The volumetric filling device with bottom filling in a protective atmosphere

Abstract

The volumetric filling device with bottom filling in a protective atmosphere consists of a volume chamber (1), a pre-chamber (25), a movable filling needle (2), an inlet opening of the filling needle (4), a storage tank (5), a product vent valve (8), a product inlet valve (9), packaging carrier (11), a filling valve seat (12), a valve system (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), an overpressure chamber (19), a connecting element (20), a closing flap (21), a discharge pipe (22) and a gas pipe system (7); the volume chamber (1) is designed as a pressure-sealed container, in which a movable filling needle (2) is placed; the volume chamber (1) and storage tank (5) are interconnected by a discharge pipe (22), a product vent valve (8) and a product inlet valve (9); in its basic position, the movable filling needle (2) is connected to the valve system (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18); the movable filling needle (2) is stored in a pressurized space, which protects it from being contaminated from the outside environment; in an aseptic environment, its movement and construction enables bottom filling of the product (6) into the packaging (10), the volume filling of the product (6), quick filling of the product (6), and filling of carbonated products (6) into the packaging (10).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Name of the Invention

[0003] The volumetric filling device with bottom filling in a protective atmosphere

[0004] Field of Technology

[0005] The invention solves the bottom volumetric filling of liquids with a movable filling needle in a protective atmosphere.

[0006] Current State of the Art

[0007] Currently, the standard methods of measuring the volume of the product with a flow meter, weighing, level measurement, and the use of volume pistons, and other yet known volume measurement methods are being used when products are aseptically filled into packaging. This device enables aseptically filling the non-carbonated and carbonated products faster than the current state of the art.

[0008] Essence of the Invention

[0009] The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere solves, according to the invention, the volumetric aseptic filling of products into packaging. The essence of the invention is a filling device with a movable filling needle, which defines the filling volume according to the setting of the height, or the immersion time, in the volume chamber. The advantage of the device according to the invention is in the quick gravitational refilling of the volume chamber from the storage tank. In addition to defining the exact volume, the movable filling needle also performs the function of a shut-off valve, in its starting position. The device according to the invention also includes a system of valves enabling the gravity and overpressure filling of the product. Another part of the device according to the invention is also a connecting element placed in the overpressure chamber that ensures the connection of the packaging with the volume chamber and the gas pipe system. The overpressure chamber also includes a closing flap. After filling, the filling needle returns to its starting position, in which, after each filling, adhesive residues of the filled product are removed from the gas pipe system of the device and the inner wall of the movable filling needle. Overview of Figures on Drawings

[0010] Figure 1 shows the device in its basic position

[0011] Figure 2 shows the device with an open closing flap

[0012] Figure 3 shows the device at the beginning of filling

[0013] Figure 4 shows the device in the accelerated filling process

[0014] Figure 5 shows the device at the end of filling

[0015] Figure 6 shows the movable filling needle in its basic position

[0016] Figure 7 shows the device in the process of removing adhesive residues

[0017] Figure 8 shows the device in the process of changing the packaging and the volume chamber filled up with the product

[0018] Figure 9 shows the device in the version without the closing head in the overpressure chamber

[0019] Figure 10 shows a detail of the connecting element.

[0020] Examples of Invention Embodiments

[0021] It is understood that the embodiment of the device according to the invention is presented for illustration and cannot be seen as a limitation of its technical solutions. Those skilled in the art will be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention. The scope of patent claims shall also include such equivalents of the manufactured device and its parts. For those skilled in the art, it cannot be problematic to optimally design the construction and the selection of its elements; therefore, these features were not dealt with in detail in this description.

[0022] The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere shown in Figures 1 to 10 consists of a volume chamber 1, a pre-chamber 25, a movable filling needle 2, a filling needle inlet 4, a storage tank 5, a product vent valve 8, a product inlet valve 9, a packaging carrier 11, a filling valve seat 12, a valve system 13 14 15 16 17 18, an overpressure chamber 19, a connecting element 20, a closing flap 21, a discharge pipe 22, and a gas pipe system 7. The volume chamber 1 is designed as a pressure-sealed container, in which the movable filling needle 2 is stored. The volume chamber 1 and the storage tank 5 are interconnected by a discharge pipe 22, a product vent valve 8, and a product inlet valve 9. In its basic position, the movable filling needle 2 is connected to the valve system 13 14 15 16 17 18, and its operating elements are located in the pressurized protective atmosphere of the pre-chamber 25. The operating elements of the connecting element 20 are also located in the pressurized protective atmosphere of the pre-chamber 25.

