JP2000185796A - Filling machine assembly having magnetic adjustment mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filling machine capable of adjusting a gas releasing pipe during filling beverage. SOLUTION: A valve housing 48 for controlling a feeding of liquid is fixed to the bottom part of a supporting housing 40 and a control device 52 is arranged adjacent to the top part of the supporting housing. A gas releasing pipe 54 is operated to move up or down by the control device and is extended into the valve housing. A charging machine 20 is characterized in that the control device has at least one magnet 66 capable of being moved between a first position and a second position in order to cause the gas releasing pipe to be moved by a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non- using position. Further, a supporting pipe 60 substantially enclosing the gas releasing pipe under a state that it is fixed to the supporting housing and the supporting pipe has an upper portion 76 extending outwardly of a fluid chamber 46 and in an upward direction of an upper surface 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a beverage filling machine with an adjustable vent tube.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers,
Filling mechanisms used, for example, to fill cans, jars or bottles with beverages, such as beer or soft drinks, are well known in the art.

[0003] Conventional filling mechanisms feed the containers to a star-wheel conveyor, which positions each container one at a time on a rotating turntable provided below the valve assembly of the individual filling machine. The container is brought into close contact with the valve assembly by moving the container upward or by lowering the valve assembly. Filling machines are known in the art as counter pressure filling machines as described below.

Around the turntable, 12 circumferentially
A number of individual filling machines, zero, are provided. Fillers typically include a support housing having an inner fluid chamber or ring bowl located above the valve assembly. The ring bowl is usually annular and contains a liquid or beverage that fills the container and further has space for a pressurized inert gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen, located above the liquid. . This space above the liquid is known as the headspace. A common storage tank or reservoir supplies liquid and gas to each individual ring bowl.

[0005] In a typical filling operation, the vessel is first purged with an inert gas from a ring bowl for a predetermined time to flush air and other impurities from the vessel in close contact with the valve assembly. . This and other operations are performed by introducing a venting tube into the container. Liquid is pumped from the ring bowl into the container, while gas exits the container through the vent tube and enters the headspace.
The liquid rises during filling of the container and at least partially flows into the vent tube. At the beginning of the filling, the gas pressure in the container and the ring bowl are equalized. This is the opposite pressure (count
The pressure is such that the liquid can flow into the container only by the action of gravity. When the container is filled to the desired level, the vent tube then rises and exits the container. Finally, an operation commonly referred to as "snifting" allows gas to escape from the headspace of the container to the atmosphere.

The beverage filling industry continually seeks machines and methods that facilitate fast, economical, efficient and aseptic filling of containers. As mentioned above, the method and apparatus for filling a container with carbonated liquid has technically evolved in the form of counter-pressure filling machines. Conventional devices utilize elaborate mechanical or pneumatic mechanisms to adjust the height of the venting tube during the filling operation. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,280 to Fissel and U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,635 to Kaiser.

[0007] These known devices can be expensive and difficult to maintain. Further, such mechanical or pneumatic devices can significantly impair the sterile environment of the filling machine. In particular, known prior art devices include internal components during operation of the filling machine (these components include degassing tubes).
Are used to seal each other using the atmosphere. The pressure exerted on the seal can be quite large. Therefore, repeated use will break the seal, thereby shortening the operating life of the filling valve and adversely affecting the overall health of the filling machine.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for a degassing tube adjustment mechanism that is of a relatively simple design and does not impair the sterile environment of the filling machine. By adopting such an adjusting mechanism, it is preferable to eliminate the sealing body which receives the action of the pressure acting in the opposite direction of the filling machine (counter pressure).

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A filling machine assembly for filling a container with a fluid material is provided. The filling machine assembly has a support housing having an upper surface and a lower surface defining an inner fluid chamber for supplying a fluid material to be fed into the container. A valve housing for controlling the delivery of the fluid material is mounted on the underside of the support housing.

A control device is provided adjacent the top surface of the support housing. A vent tube has a first end and a second end at least partially through the valve housing. The filling machine assembly includes at least one magnet operable by the controller to move the degassing tube between the first position and the second position to move the degas tube between the filling position and the non-use position for a predetermined stroke. Have.

