WO2017153255A1 - Filling element comprising an annular flushing-gas outlet opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling element (10) for filling containers with a liquid, the element comprising an elongated filling element body (12) which surrounds an axial product channel (14), in which a valve element (16) is movably arranged, said valve element (16) having a valve body (19) which, together with a valve seat arranged on the filling element body (12), forms a filling valve (22). The filling element has a dispensing opening (28) at the lower end of the product channel (14). At least one flushing outlet opening (30) is arranged in the region of the dispensing opening (28), the flushing outlet opening being connected to a flushing-gas supply (46) via a flushing control valve (44).

Description

 FILLING ELEMENT WITH RING-CURRENT EXHAUST GAS OPENING

The present invention relates to a filling element for filling containers with a liquid, in particular a Freistrahlfüllelement, in which the liquid product flows to the container to be filled from the filling valve in a free filling jet or Füllgutstrahl, wherein the flow of the filling material by guide elements, such. Ableitschirme, swirler or short or long filling tubes is influenced or changed.

Such a filling element has an elongated, generally vertically extending Füllelementkörper which encloses an axial product channel in which a filling valve is arranged. The filling valve includes an axially adjustable arranged in the product channel valve element with a valve body, which cooperates with a arranged on the Füllelementkörper valve seat. The

Filling element has a discharge opening at the lower end of the product channel. Such a filling element is known from DE 10 2006 017 706 A1. It is an object of the invention, the scope of such a

 Further develop free-jet filling, so that it not only for the non-pressurized leadership, but also for pressure filling, e.g. suitable for filling CO2-containing beverages. This object is achieved according to the invention in a free-jet filling element

solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention is achieved by a method according to claim 16. advantageous

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the associated dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are also disclosed in the description and in the drawings.

According to the invention, at least one is in the region of the discharge opening

Spülaustrittsöffnung arranged, which has a Spülsteuerventil with a

Purging gas supply is connected. The purge gas used here is preferably CO2, which is particularly useful for bottling carbonated beverages. By pre-rinsing with CO2, an oxidation of the filled liquid,

especially a drink avoided by residual oxygen from the ambient air. In addition, the container can be filled via the rinse outlet opening during filling with a relation to the ambient pressure increased filling pressure (pressure filling) when the container opening is gas-tight at the lower end of the Füllelementkörpers.

Preferably, the scavenging outlet surrounds the dispensing opening annularly and thus forms a kind of annular gap which surrounds the dispensing opening. In this way, a very homogeneous and complete flushing is achieved especially for containers with a round cross-section.

Preferably, the Spülaustrittsöffnung is inclined downwards and inclined to the central axis of the Füllelementkörpers, so that a purge gas flow is achieved in the desired manner during the flushing process, such that the purge gas flows in the middle of the container down and at the edges of the container back up where escapes from the container, in particular through a Spülrückführöffnung eg in the ambient air or in a vacuum chamber. Preferably, this has the outlet opening or the annular gap relative to the central axis of the

Filler body at an angle of 5-25 °, i. the exit angle is quite acute relative to the axis of the filler body. That way, that's the top

scavenging scheme described achieved. In principle, it is possible that the purge gas escapes after flushing the container in the ambient air. Preferably, however, at least one purge return opening is arranged in the region of the discharge opening, through which the purge gas can escape in a controlled manner. This is particularly advantageous when the purge return opening surrounds the discharge opening in an annular manner, so that the

preferably annular flushed purge gas also annular after the

Rinse the container out of the container opening. In this way, a homogeneous rinsing pattern is achieved in the container, which leads to a complete flushing of the container, which prevents subsequent oxidation of the filled beverage by residual oxygen. Preferably, the Spülrückführöffnung also surrounds the particular annular Spülaustrittsöffnung also preferably annular, so that a configuration is formed with the discharge opening in the middle, surrounded by the annular Spülaustrittsöffnung, which in turn is surrounded by the annular Spülrückführöffnung. In this way, a very defined and homogeneous rinsing scheme can be achieved in the container. The Spülgaszu- and -abfuhr is also very fast and effective. Preferably, the Spülaustrittsöffnung is located at the end of an im

 Füllelementkörper arranged flushing channel, in which a flushing control valve is arranged. The purge control valve may be timed by a controller

Correlation can be actuated to the filling valve and thus can be used for a defined pre-purging of the container before filling or for a pressure filling of the container under a relation to the ambient pressure increased CO ₂ pressure.

