FR2851764A1 - Device for filling containers comprises hollow body with connection orifice to product tank and distribution orifice, valve on body slides between orifice sealing and disengagement positions - Google Patents

Abstract

The filling device comprises a hollow body (8) with a connection orifice (13) to a product tank and a product distribution orifice (12) located under the connection orifice so that the body delimits a product passage channel. A valve (17,18) mounted on the body is able to slide between an orifice sealing position and an orifice disengagement position. The valve and the body comprise relative sliding surfaces (23,24,50) for guiding the sliding of the valve relative to the body. A tubular wall (32,46) isolates the sliding surfaces relative to the product passage channel.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for

  filling of containers with a viscous or pasty product, with or without pieces, semi-liquid, liquid or the like.

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The filling of containers with such products is generally carried out by means of a machine comprising a tank at the periphery of which are arranged filling devices plumb with a support member 10 for the containers. . Each filling device comprises a tubular body having one end slidingly receiving a metering piston and an opposite end provided with a dispensing orifice for the product. A port for connection to the tank is formed in the body between its two ends so that the body defines a product passage channel. Each filling device generally comprises a member for selectively closing the connection orifice and the dispensing orifice which is mounted in the body of the filling device to ensure the distribution of the product from one part of the tank. towards the metering piston and on the other hand from the metering piston towards the dispensing orifice.

  A drawback of such a filling device is that the selective closure member makes cleaning of the device difficult. Indeed, the selective shutter member, which involves one or more valves, has interstices between the different parts constituting it and operating clearances between the moving parts which constitute it and fixed parts belonging in particular to the selective closure member itself is in the body of the filling device. These interstices and these clearances constitute as many retention zones of the product to be dosed. In the case of food products, the product that stagnates in the retention zones can degrade and risks contaminating the entire product with which it comes into contact.

  The cleaning must therefore be very meticulous, in particular at the level of these retention zones. As a result, the cleaning time, time during which the filling machine is not in production, is relatively long and that it is sometimes necessary to dismantle the filling devices, which further lengthens the duration of the cleaning operation.

  OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It would therefore be advantageous to have a filling device having a structure which has a minimum of retention zones and which facilitates its cleaning.

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, there is provided, according to the invention, a device for filling containers with a product, the device comprising a hollow body and provided with an orifice for connection to a tank of product and d '' a product distribution orifice disposed under the connection orifice 20 so that the body defines a product passage channel, at least one valve being mounted in the body to slide between a closed position of one of the orifices and a position for releasing this orifice, the valve and the body comprising relative sliding surfaces for sliding guide the valve relative to the body and said device being remarkable in that it comprises means for isolating the sliding surfaces relative to the product passage channel.

  It has been found that the interstices and working clearances existing between the relative sliding surfaces of the body and of the valve constitute a preferred retention zone. The isolation means prevent product from intermingling between these surfaces and remaining trapped therein. In addition, the product passage channel can then be arranged so as not to have recesses in such a way that on the one hand the product retention zones are very limited therein and that, on the other hand, a cleaning liquid can easily be in contact with the entire surface of said channel.

  Advantageously, the isolation means comprise a tubular wall which extends between the valve and the body and which is axially deformable and, preferably, the tubular wall is formed by a bellows.

  The isolation means thus have a relatively simple structure.

  According to a first embodiment, the connection orifice being formed transversely in the conduit, the valve is mounted transversely in the body facing the connection orifice to the tank, the valve comprising a support head against a edge of said orifice and a tail received slidingly in a housing of the body and opening into the body through an opening, and an axially deformable tubular wall 20 extends from the body to the head of the valve around the tail of the valve and of said opening of the housing.

  This valve, although extending in the product passage channel is isolated from the passage channel by the deformable tubular wall. The only parts in contact with the product are the deformable tubular wall and the valve head which can be arranged to have substantially smooth external surfaces.

  According to a second embodiment, the body being tubular and the dispensing orifice being provided at one end thereof, the valve is mounted longitudinally in the body to close the dispensing orifice, a rod being fixed coaxially in the body to extend into the dispensing orifice and have a shoulder head projecting outside the body and the valve comprising a tube mounted coaxially with the rod to have a first end projecting outside the body and a second end mounted to slide in the body between a closed position in which the first end is in abutment against the shoulder head of the rod and a release position in which the first end is spaced from the shoulder head, a axially deformable tubular wall extending between the body and the second end of the tube.

