EP2788274A1

EP2788274A1 - Filler element and filling system

Info

Publication number: EP2788274A1
Application number: EP12791106.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath; Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2011-12-06
Filing date: 2012-11-23
Publication date: 2014-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-23
Also published as: EP2788274B1; WO2013083239A1; DE102011120164A1; SI2788274T1; US20140360624A1; US9790072B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a filler element for filling containers (2) with liquid contents. Said filler element comprises: a liquid channel (8), formed in a filler element housing (7), which channel can be permeated by the contents, at least one liquid valve (13) in the liquid channel (8), a dispensing opening (10) for dispensing the contents to the respective container (2) when the liquid valve (13) is open, which dispensing opening is provided downstream of the liquid valve (13) in the flow direction of the contents, and a fill level-determining element (17) which determines the desired fill level of the contents in the container (2) and extends through the filler element housing (7).

Description

Filling element and filling system

The invention relates to a Füilelement for filling containers with a liquid product according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling system according to the preamble of claim 9.

Filling elements for filling containers, in particular for filling bottles with a liquid product, such as beverage, are in different

Executions known. In this case, it is also known, in particular, to determine the filling level of the filling material in the filled container at the respective filling element

In this case, it is also known that the fill level reached in the respective container at the end of the filling process is achieved by an axial adjustment of the filling element (hereinafter "filling height-determining element"), for example in the form of a rod-shaped probe with at least one electrical probe contact or in the form of a return gas tube The filling height-determining element is guided through the filling element housing of the filling element and protrudes with a length remote from the first end at a housing passage region out of the filling element housing.

To prevent ingress of dirt and / or germs via the housing passage area into the process side of the filling element, i. In the filling material and / or process gas and / or vacuum leading to avoid areas of the filling element in particular when adjusting the filling height-determining element, is also known (DE 0 2009 009 339 A1), to the passage area then in

Fill to provide a shelter.

This protective space is acted upon during the filling operation, for example with the pressure of an inert gas, separated by at least one seal of process gas and / or filling material leading areas and designed so that it at least in the filling mode of the filling element to the housing passage area

housing side subsequent length of the Füllhöhebestimmenden element can accommodate that corresponds to the adjustment of this element. A disadvantage of this known filling that this shelter is formed by the interior of a tube which projects beyond the discharge opening of the Füllelementgehäuse, and that at the lower end of this

filling height-determining element enclosing tube that the protective space from the process side separating sealing element is provided in the form of a fixed ring seal. In fill mode, the level determining element is under

Sealing of the shelter passed through the ring seal. In a cleaning and / or sterilization mode, the filling height-determining element is moved back with its first end into the filling element housing so far that the protective space at the ring seal is open. This results in considerable

Disadvantages, in particular as regards

- That the filling height determining element enclose the annulus as

Shelter used and therefore as gas space or gas channel for the

Passage of medium is not available, so possibly additional fluid paths must be provided in the filling element,

- The fact that the protective space from the process side separating ring seal is exposed by their exposed arrangement to a great extent the risk of damage, such as the risk of damage from glass splinters burst containers or bottles, and

- that it is in a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, in which the

Shelter and the filling height-determining element also cleaned and / or sterilized, is not possible, at the same time during the filling operation extending into the shelter part of the

to clean and / or sterilize level determining element, since this at the time of cleaning and / or sterilization outside the

Fill element are located.

The object of the invention is to show a filling element which the

avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and, in particular, also enables optimum cleaning and / or disinfection and / or sterilization of the filling height-determining element with high operational reliability. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A filling system is the subject of patent claim 9. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination, in principle, the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their

Dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

For the purposes of the invention, "containers" are in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging materials which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products.

The term "substantially" or "approximately" means within the meaning of the invention

Deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes insignificant for the function.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. 1 to 3 each show, in a simplified representation, a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine of a rotating design for filling height-controlled filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid filling material, specifically in different operating states,

4 and 5 details of Figures 1 and 2.

In the figures, 1 is a filling element for filling level controlled filling of containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid product. The filling element 1, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in each case in a filling mode and in FIG. 3 in a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization mode, is provided with a multiplicity of similar filling elements around the circumference of one

Machine axis circumferentially driven rotor 3 of a filling system or a filling machine provided. Also located on the rotor 3 are a ring bowl 4 common to all filling elements 1 of the filling machine for providing the liquid filling material and two ring channels 5 and 6. During the filling operation of the annular channel 4 is partially filled with the liquid contents, so that a lower liquid space 4.1 and overlying a gas chamber 4.2 are formed in the ring vessel 4, which latter example, with an inert gas (eg CO 2 gas) and especially with a pressure filling the bottle 2 with the inert gas is filled under filling pressure.

