EP3135628A1 - A machine for filling containers - Google Patents
A machine for filling containers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3135628A1 EP3135628A1 EP15306332.6A EP15306332A EP3135628A1 EP 3135628 A1 EP3135628 A1 EP 3135628A1 EP 15306332 A EP15306332 A EP 15306332A EP 3135628 A1 EP3135628 A1 EP 3135628A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- filling
- machine
- coupled
- container
- filling head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/001—Cleaning of filling devices
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
- B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
- B67C2003/2671—Means for preventing foaming of the liquid
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a machine for filling containers, such as bottles, with pourable products, such as carbonated liquids, non-carbonated liquids, emulsions, suspensions and high viscosity liquids.
- container handling plants typically including a plurality of processing stations or machines, such as rinsing machines, filling machines, capping machines and labelling machines.
- the containers to be handled are generally fed to and removed from these machines by means of a transport system including star wheels and linear conveyors.
- Each filling machine generally comprises a conveying wheel, which is mounted to rotate about a rotation axis, and is provided with a plurality of handling units, which are mounted along a peripheral edge of the conveying wheel, and are fed by the conveying wheel along a path extending about the rotation axis.
- Each handling unit comprises a support device for receiving and retaining a relative container and a filling device for feeding a pourable product into the container.
- the filling device comprises a vertical post, which has an upper wide portion and a lower narrow portion, and is engaged in a sliding manner by a tubular shutter.
- the shutter defines, together with the post, an annular outer feeding duct, which extends between the post and the shutter, and is connected to a tank of the pourable product to be fed into the containers.
- the shutter is axially mobile between a lowered closing position, in which the shutter is arranged in contact with the post so as to be coupled to the post in a fluid-tight manner and the outer feeding duct is closed, and a raised opening position, in which the outer feeding duct is open.
- the shutter defines an inner feeding duct, which extends inside the shutter, and is connected to a feeding device, which is adapted to feed a gas under pressure along the inner feeding duct and into the containers.
- the filling device comprises, furthermore, a cylindrical filling head, which is coupled to the lower end of the post in a rotary manner so as to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the post, and is provided with an annular gasket configured to be coupled to a top neck of the container in a fluid-tight manner.
- the filling device is further provided with a gripping device for a container, which is provided with a pair of holding jaws configured to hold a container in correspondence to its top neck, and is coupled to the filling head in an angularly fixed manner so as to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the post.
- the gripping device is further coupled to the filling head in an axially sliding manner so as to move between a raised operating position, in which the top neck of the container is coupled in a fluid-tight manner to the above mentioned annular gasket, and a lowered rest position, in which the top neck of the container is arranged at a given distance from the annular gasket.
- the filling head and the filling valve are coupled in a fluid-tight manner to one another by interposing a mechanical sliding gasket having a rotary lower ring fixed to the filling head so as to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the post and an upper ring fixed to the lower free end of a sleeve, which is coupled in an angularly fixed and axially sliding manner to the post.
- the upper ring is kept in contact with the lower ring by a spring, which is interposed between the post and the sleeve.
- Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a machine for filling containers, in particular bottles 2, with pourable products, such as carbonated liquids, non-carbonated liquids, emulsions, suspensions and high viscosity liquids.
- Each bottle 2 has a longitudinal axis 3 and has a top neck 4 substantially coaxial with the axis 3.
- the machine 1 comprises a filling wheel 5, which is mounted to rotate continuously (anticlockwise in Figure 1 ) about a vertical axis 6 perpendicular to the Figure 1 plane.
- the wheel 5 receives a succession of empty bottles 2 from an input star wheel 7, which is connected to the wheel 5 at a first transfer station 8 and is mounted to rotate continuously about a respective longitudinal axis 9 parallel to the axis 6.
- the wheel 5 releases a succession of filled bottles 2 to an output star wheel 10, which is connected to the wheel 5 at a second transfer station 11 and is mounted to rotate continuously about a respective longitudinal axis 12 parallel to the axes 6 and 9.
- Wheel 5 is provided with a plurality of handling units 13, which are equally angularly spaced about the axis 6, are mounted along a peripheral edge of the wheel 5, and are moved by the wheel 5 along a path P extending about the axis 6 and through the stations 8 and 11.