Thus, the present invention discloses a novel means of adjusting the venting line during a filling operation, such means having fewer moving parts, thereby facilitating the sterile environment of the filling machine. Further, the control device of the present invention is preferably
Eliminates component movement throughout the seal under pressure. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily understood once the subject matter of the present invention is understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings (in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts), the container filling apparatus is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in FIG. The container filling device 10 has a rotating rack or carousel 12 that rotates about an axis 14. The carousel 12 has a central product tank 16 and a plurality of product supply pipes 18. The product supply pipes 18 each extend radially from the product tank 16 to a corresponding filling machine assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 20. The filling machine assembly 20 is described in detail below.

A feeding station, generally designated by the reference numeral 22, is located adjacent to the carousel 12 for feeding empty containers 24 into the carousel 12. As will be apparent from the foregoing, the container 24 may be any suitable type of container 24, such as a can, jar or bottle, filled with any type of fluid material, such as beer or a soft drink. Without departing from the scope of the invention.

The feeding station 22 includes a chute 26
And a feeding wheel 28. Shoot 26
Guides the container 24 from a supply source (not shown) to a feed wheel 28. The feeding wheel 28 transfers the container 24 into the pre-wash station 30 while supporting the container 24. A pre-wash station 30 is provided between the infeed station and the carousel 12 to wash and rinse the container 24 before it enters the carousel 12. The pre-clean station 30 cleans, rinses, and sterilizes the container 24 with ionized air, ozone (O ₃ ), hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ), and / or water, as is well known in the art. .

Next, the container 24 is transferred into the transfer station 32. A transfer station 32 is disposed between the pre-wash station 30 and the carousel 12 for transferring containers 24 from the pre-wash station 30 to the carousel 12. Such transfer stations 32 are well known in the art.

A delivery station, generally designated by the numeral 34, is located adjacent to the carousel 12 for discharging filled containers 24 from the carousel 12. The delivery station 34 also has a delivery wheel 3 for transferring the chute 36 and the filled container 24 to a desired location.
Eight. Delivery wheel 38 transfers container 24 from carousel 12 to chute 36.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of the filling machine assembly 20 is shown in detail. For illustrative purposes, only one filling machine assembly 20 is shown,
It will be understood that the filling machine assemblies of the carousel 12 are each substantially identical. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the number of carousel 12 filling machine assemblies will depend on the particular application desired by the manufacturer. A typical carousel 12 may have a number of 120 filler machines 20 disposed thereon. In addition, additional pre-wash stations and the same number of post-wash stations may be provided surrounding the carousel 12.

The filling machine assembly 20 includes a support housing 40
And the support housing 40 has a corresponding container 24
It has an upper surface 42 and a lower surface 44 defining an inner fluid chamber 46 for supplying a fluid material to be fed into the interior. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the fluid material, which is preferably a liquid beverage, fills a portion of the fluid chamber 46 above which is placed a pressurized inert gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Space is left. The space above the liquid beverage is known in the art as headspace (also called filling volume). For illustrative purposes, supply and return lines for liquids and gases, and the liquids and gases themselves are not shown in these figures.

A valve housing 48 for controlling the flow of fluid material into the container 24 is provided on the lower surface 4 of the support housing 40.
4 attached. The valve housing 48 is shown schematically and may be of any suitable design or configuration. An annular container seal 50 sealingly engaging the container 24 is provided within the valve housing 48. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container seal 50 is designed to seal a bottle type container 24. As described below with reference to an alternative embodiment, the container seal 5
0 may be configured to accept a can.
A control device, generally designated by the reference numeral 52,
Is provided adjacent to the upper surface 42 of the main body. The control device 52 will be described in detail below.

A vent tube 54 has a first end 56 and a second end 58, and the second end 58 extends at least partially through the valve housing 48. The vent tube 54 moves along a predetermined stroke between the filling position and the non-use position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second end 58 of the vent tube 54 is located within the container 24 while in the fill position, and the second end 58 of the vent tube 54 is While in the non-use position, it is located above the container 24. As will be appreciated, the venting tube 54 can also move in accordance with the desired fill level in the different sized containers 24. The full range of stroke of the vent tube 54 can be adjusted and depends on the type and size of the container 24 to be filled.

As will be described in more detail below, the venting tube 54 is in a state in which fluid can communicate with the headspace of the inner fluid chamber 46. Its purpose is to allow gas to escape from the container 24 into the fluid chamber 46 during filling of the container 24. Although not specifically shown, vent tube 54 has a number of holes as is known in the art.

