[0043] Figures 1A-1E The longitudinal section of the filling element 1 according to the present invention is exemplified, respectively, exemplifies different times in the filling process. Here, the filling element 1 is disposed on the conveying element 2 of the filler system 3, and for the filling system 3, only partial is shown here.
[0044] Preferably, the container 4 is coupled to the filling element 1 according to the present invention, the container 4, which should be filled in a liquid filler 5, and the liquid filler 5 is prepared in the filler reservoir. in Figures 1A-1E In the middle, the container 4 is shown as a bottle, however, the filling element 1 and the belonging method are also suitable for use in other containers such as a jar or cup through a commonly modified manner through the industry.
[0045] In principle, as the liquid filler 5 can be considered for each liquid in the container 4, however,, in particular, the filling element 1 and the filling method are constructed for beverage (especially CO) 2 The beverage is filled with the container 4.
[0046]The filler element 1 has a liquid passage 7, which is connected to the filler reservoir 6, and the liquid passage 7 includes a liquid valve 8 and an output opening 9 after the liquid valve 8 in the flow direction of the filler 5. Here, the output opening 9 faces the container 4, so that the liquid filler 5 can be filled into the container 4 when the liquid valve 8 is opened.
[0047] Further, the filling element 1 includes a gas passage 10, which is shown herein, which is not only configured to guide the flushing gas and the pre-pressing gas and is configured to guide the return gas. Here, the reflow gas can be understood as such a pre-press gas: the pre-press gas is extruded from the container 4 when the liquid filler 5 is filled with the container 4 and flows out of the container 4. It can be contemplated in principle, instead of a gas passage 10, two or three different gas passages 10, which are respectively transmitted to only one or two of these gases in these gases. The following embodiments can be similarly applied to this case.
[0048] The gas passage 10 has a gas opening 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the gas opening 11 extends into the interior space 12 of the container 4. However, it is also contemplated that in these embodiments, the gas opening 11 is located outside the container 4, that is, not extended into the container 4, but facing the container 4. The following embodiments can also be applied to this situation similarly or in most cases.
[0049] Further, the gas passage 10 includes a gas valve 13 having a closed switching state, an open switching state, and a switching state in accordance with at least one part of the present invention. In the current embodiment, the gas valve 13 has even three differently open switching states, which are different in the switching state of the three different portions, and perform each method steps. optimization.
[0050] During the filling process, the conveying element 2 first undertakes the container 4 from the entrance star of the not shown here. The container 4 is then connected to the fill element 1. In the current embodiment, in this, the sealing element 1 is sealed with the container 4, however this is not necessarily necessary to fill the filling method.
[0051] At the beginning of the fill method, if Figure 1A The liquid valve 8 and the gas valve 13 are turned off. The negative pressure device 14 generates a vacuum so that the gas remains from the container 4 from the container 4.
[0052] Figure 1B Drawing of brushed gases (usually CO 2 The container 4 is subsequently scored. To this end, the gas valve 13 is only partially opened, so that the flushing gas is also dried over the filler residue in the gas passage 10. Here, the negative pressure device 14 is sucking the flushing gas flowing to the container 4. It is also possible that the gas valve 13 is further opened, so that the flushing gas takes away with the filler residue located in the gas passage 10, but they will slowly reach the container 4 via the gas opening 11, so that they are gentle Introduced and here is not atomized. That is, by streaming the flushing gas by the gas valve 13, it is avoided that the filler residue is still in the gas passage 10 is atomized from the gas passage 10 and causing a lot of CO in the container 4. 2 Exhaust bacteria.
[0053] After the brushing gas is used, then Figure 1C As shown in the pre-press gas (usually CO 2 Pre-pressurization. In the case where the gas valve 13 is completely opened, the pre-press gas is introduced into the container. Here, the valve 15 of which is delivered to the negative pressure device 14 is closed, so that the negative pressure device 14 does not suck the pre-pressing gas from the container 4, and the pressure can be constructed in the container 4. Since the filler residue has been cleaned by the gas passage 10 at the beginning of the flushing, the pre-press gas can be introduced while the pre-press is pre-pressing. If the gas passage 10 is provided with its own gas body and the self-contaminated gas passage 10 is contaminated with a filler residue, the pre-press gas (at least in the initial) is introduced into the container 4 by partially opened gas valve 13. In order to inhibit a lot of CO 2 Formation of dissociated bacteria.
[0054] Now, if Figure 1D As shown in the present, the liquid filler 5 is introduced into the container 4 in the pressure of the pre-press gas body. Here, the gas passage 10 is used as a reflow gas passage. The liquid valve 8 is opened and the gas valve 13 is first performed almost completely, so that the pre-press gas flows quickly from the vessel 4 and, at the same time, the liquid filler 5 is quickly flowed into the container 4.
