner the articles with the pourable product.
The aforementioned object is achieved by the present invention as it relates to a filling device as defined in claim 1.
Two preferred embodiments are hereinafter disclosed for a better understanding of the present invention, by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the filling device made according to the present invention, in respective different operative steps, with parts removed for clarity;
figure 4 diagrammatically shows a filling machine in which the filling device of figures 1 to 3 is incorporated;
figures 5 to 12 show different operative steps of a working cycle of the filling device of figures 1 to 3; and
figure 13 diagrammatically shows a second embodiment of the device shown in figures 1 to 3.

With reference to figure 4, numeral 1 indicates a filling machine limitedly to a station for filling articles 2 with a pourable product, in particular a food product.
More precisely, filling machine 1 is adapted to perform a so-called "contact" filling of articles 2, i.e. to convey the pourable product along a path isolated from the external environment, in order to maintain the sterility of the pourable product and to allow the filling of carbonated pourable products performing compression and/or decompression steps of articles 2.
In greater detail, the filling station of filing machine 1 essentially comprises (figure 4):

a carousel 3 rotating about an axis A, which is vertical in the case shown, along a circular path P;
a plurality of filling devices 10 adapted to fill respective articles 2 with the pourable food product and supported by a peripheral edge external to axis A of carousel 3;

an inlet conveyor 4, in particular a star wheel, feeding carousel 3 with articles 2 to be filled, at a station I of path P; and
an outlet conveyor 5, in particular a star wheel, fed by carousel 3 with articles 2 filled with the pourable product, at a station O of path P.

Carousel 3 also includes:

a annular tank 7 (Figures 5 to 12) common to all filling devices 10; and
a plurality of support devices 8 (Figures 1 to 3) adapted to receive respective articles 2 in a position below respective filling devices 10 at station I of path P, and away from which conveyor 5 moves respective articles 2 at station O of path P.

In particular, each article 2 comprises (Figures 2 and from 5 to 12):

a mouth 6a adapted to allow the filling of article 2 by means of filling machine 1 and the following pouring of the food product from article 2;
a bottom wall (not shown) opposite to mouth 6a; and
a neck portion 6b supported by a relative arm 9 of a corresponding support device 8.

The following description refers for simplicity to a single filling device 10 and to relative article 2. Filling devices 10 are all identical.
Each filling device 10 is adapted to perform a working cycle on relative article 2 fed from station I to station O, comprising the steps of:

pressurising article 2 with a pressurised gas, for example carbon dioxide or nitrogen, so as to bring the pressure within article 2 to a given value, for example corresponding to the pressure in tank 7, before the filling of article 2 (Figure 7);
filling article 2 with the pourable product at a low and/or high speed (Figure 8 and 9);
decompressing article 2 so as to create vacuum within the neck portion 6 of article 2 (Figure 10).

It should be noted that the above said steps are all present in the case of filling with a carbonated pourable product.
Each filling device 10 could perform a working cycle without some steps. For example, in the case of non-carbonated pourable products, there are no pressurisation and depressuration steps.
Filling device 10 essentially comprises:

a frame 11;
a fluidic line 12 (Figures 5 to 12) fluidically connected, at an end thereof, with tank 7, and defining, on the side opposite to tank 7, a pouring opening 13 (Figures 1 and 2); and
a shutter 14 (Figures 1 to 3) sliding with respect to frame 11 along an axis B parallel to axis A between an open position and a closed position.

In particular, fluidic line 12 ends, on the part opposite to tank 7, with a duct 15 (Figures 1 to 3) defining opening 13 and extending along axis B.
More in particular, shutter 14 prevents the pourable product from flowing from tank 7 to opening 13, when it is arranged in the closed position.
In a different manner, shutter 14 allows the pourable product to flow from tank 7 to opening 13, when it is arranged in the closed position.
In the case shown, shutter 14 is elastically loaded towards the open position by a helical spring 70 having axis B and is displaceable towards the closed position and against spring 70 (Figures 5 to 12), by feeding a pressurised fluid within a chamber 71.
Frame 11 further defines:

a duct 19 having an end portion coaxial and internal to duct 15 and adapted to allow the pressurisation of article 2 with a gas, for example carbon dioxide or nitrogen, before the filling of article 2, and the return of air and of gas contained in article 2, during the filling of article 2;
a duct 20 having an end portion coaxial and external to duct 15 and adapted to allow the decompression of article 2, by the outflow of the gas contained inside the neck portion 6b of article 2.

