WO2018100004A1

WO2018100004A1 - Modular machine for filling bottles and cans.

Info

Publication number: WO2018100004A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/080874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio DONADONI; Lucio Conforti
Original assignee: Co.Mac. Srl
Priority date: 2016-12-02
Filing date: 2017-11-29
Publication date: 2018-06-07
Also published as: IT201600122730A1

Abstract

Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) with a liquid, for example a liquid food, which comprises a treatment unit of said bottles and cans and a filling unit (2) of said bottles and cans. In the machine according to the invention, said filling unit comprises a filling assembly (31) of said bottles and cans comprising first means for vacuum generation, second means of flushing with CO2, third means for introduction of a liquid through a first valve (344) to fill said bottles and cans associable with a first interface (40) for coupling with a bottle or with a second interface (35) for coupling with a can, said first and second interface being interchangeable and used alternately depending on the type of container to fill, i.e. bottles or cans.

Description

MODULAR MACHINE FOR FILLING BOTTLES AND CANS

DISCLOSURE

The present invention concerns a machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids, preferably liquid foods containing C02 under pressure, for example beer and similar. More specifically, the present invention concerns a modular machine for filling bottles and cans, which allows both bottles and cans to be filled and in which it is possible to change type and format of the container to be filled, whether bottle or can, simply and quickly.

In a further particular aspect, the present invention concerns a machine for filling bottles and cans provided with a particular and innovative filling probe for determining the level of the liquid in the bottle or can during the filling phase and consequent interruption of the filling operation once the liquid has reached a predetermined level.

It is known that containers for food liquids, such as beer, drinks and similar, are filled with said liquids in automated plants in which there is generally a container washing/sterilization phase, a filling phase and a capping/sealing phase depending on the type of container.

The plants of known type are generally dedicated to a specific container, for example bottles, and cannot be used for filling different types of containers, for example cans. Therefore, when the same type of liquid is sold in containers of different type, for example bottle or can, different plants are required for each type of container.

This is typical in the case of beer which is generally sold in bottles or cans according to commercial and marketing requirements, thus obliging the producers to be equipped with bottling plants having filling machines of different type according to the type of container (bottle or can) chosen for sale of the drink. Currently no automated filling plants are known in which it is possible to switch rapidly from one type of container (for example bottle) to another type of container (for example can), and vice versa.

It is also known that automated bottling plants for food liquids are normally provided with means for determining when a given filling level is reached in the container.

One type of said means consists of probes for measuring the level of the liquid in the container, the purpose of which is to determine when the liquid has reached a certain level in the container so that the filling operation can be interrupted when the level has reached a predefined level. Said measuring probes in the operating position must be inserted into the bottle or can and protrude, also notably, from the mouth of the filling valve which is usually positioned at the rim of the mouth of the bottle or edge of the can.

In automated machines, the bottles or cans therefore travel at a much lower level than the position of the filling valves in order not to interfere with the measuring probes which protrude from them and have to be raised, for example by means of jacks, from the transport position to the filling position.

Furthermore, in the case of bottling of liquids containing C02, for example beer, the bottle must be pressurized with C02 so as to reach the pressure value of the liquid containment tank before starting the filling phase. During this pressurization phase, the bottle can explode due to the pressure, consequently damaging the measuring probe. In addition to the cost of the measuring probe, this entails interruption of the filling operations in order to replace the probe, with consequent significant damage deriving from loss of plant productivity.

A machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids, in particular liquid food under pressure, which is able to overcome the problems connected with the filling machines of known type, is therefore desirable.

One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids which is able to fill different types of containers (bottles or cans).

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids which can fill bottles and cans adopting a rapid format change.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids in which control of the filling level of said bottles and cans is performed rapidly and safely.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids in which the risk of breakage of the measuring probes for measuring the level of liquid during the filling operation of said bottles and cans is minimized.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for filling bottles and cans with liquids which is easy to produce and at competitive costs.

