EP1311453B1 - Cone-shaped jet filling tube and filling machine equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a filling tube for dispensing a liquid into a container, wherein the tube (10) comprises an orifice (36, 40) for dispensing the liquid which conditions a cone-shaped jet, and wherein the tube comprises an axial cannula provided with a gas discharge conduit (24) emerging inside the space defined by the cone-shaped jet. The invention is characterised in that the cannula comprises a gas intake pipe (28) which emerges inside the space defined by the cone-shaped jet and which sprays a gas stream which flows substantially parallel to the liquid cone-shaped jet, on the inner side thereof.

Description

The invention relates to the field of filling spouts, especially those intended for bottle filling machines.

It is already known to produce filling spouts which condition a spray of conical or "umbrella" product. Used for the filling bottles, they allow in particular to ensure that the product is projected, very quickly from the nozzle, against the wall internal side of the bottle. Thus, the product is introduced into the bottle flowing along the inner wall, not being sprayed directly at the bottom of the bottle. In this way, the filling of the bottle is produced with the least amount of foaming possible, which increases the filling rate and therefore reduces the time required to fill a bottle.

It is also known to have, in such a type of spout, a axial cannula which allows the air initially contained in the bottle without disturbing the conical spray.

There are two examples of spouts so designed in the documents US-A-4,156,444 and US-A-5,125,441. These nozzles allow to decrease by significantly the filling time of a bottle even when the bottled product is a carbonated liquid, such as sodas and beer, or a liquid that tends to froth such as milk or Juice.

Another problem that can be encountered during filling of a bottle is that of the contact of the product with the ambient air. Indeed, many products, including beer and fruit juices, can be degraded by oxygen. However, during filling with a spout classic design, the product is highly exposed to air. Oxygen then tends to be incorporated into the product, which limits the duration conservation of it

The invention therefore aims to propose a new design a filling spout which, while retaining the qualities specific to spouts described above, also makes it possible to greatly limit or even eliminate contact of bottled product with air.

To this end, the invention proposes a filling spout for dispense a liquid in a container, of the type in which the spout contains a liquid distribution orifice which conditions an umbrella jet, and of the type in which the spout comprises an axial cannula provided with a conduit gas outlet which opens into the space delimited by the umbrella spray, characterized in that the cannula has a pipe gas inlet which opens into the space delimited by the jet in an umbrella and which projects a gas flow which essentially flows in parallel to the umbrella jet of the liquid, on the internal side thereof.

• la canalisation d'amenée de gaz débouche à l'intérieur de l'espace délimité par le jet en parapluie sous la forme d'une ouverture annulaire ;
• au niveau de son extrémité débouchante, la canalisation d'amenée de gaz comporte une surface de déflexion sensiblement conique ;
• le conduit d'évacuation débouche axialement au centre de l'ouverture annulaire de la canalisation d'amenée de gaz, laquelle débouche axialement au centre de l'orifice de distribution de produit qui est sensiblement annulaire ;
• la canalisation d'amenée de gaz est alimentée avec un gaz neutre vis-à-vis du produit à distribuer ;
• le jet de produit présente une composante de rotation axiale ;
• le bec comporte une chambre annulaire de mise en rotation dans laquelle le produit est injecté avec une composante de vitesse tangentielle, la chambre de mise en rotation étant prolongée axialement par un canal annulaire dont l'extrémité débouchante forme l'orifice de distribution de produit ;
• la chambre de mise en rotation est raccordée au canal annulaire par une surface en entonnoir ;
• la canule axiale traverse axialement la chambre de mise en rotation ;

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• the gas supply pipe opens into the space delimited by the umbrella jet in the form of an annular opening;
• at its open end, the gas supply pipe has a substantially conical deflection surface;
• the discharge duct opens axially at the center of the annular opening of the gas supply pipe, which opens axially at the center of the product dispensing orifice which is substantially annular;
• the gas supply pipe is supplied with a neutral gas vis-à-vis the product to be dispensed;
• the product jet has an axial rotation component;
• the spout has an annular rotation chamber into which the product is injected with a tangential speed component, the rotation chamber being extended axially by an annular channel whose open end forms the product dispensing orifice;
• the rotation chamber is connected to the annular channel by a funnel surface;
• the axial cannula axially passes through the rotation chamber;

The invention also relates to a machine for filling containers, characterized in that it comprises at least one filling station fitted with a filling spout incorporating any of the previous features.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe axiale d'un bec de remplissage conforme aux enseignements de l'invention, le bec étant illustré en fonctionnement au cours du remplissage d'une bouteille ;
• la figure 2 est une vue à échelle réduite en coupe transversale selon la ligne 2-2 de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, as well as on seeing the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view in axial section of a filling spout according to the teachings of the invention, the spout being illustrated in operation during filling of a bottle;
• FIG. 2 is a view on a reduced scale in cross section along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

The filling spout 10 illustrated in the figures is more particularly intended for filling bottles 12 with narrow necks. he could for example be used as well for glass bottles as for plastic bottles such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Of course such a spout will preferably be used for the manufacture of multi-nozzle filling machines, for example of the rotary carousel type,

The notions of orientations such as "high", "low", "higher", "lower", etc ... which are used for the description of the figures relate to the illustrated example and should not be interpreted as being limitations to the scope of the invention.