The annular channels 5 and 6 may have different functions depending on the filling method, for example, the annular channel 5 for guiding the inert gas under pressure for flushing and / or biasing the respective provided in sealing position on the filling element 1 bottle 2 during pressure filling and the annular channel 6 as a discharge channel, such as this is known in principle to the person skilled in the art.

The filling element 1 comprises a filling element housing 7, in which u.a. a Füllgutoder liquid channel 8 is formed, which is connected in its upper region via a product line 9 with the liquid space 4.1 of the ring vessel 4. At the bottom of the housing 7, the liquid channel 8 forms an annular

Dispensing opening 10, via which the liquid contents of the bottle 2 flows during filling, which rests tightly against the filling element 1 with its bottle mouth via a seal of a centering cone 1 1 in the region of the discharge opening 10, i. is in sealing position with the filling element 1, namely raised by the filling element 1 associated container carrier or bottle plate 12. Im

Liquid channel is in the flow direction of the filling material in front of the discharge opening 10, a liquid valve 13 is provided with a valve body 14 which with a

Valve surface in the liquid channel 8 cooperates and arranged on a coaxial with a vertical Füllelementachse FA and acting as a valve tappet gas pipe 15 which projects through the discharge opening 10 on the underside of the filling element 1 and extends during filling in the relevant bottle 2. In Figures 1 and 2, each showing the final state of the filling process, the liquid valve 13 is shown in the closed state. For the controlled opening and closing of the liquid valve 13, a pneumatic actuator 16 acting on the gas pipe 15 is provided, which is accommodated in an interior of the housing 7 which is separate from the liquid channel 8 and sealed against the liquid channel 8. The filling element 1 further comprises a coaxially arranged with the Füllelementachse FA, open at both ends and from the gas pipe 15 at a distance enclosed return gas pipe 17, which also extends as fill level determining element with its end 17.1 during the filling operation in the upper region or headspace of the bottle 2 and projects beyond the lower, open end of the gas pipe 15.

The return gas pipe 17 is passed through the Füllelementgehäuse 7, protrudes with an upper length over the top of this housing and is held with the local, also open end 17.2 on a support arm 18 of an adjusting device 19, with which the return gas pipe is axially movable, namely in the

to be described later in each case from an upper output or lower stroke position for setting different fill levels during the filling mode of the filling element 1 in a Einstellhub H1 and for moving the return gas tube 17 in a cleaning and / or sterilization position, i. for converting the filling element 1 into the cleaning and / or sterilization mode in an enlarged opening stroke H2.

The upper end 17.2 of the return gas pipe is connected via a likewise provided on the support arm 8 control valve 20 and a flexible line 20 to the gas space 4.2 of the ring boiler 4.

In order to adjust the axial displacement of the return gas tube 17, i. in the adjustment of the filling level, to which the bottles 2 are filled in each case with the liquid product to prevent ingress of dirt and / or germs in critical areas or in the process side of the filling element 1, the return gas pipe 17 before its exit the top of the housing 7 by a in the housing. 7

trained protective or lock chamber 22 out, which in the illustrated embodiment, a circular cylindrical concentric with the Füllelementachse FA

is formed and based on the Füllelementachse FA has an axial length which at least equal to the maximum Einstellhub H1 corresponds to the the

Return gas tube 17 between the setting "maximum level" and the setting "minimum level" is moved. At the top of the housing 7, the return gas pipe 17 is guided out of the housing 7 or out of the lock chamber 22 by a fixed seal 23. The

Seal 23 forms the upper housing passage region for the return gas pipe 17. Furthermore, a gasket 24 enclosing this tube and with it piston-like moving seal 24 is provided which abuts sealed against the return gas pipe 17 and against the circular cylindrical inner surface of the shelter 22 and the shelter 22nd on its lower side facing away from the seal 23 during the normal filling operation or when filling element 1 is in filling mode, in which (filling mode) the protective space 22 is preferably acted upon by a pressurized inert gas from the annular channel 5. In detail, the protective space 22, the axial length of which changes with the adjustment stroke H1, is formed in the illustrated embodiment in an upper, circular cylindrical portion 25.1 of a housing recess 25. At one of the section 25.1 in the direction of the bottom of the filling element 1 subsequent section 5.2, the

Housing recess 25 an expanded cross-section. Section 5.2 forms a gas space into which the upper open end of the gas pipe 15 or the annular gas channel formed between the inner surface of the gas pipe 15 and the outer surface of the return gas pipe 17 opens. The section 25.1 and thus also the shelter 22 have an axial length which is greater than the maximum

Setting stroke H1 of the return gas pipe 17 between the setting "maximum filling level" (Figure 1) and "minimum filling level" (Figure 2).