The above-mentioned and further objects and advantages and others, as described below, are achieved by means of a modular machine for filling bottles and cans with a liquid, preferably a liquid food, said machine comprising a treatment unit of said bottles and cans and a filling unit of said bottles and cans; the machine according to the invention is characterized in that said filling unit comprises a filling assembly of said bottles and cans comprising first means for vacuum generation, second means for flushing with C02, third means for introduction of a liquid by means of a first filling valve of said bottles and cans associable with a first interface for coupling with a bottle or with a second interface for coupling with a can, said first and second interface being interchangeable and usable alternately depending on the type of container to be filled, i.e. bottle or can.

In this way, a machine for filling bottles and cans is provided which meets the above- mentioned requirements.

In particular, due to the possibility of using two coupling interfaces between the filling valve and the bottle or can which can be easily and quickly interchanged, the machine according to the present invention can be used for filling bottles and cans depending on requirements with only a few quick operations for replacing said coupling interface.

In its more general embodiment, the machine according to the present invention has an extremely compact structure, the essential elements of which consist of the unit for treatment of bottles and cans (i.e. the washing/sanitization/sterilization unit) and the unit for filling said bottles and cans. Depending on operating requirements, the machine can therefore be provided with first means for closing said bottles (for example a capping machine) and/or second means for closing said cans (for example a clinching machine), also according to production needs and available space.

For example, in the case of small artisan breweries which produce only beer in bottles, the machine according to the present invention can be provided only with the bottle capping equipment, thus limiting the overall dimensions and the spaces required to house it, in addition to purchasing costs.

On the other hand, in the case of companies with diversified production (for example, breweries with the same type of beer produced and sold in both cans and bottles), the machine according to the present invention can be provided with both a capper for closing the bottles and a clincher for closing the cans. According to the production batch in progress, the transport means for the bottles/cans are made so as to bypass the closing system not in use for that specific batch. In this way the company is able to produce two different types of product (for example, beer in bottles or cans) with one single machine.

According to a particular and preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention, the filling unit comprises a product detection probe which determines the level of said liquid in the internal volume of said bottle or can. As better described below, said probe detects the level reached by the liquid inside the container; on the basis of the signal received from the probe, the machine control system is therefore able to interrupt the filling phase of the container (can or bottle) when a predetermined level of said liquid in the container is detected.

Preferably said filling unit comprises a second connection valve for connecting to said first vacuum generation means, said second valve being openable and closable to establish communication between said first vacuum generation means and the internal volume of said bottle or can. More preferably, said filling unit also comprises a third connection valve for connecting to said second means for flushing with C02, said third valve being openable or closable to allow flushing of the internal volume of said bottle or can with C02.

Even more preferably, said filling unit comprises a fourth pressurization valve for pressurizing said bottles and cans with C02, said fourth valve being openable and closable to allow pressurization of the internal volume of said bottle or can with C02.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the modular machine for filling bottles and cans according to the present invention, said product detection probe is movable between a first - rest - position in which it is retracted inside said filling unit and outside said bottle or can and a second - measurement - position in which it is at least partially inserted in said bottle or can.

In this way two advantages are achieved simultaneously.

A first advantage derives from the fact that the product detection probe (when not in operating conditions) is retracted inside the filling unit without protruding from it. The bottle/can can therefore be transported at a level near to the filling valve, thus eliminating the need for jacks to raise the bottle/can from the transport level to the filling level.

A second advantage - as better described below - is given by the fact that during the bottle pressurization phase the product detection probe is retracted inside the filling unit and is protected from possible explosions of the bottle, thus avoiding the possibility of damage. In the event of explosion of a bottle, the production cycle does not have to be interrupted to replace a damaged probe, but can continue at maximum efficiency.

It should be noted that the technical solution of the probe retractable inside the filling unit can be applied in general also to other types of filling machines and not only to the modular machines for filling bottles/cans previously described.

According to this embodiment, after pressurization of the bottle, the retractable product detection probe is inserted in said bottle or can at a predetermined level and at a predetermined moment during the filling of said bottle or can.

In this case, as better described below, preferably said product detection probe interrupts the filling of said bottle or can at a predetermined moment after said liquid has reached said predetermined level of said product detection probe.

