EP3448797A1

EP3448797A1 - Method for controlling a beverage filling system

Info

Publication number: EP3448797A1
Application number: EP17709955.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath; Bernd Bruch
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2016-04-25
Filing date: 2017-03-09
Publication date: 2019-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-09
Also published as: DE102016107622A1; US20190100423A1; WO2017186395A1; US10710862B2; SI3448797T1; EP3448797B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a beverage filling system (10), having a filling machine (12), which has a plurality of filling elements (16), each having a filling valve (32) for filling a beverage into containers (18), in particular bottles, and a flow meter (34), wherein the filling volume supplied to the containers (18) via the filling valve (32) is detected by means of the flow meter (34) during the filling process, wherein, according to the method, each filling element (16) of the filling machine (12) is supplied from a product container (14), in particular a ring bowl, and a product inflow (20) is regulated to maintain a target fill level in the product container (14). According to the invention, the signals of the flow meters (34) of all filling elements (16) are combined into a current volume flow signal or the velocity of the filling machine (12) is currently measured and a current volume flow signal is calculated from the measured velocity value, in consideration of the number of filling elements (16) and of the volume of one container (18). Furthermore, the current volume flow signal is used to derive a control signal for product inflow (20) and the product inflow (20) is regulated in dependence on the current volume flow signal.

Description

Method for controlling a beverage filling plant

The invention relates to beverage filling plants, in particular with filling machines, which have a throughput of more than 10,000 containers per hour, in particular a throughput of more than 50,000 containers per hour. Examples of such

Beverage filling plants are e.g. Round filling machines with the associated product feed.

In practice, the regulation of the beverage supply to the product container, e.g. a ring boiler or a distributor ring of a filling machine not without problems.

Difficulties may occur with changes in the operating state of such

Filling machine occur, ie in particular when starting, when stopping and changes in the respective performance (container / h).

In a usually partially filled ring boiler, the control of the

Beverage supply by means of level probes and in a black filled, i. completely filled with filling medium distribution channel via a pressure sensor as a guide signal. The disadvantage here is that the regulation of the beverage supply only responds when the level in the ring tank or the pressure in the product supply / product line to the filling valves due to the change in the operating state of the filling machine, for example by the beginning of the delivery of beverage from the ring bowl changes to the container to be filled. This creates a first loss of time, which adversely affects the readjustment.

Only after a decrease in the liquid level in the ring vessel or the pressure in the product supply has been detected by the regulation, is started by the control of appropriate active or actuators with the tracking or enhanced or attenuated tracking of the contents. For this purpose, it is first necessary to accelerate the contents in the product lines, which takes a certain amount of time and thus leads to a second loss of time. This second loss of time is especially in high performance systems (throughput up to 70 m ³ / h) with often very long product supply lines particularly large and particularly disturbing due to the particularly large unit performance (container / h) in these systems. It is particularly disadvantageous if the total time loss formed from first and second time losses exceeds a certain value.

The result is a significant drop in level or pressure, which can only be made good again with a delay. Conversely, the reaction of the control is at a stop of the filling. In this situation, levels or pressures increase significantly before the

Control valve is completely closed. The described, today unavoidable, pressure fluctuations have a negative effect on the filling image, i. on the compliance of the filling level, and the filling accuracy in the braking and acceleration phases of a filling machine. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for controlling a

Beverage filling system, which provides a fast and reliable control of the product supply even in changing operating conditions, such as. start-up,

Product interruptions or product shutdowns allowed. This object is achieved by a method with the features of

Claim 1 solved. The object is further achieved by a beverage filling with the features of claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the associated dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are also disclosed in the description and in the drawing.

According to the invention, in a first alternative, the containers are fed via the filling valves of a filling machine, in particular a round filling machine

Product quantities recorded in each filling element. These signals of the flow meter of all filling elements of the filling machine are added up to a current volume flow signal. By adding the volume flows of all filling valves immediately after the start of the filling of the first bottle permanently receives a real-time signal on the flow rate of the product container of the filling machine would have to be supplied under optimal conditions. This real-time or sum signal also / thus also the Füllgutbedarf during the changes of the operating condition from. Alternatively, in a second alternative, the speed of the filling machine, in particular the rotational speed can be measured currently and from the measured speed value is taking into account the number of

Filling elements of the filling machine and the volume (filling volume) of a container, a current volume flow signal are calculated, in particular according to the formula:

Number of filling elements of the filling machine x liquid volume of a container x speed of the filling machine. Through the individual filling elements of the filling machine, a specific volume of liquid is preferably filled into each individual container, regardless of the resulting filling level.

