GB2341593A

GB2341593A - A flow regulator for a spout

Info

Publication number: GB2341593A
Application number: GB9921650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luca Pusineri
Original assignee: Ave SpA
Current assignee: Ave SpA
Priority date: 1998-09-17
Filing date: 1999-09-15
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Also published as: IT1304205B1; ITVR980082A1; DE19943447A1; GB9921650D0

Abstract

A spout for a filling machine is equipped, at a point downstream from delivery and return ducts, with a flow regulator 5. This takes the form of a ring shaped part 12 which has a hole (17, fig. 4) formed therein and may be moved in an angular direction by means of a lever 16. This angular movement determines an amount by which the hole (17, fig. 4) overlaps with an inlet duct (20, fig.7) in bush 4 and thus determines the rate of flow to a vessel 6 to be filled. The lever 16 which is used to control the angular position or movement of the ring shaped part 12 may be moved manually or mechanically, using a pre-settable mechanical ring. Alternatively an electronic flow regulator may be used.

Description

1 2341593 SPOUT FOR FILLING MACHINES EQUIPPED WITH FLOW REGULATOR This

industrial invention patent regards a spout for filling machines with the special characteristic of being equipped with a flow regulator designed to adjust the flow of the fluid delivered by the machine during bottle filling cycles.

In particular we have a spout which functions to deliver predetermined quantities of the fluid that each bottle must contain, controlling dosage with precision in order to limit the amount of excess products introduced into the recycle system.

The mechanism in question is applied inside delivery valves for filling machines. It functions to manually or automatically adjust the flow of product inside these valves based on the formats of the bottles, meaning their volumes, and on the machine's output rate.

This type of adjustment system makes it possible to control the quantity of product return flow, meeting a fundamental requirement for some types of fluid to be bottled.

As it is known, filling machines, meaning those machines used in the beverage industry or in the wine, dairy and even chemical industries, to fill bottles with fluid or semi-fluid liquid products such as beverages, mineral water, food fluids and non-food fluids, generally consist of a carousel that carries, at its outer edge and at regular intervals, spouts used to deliver the product to the interior of each bottle.

It is also known that each of these spouts is composed of a basically tubular element in a vertical position with the bottom end situated on the mouth of the container whereas the top end has delivery and return tubes for the product that must be bottled.

The filling principle is based on the fact that any excess product, once the desired level of product has been achieved in the bottle, is discharged through the return duct placed next to the delivery duct on the delivery spout.

In some cases, such as in the case of beverages that easily oxidize or S deteriorate, the product return must be between 0 and 15% in quantity and not be greater than this amount.

Consequently, if we consider that containers can have different capacities or that they may remain inside the bottling carousel for different time periods depending on different quantity requirements, it is evident that it can be difficult to control the exact quantity of fluid that is delivered.

It may happen, in fact, that the bottle is already filled before it terminates its cycle on the carousel, sometimes even at the half-way mark, and this means that the quantity of product introduced into the recycle system can even be quite large. In some cases this quantity cannot be permitted due is to the particular characteristics of easily deteriorated products.

Current technology used to solve this problem calls for replacement of delivery spouts based on the type of bottle to be filled, each time installing a different set of spouts with different delivery rates depending on the bottle.

Naturally this creates big problems both in terms of the need to possess and to use different sets of spouts depending on containers and, above all, from the practical point of view, of having to replace the spouts at more or less frequent intervals.

This is especially the case in some production lines where containers with highly variable capacities are required.

The object of this invention is to have conceived and developed a spout 3 equipped with a suitable flow regulator that ensures constant product delivery based on production requirements.

In other words the flow regulator mounted on the spout permits the operator to vary the quantity of product that is delivered in function of the time necessary to fill each container so that the moment the container is filled corresponds with precision to the point where it exits from the carousel.

In this way product recycling is limited to the period of time the spout requires to travel"from the point of exit of the filled container to the point of entry of the next container on the carousel. This substantially reduces any needs for recycling during preceding phases.

These objects and special advantages are all achieved, according to the invention, by a spout for filling machines equipped with a flow regulator characterized by the fact that this spout, in the part immediately downstream from the product delivery and return tubes, is equipped with a flow regulator is that permits adjustment of the passage or the flow rate of the fluid near the delivery spout based on the type of container to be filled.

This flow regulator permits manual or automatic adjustment of the flow of product inside the delivery valves based on the various formats, meaning capacities, of the bottles being filled and based on the machine's output speed which must necessarily be synchronized with the operating speeds of other devices installed upstream or downstream from the filling machine.

The invention can be better understood from the following description, given as an example only and which is not exclusive, as well as the attached drawings of which:

fig. 1 illustrates an overall schematic side view of a spout for filling machines 4 according to this invention; fig. 2 illustrates a schematic detailed cross-section view of the flow adjustment unit; fig. 3 illustrates a schematic view from the top of the flow regulator according to the invention; fig. 4 and fig. 5 illustrate detailed schematic cross-sections of the flow _regulating component inserted in the adjustment chamber; fig. from 6 to 10 illustrate schematic views of an equal number of parts of the central unit of the spout including the adjustment chamber.

