EP3169620B1 - Filling device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a filling device for filling liquid-containing products in containers, in particular bottles. Such a filling device has a product space, which opens into a filling valve. The filling valve is formed by at least two by an actuator relative to each other movable valve elements which abut each other in the closed position in the region of a sealing surface and are spaced apart in the open position. Such a filling device is for example from the WO 2008/138472 known. The one valve element is formed there by a cylindrical valve housing, while the other valve element is formed by a thickened valve mandrel having an O-ring seal in the region of the sealing surface.

Such an O-ring seal has even with regulatory design interpretation game between the edges of the O-ring groove and the O-ring itself. In particular, the O-ring seal slightly deforms during opening and closing by the contact pressure against the valve housing, so that can accumulate product deposits between the O-ring groove and the O-ring seal, which may be the case in particular, when liquid products are filled with solid components.

The WO 2011/067794 has in the product room an inflatable annular rubber hose, which serves to influence the flow area of the product space according to the internal pressure inside the rubber hose.

Furthermore, the flow channel formed within the filling valve for the product is formed due to the functionality of the filling valve, so that there may be turbulences there, which can also lead to product deposits.

From the publication WO99 / 39978A1 a filling device for filling liquid-containing products in containers is known, which filling device has a product space that ends in a filling valve, and which at least in the region of its filling valve two by an actuator relative to each other movable valve elements which bear in the closed position in the closed position in the region of a sealing surface and are spaced apart in the open position, wherein at least one of the two valve elements to the product space has a plastic lining, and wherein the one valve element by a valve mandrel and the other Valve element is formed by a valve housing.

• Einfüllen einer ersten Komponente in das zu befüllende Behältnis mittels einer ersten Befüllungseinrichtung.
• Transport des mit der ersten Komponente der Flüssigkeit befüllten Behältnisses zu einer zweiten Befüllungseinrichtung.
• Einfüllen einer zweiten Komponente der Flüssigkeit in das mit der ersten Komponente befüllte Behältnis mittels der zweiten Befüllungseinrichtung.

The publication DE 10 2010 032 398 A1 describes a method for filling containers with multicomponent flowable media with the steps:

• Filling a first component in the container to be filled by means of a first filling device.
• Transport of the container filled with the first component of the liquid to a second filling device.
• Filling a second component of the liquid into the container filled with the first component by means of the second filling device.

It is proposed that after filling the first component in the container, a filling amount of the first component is determined.

In this method, a filling device is used with a filling valve according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling device which is easy to clean and which offers a high standard in terms of product hygiene.

The object is achieved by a filling device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The object is thus achieved inter alia by the fact that the valve housing has a plastic lining towards the product space. This plastic lining forms at least a portion of the wall of the product space in the region of the filling valve. It can thus be much easier fluidically optimized than a corresponding Surface treatment of a valve element. In addition, the plastic lining forms the sealing surface in cooperation with a surface of the other valve element. The plastic lining also protects the product space of the filling device in front of and behind the sealing surface from product deposits and from contamination by the product. Due to the fact that the plastic lining extends into the product space on both sides of the sealing surface, the plastic lining is not deformed during the opening and closing operation of the filling valve if it forms part of the sealing surface. As a result, the edge of the plastic lining towards the product space can be formed absolutely flush and without play, which effectively counteracts product deposits. Such a plastic lining can be made so streamlined with gentle transitions that turbulence of the product in the region of the filling valve can be reduced or minimized. The filling process can thus be made more homogeneous, for example, with reduced foaming or blistering (eg in CO ₂ -containing drinks). The plastic lining thus preferably forms a plastic lining which is easy to clean and may optionally protect other components of the filling device from contamination

In the WO 2008/138472 For example, the O-ring seal is slightly deformed with each opening and closing operation, allowing product residue to build up between the O-ring and the edges of the O-ring groove over time. This is excluded in the present invention, since the plastic lining extends on both sides of the sealing surface beyond its deformation region on the sealing surface.

It is possible in principle to manufacture one of the valve elements completely from the plastic or polymer material, which, however, could possibly have negative effects on the stability of the valve element. Therefore, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plastic lining is applied to a hard carrier material of the valve element, for example metal. The plastic lining according to the invention is designed as a sleeve, but can also, not according to the invention, for example, be formed as a molded body, or it can be applied as a coating on the carrier material of the valve element by known coating methods, for example by dipping, Spraying, gluing, etc. As a conventional support material for valve elements, for example, aluminum or other metals, possibly also hard, eg fiber-reinforced plastics are used, which have a high rigidity and therefore release a correspondingly accurate product volume when actuated by the actuator. Another advantage of this embodiment is that the plastic lining can be easily produced as any shaped body, for example in the form of a cylinder with different diameters at both ends, which is then arranged on the carrier material of the valve element. Such a plastic lining may be interchangeable held there, so that the plastic lining, such as the cylinder or sleeve, for example, after a predetermined number of opening and closing cycles or after a certain period of use can be replaced.

