WO2024069214A1 - Unité de remplissage pour produits gazeux, avec rinçage à l'aide d'un fluide de gazéification récupéré pendant la dépressurisation - Google Patents

Unité de remplissage pour produits gazeux, avec rinçage à l'aide d'un fluide de gazéification récupéré pendant la dépressurisation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024069214A1
WO2024069214A1 PCT/IB2022/059326 IB2022059326W WO2024069214A1 WO 2024069214 A1 WO2024069214 A1 WO 2024069214A1 IB 2022059326 W IB2022059326 W IB 2022059326W WO 2024069214 A1 WO2024069214 A1 WO 2024069214A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
flushing
container
depressurization
chamber
circuit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2022/059326
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Massimo Ceci
Tommaso Tegoni
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/IB2022/059326 priority Critical patent/WO2024069214A1/fr
Publication of WO2024069214A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024069214A1/fr

Links

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
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • B67C3/10—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure preliminary filling with inert gases, e.g. carbon dioxide
    • 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
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
    • B67C3/2617—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a filling unit for filling a container with a carbonated pourable product, a packaging facility comprising the filling unit and a related filling method.
  • the present invention is advantageously (but not exclusively) for use for containers including a bottle or a can.
  • the present invention is advantageously (but not exclusively) for use in packaging facilities in the food industry.
  • the present invention is advantageously (but not exclusively) for use for carbonated pourable products such as sparkling water, non-alcoholic beverages and beer.
  • filling units In the field of packaging of carbonated pourable products, filling units typically carry out a pressurization step, a step of supplying the product into the container, and a step of depressurization of the container. In the case of products in which oxygen can have a negative effect on quality, the filling unit also carries out a flushing step prior to the pressurization step.
  • a filling unit according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached unit claims makes it possible to reduce the consumption of flushing fluid.
  • a filling machine according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached machine claims comprises a filling unit according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached unit claims.
  • a filling unit according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached unit claims is configured to perform a filling method according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached method claims.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of the filling unit, in which the filling valve of the filling unit is placed in a closed configuration.
  • the numeral 1 designates as a whole a filling unit configured to sequentially fill a plurality of containers (one of which is shown partially and schematically in the attached figure) with a carbonated pourable product at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.
  • the product is carbonated using a carbonation fluid, which comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.
  • the container 2 shown in the figure is an example of a container forming part of said plurality of containers.
  • the other containers which are filled by the filling unit may be substantially identical to the container 2.
  • the container 2 is made of plastic, glass or metal.
  • the container 2 may be a bottle made of plastic, for example PET, or glass.
  • the container 2 may be a can.
  • the pourable product is a liquid with the addition of pressurized gas and may be for example sparkling water, a non-alcoholic beverage or beer.
  • each of the pressurization fluid and the flushing fluid is a gas. It may be that the flushing fluid corresponds to the pressurization fluid, in the sense that the pressurization fluid and the flushing fluid both comprise the same type of substance.
  • the pressurization fluid is carbon dioxide in the gaseous state. It may be that the flushing fluid is carbon dioxide in the gaseous state, and the pressurization fluid is carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.
  • the filling unit 1 comprises a pressurization circuit 3, a flushing circuit 4, a supply circuit 5 and a depressurization circuit 6.
  • the flushing circuit 4 is configured to flush the container so as to remove at least oxygen.
  • the pressurization circuit 3 is configured to pressurize the container after flushing.
  • the supply circuit 5 is configured to supply the pourable product into the container 2 after pressurization.
  • the depressurization circuit 6 is configured to depressurize the container 2 after supply.
  • the depressurization step comprises at least a first depressurization substep.
  • the depressurization circuit comprises a first depressurization chamber 15 for recovering the fluid exiting the container during at least said first depressurization substep.
  • the first chamber 15 is in fluidic communication with the flushing circuit 4, in such a way that the fluid recovered may be used as flushing fluid for flushing the next container. The consumption of flushing fluid is thus reduced, since the fluid recovered during the depressurization step is at least partially reused for the step of flushing the next container to be filled.
  • the supply circuit 5 is configured to supply the product into the container by causing it to exit through an outlet 20.
  • the supply circuit 5 comprises a shut-off member 19 which can move inside a flow channel 21 between at least an open position and a closed position.
  • the outlet 20 is located downstream of said shut-off member, with respect to the direction of supply. Therefore, this outlet is downstream of the shut-off member both in the open position and in the closed position.
  • the outlet 20 is located downstream of the flow channel 21 with respect to the supply.
  • the unit comprises a body having a first end ED which is operationally distal from the container and a second end EP which is operationally proximal to the container 2.
  • the flow channel extends longitudinally in a direction from the first end ED toward the second end EP. Supply takes place in said direction.
