WO2024251353A1

WO2024251353A1 - Rotative collector for a filling machine

Info

Publication number: WO2024251353A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/065117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simone Campi; Giovanni MALPELI
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2023-06-06
Filing date: 2023-06-06
Publication date: 2024-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-06

Abstract

A multi-functional collector (11) is provided, which is configured for establishing with a low mechanical complexity the interface between the return circuit (6), the rotative fluid distributor (9), and the rotative electrical coupling (10).

Description

MULTI FUNCTION ROTATIVE COLLECTOR FOR A CAN FILLING MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rotative collector for a can filling machine, which is configured for interfacing with a fluid return circuit, a rotative fluid distributor and a rotative electrical or electropneumatic rotative coupling. BACKGROUND ART In the field of packaging of pourable products by means of containers, it is known to use a rotative filling machine for filling the containers with the pourable product. The filling machine comprises a rotative carousel supporting a plurality of filling valves. The product can be fed to the filling valves by means of a chamber integral with the rotation of the carousel. This chamber can be defined by an annular chamber, or by a tank. If the chamber is annular, there is a tank which is external with respect to the carousel and which delivers the product to the annular chamber. If the chamber is defined by a tank, this tank is positioned on the rotational axis of the carousel. The size of the filling machine can vary, and usually the smaller is the filling machine, the better is to use a central tank. It is known the need also of conveying processing fluids from the filling valves to a not rotative part of the machine, and the need of keeping in position electrical and/or pneumatic cables for the electrical or pneumatic feeding of components of the filling valves. The smaller is the machine, the higher the risk of dirtying and damaging the cables. Moreover, the technical needs mentioned above requires a lot of components which can make very difficult the access by operators to various parts of the machine. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION A collector according to present description or according to any of the appended collector claims, allows to improve cleanliness of the machine, accessibility of the machine, and level of protection of electrical and/or pneumatic cables. A filling machine according to present description or according to any of the appended machine claims, comprises a collector according to present description or according to any of the appended collector claims. The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention will be referred to a possible example embodiment of a collector according to present description and a possible example embodiment of a filling machine according to present description. In the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention, the example embodiment of the collector will be defined for the sake of convenience as “collector”. In the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention, the example embodiment of the filling machine will be defined for the sake of convenience as “machine”. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following detailed description will be referred to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view from above of the machine; Figure 2 is a lateral schematic view of the machine, in a first configuration; Figure 3 is a lateral schematic view of the machine, in a second configuration; Figure 4 shows a detail of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a detail of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a schematic lateral view of a structural interface belonging to the collector, along a longitudinal section; Figure 7 is a view of the rotative part of a fluid distributor belonging to the collector, along a longitudinal section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The machine 1 is configured for automatic filling of containers with a pourable product. The containers may be for example bottles or cans or flacons or jars or kegs. The bottles may be for example plastic bottles or glass bottles. The pourable product may be a pourable food product. The product may be sparkling water, a soft drink, beer, natural water, fruit juice, wine, tea, milk, flavored water, an emulsion, a suspension, a high viscosity liquid, or a drink containing pulp and/or solid pieces. The product may alternatively be a product for home and personal care. The machine 1 comprises a plurality of filling valves 2 for filling containers with the pourable product. The machine comprises a rotative carousel 3 having a rotational axis X. The axis X is orthogonal to the plane of Figure 1 and parallel to the plane of the other figures. The carousel 3 comprises an upper frame 31 for supporting the valves 2 and a lower frame 32 for supporting the containers. The upper frame 31 is visible from above in Figure 1. The upper frame 31 and the lower frame 32 are visible laterally on Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. The machine 1 is configured for being mounted on a floor 200, so that said axis X is vertical and the upper frame 31 is above the lower frame 32, with respect to a vertical direction. The vertical direction may correspond to direction of gravity, so that the upper frame 31 is at a