EP2738135A2 - Filling head for filling a container with a product - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a fill product outlet (200), and an operating element (7) in contact with the fill product outlet for influencing discharge of a fill product from the fill product outlet. An ejection device (5) is provided at an end of the fill product outlet, and ejects a fill product residue along discharge direction (A) of the fill product. The operating element comprises a valve cone (72) of a filling valve and a plunger shaft of a dosing unit or a piston filler. The ejection device comprises a gas-permeable membrane for applying gas stream in the discharge direction. An independent claim is also included for a method for filling a container.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a filling member for filling a container with a filling product, preferably a piston filler, a free-jet filler or a dosing unit for filling viscous, pasty or liquid food products, particularly preferably for bottling beverages.

State of the art

For filling of filling products, especially liquid, pasty or high viscosity having filling products, different filling members are known. For example, so-called free jet fillers are often used for filling milk products and juices, in which the filling product flows from a filling product outlet of the corresponding filling member in free fall, that is uninfluenced by any guiding devices in the container to be filled. The flow of the respective filling product through such a free-jet filler is usually controlled by a valve which comprises a valve cone, which sits in a complementary to the valve plug valve seat. By lifting the valve cone from the valve seat so the filling process is started and by subsequently lowering the valve cone on the valve seat, the filling process is terminated. The filling product flows around the valve cone during filling, so that even after completion of the filling process, filling product can adhere to the underside of the valve cone, which can then drip through the filling product outlet through it in an uncontrolled manner.

Furthermore, it is known to use for filling pasty filling products or filling products with a high viscosity, such as ketchup, syrup, baby porridge, applesauce or the like, piston filler, in which an ejection of the respective filling product is achieved via a corresponding metering. Piston fillers usually comprise a filling product outlet in the form of an outlet bore, which at the end of a filling cycle via a correspondingly connected plunger, which is usually designed as a cylinder rod, free is pushed. When using such a plunger for complete emptying of the outlet bore, it may happen that residues of the filling product adhere to the end face of the plunger, which can also drip uncontrolled.

In the filling of filling products in containers, and in particular in the filling of food products and beverages, hygienic operation of the respective filling devices is essential and therefore is a dripping of the filling product, for example, to be filled or completely filled container to prevent subsequent germ or mold, for example to avoid on the outside of the filled containers or in the region of the respective screw caps.

Furthermore, it is essential for the subsequent closing of completely filled containers in some closing operations that also the mouth region of the filled container is completely clean and free of filling product. This is the case in particular if, for example, a foil lid is to be glued onto the mouth edge as a hygiene closure, as is usual, for example, in the field of filling milk products or filling baby food products.

From the US 7,743,798 B2 a filling nozzle is known in which below the respective discharge opening for the product to be filled, a network is arranged, through which the liquid is dispensed. After completion of the filling process, the filling product is sucked back by gently pulling back the filling piston so that dripping is reduced and the filling liquid is held firmly on the net. In other words, an attempt is made to avoid dripping by the fact that the filling product is sucked back.

From the US 7,011,117 B1 For example, a filling valve with a plunger mechanism is known.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the cited prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling member for filling containers with a filling product, in which the uncontrolled dripping is further reduced.

This object is achieved by a filling member having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a filling member for filling a container with a filling product, preferably a free-jet filling valve, a dosing unit or a piston filler in a filling system for liquid, pasty or viscous food, proposed, wherein the filling member a Füllproduktauslauf and standing with the Füllproduktauslauf in direct contact actuator for Influencing the outlet of the filling product from the Füllproduktauslauf has. According to the invention, a repelling device for repelling a filling product residue in the outlet direction is provided on the actuating element.

By providing the repelling device on the actuating element, which is provided for repelling a Füllproduktrests in the outlet direction at the end of filling, particularly preferably immediately after completion of filling, can still according to the actuator, so for example, the plunger of a piston filler or the valve cone of a filling, adhering Fill product controlled to be rejected in the outlet direction. Accordingly filling product residues, which still adhere to the actuating element, are repelled after completion of the filling process directly into the container to be filled, so that the tendency to dripping can be effectively reduced, or dripping can be completely avoided.

By "repelling in the outlet direction", not only repulsion of the filling product residues in the direction of the filling element axis is meant here, but generally repelling of the filling product residues in the direction of the container to be filled or filled.

In the manner described it is achieved that the Füllproduktktrest, which still adheres to the actuator after completion of the actual filling process, so for example after closing the filling valve of a filling member, can be repelled accordingly. This advantageously takes place in exactly the moment when the end of the filling product jet leaves the filling member.