[0055] When the desired fill height or filling amount of the liquid filler 5 is almost reached in the container 4 (this is determined, for example, the duration of the fill or by means of corresponding sensors), the flow rate of the liquid filler 5 is lowered. This Figure 1e It is shown in connection with this implementation that the gas valve 13 is partially closed. Thereby, the flow rate of the gas from the container 4 is lowered, and thereby, the flow rate of the liquid filler 5 flowing into the container 4 also decreases. The desired fill height (or filler) is easily achieved in the container 4 by a slowly flowing liquid filler 5. Here, the desired fill height (or filler) is reached in the container 4 by the respective sensor. A sensor not shown here can involve, for example, an optical sensor or a hollow probe near the gas opening 11 at the gas passage 10. This alternatively or additionally, a so-called Trinox-Verfahren is also possible, which is filled with a long time such as the container 4 until the liquid filler 5 reaches the gas opening 11 of the gas passage 10 and in the gas passage. 10 is high in rising. Then, the sensor in the gas passage 10 identifies the rising liquid filler 5, which is the desired fill height.
[0056] If the desired fill height (or filling amount) is reached, the liquid valve 8 is turned off again. Then, the gas valve 13 is also closed. The pressure compensation valve 16 is released by the pressure compensation valve 16, that is, the pressure compensation with the surrounding ambient air is established.
[0057] The container 4 is then separated from the filler element 1, and the container 4 is submitted to the subsequent container processor on the outlet star member.
[0058] in Figure 2A-2E The gas valve 13 in different switching states is shown in detail. Here, these detail diagrams are Figures 1A-1E The method shown in the same letter corresponds to.
[0059] Figure 2A A gas valve 13 in a closed switching state is shown. The gas valve 13 has a valve tube 17 and a valve needle 18 that can be moved in accordance with the valve tube 17. The valve tube 17 has a sealing seat 19, and the valve needle 18 has a sealing surface 20. In the switching state of the closing of the gas valve 13, the sealing surface 20 is in combination with accurately on the sealing seat 19 and thus closes the gas valve 13. The valve needle 18 is moved in one direction to the valve pipe 17 for closing the gas valve 13, which is defined as the closing direction S.
[0060] In order to Figure 2A Closed switching status arrival Figure 2b The partially opened switching state, so that the valve 18 references the valve pipe 17 inversely in the closing direction S, so that the throttle element 21 of the valve needle 18 is located in the region of the narrow portion 22 of the valve pipe 17, wherein the narrow The portion 22 is disposed on the closure direction S in a region in one region. Only a narrow annular gap is left between the throttle and the narrow portion 22, and the gas can flow through the narrow annular gap.
[0061] In order to completely open the gas valve 13 (if this is Figure 2C Due to shown in the changing member 21, the throttling member 21 is moved through the narrow portion 22 and the sealing seat 19, thereby always remaining between the valve tube 17 and the valve needle 18. Sustaining space .
[0062] Gas valve 13 Figure 2D Almost completely open, at which the valve needle 18 moves a small segment in the closing direction S, thereby reaching near the sealing seat 19, and forms a relatively wide in the throttle element 21 and the sealing seat 19. The annular gap.
[0063] in Figure 2E Such fluid resistance is shown in this flow resistance. Figure 2b versus Figure 2D Between the flow resistance, this flow resistance thus achieves that the valve needle 18 is further moved in the closing direction S, and the throttle element 21 is located in such a region of the sealing seat 19 and the narrow portion 22: In this region, the valve tube 17 has a channel 23. In the current embodiment, the channel 23 is circularly (or completely surrounded), but may be, for example, a lateral channel 23. At the same time, the arrangement of the valve needle 18 is located in the region of the sealing surface 20 and the throttle element 21 in the region of the narrow portion 22. Here, the handle 24 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the throttle element 21. Therefore, the annular gap between the throttle portion 21 and the channel 23 and between the handle 24 and the narrow portion 22, such a medium-width annular gap causes medium flow resistance.
[0064] At last, image 3 An additional embodiment of the gas valve 13 is shown. versus Figure 2A-2E The gas valve 13 has no channel 23 compared to the gas valve 13. It is even more difficult to obtain the current gas valve 13 Figure 2E The medium flow resistance shown in. In this regard, the current gas valve 13 is simple and costly, and in addition to the closed switching state and the open switching state, the current gas valve 13 has image 3 The switching state according to the partially opened in accordance with the present invention is shown.
[0065] The present invention will be described above with the purpose of the examples. It is self-evident that numerous changes or variants are possible without leaving the scope of the invention as defined by the patent claims.
