EP2582613B1 - Filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material under pressure - Google Patents

Filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material under pressure Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2582613B1
EP2582613B1 EP11713705.9A EP11713705A EP2582613B1 EP 2582613 B1 EP2582613 B1 EP 2582613B1 EP 11713705 A EP11713705 A EP 11713705A EP 2582613 B1 EP2582613 B1 EP 2582613B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling
gas
channel
probe
liquid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP11713705.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2582613A1 (en
Inventor
Ludwig Clüsserath
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KHS GmbH
Original Assignee
KHS GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KHS GmbH filed Critical KHS GmbH
Priority to SI201130972A priority Critical patent/SI2582613T1/en
Publication of EP2582613A1 publication Critical patent/EP2582613A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2582613B1 publication Critical patent/EP2582613B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
    • B67C3/2617—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation
    • B67C3/2622—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation and the filling operation stopping when probes, e.g. electrical or optical probes, sense the wanted liquid level
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/26—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C2003/2685—Details of probes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a filling element is from the EP 0 554 690 A1 known.
  • Methods and filling elements or filling systems or filling machines for filling containers are known in different designs.
  • a filling system for example a single-chamber filling system
  • CO2 gas inert gas
  • the liquid medium flows with the liquid valve open and thereby displaced from the container inert gas is returned as a return gas in a pressurized gas space of a partially filled boiler or in a inert gas under filling pressure leading channel, via a filling in the Container extending into the return gas tube.
  • the timing or the angular position of the rotor, at which the closing of the liquid valve finally takes place, are chosen such that, even with the "slowest" of these filling elements, the desired filling height is reliably achieved in the case of a multiplicity of filling elements, even though the closing of the liquid valves of the filling elements actually done much earlier and thus the total duration of the respective filling process could be reduced or the performance of the filling system or the filling machine could be increased.
  • a pressure filling system is known ( DE 1607996 ), in which the respective filling element is designed with a filling level determining the bottle in the bottle during filling through the bottle mouth in the bottle or in the neck or trunk area extends.
  • the probe forms a probe contact at its lower end and is at the same time designed as a gas tube with a gas channel which is open above the probe contact via radial openings.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a method for pressure filling of bottles or similar containers, which u.a. With high reliability a reduction of the total duration of the respective filling process allows. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed.
  • a disclosed method is carried out as a pressure filling method, in which also the inert gas or CO2 gas, which is displaced during filling or during the filling phase by the inflowing medium from the respective container, is discharged via a projecting into the container return gas pipe, wherein At the end of the filling phase, the product in the return gas pipe rises while the liquid valve is still open.
  • the liquid valve is closed immediately or with a preselected time delay as soon as the filling material rising in the return gas tube has reached the probe or its response level of the probe.
  • This level is, for example, equal to the equilibrium level.
  • the level of response of the probe is lower than the equilibrium level, so that closing of the liquid valve already takes place or is initiated before the product rising in the return gas pipe reaches the equilibrium level.
  • 1 is a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine, which is provided with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a rotatable about a vertical machine axis rotor 2.
  • the filling element 1 is used for pressure filling of bottles 3 or other containers with a liquid product and is for this purpose at least during a Vorspannphase and a filling phase of the filling process with a container carrier 4, which is located below the filling element 1 and on the respective bottle 3 in the illustrated Embodiment stands up with their bottom of the bottle, pressed in the manner described in more detail below with its bottle mouth 3.1 against the filling element 1 in sealing position.
  • the filling element 1 comprises a in the illustrated embodiment, a Sportselementgephinuse 5, in which inter alia, a liquid channel 6 is formed, which is connected at its upper end via a line 7 with a ring vessel 8, which is common to all filling elements 1 of the filling system or the filling machine provided and level controlled during the filling operation with the liquid product, so that in the ring vessel 8, an upper gas space 8.1, which is occupied by the inert gas (CO2 gas) with the filling pressure well above the normal or ambient pressure, and a lower liquid space 8.2 are formed, to which the filling elements 1 are connected via the respective line 7.
  • the level of contents in the boiler 8 is at the level N1.
  • the filling elements 1 are provided with respect to the vertical axis of the machine on the radially outer side of the ring vessel 8, whereby, inter alia, an optimal positioning of the filling elements 1 as well as a simplified maintenance and cleaning are possible.
  • the liquid channel 6 forms on the underside of the housing 5 an annular discharge opening 9 for the contents. Furthermore, a dispensing opening 9 enclosing ring seal 10 is provided on the underside of the Golfelementgeophuses 5, which is part of a in the direction of the vertical Greelementachse FA by a small stroke liftable and lowerable centering tulip 11 for centering the respective bottle 3 and against which the respective bottle 3 at least pressed pressed against its bottle mouth 3.1 during a preload phase and a filling phase, with its axis of the bottle arranged coaxially with the Greelementachse FA.
  • a liquid valve 12 which can be opened and closed in a controlled manner and essentially formed by a valve body 13 which cooperates with an annular valve seat 14 concentrically enclosing the filling element axis FA and formed on the inner surface of the liquid channel 6.
  • the valve body 13 is provided in the illustrated embodiment to a return gas pipe 15 which also acts as a valve stem and controlled by an actuator 16 for opening and closing the liquid valve 12 together with the valve body 13 in the Greelementachse FA controlled by a predetermined stroke up and down is.
  • the liquid valve 12 is shown in its closed state.
  • the return gas pipe 15 which is also arranged coaxially with the Greelementachse FA, projects with its lower return gas pipe end 15.1 on the underside of the filling element 1 and thereby extends with this end with a length at least during the biasing phase and the filling phase in the respective, in sealing position the filling element 1 located bottle 3 inside.
  • the return gas pipe 15 forms a return gas channel 17 which is open at the lower return gas pipe end 15.1 and at the upper end into a gas space 18 formed in the filler element housing 5 (in particular FIG. 3 ) opens.
  • the level of the silveryakendes 15.1 and the local opening of the return gas channel 17 is denoted by N2 and is below the level N1.
  • a coaxially arranged with the Greelementachse FA probe 19 which responds to the liquid product and wetting, for example, in a. of the lower probe end 19.1 emits or induces an electrical signal causing the closing of the liquid valve 12, for example by changing the electrical properties of the probe 19 or at least one measuring section formed between electrodes of the probe 19.
  • the level of this measurement path (response level of the probe 19) is denoted by N3, which is below the level N1.
  • the return gas channel 17 is formed as an annular channel between the inner surface of the return gas tube 15 and the outer surface of the probe 19.
  • the lower probe end 19.1 is disposed within the return gas pipe 15 at a distance from the lower return gas pipe end 15.1, so that the Nsp3 not only above the level N2, but in the illustrated embodiment, above the liquid valve 12 and the valve seat 14 lies.
  • a control valve 20 having Direction gas path through which the gas chamber 18 is connected with open control valve 20 with a rotor 2 for all filling elements 1 of the filling system common annular channel 21, which in turn, via a line 22 with the gas space 8.1 of the boiler 8 is in communication and thus the inert gas with the biasing and filling pressure leads.
  • the gas path enclosing the control valve 20 comprises in detail two gas channels 20.1 and 20.2, of which the channel 20.1 connects the control valve 20 to the gas space 18 and the gas channel 20.2 connects the control valve 20 to the annular channel 21.
  • a throttle check valve 23 is provided, i. a throttle-check valve combination, which is designed so that when the control valve 20 is open, a non-throttled gas flow from the annular channel 21 via the gas channels 20.2 and 20.1 in the gas space 18 is possible, i. the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 is not effective, while at a gas flow in the opposite direction of flow, the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 is fully effective.
  • the filler element housing 5 two further, the common control valve 24 having controllable gas paths are provided with the open control valve 24, the liquid channel 6 in the region of the discharge opening 9 and in the flow direction of the liquid product after the liquid valve 12 with the gas space 18 as well as throttled with another, on the rotor 2 for all filling elements 1 of the filling system and the filling machine jointly provided annular channel 25 connects, which serves as a return gas ring channel during operation of the filling machine and return gas with normal or ambient pressure or with a slight over the normal and ambient pressure overpressure, for example in the range between 0 to 1.5 bar leads.
  • the controllable gas path formed by the control valve 24 comprises in detail three gas channels formed in the filler element housing 5, namely the gas channel 24.1 which connects the fluid channel 6 in the region of the discharge opening 9 with the control valve 24, the gas channel 24.2 which connects the control valve 24 with the gas space 8 connects and the gas channel 24.3, which connects the control valve 24 with the annular channel 25.
  • a throttle 26 and a check valve 27 are provided, which opens the latter for a gas flow from the gas channel 24.3 in the annular channel 25, blocks for a gas flow in the opposite direction and thus u.a. with open control valve 24, a return flow of return gas from the annular channel 25 in the gas channels 24.1 - 24.3 prevented.
  • the control valves 20 and 24 are shown in their closed, non-activated state.
  • the actuator 16 and the control valves 20 and 24 are pneumatically confirmed in the illustrated embodiment, via not shown electrical control valves of a likewise not shown electronic control device of the filling system or the filling machine, the (control device) and the signal of the probe 19 is supplied ,
  • a rinsing of the interior of the bottle 3 with CO2 gas takes place in order to completely remove the air present in the bottle.
  • CO 2 gas is introduced or blown from the annular channel 21 into the interior of the bottle 3 via the gas space 18 and the return gas channel 17, so that the air originally present in the bottle 3 exits from the bottle interior via the so-called Annular gap is displaced.
  • the bottle 3 is raised in sealing position against the filling element 1, so that via the ring seal 10 there is a tight connection between the discharge opening 9 and in the interior of the bottle 3.
  • the control valve 20 is opened when the liquid valve 12 is still closed, so that CO2 gas can flow under pressure through the open control valve 20, the gas chamber 18 and the gas channel 17 into the interior of the bottle 3 and the bottle interior to the biasing and filling pressure is biased.
  • the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 is not effective, so that in each case an unthrottled gas flow from the annular channel 21 into the bottle 3 is possible and thereby u.a. the cycle times for the rinsing phase and the prestressing phase are reduced, for an increase in the performance of the filling system or the filling machine (number of filled bottles 3 per unit of time).
  • the respective bottle 3 is still in sealing position on the filling element 1.
  • At least one quick filling of the bottle 3 takes place during the filling phase at also open control valve 20, whereby the CO2 gas, which is displaced from the filling material flowing into the bottle 3 via the discharge opening 9 from the bottle interior, can flow back into the annular channel 21 via the return gas channel 17, the gas chamber 18 and the open control valve 20.
  • the speed at which the liquid product flows into the bottle 3 is determined inter alia by the level N1.
  • the gas path for the CO2 gas displaced out of the bottle 3 into the annular channel 21 is throttled by the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 which is effective in this flow direction.
  • the lower return gas pipe end 15.1 dips into the contents, so that the volume in the head space of the bottle 3, i. in the area between the level of contents in the bottle 3 and the opened liquid valve 12 or the gas barrier formed there, CO2 gas can no longer flow into the return gas channel 17, but rather the liquid product rises in this return gas channel 17. If the probe 19 were not present, the level of contents in the return gas channel would reach the equilibrium level, which is below the level N1 but above the level N3 of the probe 19 due to the gas barrier of the opened liquid valve and the CO2 gas trapped in the head space of the bottle 3.
  • the filling process is terminated so that the filled bottle 3 is lowered with the container carrier 4 so far that the return gas pipe 15 is completely led out of the bottle 3.
  • the filled bottle 3 can then be removed from the container carrier 4 and fed, for example, a machine for closing.
  • CO2 gas is constantly removed from the annular channel 21 in particular for purging and this replaced via the line 22 from the gas space 8.1 of the ring boiler 8, so that despite the return of the CO2 gas in the annular channel 21st during the filling phase, no CO2 gas and in particular no CO2 gas contaminated with air passes from the annular channel 21 into the gas space 8.1 of the boiler 8. In the boiler 8 is thus always at the phase boundary to the medium always pure CO2 gas.
  • the level N3 ie by appropriate approximation of the level N3 to the level N2, the amount of rising in the return gas channel 17 filling material and thus the amount of recycled into the respective bottle 3 contents are kept small.
  • the head space of the respective bottle 3 is also connected via the control valve 24 to the gas space 18 or to the upper end of the return gas pipe 17 after closing the liquid valve 12, it is basically also possible to fill the respectively filled bottle 3 even with slight overpressure in the bottle of that Pull off the filling element 1, without there being a jerky emergence of present in the return gas pipe 17 contents and foaming in the bottle 3, namely, inter alia, to shorten the overall duration of the filling process and to increase the performance of the filling system or the filling machine.
  • Another significant advantage is that for the filling element 1, despite the large number of advantages without fundamental structural changes, for example, a construction already reinforced in filling systems or single-chamber filling systems for pressure-filling of containers can be used.