The spout 10 illustrated in the figures essentially comprises a body main 14 hollow, substantially of axis A1, which is crossed axially right through by two coaxial tubes: an internal tube 16 and an outer tube 18.

The main body 14 therefore delimits an internal volume which is axially traversed by the tubes 16, 18. The main body 14, which is here shown in one piece, can also be made in several pieces to facilitate manufacturing. It is capped by an upper cover 20 which seals the internal volume upwards and which supports tubes 16, 18.

The cover 20 has a stepped internal bore which passes through it axially right through. The upper stage 22 of the bore, which opens upwards towards the outside of the main body, is cylindrical of axis A1, substantially the same diameter as the external diameter of the tube internal 16.

The lower stage 24, which opens down into the volume internal, is cylindrical with axis A1, substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the outer tube 18.

The intermediate stage 26, which extends axially between the stages upper 22 and lower 24, is cylindrical with axis A1, substantially of same diameter as the internal diameter of the outer tube 18.

The upper end of the outer tube 18 is axially engaged with the bottom up in the bottom stage 26 of the cover bore, up to bear against an annular abutment surface which delimits the lower stage 24 of the intermediate stage 26. The tube 18 is mounted with tightening and with the presence of an O-ring so as to ensure the attachment of the outer tube 18 to the cover 20, and the other the tightness of this assembly.

The inner tube 16 is engaged, axially in the center of the outer tube 18, so as to pass entirely through the cover 20. The internal tube 20 is held tightly through the upper stage 22 of the bore of the cover, which again ensures the fixing of the internal tube 16.

As can be seen in the figures, the inside diameter of the tube outer 18 is greater than the outer diameter of the inner tube 16 of such so that, when they are mounted coaxially on the cover 20, it between the two tubes 16, 18 remains an annular space which forms a pipe 28. As can be seen in Figure 1, the end upper part of this pipe 28, which is formed by the stage intermediate 26 of the bore of the cover 20, is closed due to the tight fitting of the inner tube 16 in the upper stage 22 of the bore.

However, an inlet port 30 passes radially through the cover to open into the intermediate stage 24 of the bore and thus allow the communication of the pipe 28 with a source of fluid.

The internal volume delimited by the main body 14 comprises essentially three parts: an upper rotation chamber 32, an acceleration cone 34, and an annular distribution channel 36. The rotation chamber 32 here has a simple ring shape arranged around the outer tube 18. A power inlet 38 allows introduce the product to be bottled into chamber 32 according to a orientation which is not purely radial but which, on the contrary, presents a tangential component. As the product is introduced into the chamber with a certain pressure, the product is entrained in a spiral circulation in the room, even in case this pressure comes only from the gravity flow of the product. Optionally, provision can also be made to supply power 38 a slight inclination in the vertical direction.

The annular distribution channel 36, through which the product to bottle flows to container 12, is formed around the part bottom of the outer tube 18. In the illustrated embodiment, it is provided that this part of the spout 10 penetrates inside the neck of the container to fill, so that the channel 36 has a smaller diameter than that of the rest of main body 14. Channel 36 is delimited by an element of tubular cylindrical wall. To connect chamber 32 to channel 36, it a connection surface 34 is provided which, for simplicity, was chosen tapered.

Of course, the internal shapes of the main body 14 of the spout 10 can be optimized, for example as illustrated in the document US-A-5,125,441, without departing from the teaching of the invention.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the lower end of the tube external 18 descends below the level of the lower end of the channel 36, thus delimiting an orifice 40 for the outlet of the product which is annular. In addition, the lower end of the outer tube 18 flares radially outward so that the outer surface of the tube external thus forms a deflector 44 which tends to project the product radially outwards so that it comes into contact with the internal wall of the container by forming an umbrella spray.

The dimensions and the respective position of the end of the tube external 18 and the end of channel 36 are chosen so that the passage section of the outlet orifice 40 is relatively small, this in order to be able to retain the liquid contained in the spout when feeding product is cut. The maximum acceptable cross-section for preventing the product from dripping is determined in particular according to the intrinsic surface tension of the product.

