EP2708491A1 - Device and method for filling a container with a filling product - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a filling valve (2) that is provided for introducing filling product (110) into a receiving container (100). A shut-off valve is provided for shutting off the flow of filling product into filling valve. A volume actuator is provided for increasing and/or reducing the volume between the filling valve and shut-off valve. An independent claim is included for method for filling container with filling product.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a beverage in a beverage filling plant.

State of the art

It is known to use so-called free-jet fillers in devices for filling filling products, for example for bottling beverages in a beverage bottling plant, by means of which the respective filling product can be introduced from a filling product outlet to be arranged above the respective container to be filled into the interior of the container. In the case of such a free-jet filler, this is achieved in that, after the filling product outlet of the filling valve, the respective filling product flows into the container to be filled, uninfluenced by other guiding devices, following the gravitation. In other words, the free jet, which results after the Füllproduktausgang also due to the surface tension of the filling product, not further influenced, but falls unaffected in the interior of the container to be filled.

In such a free-jet filler is often used as a filling valve in a valve seat sealingly arranged valve cone, which is arranged centrally to Füllproduktausgang. Accordingly, the valve cone when opening or lifting is symmetrically flowed around from all sides by the filling product, so that any, arising from the conical shape of the valve seat laterally directed impulses of the filling cancel each other, and thus a just below the Füllproduktausganges centrally expiring, uniform Füllproduktstrahl formed. Thus, from the start of filling to the end of filling in homogeneous filling products, a uniformly flowing filling jet is achieved.

When bottling fruit pieces or fruit fibers containing beverages, it happens, however, that these fruit pieces or fruit fibers accumulate in Füllpausen above the valve cone and around it. Accordingly, when the valve cone is opened, a situation may occur in which individual pieces of fruit or fruit fibers become jammed in the flow channel, produce an increased flow resistance, or an asymmetric plug formation occurs. During the opening process of the filling valve, such a partial blockage or plug formation causes the individual impulses applied by the conical cross section of the filling valve to be no longer counteracted against the then separated liquid streams. Accordingly occurs at the beginning of the opening of the filling valve, a lateral deviation of the filling jet, which can cause a portion of the filling product is not contactless passes through the mouth in the vessel to be filled, but is sprayed into other areas of the plant, or on the outside of filling container arises. Such splashes on the outside of the bottle are disadvantageous because they can lead, for example to a germ or mold on the bottle or on the bottle thread.

The problem of such splattering can also occur towards the end of the filling process, namely when fruit pieces between the poppet and the valve seat jam when lowering the poppet in the valve seat, which then again provide an asymmetric jet cross-section, which then applied according to the side Impulse is deflected to the side.

The state of the art has already dealt with this problem. For example, from the DE 10 2008 064 318 A1 a device for filling beverages containing particles is known, in which in addition to the actual filling valve in series with this second valve device is provided, wherein the flowing past the second valve means amount of liquid and reaching the filling valve amount of liquid are substantially identical. The second valve device can be used to completely interrupt the flow of liquid to the filling valve, for example when opening and closing the filling valve.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from this known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product, in which the occurrence of splashes is even more effectively prevented.

This object is achieved by a device for filling a container with a filling product with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, is proposed, comprising a filling valve for introducing a Füllproduktstromes into a container to be filled, and upstream of the filling valve in the Füllproduktstrom arranged shut-off valve for shutting off the filling product flow to the filling valve. According to the invention, a volume actuator is provided for increasing and / or reducing the volume provided between the filling valve and the shut-off valve.

By means of the volume actuator for increasing and / or reducing the volume between the filling valve and the shut-off valve, it is possible to reduce the filling product pressure between the shut-off valve and the filling valve before opening the filling valve in order to prevent premature leakage of the filling product. The filling product flow is only started when the filling valve is fully opened. Accordingly, splashing of the filling product during the opening process of the filling valve is reduced or prevented. This is especially the case when the filling product contains particles, such as fruit pieces, so that in this way a spraying when opening the filling valve can be avoided.

