EP2964562B1 - Machine and method for filling containers and cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1, to a method for filling containers according to the preamble of claim 11 and to a method for cleaning and / or sterilizing the filling machine according to the preamble of claim 13.

A filling machine is basically known ( US 2,638,259 ). The known filling machine is such a revolving type with a rotor driven circumferentially about a vertical axis of the machine with a plurality of filling points on the circumference of this rotor. On the rotor a circulating with this Füllgutkessel is provided, with which the arranged below the boiler filling elements of the filling points are in communication. To close the boiler interior, a lid is firmly connected to the boiler at the top of the boiler. For supplying the liquid filling material in the product vessel, inter alia, a product connection is provided which is arranged coaxially with the rotor axis, but does not open circumferentially with the rotor in the upper region of the interior of the vessel.

Also known is a filling machine of rotating design ( DE 25 53 989 A1 ), in which on a rotating around a vertical axis of the machine rotor in addition to a common for all filling elements of the filling machine designed as a ring vessel Füllgutkessel another Füllgutkessel is provided which is connected to the ring boiler and arranged with its axis coaxially with the vertical machine axis of the filling machine. A product feed not co-rotating with the rotor opens into the same product chamber with the same axis as the machine axis. The rotational connection normally provided in filling machines of the type which serves to supply the liquid filling material from an outer product line to the rotor or to the filling vessel there, is not necessary.

A filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 3570556 known.

A filling machine with a rotating product container, a not mitdrehendem cover and an inert gas is from the US 6334473 B1 known.

The object of the invention is to show a filling machine, the simplified constructive training and high reliability especially one Simplified, yet optimal cleaning and / or disinfection of all coming into contact with the contents in areas and in particular also the filling material boiler possible. To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 is formed. A method for filling containers is the subject of claim 11.

A method for cleaning and / or sterilizing the filling machine is the subject of patent claim 13.

Also in the invention, the rotary type usually provided in filling machines type construction is not required for the supply of the liquid filling material to the rotor. This results in a considerable structural simplification not only by eliminating the usual rotary feedthrough, but also by reducing the Verrohrungsaufwandes and by reducing the necessary rotating seals.

In the case of the filling machine according to the invention, only the product vessel is formed co-rotating with the rotor, while the lid is not co-rotating with the rotor, i. firmly held on the machine frame. The transition between the lid and the Füllgutkessel is sealed by at least one seal against ingress of substances, media and in particular germs from the outside into the interior of the product container, so that the filling machine as an aseptic machine, i. is suitable as a filling machine for aseptic filling of contents in containers. By sealing the transition between the Füllgutkessel and the lid, there is also the possibility to pressurize during filling operation formed above the level in the partially filled Füllgutkessel gas space with a pressurized inert gas, such as sterile air, nitrogen or CO2 gas under pressure in order to prevent penetration of germs or foreign bodies with certainty.

With the filling machine according to the invention a variety of filling methods are possible, including including a pressureless filling of the container, wherein the gas chamber formed in the Füllgutkessel then preferably only with a slight overpressure, for example, with an overpressure of about 40mbar to 60mbar, preferably with an overpressure of about 50mbar is applied , but also a pressure filling the Container when loading the gas space in the product vessel with a correspondingly higher pressure.

The inventive construction further simplifies cleaning and / or disinfection of the filling machine and in particular of the filling material boiler with high quality and safety is possible. Especially for aseptic machines training according to the invention means a safety advantage, since risky areas are minimized.

In cleaning and / or disinfecting, e.g. CIP cleaning and / or disinfection, the corresponding medium (eg, hot steam) is preferably supplied via a relation to the vertical axis of the machine tangentially opening into the Füllkesselinnenraum and provided on the lid connection, so that inside the Füllgutkessels a circular flow of cleaning and / or disinfecting medium formed around the machine axis, which leads to an intensive cleaning and / or disinfection. During cleaning and / or disinfection, a rotary or pivoting movement is expediently carried out around the machine axis of the connection or of the cover or cover part having this connection and the product vessel. In one embodiment of the invention, the filling elements are connected via product lines to the Füllgutkessel. In a further, preferred embodiment of the product vessel forms a buffer tank, which in turn is then connected to another, formed for example as a ring vessel Füllgutkessel to which the filling elements are connected.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

