EP3670429A1 - Cleaning of container closures during the filling and closing process of containers to be filled - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling and closing device (1) for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container with a closure (2), preferably in a beverage filling system, comprising a filling element (20) designed for this purpose and is set up to introduce the filling product into the container to be filled; a closure member (30) which is designed and set up to receive the closure (2) and to close a filled container with the closure (2); and a cleaning arrangement (40) with at least one cleaning nozzle (42), which is designed and set up to direct a gas jet onto the closure (2) held by the closing member (30), preferably on its underside.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a filling and closing device and a method for filling a container with a filling product and closing the container with a closure. The filling and closing device and the method are preferably used in particular in a beverage filling system, for example for filling carbonated filling products such as beer, mineral water or soft drinks.

State of the art

Among the various methods and devices for filling filling products in beverage filling systems, a technology for the sudden filling of containers is known, for example in the DE 10 2014 104 873 A1 is described. The filling product is provided under an overpressure, the container to be filled is evacuated and the filling product under pressure is introduced into the container under vacuum. In order to shorten the settling time of the filling product after filling in the container and to prevent foaming and over-foaming of the filling product, the container is closed under overpressure without pressure equalization of the container interior with the environment taking place beforehand.

For this purpose, it makes sense to integrate the filling process and closing process as far as possible in terms of space and time by arranging the filling member and the closing member in one and the same treatment chamber, as is the case in exemplary embodiments of the DE 10 2014 104 873 A1 emerges. The filling element is designed to be movable, the container mouth first being pressed onto the filling element for filling the container and then the filling element being removed in order to make room for the capper.

In each filling / closing cycle, a closure is introduced into the treatment chamber and handed over to the closure cone. The capping cone, for example, magnetically picks up the cap and holds it in place. The filling element is then placed on the mouth of the container and the filling process is initiated. In addition to lines and valves for the actual product supply, the filling element can be equipped with gas lines and valves in order to flush, pretension and / or to generate an overpressure or underpressure therein. At the same time, an overpressure is built up in the treatment chamber. After the filling of the container is complete, the filling element is removed and the capping cone places the closure on the container mouth and closes the container.

During processing, such as when sorting and transporting the closures, there may be abrasion between the closures. Such abrasion particles as well as other foreign bodies can be carried along and thus get into the container to be filled. In order to prevent contaminated products from being put on the market, various techniques are known for inspecting the filled containers after they have been closed and, if necessary, discharging them.

It is also known to flush container closures with a gas, for example inert gas or nitrogen, before placing them on the container to be sealed. This flushing process serves to displace any oxygen from the sealing chamber (as well as the head space of the container) in the case of oxygen-sensitive products. The container closures are also cleaned by rinsing. So describes the DE 10 2012 104 765 A1 a device for closing containers with a nozzle carrier, which has upward nozzles for blowing purge gas into the closures and downward nozzles for blowing purge gas into the headspace of the container.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an improved filling and closing device and an improved method for filling a container with a filling product and closing the container with a closure, preferably in a beverage filling system, in particular to improve the purity when filling and closing the container and thus reduce the likelihood of contamination or contamination of the filled container with foreign particles.

The object is achieved by a filling and closing device with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 9. Advantageous further developments follow from the subclaims, the following illustration of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The filling and closing device according to the invention serves to fill a container with a filling product and to close the container with a closure. The filling and closing device is preferably used in a beverage filling system, for example for filling carbonated filling products such as beer, mineral water or soft drinks, since the requirements for hygiene and cleanliness are particularly high in food processing.

Accordingly, a filling and closing device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container with a closure, preferably in a beverage filling system, is proposed. The filling and closing device has a filling element which is designed and set up to introduce the filling product into the container to be filled. Furthermore, a closure member is provided which is designed and set up to receive the closure and to close a filled container with the closure. And there is a cleaning arrangement with at least one cleaning nozzle, which is designed and set up to direct a gas jet onto the closure held by the closing member, preferably on its underside.

The gas jet can preferably be carbon dioxide, nitrogen (N ₂ ) and / or sterile air.

