WO2010018139A1 - Apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component - Google Patents

Apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010018139A1
WO2010018139A1 PCT/EP2009/060301 EP2009060301W WO2010018139A1 WO 2010018139 A1 WO2010018139 A1 WO 2010018139A1 EP 2009060301 W EP2009060301 W EP 2009060301W WO 2010018139 A1 WO2010018139 A1 WO 2010018139A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
component
filling
additive component
machine
main component
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2009/060301
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Carlo Corniani
Original Assignee
Weightpack 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 Weightpack S.P.A. filed Critical Weightpack S.P.A.
Publication of WO2010018139A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010018139A1/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
    • B67C3/20—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus with provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups
    • B67C3/208—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus with provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups specially adapted for adding small amounts of additional liquids, e.g. syrup
    • 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
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/26—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
    • B65B3/30—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled by volumetric measurement
    • B65B3/32—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled by volumetric measurement by pistons co-operating with measuring chambers
    • B65B3/326—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled by volumetric measurement by pistons co-operating with measuring chambers for dosing several products to be mixed
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/50—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using rotary tables or turrets
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/60—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation rotatable

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component.
  • the background art provides, for the production of the products specified above, for the presence of an apparatus that receives from the appropriately provided tanks the main component and one or more additive components, mixes them, and sends the resulting product to a conventional filling machine.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus that greatly reduces management burdens.
  • an apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component characterized in that it comprises, arranged in series, a main component filling machine and at least one filling machine for an additive component.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the detail of one of the filling machines for an additive component
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.
  • the reference numerals 1, 2, 3 respectively designate three carousel machines adapted to fill one additive component each: thus, the machine 1 is connected by means of a duct Ia to a tank Ib that contains a first additive component, the machine 2 is connected by means of a duct 2a to a tank 2b that contains a second additive component, and the machine 3 is connected by means of a duct 3a to a tank 3b that contains a third additive component.
  • Such machines are arranged in series, tangent to each other, as will become better apparent hereinafter, and convey the containers to be filled that pass through them without interruptions, entering from an inlet star conveyor 4 arranged at the end of a feed line 4a.
  • the containers encounter a star conveyor 5 for conveyance to a carousel-type machine 6 designed to fill the main component, which reaches said machine by means of a duct 6a connected to a tank 6b, which contains said main component.
  • reference numeral 7 designates a star conveyor, which conveys the containers from the machine 6 to an output line 7a.
  • the three filling machines 1, 2, 3 for the additive components are adapted, thanks to the limited flow-rates involved, to be provided, at each station for accommodating a container being filled, with a peristaltic pump that is adapted to convey the additive component to the container by means of a tube that reaches directly such container, and this occurs differently from what occurs for the filling machine 6, which is of the traditional type with valves for controlling the flow of the processed liquid at the stations for accommodating the containers.
  • FIGS 2 and 3 relate to the machine 1 and show that the station for accommodating a container 8 being filled, the only one shown by way of reference, is provided with a peristaltic pump 9, which is moved by an electric motor 10 connected thereto by means of a joint 10a and receives the additive component, conveyed to the machine 1 by means of the duct 1 a, through an intake duct 9a in order to send it by means of a delivery tube 9b directly to the container 8.
  • all the stations for accommodating the containers during the filling step are each provided with a peristaltic pump, and for example in Figures 2 and 3 the reference numeral 1 1 designates a peristaltic pump related to the station located on the machine 1 in a diametrically opposite position with respect to the pump 9.
  • FIG. 4 shows how a container 12, after being fed by a peristaltic pump 13 of the machine 1 by means of a tube 13 a, can pass without any problem onto the machine 2 to be fed by a peristaltic pump 14 arranged on said machine by means of a tube 14a.
  • Operation of the described apparatus is as follows. If it is necessary to manufacture a product that contains the main component and the additive component contained in the tank Ib, one acts so that a container that travels progressively through the three machines 1, 2, 3 and the machine 6 finds active only the peristaltic pumps of the machine 1 and the valves of the machine 6, whereas if the product must contain the main component and the component contained in the tank 2b or the one contained in the tank 3b, one acts so that a container finds active respectively the peristaltic pumps of the machine 2 or those of the machine 3, in addition of course to the valves of the machine 6.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component, the apparatus comprising, arranged in series, a main component filling machine (6) and at least one filling machine (1, 2, 3) for an additive component.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS BY MEANS OF A PRODUCT CONTAINING A MAIN COMPONENT AND AT LEAST ONE VARIABLE ADDITIVE COMPONENT
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known that in many fields there are products that contain a main component and at least one additive component, which can vary in order to give the product differentiated characteristics.
In the food sector, this is the case for example of yoghurts, which have several differentiations in flavor obtained by adding different components to a base component: accordingly, there is coffee-flavored yoghurt, banana- flavored yoghurt, and so forth.
Another field that can be mentioned, besides the food sector, is for example the sector of bath foams.
