WO2021023490A1

WO2021023490A1 - Filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling product and filling machine comprising such filling elements

Info

Publication number: WO2021023490A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/070005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Max Stolz; Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch; Ludwig Clüsserath
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-08-02
Filing date: 2020-07-15
Publication date: 2021-02-11
Also published as: DE102019120936A1; EP4007736A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling element for filling bottles (2) or similar containers with a liquid filling product according to the preamble of patent claim 1. The invention is particularly characterized in that the actuation element (12) is designed as a pneumatic cylinder unit that is continuously adjustable between the open position and/or the closed position.

Description

Filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material and a filling machine with such filling elements

The invention relates to a filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and to a filling machine of the rotating type according to the preamble of patent claim 10.

Filling elements for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product, in particular also for filling bottles with beverages, are known in different designs, and also as filling elements for volume-controlled filling (volumetric filling). With these filling elements, a flow meter is provided in a liquid line between a source of the liquid filling material (e.g. storage container or boiler) and the respective filling element, which transmits a measurement or control signal to a central control device (computer) that causes the completion of the filling process, i.e. the closing of the liquid valve ) the filling machine delivers.

Such filling elements are provided on filling machines that have a large number of treatment stations or positions, which can also be understood as filling stations or filling positions. At each filling station of the filling machine a filling element or filling element with a filling valve or liquid valve is provided, via the discharge opening of which the liquid filling material is discharged into the container. For example, the filling material is dispensed into the container by means of what is known as “free jet filling”.

In the context of the present invention, “free-jet filling” or “free-jet filling” is understood to mean a filling process in which the liquid filling material flows towards the container to be filled from the liquid valve in a free filling jet or filling material jet, the flow of the filling material not passing through guide elements such as deflection screens, swirl bodies , short or long filling tubes is influenced or changed. Free jet filling can take place both without pressure and under pressure. In the case of pressureless free-jet filling, the container has ambient pressure, the container generally not resting against the filling element with its container mouth or opening, but rather against the filling element or a dispensing opening provided is spaced. If, with the pressureless free-jet filling, the container is in contact with the filling element with its container mouth, a gas path creates a connection between the interior of the container and the environment, which enables pressureless filling. The gas contained in the container and displaced by the beverage flowing into the container preferably also escapes into the surroundings via this gas path.

If the free jet filling takes place under a pressure that differs from the ambient pressure, the opening of the container is pressed against the filling element and sealed; the pressure in the interior of the container is adjusted to this pressure, which differs from the ambient pressure, by applying a tension gas or by applying a negative pressure which can be both above and below ambient pressure.

A filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material has also been proposed, with a liquid channel formed in a housing of the filling element, which has a connection to be connected to a source for the liquid filling material and a dispensing opening for the delivery of the liquid filling material forms a container to be filled and has a liquid valve with a valve body interacting with a valve seat between the connection and the dispensing opening. The valve body can be moved by an actuating element for opening and closing the liquid valve, specifically for controlling the filling process as a function of a flow meter, which uses a measuring mechanism to detect the flow rate that flows through a section of the liquid channel forming a measuring channel. If a pneumatic drive is used as the actuating element, the adaptation of the actuating element for opening and closing the liquid valve to different container sizes and container geometries is often complex and therefore costly.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material, in which the filling element can be easily adapted to different container sizes and container geometries. This object is achieved by a filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material according to the features of independent claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

According to an essential aspect, the invention relates to a filling element for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material, with a liquid channel formed in a housing of the filling element, the connection to be connected to a source for the liquid filling material and a dispensing opening for the Forms delivery of the liquid filling material to a container to be filled and has a liquid valve with a valve body interacting with a valve seat between the connection and the delivery opening. The valve body can be moved by an actuating element at least between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the liquid valve, specifically for controlling the filling process as a function of a flow meter. The invention is distinguished in particular by the fact that the actuating element is designed as a pneumatic cylinder unit that is continuously adjustable between the open position and / or the closed position.

The filling element according to the invention thus simulates an inexpensive electric drive which not only serves to open and close the liquid valve, as is customary in the prior art for pneumatic drives, but can also stop or start in any intermediate position. In this way, the filling element according to the invention can also be easily adapted to different container sizes and container geometries.

