Device and method for filling containers with filling products

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the device comprises: at least one filling valve (2, 11), which is configured to introduce the filling product into the container (100); at least one flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) connected to the filling valve (2, 11) via a product line (5, 21), which is configured to determine the amount of filling product passing through the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) in the product line (5, 21); and a control device (150), which communicates with the filling valve (2, 11) and the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) and is configured to control the filling valve (2, 11) during the filling process; characterized in that the control device (150) communicates bidirectionally with the flow meter and is configured to parameterize the flow meter in dependence on one or more filling process variables.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant. Background Art

[0002] For filling filling products, such as beverages, in beverage filling plants, filling devices of various designs are known. The flow of the filling product through the filling device and thus into the container is usually controlled by a filling valve, which includes a valve cone, which is seated in a valve receptacle that is shaped complementarily to the valve cone. The filling process is thus started by lifting the valve cone from the valve receptacle or from the valve seat, and the filling process is ended again by subsequently lowering the valve cone onto the valve seat.

[0003] In order to be able to control the filling volume flowing into the container steplessly and to follow the optimized volume flow curve correspondingly according to the filling product and the process environment, a proportional valve can be used as a filling valve, which enables a substantially stepless control of the volume flow. Unlike a shut-off valve, which has only two states, open / closed, a proportional valve can be controlled so that a continuous or quasi-continuous range of open positions can be reliably and reproducibly set. For this purpose, proportional valves are usually operated via a stepper motor, whereby valves with a discrete range of open positions with small intervals also belong to proportional valves due to their configuration.

[0004] It is also known to determine the volume flow into the container to be filled via a flow meter during filling, for example in order to determine the end of filling or, in general, to ensure an intended filling curve. The flow meter is typically arranged above the filling valve and measures the volume flow into the container during the filling process. Currently, inductive flow meters and mass flow meters are used in filling technology. In inductive flow meters, the volume flow is determined via the flow velocity in a defined cross section by applying a variable electromagnetic field perpendicular to the flow direction of the product, thereby carrying out charge separation from the charge carriers, such as ions, present in the liquid. The voltage generated by the charge separation is proportional to the flow velocity of the charge carriers and can be measured to determine the volume flow.

[0005] The measuring accuracy of a flow meter is also dependent on the properties of the product being filled and the flow rate. The operating range, field strength, sampling rate and other parameters of a flow meter have been set as best as possible for the entire measuring range. This results in the parameterization of the flow meter not being optimal for all filling products and filling speeds, but rather a compromise. This also applies to flow meters of other configurations, such as the mass flow meters described, whose parameterization may also have to cover a large process range. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to improve the filling of containers with filling products, in particular to increase the filling accuracy and the reliability of the filling process.

[0007] This object is achieved by a device having the features according to the invention and a method having the features according to the invention. Advantageous developments emerge from the following description of the invention and from the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0008] The device and method according to the invention are used to fill containers with filling products. It is particularly preferably used in beverage filling facilities, for example for filling water (carbonated or still), beer, wine, juice, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, etc.

[0009] The device according to the invention comprises at least one filling valve, which is designed to introduce a filling product into a container, and at least one flow meter connected to the filling valve via a product line, which is designed to determine the amount of filling product passing through the flow meter in the product line. The flow meter can measure a volume flow, a transported amount or another physical variable for this purpose, which is a quantitative value representative of the amount of fluid flowing through. Preferably, the flow meter works contactlessly, as in the case of an inductive configuration.

[0010] The product line is preferably a filling product coming out of a filling product reservoir, to which the product line is connected in this case. The filling product reservoir can be realized in the form of a central barrel or annular barrel and can be arranged rotatably on a filling carousel with it. Alternatively, the filling product reservoir can also be a barrel provided, preferably in the field of a filling machine.

[0011] The device also has a control device which communicates with the filling valve and the flow meter, wirelessly or by wire, and is designed to actuate the filling valve during the filling process, ie, in particular, during the introduction of the filling product into the container. In the simple case of a filling valve designed as a stop valve, the actuation is effected, for example, by a time-dependent signal which causes the filling valve to open or close the corresponding passage of the product line. In the case of a proportional valve, the actuation usually includes further information which characterizes the opening state that the filling valve should assume.

[0012] According to the invention, the control device communicates bidirectionally with the flow meter and is configured to perform parameterization of the flow meter in relation to one or more filling process variables. "Bidirectional" here means that not only can the measured data be transmitted from the flow meter to the control device in a processed or unprocessed manner, for example for open-loop or closed-loop control of other filling processes, but also the control device can send information to the flow meter. The information, instructions, etc. from the control device to the flow meter are used for parameterization of the flow meter, i.e. changing one or more parameters that influence the working mode of the flow meter, in particular for adjusting or optimizing the measuring range of the flow meter. It should be noted here that the parameterization is based on or is performed by the control device for actuating the filling valve.

[0013] By means of this two-way communication between the flow meter and the control device of the filling valve and the parameterization of the flow meter by the control device, the operating range of the flow meter can be optimally adapted to the current filling situation, for example to the filling product, the filling amount, the filling speed, etc. or more generally to the filling curve. In this way, the filling accuracy and reliability of the device can be improved, since the parameterization is dynamically changed by the control device and does not have to be predefined as a compromise for different filling situations.

[0014] The dynamic parameterization of the flowmeter explained above can also be carried out indirectly by the control device if necessary, in that the communication between the filling valve and the flowmeter is realized in such a way that the filling valve sends its state to the flowmeter, which can adjust the opening state of the filling valve as a function of this. This indirect parameterization also belongs to the claimed bidirectional communication.

[0015] Preferably, the control device is configured to perform parameterization of the flow meter during the filling process, preferably during the introduction of the filling product into the container. Thus, the working range of the flow meter can be optimally adapted to the current given conditions even during the passage of the filling curve, thereby further improving the filling accuracy.

[0016] Preferably, the one or more filling process variables include a control variable for actuating the filling valve and / or one or more filling product properties, such as viscosity and / or Brix content and / or fruit fiber content and / or jam content of the filling product. Taking into account the filling product properties and / or the control variable indicating the opening state of the filling valve, the parameterization of the flow meter can be adjusted particularly precisely to the current filling situation.

[0017] Preferably, the filling valve is a proportional valve. The filling valve can be supplemented by a shut-off valve if necessary, in particular in order to carry out the start and end of filling in a precisely timed and reproducible manner. By using a proportional valve, different filling curves can be realized, which ensure optimal, product-friendly filling depending on the product being filled, the container size, the container shape, etc.

[0018] In this context, proportional valves are considered to be valves that enable a substantially stepless control of the volume flow. In contrast to shut-off valves, which can have only two states, open / closed, proportional valves can be controlled so that a continuous or quasi-continuous range of opening positions can be set reliably and reproducibly. For this purpose, proportional valves are operated, for example, via a stepper motor, whereby proportional valves also include valves with a discrete range of opening positions with small intervals, referred to here as "quasi-continuously", due to their design.