Similarly, by the Volumenaktuator also a spraying when closing the filling valve can be prevented, in particular by the fact that the filling product is virtually sucked back by the Volumenaktuator before closing the filling valve, so that even here a spraying can be avoided and a reliable closing of the filling valve without splashing can be achieved.

Furthermore, by providing the Volumenaktuators a dripping of the filling product can be avoided even if no container to be filled under the

Füllproduktausgang is arranged, since a negative pressure in the upstream of the filling valve volume can be introduced. In this way, the dripping can be reduced or avoided in particular in the plant areas, in which dripping waste product is not absorbed by a container to be filled. This is helpful in particular in a region between a container inlet and a container outlet, for example a filler carousel, since here after the transfer of the filled container usually a dripping may take place, but the respective times of the dripping are not foreseeable. By generating a negative pressure in the supply line to the filling valve or by the withdrawal of the filling valve pending on the filling product can accordingly be prevented dripping. In particular, this is important when filling products with particles, such as pieces of fruit, are filled, since already here during the closing of the filling valve for a clean sealing of the valve cone can be ensured in the valve seat.

Furthermore, by the volume actuator also a short-term applied to the Füllproduktvolumen overpressure, which may occur by raising the valve cone in conjunction with the surface tension of the filling product, be compensated. Also due to this balance, the tendency to spatter can be reduced.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the volume actuator is provided, for example, in the form of a cylinder or an actuatable membrane which, for example, can be deflected translationally or laterally with respect to the product flow of the product. Thus, the provision of a corresponding volume reduction or a corresponding volume expansion can be achieved in a simple manner, for example by the actuation of the corresponding cylinder or the corresponding membrane, so that the device can be actuated in a reliable manner. This is particularly important in connection with the required switching times of importance, since to actuate the overall device according to a rapidly operable volume actuator is advantageous. In a further variant, it is also possible to provide a membrane which can be compressed in the direction of the fluid flow, by means of which the volume can be reduced or increased.

It is preferable to arrange the volume actuator between the filling valve and the shut-off valve to achieve a reliable variation of the volume.

Particularly preferred is a control device for controlling the shut-off valve and the volume actuator is provided, which allows a corresponding actuation of the Volumenaktuators before the filling valve is opened or before the filling valve is closed. Particularly preferably, the control device is designed such that it initially closes the shut-off valve in order to provide a closed volume between the shut-off valve and the filling valve. Following this, the volume in this area is increased with the volume actuator, such that a pressure reduction also takes place in this way at the same time. Then the filling valve is fully opened, and only then opened the shut-off valve. In this way it is achieved that a filling product flow can only flow through the filling valve when I am in the filling valve in a fully open position. In the fully open position, however, the filling valve is formed so that the gap between the valve plug and the valve seat is sufficient for all supplied and easily passed through with the moving particles with the product. In this way it is achieved that the filling product jet, which flows out of the filling valve below the filling valve and in particular below the filling product output of the filling valve, has the desired jet shape, since the valve cone of the filling valve is uniformly flowed around its entire periphery around by the filling product. Correspondingly, the impulses introduced via the conical valve seat lift up again, so that a uniform and injection-free filling process is achieved.

The control device is furthermore preferably designed such that it first actuates the shut-off valve at the end of the filling process in order to interrupt the liquid flow. Then, the volume actuator is operated to increase the volume between the shut-off valve and the filling valve, resulting in that the filling product is easily withdrawn and, in particular, a vacuum is created. Only then is the filling valve completely closed. In this way it is achieved that the filling product flow is not terminated by the actual filling valve, whereby pinching of individual particles, for example individual pieces of fruit between the valve cone and the valve seat, could occur. Rather, by the controller, the filling product so long from the filling valve leak until the internal pressure conditions prevent further lagging of the filling product. Then, by the withdrawal of the filling product due to the volume expansion by means of the Volumenaktuators a trouble-free closing of the filling valve possible.

