WO2020007515A1

WO2020007515A1 - Filling station and method for determining the filled filling quantity of liquid filling material in keg containers

Info

Publication number: WO2020007515A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/059985
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kai KRÄHENBIEL
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-07-02
Filing date: 2019-04-17
Publication date: 2020-01-09
Also published as: DE102018116017A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling station (1) for filling the interior of KEGs (3) equipped with at least one respective KEG fitting (2). The filling station comprises at least one pressing element (8) which can be moved along a central longitudinal axis (MA) and a filling head (10) with a filling head housing (11). The filling head housing is equipped with a sealing element (12.1), against which the KEG received between the pressing element and the sealing element can be pressed into a sealed position with the KEG fitting placed on the head in a filling position in order to fill the interior with liquid filling material. The filling station comprises at least one weighing device (20, 20') for detecting both a first weight (G1) prior to filling the KEG with liquid filling material and a second weight (G2) after filling the KEG with liquid filling material in the respective filling position (FR).

Description

Filling station and method for determining the filled amount of liquid contents in KEG containers

The invention relates to a filling station for filling the interiors of KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting according to the preamble of

Claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for

Determination of the filled amount of liquid filling material in KEG containers according to the preamble of claim 16.

If drinks or other liquid products are handled or dispensed as fillings in large quantities, in particular quantities larger than 5 liters, such as e.g. B. in restaurants, it has proven to be particularly advantageous not to handle these products in bottles or cans, but in barrels. In turn, the use of so-called KEGs, which are also referred to as KEG barrels, offers numerous advantages.

A main advantage of the use of KEGs is that these barrel-like containers due to a particularly advantageous design of the connections for filling and

Compressed gas is hermetically sealed and thus the filling material and the interior of the KEG

Soiling of all kinds, in particular but also protected against contact with germs. The person skilled in the art knows the connections of KEGs under the name fitting or KEG fitting. Thus, the basic structure of such KEGs with at least one KEG fitting has long been well known to the relevant expert and generally represents a two-way valve at the inlet and outlet of the KEG. These at least two fluid paths are created by means of a vertically displaceable counter-tappet of the valve the treatment station opened in the cleaning and / or filling step.

As a rule, the KEGs are operated in the bottling plant, in particular in the large companies in the beverage industry, industrially and automatically, for example cleaned and / or filled, or refilled. For this purpose, the KEGs are filled with liquid contents, particularly in fully automated individual machines with one filling station or large machines with several filling stations. It must be verifiably ensured that the filled liquid filling material in the predetermined filling material quantity has actually arrived in the KEG, in particular in its interior, and has also remained there. This evidence is gaining in importance through Directive No. 2014/32 / EU, which stipulates that containers filled within the EU, such as KEGs, may only be brought onto the market if the bottler can provide evidence that that too in fact, the nominal filling quantity predetermined for the respective container is filled.

It is known from the prior art, here for example from EP 1 898 189 A2, to weigh one and the same KEG in the empty, that is to say not filled, state with a tare scale and after the filling process has been carried out with a gross scale. This is because the design of the KEG containers can vary greatly in their respective tare weight and the correct filling quantity of liquid filling material for the filled KEG can only be determined from the difference in tare weighing with a comparison of gross weighing. Differences in the tare weight can also arise from differently used KEG fittings. In the prior art, tare weighing of the KEG according to EP 1 898 189 A2 takes place even before it has been transferred to the actual filling station, namely in the area of the feeder on a first scale and the gross weighing on a structurally and spatially separate one second scale in the area of the conveyor. In other words, the tare scale and the gross scale in the prior art are designed as structurally and spatially separate assemblies, which are provided outside the filling machine, in particular outside the filling station. So that the individual tare values can be compared with the associated gross values, the corresponding values must be stored in a shift register by a controller, which is then passed on from the treatment station to the next with the corresponding KEG. The provision of the two different scales as separate components is expensive, requires a corresponding footprint and requires additional work on the plant side. This means that dynamic fill profiles can only be recorded online.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the task of a

To provide a device for filling the interiors of KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and for this purpose, in particular, the elaborate determination of the tare and gross weight of a KEG is dispensed with.

