EP2930140B1 - Filling device for filling a container with a filling product - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

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

State of the art

For filling of containers with drinks in beverage filling plants Füllorgane are known, which in addition to the actual filling valve, which includes, for example, a forward-closing poppet, which is accommodated in a valve seat, also comprise a swirl body. The swirl body is arranged, for example, above the filling cone and serves to put the filling product so above the poppet so in a rotational movement that it is provided after the outflow from the Füllventilöffnung with an angular momentum and runs on the side walls of the container to be filled. In this way, a gentle inflow of the filling product is achieved in the container to be filled, since the filling product runs on the side walls of the container to be filled.

The swirl body usually has at least one guide surface, which is helically formed. The slope of the guide surface may be constant over the entire axial height of the swirler, or may increase from top to bottom. For example, it may be preferable for the slope of the guide surfaces to increase from top to bottom in order to avoid turbulence in the filling product and, correspondingly, to apply the rotation to the liquid as efficiently as possible on the short available passage along the height of the swirl body. A swirl body with a substantially constant pitch is for example from the DE 94 16 912 U1 known. In the DE 20 2007 014 205 U1 discloses a filling member and a method according to the preambles of claims 1 and 9, and a swirler is shown, in which increases the slope of the guide surfaces of the swirler from top to bottom.

In order to take account of different filling products with different viscosities and different container geometries, a large number of different swirl bodies is known, which must be mounted depending on the filling situation in the respective filling member. Accordingly, it may be necessary that in a Füllproduktwechsel or a change in the geometry of the container to be filled in all Füllorganen the swirl body must be replaced in order to achieve an optimal filling result for the new filling situation.

The different swirl bodies have, depending on the viscosity of the filling product and depending on the container shape of the container to be filled, different gradients of the respective guide surfaces, which are arranged on the outside of the respective swirl body.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling member for filling a container with a filling product, which allows flexible use for different filling products and different container shapes.

This object is achieved by the 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 is proposed, comprising a filling valve for controlling the flow of product flowing into the container and a swirl body having at least one guide surface, by means of which the inflowing into the container filling product is set into a rotational movement. According to the invention, the slope of the guide surface of the swirl body is variable.

Because the slope of the guide surface of the swirl body is variable, a large number of different configurations of filling product and container geometry can be covered with a single swirl body. It is no longer necessary to replace the swirl body, but it can be treated by the adjustable slope of the guide surfaces with a single swirler a variety of different situations.

Accordingly, for each container contours and different Füllprodukteigenschaften each optimum swirl body geometry can be adjusted and Accordingly, the slope of the guide surfaces of the swirl body are varied so that optimum filling results are obtained. This was not possible with the rigid swirl bodies of the prior art. With the rigid swirl bodies of the prior art, there was only the option of either not completely optimally fill, or replace the swirl body, which accordingly entailed a high cost and long makeready times when changing products.

Preferably, the swirler with its guide surfaces comprises an elastic material and the pitch of the guide surfaces of the swirler can be varied by twisting and / or swaging a downstream end of the swirler relative to an upstream end of the swirler. Accordingly, a swirl body can be provided in a simple mechanical manner, which provides guide surfaces with a variable pitch.

In order to achieve an efficient loading of the filling product with the rotation pulse, the swirl body preferably has a plurality of guide surfaces whose pitch is variable together.

In order to achieve a respectively constant pitch of the fins from the upstream end to the downstream end of the swirler, the swirler preferably has homogeneous material properties from its upstream end to its downstream end. Correspondingly, a predetermined rotation for varying the pitch of the guide surfaces causes a constant pitch of the guide surfaces over the height of the swirl body.

In order to achieve increasing slope of the fins each from the upstream end to the downstream end, the swirl body preferably has a decreasing Young's modulus from its upstream end to its downstream end. For this purpose, for example, a higher material thickness can be provided in the upper region of the swirl body than in the lower region, so that in the lower region there is an applied twist corresponding to a stronger rotation with respect to the initial configuration than in the upper region.

Preferably, the pitch of the baffle may be constant from the upstream end of the swirler to the downstream end of the swirler. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the slope of the guide surface increases from the upstream end of the swirler to the downstream end of the swirler.

