EP3016902B1 - Filling head and filling machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling system or a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 14.

Filling elements or filling machines for filling bottles or the like. Containers with a liquid filling material are known in different designs, such as a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1 of the WO 2011/067794 A1 , In other known filling elements, the discharge of the filling material to the container controlling liquid valves are basically formed by a arranged in the liquid channel of the filling element valve element in the form of a valve body which is movable for opening and closing by an actuator, for example via a valve lifter and in the closed state of the Liquid valve abuts against a valve seat formed in the liquid passage and is spaced from the valve seat in the open state of the liquid valve.

The object of the invention is to show an element which is characterized by a comparison with known filling elements simplified construction, in particular also with regard to the liquid valve. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A filling machine is the subject of patent claim 14.

A special feature of the filling element according to the invention is that the valve element controlled to open and close the liquid valve is not a valve body, but a closing membrane made of an elastic material, for example of an elastic plastic, for example of PTFE, and preferably a hollow body or funnel-shaped is open at both ends closing membrane, which is arranged on the Füllelementgehäuse so that it forms the continuation of a formed in a Füllelementgehäuse liquid channel with an open liquid valve, with a narrowing in the flow direction cross-section.

"Container" are in the context of the invention in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging, especially those which are suitable for filling of liquid products.

For the purposes of the invention, free-jet filling is to be understood as meaning a process in which the liquid product flows into the container to be filled in a free filling jet, the container with its container mouth or opening being spaced from the filling element or from a filling product outlet or a filling agent discharge opening located there is.

The term "essentially" or "approximately" or "approx." means for the purposes of the invention deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of insignificant changes 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 Darstellung und im Schnitt ein Füllelement eines Füllsystems oder einer Füllmaschine zum Freistrahlfüllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen, bei geöffnetem Flüssigkeitsventil;
• Fig. 2 eine Darstellung wie Fig. 1, jedoch bei geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil;
• Fig. 3 in Einzeldarstellung eine Schließmembrane zusammen mit einem eine Ventilfläche oder einen Ventilsitz für diese Membrane bildenden Ventilkörper;
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt entsprechend der Linie I - I der Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 das Füllelement der Fig. 1 - 3 in einem Cip-Reinigungsmodus;
• Fig. 5-10 Darstellungen ähnlich Fig. 1 bei weiteren Ausführungsformen der Erfindung.

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

• Fig. 1 in simplified representation and in section a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine for jet filling of containers in the form of bottles, with the liquid valve open;
• Fig. 2 a representation like Fig. 1 , but with the liquid valve closed;
• Fig. 3 in detail, a closing diaphragm together with a valve body forming a valve surface or a valve seat for this diaphragm;
• Fig. 4 a section corresponding to the line I - I of Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 5 the filling element of Fig. 1-3 in a cip cleaning mode;
• Fig. 5-10 Representations similar Fig. 1 in further embodiments of the invention.

That in the Fig. 1 to 4 1 designated filling element is part of a filling machine and is used for free jet filling of containers 2, which are exemplified as bottles, with a liquid product. The filling element 1 is provided together with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a vertical machine axis MA rotatably driven rotor 3 of the filling machine, on which a common for all filling elements 1, central product container, for example, a common ring vessel 4 is arranged over the liquid filling material is provided for filling in the container 2. During the filling process, the ring bowl 4 is at least partially filled with the liquid filling material.

Each filling element 1 is associated with a container carrier 5, which forms a filling position 6 together with the filling element 1 and on which in the illustrated embodiment, the container 2 with a provided below the container opening flange (neck ring) are suspended.