As part of the start of filling (for example, from a standstill) of a volumetric filling machine thus one filling element after another starts with the filling process. Since the acceleration and / or deceleration ramps of the speed of the filling machine (temporal speed curve) are stored, the demand for filling material over time can essentially be determined even before or even at the start of filling. In this simple embodiment of the present invention, it is therefore provided to control and / or regulate the product supply already at the beginning of the filling. Preferably in such a way that the expected changes of the

Füllgutbedarfs be taken into account during the changes in the operating state of the filling machine.

The current measured or calculated in the above alternatives

Volume flow signal is used to derive a product supply control signal. This volume flow signal can be transmitted directly to the control circuit for the central product supply. The product supply is then regulated accordingly as a function of the current volume flow signal. The advantage of both alternatives of the method according to the invention is that the current volume flow is always detected accurately and from the product to be supplied via the product supply product quantity can be adjusted without delay, so that the level in the product container regardless of the operating condition or changes in the operating state always in one narrow target range can be maintained. The control valve in the product line can thus begin in good time in conjunction with a flowmeter installed there with the post-promotion of the contents, including, for example, early opening of the valve seat. The Nachförderung thus takes place according to the invention even before this process would be triggered by a falling level or a falling pressure. As a result, the level and pressure in the starting phase or in the case of a change in power can be kept constant to a hitherto impossible extent.

As already described above, this principle can of course be used at the end of filling. Even then, the filling process at the filling stations is terminated one after the other.

Depending on the desired control characteristic, an offset value for a basic delivery quantity of contents can be subtracted or added from the sum of the flow values supplied by the filler MIDs, e.g. as part of a level correction. In any case, a software-technical combination with a possibly additionally provided pressure or level control can take place.

It is possible to switch between the two alternatives mentioned above, e.g. the alternative with the speed-based calculated volume flow signal during start-up / deceleration and the alternative based on the flowmeter values during ongoing operation of the beverage filling system.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the product supply is additionally regulated as a function of the signals of at least one fill level sensor arranged in the product container. This means that not only the current volume flow signal is taken into account for the volume flow to be supplied by the product feed, but also the fill level in the product container, which can advantageously be used so that a fill level deviating from the desired fill level in the product container

Product container can be compensated immediately by a corresponding readjustment of the product supply. By "regulation of the product feed", the regulation or control of at least one product control valve arranged in a product feed line and / or at least one product feed pump assigned to the product feed is generally meant. These two components can be controlled or regulated either alternatively or jointly by controlling the beverage filling plant.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the beverage filling plant contains a round filling machine. In this case, the current speed of the round filling machine is measured, the speed curve of the filling machine when starting or

Braking is stored. Thus, a ramp of the speed curve is stored over the time range of the startup or deceleration.

During braking of the filling machine, the height of the steadily decreasing filled volume flow can thus be calculated in advance from the actual rotational speed, the current volume flow signal and the stored temporal speed curve. The

Product delivery can thus be promptly commensurate with the decreasing

Volumetric flow are regulated when braking the filling machine, without causing an increase in the level in the product container above the desired level. In this way, this gradual shutdown of the amount of product supplied to the product container can occur simultaneously with the deceleration of the filling machine at the product end.