[0019] When using a proportional valve, one or more filling process variables particularly preferably include a control variable for manipulating the filling valve, wherein the control variable is a value representing the opening degree or open state that should be set of the filling valve. The control variable can directly or indirectly represent the characteristics of the opening degree that should be set of the proportional valve. "Indirectly" means here that the control variable can be, for example, a desired flow, a filling amount, or other variables that determine the value of the opening degree representing the proportional valve. It should be pointed out that the term "control variable" represents information, instructions, signal lights, etc. and does not limit the mode of process control or process regulation. In other words, the control variable can be, for example, a closed-loop control, such as a PID closed-loop control, or the result of the control of the filling valve. By means of this control variable for the parameterization of a flow meter, including variables derived by this control variable, the working range of the flow meter can be optimally set for example based on the filling curve that should be experienced with respect to the filling amount and the desired speed.

[0020] Preferably, the flowmeter is of inductive design, i.e. the volume flow is determined via the flow velocity in a defined cross section by applying a preferably variable electromagnetic field perpendicular to the flow direction of the product, thereby carrying out charge separation from the charge carriers, such as ions, present in the liquid. The voltage generated by the charge separation is proportional to the flow velocity of the charge carriers and can be measured to determine the volume flow. In the case of such an inductive flowmeter, the parameters to be adjusted during parameterization of the flowmeter preferably include the frequency and / or intensity and / or the sampling rate of the electromagnetic field. Of course, flowmeters of other designs, such as mass flowmeters, can also be dynamically parameterized by the control device.

[0021] Preferably, the parameterization of the flow meter includes adjusting the flow meter-side electronics and / or the algorithms for determining and / or evaluating the measurement data recorded by the flow meter. In other words, the flow meter-side electronics together with possible algorithms for measurement data processing also belong to the parameterization in this context, since the optimization of the operating range of the flow meter can also be performed at the level of data processing.

[0022] Preferably, the device or the filling valve is designed for free-jet filling. In this case, the filling valve outputs the filling product via the valve opening so that, after crossing the free-jet range, it is filled into the opening of the container to be filled with the filling product. Such a filling valve in the form of a free-jet valve is suitable, for example, for filling still filling products, in particular for filling still water. However, other filling products are also conceivable, such as juices, smoothies, wines, dairy products, etc.

[0023] However, the dynamic parameterization of one or more flow meters described here is not limited to free-jet fillers. Rather, it can always be used sensibly if one or more flow meters are used for open-loop or closed-loop control of a filling process.

[0024] Thus, the dynamic parameterization can be used, for example, in the so-called counterpressure method, which is used in particular when filling carbonated products, such as beer, mineral water or soft drinks. Here, the container to be filled is preloaded to an overpressure by means of a tensioning gas before the filling product is introduced. For this purpose, the container opening and the valve opening are connected in a pressure-tight manner. As tensioning gas, for example CO 2 Correspondingly, the CO bound in the carbonated product 2 When filling into the container to be filled, increase the CO 2 Pressure filling makes CO 2 The release from the filling product is reduced or even completely prevented. The tendency of the filling product to foam is reduced, so that the filling process can be accelerated as a whole in this way.

[0025] Alternatively, dynamic parameterization can be used in a negative pressure method, in which the filling product is introduced into a container under a filling pressure, and the container is under negative pressure relative to the filling pressure. The situation is also referred to as "sudden filling" in this article because the introduction of the filling product can be achieved particularly quickly. In order to fill the container with the filling product suddenly, the internal space of the container is evacuated via a vacuum device when the filling valve is closed and the vacuum valve is opened and is correspondingly under negative pressure. If a preset negative pressure, for example 0.1 bar, is achieved in the container, the vacuum valve is closed and the filling valve is opened. Due to the large pressure difference between the internal space of the container, which now has a negative pressure, and the filling product reservoir with an overpressure (relative to the negative pressure in the container and / or relative to normal pressure), the container is suddenly filled with the filling product. The filling process can thereby be performed very quickly and correspondingly also ended quickly.

[0026] Since according to the sudden filling, during the filling process, due to the negative pressure already present in the container, at least in the first phase of the filling, no gas is displaced from the container, but only the negative pressure is reduced, the filling product can also flow into the container over the entire opening cross section of the opening of the container. No measures are required for discharging the gas displaced during the filling.

[0027] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the dynamic parameterization of one or more flow meters is used during the filling of the multi-component filling product.

[0028] The device is set up in this case to fill a container with a filling product consisting of a basic liquid and at least one ingredient component. The filling product is therefore a multi-component filling product consisting of at least two components, one of which is referred to as "basic liquid" in this article for language distinction and is preferably used as the main component. In addition to filling the filling product, the device is set up to collect or mix the components and in this regard undertake at least part of the manufacturing process of the filling product to be filled. The basic liquid is, for example, water. (Multiple) ingredient components can be, for example, syrup, liquid containing pulp, jam, spices, etc. Since the device is not only suitable for filling beverages in the food field, but also, for example, for mixing / dosing and filling medicines, pigments and other liquids, including highly viscous and pasty liquids, the selection of basic liquids and (multiple) ingredient components is not limited to a special way.

[0029] The device according to the embodiment group has a basic reservoir, which is set up to provide a basic liquid, and a filling valve, which is set up to introduce a filling product into a container. The term "basic reservoir" in this article includes any source for providing a basic liquid. Therefore, the basic reservoir can be realized, for example, by a box or a container, and can also be realized by a pipeline or a hose line, which imports the basic liquid from an external facility. This applies similarly to possible ingredient reservoirs for providing ingredient components (see the description further below).

[0030] In this case, the device further comprises a basic circuit, which has: a basic pipeline, which fluidically connects the basic reservoir to the filling valve; a flowmeter, which is arranged at the basic pipeline between the basic reservoir and the filling valve and is designed to determine the amount of fluid passing through the flowmeter in the basic pipeline; and a dosing space, which is arranged between the flowmeter and the filling valve. For the purpose, the flowmeter can measure the volume flow, the transported mass or other physical variables, which are quantitative values ​​representative of the amount of fluid flowing through. Preferably, the flowmeter works contactlessly. In addition, the flowmeter is preferably arranged so that it is only traversed by the basic liquid, that is, any dosing components to be dosed (described below) do not reach the flowmeter. As a result, the medium properties do not change at the flowmeter and the pipeline system is not contaminated by different fluids in the region.

[0031] The device also has at least one dosing branch of the basic line, which is designed to introduce dosing components into a dosing space of the basic line. The dosing space is therefore used to mix one or more dosing components into the basic liquid and can be a line section of the basic line in the simplest case. For this purpose, the dosing branch preferably has a dosing reservoir, which provides the dosing components, a dosing line fluidically connected thereto, and a dosing valve, which fluidically connects the dosing line to the dosing space in a switchable manner.

[0032] It should be noted that the expressions "essentially" and "ingredients" do not describe the type, quality or quantity of the relevant portion and filling product components. They are used in this context, in particular, for linguistic distinctions.

