EP2580154A1

EP2580154A1 - Filling element and filling machine for filling bottles or similar containers

Info

Publication number: EP2580154A1
Application number: EP11713706.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath; Manfred Härtel
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2010-06-08
Filing date: 2011-04-08
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2031-04-08
Also published as: EP2580154B1; SI2580154T1; PL2580154T3; WO2011154068A1; DE102010022985A1; US20130037168A1; US8776839B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling element for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid bulk material, having a fluid channel (7) formed in a filling element housing (6) and having a connector (8) for feeding the bulk material into the fluid channel (7) and having at least one discharge opening (10) for discharging the liquid bulk material into each container (2) provided in a sealed position at the filling element, having a fluid valve (9) within the fluid channel (7) between the connector (8) and the at least one discharge opening (10), having an actuator (14) for opening and closing the fluid channel (9) in a controlled manner, having a controlled gas path (17, 15, 23, 24, 25, 18.1) for preloading the interior of each container (2) present in a sealed position at the filling element (3, 3a) with a pressure gas, preferably in the form of a pressurized inert gas, and for returning a return gas flow displaced out of the container (2) present in the sealed position at the filling element (3, 3a) when filling.

Description

FILLING ELEMENT AND FILLING MACHINE FOR FILLING BOTTLES OR THE SAME CONTAINERS

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 11.

Filling elements and filling machines for filling bottles or similar containers, in particular for pressure filling are known in various designs.

For the purposes of the invention, "pressure fillers" are generally to be understood as meaning a filling process in which the container to be filled, with its container mouth sealingly against the filling element, is filled with a pressurized clamping gas before the actual filling phase, that is before the liquid valve is opened

(Inert gas or C02 gas) is biased, which then during filling of the inflowing to the container contents increasingly as return gas from the

Container interior is displaced.

In sealing position with the filling element befindlicher container means in the sense of

Invention, that in each case to be filled container in the manner known to those skilled with its container mouth tightly against the filling element or to a local there, the at least one dispensing opening surrounding gasket pressed.

The feeding of the clamping gas into the respective container and the discharge of the return gas from the respective container take place in known filling elements via one and the same formed in the filling element controlled gas path, ie via a gas path in which a control valve is arranged. This is then, for example Part of a pneumatic control valve assembly and is at least one electrically controllable switching valve of a machine control of

Controlled filling machine. Et al To increase the performance of a filling machine (number of filled containers per unit time) with still gentle filling of the container, it would make sense that the effective flow cross-section of the gas path for the clamping gas is greater than the effective flow cross-section of the gas path for the return gas, there on the one hand the time (Cycle time) for biasing reduced and on the other hand, an optimal for a gentle filling filling speed can be achieved. Under "effective flow cross-section" in the context of the invention is the one

Flow cross-section is understood, the respective gas path has a total and which is essentially determined by the section (gas path section) of the gas path with the smallest cross-section.

This requirement for a larger effective flow area for the clamping gas and after a reduced effective

Flow cross-section for the return gas can not be met with a single control valve in the common gas path for the clamping gas and the return gas.

Rather, this would require at least two control valves with associated electrical switching valve, which would mean a considerable structural and in particular a considerable switching and control engineering effort.

The object of the invention is to show a filling element, which at a low additional design cost different flow cross sections for the Clamping gas and the return gas allows, without additional circuitry and control engineering effort. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A filling machine is the subject of claim 11.

A special feature of the invention is generally that in the example also branched common gas path for the clamping gas and the return gas, a switching valve is provided, which in a first switching state, a first effective flow cross section, for example, the larger effective

Flow cross-section of the gas path for the span gas, and in a second

Switching state a second compared to the first reduced effective

Flow cross-section of the gas path, for example, causes the return gas. The switching valve is thereby drivingly or mechanically, preferably connected via a valve stem of the liquid valve or a valve or gas pipe by the actuator of the liquid valve and has the first switching state, for example, when the liquid valve and the second switching state, for example, when the liquid valve is open. The switching valve can be realized in a relatively simple manner while maintaining the valued construction of the filling element.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination in principle subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their Dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 in a simplified representation of a filling system according to the invention, together with a raised to the filling element of this system in sealing position bottle in partial view;

2 and 3 are enlarged schematic partial views of a gas space and a switching valve formed there of the filling element of Figure 1 in two different versions of this valve.