Similarly, when starting the filling machine of the expected

Volume flow can be predicted, and from the stored time

Speed curve of the filling machine when starting, possibly from the target speed of the filling machine, from the number of filling elements and from the nominal filling quantity per

Container filling. Thus, the product supply already at startup of the

Filling machine can be adjusted directly to the expected volume flow. Thus, the control of the beverage plant can foresee as the volume flow demand of the filling machine increases with approaching machine. It can thus at least at the same time adjust the product supply accordingly, so that no time delay between the increasing volume flow demand of the filling machine and the amount of product supplied occurs. Preferably, in the above-mentioned actual speed of the filling machine with the target speed corresponding to the stored finished speed curves during startup and

Deceleration compared, and from the comparison signal, a correction signal for the control of the product supply is derived. The product supply is then controlled or regulated in dependence on the correction signal. With this process parameter, a deviation of the current speed of the filling machine of a

Recorded speed history recorded and in the control or regulation of

Product intake are immediately taken into account. The supplied product then corresponds exactly to the filled product volume flow when filling the

Container, even if the filling machine does not start or decelerate exactly according to the stored time course. In addition, it can preferably be provided that the stored temporal speed curves or speed ramps are constantly updated by current values of the speed curves when starting and starting the machine, which ensures that the stored speed profiles are always up-to-date.

Preferably, in the product feed a product feed flow meter for

Generation of an actual supply volumetric flow signal is arranged and the actual supply volumetric flow signal is compared with the current volumetric flow signal or an expected volume flow during startup / deceleration of the filling machine. Depending on the comparison result is then a correction signal for the

Derived regulation of product supply. In this case, setpoint speed curves are always used as a reference during operation or in the case of a speed change and compared with the current speed profiles, whereby the product supply is readjusted accordingly if the reference values deviate.

Preferably, the containers are volumetrically filled, i. it will be in everyone

Regardless of the level, always filled exactly the same amount of product. This allows a simpler calculation of the actual volume flow in the case of computational determination of the volume flow signal in an alternative of the invention. The invention also comprises a beverage filling plant, comprising a filling machine, in particular a round filling machine, with a product container, in particular a ring bowl, and with a plurality of filling elements, each having a filling valve and a flow meter. Furthermore, the

Beverage filling a product feed to the product container, which product supply at least one product delivery pump and / or at least one product control valve to regulate the product supplied to the product container product flow can in particular volumetrically. The product supply is with a discontinued product source, e.g. connected to the buffer tank of a mixer, some

Cubic meters can be large. The flow meter at each filling element is

provided to be able to detect volumetrically the amount of product delivered to the container to be filled. The beverage filling system further includes a controller with which the filling machine and the product supply can be controlled. According to the invention, the flow meter of each filling element is connected to the controller and the controller includes an adder which is designed to add up the signals of the flow meters of all filling elements of the filling machine to a current volume flow signal. Furthermore, the controller includes a product control module which is designed to be

Regulate product supply in dependence on the current volume flow signal. This beverage plant is able to equalize the product flow supplied to the product container, in particular ring bowl, in the product flow delivered exactly into the container. Of course, this can be a

Offsetwert be reserved to operate conditions of the

Filling machine to take into account, for example, to slowly adjust a level in the product container to a setpoint. With regard to the aspects and advantages of the invention, reference is made to the above comments on the method according to the invention. Preferably, at least one level sensor is arranged in the product container and the product control module is designed to regulate the product supply also in response to a fill level signal of the level sensor. In this way, the product supply is not controlled solely on the basis of the current volume flow signal, but also as a function of the level, which has the consequence that the level in the product container can always be kept in a narrowly defined predetermined level range, which the reliability of the filling machine is beneficial.

Preferably, the flow meters of the filling elements are formed by magnetic inductive flow meters (MID), which are capable of a very precise

volumetric value of the filling quantity to be supplied when filling each container.

As a result, the control can be improved in accuracy.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention is in the product supply a

Product supply flow meter arranged to generate an actual supply volumetric flow signal, wherein the signal is fed to the product control module to a

Derive correction signal for controlling the product supply. In this way, the supplied product stream can be constantly compared with the current volume flow signal, and the product supply can be readjusted to delay a constant level in the product container quasi delay.

The advantage of the present invention is that almost instantaneous product delivery control is possible, resulting in a very constant level in the product container, especially during changes in the operating state of the filling machine, e.g. at changing operating speeds or when starting and braking (end of operation) of the filling machine.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the o.g. Embodiments can be combined in any way with each other. The following expressions are used synonymously in the application: Filling point -

filler; Filling machine - round filling machine; Beverage filling plant - beverage plant - beverage bottling plant; Product container - ring bowl; The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the schematic drawings. 1 shows a schematic view of a beverage plant with a round filling machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the beverage plant according to FIG. 1; FIG.