vertical height which is bigger than the vertical height of the lower frame 32, with respect to the floor 200. As will be more clear in the following, the vertical distance between the upper frame 31 and the lower frame 32 can be varied so that the machine can adapt to the format and in particular to the height of the containers to be filled. The machine comprises a flexible separation element 7. The separation element 7 is preferably a bellows. The separation element 7 may be a sealing element. The sealing element is preferably a bellows. The machine 1 comprises a central product tank 5 which is rotationally integral with the carousel 3. The central tank 5 is positioned along the axis X of the carousel 3. The machine 1 comprises a feeding circuit 4 for feeding the product from the tank 5 to the filling valves 2. The machine 1 comprises a return circuit 6 for conveying at least one processing fluid from the filling valves 2. The at least one processing fluid may comprise a cleaning fluid or a sterilizing fluid, or a fluid evacuated from the container during the filling, or a fluid coming from the container during a depressurization step. The machine comprises a collector 11. The collector 11 comprises a structural cylindrical interface 8. The interface 8 comprises, along the longitudinal extension of the interface 8, a first section 81, a second section 82, a third section 83 and a fourth section 84. The longitudinal extension of the interface 8 corresponds to the axial direction which is parallel to the axis X of the carousel 3, which axis X is parallel to the vertical direction. The interface 8 is axially and/or vertically movable through the lower frame 32 and with respect to the lower frame 32, to adapt the machine to different formats of containers. The first longitudinal section 81 is fixed to the upper frame 31, so that the interface 8 is integral with the rotation of the carousel 3. The first longitudinal section 81 may correspond to a first longitudinal end of the interface 8. The collector 11 comprises a rotative fluid distributor 9. The rotative fluid distributor 9 comprises a static part 92 of the rotative fluid distributor 9 and a rotative part 91 of the rotative fluid distributor 9. The at least one processing fluid is channeled through the return circuit 6, the interface 8, the fluid distributor 9 and at least one flexible pipe T which is in turn connected to a first static part A of the machine 1. The first static part A may be for example a reservoir. The second longitudinal section 82 is fixed to the rotative part 91 of the fluid distributor 9, so that the rotative part 91 of the fluid distributor 9 is integral with the rotation of the carousel 3. The second longitudinal section 82 may correspond to a second longitudinal end of the interface 8, which is opposite to said first longitudinal end of the interface 8. The third longitudinal section 83 is fixed to the flexible separation element 7. The third section 83 is longitudinally interposed between the first section 81 and the second section 82. The flexible separation element 7 is mechanically interposed between the lower frame 32 and the third section 83. The separation element 7 is movable thanks to the flexibility of the separation element 7, to follow the longitudinal axial movement of the interface 8 through said lower frame 32 and with respect to said lower frame 32. The axial movement of the interface 8 is used when there is a need of changing the format of the containers, and in particular the height of the containers. In Figures 2 and 3 the containers are cans. In Figure 2, the machine 1 adopts a first configuration for filling cans of a first format, which are indicated with L1. In Figure 3, the machine 1 adopts a second configuration for filling cans of a second format, which are indicated with L2. The cans of the second format L2 are higher than the cans of the first format L1. The axial movement of the interface 8 corresponds to a variation of the axial or vertical distance between the lower frame 32 supporting the cans and the upper frame 31 supporting the filling valves 2, so that the machine can be adapted to the new format. Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a detail of Figure 3. The central tank 5 is fixed to the upper frame 31 on the opposite side of the upper frame 31 with respect to the lower frame 32. The central tank 5 is fixed to the upper frame 31 on the opposite side of the upper frame 31 with respect to the interface 8. The axial movement of the interface 8 through the lower frame 32 and with respect to the lower frame 32 corresponds to an axial movement also of the upper frame 31 and of the tank 5 with respect to the lower frame 32. The lower frame 32 may be fixed with respect to the floor 200. The interface 8 comprises a first tube 8a and a second tube 8b, which are coaxial to each other. The second tube 8b is located in the first tube 8a. The first tube 8a and the second tube 8b are shown in Figure 6 along a longitudinal cross section of the interface 8. Between the first tube 8a and the second tube 8b a radial gap 8c is defined. The fourth longitudinal section 84 is connected with the return circuit 6. The connection between the fourth section 84 and said circuit 6 corresponds to the fluid communication between the return circuit 6 and the radial gap 8c between the first tube 8a and the second tube 8b. The fluid communication between the circuit 6 and the radial gap 8c is shown in Figure 6, in which arrows Z indicate the conveying path of the at least one processing fluid. The second tube 8b is configured for the