EP2984029B1 - Filling element and filling system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1. A generic filling element is known from the patent DE 10 2009 009 339 A1 known.

Filling elements and filling systems for filling containers and in particular also containers in the form of cans with a liquid product are known in different designs. It is also customary and known, the interior of the arranged in sealing position on the filling container before filling to displace or remove entrained air with a purge gas, i. with an inert gas, such as CO2 gas or nitrogen to rinse.

The rinsing takes place for example via a gas or flushing pipe, via which the purge gas is blown centrally or centrally into the container interior and which is axially lowered and raised in a vertical Füllelementachse ( DE 10 2009 016 322 A1 ). The gas or flushing pipe is surrounded by a return gas pipe to form a gas channel between the gas or flushing pipe and the return gas pipe, which (gas channel) opens into a gas space in the filling element and is part of a controlled gas path.

Generally also known ( DE 10 2006 051 237 A1 ), the flushing pipe for flushing possible far into a container interior lower, in order to achieve an optimum flushing effect.

The object of the invention is to show a filling element which allows for a reduced design and control engineering effort optimal flushing of containers with purge gas and at the same time also an optimal biasing and filling of containers. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

In the filling element according to the invention, the flushing pipe enclosed by a first gas channel of a return gas pipe can be lowered from an upper starting position into a lower flushing position and, like the first gas channel, opens into the gas space formed in the filling element. Simply by lowering the flushing pipe into the flushing position, the connection between the first gas duct and this gas space is closed or strongly throttled, so that a gas supplied to the gas space exclusively or substantially exclusively via the lowered flushing pipe centrally into the container interior of the in sealing position on the filling element arranged container is blown. It is sufficient that the pressure of the purge gas, which is e.g. CO2 gas and / or nitrogen and / or water vapor is only slightly above the atmospheric or ambient pressure. This achieves optimum flushing with reduced purge gas consumption and reduced operating costs.

According to the invention, the flushing pipe is furthermore designed with a valve body and / or throttle body which, in the flushing position of the flushing pipe, at least partially closes the connection between the first gas duct and the gas space, wherein the flushing pipe is provided with a thickening to form the valve or throttle body. which is received in the rinsing position of the flushing pipe in the return gas pipe, and thereby closes or throttles the connection of the first gas channel with the gas space.

During a preloading and filling of the further arranged in sealing position on the filling element container, the flushing pipe is moved back into its upper or raised starting position, that is no longer sufficient in the filling to be filled with the part of the container interior. By simply moving the purge tube back to the raised home position, the connection between the first gas channel and the gas space is fully re-opened, so that via this gas space and via the first gas channel and the second gas channel, i. over a large total flow area, the bias gas used for biasing, e.g. CO2 gas and / or nitrogen introduced into the container interior and in a subsequent filling phase also via the first gas channel and the second gas channel, i. can be removed as a return gas in the gas space and from this into a plenum via a large total flow cross-section displaced from the filling gas clamping gas. Since the closing or throttling of the connection between the first gas channel and the gas space as well as the reopening of this connection is effected solely by the movement of the flushing pipe, no additional control valves and control signals are required for this purpose.

In sealing position with the filling element befindlicher container means in the context of the invention that the respective container in the manner known to the expert with its container mouth tightly pressed against the filling element or pressed against a local seal.

For the purposes of the invention, "pressure filling" is generally to be understood as meaning a filling process in which the container to be filled in each case rests in a sealing position against the filling element and, as a rule, before the actual filling phase, i. is biased before opening the liquid valve via at least one controlled, formed in the filling element gas path with a pressurized clamping gas or inert gas (eg CO2 gas and / or nitrogen), which then increasingly during filling of the inflowing the container contents as return gas the container interior is displaced, also via at least one controlled, formed in the filling element gas path.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment and from the figure.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figure, which shows in simplified schematic representation and in section a filling element 1 of a filling system 2 for filling containers 3 in the form of cans.