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the filling machine in the region of a filling element.

The beverage filling system 10 will be described below with reference to all Figures 1 to 3. The Getränkefüllanlage 10 includes a round-filling machine 12, which has a ring bowl 14 at its periphery as a product container. The round-filling machine 12 further has a plurality of filling elements 16 each having a filling valve 32 for filling a container 18, e.g. have a bottle. The ring bowl is arranged radially inside the filling elements 16. The ring bowl feeds all filling elements 16 of the

Filling machine 12 for filling containers 18. The ring boiler 14 is connected via a product supply line 21 with a product supply 20, which a

Product control valve 22 and a product delivery pump 24 includes. The

Product supply line 21 is further preferably of a very large size

Buffer tank connected to a mixer, which is not shown in the drawing, and also does not belong to the beverage filling 10. The beverage filling system 10 is controlled by a central controller 26 having a memory 28 for storing time-lapse characteristics of the filling machine as well as for storing other parameters, e.g. the number of filling elements on the filling machine 12, the volume of the container to be filled 18 and setpoints or setpoint ranges. Furthermore, the controller 26 has a product control module 30, which is responsible for the control of the product supply 20, through which the product is fed to the ring boiler 14. Each filling element 16 contains in addition to the filling valve 32 and a flow meter 34, which are both connected to the controller 26.

The beverage plant 10 further includes a level sensor 36, which is connected to the controller 26, so that the controller 26 constantly receives a signal about the current level in the ring tank 14. In addition, a product flow meter 38 is arranged in the product supply line 21 in order to be able to detect volumetrically the amount of product fed to the ring bowl 14 in real time. The containers 18 are supplied to the filling machine 12 via a container feed 40 and discharged via a container removal 42, usually by known per se

Transfer gyroscope.

The illustrated beverage plant 10 operates as follows:

In a first possible procedure, the controller 26 can detect the rotational speed of the circular filling machine 12, wherein it can generate a current volume flow signal by the current speed of the filling machine, the filling volume of the container to be filled 18 and the number of filling elements 16, which then to control the

Product feeder 20, i. of the product control valve 22 or the product delivery pump 24 can be used, in particular to the ring to be fed 14 product quantity in the same amount as the currently bottled product quantity (according to the current volume flow signal) to adjust, so that the level in the ring tank 14 remains constant.

Alternatively, in a second possible method of bottling, the

Signals from the flow meters 14 of all the filling elements 16 of the filling machine 12 in the product control module 30 of the controller 26 are added up to a current volume flow signal and the product feed 20, i. the product control valve 22 and / or the product feed pump 24 are controlled so that the amount of product supplied corresponds to the added values of the flow meter 34 of all filling elements 16, i. the current volume flow signal. In this way, the product supply 20 in real time almost instantaneously the flow rate demand when filling the

Filling machine 12 are readjusted.

It is possible to switch between the two alternatives mentioned above, e.g. the first alternative with the calculated volume flow signal at

Start / brake and the second alternative based on the

Flowmeter values during operation. The regulation of the product supply can then be carried out so that not only the same amount of product that is currently delivered via the filling elements in the container 18, is supplied, but this value can also be increased or decreased by an offset, for example by an actual Adjust level in the ring vessel 14 to a desired level, ie to lower or raise the level. This offset value can be used, for example, for regulating the product supply until the actual fill level determined by means of the fill level probe 36 has been adjusted to a desired fill level stored in the memory 28. The round filling machine 12 is shown only very schematically in the figures.

