WO2022156881A1 - Filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product and method - Google Patents

Filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product and method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022156881A1
WO2022156881A1 PCT/EP2021/051047 EP2021051047W WO2022156881A1 WO 2022156881 A1 WO2022156881 A1 WO 2022156881A1 EP 2021051047 W EP2021051047 W EP 2021051047W WO 2022156881 A1 WO2022156881 A1 WO 2022156881A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
operative liquid
liquid
circuit
product
pourable product
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2021/051047
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Enrico SAVANI
Gianluca MERLINI
Ettore DELBONO
Original Assignee
Sidel Participations
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sidel Participations filed Critical Sidel Participations
Priority to PCT/EP2021/051047 priority Critical patent/WO2022156881A1/en
Priority to EP21701436.4A priority patent/EP4281404A1/en
Publication of WO2022156881A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022156881A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/16—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using suction
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product , in particular a pourable food product , preferably an oxygensensitive pourable food product .
  • the present invention further relates to a method for filling containers with a pourable product , in particular a pourable food product , preferably an oxygensensitive pourable food product .
  • Filling machines are known which are configured to fill containers , for example bottles or the like , with a pourable product , preferably a pourable food product such as water, wine , juice , milk, beer, soft drinks , or the like .
  • Such filling machines typically comprise a conveyor, normally of the rotary type , for example a carousel rotating about a vertical axis , a reservoir containing the pourable product , and a plurality of filling devices peripherally carried by the carousel , connected to the reservoir by means of respective circuit s or duct s and conveyed by the carousel it self along an arc-shaped trans fer path .
  • Each filling device usually comprises :
  • a filling valve configured to feed a predetermined volume of pourable product to the respective container, while the filling device moves along the trans fer path due to the rotary movement imparted by the carousel ;
  • a support element adapted to receive and hold in a vertical pos ition, below the valve it sel f , one respective container .
  • filling valves of the known type comprise :
  • a shutter which slidingly engages the tubular body and is movable inside the flow channel in order to open or close an out flow pas sage of the pourable product towards the respective container .
  • the tubular body has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the carousel and ends at a lower end thereof with an axial outlet opening fluidly communicating, in use , with an end opening defined by an upper edge of the respective container to be filled .
  • the flow channel defined by the tubular body comprises a stretch having a constant section, usually cylindrical , and a stretch with variable section, positioned above the outlet opening and narrowing in the direction of the latter, up to a minimum-diameter section or narrow section .
  • the shutter is movable between :
  • each filling device comprises an actuator device known per se and not described in detail (for example a mechanic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator ) .
  • evacuation of oxygen is carried out by evacuating the entire content of the interior of the containers by means of vacuum, which is usually provided by a vacuum source .
  • the filling machines of this kind include a dedicated vacuum circuit configured to extract oxygen from each container before the filling of the same with the oxygen-sensitive pourable product .
  • the vacuum circuit comprises a vacuum pump defined by a liquid-ring vacuum pump, which is selectively connectable to each container, through the vacuum circuit it self , to apply vacuum therein before the filling is carried out .
  • liquid-ring vacuum pumps involve the use of an operative sealing liquid, for example water, which act s , due to it s cyclical movement within the pump chamber, as a sort of "liquid piston” to suction the oxygen from the containers through an intake duct and pump it elsewhere through a delivery duct , usually into atmosphere .
  • an operative sealing liquid for example water
  • liquid piston to suction the oxygen from the containers through an intake duct and pump it elsewhere through a delivery duct , usually into atmosphere .
  • the operative liquid In order to ensure the maximum e f ficiency of such type of vacuum pump, the operative liquid must be kept at a temperature ranging between predetermined threshold values . In particular, an overheating of the operat ive liquid must be avoided .
  • the temperature of the operative liquid tends to increase , thereby compromising the ef ficiency of the liquid-ring vacuum pump and therefore the nominal extraction of oxygen from the containers before filling the same with the oxygensensitive pourable product .
  • a solution to this problem is to replace , continuously during the filling operation, the operative liquid with new and fresh operative liquid taken from an operative liquid source at the appropriate temperature .
  • the Applicant has observed that the filling machines of the above-mentioned type are open to further improvement , in particular as to at least preserve the ef ficiency of the liquid-ring vacuum pump whilst limiting the consumption of it s operative liquid and without complicating, or while simplifying, the architecture of the filling machine it self .
  • This ob j ect is achieved by a f illing machine as claimed in claim 1 .
  • This ob j ect is achieved by a method as claimed in claim 13 .
  • Figure 1 is a top schematic view, with part s removed for clarity, of a filling machine according to the present invention ;
  • Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the filling machine of Figure 1 .
  • number 1 indicates as a whole a filling machine for filling a plurality of containers 2 , such as glas s bottles , cans , j ars or the like , with a pourable product , pre ferably a pourable food product .
  • an oxygen-sensitive pourable product such as beer, i . e . a pourable food product the shelf-life and/or quality of which is influenced by the amount of oxygen present in the containers 2 during the f illing operation .
  • Filling machine 1 es sentially comprises :
  • a conveying device in particular a carousel 3 rotatable around a central axis A, preferably having a vertical orientation, and configured to advance a successive sion of containers 2 along an arc-shaped advancement path;
  • a product source for example a reservoir (not shown ) for containing the pourable product to be fed to the containers 2 or a source directly providing the pourable product to be fed to the containers 2 ;
  • a plurality of filling devices 4 configured to fill respective containers 2 with a predetermined amount of pourable product during their advancement along the advancement path P .