- each handling unit 13 comprises a filling device 14 comprising, in turn, a vertical post 15 with a cylindrical shape, which has a longitudinal axis 16 parallel to axis 6, and is radially delimited by an inner wall comprising an upper wide portion 17 and a lower narrow portion 18.
- the post 15 is engaged in a sliding manner by a shutter 19 with a tubular shape, which is mounted inside the post 15 coaxial to the axis 16, and defines, together with the post 15, a filling valve 20 of the filling device 14.
- the shutter 19 is coupled to the post 15 by means of a deformable annular membrane (not shown), which is interposed between the post 15 and the shutter 19 itself.
- the shutter 19 defines, together with the post 15, an annular outer feeding duct 21, which extends between the post 15 and the shutter 19, and is connected to a tank (not shown) of the pourable product to be fed into the bottles 2.
- the shutter 19 is axially mobile between a lowered closing position (not shown), in which the shutter 19 is arranged in contact with the inner wall of the post 15 so as to be coupled to the post 15 in a fluid-tight manner and close the duct 21, and a raised opening position ( Figure 2 ), in which the duct 21 itself is open.
- the shutter 19 is moved to its raised opening position - and normally kept there - by a spring (not shown), which is mounted between the post 15 and the shutter 19 coaxial to the axis 16, and is moved to its lowered closing position, against the action of the spring (not shown), by an actuating cylinder (not shown).
- the actuating cylinder (non shown) is obtained in the post 15 coaxial to the axis 16, is connected to a known pneumatic device, which is not shown, and is provided with a piston, which extends perpendicularly to the axis 16 and is coupled to the shutter 19 in an axially and angularly fixed manner.
- the shutter 19 has, furthermore, a swirler 22, which is obtained on the outer surface of the shutter 19 itself, and extends along - and around - the axis 16, so as to cause the pourable product fed along the duct 21 to have a swirling movement.
- the shutter 19 defines an inner feeding duct 23, which extends inside the shutter 19, and is connected to a supply device (not shown), which is adapted to feed a gas under pressure along the duct 23 and into the bottles 2.
- the filling device 14 comprises, furthermore, a cylindrical filling head 24, which extends around the post 15 coaxial to the axis 16, projects axially below the lower end of the post 15, and defines, together with the filling valve 20, a supply path for the pourable product into the bottle 2.
- the filling head 24 is coupled to the post 15 in an axially fixed manner and, furthermore, is coupled to the post 15 in a rotary manner by interposing an upper rolling bearing 25a and a lower rolling bearing 25b, so as to rotate, relative to the post 15 itself and under the thrust of an actuating device 26, around the axis 16.
- the device 26 comprises an electric motor 27, which is fixed to the post 15, and is provided with an output shaft 28 having a longitudinal axis 29 that is parallel to the axis 16.
- the shaft 28 is coupled to the filling head 24 by means of a pair of gears 30, of which one is splined to the shaft 28 and the other is obtained on the outer surface of the filling head 24 itself.
- the lower end of the filling head 24 is provided with a gasket 31 made of an elastomer material, which has an annular shape coaxial to the axis 16, and faces, in use, the top neck 4 of the bottle 2.
- the filling device 14 cooperates with a gripping member 32 for a bottle 2 comprising a support plate 33, which protrudes below the filling head 24, is coupled to the filling head 24 in an angularly fixed manner, and, furthermore, is coupled to the filling head 24 in an axially sliding manner so as to move, relative to the filling head 24, parallel to the axis 16.
- the support plate 33 supports a pair of holding jaws 34, which are configured to hold a relative bottle 2 in correspondence to its top neck 4.
- the jaws 34 are hinged to the plate 33 so as to rotate, relative to the plate 33 itself, around respective fulcrum axes 35, which are parallel to one another and to the axis 16.
- the jaws 34 are moved to a clamping position - and normally kept there - by a spring 36, which is interposed between the jaws 34, and are moved to a release position by the thrust exerted on the jaws 34 themselves by the relative bottle 2 during its insertion into the gripping member 32 or its extraction from the gripping member 32.