Fig. 4 in a simplified representation of a filling system according to the invention, together with a raised to the filling element of this system in sealing position bottle in partial view in a further embodiment of the invention;

5 shows an enlarged schematic partial representation of a gas space and a switching valve formed there of the filling element of Figure 4.

The generally designated 1 in Figure 1 filling system is part of a filling machine of rotating design for filling a liquid filling in bottles 2 or the like container. For this purpose, the filling system 1 consists inter alia of filling elements 3, of which only one filling element 3 is shown in FIG. 1 and which are provided at uniform angular intervals on the circumference of a rotor 4 of the filling machine that can be driven peripherally about a vertical machine axis. At the only partially illustrated rotor 4 is a common for all filling elements 3 Boiler 5, which is designed for example as a ring boiler and during the filling operation to a predetermined level N level-controlled part-filled with the contents. In the boiler 5, an upper gas space 6.1 and a lower liquid space 6.2 are thus formed during the filling operation. Does the filling system 1 for

Pressure filling of the liquid filling material in the container or bottles 2, the gas space 5.1 pressure controlled with a pressurized inert gas (C02 gas) is applied. The liquid product is fed to the boiler 5 controlled by a supply line, not shown.

In a housing 6 of the filling element 3 u.a. a liquid channel 7 is formed, which communicates via a line 8 with the liquid chamber 5.2 of the boiler 5 in connection. In the liquid channel 7, a liquid valve 9 is provided, specifically for the controlled delivery of the liquid contents via a vertical Füllelementachse FA concentrically enclosing annular discharge opening 10, which is formed on the underside of the filling element 3 of the local, open end of the liquid channel 7. At the discharge opening 10, a centering tulip 11 is provided with seal 12 which surrounds the discharge opening 10 annular and pressed against the respective bottle 2 during filling, especially during pressure filling with its mouth of the bottle 2.1, i. in sealing position.

Essentially, the liquid valve 9 consists of a valve body 9.1 arranged in the liquid channel 7, which is connected to the inner surface of the valve body 9.1

Liquid channel 7 formed valve seat cooperates. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve body 9.1 is at an axis coincident with the

Füllelementachse arranged FA and both endig open valve or gas pipe 13th provided or formed, which also serves as a valve tappet for actuating the liquid valve 9 and for this purpose with an actuating device 14th

cooperates, with which the gas pipe 13 and thus the valve body 9.1 to open and close the liquid valve 9 by a predetermined stroke axially in the Füllelementachse FA are movable (double arrow A).

With the lower, open end, the gas pipe 13 protrudes through the discharge opening 11 through the bottom of the housing 6 and thus extends into the interior of the bottle 2 during filling with this end. With its upper, also open end, the gas pipe 14 extends into a closed gas space 15. 16 is a coaxially arranged with the Füllelementachse FA, the filling level in the respective bottle 2 determining probe referred to, which extends through the gas pipe 13 and protrudes with its lower end from the lower open end of the gas pipe 13. Between the outer surface of the probe 16 and the inner surface of the gas pipe 13, an annular gas channel 17 is formed, which is open at the lower end of the gas pipe 13 and at the upper end of the gas pipe 13 in the manner described in more detail with the gas space 15 in connection.