The filling element 1 includes, inter alia, a Füllelementgehäuse 7, in which a liquid channel 8 is formed for the contents, which is connected at its upper end via a product channel 9 with the ring bowl 4. In the product channel 9, which is oriented in the illustrated embodiment with its axis coaxially with a vertical Füllelementachse FA and opens at the bottom of the ring vessel 4 in the interior of this boiler, a flow meter 10 is provided, for example, designed as a magneto-inductive flowmeter (MID) is. At the bottom of Füllelementgehäuses 7, a liquid valve 11 is provided, which in the open state ( FIG. 1 ) releases a discharge of the contents at a lower Füllgutabgabeöffnung 12 through which the liquid product flows in a free jet 13 through the overhead container openings in the interior of the container 2 during each filling phase. In the closed state of the liquid valve 11 (FIG. FIG. 2 ) is the Füllgutabgabe blocked via the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 12. For this purpose, the liquid valve 11 has a controlled valve or closing element in the form of a closing membrane 14, the funnel-like formed of a product-compatible elastic material, for example an elastomeric plastic, for example PTFE, and which cooperates with a coaxial with the Füllelementachse FA in the interior of the liquid passage 8 stationarily arranged and flow around the liquid medium rod-shaped valve body 15 cooperates. This rod-shaped valve body 15 which is connected in the region of its upper end by a laterally projecting projection 15.1 with the Füllelementgehäuse 7 and held in the liquid channel 8, is formed at the top and at the bottom of each tapered. The lower, conically tapered end forms with its lateral surface a cooperating with the closing membrane 14 valve surface 15.2, against which the closing membrane 14 rests with closed liquid valve 11 with an inner surface.

With 16 a hollow piston is generally referred to, which serves as an actuating element for the closing diaphragm 14 and a cap or cup-like piston body 17 has. This surrounds the Füllelementgehäuse 7 and the Füllelementachse FA concentric with an annular piston body portion 17.1. Below the lower end of Füllelementgehäuses 7 of the piston body portion 17.1 passes into a bottom portion 17.2, which is provided in the region of the Füllelementachse FA with an opening which corresponds to the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 12. With the piston body portion 17. 1, the piston body 17 is displaceably guided in the direction of the filler element axis FA on the filler element housing 7.

Between the outer surface of the Füllelementgehäuses 7 and the inner surface of the piston body portion 17.1 offset in the direction of Füllelementachse FA against each other two seals against each other and also outwardly sealed control chambers 18 and 19 are formed, each controlled with a pressure medium (eg compressed air) can be acted upon, so that the hollow piston 16 or whose piston body 17 is controlled to open and close the liquid valve 11 in the Füllelementachse FA controlled up and down.

As in particular the FIG. 3 shows, the funnel-like and open at both ends closing membrane 14 has an upper opening with a larger diameter and an opening edge 14.1, then a section 14.2 with an opening cross-section, which increases with increasing axial distance from the opening edge 14.1 narrows, then a section 14.3 with a constant or substantially constant opening cross-section and then a lower opening with a reduced diameter and with an opening edge 14.4. Furthermore, in the case of the closing diaphragm 14, the axial length of the section 14.2 is greater than the axial length of the section 14.3. That in the closing membrane 14, the axial length of the portion 14.2 is greater than the axial length of the portion 14.3. is not mandatory.

With the opening edge 14.1, the closing membrane 14 is tightly clamped on Füllelementgehäuse 7, so that it is arranged with its axis coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA and in the open state of the liquid valve 11 forms the continuation of the liquid passage 8. With the section 14.3, the closing membrane 14 is passed through the opening in the bottom section 17.2 and attached to the side facing away from the Füllelementgehäuse 7 underside of the bottom portion 17.2 with its opening edge 14.4 in a suitable manner. When the liquid valve 11 is open, the closing membrane 14 forms with its lower opening the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 12th

The opening of the liquid valve 11 is effected by applying the upper control chamber 18, which is also formed between an upper shoulder on the outer surface of the Füllelementgehäuses 7 and an inner annular ridge of the piston body 17. Here, the piston body 17 is moved in the Füllelementachse FA down and while the closing membrane 14 for opening the liquid valve 11 is moved away from the valve surface 15.2.