  The relative sliding surfaces are then notably formed, on the one hand, by the external surface of the tube and the edge of the dispensing orifice and, on the other hand, by the external surface of the second end and the internal surface of the body.

  The relative sliding surfaces are thus arranged between the body, the tubular wall and the tube, the latter constituting a wall attached to the periphery of the passage channel. The sliding surfaces are therefore isolated from the passage channel.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of a particular non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will be made to the appended drawings, among which: - Figure 1 is a partial schematic view, with cutaway, of a filling machine equipped with metering devices according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a sectional view along the plane II-II of Figure 1, of one of its metering devices, - Figure 3 is a sectional view along the plane III-III of Figure 1 of another of its metering devices, 3 5 - Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 of an alternative embodiment.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  Referring to the figures, the filling machine comprises a frame 1 on which is mounted to pivot 5 about an axis 2 a tank 3 at the periphery of which are fixed filling devices and more particularly here for metering, generally designated at 4 , plumb with which extend trays 5 which are arranged to support containers 6. The trays 5 10 are mounted under the tank 3 to slide parallel to the axis 2 so that they rest on the upper surface of a drum cam 7 projecting from the frame 1 parallel to the axis 2. Depending on the angular position of the tank 3 relative to the frame 1, the plates 5 are brought from a low position for loading the empty containers with a high position at the start of filling to be then gradually brought back as the filling progresses towards a low position at the end of filling and unloading of the full containers.

  Each metering device 4 comprises a tubular body 8 having one end 9 forming a chamber slidingly receiving a metering piston 10 and, opposite, one end there provided with a plug 57 pierced with a dispensing orifice 12 of the product. The body 8 also comprises, between the ends 9 and 11, an orifice 13 for connection to the tank 3. It is thus delimited in the body 8 a passage for the product to be metered from the tank 3 to the orifice 12 product distribution.

  The metering piston 10 is secured to one end of a rod 14 having an opposite end which projects from the body 8 and from a transverse projection from which is mounted to pivot a roller 15 received in a rail 16 secured to the frame 1 to move the metering piston 10 between a high position or suction position (shown in Figure 2) and a low position or discharge position (shown in Figure 3) depending on the angular position of the tank 3 relative to the frame 1.

  Each metering device 4 comprises a valve, generally designated at 17, for closing the orifice 13 for connection to the tank 3 and a valve, generally designated at 18, for closing the distribution orifice 12.

  The valve 17 comprises a head 19 integral with a tail 20 mounted to slide along the axis of the orifice 13 in a hollow part which is attached to the wall of the body 8 outside of it and which passes through an opening 21 of said wall to form a housing éta15 gé 22 opposite the orifice 13. The tail 20 has an end opposite to the head 19 which is integral with a piston 23 sealingly dividing a chamber 24 of the housing 22 in a front compartment 25 and a rear compartment 26. The front and rear compartments 25, 26 20 are associated with means for admission and exhaust of pressurized air 27, 28 so that the piston 23 can be moved by means of pressurized air between a closed position of the valve 17 (FIG. 3) in which the head 19 is in abutment against an edge of the orifice 13 and an open position of the valve 17 (FIG. 2) in which the head 19 is moved away from this edge. The peripheral surface of the piston 23 integral with the valve 17 and the internal surface of the chamber 24 integral with the body 8 constitute sliding surfaces 30 relative to the valve 17 and the body 8, as is the internal surface of the front part of the housing 22 which cooperates by sliding with the external surface of the tail 19.

  An elastic return means, here a heoidal licoidal spring 29, is arranged in the front compartment 25 between the front face of the piston 23 and a shoulder of the housing 22 to resiliently return the piston 23 to the open position of the valve 17.

  The head 19 has opposite the tail 20 a conical surface 30 which is bordered by a compressible annular seal 31 to bear against the edge of the orifice 13 when the valve 17 is in the closed position.

  The valve 17 is associated with a bellows 32 which has an end 33 pinched in a sealed manner between two parts constituting the head and an opposite end 34 which is received in the opening 21 to be pinched in a sealed manner between the external surface of the body 8 and the part constituting the housing 22. This bellows 32 consti15 kills an axially deformable tubular wall which isolates the aforementioned surfaces from relative sliding relative to the product passage channel. The bellows 32 is here made of elastomer. It will be noted that the bellows 32 has, in a plane transverse to the passage channel, a width 20 less than the section of the passage channel in this plane in order to allow the product to flow when the valve 17 is in the closed position.