In order to allow a simple variation of the pitch of the guide surfaces, an adjustment device for varying the pitch of the guide surface of the swirl body is preferably provided, preferably in the form of an adjusting rod, which is particularly preferably in the form of a return gas tube and / or in the form of a level probe. This can be achieved with existing components of a filling valve, a simple construction of the swirl body.

Preferably, a control device for adjusting the slope of the guide surfaces of the swirl body is provided on the filling member. This control unit can, for example, act on said adjusting rod in order to control a twisting or swaging of the swirl body for varying the pitch of the guide surfaces of the swirl body.

Depending on the filled product or its viscosity and depending on the container shape of the container to be filled, a different pitch for the guide surfaces can be set via the control unit. This is possible both during Füllproduktwechsel and when changing the container.

In a further preferred embodiment, a variation of the slope of the guide surfaces can also be made during the actual filling process. Since the filling level in the container to be filled increases during the filling process, the drop height of the filling product drops over the filling process. Accordingly, it is preferable, at least at the beginning of the filling process, to apply a high angular momentum to the filling product in order to allow a correspondingly clean and smooth flow of the filling product onto the container walls. Because of the high drop height of the filling product in the container to be filled at the beginning of the filling process, clean drainage is correspondingly of great importance. During the filling process, however, the filling product level increases in the container to be filled, so that from a certain filling level, the drop height is reduced so much that a direct inflow into the container would be possible. Accordingly, from this filling level, the pitch of the guide surfaces can be reduced or canceled, so that the filling product flows directly into the container to be filled. Accordingly, the flow resistance in the filling product channel is reduced and the filling process is accelerated overall. The reduction of the slope of the guide surfaces can either take place continuously, or quasi abruptly when reaching a certain filling level.

Furthermore, it is preferable to make the pitch of the guide surfaces of the respective flow rate of the filling product by the filling member dependent. Accordingly, at the beginning of the filling process, when the filling valve is not yet opened or is being opened, the pitch may be lower in order not to hinder the initial inflow of the filling product by a high flow resistance. Once the full flow rate is achieved, the pitch of the guide surfaces can then be increased to allow optimum flow of the fill product along the interior walls of the container.

Furthermore, it is preferable, at different filling speeds, which are achieved for example via a throttle valve upstream of the filling valve, to vary the slope of the guide surfaces accordingly so that an optimized gradient of the guide surfaces is provided for the respective flow rate and the respective filling product volume flow.

The above object is further achieved by a method having the features of claim 9. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container with a filling product is proposed, comprising the steps of feeding a filling product into a container to be filled and applying a rotational movement to the filling product by means of a swirling body arranged in front of the container to be filled, which guide surfaces for applying the rotational movement the filling product comprises. According to the invention, the slope of the guide surfaces of the swirl body is varied.

Preferably, the pitch of the guide surfaces is varied depending on the container shape of the container to be filled and the viscosity of the filling product to be filled prior to feeding the filling product.

The slope of the guide surfaces can preferably also be varied during the feeding of the filling product, preferably with a gradient decreasing towards the end of the filling process.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

ein Füllorgan mit einem Drallkörper;

Figur 2

einen Drallkörper in einer ersten Konfiguration; und

Figur 3

den Drallkörper aus Figur 2 in einer zweiten Konfiguration.

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 filling member with a swirl body;

FIG. 2

a swirler in a first configuration; and

FIG. 3

the swirl body out FIG. 2 in a second configuration.

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 a filling member 1 is shown, which shows a known structure. The filling member 1 has a filling valve 10 which comprises a forward-closing filling cone 12, which can be accommodated in a valve seat 14 complementary thereto. To open the filling valve 10, the Füllventilkegel 12 is lifted out of the valve seat 14 upwards, so that the upcoming over the filling valve 10 filling product enters through a Füllproduktauslauf 16 in the arranged below to be filled container. The filling product is supplied to the filling valve 10, for example via a filling product supply 18.

In the embodiment shown, a return gas pipe 19 is further shown, which dips into the container to be filled and over which the displaced by the filling of the container to be filled with the filling gas volume can be derived from the interior of the container. Furthermore, the return gas tube 19 can also be used to determine the filling level of the filling product in the container or to withdraw excess filling product from an overfilled container in order to provide a defined filling level. Instead of the return gas pipe 19 and a level probe may be provided which upon reaching a predetermined fill level generates a shutdown signal, due to which the Füllventilkegel 12 is lowered back into the valve seat 14 and thus the filling process is terminated.