[0033] The device for filling a container with a multi-component filling product consisting of a basic liquid and at least one ingredient component set forth above provides different technical contributions and advantages relative to conventional concepts. Therefore, the operation of the container is simplified by completely filling the container with multiple components at a unique filling position (the position of the filling valve). In addition, the container does not have to be below the filling valve during the dosing phase, because the dosing is not performed during filling, but in the dosing space. The time used for dosing can be used in synergistic manner for container transportation. By this, the concept described in this article can be used for linear cycle machines and rotary machines with one or more filling positions. In the case of a rotary machine, the container can leave the turntable again after a small rotation angle. In the case of a filling machine set up for filling carbonated beverages, the possible unloading time can be used in synergistic manner for the dosing phase of subsequent containers.

[0034] The outlay for the mechanical design of the device is relatively small, since the line system is realized by pipes or hose lines with a small number of valves and only a single flow meter for each line. No complex geometry needs to be constructed, so the device can be easily cleaned and maintained. The risk of clogging is small. The device is also suitable for dosing highly viscous fluids. For example, the spread of dense fragrances that migrate into the seal and cannot be removed from the seal by cleaning is minimized, because the lines only merge upstream of the filling valve in the vicinity and are introduced into the flowing stream of the basic line only during filling.

[0035] When introducing the dosing component(s) with the dispensing of the basic liquid or main component and with the use of a flow meter, the technical problem of dosing is the limits of the dosing range. The dosing range can be influenced by the available dosing time and the volume flow through the medium to be dosed. Dynamic parameterization of the flow meter solves this problem or at least improves the dosing accuracy.

[0036] Preferably, the device also includes at least one secondary circuit, which has: a pipeline, which connects the basic reservoir to the metering space fluid of the basic circuit via a valve, which is preferably configured as a shut-off valve; a flow meter, which is arranged between the basic reservoir and the valve at the pipeline and is configured to determine the amount of fluid passing through the flow meter of the secondary circuit in the pipeline; and a metering space, which is arranged between the flow meter and the valve of the secondary circuit.

[0037] The (multiple) lines of one or more secondary circuits also take the basic liquid from the basic reservoir, like the basic line, for example in such a way that the lines are connected to the basic reservoir or branch off from the basic pipeline upstream of the flow meter of the basic line. Of course, the basic line and the (multiple) secondary circuits can take the basic liquid from different reservoirs, in which case the feature "basic reservoir" represents the totality of all reservoirs providing the basic liquid.

[0038] The flowmeter of the secondary line can measure the volume flow, the transported mass or other physical variables, like the flowmeter of the primary line, which are magnitudes representing the amount of fluid flowing through. Preferably, the flowmeter of the secondary line operates contactlessly. Furthermore, the flowmeter of the secondary line is preferably arranged so that only the primary liquid flows through it, i.e. any metered dosing components do not reach the flowmeter. As a result, the medium properties do not change at the flowmeter and the pipeline system is not contaminated by different fluids in this area.

[0039] The device preferably also has at least one dosing branch of the secondary circuit, which is designed to introduce a dosing component into a dosing space of the secondary circuit. The dosing space of the secondary circuit is therefore used, like the dosing space of the basic circuit, to mix one or more dosing components into the basic liquid and can be a line section of the secondary circuit in the simplest case.

[0040] For the purpose, the metering branch of the secondary circuit preferably comprises: a metering reservoir of the metering branch of the secondary circuit, which provides metering components; a metering pipeline of the metering branch of the secondary circuit, which is fluidically connected thereto; and a metering valve of the metering branch of the secondary circuit, which fluidly connects the metering pipeline of the metering branch of the secondary circuit to the metering space of the secondary circuit in a switchable manner.

[0041] The important technical contribution is that, by using one or more secondary lines which open into the metering space of the primary line like metering branches, the metering range is increased and the metering accuracy, in particular when large and small metering quantities are mixed simultaneously, can be significantly improved. A further increase in the metering range and / or an optimization of the metering time also results from the fact that, while one type of metering component is not metered in a line, another type of metering component is metered therein, i.e., can be prepared, for example, for subsequent filling. This leads to a significant increase in the flexibility of the system.

[0042] Preferably, the dosing branches of the basic line and the dosing branches of the secondary line are set up to introduce the same dosing components into the relevant dosing spaces. For this purpose, the dosing branches of the basic line preferably have a dosing reservoir of the dosing branches of the basic line and the dosing branches of the secondary line have a dosing reservoir of the dosing branches of the secondary line, both of which contain or provide the same dosing components. According to this embodiment, the device allows particularly precise and individualized dosing within a wide dosing range, because the basic line, the secondary line or a combination of these two lines can be used, depending on the range in which the desired dosing amount lies. For this purpose, the control device can be set up to not only adjust the dosing of (multiple) dosing components into the dosing space, but also to determine, through which line or through which line combination the desired dosing amount can be dosed most accurately and / or most effectively.

[0043] Different dosing systems for the (multiple) basic lines and the secondary lines can be realized by different nominal widths or nominal sizes of the components involved. Therefore, the dosing space of the basic line preferably has a different, preferably larger internal volume than the dosing space of the (multiple) secondary lines. Alternatively or additionally, the flowmeter of the basic line is preferably set up to determine a different, preferably larger flow rate than the flowmeter of the secondary line, wherein parameterization can be applied in this case in order to dynamically set the working range of the relevant flowmeter. Alternatively or additionally, the pipeline cross-sections of the two dosing spaces and / or flowmeters and / or pipeline sections upstream of the flowmeters can be different.

[0044] It is noted that the expressions “downstream” and “upstream” in this context relate to the filling direction, ie the direction in which the filling product flows to fill the container when the metering space is emptied.

[0045] Preferably, the flowmeter of the basic line and / or the flowmeter of the secondary line is designed to determine the amount of fluid passing or flowing in the filling direction and / or in the direction opposite to the filling direction. In this case, a "return flow measurement", i.e. the determination of the volume of the basic liquid which is displaced back from the metering space by the introduced dosing component, is particularly preferred, since in this way the mixing ratio can be determined in a mechanically simple, compact and reliable manner. In particular, only a single flowmeter is installed per line in order to measure the basic liquid and the dosing component(s) and thus determine their ratio.

[0046] Preferably, the device has a plurality of filling valves, which are arranged on the turntable of the rotary filler and are respectively connected to associated flow meters via product pipelines, wherein a control device communicates with the filling valves and the associated flow meters and is set up to control the filling valves during the filling process, i.e., in particular during the introduction of the filling product into the container, and the control device communicates bidirectionally with the flow meters and is set up to perform parameterization of the associated flow meters in relation to one or more filling process variables.

[0047] The objects mentioned above are furthermore achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling setting, wherein the method comprises: providing the filling product and introducing it into the container via a product line and a filling valve connected thereto; determining the amount of filling product passing through the product line by means of a flow meter connected to the product line; and during the filling process, i.e. for introducing the filling product into the container, controlling the filling valve via a control device, which communicates with the filling valve and the flow meter, wherein the control device communicates bidirectionally with the flow meter and performs parameterization of the flow meter in relation to one or more filling process variables.

[0048] The features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments described with respect to the device apply analogously to the method.

[0049] Therefore, preferably during the filling process, preferably during the introduction of the filling product into the container, the control device carries out a parameterization of the flow meter for the reasons mentioned above.

[0050] Preferably, the filling valve is a proportional valve for the reasons mentioned above, the one or more filling process variables comprise a control variable for actuating the filling valve, and the control variable is a value representing the degree of opening of the filling valve to be set.

