WO2010131271A1

WO2010131271A1 - Filling method and valve

Info

Publication number: WO2010131271A1
Application number: PCT/IT2009/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lucio Conforti
Original assignee: Sidel, S.P.A.
Priority date: 2009-05-11
Filing date: 2009-05-11
Publication date: 2010-11-18
Also published as: WO2010131271A8; EP2429935A1; MX2011011914A

Abstract

A method of filling a container (2) with a pourable product, the method including the steps of filling the container (2) with the pourable product by means of a first flow line (3, 17); and, during the filling step, conducting a fluid from the container (2) along a second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42); and the method also including the step of determining attainment of a given level of the pourable product inside the container (2) by measuring a parameter of the fluid along the second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42).

Description

FILLING METHOD AND VALVE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of filling a container with a pourable product, and to a filling valve for filling a container with a pourable product.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a filling method and valve for filling a container with a pourable food product, e.g. a carbonated pourable food product such as beer or mineral water.

BACKGROUND ART

Filling machines are known comprising a filling station, which is fed at the input with empty containers, and supplies at the output containers filled with the pourable food product.

The filling station substantially comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about an axis of rotation; a tank containing the pourable food product; and a number of filling valves connected fluidically to the tank and fitted to the conveyor, radially outwards of the axis of rotation of the conveyor.

More specifically, the conveyor comprises a number of container supports for positioning the mouths of the containers beneath the respective valves, and for moving the containers along an arc-shaped path about the axis of rotation and integrally with the respective valves .

Each filling valve substantially comprises a fastening body for attachment to the conveyor and defining a filling chamber connected fluidically to the tank; and a filling head that moves to and from the fastening body in a respective direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveyor, to move to and from the relative container.

Each filling head comprises a stopper movable inside the chamber between a closed position cutting off flow of the pourable food product to the mouth of the relative container, and an open position connecting the chamber fluidically to the mouth to allow flow of the food product into the container .

Each filling valve also comprises a probe, e.g. an inductive probe, for determining the level of the pourable food product, and which projects inside the container once the container is positioned beneath the relative filling valve.

When filling containers with a carbonated pourable food product, each container is first pressurized to the same pressure as the pourable food product during the filling process. More specifically, the container is pressurized by feeding a fluid, e.g. carbon dioxide, into it, with the filling head stopper in the closed position. The stopper of the relative filling valve is then moved to the open position, and the container is filled. Filling comprises a fast first step and a slow second step immediately after the first step. The first filling step terminates when the pourable food product level reaches the height of the probe.

The slow second filling step starts upon the pourable food product level reaching the probe, and continues as long as necessary to fill the container with a given amount of pourable food product.

Once filled, each container is depressurized so the pressure above the pourable food product level equals atmospheric pressure. Depressurization is performed by removing the carbon dioxide used to pressurize the container.

A drawback of filling valves of the type described above is that, given the position of the probe projecting inside the container, explosion of or damage to the container during the filling process may easily result in damage to the probe, thus resulting in stoppage of the filling machine.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling method designed to provide a cheap, easy solution to the above drawback typically associated with known filling valves.

According to the present invention, there is provided a filling method as claimed in Claim 1. The present invention also relates to a filling valve as claimed in Claim 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 6 show sections of a first embodiment of a filling valve in accordance with the invention, in successive operating positions;

Figure 7 shows a section of a second embodiment of a filling valve in accordance with the invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1 to 6, number 1 indicates a filling valve designed to form part of a filling station of a filling machine for filling containers 2 with a pourable product.

More specifically, the pourable product is a carbonated pourable food product, non-limiting examples of which are beer or mineral water.

Non-limiting examples of the material of which containers 2 are made are glass, plastic or cardboard.

The filling station is_ supplied with empty containers 2, and fills containers 2 with the pourable food product.

The filling station substantially comprises: a first tank 3 containing the pourable food product (shown by bubbles in Figures 1 to 6) , and a fluid, e.g. carbon dioxide, (shown by a uniform background in Figures 1 to 6) by which to pressurize containers 2 before they are filled;

- a second tank 4 for collecting at least part of the carbon dioxide used to pressurize containers 2; and - at least one filling valve 1 and one respective support 9 for containers 2, each support 9 being mechanically linked to a respective actuator 10 for moving the support 9 and hence the containers 2 to and from filling valves 1 along vertical axis .