The purge return opening is preferably also formed at the end of a return gas channel arranged on the filler element body, in which a purge return gas valve is arranged. In this way, not only the purge gas, but also the purge gas discharge can be controlled in temporal correlation to the actuation of the filling element, so that different filling process steps, such as rinsing, biasing the container with purge gas, pressure, pre-discharge and

Restentlasten can be easily controlled. The purge control valve and the purge return gas valve are preferably disposed on the filler member, while the control for the respective valves is preferably located centrally in a filling machine having a plurality of the above-mentioned. Has filling elements.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the Füllelementkörper carries at its lower end a sealing arrangement which is designed to come in gas-tight contact with the container opening of a container to be filled. In this way, the container can be kept at a different pressure from the ambient pressure, which allows the pre-wash, pressure filling, pre-relieving and residual relieves in a completely controlled manner, regardless of the ambient pressure. This also allows the filling of CO2-containing beverages in the free jet filling process. Preferably, the sealing arrangement is arranged at the lower ring end of a bellows, the upper end of which is gas-tight with the lower end of the bellows

Füllelementkörpers is connected, and the ring end is at an axial

Adjusting mechanism for adjusting the ring end arranged in the axial direction. In this way, the sealing arrangement at the ring end by means of

Actuator be pressed gas-tight to the container opening. Thus, a trouble-free pre-rinsing of the container or pressure filling is made possible without the distance of the filling element itself must be adjusted relative to the container receptacle.

Preferably, in the filling element, the valve element and thus the

Valve body of the filling valve in the usual manner via a control mechanism axially movable relative to the valve seat.

Preferably - in the horizontal plane - the discharge opening, the

Spülaustrittsöffnung and possibly arranged the Spülrückführöffnung within the sealing arrangement, which makes it possible to control the scavenging pressure in the container, regardless of the ambient pressure.

As already stated above, the filling element is a free-jet filling element in which the filling jet downstream of the filling valve is not influenced or impaired by any guiding measures. The invention also relates to a filling machine comprising a plurality of filling elements of the aforementioned type, each having one under each filling element

arranged container holder, which may however also be common for several filling elements, e.g. as a management level. The container holder and / or the filling element are preferably movable in the axial direction to the

To bring container opening in contact with the sealing arrangement of the filling element. However, even the sealing arrangement can be axially adjustable relative to the container opening. In this way, a rinsing and filling of the container can be carried out under a pressure deviating from the ambient pressure. Preferably, the filling machine has a central control provided for all filling elements, which for each filling element, the activity of Spülsteuerventils for the purge gas supply and preferably also the activity of the

Spülrückgasventils for the purge gas return opening in time correlation with the operation of the filling valve controls, thus to realize a defined rinsing and / or pressure filling process, in particular for the filling of CO2-containing drinks.

The invention also relates to a method for filling containers with a liquid by means of a filling element of a filling machine, wherein the filling element is preferably designed as a free-jet filling element. According to the method, a container for producing a gas-tight filling position is brought into gas-tight contact with the sealing arrangement of the filling element and the container is flushed, at least before filling with a purge gas. In this way, the container to be filled, regardless of the ambient pressure and the conditions of

Ambient atmosphere are flushed with a desired purge gas, in particular CO ₂ and also the filling process can be carried out under pressure, which is also the

Filling CO2-containing beverages in the free-jet filling method allows. Preferably, CO _{2 is} used as purge gas and the filling of the container takes place under a relation to the ambient pressure increased CO2 gas pressure. It even allows the filling of carbonated beverages, such as beer in the

Freistrahlfüllverfahren. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the o.g. Embodiments of

Invention can be combined in any way with each other. It is further apparent that features of the invention as defined in the claims may be single or multiple. Thus, in each channel, e.g. be arranged in the purge passage or in Spülrückgaskanal more controllable valves.