The object is achieved by a device according to the features of independent claim 1. A corresponding procedure is the subject of

the respective subclaims relate to particularly preferred embodiment variants of the invention.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a filling station for filling the interiors of KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting. The filling station comprises at least one pressing element that can be moved along a central longitudinal axis and a filling head with a filling head housing. To the

Filling head housing, a sealing element is provided, against which the KEG accommodated between the pressing element and the sealing element with its KEG fitting stands upside down in a filling position for filling the

Interior can be pressed with liquid contents in the sealing position. The filling station is characterized in particular by the fact that it has at least one weighing device for detecting both a first weight before the KEG is filled with liquid filling material and for a second weight after filling this KEG with liquid filling material in the filling position. By providing the at least one weighing device directly at the filling station, it is particularly advantageous to be able to measure the weight of the KEG before and after the filling process in the filling position, so that the two weighing devices provided in the prior art are located at structurally and spatially separate locations, namely in the area of the feed conveyor and the discharge conveyor. For the correct determination of the actually filled quantity, the tare weight and gross weight values are no longer relevant, but only the difference between the weight force recorded in each case, i.e. the difference between the first and the second weight force, by means of the at least one weighing device before and after the filling process of the respective KEG can be recorded. In particular, it is in the detection of the difference according to the invention that

Weight force is also no longer necessary to carry out a further measurement of the gross weight on a separate scale without any other external factors. It is also no longer necessary to determine the tare weight of the KEG, since the provision of the weighing device at the filling position means that only the difference in the

Weight force before and after filling the KEG with liquid contents are recorded got to. The first weight includes at least the weight of the empty, empty KEG. In addition, the first weight force can also include the pneumatic pressure force of the pressure element in the filling position KEGs and / or an opening force of the KEG valve device of the fitting which acts counter to the first weight force. The second weight comprises at least the weight of the full, ie filled with liquid filling KEG. In addition, the second weight force can also include the pneumatic pressure force of the pressure element in the filling position KEGs and / or an opening force of the KEG valve device of the fitting which acts counter to the second weight force. According to the invention, the at least one weighing device thus detects the difference between the first and second weights before and after the filling process in the filling position of the filling station.

According to an advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the

at least one weighing device is designed as an electromechanical weighing device, in particular as a weighing cell.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the weighing device comprises and / or is integrated into the sealing element against which the recorded KEG with its KEG fitting can be pressed in a filling position for filling the interior with liquid filling material in a sealing position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device is designed as an annular weighing cell which is integrated in the filling head such that the KEG fitting in the filling position is at least partially concentric and / or multi-point on the annular weighing cell for mechanical Plant arrives.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device is provided in the region of the guide cone in such a way that the weighing device concentrically surrounds openings of the KEG fitting.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device is arranged in the region of the guide cone such that the weighing device is in the filling position between one Sealing element and the free end face of the KEG fitting facing the filling head of the upside down KEG is provided.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device is designed as part of the guide cone

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device is designed as a seal and / or comprises at least the sealing element.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device on the guide cone

opposite underside of the filling head is provided.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that at least two weighing devices are provided, the at least one weighing device in the region of the filling head and the at least one further one

Weighing device are provided in the area of the pressing element.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one further weighing device is designed as a force transducer.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one further weighing device between one

Pneumatic cylinder device and the pressing element is provided.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that a plurality of further weighing devices are arranged on the pressing element, specifically on the side facing the filling head.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device is provided in the region of the guide cone and the at least one further weighing device is provided in the region of the pressing element. According to yet another advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one weighing device on the guide cone

opposite underside of the filling head and the at least one more

Weighing device are provided in the area of the pressing element.

For the purposes of the invention, the expression “essentially” or “approximately” means deviations from the respectively exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes which are insignificant for the function.