- the gripping member 32 is moved by an actuating cylinder 37 parallel to the axis 16 between a raised operating position, in which the top neck 4 is coupled to the gasket 31 in a fluid-tight manner, and a lowered rest position, in which the upper neck 4 is arranged at a given distance from the gasket 31 itself.
- the filling valve 20 and the filling head 14 are coupled in a fluid-tight manner to one another by interposing a mechanical sliding gasket 38, which is mounted below the shutter 19 coaxial to the axis 16.
- the gasket 38 comprises a rotary lower ring 39 fixed to the filling head 24 so as to rotate around the axis 16 and an upper ring 40 fixed to the lower free end of a sleeve 41, which is mounted inside the post 15 coaxial to the axis 16, and is coupled in an angularly fixed and axially sliding manner to the post 15.
- the upper ring 40 is kept in contact with the lower ring 39 by a spring 42, which is interposed between the post 15 and the sleeve 41.
- the filling wheel 5 comprises, furthermore, a washing device 43 to wash the gaskets 38 and, in the case in point, the lower rolling bearings 25b of the handling units 13.
- the washing device 43 comprises an annular manifold 44, which is fixed to the wheel 5 coaxial to the axis 6; and, for each handling unit 13, a respective annular manifold 45, which is obtained in the lower end of the corresponding post 15 coaxial to the axis 16.
- Each manifold 45 is concentric to the bearing 25b, and is connected with the manifold 44 by means of a feeding duct 46, which extends through the post 15 to feed a washing liquid for removing the residuals of the pourable product from the gaskets 38 and the lower rolling bearings 25b.
- the supply of the washing liquid along each feeding duct 46 is selectively controlled by a supply valve 47 having a tubular valve body 48, which is fitted in the feeding duct 46, has a longitudinal axis 49 parallel to the axis 16, and is engaged in a sliding manner by a shutter 50.
- the shutter 50 is axially mobile between a lowered closing position ( Figure 3 ), in which the shutter 50 closes the duct 46, and a raised opening position ( Figure 4 ), in which the duct 46 itself is open.
- the shutter 50 is moved to its raised opening position - and normally kept there - by a spring 51, which is mounted between the valve body 48 and the shutter 50 coaxial to the axis 49, and is moved to its lowered closing position, against the action of the spring 51, by an actuating cylinder 52.
- the cylinder 52 is obtained in the wheel 5 coaxial to the axis 49, is connected to a known pneumatic device, which is not shown, and is provided with a piston 53, which extends perpendicularly to the axis 49, and is coupled to the shutter 50 in an axially and angularly fixed manner.
- the washing device 43 comprises, furthermore, for each handling unit 13, a respective annular cavity 54, which is obtained in the corresponding filling head 24 coaxial to the axis 16, extends below the manifold 45, and is shaped so as to face both the gasket 38, in particular the region between the lower ring 39 and the upper ring 40, and the bearing 25b.
- the annular cavity 54 communicates with the manifold 45 through a plurality of holes 55, which are obtained in the post 15, and are uniformly distributed around the axis 16.
- the annular cavity 54 communicates, furthermore, with the external environment through a pair of apertures 56, which are obtained in the filling head 24, and are uniformly distributed around the axis 16 to discharge the washing liquid.
- the washing device 43 allows operators to perform a washing phase for removing the residuals of the pourable product from the gaskets 38 and the lower rolling bearings 25b, thus increasing the efficiency of the filling machine 1.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a machine for filling containers, such as bottles, with pourable products, such as carbonated liquids, non-carbonated liquids, emulsions, suspensions and high viscosity liquids.
- As is known, many pourable products are sold in a wide range of containers, which are sterilized, filled and closed in container handling plants typically including a plurality of processing stations or machines, such as rinsing machines, filling machines, capping machines and labelling machines.
- The containers to be handled are generally fed to and removed from these machines by means of a transport system including star wheels and linear conveyors.
- Each filling machine generally comprises a conveying wheel, which is mounted to rotate about a rotation axis, and is provided with a plurality of handling units, which are mounted along a peripheral edge of the conveying wheel, and are fed by the conveying wheel along a path extending about the rotation axis.
- Each handling unit comprises a support device for receiving and retaining a relative container and a filling device for feeding a pourable product into the container.
- The filling device comprises a vertical post, which has an upper wide portion and a lower narrow portion, and is engaged in a sliding manner by a tubular shutter.