  The valve 18 is associated with a rod 35 having a first end 36 fixed by fins 37 ra25 dials connected to a ring 38 fixed in the body 8 so that the rod 35 extends coaxially in the body 8 passing through the distribution orifice 12 so as to have a second end 39 projecting from the outside of the body 8. A frustoconical head 40 is fixed 30 by its small diameter to the second end 39 of the rod 35.

  The valve itself is here formed by a tube 41 mounted coaxially with the rod 35, around it, to have a first end 42 projecting outside the body 8 and a second end 43 mounted to slide in the body 8. The external diameter of the tube 41 is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the dispensing orifice 12 and the internal diameter of the tube is greater than the external diameter of the rod 32 to define therewith an annular section for passage of the product, and less than the largest diameter of the frustoconical head 40.

  The first end 42 of the tube 41 is mounted to slide on a ring 44 secured to the frustoconical head 40 and pierced near the frustoconical head 40 of orifices 45 for the passage of the fluid.

  A bellows 46 extends around the rod 35 and has one end 47 fixed to the body 8 (and more precisely pinched in a sealed manner between the ring 38 and a ring 48 attached to it) and an opposite end 49 connected to the second end 43 of the tube 41. The bellows 46 is here made of elastomer.

  The second end 43 of the tube 41 is integral with a piston 50 which seals the end 49 of the bellows 46 against the second end 43 to which the piston 50 is fixed. The piston 50 divides, into a front compartment 51 and a rear compartment 52, a chamber 53 which is delimited by the bellows 46, the tube 41, the ring 48, the body 8 and the plug 25 57. Each of the front compartments 51 and rear 52 is provided with intake and exhaust means 54, 55 of pressurized air. The piston 50 can thus be moved by means of pressurized air between a closed position of the valve 18 (FIG. 2) in which the first end 42 of the tube 41 is applied against the frustoconical head 40 and covers the orifices 45 and an open position of the valve 18 in which the first end 42 of the tube 41 is spaced from the frustoconical head 40 and discovers the orifices 45.

  Elastic return means, here a helical spring 56, extend in the rear compartment 52 between the piston 50 and the ring 48 secured to the body 8 to resiliently return the tube 41 to the closed position.

  The sliding surfaces formed on the one hand by the external surface of the tube 41 and the edge of the dispensing orifice 12 and, on the other hand, by the external surface of the piston 50 and the internal surface of the body 8 are isolated by relative to the passage channel through the bellows 46. 10 It is the same for the spring 56.

  In operation, the tank 3 rotates continuously relative to the frame 1.

  Considering a single metering device 4, the valve 17 being in the open position and the valve 18 15 being in the closed position as shown in Figure 2, the metering piston 10, due to the rotation of the tank 3 relative to the rail 16, is driven from its low position to its high position. A predetermined quantity of product is thus admitted into the chamber 20 delimited by the end 9 of the body 8. Simultaneously, the container 6 is brought closer by its plate 5 to the metering device 4.

  Once the dosing is complete, the valve 17 is controlled to be brought into the closed position. The valve 25 18 is then controlled to be brought into its open position and simultaneously the metering piston 10 is brought from its high position to its low position to fill the container 6.

  The container 6 (which rests on the plate 5 glis30 sant on the upper surface of the drum cam 7) is then moved away from the metering device 4 as the filling takes place, before being discharged in a known manner .

  A new container 6 can then be brought under the metering device 4 to be filled by it.

  A filling cycle for this container is then initiated.

  In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4, the valves 17 and 18 of each metering device 4 are controlled by means of a dispensing device generally designated at 60 fixed to the body 8 of the metering device 4 to 1. opposite of the tank 3.

  Each distribution device 60 comprises a distributor 61 for controlling the valve 17 and a distributor 62 for controlling the valve 18.

  The distributor 61 comprises a drawer 63 movable between a rear compartment supply position 26 for bringing the piston 23 to the closed position of the valve 17 (shown in FIG. 4) and a position 15 for exhausting the rear compartment 26 to allow the spring 29 to return the piston 23 to the open position of the valve 17.

  The distributor 62 comprises a drawer 64 movable between a position for supplying the front compartment 20 51 for bringing the piston 50 to the closed position of the valve 18 (shown in FIG. 4) and a position for exhausting the front compartment 51 to allow the spring 56 to return the piston 50 to the open position of the valve 18.

  The drawers 63 and 64 have actuating fingers respectively designated 63.1, 63.2 and 64.1, 64.2 to cooperate with cams for moving the drawers 63 and 64 towards their supply and exhaust positions.

