EP3808696B1 - Validation du nettoyage dans un dispositif de remplissage de récipients - Google Patents

Validation du nettoyage dans un dispositif de remplissage de récipients Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3808696B1
EP3808696B1 EP20202546.6A EP20202546A EP3808696B1 EP 3808696 B1 EP3808696 B1 EP 3808696B1 EP 20202546 A EP20202546 A EP 20202546A EP 3808696 B1 EP3808696 B1 EP 3808696B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling
treatment
container
treatment chamber
pressure
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EP20202546.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3808696C0 (fr
EP3808696A1 (fr
Inventor
Josef Knott
Holger Mueller
Florian HABERSETZER
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Krones AG
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Krones AG
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/001—Cleaning of filling devices
    • B67C3/002—Cleaning of filling devices using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/001—Cleaning of filling devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for filling a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, and to a method for cleaning and/or sterilizing such a device.
  • the container can be filled according to one in the DE 10 2014 104 873 A1
  • the further development described can be closed under excess pressure without first equalizing the pressure of the container interior with the external environment.
  • the container mouth is placed in a chamber for filling and closing, and the chamber is brought to the above-mentioned overpressure. Only after the container has been closed is the chamber relieved to atmospheric pressure in order to be able to remove the container.
  • the pressure level in the chamber surrounding the container mouth is detected and recorded using a pressure sensor.
  • the system and method for sudden filling do not require a flow meter at the individual filling stations, as the filling can be regulated by the vacuum pressure level in the evacuated container and the filling pressure.
  • the SIP process is subsumed here under the CIP process, i.e. the CIP process includes cleaning and/or sterilization.
  • the surfaces of the filling system that come into contact with the filling product can be thermally sterilized using superheated steam.
  • the filling valves are subjected to superheated steam and are thus brought to the sterilization temperature.
  • the resulting temperature of the filling valves is maintained and monitored over a certain period of time in order to achieve a specified sterilization effect, as can be seen, for example DE 10 2010 031 873 A1 or the DE 10 2013 113 621 A1 is known.
  • thermocouple which is usually integrated in the filling valve or arranged on the orifice.
  • thermocouple is usually integrated in the filling valve or arranged on the orifice.
  • thermocouple is usually integrated in the filling valve or arranged on the orifice.
  • the filling/closing system described at the beginning requires comparatively few sensors to monitor the filling process;
  • flow meters can be dispensed with because the filling can be regulated by the vacuum pressure level in the evacuated container and the filling pressure.
  • Validation of the cleaning or sterilization is therefore not easily possible by detecting and recording the volume flow of the cleaning or sterilization medium using flow meters.
  • the DE 10 2017 210 949 A1 describes a method for checking the tightness of a filling-closing unit for containers.
  • the EP 3 031 474 A1 describes a filling valve for a filler for filling a container with a filling product, with all the technical features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • the device according to the invention also referred to herein as a “filling device”, is used to fill a container with a filling product.
  • the device is particularly preferably used in a beverage bottling plant for bottling beverages - such as water, carbonated or non-carbonated, soft drinks, beer or mixed drinks.
  • the filling device has at least one filling station with a filling element for introducing the filling product into the container to be filled and a treatment device for treating components of the device that come into contact with the filling product by means of a treatment medium.
  • a filling element for introducing the filling product into the container to be filled
  • a treatment device for treating components of the device that come into contact with the filling product by means of a treatment medium.
  • components of the filling element such as the filling valve, product line, gas lines, gas valves and the like, are treated here.
  • the treatment device is primarily used to clean and/or sterilize product-carrying/product-carrying components of the device.
  • the device has at least one pressure determining device for detecting pressures of the treatment medium at one or more points of the device.
  • the pressure of the treatment medium is thus determined at one or more points of the fluid-carrying components of the device, i.e. in lines, chambers, valves, etc.
  • detecting pressures includes a direct measurement of the pressures in common physical units as well as the determination or derivation of alternative parameters that can be used as an alternative measure of the pressure.
  • the terms "pressure”, “pressures” etc. also include not only absolute pressure values, but also pressure changes and in particular equivalent physical quantities, which are not necessarily measured in typical units of pressure, but are a measure of the pressure.
  • the pressure determination device can comprise a pressure sensor, pressure transducer or the like, but it can also implement a device for indirectly determining the pressure, for example by evaluating other physical variables. Examples of such indirect pressure determination are presented in detail based on the description of preferred embodiments.
  • the device further has an evaluation device which is set up to receive the pressures detected by the pressure determination device during the treatment of the device (this can be done wirelessly or by wire) and to determine from this whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • the evaluation device monitors and/or verifies the treatment based on the determined pressures of the treatment medium.
  • the success of the treatment can be verified even without the use of flow meters. No additional measuring equipment is necessary.
  • the pressure can be determined directly via pressure sensors or pressure transducers or indirectly, for example through synergistic use of the filling device equipment. The verification or monitoring is therefore carried out in a particularly simple, self-sufficient and reliable manner in terms of construction and procedural technology.