  • each filling device 4 comprises a filling valve , known per se and not described nor shown in detail , configured to feed a predetermined volume of pourable product into one container 2 at a time , while the container 2 is advanced along path P due to the rotary motion imparted thereto by carousel 3 .
  • the filling valve of each filling device 4 comprises :
  • tubular body (not shown ) mounted on a peripheral portion of carousel 3 , having a longitudinal axis and internally defining a flow channel for feeding the pourable product towards the empty container 2 ;
  • valve element for example a shutter, slidingly engaging the tubular body between an open position, for allowing the flow of pourable product to the respective container 2 , and a closed position, for preventing the flow of pourable product to the respective container 2 , in a known manner .
  • the tubular body has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis A and ends at a lower end thereof with an axial outlet opening fluidly communicating, in use , with an end opening defined by an upper edge of the respective container 2 to be filled .
  • the flow channel defined by the tubular body comprises a stretch having a constant section, usually cylindrical , and a stretch with variable section, positioned above the outlet opening and narrowing in the direction of the latter, up to a minimum-diameter section or narrow section .
  • the shutter in the open position delimit s together with the minimum-diameter section an annular out flow pas sage fluidly communicating with the outlet opening, while the shutter in the closed position seals in a fluid- tight manner the minimum-diameter section .
  • each filling device 4 comprises an actuator device known per se and not described in detail (for example a mechanic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator ) .
  • each filling device 4 is peripherally carried by carousel 3 and is fluidly connected to the reservoir or source by means of a respective duct of filling machine 1 .
  • filling machine 1 comprises a product circuit 5 fluidly connectable to the product source at a first end thereof and to the filling devices 4 at a second end thereof and configured for conveying the pourable product from the product source to each filling device 4 .
  • product circuit 5 conveys , in use , the pourable product from the product source to a distribution manifold 6 carried by carousel 3 and fucidly connected to all filling devices 4 via respective duct s , in order to distribute the pourable product to all filling devices 4 during the filling operation .
  • filling machine 1 further comprises an inlet conveyor, preferably a star wheel 7 , adapted to feed a successive sion of empty containers 2 to carousel 3 , and an outlet conveyor , preferably a star wheel 8 , adapted to receive filled containers 2 from carousel 3 .
  • inlet conveyor preferably a star wheel 7
  • outlet conveyor preferably a star wheel 8
  • star wheel 7 and star wheel 8 are rotatable around respective rotation axes A' and A' ' , substantially parallel to axis A .
  • the pourable product is an oxygen-sensitive pourable product , in particular beer .
  • such evacuation of oxygen is carried out by evacuating the entire content of the interior of the containers 2 by means of vacuum .
  • filling machine 1 comprises a vacuum circuit 10 fluidly connectable to each container 2 via a respective vacuum duct 11 and configured to extract oxygen from each container 2 prior to the filling thereof with the oxygen-sensitive pourable product .
  • each vacuum duct 11 i s fluidly connected to manifold 6 , which is in turn fluidly connected to vacuum circuit 10 .
  • Vacuum circuit 10 comprises a liquid-ring vacuum pump 12 selectively connectable to each container, through the vacuum circuit 10 it self , to apply vacuum to each container be fore the filling thereof is carried out .
  • Vacuum pump 12 (only schematically shown in Figure 2 ) is of the widely commercially-known type and has a pumping chamber housing an operative liquid, in particular an operative sealing liquid, for example water, for the functioning thereof .
  • the operative liquid involved in the operation of vacuum pump 12 act s , due to the cyclical movement imparted thereto by the pump impeller within the pump chamber, as a sort of " liquid piston” and is configured to suction the oxygen from the containers 2 through an intake duct 10a of the vacuum circuit 10 and pump it away from the containers 2 through a delivery duct 10b of the vacuum circuit , whose exhaust is preferably open to atmosphere .
  • each container 2 preferably not only the oxygen present inside each container 2 is suctioned, but the entire ( gaseous ) content of the container 2 prior to the filling thereof .
  • vacuum circuit 10 preferably comprises a collection tank (not shown ) arranged upstream of vacuum pump 12 and configured to collect the pourable product suctioned by vacuum pump 12 .
  • the operative liquid must be kept at a temperature ranging between predetermined threshold values . In particular, an overheating of the operative liquid must be avoided .
  • the temperature of the operative liquid tends to increase , thereby compromising the ef ficiency of the vacuum pump 12 and, therefore , the nominal extraction of oxygen from containers 2 before filling of the same with the oxygen-sensitive pourable product .
  • filling machine 1 further comprises :
  • an operative liquid circuit 13 configured to recirculate said operative liquid away from and towards vacuum pump 12 ; and a single heat exchanger 14 thermally interposed between operative liquid circuit 13 and product circuit 5 and defining, in use, a direct heat exchange interface between the pourable product and the operative liquid .
  • heat exchanger 14 is configured to cool down the operative liquid of vacuum pump 12 by means of direct heat exchange with the pourable product .