The underside of the closure is understood to be the side that faces the inside of the container when it is closed.

By applying the gas jet to the closure, any foreign particles are removed from the closure, thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination of the filled container. The gas jet is particularly preferably directed towards the underside of the closure, since this can come into direct contact with the filling product after the closure.

In addition, the construction of the filling and closing device allows the closure cleaning and filling to be carried out simultaneously or overlapping in time. Such a parallel design can reduce the overall process time for filling the container and cleaning the closure. Improving hygiene and purity when filling and Closing is also optimized in that the cleaning or a final cleaning of the closure takes place immediately before the closure, ie in a state in which the closure is already held by the closure member.

The filling element preferably has a mouth section which can be brought into fluid communication with it for filling the container, and particularly preferably can be placed sealingly on the container mouth. This effectively prevents any cleaned particles from getting into the interior of the container during cleaning. For a reliable fit of the mouth section on the container mouth, the mouth section can have a centering bell with a suitably shaped contact rubber.

The filling and closing device preferably has a treatment chamber, the mouth section of the filling member being arranged in the treatment chamber for filling the container and the closing member with the closure for cleaning the same and for closing the container also being arranged in the treatment chamber. In other words, the filling of the container, the cleaning of the closure and the closing of the closure take place in the treatment chamber, as a result of which the filling / closing process can be carried out particularly effectively and hygienically. In addition, the atmosphere in the vicinity of the container mouth can be checked in this way, in particular in the critical period between the completion of the filling process and the complete closure of the container.

The treatment chamber can preferably be sealed off from the outside environment. Furthermore, the treatment chamber preferably has a gas supply which is set up to generate an overpressure in the treatment chamber and / or to evacuate it. During the filling process and the cleaning of the closure and the closing process, the treatment chamber is preferably essentially completely sealed on all sides, as a result of which a suitable internal pressure, which preferably corresponds approximately to the filling pressure, can be built up. In this way, foaming after the release of the mouth section from the container mouth can be avoided, even when filling products containing carbon dioxide suddenly.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the gas supply to the treatment chamber is partially or completely realized by the cleaning arrangement, in particular the cleaning nozzle (s). In this way, the at least one cleaning nozzle synergistically performs two functions: a) cleaning the closure held by the closure member; b) Build up the desired atmosphere in the treatment chamber. In this way, the filling and closing device can be structurally simplified, which is accompanied by an improvement in reliability and a reduction in maintenance. In addition, a conventional gas supply for a treatment chamber can be retrofitted with the cleaning function by means of a few structural modifications.

The cleaning arrangement preferably has a gas line which is in fluid communication with the cleaning nozzle and is arranged together with the latter in a filler organ housing of the filler element. In this case, the cleaning arrangement or a part thereof is integrated in the filling element. Such an integration is particularly favorable in the case of the present filling and closing device, since the filling member is located near the closing member during filling and the cleaning nozzle thus comes into a position in which it can direct the gas jet onto the closure without additional structural effort .

For this purpose, the filling member is preferably at least partially movable and set up so that it can be positioned for filling the container such that the cleaning nozzle directs the gas jet onto the closure held by the closing member, preferably on its underside, during filling. The movability of the filling element is thus used synergistically for filling and releasing the container mouth area for the closing element and for positioning and, if necessary, aligning the cleaning nozzle.

In order to introduce and meter the filling product into the container, the filling member preferably has a filling product line and a filling valve. Furthermore, means for transporting and dispensing additives and / or gases, such as a gas line and a gas valve, can be arranged in the filler organ housing. The container can also be flushed and / or pre-stressed with a gas, such as inert gas, nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide, via any means for transporting and delivering a gas.

Furthermore, the interior of the container can be adjusted to a desired pressure, for example evacuated. The filling product line is designed, for example, as a ring line which extends essentially concentrically to the centrally arranged gas line. It should be pointed out that the gas valve and the filling valve can be operatively connected to one another, so that, for example, an actuator is set up for common use in order to simplify the construction of the filling element and to increase reliability.