The background art provides, for the production of the products specified above, for the presence of an apparatus that receives from the appropriately provided tanks the main component and one or more additive components, mixes them, and sends the resulting product to a conventional filling machine.
This procedure is quite widespread, but suffers drawbacks due to the heavy management burdens that arise from a certain complexity that accompanies each change of the additive component, with the consequent onset of significant downtimes of the system, and also from the need to provide, in said changing steps, a washing operation that is demanding due to the quantity of components involved.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus that greatly reduces management burdens.
This aim is achieved by an apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises, arranged in series, a main component filling machine and at least one filling machine for an additive component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the apparatus according to the present invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non- limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the detail of one of the filling machines for an additive component; Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.
WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the figures, at least one and preferably three filling machines are illustrated. Thus, the reference numerals 1, 2, 3 respectively designate three carousel machines adapted to fill one additive component each: thus, the machine 1 is connected by means of a duct Ia to a tank Ib that contains a first additive component, the machine 2 is connected by means of a duct 2a to a tank 2b that contains a second additive component, and the machine 3 is connected by means of a duct 3a to a tank 3b that contains a third additive component.
Such machines are arranged in series, tangent to each other, as will become better apparent hereinafter, and convey the containers to be filled that pass through them without interruptions, entering from an inlet star conveyor 4 arranged at the end of a feed line 4a. At the output of the filling machine 3, the containers encounter a star conveyor 5 for conveyance to a carousel-type machine 6 designed to fill the main component, which reaches said machine by means of a duct 6a connected to a tank 6b, which contains said main component.
Finally, reference numeral 7 designates a star conveyor, which conveys the containers from the machine 6 to an output line 7a.
The three filling machines 1, 2, 3 for the additive components are adapted, thanks to the limited flow-rates involved, to be provided, at each station for accommodating a container being filled, with a peristaltic pump that is adapted to convey the additive component to the container by means of a tube that reaches directly such container, and this occurs differently from what occurs for the filling machine 6, which is of the traditional type with valves for controlling the flow of the processed liquid at the stations for accommodating the containers.
This is clearly highlighted in Figures 2 and 3, which relate to the machine 1 and show that the station for accommodating a container 8 being filled, the only one shown by way of reference, is provided with a peristaltic pump 9, which is moved by an electric motor 10 connected thereto by means of a joint 10a and receives the additive component, conveyed to the machine 1 by means of the duct 1 a, through an intake duct 9a in order to send it by means of a delivery tube 9b directly to the container 8.
As mentioned, all the stations for accommodating the containers during the filling step are each provided with a peristaltic pump, and for example in Figures 2 and 3 the reference numeral 1 1 designates a peristaltic pump related to the station located on the machine 1 in a diametrically opposite position with respect to the pump 9.
The adoption of peristaltic pumps on the machines 1 , 2, 3 in the manner described above allows to provide the particularly favorable circumstance that such machines can be arranged tangent without the interposition of intermediate transfer star conveyors. This is clearly highlighted in Figure 4, which shows how a container 12, after being fed by a peristaltic pump 13 of the machine 1 by means of a tube 13 a, can pass without any problem onto the machine 2 to be fed by a peristaltic pump 14 arranged on said machine by means of a tube 14a.
Operation of the described apparatus is as follows. If it is necessary to manufacture a product that contains the main component and the additive component contained in the tank Ib, one acts so that a container that travels progressively through the three machines 1, 2, 3 and the machine 6 finds active only the peristaltic pumps of the machine 1 and the valves of the machine 6, whereas if the product must contain the main component and the component contained in the tank 2b or the one contained in the tank 3b, one acts so that a container finds active respectively the peristaltic pumps of the machine 2 or those of the machine 3, in addition of course to the valves of the machine 6.
Obviously, one proceeds by keeping active the peristaltic pumps of more than one machine if one wishes to provide a product that contains more than one additive component in addition to the main component.
The simplicity of the operations that change the composition of the product that one wishes to obtain with the apparatus according to the invention, with a consequent drastic reduction of downtimes, is evident from all the above.
Further advantageous characteristics of the invention consist of the broad range of functional possibilities that it offers, and the peculiarity of keeping the several components always divided, ensuring their optimum preservation and protection in case of forced halting of the apparatus. The described invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MN2008A000015, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component, characterized in that it comprises, arranged in series, a main component filling machine (6) and at least one filling machine (1 , 2, 3) for an additive component.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one filling machine (1 , 2, 3) for an additive component is of the carousel type and is provided, at each station for accommodating a container (8) being filled, with a peristaltic pump (9, 1 1, 13, 14) that is adapted to convey said component.
3. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two machines (1, 2, 3) for filling an additive component of the carousel type which are provided, at each station for accommodating said container (8) being filled, with said peristaltic pump (9, 11, 13, 14) adapted to convey said component to the container (8) by means of a tube that reaches said container directly, two consecutive filling machines (1, 2, 3) being arranged tangent without the interposition of an intermediate transfer star conveyor.
PCT/EP2009/060301 2008-08-14 2009-08-07 Apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component WO2010018139A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMN2008A000015A IT1390999B1 (en) 2008-08-14 2008-08-14 FILLING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS THROUGH A PRODUCT CONTAINING A MAIN COMPONENT AND AT LEAST ONE VARIABLE ADDITIVE COMPONENT.
ITMN2008A000015 2008-08-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010018139A1 true WO2010018139A1 (en) 2010-02-18

