EP2427378B1 - Filling machine with a variable filling rate - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for filling containers with a filling product. The invention relates more particularly to a variable filling product flow filling machine for the use of said filling machine for different fillers, and in particular different viscosities.

• un bec de remplissage muni d'un orifice d'alimentation et d'un orifice de décharge,
• des moyens de dosage comprenant un système d'obturation monté dans le bec de remplissage, apte à être manoeuvré entre une position fermée et au moins une position ouverte ; et,
• des moyens d'alimentation pour alimenter ledit bec de remplissage en produit de remplissage, lesdits moyens d'alimentation comprenant un conduit d'alimentation, relié à l'orifice d'alimentation du bec de remplissage en amont dudit système d'obturation, ledit conduit d'alimentation comprenant au moins un tronçon formé d'un tuyau flexible, lesdits moyens d'alimentation comprenant en outre des moyens de pincement aptes à pincer ledit tuyau flexible pour modifier la section du passage interne dudit tuyau flexible, lesdits moyens de pincement étant manoeuvrables entre au moins deux positions correspondant à des sections différentes du passage interne du tuyau flexible.

DE102007036265 discloses a container filling machine, comprising at least one filling station comprising

• a filling spout provided with a supply orifice and a discharge orifice,
• dosing means comprising a closure system mounted in the filling spout, adapted to be operated between a closed position and at least one open position; and,
• supply means for supplying said filling spout with filling product, said supply means comprising a supply duct connected to the supply orifice of the filling spout upstream of said shutter system, said duct supply unit comprising at least one section formed of a flexible pipe, said supply means further comprising pinch means adapted to clamp said flexible pipe to modify the section of the internal passage of said flexible pipe, said pinching means being operable between at least two positions corresponding to different sections of the internal passage of the flexible pipe.

The flexible hose and the clamping means make it possible to vary the pressure drop according to the viscosity of the filling product and / or the presence or absence of pieces or particles in the filling product, in order to control the speed of the filling. flow of the product out of the filling spout and obtain a clean dosage and without overflow within a given time.

Depending on the viscosity of the product, the presence of pieces or particles, the product passage sections of each filling station must be different, in order to control the flow velocity of the product by appropriate pressure losses and to obtain a clean and without overflow dosage in a given time. To adapt the machine to different filling products, rigid feed ducts of different types are conventionally used. diameters. Replacing the supply lines of all filling stations is time-consuming and tedious.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, which makes it possible to adapt the filling machine to different products simply, quickly and economically.

For this purpose, the present invention provides a container filling machine as defined in claim 1.

The filling machine can be adapted to different products, of different viscosities, simply, quickly and economically, without replacement or addition of parts, in particular without replacement of the supply line and without replacement or modification of the filling nozzle and / or its associated shutter system. The manual operation limitation for adapting the machine to a product type also improves hygiene.

The clamping means can have only two positions, or several positions to be able to treat a multitude of filling products of different viscosities.

The closed section flexible pipe associated with pinch means is a simple to implement and effective solution to vary the section of the supply duct. The flexible hose can be easily inserted into a supply duct, while ensuring a substantially continuous inner passage that can be cleaned easily and efficiently.

According to one feature, said pinching means are operable between a rest position corresponding to an unclamped state of the hose, wherein said hose has a maximum internal passage section, and at least one active position corresponding to a pinched state of flexible pipe in which the flexible pipe has a reduced section. The machine can have a single active position or a multitude of active positions. The ability to return quickly and easily to a maximum section also allows for better cleaning of the machine. The cleaning of the machine may advantageously be performed in the unclamped state of the flexible hose.

According to one embodiment, the filling spout comprises a generally tubular body, the supply orifice being preferably formed radially on the tubular wall of said body, the shutter system comprising a valve which is mounted in said tubular body and controlled opening and closing by an actuating system comprising a jack, the cylinder body being disposed above the filling spout and its rod extending substantially axially in the tubular body and end bearing said valve. Alternatively, the supply port is formed by the open upper axial end of the tubular body. The valve is then preferably controlled by a magnetic type actuating system.

According to one embodiment, said flexible pipe is arranged so that its longitudinal axis forms a non-zero angle and less than 90 ° with respect to the horizontal, the first fixed bar being disposed under said flexible pipe. These pinching means in which only the bar disposed above is movable can elastically deform the flexible pipe only from above and thus avoid areas of filler retention in the flexible pipe.