The inter alia also for pressure filling of the container 3 with a liquid filling suitable filling element 1 is provided together with a plurality of similar filling elements 1 on a rotating transport element, ie in the illustrated embodiment on a rotatably driven about a vertical axis MA rotor 4. The filling element 1 is in its Füllelementgehäuse 5, inter alia, with a Liquid channel 6 is formed, which is connected via a product line 7 with a common for all filling elements 1 of the filling system 2, not shown and provided on the rotor 4 Füllgutkessel. On the underside of the filling element 1, the liquid channel 6 forms a discharge opening 8, which surrounds a vertical filling element axis FA in a ring shape and over which the liquid filling material flows into the container 3 provided in the sealing position on the filling element 1 during the filling phase. Between the product line 7 and the discharge opening 8, a liquid valve 9 with a valve body 10 is provided in the liquid channel 6, which is arranged on a coaxial with the Füllelementachse FA and serving as a valve tappet return gas pipe 11. The return gas pipe 11 is led out at the top of the liquid channel 6 from this sealed using a suitable seal, for example in the form of a membrane seal 12. Below the liquid valve 9 or in the region of the discharge opening 8, the return gas pipe 11 is formed with a conical or umbrella-like extension 11.1, via which the liquid product is directed radially outwards relative to the filling element axis FA during filling.

The figure shows the liquid valve 9 and the valve body 10 in the closed position. By an actuator, not shown, the return gas pipe 11 and with this the valve body 10 in the Füllelementachse FA to open the liquid valve 9 can be raised and lowered to close the liquid valve 9 again lowered (hub H1). The return gas pipe 11 is open at the bottom of the filling element 8 and extends with its upper, also open end into a gas chamber 13 formed in the filling element housing 5. The passage of the return gas pipe 11 into the gas space 13 is sealed by a suitable seal, for example a membrane seal 14.

Between the two membrane seals 12 and 14, the pneumatic actuator not shown for the return gas pipe 11 is provided.

The filling element 1 further comprises a flushing pipe 15 which is arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA and enclosed by the return gas pipe 11 at a distance, is preferably concentrically enclosed, so that in the return gas pipe on the underside of the filling element 1 more open and in the gas space thirteenth opening annular first gas channel 16 is formed. The flushing pipe 15 forms a at the lower end of this flushing pipe open and at the upper end of the flushing pipe 15 laterally open (openings 15.1) and thus also in the gas space 13 opening second gas channel 17. Furthermore, the flushing pipe 15 by an actuator 18, for example in the form of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder relative to the Füllelementachse FA axially about a stroke H2 movable, which is greater than the stroke H1, in such a way that in an upper position shown in the figure of the purge tube 15 this in the illustrated embodiment with its lower end is not or substantially not projecting beyond the lower end of the conical enlargement 11.1, that is arranged at the same level or substantially at the same level with the lower end of the return gas pipe 11 and in a second stroke position, ie preferably in a rinsing position at least by the size of the movement stroke H2 on the Bottom of the return gas pipe 11 in the Container interior protrudes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upper end of the flushing pipe 15 is connected to the piston rod of the outside of the housing 5 arranged actuating element 18. In the region of this actuating element, the gas space 13 is sealed by a bellows seal 19.

Below the upper side openings 15.1, the return gas pipe 15 is formed with a thickening 20, e.g. is formed by a patch on the flushing pipe 15 ring, for example, and sealing ring is formed in the lower stroke position of the return gas tube 15, the connection between the first gas passage 16 and the gas space 13 closes or at least greatly throttles, i. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickening 20 is received in the return gas pipe 11 in the flushing position of the flushing pipe 15, namely in the upper region of this tube.