- The shutter defines, together with the post, an annular outer feeding duct, which extends between the post and the shutter, and is connected to a tank of the pourable product to be fed into the containers.
- The shutter is axially mobile between a lowered closing position, in which the shutter is arranged in contact with the post so as to be coupled to the post in a fluid-tight manner and the outer feeding duct is closed, and a raised opening position, in which the outer feeding duct is open.
- The shutter defines an inner feeding duct, which extends inside the shutter, and is connected to a feeding device, which is adapted to feed a gas under pressure along the inner feeding duct and into the containers.
- The filling device comprises, furthermore, a cylindrical filling head, which is coupled to the lower end of the post in a rotary manner so as to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the post, and is provided with an annular gasket configured to be coupled to a top neck of the container in a fluid-tight manner.
- The filling device is further provided with a gripping device for a container, which is provided with a pair of holding jaws configured to hold a container in correspondence to its top neck, and is coupled to the filling head in an angularly fixed manner so as to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the post.
- The gripping device is further coupled to the filling head in an axially sliding manner so as to move between a raised operating position, in which the top neck of the container is coupled in a fluid-tight manner to the above mentioned annular gasket, and a lowered rest position, in which the top neck of the container is arranged at a given distance from the annular gasket.
- The filling head and the filling valve are coupled in a fluid-tight manner to one another by interposing a mechanical sliding gasket having a rotary lower ring fixed to the filling head so as to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the post and an upper ring fixed to the lower free end of a sleeve, which is coupled in an angularly fixed and axially sliding manner to the post.
- The upper ring is kept in contact with the lower ring by a spring, which is interposed between the post and the sleeve.
- Known filling machines of the type described above have some drawbacks mainly deriving from the fact that during the filling phase leakages of the pourable product between the upper ring and the lower ring of the mechanical sliding gasket are possible, which could compromise the correct functionality of the filling device.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for filling containers, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawback, and which is cheap and easy to implement.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for filling containers as claimed in the appended claims.
- A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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Figure 1 shows a schematic top plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of a machine for filling containers according to the present invention; -
Figure 2 shows a schematic side view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the filling machine ofFigure 1 ; -
Figures 3 and4 show a schematic side view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a detail ofFigure 2 illustrated in two different operating positions; and -
Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a further detail ofFigure 2 . -
Number 1 inFigure 1 indicates as a whole a machine for filling containers, inparticular bottles 2, with pourable products, such as carbonated liquids, non-carbonated liquids, emulsions, suspensions and high viscosity liquids. - Each
bottle 2 has alongitudinal axis 3 and has a top neck 4 substantially coaxial with theaxis 3. - The
machine 1 comprises afilling wheel 5, which is mounted to rotate continuously (anticlockwise inFigure 1 ) about avertical axis 6 perpendicular to theFigure 1 plane. Thewheel 5 receives a succession ofempty bottles 2 from aninput star wheel 7, which is connected to thewheel 5 at afirst transfer station 8 and is mounted to rotate continuously about a respective longitudinal axis 9 parallel to theaxis 6. - The
wheel 5 releases a succession of filledbottles 2 to anoutput star wheel 10, which is connected to thewheel 5 at asecond transfer station 11 and is mounted to rotate continuously about a respectivelongitudinal axis 12 parallel to theaxes 6 and 9. -
Wheel 5 is provided with a plurality ofhandling units 13, which are equally angularly spaced about theaxis 6, are mounted along a peripheral edge of thewheel 5, and are moved by thewheel 5 along a path P extending about theaxis 6 and through thestations - As shown in
