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
  • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
  • B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing
  • B67C7/0086—Sterilisation being restricted to the area of application of the closure
• • 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
  • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
  • B67C7/0006—Conveying; Synchronising
  • B67C7/004—Conveying; Synchronising the containers travelling along a circular path
  • B67C7/0046—Infeed and outfeed devices
  • B67C7/0053—Infeed and outfeed devices using grippers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C2003/228—Aseptic features

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a filling plant for filling receptacles with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product .
• the present invention also relates to a star wheel for the advancement of receptacles.
• a typical filling plant comprises at least a filling apparatus configured to fill the receptacles and having a plurality of star wheels configured to advance the empty receptacles to and the filled receptacles from the filling apparatus .
• Some filling plants also comprise a molding apparatus configured to blow or compression mold preforms so as to obtain the receptacles.
• Some of the star wheels being arranged such to advance the empty receptacles from the molding apparatus to the filling apparatus.
• the filling apparatus, the star wheels and the molding apparatus are at least partially arranged within an isolation chamber so that the receptacles are advanced within a controlled atmosphere, which is necessary in order to maintain the sterility of at least the inner of the receptacles to be filled with the pourable product.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic top-view of a filling plant according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;
• Figure 2 shows a schematic side-view of details of the filling plant of Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity.
• Referral number 1 indicates as a whole a filling plant for at least filling receptacles, such as bottles 2, in particular plastic bottles, with a pourable product, even more particular a pourable food product such as carbonated liquids (e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer) or non- carbonated liquids (e.g. still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, liquid cleaners, wine, emulsions, suspensions, high viscosity liquids and beverages containing pulps) .
• carbonated liquids e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer
• non- carbonated liquids e.g. still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, liquid cleaners, wine, emulsions, suspensions, high viscosity liquids and beverages containing pulps
• bottles 2 being made from a polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PET) , glass, aluminum, steel or composites.
• PET polytetrafluoroethylene
• each bottle 2 extends along a longitudinal axis A and comprises a pouring/inlet opening 3 allowing for the introduction and the outpouring of the pourable product respectively into and out of bottle 2.
• each bottle 2 also comprises a hollow main body 4 having a bottom portion 5 and a top portion 6 opposite to bottom portion 5 and carrying pouring/inlet opening 3.
• hollow main body 4 is bounded by a bottom wall 7, sidewalls 8 extending from bottom wall 7 and along axis A and by a top neck 9 delimiting pouring/inlet opening 3 and being arranged opposite to bottom wall 5.
• bottom portion 5 comprises bottom wall 7 and top portion 6 comprises top neck
• filling plant 1 is also configured to produce bottles 2 from preforms 10.
• filling plant 1 comprises at least:
• a conditioning device configured to provide for a defined and/or controlled (sterile) gas atmosphere, in particular a sterile air atmosphere, within inner space 15;
• a filling apparatus 18 configured to fill bottles 2 with the pourable product and being at least partially arranged within isolation chamber 14 so that, in use, the filling of bottles occurs and/or is executed within inner space 15 (i.e. under a controlled gas atmosphere);
• a conveying device 19 in particular at least partially arranged within isolation chamber 14 and, being configured to advance bottles 2 along an advancement path P, in particular within inner space 15, to and/or away from filling apparatus 18.
• a defined and/or controlled (sterile) gas atmosphere is intended to express that the gas atmosphere presents a reduced load of contaminants (such as microbes, bacteria, viruses and others), in particular for allowing a treating and/or processing of preforms 10 and/or bottles 2 in a sterile environment.
• a defined and/or controlled (sterile) gas atmosphere also expresses that the temperature and/or humidity of the gas atmosphere is controlled.
• filling plant 1 also comprises a molding apparatus 20 configured to form and/or mold bottles 2 from preforms 10 and being at least partially arranged within isolation chamber 14 so that bottles 2 are formed and/or molded from preforms 10 within inner space 15.
• molding apparatus 20 is arranged upstream from filling apparatus 18 along advancement path P and conveying device 19 is configured to advance bottles 2, in particular along a first portion PI of advancement path P, from molding apparatus 20 to filling apparatus 18.