The gas space 15 formed within the housing 6 is part of a gas passage or gas passage system which includes a plurality of controlled gas paths

Control valves 18.1, 18.2 and 18.3 has. This at the illustrated

Embodiment pneumatically actuated control valves 18.1, 18.2 and 18.3 are part of a control valve assembly 18, which - as known in the art - for controlling different filling process or their process or filling phases, and among other things, by controlled connection of gas paths of Gaswege- or gas duct system with annular channels 19, 20 and 21, which are provided for the filling elements 3 together on the rotor 4 and of which the annular channel 20 via a line 22 to the gas space 5.1 of the boiler. 1 is connected, so that the annular channel 20 also leads the inert gas under pressure.

During pressure filling takes place before the actual filling phase, at least biasing the bottles 2 with the inert gas under pressure, which flows as clamping gas with open control valve 18.2 from the annular channel 20 via the gas space 15 and the gas channel 17 in the sealing layer on the filling element 3 arranged bottle 2 ,

During the subsequent filling phase and in particular during the

Schnellfüllphase with open liquid valve 9, the inert gas, which is displaced from the flowing into the bottle 2 contents from the bottle interior, via the gas channel 17, the Gasrauml5 and the open control valve 18.2 returned to the annular channel 20 as a return gas.

The duration of the biasing of the respective bottle 2 is determined, inter alia, by the effective flow cross section of the gas path over which the span gas passes from the annular channel 20 into the bottle 2. The filling or flow rate at which the liquid filling material flows through the discharge opening 10 during the filling phase and in particular also during the fast filling phase of the respective bottle 2 is determined inter alia by the height of the filling material level N in the vessel 5 and by the effective flow cross section of that gas path. over which the return gas comes back to the annular channel 20. Here, among other things, for the highest possible performance of the filling system (number of filled bottles per unit time) while still gentle Filling the bottles 2 with the liquid product, the requirement that the gas path for biasing the respective bottle 2 with the clamping gas or inert gas from the annular channel 20 has the largest possible effective flow cross-section to achieve short cycle times for biasing, during the gas path for the return gas during the filling phase and in particular also during the

Fast filling phase should have a reduced effective flow area. In order to meet these requirements without an additional control valve of the control valve assembly 18 and without an additional associated constructive and / or switching and / or control engineering effort, u.a. two for biasing and filling or fast filling different gas paths provided to which a single control valve 18.2

is common. For this purpose, the control valve 18.2 on the input side via a gas channel 23 with the annular channel 20 and the output side via a gas channel 24 and via a further parallel gas channel 25 with throttle 26 to the gas space 15th

connected. The different gas paths for the biasing gas and the return gas formed by the gas passages 24 and 25 are actuated by the actuator 14 of the liquid valve 9, i. in the illustrated embodiment, mechanically switched by the gas pipe 13 together with the opening and closing of the liquid valve 9.

In the figure 2, the gas space 15 is shown again in more detail schematically. Shown are in particular also the top of the gas chamber 15 using a seal 27 led out led out probe 16 and the two opening into the gas chamber 15 gas channels 24 and 25, the throttle 26 in the gas channel 25th The upper end of the gas pipe 13 is provided with a circularly surrounding the probe 16 and at a distance annular body 28 with a radially outer wegstehendeem the ring body outer surface on the annular body top flange on which a probe 16 concentrically and at a distance enclosing ring seal 29 is attached. When the liquid valve 9 is closed, that is to say when the gas pipe 13 is lowered, the ring seal 29 is axially fixed relative to the filling element axis FA

opposite inner surface 15.1 of the gas space 15 and the local mouth 24.1 of the gas channel 24 spaced. When the liquid valve 9 is open, the ring seal 29 abuts against the inner surface 15.1 in the region of the mouth 24.1 in a tightly closed manner. The annular body 28 with the seal 29 thus forms in

Cooperation with the mouth 24.1 enclosing inner surface 15.1 a switching valve 30 through which, when the liquid valve 9 is closed, the mouth 24.1 to the gas chamber 15 open and open liquid valve 9 is closed. With closed liquid valve 9 and open control valve 18.2 thus there is a gas path with large during the biasing of the clamping gas

Flow cross-section from the annular channel 20, via the gas channel 24, the gas space 15, the interior of the annular body 28, the (interior) to the gas space 15 via radial openings 31 and an end opening 32 is open, and with the interior of the annular body 28 communicating gas passage 17.