Further developments, advantages and possible uses of the invention also result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All of the features described and / or illustrated are basically the subject of the invention, independently or in any combination

Summary in the claims or their relationship. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 exemplarily and roughly schematically an isolated according to the invention

Filling station for filling the interiors of KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting in perspective view,

Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a filling head partially shown

an exemplary embodiment of a filling station according to the invention with a KEG, also partially shown,

3 an example of a further embodiment of a filling station according to the invention in a roughly schematic and partially sectioned side view,

Fig. 4 an example of yet another embodiment of an inventive

Filling station in a roughly schematic and partially sectioned side view,

5 shows, by way of example, yet another embodiment of an inventive device

Filling station in a roughly schematic and partially sectioned side view, 6 shows, by way of example, yet another embodiment of an inventive device

Filling station in a roughly schematic and partially sectioned side view

FIG. 7a shows an exemplary and roughly schematic of an isolated weighing device in FIG

Top view

7b, by way of example and roughly schematically, an isolated weighing device according to FIG. 7a in a side view.

Identical reference numerals are used in the figures for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure.

The filling station, generally designated 1 in the figures, is designed in particular for filling large-volume containers in the form of KEGs 3 equipped with a KEG fitting 2. In particular, such a filling station 1 is together with further filling stations 1 on a filling machine, not shown in detail

intended.

In a known manner, the KEGs 3 comprise the KEG fitting 2 on an end face, in particular on their upper side, which is provided in the region of a longitudinal axis of the KEG 3 and essentially forms two openings 4, 5. Thus, the opening 4 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the KEG 3 and is connected to one end of a riser pipe 6. The riser pipe 6 is preferably provided in an interior 7 of the KEG 3, in turn, coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the KEG 3, and is open at its end opposite the bottom of the KEG 3.

The opening 5 is designed as an annular opening concentrically surrounding the opening 4 or the riser pipe 6, in particular as an annular channel. Both openings 4, 5 can be closed by a self-closing KEG valve device, which can be opened for cleaning and / or filling the KEG 3. The KEG valve device is particularly biased in its closed position by a compression spring. To fill the KEGs 3 with liquid contents, they are fed to the filling machine upright and upside down, that is to say with their top side having the KEG fitting 2 facing downwards, via a transporter, also not shown in detail, which can be designed in particular as an insert star and after the filling process has been carried out again via a further conveyor, which can be designed, for example, as a push-out star, removed from the filling machine.

The KEGs 3 can, for example, be transferred in more detail from the insertion star to the filling stations 1 of the filling machine one after the other. The filling machine can have a rotor which can be driven around a vertical machine axis, on the outer circumference of which at least one filling station 1 according to the invention, preferably several filling stations 1 according to the invention, in the same or

distributed approximately the same angular distances are provided. For example, the filling machine can have 36 filling stations 1. After the transfer of a KEG 3 to a filling station 1, these are carried along with the rotating rotor and filled with liquid filling material in the manner described in more detail below. The KEG 3 filled in this way can then be added to the filling station 1, for example with the

Ejectors can be removed again. The KEGs 3 are removed from the extension star on another conveyor.

The filling station 1 in particular comprises an example in FIG. 2

Filling head 10 shown in more detail with a filling head housing 11, the one on a machine frame 9 only roughly schematically indicated in Figures 4 to 7

Filling machine, for example a rotor of the filling machine, held, in particular can be arranged there. The filler head housing 11 can be columnar and have a hollow space inside, which is used to hold further components, in particular a valve tappet 13 that can be moved vertically in the filler head housing 11 and to form the first and / or second flow channels SK1, SK2

is provided. In particular, the filling head housing 11 extends along a

Central longitudinal axis MA, which is in the filling position of the filling station 1 in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the KEG 3, in particular with the same axis.

Furthermore, the filling station 1, as in particular from FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6

can be seen, at least one movable along a central longitudinal axis MA

Pressure element 8, which can be designed in particular as a pressure cross. The lifting and / or lowering movement along the central longitudinal axis MA can on the

Pressure element 8 by means of a pressure cylinder

Pneumatic cylinder device 35 are introduced onto the pressing element 8. The pneumatic cylinder device 35 can be shown only schematically

Guide linkage or guide elements 36 may be non-positively connected to the pressing element 8. The guide linkage 36 is designed to be displaceable along the central longitudinal axis MA.

