EP3656731B1 - Gravity-operated tube filler and method for gravity-operated filling of beverages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a gravity short-tube filler according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for gravity bottling of beverages according to the preamble of claim 8 and as is known from US 3605827A .

As is known, short-tube gravity fillers have proven themselves for bottling beverages, such as spirits, wine or similar liquid products. During the filling process, the same pressure prevails between a product vessel on the gravity short-tube filler containing the beverage to be filled and the interior of the bottle to be filled. Such equal pressure can prevail both at ambient pressure and at overpressure, such as for bottling carbonated beverages.

In such fillers, the fill level is preferably set by the length of the return air pipes formed on the filling valves, in that the beverage poured in rises up to the free end of the return air pipe and closes it in a gas-tight manner. As a result, the flow of the beverage to be filled comes to a standstill. However, due to the hydrostatic pressure gradient towards the product boiler, the beverage rises up the return air pipe. If the bottle is then removed from the filling valve, the beverage present in the return air pipe will run into the bottle, which can cause the bottle to be overfilled.

In order to then be able to set a predetermined fill level of the drink in the bottle as precisely as possible, a fill level correction by additionally sucking off overfilled drink has proven to be practicable. Such a filler is from the DE 10 2013 103 431 A1 known. However, suction systems of this type have the disadvantage that a vacuum must be constantly maintained at the filling valves during the filling process and the drink that has been suctioned off has to be recovered, particularly in the case of high-value products such as wine or spirits. In addition to the additional expense for such recovery circuits, contaminated bottles can have a negative impact on product quality, since the product kettle can then be contaminated by the recovered beverage.

In order to limit the rising height of the filled beverage in the return air pipe, the hydrostatic pressure difference between the level of the beverage in the boiler and the filling valves must also be limited. For this purpose, the filling valves are usually attached directly to the product boiler, in particular also on the outside. However, this results in undesirable limitations for the design of the gravity short-tube filler.

Thus, there is a need for short tube gravity fillers and methods of gravity filling beverages that improve on at least one of the above problems.

The stated object is achieved with a gravity short-tube filler according to claim 1. Accordingly, this serves to fill beverages, in particular spirits, wine or similar liquid products in bottles. The short-tube gravity filler comprises a product tank for the beverage and filling valves connected thereto, which are designed to stop the flow of beverage by the beverage rising up to and/or in the return air tubes. According to the invention, the filling valves are individually preceded by control valves for mechanically controllable throttling of the beverage flow to the filling valves.

The inflow of beverages is terminated by the beverage rising up at least as far as the return air pipe and the resulting gas-tight closure of the return air passage.

As a result, the flow of beverages can be throttled in a targeted manner based on the hydrostatic pressure between the level of the beverage in the product tank and the product outlet at the filling valves. Consequently, the filling valves can be arranged more flexibly, in particular with a greater difference in height and/or completely below the product vessel, in contrast to mounting the filling valves on the side outside of the product vessel. Furthermore, the rising height of the beverage in the return air pipe is reduced by throttling the beverage flow.

The control valves are preferably designed for individual and in particular for stepless flow throttling. This means that each control valve is assigned to a specific filling valve and can throttle/slow down the flow of beverages in a coordinated manner with the filling process of the respective filling valve. Stepless flow throttling enables a particularly precise setting of the beverage flow and the height of the beverage in the return air pipe.

Preferably, the control valves are proportional flow valves. Such control valves can adjust the flow rate of the beverage steplessly, in particular as a function of the electrical control current. Proportional flow valves can continuously change a flow area for the beverage.

Preferably, the proportional flow valves also include pressure compensation such that the beverage inflow can be adjusted independently of the hydrostatic pressure on the inlet side and the viscosity of the beverage.

The beverage inflow can thus be specifically adapted for individual sub-sections of the filling process and can be selectively throttled in particular immediately before the beverage climbs up the return air pipe and/or when climbing up the return air pipe.

The short-tube gravity filler preferably includes a controller for the control valves for time-selective flow throttling at least in a final portion of the filling from a point in time at which the beverage has reached the return air tube and/or from an adjustable time interval before reaching the return air tube. This allows the height of the drink to be reduced in a targeted manner. Furthermore, the beverage inflow before the final section of the bottling can be increased compared to conventional filling processes, since the rising height of the beverage in the return air pipe is then independent of this.