  • At least two pressure determination devices are provided for detecting pressures of the treatment medium at at least two different points of the device, the evaluation device in this case being set up to receive the pressures detected by the pressure determination devices during the treatment of the device and from a comparison thereof to determine whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • the comparison can be done by forming differences. In this way, the pressure drop between two points of the device can be used to identify irregularities, such as insufficient flow through sections of the device.
  • the device preferably has a product vessel in fluid connection with the filling element, wherein the at least one pressure determining device is set up to detect pressures of the treatment medium in the product vessel and/or in the filling element or a treatment chamber surrounding the filling element.
  • Pressure transducers or equivalent devices are usually installed in the product vessel and/or in the filling element or a treatment chamber surrounding the filling element anyway for the regular operation of the filling device, which can then be used synergistically for the treatment operation, thereby further simplifying the device in terms of mechanical engineering and further increasing its reliability becomes.
  • the structure and nature of a preferably provided treatment chamber are explained in detail below.
  • one of the pressure determining devices is set up to detect pressures in the product vessel and another of the pressure determining devices is set up to detect pressures of the treatment medium in the filling element or in a treatment chamber surrounding the filling element.
  • the monitoring or verification of the treatment is possible in a particularly efficient way from a mechanical engineering point of view if pressures in the product vessel and in filling elements or any treatment chambers of the filling stations are used for this purpose. For example, if the pressure drop between the product vessel and the filling element or the treatment chamber is too high when the filling valve is open, it can be concluded that the flow is too low or no flow and thus an insufficient treatment effect. This observation can in turn be used for early detection of a possible later failure.
  • the filling station preferably has a treatment chamber for sealingly receiving the container to be filled, completely or in sections. Furthermore, a component which seals the treatment chamber and can be moved relative to the treatment chamber by means of a drive and projects into the treatment chamber is preferably provided, in which case the at least one pressure determining device or one of the Pressure determination devices are set up to detect pressures of the treatment medium in the treatment chamber.
  • the treatment verification set out herein is particularly suitable for filling devices that are set up for sudden filling of containers or for “overpressure filling”.
  • the container or at least the container mouth is introduced into the said treatment chamber for filling and possible closing, whereby the pressure in the treatment chamber can be regulated.
  • the device is set up for filling and closing the container, in this case also referred to herein as a "filler/sealer", with each filling station in this case preferably comprising: a treatment chamber which is set up to at least partially fill the container, preferably a mouth section of the container, and which can be sealed from the external environment; the filling element, which is set up in the treatment chamber for evacuating the container and introducing the filling product into the evacuated container, the filling product preferably being under excess pressure; and a closure member having a closure head configured to receive a closure and to close the container with the closure in the treatment chamber and without prior relief to ambient pressure.
  • the capper head is preferably movable between a retracted position, also referred to as a "sealing position", and an advanced capping position in which the capper head projects into the treatment chamber.
  • evacuation does not necessarily imply the attempt to bring the negative pressure in the container as close as possible to a perfect vacuum. Rather, evacuation can serve to build up a specific negative pressure.
  • negative pressure and overpressure are initially to be understood relative to each other.
  • the excess pressure of the filling product under which filling takes place can correspond to atmospheric pressure, but is preferably higher.
  • a negative pressure can also be a pressure that is above atmospheric pressure. Evacuating the container to this pressure can therefore also correspond to an increase in the pressure relative to the environment, in which case an atmosphere is then preferably provided in the container, which then corresponds to a defined amount of carbon dioxide.
  • the gas providing the negative pressure in the container is preferably mainly carbon dioxide.
  • the container Before introducing the filling product, the container is preferably evacuated to a negative pressure P low with an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 0.05 bar, preferably 0.3 to 0.1 bar, particularly preferably about 0.1 bar.
  • the excess pressure is preferably above atmospheric pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar.
  • the container is evacuated in such a way that when it is filled with the filling product, essentially no gas is displaced by the filling product and accordingly no gas has to flow out of the interior of the container. Rather, the entire mouth cross section of the container can be used to introduce the filling product. In other words, when filling, only a flow of filling product directed into the container occurs, but no opposing flow of fluid.
  • the negative pressure in the container which is preferably built up essentially by gaseous carbon dioxide, can also be above atmospheric pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 1.1 to 2 bar.
  • the excess pressure is then above the respective negative pressure and particularly preferably by 1 to 5 bar above the respective negative pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 2.2 to 7 bar.
  • the container is filled suddenly and closed in a timely and spatially integrated and therefore extremely hygienic manner.
  • the filling element preferably has a mouth section, the filling in this case being carried out in such a way that the mouth section for filling the container is brought into sealing fluid communication with it in the treatment chamber, the treatment chamber is sealed from the external environment and is brought to an overpressure, and the mouth section is released from the container after the filling process has ended, whereby the excess pressure of the treatment chamber acts on the filling product in the container.
  • the container is filled suddenly, while at the same time foaming over after filling, in particular after the filling element has been removed from the container mouth, is prevented.
  • the verification of the cleaning and/or sterilization of the filling elements set out here is particularly suitable for fillers/sealers, in particular for sudden filling, since the complex structure of the filling stations, including the filling element and seamer, makes conventional monitoring using flow meters difficult. According to the pressure-based verification of the treatment, there is no need to resort to flow measurement of the treatment medium.