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  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein Füllelement gemäß Oberbegriff Patentanspruch 1. Ein derartiges Füllelement ist aus der EP 0 554 690 A1 bekannt.The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a filling element is from the EP 0 554 690 A1 known.

Verfahren und Füllelemente bzw. Füllsysteme oder Füllmaschinen zum Füllen von Behältern sind in unterschiedlichen Ausführungen bekannt. Zum Druckfüllen von Behältern sind insbesondere auch Verfahren unter Verwendung eines Füllsystems, beispielsweise Einkammer-Füllsystems bekannt, bei denen dem jeweiligen Behälter, der in Dichtlage am Füllelement angeordnet und mit einem unter einem Fülldruck stehenden Inertgas (CO2-Gas) vorgespannt ist, während der Füllphase des Füllprozesses das flüssige Füllgut bei geöffnetem Flüssigkeitsventil zufließt und das dabei aus dem Behälter verdrängte Inertgas als Rückgas in einen unter dem Fülldruck stehenden Gasraum eines teilgefüllten Kessels oder aber in einen das Inertgas unter Fülldruck führenden Kanal zurückgeleitet wird, und zwar über ein beim Füllen in den Behälter hineinreichendes Rückgasrohr. Das Zufließen des flüssigen Füllgutes in dem Behälter wird dadurch beendet, dass das Rückgasrohr schließlich in den im Behälter aufsteigenden Füllgutspiegel eintaucht und das Füllgut im Rückgasrohr soweit aufsteigt, dass sich ein Gleichgewichtszustand zwischen dem Niveau des Füllgutspiegels im Kessel und einem Gleichgewichts-Niveau des Füllgutspiegels im Rückgasrohr einstellt. Das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils erfolgt erst zu einem vorgegebenen Zeitpunkt nach Erreichen dieses Gleichgewichtszustandes, d.h. bei Füllmaschinen umlaufender Bauart erst dann, wenn das betreffende Füllelement eine vorgegebene Winkelposition der Drehbewegung des Rotors erreicht hat. Der Zeitpunkt bzw. die Winkelstellung des Rotors, an dem das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils schließlich erfolgt, sind so gewählt, dass bei einer Vielzahl von Füllelementen auch mit dem "langsamsten" dieser Füllelemente die gewünschte Füllhöhe zuverlässig erreicht wird, obwohl das Schließen der Flüssigkeitsventile der Füllelemente tatsächlich wesentlich früher erfolgen und damit die Gesamtdauer des jeweiligen Füllprozesses reduziert bzw. die Leistung des Füllsystems oder der Füllmaschine gesteigert werden könnte.Methods and filling elements or filling systems or filling machines for filling containers are known in different designs. For pressure-filling of containers, methods using a filling system, for example a single-chamber filling system, are particularly known, in which the respective container, which is arranged in sealing position on the filling element and is biased with an inert gas (CO2 gas) under a filling pressure, during the filling phase the filling process, the liquid medium flows with the liquid valve open and thereby displaced from the container inert gas is returned as a return gas in a pressurized gas space of a partially filled boiler or in a inert gas under filling pressure leading channel, via a filling in the Container extending into the return gas tube. The inflow of the liquid filling material in the container is terminated by the return gas tube finally immersed in the rising in the container level and the contents rise in the return gas pipe so far that an equilibrium state between the level of Füllgutspiegels in the boiler and an equilibrium level of Füllgutspiegels Adjusting return gas pipe. The closing of the liquid valve occurs only at a given time after reaching this state of equilibrium, i. in filling machines of rotating design only when the relevant filling element has reached a predetermined angular position of the rotational movement of the rotor. The timing or the angular position of the rotor, at which the closing of the liquid valve finally takes place, are chosen such that, even with the "slowest" of these filling elements, the desired filling height is reliably achieved in the case of a multiplicity of filling elements, even though the closing of the liquid valves of the filling elements actually done much earlier and thus the total duration of the respective filling process could be reduced or the performance of the filling system or the filling machine could be increased.

