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
  • B67C3/22—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
  • B67C3/262—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 and the filling operation stopping when the liquid rises to a level at which it closes a vent opening
• • 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

Definitions

• the object of the invention relates to the technical field of filling containers of any type known per se such as glass or plastic, using a filling fluid of any kind.
• US Patent 1978002 discloses a filling machine having a storage tank for a filling liquid.
• This storage tank is connected to one and generally to a series of filling heads to each of which the containers are successively brought and removed after filling.
• Each filling head comprises a filling tube passing through a support seat for the neck of the container.
• the tube is intended to penetrate inside the container and internally comprises a discharge cannula for recovering the air expelled from inside the container by the filling liquid.
• the vacuum is maintained within the storage tank to ensure liquid flow from the end of the fill tube.
• the liquid flows through the discharge cannula to the vessel or storage vessel.
• the level of the liquid inside the container is determined by the lower end of the filler tube.
• the filling of containers using the vacuum is likely to affect the quality of the filling liquid due to the aeration of the liquid.
• the quality of the liquid is also affected by the redrcuiation of the liquid that occurs in the presence of the container on the receiving seat and even in the absence of the container, with a lower redrcuiation rate.
• the filling operation is in practice in particular at the end of the filling operation, relatively long given the creation of bubbles or foam making it difficult to level the liquid.
• DE 1185497 describes a technique for filling containers with a filling liquid stored in a regulated tank. pressure and delivered using at least one filling head having a filling tube passing through a support seat for the container and provided with a main shutter to allow or interrupt the passage of the filling liquid.
• the filling tube internally comprises a discharge cannula and delimits externally with the support seat, a communication passage with a circuit for controlled leakage for the container equipped with a shutter controlled opening and closing.
• the discharge cannula is connected by shutters controlled either to a regulated leakage circuit for the cannula, or to a communication circuit with the tank for filling the container in gravity mode.
• the shutter of the filling tube is controlled by a controlled actuator.
• the present invention therefore aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a new filling technique that does not use vacuum and allows filling and rapid leveling, while having a limited liquid recirculation and controlled, independent of the supply of the container.
• the object of the invention relates to a method of filling containers with a filling liquid stored in a pressure-regulated tank and delivered using at least one head of filling comprising a filling tube passing through a support seat for the container and provided with a main shutter to allow or interrupt the passage of the filling liquid, the filling tube internally comprising a discharge cannula.
• the method comprises the following steps for filling a container:
• the method according to the invention further comprises in combination at least one and / or the following additional characteristics:
• Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for filling containers with a filling liquid, comprising:
• At least one filling head each comprising a filling tube passing through a support seat for the container and provided with a main shutter to allow or interrupt the passage of the filling liquid, the filling tube internally comprising a discharge cannula; .
• each filler tube delimits externally with the support seat, a communication passage with a circuit for controlled leakage for the container, equipped with a shutter controlled in opening and closing,
• each discharge cannula is connected by shutters controlled either to a regulated leakage circuit for the cannula or to a communication circuit with the tank allowing the container to be filled in a gravity mode,
• each shutter of the filling tube is controlled by an actuator controlled by a control circuit
• control circuit being connected to the different shutters and actuators for:
• machine according to the invention may additionally have in combination at least one and / or the other of the following additional characteristics:
• the main shutter of the filling tube is mounted at the end of a cannula mounted inside the filling tube and is shaped to come into closed position, cooperate sealingly with the lower end of the filling tube, -
• the main shutter of the filling tube is carried by the cannula to cooperate with a seat arranged inside the tube, near its upper end.
• Figure 1 is a schematic view of the filling machine according to the invention before engagement of the container on the filling head.
• Figure 2 is a view of the filling machine after the engagement of a container on the filling head, waiting for filling of the container with the liquid.
• Figure 3 illustrates the filling machine showing the beginning of the flow filling phase of a container.
• Figure 4 illustrates the filling machine at the end of the flow-filling phase of the container
• Figure 5 illustrates the filling machine in a first end of filling phase said gravity mode.
• Figure 6 is a view of the filling machine during a second end of filling phase said gravity mode.
• Figure 7 is a view of the filling machine in stop phase of the filling.