  • the pressure determination device is set up to determine a pressure of the treatment medium present in the treatment chamber by determining a manipulated variable of the drive of the movable component, wherein the drive preferably comprises an electric linear motor and the manipulated variable corresponds to a current intensity and/or voltage supplied to the drive.
  • the drive can, for example, comprise a pressure cylinder, preferably a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder, whereby the manipulated variable evaluated to determine the pressure in the treatment chamber corresponds to a signal pressure supplied to the pressure cylinder.
  • the pressure present in the treatment chamber can be determined without a pressure sensor having to be provided in the treatment chamber, which would otherwise mean an additional built-in part that would have to be electrically supplied, read out and placed.
  • the pressure sensor would still have to be hygienic so that it cannot cause contamination of the filling product.
  • the drive is used here synergistically to determine the pressure in the treatment chamber.
  • the manipulated variable is preferably proportional to a holding force of the drive for holding the component in a predetermined position. This is particularly the case when the component and its drive are in principle freely movable due to the pressure in the treatment chamber and the drive must accordingly apply a holding force to maintain the position of the component. This holding force is expressed accordingly by the manipulated variable to be applied.
  • the movable component preferably comprises the filling element, which is particularly preferably set up for sealing application to the container sealed with the treatment chamber and for introducing the filling product into the container.
  • the movable component comprises a closure member for applying a container closure to a filled container within the treatment chamber.
  • the equipment of the filling device can be used synergistically to determine the pressure in the treatment chamber.
  • any movable centering bell comprising a container receiving opening in the treatment chamber for sealingly receiving the container, and/or a lifting device for lifting and/or pressing the container against a container receiving opening in the treatment chamber can also be used for this purpose.
  • the above-mentioned object is further achieved by a method for treating, preferably cleaning and/or sterilizing, a device for filling a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant.
  • the method comprises: treating components of the device that come into contact with the filling product, comprising treating a filling element of at least one filling station to initiate the Filling product into the container to be filled by applying a treatment medium to it; detecting pressures of the treatment medium at one or more locations on the device during treatment; and determining whether there is sufficient treatment of the device from the detected pressures.
  • pressures are recorded at at least two different points of the device during the treatment, in which case a comparison of the same determines whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • a volume flow of the treatment medium is provided for the treatment via a product vessel, the filling element and a product line bringing these into fluid connection, in which case, during the treatment, pressures of the treatment medium in the product vessel and pressures of the treatment medium in the filling element and / or are detected in a treatment chamber surrounding the filling element and a comparison thereof is used to determine whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • the pressure drop between the product vessel and the treatment chamber exceeds a threshold value when the filling valve is open, an insufficient treatment effect is concluded.
  • the amount of pressure drop can be used for the comparison.
  • the filling station preferably has a treatment chamber for sealingly receiving the container to be filled and a component which seals the treatment chamber and can be moved relative to the treatment chamber by means of a drive, in which case pressures of the treatment medium in the treatment chamber are recorded during the treatment and taking this into account, it is determined whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • a pressure present in the treatment chamber is preferably determined by determining a manipulated variable of the drive, the drive preferably comprises an electric linear motor and the manipulated variable corresponds to a current and/or voltage supplied to the drive.
  • the movable component preferably comprises the filling element, particularly preferably for sealing application to the container sealed with the treatment chamber and for introducing the filling product into the container, and / or a closing element for applying a container closure to a filled container within the treatment chamber.
  • the closure member can be moved between a sealing position, i.e. a retracted position, and a feed position. In the advance position, the closure member projects into the treatment chamber.
  • the feed position corresponds to the position in which the closing element applies the closure to the container during regular operation.
  • various states of the filling station that influence the pressures of the treatment medium are passed through, the pressure changes being used to determine whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • the states of the filling station passed through can include one or more of the following: a basic state in which a filling valve of the filling element is open, the closing element is in the sealing position and a return line for removing the treatment medium from the treatment chamber is open; a cap advance state in which the filling valve of the filling member is opened, the closing member is in the sealing position and the return line is completely or partially closed by a CIP cap; a capper advance state in which the fill valve is closed and the filler is retracted and the capper is in the advance position; and a filler advance state in which the filling valve is closed and the filling member is retracted into the treatment chamber and the closing member is in the sealing position.
  • the device preferably comprises a rotary carousel with several filling stations, the pressures being determined via different angular positions of the rotary carousel. In this way, states of the filling stations that occur during regular operation can be applied to the treatment operation and used to verify pressure changes.
  • the treatment medium preferably comprises water and/or alkali, such as caustic soda, and/or acid, such as nitric acid and/or peracetic acid, and/or a disinfectant.
  • alkali such as caustic soda
  • acid such as nitric acid and/or peracetic acid
  • a disinfectant such as ethanol
  • no volume flows are used to determine whether the device has been adequately treated.
  • no flow measuring devices need to be installed to monitor and/or verify the treatment.
  • a device for filling and closing containers also referred to herein as a "filler/sealer”, according to one embodiment is shown in detail in the Figure 1 shown.
