EP3323773A1 - Machine de remplissage pour le remplissage de récipients avec un produit versable - Google Patents

Machine de remplissage pour le remplissage de récipients avec un produit versable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3323773A1
EP3323773A1 EP16306519.6A EP16306519A EP3323773A1 EP 3323773 A1 EP3323773 A1 EP 3323773A1 EP 16306519 A EP16306519 A EP 16306519A EP 3323773 A1 EP3323773 A1 EP 3323773A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tank
pourable product
shutter
end mouth
machine
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16306519.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Enrico Cocchi
Stefano d'Errico
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sidel Participations SAS
Original Assignee
Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sidel Participations SAS filed Critical Sidel Participations SAS
Priority to EP16306519.6A priority Critical patent/EP3323773A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2017/078278 priority patent/WO2018091291A1/fr
Publication of EP3323773A1 publication Critical patent/EP3323773A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a filling machine apt to fill receptacles with a pourable product, in particular a pourable product including solid particles suspended in a liquid phase, such as soft drinks or beverages containing fruit bits, fruit fibers and fruit sacs.
  • the present invention relates to a filling machine suitable for operating in aseptic or ultra clean conditions.
  • such a filling machine is fed with aseptic or ultra-clean receptacles (for example receptacles which have previously been sterilised) and is adapted to provide receptacles filled with a sterilised product in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions.
  • aseptic or ultra-clean receptacles for example receptacles which have previously been sterilised
  • a commonly-known filling machine basically comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about a rotation axis, a tank containing the product, and a plurality of filling units which are selectively connected with the tank and are supported by the carousel conveyor in a radially external position with respect to the rotation axis of the carousel conveyor itself.
  • Each filling unit comprises a filling valve selectively connecting the tank with the receptacle to be filled. Dosage of the pourable product may be done on the basis of the time during which the filling valve is maintained open or through a batcher valve, interposed between the tank and the filling valve.
  • Each filling valve basically comprises:
  • the movements of the shutter within the flowing channel are magnetically controlled.
  • the shutter is magnetically coupled to a driving actuator arranged completely external to the tubular body.
  • the driving actuator is provided with one or more permanent magnets and is mounted onto the outer surface of the tubular body in a sliding manner; in a completely equivalent manner, the shutter is provided with one or more permanent magnets facing the respective permanent magnets of the driving actuator and magnetically attracted by the latter through the lateral wall of the tubular body. In this way, any axial displacement of the driving actuator produces a corresponding axial movement of the shutter.
  • the shutter comprises a substantially cylindrical main portion, sliding within the tubular body, and a closing head adapted to sealingly engage the narrowed end mouth of the tubular body in the closed position of the shutter itself.
  • the main portion of the shutter integrally comprises a central cylindrical body, provided with the permanent magnets and housed with a radial gap within the tubular body, and a plurality of protrusions, projecting radially from the cylindrical body at different axial heights thereof and sliding in use along the inner surface of the tubular body itself.
  • the annular space between the cylindrical body of the shutter and the tubular body defines the passage for the pourable product with the solid particles; the radial projections of the shutter are so shaped and positioned to not hamper the flow of the particles.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a filling machine to fill receptacles, in particular bottles 2, in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions (known per se and not shown) with a pourable food product, in particular a liquid product with solid particles, i.e. solid parts immersed or suspended in the liquid product; typical examples of this type of pourable food product are soft drinks or beverages containing fruit particles, such as soft fruit bits, fruit fibers and fruit sacs having average lengths up to 6-12 mm.
  • Machine 1 is clearly also adapted to fill bottles 2 with other types of pourable food products, such as milk, still water, carbonated water, fruit juices, beer, soft drinks and beverages in general as well as high viscosity liquids.
  • Machine 1 is also adapted to fill bottles 2 with emulsions and suspensions.
  • each bottle 2 has a longitudinal axis A and comprises:
  • bottles 2 are made of plastics; however, machine 1 may be also used for other types of containers, such as containers made of aluminum, steel, glass and composites.
  • Machine 1 comprises a conveying device 6 ( Figure 1 ) that serves to fill bottles 2 while they are conveyed along a transfer path P.
  • conveying device 6 comprises a carousel 7, which is mounted to rotate continuously (anticlockwise in Figure 1 ) about a vertical axis B.
  • Carousel 7 receives a succession of sterilized empty bottles 2 from an input star wheel (known per se and not shown), and releases a succession of filled bottles 2 to an output star wheel (also known per se and not shown); both input and output star wheels rotate continuously about respective longitudinal axes parallel to axis B.
  • Machine 1 further comprises a plurality of filling units 8 for filling respective bottles 2 while they are advanced by carousel 7.
  • Filling units 8 are equally spaced angularly about axis B and are mounted along a peripheral portion 9 of carousel 7.
  • Filling units 8 have respective axes C parallel to axis B and are moved by carousel 7 along path P; in the present case, path P has a circular configuration about axis B.
  • Machine 1 also includes a closed or sealed tank 10 ( Figure 2 ) common to all filling units 8 and which is filled with the pourable product up to a given level L as well as at a given pressure value; tank 10 also contains a gas, typically air, above level L of the pourable product. In practice, in use a lower portion 11 of tank 10 contains the pourable product up to level L and an upper portion 12 of the tank 10 itself is filled with gas.
  • a closed or sealed tank 10 Figure 2
  • tank 10 also contains a gas, typically air, above level L of the pourable product.
  • a lower portion 11 of tank 10 contains the pourable product up to level L and an upper portion 12 of the tank 10 itself is filled with gas.
  • Tank 10 is normally maintained in overpressure with respect to the ambient pressure.
  • Tank 10 conveniently houses internally an agitator 10a, known per se and not further described.
  • Tank 10 is normally arranged centrally on carousel 7. As a possible alternative not shown, tank 10 may be also arranged externally with respect to carousel 7.