Preferably, when the filling machine comprises more than one filling station, then the filing valves 1 as well as the respective supports 9 and actuators 10 are fixed on a carousel conveyor that constitutes a part of the machine, which rotates about a vertical axis, and from which the filling valves 1 and the supports 9 project .

In other words, in that case, filling valves 1 and supports 9 are borne by the carousel conveyor, so that filling valves 1 are rotated by the conveyor, and supports 9 are moved to and from filling valves 1 along respective vertical axes by respective actuators 10.

Further, in that case, the machine generally comprises only one tank 3 and one tank 4, which are annular, so that all the filling valves 1 comprised in the station can be connected to the first tank 3 and to the second tank 4.

In a known manner, each container 2 comprises:

- a mouth 5, through which container 2 is filled by the filling machine, and the food product is subsequently poured from container 2 ;

- a bottom wall 7 opposite to mouth 5; and

- a neck portion 6 adjacent to mouth 5 and bounded at the top by mouth 5, and at the bottom by a part constituting the body 8 of the container, so body 8 is located between mouth 5 and bottom wall 7.

In the following description, reference will be made, for the sake of simplicity, to one filling valve 1 and relative container 2.

Filling valve 1 substantially comprises a fastening body 11 for attachment to the conveyor (not shown) and stopper means 12 that slides to and from container 2 along an axis A inside fastening body 11. In particular, stopper means 12 comprises a stopper.

More specifically, fastening body 11 comprises an annular wall 13, of axis A, defining a cavity 17 connected fluidically to first tank 3. Wall 13 comprises a shoulder 15 facing axis A.

More specifically, shoulder 15 comprises a truncated-cone-shaped portion 18; a portion 19 radial with respect to axis A; and a cylindrical portion 20, of axis A, interposed between portions 18, 19. Portion 20 defines a circular opening 16 defining the bottom of cavity 17, and portion 18 tapers towards opening 16.

More specifically, on the side opposite to portion 18, portion 20 cooperates with an annular seal 21 designed to rest on mouth 5 of container 2.

Stopper means 12 substantially comprise: - a top end portion 25, on which force is exerted along axis A by an actuator 24; - a tubular body 26 of axis A; and

- an end portion 27 opposite end portion 25 and defining a projection 28.

More specifically, projection 28 comprises two walls 29, 30 sloping with respect to axis A and projecting from body 26 towards wall 13; and a cylindrical wall 31, of axis A, interposed between walls

29, 30.

Wall 29 tapers towards end portion 25, and wall 30 tapers towards opening 16.

Actuator 24 moves stopper means 12 between:

- an open position (Figures 2 to 5) , in which wall 30 is detached from and located above portion 18 of shoulder 15, to allow the pourable food product to flow through opening 16 from cavity 17 into container 2; and

- a closed position (Figures 1 and 6), in which wall 30 cooperates in fluidtight manner with portion 18 of shoulder 15, to cut off flow of the pourable food product through opening 16 from cavity 17 into container 2.

Stopper means 12 also comprise a cylindrical body 37, of axis A, projecting from end portion 25 to container 2 and loosely through opening 16. More specifically, body 37 extends coaxially inside body 26. Body 37 defines a tubular conduit 32 that extends between an opening 33 and an opening 34 opposite opening 33 and formed in a lateral surface of tubular body 26. More specifically, opening 33 faces, and is connected fluidically to, the inside of container 2, when container 2 is in filling position with mouth 5 resting against seal 21 (Figures 1-6).

Conduit 32 comprises a cylindrical portion 35 of axis A; and a portion 36 radial with respect to axis A and connected to portion 35. Portion 35 extends partly inside tubular body 26 and partly inside end portion 25, and defines opening 33; portion 36 extends inside end portion 25, and defines opening 34; opening 34 is circular with an axis radial to axis A; and opening 33 is circular with an axis parallel to axis A.

Stopper means 12 further comprise a tubular conduit

40, of axis A, bounded radially between bodies 26 and

37, and comprising an annular end opening 39 that faces the inside of container 2, when container 2 is in the filling position with mouth 5 resting against seal 21.

More specifically, , conduit 40 extends through opening 16, and the axial distance between openings 33 and 16 is greater than the axial distance between openings 39 and 16. In other words, opening 33 is lower than opening 39 inside container 2.

Finally, the stopper means 12 comprises two conduits 41, 42 radial with respect to axis A and each extending between a respective opening 43 , 44 in end portion 25, and a respective portion of an end 45, opposite opening 39, of conduit 40.