  • the device also falls under the terms “filling device” or “device for filling a container with a filling product”.
  • the container to be filled and closed is not shown in the figures.
  • the filler/sealer has a filling element 20 which is in the Figure 1 shown process stage protrudes into a treatment chamber 10.
  • the filling element 20 has, accommodated in a filling element housing 21: a filling product line 22; a filling valve 23 disposed at the lower, ie downstream, end of the filling product line 22; a gas pipe 24; and a gas valve 25 arranged at the lower end of the gas pipe 24.
  • the container can be flushed and/or prestressed with a gas, such as inert gas, nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide, via the gas line 24 and the gas valve 25. Furthermore, the container interior can be adjusted to a desired pressure, in particular evacuated.
  • a gas such as inert gas, nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide
  • the container interior can be adjusted to a desired pressure, in particular evacuated.
  • the gas line 24 may be a multi-channel construction, for example through a tube-in-tube construction, may include multiple gas lines to provide the supply of one or more gases into the container and/or the discharge of gas from the container physically separate if necessary.
  • the gas valve 25 includes, for example, a gas poppet and a gas valve seat configured to regulate gas flow.
  • the gas valve cone can be switched via an actuator, not shown.
  • the filling product line 22 is preferably designed as a ring line, which extends at least in sections essentially concentrically to the gas line 24.
  • the filling valve 23 includes, for example, a filling valve cone and a filling valve seat, which are designed to regulate the flow of the filling product, or to open or close it.
  • the filling valve 23 is set up to enable the filling product flow to be completely shut off. In the simplest case, the filling valve 23 has two positions, one open and one completely closed. For this purpose, the filling valve 23 can be switched via an actuator, not shown.
  • the gas valve 25 and the filling valve 23 are actuated via actuators that are not described in more detail. It should be noted that the gas valve 25 and filling valve 23 can be operatively connected to one another, so that, for example, an actuator can be set up for shared use in order to simplify the structure of the filling element 20 and increase reliability.
  • the filling element 20 has a mouth section 26 at the outlet end of the media, which is set up so that the container mouth can be brought sealingly against the mouth section 26.
  • the mouth section 26 preferably has a centering bell with a suitably shaped pressure rubber or a metallic pressure surface.
  • the centering of the container and thus the container mouth can alternatively be carried out by a seal which accommodates the container mouth in the treatment chamber 10, in which the filling element 20 is also located.
  • the container is centered by placing the seal on the outer surface of the container, preferably a shoulder area.
  • the filling element 20 can have one or more metering valves 27, 28, which open into a metering space 22a, whereby a rapid change of type can be achieved, essentially without changeover time.
  • the dosing valves 27, 28 are preferred versions or designs of dosing supply lines.
  • the dosing valves 27, 28 can optionally be dispensed with, so that, for example, only corresponding ones Dosing lines or channels open into the dosing chamber 22a.
  • the metering space 22a can be a section or a suitably shaped part of the filling product line 22.
  • one or more dosing components for example syrup, pulp, flavors, etc.
  • a main component for example water or beer
  • metering valves 27, 28 are present, these and their supply lines are preferably also flushed with treatment medium in the treatment operation described below.
  • the filling element 20 is at least partially movable, so that the in the Figure 1 shown arm-like section of the filling element 20 can be moved into the treatment chamber 10 and either withdrawn therein or partially or even completely removed therefrom. This makes it possible to press the container mouth for the filling process onto the mouth section 26 of the filling element 20 and then, after the filling process has ended, to retract the filling element 20 to such an extent that the container can be closed in the treatment chamber 10.
  • Sealants such as inflatable seals
  • the treatment chamber pressure after completion of the filling process can be greater than the pressure of the external environment, whereby the penetration of contaminants into the treatment chamber 10 can be virtually ruled out.
  • the treatment chamber 10 can be located in or form a clean room.
  • the filler/sealer also has a closing member 30 for closing the container. Since, in addition to the filling element 20, further components, such as the treatment chamber 10 and the closing element 30, can be provided spatially integrated as a structural unit on a rotary carousel (not shown in the figures), the filling station in this case is implemented by this structural unit.
  • the closing member 30 has a closing head 31 which projects into the treatment chamber 10 and can be moved essentially vertically in the present exemplary embodiment. Like the filling element 20, the closing element 30 is sealed towards the wall of the treatment chamber 10 in order to avoid contamination or uncontrolled impairment of the atmosphere inside the treatment chamber 10 by external influences.
  • the closing member 30 is designed and set up to receive and hold a closure V on the closing head 31.
  • the sealing head 31 can have a magnet, whereby a closure V, in particular if it is a metal crown cap, can be centered and placed on the container mouth to close the container in a structurally simple manner.
  • the closure V can be grasped, held and applied to the container mouth by suitable gripping or clamping means, so that the concept presented here can also be used in particular for plastic closures, twist closures, etc.
  • the closure head 31 is designed to be movable in the up/down direction, which is arranged essentially coaxially with the container mouth in order to be able to reliably apply the closure V to the container.
  • a closure V can be introduced into the treatment chamber 10 in one step at the beginning of the cycle, for example from a sorting unit and a feed trough.
