WO1999039978A1 - Valve group for performing filling under aseptic conditions - Google Patents

Valve group for performing filling under aseptic conditions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999039978A1
WO1999039978A1 PCT/IT1999/000013 IT9900013W WO9939978A1 WO 1999039978 A1 WO1999039978 A1 WO 1999039978A1 IT 9900013 W IT9900013 W IT 9900013W WO 9939978 A1 WO9939978 A1 WO 9939978A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
obturator
valve group
valve
opening
aseptic conditions
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT1999/000013
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Giovanni Nervo
Original Assignee
Procomac S.P.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procomac S.P.A. filed Critical Procomac S.P.A.
Publication of WO1999039978A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999039978A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/001—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
    • B65B39/004—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves moving linearly
    • 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
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a valve group for performing filling under aseptic conditions, in particular for filling containers with liquid alimentary products of varying density comprising also, where applicable, alimentary products in small pieces.
  • the filling valves of the known type have various drawbacks.
  • a first drawback consists in the fact that the obturator of the valve is generally provided with a stem which slides between external guides and these guides are positioned far from the seat of the valve opening through which the liquid flows out during filling of a container: this does not guarantee a high degree of precision of the obturator, which may be subject to misalignments with respect to the central axis of the opening owing to excessive play in the vicinity of the opening, resulting in early wear and poor reliability.
  • a second drawback consists in the fact that the valves of the known type have numerous zones where ensuring the presence of aseptic conditions is quite critical. These zones consist in particular of the zones where joints or seals are present.
  • seals between metals are technically difficult because they require surfaces which are machined in a very precise manner and it is therefore preferred to use seals which are certainly more economical, but create zones which are difficult to clean and sterilise.
  • "steam barriers" are used, namely zones limited by gaskets or seals, which are permeated with steam: basically the stem is sterilised by the steam every time it passes from the external environment to the zone in contact with the product, but this solution is costly and complex from a plant engineering point of view, in particular when tens or hundreds of valves are present. 2
  • valves of the known type are moreover generally somewhat heavy and bulky and have a high degree of inertia, this being the cause of inaccuracies in the quantity of filling liquid, with performances which are often unacceptable.
  • the object of the present invention is that of eliminating the abovementioned drawbacks and providing a light and compact filling valve which is suitable for the treatment of pulps or liquids with solid suspensions and can be easily cleaned and operates under aseptic conditions with only one limited zone which may be of a critical nature.
  • a further object is that of ensuring a high degree of precision of the obturator together with a considerable speed of opening and closing of the obturator itself.
  • valve group according to the present invention which is characterized by the contents of the claims indicated below and in particular by the fact that the obturator, which is internally hollow, is formed so as to be slidable on guide means which are inside the obturator itself at least in the vicinity of the valve opening.
  • the valve also comprises a membrane of the elastic type which lines entirely the obturator and also acts as a sealing gasket during closing of the opening.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 show a vertical cross-section through the middle of the valve in the open and closed conditions, respectively.
  • 1 denotes overall a valve filling group of a filling machine 3
  • the valve group has a valve body 3 which is provided at the bottom with the opening 4 through which the product intended to fill an underlying container 5 flows out.
  • the product which is a liquid or pulp alimentary product which may contain various solid suspensions, is supplied into the valve body through a supply duct 6.
  • An obturator 7 which is internally hollow, slides inside the valve body and is kept in the normally closed position by the action of a spring 8 which is enclosed between an upper closing element 9 of the valve body and the upper part of the obturator itself, the latter being formed as a cylindrical cavity with an abutment surface 10 able to seat the spring 8.
  • the obturator 7 is guided during its sliding movement by guide means comprising a fixed internal guide 1 1 which extends in an original manner into the vicinity of the opening 4 so as to avoid play during sliding of the obturator and ensure with precision that it is correctly positioned coaxial with the opening 4.
  • An arrow 12 indicates the entry of air which, when it is required to open the valve, is injected by pneumatic means (not shown) into a chamber 13 with a pressure such as to overcome the action of the spring and cause raising and the movement back upwards of the obturator as far as an end-of-travel stop 14.
  • a breather duct 15 is provided inside the guide 1 1 so as to allow the evacuation of the air from a small chamber 16 located at the base of the guide 11 during opening of the valve and the movement back upwards of the obturator with respect to the guide.
  • 17 denotes a tip or a bottom terminal part of the obturator 7.
  • a membrane 18 of the flexible and elastic type in an original manner envelopes the whole of the obturator, being vulcanised at the tip 17 and fixed inside an annular seat 19 of the valve body 3. 4
  • the membrane 18 acts as a sealing and closing gasket, adapting itself and being compressed and deformed so as to close the opening 4 of the valve.
  • the guide 1 1 inside the obturator is positioned so as to guide at least the bottom part of the obturator in the vicinity of the opening and results in very compact dimensions of the valve and great precision during closing, preventing misalignment which could cause undesired loss of liquid and uncontrolled wear.
  • the membrane 18 which completely surrounds the obturator facilitates the cleaning operations and results in a drastic reduction in the zones where maintaining the aseptic conditions could be quite critical, limiting to only one zone (the annular zone where the membrane is inserted inside the seat 19) any possibility of contamination.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to the sector of filling plants. A valve group for performing filling with alimentary products under aseptic conditions comprises an obturator (7) which is internally hollow and formed so as to be slidable on guide means (11) which are located inside the obturator (7) itself at least in the vicinity of the valve opening (4). A membrane (18) of the elastic type which lines entirely the obturator (7) is provided and also acts as a sealing gasket during closing of the opening (4). This membrane (18) allows the zones which may be critical for aseptic conditions to be limited to only one zone.