The closing member preferably has a closing head for receiving the closure, the closing head being able to have a magnet for receiving the closure, as a result of which, in a structurally simple manner, a closure, in particular if it is a metal crown cap, is centered and reliably received and placed on the container mouth can. Alternatively, the closure can be gripped and held by suitable gripping or clamping means, so that the concept presented here can also be implemented for plastic closures, twist closures, etc.

The above-mentioned object is further achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product and closing the container with a closure. Like the filling and closing device, the method is preferably used in a beverage filling system, for example for filling carbonated filling products such as beer, mineral water or soft drinks, since hygiene and cleanliness requirements are particularly high in food processing.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container with a filling product and closing the container with a closure, preferably in a beverage filling system, is proposed, comprising the steps: receiving the closure by a closure member; Introducing the filling product into the container to be filled by means of a filling element in order to fill the container; Cleaning the closure by means of a cleaning arrangement which has at least one cleaning nozzle by directing a gas jet onto the closure held by the closure member, preferably on its underside; and closing the container with the closure after the filling has been completed.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described in relation to the filling and closing device apply analogously to the method.

For example, the closure is preferably cleaned during filling, ie during the introduction of the filling product into the container. The term "during" here includes not only essentially identical, but also overlapping periods. Such a parallel design can reduce the overall process time for filling the container and cleaning the closure. The improvement in hygiene and cleanliness when filling and closing is also optimized in that the cleaning or a final cleaning of the closure is carried out immediately before the closure, ie in a state in which the closure is already held by the closure member.

Before the filling product is introduced into the container, the mouth section of the filling member is preferably placed in a sealing manner on the container mouth. This effectively prevents any cleaned particles from getting into the interior of the container during cleaning. For a reliable fit of the mouth section on the container mouth, the mouth section can have a centering bell with a suitably shaped contact rubber.

Before and / or during the introduction of the filling product into the container, a treatment chamber surrounding the mouth section and sealed off from the outside environment is preferably brought to a certain pressure, preferably an overpressure, relative to the outside environment of the treatment chamber. During the filling process, the closure cleaning and the closing process, the treatment chamber is preferably essentially completely sealed on all sides, as a result of which a suitable internal pressure, which preferably corresponds to the filling pressure, can be built up. In this way, foaming after loosening the mouth section can be avoided, even when filling products containing carbon dioxide suddenly.

The pressure build-up in the treatment chamber is preferably realized in full or in part by the gas jet from the cleaning nozzle. In this way, the cleaning nozzle performs two functions synergistically: a) cleaning the closure held by the closure member; b) Establishing the desired atmosphere in the treatment chamber. In this way, the filling and closing device can be structurally simplified, which is accompanied by an improvement in reliability and a reduction in maintenance. In addition, a conventional gas supply for a treatment chamber can be retrofitted with the cleaning function with just a few modifications.

Preferably, the mouth section is removed and moved away from the container mouth after the filling product has been introduced into the container, and then the closure member with the received and cleaned closure is lowered onto the container mouth in order to close the container with the closure. The movability of the filling element is thus used synergistically for filling and releasing the container mouth area for the closing element

The cleaning arrangement preferably has a gas line which is in fluid communication with the cleaning nozzle and together with the latter in the filler organ housing of the filler element is arranged, the filling member being moved and positioned before the filling product is introduced into the container in order to carry out the filling of the container and the cleaning of the closure at the same time. The movability of the filling element is thus used synergistically for filling and releasing the container mouth area for the closing element and for positioning and, if necessary, aligning the cleaning nozzle. In this case, the cleaning arrangement or a part thereof is also integrated into the filling element. Such an integration is particularly favorable in the case of the present filling and closing device, since the filling member is located in the vicinity of the closing member during filling and the cleaning nozzle thus comes into a position without additional constructional effort, in which it can direct the gas jet onto the closure .

Further advantages and features of the present invention are evident from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described there can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, provided that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments takes place with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the figure

The Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view viewed from the side, showing a section of a filling and closing device with a cleaning arrangement for cleaning a closure.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to FIG Figure 1 described.