  • the treatment chamber 10 can be part of the closure member 30 and can carry out a relative movement to the closure feed, such as the feed channel or a transfer arm, with the closure head 31 picking and holding a closure V from the closure feed.
  • the container can also be closed elsewhere. However, particularly in the case of filling products containing carbon dioxide, the closing preferably takes place immediately after filling and in the treatment chamber 10 under excess pressure, as explained below.
  • the treatment chamber 10 To fill the container, it is raised, for example, relative to the treatment chamber 10, for example by means of an in Figure 1 lifting device, not shown, which has a plate-shaped support that moves against the container from below and lifts it.
  • the treatment chamber 10 can be lowered and moved onto the container mouth.
  • the lifting device can be used to stabilize the container during filling and closing.
  • a combination of both approaches ie lowering the treatment chamber 10 and lifting the container by the lifting device, is also possible.
  • the container mouth is now introduced into the treatment chamber 10, and the treatment chamber 10 is sealed from the external environment.
  • the container mouth is pressed sealingly against the mouth section 26 of the filling element 20 which is extended into the filling position.
  • the mouth section 26 of the filling element 20 thus marks the end position of the container stroke and/or the lowering of the treatment chamber 10.
  • the closing head 31 picks up the closure V and moves into the treatment chamber 10.
  • the treatment chamber 10 can be sealed from the environment and from the container or its mouth area by suitable means, such as inflatable seals. If the closing head 31 is in the retracted position and the treatment chamber 10 is sealed on the closing member 30, this state is also referred to herein as the “sealing position” of the closing member 30.
  • gas is preferably supplied into the treatment chamber 10.
  • gas is preferably supplied into the treatment chamber 10.
  • the treatment chamber 10 is sealed on all sides, whereby a suitable internal pressure can be built up in the treatment chamber 10.
  • this preferably corresponds to the filling pressure or saturation pressure of the carbon dioxide or is above it, which effectively prevents foaming or over-foaming of the filling product after the filling process has ended.
  • the gas supply for the treatment chamber 10 can be provided by means of a treatment chamber valve, in which Figure 1 not shown.
  • the gas supply can be at least partially integrated in the filling element 20.
  • the filling element 20 points according to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1 a treatment chamber gas line 29.
  • the treatment chamber gas line 29, in particular its outlet into the treatment chamber 10 can be set up so that the emerging gas jet hits the underside of the closure V when the filling element 20 is in the filling position. In this way, the closure V is cleaned at the same time during the filling process.
  • Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the gas, but another medium, such as sterile air, can also be used.
  • the filling element 20 is retracted and the sealing head 31 continues its downward movement until the container mouth is closed when it is reached.
  • negative pressure and “overpressure” are initially to be understood relative to each other.
  • the overpressure P high generated in step iii) can correspond to atmospheric pressure, but is preferably above it.
  • a negative pressure can also be a pressure that is above atmospheric pressure. Evacuating the container to this pressure can therefore also correspond to an increase in the pressure compared to the environment, in which case an atmosphere is then preferably provided in the container, which then has a defined amount of corresponds to carbon dioxide.
  • the gas providing the negative pressure in the container is preferably mainly carbon dioxide.
  • the container Before introducing the filling product, the container is preferably evacuated to a negative pressure P low with an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 0.05 bar, preferably 0.3 to 0.1 bar, particularly preferably about 0.1 bar.
  • the excess pressure P high is preferably above atmospheric pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar.
  • the container is evacuated in such a way that when it is filled with the filling product, essentially no gas is displaced by the filling product and accordingly no gas has to flow out of the interior of the container. Rather, the entire mouth cross section of the container can be used to introduce the filling product. In other words, when filling, only a flow of filling product directed into the container occurs, but no opposing flow of fluid, which means that filling can be further accelerated.
  • the negative pressure in the container which is preferably built up essentially by gaseous carbon dioxide, can also be above atmospheric pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 1.1 to 2 bar.
  • the excess pressure is then above the respective negative pressure and particularly preferably by 1 to 5 bar above the respective negative pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 2.2 to 7 bar.
  • a CIP treatment operation in particular the validation of one, is described in detail below with reference to the Figures 2A to 2D , which show a schematic representation of a filling device 1 in different states of CIP treatment, described.
  • the filling device 1 is used to fill a container with a filling product in a filling product filling system, preferably a beverage filling system.
  • the filling device 1 is preferably designed in a rotary design and has a rotatable rotary carousel, which is equipped in the usual way with several filling stations, each of which has a filler/sealer, for example according to the embodiment of Figure 1 exhibit.
  • the filling elements 20 are each connected via the filling product line 22 to a product vessel 40, which in regular operation acts as a filling product reservoir and in the cleaning and/or sterilization operation, collectively referred to herein as “treatment operation”, as a reservoir for treatment medium, for example in the form of a cleaning and/or or sterilization medium.
  • treatment medium For example, water, alkalis, acids (such as caustic soda, nitric acid, peracetic acid, etc.), disinfectants, alcohols or the like come into consideration.
  • a boiler pressure determination device 41 is installed on the product boiler 40 and is set up to determine the pressure in the product boiler 40.
