EP2146922A1

EP2146922A1 - Filling system and method for controlling a filling system

Info

Publication number: EP2146922A1
Application number: EP08749177A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2007-05-09
Filing date: 2008-04-26
Publication date: 2010-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-26
Also published as: US20100108180A1; SI2146922T1; WO2008138472A1; DE102007022259A1; US8776842B2; EP2146922B1; PL2146922T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a free-jet filling system for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid bulk product, having a filling element (2), the housing (5) of which has a fluid channel controlled by at least one fluid valve (13) and forming at least one dispensing opening (11), at least one gas trap (10) being provided in said fluid channel downstream of the at least one fluid valve in the flow direction of the liquid bulk product during filling, and having a bracket (3) on which a closing element (35) closing the dispensing opening is mounted or can be mounted for cleaning and/or sterilization of the filling element.

Description

Filling system and method for controlling a filling system

The invention relates to a filling system according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for controlling such a filling system according to the preamble of claim 20 or 22.

Filling systems for use in filling machines for filling bottles or the like containers with a liquid product are known in different designs. It is also known to close the respective filling element at its discharge opening for cleaning and / or sterilization (CIP cleaning and / or sterilization) by a closing element, for example by a rinsing cap or rinsing plate, to form one of the in the Usually liquid cleaning and / or sterilization medium permeable flushing chamber. It is also known in this case to provide in the filling element a control space that can be acted upon by a fluid pressure, into which opens a fluid channel which is open in the region of the dispensing opening and which is part of a control element which can be actuated by pressure, with which, inter alia, the closing element can be pressed tightly against the filling element by the pressure of the rinsing and / or sterilizing medium in the control chamber. This very advantageous procedure is not applicable to free-jet filling systems.

Free-jet filling systems in the context of the invention are filling systems with which a filling of bottles or similar containers takes place in such a way that the liquid filling material flows into the respective container in a free jet.

The object of the invention is to provide a free-jet filling system, wherein during the cleaning and / or sterilization operation (CIP cleaning and / or sterilization) a sealed pressing of the closing element against the filling element by the pressure prevailing in the control chamber of the cleaning or Sterilization medium is possible. To solve this problem, a filling system according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A method for controlling the filling system is the subject of claims 20 or 22.

In the filling system according to the invention, during the normal filling process, ie during the free-jet filling, the gas or flow path formed by the fluid channel, the control chamber and the "first" flow channel is closed, so that neither liquid filling material can penetrate into this gas or flow path, nor air can be sucked and carried along by this gas or flow path from the liquid filling material emerging from the discharge opening. During the cleaning and / or sterilization operation (CIP cleaning and / or sterilization), the aforementioned gas or flow path is opened so that, inter alia, the control chamber also flows through the cleaning and / or sterilization medium and at the same time through the building in the control room Pressure of the cleaning and / or sterilization medium and the required contact force for the closing element (eg, rinse cap or dish) is generated.

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

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

1 and 2, a free-jet filling system according to the invention in a fast filling phase or a slow filling phase corresponding operating state;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration as in FIG. 1, but in an operating state for CIP cleaning and / or sterilization; FIG.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 in a further embodiment of the invention.

The free-jet filling system shown in Figures 1 and 2 is part of a filling machine, such as a filling machine rotating design for free jet filling of bottles 1 or other containers with a liquid product. The filling system consists inter alia of a filling element 2, which with several similar filling elements 2 and associated with this bottle or container carriers 3, where the bottles to be filled 1 during filling at a mouth Flange 1.1 are held suspended, is provided on the circumference of a rotatable about a vertical axis of the machine rotor 4.

In the housing 5 of each filling element 2 u.a. a liquid channel 6 is formed, which is connected at its upper end via a line 7 with a flow meter 8 to a common boiler 4 for all filling elements 2 provided on the rotor. The boiler 9 is level-controlled for the operation of the filling machine up to a level N filled with the liquid product, so that in the boiler 9 above the Füllgutspiegels a gas chamber 9.1 and lying below a liquid tree 9.2 are formed, in which the lines 7 open.

The liquid channel 6 forms at the bottom a provided with a gas barrier 10 discharge opening 11, via which the liquid product flows during the free jet filling of the respective bottle 1 as a free jet 12, and at 1.2 spaced from the discharge opening 11 bottle mouth.