More in particular, frame 11 comprises:

a tubular wall 21 having axis B and defining duct 19;
a tubular wall 22 having axis B, surrounding wall 21; and
a tubular wall 23 having axis B, surrounding wall 22.

In particular, walls 21, 22, 23 have respective free annular ends 39, 53, 38.
Ends 39, 35 define opening 13 while ends 38 define an inlet opening for duct 20 surrounding opening 13.
Duct 15 is in particular defined between walls 21, 22 and duct 20 is defined between walls 22, 23.
Frame 11 further comprises:

a tubular wall 24 having axis B, externally defining filling device 10 and connected to another annular end of wall 23, opposite to end 38; and
a plate 30 lying on a plane orthogonal to axis B; connected, on the opposite side to the other end of wall 23, to an axial end surface 31 of wall 24 and defining a hole 26 having axis B.

In particular, plate 30 is axially defined, on the side of surface 31, by a surface 32 connected to surface 31 and, on the opposite side of the surface, by a surface 33.
Plate 30 also comprises a surface 34 defining hole 26, extending between surfaces 31 and 32 and having decreasing diameters, proceeding from surface 31 to surface 32.
More precisely, surface 34 has a series (two in the case shown) of shoulders, proceeding from surface 32 to surface 33.
Filling device 10 also comprises (Figures 5 to 12):

a chamber 25 fluidically connected with duct 19;
a pair of valves 16, 17 adapted to prevent or allow the fluidic connection of chamber 25 with duct 19, so as to fill article 2 at a high/low speed or allow the pressurisation with gas of article 2 in case carbonated pourable products are filled;
a chamber 36 fluidically connected with duct 20; and
a valve 37 adapted to prevent or allow the fluidic connection of chamber 36 with duct 20, so as to perform a depressurisation step of article 2.

Filling device 10 finally comprises an element 40 displaceable between a lowered position (shown in figure 2) in which it sealingly cooperates with mouth 6a of article 2 during a step of filling article 2, and a lifted position (shown in figure 1) in which it is axially spaced from mouth 6a.
Element 40 can also be arranged in the lowered position, during a step of periodic sanitisation of filling device 10 (Figure 3).
More precisely, in this step of sanitising, a closing element 44 extending orthogonally to axis B is arranged in contact with element 40, tank 7 is filled with a sanitising product and shutter 14 is arranged in the open position.
In particular, closing element 44 is displaceable orthogonally to axis B between a retracted position (Figures 1 and 2) wherein it is offset with respect to opening 13 and an advanced position (Figure 3) in which it closes opening 13.
Thereby, the sanitising product can circulate in filling device 10.
Advantageously, filling device 10 comprises feeding means 45 for a pressurised fluid operable to create a pressure on a surface 46 of element 40 and displace it from the lifted position to the lowered position.
More in particular, feeding means 45 (only diagrammatically shown in Figures 1 to 12) are operable to create a first relative pressure value on surface 46, when element 40 must be displaced in the lowered position.
Feeding means 45 are also operable to create a relative pressure substantially equal to zero on surface 46, when element 40 must be displaced in the lifted position.
Element 40 is also elastically loaded towards the lifted position by a helical spring 55.
In particular, spring 55 extends along axis B.
In particular, element 40 is configured as a bell having axis B surrounding duct 20.
Element 40 substantially comprises (Figures 1, 2 and 3) :

an end flange 41 housed in an annular compartment defined between walls 23, 24 and sliding on wall 23 parallelly to axis B;
an end flange 42, opposite to flange 41 and to which a gasket 43 is fixed, on the opposite part of flange 41; and
a segment 52 extending between flanges 41, 42.