Preferably, the plastic lining is formed by a fluorocarbon, hydrocarbon, e.g. PEEK, PVDF or PTFE (PEEK = polyether ketone, PVDF = polyvinylidene fluoride, PTFE = polytetrafluoroethylene). Such a polymer has the advantage of being easy to clean and of being hydrophobic, so that products do not tend to adhere to the polymer. Fluorinated hydrocarbons thus offer a high hygienic standard. Preferably, the plastic lining is formed by an elastomer, which is elastically yielding to a certain extent and thus ensures a secure seal in the closed position in conjunction with the other valve element. The plastic lining preferably completely surrounds at least the predominant part, preferably the complete product space in the region of a valve mandrel. In this way, the covering of the plastic lining is thus integrated into the wall of the product space and the product space together with the sealing surface can be easily cleaned.

According to the invention, the other valve element which interacts with the plastic lining of one valve element has one at least in the area of the sealing surface Surface made of metal or duroplastic. In this way, the plastic lining of one valve element is caused to interact with a hard mating surface of the other valve element in the region of the sealing surface. This offers a high density as well as a defined deformation of the sealing surfaces and thus an accurate control of the filling quantity. Of course, it is also possible to provide a plastic lining on the two valve elements, which increases the elastic properties of the filling valve in the region of the sealing surface. For the purpose of tightness, however, it is sufficient to provide the plastic lining only on a valve element.

According to the invention, one valve element is formed by a valve mandrel and the other valve element is formed by a valve housing. Such a configuration forms a reliable proven filling valve in known filling devices. The valve mandrel has a, in particular drop-shaped enlarged area, which cooperates with a reduced diameter portion of the valve housing and forms the sealing surface. In this case, for example, the valve housing or the valve mandrel have the plastic lining.

Preferably, the valve mandrel is expanded drop-shaped, resulting in low product turbulence in the region of the filling valve due to the good fluidic properties.

According to the plastic lining is formed as a profiled plastic sleeve, which covers the inside of the valve housing. The valve mandrel then preferably consists of a metal part, in particular aluminum. The profiled plastic sleeve preferably surrounds the entire area of the filling valve and thereby ensures a high degree of contamination protection. The profiled plastic sleeve is easy to produce and easy to attach to the preferably cylindrical valve housing.

Preferably, this profiled plastic sleeve extends so far into the product space, that the diameter-expanded valve mandrel completely from the plastic lining is enclosed. Because in the diameter-extended area of the valve mandrel, the flow rate of the product often increases so that the valve housing in this area is particularly susceptible to dirt. The fact that the profiled plastic sleeve extends over the diameter-expanded portion of the valve mandrel, contamination of the product space is effectively avoided. In addition, with a replaceable arrangement of the profiled plastic sleeve wear can be accommodated.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the profiled plastic sleeve at its one end has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the product space and at the other end a filling valve corresponding diameter, which is smaller than the diameter of the product space in the rule. As already indicated above, the valve housing in the region of the sealing surface is generally reduced in diameter. The profiled plastic sleeve of polymeric material can be readily manufactured so that all the diameter changes required above are gentle, i. without providing an edge in the product facing plastic lining. The different diameter ranges of the profiled plastic sleeve are thus connected to each other via round transition areas. As a result, in the area of the profiled plastic sleeve itself, i. can not catch product on the polymer surface. In mathematical terms, this means that the derivation of the surface profile of the profiled plastic sleeve in a plane parallel to the axis of the filling valve is continuous. According to the invention, no O-ring seal for the filling valve must be arranged in the region of the sealing surface, since the sealing surface can be formed solely by the plastic lining of one valve element in cooperation with a mating surface of the other valve element.

While in one of the above-described form of a filling valve with a valve mandrel on the valve housing, the valve housing has the plastic lining, of course, but not according to the invention, alternatively or additionally, the valve mandrel have the plastic lining.

The profiled plastic sleeve preferably has at least two centimeters, preferably at least three centimeters, in front of the sealing surfaces into the product space. In this way, the entire inflow area of the filling valve is caused to be surrounded by the plastic lining.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plastic lining, preferably in the form of a sleeve, projects into the opening of a container to be filled, e.g. a bottle, into it. In this way, contamination of any part of the filling device behind the filling valve, e.g. protected against splashing of the product during filling. This embodiment of the invention thus has an extremely high hygienic standard.

Preferably then the profiled plastic sleeve has a container-side end with lateral outlet openings. This results in a desired flow pattern of the product filled into the container, which results in a reduction in foam or blistering and thus faster filling, e.g. CO2-containing beverages.