  • filling units 8 are identical to one another, only one will be described hereafter for the sake of simplicity; it is however clear that the following description will apply to any filling unit 8.
  • filling unit 8 comprises a support device 13 (known per se and only schematically shown), adapted to receive and retain one bottle 2 in a vertical position, in which such bottle 2 has its axis A coaxial with axis C and parallel to axis B of carousel 7; filling unit 8 also comprises a flow control valve 15 for selectively controlling flow of the pourable product from tank 10 to a respective bottle 2 to be filled as the support device 13 travels along path P.
  • Filling unit 8 is conveniently arranged above the bottle 2 to be filled.
  • valve 15 basically comprises:
  • tubular body 16 has another narrowed end mouth 20, opposite to end mouth 17 and which is coaxially engaged by shutter 18 in a sliding manner.
  • End mouth 17 is arranged below level L of the pourable product within tank 10 and is connected to the latter through a conduit 21 ( Figure 2 ); more specifically, conduit 21 has one end 22, connected to a bottom opening 23 of tank 10, and one opposite end 24, connected to a radial through opening 25 formed in an intermediate portion of tubular body 16. Preferably, conduit 21 extends below tank 10 and laterally with respect to tubular body 16.
  • Tubular body 16 has a substantially cylindrical main portion 26 connecting end mouths 17 and 20 and having an approximately constant inner diameter with respect to axis C.
  • End mouth 17 is directly fitted to a respective opening formed through peripheral portion 9 of carousel 7.
  • End mouth 20 interiorly has a conical configuration tapering from main portion 26.
  • Shutter 18 is coaxially housed within tubular body 16 and comprises a cylindrical main portion 30, engaging end mouth 20 in a sliding manner and extending towards end mouth 17, and a closing head 31, axially protruding from main portion 30 and configured to cooperate in a fluid-tight manner with end mouth 17.
  • closing head 31 terminates with a conical surface 32, which is complementary to the surface of tubular body 16 interiorly delimiting end mouth 17 and is configured to cooperate in use with this latter surface to sealingly close fluidic connection of valve 15 with tank 10.
  • Shutter 18 is selectively moved by electromagnetic actuator 19 within tubular body 16 between a closed position ( Figure 2 , dotted lines), in which the closing head 31 of shutter 18 sealingly closes end mouth 17 and interrupts flowing of the pourable product from tank 10 and conduit 21 to the respective bottle 2, and an open position ( Figure 2 , solid lines), in which a gap is established between the closing head 31 of shutter 18 and end mouth 17 so as to allow free flowing of the pourable product through the end mouth 17 itself.
  • electromagnetic actuator 19 is advantageously arranged above the level L of the pourable product in tank 10 and includes:
  • stator 35 has a bottom end portion 38 coaxially connected to end mouth 20 of tubular body 16, e.g. by screws 39, and a top end portion 40 connected to upper portion 12 of tank 10 by a conduit 41, so as to put into communication the internal environment of stator 35 and tubular body 16 with the internal environment of tank 10 and to ensure that such environments are always maintained at the same pressure value.
  • Driving element 36 is defined by a vertical plunger 42 coaxially engaging stator 35, internally housing the plurality of magnets 37 and directly coupled, at its bottom end 43, to a top end 44 of shutter 18, opposite to closing head 31.
  • driving element 36 By controlling excitation of coils 35b of stator 35, driving element 36 can be displaced into a first axial position (not shown), in which it maintains shutter 18 in the closed position on end mouth 17 of tubular body 16, and in a second axial position ( Figures 2 and 3 ), in which it maintains closing head 31 of shutter 18 detached from end mouth 17 of a given amount so allowing the pourable product to flow through the end mouth 17 itself.
  • Both first and second axial position of driving element 36 are stable positions, i.e. they can be maintained independently of powering stator 35. This can be achieved for instance by providing respective ringshaped, magnetic attraction elements (known per se and not shown) substantially at bottom and top end portions 38, 40 of stator 35; such magnetic attraction elements may exert an attraction force on driving element 36, as engaged by the latter, to maintain the driving element 36 itself in the first and second axial position, respectively.
  • the magnetic attraction elements may be made of a ferromagnetic material, may include a permanent magnet or even may be a combination thereof, depending on the required attraction force.
  • electromagnetic actuator 19 may be also defined by any type of linear motor, such as such as a voice coil, or a linear magnetic actuator as described in EP-B-2881636 , whose content relative to the linear magnetic actuator itself is incorporated in the present specification.
  • machine 1 Operation of machine 1 will now be described with reference to the filling of one bottle 2, and therefore to one filling unit 8, and as of the instant in which such bottle 2 is received by support device 13 of filling unit 8 from the input star wheel in order to be filled with the pourable product.
  • bottle 2 is centered in known manner with respect to filling unit 8 and driving element 36 of electromagnetic actuator 19 is in the first axial position and maintains shutter 18 in the closed position on end mouth 17 of tubular body 16 so as to prevent the pourable product from flowing into the bottle 2.
  • Electromagnetic actuator 19 may be also activated to position the shutter in a modulating condition, e.g. according to a desired slow movement from the open position towards the closed position, or to remain in a position that reduces the flow (this is possible with some products containing small particles or a low concentration of particles).
  • the electromagnetic actuator 19 is arranged above the level L of the pourable product in the tank 10 and includes a movable driving element 36 coaxially connected in series to the shutter 18 of the valve 15, there is no possibility or need that the pourable product with solid particles passes between the magnetic interacting elements (in the present case, the driving element 36 and the stator 35) with possible clogging issues (since the magnetically interacting elements should be maintained as close as possible to one another for correctly operating).
  • the passage between the shutter 18 itself and the tubular body 16 can be designed as large as desired so as to avoid any possible clogging issue with relatively large particles.
  • the fact that the first and second axial position of the driving element 36 are stable positions allows a relevant saving in electric energy.
  • the filling machine 1 allows to increase the control on particles integrity and to considerably reduce the occurrence of obstructions, even partial ones, thus limiting accordingly the need for maintenance intervention and, as a consequence, down times.
  • the filling machine 1 may also comprise only one single filling unit 8 cyclically fed with a bottle 2 to be filled.