Bekannt ist ein Druckfüllsystem ( DE 1607996 ), bei dem das jeweilige Füllelement mit einer die Füllhöhe in der Flasche bestimmenden Sonde ausgeführt ist, die während des Füllens durch die Flaschenmündung in die Flasche bzw. in deren Hals- oder Rumpfbereich hineinreicht. Die Sonde bildet an ihrem unteren Ende einen Sondenkontakt und ist zugleich als Gasrohr mit einem Gaskanal ausgeführt, der oberhalb des Sondenkontaktes über radiale Öffnungen offen ist.A pressure filling system is known ( DE 1607996 ), in which the respective filling element is designed with a filling level determining the bottle in the bottle during filling through the bottle mouth in the bottle or in the neck or trunk area extends. The probe forms a probe contact at its lower end and is at the same time designed as a gas tube with a gas channel which is open above the probe contact via radial openings.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, ein Verfahren zum Druckfüllen von Flaschen oder dergleichen Behältern aufzuzeigen, welches u.a. bei hoher Betriebssicherheit eine Reduzierung der Gesamtdauer des jeweiligen Füllprozesses ermöglicht. Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe ist ein Füllelement entsprechend dem Patentanspruch 1 ausgebildet.The object of the invention is to provide a method for pressure filling of bottles or similar containers, which u.a. With high reliability a reduction of the total duration of the respective filling process allows. To solve this problem, a filling element according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

Ein offenbartes Verfahren ist als Druck-Füllverfahren ausgeführt, bei dem ebenfalls das Inertgas oder CO2-Gas, welches beim Füllen bzw. während der Füllphase durch das zufließende Füllgut aus dem jeweiligen Behälter verdrängt wird, über ein in den Behälter hineinragendes Rückgasrohr abgeleitet wird, wobei am Ende der Füllphase das Füllgut im Rückgasrohr bei noch geöffnetem Flüssigkeitsventil aufsteigt. Durch die in dem Rückgasrohr vorgesehene oder ausgebildete Sonde erfolgt sofort oder mit einer vorgewählten Zeitverzögerung ein Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils, sobald das im Rückgasrohr aufsteigende Füllgut die Sonde bzw. deren Ansprechniveau der Sonde erreicht hat. Dieses Ansprechniveau ist dabei beispielsweise gleich dem Gleichgewichts-Niveau. Bevorzugt liegt das Ansprechniveau der Sonde aber tiefer als das Gleichgewichts-Niveau, sodass bereits ein Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils erfolgt oder veranlasst wird, bevor das im Rückgasrohr aufsteigende Füllgut das Gleichgewichts-Niveau erreicht.A disclosed method is carried out as a pressure filling method, in which also the inert gas or CO2 gas, which is displaced during filling or during the filling phase by the inflowing medium from the respective container, is discharged via a projecting into the container return gas pipe, wherein At the end of the filling phase, the product in the return gas pipe rises while the liquid valve is still open. As a result of the probe provided or formed in the return gas tube, the liquid valve is closed immediately or with a preselected time delay as soon as the filling material rising in the return gas tube has reached the probe or its response level of the probe. This level is, for example, equal to the equilibrium level. Preferably, however, the level of response of the probe is lower than the equilibrium level, so that closing of the liquid valve already takes place or is initiated before the product rising in the return gas pipe reaches the equilibrium level.

Der Ausdruck "im Wesentlichen" bedeutet im Sinne der Erfindung Abweichungen von dem jeweiligen exakten Wert um +/- 10%, bevorzugt um +/- 5%.The term "essentially" in the context of the invention means deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5%.

Weiterbildungen, Vorteile und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der Erfindung ergeben sich auch aus der nachfolgenden Beschreibung von Ausführungsbeispielen und aus den Figuren.Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

Die Erfindung wird im Folgenden anhand der Figuren an einem Ausführungsbeispiel näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
in vereinfachter Darstellung ein Füllelement eines Füllsystems bzw. einer Füllmaschine zum Druckfüllen von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut, zusammen mit einer in Dichtlage an das Füllelement angehobenen bzw. angepressten Flasche;
Fig. 2 und 3
jeweils in vergrößerter Darstellung Details des Füllelementes.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:
Fig. 1
in a simplified representation, a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine for pressure filling of bottles with a liquid product, together with a raised in sealing position to the filling element or pressed bottle;
FIGS. 2 and 3
in each case on an enlarged scale Details of the filling element.

In den Figuren ist 1 ein Füllelement eines Füllsystems oder einer Füllmaschine, welches mit einer Vielzahl gleichartiger Füllelemente am Umfang eines um eine vertikale Maschinenachse umlaufend antreibbaren Rotors 2 vorgesehen ist.In the figures, 1 is a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine, which is provided with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a rotatable about a vertical machine axis rotor 2.

Das Füllelement 1 dient zum Druckfüllen von Flaschen 3 oder anderen Behältern mit einem flüssigen Füllgut und ist hierfür zumindest während einer Vorspannphase und einer Füllphase des Füllprozesses mit einem Behälterträger 4, der sich unterhalb des Füllelementes 1 befindet und auf der die jeweilige Flasche 3 bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform mit ihren Flaschenboden aufsteht, in der nachstehend noch näher beschriebenen Weise mit ihrer Flaschenmündung 3.1 gegen das Füllelement 1 in Dichtlage angepresst.The filling element 1 is used for pressure filling of bottles 3 or other containers with a liquid product and is for this purpose at least during a Vorspannphase and a filling phase of the filling process with a container carrier 4, which is located below the filling element 1 and on the respective bottle 3 in the illustrated Embodiment stands up with their bottom of the bottle, pressed in the manner described in more detail below with its bottle mouth 3.1 against the filling element 1 in sealing position.

Das Füllelement 1 umfasst ein bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform ein Füllelementgehäuse 5, in welchem u.a. ein Flüssigkeitskanal 6 ausgebildet ist, der mit seinem oberen Ende über eine Leitung 7 mit einem Ringkessel 8 verbunden ist, der für sämtliche Füllelemente 1 des Füllsystems bzw. der Füllmaschine gemeinsam vorgesehen und während des Füllbetriebes mit dem flüssigen Füllgut niveaugesteuert teilgefüllt ist, sodass im Ringkessel 8 ein oberer Gasraum 8.1, der von dem Inertgas (CO2-Gas) mit dem deutlich über dem Normal- oder Umgebungsdruck liegenden Fülldruck eingenommen ist, und ein unterer Flüssigkeitsraum 8.2 gebildet sind, an den die Füllelemente 1 über die jeweilige Leitung 7 angeschlossen sind. Der Füllgutspiegel im Kessel 8 befindet sich auf dem Niveau N1. Bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform sind die Füllelemente 1 bezogen auf die vertikale Maschinenachse an der radial außenliegenden Seite des Ringkessels 8 vorgesehen, wodurch u.a. eine optimale Positionierung der Füllelemente 1 sowie auch eine vereinfachte Wartung und Reinigung möglich sind.The filling element 1 comprises a in the illustrated embodiment, a Füllelementgehäuse 5, in which inter alia, a liquid channel 6 is formed, which is connected at its upper end via a line 7 with a ring vessel 8, which is common to all filling elements 1 of the filling system or the filling machine provided and level controlled during the filling operation with the liquid product, so that in the ring vessel 8, an upper gas space 8.1, which is occupied by the inert gas (CO2 gas) with the filling pressure well above the normal or ambient pressure, and a lower liquid space 8.2 are formed, to which the filling elements 1 are connected via the respective line 7. The level of contents in the boiler 8 is at the level N1. In the illustrated embodiment, the filling elements 1 are provided with respect to the vertical axis of the machine on the radially outer side of the ring vessel 8, whereby, inter alia, an optimal positioning of the filling elements 1 as well as a simplified maintenance and cleaning are possible.