Movement means for moving said product detection probe between said first rest position and said second measurement position, and vice versa, can be advantageously provided depending on operating requirements.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the description of the preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular machine for filling bottles and cans according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section view of a first detail of an embodiment of a modular machine for filling bottles and cans according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a section view of a second detail of an embodiment of a modular machine for filling bottles and cans according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a section view of a third detail of an embodiment of a modular machine for filling bottles and cans according to the present invention;

Figures 5a-5h illustrate schematically the operating sequence for filling a bottle in a modular machine for filling bottles and cans according to the present invention.

With reference to the attached figures, a modular machine 1 for filling bottles 46 and cans 33 with a liquid food comprises - in its most general embodiment - a unit for the treatment of said bottles 46 and cans 33 and a filling unit 2 for filling said bottles 46 and cans 33. The treatment unit generally consists of a unit for washing/sanitization/sterilization of said bottles 46 and cans 33 and can consist of equipment of known type and will therefore not be described in further detail.

One of the particular characteristics of the machine 1 according to the present invention is given by the fact that said filling unit 2 comprises a filling assembly 31 for filling said bottles 46 and cans 33; the filling assembly 31 in turn comprises first vacuum generation means, which generally consists of a manifold connected to a vacuum pump.

The filling assembly 31 further comprises second C02 flushing means which allow "washing" of the bottle/can with C02 and third means for introduction of a liquid by means of a first filling valve 344 for filling said bottles 46 and cans 33. In practice, by means of the filling valve 344 the bottle/can - once flushed with C02 - is placed in contact with the liquid containment tank in order to be filled.

A further particular characteristic of the machine 1 according to the present invention is given by the fact that said first filling valve 344 can be associated with a first interface 40 for coupling with a bottle 46 or a second interface 35 for coupling with a can 33. In the machine 1 according to the present invention, said first interface 40 and second interface 36 are therefore interchangeable and can be used alternately depending on the type of container to be filled, i.e. bottle 46 or can 33.

As previously mentioned, in a preferred embodiment of the modular machine 1 for filling bottles 46 and cans 33 according to the present invention, said filling unit 2 comprises a product detection probe 32 which determines the level of said liquid in the internal volume of said bottle 46 or can 33, according to operating principles described in detail below.

In preferred embodiments of the modular machine 1 according to the present invention the filling unit 2 comprises a second connection valve 341 for connection to said first vacuum generation means, said second valve 341 being openable and closable to establish communication between said first vacuum generation means and the internal volume of said bottle 46. In practice, the second valve 341, when open, allows evacuation of the air from the inside of the bottle 46 ready for the subsequent filling phase.

Furthermore, said filling unit 2 can advantageously comprise a third valve 342 for connection to said second means for flushing with C02, said third valve 342 being openable and closable to allow flushing of the internal volume of said bottle 46 or can 33 with C02.

In the modular machine 1 according to the present invention, said filling unit 2 can also advantageously comprise a fourth valve 343 for pressurization of said bottles and cans with C02, said fourth valve 343 being openable and closable to allow pressurization of the internal volume of said bottle 46 or can 33 with C02. In practice, by means of the fourth valve 343 the internal volume of the bottle 46 or can 33 is brought to isobaric conditions (with C02) with respect to the tank containing the liquid (typically beer) thus making the subsequent filling phase by means of the first valve 344 possible.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of a modular machine 1 for filling bottles 46 and cans 33 according to the present invention, said product detection probe 32 is movable between a first - rest - position in which it is retracted inside said filling assembly 31 (and is therefore outside said bottle 46 or can 33) and a second - measurement - position in which it is at least partially inserted in said bottle 46 or can 33. In practice, in non-operating conditions the product detection probe 32 is retracted inside the filling assembly 31 allowing the bottles/cans to be transported in the vicinity of the filling valve and eliminating the need for jacks for raising said bottles/cans. Furthermore, during the pressurization phase of the bottles with C02, the product detection probe 32 remains inside the filling assembly 31 and is therefore not exposed to the danger of breakage following possible explosion of the bottle.