With open liquid valve 9 and open control valve 18.2, ie during filling, especially during fast filling thus exists for the return gas only a gas path with reduced flow cross-section in the annular channel 20, via the gas channel 17, the radial openings 31 in the annular body 28, the Gas space 15 and the gas channel 25 with the throttle 26, which then determines or substantially determines the effective reduced flow cross-section of this gas path.

The illustrated in Figure 2 embodiment of the switching valve 32 has particular advantages for a CIP cleaning of the filling elements 3, since during this cleaning with the liquid valve 9 open through the openings 31, a flow connection with a relatively large cross section between the gas channel 17 and the gas space 15 for the cleaning and / or sterilization medium used. FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment in which that of FIG

Annular body 28a with the ring seal 29a formed in cooperation with the inner surface 15.1 of the gas chamber 15 switching valve 30a with the liquid valve open 9 a connection exclusively between the gas channel 17 and the throttle 26 having gas channel 25, while closed liquid valve 9, the gas channel 17 with the Gas channel 24 is in communication. For this purpose, the mouth 25.1 of the gas channel 25 is designed as an annular, the probe 16 enclosing opening. The gas channel 24 opens into the gas space 15 so that it is constantly connected to the gas space 15, regardless of the state of the valve 30 a. The annular body 28a does not have radial openings in this embodiment.

When the liquid valve 9 is closed, the valve body 29 with respect to the

Füllelementachse FA axially spaced from the mouth 25.1, so that when

To bias the respective bottle 2 with open control valve 18.1 a

Flow connection consists of two gas channels 24 and 25 in the gas space 15 and thus in the gas channel 17. When the liquid valve 9 is open the Valve body 29 tight against the mouth 25.1 surrounding inner surface of the gas space 15, so that during the filling phase and in particular during the Schnellfüllphase for the return gas, a compound from the gas passage 17 exclusively in the gas passage 25 with the throttle 26.

33 denotes a gas channel in which the control valve 18.3 is arranged and which connects the gas space 15 with the annular channel 21. This gas channel is used for example to relieve the pressure of the respective bottle 2 after completion of the filling phase, by opening the control valve 18.3.

The control valve 8.1 is connected on the input side to the gas channels 24 and 25 and connected on the output side via a gas channel 34 to the annular channel 19, for example, at the beginning of filling controlled by the control valve 8.1 an evacuation of the respective bottle 2, again via the gas space 15, the opened with closed liquid valve 9 additional switching valve 30 or 30 a and the gas channel 17th

FIG. 4 shows a filling element 3a of a filling system 1a. The filling element 3a differs from the filling element 3 only in that the gas channel system in the housing 6 does not have the gas channel 25 with the throttle 26, but the throttling of the return gas during the filling phase or the Schnellfüllphase the filling process in the the switching valve 30 and 30a corresponding switching valve 30b is integrated (FIG. 5). The components corresponding in terms of their design and / or function to the filling element 3 are again denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 4 as in FIG. FIG. 5 shows schematically the gas space 15 of the filling element 3a. To form the switching valve 30b, the gas pipe 13 is at its upper, in the gas space 15th

protruding end in turn with a probe 16 concentrically enclosing annular body 28b provided with frontal ring seal 29b, in such a way that the front side a probe 16 enclosing annular opening 32b for the communicating with the gas channel 17 interior of the annular body 28b results. In the gas space 15, the gas channel 24 opens, in such a way that its connection with the gas space 15 is independent of the state of the switching valve 30b. When the liquid valve 8 is closed, the ring seal 29b is spaced from the inner surface 15.1 of the gas space 15 lying opposite it, so that u.a. during the preloading of the respective bottle 2 when opened

Control valve 18.2 which is guided from the annular channel 20 via the gas channels 23 and 24 in the gas chamber 15 span gas over the large cross section of the opening 32b in the gas channel 17 and thus in the bottle 2 can flow.