• Fig. 1 in vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung eine Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum Füllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut;
• Fig. 2 in vergrößerter Einzeldarstellung und im Schnitt den Füllgutkessel der Füllmaschine der Figur 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf den Füllgutkessel der Füllmaschine der Figur 1;
• Fig. 4 in vergrößerter Einzeldarstellung die Lagerung zwischen dem Füllgutkessel und dem Deckel bei der Füllmaschine der Figur 1;
• Fig. 5 in vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung eine Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum Füllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Fig. 1 in a simplified schematic representation of a filling machine of rotating design for filling containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product;
• Fig. 2 in enlarged detail and in section the Füllgutkessel the filling machine FIG. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 a plan view of the Füllgutkessel the filling machine of FIG. 1 ;
• Fig. 4 in enlarged detail, the storage between the Füllgutkessel and the lid in the filling machine FIG. 1 ;
• Fig. 5 in a simplified schematic representation of a filling machine of rotating design for filling containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product according to another embodiment.

The in the FIG. 1 Generally designated 1 filling machine is used to fill containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid product or product, in particular drink, and is designed as a filling machine of rotating design. For this purpose, the filling machine 1 has a rotor 3, which on a machine frame 4 via a in the FIG. 1 only very schematically indicated rotor bearing 5 (eg ball pivot guide) about the vertical axis of the machine (MA) rotatably mounted and driven in rotation during the filling operation.

On the circumference of the rotor 3 filling stations 6 are formed at uniform angular intervals and in the same radial distance from the machine axis MA, each having a filling element 7 and a container carrier 8, on which the respective bottle 2 is held suspended during filling, with its bottle mouth at a discharge opening of the filling element 7 and with its bottle axis parallel to the machine axis MA. On the rotor 3 is a for all filling elements 7 of Filling machine 1 common Füllgutkessel 9 is provided, with which the filling elements 7 are connected via product lines 7.1 and is partially filled during the filling operation with the liquid contents, so that in the boiler, a lower, the contents exhibiting liquid space 9.1 and lying above a gas chamber 9.2 result. In order to prevent the ingress of foreign substances and / or germs into the product vessel 9, the filling machine 1 is basically operated so that the filled with an inert gas, for example with CO-2 gas, sterile air or nitrogen gas space 9.2 always a certain pressure, for example has an overpressure of 40 mbar to 60 mbar.

In the illustrated embodiment, the Füllgutkessel 9 is cup-shaped and rotationally symmetrical to the machine axis MA executed, i. with a boiler bottom 10 and a circular cylindrical or substantially circular-cylindrical boiler wall 11. Furthermore, the Füllgutkessel 9 is arranged with its boiler axis coaxially with the machine axis MA. At the top of the Füllgutkessel 9 is closed by a cover 12, which in contrast to Füllgutkessel does not rotate with the rotor 3 about the machine axis MA, but is connected to the machine frame 4 or a part or ring 4.1 of the machine frame 4, for example via a torque absorption ,

Shown in the figures is further a bearing assembly 13, with which the Füllgutkessel 9 is rotatably connected in the region of its upper side with the lid 12 and the ring 4.1 of the machine frame 4, wherein the actual storage of the rotor 3 and thus the Füllgutkessels 9 through the Rotor bearing 5 takes place.

As the FIG. 4 shows, the bearing assembly 13 includes, inter alia, an upper and a lower ball slewing ring 14, each of a boiler-side race 14.1, which rests against a radially outwardly projecting beyond the outer surface of the vessel wall 11 annular flange 11.1, from a provided on the ring 4.1 race 14.2 and from a Variety of arranged between these races balls exist.

Of particular importance is that the transition between the moving with the rotor 3 Füllgutkessel 9 and the fixed to the machine frame 4 connected Lid 12 is sealed, so that the interior of the Füllgutkessels 9 is hermetically sealed to the outside, which inter alia prevents the ingress of germs in the medium and also allows overpressure in the Füllgutkessel 9. Furthermore, by sealing the transition between the Füllgutkessel 9 and the lid 12 in an optimal manner a cleaning and / or disinfection, especially a CIP cleaning and / or disinfection and cleaning and / or disinfection under pressure possible, for example with a Overpressure up to 3.5 bar.