  • both the product circuit 5 and the operative liquid circuit 13 pass through heat exchanger 14 , in particular pass through the body of heat exchanger 14 , and are arranged in direct thermal connection with one another within the heat exchanger 14 itself .
  • heat exchanger 14 comprises an outer tube 14a fluidly connected with product circuit 5 and configured to house the pourable product , and a plurality of inner tubes 14b housed within outer tube 14a, fluidly connected to the operative liquid circuit 13 and configured to house the operative liquid .
  • heat exchanger 14 comprises , in particular is defined by, a tubular heat exchanger .
  • the hygienic conditions of the heat exchanger 14 and therefore of the whole filling machine 1 , are improved, since a tubular heat exchanger has less , if any, interstices and cavities than, for example, a plate heat exchanger, which interstices are difficult to reach with a cleaning product , thereby simplifying the cleaning and sterilization thereof .
  • heat exchange interface defined by heat exchanger 14 is configured so that the pourable product and the operative liquid exchange heat directly with one another by means of heat exchanger 14 , without thermal interposition of any fluid heat exchange medium between them .
  • the heat exchange between the operative liquid and the pourable product occurs without any other circuit (additional cooling circuit ) interposed or thermally interposed between operative liquid circuit 13 and product circuit 5 .
  • the inlet temperature of the pourable product (beer ) upstream of heat exchanger 14 is 2 ° C, whereas it s temperature downstream of heat exchanger 14 is 4 ° C, in ideal nominal operating conditions .
  • heat exchanger 14 also provide , in an ef ficient , simple and economic way, for a heating of the pourable product from a storage temperature to a filling temperature which is optimal for the filling operat ion .
  • operative liquid circuit 13 comprises a single recirculation pump 15 which is fucidly connected to the chamber of vacuum pump 12 containing, in use , the operative liquid and is configured to recirculate the operative liquid along operative liquid circuit 13 and through heat exchanger 14 , so that the operative liquid is put in direct thermal connection with the pourable product , as explained above .
  • operative liquid circuit 13 comprises :
  • a delivery duct 13a arranged downstream of vacuum pump 12 and upstream of heat exchanger 14 , relative to the flow direction of the operative liquid within operative liquid circuit 13 , and configured to convey the operative liquid away from vacuum pump 12 and to heat exchanger 14 ;
  • an intake duct 13b arranged downstream of heat exchanger 14 and upstream of vacuum pump 12 , relative to the flow direction of the operative liquid within operative liquid circuit 13 , and configured to convey the operative liquid away from heat exchanger 14 and to vacuum pump 12 .
  • recirculation pump 15 is arranged at intake duct 13b, to improve the channeling of the cooled operat ive liquid and therefore to increase the ef ficiency .
  • operative liquid circuit 13 further comprises a buf fer tank 17 fluidly connected to the chamber of vacuum pump 12 housing, in use , the operative liquid and to recirculation pump 15 , arranged at delivery duct 13a downstream of vacuum pump 12 and configured to house a determined quantity of operative liquid .
  • filling machine 1 comprises a control unit 18 and a f irst temperature sensor 1 9 operatively connected to control unit 18 and configured to detect a temperature of the operative liquid .
  • first temperature sensor 1 9 is arranged adj acent to tank 17 and detect s , in use , the temperature of the operative liquid contained therein, i . e . the temperature of the operative liquid upstream of heat exchanger 14 , that is the temperature of the operative liquid before being cooled down by heat exchange with the pourable product .
  • Operative liquid circuit 13 comprises a dedicated inlet 20 activatable by control unit 18 and fluidly connectable to an operative liquid source (not shown ) for selectively feeding operative liquid into operative liquid circuit 13 .
  • control unit 18 is configured to activate dedicated inlet 20 if the temperature of the operative liquid detected by first temperature sensor 1 9 is , in use , above a predetermined threshold value .
  • the operative liquid predetermined threshold value is 27 ° C .
  • filling machine 1 comprises a second temperature sensor 21 operatively connected to control unit 18 and configured to detect a temperature of the pourable product .
  • second temperature sensor 21 is arranged along product circuit 5 downstream of heat exchanger 14 so as to detect , in use , the temperature of the pourable product once this latter has exchanged heat with the operative liquid .
  • control unit 18 is configured to stop recirculation pump 15 if the temperature of the pourable product detected by the second temperature sensor 21 is , in use , above a pourable product predetermined threshold value .
  • filling machine 1 The operation of filling machine 1 is described hereinafter starting from a condition in which containers 2 are being filled with the pourable product flowing along product circuit 5 and in which oxygen is being extracted from containers 2 prior to filling by vacuum pump 12 .
  • - recirculation pump 15 is recirculating the operative liquid of vacuum pump 12 along operative liquid circuit 13 and directly into inner tubes 14b of heat exchanger 14 .
  • the direct heat exchange between the operative liquid and the pourable product is thereby determined and the operative liquid is cooled down by the pourable product .
  • the overall heat exchange efficiency is thus improved, since thermal loss is reduced .
  • operative liquid is virtually zeroed, or at least limited to the cases in which it is necessary to refill operative liquid circuit 13 with new and fresh operative liquid through inlet 20 .