The Figure 1 shows a section of a filling and closing device 1 for filling a container (in the Figure 1 not shown) with a filling product and closing the container with a closure 2 in a beverage filling system.

The filling and closing device 1 has a filling member 20, which in the in the Figure 1 Process stage shown protrudes into a treatment chamber 10. The filling element 20 has: means for transporting and filling a filling product, such as a filling product line 23 and a filling valve arranged at its lower end, and means for transporting and dispensing of a gas, such as a gas line 21 and a gas valve 22, received in a filler organ housing 24.

The container can be flushed and / or pre-stressed with a gas, for example inert gas, nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide, by means of the means for transporting and delivering a gas. Furthermore, the interior of the container can be adjusted to a desired pressure, for example evacuated. It should be pointed out that, of course, several gas lines 21 can be provided for different gases and purposes.

The gas valve 22 includes a gas valve plug 22a and a gas valve seat 22b that are configured to regulate the gas flow. For this purpose, the gas valve cone 22a can be switched via an actuator (not shown).

The filling product line 23 is designed, for example, as a ring line which extends essentially concentrically to the gas line 21. The supply of the gas as well as the filling product and the discharge of gas for the evacuation of the container 100 take place via sources, valves, actuators etc. which are not described in any more detail. It should be pointed out that the gas valve 22 and the filling valve can be operatively connected to one another, so that, for example, an actuator can be set up for common use in order to simplify the construction of the filling element 20 and to increase the reliability.

The filling member 20 has a mouth section 25 at the outlet end of the media, which brings the media together and is set up in such a way that it can be placed sealingly on the container mouth. For this purpose, the mouth section 25 according to the present exemplary embodiment has a centering bell with a suitably shaped contact rubber 25a.

The filling member 20 is at least partially movable, so that the in the Figure 1 shown arm-like section of the filling member 20 retracted into the treatment chamber 10 and can either be withdrawn therein or even completely removed therefrom. This makes it possible to press the container mouth for the filling process onto the mouth section 25 of the filling member 20 and then, after the filling process has ended, to remove the filling member 20 to such an extent that the container in the treatment chamber 10 can be closed.

In order to ensure the movability of the filling element 20 without the atmosphere of the treatment chamber 10 being exposed to uncontrolled external influences, the following are appropriate Means for sealing provided in the Figure 1 are not shown. For example, the treatment chamber pressure after the completion of the filling process can be greater than the pressure of the external environment, which does not have to be the atmospheric pressure here, as a result of which contamination of the treatment chamber 10 can almost be excluded. As an alternative or in addition, the treatment chamber 10 can be located in or form a clean room.

The container is closed by a closing element 30, which is part of the filling and closing device 1. The closing member 30 has a closing head 31 which projects into the treatment chamber 10 and in the present exemplary embodiment can be moved essentially vertically. Like the filling member 20, the closing member 30 is sealed off from the wall of the treatment chamber 10 in order to avoid contamination or uncontrolled impairment of the atmosphere inside the treatment chamber 10 by external influences.

The closure member 30 is designed and set up to receive and hold a closure 2 on the closure head 31. For this purpose, the capping head 31 can have a magnet, as a result of which a closure 2, in particular if it is a metallic crown cap, can be centered in a structurally simple manner and can be placed on the container mouth in order to close the container. Alternatively, the closure 2 can be gripped, held and applied to the container mouth by suitable gripping or clamping means, so that the concept set out here can also be used for plastic closures, twist closures etc.

The capping head 31 is designed to be movable in the up / down direction, and is arranged essentially coaxially with the container mouth in order to be able to reliably apply the closure 2 to the container.

A closure 2 can be transferred to the capping head 31 in various ways. For example, in a first step, a closure 2 can be introduced into the treatment chamber 10, for example by a sorting unit and a feed trough, per filling / closing cycle. For this purpose, the treatment chamber 10 can be part of the closure member 30 and execute a relative movement to the closure feed, such as the feed channel or a transfer arm, the capping head 31 picking and holding a closure 2 from the closure feed.