[0023] The working cycle of the device according to the invention begins with the opening of the closing flap 21 and the movement of the connecting element 20, which connects the packaging 10 with the volume chamber 1 and the gas pipe system 7. The valve 14 and the valve 18 are opened. The movement of the filling needle 2 creates a common pressure space. Through the inlet opening of the movable filling needle 2, the filling of the product 6 into the packaging 10 begins. This movable filling needle 2 allows, according to the height of its position in relation to the volume chamber 1 or the time of its immersion, defining the volume of filling of the product 6 into the packaging 10. In this phase, the filling process can be accelerated by closing the valve 18 and valve 16 and opening the valve 13 or valve 15 when the valve 17 is open, by introducing a higher pressure into volume chamber 1 through the channel of the valve 17. After the movable filling needle 2 returned to the starting position, the filling process is completed. After the filling process is completed, the valves 13 14 15 16 17 18 are closed. With them closed, it is possible to push the foam of the product 6 into the packaging 10 by pressurizing through the valve 17. After the foam of the product 6 was pressed into the packaging 10, the connecting element 20 is lifted. In the case of device embodiment with a closing head in the overpressure chamber 19, the adhesive residues of the filled product 6 are removed from the gas pipe system 7 and the inner wall of the movable filling needle 2 through the system of valves 13 14 15 16 17 18. The removal of the adhesive residues of the product is ensured by the overpressure in the overpressure chamber 19. In the case of device embodiment without a closing head in the overpressure chamber 19, it is possible to press the foam of the product 6 into the packaging 10 by pressurizing through the valve 17. After the foam of the product 6 was pressed into the packaging 10, the connecting element 20 is lifted, the closing flap 21 is closed, and the filled packaging 10 and the space of the neck of the packaging 23 are depressurized through the valve 24. By opening the product vent valve 8 and the product inlet valve 9, the product 6 is refilled into the volume chamber 1 from the storage tank 5, and the work cycle of the device according to the invention is repeated.

[0024] Description of Terms

[0025] Volume chamber - A pressure-sealed container with a precisely defined volume, designed in such a way that after each filling cycle, its entire volume is filled with product;

[0026] Movable filling needle - A pipe, through which the product flows from the volume chamber to the packaging; it ensures the bottom filling of the product and the defined volume of the filled product;

[0027] Connecting element - A movable part of the filling valve, which connects the packaging with the volume chamber and the gas pipe system

[0028] Overpressure chamber - A pressure-sealed space with an opening for packaging, which includes a closing flap.

[0029] Legend to the attached drawings - Figures 1 to 10:

[0030] 1) Volume chamber

[0031] 2) Movable filling needle

[0032] 3) Filling needle seat

[0033] 4) Inlet opening of the filling needle

[0034] 5) Storage tank

[0035] 6) Product

[0036] 7) Gas pipe system

[0037] 8) Product vent valve

[0038] 9) Product inlet valve

[0039] 10) Packaging

[0040] 11) Packaging carrier

[0041] 12) Filling valve seat

[0042] 13) Valve

[0043] 14) Valve

[0044] 15) Valve

[0045] 16) Valve

[0046] 17) Valve

[0047] 18) Valve

[0048] 19) Overpressure chamber

[0049] 20) Connecting element

[0050] 21) Closing flap

[0051] 22) Discharge pipe

[0052] 23) Space of the packaging neck

[0053] 24) Valve

[0054] 25) Pre-chamber

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS1. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that it consists of a volume chamber (1), a pre-chamber (25), a movable filling needle (2), an inlet opening of the filling needle (4), a storage tank (5), a product vent valve (8), a product inlet valve (9), packaging carrier (11), a filling valve seat (12), a valve system (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), an overpressure chamber (19), a connecting element (20), a closing flap (21), a discharge pipe (22) and a gas pipe system (7).

2. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that the volume chamber (1) is designed as a pressure-sealed container, in which a movable filling needle (2) is placed; the volume chamber (1) and storage tank (5) are interconnected by a discharge pipe (22), a product vent valve (8) and a product inlet valve (9); in its basic position, the movable filling needle (2) is connected to the valve system (13)(14) (15)(16)(17)(18).

3. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that the movable filling needle (2) is placed in a pressure- sealed space, protecting it from contamination from the external environment; in an aseptic environment, its movement and design enables bottom filling of the product (6) into the packaging (10), the volumetric filling of the product (6), quick filling of the product (6), and filling of carbonated products (6) into the packaging.

4. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that the movable filling needle (2), in its basic position, allows to remove adhesive residues of the filled product (6) from the gas pipe system (7) of the device and the inner wall of the movable filling needle (2).

5. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that the movable filling needle (2) defines the filling volume according to the setting of its height in the volume chamber (1) or the immersion time in the volume chamber (1).

6. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that it enables quick gravitational filling of the volume chamber (1) from the storage tank (5).

7. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that the movable filling needle (2) is a shut-off valve in its basic position.

8. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere characterized by the fact that the device according to the invention also includes a system of valves (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) enabling the gravity and overpressure filling of the product (6).

9. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere, characterized by the fact that the device according to the invention also includes a connecting element (20) placed in the overpressure chamber (19) ensuring the connection of the packaging (10) with the volume chamber (1) and the gas pipe system (7).

10. The volumetric filling device with a bottom filling in a protective atmosphere, characterized by the fact that the overpressure chamber (19) is also a closing flap (21).

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