Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
  • B65B39/001—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
  • B65B39/004—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves moving linearly
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
  • B67C3/281—Profiled valve bodies for smoothing the flow at the outlet of the filling nozzle

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a batcher.
• the invention relates to a batcher for a filling machine and adapted to dose a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, with which a container is filled.
• such a filling station is fed with aseptic or ultra-clean containers (for example containers which have previously been sterilised) and is adapted to provide containers filled with a sterilised product in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions.
• aseptic or ultra-clean containers for example containers which have previously been sterilised
• a filling station usually substantially comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about a rotation axis, a tank containing the product, and a plurality of batchers which are fluidically connected with the tank and are supported by the carousel conveyor in a radially external position with respect to the rotation axis of the carousel conveyor.
• Each batcher substantially comprises a portion for fixing to the carousel defining a filling chamber fluidically connected with the tank, and a filling head arranged along a relative direction parallel to the rotation axis of the carousel.
• the batcher must be designed so as to allow, in every moment in time, to maintain the environment, within which the pourable product is handled, free from contamination sources.
• the batcher must typically be compatible with this kind of operation conditions.
• the filling head of a flow rate doser generally comprises a shutter mobile, within the relative filling chamber, between a closed configuration, in which the shutter prevents the product from reaching the mouth of the relative container to be filled, and an open configuration, in which the chamber and the container mouth are fluidically connected, thus allowing the product to fill the container.
• Batchers are known comprising shutters displaying different geometries (for example spherical, butterfly etc.) associated to relative actuating means which can be of different kinds. Whether these batchers are suitable for specific uses generally depends on the type of product and on the actual operation conditions.
• pourable products such as fruit juices containing fibres or fruit pieces, or milk based products with the addition of fruit.
• these products comprise an aqueous liquid phase and contain solid particles having an average size in the range between 0.1 and 10 mm, for example formed by pieces of fruits.
• the solid particles suspended in the two-phase pourable products can easily obstruct the ducts defined internally by the batchers provided with shutters having a conventional geometry.
• liquid phase and the solid phase (particles) were fed along respective separate ducts, for example arranged coaxially one inside the other.
• each phase substantially flows through a dedicated duct and because, by independently adjusting the flows of the two phases, the frequency of the obstruction can be reduced.
• the single flow-rates of the two distinct flows must be controlled with precision so as to ensure that the ratio between the two phases, within the filled containers, is at the desired nominal value. Furthermore, guaranteeing the aseptic conditions required by the process results more complex and expensive because it is necessary to maintain them along two hydraulic circuits which are for the most part independent of one another. Accordingly, the sterilising cycles are also substantially doubled.
• the invention provides a filling machine according to claim 7.
• the invention provides a shutter for a batcher according to claim 8.
• Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a batcher according to the invention in a closed configuration
• FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the batcher of Figure 1 in an open configuration
• FIG. 3 shows a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the shutter body of the batcher of Figures 1 and 2.
• numeral 1 shows as a whole a batcher adapted to be incorporated in a filling station in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions (not shown) of a filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product.
• batcher 1 disclosed herein is suitable for carrying out filling operations which imply a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, as for example fruit juices containing fibres and pieces of fruit, or beverages containing milk which contain pieces of fruit or the like.
• a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase
• these are products comprising an aqueous liquid phase, in which average size particles on the order of 0.1 ⁇ 10 mm are suspended.
• This filling station is typically fed with sterilised empty containers and fills these containers with the pourable product in aseptic conditions.
• the filling station typically comprises a tank containing the product; a carousel rotating about a vertical axis and protrudingly bearing a plurality of dosers 1 and support elements for respective containers.
• Batcher 1 comprises:
• main body 11 adapted to be fixed to the carousel of the filling station;
• a shutter body 12 housed within main body 11 mobile between a relative closed position (see Figure 1) and a relative maximum open position (see Figure 2) .
• batcher 1 comprises actuating means 50 of shutter body 12.
• actuating means 50 are completely external to main body 11.
• main- body 11 extends from a first end 13 connectable to the tank at a second end 14 defining a mouth 15 for filling a container. Between two ends 13 and 14, main body 11 comprises a tubular segment 16 having axis A and internal diameter Dl and defining therein a cavity 17 fluidically connected with tank 3.
• body 11 comprises, downstream of tubular segment 16 with respect to a feeding direction of the product, a portion 18 having a narrowed section, having diameter D2 smaller than diameter Dl of cylindrical segment 16.
• main body 11 defines therein a seat 19 for shutter body 12 at which, as will be disclosed in greater detail hereinafter, the closed condition between main body 11 and shutter body 12 (see figure 1) of the duct, through which the product passes, occurs.