Furthermore, it can be achieved, for example, in the case of a metering unit or a piston filler, that after the expulsion of the filling product from the corresponding outlet bore by means of the plunger possibly still adhering to the front side of the plunger Füllproduktreste can be repelled in the outlet direction by means of the repelling device, so that the filling product residues in be taken up the filled container and in this way dripping can be prevented.

The repelling by means of the repelling device preferably takes place so that a spraying does not occur and also the repelled by means of the repelling device in the outlet direction filling product residues do not lead to contamination of the then already filled container. By a symmetrical design of the repelling device or the correspondingly applied repulsive forces, this can preferably be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuating element is the valve cone of a filling valve, which is preferably accommodated in a correspondingly complementarily shaped valve seat.

In a further preferred embodiment, the actuating element is a plunger of a metering unit, wherein the repelling device is preferably arranged on the end face of the plunger oriented in the outlet direction.

Preferably, the repelling device comprises a gas-permeable membrane for applying a gas flow directed in the outlet direction. Particularly preferred for this purpose is a gas guide arranged in the actuating element for applying the gas flow to the membrane and provided therethrough in the outlet direction. The gas-permeable membrane is particularly preferably designed such that, although it is permeable to the gas flow, it is impermeable to the filling product itself and is thus preferably designed to be impermeable to liquids and particularly preferably impermeable to water. As a material for the membrane, for example, a PTFE material may be used, which results in a gas-permeable, but not liquid-permeable membrane.

Preferably, the gas stream is formed so that at the end of the respective filling process out, for example, after the complete lowering of a valve cone into the respective valve seat for terminating the Füllproduktstroms, or after the full advancement of the plunger in a Ausschubbohrung a piston filler or dosing on reaching the End face of the plunger at the bottom dead center, the corresponding gas flow is applied, so that then still adhering to the valve cone or to the plunger filling product residues are rinsed or repelled by the gas flow.

In order to achieve a uniform as possible repulsion, a corresponding diffuser or flow rectifier is preferably provided in the gas stream in front of the membrane to the gas flow largely uniform over the entire membrane surface. In this way, a uniform repulsion of Füllproduktesteests can be achieved so that a splashing of Füllproduktesteeste is reduced or completely avoided.

As diffusers or current rectifier for the gas flow in front of the gas-permeable membrane, for example sieves, sieve packages, porous fillings or rectifiers could be used.

When using a corresponding, a gas-permeable membrane for applying a directed in the outlet direction gas flow repelling device in a metering unit with a plunger, the plunger rod is preferably hollow. This hollow design of the plunger rod is actually contrary to the conventionally known from the prior art embodiment of such plunger rods, since the conventional plunger rods require a closed end face in order to perform their function. However, the hollow plunger makes it possible to supply the gas stream to the gas-permeable membrane.

When using a repelling device which comprises a gas-permeable membrane, it is particularly preferable to carry out the corresponding gas flow by means of a sterile gas and particularly preferably by means of an inert gas so that a headspace aeration of the filled container can simultaneously take place via the corresponding gas flow such that the inert gas in the headspace and correspondingly displaces oxygen-containing gas to improve the durability of the filling product in the container. In this way, can be achieved by a corresponding headspace fumigation that the filling product does not react with oxygen and retains its original properties accordingly. As the inert gas, it is preferable to use N ₂ , CO ₂ , argon or the like, which can be used for purging the head space of the filled containers.

In a further preferred embodiment, the repelling device comprises vibrating means for vibrating a region of the actuating element which can be brought into contact with the filling product. Accordingly, by applying a corresponding vibration of the corresponding contact region of the actuating element, repulsion of possibly present filling product residues in the outlet direction can be achieved after the filling process has been completed and in particular a plunger rod has reached its bottom dead center or a valve cone has been received in the corresponding valve seat.

In a further preferred embodiment, the repelling device comprises a membrane expandable in the outlet direction, which is preferably expandable by applying pressure, or can be expanded by a correspondingly drivable mechanical expansion element. Particularly preferably, the membrane is biased into the unexpanded initial position, so that the membrane is returned to the normal position when, for example, the action of a pressure or a mechanical expansion element is exposed.

By using a correspondingly expandable in the outlet direction membrane, it is also possible Füllstoffrest, which adhere to the actuating element, such as a valve cone or the face of a plunger, repel by a correspondingly sudden expansion of the expandable membrane in the outlet direction, such that after completion of Filling the corresponding filling product residues are also introduced into the filled container and a subsequent dripping can be avoided.