Above the Füllventilkegels 12 a swirl body 2 is arranged, which has a plurality of guide surfaces 20. The guide surfaces 20 are helically arranged around a swirl body 26 around, in principle, as the threads of a screw around the screw body around. In the guide channels 21 formed between the guide surfaces 20, the filling product is passed and applied by the helical guide of the filling product in the guide channels 21 according to the desired rotational movement relative to the axis of symmetry S.

As can be seen from the sectional view of FIG. 1 results, the swirl body 2 is formed so that the slope of the guide surfaces 20 increases from an upstream end 22 of the swirl body 2 to a downstream end 24 of the swirl body 2 towards. The upstream end 22 is in a conventional arrangement of the swirl body 2 and the upper end of the swirl body 2 when it is ready for operation in a filling member 1 is installed. The downstream end 24 of the swirl body 2 is arranged according to the bottom in a conventional installation.

The slope of the guide surfaces 20 may be constant over the course of the swirl body 2 away. In the embodiment shown, however, the guide surfaces 20 are formed so that their slope from the upstream end 22 of the swirl body 2 to the downstream end 24 of the swirl body 2 increases towards. By this arrangement, a constant acceleration of the filling product over the course of the swirl body 2 is achieved and thus reduces the applied by the swirler 2 flow resistance over a training with a constant slope.

A Füllproduktstrom which flows through the opening of the filling valve 10, the filling member 1 is provided in accordance with the guide surfaces 20 entering the upstream end 22 and exiting the downstream end 24 of the swirler 2 with a rotation pulse, such that the filling product to the by the filling valve cone 12 passing therethrough axis of symmetry S is rotated around. Correspondingly, the filling product rotates about the axis of symmetry S in such a way that, after it leaves the filling product outlet 16, it is forced outward due to the centrifugal forces. Accordingly, the filling product due to the centrifugal forces caused by the rotation of the inner wall of the below the Füllproduktauslaufes 16th pressed to be filled container so that it can run smoothly and smoothly on this to allow a gentle filling of the filling product. This can be avoided that the filling product falls with a high filling level in the container to be filled and thus impinges with high energy at the bottom of the container to be filled, which can lead to increased foaming of the filling product and on the other to an impairment of the filling product ,

The slope of the guide surfaces 20 of the swirl body 2 is variable in the embodiment shown. In particular, it is possible to adapt the pitch of the guide surfaces 20 of the swirl body 2 to the respective configuration of the filling process, in particular to the geometry of the container to be filled and to the viscosity of the filling product.

This variability of the slope of the guide surfaces 20 is effected in the illustrated embodiment in that the swirl body 2 comprises an elastic and / or flexible material and a rotation of the downstream end 24 of the swirl body 2 relative to the upstream end 22 to a rotation of the swirl body. 2 in itself and thus also to a variation of the slope of the guide surfaces 20 leads. In a less strong in-itself rotation of the swirl body 2 in itself the slope is correspondingly lower than in a stronger in-itself rotation of the swirl body. 2

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of the swirl body 2 and thus the variation of the slope of the guide surfaces 20 of the swirl body 2 is effected in that the return gas pipe 19 is connected at the downstream end 24 of the swirl body 2 with this rotationally fixed via a rotary joint 28. Accordingly, a rotation of the return gas pipe 19 about the axis of symmetry S via the rotary joint 28 to the downstream end 24 of the swirl body 2 is transmitted. At its upstream end 22, however, the swirl body 2 is held in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the filling member 1. This non-rotatable connection can be made for example via a positive connection of the swirl body 2 with a guide tube 29, in which the return gas pipe 19 is guided concentrically. The guide tube 29 is rotatably held with respect to the filling member 1.

Accordingly, the swirler 2 is held against rotation at its upstream end 22 on the guide tube 29, but at the downstream end 24 is the swirler 2 over a rotation of the return gas pipe 19 with respect to the upstream end 22 rotatable.

By a relative rotation of the return gas pipe 19 relative to the guide tube 29, a relative rotation of the upstream end 22 relative to the downstream end 24 of the swirler 2 can be achieved accordingly, so that in this way the pitch of the guide surfaces 20 can be varied via the relative rotation ,

By varying the pitch of the guide surfaces 20, the filling member 1 can be adapted with its filling properties to the respective filled filling product, in particular its viscosity, and to the geometry of the container to be filled. For this purpose, the slope of the guide surfaces 20 is adjusted before the start of the filling process.