  These cams, of which only one referenced 65 is shown, are fixed with a relative angular offset on the frame 1 of the filling machine at the periphery thereof so as to be on the path of the actuating fingers 63.1, 63.2, 64.1, 64.2 of the dispensing devices 60 during the rotation of the dosing devices 4. The cams form ramps intended to depress the actuating fingers 63.1, 63.2, 64. 1, 64.2 to move the drawers 63, 64 correspondingly .

  The cam 65, like the other cams, is mounted 5 on a slide 66 of the frame 1 by means of a jack 67 with a vertical axis operable between an active position (retracted rod, represented in FIG. 4) in which the cam 65 pushes in the actuating fingers 63.1 and an inactive position (rod extended) in which the cam 65 is not in the path of the actuating fingers 63.1. The inactive position can for example be used to carry out maintenance, adjustment or cleaning operations.

  The distribution device 60 and the cylinder 67 15 are supplied with pressurized air by means not shown.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and it is possible to make variant embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims., In particular, although the device for dosing has been described with two valves, a single valve can be used and, for example, only the valve 17 can be provided in the case where the dosing device is dedicated to very viscous products.

  Although the support means 5 for the containers 6 have been described as supporting the containers at a variable height (depending on the portion of the drum cam 7 on which the plates 5 rest), the support means for the containers 6 can be arranged to support the containers 6 at a fixed height.

  Although the invention has been described here in relation to filling devices associated with metering pistons (these devices have therefore been called metering devices), the invention also applies to filling devices devoid of metering means or on the contrary provided with metering means different from those described (measurement of product weight, etc.).

Claims (11)

  1. Device for filling containers with a product, the device comprising a hollow body (8) and provided with a connection orifice (13) to a product tank and with a dispensing orifice (12) for the product disposed under the connection orifice so that the body defines a product passage channel, at least one valve (17, 18) being mounted in the body to slide between a closed position. orifices 10 (12, 13) and a position for releasing this orifice, the valve and the body having relative sliding surfaces (23, 24; 50; 8) for sliding guide the valve relative to the body, characterized in that the device comprises means (32, 46) for isolating the surfaces of relative sliding with respect to the product passage channel.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the isolation means comprise a tubular wall (32, 46) which extends between the valve (17, 20 18) and the body (8) and which is axially deformable .   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tubular wall is formed by a bellows (32,46).   4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the connection orifice (13) being formed transversely in the duct, the valve (17) is mounted transversely in the body (8) opposite the orifice. connection (13) to the tank, the valve comprising a head (19) bearing against an edge of said ori30 fice and a tail (20) received slidingly in a housing (22) of the body (8) and opening into the body through an opening (21), and in that an axially deformable tubular wall (32, 46) extends from the body to the head of the valve around the tail of the valve and the said opening of the housing.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the tail (20) of the valve (17) is connected to a piston (23) received in a chamber (24) provided with means (27, 28) for admission and d exhaust of pressurized fluid.   6. Device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means (29) for elastic return of the valve in the open position.   7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the body (8) being tubular and the dispensing orifice (12) being formed at one end thereof, the valve (18) is mounted longitudinally in the body (8) for closing the dispensing orifice (12), a rod (35) being fixed coaxially in the body (8) to extend in the dispensing orifice and having a stepped head (40) projecting from the outside of the body and the valve comprising a tube (41) mounted coaxially with the rod to have a first end (42) projecting outside the body and a second end (43) mounted to slide in the body between a closed position in which the first end is in abutment against the shoulder head of the rod and a release position in which the first end is spaced from the shoulder head, and in that a tubular wall (46) axially deformable extends between the body and the at the second end of the tube.   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the second end (43) is integral with a piston (50) dividing into two compartments (51, 52) a chamber (59) which is delimited by the tubular wall ( 46), the tube (41) and the body (8), and which is provided with means (53, 54) for intake and exhaust of a pressurized fluid.   9. Device according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means (55) for elastic return of the valve (18) in the closed position.   10. Device according to claim 1, caracté5 risé in that it comprises a first valve (17) according to one of claims 4 to 6, and a second valve   (18) according to one of claims 7 to 9.   11. Device according to claim 1, fitted to a tank (3) mounted to pivot on a frame (1), carac10 terized in that the valve (17, 18) is associated with a piston (23, 50) movable between positions shutter and opening and in that the device comprises at least one distributor (61, 62) for controlling the piston, the distributor comprising at least one drawer (63, 64) displaceable between two positions corresponding to the positions of shutter and opening, under the action of at least one cam (65) integral with the frame.