[0051] Preferably, the flow meter is of inductive configuration and, for the reasons given above, the parameters to be adjusted when parameterizing the flow meter include the frequency and / or the intensity of the electromagnetic field and / or the sampling rate.

[0052] Preferably, for the reasons stated above, parameterization of the flow meter includes adjusting the flow meter-side electronics and / or algorithms for determining and / or evaluating the measurement data recorded by the flow meter.

[0053] Preferably, the filling product has a basic liquid and at least one dosing component, wherein the method in this case also has, for the reasons mentioned above, the following: providing the basic liquid via a basic reservoir; filling the basic liquid from the basic reservoir into a dosing space of the basic line; filling the dosing component from a dosing branch of the basic line into the dosing space of the basic line, wherein, for dosing the dosing component, a flow meter of the basic line determines the amount of filling product passing through the flow meter in the basic line; and emptying the dosing space of the basic line into a container via a filling valve.

[0054] The method may also include, in the case of one or more secondary circuits, filling the metering space of the secondary circuit with a basic liquid from a basic reservoir; filling the metering space of the secondary circuit with a dosing component from a dosing branch of the secondary circuit, wherein for dosing the dosing component, a flow meter of the secondary circuit determines the amount of fluid that passes through the flow meter of the secondary circuit in the pipeline of the secondary circuit; and emptying the metering space of the basic pipeline and the metering space of the secondary circuit into a container via a filling valve. The emptying of the metering space of the basic circuit and the metering space of the secondary circuit is preferably performed substantially simultaneously. This can be achieved by opening the filling valve and the valve of the secondary circuit at the same time.

[0055] Different methods of filling and other advantages and features of the present invention are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described herein may be implemented individually or in combination with one or more of the features described in detail above, as long as the features are not contradictory. The following description of preferred embodiments is hereby made with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail by the following description of the accompanying drawings. It is shown here:

[0057] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product;

[0058] Figure 2 showing a diagram schematically illustrating flow meter parameterization according to exemplary parameters and fill process variables;

[0059] Figure 3 a schematic diagram showing an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product according to another embodiment; and

[0060] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a device for filling containers with a multi-component filling product according to a further embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. Identical, similar or identically acting elements in the drawings are partly provided with the same reference numerals, and a repeated description of the elements may be omitted in order to avoid redundancy.

[0062] Figure 1 A device 1 for filling containers 100 with a filling product is schematically shown.

[0063] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in , the device 1 comprises a filling valve 2, which is here exemplarily arranged in the form of a free jet valve. The filling valve 2 outputs the filling product via the valve opening 2a so that the filling product is filled into the opening 110 of the container 100 to be filled with the filling product after crossing the free jet area. Such a filling valve 2 in the form of a free jet valve is known, for example, for filling still filling products, in particular for filling still water. However, other filling products are also considered, such as juices, smoothies, wines, dairy products, etc. Carbonated beverages, such as soda water, beer, soft drinks, etc. are usually filled in a counterpressure method or a negative pressure method with the aid of a facility, which is described further below according to another embodiment.

[0064] The container 100 to be filled is held at or below the filling valve 2 during filling by means of a container holder 200 which, for example, has a holding clamp 210 for holding the container 100 to be filled in the neck region, for example, below a neck ring (not shown here) of the container 100. Reference is also made here to the so-called "neck handling" of the container 100 to be filled. The "neck handling" is used in particular when filling plastic containers in the form of PET bottles.

[0065] In an alternative not shown in the figures, the container 100 to be filled can also be held or supported in its bottom region, for example by a guide regulator on which the container 100 to be filled stands. This is also referred to as the so-called "bottom handling" of the container 100 to be filled. "Bottom handling" is used in particular when filling glass bottles.

[0066] In an alternative, which is likewise not shown in the figures, the container 100 to be filled can also be held and / or supported and transported in the region of the container or bottle belly or in another suitable manner.

[0067] The filling valve 2 is particularly preferably designed as a proportional valve 3 or comprises a proportional valve supported upstream of the valve opening 2a, i.e. arranged upstream of the valve opening 2a. Optionally, a stop valve can be provided in the region of the valve opening 2a, which can open / close the valve opening 2a as required. The proportional valve 3 is designed to change the volume flow of the filling product, thus regulating the amount of filling product introduced into the container 100 per unit time. The purpose is to ensure efficient, precise and product-protected filling.

[0068] The proportional valve 3 can be designed, for example, so that the annular gap through which the corresponding filling product flows can be changed in terms of its size. The switching position of the proportional valve 3, i.e., the current switching size / dimension of the annular gap, for example, is known and can be set reproducibly, for example, by using a stepper motor for driving the proportional valve 3.

[0069] With the aid of the proportional valve 3 , one or more characteristics of the filling curve, ie the volume flow per unit time, can be determined, for example the end of filling when a desired filling level is reached or the entirety of the filling curve.

[0070] The filling product is temporarily stored in the filling product reservoir 4 before being truly filled into the container 100 to be filled, wherein the filling product reservoir 4 is shown here in the form of a central turntable of a rotary filler. In an alternative embodiment, the filling product reservoir 4 can also be constituted in the form of an annular barrel, a flushing pipeline or a distribution conveyor.

[0071] In the filling product reservoir 4 , the filling product is filled up to a specific filling level and can flow from there via a filling product line 5 to the filling valve 2 and from there into the container 100 to be filled, the filling product line having here by way of example a first line section 50 , a second line section 52 , a third line section 54 and a fourth line section 56 .

[0072] In addition to the proportional valve 3 for open-loop or closed-loop control of the filling product flow, a flow meter 6 is also provided, which is designed to detect the fluid quantity or volume flow of the filling product flowing through the filling product line 5. With the help of the flow meter 6, the filling product quantity introduced into the container 100 can also be determined if necessary, for example by integrating or adding the determined volume flow. In this way, after the desired filling product level is reached in the container 100 to be filled, the filling process can be ended by closing the proportional valve 3 and / or by closing the stop valve shown here.

[0073] The filling valve 2 including the proportional valve 3 , the flow meter 6 and sections of the filling product line 5 , such as the line sections 52 , 54 and 56 , may form a hypothetical and / or constructed unit or component, which is referred to herein as a “filling mechanism”.

[0074] exist Figure 1The device 1 shown in the figure shows only a filling mechanism, which is connected to the filling product reservoir 4. However, the device 1 preferably has a plurality of filling mechanisms, which are arranged, for example, around a common filling product reservoir 4, so as to form a rotary filler in the manner described. The rotary filler rotates here around a schematically shown rotation axis R, so as to fill the container 100 to be filled and transport the container at the same time during the rotation. For example, more than 20 or 50 filling valves 10 can be arranged at the circumference of the rotary filler, so that the flow supplied to the rotary filler can be effectively filled into the container 100 to be filled.

[0075] The device 1 can have one or more filters 7, as a component of the filling device or outside the filling device, which are preferably arranged between the first section 50 of the filling product line 5 and the second section 52 of the filling product line 5. The filter 7 is designed to clean the filling product before filling, for example to filter out particles, viruses, bacteria, germs, fungi from the filling product. The filter 7 is particularly useful when the device 1 is designed for filling still water.