• actuating means 50 and shutter body 12 are magnetically coupled.
• shutter body 12 advantageously comprises a pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127', arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing axially.
• actuating means 50 of shutter body 12 advantageously comprise at least one pair of permanent magnets 52 and 52' arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing axially, and oriented, with respect to permanent magnets 127, 127' of the pair of magnets of shutter body 12, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially.
• magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially there is intended that the poles are, with respect to the axial direction, substantially aligned to one another, although they are materially separate, in the radial direction, at least from the wall of tubular segment 16 of main body 11.
• permanent magnets 52, 52' result arranged in respective positions radially external with respect to main body 12. More in particular, permanent magnets 52 and 52 1 are arranged at a radial distance with respect to axis A such as to exert, through the walls of main body 11, a magnetic attraction on shutter body 12 such as to conveniently draw the latter in a translation motion parallel to axis A.
• Shutter module 12 advantageously comprises (also see Figure 2) :
• stem 121 having a diameter D s smaller than the internal diameter Dl of the cylindrical segment 16, coaxial with main body 11 and extending along axis A by a segment of length shorter than the longitudinal overall development of cavity 17 defined internally by main body 11;
• a plurality of guide fins 122 which radially project from stem 121 and which are adapted to slidingly guide shutter body 12 within main body 11.
• annular duct 124 adapted to allow the flow of a pourable product comprising suspended solid particles is advantageously defined between stem 121 of shutter body 12 and the internal wall of main body 11.
• pairs of magnets 127, 127'; 52, 52' can be spaced so as to easily allow the passage of a two-phase liquid containing particles of a given average size without the magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 and shutter body 12 loosing in efficacy.
• shutter body 12 further comprises a projecting portion 123 having a diameter in the range between diameter D s of stem 121 and internal diameter Dl of tubular segment 16, and adapted to sealingly cooperate with seat 19 in the closed position.
• Each fin 122 extends radially by a length substantially equal to (Dl-D s )/2.
• diameter D s of stem 121 is in the range between 10 and 50 mm and the ratio (Dl-D s )/2 is in the range between 1 and 20 mm.
• diameter D s of stem 121 is in the range between 15 and 40 mm and the ratio (Dl-D s )/2 is in the range between 3 and 15 mm. More preferably, diameter D s of stem 121 is in the range between 20 and 30 mm and the ratio (Dl-D s )/2 is in the range between 5 and 10 mm.
• guide fins 122 are arranged equally spaced angularly about axis A of stem 121.
• shutter body 12 comprises at least two guide fins 122.
• guide fins 122 extend in a longitudinal direction parallelly to axis A by an overall length shorter than the overall length of stem 121.
• shutter body 12 comprises first and second fins 122, 122' arranged according to the same angular distribution about axis A. Thereby, the stability of shutter body 12 within main body 11 results advantageously increased.
• each fin 122, 122' has a substantially hexagonal right section elongated in an axial direction, so as to display two inclined faces to the flow of two-phase product which passes through duct 124, so that the two-phase product is conveniently deviated so as to flow around fins 122.
• Other geometries of fins 122 can be similarly advantageous.
• stem 121 of shutter body 12 comprises
• a tubular portion 125 defining internally a cavity 126 having a substantially cylindrical development, in which the pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127' is housed, arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnet poles facing axially.
• stem 121 further comprises an upstream end portion 121M, for example a conical or frustoconical portion, which may be fixed, preferably in a releasable manner (for example by means of an appropriate threading, not shown in detail) , to tubular portion 125 so as to stably contain in cavity 126 the pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127 ' .
• upstream end portion 121M for example a conical or frustoconical portion, which may be fixed, preferably in a releasable manner (for example by means of an appropriate threading, not shown in detail) , to tubular portion 125 so as to stably contain in cavity 126 the pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127 ' .
• stem 121 also comprises a downstream end portion 121V adapted to cooperate, ' in the closed position of Figure 1, with filling mouth 15 of main body 11.
• downstream end portion 121V extends from projection portion 123 facing towards mouth 15 and comprises a substantially frustoconical portion 126 having an increasing diameter from projection portion 123 towards mouth 15 and a substantially conical portion 128 with the vertex facing mouth 15.
• ' it is the conical portion 129 that cooperates to close mouth 15 ( Figure 1) .
• Shutter body 12 is slidingly housed within cavity 17 of main body 11 and is in particular mobile, within cavity 17, between a relative closed position (see Figure 1) , in which shutter body 12 cooperates, at least at relative projecting portion 12, with seat 19 defined by main body 11; and a relative maximum open position (see Figure 2) , in which shutter body 12 leaves the passage in main body 11 at seat 19 free at the maximum.