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

Abstract

There is described a filling machine (1) configured to fill containers (2) with a pourable product and comprising: a conveying device (3) configured to advance a succession of containers (2) to be filled along an advancement path; a plurality of filling devices (4) each configured to fill a respective container (2) with a predetermined amount of pourable product; a product circuit (5) fluidly connectable to a product source and to the filling devices (4) and configured for conveying the pourable product from the product source to each filling device (4); and a vacuum circuit (10) fluidly connectable to each container (2) and configured to extract oxygen from each container (2) prior to the filling of each container (2) with the pourable product; the vacuum circuit (10) comprises a liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) having an operative liquid for the functioning thereof and connectable to each container (2) to apply vacuum, in use, to each container (2) to extract oxygen therefrom; the filling machine (1) further comprises an operative liquid circuit (13) configured to recirculate the operative liquid away from and towards the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12); and a single heat exchanger (14) thermally interposed between the operative liquid circuit (13) and the product circuit (5) and defining, in use, a heat exchange interface directly between the pourable product and the operative liquid.

Description

FILLING MACHINE CONFIGURED TO FILL CONTAINERS WITH A
POURABLE PRODUCT AND METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product , in particular a pourable food product , preferably an oxygensensitive pourable food product .
The present invention further relates to a method for filling containers with a pourable product , in particular a pourable food product , preferably an oxygensensitive pourable food product .
BACKGROUND ART
Filling machines are known which are configured to fill containers , for example bottles or the like , with a pourable product , preferably a pourable food product such as water, wine , juice , milk, beer, soft drinks , or the like .
Such filling machines typically comprise a conveyor, normally of the rotary type , for example a carousel rotating about a vertical axis , a reservoir containing the pourable product , and a plurality of filling devices peripherally carried by the carousel , connected to the reservoir by means of respective circuit s or duct s and conveyed by the carousel it self along an arc-shaped trans fer path .
Each filling device usually comprises :
- a filling valve configured to feed a predetermined volume of pourable product to the respective container, while the filling device moves along the trans fer path due to the rotary movement imparted by the carousel ; and
- a support element adapted to receive and hold in a vertical pos ition, below the valve it sel f , one respective container .
Typically, filling valves of the known type comprise :
- a vertical tubular body fixed to a peripheral portion of the carousel and defining a flow channel for feeding the pourable product to the respective container to be filled arranged below the tubular body it self ; and
- a shutter which slidingly engages the tubular body and is movable inside the flow channel in order to open or close an out flow pas sage of the pourable product towards the respective container .
In particular, the tubular body has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the carousel and ends at a lower end thereof with an axial outlet opening fluidly communicating, in use , with an end opening defined by an upper edge of the respective container to be filled .
The flow channel defined by the tubular body comprises a stretch having a constant section, usually cylindrical , and a stretch with variable section, positioned above the outlet opening and narrowing in the direction of the latter, up to a minimum-diameter section or narrow section .
The shutter is movable between :
- an open position, in which the shutter delimit s together with the minimum-diameter section an annular out flow pas sage fluidly communicating with the outlet opening, so as to allow the flow of the pourable product towards the end opening of the respective container ; and
- a closed position, in which the shutter seals in a fluid-tight manner the minimum-diameter section, in order to interrupt the flow of the pourable product towards the outlet opening .
To control the movement of the shutter between the open and closed positions , each filling device comprises an actuator device known per se and not described in detail ( for example a mechanic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator ) .
It is known to fill the containers with oxygensensitive pourable product s , i . e . pourable food product s the shelf-life and/or quality of which is influenced by the amount of oxygen present in the containers during the filling operation, such as beer . To avoid a reduced shelf-life or a below-standard quality of such product s it is thus neces sary to evacuate the oxygen initially present in the containers before filling of the same with the pourable product .
Typically, such evacuation of oxygen is carried out by evacuating the entire content of the interior of the containers by means of vacuum, which is usually provided by a vacuum source .
According to a known solution, the filling machines of this kind include a dedicated vacuum circuit configured to extract oxygen from each container before the filling of the same with the oxygen-sensitive pourable product . To this end, the vacuum circuit comprises a vacuum pump defined by a liquid-ring vacuum pump, which is selectively connectable to each container, through the vacuum circuit it self , to apply vacuum therein before the filling is carried out .
As it is known, liquid-ring vacuum pumps involve the use of an operative sealing liquid, for example water, which act s , due to it s cyclical movement within the pump chamber, as a sort of "liquid piston" to suction the oxygen from the containers through an intake duct and pump it elsewhere through a delivery duct , usually into atmosphere .
In order to ensure the maximum e f ficiency of such type of vacuum pump, the operative liquid must be kept at a temperature ranging between predetermined threshold values . In particular, an overheating of the operat ive liquid must be avoided .
However, during functioning, the temperature of the operative liquid tends to increase , thereby compromising the ef ficiency of the liquid-ring vacuum pump and therefore the nominal extraction of oxygen from the containers before filling the same with the oxygensensitive pourable product .
A solution to this problem is to replace , continuously during the filling operation, the operative liquid with new and fresh operative liquid taken from an operative liquid source at the appropriate temperature .
Although being functionally valid, the Applicant has observed that the filling machines of the above-mentioned type are open to further improvement , in particular as to at least preserve the ef ficiency of the liquid-ring vacuum pump whilst limiting the consumption of it s operative liquid and without complicating, or while simplifying, the architecture of the filling machine it self .