[0076] The current filling level of the filling product in the filling product reservoir 4 can be measured, for example, by means of a filling level probe 152 .

[0077] The device 1 also has a control device 150, which is designed to communicate with the filling mechanism. In particular, the control device 150 communicates with the proportional valve 3 and the flow meter 6 in order to determine the current switching position of the proportional valve 3 using the volume flow value determined by the flow meter 6. In addition, the filling height in the filling product reservoir 4 can be evaluated by means of the control device 150.

[0078] The control device 150 can be implemented centrally or discretely, as a component of an Internet-based and / or cloud-based application or in another manner and can access a database if necessary. The communication between the control device 150 and the corresponding components can take place wirelessly or by wire.

[0079] The control device 150 is furthermore configured to adapt one or more parameters of the flow meter 6 to one or more filling process variables. In other words, the flow meter 6 is parameterized in relation to one or more filling process variables, in particular for adjusting the measuring range or for optimizing the measuring range. For this purpose, the control device 150 and the flow meter 6 communicate bidirectionally. The adjustment of one or more parameters of the flow meter 6 is preferably performed during the filling process, i.e. during the introduction of the filling product into the container 100.

[0080] In the case of an inductive flow meter 6, the parameters to be adjusted include, for example, one or more of the following parameters: frequency of the electromagnetic field for charge separation in the filled product, strength of the electromagnetic field, sampling rate. In the case of a flow meter 6 with effective pressure or mass flow measurement, the parameters to be adjusted include, for example, one or more of the following parameters: measuring aperture, frequency of the oscillation system, amplitude of the oscillation system. Alternatively or additionally, the algorithm for evaluating the sensor data of the flow meter 6 and creating the data to be processed by the control device 150, in particular volume flow data, can also be adjusted in relation to one or more filling process variables. The electronics on the flow meter side, including possible algorithms for measurement data processing, also belong to the parameters for parameterization of the flow meter 6.

[0081] As a filling process variable for parameterizing the flow meter 6, in particular and particularly preferably, a control variable of the control device 150 to the proportional valve 3 is considered. The control variable can directly or indirectly indicate the opening degree to be set of the proportional valve 3. "Indirectly" means here that the control variable can be, for example, the amount of the desired flow, the filling amount or other variables, which are or determine the value that indicates the opening degree of the proportional valve 3.

[0082] By means of such a two-way communication between the flow meter 6 and the control device 150 , the flow meter 6 can be optimally parameterized dynamically at any time with regard to the filling quantity and the desired speed, for example based on the filling curve to be experienced, thereby improving filling accuracy and reliability.

[0083] The parameterization of the flowmeter 6 described above can, if necessary, also be carried out indirectly via the control device 150 in that the communication between the proportional valve 3 and the flowmeter 6 is implemented so that the proportional valve 3 sends its state to the flowmeter 6, which can then coordinate its parameters or its measuring range to the opening degree of the proportional valve 3.

[0084] Alternatively or in addition to the control variable, one or more other filling process variables can be used for parameterization of the flow meter 6. Thus, for example, one or more of the following parameters can be taken into account: viscosity of the filling product, Brix content of the filling product, fruit fiber content or chunk content of the filling product, jam content and / or other filling product properties.

[0085] Figure 2 An overview is given with regard to the parameterization of the flow meter 6 , exemplary parameters and filling process variables.

[0086] By adapting the working range of the flow meter 6 to the filling process variables, such as the filling product characteristics, and / or adapting the control variable to the proportional valve 3, such as the intended or expected flow rate, significantly better accuracy can be achieved during filling. Likewise, the accuracy of the dosing can be improved, as will be described below with regard to Figure 3 and4 By improving the filling accuracy and reliability, rejects can be reduced and resources, especially the filled product itself, can be saved.

[0087] The dynamic parameterization of the flow meter or flow meters 6 explained here is not limited to the free-jet filler 1. Rather, the dynamic parameterization can be used expediently whenever one or more flow meters 6 are used for open-loop or closed-loop control of a filling process.

[0088] Thus, the dynamic parameterization can be used, for example, in the so-called counterpressure method, which is used in particular when filling carbonated products, such as beer, mineral water or soft drinks. Here, the container 100 to be filled is preloaded to an overpressure by means of a tensioning gas before the filling product is introduced. For this purpose, the container opening 110 and the valve opening 2a are connected in a pressure-tight manner. As tensioning gas, for example CO 2 Correspondingly, the CO bound in the carbonated product 2 Resists elevated CO when filling into the container to be filled 2 Pressure filling makes CO 2 The release from the filling product can be reduced or even completely prevented. The tendency of the filling product to foam is reduced, so that the filling process can be accelerated overall in this way.

[0089] Alternatively, dynamic parameterization can be used in a negative pressure method, in which the filling product is introduced into a container under a filling pressure, and the container is under a negative pressure relative to the filling pressure. The situation is also referred to as "sudden filling" in this article, because the introduction of the filling product can be achieved particularly quickly. In order to fill the container 100 with the filling product suddenly, the interior of the container 100 is evacuated via a vacuum device (not shown in the figure) when the filling valve 2 is closed and the vacuum valve (not shown in the figure) is opened and is correspondingly placed under negative pressure. If a preset negative pressure, for example 0.1 bar, is achieved in the container 100, the vacuum valve is closed and the filling valve 2 is opened. Due to the large pressure difference between the interior space of the container 100, which now has a negative pressure, and the filling product reservoir 4, which has an overpressure (relative to the negative pressure in the container and / or relative to the normal pressure), the container 100 is suddenly filled with the filling product. The filling process can be performed very quickly and correspondingly also ends quickly.

[0090] Since during the filling process, due to the negative pressure already present in the container 100, no gas is displaced from the container 100 at least in the first phase of the filling due to the sudden filling, but only the negative pressure is reduced, the filling product can also flow into the container 100 over the entire opening cross section of the opening 110 of the container 100. No measures are required to discharge the gas displaced during the filling.

[0091] from Figure 3 Another embodiment for dynamic parameterization of one or more flow meters is found in. Figure 3 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 1 for filling a container 100 with a multi-component filling product. Because some components of the apparatus 1, such as a filling valve, a flow meter, etc., are Figure 3 The case of an embodiment has the same Figure 1 The exemplary embodiments of the present invention have different structures and different working modes, so that their own reference numerals are used in part to distinguish them.

[0092] Figure 3 The device 1 has a basic reservoir 10 for a basic liquid, which can also be regarded as a main product, and a filling valve 11. The basic liquid and the ingredient components are introduced into the container 100 via the filling valve 11, and the ingredient components are mixed in via the fluid system described below. The basic liquid is water, for example. The ingredient components can include, for example, syrups, liquids containing pulp, jams, spices, etc. Since the device 1 is not only suitable for filling beverages in the food industry, but also for example for mixing / dosing and / or filling of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pigments and other liquids including highly viscous and pasty liquids, the selection of the basic liquid and (multiple) ingredient components is not limited to a specific way.