A support tube 60 is mounted between the upper and lower surfaces 42 and 44 of the support housing 40 and substantially surrounds the vent tube 54. Preferably, support housing 40 surrounds a central portion of vent tube 54, and first end 56 and second end 58 are not surrounded by support tube 60. A plurality of seals (not shown) are provided between the degassing pipe 54 and the support
4 may be supported within the support housing 40.

A fluid sealing mechanism 62 for controlling the supply of the fluid material from the inner fluid chamber 46 to the container 24 is movably attached to the support tube 60. An actuating lever 64 is provided on the support housing 40, the actuating lever 64 engaging the fluid sealing mechanism 62 to push the fluid sealing mechanism 62 out of the fluid material through the valve housing 48; The fluid chamber 46 is adapted to operate between a closed position that seals off the valve housing 48. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the fluid tight mechanism 62 and the actuating lever 64 require a number of additional components to effect their operation. These additional components are well known in the art and will not be described in detail.

Next, the entire filling operation of the filling machine assembly 20 will be described. The fluid sealing mechanism 62 is first closed and the vent tube 54 is raised as shown in FIG. Atmospheric pressure is created inside the vent tube 54. Empty container 24 is transferred from transfer station 32 to valve housing 48 of carousel 12.
Move to a position below one of the. Next, the container 24 is sealingly engaged with the container seal 50 on the valve housing 48 and the vent tube 54 is lowered to the filling position as shown in FIG. The container 24 is purged with inert gas from the inner fluid chamber 46 and through the vent tube 54. Its purpose is to flush air and other impurities from the container 24.

The operating lever 64 is operated to raise the fluid sealing mechanism 62 to the open position. The liquid then exits the inner fluid chamber 46 and flows into the container 24, while the inert gas in the container 24 is vented to a vent 54
Through and into the headspace of the inner fluid chamber 46. The gas pressure in the container 24 and the inner fluid chamber 46 is equalized (equalizing) during the filling period, so that liquid can flow into the container 24 only by the action of gravity. The container 24 is subsequently filled and the liquid eventually rises to the level of the second end 58 of the venting tube 54.

As known to those skilled in the art, the container 24
The fill level within is determined by the position below the second end 58 of the vent tube 54. Once the liquid material reaches the vent tube 54, the liquid can no longer flow into the container 24. This is because the gas can no longer escape through the vent tube 54. After filling the container 24 to the desired level, the actuating lever 64 is actuated to cause the fluid tight mechanism 62 to sealingly engage the valve housing 48, i.e., move to the closed position. Next, the vent tube 54 exits the container 24 and rises to a non-use position as shown in FIG. Finally, the gas is released to the atmosphere from the top of the container 24 as is well known in the art.

Next, the degassing pipe 54 which characterizes the present invention.
Will be described in detail below. The control device 52 includes:
It has at least one magnet 66 that can be moved between a first position and a second position to move the vent tube 54 between a fill position and a non-use position for a predetermined stroke.
Preferably, an upper enclosure 68 is provided that defines a working chamber (not numbered) for the first end 56 of the vent tube 54.

The magnet 66 at least partially surrounds the upper enclosure 68. More preferably, the magnet 66 has a continuous donut shape. As shown, the first position of the magnet 66 is shown in FIG.
Is shown in FIG. The magnet 66 may be of any suitable form,
It may only extend partly around 8, which does not depart from the scope of the invention.

A magnetic member 70 is attached to the first end 56 of the gas vent tube 54 and is housed in the working chamber. Preferably, the magnetic member 70 is a disk-shaped permanent magnet. The magnetic field of the magnet 66 is
And is attracted to the magnetic field of the magnetic member 70. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the magnet 66 and the magnetic member 70
It may be of any suitable design or form, and may be made of any suitable material. In fact, the magnetic member 7
Instead of 0, an iron disk may be used to attract the magnet 66 to the iron disk. Further, in order to increase the magnetic field and the attractive force between the magnet 66 and the magnetic member 70, the magnets 66 and 70 may be charged with current.