To fill the container, it is raised and sealed off from the treatment chamber 10.

The container accommodated in the treatment chamber 10, sealingly at least with its mouth, is pressed in a sealing manner against the filling element 20 extended in the filling position, or the filling element 20 is pressed sealingly onto the mouth of the container. The mouth section 25 of the filling member 20 thus marks the end position of the container stroke. The capping head 31 picks up the closure 2 and moves into the treatment chamber 10. The treatment chamber 10 can be sealed off from the surroundings and from the container or its neck area or mouth area by inflating one or more seals.

The treatment chamber 10 itself preferably does not perform any lifting movement.

After the filling process has been completed, the filling element 20 is withdrawn and the closing head 31 moves further down onto the container mouth in order to close the container.

The filling and closing device 1 has a cleaning arrangement 40, which in the present exemplary embodiment also provides the gas supply for the treatment chamber 10 and is preferably at least partially integrated into the filling member 20.

The cleaning arrangement 40 comprises a gas line 41, which can be designed as a bore in the filling organ housing 24, and one or more cleaning nozzles 42. The cleaning arrangement 40, in particular the position and orientation of the cleaning nozzle (s) 42, is set up in such a way that the exiting gas jet is directed at it the underside of the closure 2 hits when the filling element 20 is in the filling position. Carbon dioxide is preferably used as the gas, but another medium, such as sterile air, can also be used.

The gas supply into the treatment chamber 10, and thus also the cleaning of the closure 2, preferably takes place during the filling process. The overall process can be optimized through such a parallel design. The treatment chamber 10 is sealed on all sides during the filling process and the closure cleaning, as a result of which a suitable internal pressure is built up in the treatment chamber 10. This preferably corresponds to the filling pressure or saturation pressure of any carbon dioxide in the case of filling a filling product containing carbon dioxide, in order to prevent the filling product from foaming up or overflowing after the filling process has ended.

In the embodiment of the Figure 1 the gas supply for the treatment chamber 10 and the cleaning arrangement 40 are integrated, in that these are realized together through the gas line 41 and the cleaning nozzle (s) 42. The cleaning effect is ensured by the position and orientation of the cleaning nozzle (s) 42. This means that when the gas line 41 is opened there is a high pressure difference and the gas flows out of the cleaning nozzle 42 into the treatment chamber 10 at high speed. However, this pressure difference decreases over time, causing the exit velocity to drop to the pressure equilibrium. The cleaning effect is therefore greatest at the beginning of the gas supply.

As an alternative to the integral design, the two functions - gas supply to the treatment chamber 10 and cleaning of the closure 2 - can also be separated by using different means for the gas supply and cleaning. Furthermore, these means do not necessarily have to be integrated into the filling element 20. For example, the gas supply for the treatment chamber 10 can be implemented via separate lines, valves, etc., while the gas line 41 and the cleaning nozzle (s) 42 are set up and optimized solely for cleaning the closures 2. In this case, the gas line 41 and the cleaning nozzle (s) 42 are part of the cleaning arrangement 40, which is at least partially separated from the gas supply to the treatment chamber 10 and differs therefrom. In this way, it could be accomplished, for example, that the exit velocity of the gas jet for the closure cleaning remains constant or decreases less with increasing internal pressure of the treatment chamber 2, in order to counteract a declining cleaning effect.

If the container is now filled, the closure 2 is cleaned and the interior of the treatment chamber 10 is brought to the desired pressure, the filling element 20 can be withdrawn, and the capping head 31 can continue its downward movement until the container mouth is closed when it reaches it.

The cleaning process of the closure 2 during the filling process can remove any foreign particles on the inside of the closure 2, thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination of the filled container. By acting on the closure by means of the gas jet, particles are removed from the closure 2 and are then located inside the treatment chamber 10. During cleaning, the container to be filled is pressed tightly against the mouth section 25, thereby preventing cleaned particles from entering the interior of the container reach. Improving reliability and Purity when filling and closing the container is also optimized in that the cleaning or a final cleaning of the closure 2 takes place as late as possible, namely in the treatment chamber 10 itself and during the filling process.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention.