However, the slope of the guide surfaces 20 can also be varied during a single filling operation, for example, depending on the respective flow rate of the filling product, which is varied for example by an upstream throttle valve.

Furthermore, the pitch of the guide surfaces 20 can also be adapted to the respective filling level in the container to be filled and, for example, be reduced when the filling level rises, in order to reduce the flow resistance of the filling product and to enable a faster filling process as a whole.

In the FIGS. 2 and 3 2, another swirler 2 is shown schematically, which in turn has a plurality of vanes 20 shown in two different configurations. The swirl body 2 is again preferably fixed relative to the filling valve 1 at its upstream end 22 in the exemplary embodiment shown and held rotatably at its downstream end 24 with respect to the upstream end 22.

In FIG. 2 1, there is shown a configuration of the swirler 2 in which there is no relative rotation between the upstream end 22 and the downstream end 24. In FIG. 3 For example, a configuration is shown in which there is a twist between the upstream end 22 and the downstream end 24 such that the fins 20 are helically arranged and correspondingly guide channels 21 therebetween form, in which the filling product can be performed under application of a rotational movement.

By varying the relative rotation between the upstream end 22 and the downstream end 24, the slope of the guide surfaces 20 can be varied accordingly.

The swirl body 2 preferably has an elastic or flexible material, so that the guide surfaces 20 can be designed with variable pitches correspondingly by the rotation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Filling head

10

filling valve

12

Füllventilkegel

14

valve seat

16

Füllproduktauslauf

18

Füllproduktzuführung

19

Return gas pipe

2

swirler

20

baffle

21

guide channel

22

upstream end of the swirl body

24

downstream end of the swirl body

26

Swirler body

28

rotary joint

29

guide tube

Claims (11)

1. Filling element (1) for filling a container with a filling product, comprising a filling valve (10) for controlling the filling product flow flowing into the container and a swirler (2) having at least one guide surface (20) by means of which the filling product flowing into the container is able to be set into a rotational movement,
   characterised in that
   the gradient of the guide surface (20) of the swirler (2) is variable such that the gradient of the guide surface (20) of this single swirler (2) is adaptable.
2. Filling element (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the swirler (2) comprises an elastic material and the gradient of the guide surface (20) of the swirler (2) is variable by twisting and/or compression of an end (24) of the swirler (2) lying downstream relative to an end (22) of the swirler (2) lying upstream.
3. Filling element (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the swirler (2) has a plurality of guide surfaces (20), the gradient of which is mutually variable.
4. Filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the swirler (2) has homogenous material properties from its end (22) lying upstream to its end (24) lying downstream.
5. Filling element (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the swirler (2) has a decreasing elastic modulus from an end (22) lying upstream to its end (24) lying downstream.
6. Filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that
   the gradient of the guide surface (20) is constant from the end (22) of the swirler (2) lying upstream to the end (24) of the swirler (2) lying downstream.
7. Filling element (1) according to Claim 5, characterised in that the gradient of the guide surface (20) increases from the end of the swirler (2) lying upstream to the end of the swirler (2) lying downstream.
8. Filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an adjusting device (19) is provided for variation of the gradient of the guide surface (20) of the swirler (2), preferably in the form of an adjusting rod which is particularly preferably formed in the form of a return gas pipe (19) and/or in the form of a level detector.
9. Method for filling a container with a filling product, comprising the steps:

   supplying a filling product into a container to be filled and

   applying a rotational movement to the filling product by means of a swirler (2) arranged before the container to be filled, said swirler comprising guide surfaces (20) for applying the rotational movement to the filling product,

   characterised in that
   the gradient of the guide surfaces (20) of the swirler (2) is varied such that the gradient of the guide surface (20) of this single swirler (2) is adapted.
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterised in that the gradient of the guide surfaces (20) is varied before the supply of the filling product depending on the container shape of the container to be filled as well as the viscosity of the filling product to be filled.
11. Method according to Claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the gradient of the guide surfaces (20) is varied during the supply of the filling product, preferably with a gradient which decreases towards the end of the filling procedure.

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