The controller 52 further includes an actuator, generally indicated at 72 and 74, coupled to the magnet 66 for moving the magnet 66 between a first position and a second position. Preferably, the actuators 72, 74 comprise a rod 72 and a cam roller 74. As will be appreciated, additional components not shown are provided, such as ramps, which actuate the actuator 7 to move the magnet 66 between the first and second positions.
Work with 2,74. Further, the actuators 72, 7
4 may be of any suitable design or configuration as long as magnet 66 can be moved between the first and second positions to move gas vent tube 54 up and down. In fact, rod 72 and cam roller 74 are merely exemplary of one proposed means for adjusting magnet 66.

During operation of the degassing pipe 54, the cam roller 74
Moves along a ramp or other similar device, thereby adjusting the vertical orientation of actuators 72, 74 and magnet 66. As described above, the magnet 66 and the magnetic member 70 are made of a specific material that creates a cooperative magnetic coupling between the magnet 66 and the magnetic member 70. therefore,
Any upward or downward movement of the magnet 66 (which may be electrically charged or uncharged) causes the magnetic member 70 to move upward or downward.

As described above, the magnetic member 70 is attached to the first end 56 of the degassing pipe 54,
The gas vent tube 54 and the magnetic member 70 move in unison. The upward or downward movement of the degassing pipe 54 can be controlled easily and in small increments by operating the actuators 72 and 74. The desired vertical movement of the vent tube 54 defines the desired stroke of the vent tube 54.

Thus, the present invention provides a venting adjustment mechanism that avoids the use of a pressurized seal during operation of the venting vent 54. In other words, there is no differential pressure acting on the various rubber seals, thereby reducing the risk of operational failure or contamination. In addition, the number of moving mechanical parts is small. Finally, it is made of a rubber seal, which significantly reduces the space where bacteria can grow.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, two alternative embodiments of the present invention are shown. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used to indicate the same or corresponding parts. The filling machine assembly 20 of these alternative embodiments has a support tube 60 that substantially surrounds the vent tube 54, which support tube 60 includes
It has an upper portion 76 which defines a working chamber (not numbered) for the first end 56 of the vent tube 54.

The other components of these alternative embodiments, such as the support housing 40, the valve housing 48, the vent tube 54, and the fluid sealing mechanism 62 are of slightly different configurations, but operate substantially the same. is there. Fluid sealing mechanism 6
2 is operated by a device consisting of a rod 78 and a cam roller 80, unlike an operating lever. These embodiments are:
5 is an illustration of another means by which the present invention can be implemented. In addition,
Fluid material and headspace are clearly shown in these figures.

As in the preferred embodiment, a magnetic member 82 is mounted to the first end 56 of the vent tube 54 while housed in the working chamber. However,
The magnetic member 82 is a ring-shaped permanent magnet. The primary donut-shaped magnet 66 at least partially surrounds the upper portion 76 of the support tube 60,
6 is similar in design to the donut magnet 66 of the preferred embodiment.

The controller 52 further includes similar actuators 72, 74 coupled to the magnet 66 for moving the magnet 66 between the first position and the second position. Preferably, the actuators 72, 74 comprise a rod 72 and a cam roller 74 similar to those described above. Each of the support tubes 60 of these embodiments has a relief valve 84 that allows the degassing tube 54 and the inner fluid chamber 46 to be in selective fluid communication. The relief valve 84 is also actuated by a corresponding rod 86 and cam roller 88. The rest of the relief valve 84 is shown schematically for convenience of explanation. The rods 78, 86 and relief valve 84 of the fluid seal 62 each preferably exits the inner fluid chamber 46 and
2 and is sealed from the chamber 46 by a corresponding seal 90.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, the support tube 60 is mounted between the upper surface 42 and the lower surface 44 of the support housing 40, and the upper portion 76 extends above the upper surface 42. This arrangement of the upper portion 76 of the support tube 60 corresponds to the upper enclosure 68 of the preferred embodiment.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, the support tube 60 is completely contained within the inner fluid chamber 46. Therefore,
Magnet 66 and actuators 72, 74 are also housed in inner fluid chamber 46. The upper surface 42 of the support housing 40 has an opening (not numbered) with an associated seal 92 and thus the actuator 7
2, 74 rods 72 can extend through the seal 92 in the opening.

The rod 72 is intended to be actuated by a ramp or other similar device to allow the inner fluid chamber 46 to be actuated.
You need to get out. As will be appreciated, rod 72
Can extend out through the sides of the inner fluid chamber 46, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The fluid sealing mechanism 62 is also shown in FIG. As described above with reference to the preferred embodiment, the fluid seal 62 is movably mounted to the support tube 60 and controls the delivery of fluid material from the inner fluid chamber 46 to the container 24. It has become.