With reference to the attached drawings number 1 indicates the overall spout for filling machines according to the invention which is mounted on fixed support 2 which is part of the upper frame of the bottling carousel.

Basically spout 1 includes a first upper bush 3, fastened to support 2, on the threaded bottom cavity of which we find second bush 4 which is, in its is turn, machined at the bottom to be able to house the actual flow distributor indicated by number 5. The bottom end of the flow distributor connects to container 6 which must be filled.

Product delivery duct 7 is inserted at the first upper bush 3 whereas return or recycle duct 8 is inserted at second bush 4.

According to the embodiment that is described the outgoing product, delivered by duct 7, enters into chamber 9 in the first upper bush and from this, through suitable passages present in the second bush, penetrates into duct 10 inside flow distributor 5 from which it is delivered to bottle 6.

Once the filling level of the bottle is reached the excess fluid is introduced into duct 11 which, through return duct 8, goes back to the recycle system.

The particular feature of the invention consists of the fact that it calls for use of a flow regulator, placed inside the second bush, that can manually or automatically regulate the flow of product inside the spout depending on the formats, meaning the capacities, of the bottles and on the output speed of the machine.

This flow regulator, indicated as a whole by number 12, in the example in examination basically consists of a ring-shaped body with the shape illustrated in drawings 4 and 5.

Cross section A-A in figure 4 shows how ring body 12 has outer walls 13 with bevel profiles, central hole 14 and lateral seat 15 to which lever 16 is screwed and which consists of the grasping element for adjusting the angle of the regulator.

Profiled hole 17 is located in a position opposite that of lateral seat 15.

is The product to be bottled passes through this hole.

This hole has an angular profile for a certain length, equal to angle (x that corresponds to the adjustment angle of the device.

As drawing 2 shows adjustment ring body 12 is inserted in suitable seat 18 machined in bottom bush 4 whereas lever 16 exits from corresponding hole 19 that extends for a specific angular sector.

Profiled hole 17 on the angular adjustment body intercepts duct 20 on bush 4. This duct puts delivery chamber 9 in communication with flow distributor 5.

At this point we can understand that angular movement of regulator 12 causes greater or lesser opening of duct 20 and consequently an increase or 6 decrease in the amount of product that passes through, ranging from a point of total closure to another of maximum aperture.

A graduated scale is designed to be installed at the outer edge of bush 4, near lever 16, to allow precise determination of the position of the lever in function of the quantity of fluid that must be delivered.

To use the adjustment device that is described it is sufficient to move lever 16 in an angular direction, setting it according to the graduated scale at the required measure depending on the capacity of the containers to be filled, so that profiled hole 17 allows delivery of the product in the precise quantities required.

It is clear that the more the adjustment device is closed the longer filling times will be and, vice-versa, that greater opening of the filling device will cause a decrease in filling times.

The invention also calls for the advantageous possibility of mechanizing movement of lever 16 using, for example, a special pre-settable precision mechanical ring and also the possibility of using electronic flow regulators or other similar devices which in any case perform the same functions as described above.

Claims

1. Spout for filling machines equipped with flow regulator, characterized by the fact that this spout, near the part immediately downstream from product delivery (7) and return (8) ducts, is equipped with flow regulator (5) that permits variation of flow rate at the delivery spout opening based on the type of container to be filled.

2. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claim characterized by the fact that this flow regulator consists of ring-shaped body (12) with bevel profiled outer walls (13), central hole (14) and lateral seat (15) to which lever (16) is screwed, which lever constitutes a grasping element for moving the regulator in angular directions.

3. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that in a position opposite that of aforementioned lateral seat (15) there is also a profiled hole (17) through which the product to be is bottled passes, which hole develops in an angular shape for a certain length, meaning according to angle (x which corresponds to the device adjustment angle.

4. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that this ring-shaped adjustment body (12) includes suitable seat (18) machined in lower bush (4) of spout (1) whereas aforementioned lever (16) exits from a corresponding hole (19) that extends for a specific angular sector.

5. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that aforementioned profiled hole (17) on the ring-shaped adjustment body intercepts duct (20) on bush (4) which is part of the spout and this duct creates communication between delivery chamber (9) and flow distributor (5).

6. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that angular movement of regulator (12) causes greater or lesser aperture of duct (20) and as a consequence increased or reduced quantity of product passing through it going from a point of total closure to another of maximum aperture.

7. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that movement of lever (16) is done manually.

8. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that movement of lever (16) is done mechanically using a special precision pre-settable mechanical ring or other similar device suited for this same purpose.

9. Spout for filling machines according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact that the aforementioned flow regulator is the electronic type or other similar type which can, in any case, perform the same functions.