Reference symbol list

1

Filling and closing device

2nd

Clasp

10th

Treatment chamber

20th

Filler

21st

Gas pipe

22

Gas valve

22a

Gas valve cone

22b

Gas valve seat

23

Filling product line

24th

Filling organ housing

25th

Mouth section

25a

Pressure rubber

30th

Closing organ

31

Capper head

40

Cleaning arrangement

41

Gas pipe

42

Cleaning nozzle

Claims (15)

Filling and closing device (1) for filling a container to be filled with a filling product and for subsequently closing the filled container with a closure (2), preferably in a beverage filling system, comprising: a filling element (20) which is designed and set up to introduce the filling product into the container to be filled; a closure member (30) which is designed and set up to receive the closure (2) and to close a filled container with the closure (2); and a cleaning arrangement (40) with at least one cleaning nozzle (42), which is designed and set up to direct a gas jet onto the closure (2) held by the closing member (30), preferably on its underside. Filling and closing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling member (20) has a mouth section (25) which can be brought into fluid communication with the latter, preferably sealingly placed on the container mouth thereof, for filling the container. Filling and closing device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a treatment chamber (10) is provided, the mouth section (25) of the filling member (20) for filling the container being arranged in the treatment chamber (10) and the closing member ( 30) has a capping head (31) for receiving the closure (2), the capping head (31) also being able to be arranged in the treatment chamber (10). Filling and closing device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the treatment chamber (10) can be sealed off from the outside environment and has a gas supply which is designed and equipped to withstand an overpressure and / or a vacuum in the treatment chamber (10) to generate. Filling and closing device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the gas supply to the treatment chamber (10) is partially or completely realized by the cleaning arrangement (40). Filling and closing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning arrangement (40) has a gas line (41) which is in fluid communication with the cleaning nozzle (42) and together with the latter in a filling organ housing (24) of the Filling device (20) is arranged. Filling and closing device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the filling member (20) is at least partially movable and set up so that it can be positioned for filling the container so that the cleaning nozzle (42) during the filling of the container Gas jet directed to the closure (2) held by the closure member (30), preferably on the underside thereof. Filling and closing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing member (30), preferably a closing head (31) of the closing member (30), has a magnet for receiving the closure (2). Method for filling a container with a filling product and closing the container with a closure (2), preferably in a beverage filling system, comprising the steps: Receiving the closure (2) by a closing member (30); Introducing the filling product into the container to be filled by means of a filling member (20) in order to fill the container; Cleaning of the closure (2) by means of a cleaning arrangement (40) which has at least one cleaning nozzle (42) by directing a gas jet onto the closure (2) held by the closure member (30), preferably on its underside; and Close the container with the closure (2) after the filling is complete. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the cleaning of the closure (2) is carried out while the filling product is being introduced into the container. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that before the filling product is introduced into the container, a mouth section (25) of the filling element (20) is sealingly placed on the container mouth. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that before and / or during the introduction of the filling product into the container, a treatment chamber (10) surrounding the mouth section (25) and sealed off from the outside environment is brought to a certain pressure, preferably overpressure, via a gas supply . A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the pressure build-up in the treatment chamber (10) is realized completely or partially by the gas jet of the cleaning nozzle (42). Method according to one of claims 11 or 13, characterized in that the mouth section (25) is removed from the container mouth and moved away after the filling product has been introduced into the container, and then the closure member (30) with the received and cleaned closure (2) is lowered onto the container mouth to close the container with the closure (2). Method according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the cleaning arrangement (40) has a gas line (41) which is in fluid communication with the cleaning nozzle (42) and together with the latter in a filler organ housing (24) of the filler member (20) is arranged, and the filling member (20) is moved and positioned before the filling product is introduced into the container in order to carry out the filling of the container and the cleaning of the closure (2) at the same time.

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