• filling plant 1 also comprises a conveying assembly 21 (only partially shown) configured to advance preforms 10 along an advancement path Q and to molding apparatus 20.
• conveying assembly 21 is interposed between filling plant 1 and molding apparatus 20.
• filling plant 1 also comprises a capping apparatus 22 configured to apply at least one closure onto each (filled) bottle 2 and being arranged downstream from filling apparatus 18 along advancement path P.
• conveyor device 19 is configured to advance (the filled) bottles 2 (filled with the pourable product) along a second portion P2 of advancement path P from filling apparatus 18 to capping apparatus 22.
• filling plant 1 also comprises a preform sterilization apparatus 24 being at least partially arranged within isolation chamber 14 and being configured to sterilize at least the inner portion of preforms 10.
• sterilization apparatus 24 is configured to introduce a sterilization agent into preforms 10 so as to sterilize at least the inner portion of preforms 10 (and in consequence of bottles 2 ) .
• sterilization apparatus 24 is arranged upstream of molding apparatus 20 along advancement path Q and conveying assembly 21 is configured to advance preforms 10 within inner space 15 from sterilization apparatus 24 to molding apparatus 20.
• filling apparatus 18 comprises a conveying carousel 28 rotatable around a rotation axis B, in particular having a vertical orientation, for advancing bottles 2 along a filling path and a plurality of filling units (not shown and known as such) arranged on conveying carousel 28 and configured to retain and fill one respective bottle 2 during advancement of bottles 2 along the filling path.
• conveying carousel 28 and the filling units are arranged within inner space 15.
• molding apparatus 20 comprises:
• - a plurality of molding units 30 arranged on conveying carousel 29 and configured to retain preforms 10, to mold preforms 10 into bottles 2 during advancement of preforms 10 along the final preform advancement path and to retain the formed bottles 2 along the initial bottle advancement path.
• conveying carousel 29 and molding units 30 are arranged within inner space 15.
• molding units 31 are peripherally arranged on conveying carousel 29 and equally spaced around rotation axis C.
• capping apparatus 22 comprises:
• capping units (not shown) arranged on conveying carousel 31 and each one configured to retain one respective (filled) bottle 2 and to apply one respective closure onto the respective (filled) bottle 2 during its advancement along the capping path.
• conveying carousel 31 and the capping units are arranged within inner space 15.
• the capping units are peripherally arranged on conveying carousel 31 and equally spaced around rotation axis E.
• isolation chamber 14 is configured to be arranged on a (substantially horizontal) surface (e.g. a floor of a production site) and comprises at least an upper wall 33 distanced from the surface and a plurality of lateral walls 34 connected to upper wall 33 so as to enclose and/or delimit inner space 15.
• lateral walls 34 protrude from upper wall 33 towards the surface.
• isolation chamber 2 comprises at least a first isolation channel 35 extending within inner space 15 and at least downstream from filling apparatus 18 along advancement path P.
• isolation channel 35 is configured to receive at least a portion, in particular the respective top portions 6, of bottles 2 during advancement of bottles 2 along at least a portion of advancement path P.
• the respective top portions 6 advance within isolation channel 35.
• isolation channel 35 is interposed between filling apparatus 18 and molding apparatus 20.
• isolation chamber 14 also comprises a second isolation channel 36 similar to isolation channel 35 and extending within inner space 15 and at least upstream from filling apparatus 18 along advancement path P.
• isolation channel 36 is configured to receive at least a portion, in particular the respective top portions 6, of (filled) bottles 2 (i.e. bottles 2 filled with the pourable product) during advancement of bottles 2 along advancement path P .
• isolation channel 36 is interposed between filling apparatus 18 and capping apparatus 22.
• isolation channel 35 is arranged within an upper section 37 of inner space 15.
• upper section 37 being adjacent to, even more particular being at, upper wall 33.
• inner space 15 also comprises a lower section 38 opposed to upper section 37, in particular lower section 38 being positioned adjacent to, in particular at, the surface.
• isolation channel 35 comprises a first lateral wall 42 and a second lateral wall 43 spaced apart from one another and laterally delimiting an advancement space 44 of isolation channel 35 and for receiving at least portion 6 of bottles 2 (i.e. in use, during advancement of (empty) bottles 2 along advancement path P, the respective top portions 6 advance within advancement space 44) .