Once the bottle has been pressurized and the filling operation has begun, the product detection probe 32 is inserted in said bottle 46 or can 33 at a predetermined level and at a predetermined moment during the filling phase of said bottle 46 or can 33. As better described below, the product detection probe 32 determines interruption of the filling of said bottle 46 or can 33 at a predetermined moment after said liquid has reached said predetermined level of said product detection probe (32).

Advantageously, to allow movement of the probe 32, the modular machine 1 for filling bottles 46 and cans 33 according to the present invention advantageously comprises movement means 345, 346 for moving said product detection probe 32 between said first rest position and said second measurement position, and vice versa.

With reference to figures 5a-5h, a typical operating sequence of a machine according to the present invention will now be described. Said sequence is described with reference to the filling of a bottle 46 with a liquid food, for example beer.

With reference to figure 5a, the bottle 46 is transferred, for example to a rinser or a washing/sanitization/sterilization station, directly on the plate 50 of a bottle lifting cylinder. The plate 50 is raised to detach the bottle from the belt. A centring bell 45 moves downwards and centres the bottle 46 on the seal of the filling assembly 31.

With reference to figure 5b, before the filling phase for filling with the product, some operations are performed to minimize the air content inside the bottle 46. A first air evacuation phase is therefore performed. In this phase the vacuum valve 341 is opened, establishing communication between a vacuum manifold, connected to a vacuum pump, and the bottle 46, thus extracting the gases contained in it.

Subsequently, with reference to figure 5c, in order to further reduce the air residues inside the bottle 46, flushing of the latter is performed. This consists in opening the flushing/C02 intake valve 342 thus allowing the carbon dioxide into the bottle. Subsequently, once the valve 342 is closed, the vacuum is applied again in the bottle 46 by opening the valve 341 with the previous operation to remove the air/C02 mixture from the container. These initial phases can be performed several times by means of panel programming, to obtain superior air evacuation quality.

With reference to figure 5d, in a subsequent phase the rapid C02 intake valve 343 is opened, thus pressurizing the bottle. Once isobaric conditions between bottle 46 and liquid containment tank 400 are obtained, the filling phase commences.

With reference to figure 5e, in the filling phase the valve 343 of the C02 remains open to allow the gas present in the bottle 46 to return to the tank while the product 400 drops into the bottle 46 after operation of the intake valve 344. Advantageously, the product 400 (generally beer) is diverted towards the walls of the bottle 46 by a special deflector.

Subsequently, with reference to figure 5/, after a predetermined period of time, which can be adjusted depending on the volume and type of container (bottle or can), during filling the valve 345 is operated to activate descent of the product detection probe 32. In this way, descent of the product detection probe 32 into the bottle 46 is controlled from the inside of the filling assembly 31.

With reference to figure 5g, when the liquid 400 reaches the level of the product detection probe 32, by means of the control system a timer is started which sends a signal to automatically stop filling of the bottle 46 after a given interval. After this interval, which can vary depending on the format and volume of the container, the liquid feeding valve 344 and C02 return valve 343 are closed.

Lastly, with reference to figure 5g, at the end of the filling sequence the valve 346 is operated which controls exit of the product detection probe 32 from the bottle 46. In the meantime, a decompression valve 347 is also operated which allows outflow of the C02 remaining in the bottle 46.

Subsequently, the centring bell is raised and the bottle lifting plate 50 is lowered to reposition the bottle 46 on the conveyor belt. The bottle is then sent to a successive capping head in order to close it.

The procedure described above also applies to the work phases with the cans 33, with the exception of the evacuation phase described at the beginning. In fact, it is not possible to create a vacuum in the cans 33 due to structural problems of said containers. Only the flushing phase is performed to allow evacuation of the air. In other words, the phase illustrated in figure 5b is not performed and the operating sequence starts substantially from the situation of figure 5c.

When the machine 1 comprises both a bottle capping unit and a can closing unit (as in figure 1), if bottles are being filled, the can closing head (clinching) will be bypassed; if cans are being filled, the bottle capping head will be bypassed.