The filling head 10 therefore also has a guide cone 12 and a sealing element 12.1 on its filling head housing 11, against which sealing element 12.1 the KEG 3 received between the pressing element 8 and the sealing element 12.1 with its KEG fitting 2 in a filling position FP on the head standing for filling the interior 7 with liquid filling material is pressed in the sealing position. The filling position FP is therefore the position in which the pressing element 8 is countersunk against the bottom or bottom edge of the upside-down KEG 3, that is to say the underside thereof, and the KEG fitting 2 is in a sealing position with the sealing element 12.1. The KEG fitting 2 can be opened and / or closed in the manner described in more detail in the filling position FP.

Here, the guide cone 12 is provided on the filling head housing 11 in an interchangeable manner, in particular in a fixed but interchangeable manner, and is designed as a format part which can be adapted to the respective KEG fitting 2. In particular, the guide cone 12 forms a tulip-shaped centering cone, which among other things. the sealing element 12.1, preferably an annular seal, for the production of the sealing layer between the filling head 10 and the relevant KEG fitting 2.

Thus, the filling station 1, in particular the filling head 10 within the

Filling head housing 11, a vertically movable along the central longitudinal axis MA

formed valve tappet 13 for opening and / or closing the KEG fitting 2 of the KEG 3 to be filled in the filling position FP and sealed in the sealing cone on the guide cone 12 by means of the pressing element 8. For example, the initiation of the vertical lifting and / or lowering movement on the valve tappet 13 for closing and / or opening the KEG fitting 2 can also be carried out via a

Pneumatic cylinder device 15 take place. Here, the valve tappet 13, in particular on the end face facing the guide cone 12, can have a tappet upper part 13. The valve tappet 13, including its tappet upper part 13.1, can be designed as a rotationally symmetrical, hollow body open at both ends, which is arranged axially aligned with and displaceable along the central longitudinal axis MA. In particular, the tappet upper part 13.1, with a simultaneous sealing position of a KEG fitting 2, can establish a sealing connection with the KEG valve device by a lifting movement of the valve tappet 13 and can open the two openings 4, 5 of the KEG fitting 2, so that a media connection into the interior 7 of the KEGs 3 in the

Filling position FP is established.

Furthermore, at least one first and second controllable flow channel SK1, SK2 are formed in the filling head 10, in particular in the filling head housing 11. The first

Flow channel SK1 can be acted upon by a controllable product valve 14 with a liquid filling material which can be introduced into the interior 7 of the KEG 3 to be filled when the KEG fitting 2, that is to say the opening 5 is open. Furthermore, the first flow channel SK1 can be fluidically connected to a media outlet 17.2 via a controllable return valve 19. In particular, the first flow channel SK1 is sealed off from the second flow channel SK2 in such a way that none

Media mixing takes place between the media in each case in the flow channels SK1, SK2. At least one gaseous medium can be removed from the interior 7 of the KEG 3 via the second flow channel SK2,

The filling station 1 can have a feed line (not shown) for the liquid filling material to the filling head 10. The feed line opens in particular into a product feed 16 provided on the filling head housing 11, which can be fluidly connected to the first flow channel SK1 with the interposition of the controllable product valve 14.

According to the invention, the filling station 1 has at least one weighing device 20

Detection of both a first weight G1 before filling the KEG 3 with liquid filling material and also for detection of a second weight G2 after

Filling this KEG 3 with liquid filling material, the first and second weights G1, G2 being detectable in the filling position FP and at the filling station 1, respectively. The at least one weighing device 20 can be designed as an electro-mechanical weighing device, preferably as a force transducer, particularly advantageously as a weighing cell. The weighing device 20 designed as a weighing cell can preferably be calibrated in grams [g] or kilograms [kg].

Due to the force of the weight of the KEG 3 and / or the pneumatic force of the pressure element 8, a spring body 20.1 of the weighing device 20 is elastically deformed. The spring body 20.1 is preferably formed on an upper side OB of the weighing device 20. The at least one weighing device 20 is arranged on the filling station 1, preferably in the area of the filling head 10, in such a way that the

Direction of the force absorption of the weighing device 20 is directed along and / or parallel to the central longitudinal axis MA. The force measurement of at least one

Weighing device 20 can take place in such a way that the force applied to the weighing device 20 detects a deformation of the spring body 20.1, which can be made of metal, for example, via at least one strain gauge arranged on the spring body 20.1, the electrical resistance of which changes with the strain. This change is converted into an electrical voltage and the change in strain is recorded via a measuring amplifier. This can be converted into a measured force value based on the elastic properties of the metal.