passages of electrical cables F which can be connected to a rotative electrical coupling 10. The cables F are shown in Figure 6. The cables F are also shown in Figures 2 and 3. The part of the cables F which is visible in Figures 2 and 3 is the part located outside of the interface 8. The cables are guided and/or kept in position by means of the interface 8 and the electrical coupling 10. The cables F may be connected to a second static part B of the machine 1. A space S between said lower frame 32 and said upper frame 31 is at least partially delimited by said separation element 7. The circuit 6 is located in said space S. The space S is visible more in detail in Figures 4 and 5. The axial movement of the interface 8 with respect to the lower frame 32 produces a variation of the axial or vertical distance between the lower frame 32 and the upper frame 31, and therefore a variation of the axial or vertical extension of the space S, so that the machine 1 is adapted to the format and in particular to the height of the containers to be filled. The separation element 7 is fixed at a respective first end 71 to said third section 83, and at a respective second end 72, which is opposite to said first end 71 of the separation element 7, to said lower frame 32. The longitudinal height along the interface 8 corresponds to a vertical height or axial height with respect to the axis X of the carousel 3. The upper frame 31 is fixed to the interface 8 at the longitudinal height of the first section 81. The rotative part 91 of the fluid distributor 9 is fixed to the interface 8 at the longitudinal height of the second section 82. The flexible separation element 7 is connected to the interface 8 at the longitudinal height of the third section 83. The return circuit 6 is connected to the interface 8 at the longitudinal height of the fourth section 84. The positioning of the cables F in the lower part of the machine 1 allows to use a tank 5 located on the opposite side of the upper frame 31 with respect to the lower frame 32, with the possibility of moving the interface 8 together with the upper frame 31 and the tank 5. The flexible separation element 7, following the axial movement of the interface, ensures an optimal protection of the cables F from the contact with possible substances which can damage or ruin or spoil the cables F. In particular, the effect of protection of the bellows 7 is exerted on the part of the cables F which remains located outside the interface 8. Therefore a filling machine is provided which is configured for having a central tank, with an improved cleanliness and/or an optimal protection of the electrical cables F which are used for electrically feeding the rotating components of the machine 1. The fourth section 84 is longitudinally interposed between the third section 83 and the first section 81. In this way, the fluid communication between the gap 8c and the return circuit 6 is located above the connection between the third section 83 and the separation element 7, so that the separation element 7 can have a protective effect against all the branches of the return circuit 6. In fact, the return circuit 6 may comprise a respective branch for each filling valve 2. In the figures, reference 6 is used to indicate each branch of the return circuit 6. Therefore, a save in material is obtained, because a single central separation element 7 can be used to protect all the objects or parts of objects that are located below the bellows 7 and are outside the interface 8. This leads also to simplification of the mechanical complexity. At least one further return circuit 6 may be present for conveying another processing fluid. In this case, the interface 8 may comprise at least one further tube which contains the other tubes of the interface 8 and is coaxial to each of them. In this case, at least one respective further radial gap is defined between this further tube and the first tube 8a. In this case, this further return circuit is connected to the interface at a fifth section which is longitudinally interposed between the third section 83 and the fourth section 84, and the connection between the interface 8 and the further return circuit corresponds to the fluid communication between the further return circuit and the further radial gap. The rotative electrical coupling 10 comprises a respective rotative part 101 and a respective static part 102. The rotative part 101 of the coupling 10 is fixed to the rotative part 91 of the fluid distributor 9, to be integral with the rotation of the carousel 3. In this way the mechanical complexity of the lower part of the machine is reduced. The electrical coupling corresponds to an electrical union for guiding the cables F between the interface 8 and the second static part of the machine B. The second static part B may be for example an electrical source. The rotative part 91 of the fluid distributor 7 presents an opening 911 in communication with the second tube 8b, for the passage of cables F. the opening is shown in Figure 7. The rotative coupling 10 can be an electro- pneumatical rotative coupling. In this case the second tube 8b is configured for the passage also of pneumatical ducts. In this case, the group of cables F comprises both electric and pneumatical cables. In general, cables F can be considered a cabling which can be for example an electrical cabling or an electrical and pneumatic cabling. A multi-functional collector 11 is provided, which is configured for establishing with a low mechanical complexity the interface between the return circuit 6, the rotative fluid distributor 9, and the rotative electrical coupling.