Filling valve 1 comprises two flexible pipes 50, 51 made of flexible material and extending between openings 34, 43 in end portion 25 and respective conduits 57, 58 terminating in first tank 3.

Filling valve 1 also comprises a flexible pipe 52 made of flexible material and extending between opening 44 and a conduit 59 terminating in second tank 4.

Filling valve 1 also comprises two control valves

53, 54 interposed between pipes 50, 51 and respective conduits 57, 58. Each of control valves 53, 54 is movable between an open position (shown in white in Figures 1 to 6) allowing carbon dioxide flow between first tank 3 and conduits 32, 41, and a closed position

(shown in black in Figures 1 to 6) cutting off carbon dioxide flow between first tank 3 and conduits 32, 41.

Filling valve 1 also comprises a control valve 55 interposed between pipe 52 and conduit 59, and which is movable between an open position (shown in white in

Figures 1 to 6) allowing carbon dioxide flow between conduit 42 and second tank 4, and a closed position

(shown in black in Figures 1 to 6) cutting off carbon dioxide flow between conduit 42 and second tank 4.

Filling valve 1 therefore comprises a first flow line - defined by first tank 3 and cavity 17 connectable selectively by stopper means 12 to mouth 5 of container 2, and which serves to fill container 2 with the pourable food product.

Filling valve 1 also comprises a second flow line - defined by conduits 32, 40, pipes 50, 51, control valves 53, 54, and conduits 57, 58 - along which travel the carbon dioxide flowing into container 2 to pressurize it before it is filled with the pourable food product, and at least part of the carbon dioxide issuing from container 2 when filling it. Filling valve 1 advantageously comprises sensor means 60 which interact with the carbon dioxide along the second flow line to measure a carbon dioxide parameter and determine when the pourable food product inside container 2 reaches a predetermined level. More specifically, sensor means 60 comprise a flow switch 61 associated with inside portion 36 of conduit 32. The term "flow switch" is intended here to mean a device for determining flow or not of a fluid inside a conduit . More specifically, flow switch 61 detects the interruption in carbon dioxide flow inside portion 36, when the pourable food product, once container 2 is filled, flows back up along conduit 32 to a height Q with respect to a fixed reference, and with control valve 53 in the open position and control valves 54, 55 in the closed position (Figure 4) .

Height Q corresponds to the hydrostatic pressure of the pourable food product in first tank 3.

More specifically, the pourable food product flows back up along conduit 32 until it reaches height Q, at which the hydraulic head of the pourable food product in conduit 32 equals that of the pourable food product in first tank 3. When carbon dioxide pressure is the same in conduit 32 and first tank 3, the pourable food product is at the same height Q in first tank 3 and conduit 32.

As long as the food product flows back up along conduit 32, in fact, there is carbon dioxide flow along portion 36. On reaching a predetermined pourable food product level in container 2, the pourable food product reaches height Q in conduit 32, carbon dioxide flow along portion 36 stops, and this is detected by flow switch 61.

Alternatively, flow switch 61 may be replaced by a flow meter, i.e. a device for measuring carbon dioxide flow along portion 36. When the flow meter records zero flow along portion 36, this means the food product has reached the predetermined level in container 2.

Operation of filling valve 1 will be described as of the Figure 1 condition, in which mouth 5 of container 2 rests against seal 21, control valves 53, 54 are open, control valve 55 is closed, and stopper means 12 are in the closed position.

In this condition, carbon dioxide flows from first tank 3 along pipes 50, 51 and along conduits 32, 41, 40, and fills container 2 to bring it to the same pressure as the pourable food product in first tank 3. Next (Figure 2), actuator 24 lifts stopper means 12 along axis A to detach wall 30 of projection 28 from portion 18 of shoulder 15 and so connect cavity 17 fluidically to the inside of container 2. A fast first filling is thus performed, in which container 2 is filled rapidly with the pourable food product. At the same time, carbon dioxide can escape from the container 2 along conduits 32, 41 and pipes 50, 51.

Because of the design of end portion 27 close to opening 16, the pourable food product is located adjacent to the edge of container 2 at neck portion 6 as it fills the body 8 of container 2 just above bottom wall 7. When the level of the pourable food product is just below opening 33 of conduit 32, control valve 54 is moved into the closed position (Figure 3) .

Filling in these conditions is slow, in that carbon dioxide can only escape from container 2 along conduit 32 and pipe 50.