Thus, a hollow plunger rod or a hollow valve rod advantageously serves as a receptacle for actuating means for the repelling device.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine herkömmlicher Kolbenfüller mit einem Dosierkolben und einem Plunger;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Plungers eines Kolbenfüllers gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Figur 3

einen Plunger eines Kolbenfüllers in einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Figur 4

ein Füllventil mit einem Ventilkegel gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Figur 5

einen schematischen Aufbau einer Plunger-Stirnfläche mit einem Vibrationsmittel; und

Figur 6

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines Ventilkegels mit einer expandierbaren Membran.

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 conventional piston filler with a metering piston and a plunger;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of a plunger of a piston filler according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3

a plunger of a piston filler in a second embodiment;

FIG. 4

a filling valve with a valve plug according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5

a schematic structure of a plunger end face with a vibrating means; and

FIG. 6

a schematic perspective view of a valve cone with an expandable membrane.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are 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.

In FIG. 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a filling member 1 in the form of a conventional piston filler with a metering piston 3, which conveys a to be metered, for example, pasty or high viscosity exhibiting fill product through an outlet bore 20 to a Füllproduktauslauf 200 by the metering piston 3 is lowered accordingly. The filling product is then discharged through the filling product outlet 200 in the outlet direction A.

An actuating element 2 in the form of a plunger rod 26 for pushing out the filling product residues after completion of the filling process is arranged displaceably in the outlet bore 20. Accordingly, after the actual, performed by lowering the metering piston 3, dosing, which is still in the outlet bore 20 located filling product ejected by the lowering of the plunger rod 26 in the outlet direction A. However, often remains at the end face 24 of the plunger rod 26 is a Füllproduktrest which adheres to the end face 24 of the plunger rod 26. Accordingly, dripping may take place in an uncontrolled manner if the filling product residues adhering to the end face 24 of the plunger 2 fall off after the end of the filling process.

In the embodiment shown, the metering piston 3 is actuated mechanically via a roller 30, which is guided on a forced curve, not shown. The plunger rod 26 is also controlled in the embodiment shown via a mechanically positively driven roller 22. Furthermore, a control valve 4 is provided which is adapted to supply the filling product to the metering piston 3 again after it has been completely lowered. By a subsequent lifting of the metering piston 3 4 filling product is drawn back into the metering cylinder 32 at a corresponding valve position of the control valve. Thereafter, the valve 4 switched back to the ejection direction, so that the filling process can be performed again and in particular the located in the metering cylinder 32 filling product can be ejected by lowering the metering piston 3 again via the outlet bore 20 and can be discharged into the container to be filled.

In FIG. 2 schematically a plunger 2 is shown with a plunger rod 26 according to a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention, wherein the plunger 2 on the end face 24 of the plunger rod 26 has a repelling device 5, by means of which adhering filling product residues can be repelled in the outflow direction A.

The repelling device 5 is designed in the form of a gas-permeable membrane 50, which is indicated here only schematically. The plunger 2 or the plunger rod 26 is hollow and has a gas guide 28, through which a gas can be applied under pressure to the gas-permeable membrane 50. By providing the gas via the gas guide 28, a gas flow in the outlet direction A is applied to the repelling device 5. The gas stream passes through the membrane 50 and thus provides a gas flow in the outflow direction A starting from the membrane 50 ready. By the gas flow filling product residues, which adhere to the end face 24 and in particular also to the membrane 50 of the plunger 2, repelled in the outlet direction A of the membrane. Because the gas stream can be applied to the membrane 50 at any desired time, the filling product residue adhering to the end face 24 of the plunger 2 can also be rejected in a controlled manner at a predetermined and / or controlled point in time.

It is particularly preferred to apply the corresponding gas flow precisely when the filling process is completed, when the plunger 2 is at its bottom dead center and the filled container is still below the product outlet 200. In this way it is possible to repel the filling product adhering to the actuating element in the form of the plunger rod 26 into this filled container arranged underneath. So it can be ensured that the filling product does not drip uncontrolled or can be significantly reduced in this way the Nachropfneigung, since the plunger adhering filling product residues were repelled accordingly.

This can also be achieved that neither contamination of the container to be filled or filled takes place on the outside, nor a contamination of the respective mouth region occurs, so that the subsequent closing reliable can be carried out. Thus it can be prevented that nucleation or mold formation take place on the outside of a container or in an opening region of the container. Furthermore, for example, the application of a film closure can be reliably performed on the mouth edge.