Description

VALVE GROUP FOR PERFORMING FILLING UNDER ASEPTIC CONDITIONS
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART.
The present invention relates to a valve group for performing filling under aseptic conditions, in particular for filling containers with liquid alimentary products of varying density comprising also, where applicable, alimentary products in small pieces. The filling valves of the known type have various drawbacks.
A first drawback consists in the fact that the obturator of the valve is generally provided with a stem which slides between external guides and these guides are positioned far from the seat of the valve opening through which the liquid flows out during filling of a container: this does not guarantee a high degree of precision of the obturator, which may be subject to misalignments with respect to the central axis of the opening owing to excessive play in the vicinity of the opening, resulting in early wear and poor reliability. A second drawback consists in the fact that the valves of the known type have numerous zones where ensuring the presence of aseptic conditions is quite critical. These zones consist in particular of the zones where joints or seals are present. In fact, seals between metals are technically difficult because they require surfaces which are machined in a very precise manner and it is therefore preferred to use seals which are certainly more economical, but create zones which are difficult to clean and sterilise. In order to ensure conditions of sterility of the stems of said valves which repeatedly enter and leave the zone affected by the product, "steam barriers" are used, namely zones limited by gaskets or seals, which are permeated with steam: basically the stem is sterilised by the steam every time it passes from the external environment to the zone in contact with the product, but this solution is costly and complex from a plant engineering point of view, in particular when tens or hundreds of valves are present. 2
The valves of the known type are moreover generally somewhat heavy and bulky and have a high degree of inertia, this being the cause of inaccuracies in the quantity of filling liquid, with performances which are often unacceptable.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION. The object of the present invention is that of eliminating the abovementioned drawbacks and providing a light and compact filling valve which is suitable for the treatment of pulps or liquids with solid suspensions and can be easily cleaned and operates under aseptic conditions with only one limited zone which may be of a critical nature.
A further object is that of ensuring a high degree of precision of the obturator together with a considerable speed of opening and closing of the obturator itself.
Said objects are fully achieved by the valve group according to the present invention, which is characterized by the contents of the claims indicated below and in particular by the fact that the obturator, which is internally hollow, is formed so as to be slidable on guide means which are inside the obturator itself at least in the vicinity of the valve opening.
The valve also comprises a membrane of the elastic type which lines entirely the obturator and also acts as a sealing gasket during closing of the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
These and other characteristic features will emerge more clearly from the following description of a preferred embodiment illustrated, purely by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying illustrative plates, in which:
- Figures 1 and 2 show a vertical cross-section through the middle of the valve in the open and closed conditions, respectively.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION. With reference to the Figures, 1 denotes overall a valve filling group of a filling machine 3
schematically indicated by 2.
The valve group has a valve body 3 which is provided at the bottom with the opening 4 through which the product intended to fill an underlying container 5 flows out. The product, which is a liquid or pulp alimentary product which may contain various solid suspensions, is supplied into the valve body through a supply duct 6.
An obturator 7, which is internally hollow, slides inside the valve body and is kept in the normally closed position by the action of a spring 8 which is enclosed between an upper closing element 9 of the valve body and the upper part of the obturator itself, the latter being formed as a cylindrical cavity with an abutment surface 10 able to seat the spring 8.
The obturator 7 is guided during its sliding movement by guide means comprising a fixed internal guide 1 1 which extends in an original manner into the vicinity of the opening 4 so as to avoid play during sliding of the obturator and ensure with precision that it is correctly positioned coaxial with the opening 4. An arrow 12 indicates the entry of air which, when it is required to open the valve, is injected by pneumatic means (not shown) into a chamber 13 with a pressure such as to overcome the action of the spring and cause raising and the movement back upwards of the obturator as far as an end-of-travel stop 14. A breather duct 15 is provided inside the guide 1 1 so as to allow the evacuation of the air from a small chamber 16 located at the base of the guide 11 during opening of the valve and the movement back upwards of the obturator with respect to the guide. 17 denotes a tip or a bottom terminal part of the obturator 7.
A membrane 18 of the flexible and elastic type in an original manner envelopes the whole of the obturator, being vulcanised at the tip 17 and fixed inside an annular seat 19 of the valve body 3. 4
During closing of the valve, the membrane 18 acts as a sealing and closing gasket, adapting itself and being compressed and deformed so as to close the opening 4 of the valve.
Injection of air into the chamber 13 produces the upward movement of the obturator 7 and the membrane 18 frees the opening 4, allowing the product to flow out.
Removal of the air inside the chamber 13 produces, on the other hand, the downward movement of the obturator (when the action of the spring overcomes the action of the air) and closing of the opening by the membrane. The original hollow - and therefore light - obturator 7 results in a low inertia and a fast opening and closing speed of the valve with consequent greater precision in the quantity of liquid introduced into the container 5.
The guide 1 1 inside the obturator is positioned so as to guide at least the bottom part of the obturator in the vicinity of the opening and results in very compact dimensions of the valve and great precision during closing, preventing misalignment which could cause undesired loss of liquid and uncontrolled wear.
The membrane 18 which completely surrounds the obturator facilitates the cleaning operations and results in a drastic reduction in the zones where maintaining the aseptic conditions could be quite critical, limiting to only one zone (the annular zone where the membrane is inserted inside the seat 19) any possibility of contamination.