• lateral walls 42 and 43 extend from upper wall 33 into inner space 15 and, in particular are arranged within upper section 37.
• lateral walls 42 and 43 are connected to upper wall 33 and protrude towards lower section 38, in particular towards the surface.
• each one of lateral walls 42 and 43 also defines at least a respective portion of one respective lateral wall 34.
• advancement space 44 comprises an upper portion 45 and a lower portion 46 opposed to upper portion 45.
• upper portion 45 being positioned adjacent to, even more particular at, upper wall 33.
• the respective top portions 6 are positioned within lower portion 46 and advance within lower portion 46.
• isolation channel 36 is similar to isolation channel 35 regarding the details of isolation channel 36 we refer to the description with respect to isolation channel 35 using the same references for similar or equivalent parts.
• isolation channel 36 differs from isolation channel 35 in that isolation channel 36 receives, in use, filled bottles 2, i.e. bottles 2 being filled with the pourable product .
• the conditioning device is configured to control and/or determine and/or create a flow of (sterile) gas within isolation channel 35, and preferentially but not necessarily also in isolation channel 36.
• the conditioning device is configured to control the flow of gas from the respective upper portion 45 to the respective lower portion 46.
• the flow of gas is directed onto the respective top portions 6 and from top portions 6 to the respective bottom portions 5. In this manner, it is ensured that contaminations present on outer surfaces of bottles 2 are kept away from pouring/inlet opening 3.
• the conditioning unit is configured to control the flow of gas such that the flow of gas is substantially a laminar (top- bottom) flow.
• the conditioning unit is also configured to control a gas pressure within isolation chamber 14 such that the gas pressure at least in the section housing filling apparatus 20 and, in particular the ones housing isolation chamber 35 and/or isolation chamber 36 and/or capping apparatus 22, is above the ambient pressure .
• the conditioning unit is also configured to control the gas pressure within isolation chamber 14 such that the gas pressure equals the ambient pressure within the section (s) housing molding apparatus 20 and/or sterilization apparatus 24.
• the conditioning unit is configured to control a flow of (sterile) gas within inner space 15, in particular for obtaining a (substantially laminar) flow of gas from upper section 37 to lower section 38, in this section of isolation chamber 14 housing filling apparatus 18, and in particular molding apparatus 20.
• the conditioning unit comprises one or more filter elements (e.g. HEPA or ULPA filters) for filtering the gas to be introduced into isolation chamber 14.
• filter elements e.g. HEPA or ULPA filters
• conveying device 19 is configured to at least advance the empty bottles 2 along a first portion Pi of advancement path P, in particular from molding apparatus 20 to filling apparatus 18.
• conveying device 19 is also configured to advance the filled bottles 2 along a second portion P2 of advancement path P, in particular from filling apparatus 18 to capping apparatus 22.
• the filling path is interposed between portions Pi and P2.
• conveying device 19 comprises a plurality of conveyors, in particular a plurality of star wheels 50, configured to advance bottles 2 within inner space 15 and along a respective portion of advancement path P (i.e. along a respective portion of portion Pi or a respective portion of P2) .
• each star wheel 50 is rotatable around a respective rotation axis F, in particular having a vertical orientation, and each being configured to advance bottles 2 along the respective portion of advancement path P and, in particular each one being at least partially arranged within isolation chamber 14 so that bottles 2 advance within inner space 15 (i.e. within a controlled gas atmosphere) .
• the conveyors could be of the linear-conveying type (i.e. bottles 2 advance along a linear path when being advanced by a conveyor of the linear-conveying type) .
• conveying device 19 comprises a plurality of star wheels 50 and a plurality of conveyors of the linear-conveying type .
• each conveyor in particular each star wheel 50, comprises a plurality of gripping assemblies 51, each one configured to retain one respective bottle 2 during advancement of the respective bottle 2 along the respective portion of advancement path P.
• 50 further comprises:
• the respective gripping assemblies 51 are arranged along and on a peripheral portion 54 of support structure 53 and, in particular are angularly spaced apart from one another around the respective rotation axis F.