Furthermore, even after the actual closing operation of the filling valve, a volume expansion can be achieved by a corresponding actuation of the volume actuator, such that there is a negative pressure between the shut-off valve and the filling valve and, correspondingly, dripping can be prevented even more effectively.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a metering device for metering in particles, preferably for metering fruit pulp or pieces of fruit, is provided in front of the filling valve, preferably between the filling valve and the volume actuator, particularly preferably directly in front of the filling valve. In this way, in the filling intervals of the corresponding particle-carrying portion of the filling product can be applied directly to the filling valve and then, after complete opening of the filling valve and previous volume expansion or vacuum generation by the Volumenaktuator, completely flushed by means of the released through the shut-off filling product. In this way, a filling can be achieved, also in conjunction with a volume meter, which fills exactly a certain filling volume in the container to be filled. In particular, an exact volume measurement can be carried out in this way if the metering device is arranged downstream of the volume meter. The volume meter is correspondingly not irritated by passing particles, but can measure a homogeneous filling product. The corresponding device is particularly suitable for filling of fruit juices with fruit fibers or pieces of fruit or for filling slightly pasty foods, such as yogurt with fruit pieces. In this way, a very accurate filling with correspondingly large pieces of fruit can be achieved, for example, fruit pieces can also be filled in this way of a size of about 10x10x10 mm as a juice additive.

The control device is furthermore designed such that it brings the volume actuator back into a starting position during the actual filling process in order to be able to provide the required volume variation again during the subsequent closing and / or opening of the filling valve.

The above object is further achieved by a method having the features of claim 10. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a container with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, is proposed, comprising the introduction of a filling product stream into the container to be filled via a Filling valve. According to the invention, a negative pressure or an overpressure is applied to the filling product upstream of the filling valve before the filling valve is opened or closed.

Characterized in that, for example, before opening the filling valve, a negative pressure is applied accordingly, the inclination of the filling valve for spraying during the opening process of the filling valve can be reduced or completely prevented. As described above can be achieved in this way that a uniform filling of the filling product is achieved without a spraying occurs because the Füllproduktstrom only flows through the filling valve when the filling valve is fully open. In particular, during the filling of loaded with particles filling products in this way an asymmetric jet formation can be avoided and accordingly a splash and a dripping during the subsequent closing process can be avoided.

Furthermore, especially when providing a conventional valve with a poppet and a corresponding cone-shaped valve seat is usually generated when opening this valve, a slight overpressure within the above product volume. This slight overpressure is also intercepted or overcompensated via the volume actuator, such that the filling product present above the valve cone is withdrawn and, accordingly, spraying is avoided.

In order to reduce or prevent spraying during opening, a shut-off valve arranged upstream of the filling valve is preferably closed before opening the filling valve, and then increases the volume present between the filling valve and the shut-off valve by means of a volume actuator for generating the negative pressure on the filling product.

A syringe during closing can be reduced or prevented if, preferably before closing the filling valve, a shut-off valve arranged upstream of the filling valve is closed and then the volume between the filling valve and the shut-off valve is increased by means of a volume actuator, preferably for retraction of the filling product.

In order to be able to maintain a continuous filling operation, a volume actuator is preferably transferred back to its starting position during the actual filling process.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts eines Freistrahlfüllers mit einem Füllproduktausgang zum Befüllen eines zu befüllenden Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt unter Ausbildung eines symmetrischen Füllproduktstrahls;

Figur 2

den Ausschnitt des Freistrahlfüllers aus Figur 1 in einem Zustand, in welchem aufgrund einer teilweisen Blockade des Füllventils ein asymmetrischer Füllproduktstrahl ausgebildet wird;

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Figur 4

eine Ablauftabelle für die Schaltung der Ventile und des Volumenaktuators in der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiels eines Volumenaktuators;

Figur 6

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt in einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel, in welchem exemplarisch unterschiedliche Volumenaktuatoren vorgesehen sind; und

Figur 7

eine schematische Darstellung eines Füllerkarussells mit einem Einlaufbereich und einem Auslaufbereich für die zu befüllenden Behälter.