  • the vessel pressure determination device 41 comprises a pressure sensor, but it can also be another device that is capable of directly or indirectly determining the pressure in the product vessel 40, for example by evaluating other physical variables, as described below Treatment chamber pressure is shown.
  • a chamber pressure determination device 11 is installed on the treatment chamber 10 and is set up to determine the pressure in the treatment chamber 10.
  • the chamber pressure determination device 41 comprises a pressure sensor, but it can also be another device that is capable of directly or indirectly determining the pressure in the treatment chamber 10.
  • the chamber pressure determination device 11 can thus be set up and designed to determine the pressure present in the treatment chamber 10 by determining the manipulated variable of a drive 32 of the closure element 30, since the closure element 30 covers the treatment chamber 10 in addition to any CIP cap 42 which is on the container side Closing the treatment chamber 10 or a return line 43 is set up, seals from above and can be moved back and forth between a sealing and closing position during treatment, as set out above in relation to the process of closing a container.
  • This functionality which initially relates to regular operation, can now be used synergistically to determine the pressure in the treatment chamber 10.
  • the closing element 30 is viewed as a piston on which the pressure present in the treatment chamber 10 acts.
  • the manipulated variable is therefore proportional to a holding force of the drive 32 for holding the closure member 30 in a predetermined position.
  • the drive 32 of the closing element 30 is controlled so that the closing element 30 is held in a predetermined position.
  • a change in pressure in the treatment chamber 10 acts directly on an end face of the closure member 30. Therefore, based on the pressure change inside the treatment chamber 10, there is a resulting force on the closure member 30.
  • a corresponding holding force must be applied the drive 32 are provided.
  • the manipulated variable therefore corresponds to a current intensity and/or voltage supplied to the drive 32.
  • the ones to comply with the The change in current required at a predetermined position is proportional to a change in pressure in the sealed treatment chamber 10.
  • the determined manipulated variable can be compared, for example, with values from a lookup table.
  • the pressure can be determined from the result of a predetermined function depending on the manipulated variable determined.
  • another algorithm or artificial intelligence can also be used to determine the pressure in the treatment chamber 10.
  • the chamber pressure determination device 11 can determine the pressure in the treatment chamber 10 even without a pressure sensor.
  • the movable filling element 30, its drive 32 and any electronic control device take on the function of a pressure sensor.
  • the pressure in the treatment chamber 10 can alternatively or additionally also be measured by a pressure sensor in the treatment chamber 10, in the mouth area of the filling element 20 or at another suitable location.
  • the chamber pressure determination device 11 and the boiler pressure determination device 41 as well as any other sensors or electronic devices, such as the drive 32 or an ammeter connected to it, are communicatively connected to an evaluation device 44, which is an electronic device for monitoring and / or controlling the treatment process.
  • Data transmission can be wireless or wired.
  • the treatment medium runs from the product boiler 40 via the filling product line 22 to the filling element 20.
  • the gas line 24 and the treatment chamber 10 are also flushed or supplied with the treatment medium.
  • the treatment medium is transported away via the return line 43, to which, for example, a negative pressure is applied.
  • the removed treatment medium can be disposed of or processed for full or partial reuse.
  • pressures at different points in the filling device 1 are determined and evaluated. Particular preference is given to using the pressures in the product vessel 40 and in the treatment chamber 10, which can be measured or otherwise determined as explained above.
  • the pressure in the product vessel 40 can be compared with the pressure in the treatment chamber 10.
  • different pressure states can be recorded and evaluated.
  • these pressure conditions can be recorded and evaluated depending on the angle by rotating the rotary carousel during treatment and recurrently switching all or some of the inlet and outlet valves.
  • the system sections of the filling device 1 to be treated are filled with treatment medium and flushed through, so that the treatment medium runs or flows in a treatment circuit.
  • a volume flow of the treatment medium is provided via the product lines 22, the product vessel 40, the filling elements 20, any gas lines 23 and gas valves 24 and the return line 43.
  • the pressure determination and evaluation can take place at the time of the pressure change via the different angles of the carousel.
  • a threshold value, a characteristic curve or the like for comparison with the pressure conditions determined during the treatment can be used when the system is functioning (for example depending on the opening cross section and different for vacuum and CO2 paths) from the evaluation device 44 can be used.
  • the success of the treatment can be verified even without the use of flow meters. This is possible in a particularly efficient way from a mechanical engineering point of view if the pressures in the product vessel 40 and in the treatment chambers 10 of the filling stations are used for this purpose. No additional measuring equipment is necessary.
  • the pressure can be determined directly via pressure sensors or pressure transducers or indirectly through synergistic use of the equipment of the filling device 1, for example by evaluating the current consumption of the drive 32 of the closing element 30.