Claims

5CLAIMS
1. Valve group for performing filling with alimentary products under aseptic conditions, of the type comprising an obturator sliding on guide means inside a valve body provided at the bottom with an opening through which the product flows out, characterized in that the obturator (7) is formed so as to slide on guide means (11) which are located inside the obturator (7) itself at least in the vicinity of said opening (4).
2. Valve group according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a membrane (18) of the elastic type which lines entirely the obturator (7) and also acts as a sealing gasket during closing of the opening (4).
3. Valve group according to Claim 1, in which the obturator (7) is internally hollow.
4. Valve group according to Claim 1 , in which the valve is of the normally closed type, with the obturator (7) kept in the closed position by the action of a compression spring (8) inserted between valve body (3) and obturator (7) above the obturator (7) itself.
5. Valve group according to Claim 4, characterized in that it comprises pneumatic means for activating the obturator (7) during opening, overcoming the force exerted by the spring (8).
6. Valve group according to Claim 1, in which the obturator (7) comprises internally a breather duct (15) communicating with the external environment.
7. Valve group according to Claim 1 or 2, in which only one zone ( 19) which may be critical for aseptic conditions is present.
8. Machine for performing filling with alimentary products under aseptic conditions, characterized in that it comprises at least one valve group (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
PCT/IT1999/000013 1998-02-06 1999-01-27 Valve group for performing filling under aseptic conditions WO1999039978A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITPR98A000004 1998-02-06
ITPR980004 IT1306030B1 (en) 1998-02-06 1998-02-06 FILLING VALVE GROUP IN ASEPTIC CONDITIONS

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999039978A1 true WO1999039978A1 (en) 1999-08-12