The first weight G1 comprises at least the weight of the empty, unfilled KEG 3. In addition, the first weight G1 can also the pneumatic contact force of the pressing element 8 in the filling position FP KEG 3 and / or an opening force of the KEG acting counter to the first weight G1. Include valve device of the fitting 2. The second weight G2 comprises at least the weight of the full, ie filled with liquid filling KEGs 3. In addition, the second weight G2 can also the pneumatic contact force of the pressing element 8 in the filling position FP KEGs 3 and / or one acting counter to the second weight G2 Include opening force of the KEG valve device of the fitting 2.

According to the invention, the at least one weighing device 20 thus detects the difference between the first and second weight G1, G2 before and after the filling process in the filling position FP of the filling station 1, the difference corresponding to the filled quantity of liquid filling material. According to an example shown in Figures 2, 3 and 7a and b

Embodiment variant of the invention, the at least one weighing device 20 can particularly advantageously be provided directly in the filling head 10 of the filling station 1. In particular, the at least one weighing device 20 can be integrated into the filling head 10. The weighing device 20 can preferably comprise or be integrated into the sealing element 12.1, against which the accommodated KEG 3 with its KEG fitting 2 can be pressed in a filling position FP for filling the interior 7 with liquid filling material in the sealing position.

The at least one weighing device 20 can be designed as an annular weighing cell,

in particular as a ring load cell, which is integrated in the filling head 10 in such a way that the KEG fitting 2 reaches the mechanical contact in the filling position FP concentrically and / or in multiple points on the ring-shaped load cell, in particular on its spring body 20.1. The spring body 20.1 of the load cell can be at least partially circumferential, preferably completely, ie also at least partially in the form of a ring and / or a disk.

In particular, the weighing device 20 designed in this way can be provided in the region of the guide cone 12 in such a way that the weighing device 20 concentrically surrounds the openings 4, 5 of the KEG fitting 2 in the filling position FP, but releases them for a fluid flow by the weighing device 20 on the other side Filling head 10 facing free end face of the KEG fitting 2 reaches the mechanical system in the filling position FP.

The at least one weighing device 20 can be arranged in the region of the guide cone 12 such that the at least one weighing device 20 is provided in the filling position FP between the sealing element 12.1 and the free end face of the KEG fitting 2 facing the filling head 10, and in particular with its upper side 20.1 is directed towards the free end face of the KEG fitting 2.

It can also be provided that the at least one weighing device 20 is designed as part or part of the guide cone 12, that is to say the guide cone 12 comprises or has the at least one weighing device 20. This has the advantage that the guide cone 12 can also be exchanged at the same time each weighing device 20 is exchanged with and thus easy adaptability to the different KEG fittings 2 is possible.

It can also be provided that the at least one weighing device 20 is simultaneously designed as a seal and / or comprises at least the sealing element 12.1.

In particular, the sealing element 12.1 is at least on the top OB

Weighing device 20 and alternatively also on the upper side OB

opposite bottom provided.

In an alternative embodiment variant, which is not shown in more detail in the figures, it can be provided that the KEG 3 can move vertically, that is, along the

Central longitudinal axis is guided by means of guide elements in such a way that no vertical force is applied to the KEG 3. This allows KEG 3 tare weighing. The vertical guide elements can, for example, be provided, in particular arranged, on the pressing element 8 and / or the guide elements 36 and

for example, be formed as an inside and / or outside of the KEG 3 guide fingers.

