EP3339241B1

EP3339241B1 - Filling apparatus and method for filling receptacles with a hot pourable product

Info

Publication number: EP3339241B1
Application number: EP16306769.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enrico Cocchi; Stefano d'Errico
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2016-12-22
Filing date: 2016-12-22
Publication date: 2019-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-22
Also published as: EP3339241A1; WO2018114286A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a filling apparatus and a method to fill receptacles with a hot pourable product, in particular a pourable product kept at a pre-set temperature ranging between 80°C and 100°C, in particular between 85°C and 95°C and preferably at about 90°C.

BACKGROUND ART

As it is generally known, in filling machines, receptacles are filled with a pourable product while they are arranged on respective supports and have their mouths located beneath respective filling apparatuses.
In order to prevent the deterioration and the degradation by microbial contamination of the pourable products and to prolong the maximum preservation times, it is often necessary to use filling machines which fill the receptacles in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions.
In general, such a filling machine is fed with aseptic or ultra-clean receptacles (for example receptacles which have previously been sterilised) and is adapted to provide receptacles filled with a sterilised product in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions.
A commonly-known filling machine of this type basically comprises a carousel conveyor, rotating about a rotation axis and carrying, on its periphery, a plurality of angularly, equally spaced supports for respective receptacles, a tank containing the product, and a plurality of filling apparatuses which are selectively connected with the tank and are supported by the carousel conveyor in respective positions vertically aligned with the corresponding supports.
Each filling apparatus comprises a flow control valve selectively connecting the tank with the receptacle to be filled.
Each flow control valve basically comprises:

a support body defining a flowing channel for the pourable product;
a delivery mouth, which is arranged at one end of the flowing channel and through which the pourable product flows in use to fill a respective receptacle;
a shutter coaxially mounted within the flowing channel and axially displaced in use between an open position, in which it allows the pourable product to freely flow through the flowing channel and the delivery mouth to fill the respective receptacle, and a closed position, in which it sealingly closes the delivery mouth and interrupts flowing of the pourable product to the respective receptacle;
an electromagnetic actuator configured to control displacements of the shutter between the open and closed position and which includes a magnetic stator, carried by the support body and arranged around the flowing channel, and a movable magnetic core being part of the shutter and controlled by an energizable coil of the stator; and
an energizing equipment operable to energize the coil of the stator.

This type of solution is disclosed for instance in EP-A-2881636 in the name of the same applicant.
In known filling machines, possible interruptions of the filling process, for maintenance or for failures or malfunctions, require the hot pourable product to be recirculated to the tank in order to be continuously maintained at the pre-set temperature.
In order to do so, a recirculation circuit with a dedicated recirculating control valve have to be provided for each filling apparatus and for each control valve, so complicating the pourable product circuit and the control thereof; this also penalizes the total cost of the filling machine.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a filling apparatus, which is designed to overcome the above drawbacks in a straightforward and economic manner.
According to the present invention, there is provided a filling apparatus for filling receptacles with a hot pourable product, as set forth in claim 1.
The present invention also relates to a method for filling receptacles with a hot pourable product, as set forth in claim 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment is hereinafter disclosed for a better understanding of the present invention, by mere way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a filling apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a larger-scale, axial section of a filling valve of the Figure 1 filling apparatus in an open position; and
Figure 3 is analogous to Figure 2 and shows the filling valve in a closed position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a filling apparatus according to the present invention, which is adapted to be incorporated in a filling machine in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions (known per se and not shown) for filling receptacles, in particular bottles 2 (only one shown in Figure 1), with a hot pourable food product, i.e. a pourable product kept at a pre-set temperature T ranging between 80°C and 100°C, in particular between 85°C and 95°C and preferably at about 90°C.
It is pointed out that pre-set temperature T is the temperature at which the pourable product is delivered to the bottles 2.
One example of bottle 2 is shown in Figure 1; it has a longitudinal axis A and comprises:

a bottom wall 3 substantially transversal to axis A;
a mouth 4, opposite to bottom wall 3, to allow filling with the pourable product and the following pouring of the pourable product itself; and
a neck 5 arranged immediately below mouth 4.