Figure 2 , eachhandling unit 13 comprises afilling device 14 comprising, in turn, avertical post 15 with a cylindrical shape, which has alongitudinal axis 16 parallel toaxis 6, and is radially delimited by an inner wall comprising an upperwide portion 17 and a lowernarrow portion 18. - The
post 15 is engaged in a sliding manner by ashutter 19 with a tubular shape, which is mounted inside thepost 15 coaxial to theaxis 16, and defines, together with thepost 15, afilling valve 20 of thefilling device 14. - The
shutter 19 is coupled to thepost 15 by means of a deformable annular membrane (not shown), which is interposed between thepost 15 and theshutter 19 itself. - The
shutter 19 defines, together with thepost 15, an annularouter feeding duct 21, which extends between thepost 15 and theshutter 19, and is connected to a tank (not shown) of the pourable product to be fed into thebottles 2. - The
shutter 19 is axially mobile between a lowered closing position (not shown), in which theshutter 19 is arranged in contact with the inner wall of thepost 15 so as to be coupled to thepost 15 in a fluid-tight manner and close theduct 21, and a raised opening position (Figure 2 ), in which theduct 21 itself is open. - The
shutter 19 is moved to its raised opening position - and normally kept there - by a spring (not shown), which is mounted between thepost 15 and theshutter 19 coaxial to theaxis 16, and is moved to its lowered closing position, against the action of the spring (not shown), by an actuating cylinder (not shown). - The actuating cylinder (non shown) is obtained in the post 15 coaxial to the
axis 16, is connected to a known pneumatic device, which is not shown, and is provided with a piston, which extends perpendicularly to theaxis 16 and is coupled to theshutter 19 in an axially and angularly fixed manner. - The
shutter 19 has, furthermore, aswirler 22, which is obtained on the outer surface of theshutter 19 itself, and extends along - and around - theaxis 16, so as to cause the pourable product fed along theduct 21 to have a swirling movement. - The
shutter 19 defines aninner feeding duct 23, which extends inside theshutter 19, and is connected to a supply device (not shown), which is adapted to feed a gas under pressure along theduct 23 and into thebottles 2. - The
filling device 14 comprises, furthermore, acylindrical filling head 24, which extends around thepost 15 coaxial to theaxis 16, projects axially below the lower end of thepost 15, and defines, together with thefilling valve 20, a supply path for the pourable product into thebottle 2. - The filling
head 24 is coupled to thepost 15 in an axially fixed manner and, furthermore, is coupled to thepost 15 in a rotary manner by interposing an upper rollingbearing 25a and a lower rollingbearing 25b, so as to rotate, relative to thepost 15 itself and under the thrust of anactuating device 26, around theaxis 16. - The
device 26 comprises anelectric motor 27, which is fixed to thepost 15, and is provided with anoutput shaft 28 having alongitudinal axis 29 that is parallel to theaxis 16. - The
shaft 28 is coupled to the fillinghead 24 by means of a pair ofgears 30, of which one is splined to theshaft 28 and the other is obtained on the outer surface of the fillinghead 24 itself. - The lower end of the filling
head 24 is provided with agasket 31 made of an elastomer material, which has an annular shape coaxial to theaxis 16, and faces, in use, the top neck 4 of thebottle 2. - As shown in
Figures 2 and5 , thefilling device 14 cooperates with agripping member 32 for abottle 2 comprising asupport plate 33, which protrudes below thefilling head 24, is coupled to the fillinghead 24 in an angularly fixed manner, and, furthermore, is coupled to the fillinghead 24 in an axially sliding manner so as to move, relative to thefilling head 24, parallel to theaxis 16. - The
support plate 33 supports a pair ofholding jaws 34, which are configured to hold arelative bottle 2 in correspondence to its top neck 4. - The
jaws 34 are hinged to theplate 33 so as to rotate, relative to theplate 33 itself, aroundrespective fulcrum axes 35, which are parallel to one another and to theaxis 16. - The
jaws 34 are moved to a clamping position - and normally kept there - by aspring 36, which is interposed between thejaws 34, and are moved to a release position by the thrust exerted on thejaws 34 themselves by therelative bottle 2 during its insertion into the grippingmember 32 or its extraction from thegripping member 32. - The
gripping member 32 is moved by an actuating cylinder 37 parallel to theaxis 16 between a raised operating position, in which the top neck 4 is coupled to thegasket 31 in a fluid-tight manner, and a lowered rest position, in which the upper neck 4 is arranged at a given distance from thegasket 31 itself. - The