Landscapes

  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Claims (13)

  1. Dispositif (1) de remplissage d'un récipient avec un produit de remplissage, de préférence dans une installation de remplissage de boissons, dans lequel le dispositif (1) présente :
    au moins une station de remplissage avec un organe de remplissage (20) pour l'introduction du produit de remplissage dans le récipient à remplir ;
    un dispositif de traitement pour le traitement, qui est un nettoyage et/ou une stérilisation, de composants du dispositif (1) venant en contact avec le produit de remplissage, comprenant des composants de l'organe de remplissage (20), au moyen d'un fluide de traitement ;
    au moins un dispositif de détermination de pression (11, 41) pour la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement en un ou plusieurs points du dispositif (1) ; et
    un dispositif d'évaluation (44) qui est conçu afin de recevoir les pressions détectées par le dispositif de détermination de pression (11, 41) pendant le traitement du dispositif (1) et de déterminer à partir de celles-ci si le dispositif (1) a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant ;
    caractérisé en ce que
    au moins deux dispositifs de détermination de pression (11, 41) sont prévus pour la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement en au moins deux endroits différents du dispositif (1), et le dispositif d'évaluation (44) est conçu afin de recevoir les pressions détectées par les dispositifs de détermination de pression (11, 41) pendant le traitement du dispositif (1) et de déterminer à partir d'une comparaison de celles-ci si le dispositif (1) a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant.
  2. Dispositif (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que celui-ci présente une chaudière de produit (40) en communication fluidique avec l'organe de remplissage (20), dans lequel l'au moins un dispositif de détermination de pression (11, 41) est conçu pour la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement dans la chaudière de produit (40) et/ou dans l'organe de remplissage (20).
  3. Dispositif (1) selon la revendication 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce qu'un des dispositifs de détermination de pression (41) est conçu pour la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement dans la chaudière de produit (40) et un autre des dispositifs de détermination de pression (11) pour la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement dans l'organe de remplissage (20).
  4. Dispositif (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la station de remplissage présente une chambre de traitement (10) pour la réception étanche du récipient à remplir et l'au moins un dispositif de détermination de pression (11) est conçu pour la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement dans la chambre de traitement (10).
  5. Dispositif (1) selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la station de remplissage présente un composant qui rend la chambre de traitement (10) et est mobile par rapport à la chambre de traitement (10) au moyen d'un entraînement (32), dans lequel le dispositif de détermination de pression (11) est conçu afin de déterminer une pression présente dans la chambre de traitement (10) en établissant une grandeur de réglage de l'entraînement (32), dans lequel l'entraînement (32) comprend de préférence un moteur linéaire électrique et la grandeur de réglage correspond à une intensité de courant et/ou tension fournie à l'entraînement (32), dans lequel le composant mobile comprend de préférence l'organe de remplissage (20) pour l'application étanche sur le récipient rendu étanche avec la chambre de traitement (10) ainsi que pour l'introduction du produit de remplissage dans le récipient et/ou un organe de fermeture (30) pour l'application d'une fermeture de récipient (V) sur un récipient rempli à l'intérieur de la chambre de traitement (10).
  6. Procédé de traitement, qui est un nettoyage et/ou une stérilisation, d'un dispositif (1) pour le remplissage d'un récipient avec un produit de remplissage, de préférence dans une installation de remplissage de boissons, dans lequel le procédé comprend :
    le traitement de composants venant en contact avec le produit de remplissage du dispositif (1), comprenant des composants d'un organe de remplissage (20) au moins d'une station de remplissage pour l'introduction du produit de remplissage dans le récipient à remplir, en exposant lesdits composants à un fluide de traitement ;
    la détection de pressions du fluide de traitement en un ou plusieurs points du dispositif (1) pendant le traitement ; et
    la détermination, à partir des pressions détectées, que le dispositif a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant
    caractérisé en ce que
    pendant le traitement, des pressions sont détectées en au moins deux points différents du dispositif (1) et une comparaison de celles-ci est utilisée pour déterminer si le dispositif (1) a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'un courant volumique du fluide de traitement est fourni par le biais d'une chaudière de produit (40) pour le traitement, l'organe de remplissage (20) et une conduite de produit (22) amenant celle-ci en communication fluidique, dans lequel pendant le traitement, des pressions du fluide de traitement dans la chaudière de produit (40) ainsi que des pressions du fluide de traitement sont détectées dans l'organe de remplissage (20) et à partir d'une comparaison de celles-ci, il est déterminé si le dispositif (1) a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant, dans lequel de préférence en cas de chute de pression entre la chaudière de produit (40) et l'organe de remplissage (20) dépassant une valeur seuil, il est conclu à une action de traitement insuffisante.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 6 ou 7, caractérisé en ce que la station de remplissage présente une chambre de traitement (10) pour la réception étanche du récipient à remplir et pendant le traitement, des pressions du fluide de traitement sont détectées dans la chambre de traitement (10) et prises en compte pour déterminer si le dispositif (1) a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la station de remplissage présente un composant qui rend étanche la chambre de traitement (10) et est mobile par rapport à la chambre de traitement (10) au moyen d'un entraînement (32), dans lequel une pression présente dans la chambre de traitement (10) est déterminée en établissant une grandeur de réglage de l'entraînement (32), dans lequel l'entraînement (32) comprend de préférence un moteur linéaire électrique et la grandeur de réglage correspond à une intensité de courant et/ou tension fournie à l'entraînement (32), dans lequel le composant mobile comprend l'organe de remplissage (20) pour l'application étanche sur le récipient rendu étanche avec la chambre de traitement (10) ainsi que pour l'introduction du produit de remplissage dans le récipient et/ou un organe de fermeture (30) pour l'application d'une fermeture de récipient (V) sur un récipient rempli à l'intérieur de la chambre de traitement (10), dans lequel l'organe de fermeture (30) est déplaçable entre une position étanche et une position d'avancement.