Der Flüssigkeitskanal 6 bildet an der Unterseite des Gehäuses 5 eine ringförmige Abgabeöffnung 9 für das Füllgut. Weiterhin ist an der Unterseite des Füllelementgehäuses 5 eine die Abgabeöffnung 9 umschließende Ringdichtung 10 vorgesehen, die Bestandteil einer in Richtung der vertikalen Füllelementachse FA um einen kleinen Hub anhebbaren und absenkbaren Zentriertulpe 11 zum Zentrieren der jeweiligen Flasche 3 ist und gegen die die jeweilige Flasche 3 zumindest während einer Vorspannphase und einer Füllphase mit ihrer Flaschenmündung 3.1 angepresst anliegt, und zwar mit ihrer Flaschenachse achsgleich mit der Füllelementachse FA angeordnet.The liquid channel 6 forms on the underside of the housing 5 an annular discharge opening 9 for the contents. Furthermore, a dispensing opening 9 enclosing ring seal 10 is provided on the underside of the Füllelementgehäuses 5, which is part of a in the direction of the vertical Füllelementachse FA by a small stroke liftable and lowerable centering tulip 11 for centering the respective bottle 3 and against which the respective bottle 3 at least pressed pressed against its bottle mouth 3.1 during a preload phase and a filling phase, with its axis of the bottle arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA.

Im Flüssigkeitskanal 6 ist ein Flüssigkeitsventil 12 vorgesehen, welches gesteuert geöffnet und geschlossen werden kann und im Wesentlichen von einem Ventilkörper 13 gebildet ist, der mit einem die Füllelementachse FA konzentrisch umschließenden und an der Innenfläche des Flüssigkeitskanals 6 ausgebildeten ringförmigen Ventilsitz 14 zusammenwirkt.Provided in the liquid channel 6 is a liquid valve 12 which can be opened and closed in a controlled manner and essentially formed by a valve body 13 which cooperates with an annular valve seat 14 concentrically enclosing the filling element axis FA and formed on the inner surface of the liquid channel 6.

Der Ventilkörper 13 ist bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform an einem Rückgasrohr 15 vorgesehen, welches zugleich als Ventilstößel wirkt und durch eine Betätigungseinrichtung 16 zum Öffnen und Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 zusammen mit dem Ventilkörper 13 in der Füllelementachse FA um einen vorgegebenen Hub gesteuert auf- und ab bewegbar ist. In den Figuren ist das Flüssigkeitsventil 12 in seinem geschlossenen Zustand dargestellt. Durch eine entsprechende Formgebung des Ventilkörpers 13 sowie auch der Innenfläche des Flüssigkeitskanals 6 im Bereich des Ventilsitzes 14 ist erreicht, dass sich bei geöffnetem Flüssigkeitsventil 12 dort eine siphonartige Gassperre ausbildet.The valve body 13 is provided in the illustrated embodiment to a return gas pipe 15 which also acts as a valve stem and controlled by an actuator 16 for opening and closing the liquid valve 12 together with the valve body 13 in the Füllelementachse FA controlled by a predetermined stroke up and down is. In the figures, the liquid valve 12 is shown in its closed state. By a corresponding shaping of the valve body 13 as well as the inner surface of the liquid channel 6 in the region of the valve seat 14, it is achieved that, when the liquid valve 12 is open, a siphon-like gas barrier is formed there.

Das Rückgasrohr 15, welches ebenfalls achsgleich mit der Füllelementachse FA angeordnet ist, steht mit seinem unteren Rückgasrohrende 15.1 über die Unterseite des Füllelementes 1 vor und reicht dadurch mit diesem Ende mit einer Länge zumindest während der Vorspannphase und der Füllphase in die jeweilige, in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 1 befindliche Flasche 3 hinein. Das Rückgasrohr 15 bildet einen Rückgaskanal 17, der am unteren Rückgasrohrende 15.1 offen ist und am oberen Ende in einen im Füllelementgehäuse 5 ausgebildeten Gasraum 18 (insbesondere Figur 3) mündet. Das Niveau des Rückgasrohrendes 15.1 bzw. der dortigen Öffnung des Rückgaskanals 17 ist mit N2 bezeichnet und liegt unterhalb des Niveaus N1.The return gas pipe 15, which is also arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA, projects with its lower return gas pipe end 15.1 on the underside of the filling element 1 and thereby extends with this end with a length at least during the biasing phase and the filling phase in the respective, in sealing position the filling element 1 located bottle 3 inside. The return gas pipe 15 forms a return gas channel 17 which is open at the lower return gas pipe end 15.1 and at the upper end into a gas space 18 formed in the filler element housing 5 (in particular FIG. 3 ) opens. The level of the Rückgasrohrendes 15.1 and the local opening of the return gas channel 17 is denoted by N2 and is below the level N1.

Im Gasrohr 15 ist eine achsgleich mit der Füllelementachse FA angeordnete Sonde 19 vorgesehen, die auf das flüssige Füllgut anspricht und bei einer Benetzung z.B. des unteren Sondenendes 19.1 durch das Füllgut ein das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 veranlassendes elektrisches Signal abgibt oder veranlasst, beispielsweise durch Änderung der elektrischen Eigenschaften der Sonde 19 oder wenigstens einer zwischen Elektroden der Sonde 19 gebildeten Messstrecke. Das Niveau dieser Messstrecke (Ansprechniveau der Sonde 19) ist mit N3 bezeichnet, welches unterhalb des Niveaus N1 liegt. Im Bereich der Sonde 19 ist der Rückgaskanal 17 als Ringkanal zwischen der Innenfläche des Rückgasrohres 15 und der Außenfläche der Sonde 19 ausgebildet. Wie die Figuren weiterhin zeigen, ist das untere Sondenende 19.1 innerhalb des Rückgasrohres 15 mit Abstand von dem unteren Rückgasrohrende 15.1 angeordnet, so dass das Ansprechniveau N3 nicht nur oberhalb des Niveaus N2, sondern bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform auch oberhalb des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 bzw. des Ventilsitzes 14 liegt. Im Füllelementgehäuse 5 sind weiterhin mehrere gesteuerte Gaswege ausgebildet, und zwar bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform ein das Steuerventil 20 aufweisender Gasweg, über den der Gasraum 18 bei geöffnetem Steuerventil 20 mit einem am Rotor 2 für sämtliche Füllelemente 1 des Füllsystems gemeinsamen Ringkanal 21 verbunden ist, welcher seinerseits über eine Leitung 22 mit dem Gasraum 8.1 des Kessels 8 in Verbindung steht und damit das Inertgas mit dem Vorspann- und Fülldruck führt.In the gas tube 15, a coaxially arranged with the Füllelementachse FA probe 19 is provided, which responds to the liquid product and wetting, for example, in a. of the lower probe end 19.1 emits or induces an electrical signal causing the closing of the liquid valve 12, for example by changing the electrical properties of the probe 19 or at least one measuring section formed between electrodes of the probe 19. The level of this measurement path (response level of the probe 19) is denoted by N3, which is below the level N1. In the region of the probe 19, the return gas channel 17 is formed as an annular channel between the inner surface of the return gas tube 15 and the outer surface of the probe 19. As the figures further show, the lower probe end 19.1 is disposed within the return gas pipe 15 at a distance from the lower return gas pipe end 15.1, so that the Nsp3 not only above the level N2, but in the illustrated embodiment, above the liquid valve 12 and the valve seat 14 lies. In Füllelementgehäuse 5 more controlled gas paths are further formed, in the illustrated embodiment, a control valve 20 having Direction gas path through which the gas chamber 18 is connected with open control valve 20 with a rotor 2 for all filling elements 1 of the filling system common annular channel 21, which in turn, via a line 22 with the gas space 8.1 of the boiler 8 is in communication and thus the inert gas with the biasing and filling pressure leads.

Bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform umfasst der das Steuerventil 20 einschließende Gasweg im Detail zwei Gaskanäle 20.1 und 20.2, von denen der Kanal 20.1 das Steuerventil 20 mit dem Gasraum 18 und der Gaskanal 20.2 das Steuerventil 20 mit dem Ringkanal 21 verbindet. Im Gaskanal 20.2 ist ein Drosselrückschlagventil 23 vorgesehene, d.h. eine Drossel-Rückschlagventil-Kombination, die so ausgeführt ist, dass bei geöffnetem Steuerventil 20 ein nicht gedrosselter Gasfluss aus dem Ringkanal 21 über die Gaskanäle 20.2 und 20.1 in den Gasraum 18 möglich ist, d.h. die Drossel des Drosselrückschlagventils 23 nicht wirksam ist, während bei einem Gasfluss in entgegen gesetzter Flussrichtung die Drossel des Drosselrückschlagventils 23 voll wirksam ist.In the illustrated embodiment, the gas path enclosing the control valve 20 comprises in detail two gas channels 20.1 and 20.2, of which the channel 20.1 connects the control valve 20 to the gas space 18 and the gas channel 20.2 connects the control valve 20 to the annular channel 21. In the gas passage 20.2, a throttle check valve 23 is provided, i. a throttle-check valve combination, which is designed so that when the control valve 20 is open, a non-throttled gas flow from the annular channel 21 via the gas channels 20.2 and 20.1 in the gas space 18 is possible, i. the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 is not effective, while at a gas flow in the opposite direction of flow, the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 is fully effective.

Bei einer dargestellten Ausführungsform sind im Füllelementgehäuse 5 zwei weitere, das gemeinsame Steuerventil 24 aufweisende steuerbaren Gaswege vorgesehen, die bei geöffnetem Steuerventil 24 den Flüssigkeitskanal 6 im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 9 und in Strömungsrichtung des flüssigen Füllgutes nach dem Flüssigkeitsventil 12 mit dem Gasraum 18 sowie auch gedrosselt mit einem weiteren, am Rotor 2 für sämtliche Füllelemente 1 des Füllsystems bzw. der Füllmaschine gemeinsam vorgesehenen Ringkanal 25 verbindet, der während des Betriebes der Füllmaschine als Rückgasringkanal dient und Rückgas mit Normal- oder Umgebungsdruck oder mit einem geringfügig über dem Normal- und Umgebungsdruck liegenden Überdruck, beispielsweise im Bereich zwischen 0 bis 1,5 Bar führt.In an illustrated embodiment, the filler element housing 5 two further, the common control valve 24 having controllable gas paths are provided with the open control valve 24, the liquid channel 6 in the region of the discharge opening 9 and in the flow direction of the liquid product after the liquid valve 12 with the gas space 18 as well as throttled with another, on the rotor 2 for all filling elements 1 of the filling system and the filling machine jointly provided annular channel 25 connects, which serves as a return gas ring channel during operation of the filling machine and return gas with normal or ambient pressure or with a slight over the normal and ambient pressure overpressure, for example in the range between 0 to 1.5 bar leads.

Der von dem Steuerventil 24 gebildete steuerbare Gasweg umfasst im Detail drei im Füllelementgehäuse 5 ausgebildete Gaskanäle, nämlich den Gaskanal 24.1, der den Flüssigkeitskanal 6 im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 9 mit dem Steuerventil 24 verbindet, den Gaskanal 24.2, der das Steuerventil 24 mit dem Gasraum 8 verbindet und den Gaskanal 24.3, der das Steuerventil 24 mit dem Ringkanal 25 verbindet. In dem Gaskanal 24.3 sind eine Drossel 26 sowie ein Rückschlagventil 27 vorgesehen, welch letzteres für einen Gasstrom aus dem Gaskanal 24.3 in den Ringkanal 25 öffnet, für einen Gasstrom in entgegen gesetzter Richtung sperrt und damit u.a. bei geöffnetem Steuerventil 24 ein Rückfließen von Rückgas aus dem Ringkanal 25 in die Gaskanäle 24.1 - 24.3 verhindert. Die Steuerventile 20 und 24 sind in ihrem geschlossenen, nicht aktivierten Zustand dargestellt.The controllable gas path formed by the control valve 24 comprises in detail three gas channels formed in the filler element housing 5, namely the gas channel 24.1 which connects the fluid channel 6 in the region of the discharge opening 9 with the control valve 24, the gas channel 24.2 which connects the control valve 24 with the gas space 8 connects and the gas channel 24.3, which connects the control valve 24 with the annular channel 25. In the gas channel 24.3, a throttle 26 and a check valve 27 are provided, which opens the latter for a gas flow from the gas channel 24.3 in the annular channel 25, blocks for a gas flow in the opposite direction and thus u.a. with open control valve 24, a return flow of return gas from the annular channel 25 in the gas channels 24.1 - 24.3 prevented. The control valves 20 and 24 are shown in their closed, non-activated state.

Die Betätigungseinrichtung 16 sowie die Steuerventile 20 und 24 werden bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform pneumatisch bestätigt, und zwar über nicht dargestellte elektrische Steuerventile von einer ebenfalls nicht dargestellten elektronischen Steuereinrichtung des Füllsystems bzw. der Füllmaschine, der (Steuereinrichtung) auch das Signal der Sonde 19 zugeleitet wird.The actuator 16 and the control valves 20 and 24 are pneumatically confirmed in the illustrated embodiment, via not shown electrical control valves of a likewise not shown electronic control device of the filling system or the filling machine, the (control device) and the signal of the probe 19 is supplied ,

Mit dem Füllelement 1 ist beispielsweise ein Druckfüllen der Flaschen 3 mit dem flüssigen Füllgut aus dem Ringkessel 8 in folgender Weise möglich:

  • Die zu füllende, mit ihrem Boden auf dem Behälterträger 4 aufstehende und mit ihrer Flaschenachse in Richtung der Füllelementachse FA orientierte Flasche 3 wird mit dem Behälterträger 4 angehoben, sodass die Flasche dann mit ihrer Flaschenmündung 3.1 gegen die Ringdichtung anliegt, im Bereich der Flaschenmündung 3.1 aber ein Ringspalt zur Umgebung verbleibt und das Rückgasrohr 15 mit seinem unteren Rückgasrohrende 15.1 in die Flasche 3 hineinreicht.
With the filling element 1, for example, a pressure filling of the bottles 3 with the liquid product from the ring bowl 8 in the following manner is possible:
  • The bottle 3 to be filled with its bottom resting on the container carrier 4 and oriented with its bottle axis in the direction of the filling element axis FA is lifted with the container carrier 4, so that the bottle rests against the ring seal with its bottle mouth 3.1, but in the area of the bottle mouth 3.1 an annular gap to the environment remains and the return gas pipe 15 extends with its lower return gas pipe end 15.1 in the bottle 3.

In diesem Zustand erfolgt in einem ersten Verfahrensschritt (Spülphase) des Füllprozesses ein Spülen des Innenraumes der Flasche 3 mit CO2-Gas, um die in der Flasche vorhandene Luft möglichst vollständig zu entfernen. Hierfür wird bei geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil 12 und geöffnetem Steuerventil 20 CO2-Gas aus dem Ringkanal 21 über den Gasraum 18 und den Rückgaskanal 17 in das Innere der Flasche 3 eingeleitet oder eingeblasen, sodass die in der Flasche 3 ursprünglich vorhandene Luft aus dem Flascheninnenraum über den sogenannten Ringspalt verdrängt wird.In this state, in a first process step (rinsing phase) of the filling process, a rinsing of the interior of the bottle 3 with CO2 gas takes place in order to completely remove the air present in the bottle. For this purpose, when the liquid valve 12 is closed and the control valve 20 is open, CO 2 gas is introduced or blown from the annular channel 21 into the interior of the bottle 3 via the gas space 18 and the return gas channel 17, so that the air originally present in the bottle 3 exits from the bottle interior via the so-called Annular gap is displaced.