  • the outlet 20 is located at said second end EP.
  • the depressurization circuit 6 comprises a first depressurization valve 10 which is operationally interposed between the outlet 20 and the first chamber 15.
  • the unit 1 is configured to keep the first chamber 15 at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. This facilitates intake of the fluid recovered into the next container, for flushing the latter.
  • the unit 1 comprises a recovery duct 16 which places the first chamber 15 in fluidic communication with the flushing circuit 4.
  • the fluid recovered during the first depressurization substep may thus be sent to the flushing circuit 4 after being duly retrieved from the first chamber 15, reducing potential interference from the flushing circuit 4 in the depressurization step.
  • the flushing circuit 4 comprises a flushing valve 8.
  • the recovery duct 16 is operationally interposed between said first chamber 15 and said flushing valve 8.
  • the flushing valve 8 may thus be used to accurately regulate the entry of the fluid recovered into the flushing circuit 4.
  • the depressurization circuit 6 comprises a second depressurization chamber 14 for receiving the fluid exiting the container during at least a second depressurization substep.
  • the depressurization step comprises the first depressurization substep and this second depressurization substep.
  • the depressurization step may alternatively also include only the first substep.
  • the depressurization circuit 6 comprises a second depressurization valve 11, which is operationally interposed between the outlet 20 and the second chamber 14.
  • the unit 1 is configured to keep the first chamber 15 at a pressure above the pressure in the second chamber 14.
  • the first chamber 15 may be at a relative pressure of 0.5 bar with respect to atmospheric pressure.
  • the second chamber 14 may be at a vacuum pressure.
  • the pressurization circuit 3 comprises a pressurization chamber 17.
  • the unit 1 is configured to keep this pressurization chamber at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, in such a way that the pressurization fluid enters the container at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
  • the unit is configured to keep that first chamber 15 at a pressure below the pressure in the pressurization chamber 17.
  • the filling machine is configured to fill containers with a pourable product, and comprises a plurality of filling units 1. These filling units share at least the same first chamber 15, in the sense that this first chamber 15 may be used by all of the units of this plurality.
  • Each unit comprises a recovery duct different to the recovery duct of the other units and a flushing valve 8 different to the flushing valves of the other units.
  • the distribution of the fluid recovered may be more uniform. Therefore, the overall recovery operation carried out by all of the units of the machine is optimized.
  • the filling method is for sequentially filling a plurality of containers with a carbonated pourable product.
  • the method comprises, for each container: flushing the container so as to remove oxygen from the container; pressurizing the container after flushing; supplying the pourable product into the container 2 after pressurization; and depressurizing the container 2 after supply; recovering the fluid exiting the container during depressurization; using the fluid recovered as flushing fluid during flushing of the next container.
  • the fluid recovered may include the carbonation fluid and/or the pressurization fluid.
  • the carbonation fluid, contained in the pourable product, is in the gaseous state.
  • the carbonation fluid, contained in the pourable product comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.
  • Each of the flushing fluid and the pressurization fluid is in the gaseous state.
  • Each of the flushing fluid and the pressurization fluid comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.
  • Each of the flushing fluid, the pressurization fluid and the carbonation fluid comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.
  • This method is particularly applicable in the case where the product is beer, since beer requires an efficient flushing step to remove oxygen and improve the quality of the packaged product.
  • the method is particularly applicable in the case where the containers are glass bottles.
  • the unit is configured to carry out the method.
  • the depressurization circuit 6 comprises a first branch 12 which places the first depressurization valve 10 in fluidic communication with the first depressurization chamber 15.
  • the depressurization circuit 6 comprises a second branch 13 which places the second depressurization valve 11 in fluidic communication with the second depressurization chamber 14.
  • the machine comprises a tank 18 for holding the product.
  • the supply circuit 5 is in communication with the tank 18.
  • the pressurization circuit 3 comprises a pressurization valve 7.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une unité de remplissage (1) pour remplir séquentiellement une pluralité de contenants avec un produit fluide gazeux. L'unité de remplissage (1) comprend : un circuit de rinçage (4) pour rincer le contenant de manière à éliminer au moins l'oxygène ; un circuit de pressurisation (3) pour pressuriser le contenant après le rinçage ; un circuit d'alimentation (5) conçu pour introduire le produit fluide dans le contenant (2) après la pressurisation ; et un circuit de dépressurisation (6) conçu pour dépressuriser le contenant (2) après l'introduction au moyen d'au moins une première sous-étape de dépressurisation ; le circuit de dépressurisation comprenant une première chambre de dépressurisation (15) pour récupérer le liquide sortant du contenant pendant au moins ladite première sous-étape de dépressurisation, ladite première chambre (15) étant en communication fluidique avec le circuit de rinçage (4), de telle sorte que le fluide récupéré puisse être utilisé comme fluide de rinçage pour rincer le contenant suivant.
PCT/IB2022/059326 2022-09-30 2022-09-30 Unité de remplissage pour produits gazeux, avec rinçage à l'aide d'un fluide de gazéification récupéré pendant la dépressurisation WO2024069214A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2022/059326 WO2024069214A1 (fr) 2022-09-30 2022-09-30 Unité de remplissage pour produits gazeux, avec rinçage à l'aide d'un fluide de gazéification récupéré pendant la dépressurisation