Family

ID=11396153

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT1999/000013 WO1999039978A1 (en) 1998-02-06 1999-01-27 Valve group for performing filling under aseptic conditions

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IT (1) IT1306030B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999039978A1 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000059786A1 (en) * 1999-04-05 2000-10-12 Unilever Plc Assembly for filling canisters
EP1310454A1 (en) * 2001-11-09 2003-05-14 Sig Simonazzi S.P.A. Valve unit for filling machines
FR2851764A1 (en) * 2003-02-27 2004-09-03 Tremark Technologies Inc 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
EP1862388A1 (en) * 2006-05-30 2007-12-05 Advanced Scientifics Inc. System and method for filling containers
WO2008056245A2 (en) * 2006-11-10 2008-05-15 Acqua Minerale San Benedetto S.P.A. Method for filling bottles with a liquid for alimentary use in an aseptic environment
DE102014109809A1 (en) * 2014-07-14 2016-01-14 Khs Gmbh filling device
WO2016118529A3 (en) * 2015-01-19 2016-10-13 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve including piston and seat, sensor mounted on electronic board, and flow module
US9976290B2 (en) 2015-01-19 2018-05-22 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with flow module
US10081931B2 (en) 2015-01-19 2018-09-25 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with sensor mounted on electronic board
US10392786B2 (en) 2015-01-19 2019-08-27 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve including piston and seat

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2082917A (en) * 1933-10-02 1937-06-08 Fmc Corp Syrup valve
EP0111629A2 (en) * 1982-12-11 1984-06-27 Bremerland-Molkerei eG Exit valve for foamless dispensing of raw bulk milk
EP0204937A1 (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-12-17 SIMONAZZI A. & L. S.p.A. Apparatus for filling containers

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2082917A (en) * 1933-10-02 1937-06-08 Fmc Corp Syrup valve
EP0111629A2 (en) * 1982-12-11 1984-06-27 Bremerland-Molkerei eG Exit valve for foamless dispensing of raw bulk milk
EP0204937A1 (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-12-17 SIMONAZZI A. & L. S.p.A. Apparatus for filling containers

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000059786A1 (en) * 1999-04-05 2000-10-12 Unilever Plc Assembly for filling canisters
EP1310454A1 (en) * 2001-11-09 2003-05-14 Sig Simonazzi S.P.A. Valve unit for filling machines
WO2003040022A1 (en) * 2001-11-09 2003-05-15 Sig Simonazzi S.P.A. Valve unit for filling machines
US7156267B2 (en) 2001-11-09 2007-01-02 Simonazzi S.P.A. Valve unit for filling machines
CN1318292C (en) * 2001-11-09 2007-05-30 西莫纳齐公开有限公司 Valve unit for filling machines
FR2851764A1 (en) * 2003-02-27 2004-09-03 Tremark Technologies Inc 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
EP1862388A1 (en) * 2006-05-30 2007-12-05 Advanced Scientifics Inc. System and method for filling containers
US7530374B2 (en) 2006-05-30 2009-05-12 Advanced Scientifics, Inc. System for filling a container
WO2008056245A3 (en) * 2006-11-10 2008-07-03 San Benedetto Acqua Minerale Method for filling bottles with a liquid for alimentary use in an aseptic environment
WO2008056245A2 (en) * 2006-11-10 2008-05-15 Acqua Minerale San Benedetto S.P.A. Method for filling bottles with a liquid for alimentary use in an aseptic environment
DE102014109809A1 (en) * 2014-07-14 2016-01-14 Khs Gmbh filling device
WO2016008695A1 (en) 2014-07-14 2016-01-21 Khs Gmbh Filling device
DE102014109809B4 (en) * 2014-07-14 2016-04-07 Khs Gmbh filling device
US10259698B2 (en) 2014-07-14 2019-04-16 Khs Gmbh Filling device
WO2016118529A3 (en) * 2015-01-19 2016-10-13 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve including piston and seat, sensor mounted on electronic board, and flow module
US9976290B2 (en) 2015-01-19 2018-05-22 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with flow module
US10081931B2 (en) 2015-01-19 2018-09-25 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with sensor mounted on electronic board
US10392786B2 (en) 2015-01-19 2019-08-27 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve including piston and seat

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1306030B1 (en) 2001-05-29
ITPR980004A1 (en) 1999-08-06

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