Preferably, then the container-side end of the plastic sleeve has at least one flow guide, which ensures a streamlined guiding of the product stream in the lateral outlet openings. This also results in a streamlined filling and thus allows faster filling of difficult-to-fill liquids, e.g. Wheat beer.

The term "plastic" refers to all polymers and their mixtures, including gums.

Fig. 1

einen teilgeschnittenen Seitenansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Abfüllvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößertes Detail der Abfüllvorrichtung aus Figur 1; und

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 2 einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer profilierten Kunststoffhülse, die in die Öffnung eines zu befüllenden Behälters hineinragt.

The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the schematic drawing.

Fig. 1

a partially sectioned side view of a first embodiment of a filling device;

Fig. 2

an enlarged detail of the filling device FIG. 1 ; and

Fig. 3

a view according to Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a profiled plastic sleeve which projects into the opening of a container to be filled.

FIG. 1 and 2 show a part of a filling device 10 with a cylindrical housing 12, which has a cylindrical product space 14 in its interior. The filling device 10 is designed for containers in the form of bottles 38. The filling device further has a product supply 16 for feeding a product into the cylindrical product space 14, a holder 18 and a filling valve 20, which has a cylindrical valve housing 22 arranged at the lower end of the housing. In the product space 14, a push rod 24 is axially movable by a not fully shown adjusting mechanism. At its top, the push rod 24 carries a plunger head 26, which carries a roller 27, which runs along a control cam, not shown, of the adjusting mechanism 10 of the filling device. The plunger head 26 is biased with a spring 28 axially against the housing 12, that the roller 27 has a tendency to abut against the control cam, not shown. As a result, a droplet-shaped expanded valve mandrel 29 arranged at the lower end of the push rod 24 can cooperate with the valve housing 22 on the sealing surface.

The valve housing 22 has a diameter-reduced edge 30, which defines the area of the sealing surface of the filling valve 20. The entire region of the valve housing 22 from the cylindrical product space 14 at the lower end of the housing 12 to the filling area of the filling device 10 is provided by a plastic lining in the form of a profiled plastic sleeve 32, for example, of flourished hydrocarbon covered. The profiled plastic sleeve 32 runs in particular over the diameter-reduced edge 30 of the valve housing 22 and cooperates there with the teardrop-shaped widening of the valve mandrel 29 to form a sealing surface. The valve mandrel 29 of the filling valve 20 is thus actuated in accordance with the operation of the push rod 24 by means of the roller 27 between a closed position and the illustrated open position. In all figures, the opening position of the filling valve 20 is shown. In the closed position, the roller 27 is deflected by means of the control cam of the filling device, not shown, against the force of the spring 28 down, so that the valve mandrel 29 abuts in the region of the diameter-reduced edge 30 of the valve housing 22 on the profiled plastic sleeve 32. The valve housing 22 carries at its lower end an O-ring seal 34 against which a held by a bottle holder 36 bottle 38 rests with its mouth 40. The profiled plastic sleeve 32 extends up to above the O-ring seal 34. The filling valve 20 is thus securely protected by the profiled plastic sleeve 32 against contamination of the product during the filling process.

The profiled plastic sleeve 32 has a larger diameter first portion 32 a, which is in line with the product space, a second diameter-reduced portion 32 b, which forms the filling outlet for the container and an intermediate transition region 32 c, in which the first and second regions of different diameter gently and steplessly merge into each other. In the transition region of the valve mandrel 29 is arranged.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of an elongated profiled plastic sleeve 33, which from the profiled plastic sleeve 32 from Fig. 1 and 2 is identical, except for the fact that it is extended at the bottom by a cylindrical sleeve member 42 which extends through the mouth 40 into the bottle 38 extends. The cylindrical sleeve part 42 has at the lower end a closure wall 44 with a flow guide surface 45, which drops from the center of the sleeve to the outside to lateral outlet openings. Through the lateral outlet openings 46, the product without swirling out of the profiled plastic sleeve 33 and enter the bottle 38 in an inlet stream 50 along the bottle wall, without there being too much blistering or foaming in the bottle 38 during the filling process. Of course, in the cylindrical sleeve part 42 of the elongated profiled plastic sleeve 33, the end wall 44 may also be omitted, in which, however, the splash guard would be eliminated. Also, the elongated profiled plastic sleeve has a larger diameter first portion 33 a, which is in line with the product space 14, a second diameter-reduced portion 33 b, which forms the filling outlet for the container 38 and an intermediate transition region 33 c, in which the first and second portions 33 a , b different diameters smoothly and steplessly merge into each other. In the transition region of the valve mandrel 29 is arranged. In the area of the filling valve, the product flow direction is marked with an arrow.

As in particular from the Figures 2 and 3 it can be seen, the profiled plastic sleeve 32 and the extended profiled plastic sleeve 33 provides very good protection against contamination of the filling device in the area before and after the filling valve.