According to a further embodiment variant, shown in FIG. 4, the at least one weighing device 20 can be provided on the underside of the filling head 10 opposite the guide cone 12, in particular there on the filling head housing 11. The filling station 1 thus comprises the at least one on the underside of the

Filling head housing 11 arranged weighing device 20, which between the

Machine frame 9 and the filling head 10 is provided. The at least one

However, weighing device 20 is part or part of the filling head 10 and thus the filling station 1 and to a certain extent “carries” the filling head 10. The ones on the filling head 10

connected feed lines are designed to be flexible so as not to influence the detection by the weighing device 20. In this embodiment variant, the first weight G1 can also additionally include the dead weight of the corresponding filling head 10, including the components or components such as, for example, arranged or accommodated thereon. the guide cone 12, the sealing element 12.1, the

Valve tappet 13, the tappet upper part 13.1, the product valve 14, the

Pneumatic cylinder device 15, the product feed 16, the media discharge 17.1, the media discharge 17.2, the ring channel 18, or the return valve 19 include. In an alternative embodiment variant, shown in FIG. 5, two weighing devices 20, 20 'are provided, the at least one weighing device 20 in the area of the filling head 10, that is to say in particular in accordance with the embodiment variant of FIGS. 2 and 3 described above, and the at least one further one

Weighing device 20 'is provided in the area of the pressing element 8. In particular, the at least one additional weighing device 20 'provided in the area of the pressing element 8 can be designed as a force sensor. The at least one further weighing device 20 ″ can be provided, in particular arranged, in more detail between the pneumatic cylinder device 35 and the pressing element 8. The at least one further weighing device 20 'can also be provided on a suspension and / or guide of the upper pneumatic cylinder device 35. The first and / or second weight G1, G2 detected by means of the at least one further weighing device 20 'contributes to a further increased accuracy in determining the filled quantity of liquid filling material, since the at least one further weighing device 20' is free of external influencing factors such as e.g. Is friction.

According to a further embodiment variant, not shown, it can also be provided that a plurality of further weighing devices 20 ′ are provided in the region of the pressing element 8, in particular arranged on the pressing element 8. In more detail, for example, in the case of a three-armed pressing element 8, shown in FIG. In total, for example, 3 further weighing devices 20 'are provided in this embodiment variant. The three further weighing devices 20 'are arranged on the respective end face of the respective arm facing the KEG 3 in the filling position FP, that is to say in the region of the respective arm of the

Pressing element 8, which in the filling position FP rests mechanically on the underside of the KEG 3 in order to press the KEG 3 against the filling head 10. According to this

An embodiment variant therefore captures each of the three further provided

Weighing devices 20 'recorded a third of the total of the first and / or second

Weight G1, G2.

Finally, FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment variant, in which the at least one weighing device 20, as in the embodiment variant of FIG. 4, is provided on the underside of the filling head 10 opposite the guide cone 12 and the at least one further weighing device 20 'is provided in the region of the pressing element 8 as in the embodiment variant of FIG. 5.

For the filling process or the provision of the liquid filling material at the filling station 1, the liquid filling material can be supplied from a pipe route from the filling station 1 via a feed line, not shown, or can be branched off from this pipe route.

For example, the feed line between the pipe route and that at the

Filling head housing 11 provided product feed 16 have at least one disc valve and / or a flow meter and / or a control valve.

Preferably, the disk valve can relate to the direction of flow of the liquid filling material, which is directed from the pipe route in the direction of the filling head 10

Flow meter can be provided upstream. The flow meter in turn can then be provided upstream of the control valve 33 in the direction of flow in the feed line.

To fill the interior 7 of the KEG 3 with liquid filling material, this is usually prestressed with a prestressing gas, in particular CO 2. For filling, a control and regulating unit, not shown in detail, is included, which is part of the

Machine control of the filling machine can be formed, and with all the components and assemblies of the filling machine and

especially the filling station 1 interacts, the first weight G1 of the KEG 3 before filling and then opens the product valve 14 so that liquid filling material begins to flow into the interior 7 of the KEG 3. During the filling process, the control and regulating unit constantly compares the actual value of an increasing second weight force G2 supplied by the at least one weighing device 20 with a parameter which is matched to a nominal volume and / or fitting type and / or filling material temperature or the like a data processing unit of the control unit regulating the filling curve stored target value of a second weight G2 for this KEG 3. This happens in the filling position FP and at the filling station 1. After reaching the predetermined second weight G2, the product valve 14 is closed again. After the KEG valve device has been closed, the filling head space, which is still closed by the KEG fitting 2, is flushed between the KEG fitting 2 and the guide cone 12, as a result of which residual contents remaining in the filling head space are displaced.