With 21 is designated a sleeve which surrounds the Füllelementgehäuse 5 sealed at a lower, for example, circular cylindrical housing portion and controlled in the direction of the Füllelementachse FA axially raised and lowered, for example, controlled by an outer, not shown with the rotor 4 circumferential cam. The sleeve 21 has at its lower end a filling element axis FA annularly enclosing seal 22, against which the opening or mouth edge of the arranged in sealing position on the filling element 1 container 3 bears sealed. In Füllelementgehäuse 5 various controlled gas paths are formed, including, inter alia, in the illustrated embodiment, two return gas paths or channels 23 which are provided offset by 180 ° about the Füllelementachse FA and arranged in sealing position on the filling element 1 container 3 on the interior of the sleeve 21 in the container interior open, and relative to the filling element axis FA relative to the discharge opening 8 offset radially outward. At least one further controlled gas path or channel 24 opens into the upper and / or lower region of the gas space 13.

With the filling system 2 u.a. filling, also pressure filling of the container 2 with an actual filling phase preceding, at least once rinsing the container interior with a rinsing or inert gas, e.g. CO2 gas and / or nitrogen and / or water vapor possible. At the beginning of the respective filling process, the sleeve 21 is lowered to the opening edge of the container 3, which rests with its container bottom on a container carrier and is arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA. The container 3 is then sealed with its opening edge against the seal 22 and is thus in sealing position on the filling element. 1

To displace entrained air from the interior of the container 3, ie for flushing this interior, the flushing pipe 15 is lowered with the actuating element 18 from its upper starting position by the stroke H2 in the lower stroke position or flushing position with the liquid valve 9 is closed. The size of the stroke H2 is preferably selected such that the lower end of the flushing pipe 15 in the flushing position in the direction of the Füllelementachse FA has a distance from the container bottom, which is smaller than the corresponding distance from the upper container opening. After lowering the flushing pipe 15, the connection of the first gas channel 16 is closed with the gas space 13 or greatly throttled. Via the gas channel 24, the inert gas used as purge gas is then blown into the gas space 13 and from this via the second gas channel 17 of the flushing pipe 15 into the interior of the container. Since the purge pipe 15 far in the Container interior is lowered, results in an optimal purge gas flow in the container 3, including along the inner surface of the container bottom and the inner surface of the container peripheral wall. Via the return gas channels 23, the purge gas is discharged together with this displaced air, and preferably offset relative to the exiting from the purge pipe 15 purge gas flow with respect to the Füllelementachse FA radially outward. Since the purge gas via the lowered purge gas pipe 15 centric, ie coaxially or substantially coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA is introduced into the respective container 3, an optimal rinsing at a purge gas pressure is possible, which is only slightly above the ambient pressure. The purge gas is discharged via the return gas channels 23 in the environment or in a common for all filling elements 1 of the filling system 2, provided on the rotor 4 annular channel 25 whose pressure corresponds to the ambient pressure, for example. However, the annular channel 25 may also have a different pressure from the ambient pressure, for example a vacuum or a negative pressure. Also in this case then the flushing pressure is only slightly above atmospheric pressure.

After rinsing, the flushing pipe 15 is moved back to the initiation of the filling phase in the upper stroke position in which the thickening 20 is moved out of the return gas pipe 11 and thus the connection between the first gas channel 16 and the gas space 13 completely releases. With the liquid valve 9 still closed and the gas paths 23 closed, e.g. First, the interior of the arranged in sealing position on the filling element 1 container 3 via the gas path 24, the gas chamber 13 and the gas channels 16 and 17 with a pressurized clamping or inert gas, for example, CO2 gas and / or nitrogen, biased to a filling pressure. This biasing takes place via both gas channels 16 and 17 and therefore with a large overall flow cross-section, so that u.a. short bias times are achievable.