When the liquid valve is open, the seal 29b is tight against the inner surface 15.1, so that the opening 32b is closed and the return gas only through radial openings 31b, which are provided in the annular body 28b and the

Total flow cross section is much smaller than the flow cross section of

Opening 32 b, strongly throttled from the gas channel 17 can enter the gas space 15, from which the return gas then via the gas channels 23 and 24 and the open

Control valve 18.2 is returned to the annular channel 20. The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes are possible without thereby departing from the spirit of the invention. All the embodiments described above have in common that the

Switching valve 30, 30a and 30b with the actuator 14 of the

Liquid valve 9 is mechanically actuated and with a valve body

(Annular body 28, 28 a, 28 b and seal 29, 29 a and 29 b) is realized, which is provided on the valve rod acting as the liquid valve 9 gas pipe 13, so that without an additional control valve, for which an additional switching and control engineering effort required would be a change of

Flow cross section for the clamping gas and the return gas is reached.

Of course, other embodiments are possible, in particular those in which the respective annular or valve body of the switching valve is formed by a portion of the gas pipe 13 and / or the annular body or valve body is connected to the return gas pipe element. Furthermore, the invention is of course not limited to filling elements or filling systems with the filling height determining probes, but includes, inter alia, filling elements and filling systems, in which the introduced into the respective container amount of material is controlled in other ways, for example by measuring the amount of product supplied and / or by detecting the weight of the respective container during filling. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, la filling system

2 bottle

2.1 bottle mouth

3, 3a filling element

4 rotor

5 kettles

5.1 gas space

5.2 liquid space

6 filler housing

7 fluid channel

8 line

9 liquid valve

9.1 valve body

10 dispensing opening

11 centering tulip

12 seal

13 valve or gas pipe

14 actuating device

15 gas space

15.1 inner surface

16 probe

17 gas channel

18 control valve device 18.1 - 18.3 control valve

19, 20, 21 ring channel

22 line

23 - 25 gas duct

24.1, 25.1 estuary

26 throttle

27 seal

28, 28a, 28b ring body

29, 29a, 29b ring seal

30, 30a, 30b switching valve

31, 31b radial opening

32, 32a, 32b opening

33, 34 Gas duct

A Movement stroke of the valve body 9.1 N Level of the product level in the boiler 5

FA filler element axis

Claims

claims

1. filling element for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid product, with a in a Füllelementgehäuse (6) formed liquid channel (7) with a connection (8) for supplying the filling material in the liquid channel (7) and at least a discharge opening (10) for discharging the liquid filling material into the respective sealing position on the filling element

provided container (2), with a liquid valve (9) within the

Liquid channel (7) between the connection (8) and the at least one discharge opening (10), with an actuating device (14) for the controlled opening and closing of the liquid channel (9), with a controlled gas path (17, 15, 24, 25, 23 18.1) for biasing the interior of the respective in sealing position on the filling element (3, 3a) located container (2) with a clamping gas, preferably in the form of a pressurized inert gas and the

Returning a filling gas from the respective sealing layer on the filling element (3, 3a) located in the container (2) displaced return gas,

characterized,

in that in the controlled gas path (17, 15, 24, 25, 23, 18.1) a switching valve (30, 30a, 30b) is provided, which is actuated by the actuating device (14) of the

Liquid valve (9) is drivingly or mechanically switched between at least a first and a second switching state such that the gas path (17, 15, 24, 25, 23, 18.1) in the first switching state, a first effective

Flow cross section, for example, for the biasing gas and in the second

Switching state a second from the first different effective

Flow cross-section, for example, has the return gas.