In the interior of the housing 7 further controlled gas paths with control valves 26 and 27 are provided, via which the protective space 22 preferably at least during the normal filling operation constantly with a pressurized

Inert gas from the annular channel 5 is acted upon and u.a. the section 25.2 or the corresponding gas space via the control valve 26 controlled by the

Ring channel 5 or via the control valve 27 can be connected to the annular channel 6.

With the filling element 1 or with the filling system formed by these filling elements different filling methods are possible, for example a "normal"

Pressing the bottles 2. In this filling process, the liquid product flows with the liquid valve 13 open to the interior of the held in sealing position on the filling element 1 and biased to the inert gas bottle 2. At least at the end of the respective filling phase, when the control valve 20 is open, the inert gas displaced by the filling material from the bottle 2 is passed via the return gas pipe 17, the opened control valve 20 and the line 21 into the gas space 4.2 of the ring bowl. When the liquid valve 13 is still open, the inflow of the filling material into the bottle 2 is ended when the lower, open end 17.1 of the return gas pipe 17 is immersed in the level of contents of the filling material which has reached the bottle 2 and enters

Equilibrium state between the height of Füllgutspiegels in the ring bowl 4 and has set in the return gas tube 17 forming Füllgutsäule. The level of the lower end 17.1 thus determines the filling level of the filling material in the respective bottle 2. After closing the liquid valve 13 and the control valve 20 and after relieving the headspace of the bottle 2, which is not occupied by the filling material, it is lowered from the filling element 1 by lowering decreased.

The respective desired filling level is set at the beginning of the filling operation by axial adjustment of the return gas pipe 17 (setting stroke H1), specifically for all filling elements 1.

In addition to this "normal" pressure filling, a so-called Trinox filling process is also possible with the filling elements 1, in which again the return gas pipe 17 or its end 17.1 determine the filling level

prestressed and in sealing position on the filling element 1 arranged bottle 2, i. filling beyond the desired level, with the lid open

Liquid valve 13 and closed control valve 20, wherein the displaced during filling by the inflowing medium from the interior of the bottle 2 inert gas, e.g. via the gas channel formed between the gas pipe 15 and the return gas pipe 17 in the section 25.2 and from there via the open

Control valve 26 is displaced into the annular channel 5. After closing the

Liquid valve 13 is not occupied by the contents occupied headspace of the bottle 2 with pressure, for example, on the still open Control valve 26. By opening the control valve 20 is returned via the return gas pipe 17, the open control valve 20 and the line 21 contents from the overfilled bottle 2 in the ring vessel 4 until the lower end of the 17.1

Return gas pipe 17 is outside of the contents in the bottle 2. After closing the control valve 20 and after relieving the headspace of the filled bottle 2, for example via the open control valve 27 is the

Bottle 2 removed from the filler. Also in this Trinox filling method, the respective desired filling level is set by the axial adjustment of the return gas pipe 17 (Einstellhub H1), on all the filling elements 1 of

Filling machine.

To the housing recess 25 and thus in any case the protective space 22 forming portion 25.1 of this housing recess and the return gas pipe 17 at least on its recorded during the filling operation in the filling element 1 length to clean and / or sterilize, the return gas pipe 17 from its upper stroke position in the opening stroke H2 so far moved axially down that the seal 24 is located in the section 25.2 and the shelter 22 is opened to the section 25.2 out. The cleaning and / or sterilization of the housing recess 25 and the

Return gas pipe 17 take place as part of a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization of the filling machine, to the filling elements 1 each have a flushing cap 28 is attached. In the interior of the flushing cap 28, which is closed towards the outside, not only the annular discharge opening 10 surrounding the gas tube 15 but also the lower, open end of the open when the liquid valve 13 is open

Gas pipe 15 and the lower open end 17.1 of the return gas pipe 17. Das

Return gas tube 17 is in a space traversed by the cleaning and / or sterilization medium during CIP purification and / or sterilization

recorded, the u.a. is formed by the housing recess 25 and the gas pipe 15 and the rinse cap 28, via a continuous

Length, which is in any case greater than the length at which the return gas tube 17 extends through the Füllelementgehäuse 7 during the filling operation and protrudes beyond the bottom of this housing, so during the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization optimal cleaning and / or disinfection of the

Return gas pipe 17 is ensured at all critical areas.