DI SCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is therefore an ob j ect of the present invention to provide a filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product which is designed to meet at least one of the above-mentioned needs in a straightforward and low-cost manner .
This ob j ect is achieved by a f illing machine as claimed in claim 1 .
It is a further ob j ect of the present invention to provide a method for filling containers with a pourable product which is designed to meet at least one of the above-mentioned needs in a straightforward and low-cost manner .
This ob j ect is achieved by a method as claimed in claim 13 .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :
Figure 1 is a top schematic view, with part s removed for clarity, of a filling machine according to the present invention ; and
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the filling machine of Figure 1 .
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to Figures 1 and 2 , number 1 indicates as a whole a filling machine for filling a plurality of containers 2 , such as glas s bottles , cans , j ars or the like , with a pourable product , pre ferably a pourable food product .
The present description will refer, without losing generality, to an oxygen-sensitive pourable product , such as beer, i . e . a pourable food product the shelf-life and/or quality of which is influenced by the amount of oxygen present in the containers 2 during the f illing operation .
However, the feature of filling machine 1 disclosed hereinafter in connection with the present invention is equally applicable to other types of pourable product s .
Filling machine 1 es sentially comprises :
- a conveying device , in particular a carousel 3 rotatable around a central axis A, preferably having a vertical orientation, and configured to advance a succes sion of containers 2 along an arc-shaped advancement path;
- a product source , for example a reservoir (not shown ) for containing the pourable product to be fed to the containers 2 or a source directly providing the pourable product to be fed to the containers 2 ; and
- a plurality of filling devices 4 configured to fill respective containers 2 with a predetermined amount of pourable product during their advancement along the advancement path P .
In detail , each filling device 4 comprises a filling valve , known per se and not described nor shown in detail , configured to feed a predetermined volume of pourable product into one container 2 at a time , while the container 2 is advanced along path P due to the rotary motion imparted thereto by carousel 3 .
The filling valve of each filling device 4 comprises :
- a tubular body (not shown ) mounted on a peripheral portion of carousel 3 , having a longitudinal axis and internally defining a flow channel for feeding the pourable product towards the empty container 2 ; and
- a valve element (not shown ) , for example a shutter, slidingly engaging the tubular body between an open position, for allowing the flow of pourable product to the respective container 2 , and a closed position, for preventing the flow of pourable product to the respective container 2 , in a known manner .
In particular, the tubular body has a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis A and ends at a lower end thereof with an axial outlet opening fluidly communicating, in use , with an end opening defined by an upper edge of the respective container 2 to be filled .
The flow channel defined by the tubular body comprises a stretch having a constant section, usually cylindrical , and a stretch with variable section, positioned above the outlet opening and narrowing in the direction of the latter, up to a minimum-diameter section or narrow section .
The shutter in the open position delimit s together with the minimum-diameter section an annular out flow pas sage fluidly communicating with the outlet opening, while the shutter in the closed position seals in a fluid- tight manner the minimum-diameter section .
To control the movement of the shutter between the open and closed positions , each filling device 4 comprises an actuator device known per se and not described in detail ( for example a mechanic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator ) .
Hence , each filling device 4 is peripherally carried by carousel 3 and is fluidly connected to the reservoir or source by means of a respective duct of filling machine 1 .
In greater detail , filling machine 1 comprises a product circuit 5 fluidly connectable to the product source at a first end thereof and to the filling devices 4 at a second end thereof and configured for conveying the pourable product from the product source to each filling device 4 .
In particular, product circuit 5 conveys , in use , the pourable product from the product source to a distribution manifold 6 carried by carousel 3 and f luidly connected to all filling devices 4 via respective duct s , in order to distribute the pourable product to all filling devices 4 during the filling operation .
As visible in Figure 1 , filling machine 1 further comprises an inlet conveyor, preferably a star wheel 7 , adapted to feed a succes sion of empty containers 2 to carousel 3 , and an outlet conveyor , preferably a star wheel 8 , adapted to receive filled containers 2 from carousel 3 .
In particular, star wheel 7 and star wheel 8 are rotatable around respective rotation axes A' and A' ' , substantially parallel to axis A .
As stated above , it is known in the industry to fill containers 2 with oxygen-sensitive pourable product s , such as beer .
Accordingly, according to this preferred embodiment , the pourable product is an oxygen-sensitive pourable product , in particular beer .
To avoid a reduced shelf-life or a below-standard quality, it is thus neces sary to evacuate the oxygen initially present within each containers 2 before f illing of the same with the pourable product .
In the example shown, such evacuation of oxygen is carried out by evacuating the entire content of the interior of the containers 2 by means of vacuum .
To this end, filling machine 1 comprises a vacuum circuit 10 fluidly connectable to each container 2 via a respective vacuum duct 11 and configured to extract oxygen from each container 2 prior to the filling thereof with the oxygen-sensitive pourable product .
In detail , each vacuum duct 11 i s fluidly connected to manifold 6 , which is in turn fluidly connected to vacuum circuit 10 .
Vacuum circuit 10 comprises a liquid-ring vacuum pump 12 selectively connectable to each container, through the vacuum circuit 10 it self , to apply vacuum to each container be fore the filling thereof is carried out .
Vacuum pump 12 ( only schematically shown in Figure 2 ) is of the widely commercially-known type and has a pumping chamber housing an operative liquid, in particular an operative sealing liquid, for example water, for the functioning thereof .