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

(30, 30a, 30b) with the liquid valve (9) closed in the first switching state and with the liquid valve (9) open in the second switching state and / or that the effective flow cross section of the gas path in the first state of the switching valve (30, 30a, 30b) is greater as in the second state.

3. Filling element according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas path is branched with at least two parallel gas channel sections (24, 25; 32b, 31b) is designed with different flow cross-section, and that in the first switching state at least one gas channel section (24, 32b), for example the larger effective flow cross-section and in the second switching state exclusively a further gas channel section (25, 31b) are part of the gas path, for example, with a smaller flow cross-section.

4. Filling element according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least two gas channel sections within the filling element (3) formed gas channels (24, 25) of the controlled gas path, and that in one of these gas channels (24, 25) causing at least one of the reduced flow cross-section Throttle (26) is arranged.

5. Filling element according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the

Gas duct sections with different flow cross-section in an element of the switching valve (30b), preferably in a valve body (28b, 29b) of the

Switching valve (30b) are formed by the valve body (28b, 29b) at least one first and at least one second, each in the gas path

arranged passage opening (32b, 31b), that of the at least one second opening (31b) resulting flow cross-section different from that of the at least one first opening (32b) resulting

Flow cross-section is that in the first switching state of the switching valve (30b) at least the at least one first passage opening (32b) is open, and that in the second switching state of the switching valve (30b), the at least one first

Passage opening (32b) closed and the at least one second

Passage opening (31b) is open.

6. Filler element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching valve (30, 30 a, 30 b) of a on a valve stem of the

Liquid valve (9), for example, on a valve or gas pipe (13) is provided and in a valve or gas chamber (15) arranged valve body (28, 29, 28a, 29a, 28b, 29b), which with the valve lifter or with the valve or gas pipe (13) when opening and closing the

Liquid valve (9) in a Füllelementachse (FA) is movable and with a valve seat, for example, with an inner surface (15.1) of the gas space (15) cooperates in such a manner.

7. Filling element according to claim 6, characterized in that in the first

Switching state of the switching valve (30, 30a, 30b) of the valve body (28, 29, 28a, 29a, 28b, 29b) from the valve seat or the inner surface (15.1) of the gas space (15) is axially spaced and in the second switching state against the valve seat or the inner surface (15.1) adjoining there opening into the gas space (15) Gaswegabschnitt, preferably a Gaswegabschnitt (24, 32b) closes with the larger flow cross-section or a relation to the gas space (15) sealed connection between the gas pipe (13) or formed in this gas passage (17) and one of the at least two Gaswegabschnitte, preferably between the gas pipe (13) and the Gaswegabschnitt (25) with reduced flow cross-section.

8. Filling element according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the

Valve body (28, 29, 28a, 29a, 28b, 29b) on which the at least one

Dispensing opening (10) remote end of the gas pipe (13) is provided and / or the valve body (28, 29; 28a, 29a, 28b, 29b) is annularly formed with an opening opposite the valve surface (15.1), wherein the

Interior of the annular valve body with the gas pipe (13) formed in the gas channel (17) is in communication.

9. Filling element according to one of claims 6 - 8, characterized in that in

Valve body (28, 29, 28b, 29b) at least one radial opening (31, 31b) is provided, as an additional connection between the gas space (15) and the interior of the valve body or in the gas pipe (13) formed gas channel (17) wherein the at least one radial opening (31b) forms, for example, the gas channel section with a reduced flow cross-section.

10. Filling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the gas space (15) outside the switching valve (30, 30 a, 30 b), a gas channel (24, 25) of the controlled gas path for the clamping gas and / or return gas opens.

11. Filling machine for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid product with a plurality of filling elements (3) on the circumference of a vertical machine axis rotatably driven rotor (4), characterized in that the filling elements (3) after a of the preceding claims are formed.