According to the invention, the control valves are connected to the product tank by means of pipelines and/or hose lines and/or to the respectively assigned filling valve by means of pipelines and/or hose lines. This allows the control valves to be flexibly arranged at a suitable level between the product tank and the filling valves. In addition, the arrangement of the filling valves with respect to the product tank can be flexibly optimized, for example in such a way that the filling valves are arranged completely below the product tank and do not protrude laterally beyond it.

A first difference in height between the control valve and a nominal level of the beverage in the product boiler is preferably greater than a second difference in height between the control valve and a product outlet formed on the filling valve. The second difference in height then also plays a subordinate role for the flow rate of the beverage in the case of control valves of comparatively simple design, since only a comparatively low hydrostatic pressure can arise between the control valve and the product outlet of the filling valve.

A height difference between a nominal fill level of the beverage in the product boiler and a product outlet formed on the filling valve is preferably at least 500 mm. This enables a comparatively high maximum flow rate of the beverage and a compact arrangement of the filling valves under the product boiler. The product boiler and the filling valves are preferably arranged on the rotor of a filler carousel. The product boiler is then designed, for example, as a ring boiler. This enables an equally powerful and compact gravity short-tube filler.

The task is also solved with a method according to claim 8. Accordingly, this is used for gravity bottling of beverages, in particular spirits, wine or similar liquid products in bottles. The beverage is fed from a product boiler to filling valves connected to it. There, a flow of beverages into the bottles, driven by hydrostatic pressure difference, is ended by the beverage rising up at least as far as the return air pipes. According to the invention, the flow of beverages to the filling valves is individually throttled by means of mechanically controllable control valves. The advantages described in relation to claim 1 can thus be achieved.

The beverage inflow to the respective filling valve is preferably throttled to a mechanically adjustable value and in particular to a minimum value before the beverage has reached the return air pipe. This minimizes the rise in height of the drink in the return air pipe. Consequently, the level of the drink in the bottle can be precisely adjusted even without vacuum correction suction.

The beverage inflow to the respective filling valve is preferably throttled to an adjustable value and in particular a minimum value after at least 90%, in particular at least 95%, of a predetermined target filling volume has been filled. The drink can flow faster in front of it. The overall duration of the filling process can thus be minimized, as can the rise in height of the drink in the return air pipe. Deviations from the target filling volume can also be minimized in this way, if necessary, depending on the beverage.

The beverage flow to the filling valves is preferably throttled selectively in terms of time within an end section of the bottling process in such a way that the maximum rise of the beverage in the return air pipe is at most 60 mm, in particular at most 10 mm. This allows a particularly precise compliance with the target filling volume.

The beverage inflow to the filling valves is preferably throttled selectively in terms of time, starting from a maximum value that is particularly specific to a beverage, to a minimum value that is particularly specific to a beverage, towards the end of filling. This allows the bottling of different beverages to be specifically optimized, for example for wine or spirits. A time profile of the beverage inflow is preferably set product-specifically by means of a programmed control. The bottling can thus be optimized in a targeted manner with regard to the properties of the bottles and the beverage that are relevant for the bottling.

Figur 1

einen schematischen Teilschnitt durch einen Schwerkraft-Kurzrohrfüller mit vergrößerter Darstellung eines Füllventils; und

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines zeitlichen Verlaufs des Getränkezuflusses.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing. Show it:

figure 1

a schematic partial section through a gravity short tube filler with an enlarged view of a filling valve; and

figure 2

a schematic representation of a time course of the beverage inflow.

As the figure 1 can be seen in a schematic partial view, the gravity short-tube filler 1 for filling beverages 2, such as spirits, wine or similar liquid products in bottles 3, comprises a product boiler 4 and a large number of filling valves 5 (only one of which is shown) connected to it, which open and close by pressing and removing the bottles 3 in a known manner.

The gravity short-tube filler 1 is preferably of a rotary design, so that the product boiler 4, which can also be designed as a ring boiler (not shown), and the filling valves 5 are then arranged on the rotor of a filler carousel 6. This is in the figure 1 schematically indicated by an axis of rotation 6a.