As the FIG. 4 shows, the lid 12 is formed in the region of its lid edge with a circular cylindrical, extending into the Füllgutkessel 9 lid portion 12.1. Between this cover portion and the inner surface of the Füllgutkessels 9 two machine axis MA concentrically enclosing ring seals 16 are provided. These are radially offset from each other with respect to the machine axis MA and abut against the inner surface of the Füllgutkessels 9 and against the outer surface of the lid portion 12.1, in such a way that the annular seals 16 not only the transition or gap between the Füllgutkessel 9 and the lid portion 12.1 seal, but in this case also a machine axis MA enclosing annular space 17 is formed, which is closed by the two ring seals 16 and by the inner surface of the Füllgutkessels 9 and the outer surface of the lid portion 12.1. This annular space 17 is used during filling operation, for example, as a shelter, which can be acted upon by a cover 12 formed in the port 18 with a slight overpressure inert gas or inert gas, eg with sterile air, nitrogen or CO-2 gas to thereby penetration of foreign substances , In particular, to prevent germs from the environment in the interior of the Füllgutkessels'9 optimal.

On the lid 12 various sealed through the lid 12 guided through connections are provided, in particular a product port 19, which is arranged in the illustrated embodiment of a both open and arranged coaxially with the machine axis MA and pipe section 19.1, the lower end in the liquid space 9.1 extends, so that a lower layer filling the Füllgutkessels done with the contents. This also not with the rotor. 3 and the product vessel 19 circulating the product vessel 19 is connected to an outer conduit for feeding the contents.

On the lid 12, a connection 20 for supplying and discharging further media, for example for supplying inert gas into the gas space 9.2, designed as a riser connection 21 and, above all, a tangential port 22 is provided, based on the machine axis MA tangential or im Essentially tangentially opens into the boiler interior and is used in a CIP cleaning and / or sterilization of the product container 9 and the filling machine 1 for supplying a liquid and / or gas and / or vapor cleaning medium.

During cleaning and / or sterilization (for example CIP cleaning and / or sterilization), the cleaning medium is introduced via the tangential connection 22 so that in particular the entire inner surface of the filling material vessel is optimally treated with this medium. Due to the tangential supply of cleaning and / or disinfecting media can be dispensed at least partially disposed in Füllgutkessel 9 spray heads, since the tangential inflow of cleaning and / or disinfecting medium to form a circular flow in the Füllgutkessel 9 leads, through the cleaning and / or Sterilization of the product container is intensified. This particular type of cleaning and / or sterilization of the rotor-side Füllgutkessels is only possible by the described design of the filling machine 1, i. possible because the cleaning and / or sterilization medium is introduced via the tangential port 22 directly into the Füllgutkessel 9.

Above, it was assumed that the Füllgutkessel 9 is the only common for all filling elements 7 of the filling machine 1 Füllgutkessel. The FIG. 5 shows as a further embodiment of the invention, a filling machine 1 a, wherein the Füllgutkessel 9 Although also provided on the rotor 3, but in addition to a ring vessel 23, with which the filling elements 7 are connected via the product lines 7.1. The Füllgutkessel 9 is used in this embodiment as a rotor-side buffer tank for the contents and is about a or several product lines connected to the common for the filling elements 7 ring boiler 23.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the invention inventive concept is abandoned.

In particular, it is possible to realize the seal between the Füllgutkessel 9 and the lid 12 only with a machine axis MA enclosing ring seal or with more than two ring seals. Furthermore, the storage between the Füllgutkessel 9 and the lid 12 and the cover having this part of the machine frame 4 may be realized differently than described above, for example, with only one ball pivot guide 14th

Also, it is also possible to form the filling machine such or to make the filling process such that the product to be filled no contact with any, for sealing a gap between a moving part of the filling machine 1, 1 a and a non-moving part of Filling machine 1, 1 a provided seal has. This extremely advantageous embodiment reliably prevents any abrasion from the corresponding seals from entering the filling material.