• shutter body 12 cooperates with main body 11 also at mouth 15 by means of downstream end portion 121V.
• an actuator (not shown for simplicity but of the type disclose, for example, in co-pending patent application in the name of the same Applicant, by the title "magnetically actuated flow-rate selector member, flow-rate regulator and filling machine"), for example of the pneumatic type and comprising a sliding piston within a cavity defined internally by a fixed body with respect to main body 11, the piston being mobile between relative upstream and downstream stop positions corresponding to the maximum closed and open positions of the aseptic batcher 1; and
• tubular body 51 external to, coaxial with and sliding along main body 11.
• External tubular body 51 is mobile integrally with the actuator and is therefore also mobile between relative upstream (see Figure 2) and downstream (see Figure 1) stop positions, which correspond to the maximum closed and open positions of aseptic batcher 1.
• the at least one pair of permanent magnets 52 and 52' arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing axially is advantageously housed within external tubular body 51, permanent magnets 52 and 52' being coupled magnetically with shutter body 12 (i.e. with permanent magnets 127 and 127') .
• permanent magnets 52 and 52' of the at least one pair of magnets of external tubular body 52 are arranged with respect to permanent magnets 127, 127' of the pair of magnets internal to stem 121, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially.
• this specific reciprocal arrangement determines a considerably increased attraction force between shutter body 12 and external tubular body 51, such that a distance can be interposed between pair of magnets 127, 127' and the at least one pair of magnets 52, 52' , the distance being given, as well as by the wall of tubular segment 16, by the radial development of fins 122, without the magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 and shutter body 12 seizing.
• the permanent magnets can be advantageously formed by sets of smaller magnets stacked so that in each set there is in any case an overall orientation of the polarities equivalent to that of a single larger magnet. It will be understood that this alternative solution can be advantageously extended to any pair of magnets in batcher 1, comprising that of magnets 127, 127' internal to stem 121 of shutter body 12.
• the external tubular element 51 defines therein at least one cavity 53 adapted to house a corresponding pair of magnets 52, 52', and comprises a main portion and a covering portion fixable to the main portion, preferably in a releasable manner, so as to stably contain, within the at least one cavity 53, the corresponding at least one pair of permanent magnets 52, 52' .
• external tubular element 51 defines therein at least one plurality of cavities 53 within which a corresponding plurality of pairs of permanent magnets 52, 52' is housed, arranged preferably equally spaced angularly about axis A.
• actuation for example pneumatic actuation
• actuating means - i.e., for example, the resulting translating motion of the above said piston within the relative cavity - conveniently determines a corresponding axially directed translating motion of shutter body 12 within main body 11.
• batcher 1 can be conveniently inserted in a filling station advantageously also comprising control means (not shown) adapted to actuate batcher 1 according to the desired filling procedure.
• batcher 1 can also be used to implement a filling procedure which provides the steps of fast and slow filling, at which the degree of opening of batcher 1 (i.e. the position of shutter body 12) can be appropriately adjusted providing a partial opening configuration, corresponding to slow filling, in which shutter body 12 is conveniently brought to an intermediate position between the closed position ( Figure 1) and the maximum open position ( Figure 2) which corresponds to the rapid filling.
• a filling procedure which provides the steps of fast and slow filling, at which the degree of opening of batcher 1 (i.e. the position of shutter body 12) can be appropriately adjusted providing a partial opening configuration, corresponding to slow filling, in which shutter body 12 is conveniently brought to an intermediate position between the closed position (Figure 1) and the maximum open position ( Figure 2) which corresponds to the rapid filling.
• batcher 1 allows to carry out the filing of a container with a two-phase pourable product according to the typical needs of the sector of the filling machines for the food sector, ensuring the desired aseptic conditions and very short response times to switch between different degrees of opening/closing of the batcher.
• batcher 1 allows to easily fill containers with a two-phase pourable product, providing for this purpose a duct having a size appropriately compatible with that of the particles contained in the pourable product that flows along the duct.
• the batcher according to the invention allows to considerably reduce the occurrence of obstructions, even partial ones, thus limiting accordingly the need for maintenance intervention and, as a consequence, down times.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=45470649

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (14)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2011
  • 2011-10-18 IT IT000936A patent/ITTO20110936A1/it unknown
• 2012
  • 2012-10-18 WO PCT/IB2012/055701 patent/WO2013057695A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-10-18 EP EP12794495.7A patent/EP2768763B1/de active Active

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