In the liquid channel 6, a liquid valve 13 is provided in the flow direction of the filling in front of the gas barrier 10, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment by a valve stem in the form of a pipe section 14 with valve body 15 which cooperates with a valve seat in the liquid channel 6. About the with its axis coaxial with the vertical Füllelementachse FA arranged and open at both ends pipe section 14, the liquid valve 13 is opened and closed by an actuator 16 for a volume-controlled filling taking into account the signal of the flow meter 8.

The channel formed in the interior of the pipe section 14 14.1 is open at the discharge opening 11 and surrounded by the gas barrier 10, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment of an annular insert with a plurality of parallel to each other and parallel to the axis FA oriented and open at both ends individual channels , Furthermore, the channel opens into a 14.1 formed in the housing 5 and outwardly closed control chamber 17 which is bounded at the top by a piston 18 and laterally by a pleated ball 19. The piston 18 is provided on the upper side of the housing 5 by means of a piston rod 20 in the direction of the axis FA by a predetermined maximum stroke axially displaceable. The led out of the housing 5 and with a cam roller 21st provided end 20.1 of the piston rod 20 is connected via a linkage with the container carrier 3. About the cam roller 21 and a control cam, not shown, the container carrier 3 is controlled against the action of a compression spring lowered. The gas barrier 10 is provided for example on the pipe section 14 and with this opening and closing of the liquid valve 13 in the direction of the axis FA movable, or in the Füllelementgehäuse 5 firmly provided gas barrier 10, the pipe section 14 is arranged axially displaceable in the gas barrier 10 with its lower end or led.

In the illustrated embodiment, two flow channels 23 and 24 are formed inside the housing 5 of the filling element 2, of which the flow channel 23 has an electrically controllable valve 25 and thus a controlled connection between the control chamber 17 and one on the rotor 4 for all filling elements 2 Filling machine or a group of filling elements common annular channel 26 forms.

The flow channel 24 is provided with a check valve 27 and connects the liquid channel 6 in the flow direction immediately before the liquid valve 19 and the valve seat of this liquid valve with a rotor 4 for all filling elements 2 or a group of filling elements 2 jointly provided annular channel 28. The check valve 27th is designed so that it opens for a flow from the liquid channel 6 into the annular channel 28, but blocks for a flow in the opposite direction. Via an electrically actuated valve 29, the two annular channels 26 and 28 can be controlled connected to each other or separated from each other. At the annular channel 28, a line 30 is connected to a control valve 31.

Above the piston 18, a piston or cylinder chamber 32 (Figure 3) is formed in the interior of the housing 5, which is controlled by an electrically actuated control valve 33 with the pressure of a compressed air source 34 acted upon.

With the filling system or filling element 2 a variety of procedures are possible.

First, in the operating state illustrated in FIG. 1, free-jet filling of the bottles 1 with the liquid product in a rapid filling phase is possible. Therefor the liquid valve 13 is opened with closed valves 25, 29 and 31 and preferably pressurized annular channel 28, so that the liquid product of the hanging on the container carrier 3 bottle 1 can flow in the free jet 12 until the filling process is terminated by closing the liquid valve 13 ,

By actuating the control valve 33, the cylinder chamber 32 can be pressurized, whereby the piston 18 is moved down into a lower stroke position, which is defined by the stop of the end 20.1 against the top of the housing 5. The piston 18 forms a stop for the upper end of the pipe section 14 in this position. This stop is set so that the liquid valve 13 via the actuator 16 only with a reduced valve gap for a slower filling, i. can be opened for a slow filling phase, as shown in Figure 2. The size of the valve gap of the liquid valve 13 and thus the volume flow of the liquid filling material in the slow filling phase can be adjusted by the positions of the piston 18 with pressurized cylinder chamber 32, e.g. by appropriate adjustment of the upper end 20.1 of the piston rod 20 and / or a housing-side stop for this end.

Characterized in that the flow channel 23 is closed by the control valve 25, during the filling no liquid product can penetrate into the channel 14.1 and / or sucked from the channel 14.1 air from the liquid product and be carried. As a result, u.a. excessive foaming and also prevents excessive inclusion of air and thus Sauserstoff in the bottled filling material comes.