Once the pourable food product level in container 2 reaches opening 33, the pourable food product flows solely back up conduit 32, thus resulting in carbon dioxide flow along portion 36 of conduit 32 to second tank 4 (Figure 4) .

This is because, control valves 54, 55 being closed, carbon dioxide is prevented from escaping from container 2 along conduits 40, 41 or 40, 42, and can only escape along conduit 32. More specifically, the pourable food product is caused to flow back up by the hydrostatic pressure of the pourable food product in first tank 3 , and therefore flows back up along conduit 32 to height Q, at which the hydraulic head of the pourable food product in conduit 32 equals that of the pourable food product in first tank 3. More specifically, when carbon dioxide pressure is the same in conduit 32 and first tank 3, the pourable food product is at the same height Q in first tank- 3 and conduit 32.

Upflow of the pourable food product causes movement and therefore flow of carbon dioxide along portion 36 of conduit 32. On reaching height Q, the pourable food product stops, and therefore so does carbon dioxide flow along portion 36.

Flow switch 61 detects the stoppage in carbon dioxide flow caused by the pourable food product reaching a given level in container 2 , and generates a signal to command actuator 24 to move stopper means 12 into the closed position after a given time interval from when flow switch 61 detects the pourable food product has reached height Q in conduit 32. The time interval is calculated to fill container 2 with a given amount of pourable food product.

Once filling is completed (Figure 6) , stopper means 12 is lowered into the closed position, control valve 54 is closed, and control valve 55 is opened to allow the carbon dioxide in conduits 40, 42 to escape into second tank 4 and complete decompression of container 2.

When sensor means 60 comprise a flow meter, as opposed to flow switch 61, filling valve 1 operates in exactly the same way, by the flow meter recording zero carbon dioxide flow along portion 36.

Number 1' in Figure 7 indicates a filling valve in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. Filling valve 1' is similar to filling valve 1, and is described below only as regards the differences between the two, and using the same reference numbers, where possible, for corresponding or equivalent parts of filling valves 1 and 1'. Filling valve 1' differs from filling valve 1 by sensor means 60' comprising, as opposed to flow switch 61, a pressure switch 61', which, instead of being associated with conduit 32, is associated with conduit 42, so that said pressure switch 61' can determine the variation in pressure in conduit 42 when the pourable food product level in container 2 reaches opening 33 of conduit 32.

When the pourable food product level in container 2 is below opening 33 at the slow filling stage, control valve 53 is open, and control valves 54, 55 are closed (Figure 3) .

As a result, when container 2 is filled with the pourable food product, the carbon dioxide in container 2 can flow through opening 33 and along conduit 32, pipe 50, and conduit 57 into first tank 3. When the pourable food product level in container 2 is below opening 33, carbon dioxide pressure in conduit 42 therefore remains substantially constant at a first value. Conversely, when the pourable food product reaches opening 33 (Figure 4), the carbon dioxide in container 2 can no longer escape into first tank 3 , so upflow of the pourable food product inside container 2 increases the carbon dioxide pressure in conduit 42 to a second value higher than the first value.

Upon the pourable food product reaching a given level in container 2, pressure switch 61' determines the difference between the first and second pressure value, and generates a signal to command actuator 24 to move stopper means 12 into the closed position after a given time interval from when flow switch 61' detects the difference in pressure. The time interval is calculated to fill container 2 with a given amount of pourable food product .

More specifically, pressure switch 61' is calibrated to determine a predetermined difference between the first and second pressure value, indicating the pourable food product has reached a given height inside conduit 32.

The advantages of filling valves 1, 1' and the filling method according to the present invention will be clear from the above description.

In particular, filling valves 1, 1' provide for determining when the pourable food product reaches a given level inside container 2 by measuring, by means of a flow switch 61, a flow meter, or a pressure switch

61', interruption in carbon dioxide flow along portion 36, or a difference in carbon dioxide pressure along conduit 44.

Filling valves 1, 1' therefore do not need a probe to determine the level of the pourable food product inside container 2.

Filling valves 1, 1' therefore have no fragile parts exposed inside container 2, and which could be damaged in the event of container 2 bursting.

Consequently, in the event container 2 is damaged or bursts, no parts of filling valve 1, 1' need to be replaced, and no stoppage is incurred by the filling machine equipped with such filling valves 1, 1'.

Clearly, changes may be made to filling valves 1, 1' and to the filling method as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the accompanying claims .