• Figure 8 illustrates the filling machine after removal of the filled container.
• Figure 9 is a detail view of the discharge tube in the closed position.
• Figure 10 is a detail view of the discharge tube in the open position.
• Figure 11 is a schematic view showing another alternative embodiment of the control of the closure of the filling tube of the filling machine according to the invention.
• the object of the invention relates to a machine I intended to fill with a liquid 1, a container 2 at a specific level.
• the container 2 can be of any kind such as plastic or glass.
• the liquid 1 can be of any kind such as, for example, viscous, alcoholic, sweet, carbonated, flavored, colored, with or without particles, etc.
• the filling machine I comprises a storage tank 3 for the liquid 1, maintained at a control pressure by any appropriate means 4 such as for example by a pressure regulator.
• the filling machine I also comprises at least one and in general, several filling heads 6 adapted to each fill a container 2 with the liquid 1. After filling, each container 2 is evacuated and replaced by a new container. view of its filling.
• the handling means of the containers 2 are not described more precisely because they are well known to those skilled in the art and do not form part of the invention. Similarly, the filling machine I is not described more precisely because it can take different forms or configurations depending in particular on the number of filling heads 6.
• a filling head 6 According to the description that follows only the operation of a filling head 6 is described, but it is clear that the object of the invention can be applied to a machine comprising a series of filling heads for example distributed along a line or at its periphery in order to produce the machine in the form of a carousel .
• Each filling head 6 comprises a filling tube 8 communicating with the storage tank 3.
• the filling tube 8 passes through a support seat 9 for the container 2 and in particular for the neck 2i of the container.
• the tube 8 thus protrudes from the support seat 9 so that its lower end 8 1 extends below the support seat 9.
• the upward movement of the container 2 allows the introduction of the tube 8 by its lower end 8 1 , inside the container 2 ( Figure 2).
• the filling tube 8 is a rigid tube connected directly to the tank 3.
• the tube of filling 8 can be offset relative to the tank 3 being made rigidly or flexible.
• the support seat 9 and the filling tube 8 are vertically movable relative to one another in order to be able to adjust the height between the lower end 8 1 of the tube and the seat 9.
• the lower end 8 1 of the tube 8 defines the level of filling of the liquid inside the container 2 so that the adjustment of the position of the the lower end 8 of tube 1 relative to the seat 9 adjusts the liquid fill level within the container preferably, the seat 9 is slidably mounted in the vertical direction relative to the filler tube.
• the filling tube 8 delimits with the support seat 9, a passage 11 of communication with a regulated leakage circuit 12.
• This regulated leakage circuit 12 for the container comprises a first controlled shutter such as a shutter A for example a valve ensuring the opening or closing of this regulated leakage circuit 12.
• a first controlled shutter such as a shutter A for example a valve ensuring the opening or closing of this regulated leakage circuit 12.
• Shutter A is controlled in opening and closing by means of a control circuit 14.
• the support seat 9 has a support seal 9 1 for the neck 2i of the container so as to obtain a seal between the container 2 and the support seat 9.
• the container 2 in the support position on the seat 9, the container 2 is able to communicate only with the regulated leakage circuit 12 and the inside of the filling tube 8.
• the filling tube 8 is provided with a main shutter 15 making it possible to open or close the tube in order to allow the liquid to exit from the tube or to prevent the liquid from coming out of the tank 3 from leaving.
• This main shutter 15 of the tube 8 is controlled in opening and closing via an actuator 16 controlled by the control circuit 14.
• the main shutter 15 is moved in a vertical direction by the actuator 16 to occupy a closed position illustrated for example in Figs. 1 and 9 and an open position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 10 in which the liquid 1 coming from the tank 3 flows freely from the lower end 8 1 of the tube 8.
• the main shutter 15 is mounted at the end of a tube or cannula 18 mounted inside the filling tube 8.
• the main shutter 15 is mounted at the end of the cannula 18 and is shaped to come into the closed position, cooperate sealingly with the lower end 8 1 of the tube 8 ( Figure 1) forming the seat of the shutter.
• the actuator 16 holds the cannula 18 in the up position (FIG 9) to ensure contact between the main shutter 15 and the tube 8.