As a rule, a round filling machine 12 has a lot more filling elements, e.g. 100 filling elements distributed around its circumference. The ring bowl 14 runs

preferably inwardly offset to the filling elements, so that the volume flow flowing from the ring vessel 14 to the filling element 16 is increased by the centrifugal force. The ring bowl 14 can also extend over the filling elements 16.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but may be varied as desired within the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 beverage plant

12 round filling machine

14 ring bowls - product container

16 filling element

18 containers - bottle

20 product feed

21 product supply line

22 product control valve

24 product delivery pump

26 control

28 memory

30 product control module

32 filling valve

34 Flowmeters - MID

36 level sensor

38 product flow meter

40 container feed

42 container removal

Claims

claims

1 . A method for controlling a beverage filling plant (10), comprising a filling machine (12) having a plurality of filling elements (16), each of which a filling valve (32) for filling a beverage into a container (18), in particular a bottle, and a Flowmeter (34), in which method the filling amount supplied to the container (18) via the filling valve (32) by means of the flow meter (34) is detected during the filling process, wherein in the process each filling element (16) of the filling machine (12) a product container (14), in particular a ring boiler, is fed, and a product supply (20) for maintaining a desired level in the product container (14) is controlled,

characterized in that

the signals of the flow meter (34) of all filling elements (16) to a current

Volume flow signal added up

or

the speed of the filling machine (12) currently measured and from the measured speed value taking into account the number of

Filling elements (16) and the volume of a container to be filled (18) a current volume flow signal is calculated,

and that the current volume flow signal for deriving a control signal for the

Product supply (20) is used, and the product supply (20) is controlled / regulated in dependence on the current volume flow signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product supply (20) additionally in

Depending on the signal of at least one in the product container (14) arranged level sensor (36) is controlled.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the control of the product supply (20) by controlling / controlling at least one product delivery pump (24) and / or by controlling / controlling at least one in a product supply line (21) arranged product control valve (22).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a round filling machine (12) is used, wherein the current speed of the filling machine (12) is measured and the speed curve of the filling machine (12) is stored during braking, wherein the actual speed and the current volume flow signal taking into account the stored speed curves of the expected

Volume flow calculated and the product feed (20) on the expected

Volume flow when braking the filling machine (12) is controlled.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a

Round filling machine (12) is used, wherein the speed curve of the filling machine (12) is stored at startup, wherein from a target speed of the filling machine (12), from the number of filling elements (16) and from the nominal filling quantity per

Container filling taking into account the stored speed curve of the expected volume flow calculated and the start of the filling machine (12), the product supply (20) is controlled to the expected flow rate.

6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the actual speed with the target speed corresponding to the stored speed profile during startup / deceleration

compared and from the comparison signal, a correction signal for the control of

Product supply (20) is derived, and the product supply (20) in response to the correction signal is controlled / regulated.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the

Product supply (20) a Produktzufuhrdurchflussmesser (38) for generating an actual supply volumetric flow signal is arranged, and that the actual supply volumetric flow signal with the current volume flow signal or one expected

Volumetric flow when starting / braking the filling machine (12) is compared and derived as a function of the comparison result, a correction signal for the control of the product supply (20).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (18) are filled volumetrically.

9. beverage filling plant (10), comprising a filling machine (12), in particular a round filling machine (12) with a product container (14), in particular a

Ring bowl, and a plurality of filling elements (16), with a product feed (20) to the product container (14), which product feed (20) at least one

Product feed pump (24) and / or at least one product control valve (22), each filling element (16) having a flow meter (34),

which beverage filling system (10) further contains a controller (26) for controlling the filling machine (12) as well as the product feed (20),

characterized in that the flow meter (34) of each filling element (16) is connected to the controller (26),

in that the controller (26) has a product control module (30) with an adder which is designed to monitor the signals of the flowmeters (34) of all filling elements (16) of the

Filling machine (12) to add up to a current volume flow signal, wherein the product control module (30) is designed to control the product supply (20) in response to the current volume flow signal.

10. beverage filling system (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that in the product container (14) at least one level sensor (36) is arranged, and that the product control module (30) is designed, the product supply (20) also in response to a level signal of the level sensor (36) to regulate.

1 1. Beverage filling system (10) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the flow meter (34) by magnetic inductive flowmeter (MID) are formed.

12. beverage system (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that in the product supply (20) a product feed flow meter (38) for

Generating an actual supply volumetric flow signal is arranged, which signal is fed to the product control module (30) to derive a correction signal for the control of the product supply (20).