GB2280274A

GB2280274A - Container filling system

Info

Publication number: GB2280274A
Application number: GB9413763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Frederick Charles Avey
Original assignee: LAMBRECHTS Ltd
Current assignee: LAMBRECHTS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-07-23
Filing date: 1994-07-07
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Also published as: GB9315334D0; GB9413763D0

Abstract

A system for filling containers, particularly beer kegs, comprises weighing the empty container (80), recording the measured weight, filling the container with a metered volume of liquid, weighing the filled container, and calculating the difference between the measured weights of the filled and empty container, to calculate the weight of the liquid in the container. The volume of liquid in the container can therefore be calculated, to provide an accurate check on the metered volume supplied to the container. In a beer keg filling system incorporating the invention, scales (22) for weighing empty kegs are arranged at weighing stations (20) in each of the washing and filling lines and a check weigher is arranged at a station in the output line. An escapement is provided to reject a keg if the calculated volume of liquid differs from the metered volume by more than a predetermined tolerance. To identify the keg on the check weigher, each keg is marked with machine-readable code at the weighing station (20) and the code is read by a scanner. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER FILLING SYSTEM This invention relates to container filling systems.

The invention relates particularly, but not exclusiveiy, to systems for filling containers such as kegs with beer or the like.

In beer keg filling systems, each keg, after washing and sterilising, is filled through a filling head with a metered volume of beer. Because of inherent inaccuracies in metering the volume of liquid into the keg, it is usual to aliow for a fairly wide tolerance in the volume of liquid, by "overfilling" each keg. This can involve a significant loss to the brewery. Moreover, owing to a recent change in the way in which duty is levied on beer, it has become desirable to provide an accurate method of checking the volume of beer in each keg after it has been filled.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of filling a container with liquid, comprising weighing the empty container, recording the weight of the empty container, filling the container with a metered volume of liquid, weighing the filled container, and calculating the difference between the measured weights of the filled container and empty container to calculate the weight of liquid in the container.

Preferably, the method includes comparing the calculated weight of the liquid with a weight calculated from the metered volume, and rejecting the container if the calculated values do not agree within a predetermined tolerance.

Suitably, the method includes marking the empty container with an identifying code, and reading the code to identify the container before the filled container is weighed. This is particularly useful when containers are supplied along a number of filling lanes to a single station at which each filled container is weighed.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided container filling apparatus comprising first weighing means for weighing an empty container, means for recording the weight of the empty container, means for filling the container with a metered volume of liquid, second weighing means for weighing the filled container, and means for calculating the difference between the measured weights of the filled container and empty container to calculate the weight of liquid in the container.

Preferably, the apparatus includes marking means for marking the empty container with an identifying code, and scanning means for reading the code before the filled container is weighed.

Suitably, the apparatus includes output conveyor means for moving the filled container from the second weighing means, and a gate is provided to divert a filled container from the conveyor in response to a signal from the calculated means.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a keg filling system in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is an elevational view of a keg filling lane of the system.

Referring to the drawings, a beer keg filling system has a number of lanes 10 to which empty kegs 80 are supplied from an in-feed conveyor 12.

Each lane 10 has a conveyor, such as a walking beam conveyor 14, on which each keg 80 is moved between a number of stations.

The first two stations 16 and 18 in each lane are washing stations, at which the interior of each keg is washed, rinsed and sterilised, using conventional equipment. The third station 20 is a weighing station, at which the empty keg is deposited onto a weighing scale 22. The weight of the keg is recorded by electronic circuitry which controls the operation of the system. An ink-jet marker at the weighing station 20 is actuated to mark an identifying code on the keg in a manner which can be subsequently read automatically.

For example, the marker may be a UV erasable ink marking unit, which marks the keg with a code which can be read by an optical scanner. The marking unit may also be used to mark the keg with any other information that may be required by the end user.

The keg is then moved to a filling station 26, at which the keg is filled with a metered volume of beer, using conventional equipment. The keg is then transferred from the walking beam conveyor 14 to a common discharge conveyor 30, which receives kegs from each of the filling lanes. The keg is carried by the conveyor 30 to an inverter 32, at which it is turned to the upright position, and then to a check weighing station 34, at which the keg is deposited onto a weighing scale 36. Also at station 34 is a scanner 38 which reads the code marked on the keg, so that the control circuitry can identify the keg on the scale.

The weight of the filled keg is recorded by the control circuitry, which calculates the difference between the weight of the filled keg at station 34 and the weight of the same keg when empty as measured at weighing station 20, to calculate the weight of beer in the keg. This is compared with the weight of the metered volume of beer which the keg should have received at the filling station 26. If the difference exceeds a predetermined tolerance, indicating that the volume of beer is less than the minimum allowed by the tolerance allowed by the end user or greater than is required, the filled keg is to be rejected. The filled keg is transferred on the discharge conveyor from the weighing station 24 to a station 40, at which the keg, if the control circuitry indicates that it is to be rejected, is diverted from the discharge conveyor, using a suitable escapement.

The beer can then be drawn from the rejected keg, and the empty keg returned to the infeed conveyor to be washed and refilled.

The control circuitry can be programmed to deal with a number of different types of kegs, for example of different volumes. For example, the control circuitry may be designed to piace each keg, when it is weighed at the weighing station 20, into one of a number of different weight bands, according to the container size and the tolerance in filled volume required by the end user. The weight band is recorded by the control circuitry, so that the appropriate calculation can be made when the filled container is weighed at station 34. The weight band can be marked on the container by the marker 24.

Claims

1. A method of filling a container with liquid, comprising weighing the empty container, recording the weight of the empty container, filling the container with a metered volume of liquid, weighing the filled container, and calculating the difference between the measured weights of the filled container and empty container to calculate the weight of liquid in the container.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes comparing the calculated weight of the liquid with a weight calculated from the metered volume, and rejecting the container if the calculated values do not agree within a predetermined tolerance.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, which includes marking the empty container with an identifying code, and reading the code to identify the container before the filled container is weighed.

4. Container filling apparatus comprising first weighing means for weighing an empty container, means for recording the weight of the empty container, means for filling the container with a metered volume of liquid, second weighing means for weighing the filled container, and means for calculating the difference between the measured weights of the filled container and empty container to calculate the weight of liquid in the container.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which there is provided marking means for marking the empty container with an identifying code, and scanning means for reading the code before the filled container is weighed.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which there is provided output conveyor means for moving the filled container from the second weighing means, and means for diverting a filled container from the conveyor in response to a signal from the calculating means.

7. A method of filling a container with liquid, substantially as described.

8. Container filling apparatus, substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.