Preferred further embodiments and aspects of the present invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a section of a free-jet filler with a Füllproduktausgang for filling a container to be filled with a filling product to form a symmetrical Füllproduktstrahls;

FIG. 2

the cutout of the free-jet filler FIG. 1 in a state in which due to a partial blockage of the filling valve, an asymmetric Füllproduktstrahl is formed;

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 4

a flow chart for the circuit of the valves and the Volumenaktuators in the apparatus according to FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5

a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a volume actuator;

FIG. 6

a schematic representation of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product in a further embodiment, in which different volume actuators are provided by way of example; and

FIG. 7

a schematic representation of a filler carousel with an inlet region and an outlet region for the container to be filled.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. The same, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures with denoted by identical reference numerals and a repeated description of these elements will be omitted in the following description in part in order to avoid redundancies.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a section of a device 1 for filling a container 100 with a filling product 110. The device 1 is formed in the example shown as a free-jet filler and comprises a filling valve 2 with a valve cone 20, which can be lowered sealingly into a valve seat 22 complementary thereto. To open the filling valve 2, the valve cone 20 is lifted in the direction indicated by the arrow opening direction 24 upwards out of the valve seat 22. After the valve cone 20 has been lifted out of the valve seat 22, the filling product 110 can flow around the valve cone 20 in such a way that the filling product 110 can flow out of a product outlet 200 into the container 100 arranged below it.

In the FIG. 1 arrows indicated in the filling product 110 describe the behavior of the filling product, for example a homogeneous liquid such as water, which passes through the filling valve 2. When the valve cone 20 of the filling valve 2 is lifted upwards, and thus lifted out of the valve seat 22, the filling product 110 can flow around the valve cone 20 homogeneously and correspondingly between the valve cone 20 and the valve seat 22, which is designed to be complementary to the valve cone 20, flow around homogeneously. Characterized in that the filling product 110 flows around the valve plug 20 completely, the laterally directed pulses, which experience the filling product 110 due to the conical shape of the valve seat 22, mutually canceled, such that the filling product 110 as a uniform Füllproduktstrom below the Füllproduktausgang 200 in the zu filling container 100, in particular through the container mouth 102 therethrough, is filled. When opening and closing the filling valve 2 by raising or lowering the valve plug 20 from or into the valve seat 22 is due to the symmetrical shape of the valve plug 20 and the valve seat 22 no deviation from the in FIG. 1 shown jet image on.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the in FIG. 1 shown section of the device 1 with the filling valve 2 in a further state in which between the valve cone 20 and the valve seat 22, a particle 112, such as a piece of fruit, is clamped. Due to the trapped particle 112, there is a blockage of the outlet of the filling product 110 in this region of the filling valve 2. Accordingly, there is an asymmetric jet formation of the filling product jet below the filling valve 2, so that by the conical shape of the

Valve seat 22 applied side-directed pulses on the filling product 110 no longer compensate each other. Accordingly, for example, a deviation of the filling product jet takes place such that a part of the filling product 110 meets an opening region 102 of the container 100 to be filled and accordingly contaminates with filling product. This can be particularly problematic if the filling product is suitable for causing mold growth or nucleation on the outside of the container 100 to be filled or of the mouth region. Accordingly, the in FIG. 2 shown situation, which is caused for example by the pinching of particles 112, can be avoided.

In addition to actual pinching, spraying may also result from differential flow resistance of the homogeneous filler and particles. Here, for reasons of clarity, there is always talk of pinching - but a higher flow resistance generated by a particle is also understood to mean this.