In einem weiteren Verfahrensschritt (Vorspannphase) des Füllprozesses wird die Flasche 3 in Dichtlage gegen das Füllelement 1 angehoben, sodass über die Ringdichtung 10 eine dichte Verbindung zwischen der Abgabeöffnung 9 und im Innenraum der Flasche 3 besteht. Für das Vorspannen wird bei weiterhin geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil 12 das Steuerventil 20 geöffnet, sodass CO2-Gas unter Druck über das geöffnete Steuerventil 20, den Gasraum 18 und den Gaskanal 17 in das Innere der Flasche 3 einströmen kann und der Flascheninnenraum auf den Vorspann- und Fülldruck vorgespannt wird. Sowohl in der Spülphase als auch in der Vorspannphase ist die Drossel des Drosselrückschlagventils 23 nicht wirksam, sodass jeweils ein ungedrosselter Gasstrom aus dem Ringkanal 21 in die Flasche 3 möglich ist und dadurch u.a. die Taktzeiten für die Spülphase und die Vorspannphase reduziert werden, und zwar für eine Steigerung der Leistung des Füllsystems bzw. der Füllmaschine (Anzahl der gefüllten Flaschen 3 je Zeiteinheit).In a further method step (prestressing phase) of the filling process, the bottle 3 is raised in sealing position against the filling element 1, so that via the ring seal 10 there is a tight connection between the discharge opening 9 and in the interior of the bottle 3. For biasing the control valve 20 is opened when the liquid valve 12 is still closed, so that CO2 gas can flow under pressure through the open control valve 20, the gas chamber 18 and the gas channel 17 into the interior of the bottle 3 and the bottle interior to the biasing and filling pressure is biased. Both in the purge phase and in the bias phase, the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 is not effective, so that in each case an unthrottled gas flow from the annular channel 21 into the bottle 3 is possible and thereby u.a. the cycle times for the rinsing phase and the prestressing phase are reduced, for an increase in the performance of the filling system or the filling machine (number of filled bottles 3 per unit of time).

Während der anschließenden Füllphase, die durch Öffnen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 eingeleitet wird, befindet sich die jeweilige Flasche 3 weiterhin in Dichtlage am Füllelement 1. Zumindest ein Schnellfüllen der Flasche 3 erfolgt während der Füllphase bei ebenfalls geöffnetem Steuerventil 20, wodurch das CO2-Gas, welches von dem in die Flasche 3 über die Abgabeöffnung 9 fließende Füllgut aus dem Flascheninnenraum verdrängt wird, über den Rückgaskanal 17, den Gasraum 18 und das geöffnete Steuerventil 20 in den Ringkanal 21 zurückfließen kann. Die Geschwindigkeit, mit der das flüssige Füllgut in die Flasche 3 fließt, ist u.a. durch das Niveau N1 bestimmt. Um eine definierte Füllgeschwindigkeit zu erreichen, ist während der Füllphase der Gasweg für das aus der Flasche 3 verdrängte CO2-Gas in den Ringkanal 21 durch die in dieser Strömungsrichtung wirksame Drossel des Drosselrückschlagventils 23 gedrosselt. Durch das Drosselrückschlagventil 23 ist somit ohne ein zusätzliches Steuerventil und ohne einen damit verbundenen konstruktiven und/oder steuerungstechnischen Aufwand den unterschiedlichen Erfordernissen beim Spülen und Vorspannen, einerseits und beim Druckfüllen, andererseits Rechnung getragen.During the subsequent filling phase, which is initiated by opening the liquid valve 12, the respective bottle 3 is still in sealing position on the filling element 1. At least one quick filling of the bottle 3 takes place during the filling phase at also open control valve 20, whereby the CO2 gas, which is displaced from the filling material flowing into the bottle 3 via the discharge opening 9 from the bottle interior, can flow back into the annular channel 21 via the return gas channel 17, the gas chamber 18 and the open control valve 20. The speed at which the liquid product flows into the bottle 3 is determined inter alia by the level N1. In order to achieve a defined filling speed, during the filling phase the gas path for the CO2 gas displaced out of the bottle 3 into the annular channel 21 is throttled by the throttle of the throttle check valve 23 which is effective in this flow direction. Through the throttle check valve 23 is thus without an additional control valve and without it connected constructive and / or control engineering effort the different requirements when flushing and tempering, on the one hand and pressure filling, on the other hand taken into account.

Erreicht der Füllgutspiegel 3 das Niveau N2, so taucht das untere Rückgasrohrende 15.1 in das Füllgut ein, sodass das im Kopfraum der Flasche 3, d.h. in dem Bereich zwischen dem Füllgutspiegel in der Flasche 3 und dem geöffneten Flüssigkeitsventil 12 bzw. der dort ausgebildeten Gassperre verbliebene CO2-Gas nicht mehr in den Rückgaskanal 17 strömen kann, vielmehr das flüssige Füllgut in diesem Rückgaskanal 17 aufsteigt. Bei nicht vorhandener Sonde 19 würde der Füllgutspiegel im Rückgaskanal das Gleichgewichtsniveau erreichen, welches bedingt durch die Gassperre des geöffneten Flüssigkeitsventils und durch das im Kopfraum der Flasche 3 eingeschlossene CO2-Gas unterhalb des Niveaus N1, aber über dem Ansprechniveau N3 der Sonde 19 liegt. Durch die Sonde 19 wird nun erreicht, dass ein Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventil 12 sondengesteuert dann veranlasst wird, wenn das im Rückgaskanal 17 aufsteigende Füllgut bereits das Ansprechniveau N3 erreicht hat, das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 also nicht erst nach Ablauf einer fest vorgegebenen Zeitspanne oder erst bei Erreichen einer vorgegebenen Winkelstellung des Rotors 2 der Füllmaschine erfolgt, wie dies bei bisher bekannten Füllsystemen der in Rede stehenden Art zum Druckfüllen von Behältern der Fall ist.If the level of contents 3 reaches level N2, then the lower return gas pipe end 15.1 dips into the contents, so that the volume in the head space of the bottle 3, i. in the area between the level of contents in the bottle 3 and the opened liquid valve 12 or the gas barrier formed there, CO2 gas can no longer flow into the return gas channel 17, but rather the liquid product rises in this return gas channel 17. If the probe 19 were not present, the level of contents in the return gas channel would reach the equilibrium level, which is below the level N1 but above the level N3 of the probe 19 due to the gas barrier of the opened liquid valve and the CO2 gas trapped in the head space of the bottle 3. By the probe 19 is now achieved that a closing of the liquid valve 12 is then triggered by probe when the rising in the return gas channel 17 contents has already reached the Ansprechniveau N3, closing the liquid valve 12 so not only after a fixed period of time or only at Reaching a predetermined angular position of the rotor 2 of the filling machine takes place, as is the case with previously known filling systems of the type in question for pressure filling of containers.

Mit dem das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 bewirkenden Signal der Sonde 19 wird bevorzugt auch das Schließen des Steuerventils 20 und das Öffnen des Steuerventils 24 veranlasst, sodass über das geöffnete Steuerventil 24 eine Entlastung des Kopfraumes der weiterhin in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 1 befindlichen Flasche 3 in den Ringkanal 25 sowie auch ein Entleeren des Rückgaskanals 17 bzw. ein Rückfließen des Füllgutes aus dem Rückgaskanal 17 in die Flasche erfolgen, und zwar aufgrund der Verbindung zwischen dem Gasraum 18 und dem Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 9 über die Gaskanäle 24.1 und 24.2. Ein Rückströmen von Rückgas aus dem Ringkanal 25 in den Kopfraum der Flasche 3 ist durch das Rückschlagventil 27 wirksam verhindert.With the closing of the liquid valve 12 causing the signal of the probe 19 is preferably also the closing of the control valve 20 and the opening of the control valve 24 causes, so via the open control valve 24, a discharge of the head space of the still in sealing position with the filling element 1 bottle 3 in the annular channel 25 as well as an emptying of the return gas channel 17 and a return flow of the filling material from the return gas channel 17 into the bottle, due to the connection between the gas space 18 and the region of the discharge opening 9 via the gas channels 24.1 and 24.2. A return flow of return gas from the annular channel 25 in the headspace of the bottle 3 is effectively prevented by the check valve 27.

Der Füllprozess wird damit beendet, dass die gefüllte Flasche 3 mit dem Behälterträger 4 soweit abgesenkt wird, dass das Rückgasrohr 15 vollständig aus der Flasche 3 herausgeführt ist. Die gefüllte Flasche 3 kann dann von dem Behälterträger 4 abgenommen und beispielsweise einer Maschine zum Verschließen zugeführt werden.The filling process is terminated so that the filled bottle 3 is lowered with the container carrier 4 so far that the return gas pipe 15 is completely led out of the bottle 3. The filled bottle 3 can then be removed from the container carrier 4 and fed, for example, a machine for closing.