As in particular the enlarged detail in the figure 1 can be seen, the filling valves include 5 return air pipes 7, which are sealed gas-tight at the end of the respective filling process by rising beverage 2, whereby the beverage inflow 8 (product inflow) comes to a standstill.

For mechanically controllable throttling of the beverage inflow 8 , individual control valves 9 are connected upstream of each of the filling valves 5 . The control valves 9 are preferably proportional flow valves, in particular those with pressure compensation, which allow the associated flow and thus the product inflow 8 to be set independently of the hydrostatic pressure on the inlet side and the viscosity of the beverage 2 .

For example, a throttle cross-section 10 of the control valves 9 can be set, preferably steplessly, by an electronic controller 11, for example using control currents through the individual control valves 9.

The control valves 9 are connected to the product boiler 4 by means of an input-side product line 12 and by means of an output-side product line 13 to the respective associated filling valve 5 connected. The product lines 12, 13 are preferably in the form of pipelines and/or hose lines, optionally in any combination. This enables the filling valves 5 to be flexibly optimized in relation to the product boiler 4.

The beverage inflow 8 can be throttled with the control valves 9 in particular in an end section of the respective filling process in order to minimize a (schematically indicated) rise 14 of the beverage 2 in the return air pipe 7 . If the beverage inflow 8 is not throttled, the height of rise 14 results from the hydrostatic pressure present at the filling valve 5 . This results from a height difference 15 between the product outlet 16 at the filling valve 5 and the respective fill level 17 of the beverage 2 in the product boiler 4.

As the figure 1 can be seen schematically, the total height difference 15 can be subdivided into a first height difference 15a between the level 17 and the control valve 9 and a second height difference 15b between the control valve 9 and the product outlet 16 on the filling valve 5 . The second height difference 15b is then preferably smaller than the first height difference 15a. As a result, influences of a hydrostatic residual pressure that may be acting between the control valve 9 and the filling valve 5 depending on the design of the control valves 9 can be reduced.

In the case of a proportional flow valve, however, the beverage inflow 8 can be set largely independently of the pressure conditions upstream and downstream of the control valve 9 . The total height difference 15 is preferably at least 500 mm.

the figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary time course 20 of the beverage inflow 8 during a bottling process. Accordingly, the beverage inflow 8 can be laterally selectively adjusted at least between a maximum value 8a and a minimum value 8b individually for each filling valve 5 with the respectively associated control valve 9 . The maximum value 8a and the minimum value 8b here mean values of the beverage inflow 8 that can be set and/or programmed specifically for the respective filling process.

The maximum value 8a can be limited by the hydrostatic conditions and/or the viscosity of the beverage 2, for example. The minimum value 8b is greater than zero. The maximum value 8a and the minimum value 8b are preferably set or programmed specifically for the beverage, as is the associated time profile 20 of the beverage inflow 8.

The beverage inflow 8 is additionally prevented when the bottles 3 are removed from the filling valves 5 , so that only beverage 2 that has previously risen in the return air pipe 7 can then flow into the bottles 3 .

An example is shown in the figure 2 the start 21 of the filling process, a point in time 22 at which the beverage inflow 8 is throttled in a targeted manner, a point in time 23 at which the beverage 2 has climbed up to the return air pipe 7, an associated time interval 24 in between and the end 25 of the filling process.

Accordingly, the beverage inflow 8 is preferably throttled before the point in time 23 , ie before the beverage 2 has reached the return air pipe 7 . In the example shown, the beverage inflow 8 has already reached its minimum value 8b at the point in time 23 . This is advantageous, but not absolutely necessary.

Like in the figure 2 is indicated by means of an alternative time profile 20' (shown in dashed lines) of the beverage inflow 8, depending on the design of the control valve 9, any time profiles 20 for the beverage inflow 8 or the associated flow rate and/or flow rate can in principle be set during a filling process by setting/programming the electronic control 11 are specified. For example, a product-specific setting/programming of such time profiles 20 is possible.