Due to the described configuration, it is furthermore possible to keep the filling elements 2 in pauses for filling, in particular also during the period between the completion of a filling phase and the start of a new filling phase, by circulating a hot, liquid filling material (hot circulation). For this purpose, the boiler 9 as well as the annular channel 28 and the line 30 with the open valve 31 is provided with a circulating and heating device for the liquid product cycle, in which the liquid, hot contents even with the liquid valve 13 closed each filling element 2 and the local fluid channel 6 via the line 7 flows and is returned from the liquid channel 6 via the flow channel 24, the annular channel 28 and the line 30 with the open valve 31 to the boiler 9.

In particular, however, cleaning and sterilization of all channels of all filling elements of the filling machine, including the annular channels 26 and 28 and the line 30, is also possible with the described configuration (FIG. 3), using simple flushing plates 32 which are used for CIP cleaning and / or or - sterilization manually or automatically inserted such that in each case a flushing plate 35 is below each filling element 2 or under the local discharge opening 11 and each filling element 2 with a dispensing opening 11 annularly enclosing lower edge 11.1 against a at the top of the flushing plate 35th provided ring seal 36 pressed and sealed rests. Hereby, within each annular seal 36, a flushing chamber 36 sealed to the outside is formed, into which the discharge opening 11 or the gas barrier 10, but also the lower, open end of the channel 14.1 open. For CIP cleaning and / or sterilization, the control valve 25 and the valves 29 and 31 and the liquid valve 13 are opened in a pressure-free cylinder chamber 32 so that the cleaning and sterilization medium supplied from the boiler 9 via the lines 7 corresponds to the arrows A 3, all channels of each filling element 2 as well as the annular channels 26 and 29, the line 30 and the control valves 25, 29 and 31 flows through. The cleaning and sterilization medium passes through the channel 14.1 in particular also into the control chamber 17, so that the respective, held on the container carrier 3 flushing plate 35 in addition to the pressure of the compression spring 22 and by the force exerted on the piston 18 pressure of the cleaning or sterilization medium the sealing opening 11 surrounding the edge 11.1 is pressed sealed.

FIG. 4 shows, as a further embodiment, a filling element 2a, which differs from the filling element 2 essentially only in that a check valve 38 is provided in the flow channel 23 instead of the electrically controllable valve 25, which is suitable for a flow from the control chamber 17 into the annular channel 26 opens, for a flow in opposite direction but locks. By the check valve 38 is also prevented during filling Air is sucked in via the pipe section 14 or via the channel formed in this pipe section with the liquid product emerging from the discharge opening 11 and, as a result, excessive foaming and / or excessive inclusion of air and thus sour material can occur in the filled product , About the check valve 38 but required for the CIP cleaning and / or sterilization flow of the cleaning or sterilization medium in the flow channel 23 is possible.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 bottle

1.1 mouth flange

1.2 Bottle mouth

2, 2a filling element

3 container carriers

4 rotor

5 filler housing

6 liquid channel in the filling element 2 or 2a

7 line

8 flow meters

9 kettles

9.1 gas space

9.2 Fluid space

10 gas lock

11 discharge opening

11.1 annular, the discharge opening enclosing edge

12 beam

13 liquid valve

14 pipe section

14.1 channel

15 valve body

16 actuator

17 control room

18 pistons

19 bellows

20 piston rod

20.1 upper end of the piston rod 20th

21 cam follower

22 compression spring

23, 24 flow channel

25 control valve 26 ring channel

27 check valve

28 ring channel

29 controllable valve

30 line

31 controllable valve

32 cylinder space

33 control valve

34 compressed air source

35 flushing plate

36 ring seal

37 rinsing chamber or washing compartment

38 check valve

A flow of cleaning or sterilizing medium during the

CIP

FA filler element axis

N level

Claims

claims

1. Free-jet filling system for filling machines for filling bottles or similar containers (1) with a liquid filling material, with a filling element (2), in the housing (5) by at least one liquid valve (13) controlled and at least one discharge opening (11 ) is provided, in which in the flow direction of the liquid filling material when filling the at least one liquid valve (13) following at least one of the liquid medium perfused during filling gas barrier (10) is arranged, with a holder (3) to which a Dispensing opening (11) for a cleaning and / or sterilization operation occlusive closing element (35) is fastened or fastened, and with means for pressing the Verschließelementes (35) against the filling element (2), characterized in that the means for pressing the Verschließelementes ( 35) of a control element (18) with a pressurizable with a fluid Ste In which a in the region of the discharge opening (11) open FIu- idkanal (14.1) opens, and that in the Füllelementgehäuse (5) at least a first controlled, the Fluidka- channel (14.1) and the control chamber (17 ) is formed, which leads to a common for the filling elements (2) or more filling elements (2) of the filling machine first collecting channel (26) and locked during the filling operation and can be opened during the cleaning and / or sterilization operation.

2. Filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control chamber (17) by at least one, in the housing (5) movably guided, with the pressure in the control chamber acted upon and with the carrier (3) connected to the piston (18) is limited.

3. Filling system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the first flow path or in a control chamber (17) with the first collecting channel (26) connecting the flow channel (23) of this flow path, a controlling valve (25, 38) is provided.

4. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the first flow path or flow channel (23) provided valve is a controllable control valve (25) or a check valve (38), which is suitable for a flow in the first collecting channel (26). opens and blocks for a flow in the opposite direction.

5. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid channel (14.1) is formed in a valve tappet of the at least one liquid valve (13).

6. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid channel (14.1) in a preferably the valve stem of the at least one filling element (13) forming pipe section (14) is formed.

7. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid channel (14.1) in the region of the gas barrier (10) is open.

8. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one second, controlled flow path (24) in the filling element (5), the liquid channel (6) in the flow direction of the liquid filling material in front of the closed liquid valve (13) with one for the filling elements ( 2) or for a plurality of filling elements (2) of the filling machine common second collecting channel (28) connects.

9. filling system according to claim 8, characterized in that the second flow path (24) is controlled such that it during the cleaning and / or sterilization operation and / or in a heating of the filling element (2) with the hot medium for a flow the liquid channel (6) opens into the second collecting channel (28).

10. Filling system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the second flow channel (24) a check valve (27) is provided, which opens for a flow from the liquid channel (5) into the second collecting channel (28), for a flow in opposite direction but locks.

11. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a valve stem stop (18) which is controlled between a non-operative position and an operative position movable, and in the operative position, the stroke of the valve stem for a reduced opening of the liquid valve (13). limited.

A filling system according to claim 11, characterized in that the valve stem stop (18) is pressure-controlled, e.g. is pneumatically movable between its operative and non-operative position.

13. Filling system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the valve stem stop for the in the control chamber (17) extending into the valve stem or for the valve stem forming this tube piece (14) of the control chamber limiting piston (18) is formed.

14. Filling system according to claim 13, characterized in that the piston (18) on its side facing away from the control chamber (17) forms a side with a control pressure, preferably with an air pressure acted upon control or cylinder chamber (32).

15. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one the first and second collecting channel (26, 28) connecting the controllable valve (29).

16. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (35) is provided to the carrier (3) movable, for example displaceable between a use position and a non-use position.

17. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (35) on a container carrier (3) is provided.

18. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element is a flushing plate (35), preferably a flushing plate (35) with at least one against the filling element (2) can be pressed and the washing compartment (37) laterally bounding ring seal (36) ,

19. A method for controlling a free jet filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the filling operation of the first flow path (14.1, 17, 23) is closed at least for a flow from the first collecting channel (26).

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that for the filling operation of the first flow path (14.1, 17, 23) at least for a flow from the first collecting channel (26) into the control chamber (17) is closed.

21. A method for controlling a filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the cleaning and / or sterilization operation in by the closure element (35) at the discharge opening (11) closed filling element (2) and when the liquid valve (13) the first flow path (14.1, 17, 23) is opened at least for a flow of a cleaning and / or sterilization medium via the control chamber (17) into the first collecting channel (26) so that the closing element (35) is pressurized by the pressure of the cleaning or sterilization medium in the control chamber (17) against the filling element (2) is pressed.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that for the cleaning and / or sterilization operation, the first collection chamber (26) is connected to the second collection chamber (28) for a flow of the cleaning and / or sterilization medium.

23. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the cleaning and / or sterilization operation, the liquid channel (6) supplied cleaning or sterilization medium at least this liquid channel, the gas barrier (10) bounded by the closing element (35) Flushing chamber (37), the fluid passage (14.1), the control chamber (17) and the first flow channel (23) flows through and is discharged via the first or second collecting channel (26, 28).

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that during the cleaning and / or sterilization operation the liquid channel (6) supplied cleaning or sterilization medium and the second flow path (24) flows through the second collecting channel (28) is discharged.