[0093] The device 1 has a basic line 20 and, in the present exemplary embodiment, two secondary lines 30, 40, which are designed to mix different amounts and / or larger quantities of dosing components into a basic liquid. However, the secondary lines 30, 40 are optional and, if present, their number can be scaled as desired. The dosing by back extrusion shown in this group of embodiments can also be realized in the case of a basic line 20 without the secondary lines 30, 40 connected thereto.

[0094] For this purpose, the basic line 20 has a basic line 21 which extends from the basic reservoir 10 to the filling valve 11. The basic line 21 is provided with a flow meter 22 of the basic line. The flow meter 22 is preferably a contactless, in particular inductive measuring device for determining a liquid flow, a volume flow, a transported mass, etc., through the flow meter 22. The same applies to the flow meters 32, 42 of the secondary line described below.

[0095] The section of the base line 21 between the flow meter 22 and the filling valve 11 is referred to as the metering space 23 of the base line 20 or contains the metering space. According to the present exemplary embodiment, two metering branches 24, 25 open into the metering space 23. The two metering branches 24, 25 each have a metering reservoir 24a, 25a, a metering line 24b, 25b fluidically connected thereto, and a metering valve 24c, 25c, which switchably connects the associated metering line 24b, 25b to the metering space 23 of the base line.

[0096] By selecting the inner diameter of the metering chamber 23 , the flow meter 22 and / or the metering branches 24 , 25 , a metering region is defined for the base line 20 which, according to the present exemplary embodiment, is preferably designed for relatively large metering quantities.

[0097] For other, preferably smaller quantities of ingredients, the device 1 according to the current embodiment has a first and a second sub-circuit 30, 40, which can be designed for small and minimum quantities of ingredients, for example. The first sub-circuit 30 has a first sub-circuit pipeline 31, which is equipped with a first sub-circuit flow meter 32. Similarly, the second sub-circuit 40 has a second sub-circuit pipeline 41, which is equipped with a second sub-circuit flow meter 42.

[0098] The lines 31 and 41 of the two secondary lines 30 and 40 are supplied with basic liquid like the basic line 21 in that they are connected to the basic reservoir 10 or branch off from the basic line 21 upstream of the flow meter 22. The two lines 31 and 41 lead into the metering space 23 of the basic line 20 via corresponding valves 36 and 46 of the first and second secondary lines, which are preferably designed as shut-off valves. Similar to the basic line 20, there is a metering space between the flow meters 32 and 42 and the associated valves 36 and 46, respectively, which is referred to herein as the metering space 33 of the first secondary line and the metering space 43 of the second secondary line. It should be noted that the basic line 20 and the secondary lines 30 and 40 can obtain basic liquid from different reservoirs, even if Figure 3 For the sake of clarity, only one basic store 10 is shown in FIG.

[0099] Two metering branches each open into metering spaces 33, 43 of the secondary circuits, which are referred to as first metering branches 34 of the first secondary circuit, second metering branches 35 of the first secondary circuit, first metering branches 44 of the second secondary circuit, and second metering branches 45 of the second secondary circuit, under the condition of continuing the terminology selected in this text. The metering branches 34, 35, 44, 45 of the secondary circuits each have a metering reservoir 34a, 35a, 44a, 45a, a metering line 34b, 35b, 44b, 45b fluidically connected thereto, and a metering valve 34c, 35c, 44c, 45c, which connects the metering line 34b, 35b, 44b, 45b to the associated metering space 33, 43 in a switchable fluidic manner.

[0100] The first dosing reservoir 24a, 34a, 44a preferably provides a first dosing component and the second dosing reservoir 25a, 35a, 45a preferably provides a second dosing component which is different from the first dosing component, so that in principle the same dosing components can be added to the basic liquid in the secondary circuit 30, 40 as in the basic circuit 20, but for different dosing quantities or dosing compositions. However, such a correspondence is not necessarily required. Therefore, the dosing reservoirs 24a, 34a, 44a, 25a, 35a, 45a of the basic circuit and the secondary circuit 20, 30, 40 can also contain different dosing components, whereby the flexibility of the installation can be increased, for example by not predosing the currently required dosing components for subsequent use.

[0101] Figure 1 The filling product line 5 , the base line 21 , the metering spaces 23 , 33 , 43 and the dosing lines 24 b , 25 b , 34 b , 44 b , 35 b and 45 b of the embodiment of belong collectively to the expression “product line”.

[0102] According to the following Figure 3 The embodiment of the invention describes the batching and filling process.

[0103] All lines, i.e. the basic line 20 and the two secondary lines 30, 40, are flushed with basic liquid at the beginning of each filling cycle, whereby the associated metering spaces 23, 33, 43 are filled with basic liquid when the filling valve 11 is closed and the filling valves 36, 46 are closed. When filling the metering spaces 23, 33, 43, the associated flow meters 22, 32, 42 measure the flow of the basic liquid in the forward direction, i.e. the filling direction. In this way, the desired total filling volume of the corresponding metering spaces 23, 33, 43 can be determined and set.

[0104] Subsequently, the dosing components are introduced into the dosing space 23, 33, 43 by opening the corresponding dosing valve 24c, 25c, 34c, 35c, 44c, 45c. The dosing components can be introduced simultaneously or successively. The introduction of the dosing components causes a portion of the basic liquid to be displaced back out of the dosing space 23, 33, 43. In this process, the return-directed flow of the corresponding flow meter 22, 32, 42 is detected. The dosing valve 24c, 25c, 34c, 35c, 44c, 45c, which can be designed as a pure stop valve or also as an adjustable stop valve, remains open until the desired volume of the dosing component(s) has been introduced into the dosing space 23, 33, 43. For this purpose, the flow meters 22, 32, 42 and the valves of the device 1 are communicatively connected to a control device (not shown in the figure), which determines the opening / closing time or, in general, the switching behavior of the components involved based on the detection results of the flow meters 22, 32, 42. It should be noted that the amount of each individual dosing component can be determined precisely by introducing different dosing components of a line one after the other.

[0105] In the subsequent filling phase, all metering spaces 23 , 33 , 43 are emptied simultaneously or successively via the filling valve 11 into the container 100 , thereby completely flushing the circuit. The filling volume is thus obtained from the sum of the filling volumes of all metering spaces 23 , 33 , 43 .

[0106] The reservoirs 10, 24a, 25a, 34a, 35a, 44a, 45a for the base liquid and the dosing components can be charged with gas pressure in the head space individually or together in order to ensure the required pressure difference for conveying the corresponding fluid. By means of the individual adjustability of the conveying pressure, the flow rate can also be varied and set for different media with varying density and / or viscosity.

[0107] By designing the nominal inner diameter of the dosing spaces 23, 33, 43 for the desired dosing amount and flow rate, precise dosing and optimal flushing with the base liquid can be achieved. The device 1 also allows precise, individual dosing within a particularly wide dosing range, since small and minimal quantities that are difficult to dose are transferred in the secondary lines 30, 40 optimized for this purpose. The control device can now determine, depending on the desired dosing amount, which line or which line combination is used to optimally produce the desired filling product.

[0108] The joining of the lines just upstream of the filling valve 11 results in a filling without delay during the filling phase due to the dosing of the ingredients into the flowing stream.