The gas which is passed through the gas guide 28 of the plunger 2, that is to say in particular the hollow plunger rod 26, is particularly preferably an inert gas which can also be used simultaneously for flushing the headspace of the filled container. The gases to be used are, for example, N ₂ , CO ₂ or argon.

The membrane 50 is particularly preferably gas-permeable, but is not permeable to the actual filling product itself. Accordingly, during the downward movement toward the end of the filling process, the plunger 2 can push out the filling product from the outlet bore 20 without the filling product passing through the membrane 50 into the hollow space behind it, in particular the gas guide 28 of the plunger 2. Such a gas-permeable, but for a filling product, such as a highly viscous liquid impermeable membrane may be made for example of PTFE.

In order to prevent splashing or non-symmetrical repulsion of the filling product residues, or at least to reduce the tendency for such non-symmetrical repulsion, is disclosed in US Pat FIG. 3 1, a corresponding diffuser or flow rectifier 6 is provided in front of the diaphragm 50, by means of which the air flow provided via the gas guide 28 can be made uniform. The aim of the application of the diffuser or flow rectifier 6 is to provide a flow cross-section of the gas flow through the gas-permeable membrane 50 so that over the entire surface of the gas-permeable membrane 50 substantially a uniform or nearly uniform gas flow from the membrane 50 in the outlet direction A emerges. In this way, asymmetric repulsion of filling product residues can be counteracted. Accordingly, it can be achieved that filling product residues are substantially repelled in the outlet direction A in order to avoid contamination of the mouth region of the container to be filled or of the outside of the filled container.

In other words, the proposed repelling device does not cause, as known from the prior art, dripping due to the retention or suction of filling product residues prevented, but on the contrary achieved an active and controlled repulsion of the filling product residues.

In FIG. 4 a further filling member 1 is shown in the form of a filling valve of a free-jet filler. An actuating element 7 is provided in the form of a valve cone 72, which is received in a valve seat 70 in a known manner. The valve cone 72 correspondingly has a complementary shape to the valve seat 70. At the beginning of the filling process, the valve cone 72 is lifted accordingly from the valve seat 70, such that filling product can reach the filling product outlet 200 and can flow through it accordingly in the outlet direction A. This results in an annular channel between the valve seat 70 and the valve cone 72, through which the filling product flows.

To complete the filling process, the valve plug 72 is lowered again so that it comes into contact with the valve seat 70 and closes the channel for the filling product. As is clear from the FIG. 4 Immediately results, a lower part of the valve plug 72 is exposed even after completion of the actual filling process through the Füllproduktauslauf 200 through. Filling product residues, which adhere in this lower region of the valve cone 72, can therefore drip uncontrollably through the filling product outlet 200.

Accordingly, a repelling device 5 is provided on the valve plug 72, wherein the repelling device 5 is provided in the form of a membrane 50, which approximately the characteristics of the membrane 50 from the FIGS. 2 and 3 having. A lower part of the valve plug 72 is formed by this membrane 50, which is provided for repelling filling product residues in the outflow direction A.

In order to enable the repelling of the filling product residues in the outlet direction A, the valve rod 74 is formed with a gas guide 76, through which a gas under pressure can be applied to the membrane 50 so that it flows through the membrane 50. By means of the gas flow flowing through the membrane 50, thus adhering filling product residues are repelled in the outlet direction A.

The corresponding filling process then takes place in such a way that first the valve cone 72 is lifted out of the valve seat 70, so that a run-out of the filling product in the outflow direction A through the filling product outlet 200 into the container to be filled is possible. After graduation This filling process is lowered back to the valve seat 70 corresponding to the valve cone 72, so that the filling product flow is interrupted.

After the complete lowering of the valve cone 72 in the valve seat 70, a gas is then passed through the membrane 50 through the gas guide 76, which possibly repels at the membrane 50 adhering filling product residues in the arranged underneath, already filled container.

In this way, in turn, a reliable active support of the dripping and repelling of the filling product residues is achieved. This can be a pollution of the container outside and the mouth area reduce or completely avoided.

In FIG. 5 an alternative repelling device 5 is shown to the gas flow-through, gas-permeable membrane 50 of the preceding embodiments. In FIG. 5 the repelling device 5 comprises a vibrating means 52, which serves to repel filling product residues in the outlet direction A. The vibration means 52 is designed as a vibration motor, which is provided for example in the region of the end face 24 of a plunger 2. The vibrating means 52 acts here on an attachment 54, which then forms the actually active end face 24 of the plunger 2.