The particles 112 jam thereby between the valve cone 20 and the valve seat 22, in particular at the beginning of the opening operation of the filling valve 2, since then the full extent of the annular gap between the valve cone 20 and valve seat 22 has not yet been reached. Furthermore, the deposits of the particles 112 in the area of the valve cone 20 at the beginning of the opening process have not yet been flushed away by the filling product flow, as a result of which jamming or blocking is also likely.

The poppet 20 must be lifted out of the valve seat 22 to fully open the filling valve 2. In this initial phase, however, the annular gap formed between the valve cone 20 and the valve seat 22 is not yet extended far enough to allow all the particles 112, for example all pieces of fruit, a smooth passage. Accordingly, the described spraying of the filling product 110 may occur in this opening phase.

FIG. 3 shows a device 1 for filling a container, not shown, with a filling product, preferably for filling containers with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, which in turn has a filling valve 2 and by means of which the spraying can be reduced or avoided altogether.

The filling valve 2 is part of a free-jet filler and comprises a valve cone 20, which is arranged in a corresponding, complementary valve seat 22. An actuation of the valve plug 20 is performed via an actuator 26, which may be, for example, a mechanical, electrical, (electro) magnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, which ensures raising or lowering of the valve plug 20 in the valve seat 22.

In the area of the valve cone 20, the filling product outlet 200 is furthermore provided, through which the filling product flows out into the container to be filled. The Füllproduktausgang 200 is usually rotationally symmetrical to the valve cone 20 and the valve seat 22 is formed so that upon lifting of the valve plug 20, a completely symmetrical annular gap at Füllproduktausgang 200 is formed, through which the filling product can leak.

The filling product 110 is arranged in a filling product reservoir 3, from which it is supplied to the filling valve 2 via a corresponding filling product line 30. Between the filling valve 2 and the filling product reservoir 3, a shut-off valve 4 is provided, by means of which the filling product line 30 can be completely shut off. Accordingly, the volume existing between the filling valve 2 and the shut-off valve 4 can be tightly sealed when both the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 are closed.

Between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2, a volume actuator 5 is provided, which can influence the volume provided between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 in the supply line 30 and the filling valve 2. By a corresponding actuation of the volume actuator 5, the volume provided between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 is increased or reduced, depending on the actuation of the volume actuator 5.

By means of the volume actuator 5, which is shown in the embodiment shown as laterally deflectable to the filling product flow membrane, the volume between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 can be varied accordingly.

In FIG. 5 For example, an exemplary volume actuator 5 is shown having a diaphragm 50 which is reciprocable by a corresponding drive 52 between a first position 50a and a second position 50b. As a result, between the shut-off valve 4 and the Filling valve 2 arranged volume via actuation of the drive 52 to the switching volume V shown in dashed lines varies.

Depending on the initial position of the membrane 50 when closing the in FIG. 3 shown shut-off valve 4 and filling valve 2, the volume can be increased when the membrane 50 is moved from the position 50b in the position 50a. In this case, the switching volume V is added to the total volume between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 and generates a negative pressure in this way.

In another starting position, in which the diaphragm 50 in closing the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 in the position 50a, the total volume between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 by an actuation of the drive 52 by the switching volume V can be reduced, if the membrane 50 is transferred from position 50a to position 50b. Accordingly, an overpressure is generated.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart for opening and closing the respective valves or actuators to avoid a splash at the beginning of the filling process for filling containers with particle-containing filling product.

The flowchart assumes that in the step 1, the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 are closed and the volume actuator 5 is present in the closed position. Before opening the shut-off valve 4, which only happens in the operating step 4, the volume actuator 5 is initially actuated in the operating step 2 in order to increase the volume in the space between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 accordingly. This creates a vacuum in the volume.

Then, in the step 3, the filling valve 2 is fully opened. Due to the negative pressure applied by means of the volume actuator 5, the filling product is prevented from running out of the filling valve 2 immediately at the beginning of the opening process. This can prevent particles from jamming in the filling valve 2, which has not yet been completely opened.

Only after complete opening of the filling valve 2, the shut-off valve 4 is opened, so that a flow of the filling product from the filling product reservoir 3 is released.