The filling head space can then be blown out with CO 2 gas.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that a large number of changes or modifications are possible without thereby leaving the scope of protection of the invention defined by the patent claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 filling station

2 KEG fitting

3 KEG

4 opening

5 opening

6 riser pipe

7 interior

8 pressing element

9 machine frame

10 filling head

1 1 filling head housing

12 guide cone

12.1 Sealing element

13 valve lifters

13.1 Top part of ram

14 product valve

15 pneumatic cylinder device

16 Product feed

17.1 Media removal

17.2 Media removal

18 ring channel

19 return valve

20, 20 'weighing device

20.1 spring body

35 Pneumatic cylinder device

36 guide element

G1 first weight

G2 second weight

FP filling position

SK1 first flow channel

SK2 second flow channel MA central longitudinal axis

OB top

Claims

claims

1. Filling station (1) for filling the interiors (7) of each with at least one KEG fitting (2) equipped KEGs (3), comprising at least one along one

Pressing element (8) which can be moved along the central longitudinal axis (MA) and a filling head (10) with a filling head housing (11), a sealing element (12.1) being provided on the filling head housing (11), against which sealing element (12.1) the seal between the pressing element (8) and the KEG (3) received with the sealing element (12.1) with its KEG fitting (2) in a filling position (FP) standing upside down to fill the interior (7) with liquid filling material in the sealing position, the sealing element (12.1) is arranged in particular at the foot of a guide cone (12), characterized in that the filling station (1) has at least one weighing device (20, 20 ') for detecting both a first one

Weight force (G1) before filling the KEG (3) with liquid contents, as well as for detecting a second weight (G2) after filling this KEG (3) with liquid contents in the filling position (FP).

2. Filling station according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20, 20 ') is designed as an electro-mechanical weighing device, in particular as a weighing cell.

3. Filling station according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Weighing device (20), the sealing element (12.1), against which the recorded KEG (3) with its KEG fitting (2) can be pressed into a filling position (FP) for filling the interior (7) with liquid filling material in the sealing position, or integrated into it is.

4. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) is designed as an annular weighing cell which is integrated in the filling head (10) such that the KEG fitting (2) in the filling position ( FP) at least partially reaches the mechanical system concentrically and / or in multiple points on the annular load cell.

5. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) is provided in the region of the guide cone (12) in such a way that the weighing device (20) has openings (4, 5) in the KEG fitting (2). concentrically encloses.

6. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) is arranged in the region of the guide cone (12) such that the weighing device (20) in the filling position (FP) between the sealing element (12.1) and the free end face of the KEG fitting (2) of the upside down KEG (3) facing the filling head (10) is provided.

7. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) is designed as part of the guide cone (12)

8. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) is designed as a seal and / or comprises at least the sealing element (12.1).

9. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) is provided on the underside of the filling head (10) opposite the guide cone (12).

10. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two weighing devices (20, 20 ') are provided, the at least one weighing device (20) in the region of the filling head (10) and the at least one further weighing device (20') are provided in the area of the pressing element (8).

11. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one further weighing device (20 ″) is designed as a force transducer.

12. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one further weighing device (20 ″) between one

Pneumatic cylinder device (35) and the pressing element (8) is provided.

13. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of further weighing devices (20 ') are arranged on the pressing element (8), specifically on the side facing the filling head (10).

14. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) in the region of the guide cone (12) and the at least one further weighing device (20 ″) are provided in the region of the pressing element (8).

15. Filling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one weighing device (20) on the underside of the filling head (10) opposite the guide cone (12) and the at least one further weighing device (20 ') in the region of the pressing element (8 ) are provided.

16. Method for determining the filled quantity of liquid filling material in KEGs (3) with at least one KEG fitting (2), in which a pressure element (8) is moved along a central longitudinal axis (MA), in which a filling head housing (11) a filling head (10) a sealing element (12.1) is provided, against which

Sealing element (12.1) the KEG (3) received between the pressing element (8) and the guide cone (12) with its KEG fitting (2) standing upside down in a filling position (FP) for filling the interior (7) with liquid contents in sealing position

can be pressed, characterized in that the filled amount of liquid filling in the KEG (3) is recorded by means of a device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 15.