Other advantages and special features of the filling element 1 u.a., That the

Protective space 22 is arranged for the adjustment of the return gas pipe 17 above the annular gap formed between the gas pipe 15 and the return gas pipe 17, that this annular gap can be used as gas path or gas channel for the process gas during normal filling operation, and

that in particular the seal 24, during the filling operation the

Protective space 22 from the process side, i. separated in the illustrated embodiment of the gas space formed by the section 25.2, protected in the interior of the filling element 1 is housed and therefore, for example, not through

Shards of burst bottles 2 can be damaged. The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. Thus, it has been assumed above that the return gas tube 17 is used as the filling height determining element. However, the advantages of the invention also exist in a filling element 1, in which the return gas pipe 17 is replaced by a rod-shaped probe with an electrical probe contact.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 filling element

2 bottle

3 rotor

4 ring bowls

4.1 liquid space

4.2 gas space

5, 6 ring channel

7 filling element housing

8 fluid channel

9 product line

10 annular discharge opening

11 centering cone

12 bottle plates

13 liquid valve

14 valve body

15 gas pipe

16 actuator

17 return gas pipe

17.1, 17.2 End of the return gas pipe

18 support arm

19 Adjustment device

20 control valve

21 line

22 shelter

23, 24 seal

25 housing recess

25.1, 25.2 section

26, 27 control valve

28 rinse cap

H1, H2 axial stroke of the return gas pipe

FA filler element axis

Claims

claims

1. filling element for filling containers (2) with a liquid product, with a in a Füllelementgehäuse (7) formed and can be traversed by the medium liquid channel (8), with at least one liquid valve (13) in

Liquid channel (8), with a flow direction of the filling material on the

Liquid valve (13) following discharge opening (10) for discharging the contents into the respective container (2) when the liquid valve (13) and with a filling level of the filling material in the container (2) and determined by the

Filling height-determining element (17) guided through the filling element housing (7), which reaches into the container (2) with a first end (17.1) protruding beyond the discharge opening (10) and into a container at a second end remote from the first end. Passage region (23) sealed out of the Füllelementgehäuse (7) is led out, and with a to the housing passage area (23) immediately adjoining shelter (22) for receiving an axial Einstellhub (H1) corresponding length of the

filling height determining element (17), wherein the protective space (22) can be opened by an axial opening stroke (H2) deviating from the setting stroke of the filling height-determining element (17), characterized in that the

Protective space (22) by the axial opening stroke (H2) of the filling height-determining element (17) in a Füllelementgehäuse (7) formed space (25.2) opens.

2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the

level determining element a return gas tube (17) or a rod-shaped probe with at least one probe contact at the first end.

3. Filling element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a the

filling height-determining element (17) with spacing enclosing and preferably also via the discharge opening (10) from the Füllelementgehäuse (7)

projecting gas pipe (15), which forms a filling-determining element enclosing, preferably annular gas channel, for example, in the Füllelementgehäuse (7) formed space (25.2) opens, and that the shelter (22) relative to the gas pipe (15) and the gas channel to the second End (17.2) of the level determining element (17) offset in

Füllelementgehäuse (7) is provided.

4. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the filling height determining element (17) for opening the protective space (22) in an opening stroke (H2) is movable, which is greater than the maximum Einstellhub (H1).

5. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the filling height determining element (17) for opening the protective space (22) in the direction of the discharge opening (10) having underside of the filling element (1) is movable.

6. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the protective space (22) is formed by a cylinder-like, preferably circular-cylindrical portion (25.1) of a housing recess (25), that at least one of the filling height-determining element (17)

Sealing element (24) is provided, which separates the protective space (22) from a process side of the filling element (1) or of process gas and / or filling material and / or vacuum leading areas of the filling element (1), and that

Sealing element (24) with the filling height-determining elements in a piston-like manner in the portion (25.1) of the housing recess (25) is movable.

7. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that at the protective space (22) forming portion (25.1) at least one further section (25.2) in the direction of the opening stroke (H2) connects, which forms the Füllelementgehäuse (7) formed space (25.2) or is in communication with this ,

8. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one in Füllelementgehäuse (7) formed flow path through which the protective space (22) can be acted upon during filling with a pressurized inert gas and over the open at shelter (22)

Cleaning and / or sterilization medium can be fed or discharged, for a cleaning and / or sterilization of the shelter (22) or the

Protective space-forming housing recess (25) and the filling height-determining element (17).

9. filling system, preferably in the form of a filling machine of rotating design with a plurality of filling elements (1) on a transport element, for example on a rotating rotor (3), characterized in that the filling elements (1) are designed according to one of the preceding claims.