The bottle 2 in Figure 1 is made of plastics; however, filling unit 1 may be also used for other types of receptacles, such as receptacles made of aluminum, steel, glass and composites.
The above-mentioned filling machine is typically fed with a succession of sterilised empty bottles 2 and fill the latter ones with the pourable product in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions. For this purpose, the filling machine typically comprises a tank containing the product, a carousel conveyor rotating about a vertical axis and protrudingly bearing on its peripheral portion a plurality of filling apparatuses 1 for filling respective bottles 2 during rotation of the carousel conveyor itself.
In particular, each filling apparatus 1 comprises a fluidic line 6 fed with the pourable product by the tank through an annular manifold 7 (shown in cross-section and with dotted lines in Figure 1), in turn coaxially mounted on the carousel conveyor; the filling apparatus 1 also comprises:

a flow control valve 8 arranged along an end portion of fluidic line 6 and configured to selectively control flow of the pourable product to the respective bottle 2; and
a flowmeter 9 (known per se and only schematically shown in dotted line) configured to meter the volume of pourable product delivered to the bottle 2 and arranged along fluidic line 6 in a position interposed between manifold 7 and valve 8.

In the example shown in the enclosed Figures, valve 8 has an axis B and is configured to fill a respective bottle 2 while the latter is maintained in a vertical position with its axis A coaxial to the axis B itself and parallel to the axis of the conveyor carousel of the filling machine.
With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, valve 8 comprises:

a support body 10 defining a flowing channel 11 for the pourable product;
an inlet mouth 12, which is arranged at one end 13 of flowing channel 11 and is connected to fluidic line 6 to be fed in use with the pourable product;
a delivery mouth 14, which is arranged at one end 15 of flowing channel 11, opposite to end 13, and through which the pourable product flows in use to fill a respective bottle 2;
a shutter 16 coaxially mounted within flowing channel 11 and axially displaced in use between an open position (Figure 2), in which it allows the pourable product to freely flow through the flowing channel 11 and delivery mouth 14 to fill the respective bottle 2, and a closed position (Figure 3), in which it sealingly closes delivery mouth 14 and interrupts flowing of the pourable product to the respective bottle 2; and
an electromagnetic actuator 18 displacing in use the shutter 16 between the open and closed position.