The flushing outlet opening may be, for example, an annular opening or consist of a plurality of, in particular annularly arranged, preferably circular individual openings which surround the dispensing opening. The following expressions are used synonymously: return gas channel - purge back channel; Control valve - purge control valve; Return gas valve - purge return gas valve;

It is also possible for each filling element to have its own separate control for the valves connected to the flushing opening and the flushing return opening, so that a central control is not absolutely necessary.

The invention will be described below, for example, with reference to the schematic

Drawing described. In this show:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an inventive

 Filling element during the rinsing phase,

Fig. 2, the filling element of Fig. 1 during the filling phase, and

FIGS. 3 to 13 show the sequence of a filling process with the filling element shown in FIG. 1 for pre-rinsing and pressure-filling a container with a beverage containing CO2. Fig. 1 shows a filling element 10 of a filling machine, which e.g. can be configured as round filling machine. The filler element 10 has an elongated, vertically extending filler body 12 surrounding a central product channel 14. In the product channel 14, which is arranged in the center and coaxial with the Füllelementkörper 12, a central valve element 16 is held by a valve control element 18 in the axial direction adjustable. The valve element 16 has a valve body 19, with which it bears against the valve seat 20, which at the lower end of

Füllelementkörpers 12 is arranged. The valve body 19 together with the valve seat 20 forms the filling valve 22. Further up the filling element body 12, a product supply channel 24 is arranged, which of a particular

Magnetic inductive flowmeter (MID) 26 is surrounded for

Control purpose to determine the amount of product supplied for each container. Alternatively, the MID may also surround the product channel 14. Below the filling valve 22, a discharge opening 28 is arranged, which forms the lower outlet or the lower open end of the product channel 14. These Dispensing opening 28 is surrounded by a Spülaustrittsöffnung 30 in the form of an annular gap, which annular gap obliquely downward to the central axis of the

Füllelementkörpers 12 is inclined so as to realize the purge stream 32 shown in arrows in a arranged below the discharge opening 28 container 34. The Ringpülaust ttsöffnung is surrounded by an annular Spülrückführöffnung 36, which is also in the form of an annular gap, and serves to return the flowed through the container 34 purge gas. At the lower end of the Füllelementkörpers 12, more precisely at the lower ring portion 23 of a

Bellows 58, the upper end 60 with the lower end of the

Filler body is gas-tight, a sealing arrangement 38 is arranged in the form of a ring seal, which is designed to bear against the container opening 40. The container is thus, when it rests with its container opening 40 on the annular seal 38, gas-tight relative to the ambient atmosphere with the discharge opening 28, connected to the Spülaustrittsöffnung 30 and the Spülrückführöffnung 36.

The Spülaustrittsöffnung 30 is connected to a purge passage 42 in which a purge control valve 44 is arranged, wherein the purge control valve 44 with a

Purge gas supply 46, in particular CO ₂ supply is connected. The purge gas supply may be the gas space in a product container of a CO2-containing product. The

Spülrückführöffnung 36 is in turn connected to a return gas channel 48 which is connected via a Spülrückgasventil 50 with a Spülgasabführraum, in particular a vacuum space 52 in order to realize a fast flushing can. The container 34 is arranged on a container receptacle 54 of a filling machine, which has a plurality of filling elements 10 according to FIG. 1. The Füllelement- body 12 is slidably held by an axial actuating mechanism 56 in the axial direction, so that the sealing arrangement or ring seal 38 in

Sealing with a standing on the container receptacle 54 container 34, or its container opening can be brought. Fig. 1 shows the position of the filling element 10 when flushing the container with the purge gas 32, wherein the purge control valve 44 and the return gas valve 50 are opened, so that the purge gas, in particular CO ₂ of the purge gas 46 in a Spülgasabführraum, for example, as a vacuum space 52 is formed, can flow, with the indicated in the container 34 with arrows flushing pattern 32 of the Flush gas results, resulting in a very complete flushing of the container and thus at least approximately complete removal of atmospheric gas. Rinsing has the purpose of ensuring that no residual oxygen remains in the container 34 prior to the actual filling operation.