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Rotative collector for a rotative filling machine (1), the machine (1) comprising a rotative carousel (3) and a plurality of filling valves (2) which are mounted on the carousel (3) for filling containers (L1; L2) with a pourable product, the collector (11) comprising a cylindrical structural interface (8) having a longitudinal extension; wherein the interface (8) comprises, along the longitudinal extension: a first longitudinal section (81) configured for being fixed to an upper frame (31) of the carousel (3); a second longitudinal section (82) configured for being fixed to the rotative part (91) of a rotative fluid distributor (9); a third longitudinal section (83) which is longitudinally interposed between the first section (81) and the second section (82) and is configured for being fixed to a flexible separation element (7), the flexible separation element (7) being configured for being mechanically interposed between a lower frame (32) of said carousel (3) and said third section (83), to follow a longitudinal movement of the interface (8) through said lower frame (32) and with respect to said lower frame (32), said lower frame (32) being configured for supporting the containers (L1; L2) and the upper frame (31) being configured for supporting the valves (2); a fourth longitudinal section (84) which is longitudinally interposed between the third section (83) and the first section (81), and which is configured for being connected with a return circuit (6) which is configured for conveying at least one processing fluid from the filling valves (2). 2. Collector (11) according to claim 1, wherein the interface (8) comprises: a first tube (8a) and a second tube (8b), which are coaxial to each other, the second tube (8b) being located in the first tube (8a) to define a radial gap (8c) between them, wherein: the connection of the fourth section (84) with said circuit (6) corresponds to the fluid communication between said circuit (6) and the radial gap (8c); the second tube (8b) is configured for the passages of electrical cables (F) which can be connected to a rotative electrical coupling (10). 3. Collector (11) according to Claim 2, comprising said fluid distributor (9), which comprises said rotative part (91) and a static part (92) of the fluid distributor (9); said electrical coupling (10), which comprises a respective rotative part (101) which is fixed to the rotative part (91) of the fluid distributor (9), and a static part (102) of the coupling (10). 4. Filling machine (1) for filling containers (L1; L2) with a pourable product, comprising: - a plurality of filling valves (2) for filling containers with the pourable product; - a rotative carousel (3) having a rotational axis (X), and comprising an upper frame (31) for supporting the valves (2) and a lower frame (32) for supporting the containers (L1; L2); - a flexible separation element (7); - a return circuit (6) for conveying at least one processing fluid from the filling valves (2); - a collector (11) according to Claim 3 or 4; wherein: the longitudinal extension of the interface (8) corresponds to the axial direction along the axis of the carousel (3); the interface is axially movable through the lower frame (32) and with respect to the lower frame (32); the upper frame (31) is fixed to the interface (8) at the longitudinal height of the first section (81), so that the interface (8) is integral with the rotation of the carousel (3); the rotative part (91) of the fluid distributor (9) is connected to the interface (8) at the longitudinal heigh of the second section (82), so that the rotative part (91) is integral with the rotation of the carousel (3); the flexible separation element (7) is connected to the interface (8) at the longitudinal height of the third section (83), the flexible separation element (7) being mechanically interposed between the lower frame (32) and said third section (83), to follow the longitudinal axial movement of the interface (8) through said lower frame (32) and with respect to said lower frame (32); said return circuit (6) is connected to the interface (8) at the longitudinal height of the fourth section (84), with said radial gap (8c) being in fluid communication with said circuit (6). 5. Machine (1) according to Claim 4, configured for being mounted on a floor (200), so that said axis (X) is vertical and the upper frame (32) is above the lower frame (31). 6. Machine according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein a space (S) between said lower frame (32) and said upper frame (31) is at least partially delimited by said separation element (7), and said circuit (6) is located in said space (S). 7. Machine according to any of Claims from 4 to 6, comprising a central product tank (5) which is rotationally integral with the carousel (3) and is fixed to the upper frame (32) on the opposite side of the upper frame (32) with respect to the interface (8), said central tank (5) being positioned along the axis (X) of the carousel (3). 8. Machine according to any of claims from 4 to 7, wherein the separation element (7) is fixed at a first end (71) to said third section (83) and at a second end (72), which is opposite to said first end (71), to said lower frame (32). 9. Machine according to any of claims from 4 to 8, wherein said circuit (6) comprise a respective branch for each filling valve (2). 10. Machine (1) according to any of Claims from 4 to 9, wherein the separation element is a bellows or is preferably a sealing element, for example a bellows.