[0109] It is to be noted that the number of circuits and the number of batching branches leading into the respective circuits are not limited to a particular manner.

[0110] The duration of the dosing phase predetermines the maximum dosing time available for the dosing component, when other dosing components of the corresponding line do not need to be dosed. Likewise, during the dosing phase, the container 100 below the filling valve 11 is not required. Therefore, the dosing phase can be used in conjunction with the container transport.

[0111] Another embodiment takes into account the fact that the reaction time between the flow detection by means of the flow meter 22, 32, 42 and the switching on of the dosing valve 24c, 25c, 34c, 35c, 44c, 45c, in particular the fluctuation of the reaction time, together determines the accuracy of the dosing amount. In the food industry, pneumatic valves are mainly used for applications that come into contact with the product. However, the pneumatic valves have the technical disadvantage of a possibly longer reaction time compared to magnetically driven valves, which can lead to a reduction in dosing accuracy.

[0112] For the reasons stated, it is useful, in particular when filling filling products in the food industry, to arrange the metering valves around the flow meters 22 , 32 , 42 , preferably directly below the flow meters. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of such an apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0113] Here, a metering valve 27, 37, 47 is located directly downstream of the flow meter 22, 32, 42. The metering valve 27, 37, 47 is preferably magnetically switchable in order to optimize its reaction time. The metering valve 27, 37, 47 reacts very quickly when driven magnetically and can be designed as a pure shut-off valve, especially for short metering times, and as a shut-off and regulating valve, especially for longer metering times. If the metering valve 27, 37, 47 is also designed and arranged so that only a basic liquid, such as water, flows through it, the requirements for hygiene and flushing performance are lower than in the case of the filling valve 11 and the valves 36, 46 of the secondary lines 30, 40, which are also flowed through by the metering components.

[0114] It should be noted that not every line must be equipped with a metering valve 27, 37, 47. Since the metering accuracy is to be improved, especially for small and minimum quantities, it is sufficient, for example, that one or more of the secondary lines 30, 40 have a metering valve 37, 47.

[0115] according to Figure 4 The remaining construction of the device 1 is the same as in Figure 3 The device 1 shown in FIG.

[0116] For producing a multi-component filling product from a basic liquid and at least one ingredient component admixed therein and according to Figure 3 and 4The device 1 and method for filling filling products of the embodiment shown therein provide different technical contributions and advantages relative to conventional concepts. Therefore, the container 100 is completely filled with the container 100 at a unique position, which simplifies the operation of the container 100. In addition, during the dosing phase, it is not necessary to have the container 100 below the filling valve 11, because the dosing is not performed during the filling, but in the dosing space 23, 33, 43. The time for dosing can be used in coordination with container transportation. By this, the concept shown in this article can be used for linear cycle machines and rotary machines with one or more filling locations. In the case of a rotary machine, the container 100 has left the turntable again after a small rotation angle. In a filling machine set up for filling carbonated beverages, possible unloading time can be used in coordination with the dosing phase of the subsequent container 100.

[0117] An important technical contribution is that by using one or more secondary lines 30, 40 which open into the metering space 23 of the basic line 20 like metering branches, the metering range is increased and the metering accuracy can be improved, in particular when large and small metering quantities are mixed simultaneously. A further increase in the metering range and / or an optimization of the metering time is also achieved by virtue of the fact that other components can be metered during the time when a specific metering component in a line is not metered. This leads to a significant increase in the flexibility of the metering system.

[0118] Only a base liquid, ie, water in the usual case, always flows through the flowmeters 22, 32, 42 and possibly the associated metering valves 27, 37, 47. As a result, the properties of the medium do not change and the line system is not contaminated by different fluids in this area.

[0119] The outlay for the machine construction of the device 1 is low, since the line system can be realized by pipes or hose lines with a small number of valves and only one single flow meter per line. No complex geometry needs to be constructed, so that the device 1 can be easily cleaned and maintained. The risk of clogging is low. The device 1 is also suitable for dosing highly viscous fluids. For example, the spread of dense fragrances that migrate into the seal and cannot be removed from the seal by cleaning is minimized, because the lines are not combined until upstream of the filling valve 11 and the filling product from the secondary lines 30, 40 is not introduced into the flowing stream of the main line 20 until filling.

[0120] according to Figure 3 and 4 Device 1 as in Figure 1In addition, as in the embodiment of , there is a control device 150, which is set up to communicate with the filling mechanism. In particular, the control device 150 communicates with the filling valve 11 and the flow meter 22. The control device 150 is set up to match one or more parameters of the flow meter 22 with one or more filling process variables. In other words, the parameterization of the flow meter 22 is carried out in relation to one or more filling process variables, in particular for adjusting the measuring range or optimizing the measuring range. For this purpose, the flow meter 22 and the control device 150 communicate bidirectionally. The adjustment of one or more parameters of the flow meter 22 is preferably carried out during the filling process, that is, during the dosing and / or introduction of the filling product into the container 100.

[0121] Even in Figure 3 and 4 , the flow meters 32 and 42 and the valves 24 c, 25 c, 36, 46, 34 c, 35 c, 44 c, 45 c, 27, 37 and 47 of the secondary lines 30 and 40 do not appear to communicate with the control device 150 (dashed lines omitted for clarity), which communicate at least unidirectionally with the control device 150. Preferably, however, the flow meters 32 and 42 communicate bidirectionally with the control device 150, so that parameterization of the flow meters 32 and 42 can be performed in relation to one or more filling process variables, in particular for adjusting the measuring range or optimizing the measuring range.

[0122] With regard to the configuration and exemplary parameters of the flow meters 22, 32, 42, exemplary filling process variables for parameterization of one or more flow meters 22, 32, 42 and technical effects and advantages of dynamic parameterization, reference is made to Figure 1 The above description of the implementation method.

[0123] As far as practicable, all individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments may be combined with one another and / or replaced, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0124] List of reference numerals:

[0125] 1 Equipment for filling containers with filling products

[0126] 2 Filling valve

[0127] 2a Valve port

[0128] 3 Proportional valve

[0129] 4 Filling the product reservoir

[0130] 5 Fill product lines

[0131] 50 Filling the first section of the product line

[0132] 52 Filling the second section of the product line

[0133] 54 Filling the third section of the product line

[0134] 56 Filling the fourth section of the product line

[0135] 6 Flow meter

[0136] 7 Filters

[0137] 100 Containers

[0138] 110 port

[0139] 150 Control Device

[0140] 152 Fill level probe

[0141] 200 Vessel Holder

[0142] 210 Retaining Clip

[0143] R Rotation axis

[0144] 10 Basic Reservoir

[0145] 11 Filling valve

[0146] 20 Basic Lines

[0147] 21 Basic pipeline of basic line

[0148] 22 Basic Line Flow Meter

[0149] 23 Basic line allocation space

[0150] 24 The first batching branch of the basic line

[0151] 24a Ingredient storage for the first ingredient branch of the basic circuit

[0152] 24b The dosing line of the first dosing branch of the basic circuit

[0153] 24c Dosing valve of the first dosing branch of the basic circuit

[0154] 25 Second batching branch of the basic line

[0155] 25a Ingredient storage for the second ingredient branch of the basic circuit