filling valve 20 and the fillinghead 14 are coupled in a fluid-tight manner to one another by interposing a mechanical slidinggasket 38, which is mounted below theshutter 19 coaxial to theaxis 16. - The
gasket 38 comprises a rotarylower ring 39 fixed to the fillinghead 24 so as to rotate around theaxis 16 and anupper ring 40 fixed to the lower free end of a sleeve 41, which is mounted inside the post 15 coaxial to theaxis 16, and is coupled in an angularly fixed and axially sliding manner to thepost 15. - The
upper ring 40 is kept in contact with thelower ring 39 by aspring 42, which is interposed between thepost 15 and the sleeve 41. - As shown in
Figures 2 ,3 , and4 , thefilling wheel 5 comprises, furthermore, awashing device 43 to wash thegaskets 38 and, in the case in point, the lowerrolling bearings 25b of thehandling units 13. - The
washing device 43 comprises anannular manifold 44, which is fixed to thewheel 5 coaxial to theaxis 6; and, for eachhandling unit 13, a respectiveannular manifold 45, which is obtained in the lower end of thecorresponding post 15 coaxial to theaxis 16. - Each
manifold 45 is concentric to thebearing 25b, and is connected with themanifold 44 by means of afeeding duct 46, which extends through thepost 15 to feed a washing liquid for removing the residuals of the pourable product from thegaskets 38 and the lowerrolling bearings 25b. - The supply of the washing liquid along each
feeding duct 46 is selectively controlled by asupply valve 47 having atubular valve body 48, which is fitted in thefeeding duct 46, has alongitudinal axis 49 parallel to theaxis 16, and is engaged in a sliding manner by ashutter 50. - The
shutter 50 is axially mobile between a lowered closing position (Figure 3 ), in which theshutter 50 closes theduct 46, and a raised opening position (Figure 4 ), in which theduct 46 itself is open. - The
shutter 50 is moved to its raised opening position - and normally kept there - by aspring 51, which is mounted between thevalve body 48 and theshutter 50 coaxial to theaxis 49, and is moved to its lowered closing position, against the action of thespring 51, by an actuatingcylinder 52. - The
cylinder 52 is obtained in thewheel 5 coaxial to theaxis 49, is connected to a known pneumatic device, which is not shown, and is provided with apiston 53, which extends perpendicularly to theaxis 49, and is coupled to theshutter 50 in an axially and angularly fixed manner. - The
washing device 43 comprises, furthermore, for eachhandling unit 13, a respectiveannular cavity 54, which is obtained in thecorresponding filling head 24 coaxial to theaxis 16, extends below themanifold 45, and is shaped so as to face both thegasket 38, in particular the region between thelower ring 39 and theupper ring 40, and thebearing 25b. - The
annular cavity 54 communicates with themanifold 45 through a plurality ofholes 55, which are obtained in thepost 15, and are uniformly distributed around theaxis 16. - The
annular cavity 54 communicates, furthermore, with the external environment through a pair ofapertures 56, which are obtained in the fillinghead 24, and are uniformly distributed around theaxis 16 to discharge the washing liquid. - The
washing device 43 allows operators to perform a washing phase for removing the residuals of the pourable product from thegaskets 38 and thelower rolling bearings 25b, thus increasing the efficiency of the fillingmachine 1.
Claims (10)
- A machine for filling containers (2) comprising a conveying device (5) provided with a plurality of handling units (13), each of which is fed by the conveying device (5) along a given feeding path (P), and comprises a support device (32) for receiving and retaining a relative container (2) and a filling device (14) for feeding a pourable product into the container (2); the filling device (14) comprising a filling valve (20) and a filling head (24), which is configured to be coupled to the container (2) in a fluid-tight manner, and defines, together with the filling valve (20), a supply path for the pourable product into the container (2); the support device (32) and the filling head (24) being coupled in an angularly fixed manner to one another and being further coupled to the filling valve (20) in a rotary manner to rotate around a rotation axis (16); the filling device (14) comprising, furthermore, a mechanical gasket (38) for coupling the filling valve (20) and the filling head (24) to one another in a fluid-tight manner; the mechanical gasket (38) comprising a first ring (40) coupled in an angularly fixed manner to the filling valve (20) and a second ring (39) coupled in an angularly fixed manner to the filling head (24); and characterized by comprising, furthermore, a washing device (43) for washing the mechanical gaskets so as to remove the residuals of the pourable product from the mechanical gaskets (38) itself.