Fig. 2 shows the filling element 10 during filling of the container after the container has been rinsed. When filling the valve element 16 via the

Control mechanism 18 is raised, so that the filling valve 22 is opened and the container 34 is filled with filling material. The occurring CO2 is over the

Spülaustrittsöffnung 30 and the purge control valve 44 back into the

 Purge gas supply chamber 46 passed, leaving it for further use

is returned. In this way, the existing CO _{2 is} best utilized. It should also be mentioned that the annular seal 38 is preferably arranged at the annular end 23 of the bellows 58, whose upper end 60 with the

Füllelementkörper 12 is connected. Thus, the annular seal 38 is axially moved toward and away from the container opening 40 via the axial adjusting element 56 so as to connect the container 34 in a gastight manner to the dispensing opening 28, the flushing outlet opening 30 and the flushing return opening 36.

Preferably, the filling machine is a round-filling machine with a plurality of arranged at its periphery filling elements of the type mentioned above. The

Relief space 68, the purge gas supply chamber 46 and the Spülgasabführraum or vacuum space 52 are preferably annular spaces on the outer periphery of

 Round filling machine, which allow a slight coupling of a filling element.

Figs. 3-13 show the filling element 10 of Fig. 1 during the pressure filling and pre-rinsing of a container with a CO ₂ -containing beverage.

Fig. 3 shows the filling element 10 during filling of the container 34 in the container receptacle 54. About the axial actuator 56, the ring seal 38 is raised at the lower annular end of the bellows 58, so that the container 34 with his Container opening 40 can be inserted under the lower end of the Füllelementkörpers 12.

In Fig. 4, the container 34 is arranged in its filling position.

In FIG. 5, the annular seal 38 is pressed down on the container opening 40 via an actuation of the axial adjusting element 56, so that the container 40 is now connected in a gas-tight manner to the filling element 10. According to Fig. 6, the purge control valve 40 is opened, which connects the purge gas 46 with the purge supply port 30 and in the same way is the

Spülrückgasventil 50 is opened, thus the Spülrückführöffnung 36 with the

Spülgasabführraum or vacuum space 52 to connect. The container 34 is thereby completely rinsed according to the purge gas flow 32 shown with arrows. The supplied CO ₂ runs through a throttle 62.

According to Fig. 7, the container 34 is now brought to a biasing pressure, in which the return gas valve 50 is closed, so that the CO2 on the

Purge control valve 40 flows to reach a desired biasing pressure.

Now, according to FIG. 8, the filling valve 22 can be opened by lifting the valve element 16, the container being filled. In this case, the exiting CO _{2 flows} via the flushing opening 30 and the flushing control valve 44 into the flushing supply space 46, so that the escaping part is recovered for a new flushing operation. In this connection, it should be noted that the rinse supply space 46 and the

Spülgasabführraum or vacuum space 52 are in particular ring channels, which run in a round-filling machine along the outer circumference and are connected to each of the numerous filling elements 10. This means that access to the feed space 46 always multiple filling elements 10 at the same time and remove CO2, as well as CO2 supply. At the filling end of FIG. 9, the filling valve 22 is closed by the

Valve element 16 is actuated downward via the control element 18, so that the valve body 19 rests against the valve seat 22. According to FIG. 10, the flushing return opening 36 is now connected via a relief valve 66 to a relief space 68, so that a still existing one

Differential pressure can compensate for ambient pressure.

In the process step of FIG. 1 1, all the control valves 44, 50, 66 remain the

Rinse outlet opening 30 and the Spülrückführöffnung 36 closed, so that the drink can calm down. According to Fig. 1 1 is now again the

Relief valve 66 is opened to dissipate a residual overpressure in the discharge chamber 68. At the end of the filling process, the annular seal 38 can then be raised again via the axial adjusting element 56, so that the container is released and can be removed from its filling position.

It is clear that the embodiment described above in no way

is limiting for this invention, but this may be within the

Protection range of the following claims are varied as desired.