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2009/060301 WO2010018139A1 (en) 2008-08-14 2009-08-07 Apparatus for filling containers by means of a product containing a main component and at least one variable additive component

Country Status (2)

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IT (1) IT1390999B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2010018139A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015174841A1 (en) 2014-05-16 2015-11-19 Sluis Cigar Machinery B.V. Filling device
EP2987766A1 (en) * 2014-08-20 2016-02-24 Krones AG Fill height correction
US20170158478A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-08 Nestec S.A. Device, system, and bottling machine for introducing an additive fluid into a container
WO2017097785A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-15 Nestec S.A. Bottling machine comprising at least two micro-carousels for additive fluids, and related method

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2463062A1 (en) * 1979-06-29 1981-02-20 Toulouse Inst Serotherapie Mechanical liq. and powder dispensing appts. - includes volumetric measuring and connected dispensing and conveyor systems
GB2178015A (en) * 1985-07-25 1987-02-04 Coop Wholesale Filling bottles
WO1992020615A1 (en) * 1991-05-24 1992-11-26 Campbell Soup Company Method and apparatus for adding flavor materials to beverages
WO2001089928A1 (en) * 2000-05-25 2001-11-29 Serac Group Method for packaging in a container a product containing different miscible ingredients
US20020139436A1 (en) * 2000-11-03 2002-10-03 Rosen Robert A. Liquid filling system with improved fluid displacement, nozzle and container handling, cleaning, and calibration/set-up capabilities
WO2008112414A2 (en) * 2007-03-15 2008-09-18 The Coca-Cola Company Multiple stream filling system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2463062A1 (en) * 1979-06-29 1981-02-20 Toulouse Inst Serotherapie Mechanical liq. and powder dispensing appts. - includes volumetric measuring and connected dispensing and conveyor systems
GB2178015A (en) * 1985-07-25 1987-02-04 Coop Wholesale Filling bottles
WO1992020615A1 (en) * 1991-05-24 1992-11-26 Campbell Soup Company Method and apparatus for adding flavor materials to beverages
WO2001089928A1 (en) * 2000-05-25 2001-11-29 Serac Group Method for packaging in a container a product containing different miscible ingredients
US20020139436A1 (en) * 2000-11-03 2002-10-03 Rosen Robert A. Liquid filling system with improved fluid displacement, nozzle and container handling, cleaning, and calibration/set-up capabilities
WO2008112414A2 (en) * 2007-03-15 2008-09-18 The Coca-Cola Company Multiple stream filling system

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015174841A1 (en) 2014-05-16 2015-11-19 Sluis Cigar Machinery B.V. Filling device
NL2012831B1 (en) * 2014-05-16 2016-03-02 Sluis Cigar Machinery Bv Filling device.
US10377516B2 (en) 2014-05-16 2019-08-13 Sluis Cigar Machinery B.V. Filling device
EP2987766A1 (en) * 2014-08-20 2016-02-24 Krones AG Fill height correction
US20170158478A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-08 Nestec S.A. Device, system, and bottling machine for introducing an additive fluid into a container
EP3178781A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-14 Nestec S.A. Device, system, and bottling machine for introducing an additive fluid into a container
WO2017097785A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-15 Nestec S.A. Bottling machine comprising at least two micro-carousels for additive fluids, and related method
CN108349721A (en) * 2015-12-07 2018-07-31 雀巢产品技术援助有限公司 The bottling machine of micro- turntable and associated method for being used for additive fluid including at least two
US20180354766A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2018-12-13 Nestec S.A. Bottling machine comprising at least two micro-carousels for additive fluids, and related method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1390999B1 (en) 2011-10-27
ITMN20080015A1 (en) 2010-02-15

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