In particular in the case of proportional flow valves, the beverage inflow 8 can be continuously and infinitely adjusted between the maximum value 8a and the minimum value 8b to any intermediate values. As a result, the overall duration of the filling process can be minimized and flexibly adapted to the beverage 2 in question, and the height of rise 15 in the return air pipe 7 can be minimized. The consequence of this is that a target filling level of the beverage 2 in the respective bottle can be maintained in a reproducible and particularly precise manner, even without filling level correction by means of vacuum suction.

Electrically operated level probes or the like are unnecessary. This is particularly advantageous in the case of beverages 2 with a high alcohol content, in particular spirits.

Since the filling valve 5 is exclusively level-controlled by means of a gas-tight closure of the return air pipe 7 through the beverage 2 and thus works purely fluid-mechanically, the short-tube gravity filler 1 described can be produced comparatively inexpensively, as well as for a large number of high-quality beverages 2, in particular for bottling of spirits and wine.

The gravity short-tube filler 1 is designed and set up in such a way that at least one of the described variants of the method can be carried out with it.

Claims (13)

1. Gravity short-tube filler (1) for filling beverages (2), in particular spirits, into bottles (3), comprising a product tank (4) for the beverage (2) and filling valves (5) connected thereto which have return air pipes (7) and are designed to terminate the beverage inflow (8) by raising the beverage (2) at least up to the return air pipes (7), characterised in that control valves (9) for mechanically controllable throttling of the beverage inflow (8) to the filling valves (5) are individually connected upstream of the filling valves (5), the control valves (9) being connected to the product tank (4) by means of pipes and/or hose lines and/or to the respectively associated filling valve (5) by means of pipes and/or hose lines.
2. Gravity short-tube filler according to claim 1, wherein the control valves (9) are designed for individual and in particular continuous flow throttling.
3. Gravity short-tube filler according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control valves (9) are proportional flow valves.
4. Gravity short-tube filler according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a controller (11) for the control valves (9) for temporally selective flow throttling at least in an end portion of the filling process from a point in time (24) at which the beverage (2) has reached the return air pipe (7), and/or from an adjustable time interval (25) before the return air pipe (7) is reached.
5. Gravity short-tube filler according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a first height difference (15a) between the control valve (9) and a nominal fill level (17) of the beverage (2) in the product tank (4) is greater than a second height difference (15b) between the control valve (9) and a product outlet (16) formed on the filling valve (5).
6. Gravity short-tube filler according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a height difference (15) between a nominal fill level (17) of the beverage (2) in the product tank (4) and a product outlet (16) formed on the filling valve (5) is at least 500 mm.
7. Gravity short-tube filler according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the product tank (4) and the filling valves (5) are arranged on the rotor of a filler carousel (6).
8. Method for gravity-filling beverages (2), in particular spirits, into bottles (3), the beverage (2) being fed from a product tank (4) to filling valves (5) connected thereto and a beverage inflow (8) into the bottles (3), which is driven by hydrostatic pressure difference, being terminated by the beverage (2) rising at least up to the return air pipes (7), characterised in that the beverage inflow (8) to the filling valves (5) is individually throttled by means of mechanically controllable control valves (9), which are connected to the product tank (4) by means of pipes and/or hose lines and/or to the respectively associated filling valve (5) by means of pipes and/or hose lines.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the beverage inflow (8) to the relevant filling valve (9) is throttled to a mechanically adjustable value and in particular a minimum value (8b) before the beverage (2) has reached the return air pipe (7).
10. Method according to either claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the beverage inflow (8) to the relevant filling valve is throttled to an adjustable value and in particular a minimum value (8b) after at least 90%, in particular at least 95%, of a predetermined target filling volume has been filled.
11. Method according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the beverage inflow (8) to the filling valves (5) is throttled in a temporally selective manner, in each case within an end portion of the filling process, in such a way that the maximum rise height (14) of the beverage (2) in the return air pipe (7) is at most 60 mm, in particular at most 10 mm.
12. Method according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the beverage inflow (8) to the filling valves (5) is throttled in a temporally selective manner from a beverage-specific maximum value (8a) to a beverage-specific minimum value (8b) towards the end of the filling process.
13. Method according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein a time curve (20) of the beverage inflow (8) is adjusted in a product-specific manner by means of the programmed controller (11).

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