Through these processes it is achieved that, starting from a closed shut-off valve 4 and a closed filling valve 2, the volume present between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 is first increased by the actuation of the volume actuator 5, thereby producing a negative pressure. Next, the filling valve 2 is opened, wherein the negative pressure causes the filling product, which is present above the filling valve 2, not yet issued. Only then is the shut-off valve 4 opened, in order then to allow a flow through the supply line 30 and the filling valve 2 with the filling product 110, when the filling valve 2 is fully opened.

In FIG. 3 Furthermore, an optional metering device 6 is provided, by means of which pieces of fruit or other particles can be added to the filling product. The metering device 6 is designed so that the corresponding particles are metered directly above the filling valve 2 or directly above the valve cone 20 and the valve seat 22. This makes it possible, for filling of corresponding particle-containing filling products, for example juices with pieces of fruit, first applying the fruit pieces on the metering device 6 on the valve cone 20, then to achieve a negative pressure between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2 by actuation of the Volumenaktuators 5, then to open the filling valve 2 by lifting the valve plug 20 from the valve seat 22, and then to let the preferably homogeneous juice through opening the shut-off valve 4 through the filling valve 2, this homogeneous juice then the particles and in particular the fruit pieces symmetrically about the poppet 20 carries around. Since at the time of loading the filling valve 2 with the Füllproduktstrom the filling valve 2 is fully open and in particular the valve plug 20 is completely lifted out of the valve seat 22, there is no clogging between the valve plug 20 and valve seat 22, so that in turn a uniform filling in Free jet is possible without spraying.

The use of the metering device 6 also has the advantage that in the region of the supply line 30, a flow meter can be used, by means of which the liquid to be metered can be measured. Such flowmeters are usually inaccurate when measuring inhomogeneous liquids. In the proposed embodiment, however, a volume measurement can be carried out, since above the metering device 6 only homogeneous filling product is introduced.

During the subsequent closing of the filling valve 2 is correspondingly moved in an almost reverse order, first by the stop valve 4 of the product flow is interrupted, then by means of the Volumenaktuators 5, the filling product is sucked back from the filling valve 2 quasi, and then only the filling valve 2 by lowering the Poppet 20 is closed in the valve seat 22. In this way, a splash due to a possible blockage of a certain ring portion between the valve plug 20 and valve seat 22 can be avoided. Rather, the valve plug 20 can then be easily lowered into the valve seat 22, without causing a splash.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the Volumenaktuator 5 also to avoid dripping, in particular to avoid dripping after completion of the filling. For this purpose, after closing the filling valve 2, a negative pressure is applied such that between the shut-off valve 4 and the filling valve 2, a corresponding negative pressure ensures that a dripping of the filling product is avoided.

In FIG. 6 a further variant of a device 1 for filling containers is shown, again a Füllproduktleitung 30 is provided and volume actuators 5 ', 5 "and 5'" are provided.

The first volume actuator 5 'is similar to that in FIGS Figures 3 and 5 formed volume actuator, namely in the form of a laterally deflectable to Füllproduktstrom membrane 50th

A second volume actuator 5 "is provided in the form of a conventional cylinder with a piston, by means of which a volume can be correspondingly increased or reduced.

A third Volumenaktuator 5 '"is shown in the form of a compressible elastic membrane, which can change their volume by a linear displacement or upsetting.

The volume actuators 5 ', 5 "and 5'" are arranged between a shut-off valve 4 and the corresponding filling valve 2. The different volume actuators 5 ', 5 ", 5'" are shown here merely by way of example in a single device 1, and, although all three volume actuators can also be arranged together in one embodiment, only one or two of the volume actuators shown can be provided.