In particular, flow switch 61 or the flow meter may be calibrated to determine a difference in flow along portion 36, indicating a height lower than height Q of the pourable food product along conduit 32.

Claims

1) A method of filling a container (2) with a pourable product, the method comprising the steps of: - filling said container (2) with said pourable product by means of a first flow line (3, 17); and

- during said filling step, conducting a fluid from said container (2) along a second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42); and being characterized by comprising the step of determining attainment of a given level of said pourable product inside said container (2) by measuring a parameter of said fluid along said second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42) . 2) A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said filling step continues after said determining step, for a time interval associated with the volume of pourable product with which to fill said container (2) .

3 ) A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 , characterized by comprising the step of pressurizing said container (2) with said fluid prior to said filling step.

4) A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said filling step comprises the steps of: preventing flow of said fluid along a first portion (40, 41, 42) of said second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42); and - causing a quantity of said pourable product to flow, by virtue of the hydrostatic pressure in a first tank (3) of at least said pourable product, back up along a second portion (32, 36), distinct from said first portion (40, 41, 42), of said second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42), so as to cause said fluid to flow along said second portion (32, 36) .

5) A method as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said step of determining the attainment of a given level comprises the step of determining when said fluid reaches a predetermined height (Q) inside said second portion (32 , 36) .

6) A method as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said step of determining the attainment of a given level comprises the step of determining when said fluid ceases to flow along said second portion (32, 36).

7) A method as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said step of determining the attainment of a given level comprises the step of determining the variation in pressure of said fluid along a first conduit (42) of said first portion (40, 41, 42) .

8) A method as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that said pressurizing step comprises the step of connecting said first tank (3) of said fluid and said pourable product fluidically to at least a second conduit (41), distinct from said first conduit (42), of said first portion (40, 41, 42), and to said second portion (32, 36) of said second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42) .

9) A method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, characterized by comprising the step of connecting said first conduit (42) fluidically to a second tank (4) of said fluid, once said filling step is completed, so as to depressurize said container (2).

10) A filling valve (1; 1') for filling a container (2) with a pourable product, and comprising: - a first flow line (3, 17), along which said pourable product flows, and which is connectable fluidically to a mouth (5) of said container (2); stopper means (12) movable between a closed position preventing flow of said pourable product along said first flow line (3, 17); and an opening position allowing flow of said pourable product along said flow line (3, 17) ; and

- a second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42) connectable fluidically to said mouth (5), and along which a fluid from said container (2) flows; characterized by comprising:

- sensor means (60; 60'), which interact, in use, with said fluid along said second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42) to measure a parameter of said fluid and to determine attainment of a given level of said pourable product inside said container (2), on the basis of the measure of said parameter.

11) A valve as claimed in Claim 10, characterized by comprising a fastening body (11) defining an opening (16) through which to pour said pourable product and which is selectively engageable by said stopper means (12); and in that said second flow line (32, 36, 50, 51, 57, 58, 40, 41, 42) comprises:

- a first and second conduit (40, 41; 40, 42) extending through said opening (16) and extendable inside said container (2); and

- a third conduit (32) which extends through said opening (16), is extendable inside said container (2) to a greater distance from said opening (16) than said first and ^"second conduit (40, 41; 40, 42), and along which the pourable product is forced by hydrostatic pressure. 12) A valve as claimed in Claim 11, characterized in that said sensor means (60) comprise a flow switch (61) for determining flow or not of said fluid along said third conduit (32) .

13) A valve as claimed in Claim 11, characterized in that said sensor means (60) comprise a flow meter interposed along said third conduit (32) and for measuring flow of said fluid along the third conduit (32) .

14) A valve as claimed in Claim 11, characterized in that said sensor means (60') comprise a pressure switch (61') interposed along said second conduit (40, 42) to determine a pressure difference of said fluid along the second conduit (40, 42) . 15) A valve as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to

14, characterized by comprising a second tank (4) of said fluid, selectively connectable fluidically to said second conduit (40, 42) . 16) A valve as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to

15, characterized by comprising a second tank (3) of said pourable product and said fluid; said second tank (3) being selectively connectable fluidically to at least one of said first and said third conduit (40, 41; 32).

17) A valve as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to

16, characterized in that said stopper means (12) define said first, said second, and said third conduit (40, 41; 40; 32) . 18) A filling machine for filling containers (2) with a pourable product, and comprising:

- a filling station for filling said containers (2) with said pourable product; and

- at least one filling valve (1; 1') as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 17.