In the in FIG. 5 In the embodiment shown, the plunger 2 is equipped at its end face 24 or its lower end in such a way that it is provided with the corresponding vibration device 52. By means of the vibration means 52, the attachment 54 can be correspondingly vibrated and the filling product residues adhering to the attachment 54 are repelled in the exit direction A. Optionally required electrical leads to the vibratory device may be disposed within the hollow plunger rod.

After reaching the bottom dead center of the plunger 2 of a piston filler, the vibrating means 52 is actuated accordingly after pushing out the filling product residues, so that filling product residues possibly adhering to the attachment 54, in particular filling product residues adhering in the region of the end face 24, are repelled by the vibration in the outlet direction A.

In a further embodiment, which in the FIG. 6 is shown schematically, is at the end face of a plunger of a piston filler or on the valve-shaped Closing of the valve cone of a jet filler an expandable membrane 56 is provided, which serves as a repelling device 5. The membrane 56 can be expanded either by the application of a gas pressure or by the action of a mechanical expansion element 58 in the outlet direction A. The expansion element 58 is arranged here in the hollow plunger rod. Likewise, the gas used to apply the gas pressure is guided within the hollow plunger rod.

If such an expansion is carried out in the outflow direction A, preferably a sudden expansion, the filling product residues possibly still adhering to the membrane 56 receive a pulse in the outflow direction A and are correspondingly repelled. The expandable membrane 56 is, if it is to be acted upon by a gas, preferably gas-tight, so that the membrane can expand accordingly.

The membrane 56 is preferably biased to the starting position, ie the unexpanded position. Accordingly, it returns after completion of the application of the gas pressure or the mechanical energy by means of the mechanical expansion element 58 back to the starting position in order to then be fully operational again after the next filling cycle.

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

Filling head

2

actuator

20

outlet hole

22

role

24

Face of plunger rod

26

plunger rod

28

gas guide

200

Füllproduktauslauf

3

dosing

30

role

32

metering

4

control valve

5

repelling device

50

gas permeable membrane

52

vibration means

54

essay

56

expandable membrane

58

mechanical expansion element

6

Flow straightener

7

actuator

70

valve seat

72

shuttle

74

valve rod

76

gas guide

A

exit direction

Claims (13)

Filling member (1) for filling a container with a filling product, preferably free-jet filling valve, dosing unit or piston filler in a filling plant for liquid, pasty or viscous food, wherein the filling member (1) has a Füllproduktauslauf (200) and with the Füllproduktauslauf (200) in direct Contact standing actuator (2, 7) for influencing the outlet of the filling product from the Füllproduktauslauf (200),
characterized in that
on the actuating element (2, 7) is provided a repelling device (5) for repelling a filling product residue in the outlet direction (A). Filling member (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element is a valve cone (72) of a filling valve. Filling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element is a plunger rod (26) of a metering unit and / or a piston filler. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the repelling device (5) comprises a gas-permeable membrane (50) for applying a gas stream directed in the outlet direction (A). Filling member (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that in the actuating element (2, 7) a gas supply line (28, 76) is provided, which the gas-permeable membrane (50) supplies a gas. Filling member (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that in front of the gas-permeable membrane (50) is provided a diffuser and / or flow rectifier (6) for equalizing the gas flow through the membrane (50), preferably in the form of a sieve Sieve pack and / or a porous filling. Filling member (1) according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the gas-permeable membrane (50) is impermeable to the filling product, preferably liquid-impermeable and particularly preferably impermeable to water and particularly preferably comprises PTFE. Filling member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an actuating element in the form of a plunger rod (26) is substantially hollow, preferably for forming a gas guide (28). Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the repelling device (5) comprises a vibration means (52) for vibrating a product which can be brought into contact with the filling area (54, 24) of the actuating element (2). Filling member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the repelling device (5) comprises an expandable in the outlet direction (A) membrane (56) to impart a pulse in the outlet direction (A) by expansion of the membrane (56) a Füllproduktrest , Filling element (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that means for expanding said membrane, preferably by subjecting the expandable membrane (56) by gas pressure or by pressing the expandable membrane (56) by means of a mechanical expander member (58) are provided. Filling member (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the membrane (56) in the basic position, preferably in the unexpanded position, is biased. Filling element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that via the actuating element (2, 7) a headspace flushing with a purge gas, preferably with an inert gas, to be filled or filled container is feasible.

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