In particular, electromagnetic actuator 18 includes a magnetic stator 19, carried by support body 10 and arranged around flowing channel 11, and a movable magnetic core 20 being part of shutter 16 and controlled by an energizable coil 21 of the stator 19 itself.
Valve 8 further comprises an energizing equipment 22 operable to energize coil 21 of stator 19 and configured to control displacements of shutter 16 between the open and closed positions.
As visible in Figures 2 and 3, support body 10 comprises a tubular casing 23 of axis B, defining at least in part inlet and delivery mouths 12, 14, and a sleeve 24 housed inside tubular casing 23, connected thereto and defining flowing channel 11.
More specifically, inlet and delivery mouths 12, 14 are the only communication ports of flowing channel 11 with the outside. Preferably, inlet and delivery mouths 12, 14 are coaxial with flowing channel 11.
Tubular casing 23 comprises a central portion 25, preferably having a substantially parallelepiped or cylindrical configuration and a constant inner cross-section transversal to axis B, and two opposite end portions 26, 27, externally protruding from facing head walls 28, 29 of central portion 25 and having inner cross-sections with surface areas lower than the surface area of the inner cross-section of the central portion 25 itself. End portions 26, 27 define, at least in part, inlet and delivery mouths 12, 14, respectively.
Sleeve 24 is made of paramagnetic material (steel AISI 316 L, for instance) and has a relatively low radial thickness, in particular a thickness of less than 0.6 mm. In particular, sleeve 24 is mainly housed inside central portion 25 of tubular casing 23 and includes a main portion 30, having a constant inner diameter with respect to axis B, and one end portion 31, having an inner diameter tapering from the main portion 30 to end portion 26 of tubular casing 23.
In the specific example shown in the enclosed Figures, end portion 31 of sleeve 24 and end portion 26 of tubular casing 23 together define inlet mouth 12.
As a possible alternative not shown, inlet mouth 12 may be also entirely defined by end portion 26 of tubular casing 23 or by end portion 31 of sleeve 24.
Sleeve 24 further comprises an external annular flange 32, which is preferably arranged at an axial end opposite to end portion 31 and is inserted into a corresponding seat formed in head wall 29 of tubular casing 23.
In the specific example shown in the enclosed Figures, end portion 27 of tubular casing 23 entirely defines delivery mouth 14 and presents a sealing zone 33, immediately adjacent to flowing channel 11 and having an inner diameter tapering from the flowing channel 11 itself to a minimum diameter.
As a possible alternative not shown, delivery mouth 14 may be also entirely defined by an end portion of sleeve 24 or by a combination thereof with end portion 27 of tubular casing 23.
As clearly visible in Figures 2 and 3, stator 19 is arranged in fixed position around sleeve 24; preferably, stator 19 is axially clamped between two annular plates 34, 35, which are secured to tubular casing 23 and have respective central through holes of axis B, engaged and crossed by sleeve 24.
Stator 19 comprises a casing 36 made of ferromagnetic material and housing coil 21, which is in turn arranged around sleeve 24 and faces the outer surface of the sleeve 24 itself so as to have the lowest radial air gap as possible with respect to core 20 of shutter 16.
Stator 19 further comprises two magnets 37, 38, in particular permanent magnets, which are aligned with the coil 21 in a direction parallel to axis B, are arranged on opposite axial sides of the coil 21, preferably in symmetrical positions, and have a same pole (N or S, represented in Figures 2 and 3 with different textures) aimed against each other so that the respective magnetic fluxes are directed in opposite axial directions in the stator 19.
Coil 21 is arranged in a seat of the casing 36, so that two ring portions 40 of ferromagnetic material are axially provided between the coil 21 itself and magnets 37, 38 in order to guide the magnetic fluxes. Preferably, ring portions 41 of ferromagnetic material are axially provided also at the external end sides of the magnets 37, 38.
As visible in Figures 2 and 3, core 20 defines a main portion of shutter 16; in particular, core 20 comprises a central portion 42, having an external diameter lower than that of flowing channel 11, and two opposite end portions 43, 44 having an external diameter substantially equal to that of the flowing channel 11, so as to radially project outwardly with respect to central portion 42 and to be axially guided by the inner surface of sleeve 24.
Moreover, core 20 has one or more passages 45 to allow the pourable product to freely flow along flowing channel 11. Preferably, but not exclusively, the passages 45 are parallel to axis B. In the specific example shown in Figures 2 and 3, core 20 includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs 46, extending parallel to axis B, equally spaced angularly about axis B and radially protruding from central portion 42; ribs 46 delimit passages 45 between each other and have respective C-shaped configurations, whose opposite free ends define respective end portions 43, 44 sliding in use along the inner surface of sleeve 24.
Shutter 16 also comprises opposite substantially conical end portions 47, 48 configured to cooperate in use with inlet and delivery mouths 12, 14, respectively.