Referring to FIG. 6, yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or corresponding parts wherever possible. In this embodiment, no magnet is required. This filler machine assembly 20 provides a support tube 60 mounted between the upper surface 42 and the lower surface 44 of the support housing 40 and substantially circumvents the vent tube 54 with the support tube 60 to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. The support tube 60 has, as a structural feature, an upper portion 76 that extends above the upper surface 42 to the outside of the fluid chamber 46 and the controller 52 moves the vent tube 54 to a fill position and a non-use position. Predetermined stroke between,
It extends through the upper portion 76 of the support tube 60 outside of the fluid chamber 46 for movement. Thus, this embodiment of the present invention also constitutes a vent tube adjustment mechanism that avoids the use of a pressurized seal during operation of the vent tube 54.

A seal 94 is provided between the support tube 60 and the control device 52 to maintain the gas vent tube 54 in a sealed relationship. Further, the control device 52 controls the degassing pipe 5
4 is configured as actuators 72, 74 connected to the first end 56 of the venting tube 54 to move between the filling position and the unused position.

Preferably, the actuators 72, 74
Includes a rod 72 extending upwardly through a seal 94 in an upper portion 76 of the support tube 60. The support tube 60 is similar to the above-described embodiment in that the degassing tube 54 and the inner fluid chamber 46 are provided.
Is provided with a relief valve 84 that can selectively fluidly communicate.

Although the invention has been described by way of example, it is to be understood that the terms used are not intended to limit the invention in nature, but to illustrate the invention.
Obviously, many modifications and adaptations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it goes without saying that the present invention can be embodied in forms other than those specifically described, as long as they fall within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The reference numerals in the claims are used for convenience of understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view from above of a container filling device incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the filling machine assembly shown in a filling position.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the filling machine assembly shown in a non-use position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a modified embodiment of the filling machine.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another modified embodiment of the filling machine.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of still another modified embodiment of the filling machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 filling machine assembly 24 container 40 support housing 46 inner fluid chamber 48 valve housing 52 controller 54 degassing tube 60 support tube 62 fluid sealing mechanism 66 magnet

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A filling machine assembly (20) for filling a container (24) with a fluid material, said top surface constituting an inner fluid chamber (46) for supplying a fluid material to be fed into the container (24). 42) and a support housing (40) with a lower surface (44);
A valve housing (48) mounted on the lower surface (44) of the support housing (40) for controlling the delivery of fluid material; and a control provided adjacent the upper surface (42) of the support housing. A device (52) and a vent tube (54) having a first end (56) and a second end (58) at least partially penetrating said valve housing (48); Machine assembly, the control device, the gas vent tube between the filling position and the non-use position a predetermined stroke,
A filling machine assembly comprising at least one magnet (66) movable between a first position and a second position for movement. 2. The filling machine assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an upper enclosure (68) defining a working chamber at said first end (56) of said vent pipe (54). 3. A magnetic member (70) mounted on said first end (56) of said venting pipe (54) and disposed in said working chamber. Filling machine assembly. 4. The filling machine assembly according to claim 3, wherein said magnet (66) at least partially surrounds said upper enclosure. 5. The control device (52) includes: the magnet (66).
Actuator (74, 7) coupled to the magnet (66) for moving the actuator between the first position and the second position.
The filling machine assembly according to claim 4, further comprising (2). 6. The first end (56) of the vent tube (54) substantially surrounding the vent tube (54).
The support tube (6) with the upper part (76)
The filling machine assembly according to claim 1, further comprising (0). 7. A magnetic member (82) mounted on the first end (56) of the vent tube (54) and disposed in the working chamber. Filling machine assembly. 8. The filling machine assembly according to claim 7, wherein said magnet (66) at least partially surrounds said upper portion (76) of said support tube (60). 9. The control device (52) includes: the magnet (66).
Actuator (74, 7) coupled to the magnet (66) for moving the actuator between the first position and the second position.
The filling machine assembly according to claim 8, further comprising (2). 10. The support tube (60) includes an upper surface (42) and a lower surface (44) of the support housing (40) with the upper portion (76) extending above the upper surface (42). The filling machine assembly according to claim 9, wherein the filling machine assembly is mounted between the filling machine assembly.