In particular, element 40 has decreasing radial size, proceeding from flange 41 to flange 42.
Flange 41 is axially defined by surface 46 and by a surface 47 opposite to surface 46.
In the case shown, surfaces 46, 47 are annular and lie on planes orthogonal to axis B.
Surface 47 also defines flange 41 on the side of opening 13 while surface 46 defines flange 41 on the side opposite to opening 13.
Surface 46 and the portions of walls 23, 24 opposite to surface 31 define together a fluid-tight chamber 50.
More in particular, element 40 also comprises an annular gasket 80 fixed to surface 46, on the opposite side of surface 47.
Gasket 80 slides on wall 24 and ensures that chamber 50 is fluid-tight.
Gasket 80 has in the case shown a V section.
Chamber 50 has a variable volume depending on the position of element 40 along axis B. More in particular, chamber 50 has a maximum volume when element 40 is in the lowered position and minimum volume when element 40 is in the lifted position.
Feeding means 45 are adapted to create the first pressure value within chamber 50 when element 40 must be arranged in the lowered position.
Chamber 50 is, on the other side, discharged when element 40 must be arranged in the lifted position.
More in particular, filling device 10 comprises an electrovalve 85 housed in a housing 86 and a fluidic line 87 fluidically connected to chamber 50.
Electrovalve 85 is configured to fluidically connect fluidic line 87 to a source 88 of fluid at the first pressure value to displace element 40 in the lowered position or to a discharge outlet 89 to allow the displacement of element 40 in the lifted position.
Housing 86 houses further electrovalves (not shown) configured to control the displacement of shutter 14 between the open and closed positions and to control valves 16, 17 and 37.
Gasket 43 contacts mouth 6a of article 2, when element 40 is in the lowered position and is spaced from mouth 6a, when element 40 is in the lifted position.
Spring 55 is interposed between plate 30 and surface 47 of flange 41 is fluid-tightly housed within a chamber 51 defined by frame 11.
More in particular, chamber 51 is defined radially between wall 24 and element 40 and is axially defined between surface 47 and one of shoulders of surface 34.
Chamber 51 has a variable volume depending on the position of element 40 along axis B. More in particular, chamber 51 has a maximum volume when element 40 is in the lowered position and a minimum volume when element 40 is in the lowered position.
Element 40 also comprises an annular ring nut 60 having axis B, fixed on flange 42 in a position radially external with respect to axis B sliding on surface 33 of plate 30.
Ring nut 60 is provided to maintain in position gasket 43 on flange 42.
Filling device 10 finally comprises a flow rate measurer 49 (shown in figures 5 to 12) adapted to measure the amount of product that flows along fluidic line 12, when shutter 14 is in the open position.
A non-limitative operation example of filling device 10 is shown from the time in which carousel 3 receives article 2 to be filled from conveyor 4 at station I of path P.
In this condition (Figure 1), electrovalve 86 connects fluidic line 87 to discharge outlet 89. Thereby, the relative pressure in chamber 50 is substantially zero and spring 55 maintains element 40 in the lifted position.
Moreover, shutter 14 is in the closed position, valves 16, 17 prevent the fluidic connection of chamber 25 with duct 15 and valve 37 prevents the fluidic connection of chamber 36 with duct 20.
Once article 2 is arranged by relative support device 8 in a position below opening 13 and with its axis coinciding with the axis of article 2, electrovalve 85 connects fluidic line 87 to source 88 so as to feed the pressurised fluid within chamber 50. Thereby, element 40 is borne in the lowered position, spring 55 is compressed and gasket 43 is in abutment against mouth 6a of article 2.
At this point, article 2 is perfectly centred on filling device 10.
Hereinafter, filling device 10 performs a pressurisation operation of article 2 having the purpose of bringing the pressure within article 2 to the same pressure value present within chamber 25 (Figure 7).
More in particular, valves 16, 17 are controlled so as to allow the flow of gas from chamber 25 to duct 19 and from the latter to article 2.
Subsequently, only valve 16 is controlled so as to prevent the flow of gas from chamber 25 to duct 19, and a slow filling step of article 2 with the pourable product is performed.
More precisely, shutter 14 is arranged in the open position, so that the pourable product can flow from tank 7 to opening 13 along fluidic line 12 (Figure 8).
The pourable product flows out from opening 13, passes through element 40 and fills article 2, determining the outflow of air and of the gas contained within article 2.
The air and the gas present in article 2 pass through duct 19 and, by means of valve 17 which is still open, reach chamber 25.
Then, also valve 16 is controlled so as to allow the return of mixture of air and gas from duct 19 to chamber 25.
Thereby, a fast filling step of article 2 with pourable product is performed (Figure 9).
When the flow rate measurer 49 has detected that a correct value of pourable product has passed through duct 15 and has then been introduced in article 2, shutter 14 is brought to the closed position.
The filling of article 2 is thus interrupted.
After a possible stabilisation step, filling device 10 performs a decompression step of article 2.
More precisely, with shutter 14 arranged in the closed position, valve 37 is controlled so as to fluidically connect duct 20 and chamber 36 (Figure 10).
Thereby, the gas contained within the neck portion 6b reaches chamber 36 and the pressure value within neck portion 6b equals the atmospheric pressure.