In particular, end portion 48 is complementary to sealing zone 33 of end portion 27 of tubular casing 23 and is configured to cooperate in use with the sealing zone 33 itself to sealingly close fluidic communication of valve 8 with the respective bottle 2 (closed position of shutter 16 - Figure 3).
The same applies to end portion 47, which is complementary to the inner surface of end portion 31 of sleeve 24.
With reference to Figures 1 to 3, energizing equipment 22 is advantageously configured to power supply coil 21 of stator 19, when shutter 16 is in the closed position and filling apparatus 1 is in stand-by, to cause the pourable product contained in flowing channel 11 to be heated-up at pre-set temperature T.
It is pointed out that the term "stand-by" is used in the present description and in the claims to identify a condition of filling apparatus 1, in which production of filled bottles 2 is stopped, for instance for maintenance or for possible failures or malfunctions of the filling machine including the filling apparatus 1 itself.
In particular, energizing equipment 22 comprises an electric power supply unit 50, configured to selectively supply an electric current to coil 21 of stator 19, and a control unit 51, configured to control activation/deactivation of electric power supply unit 50 as well as intensity and direction of the electric current supplied to the coil 21.
Energizing equipment 22 further comprises a sensor device 52 detecting the temperature within coil 21 of stator 19; the power energy, and in particular the electric current, supplied by electric power supply unit 50 to coil 21 of stator 19 is controlled by control unit 51 as a function of the temperature detected by sensor device 52 within coil 21.
In the specific example shown in the enclosed figures, a part, generally tending to zero, of the power energy supplied by energizing equipment 22 to coil 21 of stator 19, when shutter 16 is in the closed position and filling apparatus 1 is in stand-by, is used to maintain the shutter 16 itself in the closed position, whilst the rest of said power energy supplied to the coil 21 of the stator 19 is used to heat-up the pourable product contained in flowing channel 11.
In practice, energizing equipment 22 operates in two different working conditions: a first working condition, in which a low power dissipation occurs, and a second working condition, in which a high power dissipation occurs.
The first working condition is used to keep shutter 16 in the closed position during normal production of filled bottles 2, whilst the second working condition is used to keep shutter 16 in the closed position and to heat the pourable product by dissipating electric power during any stand-by condition of filling apparatus 1.
The operation of filling apparatus 1 is described hereafter starting from a condition in which the shutter 16 is arranged in the open position, i.e. its end portion 48 is detached from sealing zone 33 of end portion 27 of tubular casing 23 and defines a gap with the latter so as to permit free flow of the pourable product through delivery mouth 14. In order to move shutter 16 from the open position to the closed position (Figure 3), coil 21 is energized with a given electrical current, typically with a very low value of current.
To possibly hold shutter 16 at the closed position without current consumption, a variant (not shown) could be envisaged: an additional magnet should be provided in an appropriate position, for instance close to plate 35, to maintain the core 20 in a position displaced towards sealing zone 33.
To reach the open position of the shutter 16, it is necessary to energize coil 20 with an electric current opposite the one used for moving the shutter 16 itself in the closed position.
In case of any malfunction or failure of the filling machine or even in case of maintenance thereof, the filing apparatus 1 is set in a condition of stand-by with the shutter 16 in the closed position. In this situation, energizing equipment 22 power supplies coil 21 of stator 19 with an additional amount of electric power with respect to the amount necessary to maintain the shutter 16 in the closed position. This additional amount of electric power supplied to coil 21 is dissipated to heat-up the pourable product in flowing channel 11 at pre-set temperature T with sensor device 52 and/or further additional temperature sensors installed into coil 21 and/or into the sleeve 24.
In the case in which the closed position of shutter 16 is obtained without current consumption, all electric power supplied by energizing equipment to coil 19 is dissipated to heat-up the pourable product in the flowing channel 11 at pre-set temperature T.
The advantages of filling apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
By using the electromagnetic actuator 18 as a heater when the filling apparatus 1 is in stand-by and the shutter is in the closed position, the pourable product contained in the flowing channel 11 may be kept at the pre-set temperature T without any need to recirculate it; even the valve 8 can be maintained at the required temperature.
Hence, there is no need to provide a recirculation circuit and a recirculating control valve for each filling apparatus 1 and each valve 8 in the filling machine, so reducing complexity and cost of the latter.
Clearly, changes may be made to filling apparatus 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