The machine 1 according to the present invention can further comprise the normal devices and work cycles of the machines of known type. For example, a sanitization cycle of the filling machine is normally scheduled which allows sterilization of the surfaces normally in contact with the product; for said purpose, a detergent solution is circulated through the tanks and the filling valves by means of false bottles.

As previously cited, in the machine 1 according to the present invention, the format change operations are rapid and generally take less than 15' per format, and allow the machine structure to be adapted to the format of the containers to be used.

Further advantages obtainable are the following, for example:

Control of filling valves by means of B&R operator panel with the possibility of creating dedicated recipes for each type of beer or other product (varying the filling cycles as required and the times for the treatments such as flushing, decompression etc.);

Pneumatic can/bottle centring bell which allows adjustment of the force on the container mouth according to the diameter of the container (constant pressure).

Absence of traditional lifting cylinders results in 10% increase in machine output compared to traditional machines.

Customization of rinser treatment times (water and air injection).

Reduced consumption. Lower electricity and water consumption because there is no vacuum pump - the vacuum is obtained by the Venturi system.

Electronic filling valves. The valves are controlled by PLC and specific filling cycles can be set according to product type.

Parts in contact with the product made of plastic materials totally in PEEK and EPDM KTW FDA.

Absence of movable parts on the filler, therefore absence of electrical/hydraulic manifolds, reduced maintenance and high dependability.

On the basis of the description provided, further characteristics, modifications or improvements are possible and evident to a person averagely skilled in the art. Said characteristics, modifications and improvements should therefore be considered part of the present invention. In practice, any materials can be used, and the invention can have any contingent shapes and sizes, according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) with a liquid, preferably a liquid food, said modular machine (1) comprising a treatment unit of said bottles (46) and cans (33 ) and a filling unit (2) of said bottles (46) and cans (33), characterized in that said filling unit (2) comprises a filling assembly (31) of said bottles (46) and cans (33 ) comprising first means for vacuum generation, second means of flushing with C02, third means for introduction of a liquid through a first valve (344) to fill said bottles (46) and cans (33), said first valve (344) being associable with a first interface (40) for coupling with a bottle (46) or to a second interface (35) for coupling with a can (33), said first (40) and second (36) interface being interchangeable between them and used alternately depending on the type of container to fill, bottles (46) or cans (33).

2. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to claim 1, characterized in that said filling unit (2) comprises a product detection probe (32) which determines the level of said liquid in the internal volume of said bottle (46) or can (33).

3. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said filling unit (2) comprises a second connecting valve (341) with said first means for vacuum generation, said second valve (341) being openable and closable to put into communication said first means for vacuum generation with the internal volume of said bottles (46) or cans (33).

4. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to claim 3, characterized in that said filling unit (2) comprises a third connecting valve (342) with said second means of flushing with C02, said third valve (342) being openable and closable to allow the flushing with C02 in the internal volume of said bottles (46) or cans (33).

5. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to claim 4, characterized in that said filling unit (2) comprises a fourth valve (343) of pressurization with C02 of said bottles and cans, said fourth valve (343) being openable and closable to allow the pressurization with C02 of the internal volume of said bottles (46) or cans (33).

6. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to one or more of claims from 2 to 5, characterized in that said product detection probe (32) is movable between a first - resting - position in which it is retracted within said filling assembly (31) and outside of said bottle (46) or can (33) and a second - measurement - position in which is at least partially inserted into said bottle (46) or can (33).

7. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to claim 6, characterized in that said product detection probe (32) is inserted into said bottle (46) or can (33) to a predetermined level and at a predetermined instant during the filling phase of said bottle (46) or can (33).

8. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said product detection probe (32) determines the interruption of the filling of said bottle (46) or can (33) at a predetermined instant after said liquid has reached said predetermined level of said product detection probe (32).

9. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to one or more of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises movement means (345, 346) of said product detection probe (32) between said first resting position and said second measurement position, and vice versa.

10. Modular machine (1) for filling bottles (46) and cans (33) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises first closing means for closing said bottles and / or second closing means for closing said cans.