Während des Betriebes des Füllsystems bzw. der Füllmaschine wird ständig CO2-Gas aus dem Ringkanal 21 insbesondere für das Spülen entnommen und dieses über die Leitung 22 aus dem Gasraum 8.1 des Ringkessels 8 ersetzt, sodass trotz des Rückführens des CO2-Gases in den Ringkanal 21 während der Füllphase kein CO2-Gas und dabei insbesondere auch kein mit Luft kontaminiertes CO2-Gas aus dem Ringkanal 21 in den Gasraum 8.1 des Kessels 8 gelangt. Im Kessel 8 steht somit an der Phasengrenze zum Füllgut immer reines CO2-Gas an.During operation of the filling system or the filling machine CO2 gas is constantly removed from the annular channel 21 in particular for purging and this replaced via the line 22 from the gas space 8.1 of the ring boiler 8, so that despite the return of the CO2 gas in the annular channel 21st during the filling phase, no CO2 gas and in particular no CO2 gas contaminated with air passes from the annular channel 21 into the gas space 8.1 of the boiler 8. In the boiler 8 is thus always at the phase boundary to the medium always pure CO2 gas.

Das beschriebene Füllelement 1 hat erhebliche Vorteile:

  • Unabhängig von der Sonde 19 werden durch das im Gaskanal 20.2 vorgesehen Drosselrückschlagventil 23 ein beschleunigtes Spülen und Vorspannen der jeweiligen Flasche 3 mit einem ungedrosselten CO2-Gasstrom und zugleich während der Füllphase ein gedrosselter Rückgasstrom für eine optimale und reproduzierbare Füllgeschwindigkeit erreicht.
The described filling element 1 has considerable advantages:
  • Independently of the probe 19, an accelerated flushing and prestressing of the respective bottle 3 with an unthrottled CO 2 gas stream and at the same time during the filling phase a throttled return gas stream for an optimum and reproducible filling speed are achieved by the throttle check valve 23 provided in the gas channel 20.

Durch die im Rückgasrohr 5 angeordnete Sonde 19 wird ein Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 erreicht, bevor der normale Gleichgewichtszustand eingetreten bzw. der Spiegel des flüssigen Füllgutes im Rückgaskanal 17 auf das diesem Gleichgewichtszustand entsprechende Niveau angestiegen ist. Mit der Sonde 19 wird also der Füllgutanstieg im Rückgasrohr 15 begrenzt.By arranged in the return gas pipe 5 probe 19, a closing of the liquid valve 12 is reached before the normal state of equilibrium occurred or the mirror of the liquid filling material in the return gas channel 17 has risen to the level corresponding to this equilibrium state. With the probe 19 so the Füllgutanstieg is limited in the return gas pipe 15.

Hierdurch besteht die Möglichkeit, die Gesamtdauer des Füllprozesses zu reduzieren bzw. die Leistung einer Füllmaschine (Anzahl der gefüllten Flaschen 3 je Zeiteinheit) zu steigern, und zwar beispielsweise dadurch, dass eine zentrale Steuereinheit bzw. ein zentraler Rechner der Füllmaschine die jeweilige Zeitdauer bis zum Ansprechen der Sonde 19 für sämtliche Füllelemente 1 jeweils gesondert erfasst und dann die Geschwindigkeit der Füllmaschine derart steuert, dass der Füllprozess auch an dem "langsamsten" Füllelement 1 der Füllmaschine zuverlässig abgeschlossen ist, bevor die jeweilige Flasche 3 von diesem Füllelement mit dem Behälterträger 4 abgesenkt wird.This makes it possible to reduce the overall duration of the filling process or to increase the performance of a filling machine (number of filled bottles 3 per time unit), for example by virtue of the fact that a central control unit or a central computer of the filling machine keeps the respective time period until Response of the probe 19 for each filling elements 1 separately detected and then controls the speed of the filling machine such that the filling process is completed reliably on the "slowest" filling element 1 of the filling machine before the respective bottle 3 lowered from this filling element with the container carrier 4 becomes.

Weiterhin kann durch entsprechende Wahl des Niveaus N3, d.h. durch entsprechende Annäherung des Niveaus N3 an das Niveau N2 die Menge des in dem Rückgaskanal 17 aufsteigenden Füllgutes und damit die Menge des in die jeweilige Flasche 3 rückgeführten Füllgutes klein gehalten werden.Furthermore, by appropriate choice of the level N3, ie by appropriate approximation of the level N3 to the level N2, the amount of rising in the return gas channel 17 filling material and thus the amount of recycled into the respective bottle 3 contents are kept small.

Außerdem wird durch das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 nach dem Ansprechen der Sonde 19 auch vermieden, dass bedingt durch Erschütterungen des Füllsystems oder der Füllmaschine Füllgut aus dem Flüssigkeitskanal 6 in die Flasche 3 nachfließt, wie dies bei bekannten Füllsystemen zum Druckfüllen von Behältern oder Flaschen der Fall ist, die (Füllsysteme) die Sonde 19 nicht aufweisen.In addition, by closing the liquid valve 12 after the response of the probe 19 also avoided that due to vibrations of the filling system or the filling material from the liquid channel 6 nachfließt from the liquid channel 6 in the bottle 3, as is the case with known filling systems for pressure filling of containers or bottles is that (filling systems) the probe 19 does not have.

Durch die Ansteuerung der Steuerventile 20 und 24 und dabei insbesondere durch das Öffnen des Steuerventils 24 aufgrund des Signals der Sonde 19 erfolgt nach dem Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 frühzeitig ein gemeinsames Entlasten des Kopfraumes der Flasche 3 und des Rückgaskanals 17 über die Drossel 26 sowie auch ein Entleeren des Rückgaskanals 17, sodass es beim Abziehen bzw. Absenken der Flasche 3 vom Füllelement 1 nicht zu einem stoßartigen Entleeren (Expansionsstoß) des Rückgaskanals 17 in den Füllgutspiegel der gefüllte Flasche 3 und auch nicht zu einem damit verbundenen Überschäumen des Füllgutes in der Flasche 3 kommt. Weiterhin wird durch das frühzeitige Entleeren des Rückgasrohres 15 auch ein Verbleiben von Füllgutresten im Gasrohr 15 bei dem oder nach dem Absenken der Flasche 3 vom Füllelement 1 vermieden, was insgesamt zu einer Reduzierung der Gesamtdauer des Füllprozesses und damit zu einer Erhöhung der Leistung der Füllmaschine beiträgt, insbesondere auch bei einem CO2-haltigen und zur Schaumbildung neigenden Füllgut.By controlling the control valves 20 and 24 and thereby in particular by the opening of the control valve 24 due to the signal of the probe 19 takes place after closing the liquid valve 12 early a common relieving the headspace of the bottle 3 and the return gas channel 17 via the throttle 26 as well as a Emptying of the return gas channel 17, so that when removing or lowering the bottle 3 from the filling element 1 not to a jerky emptying (expansion shock) of the return gas channel 17 in the level of the filled bottle 3 and also not associated foaming of the contents in the bottle. 3 comes. Furthermore, by the early emptying of the return gas pipe 15 and a retention of Füllgutresten in the gas pipe 15 is avoided during or after lowering the bottle 3 from the filling element 1, which contributes to a total reduction of the total duration of the filling process and thus to an increase in the performance of the filling machine , Especially with a CO2-containing and prone to foaming contents.

Durch die Verwendung der Sonde 19 besteht weiterhin grundsätzlich auch die Möglichkeit, auf die Gassperre im Bereich des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 zu verzichten.Due to the use of the probe 19, it is also basically possible to dispense with the gas barrier in the area of the liquid valve 12.

Ein weiterer Vorteil besteht darin, dass mit dem Ansprechen der Sonde 19 und dem hierdurch veranlassten Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 die Verbindung zwischen dem Ringkessel 8 und der jeweiligen Flasche 3 bei Erreichen der angestrebten Füllhöhe sofort unterbrochen wird, sodass auch durch Druckschwankungen im Gasraum 8.1 sowie durch Schwankungen des Niveaus N1 bedingte Füllhöhenschwankungen in den Flaschen 3 wirksam vermieden sind.Another advantage is that with the response of the probe 19 and thus caused closing of the liquid valve 12, the connection between the ring vessel 8 and the respective bottle 3 is immediately interrupted upon reaching the desired level, so also by pressure fluctuations in the gas space and 8.1 Fluctuations in the level N1 conditional Füllhöhenschwankungen in the bottles 3 are effectively avoided.