By providing the corresponding volume actuators 5 ', 5 "and 5'" it is achieved that the volume for the filling product can be increased after the end of the filling process, such that dripping due to the resulting negative pressure can be avoided. This is particularly important if, for example, pasty filling products are filled, such as ketchup. Here it can be achieved by increasing the volume in the product path that, after completion of the filling process and after shutting off the product feed a suckback of the filling product is achieved, characterized in that the volume actuator is actuated accordingly. As a result, dripping can be prevented.

This is especially true in the FIG. 7 shown embodiment of a filler carousel 70 of importance, in which corresponding containers to be filled via a feed 72 are supplied and discharged via a discharge 74 again. In the free region 76 between the feed 72 and the discharge 74, no container is arranged below the respective filling valves, so that here a dripping can lead to the corresponding system area being contaminated and filling product being wasted. By means of the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention, such dripping can be prevented.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the individual embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device for filling a container

100

container

102

muzzle

110

filling product

112

particle

2

filling valve

20

shuttle

22

valve seat

24

opening direction

26

actuator

200

Füllproduktausgang

3

Füllproduktreservoir

30

Füllproduktleitung

4

shut-off valve

5

Volumenaktuator

5 '

first volume actuator

5 ''

second volume actuator

5 '' '

third volume actuator

50

membrane

50a

first position

50b

second position

52

drive

6

metering device

70

filler carousel

72

Feeder for containers

74

Removal of containers

76

free area

V

switching volume

Claims (13)

Device (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product (110), preferably for filling a container (100) with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, comprising a filling valve (2) for introducing a filling product stream into a container (100 ), and an upstream of the filling valve (2) arranged in the Füllproduktstrom shut-off valve (4) for shutting off the Füllproduktstromes to the filling valve (2),
characterized in that
a volume actuator (5) is provided for increasing and / or reducing the volume provided between the filling valve (2) and the shut-off valve (4). Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the volume actuator in the form of a laterally and / or translationally movable membrane (50), a cylinder (5 ") or a compressible membrane is formed. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a control device for controlling the shut-off valve (4) and the Volumenaktuators (5) is provided so that before opening the filling valve (2) an increase in volume between the shut-off valve (4) and the filling valve (2) is feasible, thereby applying a negative pressure to the present between the filling valve and the check valve volume. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device for controlling the shut-off valve (4) and the Volumenaktuators (5) is provided so that before the closing of the filling valve (2) the shut-off valve (4) can be shut off and an increase in volume can be carried out via the volume actuator (5) in order to retract the filling product in the filling valve (2). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling valve (2) comprises a valve cone (20) and a valve seat (20) receiving the valve seat (22). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that upstream of the filling valve (2) a metering device (6) for metering particles, preferably fruit pieces, is arranged, wherein the metering device (6) preferably between the filling valve (2) and the shut-off valve (4) and more preferably between the filling valve (2) and the volume actuator (5) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that upstream of the metering device (6) a volume meter for measuring the Füllproduktvolumens is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume actuator (5) between the filling valve (2) and the shut-off valve (4) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device for controlling the shut-off valve (4) and the Volumenaktuators (5) is provided so that the Volumenaktuator (5) during the actual filling of the container back into its original position is. A method for filling a container (100) with a filling product (110), preferably for filling a container (100) with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, comprising introducing a filling product stream into the container (100) to be filled via a filling valve (2),
characterized in that
before opening or closing the filling valve (2), a negative pressure or an overpressure is applied to the filling product (110) present upstream of the filling valve (2). A method according to claim 10, characterized in that before opening the filling valve (2) first a closing valve (4) arranged upstream of the filling valve (2) is closed, and then by means of a volume actuator (5) between the Filling valve (2) and the shut-off valve (4) present volume for generating the negative pressure on the filling product (110) is increased. Method according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that before the closing of the filling valve (2) first of a filling valve (2) arranged upstream of the shut-off valve (4) is closed and then by means of a Volumenaktuators (5) between the filling valve (2 ) and the shut-off valve (4) is increased, preferably for retracting the filling product (110). Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a volume actuator (5) is transferred back to its starting position during the actual filling process.

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