• the downward movement of the cannula 18 by the actuator 16 in a limited stroke for example a few mm (Fig. 10) allows to release the main shutter 15 relative to the tube 8, ensuring the outlet of the liquid 1 through the lower end 8 1 of the tube 8 (Fig 3 ).
• the main shutter 15 is arranged to have a deflector shape for guiding the liquid inside the container 2.
• the cannula 18 constitutes a discharge cannula delimiting internally, a circulation circuit 18 1 for the liquid and for the air as will be described in the following description.
• FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment wherein the main shutter 15 is arranged inside the tube 8, near its upper end.
• the inside of the filling tube 8 is arranged to include a seat 15 1 on which is engaged the main shutter 15 carried by the cannula 18.
• the end of the cannula 18 is equipped with a deflector 18 2 for the liquid coming out of the filling tube 8.
• the main shutter 15 moves vertically but it is clear that the main shutter 15 may have a different movement movement such as turning or pivoting.
• the actuator 16 may be of any known type adapted to the types of shutters.
• the actuator 16 acts directly on the end of the cannula 18 to ensure its vertical movement.
• the actuator 16 can act without contact on the cannula 18, in all appropriate places to ensure its displacement
• the discharge cannula 18 comprises at its lower end, a through opening 19 opening at the lower end 8 1 of the filling tube 8.
• the discharge cannula 18 is connected either to a regulated leakage circuit 21 or to a circuit 22 for communication with the tank 3.
• the communication circuit 22 and the regulated leak circuit 21 for the cannula 18 are connected to a common circuit 23 for connection with the circulation circuit 18 1 delimited by the cannula 18 and opening through the passage opening 19.
• the communication circuit 22 is equipped with a second shutter or shutter B such as a valve whose operation is controlled by the control circuit 14.
• the cannula 18 communicates with the tank 3 to balance the pressures between the one inside the container 2 and the internal pressure of the tank 3. This communication allows as will be explained in the following description, to slow the flow of liquid to from the tube 8 to obtain a filling in gravity mode.
• the regulated leakage circuit 21 for the cannula is equipped with a third shutter or shutter C such as a valve whose operation is controlled by the control circuit 14.
• the regulated leakage circuit 21 for the cannula thus makes it possible to opening the shutter C to port the discharge cannula 18 with a leakage 25 for the cannula which in the example illustrated is an outlet in the open air. It is to highlight that the passage opening 19 of the cannula 18 is closed only if the shutters B and C are in the closed position.
• the control circuit 14 by means of programmed means makes it possible to drive, in synchronization with the handling means of the containers 2, the actuator 16 and the different shutters A to C.
• the shutters A, B and C are in the closed position.
• the actuator 16 is also placed and controlled to position the main shutter 15 in the closed position of the filling tube 8 (FIG 9). From this position, a container 2 can be brought to ensure the engagement of the lower end of the tube 8 inside the container 2. The container is engaged so as to bear against the seat of support 9 to ensure sealing between the neck 2 1 and the seat 9 (Fig 2).
• the tank 3 is regulated in positive pressure through the regulator 4 which allows in particular to adjust the filling speed.
• the actuator 16 is controlled by the control circuit 14 so as to move the main shutter 15 to place it in the open position ( Figures 3 and 10). Simultaneously, the shutters A, C are placed in the open position while the shutter B remains in the closed position. The opening of the main shutter 15 allows the liquid to flow from the free end of the tube 8 inside the container 2 from the inside of the tank 3.
• the opening of the shutter C makes it possible to put the circulation circuit 18 1 of the cannula into communication with the leak 25 for the cannula.
• the opening of the shutter A simultaneously with the opening of the shutter C makes it possible to put in communication, the cannula 18 also with the leak 13 for the container, thus favoring the emptying of the liquid present in the interior of the cannula 18 and priming the filling of the container 2.
• the opening of the shutter A makes it possible to put in communication via the passage 11, the interior of the container 2, with the leak 13 for the container
• the liquid 1 from the tube 8 and penetrating inside the container 2 leads to expel the air contained in the container 2. L air expelled by the liquid entering the container 2 through the tube 8 is discharged by the leak 13 for the container and by the leak 25 for the cannula.