According to an advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the actuating element is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder unit.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the double-acting pneumatic cylinder unit is arranged above the boiler and has at least one supply air connection and at least one exhaust air connection on a cylinder housing, via which a piston of the pneumatic cylinder unit that is vertically movable along the filling element axis can be acted upon with compressed air on both sides . According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the piston is non-positively connected to a piston rod, which in turn acts in a non-positive manner on the actuating rod.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the piston rod is guided out of the cylinder housing on both sides by means of seals.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that at least one, preferably both, connection lines between the respective supply air connection or exhaust air connection and a compressed air generating device have a throttle check valve.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the respective throttle check valve each comprises a throttle device and a check valve.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that the respective throttle of the corresponding throttle check valve is designed as an adjustable throttle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, it can be provided that at least one filling element has a sensor device on the side of the piston rod opposite the liquid valve, by means of which the relative positioning of the piston rod between its open position and closed position can be detected.

“Container” in the context of the invention is understood to mean any container, in particular bottles, cans, cups, etc., each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, preferably made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

The expression “essentially” or “approximately” means deviations from the exact value of +/- 10%, preferably +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function. Developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention also emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all of the features described and / or shown in the figures, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

The single figure shows a roughly schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the filling element according to the invention.

Identical reference symbols are used in the figure for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect.

In the figure, 1 is a filling element for unpressurized filling of a liquid product into containers, ie into bottles 2, specifically for free-jet filling, in which the bottle 2 to be filled is arranged with its bottle mouth 2.1 at a distance, but centered below the filling element 1 and the liquid filling material is fed to the bottle 2 as a free jet 3. The filling element 1 is provided together with a large number of similar filling elements on the circumference of a rotor that can be driven around a vertical machine axis, of which only a tank 4 for the liquid filling material and a container or bottle carrier 5 is shown on which the respective, in the embodiment shown as a PET bottle, bottle 2 is held suspended from a protruding flange 2.2 during the filling process.

The interior of the boiler 4 is level-controlled partially filled with the liquid filling material, so that a gas space 4.1 occupied by air and / or an inert gas at atmospheric pressure is formed above level N of the filling material, and below level N a liquid space 4.2 occupied by the filling material is formed.

The filling element 1 consists of a filling element housing 6 which, in the embodiment shown, is made in three parts in the manner described in more detail below and in which the usual liquid channel 7 is formed, the upper end shown in the single figure or with a local one Port 7.1 opens directly into the liquid space 4.2 and forms a dispensing opening 8 at its lower end.

In the liquid channel 7, the liquid valve 9 is arranged in the usual way, which essentially consists of a valve body 10 which interacts with a valve seat in the liquid channel 7 and which is provided at the lower end of an actuating rod 11 shown in the single figure. This is movable for opening and closing the liquid valve 9 by an actuating device 12 provided above the boiler 4 in the embodiment shown, which actuation device can assume at least one open position OS and one closed position GS for this purpose. The actuating device 12 designed according to the invention, which applies the necessary axial stroke for opening and closing the liquid valve 9, will be discussed in greater detail below. In the embodiment shown, the actuating rod 11, which has, for example, a circular outer cross section, is oriented in the vertical direction and defines the vertical filling element axis FA with its axis.

In the embodiment shown, in which the filling elements 1 are each provided directly on the underside of the boiler 4 and the actuating rod 11 also extends through the interior of the boiler 4, the axis of the liquid channel 7 is aligned with the axis FA. In order to center this rod and the valve body 10 in spite of the relatively large length of the actuating rod 11, the actuating rod 11 has a centering element 11.1 which, however, does not hinder the flow of the liquid filling material. It goes without saying that the diameter of the liquid channel 7 is larger than the outer diameter of the actuating rod 11, so that an annular flow path for the filling material is formed in the liquid channel 7 around the actuating rod 11.

As stated, the filling element housing 6 in the embodiment shown consists of three parts which connect to each other in the vertical direction in the direction of the product flow from the boiler 4 to the discharge opening 8, namely the housing part 6.1 with the connection 7.1, the housing part 6.2, which Part of a flow meter 13 and the, the measuring channel of this flow meter 13 forming section 7.2 of the liquid channel 7, and from the housing part 6.3, which with its flange-like section 6.3.1 with the bottom of the Housing part 6.2 is connected and merges into a tubular section 6.3.2, which is arranged coaxially with the axis FA and forms the dispensing opening 8 at its lower end. The valve seat for the valve body 10 of the liquid valve 9 is also formed in the housing part 6.1, ie in the direction of flow of the liquid filling material in front of the housing part 6.2 or in front of the flow meter 13. It goes without saying that the transitions between the boiler 4 and the housing part 6.1 as well as between the housing parts 6.1-6.3, in particular in the area of the liquid channel 7 penetrating all the housing parts, are sealed with appropriate seals.