The closing of the liquid valve 11 takes place by acting on the lower control chamber 19, which is formed between a lower collar and the inner annular web of the piston body 17, with the pressure medium. In this case, the piston body 17 is moved upward in the filling element axis FA and thereby the closing diaphragm 14 is pressed against the valve surface 15.2 with elastic deformation with the inner surface of its section 14.2.

The control of the control chambers 18 and 19 via a not shown process control of the filling elements 1 having filling machine in response to the measurement signals of the flow meter 10th

The Fig. 5 shows the filling element 1 in a CIP cleaning and / or disinfection mode. For this purpose, a flushing plate 20 is arranged under each filling element 1 of the filling system, in which a flushing channel 21 opening at the top of this plate at 21.1 is formed. Against the edge of the mouth 21. 1 of the channel 21, the lower opening edge 14. 4 of the closing membrane 14 is sealed when the liquid valve 11 is open, so that an outwardly closed flow path, for example from the ring bowl 4, is provided for the respective CIP cleaning and / or disinfecting medium through the filling element 1 into the channel 21 results.

The Fig. 6 shows in a representation similar Fig. 1 as a further embodiment, a filling system with a filling element 1a, which differs from the filling element 1 essentially only in that instead of the funnel-shaped closing membrane 14 a likewise funnel-like shaped closing membrane 14a is provided, which in turn consists of the elastic material, from the closing membrane 14 differs in that it has a section 14.3 whose axial length is greater than the corresponding length of the section 14.3 of the closing membrane 14 (FIG. FIG. 3 ). Furthermore, in the case of the closing diaphragm 14a, the axial length of the section 14.3 is greater than the axial length of the section 14.2. The section 14.3 is surrounded by a rigid support tube 22, for example made of plastic. The support tube 22 is supported with its lower edge to the top of the bottom portion 17.2 and deforms to close the liquid valve 11, the portion 14.2 of the closing membrane 14a so that it rests sealingly against the valve surface 15.2 the liquid channel 8. The enclosed by the support tube 22 section 14.3 of the closing membrane 14a serves as a beam rectifier or as a beam shaping element for the Füllgutstrahl 13th

The Fig. 8 shows as a further embodiment, a filling system with a filling element 1b, which differs from the filling element 1a in that at the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 12 is formed by a sieve-like insert gas barrier 23, at the lower opening of the closing membrane 14a. With the gas barrier 23 a dripping of contents after closing the liquid valve 11 is prevented from the enclosed by the support tube 22 interior of the closing membrane 14a. Furthermore, the filling element 1b differs from the filling element 1a in that between the rotor 3 and the annular piston body portion 17.1 a bellows seal 24 as a hygiene protection against ingress of foreign substances (eg also Füllgutresten) and / or germs in the space between the piston body 17 and the Outer surface of the Füllelementgehäuses 7 is provided.

The Fig. 9 shows as a further embodiment, a filling system with a filling element 1c. That in the Fig. 9 shown filling system is used for aseptic filling of products in the container 2. For this purpose, a sterile room 25 is formed below the rotor 3, in which the container 2 are arranged during filling. Within this sterile room 25, only the container carrier 5 are essentially provided. The filling elements 1c and all other elements provided on the rotor 3 are located above the upper side of the rotor 3 or outside the sterile room 25. The filling element 1c differs from the filling element 1 essentially in that a closing membrane 14c is provided instead of the closing membrane 14a that does not have the lower opening edge 14.4 and also the support tube 22. With the section 14.3, the closing membrane 14c is passed through the opening of the bottom portion 17.2 and held in this bottom portion so that the portion 14.3 projects beyond the bottom of the bottom portion 17.2. At least when the liquid valve 11 is open, the section 14.3 with its lower end forming the dispensing opening 12 extends through an opening 26 in the rotor 3 into the sterile room 25. When opening and closing the liquid valve 11, the closing membrane 14c, and in particular also the section 14.3, is axially moved in the filling element axis FA. In order to seal the opening 26 in the area surrounding the section 14.3, a seal 27 is provided, which is fastened on the one hand to the rotor 3 and on the other hand to the section 14.3 is and has sufficient elasticity to follow the movement of the section 14.3 when opening and closing the liquid valve 11 can.