[0156] 25b Dosing line for the second dosing branch of the basic circuit

[0157] 25c Dosing valve for the second dosing branch of the basic circuit

[0158] 27 Dosing valve for basic circuit

[0159] 30 First secondary circuit (e.g. for small quantities)

[0160] 31 Pipeline of the first auxiliary line

[0161] 32 Flow meter of the first secondary line

[0162] 33 Dispensing space for the first secondary line

[0163] 34 The first batching branch of the first sub-line

[0164] 34a Ingredient storage for the first ingredient branch of the first secondary circuit

[0165] 34b The batching pipeline of the first batching branch of the first secondary circuit

[0166] 34c Dosing valve of the first dosing branch of the first secondary circuit

[0167] 35 Second batching branch of the first auxiliary line

[0168] 35a Ingredient storage for the second ingredient branch of the first secondary circuit

[0169] 35b The batching pipeline of the second batching branch of the first secondary circuit

[0170] 35c Dosing valve for the second dosing branch of the first secondary circuit

[0171] 36 Valve of the first auxiliary line

[0172] 37 Dosing valve for the first secondary circuit

[0173] 40 Secondary circuit (e.g. for small quantities)

[0174] 41 Pipeline of the second auxiliary line

[0175] 42 Flow meter for the second secondary line

[0176] 43 Secondary line metering space

[0177] 44 The first batching branch of the second secondary line

[0178] 44a Ingredient storage for the first ingredient branch of the second secondary circuit

[0179] 44b The batching pipeline of the first batching branch of the second secondary circuit

[0180] 44c Dosing valve of the first dosing branch of the second secondary circuit

[0181] 45 The second batching branch of the second secondary line

[0182] 45a Ingredient storage for the second ingredient branch of the second secondary circuit

[0183] 45b The batching pipeline of the second batching branch of the second secondary circuit

[0184] 45c Dosing valve for the second dosing branch of the second secondary circuit

[0185] 46 Valve for the second auxiliary line

[0186] 47 Dosing valve for the second secondary circuit.

Claims

1. A device (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product, wherein the device (1) comprises: at least one filling valve (2, 11), which is configured to introduce the filling product into the container (100); at least one flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) connected to the filling valve (2, 11) via a product line, the flow meter being configured to determine the amount of filling product passing through the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) in the product line; and a control device (150) which communicates with the filling valve (2, 11) and the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) and is configured to control the filling valve (2, 11) during a filling process; It is characterized in that The control device (150) communicates bidirectionally with the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) and is configured to parameterize the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) as a function of one or more filling process variables. The one or more filling process variables include a control variable of the control device (150) for actuating the filling valve (2, 11).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The device is used for filling containers (100) with a filling product in a beverage filling plant.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The control device (150) is designed to perform parameterization of the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) during a filling process.

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The control device (150) is designed to perform parameterization of the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) during the introduction of the filling product into the container (100).

5. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The one or more filling process variables include one or more filling product characteristics.

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The one or more filling product characteristics are the viscosity of the filling product and / or the Brix content of the filling product and / or the fruit fiber content and / or the jam content of the filling product.

7. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The filling valve (2, 11) is a proportional valve.

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, It is characterized in that The controlled variable is a value for the degree of opening of the proportional valve (2, 11) which is to be set.

9. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) is of inductive configuration, and at least one parameter to be adjusted when parameterizing the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) includes the frequency and / or intensity of the electromagnetic field and / or the sampling rate.

10. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that Parameterizing the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) includes adjusting flow meter-side electronics and / or algorithms for determining and / or evaluating measurement data detected by the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42).

11. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The filled product has a basic liquid and at least one ingredient component, wherein the apparatus (1) has: a basic reservoir (10), the basic reservoir being configured to provide the basic liquid; A basic circuit (20), comprising: a basic line (21), which fluidically connects the basic reservoir (10) with the filling valve (11), wherein the flow meter (22) is arranged at the basic line (21) between the basic reservoir (10) and the filling valve (11) and is configured to determine the amount of filling product in the basic line (21) passing through the flow meter (22); and a metering space (23), which is arranged between the flow meter (22) and the filling valve (11); and At least one metering branch (24) of the base line is designed to introduce a metering component into the metering space (23) of the base line.

12. The device (1) according to claim 11, It is characterized in that The flow meter (22) of the base line is designed to determine the amount of filling product passing in a filling direction and / or in a direction counter to the filling direction.

13. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The device comprises a plurality of filling valves (2, 11), which are arranged on a turntable of a rotary filler and are respectively connected to associated flow meters (6, 22, 32, 42) via product lines, wherein the control device (150) communicates with the filling valves (2, 11) and the associated flow meters (6, 22, 32, 42) and is configured to control the filling valves (2, 11) during a filling process, and the control device (150) communicates bidirectionally with the flow meters (6, 22, 32, 42) and is configured to perform parameterization of the corresponding flow meters (6, 22, 32, 42) in relation to one or more filling process variables.

14. A method for filling a container (100) with a filling product, wherein the method comprises: Providing the filling product and introducing it into the container (100) via a product line and a filling valve (2, 11) connected thereto; Determining the amount of filling product passing through the product pipeline by means of a flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) coupled to the product pipeline; and Controlling the filling valve (2, 11) during the filling process via a control device (150), the control device communicating with the filling valve (2, 11) and the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42); It is characterized in that The control device (150) communicates bidirectionally with the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) and performs parameterization of the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) in relation to one or more filling process variables, The one or more filling process variables include a control variable of the control device (150) for actuating the filling valve (2, 11).

15. The method according to claim 14, It is characterized in that The method is used for filling containers (100) with a filling product in a beverage filling plant.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, It is characterized in that The control device (150) performs parameterization of the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) during a filling process.

17. The method according to claim 16, It is characterized in that The control device (150) performs parameterization of the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) during the introduction of the filling product into the container (100).

18. The method according to claim 14 or 15, It is characterized in that The filling valve (2, 11) is a proportional valve, and the controlled variable is a value for the degree of opening of the filling valve (2, 11) to be set.

19. The method according to claim 14 or 15, It is characterized in that The flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) is of inductive configuration, and at least one parameter to be adjusted when parameterizing the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) includes the frequency and / or intensity of the electromagnetic field and / or the sampling rate.

20. The method according to claim 14 or 15, It is characterized in that Parameterization of the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42) includes adjusting flow meter-side electronics and / or algorithms for determining and / or evaluating measurement data detected by the flow meter (6, 22, 32, 42).

21. The method according to claim 14 or 15, It is characterized in that The filled product has a basic liquid and at least one ingredient component, wherein the method is carried out with the aid of the device according to claim 11 and comprises: providing the basic liquid via the basic reservoir (10); Filling the basic liquid from the basic reservoir (10) into the metering space (23) of the basic circuit; Filling the dosing component from the dosing branch (24) of the base line into the dosing space (23) of the base line, wherein for dosing the dosing component, the flow meter (22) of the base line determines the amount of filling product passing through the flow meter (22) in the base line (21); and The metering volume (23) of the base line is emptied into the container (100) via the filling valve (11).

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