More specifically, the operative liquid involved in the operation of vacuum pump 12 act s , due to the cyclical movement imparted thereto by the pump impeller within the pump chamber, as a sort of " liquid piston" and is configured to suction the oxygen from the containers 2 through an intake duct 10a of the vacuum circuit 10 and pump it away from the containers 2 through a delivery duct 10b of the vacuum circuit , whose exhaust is preferably open to atmosphere .
It is clear that preferably not only the oxygen present inside each container 2 is suctioned, but the entire ( gaseous ) content of the container 2 prior to the filling thereof .
Furthermore , a small quantity of pourable product or foam can be suctioned by vacuum pump 12 . To this end, vacuum circuit 10 preferably comprises a collection tank (not shown ) arranged upstream of vacuum pump 12 and configured to collect the pourable product suctioned by vacuum pump 12 .
It is further known that to ensure the maximum ef ficiency of vacuum pump 12 , the operative liquid must be kept at a temperature ranging between predetermined threshold values . In particular, an overheating of the operative liquid must be avoided .
However, during functioning, the temperature of the operative liquid tends to increase , thereby compromising the ef ficiency of the vacuum pump 12 and, therefore , the nominal extraction of oxygen from containers 2 before filling of the same with the oxygen-sensitive pourable product .
Accordingly, filling machine 1 further comprises :
- an operative liquid circuit 13 configured to recirculate said operative liquid away from and towards vacuum pump 12 ; and a single heat exchanger 14 thermally interposed between operative liquid circuit 13 and product circuit 5 and defining, in use, a direct heat exchange interface between the pourable product and the operative liquid .
In particular, heat exchanger 14 is configured to cool down the operative liquid of vacuum pump 12 by means of direct heat exchange with the pourable product .
To this end, both the product circuit 5 and the operative liquid circuit 13 pass through heat exchanger 14 , in particular pass through the body of heat exchanger 14 , and are arranged in direct thermal connection with one another within the heat exchanger 14 itself .
More specifically, as visible in Figure 1 , heat exchanger 14 comprises an outer tube 14a fluidly connected with product circuit 5 and configured to house the pourable product , and a plurality of inner tubes 14b housed within outer tube 14a, fluidly connected to the operative liquid circuit 13 and configured to house the operative liquid .
Hence, heat exchanger 14 comprises , in particular is defined by, a tubular heat exchanger .
Thanks to this particular configuration, the hygienic conditions of the heat exchanger 14 , and therefore of the whole filling machine 1 , are improved, since a tubular heat exchanger has less , if any, interstices and cavities than, for example, a plate heat exchanger, which interstices are difficult to reach with a cleaning product , thereby simplifying the cleaning and sterilization thereof .
In light of the above, the heat exchange interface defined by heat exchanger 14 is configured so that the pourable product and the operative liquid exchange heat directly with one another by means of heat exchanger 14 , without thermal interposition of any fluid heat exchange medium between them .
Thus , only one single heat exchanger 14 is provided (necessary) in filling machine 1 , thermally interposed between product circuit 5 and operative liquid circuit 13 and within which the operative liquid of vacuum pump 12 exchanges heat directly with the pourable product , thereby cooling down .
It is further specified that , according to the invention, the heat exchange between the operative liquid and the pourable product occurs without any other circuit (additional cooling circuit ) interposed or thermally interposed between operative liquid circuit 13 and product circuit 5 .
In this way, an efficient , simple and economic cooling of the operative liquid of liquid-ring vacuum pump 12 is obtained, exploiting the inlet temperature of the pourable product , which is generally lower that the temperature of the operative liquid .
Preferably, the inlet temperature of the pourable product (beer ) upstream of heat exchanger 14 is 2 ° C, whereas it s temperature downstream of heat exchanger 14 is 4 ° C, in ideal nominal operating conditions .
Hence , heat exchanger 14 also provide , in an ef ficient , simple and economic way, for a heating of the pourable product from a storage temperature to a filling temperature which is optimal for the filling operat ion .
As visible in Figure 2 , operative liquid circuit 13 comprises a single recirculation pump 15 which is f luidly connected to the chamber of vacuum pump 12 containing, in use , the operative liquid and is configured to recirculate the operative liquid along operative liquid circuit 13 and through heat exchanger 14 , so that the operative liquid is put in direct thermal connection with the pourable product , as explained above .
Furthermore , operative liquid circuit 13 comprises :
- a delivery duct 13a arranged downstream of vacuum pump 12 and upstream of heat exchanger 14 , relative to the flow direction of the operative liquid within operative liquid circuit 13 , and configured to convey the operative liquid away from vacuum pump 12 and to heat exchanger 14 ; and
- an intake duct 13b arranged downstream of heat exchanger 14 and upstream of vacuum pump 12 , relative to the flow direction of the operative liquid within operative liquid circuit 13 , and configured to convey the operative liquid away from heat exchanger 14 and to vacuum pump 12 .
According to the invention, recirculation pump 15 is arranged at intake duct 13b, to improve the channeling of the cooled operat ive liquid and therefore to increase the ef ficiency .
Thanks to the above layout configuration, it is pos sible to recirculate the operative liquid along operative liquid circuit 13 , and specifically away from and back to vacuum pump 2 and towards and away from heat exchanger 14 , with a single recirculation pump 15 , thereby simplifying the overall architecture of filling machine 1 and reducing cost s .