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2022/059326 WO2024069214A1 (fr) 2022-09-30 2022-09-30 Unité de remplissage pour produits gazeux, avec rinçage à l'aide d'un fluide de gazéification récupéré pendant la dépressurisation

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024069214A1 true WO2024069214A1 (fr) 2024-04-04

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2022/059326 WO2024069214A1 (fr) 2022-09-30 2022-09-30 Unité de remplissage pour produits gazeux, avec rinçage à l'aide d'un fluide de gazéification récupéré pendant la dépressurisation

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2024069214A1 (fr)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0697369A1 (fr) * 1994-08-20 1996-02-21 KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft Procédé pour remplir des bouteilles ou analogues au moyen d'un liquide
WO2008101572A1 (fr) * 2007-02-23 2008-08-28 Khs Ag Procédé pour remplir des bouteilles ou récipients similaires d'un produit liquide par contre-pression, et machine de remplissage pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé
WO2014139547A1 (fr) * 2013-03-14 2014-09-18 Khs Gmbh Procédé et système de remplissage pour remplir des contenants
WO2015028249A1 (fr) * 2013-08-30 2015-03-05 Khs Gmbh Procédé et système de remplissage de récipients
WO2017025289A1 (fr) * 2015-08-13 2017-02-16 Khs Gmbh Procédé de remplissage de contenants avec un produit de remplissage liquide
EP3473587A1 (fr) * 2017-10-06 2019-04-24 Krones Ag Dispositif et procédé de remplissage d'un récipient à remplir d'un produit de remplissage

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0697369A1 (fr) * 1994-08-20 1996-02-21 KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft Procédé pour remplir des bouteilles ou analogues au moyen d'un liquide
WO2008101572A1 (fr) * 2007-02-23 2008-08-28 Khs Ag Procédé pour remplir des bouteilles ou récipients similaires d'un produit liquide par contre-pression, et machine de remplissage pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé
WO2014139547A1 (fr) * 2013-03-14 2014-09-18 Khs Gmbh Procédé et système de remplissage pour remplir des contenants
WO2015028249A1 (fr) * 2013-08-30 2015-03-05 Khs Gmbh Procédé et système de remplissage de récipients
WO2017025289A1 (fr) * 2015-08-13 2017-02-16 Khs Gmbh Procédé de remplissage de contenants avec un produit de remplissage liquide
EP3473587A1 (fr) * 2017-10-06 2019-04-24 Krones Ag Dispositif et procédé de remplissage d'un récipient à remplir d'un produit de remplissage

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