Similarly, the lower end of the inner tube 16 protrudes axially below that of the outer tube 18 and the surface the end of the inner tube 16 flares radially towards the outside to form a deflection surface 46. The lower end of the pipe 28 is therefore annular and widens radially towards outside.

In operation, the power input 38 of the chamber 32 is connected to a storage tank for the product to be bottled, with interposition of a controlled valve. Opening and closing the valve can be ordered according to different parameters. It can be a time control which determines a fixed filling time which will be applied to all containers. The command can be of type by weight, product dispensing being interrupted when the container has reached a predetermined weight. It can still be an order flow meter into which the value of the flow delivered by the nozzle is integrated to get an estimate of the volume of product spilled in the container. In the case of a volumetric machine, the quantity of product to be dispensed will be dosed in an intermediate volume placed between the storage tank and the filling spout.

The inlet port 30 of the gas supply line 28 will be preferably connected to a neutral gas source for the product under consideration. This neutral gas could for example be carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrogen (N2).

Finally, the central duct 42 delimited inside the central tube 16 will be connected to a gas evacuation device or simply to air free.

In operation, the flow of product which is injected into the body of the spout is therefore rotated in chamber 32, which, in combination with the annular shape of the outlet port 40 and with the shape of the deflection surface 44, ensures that the product is distributed by the spout in the form of an umbrella spray. The lower part of the beak being engaged in the container or being in the immediate vicinity thereof, the product then comes into contact with the internal wall of the container and the along it to fill the container. We obtain a flow which creates very little foam, even at high flow rates.

According to the invention, the line 28 is supplied with a neutral gas so that the flow of gas that flows through the lower end of the pipe 28 opens "below" the umbrella flow of product. Due to the flared shape of the detection surface 46, the flow gas flows substantially parallel to the product flow in the bottle.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the product flow is found in some sort trapped between, on the outside, the wall of the container, and on the side internal, the neutral gas flow. In this way, the contact of the product with the air ambient is very limited, even canceled.

Of course, the exhaust duct 42 allows the gases to escape from the container as the level of product in the container increases. This exhaust is preferably done by the center of the container, up along the axis A1. Evacuated gases can either be part of the gas initially contained in the container before filling, i.e. part of the neutral gas supplied by the pipeline 36.

To further limit the possibility of product contact with air ambient, we can plan to start the filling operation with a prior step of scanning the container with a neutral gas. The effectiveness such scanning with the spout according to the invention will be particularly improved by the particular flow due to the spout. Indeed, the injected flow via the gas supply pipe 28 flows downward along the walls of the container and it goes up along the axis A1 in the direction of the pipe 42. This flow allows hunting in a very short time and very effectively the air previously contained in the container. Thus, without greatly increasing the total time required to fill a container, the contact of the product with the air.

Thanks to the spout according to the invention, it is also possible to prolong the injection of neutral gas beyond the time required to fill the product, this in order to perfect the scanning of the head space of the container with a gas neutral to avoid trapping air in the bottle, so on contact of the product, when the bottle is capped.

Claims (10)

1. Filling device for dispensing a liquid into a container, of the type in which the device (10) comprises a dispensing orifice (36, 40) for the liquid which creates an umbrella-shaped jet, and of the type in which the device comprises an axial cannula equipped with a gas removal conduit (42) which opens out inside the space delimited by the umbrella-shaped jet, characterized in that the cannula comprises a gas delivery channel (28) which opens out inside the space delimited by the umbrella-shaped jet and which delivers a stream of gas which flows substantially parallel to the umbrella-shaped jet of liquid, on the inside thereof.
2. Filling device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the gas delivery channel (28) opens out inside the space delimited by the umbrella-shaped jet in the form of an annular opening.
3. Filling device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the gas delivery channel (28) comprises, at the end where it opens out, a substantially conical deflection surface (46).
4. Filling device according to either of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the removal conduit (42) opens out axially at the centre of the annular opening of the gas delivery channel (28), which latter opens out axially at the centre of the product-dispensing orifice (36, 40) which is substantially annular.
5. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas delivery channel is supplied with a gas which is neutral with respect to the product to be dispensed.
6. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jet of product has a component of axial rotation.
7. Filling device according to Claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an annular chamber (32) for creating rotation, into which annular chamber the product is injected (38) with a tangential component of velocity, the rotation chamber (32) being continued axially by an annular channel (36) which, at the end where it opens out, forms the product-dispensing orifice (40).
8. Filling device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the rotation chamber (32) is connected to the annular channel (36) via a funnel-shaped surface (34).
9. Filling device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the axial cannula (16, 18) extends axially through the rotation chamber (32).
10. Machine for filling containers, characterized in that it comprises at least one filling station equipped with a filling device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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