In the illustrated embodiment, the seal 27 is also funnel-like or conical and formed with its upper, the larger cross-section edge with the top of the rotor 3 and with a local, the opening 26 enclosing edge region and with its lower edge with the section 14.3 in connected to the vicinity of the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 12. In principle, the seal 27, together with the closing membrane 14c, can also be designed in one piece as a multiple membrane.

It has been assumed above that the actuating element for opening and closing the respective liquid valve 11 is a hollow piston 16. Of course, for opening and closing the liquid valves 11 also differently designed actuators can be used.

The Fig. 10 Finally, as a further embodiment shows a filling system with a filling element 1d, which differs from the filling element 1 essentially only in that as an actuating device for the liquid valve 11 not the coaxial with the Füllelementachse FA arranged hollow piston 16, but a relative to the Füllelementachse FA radially offset Actuator 28, for example in the form of a pneumatically actuated actuator is used. The actuator 28, which is shown only very schematically in this figure, acts via a connecting element 29 on the funnel-like closing diaphragm 14, in the same manner as described above for the hollow piston 16.

All described embodiments have in common that the opening and closing of the liquid valve 11 effecting valve element is formed in a particularly simple form of a closing membrane of an elastic material, in the illustrated embodiments of the funnel-like shaped closing membrane 14, 14a - 14c, respectively are rotationally symmetrical to Füllelementachse FA and preferably also formed so that they through Natural elasticity their state corresponding to the open liquid valve 11 assumes.

Substantial advantages of the filling element 1, 1a-1d are inter alia with regard to the liquid valve 11
in a very simplified construction, also avoiding a conical valve body moved by an actuator,
in a reduction of the required components,
in a maintenance-free or at least low-maintenance construction,
in reduced production costs,
in the avoidance of areas where product residues could accumulate with the risk of microbial contamination,
in the avoidance of large masses that would have to be moved when opening and closing the liquid valve, in particular in avoiding a valve cone and a valve stem, as well
in a simplified and improved cleaning and / or disinfection, in particular all of the filling material coming into contact surfaces of the filling element 1, such as inner surfaces of the product line 9, the liquid passage 8 and the liquid valve eleventh

Furthermore, in the optimum for the Füllgutfluss arrangement of the respective filling element 1 immediately below the Füllgutkessels 4 and to form an exclusively vertical or substantially vertical flow path for the medium in the measuring range of the flow meter 10 movable and / or rigid elements avoided that the operation of the flow meter 10 could affect.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a-1d

filler

2

container

3

rotor

4

ring bowl

5

container carrier

6

filling position

7

filling element

8th

liquid channel

9

product line

10

Flowmeter

11

liquid valve

12

Füllgutabgabeöffnung

13

Füllgutstrahl

14, 14a-14c

closing membrane

14.1, 14.4

Opening edge of the closing membrane

14.2 - 14.3

Section of the closing membrane

15

valve body

15.1

Approach of the valve body

15.2

Valve surface or valve seat

16

hollow piston

17

piston body

17.1

annular section

17.2

bottom section

18, 19

control chamber

20

Flushing plate

21

irrigation channel

21.1

opening

22

support tube

23

gas barrier

24

bellows seal

25

Clean room

26

opening

27

poetry

28

actuator

29

connecting member

FA

filling element

MA

vertical machine axis

Claims (16)