At this point, filling device 10 and article 2 have reached station O of path P.
Electrovalve 85 connects fluidic line 87 to discharge outlet 88 so as to reduce the pressure within chamber 50, so that element 40 is brought by spring 55 in the lifted position and axially spaced by mouth 6a of article 2.
At station O, article 2 is then transferred from carousel 3 to conveyor 5.
With reference to figures 3 to 12, filling device 10 is periodically subjected to a sanitisation step.
More in particular, tank 7 is filled with a sterilising product, element 40 is arranged in the lowered position and closed element 44 is arranged in abutment against ring nut 60.
At this point, shutter 14 is arranged in the lifted position and valves 16, 17, 37 are controlled so as to allow the fluidic connection between chamber 25 and duct 19 and between chamber 36 and duct 20.
Thereby, sterilising product can circulate within filling device 10 and can sterilise it.
With reference to figure 4, 10' indicates a filling device according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
The filling device 10' is similar to filling device 10 and will be described hereinafter only as far as it differs therefrom; corresponding or equivalent parts of filling devices 10 and 10' will be indicated where possible by the same reference numbers.
In greater detail, filling device 10' differs from filling device 10 by not comprising spring 55.
The displacement of element 40 from the lowered position to the lifted position is obtained by feeding a pressurised fluid within chamber 51, by means of electrovalve 95' arranged in housing 86.
On the other side, when element 40 must be displaced from the lifted position to the lowered position, electrovalve 95' reduces the pressure within chamber 51 to a value substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure.
More precisely, filling device 10' comprises a fluidic line 97' fluidically connected with chamber 51 as shown in Figure 3.
Electrovalve 95' is configured to fluidically connect fluidic line 97' alternatively to a source 98' of fluid at the first pressure value to displace element 40 in the lowered position or to an discharge outlet 99' to displace element 40 in the lowered position.
The operation of filling device 10' differs from filling device 10 in that electrovalve 95' is configured to create the first or further relative pressure value within chamber 51, when element 40 must be displaced in the lifted position, and to create a relative pressure value substantially equal to zero within chamber 51, when element 40 must be displaced in the lowered position.
From an analysis of the features of device 10, 10' and made according to the present invention, the advantages it allows to obtain are apparent.
In particular, filling device 10, 10' does not require to displace article 2 in a direction parallel to axis B, and at the same time, displays the maximum flexibility as regards the displacement of element 40 between the lifted and lowered positions, as regards both the rapidity of displacement and the displacement time instant.
As a matter of fact, the displacement of element 40 substantially occurs pneumatically and is not based on any mechanical coupling with a fixed cam, like in the known solutions disclosed in the introduction of the present description.
Therefore, the rapidity of displacement from the lifted position to the lowered position of element 40 substantially depends on the rapidity of operation of feeding means 45 and on the calibration of spring 55.
Similarly, the displacement instant between the lowered and lifted positions depends exclusively on the operation instant of feeding means 45 and on the mechanical features of spring 55.
Filling device 10' results even more flexible, as the displacement law of element 40 exclusively depends on the operation of feeding means 45.
Furthermore, filling device 10, 10' does not comprise rolling or sliding parts in the area immediately above mouth 6a of article 2.
Finally, filling device 10, 10' is particularly suitable for use in a solution in which a carter surrounds element 40 and mouth 6a of article 2 and in which the carter is maintained slightly pressurised in order to prevent external products from contaminating the filling area defined by flange 42 and mouth 6a.
As a matter of fact, differently from the known solution disclosed in the introductory part of the present description, this filling area has no cam follower rollers. Accordingly, the above said carter can be advantageously made especially small in volume.
It should be underlined that all the above said advantages are obtained by performing a so-called "edge filling" of articles 2, i.e. a filling obtained by pouring the pourable product within respective annular regions of neck portion 6b spaced from respective axes B.
This filling mode is obtained in virtue of the fact that the end portion of duct 19 is housed within the duct portion 15 defining opening 13, and results especially precise and controllable.
Finally, it is apparent that modifications and variants not departing from the scope of protection of the claims may be made to device 10, 10' disclosed herein.
In particular, the displacement of element 40 of filling device 10 from the lowered position to the lifted position could be obtained by feeding a pressurised fluid within chamber 51 and spring 55 could be arranged within chamber 50 to preload element 40 towards the lowered position.
Finally, filling device 10, 10' could perform a working cycle not comprising some of the above said steps.
In particular, in case non-carbonated products must be filled, the pressurisation and depressurisation steps could be not present in the working cycle of filling device 10, 10'.
Furthermore, only one of the slow or fast filling steps of article 2 could be present.