According to another embodiment, the flexible pipe is arranged substantially vertically, said pinching means comprise a first bar and a second bar between which is disposed said flexible pipe, the first bar and / or the second bar being able to be moved between a rest position and an active position by an actuating device.

According to another embodiment, the filling machine comprises several filling stations with a clamping system and its associated actuating device for each filling station.

According to one embodiment, the machine comprises a plurality of filling stations and an onboard distribution tank or a supply line connected to a remote storage tank, each filling station comprising a supply line connecting the filling spout to said storage tank or to said supply line.

According to one embodiment, the machine is of rotary type, said filling stations being arranged at regular angular space on a carousel, the supply ducts extending radially from the filling spouts towards the dispensing tank or the pipe of brought centered on the axis of rotation of the carousel.

According to one embodiment, the clamping systems are arranged at regular angular space, the first bar and the second bar of each clamping system extending in an arc.

According to one embodiment, each supply duct of a filling station comprises a first rigid pipe and a second rigid pipe connected respectively to the distribution tank or the supply pipe, and to a filling spout, said flexible pipe , possibly equipped with rigid flange ends being removably mounted between the free ends of the two rigid pipes, possibly provided with a flange.

• les figures 1 et 2 représentent deux vues schématiques partielles en perspective d'une machine de remplissage selon l'invention, sans les moyens de pincement, sur laquelle seule une partie des postes de remplissage est illustrée ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue partielle en coupe transversale de la machine de remplissage des figures 1 et 2, équipée de moyens de pincement, la coupe étant réalisée au niveau d'un poste de remplissage, avec les moyens de pincement dans une position active ; et,
• la figure 4 représente une vue schématique en perspective des moyens de pincement de la machine des figures 1 et 2, lesdits moyens de pincement étant dans leur position active.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed explanatory description of a particular presently preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the schematic drawings. annexed, in which:

• the figures 1 and 2 represent two partial schematic perspective views of a filling machine according to the invention, without the clamping means, on which only part of the filling stations is illustrated;
• the figure 3 represents a partial cross-sectional view of the filling machine of the figures 1 and 2 equipped with pinching means, the section being made at a filling station, with the clamping means in an active position; and,
• the figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the pinch means of the machine of the figures 1 and 2 said pinching means being in their active position.

In the present embodiment illustrated in the figures, the filling machine is of rotary type, and comprises a carousel 1 having a support structure to be rotatably mounted on a fixed frame (not shown) about an axis A of vertical rotation. The carousel 1 carries a plurality of filling stations 2 arranged at regular angular space around the axis A of rotation. Each filling station 2 comprises a filling spout 3 mounted vertically on a ring 11 of the support structure.

With reference to the figure 3 , the filling spout 3 is formed of a generally tubular body 31 having an internal passage 32, an open upper axial end and a lower axial end constituting the discharge opening 33 of the filling spout. The tubular body is provided with a radial supply orifice 34 for supplying the spout with filler. The tubular body is mounted on the underside of the ring 11, at an opening thereof.

Means for dosing the product are associated with each filling spout for delivering a determined quantity of filling product into each container brought under the filling spout. These metering means comprise a closure system 4 comprising a valve 41 disposed in the filling spout. This valve is controlled in opening and closing by a control system comprising a cylinder 51, for example pneumatic. The body 51a of the jack is mounted on the upper face of the ring 11 and its rod 51b extends substantially axially in the internal passage 32 of the filling spout and carries at its free end the valve 41, so that the valve can be moved in vertical translation by the jack between a closed position, illustrated in FIG. figure 3 , to close the discharge port, and open positions to open the discharge port. The dosing means are, for example, of the weight type, the jack being controlled by a weighing sensor placed at a container support system associated with the filling station. Alternatively, the cylinder is controlled by a sensor for detecting the filling level of the container or a flow sensor that is interposed between the container and the nozzle at the time of filling.

The tubular body 31 advantageously consists of two parts to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the filling spout: a first part 31a, provided with the upper axial end and the supply port 34 is mounted on the underside of the ring 11, and a second part 31b provided with the discharge port is removably mounted on the first piece.