  10. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 6 à 9, caractérisé en ce que pendant le traitement, différents états influant sur les pressions du fluide de traitement de la station de remplissage sont traversés et les modifications de pression sont utilisées pour déterminer si le dispositif (1) a fait l'objet d'un traitement suffisant.
  11. Procédé selon la revendication 9 et 10, caractérisé en ce que les états traversés de la station de remplissage comprennent un ou plusieurs des suivants :
    un état de base dans lequel une soupape de remplissage (23) de l'organe de remplissage (20) est ouverte, l'organe de fermeture (30) se trouve dans la position étanche et une conduite de retour (43) est ouverte pour le transport du fluide de traitement hors de la chambre de traitement (10) ;
    un état d'avancement de couvercle dans lequel la soupape de remplissage (23) de l'organe de remplissage (20) est ouverte, l'organe de fermeture (30) se trouve dans la position étanche et la conduite de retour (43) est fermée complètement ou partiellement par un couvercle CIP (42) ;
    un état d'avancement de fermeture dans lequel la soupape de remplissage (23) est fermée et l'organe de remplissage (20) est rétracté et l'organe de fermeture (30) se trouve dans la position d'avancement ; et
    un état d'avancement de remplissage dans lequel la soupape de remplissage (23) est fermée et l'organe de remplissage (20) est rentré dans la chambre de traitement et l'organe de fermeture (30) se trouve dans la position étanche.
  12. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 6 à 11, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif (1) comprend un carrousel à plateau tournant avec plusieurs stations de remplissage et la détermination des pressions est effectuée par le biais de différentes positions angulaires du carrousel à plateau tournant.
  13. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 6 à 12, caractérisé en ce que le fluide de traitement comprend de l'eau et/ou une solution alcaline, de préférence une solution de soude caustique et/ou de l'acide, de préférence de l'acide nitrique et/ou de l'acide peracétique, et/ou un moyen de désinfection, de préférence de l'alcool, et/ou
    aucun courant volumique n'est déterminé et utilisé pour déterminer si le dispositif (1) a subi un traitement suffisant, dans lequel le dispositif (1) ne présente de préférence aucun appareil de mesure de débit.
EP20202546.6A 2019-10-18 2020-10-19 Validation du nettoyage dans un dispositif de remplissage de récipients Active EP3808696B1 (fr)

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DE102019128153.9A DE102019128153A1 (de) 2019-10-18 2019-10-18 Reinigungsvalidierung in einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen von Behältern

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EP2409948B2 (fr) * 2010-07-21 2020-09-30 Krones AG Dispositif de remplissage de récipients avec dispositif de nettoyage

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PL2016992T3 (pl) * 2007-07-16 2012-10-31 Krones Ag Urządzenie i sposób uzdatniania cieczy czyszczących zbierających się w browarach
US20110131933A1 (en) * 2009-11-17 2011-06-09 Livingston Darren D Pressurized capping apparatus
DE102011120164A1 (de) * 2011-12-06 2013-06-06 Khs Gmbh Füllelement sowie Füllsystem
JP5574025B1 (ja) * 2013-06-25 2014-08-20 大日本印刷株式会社 飲料供給系配管の殺菌方法及び装置
DE102013113621A1 (de) * 2013-12-06 2015-06-11 Krones Ag Füllorgan zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts in einen Behälter sowie Verfahren zum Reinigen des Füllorgans
DE102014104872A1 (de) * 2014-04-04 2015-10-08 Krones Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines zu befüllenden Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt
DE102014104873A1 (de) * 2014-04-04 2015-10-08 Krones Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt
DE102014118371A1 (de) * 2014-12-10 2016-06-16 Krones Ag Füllventil für einen Füller zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt
DE102016106222A1 (de) * 2016-04-05 2017-10-05 Krones Ag Verfahren und Prüfvorrichtung zum automatischen Prüfen der Dichtheit eines Füllweges einer Füllvorrichtung sowie Füllvorrichtung
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DE102016123965A1 (de) * 2016-12-09 2018-06-14 Krones Ag Füllvorrichtung zum Abfüllen eines Füllprodukts in einen zu befüllenden Behälter in einer Füllproduktabfüllanlage
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EP0334288B1 (fr) * 1988-03-24 1991-11-13 Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft Procédé pour remplir des récipients avec un produit liquide dans des conditions aseptiques voire stériles ainsi que dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre
EP2409948B2 (fr) * 2010-07-21 2020-09-30 Krones AG Dispositif de remplissage de récipients avec dispositif de nettoyage

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CN112678753A (zh) 2021-04-20
EP3808696C0 (fr) 2023-11-08
DE102019128153A1 (de) 2021-04-22
EP3808696A1 (fr) 2021-04-21

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