Da der Kopfraum der jeweiligen Flasche 3 nach dem Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 über das Steuerventil 24 auch mit dem Gasraum 18 bzw. mit dem oberen Ende des Rückgasrohres 17 verbunden wird, besteht grundsätzlich auch die Möglichkeit, die jeweils gefüllte Flasche 3 bereits bei noch leichtem Überdruck in der Flasche von dem Füllelement 1 abzuziehen, ohne dass es zu einem stoßartigen Austreten von im Rückgasrohr 17 vorhandenen Füllgut und zu einem Aufschäumen in der Flasche 3 kommt, und zwar u.a. zur Verkürzung der Gesamtdauer des Füllprozesses und zur Steigerung der Leistung des Füllsystems bzw. der Füllmaschine.Since the head space of the respective bottle 3 is also connected via the control valve 24 to the gas space 18 or to the upper end of the return gas pipe 17 after closing the liquid valve 12, it is basically also possible to fill the respectively filled bottle 3 even with slight overpressure in the bottle of that Pull off the filling element 1, without there being a jerky emergence of present in the return gas pipe 17 contents and foaming in the bottle 3, namely, inter alia, to shorten the overall duration of the filling process and to increase the performance of the filling system or the filling machine.

Ein weiterer wesentlicher Vorteil besteht darin, dass für das Füllelement 1 trotz der Vielzahl der Vorteile ohne grundlegende bauliche Änderungen beispielsweise eine bei Füllsystemen oder Einkammer-Füllsystemen zum Druckfüllen von Behältern bereits bewehrte Konstruktion verwendet werden kann.Another significant advantage is that for the filling element 1, despite the large number of advantages without fundamental structural changes, for example, a construction already reinforced in filling systems or single-chamber filling systems for pressure-filling of containers can be used.

Die Erfindung wurde voranstehend an einem Ausführungsbeispiel beschrieben. Es versteht sich, dass zahlreiche Änderungen sowie Abwandlungen möglich sind.The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible.

So besteht grundsätzlich auch die Möglichkeit, dass das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 12 nach dem Ansprechen der Sonde 19 mit einer gewissen Zeitverzögerung erfolgt, um hierdurch eine Füllhöhenkorrektur zu erreichen.Thus, in principle, there is also the possibility that the closing of the liquid valve 12 takes place after the response of the probe 19 with a certain time delay, thereby achieving a filling height correction.

BezugszeichenlisteLIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11
Füllelementfiller
22
Rotorrotor
33
Flaschebottle
3.13.1
Flaschenmündungbottle mouth
44
Behälterträger oder FlaschentellerContainer carrier or bottle plate
55
Füllelementgehäusefilling element
66
Flüssigkeitskanalliquid channel
77
Produkt- oder FüllgutleitungProduct or product line
88th
Ringkesselring bowl
8.18.1
Gasraum des Ringkessels 8Gas space of the ring boiler 8
8.28.2
Flüssigkeitsraum des Ringkessels 8Fluid space of the ring boiler 8
99
ringförmige Abgabeöffnungannular discharge opening
1010
Ringdichtungring seal
1111
Zentriertulpecentering bell
1212
Flüssigkeitsventilliquid valve
1313
Ventilkörpervalve body
1414
Ventilflächevalve surface
1515
RückgasrohrReturn gas pipe
15.115.1
unteres Rückgasrohrendelower return gas pipe end
1616
Betätigungseinrichtung für Flüssigkeitsventil 12Actuation device for liquid valve 12
1717
RückgaskanalReturn gas channel
1818
Gasraumheadspace
1919
Sondeprobe
19.119.1
unteres Sondenendelower end of probe
2020
Steuerventilcontrol valve
20.1,20.220.1,20.2
Gaskanalgas channel
2121
Ringkanalannular channel
2222
Leitungmanagement
2323
DrosselrückschlagventilSpeed Controller
2424
Steuerventilcontrol valve
24.1, 24.2, 24.324.1, 24.2, 24.3
Gaskanalgas channel
2525
Ringkanal am Rotor 2Ring channel on the rotor 2
2626
Drosselthrottle
2727
Rückschlagventilcheck valve
N1N1
Niveau des Füllgutspiegels im Ringkessel 8Level of the product level in the ring bowl 8
N2N2
Niveau des unteren Rückgasrohrendes 15.1Level of lower end of return pipe 15.1
N3N3
Anspruchniveau der Sonde 19Claim level of the probe 19
FAFA
Füllelementachsefilling element

Claims (3)

  1. Filling element for filling bottles or similar containers (3) with a filling material under pressure, with at least one liquid channel (6) formed in a filling element housing (5), with at least one liquid valve (12) in the liquid channel (6), said channel being connected, upstream of the liquid valve (12) in the flow direction of the filling material, to a liquid chamber (8.2) of a filling material vessel (8), which is partially filled with the filling material and is under pre-stress or filling pressure, and forms at least one discharge opening (9) downstream of the liquid valve (12) in the flow direction of the filling material, at which discharge opening the particular container (3) is arranged with a container opening (3.1) in a sealed position at least during the filling, as well as with a return gas pipe (15) that projects into the container (3) during the filling, so that an inert gas, such as CO2 gas, with which the container is prestressed, is forced out of the container (3) during the filling and is transported back into a collection channel (21), which transports the gas under pre-stress or filling pressure, or into a gas chamber (8.1) of the vessel (8), and wherein, after the immersion of a lower return gas pipe end (15.1) of the return gas pipe (15) into the filling material level that is rising in the container (3), the filling material rises up to a level (N3), at which the further filling of the container (3) with the filling material is ceased, wherein a probe (19) is arranged or formed in a return gas channel (17) formed from a return gas pipe, said probe generating a probe signal that causes the closing of the liquid valve (12) as soon as the rising filling material reaches a response level (N3) of the probe in the return gas channel (17), characterised in that, in a controlled gas path (20, 20.1, 20.2) formed in the filling element, via which path at least one pre-stressing of the respective container (3) located in the sealing position with the filling element (1) takes place, as well as the transporting back of the inert gas forced out of the container (3) during the filling, a choke non-return valve unit (23) is provided to deliver a non-choked inert gas flow via this gas path for the pre-stressing and a choked inert gas flow during the filling.
  2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterised in that the probe (19) is a rod-shaped probe, inserted into the return gas pipe (15) or, respectively, into the return gas channel (17) formed by this pipe, with at least one probe contact or at least one electrical measuring segment which responds to the liquid filling material, preferably in the region of a lower probe end (19.1).
  3. Filling element according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, at least with the liquid valve (12) opened, a gas block, such as a siphon-type gas block, is provided or formed in the liquid channel (6), preferably in the region of the liquid valve (12).
EP11713705.9A 2010-06-21 2011-04-08 Filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material under pressure Not-in-force EP2582613B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI201130972A SI2582613T1 (en) 2010-06-21 2011-04-08 Filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material under pressure

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE201010024522 DE102010024522A1 (en) 2010-06-21 2010-06-21 Method and filling element for pressure filling of containers with a liquid product
PCT/EP2011/001755 WO2011160740A1 (en) 2010-06-21 2011-04-08 Method and filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material under pressure

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2582613A1 EP2582613A1 (en) 2013-04-24
EP2582613B1 true EP2582613B1 (en) 2016-09-14

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11713705.9A Not-in-force EP2582613B1 (en) 2010-06-21 2011-04-08 Filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material under pressure

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US9108836B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2582613B1 (en)
BR (1) BR112012026792A2 (en)
DE (1) DE102010024522A1 (en)
SI (1) SI2582613T1 (en)
WO (1) WO2011160740A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20130061980A1 (en) 2013-03-14
BR112012026792A2 (en) 2016-07-12
EP2582613A1 (en) 2013-04-24
SI2582613T1 (en) 2016-11-30
DE102010024522A1 (en) 2011-12-22
WO2011160740A1 (en) 2011-12-29
US9108836B2 (en) 2015-08-18

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