Preferably, operative liquid circuit 13 further comprises a buf fer tank 17 fluidly connected to the chamber of vacuum pump 12 housing, in use , the operative liquid and to recirculation pump 15 , arranged at delivery duct 13a downstream of vacuum pump 12 and configured to house a determined quantity of operative liquid .
Furthermore , filling machine 1 comprises a control unit 18 and a f irst temperature sensor 1 9 operatively connected to control unit 18 and configured to detect a temperature of the operative liquid .
Conveniently, first temperature sensor 1 9 is arranged adj acent to tank 17 and detect s , in use , the temperature of the operative liquid contained therein, i . e . the temperature of the operative liquid upstream of heat exchanger 14 , that is the temperature of the operative liquid before being cooled down by heat exchange with the pourable product .
Operative liquid circuit 13 comprises a dedicated inlet 20 activatable by control unit 18 and fluidly connectable to an operative liquid source (not shown ) for selectively feeding operative liquid into operative liquid circuit 13 .
Advantageously, control unit 18 is configured to activate dedicated inlet 20 if the temperature of the operative liquid detected by first temperature sensor 1 9 is , in use , above a predetermined threshold value .
Conveniently, the operative liquid predetermined threshold value is 27 ° C .
In this way, if the temperature of the operative liquid is too high to be ef fectively cooled down by heat exchange with the pourable product , new and fresh operative liquid is introduced in operative liquid circuit 13 , where it is recirculated and stored in tank
17 , thereby lowering the overall temperature of the operative liquid present in circuit 13 .
Hence , a stop of filling machine 1 due to an overheating of the operative liquid can be avoided by simply introducing new operative liquid into the circuit 13 . Moreover, new operative liquid is introduced in circuit 13 only when neces sary, thereby limit ing the operative liquid consumption .
Additionally, or alternatively, filling machine 1 comprises a second temperature sensor 21 operatively connected to control unit 18 and configured to detect a temperature of the pourable product .
Conveniently, second temperature sensor 21 is arranged along product circuit 5 downstream of heat exchanger 14 so as to detect , in use , the temperature of the pourable product once this latter has exchanged heat with the operative liquid .
Advantageously, control unit 18 is configured to stop recirculation pump 15 if the temperature of the pourable product detected by the second temperature sensor 21 is , in use , above a pourable product predetermined threshold value .
In this way, if the temperature of the pourable product is too high to ef fectively cool down the operative liquid or if the temperature would compromise the organoleptic properties of the pourable product it self , the recirculation, and therefore the heat exchange, is arrested in a simple and effective way .
The operation of filling machine 1 is described hereinafter starting from a condition in which containers 2 are being filled with the pourable product flowing along product circuit 5 and in which oxygen is being extracted from containers 2 prior to filling by vacuum pump 12 .
In this condition :
- the pourable product flows directly through outer tube 14a of heat exchanger 14 ; and
- recirculation pump 15 is recirculating the operative liquid of vacuum pump 12 along operative liquid circuit 13 and directly into inner tubes 14b of heat exchanger 14 .
Hence, the direct heat exchange between the operative liquid and the pourable product is thereby determined and the operative liquid is cooled down by the pourable product .
The advantages of filling machine 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description .
In particular, thanks to the above-described configuration an efficient , simple and economic cooling of the operative liquid of liquid-ring vacuum pump 12 is obtained, directly exploiting the inlet temperature of the pourable product flowing along product circuit 5 and using only one heat exchanger 14 and only one recirculation pump 15 , without the need of any fluid heat exchange medium thermally interposed between the operative liquid and the pourable product and/or without the need of any intermediate circuit (additional circuit ) interposed between the product circuit 5 and the operative liquid circuit 13 .
The overall heat exchange efficiency is thus improved, since thermal loss is reduced .
In addition, since there are no additional circuits for the cooling of the operative liquid of vacuum pump 12 , the whole system can be effectively cleaned automatically and at the same time by injecting cleaning liquid into the product circuit 5 , vacuum circuit 10 and operative liquid circuit 13 .
Furthermore, the consumption of operative liquid is virtually zeroed, or at least limited to the cases in which it is necessary to refill operative liquid circuit 13 with new and fresh operative liquid through inlet 20 .
Clearly, changes may be made to filling machine 1 as described herein without , however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims .

Claims

1.- A filling machine (1) configured to fill containers (2) with a pourable product and comprising:
- a conveying device (3) configured to advance a succession of containers (2) to be filled along an advancement path;
- a plurality of filling devices (4) each configured to fill a respective container (2) with a predetermined amount of pourable product during its advancement along the advancement path;
- a product circuit (5) fluidly connectable to a product source and to the filling devices (4) and configured for conveying the pourable product from the product source to each filling device (4) ; and
- a vacuum circuit (10) fluidly connectable to each container (2) and configured to extract oxygen from each container (2) prior to the filling of each container (2) with the pourable product; the vacuum circuit (10) comprising a liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) housing an operative liquid for the functioning thereof and connectable to each container (2) to apply vacuum, in use, to each container (2) to extract oxygen therefrom; the filling machine (1) further comprising:
- an operative liquid circuit (13) configured to recirculate said operative liquid away from and towards the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) ; and
- a single heat exchanger (14) thermally interposed between the operative liquid circuit (13) and the product circuit (5) and defining, in use, a heat exchange interface directly between the pourable product and the operative liquid.