As stated, the housing part 6.2 is part of the flow meter 13, for example a magnetic, inductive flow meter (MID), with the components (measuring mechanism) of the flow meter 13 detecting the product flow being provided on the measuring channel or section 7.2 there, namely in the case of a magnetic inductive flow meter 13 at least one magnetic coil for generating a magnetic field, for example an alternating magnetic field in the product flow, and at least one electrode for measuring the electrical measurement voltage generated by the product flow in the magnetic field and corresponding to the flow rate.

On the outside of the housing part 6.2, the further electrical components, for example the control and measurement electronics of the flow meter 13, are accommodated in a housing 14, including for controlling the magnetic coil and for evaluating the measurement voltage and for forming a connection via a connection line 15 to a central control unit ( Computer) the measurement signal delivered to the filling machine.

The diameter of the liquid channel 7 and the outer diameter of the actuating rod 11 are constant in section 7.2, so that the flow cross-section for the liquid filling material in the measuring channel or section 7.2 does not change with the flow of the actuating rod 11 and a high level of measurement accuracy is achieved.

The bottles 2 are filled with the filling elements 1 or with the filling machine having these filling elements 1 in the manner known from free-jet filling systems with volume control, ie after the inlet and positioning of the Bottles 2 on the bottle carrier 5 below the respective filling element 1, its liquid valve 9 is opened to initiate the filling process. The filling process is ended by closing the liquid valve 9, controlled by the signal supplied by the flow meter 13.

In order to ensure that the flow meter 13 designed as a magnetic, inductive flow meter delivers unambiguous measurement results, in particular already at the beginning of the respective filling process or the respective filling phase, in section 6.3.2 or in section 7.3 of the liquid channel 7 there is near or A gas barrier 16 is provided at the dispensing opening 8, in any case in the product flow direction after the housing part 6.2 or after the flow meter 13 and its measuring mechanism, which in the simplest case is formed by an insert with a plurality of openings or channels, for example a sieve-like insert .

The cross-section of these openings is then chosen so that after the liquid valve 9 is closed, the part of the liquid channel located above the gas barrier 16 and thus in particular the part of the liquid channel formed in the housing part 6.2 remains filled with the liquid product, this part of the liquid channel remains at least during the time intervals or phases in which the respective liquid valve 9 is closed during normal filling operation are not emptied.

This ensures that section 7.2 of the liquid channel formed in the housing part 6.2 and thus in the measuring mechanism of the flow meter 13 is completely or almost completely filled with the liquid filling material at the beginning of each filling phase. As a result, the flow meter 13 delivers unambiguous measurement signals at the beginning of each filling phase.

In order to avoid displacement of the liquid filling material from the part of the fluid channel 7 that adjoins the fluid valve 9 in the filling material flow direction when the fluid valve 9 or the valve body 10 is closed, the fluid valve in the embodiment shown is designed so that it can be opened by lifting the valve body 10 is closed and by lowering the valve body 10. According to the invention, it is provided that the actuating element 12 is designed as a pneumatic cylinder unit that is continuously adjustable between the open position OS and / or the closed position GS.

In more detail, it can be provided that the actuating element 12 is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder unit for this purpose, which provides at least one supply air connection 21 and at least one exhaust air connection 22 on a cylinder housing 20, via which a piston 23 of the pneumatic cylinder unit can be acted upon with compressed air on both sides. The piston 23 is non-positively connected to a piston rod 24, which in turn acts on the actuating rod 11 in a non-positive manner. The piston rod 24 is guided out of the cylinder housing 20 on both sides by means of seals 25.

The supply air connection 21 and / or the exhaust air connection 22 are each connected in a fluid-tight manner via a connection line 26 to a compressed air generating device not shown in detail.

In at least one, preferably in both, connection lines 26, between the respective supply air connection 21 or exhaust air connection 22 and the

A throttle check valve 27 may be provided in the compressed air generating device. The one-way flow control valve 27 is designed as a valve which throttles a medium (for example a liquid or a gas) in one direction and allows it to flow through unthrottled in the other direction. The respective one-way flow control valve 27 comprises two individual valves that are housed in a common housing. In particular, the throttle check valve 27 comprises a throttle device 27.1, which the

Line cross-section reduced and a check valve 27.2. The respective throttle 27.1 can preferably be designed as an adjustable throttle.