A filling apparatus (1) for filling receptacles (2) with a hot pourable product, said filling apparatus (1) comprising:
- a support body (10) defining a flowing channel (11) for the pourable product;

- a delivery mouth (14) which is arranged at one end (15) of said flowing channel (11) and through which the pourable product flows in use to fill a respective receptacle (2) ;

- a shutter (16) coaxially mounted within the flowing channel (11) and axially displaced in use between an open position, in which it allows the pourable product to freely flow through the flowing channel (11) and the delivery mouth (14) to fill the respective receptacle (2), and a closed position, in which it sealingly closes the delivery mouth (14) and interrupts flowing of the pourable product to the respective receptacle (2);

- an electromagnetic actuator (18) configured to control displacements of the shutter (16) between the open and closed position and which includes a magnetic stator (19), carried by the support body (10) and arranged around said flowing channel (11), and a movable magnetic core (20) being part of said shutter (16) and controlled by an energizable coil (21) of said stator (19); and

- an energizing equipment (22) operable to energize the coil (21) of the stator (19);
characterized in that said energizing equipment (22) is configured to power supply the coil (21) of the stator (19), when the shutter (16) is in the closed position and the filling apparatus (1) is in stand-by, to cause the pourable product contained in the flowing channel (11) to be heated-up at a pre-set temperature (T).
The filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pre-set temperature (T) is the programmed temperature at which the pourable product is delivered to the receptacles (2).
The filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said pre-set temperature (T) ranges between 80°C and 100°C and preferably between 85°C and 95°C.
The filling apparatus as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, further comprising a sensor device (52) detecting in use the temperature within the coil (21) of the stator (19); wherein the power energy supplied by the energizing equipment (22) to the coil (21) of the stator (19) is controlled as a function of the temperature detected by said sensor device (52).
The filling apparatus as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein a part of the power energy supplied by the energizing equipment (22) to the coil (21) of the stator (19), when the shutter (16) is in the closed position and the filling apparatus (1) is in stand-by, is used to maintain the shutter (16) itself in said closed position, and another part of said power energy supplied to the coil (21) of the stator (19) is used to heat-up the pourable product contained in the flowing channel (11) .
The filling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein both said open and closed positions of the shutter (16) are stable positions not needing electrical powering of the electromagnetic actuator (18), and wherein all power energy supplied by the energizing equipment (22) to the coil (21) of the stator (19), when the shutter (16) is in the closed position and the filling apparatus (1) is in stand-by, is used to heat-up the pourable product contained in the flowing channel (11).
A method for filling receptacles (2) with a hot pourable product and by a filling apparatus (1) comprising:
- a support body (10) defining a flowing channel (11) for the pourable product;

- a delivery mouth (14) which is arranged at one end (15) of said flowing channel (11) and through which the pourable product flows in use to fill a respective receptacle (2) ;

- a shutter (16) coaxially mounted within the flowing channel (11) and axially displaced in use between an open position, in which it allows the pourable product to freely flow through the flowing channel (11) and the delivery mouth (14) to fill the respective receptacle (2), and a closed position, in which it sealingly closes the delivery mouth (14) and interrupts flowing of the pourable product to the respective receptacle (2);

- an electromagnetic actuator (18) configured to control displacements of the shutter (16) between the open and closed position and which includes a magnetic stator (19), carried by the support body (10) and arranged around said flowing channel (11), and a movable magnetic core (20) being part of said shutter (16) and controlled by an energizable coil (21) of said stator (19); and

- an energizing equipment (22) operable to energize the coil (21) of the stator (19);
said method comprising the step of controlling the energizing equipment (22) to cause the shutter (16) to move between the open and closed positions, and being characterized by further comprising the step of power supplying the coil (21) of the stator (19), when the shutter (16) is in the closed position and the filling apparatus (1) is in stand-by, to cause the pourable product contained in the flowing channel (11) to be heated-up at a pre-set temperature (T).
The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pre-set temperature (T) is the programmed temperature at which the pourable product is delivered to the receptacles (2) .
The method as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said pre-set temperature (T) ranges between 80°C and 100°C and preferably between 85°C and 95°C.
The method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising the step of detecting in use the temperature within the coil (21) of the stator (19); said step of power supplying the coil (21) of the stator (19) being performed as a function of the detected temperature within the coil (21) itself.
The method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a part of the power energy supplied to the coil (21) of the stator (19) when the shutter (16) is in the closed position and the filling apparatus (1) is in stand-by is used to maintain the shutter (16) itself in said closed position, and another part of said power energy supplied to the coil (21) of the stator (19) is used to heat-up the pourable product contained in the flowing channel (11).
The method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein both said open and closed positions of the shutter (16) are stable positions not needing electrical powering of the electromagnetic actuator (18), and wherein all power energy supplied to the coil (21) of the stator (19) when the shutter (16) is in the closed position and the filling apparatus (1) is in stand-by is used to heat-up the pourable product contained in the flowing channel (11) .