2.- The filling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (14) is configured to cool down the operative liquid by means of direct heat exchange with the pourable product .
3.- The filling machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein both the product circuit (5) and the operative liquid circuit (13) pass through the heat exchanger (14) and are arranged in direct thermal connection with one another within the heat exchanger (14) .
4.- The filling machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heat exchange interface is configured so that the pourable product and the operative liquid exchange heat directly with one another by means of the heat exchanger (14) , without thermal interposition of any fluid heat exchange medium between the operative liquid and the pourable product .
5.- The filling machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the operative liquid circuit (13) comprises a single recirculation pump (15) fluidly connected with a chamber of the liquid-ring vacuum pump
(12) containing, in use, the operative liquid and configured to recirculate the operative liquid along the operative liquid circuit (13) and through the heat exchanger (14) so that the operative liquid is put in direct thermal connection with the pourable product .
6.- The filling machine as claimed in claim 5, and comprising a control unit (18) and a temperature sensor (21) operatively connected to the control unit (18) and configured to detect a temperature of the pourable product ; wherein the control unit (18) is configured to stop said recirculation pump (15) if the temperature of the pourable product detected by the sensor (21) is, in use, above a pourable product predetermined threshold value.
7.- The filling machine as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the operative liquid circuit (13) comprises :
- a delivery duct (13a) arranged downstream of the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) and upstream of the heat exchanger (14) , relative to the flow direction of the operative liquid within the operative liquid circuit
(13) , and configured to convey the operative liquid away from the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) and to the heat exchanger (14) ; and
- an intake duct (13b) arranged downstream of the heat exchanger (14) and upstream of the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) , relative to the flow direction of the operative liquid within the operative liquid circuit (13) , and configured to convey the operative liquid away from the heat exchanger (14) and to the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) .
8.- The filling machine as claimed in claims 5 and 7, wherein the recirculation pump (15) is arranged at the intake duct (13b) .
9.- The filling machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, and comprising a control unit (18) and a temperature sensor (19) operatively connected to the control unit (18) and configured to detect a temperature of the operative liquid; wherein the operative liquid circuit (13) comprises a dedicated inlet (20) activatable by the control unit (18) and fluidly connectable to an operative liquid source for selectively feeding operative liquid into the operative liquid circuit (13) ; and wherein the control unit (18) is configured to activate said dedicated inlet (20) if the temperature of the operative liquid detected by the sensor (19) is, in use, above an operative liquid predetermined threshold value .
10.- The filling machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said heat exchanger (14) comprises at least one tubular heat exchanger.
11.- The filling machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tubular heat exchanger (14) comprises:
- an outer tube (14a) fluidly connected with the product circuit (5) and configured to house the pourable product; and
- a plurality of inner tubes (14b) housed within the outer tube (14a) , fluidly connected to the operative liquid circuit (13) and configured to house the operative liquid .
12.- The filling machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the pourable product is an oxygen-sensitive pourable product, in particular beer.
13.- Method for filling containers (2) with a pourable product, the method comprising the steps of: a) conveying a succession of containers (2) to be filled along an advancement path; b) conveying the pourable product along a product circuit (5) and to a plurality of filling devices (4) ; c) filling each container (2) with the pourable product conveyed by the product circuit (5) by means of a respective filling device (4) ; d) extracting oxygen from each container (2) , by means of a liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) having an operative liquid for the functioning thereof, prior to the filling of each container (2) with the pourable product ; e) recirculating the operative liquid along an operative liquid circuit (13) away from and towards the liquid-ring vacuum pump (12) ; f) thermally interfacing the operative liquid circuit (13) and the product circuit (5) directly with one another; and g) by means of said interfacing, exchanging heat directly between the operative liquid and the pourable product .
14.- Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step f) is carried out without interposition of any fluid heat exchange medium between the operative liquid and the pourable product .
15.- Method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, and further comprising the steps of: h) detecting the temperature of the operative liquid; and i) feeding operative liquid into the operative liquid circuit (13) if the temperature detected at step h) is above an operative liquid predetermined threshold value; and/or further comprising the steps of: j) detecting the temperature of the pourable product; and k) stopping the recirculation of the operative liquid if the temperature detected at step j) is above a pourable product predetermined threshold value.
PCT/EP2021/051047 2021-01-19 2021-01-19 Filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product and method WO2022156881A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

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PCT/EP2021/051047 WO2022156881A1 (en) 2021-01-19 2021-01-19 Filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product and method
EP21701436.4A EP4281404A1 (en) 2021-01-19 2021-01-19 Filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product and method

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2021/051047 WO2022156881A1 (en) 2021-01-19 2021-01-19 Filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product and method

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29605261U1 (en) * 1996-03-21 1996-05-30 KRONES AG, 93073 Neutraubling Filling machine
DE102010033169A1 (en) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-09 Khs Gmbh Method and plant for filling containers with a liquid product

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29605261U1 (en) * 1996-03-21 1996-05-30 KRONES AG, 93073 Neutraubling Filling machine
DE102010033169A1 (en) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-09 Khs Gmbh Method and plant for filling containers with a liquid product

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