Claims

A filling device (10, 10') for filling an article (2) with a pourable food product, comprising:
- a first duct (15) fluidically connectable to a tank (7) and defining, on the opposite side of said tank (7), a pouring opening (13) of said pourable product;

- a shutter (14) displaceable in an open position in which it allows said pourable product to flow along said first duct (15) and towards said opening (13), and a closed position in which it prevents said pourable product from flowing along said first duct (15) and towards said opening (13);

- a second duct (19) at least partially housed within a portion of said first duct (15) defining said opening (13), and adapted to allow at least the return of a gas contained within said article (2) during a filling step of article (2); and

- an element (40) displaceable between a first position in which it fluid-tightly cooperates with a filling mouth (6a) of said article (4) during a filling step of the article (4) or with a closing element (44) of said opening (13) during a sanitising step of said filling device (10), and a second position in which it is spaced from said filling mouth (6a) or from said closing element (44);
characterised by comprising feeding means (45) of a pressurised fluid operable to create a pressure on a first surface (46) of said element (40) and displace it from at least one of said first and second position towards at least the other of said first and second position.
The device according to claim 1, characterised in that said feeding means (45) are operable to displace said element (40) from said second to said first position.
The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by comprising a frame (11) defining said first duct (15) and along which said element (40) slides along said axis (B);
said frame (11) and said first surface (46) defining a first chamber (50);
said feeding means (45) being configured to feed a pressurised fluid within said first chamber (50) or to discharge said first chamber (50).
The device according to claim 3, characterised in that said feeding means (45) comprise an electrovalve (85) operable to connect a fluidic line (87) fluidically connected to said first chamber (50) alternatively:
- to a pressure source (88); or

- to an discharge outlet (89).
The device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that said frame (11) comprises:
- a first wall (24) defining said filling device (10, 10') in a radially external position with respect to an axis (B) for displacing said element (40) between said first and second position; and

- a second wall (23) connected to said first wall (24) and on which said element (40) slides along said axis (B);
said first and second wall (24, 23) defining radially to said axis (B) said first chamber (50);
at least one (23) of said first and second wall (24, 23) and said first surface (46) axially defining said first chamber (50).
The device according to claim 5, characterised in that said frame (11) also comprises a third wall (22) arranged on the side radially opposite to said second wall (23) with respect to said first wall (24);
said third wall (22) defining with said second wall (23) a third duct (20) through which a fluid passes flowing out from said article (2), during a depressurisation step of the article (2).
The device according to claim 6, characterised in that said frame (11) and said element (40) define a second chamber (51).
The device according to claim 7, characterised in that said second chamber (51) is axially defined by said second surface (47) and by said fourth wall (30), and is defined radially by said element (40) and by said first wall (24).
The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by comprising elastic means (55) adapted to load said element (40) towards said second position.
The device according to claim 9, characterised in that said elastic means (55) are interposed between a fourth wall (30) defined by said frame (11) and a second surface (47) of said element (40).
The device according to claim 10, characterised in that said elastic means (55) are housed within said second chamber (51).
The device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said feeding means (45) are operable to feed a pressurised fluid within said second chamber (51) or to discharge said second chamber (51).
The device according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that said element (40) comprises:
- a first axial end flange (41) defining said first and second surface (46, 47); and

- a second flange (42), axially opposite to said first flange (41) bearing a gasket (43);
said element (40) having a size decreasing in a radial direction to said axis (B), proceeding from said first flange (41) towards said second flange (42).
The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by comprising flow rate measuring means (49) of said pourable product passing through said first duct (15), when said shutter (14) is arranged in said closed position.