After preloading, the actual filling or pressure filling takes place by opening the liquid valve 9 or by lifting the return gas pipe 11 around the stroke H1. Since the stroke H2 is greater than the stroke H1, the full non-throttled connection of both gas channels 16 and 17 with the gas space 13 continues to exist. The clamping gas, which is displaced as return gas from the interior of the container 3 through the filling material, is conveyed via both gas channels 16 and 17 in the gas space 13 and discharged therefrom via the gas channel 24. The filling is terminated by closing the liquid valve 9. This is followed by, for example, relieving the filled container 3, for example, via the return gas channels 23 and then lifting the sleeve 21, so that the filled container 3 can be removed from the filling element 1.

As well as, inter alia, the product line 7, among other things, the gas paths 24 in a CIP cleaning and / or disinfection, in which instead of a container 2, a CIP flush seal is arranged in a sealing layer on each filling element 1, for supplying or discharging the CIP Cleaning and / or disinfecting medium used.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

filler

2

filling system

3

container

4

rotor

5

filling element

6

liquid channel

7

product line

8th

discharge opening

9

liquid valve

10

valve body

11

Return gas pipe

11.1

Extension of the return gas pipe

12

diaphragm seal

13

headspace

14

diaphragm seal

15

flush pipe

16

first gas channel

17

second gas channel

18

actuator

19

bellows

20

thickening

21

shell

22

poetry

23, 24

Gas way or gas channel

25

annular channel

H1, H2

stroke

FA

filling element

MA

machine axis

Claims (4)

1. Filling element of a filling system for the filling of containers (3), particularly in the form of cans with a liquid fill content, including a liquid port (6) formed in a filling element housing (5), which port forms at least one discharge opening (8) on the underside of said filling element (1) for discharging the fill content into the container (3) concerned, having a liquid valve (9) in the liquid port (6), having an open return gas tube (11) on the underside of said filling element (1), which tube encloses at a distance a flushing tube (15) arranged axially coincidentally with a filling element axis (FA), with at least one first gas channel (16), said channel formed between an inner surface of the return gas tube (11) and an outer surface of the flushing tube (15) and open on the underside of the return gas tube (11), with at least one second gas channel (17) formed in the interior of the flushing tube (17) and open at the lower end of the flushing tube (15), and with a gas chamber (13) formed in the filling element housing (5), into which the first gas channel (16) opens, wherein the flushing tube (15) is movable in the filling element axis (FA) by a first stroke movement (H2) between a raised starting position and a lowered flushing position, and, by means of at least one controlled gas path (24), can be subjected to at least one flushing gas under flushing pressure, wherein the second gas channel (17) likewise opens into the gas chamber (13), and the flushing tube (15) is configured in such a way that in the lowered flushing position it blocks the connection of the first gas channel with the gas chamber (13), or chokes it in such a way that the flow cross-section of this connection in the flushing position of the flushing tube (15) is smaller than in the raised position of the flushing tube (15), characterised in that the flushing tube (15) is configured with a valve body and/or choke body (20), which in the flushing position of the flushing tube (15) at least partially closes the connection between the first gas channel (16) and the gas chamber (13), and wherein, in order to form the valve body or choke body, the flushing tube (15) is provided with a thickening (20), which, in the flushing position of the flushing tube (15), is accommodated in the return gas tube (11), and thereby closes or chokes the connection of the first gas channel (16) with the gas chamber (13).
2. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the return gas tube (11) forms a valve tappet for a valve body (10) of the liquid valve (9), which can be moved with the return gas tube (11) for opening and closing in the filling element axis (FA) axially about a second stroke (H1), and the second stroke (H1) is smaller than the first stroke (H2).
3. Filling element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gas chamber (13) can be imposed with a tensioning gas for pre-tensioning the containers (3) and/or can be connected to a collection chamber for conveying away via the first and second gas channels (16, 17) a return gas which is forced out of the container (3) by the fill content.
4. Filling system for the filling of containers (3) particularly in the form of cans with a liquid fill content, with a plurality of filling elements (1) arranged on a circulating transport element (4), characterised in that the filling elements (1) are configured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

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