It has been assumed above that the purge return port (36) is a single port. Of course, the

Spülrückführöffnung (36) also be formed such that it is composed of a plurality of openings, wherein the individual openings are separated, for example, by webs.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 filling element

 12 filler body

 14 product channel

 16 valve element

 18 control mechanism

 19 valve body

 20 valve seat

 22 filling valve

 23 lower ring end

 24 product feed channel

 26 flow meters

 28 discharge opening

 30 Spülaustrittsöffnung

 32 purge gas flow

 34 containers

 36 flushing return opening

 38 Sealing arrangement - ring seal

 40 container opening

 42 flushing channel

 44 purge control valve

 46 purge gas supply space - gas space

 48 return gas channel

 50 flushing gas valve

 52 Vacuum space - purge gas discharge space

 54 Container holder

 56 axial actuator

 58 bellows

 60 upper end of the bellows

 62 throttle for purge gas supply

 64 relief line

 66 relief valve

 68 Relief space under ambient pressure

Claims

 claims 1 . A filling element (10) for filling containers with a liquid, comprising an elongate filling element body (12) which encloses an axial product channel (14) in which a valve element (16) is movably arranged Valve element (16) has a valve body (19) with one on the  Valve body (12) arranged valve seat forms a filling valve (22), wherein the filling element at the lower end of the product channel (14) has a discharge opening (28),  characterized in that in the region of the discharge opening (28) at least one Spülaust ttsöffnung (30) is arranged, which is connected via a purge control valve (44) with a purge gas supply (46). 2. filling element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the  Spülausthttsöffnung (30) annularly surround the discharge opening (28). 3. filling element (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Spülausthttsöffnung (30) is inclined obliquely downwards and on the central axis of the Füllelementkörpers (12). 4. filling element (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the axis of the Spülausthttsöffnung (30) relative to the central axis of the Füllelementkörpers (12) forms an angle of 5 to 75 degrees. 5. filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized  characterized in that in the region of the discharge opening (28) at least one Spülrückführöffnung (36) is arranged. 6. filling element (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the  Spülrückführöffnung (36) or the Spülrückführungsöffnungen (36) the Dispensing opening (28) surrounded annularly. Filling element (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that d Spülrückführöffnung (36) or the Spülrückführöffnungen (36) the  Flush outlet opening (30) surrounded annularly. Filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flushing outlet opening (30) at the end of an am  Füllelementkörper (12) arranged flushing channel (42), in which a flushing control valve (44) is arranged. Filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flushing return opening (36) at the end of an am  Füllelementkörper (12) arranged return gas channel (48) is formed, which a Spülrückgasventil (50) is arranged. 10. filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized  characterized in that the filler body (12) carries at its lower end a sealing arrangement (38) designed to come into gas-tight contact with the container opening (40) of a container (34) to be filled. 1 1. Filling element (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the  Sealing arrangement (38) at the lower ring end (23) of a bellows (58) is arranged, whose upper end is gas-tightly connected to the lower end of the Füllelementkörpers (12), and in that the ring end (23) on an adjusting mechanism (56) for adjusting the Ringendes is arranged in the axial direction. 12. filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized  characterized in that the valve element (16) via a  Control mechanism (18) axially relative to the valve seat (20) is movable. 13. filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing opening (28), the flushing outlet opening (30) and optionally the flushing return opening (36) are arranged inside the sealing arrangement (38). 14. filling element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a free jet filling element. 15. Filling machine comprising a plurality of filling elements according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one under each filling element (10) arranged container holder (54), characterized in that the container holder and / or the filling element is movable in the axial direction / are to the  To bring container opening (40) into contact with the sealing arrangement (38). 16. Filling machine according to claim 15, characterized in that it for all  Filling elements (10) has a central control, which for each filling element (10) the action of a purge control valve (44) for the purge port (30) and, preferably, the operation of a purge return valve (50) for the purge control valve (50)  Spülrückführöffnung (36) in temporal correlation to the actuation of the  Valve element (16) controls. 17. A method for filling containers with a liquid by means of a Filling element (10) of a filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a container for producing a gas-tight filling position in gas-tight contact with the sealing arrangement (38) of the filling element is brought, that the container at least before filling with a purge gas (32). is rinsed. 18. The method according to claim 16 for filling with CO ₂ -containing liquids, characterized in that CO2 is used as purge gas, and that the filling of the container (34) takes place under a relation to the ambient pressure increased CO ₂ gas pressure.