• the simultaneous opening of the shutters A and C promotes priming of the filling by emptying the cannula 18 filled with liquid by the previous filling.
• the pressure difference between the pressurized vessel 3 and the vessel 2 ensures a rapid filling of the vessel in a so-called flow-filling mode ( Figures 3 and 4).
• the container 2 communicates with the air by two circuits (the regulated leakage circuit 21 - leakage 25 for the cannula / the regulated leakage circuit 12 - leakage 13 for the container) contributing to the faster flow of the liquid inside the container 2.
• Fast filling in flow mode is able to create strong turbulence inside the container 2, in particular generated by the shape of the walls of the container 2.
• the liquid level 1 arrives for example at the level of the shoulder of the container 2, bubbles and foam are formed.
• the method according to the invention aims to slow down the filling of the container 2 according to the flow mode in order to control the formation of this foam and of these bubbles and to limit the volume of liquid to be recirculated.
• This change of filling mode is advantageous when the level of the liquid reaches a zone of change of shape of the container 2 such as the shoulder of a bottle (FIG 4).
• the process according to the invention thus aims, before the end of the filling, to go from filling in fiux mode to filling the container in gravity mode.
• the filling process thus consists, before the end of the filling, in closing the regulated leakage circuit 12 for the receptacle by controlling the closing of the shutter A (FIG.5).
• the discharge cannula 18 is no longer connected to the regulated leakage circuit 21 for the cannula / closure of the shutter C) but is placed in communication with the tank 3 by the communication circuit 22.
• the shutter B is placed in the open position. Insofar as the tank 3 is under pressure, the pressure of the air present in the container 2 will equilibrate with the pressure of the tank 3. Given the pressure balance tendency between the tank and the container, the liquid flows less quickly from the filling tube 8.
• This end of filling phase allows to switch from the so-called flow filling mode to a so-called gravity filling mode.
• This change of filling mode has the effect of reducing the formation of bubbles and foam of the liquid, slowing the speed of flow of the liquid inside the container 2.
• This end of filling phase is continued until filling 2.
• the liquid continues to exit the tank through the tube 8 to come to the level of the lower end 8 1 of the tube 8.
• the liquid can not pass above this level determined by the lower end of the tube 8 and is found displaced in the cannula 18 at the maximum level of the liquid of the tank 3.
• the filling operation is stopped.
• the filling operation is stopped by interrupting the communication between the cannula 18 and the tank 3 and controlling the actuator 16 in order to place the main shutter 15 in the closed position ( Figures 7 and 9).
• the shutter 15 closes the filling tube 8 and the shutter B is placed in the closed position of the communication circuit 22.
• the shutter A of the leakage circuit 12 for the container is placed in position d opening for balancing the pressure inside the container 2 with the outside, thereby allowing the container 2 to withdraw from the seat 9, without suction phenomenon.
• the container 2 can then be removed from the lower end of the filling duct 8.
• the shutter A goes into closed position while the shutters B and C remain in the closed position. In this position, it should be noted that part of the cannula 18 contains liquid which will be discharged into a subsequent container as explained above.
• the object of the invention thus makes it possible to fill and level a container quickly without using a vacuum or a vacuum pump.
• the filling level is effected by equilibrium pressure when the liquid level reaches the filling tube.
• the method according to the invention offers the advantage of being faster than the previous methods, in particular because of a rapid initiation phase during which the cannula 18 is effectively discharged, contributing to a rapid flow of the liquid. , communicating with leaks 13, 25. Moreover, filling in flow mode and then in gravity mode also makes it possible to save on the filling time. In addition to the gain in terms of filling speed, this technique limits the volume to be recirculated, which reduces the risks that may affect the quality of the liquid. Furthermore, the main shutter 15 of the filling tube is controlled in opening / closing, independently of the introduction and withdrawal movements of the container 2 relative to the filling tube, to control by the control circuit 14, the recirculation liquid.

Landscapes

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

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (56)

• 2012
  • 2012-08-24 FR FR1257984A patent/FR2994691B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-08-13 WO PCT/FR2013/051936 patent/WO2014029938A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2013-08-13 US US14/420,955 patent/US9682850B2/en active Active
  • 2013-08-13 EP EP13773278.0A patent/EP2888195B1/de active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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