Landscapes

  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
EP16306519.6A 2016-11-21 2016-11-21 Machine de remplissage pour le remplissage de récipients avec un produit versable Withdrawn EP3323773A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16306519.6A EP3323773A1 (fr) 2016-11-21 2016-11-21 Machine de remplissage pour le remplissage de récipients avec un produit versable
PCT/EP2017/078278 WO2018091291A1 (fr) 2016-11-21 2017-11-06 Machine de remplissage permettant de remplir des récipients avec un produit pouvant être versé

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16306519.6A EP3323773A1 (fr) 2016-11-21 2016-11-21 Machine de remplissage pour le remplissage de récipients avec un produit versable

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3323773A1 true EP3323773A1 (fr) 2018-05-23

Family

ID=57482347

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16306519.6A Withdrawn EP3323773A1 (fr) 2016-11-21 2016-11-21 Machine de remplissage pour le remplissage de récipients avec un produit versable

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3323773A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2018091291A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3725734A1 (fr) * 2019-04-18 2020-10-21 Sidel Participations Procédé et appareil pour remplir un récipient
IT202200008336A1 (it) * 2022-04-27 2023-10-27 Sidel Participations Sas Dispositivo di riempimento per riempire contenitori con un prodotto versabile
WO2024041801A1 (fr) 2022-08-23 2024-02-29 Sidel Participations Dispositif de remplissage avec une vanne comprenant un obturateur magnétique

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005003222A1 (de) * 2005-01-24 2006-07-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung zum Füllen von Gefäßen
DE102007035872A1 (de) * 2007-07-31 2009-02-05 Krones Ag Vorrichtung für Behälter
EP2921451A1 (fr) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-23 Sidel S.p.a. Con Socio Unico Unité de remplissage pour contenants avec des produits coulants

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO20110936A1 (it) 2011-10-18 2013-04-19 Sidel Spa Con Socio Unico Organo dosatore per macchina riempitrice
EP2881636B1 (fr) 2013-12-04 2016-09-07 Sidel S.p.a. Con Socio Unico Soupape fournie avec un actionneur magnétique

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005003222A1 (de) * 2005-01-24 2006-07-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung zum Füllen von Gefäßen
DE102007035872A1 (de) * 2007-07-31 2009-02-05 Krones Ag Vorrichtung für Behälter
EP2921451A1 (fr) * 2014-03-18 2015-09-23 Sidel S.p.a. Con Socio Unico Unité de remplissage pour contenants avec des produits coulants

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3725734A1 (fr) * 2019-04-18 2020-10-21 Sidel Participations Procédé et appareil pour remplir un récipient
WO2020212029A1 (fr) * 2019-04-18 2020-10-22 Sidel Participations Procédé et appareil de remplissage d'un contenant
IT202200008336A1 (it) * 2022-04-27 2023-10-27 Sidel Participations Sas Dispositivo di riempimento per riempire contenitori con un prodotto versabile
WO2023208605A1 (fr) * 2022-04-27 2023-11-02 Sidel Participations Dispositif de remplissage permettant de remplir des contenants avec un produit pouvant être versé
WO2024041801A1 (fr) 2022-08-23 2024-02-29 Sidel Participations Dispositif de remplissage avec une vanne comprenant un obturateur magnétique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2018091291A1 (fr) 2018-05-24

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