Each filling station further comprises supply means connected to the supply port 34 for supplying said filling spout with filler. Said supply means comprise a supply duct 6 connected to the supply port of the filling spout. The supply ducts of the set of filling nozzles are connected on one side to a filling spout and on the other side to the same dispensing tank 7 mounted on the support structure. In a known manner, this on-board distribution tank is supplied with filling product from a remote storage tank via a supply line, the distribution tank serving as a buffer zone. Alternatively, the distribution vessel may be replaced by a supply line connected to a remote storage tank.

According to the invention, this feed duct 6 comprises a section consisting of a hose 61 flexible, elastically deformable, also called flexible hose, adapted to be clamped by pinch means 8 mounted on the support structure to vary the section 611 internal passage of the flexible pipe, and thus adapt the pressure drop to the type of filling product.

In the illustrated embodiment, the feed pipe comprises three sections, an intermediate section consisting of a flexible pipe, for example made of elastomeric material, connected at the end to two end sections consisting of rigid pipes 62, 63. A first rigid pipe 62 is connected to the distribution tank 7 and a second rigid pipe 63 is connected to the orifice 34 for supplying the filling spout.

The flexible pipe and the rigid pipes are substantially rectilinear and have substantially identical inner sections. The first rigid pipe and the second rigid pipe are respectively mounted on the tank and the filling spout so that the pipes 61, 62, 63 constituting the supply pipe form a non-zero angle relative to the horizontal, between 1 ° and 45 °, for example of the order of 5 °. In the illustrated embodiment, the first pipe 62 Rigid is connected by a bent end portion 62b to the bottom wall 71 of the tank 7. The second rigid pipe 63 is formed in one piece with the first piece 31a of the filling spout.

The flexible pipe is removably mounted between the free ends of the two rigid pipes, so as to obtain an internal feed conduit passage having a substantially continuous surface. The flexible hose is crimped or fitted on two rigid clamp-type tips 64, each provided with a flange 64a for their assembly at the free ends of the rigid pipes 62, 63 also provided with flanges 62a, 63a. As illustrated on figures 1 and 2 , the blocking of the flanges is achieved by means of two half-rings 91, 92 with a U-shaped cross-section, articulated to one another by a first end, and provided at their second end with a clamping system 93, the clamping system comprising for example a wing nut which is screwed onto a threaded rod pivotally mounted on a half-ring and adapted to come snap into a slot of the other half-ring. The two half-rings are fitted on the flanges and then tightened by the clamping system to hold the two flanges tightly against each other. Alternatively, these clamp-type fittings, with ferrules and half-rings, can be replaced by DIN-type connectors or SMS-type connectors.

For each filling station, the clamping means 8 comprise a first bar 81, said lower, fixedly mounted on the radial crosspieces 12 of the support structure, under the hose 61 flexible, in contact with the latter, and a second bar 82 said upper, mounted movably on the radial crosspieces 12 of the support structure above the flexible pipe, the two bars being substantially aligned vertically. The upper bar is operable vertically between a rest position and an active position by a device 83 actuating cylinder type. In its rest position, the upper bar 82 is spaced from the hose, or simply in contact with the hose, the hose being in a non-pinched state. From this rest position, the upper bar can be moved vertically downwards by the actuating device to its active position illustrated in FIG. figure 3 , to pinch the flexible pipe and thus reduce the section of its internal passage by elastic deformation. When the upper bar is returned to its rest position, the hose returns elastically in its unclamped state.

In the present embodiment, the machine comprises pinch means common to several adjacent filling stations. With reference to the figure 4 , the machine comprises several pinch system 8a, for example six in number, angularly offset about the axis A. Each pinch system comprises a lower bar 81 and an upper bar 82 which extend in an arc of a circle between which pass the hoses of several adjacent filling stations. Each clamping system further comprises an actuating device of the upper bar, here formed of a cylinder 83, for example of the pneumatic type.