- The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling head (24) is coupled to the filling valve (20) in a rotary manner by interposing at least a rolling bearing (25b); the washing device (43) being configured to wash the rolling bearings (25b) so as to remove the residuals of the pourable product from the rolling bearings (25b) itself.
- The machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing device (43) comprises, for each handling unit (13), a respective hydraulic circuit (45, 46, 54) to feed a washing liquid at least to the corresponding mechanical gasket (38), and a supply valve (47) to selectively control the supply of the washing liquid along the hydraulic circuit (45, 46, 54).
- The machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hydraulic circuit (45, 46, 54) comprises a first portion (46) obtained through the filling valve (20) and a second portion (54) obtained through the filling head (24).
- The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hydraulic circuit (45, 46, 54) comprises, furthermore, at least an aperture (56) obtained through the filling head (24) to connect the second portion (54) with the external environment.
- The machine as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the filling head (24) is coupled to the filling valve (20) in a rotary manner by interposing at least a rolling bearing (25b); the second portion (54) of the hydraulic circuit (45, 46, 54) having an annular shape, extending around the rotation axis (16), and being shaped so as to face the corresponding mechanical gasket (38), in particular the region between said first and second rings (40, 39), and the corresponding rolling bearing (25b).
- The machine as claimed in any one of the claims from 3 to 6, wherein the washing device (43) comprises, further, a manifold (44) connected with the hydraulic circuits (45, 46, 54) of the handling units (13).
- The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first ring (40) is further coupled in an axially displaceable manner to the filling valve (20); a push device (42) being arranged between the filling valve (20) and the first ring (40) to move, and normally maintain, the first ring (40) into contact with the second ring (39).
- The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support device (32) comprises gripping means (34) acting upon a top neck (4) of a container (2) to retain it in a suspended position.
- The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling device (14) and the support device (32) are movable relative to one another between an operating position, in which the filling head (24) contacts a top neck (4) of the container (2) and is coupled to the container (2) in a fluid-tight manner, and a rest position, in which the filling head (24) is spaced from the top neck (4) of the container (2).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP15306332.6A EP3135628B1 (en) | 2015-08-31 | 2015-08-31 | A machine for filling containers |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP15306332.6A EP3135628B1 (en) | 2015-08-31 | 2015-08-31 | A machine for filling containers |
Publications (2)
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EP3135628A1 true EP3135628A1 (en) | 2017-03-01 |
EP3135628B1 EP3135628B1 (en) | 2017-12-13 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP15306332.6A Not-in-force EP3135628B1 (en) | 2015-08-31 | 2015-08-31 | A machine for filling containers |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN112250020A (en) * | 2020-10-28 | 2021-01-22 | 上海冠生园蜂制品有限公司 | High-viscosity honey filling machine with rapid heating function and filling process |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0414031A1 (en) * | 1989-08-21 | 1991-02-27 | ALFILL GETRÄNKETECHNIK GmbH | Method of and device for filling containers |
DE10122752A1 (en) * | 2001-05-12 | 2002-11-21 | Rexroth Indramat Gmbh | Automatic bottle filling machine has pedestals on which bottles are mounted which are raised and lowered using ball screw drive and ball screw which cooperate with gear chain attached to pedestals |
WO2014102075A1 (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2014-07-03 | Sidel S.P.A. Con Socio Unico | A machine and a method for filling containers |
-
2015
- 2015-08-31 EP EP15306332.6A patent/EP3135628B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0414031A1 (en) * | 1989-08-21 | 1991-02-27 | ALFILL GETRÄNKETECHNIK GmbH | Method of and device for filling containers |
DE10122752A1 (en) * | 2001-05-12 | 2002-11-21 | Rexroth Indramat Gmbh | Automatic bottle filling machine has pedestals on which bottles are mounted which are raised and lowered using ball screw drive and ball screw which cooperate with gear chain attached to pedestals |
WO2014102075A1 (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2014-07-03 | Sidel S.P.A. Con Socio Unico | A machine and a method for filling containers |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN112250020A (en) * | 2020-10-28 | 2021-01-22 | 上海冠生园蜂制品有限公司 | High-viscosity honey filling machine with rapid heating function and filling process |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP3135628B1 (en) | 2017-12-13 |
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