It is also possible, the filling machine 1, 1 a form so that the lid (12) is rotatably mounted fixed above the rotating rotor and the construction is designed such that the storage of the filling machine is carried out solely by the storage of the rotor, thereby an additional ball slewing connection is not required. This highly advantageous embodiment of the mechanical, structural and ultimately also the cost of a filling machine according to the invention are further reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a

filling Machine

2

bottle

3

rotor

4

machine frame

4.1

Part of the machine frame 4

5

rotor bearing

6

filling station

7

filler

8th

container carrier

9

Füllgutkessel

10

Kesselboden

11

boiler wall

11.1

flange

12

cover

12.1

cover section

13

bearing arrangement

14

Ball slewing

14.1, 14.2

race

14.3

Bullet

16

ring seal

17

room

18

connection

19

product connection

19.1

pipe section

20-22

connection

23

ring bowl

MA

machine axis

Claims (13)

1. Filling machine for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid filling material, having a rotor (3) drivable to revolve about a vertical machine axis (MA), which is rotatably mounted via a rotor bearing (5) on a machine frame (4), and having a plurality of filling elements (7) provided on the rotor (7), which together with a respective container carrier (8) retain the containers during filling, form filling points (6), to which the containers (2) to be filled are fed at a container infeed, and the filled containers (2) are removed at a container outfeed, and at which containers (2), oriented with their container axis parallel or substantially parallel to the machine axis (MA), are filled within the angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor (3) between the container infeed and the container outfeed,
   with at least one filling material container (9) arranged at the rotor (3) and rotating with this rotor, which

   - is closed by a cover (12), not rotating with the rotor (3) and connected to the machine frame (4), and

   - with a material connection (19) for delivering the filling material into the filling material container (9), wherein the material connection (19) is provided on the cover (12) and preferably coaxially with the machine axis (MA) into which the filling material container (9) opens, characterised in that

   the transition between the filling material container (9) and the cover (12) is sealed by at least one seal (16), wherein the gas chamber formed above the filling material level in the partially filled filling material container can be subjected to an inert gas under pressure during the filling operation.
2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterised by a bearing arrangement (13) between the filling material container (9) and the cover (12) or a part (4.1) of the machine frame carrying this cover (12).
3. Filling machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the bearing arrangement (13) is formed by at least one spherical turning connection.
4. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material connection opens into a liquid chamber (9.1) of the filling material container, which is occupied by the filling material during the filling.
5. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, for the sealing of the transition between the filling material container (9) and the cover (12), at least one ring seal (16) is provided, which is in contact against a ring surface of the filling material container (9), and against a ring surface of the cover (12), located opposite the other ring surface, wherein the ring surface of the filling material container (9) is formed preferably by the inner surface of this container, and the ring surface of the cover (12) is formed preferably by the outer surface of a cover section (12.1) extending into the filling material container (9).
6. Filling machine according to claim 5, characterised in that, offset axially in relation to the machine axis (MA), at least two ring seals (16) are provided, sealing the transition between the filling material chamber (9) and the cover (12), and that, formed between these ring seals (16) is a ring chamber (17) surrounding the machine axis (MA), which, for example, can be subjected via a connection (18) to a gaseous and/or vaporous medium in order to form a protective space.
7. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling elements (7) are connected via material lines (7.1) to the filling material container (9).
8. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling material container (9) forms a buffer tank, which is in connection with a further filling material container (23) provided at the rotor, preferably in the form of a ring container, and that the filling elements (7) are connected via material lines (7.1) to this further filling material container (23).
9. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in addition to the material connection (19), further connections (20-22) are provided at the cover (12), and preferably at least one further connection (22) which, in relation to the machine axis (MA), opens into the interior of the filling material container (9).
10. Filling machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover is mounted in the centre of rotation fixed above the rotating rotor, and the construction is configured in such a way that the bearing arrangement of the filling machine is provided solely by the bearing arrangement of the rotor, wherein an additional spherical turning connection is not required.
11. Method for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid filling material, making use of a filling machine (1, 1a) which is configured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid filling material is delivered to the filling material container (9) in such a way that a lower liquid chamber (9.1) and an upper gas chamber (9.2) are provided in the interior of the filling material container (9),
    characterised in that
    the upper gas chamber is subjected to an inert gas, for example with sterile air, nitrogen, or CO₂ gas, at an overpressure, for example at an overpressure of at least 40mbar or 50mbar.
12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the product to be filled has no contact whatsoever with a seal, provided in order to seal a gap between a moving part of the filling machine (1, 1a) and a non-moving part of the filling machine (1, 1a).
13. Method for cleaning a filling machine which is configured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, making use of a vaporous and/or gaseous and/or liquid cleaning and/or sterilisation medium, characterised in that the cleaning and/or sterilisation medium is fed to the interior of the filling material container (9) under pressure, for example at a pressure of up to 3.5 bar, and/or for forming a circular flow via the tangential connection.

Images