The clamping systems 8a are mounted on a support ring 84 formed of a plurality of arcuate elements mounted between radial crosspieces 12 ( Fig. 1 ) of the support structure. The lower bar 81 of each clamping system is fixedly mounted at the free ends of two vertical tabs 85 integral with the support ring 84. The upper bar is mounted at the free end of the rod 83a of the cylinder, the body 83b of the cylinder being mounted on the ring 84 support, between the two tabs 85 vertical. To guide the movement in vertical translation of the upper bar 82 between its two positions, the upper bar is slidably mounted on the two vertical tabs 85, the upper bar comprising for example two pads 82a slidably mounted in openings 85a vertical tabs. In the example illustrated in the figures, the machine comprises thirty filling stations and six gripping devices 8a associated with five filling stations 2, three flexible pipes being for example arranged between two vertical legs, and a pipe beyond each vertical leg. The upper bars of the clamping systems are moved together in the rest position or in the active position by simultaneous control of their cylinder to adapt the machine to two different filling products.

As indicated above, the pressure drop of the supply ducts, and therefore the rate of filling in said supply ducts, and therefore the flow velocity of the product at the discharge port 33 of the filling nozzle can be adapted easily depending on the filling product to be dosed, Automatically and simultaneously for all filling stations, without replacement or addition of part, which simplifies the handling to pass from one product to another product of different viscosity and increases the level of hygiene by avoiding manual interventions in the field. dosing chamber.

Alternatively, the pneumatic cylinders 83 are replaced by electric cylinders "brushless" type, for adjusting the upper bars to different active positions, and thus to treat several fillers of different viscosities on the same machine.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to this type of machine, the machine can be of linear type, with one or more metering stations, with a remote storage tank or integrated with said machine.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

1. Machine for filling containers, comprising at least one filling station comprising

   - a filling spout provided with a supply opening and a discharge opening,

   - metering means comprising a blocking system mounted in the filling spout, able to be moved between a closed position and at least one open position; and,

   - supply means in order to supply said filling spout with filling product, said supply means comprising a supply pipe (6), connected to the supply opening of the filling spout upstream of said blocking system,

   said supply pipe (6) comprising at least one section made of a flexible tube (61), said supply means further comprising clamping means (8) able to clamp said flexible tube in order to modify the cross-section of the internal passage (611) of said flexible tube, said clamping means can being moved between at least two positions corresponding to different cross-sections of the internal passage of the flexible tube,
   characterised in that
   the machine comprises several filling stations (2), said clamping means (8) comprising at least one clamping system (8a) able to clamp simultaneously the flexible tubes (61) of several filling stations, said clamping system comprising a first fixed bar (81) and a second movable bar (82) between which pass flexible tubes, and an actuating device in order to displace the movable bar between an idle position and at least one active clamping position.
2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said clamping means (8) can be moved between an idle position corresponding to an unclamped state of the flexible tube (61), wherein said flexible tube has a maximum cross-section of internal passage (611), and at least one active position corresponding to a clamped state of the flexible tube wherein the flexible tube has a reduced cross-section.
3. Filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the filling spout (3) comprises a globally tubular body (31), the blocking system (4) comprising a valve (41) which is mounted in said tubular body and controlled in opening and in closing by an actuating system (5) comprising a cylinder (51), the cylinder body (51a) being arranged above the filling spout and its rod (51b) extending substantially axially in the tubular body and carrying at the end said valve.
4. Filling machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the supply opening (34) is formed radially on the tubular wall of said body.
5. Filling machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said flexible tubes (61) are arranged in such a way that their longitudinal axis forms a non-zero angle less than 90° in relation to the horizontal, the first fixed bar being arranged under the flexible tubes.
6. Filling machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises an on-board distribution tank (7) or a feed line connected to an offset storage tank, each filling station comprising a supply pipe (6) connecting the filling spout (3) to said storage tank or to said feed line.
7. Filling machine according to claim 6, characterised in that it is of the rotating type, said filling stations (2) being arranged with even angular spacing on a carrousel (1), the supply pipes (6) extending radially from the filling spouts (3) to the distribution tank or the feed line centred according to the axis (A) of rotation of the carrousel.
8. Filling machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the clamping systems (8a) are arranged with even angular spacing, the first bar (81) and the second bar (82) of each clamping system extending in an arc of circle.
9. Filling machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that each supply pipe (6) of a filling station (2) comprises a first rigid tube (62) and a second rigid tube (63) connected respectively to the distribution tank (7) or to the feed line, and to a filling spout (3), said flexible tube (61) being mounted between the free ends of the two rigid tubes.

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