The plastic lining may consist of a plastic material, preferably of an elastomer or of a flourished hydrocarbon, in particular of PEEK, PVDF or PTFE.

Since the upper edge 48 in which the profiled plastic sleeve 32, 33 attaches to the product space 14 can be worked very accurately, since the material of the plastic lining in this area is not deformed due to the opening and closing activity is on the one hand the transition from the product space 14th to the profiled plastic sleeve 32 and 33 insensitive to contamination. In addition, can be ensured by the use of a stepped seal assembly 49 with an O-ring seal on the top edge 48 of the profiled plastic sleeve 100% tightness. Thus, the covered by the profiled plastic sleeve portion of the valve housing 22 is securely protected against contamination by the product.

The invention thus offers a high hygienic standard for filling devices. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be varied within the scope of the claims.

As part of a further, not shown embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the plastic sleeve is formed at its lower end such that the plastic sleeve also performs the function of a gas barrier, so that a drip-free filling is made possible. For this purpose, at the lower end of the plastic sleeve all known embodiments of gas barriers - as these are generally known to those skilled - trained or provided.

For example, such embodiments of gas locks, which give the outflowing contents a certain twist, which leads to the fact that the medium is leaning against the container wall as it flows into the container.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

filling device

12

casing

14

cylindrical product space

16

product supply

18

holder

20

filling valve

22

cylindrical valve housing

24

pushrod

26

ram head

27

caster

28

feather

29

valve mandrel

30

diameter-reduced edge

32

profiled plastic sleeve (1st embodiment)

32a

product channel side larger diameter range of the profiled plastic sleeve

32b

Füllventilseitiger smaller diameter range of the profiled plastic sleeve

32c

Transition region of the profiled plastic sleeve

33

extended profiled plastic sleeve (2nd embodiment)

33a

Product channel side larger diameter range of the extended profiled plastic sleeve

33b

Filling valve side smaller diameter range of the elongated profiled plastic sleeve

33c

Transition region of the elongated profiled plastic sleeve

34

O-ring seal for bottle stop

36

bottle holder

38

bottle

40

muzzle

42

extended cylindrical sleeve part

44

end wall

45

flow guide

46

lateral outlet openings

48

Top edge of the profiled plastic sleeve

49

sealing arrangement

50

Entry of the product into the bottle

Claims (16)

1. Filling device (10) for filling liquid-containing products into containers (38), said filling device comprising a product space (14) which ends in a filling valve (20) and comprising, in the region of its filling valve, at least two valve elements (22, 29) movable in relation to one another by means of an actuator, which in the region of a sealing surface rest against each other in the closed position and in the open position are spaced apart from one another, wherein the one valve element is formed by a valve pin (29) and the other valve element is formed by a valve housing (22),
   wherein the valve pin (29) comprises, at least in the region of the sealing surface, a surface made of metal or thermoset, or consists of this,
   wherein at least the valve housing (22) comprises a plastic cladding (32; 33) in the direction towards the product space, characterised in that the plastic cladding is configured as a profiled plastic lining (32; 33), which covers the inner side of the valve housing (22) and which runs over a diameter-reducing edge (30) of the valve housing (22), and wherein the plastic lining (32; 33) forms a part of the sealing surface of the valve housing (22).
2. Filling device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the plastic lining (32; 33) is formed by a profile part, which is applied on a hard carrier material of the valve housing (22).
3. Filling device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the profile part is held in a replaceable manner at the valve housing (22).
4. Filling device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the carrier material consists of a metal or thermoset.
5. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic lining (32; 33) is formed from a plastic containing PEEK, PVDF, or PTFE.
6. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic lining (32; 33) is formed by an elastomer.
7. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic lining (32; 33) surrounds a part of the product space in front of the sealing surface.
8. Filling device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plastic lining (32,33) comprises a cut-out aperture for an O-ring seal for forming a part of the sealing surface.
9. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled plastic lining (32; 33) covers the complete inner side of the valve housing (22).
10. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled plastic lining (32; 33) surrounds the valve pin (29).
11. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled plastic lining (32; 33) exhibits at one of its ends a diameter corresponding to the product space (14), and at its other end a diameter corresponding to the filling valve (20), both of the diameter regions being connected to one another by a round edgeless transition region.
12. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled plastic lining (32; 33) projects into the opening of a container (38) which is to be filled.
13. Filling device (10) according to claim 12, wherein the profiled plastic lining (32; 33) comprises a container-side closure wall (44) and lateral outlet openings (46).
14. Filling device (10) according to claim 13, wherein the closure wall (44) comprises at least one flow conducting surface (45).
15. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a centric valve pin is encased by the plastic cladding.
16. Filling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled plastic lining (32; 33) contains a fluorinated hydrocarbon.

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