Furthermore, the filling element 1 comprises a sensor device 28 on the side of the piston rod 24 opposite the liquid valve 9, by means of which the relative positioning of the piston rod 24 between its open position OS and closed position GS can be detected. By detecting the position of the piston rod 24, direct conclusions can be drawn about the opening and closing positions of the valve body 10 of the liquid valve 9. All intermediate positions between the open position OS and the closed position GS of the actuating unit 12, which is designed as an infinitely adjustable pneumatic cylinder unit, are possible as an at least temporarily permissible operating position.

This makes it possible not only to open and close the pneumatic cylinder unit, but to stop it in any intermediate position. This is made possible by supplying air to the supply air connection 21 or the exhaust air connection 22 of the pneumatic cylinder unit and thus a balance of forces prevails. It is also possible to achieve this state when the supply air connection 21 or the exhaust air connection 22 of the pneumatic cylinder unit is shut off. Slow opening and closing can be achieved by means of the one-way flow control valves 27.

The invention was described above using the example of a filling element 1 suitable for free-jet filling of bottles 2 or other containers. It goes without saying that the special design of the filling element according to the invention with the flow meter in the filling material flow direction after the liquid valve 9 can also be implemented with filling elements for other filling methods with the stated advantages, in particular also with filling elements for filling a liquid filling material under pressure, namely with appropriate Design of the filling element.

The invention was described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that a large number of changes or modifications are possible without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the patent claims. The content of the claims is made the subject of the description. List of reference symbols

1 filling element

2 bottle

2.1 Bottle mouth

2.2 Flange on the bottle neck

3 product jet

4 boilers

4.1 Gas space

4.2 Liquid space

5, 5a bottle carrier

6 filling element housing 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 housing part

6.3.1 flange-like section

6.3.2 tubular section

7 fluid channel

7.1 Connection

7.2 Section or measuring channel

7.3 Section of the liquid channel with gas barrier 16

8 Dispensing opening

9 liquid valve

10 valve bodies

11 operating rod

11.1 Centering element on the actuating rod

12 actuator

13 flow meters

14 housing

15 control line

16 Throttle lock

20 cylinder housings

21 Supply air connection

22 Exhaust connection

23 pistons

24 piston rod 25 Seal

26 Connection line 27 Throttle check valve 27.1 Throttle device 27.2 Check valve

28 Sensor Setup

FA vertical infill axis

GS closed position N liquid level in the boiler 4.

OS open position

Claims

1. Filling element for filling bottles (2) or similar containers with a liquid filling material, with a liquid channel (7) formed in a housing (6) of the filling element (1), which is connected to a source (4) for the liquid filling material connecting connection (7.1) as well as a dispensing opening (8) for dispensing the liquid filling material to a container (2) to be filled and between the connection (7.1) and the dispensing opening (8) a liquid valve (9) with a valve seat cooperating with one another Valve body (10) which can be moved by an actuating element (12) at least between an open position (OS) and a closed position (GS) for opening and closing the liquid valve (9), specifically for controlling the filling process as a function of a flow meter (13), characterized in that the actuating element (12) is a pneumatic cylinder that can be continuously adjusted between the open position (OS) and / or the closed position (GS) unit is formed.

2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Actuating element (12) is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder unit.

3. Filling element according to claim 2, characterized in that the double-acting pneumatic cylinder unit is arranged above the boiler (4) and on a cylinder housing (20) has at least one supply air connection (21) and at least one exhaust air connection (22), over which a the filling element axis (FA) vertically movable piston (23) of the pneumatic cylinder unit can be acted upon with compressed air on both sides.

4. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston (23) is non-positively connected to a piston rod (24), which in turn acts positively on the actuating rod (11).

5. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston rod (24) is guided on both sides by means of seals (25) from the cylinder housing (20).

6. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably both connection lines (26) between the respective supply air connection (21) or exhaust air connection (22) and a compressed air generating device have a throttle check valve (27).

7. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective throttle check valve (27) each comprises a throttle device (27.1) and a check valve (27.2).

8. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective throttle (27.1) of the corresponding one-way flow control valve (27) is designed as an adjustable throttle.

9. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one filling element (1) on the side of the piston rod (24) opposite the liquid valve (9) has a sensor device (28) by means of which the relative positioning of the piston rod (24) between their open position (OS) and closed position (GS) can be detected.

10. Filling machine of revolving design, with a plurality of filling elements (1) provided on a rotor which can be driven around a machine axis, characterized in that at least one filling element (1) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.