1. Filling element for filling containers (2) with liquid contents, comprising a liquid channel (8), which is formed in a filling-element housing (7) and to which the liquid contents are fed via a product channel (9), and having a liquid valve (11), by means of which the contents are dispensed in a controlled manner to the container (2) which is to be filled in each case at at least one contents-dispensing opening (12) leading from the liquid channel (8), wherein the liquid valve (11) has at least one valve element which can be moved, by an actuating device (16, 28), at least between a state in which it blocks the dispensing operation of the contents, and in which the valve element butts against a valve surface (15.2) formed in the liquid channel (8), and a state in which it opens the liquid valve (11), and in which the controllable valve element is spaced apart from the valve surface (15.2), wherein the controllable valve element is a closure diaphragm (14, 14a, 14c) made of an elastic material, wherein the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) is configured as a hollow body which is open on both sides and is rotationally symmetric in relation to a closure diaphragm axis, wherein the valve surface (15.2) is formed from the surface of a valve body (15) arranged in the liquid channel (8), wherein the valve body (15) is configured as rod-shaped, and comprises the valve surface (15.2), against which, when the liquid valve (11) is closed, the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) comes in pressure contact with an inner surface, due to the actuating device (16, 28), characterised in that the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) is configured as funnel-shaped and is arranged in such a way that, with the liquid valve (11) open, it forms the extension of the liquid channel (8), which narrows in the form of a funnel in the direction of the contents-dispensing opening (12) at least on a first section (14.2) of the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c), and that the valve body (15) is configured with at least one tapering end, and at this end comprises the valve surface (15.2).
2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterised in that the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) comprises at least one first section (14.2) of which the cross-section decreases in the direction of a closure diaphragm axis, then adjoining this at least one second section (14.3) with a reduced cross-section, preferably with a consistent or essentially consistent cross-section
3. Filling element according to claim 2, characterised in that the funnel-shaped closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) is arranged with its axis coaxially with a filling element axis (FA).
4. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve body (15) extends with its valve surface (15.2) into the interior of the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14b), for example into the funnel-shaped narrowing section (14.2) of the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c).
5. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) forms the dispensing opening at an opening with reduced cross-section.
6. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the funnel-shaped closure diaphragm comprises an opening, adjoining the liquid channel (8), with a larger cross-section, and an opening with reduced cross-section located remotely from the liquid channel (8).
7. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closure diaphragm (14, 14a, 14b) is connected to an actuating element (17.2, 29) of the actuating device (16, 28) at a section, preferably at the second section (14.3).
8. Filling element according to claim 7, characterised in that the closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) is connected to the actuating element (17.2, 29) in the region of its open end which forms the dispensing opening.
9. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, with a funnel-shaped configuration, the closure diaphragm (14a) forms with the second section (14.3) a flow straightener.
10. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a gas barrier (23) is provided at the dispensing opening (12).
11. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuating device is formed by a hollow piston (16), which is guided with a ring-shaped piston body section (17.1) in the direction of the filling element axis (FA), in an axially displaceable manner at the filling element housing (7), and comprises an opening at a base section(17.2) which extends into the funnel-shaped closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c) with one section, preferably with the second section (14.3), and is held in the funnel-shaped closure diaphragm (14, 14a-14c).
12. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuation device is provided radially offset in relation to the filling element axis (FA), and takes effect on the closure diaphragm (14) by means of the actuation element (29).
13. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is configured for the free flow filling of containers (2).
14. Filling machine for the filling of containers (2) with a liquid contents, with a rotor (3), driven such as to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA), at which a plurality of filling elements are provided, which in each case together with a container carrier (5) form filling positions, characterised in that the filling elements (1, 1a-1d) are configured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
15. Filling machine according to claim 14, characterised in that the filling elements (1, 1a-1d) are connected via a product line (9) in each case with a filling product tank (4), common to all the filling elements (1, 1a-1d), at the rotor (3), and that the axis of the filling product line (9) is arranged parallel or coaxially to the filling element axis (FA) of the respective filling element, and that a flowmeter (10), preferably a magnetically inductive flowmeter, is provided in the product line.
16. Filling machine according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that, with the formation of the filling machine with a sterile space (25) underneath the rotor (3), the filling elements (1c) are arranged outside the sterile space, above the rotor (3), and only the funnel-shaped closure diaphragms extend with their ends forming the dispensing opening (12) through openings (26) into the sterile space (25), and that the part of the openings (26) not occupied by the closure diaphragms (14c) is in each case sealed by a seal (27).

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