• each peripheral portion 54 extends within a respective first plane HI transversal, in particular perpendicular, to the respective rotation axis F.
• each support structure 53 comprises a disc 55, in particular an annular disc, carrying the respective peripheral portion 54.
• the respective disc 55 extends within the respective first plane HI .
• each gripping assembly 51 is configured to arrange the respective bottle 2 during advancement along the respective portion of advancement path P such that at least a portion, in particular the respective top portion 6, of the respective bottle 2 is arranged and/or advances within isolation channel 35 or isolation channel 36, in particular so that at least top portion 6 advances, in use, within the respective advancement space 44.
• the respective top portions 6 are arranged and/or advance within isolation channel 35, and even more particular when advancing, in use, along portion P2 the respective top portions 6 are arranged and/or advance within isolation channel 36.
• the flow of gas determined by the conditioning unit "hits" the top portions 6 in the desired manner without that the, in use, varying rotating parts of filling plant 1 influence the flow of gas within isolation channel 35 in a significant manner.
• the laminar flow of the gas can be substantially maintained without the generation of significant turbulences .
• each gripping assembly 51 further comprises:
• a gripper 56 configured to retain the respective bottle 2 during advancement along the respective portion of the advancement path P;
• each gripper 56 extends within a second plane H2 transversal, in particular perpendicular, to the respective rotation axis F.
• each support frame 57 is designed such that the respective gripper 56 is arranged or is arrangeable at a position so that the respective second plane H2 is spaced apart, in particular is arranged above, from first plane HI .
• each plane H2 is interposed between isolation channel 35 and plane HI and/or plane HI is interposed between the surface and each plane H2.
• each gripper 56 is positioned such that the respective second plane H2 is spaced apart, in particular is arranged above, plane HI.
• each support frame 57 transversally, in particular perpendicularly, extends from the respective peripheral portion 54.
• each gripping assembly 51 could comprise an adjustment unit configured to adjust and/or control the position of the respective plane H2 (i.e. the distance between plane HI and the respective plane H2 ) .
• filling plant 1 at least fills bottles 2 with the pourable product .
• Operation of filling plant 1 comprises at least the first step of
• operation of filling plant 1 also comprises the steps of:
• operation of filling plant 1 also comprises the steps of:
• operation of filling plant 1 also comprises the step of conditioning inner space 15.
• At least the respective top portions 6 advance within isolation channel 35, in particular within the respective advancement space 44, and in particular from molding apparatus 20 to filling apparatus 18.
• each bottle 2 is retained by one respective gripping assembly 51, in particular the respective gripper 56.
• the respective grippers 56 extend within the respective plane H2 being spaced apparat, in particular being above, plane HI.
• at least top portions 6 advance within isolation channel 36, in particular the respective advancement space 44, and in particular from filling apparatus 18 to capping apparatus 20.
• each bottle 2 is retained by one respective gripping assembly 51, in particular the respective gripper 56.
• the respective grippers 56 extend within the respective plane H2 being spaced apparat, in particular being above, plane HI.
• the conditioning device controls and/or determines and/or creates the flow of gas within isolation channel 35, in particular also within isolation channel 36.
• the flow of gas is controlled such that the flow of gas is from the respective upper portion 45 towards the respective lower portion 46.
• filling plant 1 comes along with a reduced risk of contaminations entering into bottles 2 during advancement of bottles 2 to filling apparatus 18 and/or from filling apparatus 18 to capping apparatus 22.
• This is possible by providing for isolation channel 35 and/or isolation channel 36 and having gripping assemblies 51, which arrange bottles 2 such that top portions 6 advance within respectively isolation channel 35 and/or isolation channel 36.
• the presence of isolation channels 35 and/or 36 suppresses the formation of possible turbulences within the respective advancement spaces 44, which otherwise may in some rare instances lead to contaminations to enter bottles 2.
• filling plant 1 comes along with an overall improved sterile performance.

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• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

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Citations (2)

• 2019
  • 2019-01-29 EP EP19305107.5A patent/EP3689815B1/de active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-01-13 WO PCT/EP2020/050653 patent/WO2020156786A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (2)

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